All posts by Vic B'Stard

Gaming, General

Melbourne welcomes its Star Citizens

Earlier this month Melbourne’s PAX Australia 2014 was a celebration of independent video-game development. Whilst not exhibiting at the actual show, the master of million-dollar independent games design, Chris Roberts was in town.

Star Citizen, Chris Roberts’ ambitious space combat/trading adventure game, has entered the Guinness Book of Records for the Most Crowd-funded Project (Overall), having secured $39,680,576 from fans as of 4 March 2014.

Right now that figure stands at $61,448,595, sorry… $61,448,830. The game’s website dynamically updates and they’ve earned some more money since I started writing this article. Continue reading Melbourne welcomes its Star Citizens →

Gaming, General

Assassin’s Creed Unity Notre Dame Edition Unboxing

So this year I opted to review the last-gen Assassin’s Creed Rogue, leaving me to savior the new-gen entry, Assassin’s Creed Unity in my own time.

I’m quite partial to getting the collector’s edition versions of my favourite video-game releases. With Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed games being possibly my number one franchise, I never miss out on picking up their premium releases when I can. Continue reading Assassin’s Creed Unity Notre Dame Edition Unboxing →

Game Reviews, Gaming

Halo: The Master Chief Collection Xbox One review

I was lucky enough to be sitting in the audience at The Galen Center in LA as Halo: The Master Chief Collection was unveiled to an unsuspecting audience at the Xbox E3 media briefing. Of course, the crowd went wild.

A few short months later and here we are, 343 Industries and Microsoft Studios have just delivered four of the most influential games in Xbox history. Each one remastered on the Xbox One for a new audience to enjoy and for the old hands to experience again, albeit with updated visuals. Continue reading Halo: The Master Chief Collection Xbox One review →

Game Reviews, Gaming

Civilization: Beyond Earth PC review

In the future the word is dying. For the human race to survive the best and the brightest are sent to the stars to start a new civilisation beyond Earth. Or so it goes in the rather poignant intro video to Civilization: Beyond Earth, the latest turn-based strategy game from Firaxis.

Sid Meier’s Civilization games are legendary and pretty much genre defining. Intelligent and engrossing, with each new iteration the series gets even more refined. Continue reading Civilization: Beyond Earth PC review →

Gaming, General

Never Alone developer interview: Jonathan Gregoire

At PAX Australia 2014 Microsoft were demoing some of their upcoming ID@Xbox titles. The ID@Xbox programme allows independent developers to self-publish their games on the Xbox One platform.

I caught up with Jonathan Gregoire to chat about Upper One Games’ beautiful-looking indie title Never Alone, a game created in collaboration with the indigenous people of Alaska. Continue reading Never Alone developer interview: Jonathan Gregoire →

Gaming, General, Technology

Looking back at PAX Australia 2014

Last week, for three days, the Melbourne Convention Centre played host to PAX Australia 2014- a game expo with a difference. I was there taking in the sights and sounds of what is probably Australasia’s greatest festival of gaming culture.

Born from the video gaming-related online comic-strip by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins the Penny Arcade eXpos have traditionally only been held in the US. The US hosts three PAX shows a year, PAX Prime in Washington (the show’s original location), PAX East in Boston and for the first time this year, PAX South in San Antonio. Last year’s Melbourne show was the first PAX to be held out of the US. Continue reading Looking back at PAX Australia 2014 →

Gaming, General

Developer interview: Michael Hampden- Assassin’s Creed Rogue

Assassin’s Creed fans are in for a treat with the release of two AC games this year: Assassin’s Creed Unity on new-gen consoles and Assassin’s Creed Rogue on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Both games are out on the same day so fans with both new and last-gen consoles have some tough decisions ahead!

With Unity upping the ante with some stellar visuals, and take it from me- they are stellar, it would be easy to overlook Assassin’s Creed Rogue on 360 and PS3.

But it would be a foolish move to do so. Continue reading Developer interview: Michael Hampden- Assassin’s Creed Rogue →

Game Reviews, Gaming

Sunset Overdrive Xbox One review

Xbox One exclusive, Sunset Overdrive, is a game that doesn’t take itself at all seriously. It offers players a tongue-in-cheek take on the apocalypse and, to be honest, it’s a refreshing change from some of the gloomy titles that we’ve been playing of late. Yes I’m looking at you The Evil Within.

When Fizzco decides to test their new energy drink, Overdrive Delirium XT, on the unsuspecting citizens of Sunset City all hell breaks loose. Continue reading Sunset Overdrive Xbox One review →