Here is another amazing innovative game from Capcom's studio 4, "Steel Battalion". This game comes with a 49 buttoned controller not including the 3 padals used to control the feet of your giant mecha (vertical tank as there referred to in the franchise).
With this game Capcome, i feel, are making a massive statement to the games industry as they are willing to make a game they know will not get mass sales (costs £130 and is only available on order) yet set out to give the gamers a totally new experience.
Steel battalion acts as a simulator for a science fiction mecha universe. In this world you pilot a giant robot and have to learn its complex control system. There are gauges on the screen that indicate your fuel ammo, several camera options (screen centred at bottom of screen with options to switch view) speed, gradient short range and long ranged map. You can some of the 49 buttons on the controller to radio in a call for ammo and fuel by using the diel to find the relative frequency for the request. You can dump ammo cashes to lighten you load and to avoid risk of internal detonation when under heavy fire.
There is even an injector seat button ( look at controller on video, located very top write) with a flap over it to avoid accidental activation, similar to that of a jet fighter. As well as being a fun feature it also acts as a vital part of the game because you can live to fight another day if thing don't go down as planed during your mission. If not activated and your mecha is destroyed (with you inside), you will lose your data and have to play the game from the start.
Soon to be released will be a new Steel Battalion game making use of both, the normal xbox controller and the xbox connect system.
I'm sure i don't need to stress that Capcom make experiences not just games, as my examples show, the Capcom studios strive to make original games improve them.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Something for every one
The first Devil may cry was released in 2001 and already has 3 sequels.
It is a fast pace hack and slash with a play style so original it became a instant classic.
Capcom's, (studio 4, the same section that produced resident evil) focus on this game was a quick pace, great looking game and with the innovative combo method of using melee weapons along with range made for some combos in which gamers have never seen.
Devil may cry made it possible for players to launch a enemy in the air and suspend them there with gun fire whilst switching to different targets using a verity of ranged lunges and gunplay. Throughout the game a combo meeter would be displayed awarding you with rank depending on the different variety of attacks used whilst simultaneously avoiding damage.
Through its development to DMC4 combo chains have been increased with new moves and weapons.
Unlike Resident Evil though the series has had no serious revamp but instead is slightly tweaked.
Since the release of Devil May Cry many games have mimicked its play style and have grown successful with there own adaptations of combo styles story and art work, Mainly being God Of War.
God of War 3 (2010) GOD OF WAR COMBO MAD Available at youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjTG5LpaG3o Accessed 20/01/12
This link serves its purpose in showing aspects similar to that of the devil may cry franchise clearly showing similarities in play style and camera positioning.
This link serves its purpose in showing aspects similar to that of the devil may cry franchise clearly showing similarities in play style and camera positioning.
Here is an example from DMC1 and DMC 4 respectively. (combo gauge at top write)
Devil May Cry 1 (2007) Devil May Cry 1 - Nelo Angelo 3 Fight (Dante Must Die) Available at youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZYfb6m7z9s Accessed 20/01/2012
I feel this link does not best match some of the innovative combos of devil may cry 1 but does show the average speed in which combat takes place so that you may compare it to the possible speed and combo links in DMC 4.
I feel this link does not best match some of the innovative combos of devil may cry 1 but does show the average speed in which combat takes place so that you may compare it to the possible speed and combo links in DMC 4.
Watch from 1:50 to see good air suspending gun play example
Devil May Cry 4 (2008) DMC4 COMBO MAD Available at youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcFLA3hlRD4&feature=related Accessed 20/102012
Although it is arguable, devil may cry was the first hack and slash to combine, combo's in such a fashioned in a 3d side scrolling game successfully.
This link provides a good taste of what capcom achieved in terms of complex combos and stylish attacks and how they have developed slightly from DMC 1.
Although it is arguable, devil may cry was the first hack and slash to combine, combo's in such a fashioned in a 3d side scrolling game successfully.
This link provides a good taste of what capcom achieved in terms of complex combos and stylish attacks and how they have developed slightly from DMC 1.
Resident Evil Development ( Resident Evil 4 ) 2005
Resident Evil went on to be another very successful franchise but as the years went on, the very methods that made the games so amazing at first became redundant due to better game engines.
In 2005 Capcom took the initiative to revamp the franchise now boasting an evolution in enemy behavioural patterns and highly interactive levels. Through the series, a time line of the events runs true throughout, often referring to characters and events in past games. This along with the development of the main characters gives a deep history of how the story develops and how the original infection from the first game evolves into a more controllable virus which was always been the goal of the villains. This history is one of the key aspects that link the original games to the new as elements of the play style are very different.
Capcoms quick thinking in how to translate aspects of the original Resident Evil games along with the freedom new graphics engines could now offer made sure the game franchise was still successful and stayed very much alive.
The video above shows some of the new features along with the core backbone structures of the originals. For example, you are still stationary when aiming your weapon unlike many third person games, this makes you wary of attacking as to be aggressive also leaves you vulnerable. Managing your ammo and inventory are still a key aspect to the game.
The Resident Evil franchise also boasts many movie adaptations including a fully CGI animated film.
Resident Evil (2002)
Resident Evil Apocalypse (2004)
Resident Evil Extinction (2007)
Resident Evil Degeneration (CGI 2008)
Resident Evil Afterlife (2010)
In 2005 Capcom took the initiative to revamp the franchise now boasting an evolution in enemy behavioural patterns and highly interactive levels. Through the series, a time line of the events runs true throughout, often referring to characters and events in past games. This along with the development of the main characters gives a deep history of how the story develops and how the original infection from the first game evolves into a more controllable virus which was always been the goal of the villains. This history is one of the key aspects that link the original games to the new as elements of the play style are very different.
Capcoms quick thinking in how to translate aspects of the original Resident Evil games along with the freedom new graphics engines could now offer made sure the game franchise was still successful and stayed very much alive.
The video above shows some of the new features along with the core backbone structures of the originals. For example, you are still stationary when aiming your weapon unlike many third person games, this makes you wary of attacking as to be aggressive also leaves you vulnerable. Managing your ammo and inventory are still a key aspect to the game.
The Resident Evil franchise also boasts many movie adaptations including a fully CGI animated film.
Resident Evil (2002)
Resident Evil Apocalypse (2004)
Resident Evil Extinction (2007)
Resident Evil Degeneration (CGI 2008)
Resident Evil Afterlife (2010)
Residnt Evil ( Bio Hazard) 1996
In 1996 Capcom released the first Resident Evil game, Known as "Bio Hazard" in Japan. This is another incredibly popular franchise to this day. It was released for the PlayStation 1 which gave Studio 4 the opportunity to work on a three dimensional environment. The game was the first of its kind creating atmosphere and tension throughout the gaming experience due to studio 4 from Capcom's attention to the small details i.e. the realism of a cartridge bouncing and clattering along the floor, Graphical violence, a acted introduction sequence giving a real human face to the selectable characters and victims and villeins supported by cut scene animations and voice acting throughout the game.
The genre was the first of its kind and was named "A survival Horror"
This example shows the elements that made it a first of its kind. Another factor is the quality of the back ground graphics, these where achieved to due to the fixed camera feature enabling you to view the area from a fixed view point allowing the artists to draw the backgrounds in a finer quality then the moving characters and objects. This helped in creating a visually new and richer looking environment. Along with the innovative loading methods of the doors opening when entering a new area, cinematic's, (zombie eating head in example) a hostile and tense environment was in my opinion, very successfully achieved.
The genre was the first of its kind and was named "A survival Horror"
This example shows the elements that made it a first of its kind. Another factor is the quality of the back ground graphics, these where achieved to due to the fixed camera feature enabling you to view the area from a fixed view point allowing the artists to draw the backgrounds in a finer quality then the moving characters and objects. This helped in creating a visually new and richer looking environment. Along with the innovative loading methods of the doors opening when entering a new area, cinematic's, (zombie eating head in example) a hostile and tense environment was in my opinion, very successfully achieved.
Capcom's Structure and success
After Capcome's rising success the studio had many game divisions working on a variety of games.
Studio 1, as the division is known worked on the "Street fighter" series.
Street fighter one was released in 1987 but the famous "beat em up" wasn't as popular as you might presume until Street Fighter 2 was released in 1991.
Street Fighter 2 was so popular that Capcom capitalised on this opportunity releasing updated versions of the game, Super Street Fighter 2, Hyper Street Fighter 2, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo etc.
Even to the recently released street fighter games to date, characters from street fighter 2 follow the same set of moves and look almost identical, taking in mind graphic enhancements and optional costumes.
Studio 1, as the division is known worked on the "Street fighter" series.
Street fighter one was released in 1987 but the famous "beat em up" wasn't as popular as you might presume until Street Fighter 2 was released in 1991.
Street Fighter 2 was so popular that Capcom capitalised on this opportunity releasing updated versions of the game, Super Street Fighter 2, Hyper Street Fighter 2, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo etc.
Even to the recently released street fighter games to date, characters from street fighter 2 follow the same set of moves and look almost identical, taking in mind graphic enhancements and optional costumes.
A Brief History
Capcom started off life as a company known as IRM corporation in 1979, In Matsubara, Osaka, Japan.
It then went on to make a division known as "Capsule computer co." in 1981 who's main focus was in computer video games. In the next four years, "Capsule Computers co." released several coin operated arcade games, Fever Chance and Little League.
IRM changed there name in 1981 to SAMBI and another division, "Capcom" was created. Capcom's firsts game was Vulgus, a side scroling arcade shooter.
AVulgus 1984 youtube Available at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDCcd3Gc_hU Accessed 20/01/2012
I believe youtube is a brilliant source of video references as there it is the biggest library in the word for video's, this gives a good variety of choices to best suite the point trying to be made (if there is one)
In 1985 Capcom was established in the U.S.A. and in 1989 created a string of popular games, these being, Mega Man, Street Fighter and Final Fight.
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