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TEMPO
The Daily Aztec
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
NOOB PWNING 101
‘AVP’ video game a violent fight for survival Fans will enjoy this game best despite a different story line from the movies A L L I E D AU G H E R T Y TEMPO EDITOR
The title for the new video game “Aliens vs. Predator” might be a little misleading. The main premise of the game does pit aliens against predators, true, but any assumption that it follows the same story line as the “Aliens vs. Predator” movies will be sorely wrong. The game is similar to “Batman: Arkham Asylum” in the sense that it borrows simple distinctive properties from the film franchise, e.g. weapons, basic characters and sounds, and uses them to create a whole new entity. In the case of “AVP,” sticking to the original plot may have been a smarter idea. This first-person shooter game has three single-player campaigns for game play: Alien, Predator and Marine. The namesake for the campaign is the character the player hunts as. These are relatively short with five levels for each and the level of difficulty, ranging from “easy” to “nightmare,” can also be chosen. The cinematics, aka the in-play video clips, are short but abundant. They help each campaign’s individual story unfold and reveal more about the plot. Although there is a different narrative for Alien, Predator and Marine, the three eventually overlap to create something more complicated. The overall graphics of “AVP” aren’t stunning, but are up to par with newer games currently on the market. Aesthetically the game is eerie but not entirely realistic, which may have been done on purpose considering its extremely violent nature. The heavy use of melee combat keeps the blood and gore ever-present, playing a large part in the game’s “M” rating. For example, a stealth kill includes ripping a Marine’s head off; the visuals include an Alien or Predator holding the severed head with the spinal cord still attached. Learning the controls for “AVP” may be complicated at first because they differ slightly from the average shooting game. This is especially true in the Alien campaign where walking on walls could take some getting used to. Each species has its own advantages, such as the ability to scale walls, which can be used to defeat certain levels.
Courtesy of SEGA
‘AVP’ was formerly banned in Australia because of extreme violence. SEGA announce it would not release a tamer version, but Australia later decided to retract its decision.
Although single-player is fun, multiplayer is truly where “AVP” shines. Complete with seven different game modes, multiplayer has something for every gamer to enjoy. It also allows the use of voice chat so players can communicate with one another in the heat of battle. The only downside is that most maps are exact replicas of those in single-player. For fans of the movie franchise by the same name, “Aliens vs. Predator” is a sure win. However, those merely seeking another first-person shooting game may be disappointed. “Aliens vs. Predator” was released for PC, XBOX 360 and Playstation 3 last month.
Game: Aliens vs. Predator Rating: M for Mature Release Date: Feb. 13 Grade: B Courtesy of SEGA
PASS THE POPCORN
Annual Latino film festival returns with 185 films
Courtesy of Media Arts Center of San Diego
Courtesy of Media Arts Center of San Diego
The SDLFF may be the only chance to view some of the foreign films because many won’t be released in the U.S.
M AG G I E P E H A N I C K S TA F F W R I T E R
Film buffs rejoice — the 17th annual San Diego Latino Film Festival kicks off this week at Ultrastar Mission Valley Cinema. Hosted by Media Arts Center San Diego, the festival boasts 185 films honoring the best
in cinema from Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela and the United States. The festival was host to about 20,000 attendees last year, including some notable guests from the Latino film community. This year, attendance is expected to be even greater, as interest in this year’s crop of films has grown.
“These are some of the best Latin American films in the world,” festival curator Lisa Franek said. “Chances are this is the only opportunity students will ever get to see them since most of them will never be released in theaters in the U.S.” The festival offers a plethora of films that will appeal to students, from Argentinean horror flick “Los Aparecidos” to Mexican sci-fi “2033” to “Solo Quiero Caminar,” a
gangster film starring one of Mexico’s brightest stars, Diego Luna. The festival will show a variety of films in several aptly named categories including Cine Gay, Cine’macion, Cine Mujer, Frontera Filmmakers Program and Para la Familia, just to name a few. While the SDLFF is open to the public, Innovations and Programming Director Patric Stillman calls it a perfect venue for aspiring student filmmakers. “Student groups often come to see specific documentaries, local filmmakers and participate in Reel Talks,” Stillman said. For those interested in more than just the film screenings, the festival is a great opportunity to take part in programs such as “Reel Talks,” live workshops and panel discussions. For $9.50, participants can take a look at music video production in “Cinestesia: Music Video Workshop” while mingling with professionals from MTV and EMI Latin. In addition to screenings and workshops, those with all-access passes can partake in the New Media Tent and opening and closing night galas, hosted by the Media Arts Center. This year, dozens of producers, directors, writers, actors and actresses will appear on the panels as well as at the screenings. For a full list of special guests and information about tickets and films, visit the San Diego Latino Film Festival’s Web site at www.sdlatinofilm.com.