Transformers 2 is coming equipped with multiple online modes that will allow Autobots and Decepticons to battle it out to the brutal end as you will see in this new video. This writer is most excited about the possibility of utilizing StarScream, the Decepticon who can transform into a jet and get out of a sticky situations. Gotta love that.

According to Joystiq, Infinity Ward’s 2007 Game of The Year, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has reached 13 million XboxLIVE users. This is an incredible milestone for a multiplatform title.  It was also mentioned that not even World of Warcraft, the ever popular PC icon has yet to reached this plateau.

The XboxLIVE faithful are among the most hardcore gamers on the planet and with the robust flexibility of XboxLIVE these record setting numbers are becoming commonplace. Modern Warfare 2 definitely has it’s work cut out.

Bioshock 2 will be released in Europe first on October 30, 2009. Shortly thereafter it will be released in the U.S. on November 3, 2009.

New Screenshots & Interview Video of the 3rd person action-adventure known as DARK VOID. This looks like a promising title which is releasing as a multiplatform title.

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Great new screenshots of Aliens vs Predator from IGN. This PC-remake might be a console shooter contender for 2010. ThEvolution Network will have more on this title from E3.

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ThEvolution Network will be on location at this year’s E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) to bring you the most up-to-date event coverage. We look forward to bringing you interviews, game impressions and other interesting gaming updates. This year’s event is expected to be huge, so ThEvolution Network will be working hard to get you show coverage each day of the event.

Be sure to check out the E3 ‘09 floor plan below.

E3 ‘09 FLOOR PLAN

Oh yeah, an Xbox 360 bundle featuring both Gears of War and Gears of War 2 is on the way as Microsoft Australia has just announced. This wonderful new limited edition bundle comes loaded with an Xbox 360 Pro, Gears of War 1 & 2, Xbox 360 controller and a sick looking red-themed Gears of War console box.

This new bundle will be available June 4th and will retail for $449 AU. Hopefully this awesome new bundle can make it state side soon after.

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Alright folks, ya boy E_Stone is at it again with some serious criticisms thrown at a particular style of game play that I feel is somewhat lacking and quite frankly a step in the wrong direction for next gen video game interaction.

For lack of a better term let’s call it the ‘Match The Button’ game play. It’s when the game prompts you with an icon that matches the buttons on the game controller. If you fail to press the corresponding button in a certain amount of time the game will progress accordingly, usually in a negative way. A couple of games which incorporate this type of game play are God of War and the up and coming Sony exclusive Heavy Rain.

Okay folks here is my beef with this type of game play. The whole purpose of playing a video game is to interact with or within the game in such a manner that enables the player to choose and perform a variety of amazing feats or to simulate real world actions. A given player is challenged to progress through the game and gain the necessary skills to perform these varied feats of amazement which are usually executed by learning unique move sets, gaining character attributes, utilizing power ups, operating weaponry, etc. It is these abilities that separates the scrubs from the skilled players in any given game. When game designers decide to utilize the ‘Match The Button’ game play style as the primary method of interaction in their video games, it might be consider a design cop out, non innovative, and lazy!

Here’s my reason:

Why would you spend $65 on a game when all it basically asks the gamer to do is press a particular button on time? Is it not the year 2009 and systems like the Wii have created video game interaction on a whole new level, which have resulted in the Wii’s great success, but a game like Heavy Rain takes you a step back and ask the gamer to press buttons instead of trying to immerse the player and have him or her perform exciting moves to evade, defend, and attack. Instead, you are regulated to matching icons. Wow! As a paying customer who has spent over $350 on a video game system is this the type of game play innovation we should accept?

Another example is the great God of War. This game is perfect, right? Not really. Why? Again, matching on-screen icons with buttons on my controller is a cheap form of interaction. For example, you are engaged in one of the many amazing boss fights (from a graphical standpoint), you run around jumping, ducking, and dodging trying to get yourself into position for a well placed strike. Here lies the problem- to execute this strike you have to match and press the buttons that appear on screen to pull off the move. Huh? Wait a minute here, users want to pull of THIER OWN MOVE! users want to execute punishment on the menacing creature in THEIR OWN WAY! But this is not possible with ‘Match The Button’ game play. What ends up happening is the same thing over and over and over. You, your best friend, your little 3rd grade brother, even your mom could play this game and the same outcome will result, as long as they match and press the buttons on time. There is no uniqueness associated to whoever is playing the game which, to this writer, lends to less immersion.
Some may disagree with this topic but a lot of you will agree and understand that is not innovation. As gamer do you want to invest a lot of time into a game and all it requires you to do is match on screen icons to perform a predetermined set of moves that you have no control of? As a gamer, it is great when you are able to destroy an enemy in your own way and then watch your friend play the same level and create their own way of handling the same situation based on their skill sets and thinking. Match the button game play robs the gamer of this important experience and basically turns a next gen game into a glorified form of Simon Says. What do you think?

Power to the Players!!!!