It took me five hours [don't laugh] to get this demo to a playable state. The first time that I installed it, it started right up-all happy and evil and stuff. The demo showed me just enough of the opening scenes to make me think, “The graphics look really nice!” and then the screen went black. I could still hear sound…but no sound.

My laptop exceeds the suggested specs so I figured I had a crap install of the demo.

I repaired the download and tried again. Still no dice. I finally deleted the entire thing, and started over. And I ran it in window and FINALLY the game worked and it was still pretty even if it was a little small.

The entire demo took me about 20 minutes. Instead of fluffy white sheep, now you have fluffy white baby seals…and occasionally really pissed off mama seals who try to eat your face.

The two biggest improvements are the ability for your minions to ride mounts and your ability to call “special” minions who have nifty special powers. Other than that, I didn’t see a whole heck of a lot that was different from the first Overlord.

But, I did only play the demo and who really ever does a review on a demo anyway? One of these days I’ll buy the whole game and do a real review.

If you want to play the demo-and I suggest you do cause it is fun-download the demo straight from the Overlord website.

Images|Codemasters

Post from: EveryJoe

Overlord 2 Demo Review

Now, Overlord II is out and I’m downloading the demo for PC. Yay, for downloads. While I’m immersing myself in all things Overlord, I started looking around and found these screens for Overlord Minions on the DS. Yay, for screenshots. Screenshots and a video.

Yay, for videos!

Yay, for screenshots!

Images|Codemasters

Post from: EveryJoe

Overlord Minions for the DS

Lewis Hamilton comes to virtual racing for the first time

F1 2009 will also be the first time Lewis Hamilton will appear in a racing simulation and you’ll be able to sit behind the steering wheel of his McLaren MP4-24 and fight to repeat as FIA Formula One World Champion. The 2009 Formula One season has been exciting and the driving tighter than ever before, thanks to the new regulations and aerodynamics. The introduction of the KERS boost system and the use of slick tires has made this F1 season one for the history books and the changes have been included in F1 2009.

Codemasters is planning on setting new standards for immersion and realistic detail for the Wii with F1 2009, by providing a variety of race modes, including a full Formula One season, a few single player arcade-type challenges, and a competitive multiplayer mode that will allow for wheel-to-wheel split screen co-op races.

The PSP edition of F1 2009 will allow players to compete wirelessly against other gamers and in challenging and satisfying single player modes that are optimized for portable game play.

Codemasters Studios also announced they will be bringing F1 2010 to the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Games for Windows, around the middle of 2010. They’ll be using Codemasters’ EGO Engine Technology to create F1 2010, which gave the BAFTA award-winning Race Driver: Grid its power, so expectations are high.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

F1 2009 Comes to the Wii and PSP

This is one of those press releases that is chocked-full of so much information that I don’t want to cut anything and leave you guys in the lurch.

So, from the release:

Huge Scale – With vast, streaming environments, Damnation’s levels are truly organic 3D spaces that cover miles of horizontal distance and thousands of vertical feet. Players choose from multiple paths and tactics in gigantic landscapes that unfold in all three dimensions. Using exhilarating combinations of swift, flowing movement and combat, players will be faced with frenetic all-action attacks that can come from any direction.

Player Choice and Freedom – It could take up to three hours in real-time travel to get from one end to the other and another three hours to climb to the top. But with acrobatics and vehicles, players are able to get their own routes, as they look at the massive map ahead, above and below them.

“Spirit Vision” – Players can activate the hero’s “Spirit Vision” power to see through walls and anticipate the enemy’s movements.

Daredevil Stunts – Players perform stunning moves at the limits of human ability to jump between ledges, swing on ropes and chains, and traverse vertical surfaces. Zip, slide, vault, shinny, swing and jump through the environment with intelligent AI attacking from all sides, above and below.

Multiplayer – Play through the entire singleplayer campaign in co-op or take it to the next level online with multiplayer. Experience action and tactics in vertical environments with fully enabled “Spirit Vision.”

Pretty rawkin’, don’t you think?

Originally slated for an ‘08 release, now it’s due to hit stores in May.

Images| Codemasters

Post from: EveryJoe

Damnation Screens