The Last of US which was announced nearly 6 months ago has just released a brand new trailer showcasing an epic moment in the game. The game is priming for a big reveal during E3, which we can expect will show a lot of information about the title. I would love to speak more about this title and how awesome I am hoping it will be, but this trailer after the break might leave you just as speechless as me.

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]]> http://gamerfitnation.com/2012/05/the-last-of-us-reveals-a-new-trailer-out-of-nowhere/feed/ 0 joel ellie truck joel ellie truck joel ellie truck truck road block ellie joel ellie gun http://gamerfitnation.com/2012/05/proper-promotion-of-games/ http://gamerfitnation.com/2012/05/proper-promotion-of-games/#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:32 +0000 ZackC http://gamerfitnation.com/?p=37481 Read More]]> Games as of late are being advertised earlier and earlier. For some games this is not a bad thing. For game franchisees that have not established themselves, announcing and hyping games more then 2 months in advance will doom the game.  By making gamers only wait 2 months at the most, the game companies don’t raise expectations to unobtainable heights.

For most games, this would be referring to games that are not a part of big franchises, that are hyped roughly 2 months before release. This is because games that are not proven to be great ,will be forgotten if they are hyped too early, or will disappoint the gamers. Disappointed gamers is a death sentence for that specific title.

The idea behind hyping games early is so that people will want to play it. If a developer hypes a game to much, it may turn out to be disappointing. A perfect example of this would be Brutal Legend even though the game was fun, most people thought it was going to be way better then what they experienced. Most games that are over-hyped get tossed right into the discount bin and are never heard from again. The only company that is exempt from over hyping is Blizzard.  They announced that Diablo 3 was under development for a long time, and Blizzard has constantly been promoting the game since then with small announcements such as character designs and screenshots.

Games that are a part of big franchises, like Call of Duty, or Halo can be promoted months in advance. This is because they are already established as solid games. These franchises have shown us that they can make great games, the community will wait almost an indefinite amount of time. Look at Starcraft 2, the promotion of which started in 2007, when Blizzard announced that it was being produced.  StarCraft 2 was released in 2010, 3 years after it was announced, and almost 12 years after the release of Starcraft Brood War came out, and fans were still really excited about it coming out.

I feel the correct way to market a game would be to produce an announcement trailer telling people that the game is under development, and to allow people to see the direction the game is going. Then at about 2 months out, produce another set of trailers, showing a little bit of the plot and developing the characters. Then at a month out, release a trailer showing game play.  With this sort of set up, the game gets prolonged hype, keeping the community wanting more of the game, while not prolonging the wait time for the game.

Game developers should shorten the duration of time that they dedicate to promoting the game. Over promoting can cause a community backlash that can hurt the game. If developers and publishers only promote the game 2 months before the game comes out, they will have people wanting to play the game and then scrambling to buy it when it comes out.

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The Last Story

The Last Story by Xseed is a game that fans of RPG’s will be looking forward to when it releases next month. The action based combat is a refreshing element to the JRPG story-telling genre. If you recently got the chance to play Xenoblade Chronicles that was released last month, then you may have been one of the lucky few to play the great RPG that the Wii had to offer us this generation. The Last Story is a game that you may want to keep an eye on when it is released next month. The highlights of this game are the unique combat system and the voice acting is a major plus. The accents really bring to life the emotion that is portrayed throughout the game. There are many things to say about this game, but I will let this video below do the talking.

Dragon’s Dogma

Next Week we see the release of the hotly anticipated action RPG Dragon’s Dogma. Capcom has stated that this game can sell over 10 million. Will this game reach that level? We cannot be sure as of right now. However, what I can tell you is that Dragon Dogma is a great title which has an enjoyable character creation and easy to get into gameplay. Everything looks great and if you have played the recently released demo, you will already know some of what you can expect when the full retail version releases next Tuesday. The only concern I have with the game is the lack of an online multiplayer component for the game.

Risen 2: Dark Waters

Risen 2: Dark Waters is already out for the PC and if you have already gotten it, God bless you. If you’re the type of person that prefers to play games on the PS3 or Xbox 360 as opposed to the PC than you’re going to have to wait a little while longer as the game will not release until the 31^st of July. The PC version of the game currently has a Metacritic aggregate review score of 69 with mixed reviews. Does this mean that the console’s counterpart is doomed from the start? The answer to that question is that it could be, but we cannot make any judgments until the result of the final product. I guess the only thing that we can do is hope that it releases to some success. I really love pirate type games so I have a special place in me for this game.

Borderlands 2 (FPS/RPG Hybrid)

Now, I know what you are going to say, Borderlands 2 is not an RPG. I would tend to agree with you if there were not so many RPG’s elements in the game. If this were the original Borderlands, I would agree with your sentiment. The problem I have here is that this title has everything that fans of RPGs would love to play. That is mostly the reason why Gearbox Software is calling the game a RPG/FPS hybrid. There is co-op gameplay for up to four players, but what has me excited personally for this game is the fact that you can now have the ability to add new skins (bazillion different skins) that will allow you to customize your character in a way that will give you a ton of new things to do in the game. There is also going to be a lot of support for the game from Gearbox Software when it releases later this year. Here is hoping that this is going to be a great title and possibly the best yet.

Pokémon Black and White Version 2

If you have been following the recent news about Pokémon Black and White Version two you may have heard that it is rumored that Brock and Misty will finally be making their returns to the Pokémon catching franchise. The game will feature new character models for both Brock and Misty and it will have them reprising their roles as gym trainers. Fans of the franchise will be especially happy to see the trailer below in its original Japanese voiceover. The game is similar to what you will remember from your younger years if that was the last time, you played a Pokémon game. I have not played a Pokémon game in a while because frankly, I thought I was not missing anything. It appears in the trailer below when this releases in the US that I may be wrong.

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-Press Release-

Majesco Entertainment, an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, just released its first Zumba® Fitness Rush downloadable dance style pack featuring three exotic Bollywood songs to spice up your workout and build your track library. Additionally, Majesco Entertainment launched a Zumba® wear Avatar Collection so fans can customize their Xbox LIVE® avatars with virtual apparel inspired by the fan favorite Zumba® Wear apparel and accessory line currently worn by millions. The Zumba® Fitness Rush Bollywood Style Pack is available now for 480 Microsoft Points ($6.00) on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The 10-piece Zumba® Wear Avatar Collection is also available now on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360, with individual apparel items ranging from 80 Microsoft Points ($1.00) to 160 Microsoft Points ($2.00).

Featuring stylized Indian choreography that has won fans over with its fun, high energy movements, the Bollywood Style Pack lets you dance with Zumba® creator Beto, and celebrity Zumba® instructors Kass Martin and Tanya Beardsley.  Feel the Bhangra beat and get a sneak peek at the Zumba® Fitness Rush Bollywood Style Pack when you download the free trailer.  This three song pack includes both licensed music and contagious Zumba® originals that will keep your body moving:

• “Beware of the Boys,” DJ Punjabi (danced by Beto)
• “Bangalore Dreaming,” Zumba® original (danced by Kass Martin)
• “Start the Fire,” Zumba® original (danced by Tanya Beardsley)

You can also show off your style with the new Zumba® Wear Avatar Collection that features a range of vibrant men’s and women’s apparel, from virtual tank tops, cargo pants and vests to the sporty Zumba® Team Track Jacket and classic Zumba® Fedora. To preview the full collection, please click here.

Source: Reverb Communications Press Release

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Motion Censored Video Games
There are so many motion censored games and most of them are inclined to bettering your fitness. Whether you’re into dancing, martial arts, classic workouts, or any sort of sport, there’s a game for you. It’s neat that we could be getting achievement points or trophies while becoming healthier. We’re lucky to be in a generation where we can be gaming and getting fit at the same time.

Music features/Apps
Music can be extremely important when it comes to your workout. Sometimes I like to work out in my room, and when I do, I like to use my Xbox as my music player. Whether I’m using a music app like iHeartRadio or music I’ve already transferred to the hard drive, I always have something to keep me pumped up and motivated.

Internet/Youtube
Being able to watch Youtube via your console has to be one of the greatest things! You can watch funny videos and… find awesome workouts (like those from Scott Herman which can be found on our site by clicking here). If you don’t have internet there’s no problem because you can always put a workout DVD and use that to guide you.

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As the NBA playoffs have just started, it is time to prepare for the games that will follow. It was announced earlier this year that EA would be getting rid of the name NBA Elite and going back to its original name NBA Live. Does this mean a return to former glory for the former king of the court? We really couldn’t tell you at this point. What we do know however is that NBA 2K13 is coming off back-to-back championships of being the #1 rated basketball game. If you haven’t picked it up yet, I suggest you check out a review I wrote a few months back for it.

This brings us to our topic today. 2K13 VS Live13, which will succeed this fall? Let’s begin with 2K13, year after year 2K sports have found ways to make this title the most authentic basketball simulator the world has ever seen. The only way that they could go any further is if they were to allow you to control the real life players themselves. That being said though, having realistic movements and actions in the game are fun and make it feel real but is that what gamers really want year in and year out?

To some extent yes, gamers do and to others no, they do not. That is why 2K games are constantly updating their formula always looking to improve the presentation in the game to make it almost look real to life. It is not just the realism though that has improved dramatically. It is also the gameplay, new ways to control your offense and my player modes, which make it, feel as if you have more control over your CPU’s. Where it is going to need to improve on is its presentation which has always been the best, but what it needs to excel on is its gameplay and control structure to be successful. It can be done, but this can only be achieved through pure innovation.

NBA Elite was canceled last year and for good reason. The game apparently could not perform at the level that NBA stars are accustomed to day in and day out. What does this mean for the next title from EA Sports? Many things actually, since there is no new information except for the fact that its name has been changed to NBA live which fans will recognize, it shows that EA may be going back its roots. What made fans love live was the flashy gameplay, high scoring contest, and quick paced gameplay. Can this work in this day and age where realism has taken over the sports genre? The answer to this is Yes and No. It can’t work if that is what is emphasized from the very beginning of the game. People for the most part like playing defense and being able to shut down key players. If you can score on a defense with ease, than there is no challenge. Gamers need a challenge to feel rewarded for victory.

The second aspect EA Sports needs to focus on with this title is the overall presentation and gameplay. Live always irked my attention because you had two different buttons to shoot and dunk. I really never understood that. In real life, you do not just wait for your brain to pick a motion you just react. Work off of your instincts to score a basket. The gameplay can be free flowing, but it also has to be realistic to what fans want. We do not want a game where you can do a dribble move to the right, break into the lane for an easy layup (or maybe we do) it has to be something that is tasteful and acceptable to being considered real.

In end of this discussion, I truly believe that Live 13 is primed to have more success than 2K13. You might be scratching your head as to how I came to this assumption but the answer is easy. Expectations, many or some people expect Live to crumble and flop (basketball pun intended) under the pressure that is NBA 2K13. I honestly don’t feel that is the case. The pressure is on 2K to live up to the greatness that they themselves have created and if they are unable to do so, it could lead to a downfall. In essence, you could say this debate is at a stalemate right now. One has to succeed or the other one does not and the alternative is that they both succeed or fail and nothing changes. In the end however this relies on gamers and consumers alike. Well what are your thoughts, NBA Live or NBA 2k which one will have more success?

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Summer is vastly approaching. Schools here in Louisiana have about a week left and then summer vacation begins!!! This week in the news, they were talking about the affects of too much texting. As I listened, I didn’t want to be believe it, but it was true. Kids today are so connected with technology, that going a day without texting, Facebook, or Twitter would kill some of them. Although we need technology and I’m appreciative of it, we have to get moving.

As always, the topic of childhood obesity came up as well in the news. Putting down the smartphones and tablets are what our kids are going to have to do in order to decrease the number of cases of childhood obesity. GFN. Jr. is encouraging everyone to get moving this summer.  So make a game plan for your kids and for yourself to get moving this summer. Next week, I will bring to you a list of some of the best video games to get your kids off of the couch and off of their cell phones. It is time to get moving. As we all know, healthy eating is also important. It is easy to buy them snacks that are easy and quick to get, but pay attention to the labels.

Let’s get ready for summer and let’s get moving. Have a wonderful weekend gamers.

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Yup, that’s right folks as of April 23rd, 2012 anyone wanting to attend the E3 2012 Expo this year will have to pay a cool grand, or $995.00 to be exact. Don’t get me wrong it’s normal for The ESA to hick up the attendee price when the date get’s closer to the show but it’s usually from $400 to $500 dollars a ticket. This only leads to me believe that this E3 will be one for the books. What in the world are they going to showing this year. Post your thoughts about this crazy price hick.

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