For just a moment, take your eyes off your computer screen and settle them somewhere else. Look around you, and really see the colours you’re surrounded by. Now when you’re sure you’ve taken everything in, imagine all of these vibrant shades fading away. Drain your world of texture, hue and saturation. Rid it of colour and experience just how goddamn boring your surroundings suddenly become. Read the rest of this entry »

What is the most common activity that video games have you doing? Is it saving the princess? Or is it mowing down Nazis? In truth it is neither. The one thing that the majority of video games want you to do is simply stay alive. That’s the underlying premise to almost all games (except sports games of course). So what do you get when a game not only recognises that you die, but encourages it? Well you may just get Swarm. Read the rest of this entry »

NanoBITES captures those small but important morsels of gaming information that otherwise might slip between the cracks.

ITEM! Mega Man Universe has been cancelled. As reported by Wired, Capcom declined to elaborate on the decision, stating only that it was made for “various reasons”. The game would have allowed fans to create and publish original Mega Man content.

ITEM! The recent change of government in Victoria may not have done the push for an R18+ rating any favours. As reported by The Age, newly appointed Attorney General Robert Clarke has called for further “scrutiny and public debate”.

ITEM! Insomniac Games has revealed that composer Michael Bross will provide the score for its forthcoming PS3 exclusive Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One. Bross is best known for his contributions to the Oddworld series. The game itself is due for release in spring 2011.

ITEM! Could one of the great racing franchises of the past decade be heading back to the track? Gamerbytes has noted that a project entitled Burnout Crash has been granted a PG rating by the Australian Classification Board. The last entry in the series was 2008’s Burnout Paradise. More on this one as it develops.

ITEM! Notorious vampire slayer BloodRayne is being dragged out of mothballs for her first video game appearance since 2004. A 2D action game, Majesco’s BloodRayne: Betrayal is due to arrive on XBLA and PSN in winter 2011.

Recent instalments of nanoBITES: 31.03.11 l 24.03.11 l 17.03.11 l 10.03.11 l 03.03.11

Renegade Ops: Tyre safety is our business and our passion.

SEGA has announced that it will publish the first downloadable title from Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios. A four player cooperative shooter, Renegade Ops will challenge you to bring down a powerful terrorist organisation headed by a man known only as Inferno.

Though SEGA has revealed precious little about the game, we do know that you’ll be spending most (if not all) of your time behind the wheel of a heavily armed vehicle. This will probably restrict your dinner options, but if you survive the KFC drive-through, the mission itself should be a cinch.

It must be said that the announcement of Renegade Ops is certain to have disappointed the millions awaiting a sequel to The Hunter. Released in 2009, Avalanche’s first person shooter requires players to assassinate Elks, Mules, Pheasants and other suspected terrorists. The wait continues.

Renegade Ops is due for release on XBLA, PS3 and PC in 2011.