Activision sent out an Executive to address the media on Activision’s publishing path and highlighted some of their important upcoming titles. Two of the publishing giant’s most important upcoming titles are Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 and a new IP based on our favourite dragon , Spyro in Skylanders Spyro’s Adventures.
Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011
Developer: Activision
Genre(s): Other Sports Games
Rating: T
Available on: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii and Nintendo DS
Activision explains that the Cabela’s Hunt franchise has grown at an astronomical rate and so has become a very important brand for the publisher despite being a ‘hunting’ game. It was also revealed that South Africa and the US are the most flourishing markets for the franchise.
The human gaming specie is a strange one – we don’t mind massacre and gore when it comes to ‘blowing a person’s head off in a game’, but not animals. So you needn’t worry, there is no blood and guts.
The game’s looked interesting now, due to its importance, the latest title’s campaign even follows a storyline now, with cinematic and all. The game comes with a hot gun peripheral – the ‘Top Shot Elite’ wireless hunting controller. The gun looks and feels fantastic – it is a fully adjustable, scoped, pump-action rifle with added buttons and analogue stick. I was simply amazed at the quality of the gun. Being a gaming peripheral, it is brightly coloured so you can’t go robbing banks with it.
The game’s lead character is Cole Rainsford, who, along with his father, is on an African safari to hunt dangerous possessed animals that are terrorizing locals. Dangerous Hunts 2011 also features on rails multi-level multiplayer modes.
The game was fun for a low-key shooting experience with the gun elevating the experience nicely. I think I would have been one of those ‘sensitive’ gamers had it been too much, but it was definitely a light experience when it comes to hunting itself.
Skylanders Spyro’s Adventures
Developer: Toys for Bob
Genre(s): Platformers
Rating: All
Available on: Wii
Again, Skylanders Spyro’s Adventures was described as a mega new IP for the publisher put together by industry veterans and featuring the lovable Spyro. Developer, Toys for Bob integrate toys with games from the Spyro universe so players will be able to purchase and place all of the line’s 31 action figures on a “portal” to loads characters in to game. The action figures are the memory card per say, so when visiting a mate to play multiplayer, you need only to take the figurine to load your data.
The veterans behind the game are; Shrek character designer Tom Hester, Toy Storywriters Alec Sokolow and Joel Cohen, and Inception composer Hans Zimmer are all attached to the project.
If you are into casual platformers, keep an eye on this one.
X-Men Destiny
Developer: Silicon Knights
Publisher: Activision
Genre(s): Action
# of players: 1 Player
Available on : Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo DS and Wii
Megarom did not go into too much detail on X-Men Destiny, just highlighting how the series has grown [as the games have gotten better – ZG] and the latest should do better still.
Again, the game will not be a tie-in to movie which usually hampers games. The most important feature is that you will control your own destiny in the game. So you will for the first time, be able to customise the abilities, develop and guide your own character to become your own mutant superhero – something fans have been wanting.
Transformers Dark of the Moon
Developer: High Moon Studios
Publisher: Activision
Genre(s): Action
Rating: T
Available on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS and Wii
The new Transformers title’s events will be a prelude to the movie as not to spoil movie or gaming experience. Building on the successful War for Cybertron, Dark of the Moon continues the high standard and adds some.
A new ‘Stealth Force’ mode evolves the transforming aspect which allows you to instantly convert to a third, hybrid state that combines the weapons and firepower of robot mode with the agility and manoeuvrability of vehicle mode. A brand-new gameplay mechanic also makes its way to Dark of the Moon promising more intuitive controls than before.
Huge unique environments around the world such as the Jungles of South America, Siberian military facilities and Detroit City will feature where players assume the roles of a diverse roster of our favourite Transformers. The voice work will be from the all-star cast doing the movie.
