inFamous

Comic-book characters such as Batman provided inspiration for the superhero romp inFamous, but it was getting caught in an actual riot that had an even bigger impact on the game's development.

Game director Nate Fox, from Seattle-based games studio Sucker Punch, found himself caught in street riots triggered by protests surrounding the 1999 World Trade Organisation conference, an experience that had a dramatic impact on the developer and the content of his latest game.

"I found myself in that riot," Mr Fox says. "And it was really interesting, because when we were getting tear-gassed, people around me were breaking into windows and stuff - there are no cops, you are not going to get arrested being a jerk. (Yet) a lot of people around me were offering me food, water to wash out my eyes.

"In this place where there were no consequences, people are still kind. It made me think about what would exist in this game world when people are operating on a more base level."

inFamous, out next month on PlayStation 3, is set in a city that is "rocked to the core" by a massive explosion and a subsequent plague that forces authorities to quarantine and abandon the metropolis.

"People freak out, there is a large riot, and most of the cops are killed," Mr Fox says. "Since then, Empire City has become a lawless place. There is no structure any more. This neighbourhood, for example, the Neon district, is now under martial law, controlled by a gang called the Reapers.

"They were just a bunch of drug dealers before the blast, but since then they have become much more organised and well-armed."

In the blast, the game's protagonist, Cole McGrath, is transformed from a humble courier to a superhero with dazzling electrical powers. But when he is suspected of causing the calamity, he becomes public enemy No. 1.

Like Grand Theft Auto and Crackdown, inFamous is set in a sprawling urban environment that offers gamers a huge playground to explore, and fantastic freedom to use Cole's electrical powers for good or evil.

"From the beginning of the game you can do things like chuck cars around (with electromagnetic bursts)," says MrFox, before demonstrating other powers such as hurling electrical grenades and charging up otherwise inoperative railroads in order to train-surf.

"And, of course, you can use your powers to take people alive, using electricity to incapacitate the enemy as opposed to killing them outright." Or even use defibrillator powers to bring people back from the dead.

"You can choose to be a nice guy or a total jerk, (but) if you treat people in the city badly they will remember. What you do has consequences."

You don't have to stick to the city streets, with Cole able to scale tall buildings and use the environment strategically to help him combat (or avoid) foes.

But no superhero game is complete without iconic villains. "Where is the Batman without the Joker?" Mr Fox says. "So we deliver those big moments, the kind of things you'll remember a month after you played the game."

Source: stuff.co.nz

Nintendo swings into motion with new Wii gizmo

The MotionPlus add-on plugs into the base of Nintendo's WiiMote.

LOS ANGELES - There's nothing all that charming about Nintendo's latest gadget.

It's not as zany as a zapper or as sexy as a steering wheel. It doesn't even tell you whether you're losing weight. However, the gamemaker is hoping a small cube-shaped device called Wii MotionPlus will take the Wii's motion-sensing controls to a new level of precision.

It's no secret the wrist-flicking Wii Remote's lack of accuracy has long been the console's clunky downfall. The Wii MotionPlus successfully defeats that dilemma by using gyroscopic sensors to exactly mimic gamers' hand movements, making such activities as sword fighting, disc throwing and golf look seamless on screen.

"The great thing about this particular new technology, which isn't always true for other new technologies, is that we immediately saw the benefits of it," said Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 senior producer Jason Shenkman.

"Before I even touched it or got my hands on it, I knew exactly what having a gyroscope in our possession would do for this game."

Electronic Arts' Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 will be the first game bundled with the Wii MotionPlus. Shenkman insists the increased sensitivity doesn't boost difficulty because instant feedback helps gamers before their shots.

Nintendo has been pairing cute peripheral gadgets with games since launching the Wii, such as the Wii Wheel, Wii Zapper and Wii Balance Board, the scale-ish device packaged with Wii Fit.

Just how Nintendo plans to market the obscure Wii MotionPlus accessory - or why such technology wasn't originally included in the controller - is unclear.

"We are always looking at ways to enhance the gaming experience for consumers," said Denise Kaigler, Nintendo vice president of corporate affairs. "This was another way of enhancing the gaming experience, and consumers will hopefully choose to experience that more immersive type of gameplay and enjoy it."

Only five games have so far been confirmed to employ the new functionality. The most prominent is Nintendo's own Wii Sports Resort, a beachy follow-up to the popular Wii Sports.

Besides Tiger Woods, the other games are Electronic Arts' Grand Slam Tennis, Capcom's Virtua Tennis 2009 and Ubisoft's slice-and-shoot-'em-up sequel Red Steel 2."

Though the original Red Steel was one of the most anticipated games to debut alongside the Wii in 2006, the first-person samurai shooter's wonky fidelity left many gamers feeling let down. Creative director Jason Vandenberghe promises Wii MotionPlus technology will remedy that in Red Steel 2."

"One of the cool things is that with Wii MotionPlus, we know how hard you have swung the remote," said Vandenberghe. "That means we can ask the player to have a more physical experience, like having enemies who are wearing armour that players will have to hit harder with their sword."

If the blockbuster sales of the Wii Balance Board with Wii Fit are any indication, gamers will want the new contraption even if it's not compatible with their old titles.

Wedbush Morgan game analyst Michael Pachter believes Wii MotionPlus' American price - US$19.99 for one, $49.99 if bundled with Wii Sports Resort - is right for cash-strapped consumers. He anticipates that over 30 million Wii owners will pick up the new accessory in the first year.

"Some people will find Wii MotionPlus really appealing, and some people won't understand it and will wait until they're told by their friends they need it," said Pachter.

Nintendo is likely to promote Wii MotionPlus and announce new games that use the technology at next month's Electronic Entertainment Expo, where the gadget was first unveiled last year. Rumours have been circulating that Nintendo competitors Microsoft and Sony may announce their own motion-control technologies for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles at E3.

Source:NZ Herald

Infamous

PlayStation 3 (M)

Pros: Electricity as a weapon is hardly a new concept to gaming, but the new open-world PlayStation title Infamous - from cartoony-rendering masters Sucker Punch, responsible for the Sly Cooper games - makes it the star. You play bike courier Cole, a bloke who wakes up next to a smoking crater in Empire City with no idea what has happened. The hole was made by an electrical bomb, and Cole is left with powers that just increase with time. The city is in ruins, with gangs and factions taking control, so Cole needs to restore order. You can choose to be a nice bloke and use your powers for good, or become an ultra-powerful villain - or both. Powers can be used to great effect as weapons - lightning bolt to blow enemies away, a Mega Watt which does the same with gusto, shock grenades (self-explanatory), and Thunder Drop (the best way to kill everything fast). To fuel powers, Cole needs to drain electricity from wherever he can, and clicking the left thumbstick will highlight nearby sources - the more electricity, the more hardcore powers are available. And with some of the epic battles with multiple enemies, keeping charged up becomes a longevity necessity.

Cons: Some of the levels get a bit repetitive, and sometimes controls (particularly L1 and R1) can be a bit unwilling, although the ability to attack from almost any position - including firing at enemies while jumping around between buildings - makes up for any clunkiness.

Verdict: Graphically excellent, especially the lush cutscenes. Frantic gameplay, mind-blowing weapons and only a few niggles - worth adding to the collection.

Source: NZ Herald