Rock, Paper, Shotgun

It’s impossible to resist a demo of a game called Handball Challenge Training Camp. What could it be? Diego Maradona’s guide to winning at foot-to-ball? Er, another joke relating to a sport I don’t understand? No no, it’s a German game of Handball simulation. Knowing you, you probably know all about handball already. I sure didn’t. But then, I’m still not quite sure what rugby league is. So if you want to play it in gaming form, perhaps even to discover its very existence, you can totally do that now.

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Stardock’s forthcoming strategy game, Elemental, is looking rather interesting. It kicks off with the player mooching about, alone in the world, and ends up with you directing a colossal dynastic 4X empire-building game with user-generated content and a hefty multiplayer offering. Last week we talked to Stardock CEO Brad Wardell to get a bit more information about the user-generated content, multiplayer sessions lasting six months, and the world-building collaboration with publisher, Random House.
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EDIT: Now with trailer, below.

There’s a big number ’2′ on the front page of TheWitcher.com. I think it might mean something. But what? I’m pretty sure it’s related to the number of eggs the CEO of CD Projekt RED likes in his ham and mushroom omlettes, but then I’ve been know to be wrong before. I mean, some people think could be something to do with there being a sequel to quietly huge RPG The Witcher, but c’mon, who makes sequels to videogames these days?

The site forbids any interaction at the moment, but I suspect it’ll relax that very, very soon. (Now, in fact.)
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Because we really probably should post it even though no-one has the time to take it properly to task. I suspect we’d have said something similar to The Sixth Axis’ Open letter to ITV. You have to feel for C&VG’s Tim Ingham, who even by appearing on the show is pretty damn brave. Putting aside the research seemingly pulled from thin air, the latter-day attempt to link the Bulger killing to videogames is openly disgraceful. Watch and despair.

UPDATE: C&VG Uncover some interesting stuff about the vehemently anti-violent entertainment Julie Peasgood. She voice-acted in the old, terrible game Martian Gothic. The word you’re looking for is “Hypocrite”. It doesn’t mean that she’s particularly judgmental of large, African water-dwelling mammals.
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Today, because someone told me to, I’ve taken a look at the winner of the Student Showcase from this year’s IGF. It’s called Continuity. It’s one of those Good Ideas.

It’s a cross between a sliding tile puzzle and a platform game. If you’ve been a long-term sufferer of mediocre-to-crap adventure games, the words “sliding tile puzzle” should drive a spike made of terror directly into your heart, but fear not, it’s not that way at all. Instead you must find variant ways the small scenes can be perfectly aligned (from one of four sides) to others, thus allowing your little stick man to move from one to the next. In pursuit of keys.

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It’s an indie adventure based on Hamlet and out April 8th. That would probably be enough to justify a quick post. When the full title is “Hamlet or last game without MMORPG elements, shaders and product placement”… well, we’re only human. More info on their site, and footage follows…
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Tim Ashcroft gave me the nod on this, which I’d spotted around but hadn’t actually got around to playing. As usual, more fool me. Desktop Dungeons is a short-form rogue game, with almost everything you’d expect in a more traditional game crammed into something you can burn through in 10 minutes. It ends up feeling like a cross between a Rogue game and Minesweeper, with a splash of Patience. I suspect many of you will find a permanent space for it on your laptop, and I explain why below…
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While rumours have been flying up and down the gaming grapevine for the last few weeks, it’s been confirmed that issue 31 of Total PC Gaming will be its swan song. In its run it moved from being a magazine-only cheaper more-pages format, to matching PC Gamer/PC Zone’s DVD-covermount plus higher price model – which I always thought a shame, but also a sensible way to help its bottom line. This leaves Future having a duopoly on PC Games magazines in the UK, with their PC Gamer and PC Zone. Our best wishes to everyone involved. Good luck in finding a fine landing.

Last week I had a chat with Stardock boss Brad Wardell, and I’ve chopped the transcripts into two bits to be posted today and tomorrow. In this first part we talk about Impulse and Stardock’s attempts to rival GFWL and Steamworks with its Impulse Reactor tools. It’s an interesting response to living in the shadow of both Steam and Games For Windows Live, and it’ll be even more interesting to see how many developers and publishers now adopt them. Does all this promise, as one reader mailed in, “Steam, but better?“
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Sundays are for getting up early so you can go and visit a friend in Brighton, which means getting up even earlier to make sure you can compile a list of the fine (mostly) games related reading which caught your eye across the week, while trying to resist linking to a POP!!!! song.

• Soren Johnson does an overview of the whole Social Warfare over Social Gaming situation, and adds a little of his own editorial spin and contextualisation. If you want something that looks a little further than flag-waving, this is it.
• Laura Michet writes about Sim Ant, having almost played it as a kid. Nice thinking. If I look at my own history, The Ones Which Got Away are some of the fun ones. Why did I never really persevere with Lord of Midnight, eh?

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I failed to compile a bargain bucket as early as usual this week. I did however succeed in helping my Sister move house, so that’s something. I was absent last week too, since I was no way near a computer. I still love you though! My sister asked me to find some cheap games for her as a moving in present, and I though I might as well share them with you lovely people. I’m not going to be around next week either, since I am at pax (PAX!). If you’re going to be there, make sure to tell me via twitter and you can say hello, and punch me for my constant assault on your bank balance (please don’t punch me). SavyGamer, as always, is you hub for cheap gaming. Onto the bargains.

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