Gunslinger Gaming

We all know the classic game Goldeneye 007 for the Nintendo 64. Who could ever forget the extraordinary gameplay and crazy missions that really showed us what a First Person Shooter should be like.  It is considered one of the most influential FPS designs ever developed.

Looking back now Goldeneye is a highly praised classic no one will soon forget! Now the question is are you ready for the re-imagined version exclusively for Nintendo Wii? Activision is hard at work to bring us the next version of our favorite classic. It is due out November 2 of this year and many gamers are on the edge of their seats in suspense.  Here is the debut trailer everyone has been dying to see!

To discuss this game further with fellow Gunslinger Gaming members go here.

Source: Gamespot.com

By now and thanks to 2010’s E3, many gamers have heard of Sony’s intention of releasing their answer to Nintendo’s WiiMote with the Playstation Move. It promises to move the Playstation 3 towards the direction of providing motion-controlled gameplay experience.

Of course, that is going to need game developers producing titles that are compatible with the Playstation Move. Here is a list of the first twelve titles announced by Sony that will support the new control scheme:

Sorcery

Kung-Fu Rider

The Fight: Lights Out

Heroes On The Move

SingStar Dance

Sports Champions

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11

Killzone 3

SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy Seals

LittleBigPlanet 2

EyePet

Time Crisis Razing Storm

You discuss this topic and join other Playstation 3 topics in the Gunslinger Gaming Forums.

The Activision blockbuster franchise, Call of Duty, has always focused bringing realistic warfare from the past and present into the hands of gamers. That may change, however, into a more Star Wars-like future.

Activision has secured the website domain names callofdutyfuturewarfare.com, callofdutyfuturewarfare2.com, callofdutyfuturewarfare3.comcallospacewarfare2.com, spacewarfare3.com, secretwarfare2.com, secretwarfare3.com, Advancedwarfare2.com, and Advancedwarfare3.com.

All these domain choices seem to point towards Call of Duty moving the battle into space.

[Source: SuperAnnuation]

Discuss this news and other Call of Duty related topics at the Gunslinger Gaming Forums.

Play the Flash version of Call of Duty 2 in the Gunslinger Gaming Arcade.

There are few things that make gamers groan faster than a rumor about a company starting to charge for online access to their games, but, in Nintendo’s case, it may be more than merely a rumor.

According to Shigeru Miyamoto, the Senior Managing Director of Nintendo, during a recent interview with Edge online magazine, the tradition of free access may come to an end.

“Probably the other thing that we are desperate to realize is the core [online] business structure. Do we need to demand customers pay monthly fees to enjoy online activities? Or give an online subscription that is free of charge, but then offer something extra for people that pay, so that they get some extra value? With these core business strategies, I think we are less active than we should be.” -Shigeru Miyamoto

[Source: Edge]

Discuss this and other Nintendo related topics in the Gunslinger Gaming Forums.

It is hard to believe that probably one of the most legendary video game characters in history has turned thirty years old. It is no secret that Pac-Man has not meshed well into later generations of video games, let alone the 3D graphics era led by the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and the Playstation 3.

Is Pac-Man out for the count?

Namco, the makers of the Pac-Man franchise, is giving a resounding “No,” and they plan to issue the rebuttal officially during E3. Avi Arad, the once CEO of Marvel Comics and film producer, is geared to unveil this generation’s Pac-Man.

[Source: Gamespot]

You can discuss this and other retro topics within the Gunslinger Gaming forum.
Play the online flash version of the original Pac-Man at the Gunslinger Gaming Arcade.

The fact that Hollywood is eager to make a movie adaption of the highly successful Uncharted franchise by Naughty Dog and Sony should come as no surprise. The game played like a movie and drew heavy influence from the action film genre, perhaps more so than it did from previous platform games.

Sony Pictures are starting to narrow down the possibilities as to who will be filling the director’s seat. David O’ Russell, who directed Three Kings, but may be better known for his dead-pan comedy efforts, Spanking the Monkey and I [Heart] Huckabees is at top of the list.

If the director choice is raising any red flags, the choice of screenwriters won’t help. According to the LA Times, the script has been penned by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer. The pair of screenwriters didn’t gain a whole lot of attention with their previous efforts: Sahara and Sound of Thunder.

[Source: Los Angeles Times]

Discuss this topic, other Playstation 3 topics, and even swap PSNs for Uncharted 2 in the Gunslinger Gaming forum.

While the first Super Mario Galaxy was well received by fans and critics alike, it was criticized for having an unsatisfying multiplayer option. A second player had to be content with merely moving around a cursor and collecting fire bits while the first player had all the real fun.

Nintendo seems ready to answer that call of improvement with Super Mario Galaxy 2. Now, according to pre-released demo versions, the second player may still be in a supportive role, but he/she can have a significant impact on the game by collecting fire bits, attacking enemies, grabbing power-ups and extra lives, and even shake the remote to knock villains out of Mario’s path. The second player can also offer encouragement as a neat little bonus by means of cheering and coin collecting sound effects issued from the WiiMote at the second player’s cue.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 is due to hit the shelves May 23rd, 2010.
[Source: Gamespot.com]

You can discuss this topic and other Nintendo Wii related news at the Gunslinger Gaming Forums.

The Beta version of the forthcoming Halo: Reach game for Microsoft’s Xbox360 is scheduled to go public May 2nd, 2010. Bungie, the game developer behind the Halo franchise, is offering it as a free download to any one who owns a copy of Halo 3: ODST.

Discuss other Xbox related topics at the Gunslinger Gaming forum.

After the running of various promotional videos on the Nintendo Channel, the much anticipated Metroid sequel, Metroid:  Other M, has been delayed in release until August 31st, 2010.  No definitive reason has been issued.

Metroid:  Other M, which is being developed by Team Ninja for first time in the franchise’s history, is departing from the immensely successful 3D first person shooter approach.  Instead, it will infuse 2D game play and simplified controls as a throwback homage to the original NES and SNES origins.

Recently, we had the chance to catch up with Mercedes Rose, the voice of Rosalina in Super Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart Wii (both published on the Nintendo Wii), and asked her a few questions about her experiences working with Nintendo and her creative process in general.  Below is what we found out:

GS:  We at GunslingerGaming.com are collectively excited to have you, the voice actor of Rosalina in both Mario Kart Wii and Super Mario Galaxy, take the time to share your experiences.  Our members would like to thank you for bringing to life such a popular Nintendo character.

What got you into voice acting?

Mercedes Rose:  Honestly? I became a voice actress completely by accident! I was a film and commercial actress and my agent sent me to an audition one day. When I got there I realized it was a VOICE audition. I had never done one but I jumped right in and had fun with it. Must have worked because I booked the gig. The rest is, as they say, history. And I thank my lucky stars (and agent) every day for the chance to have a career that I love. It’s a good thing to because I have very few other marketable skills…Yes. I do talk for a living.

GS:  You have done everything from television promos to acting in feature films.  How did the role of Rosalina come about?

Mercedes Rose:  The role of Rosalina came about the traditional way:  my voice agent got the call for the character and a ton of us auditioned for the role.  A few weeks later I got the call that the role was mine.  Then I googled the game and realized it was a HUGE deal!

GS:  For all of us unfamiliar with how voice acting works, can you explain how the process is commonly done?  What is the average work day for a voice actor?

Mercedes Rose:  The basic process is a client (such as an ad agency or in the case of games, a gaming developer) makes what is known as a “breakdown” – a list of characters and voice descriptions – needed for a particular project.  Then they contact a voice agent (mine is the amazing In Both Ears).  The agent then sends out a “casting notice” with all the important information to any talent that fits the breakdown.  The talent record in their home studios and send in mp3 files of the auditions.  The agency then goes through and submits the best of the auditions to the client.  The client may listen to every second of every read or may listen to 4 seconds of 5 reads and then picks who they want!  Then the chosen one usually goes into a studio and records with the client (and often the writer, producer, executives and the like) present.  Voice acting is extremely competitive.  And can be extremely lucrative.

An “average day” for a voice actor?  There is no such thing!  Many voice actors have day jobs to provide a stable income that supplements their voice work.  I am very blessed to be able to focus only on my acting career.  Daily work includes voice auditions, voice recording for clients, practicing, editing files, invoicing clients, and looking for the next gig!

GS:  What sort of acting choices did you make and/or performance directions were you given when voicing Rosalina?

Mercedes Rose:  My idea behind Rosalina was that she was a very young but wise mother-type.  So, really she is just me!  I kept it very simple and just did what came naturally.

GS:  What was your favorite part of your experience voice acting for Nintendo?

Mercedes Rose:  The entire experience, from audition to the recording session to answering fan letters, has been fantastic.  Nintendo is an incredible gaming machine and I am thrilled to be a part of the family!

GS:  Are you interested in doing more voice acting for video games?  What type of games?

Mercedes Rose:  You’re joking, right?  Of course I would love to do more game acting!  In fact, I have done a few more games but due to non-disclosure agreements I can’t talk about any of them until they are released!  But- yes.  I would love to do a ton of gaming work.  My hero of the voice world is Lani Minella.

GS:  Are you going to be involved in Super Mario Galaxy 2?

Mercedes Rose:  Well, that is the million dollar question isn’t it?  Let me say this- if you liked my work as Princess Rosalina, it can’t hurt to email, blog, Twitter and the like that you want Princess Rosalina back!

GS:  The inner nerd in all of us must ask.  Do you own a Nintendo Wii?  If so, what games?

Mercedes Rose:  I love my Wii!  Of course I bought Super Mario Galaxy and Mario Kart Wii the day they released.  My kids have a bunch of games but I am more of a Wii Fit kind of girl.  Although I throw a mean gutter ball in Wii bowling.

GS:  For our members interested in voice acting as a career, what advice could you impart on them based from your professional experience?

Mercedes Rose:  Learn all you can, treat it like a very fun hobby that you could potentially make money at, know that it is way harder then it looks (or sounds) and expect to suck before you rock.

GS:  What project can we look forward to seeing you in next?  Is there a website fans can visit to learn more about your upcoming projects?

Mercedes Rose:  I have a few things coming out in the next little bit.  My pet project is a comedy series called The Paranormalists – basically the Ghostbusters meets The Office. Check it out at www.theparanormalists.org.  Keeping an eye on my IMDb page is also a great way to stay in the loop.  Then there is my personal acting website www.mercedesrose.com. Really, it is easy to keep up with what I am doing- I am a social networking fiend.  Facebook and Twitter rule!

GS:  Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions.  We sincerely appreciate it, and we all wish you the very best in all your future performances.