Video game stuff for people who like video game stuff…
Oct 4th, 2008 by Dits
Yesterday I was as giddy as a school girl, having heard that IGN UK were giving away LBP Beta keys I was glued to their website hitting refresh more times than I can remember. But my persistence paid off! Little Big Planet Beta is mine! And I’m here to share my experience with you.
Oct 3rd, 2008 by Adamfast
The universal praising of last years Crysis left with puzzled and perplexed. Well, it actually left me incandescent with rage if I’m honest. With the game getting 9’s and a frankly absurd 98% from PC Gamer (USA), I was appalled that such a mediocre and clichéd shooter could be brown-nosed so universally.
Crysis Warhead however, promises to be very different. A highly optimised engine, a linear and explosive gameplay and a far more engaging storyline are exactly what I’m looking for to smooth that rage down. But did they succeed?
Oct 2nd, 2008 by nory316
The next step in the growth of the worlds most dominant handheld, excluding the mobile phone, has arrived. The Nintendo DSi sports a feature set that provides evolution over revolution.
The additon of features such as music playback, an SD slot and a camera may not be exactly what gamers were hoping for but that’s what they have got.
In addition, a web browser will be included and it will be possible to download DSi games to an SD card from an online store, although this is still in development.
As a side note, The removal of the GB advance slot makes Guitar Hero redundant on the new model so its possible a new peripheral will make an appearance. Maybe this one won’t break your wrist.
Hit the jump for more Screens
Oct 2nd, 2008 by Dits
Coming straight out of the Nintendo press conference, we have Punch Out! for the Wii!
Any self respecting Nintendo fan over the age of 20 will remember this classic of game. No real gameplay details yet, but I’m guessing Iron Mike Tyson wont be appearing this time around.
More pics after the jump!
*Update* Trailer Below
Oct 2nd, 2008 by Fly
Since Toz made his predictions of a new DS months ago based on some “black magic” and “palm readings” I figure it is time I make my predections on what a new DS might be like. Rather then “guessing” like my co-host I will be thinking this through using every bit of my gaming knowledge to come up with something more then just “bigger screens!“. I do this because I care about you, our readers and listeners. From here only time will tell who was closer on their predictions.
My prediction for a new DS is that it will be called the “DSi” and feature a 3MP camera (maybe even two cameras), music playback, and screens that are around 3.25″ wide. I also predict they will be getting rid of the GBA slot and the whole thing will be 2.6 millimeters smaller, that’s about 12% I think.
Since I am on a roll I will also predict it will have an SD card slot in addition to on board memory and I think it will have a browser that will allow it do download games using Wii Nintendo Points. Also, if I were them I would package 1000 Wii.. sorry.. Nintendo Points with every new DSi for about $179 and I figure the first colors of matte black or matte white are good to reduce finger prints. I would also be sure it was out in time for Christmas… Say November maybe.
I would also start a new service similar to WiiWare but call it something like DSWare or “Fly is a RockStar Store”. To make sure it is easy to use I would have price points like FREE, 200 points, 500 points, and 800 points.
I am also including a photo of exactly what I have pictured in my mind (Mr. Iwata included).
Oct 2nd, 2008 by Fly
Another day another another podcast. Yep that is right, CGUK has managed to pull another show out of the hat. Two weeks in a row now, you would think we are going for the Podcast of the Year Award or something. Anyway, by now you all know what to expect. Top 5×3, news, what we been playing, etc. The question of the week this week turns into a small console debate where we learn that I like my Wii, I am just disappointed in it. We also learn that I am 100% right 99.4% of the time making me just as cool as a Magic 8 Ball. We have more then one competition prize this week, including a special upgrade from the normal Turtle Beach X1 to a set of X3’s thanks to the nice guys at LimeXB360.co.uk. Finish up with some shout outs and thank yous, and we are done! Enjoy!
PS - Review us on iTunes
Oct 1st, 2008 by Adamfast
It’s that time of year again. The evenings draw in, the wind is cold and the mist covers the newly frost-bitten land. But that means it’s perfect for staying in, getting your pipe and slippers, polishing your spectacles to kick off a new season with Fifa 09.
The problem with that is there’s little else to do unless you like football (FOOTBALL, not soccer right?) With Fifa being such a big title not many other publishers are willing to go up against it, but if you like real-time strategy/action games then you’re in luck - with Worldshift and Multiwinia get retail releases this Friday. Worldshift promises a mix of real-time strategy and role play, and looks an odd mix of single player and MMO multiplayer with a bit of co-op thrown in for good measure.
Multiwinia on the other hand is a bit more simplistic and is from the boys at Introversion - behind the critically acclaimed Darwinia & Defcon - and looks to be a far more accessible version of any RTS to date.
As ever, there’s 3 of the best after the jump followed by the full list of iffy titles.
Oct 1st, 2008 by Dentaku UK
We kick off the inaugural CGUK month in review with a look back at some high profile titles that include Too Human, Viva Pinata Trouble in Paradise, Wipeout HD, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky, Spore and Star Wars The Force Unleashed.
Hit the jump for further details:
Oct 1st, 2008 by nory316
The impending financial crisis means that most people will be cutting back on luxuries in life. Household budgets across the land are stretched to the limit as financial institutions the world over implode one after another. Tightening the purse strings is the order of the day and anything that’s not a necessity is sensibly scratched from the household bills.
Apart from us gamers of course. We continue to relentlessly pump our coinage into probably the only industry in the world that has seen economic growth. Against all of the odds, console sales have rocketed in the face of global financial catastrophe. A press release from ELSPA reveals the startling figures as UK sales of “Next Gen” systems hit a staggering 17.3 Million units. Who the hell wants to eat anyway, right?
Oct 1st, 2008 by Fly
Happy Wednesday!
Oct 1st, 2008 by Dentaku UK
Unusually for XBLA games, Microsoft’s Gamerscore Blog has revealed that the revamped N64 classic Banjo Kazooie is to be released on 26 November 2008. Looking at some of the screenshots, it’s certainly looking nice.
Hit the jump for more screenshots
Sep 30th, 2008 by Toz
Blog competition,
Simply tell me why you want a set of these, funny original entries please.
http://www.crankygamersuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3625&p=36971#p36971
send entries to usual address feedback@crankygamersuk.com
Subject:Controller Grips.
Sep 30th, 2008 by nory316
It was the year of our lord 1998. The UK Labour Party were riding the crest of a popularity wave, Scotland were in a major finals at the soccer world cup and the price of oil fell to just under $10 a barrel. More importantly however, I was a student spending the majority of my study leave glued to my state of the art PSone and marvelling at Wipeout 2097’s then seemingly next gen visuals.
They say that the more things change the more the stay the same. To illustrate the fact - its 2008, The Labour Party is a sinking ship, Scotland is consistently woeful as a national team and a barrel of oil could swallow the budget of a small country. Yet here I am, glued to my PS3 and marvelling at Wipeout HD’s seemingly next gen visuals like I was a carefree student with nothing better to do. Spooky.
Sep 30th, 2008 by Toz
One thing we can all be sure of, and that is Harmonix severe lack of thought when designing the Rockband drum pads the first time around. They simply cannot be played in my opinion by most normal game players without some form of silencing pad, and that is where today’s review of the i-con drumpad silencer comes in.
At first site, there different to most drumpad silencers on the market purely from an aesthetic point of view, with a smart colourful design available in 2 designs, a star and a skull. Packed in the usual blister packs they would catch your eye in any store, a great addition to these packs however is the inclusion of a pair of matching drumsticks.
Sep 28th, 2008 by Strident
I once got kicked in the head because I liked Star Wars… Admittedly I was only four years old at the time. I’d been crouched down on the floor playing R2D2 and the accidental blow came from a similarly-aged child carried on Chewbacca’s back. Being kicked by C3P0 hurts a lot more than you’d think.
At this point I should probably say something like, “…but that’s nothing compared to the pain that George Lucas would dish out to our generation years later.” However, this isn’t the place to take swipes at the prequel movies or to look back at the original trilogy through rose-tinted Force crystals.
There is only one question to answer. Spanning the gap between the old and new, can The Force Unleashed live up to its hype and satisfy both die-hard Star Wars fans and those looking for a decent gaming experience?
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