russian posts

There are not many games that manage to pull off the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. atmosphere. In fact, it's arguable that STALKER is the only game that manages to do it with any modicum of grace. However, the Russians are not content to let a single developer sit on a post-apocalyptic Russian landscape first-person shooter (what a mouthful!). 4A Games has decided to take the challenge and make their own gritty, realistic, post-apocalyptic shooter. The result is Metro 2033, which arguably does the survivalist atmosphere much better than STALKER. However, there's a number of problems and gameplay differences that make Metro 2033 not so much of a competitor to STALKER. It's more of a companion game, set to showcase all the wonders STALKER could experience if it was completely linear instead of open-ended.

Yesterday reports hit the Internet that the infamous "airport scene" in Modern Warfare 2's PC version had been removed from the game via a patch for Russian audiences. Today the game's publisher Activision has confirmed that is indeed the case but said the decision was made on its own and not based on any reactions to the Russian government.

According to Eurogamer, Activision said that Russia does not have a formal ratings system for games. However they decided to pull the scene from the PC version of the first person shooter which depicts Russian terrorists mowing down civilians in a Moscow airport with the participation of the player character, "after seeking the advice of local counsel." The PC version is the only one that has been released in Russia. Previous reports that the console versions had been recalled were incorrect.

Hammerfall, one of the entries in IGF 2008, has been recently rebranded as Hammerfight. While this doesn't change anything within the actual game, it is accompanied by a new trailer. The trailer is quite good, and shows off the unique gameplay at present in the game. Watch the trailer all the way through for some awesome, bone-crunching action. Some of the things showcased include the control scheme, basics of gameplay, and the story mode.

Hammerfight is a shmup-like game where you control ships with a rather unique array of medieval weaponry. Through use of physical laws such as momentum, you can annihilate all who stand in your way. It's a stunning game as well as a fun one, so definitely keep it on your radar.

[Via TIGSource]