Mom's Minute

New Just Released Screenshot for The Walking Dead

Telltale Games has relesed new screenshots for The Walking Dead video game.  According to the company's co-founder and CEO, Dan Connors, The Walking Dead video game is expected to be submitted for approval for play on the Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network shortly.

The announcement was revealed during an interview with Digital Trends at the Game Developer's Conference held in San Francisco last week. The approval process is said to take about six weeks, with the game possibly coming out soon after. 

The Walking Dead is a multi-platform video game that will also be playable on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  The game has 5 parts and is a combination horror adventure game series. The Walking Dead is based on Robert Kirkman's groundbreaking comic book series.

The Walking Dead screenshot

The gameplay involves a group of survivors struggling to live through the horror of the fictional Atlanta and surrounding communities consumed by the undead.

The Walking Dead is rated Mature and has an expected release date of Spring 2012.

Kara High Tech Performance Capture

Have you ever noticed how some video game characters show the physical actions sometimes required for gameplay, but their facial expressions seem to be bland, or non-existent?  That may be about to change.

At the Game Developer's Conference in San Francisco on March 7, 2012, David Cage of Quantic Dream, Heavy Rain's video game creator, announced there is a new way to capture a character's face, voice and body actions.  He demonstrated his innovative idea during a 7-minute demonstration called "Kara."

Kara

The technology is called full performance capture where all aspects of a portrayal are recorded at once -- instead of being performed separately -- as commonly done. The method is different from that utilized for the movie "Avatar" in that Quantic Dream used about 90 sensors placed on an actor's face, instead of a front loaded camera which was used in the movie. This innovative technology is purported to be faster and less expensive since both audio and movement are captured together. 

During the demonstration, the android Kara was portrayed by actress Valorie Curry. Kara speaks in English, French and German and sings in Japanese.

David Cage voiced that even more interesting than digitizing character's actions, would be to add meaningful content to video games that could use this technology.

Cage stated that Kara is a demo and is not the next project for Quantic Dream.   

Mass Effect Infiltrator

There is probably no 2012 recently launched video game to date that could come close to the magnitude of sales and popularity of Mass Effect 3 that was released for the consoles on March 6, 2012.

However, did you know there is another Mass Effect video game that may not be nearly as impressive as the main Mass Effect console game, but is another option for you to play the game? It's a  mobile Mass Effect game that you can play while on the go -- Mass Effect Infiltrator.

The iOS app, Mass Effect Infiltrator is in no way comparable to Mass Effect 3 in graphics or gameplay, but is an alternative that allows you to play the game wherever you may be.  Unlike Mass Effect 3, Mass Effect Infiltrator does not have a main storyline, but is instead a series of mini games.

Mass Effect Infiltrator is a third person shooter where you play  agent Randall Ezno with a mission to free Cerberus prisoners as well as receive rewards for collecting evidence of Cerberus' crimes along the way

You can use your Mass Effect 3 gameplay in conjunction with the Mass Effect Infiltrator app.  For example you have the ability to upload intel to your Galaxy of War account from the Origins website.

Credits for Mass Effect 3, the console game,  can also be bought through in-app purchases.   Gamers may agree  the ability to purchase credits may take away from actually winning, or earning credits through game play.

Apple's Mass Effect Infiltrator

Mass Effect 3, the epic console game undoubtedly reigns over this game.  However, Mass Effect Infiltrator may be a game you would like to play when you are out and about. A lot has been said about the stunning graphics of Mass Effect Infiltrator which has been described as a must-have companion App that will give you access to Mass Effect 3 anytime.

Mass Infiltrator is available now from Apple's App Store for $6.99.

Apple's "New iPad" will be available March 16, 2012

Apple unveiled the latest generation of its revolutionary tablet computer, the New iPad, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, CA on March 7, 2012.  This is the same location the previous versions of the iPad were announced. 

There was much speculation regarding the name of the latest iPad; however, during the unveiling, Apple referred to the iPad simply as the "new iPad." The logical names include iPad HD due to the increased high definition of the screen and the HD video support as well as iPad 3. It remains to be seen if the new iPad name will stick.

Apple's new iPad, 2012

There are lots of upgrades on the new iPad.  Here's what you can expect.

--Retina Display:  Retina display provides more clarity and detail in screen videos.  The sharpness of video displays result from 2048 x 1536 pixel resolution with over 3.3 million pixels total spread across the screen.

--Rear Camera:   The isight feature includes a rear camera that can shoot up to 1080p video.

--Video Image Stablization:  With this new addition, the bumps and shakes normally seen when filming using hand-helds will be eliminated.

--4G LTE Versions: These connections are available from AT&T and Verizon.  The 4G connection is much faster than the 3G cellular networks on the previous iPads.

--Voice Dictation:  There is voice dictation for various tasks. Tap on the microphone icon, and talk.  The iPad will translate what you say into text.  Dictation also works with third party apps so you can update your Facebook, tweet, etc.

Prices vary depending on your preferences as follow:

   WiFi Only

      $499.00 -- 16 gigabythes

      $599.00 -- 32 gigabythes

      $699.00 -- 64 gigabythes

   WiFi and 4G LTE

       $629.00 -- 16 gigabythes

       $729.00 -- 32 gigabythes

       $829.00 -- 64 gigabythes

Interested?  You can preorder the new iPad now to be available on release day, March 16, 2012.

Journey:  A video game experience

Could there be an ultimate video game that appeals to all ages, is exciting to play and has just enough gameplay to satisfy your specific time span for playing a video game?  A game that is targeting to fit all these expectations and more is the video game Journey, developed by Thatgamecompany.

The game has no violence or blood.  Instead there are lots of mesmerizing sand and structures that will lead you on a journey you will not soon forget. Journey has breathtaking graphics, haunting music, and is a wordless story where you decide where you want this game to take you, as well as how you will feel duriing your journey.  

This game is all about the video game player's experience.  Do not be surprised if you find yourself saying "Wow" and "Cool" as you journey through the sand dunes while on your adventure.

Journey:  Fine Art in a video game

You play Journey as a robed character.  There is no dialogue, just haunting music to set the tone of your different adventures.  At the beginning of the game, you face a mountain, split at the top with a bright beam of light spreading its glow upwards.  The mountain at first glance may appear to be close, but is really far away.  As you move toward the mountain, during gameplay you experience changes in the environment as well as obstacles in your way.  You receive rewards when you overcome these challenges.

Surely there is some type of violence, mayhem or otherwise disarray in this approximate three hour game, you may ask.  The counter response is the developers are showing that a game that takes you through a special kind of journey, albeit a short one, can be just as exciting and rewarding as playing the more popular type shoot-em-up, beat-em-up video games.

Want to see for yourself?  Journey is available for play as a PS3 downloadable video game on the PlayStation Network  for $14.99.  Launch date is March 13, 2012.