The eighth iteration of the Nintendo Voice Chat has just been released. The show discussed quite a number of games such as Electronic Arts' Boom Blox and Sega's Iron Man for the DS (also available on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC, and Playstation Portable) as well as a few of the storage issues on the Wii. To find out more, check out the full article.

Download: Nintendo Voice Chat Ep.8

 

Based on the book by Philip Pullman, Sega's upcoming game, The Golden Compass, shows us that the fantasy adventure genre has yet unmeasured depths yet to be plumbed. In an interview by PSU with Dax Berg, lead designer of the game, he gives us some in depth info about The Golden Compass.

Sticking closely to the plot of the book, the game features Lyra Belacqua and her shape-shifting daemon companion, Pantalaimon, as they travel through the frozen wastes of the North in search of their friend after being kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers.

Dax Berg tells us in detail about the unique abilities Lyra's companion has to help her on her quest:

When the player takes on the role of Lyra, they play as both Lyra and Pan - one cohesive unit. Pan can shape- shift into many different forms, all of which perform a unique set of tasks for the player. In the traversal aspect of play, using Pan’s variety of forms allows the player access to areas that Lyra could not reach without Pan’s help.

Shifting from one form to the next while moving across familiar (and unfamiliar universe environments) provides a very entertaining gameplay element. Pan can become 4 animal daemon shapes including a hawk, which allows Lyra to glide across areas that might be too far to jump. An ermine, which helps her to balance on unstable or narrow beams. A wild cat, that enables her to climb up walls. And a sloth form that, like a monkey, gives her the ability to swing from platform to platform. When a player controls Iorek gameplay shifts into a more interactive 3rd person combat game with attack combos and special action throws.

There won't be any multiplayer or online capabilities for the game, however it has been revealed that it will be utilizing the SIXAXIS wireless controller for some of Lyra's skills and some of the interactive mini-games involved.

The Golden Compass is slated for a release this December 4, three days before the actual film's release. It will be coming out on all platforms, including the PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, DS and Wii.

Buy: The Golden Compass (PS3)

Buy: The Golden Compass (360)

Buy: The Golden Compass (Wii)

Buy: The Golden Compass (PSP)

 

A new batch of screenshots for Sega's The Golden Compass is out. Faithfully created to match the feel and sensibility of the movie, The Golden Compass is about Lyra Belaque and her quest to rescue her uncle in prison and her kidnapped best friend. Travelling with her on her quest is Pantalaimon, a daemon, and Iorek, the armored bear. The Golden Compass is her one true way to lead her on her journey.

The Golden Compass will be released in time with the movie on December 2007 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC.

PS3 Screenshots:

Wii Screenshots:

A video game based on a movie that is based on a book doesn't have to be disappointing. Many have been successful and amazing adaptations. And being avid readers as well as gamers, we have to admit our bias for this upcoming adaptation: "The Golden Compass" is going to be a video game.

The image below is of Lyra and Iorek Byrnison, a huge Panserbjorne or armored bear.

 

About the game. Sega of America Inc. and Sega Europe Ltd. announced that a "His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass" game is under development by Shiny Entertainment (acquired last year as another subsidiary of the very busy Foundation 9 Entertainment). This big, multi-platform project is based on the movie adaptation (out later this year) of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy of books.

• The game lets you assume the role of Lyra (we're not sure if you can also take the role of the daemon Pantalaimon).
• You can also assume the role of Iorek Byrnison.
• You travel to the north to beat The Gobblers (we assume the so-called "anti-Christian" sections of the trilogy will not be very relevant to the game and the movie in order to appeal to a wider audience).
• Release date is around Christmas 2007. Consoles: Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3), Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360. Handhelds: Nintendo DS and Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP). There is also going to be a PC version.

Shiny Entertainment created Earthworm Jim, MDK, and Sacrifice; those three games sold well, were critically acclaimed, and continue to be critically acclaimed. Shiny Entertainment also brought us the often-maligned Enter The Matrix - which got mixed reviews because it looked unpolished and rushed, so let us hope that the "His Dark Materials" game will follow in the footsteps of Sacrifice instead of Enter The Matrix.

About the movie. "His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass" will be released December 2007 by New Line Cinema.

About the books. If you like reading books (even those that don't have pictures), Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy is worth considering. Reviews of the award-winning trilogy (Whitbread, Carnegie, Astrid Lindgren) are available online.

Pfhreak introduces Daemon, his homebrew game for the Nintendo DS. The game is quite unfinished, but since he's trying to pitch it for the PAlib competition, he's tossing in the game "for consumption".

Daemon is a top down scrolling shooter that lets players assume the role of a highly-advanced "space superiority fighter". Instead of a human pilot trying to save the Earth, players are a complex computer algorithm that can change itself and the ship according to the needs of the battlefield.

Initially weak, the ship may welcome three types of upgrades: chassis/powerplant, Navigation/Computation, and Weapons/Munitions. There is a variety of choices - six in this incomplete version, and up to 30 in the complete version - most of which come with a prerequisite.

Aside from slot upgrades, the ship can also "refactor" to increase overall power. In the refactoring process, the ship examines which upgrades the player prefers and creates a more powerful and more upgradeable hull for the player to fly in. With more refactoring, the hull becomes more defined. The current version though supports only one tier of refactoring.

Large enemies are also supported in Daemon. Behaviors and attack patterns will still need some work although this release will already see them moving and "dying" correctly. Expect a long story arc exploring the nature of the player and the war the game is set in plus homeworld-style cinemas for areas in between levels in the final game.

Controls for the game are as follows:

• D-Pad: Move the player
• Stylus: Places Targeting reticule. Hold the stylus on screen to fire.
• L-Trigger: Fires at the targeting reticule without the need for the stylus to fire.
• R-Trigger: Enters upgrades menu. (While in the upgrades menu, hold the stylus over a location to view the properties. Releasing the stylus over the location will select it. To select nothing, just release the stylus over an empty space.)
  

This release prefers hardware over emulation. It is 1.24MB and includes .nds, .sc.nds, and ds.gba. Click on the download link and enjoy this release while Pfhreak works on the final game.

Download: [Daemon for DS]