Star Trek Review – Beam Me The Hell Out of Here!
Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Digital Extremes
Genre: Third-Person Shooter
Release Date: April 23, 2013
ESRB Rating: Teen
Let’s get the disclaimer out of the way. I’m not a Trekkie. I don’t dislike Star Trek. I’ve just never been a fan. I grew up in the TV show rerun era. I’ve seen most of the movies. They range from really good to laughably bad. J.J. Abrams pulled off a miracle in rebooting Star Trek while tying it into the original universe. It was fantastic. It was so successful that a sequel movie was a no-brainer. It also made sense to produce a video game based on the rebooted hit. I just wish the game was as successful as its movie inspiration.
The game opens with a rather nondescript title screen, which foreshadows things to come. But that Star Trek theme played and anticipation washed over me. You sucker. Movie licensed games suck, right? This one has to be different. It’s Star Trek. Production teams from the movies assisted with the creation of this game in order to create an authentic Star Trek experience. It’s fair to say the production values should have been much higher.
Crowdfund My Carnival: A Game For Children With Cystic Fibrosis
AccessAble Games has a crowdfund campaign going for My Carnival, a game for children with cystic fibrosis. The game’s purpose is to help childrens’ physical therapy through learning to control breathing techniques. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes mucus to be thick and sticky in the lungs and digestive system. It requires daily physiotherapy training.
That’s where My Carnival comes in. Aimed at children ages 3 to 6 years old, the goal is to give players a form of therapy that is more fun and engaging. The game is free, all that is required is a plain old PC microphone.
According to the developer:
“My Carnival” will be set in a fun fair with booths giving access to different minigames. In one minigame, for instance, players control a water stream to fill up coloured water balloons only with their breathing.
Their primary “tipping point” goal is to reach $29,000 while their ultimate goal is to raise $40,000. They have 22 days to go and have so far earned $1270. There are, of course, various levels of support based upon the dollar amount.
You can do a good thing and contribute to their crowdfund.
AccessAble Games focuses on making games and apps with specific players in mind, such as children with autism or cerebral palsy.
AGL Video Game Character Draft Final Rounds
The end of the AGL Video Game Character Drafts is here with the final rounds, 6 and 7. It is clear the GMs are digging deep with some nostalgia sprinkled in with some surprising picks.
Round 6
Shibuya Reapers – Vectorman – Vectorman
Metro City Brawlers – Albert Wesker – Resident Evil
Raccoon City Tyrants – Kratos – God of War
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Manny Calavera – Grim Fandango
Round 5
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Sonic – Sonic the Hedgehog
Raccoon City Tyrants – Corvo Attano – Dishonored
Metro City Brawlers – GLaDOS – Portal
Shibuya Reapers – Sanae Hanekoma – The World Ends With You
AGL Video Game Character Draft Rounds 4 and 5
The second to last day for the AGL Video Game Character Draft features rounds 4 and 5.
Round 4
Shibuya Reapers – Magus– Chrono Trigger
Metro City Brawlers – Sephiroth – Final Fantasy VII
Raccoon City Tyrants – Smoke – Mortal Kombat
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – King – Tekken
Round 5
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Lara Croft – Tomb Raider
Raccoon City Tyrants – Vergil – Devil May Cry
Metro City Brawlers – Augustus Cole – Gears of War
Shibuya Reapers – Chin Gentsai – King of Fighters
AGL Video Game Character Draft Rounds 2 and 3
The AGL Video Game Character Draft rounds 2 and 3 are in the books. Here are the breakdowns:
Round 2
Shibuya Reapers – Alucard – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Metro City Brawlers – Samus Aran – Metroid
Raccoon City Tyrants – JC Denton – Deus Ex
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Gordon Freeman – Half-Life
Round 3
Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes – Shodan – System Shock
Raccoon City Tyrants – Ezio Auditore – Assassin’s Creed
Metro City Brawlers – Akuma – Street Fighter
Shibuya Reapers – Ness – Earthbound
We’ll have the final rounds for you tomorrow and grade the AGL’s teams drafts.
AGL Video Game Character Draft – Reapers Select Link
The final pick in the first round of the AGL Video Game Character Draft, going fourth overall to the Shibuya Reapers, Link from the Legend of Zelda.
Defender of Hyrule, savior of princesses, nemesis of pig-like megalomaniacs, this Hylian kid brings courage and power to his new squad. He helped popularize an entire genre of gaming. He plays a mean ocarina too. It is not known at this time if Navi will be accompanying Link to Shibuya. Here’s hoping she doesn’t.
AGL Video Game Character Draft – Brawlers Choose Mega Man
The Metro City Brawlers made a surprise choice in reaching for Mega Man for their first round pick, third overall in the AGL Video Game Character Draft.
Mega Man may seem like a stretch as a first round pick, but it’s hard to find a more adaptable character in the video game universe. The guy can turn practically anything into a weapon.
This 8-bit star just celebrated his 25th anniversary. The Brawlers think there’s plenty left in his E-Tank.
AGL Video Game Character Draft – Tyrants Draft Shepard
The Raccoon City Tyrants have taken Commander Shepard from the Mass Effect trilogy as the second overall pick in the AGL Video Game Character Draft.
Commander Shepard is the first human ever to join the Spectres. He commands the SSV Normandy. He has consistently proven himself a leader and has saved the galaxy on many occasions. He’s even died and come back to life, once.
When asked about becoming the second overall pick, he had this to say to the rest of the league, “I hope you’re up for some competition.”
Attaboy, Shepard.
AGL Video Game Character Draft First Overall Pick
For the first overall pick of the 2013 AGL Video Game Character Draft, the Vault 101 Tunnel Snakes have chosen Snake from the Metal Gear Solid series.
This FOXHOUND operative seems to be quite a logical choice for the Tunnel Snakes. The veteran of many campaigns against various Metal Gear war machines, a rogue FOXHOUND, and a host of bizarre enemies, including clones of himself.
We are attempting to locate Snake. He is in attendance of the draft, but we could only find a cardboard box in the Green Room.
AGL Draft Team Preview: Shibuya Reapers
Our final team preview for the draft highlights the Shibuya Reapers.
How many shopping districts can boast their own AGL team? Shibuya can. The Reapers and GM Fred expect to transcend Shibuya’s own Reapers’ Game. Their opponents may enjoy road trips to Shibuya, but the Underground is a huge home field advantage for the Reapers.
Where GM Fred goes in this draft is anyone’s guess.
