Section: Gaming News, PCs, Game-Companies, Developers, Genres, Shooter, Web-Sites, Official-Sites

Fans of the cartoon-style open world warfare-shooter, Battlefield Heroes will get the chance to continue the good fight as Swedish developer EA Dice is set to reopen its closed beta testing servers on February 11, 2009.

It has been just under four months since EA Dice originally shut down the closed beta for Battlefield Heroes, which was originally supposed to be released as a free-to-play download for fans of the popular series late 2008.

The reasoning behind the original shut down was so EA Dice could put some extra polish to the already highly stylized game.

With the plans to reopen Battlefield Heroes to the public on the eleventh, fans will get to see for themselves how much polish has been implemented to the already beautiful game.

For those of you lucky few who were already on the 2008 closed beta for Battlefield Heroes, you’ll be free to pick up right where you left off.

While EA Dice does plan to continue to invite new players to take part in the closed beta testing, the company gave no word as to when a open beta of the game will be released to the general public – so sign up now and keep an eye on your Inbox for that golden ticket.

Battlefield Heroes is scheduled to be released sometime Summer 2009.

Site [Battlefield Heroes] Read [Gamespot]

Full Story » | Written by Christopher Buckner for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

I tried a few CMS solutions for the comic and have finally found one that I do not hate. So TS and TJ is now free from the confines of the blog. This will likely increase actual posts instead of the comic substituting for other content.

TS and TJ is now here

Related posts:

1. Nauseus From Comic-Con
2. Coo -coo for Comic-Con
3. A Good Comic You Might Not Read Already

Section: Gaming News, Originals, PCs, Linux, Mac, Windows, PCs-Other, Ads & Media, Print, Web, Genres, Educational, MMO, Sim

The cover story for the most recent issue of the Kent State University alumni magazine (Kent State Magazine, Vol. 8, Issue 3, Spring 2009) highlights the efforts of several professors using Second Life as an educational tool.

Although a feature story about Second Life might seem, “Like, so two years ago,“ this is a prime example of how video games can be used to contribute to society and bring together a world community.

Titled “Get a Second Life,“ the article features Pamela R. Mitchell, an associate professor of speech pathology and audiology in the College of Education, Health and Human Services; Steve Zapytowski, professor of design and technology in the School of Theatre and Dance; and Dr. Patricia Book, co-leader of the group Digital Game-Based Learning Community and vice president for regional development.

The University’s SL efforts include online courses, field trips and “live” online performances all as an effort to provide game-based learning.

The virtual world performances by The Kent Second Life Ensemble, which includes Zapytowski, an assistant professor and twelve students, utilize microphones for live in-world performances along with specialized lighting scripts. For rehearsals and performances, Zapytowskiin constructed the Obrádlan Síorai theater within Second Life.

Likewise, Mitchell was able to get a grant to buy land and resources to create a virtual classroom where she teachers her Communication Modalities and Assistive Technology and Research Methods classes within Second Life.

The article also includes links to photos of the professors and students (both real world and within Second Life), instructions for joining the KSU Second Life island community and a couple links to SL help site.

Read [Kent State Magazine]

Full Story » | Written by PJ Hruschak for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Gaming News, Handhelds, DS, Game-Companies, Publishers, Genres, Role-Playing, Strategy

Ah Atlus – just when I think I’m going to totally curb my video game spending, you announce another must-have title. The Shin Megami Tensei series recently debuted on the DS, and Atlus has decided that yes, people in North America deserve this intriguing game as well. So, on June 23, 2009, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is going to be released in the US for $29.99. Nice catch!

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor is an interesting little game. It has adventure, strategic RPG and standard RPG elements all fused into a single cartridge. Impressive. Demons have taken over Tokyo, and everyone in the city’s trapped. In order to save the city and everyone in it, you’ll have to join up with friends and make the demons fight amongst, and destroy, themselves.

It sounds like there may be multiple endings, as well. It turns out that, throughout the game, you’ll be asked questions and to make decisions about what to do. This will then change how the story progresses and what side you and your friends will be on.

Read [C3 News] Also Read [Siliconera] Site [Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor]

Full Story » | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Exclusives, Originals, Features, Lists, Opinions, Consoles, PCs, Handhelds, Gear, Ads & Media, Web-Sites

Let’s face it – our gaming culture is absolutely swimming in “top 5” lists that, well, list the top 5 things in any given category of gaming-related goodness. Many scorn the top 5 (and it’s high powered big brother, the top 10 list), but I say a creative, well thought out list has a fun place in the great gaming blogosphere. And just to prove my point, here are my top five picks for the best “top five” lists in gaming. Do enjoy.

Top 5 Crazy Things PlayStation Boss Hirai Said Today: This is a relatively recent entry, but it’s very funny in a sad “what planet do you live on?“ sort of way. I would say “zing!“ in an obnoxious voice, but it would be entirely unnecessary.

Top 5 cringe-inducing videogame raps: I will let the sweet, sweet poetry of Fugitive Hunter explain why this list is amazing: “”Fugitizing, captivizing/where’s Abudulah, he’s been hiding/Hijacking, straight surprises/flyin down blowin up high rises/Five hundred soldiers in disguises/hope I can make it out alive/Fugitive Hunter!“

Top 5 least embarrassing game-based movies: If you love games and you love movies, you know that those two passions are pretty much mutually exclusive. All I need to do to instill panic/fear/rage into the heart of a gamer is yell “Uwe Boll!“ or to start quoting a few lines from 1997’s epic Mortal Kombat II. But good ol’ MSNBC here reminds us that life was better in the 1980s, when flicks like Tron and Wargames and The Last Starfighter offered so much more than today’s crap franchise cash-ins. And of course, the very best game movie of all time – The King of Kong also makes an appearance.

The Top Five Game-Inspired Music Videos Man, this one is just awesome. It lists videos that combine creative energy with retro-flavored nostalgia (and awesome music). Music videos, when done right, are incredible short films, and when they incorporate gaming, they’re that much cooler. Plus this list links to one of the most blithely insane videos I’ve ever seen.

Top 5 Most Attractive, Nonsexualized Women in Games Another of Scott Sharkey’s minimalist list masterpieces, this one gets props for not being a sexist babe fest. Girl power, in the form of gaming’s most capable, kick-ass ladies, is undeniably attractive.

Read [Top 5 Most Attractive, Nonsexualized Women in Games] Read [The Top Five Game-Inspired Music Videos]

Full Story » | Written by Danielle Riendeau for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »