Creating The Apocalypse: Darksiders Developer Commentary

On Game Informer’s various video series, such as Replay and Reiner and Phil, we get to play games while subjecting you to our dumb observations and jokes. But I’ve always been interested in the notion of getting the developers’ point of view in a similar setting. When I visited Austin-based Vigil Games for this month’s Darksiders cover story, I finally got the opportunity to try it out.

Touch Of Death: The Combat Of Darksiders II

Originally conceived as a cross between The Legend of Zelda and Devil May Cry, combat proved to be one of the highlights of the first Darksiders.

How Is Holiday 2011 Shaping Up? [2]

Sony

PlayStation Vita

Sony says that the PS Vita will launch “in the global market starting at the end of 2011,” so we’re counting it as an available platform this year. Many games are under the launch window banner with no specific release dates. Here are a few of the more promising entries that we hope will make it this year:

How Is Holiday 2011 Shaping Up?

Now that E3 has come and gone, we have a much clearer picture about what’s coming out in late 2011. Hint: it’s a lot.

How Is Holiday 2011 Shaping Up? [3]

PC

Minecraft finally comes out of beta, Torchlight II adds multiplayer to the series, and MMOs Star Wars: The Old Republic and TERA are still expected to make it this year.

The Tech That Built Darksiders II

It’s not easy to build a game. A lot of features and technology get left on the cutting room floor as developers rush to get a game out the door. Vigil’s Darksiders franchise is no different. We sat down to chat with Vigil’s tech heads, and they explained how Vigil’s development process works, described some of Darksiders II’s new features, and gave us a few examples of what never made it through the design process.

Serve In Heaven Or Rule In Hell: The Lore Of Darksiders [2]

The truce decrees that angels and demons must stop fighting directly, but instead can indirectly influence humans to support their side. The various religions and beliefs of human history come about as a by-product of this greater struggle that they know nothing about. “The Charred Council just wants stability,” Adams says. “They don’t care who wins.”