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At GDC, Google's Marissa Mayer talks up gaming

It's perhaps a sign of how little major game industry news was made at the 2009 Game Developer's Conference that Google's simple announcement of a new series of video game themes for its iGoogle personalized home page was one of the best-attended press functions of the show.

In the midst of a dark, noise-filled warehouse space converted into a temporary gaming hub, complete with Guitar Hero and Street Fighter IV setups, we caught up with Google's ubiquitous vice president of search products and user experience, Marissa Mayer, to talk a little about the company's very … Read more

Hands-on with Resident Evil 5

The March 13 release of Capcom's Resident Evil 5 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (actually something like the 12th game in the series) makes it easily the highest-profile new video game of 2009 so far, and marks the end of the typically dry post-holiday game season.

We've been playing through a preview version of the game for more than a month now, and found it to be a largely successful mix of familiar and new elements. Like all the Resident Evil entries, this is essentially an action game where a somewhat generic protagonist has to travel through creepy houses, compounds, cities, or secret bases, shooting zombies, madmen, and other monsters along the way.

Two key elements separate games of this genre (the awkward Japanese translation is "survival horror") from straight-up shooters. First, there are occasional brain-twisters to solve, such as deciphering a puzzle to open a door; secondly, ammunition for one's firearms is relatively scarce, so making every shot count is important. However, RE5, like its immediate predecessor, Resident Evil 4, tones down both of these gameplay factors, at least compared with earlier games in the series, opting for a more fast-paced (some would say mainstream) approach.

What distinguishes RE5 from its forbearers and imitators is a change of scenery, moving the action to Africa, and trading the traditional Resident Evil look--dark, shadowy nighttime tableaus--for brightly lit, outdoor villages, where sunlight offers no guarantee of safety. This change throws a wrench in the classic "fear of the dark" instinct that we automatically fall back on in movies, video games, and real life. … Read more

Resident Evil 5 to get online gameplay with Versus

What could be better news for a gamer than knowing there will be downloadable content for a game before its release? Capcom just announced Versus mode for Resident Evil 5. So, when you get tired of playing with them, play Versus, and take 'em out. Resident Evil 5 will be available March 13.

According to Capcom, Versus allows up to four players to match wits in online battles across two very different game types. Slayer's Rule is a point-based game that challenges players to kill Majinis. In Survivor's Rule, players hunt the most dangerous game, each other! Players … Read more

Capcom partners with American Red Cross

For gamers, March 13 is a special day. It's the launch of Capcom's Resident Evil 5. What makes this day even more special is Capcom has partnered with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive.

On the way to pick up a copy of Resident Evil 5, gamers in the Los Angeles area will be invited to give back to the community by donating blood at the World of Wonder gallery on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, Calif., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, fans of the series will have the chance to get exclusive limited-edition Resident Evil 5 Blood Drive collectibles, win copies of the game, enter a raffle for one of several exclusive red Xbox 360 Resident Evil limited edition consoles, and most importantly, do their part to help a good cause.… Read more

WiiWare and Virtual Console releases for this week

This week brings us a brand-new Mega Man game sticking true to its 8-bit roots and a classic Dodge Ball game from the NES era.

WiiWare Mega Man 9 (Capcom, 1,000 Wii points): Mega Man 9 is truly an homage to the original classic 8-bit series. Even though the game is brand new with unique stages and bosses, the game has the traditional graphics and gameplay from that of the NES classic franchise. PL?TTCHEN twist 'n' paint (Bplus, 1,000 Wii points): PL?TTCHEN twist 'n' paint is a self-described puzzle-shooter that requires you to paint certain tiles … Read more

E3 2008: Resident Evil 5

'Resident Evil 5' is finally on display at E3 2008. After the blockbuster 'Resident Evil 4,' Capcom is back with a new terrifying tale of an African village during a bioterrorism scare. Now offering online co-op as a major feature of the title, 'Resident Evil 5' looks to appeal to loyal fans of the franchise as well as attract new gamers to the horror genre. 'Resident Evil 5' will ship March 13, 2009, for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Capcom game chair tingles the spine

In the hypercompetitive business of game chairs, it's easy to get carried away. But at least one manufacturer is sticking to the basics.

Rather than adding more external bells and whistles, Capcom's "Reactor Video Game Chair" has concentrated on the chair itself with "eight high-impact vibrating motors" positioned in the upper and lower back as well as the seat "so that every bump or blow is felt by the gamer."

It also comes with head-mounted 3D speakers, according to Slippery Brick, but the best feature in our view is its "variable … Read more

Meeting Mega Man's maker

Yesterday was a big day for Capcom and Mega Man fans, as it saw the launch of Mega Man Star Force, the seventh series in the Mega Man franchise. This was particularly big for over a hundred fans in New York, who gathered at the 33rd Street GameStop to see Mega Man's father. Keiji Inafune, Mega Man's creator and all-around Capcom superstar, came to the GameStop to hand out Mega Man 20th Anniversary T-shirts and sign games.

Inafune wasn't alone, though; an actor in a full Mega Man costume also appeared at GameStop, posing for photos with … Read more

E3 2007: Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

The Resident Evil series had hit a bit of a stagnant spell before 2005's excellent Resident Evil 4 (really something like the 10th game in the franchise) put the zombie-killing train back on track. RE4's recent port to both the PC and Nintendo Wii point to that game's long-term appeal, and served as a good introduction to the third-person "survival horror" (a badly translated Japanese description that seems to have stuck) genre for new fans.

The first Resident Evil game designed specifically for the Wii, The Umbrella Chronicles, isn't nearly as ground-breaking, and in … Read more