XBMC DEV CON 2008 will be the first event in which the XBMC developers get a chance to get together face-to-face, meet and greet, discuss XBMC, and maybe get a little coding done as well. After 6 years and with so many users, it is time for the XBMC programmers to get out of the IRC chat-room and meet up in person to talk about the past, present, and future, set priorities and make plans (and yeah, play a few games), and who knows, this may even lead to a XBMC fan convention in the not too distant future.
When and where?
June the 13th, 14th, and 15th in Amsterdam.
Who is boxee?
boxee is a NYC-based start-up company that will soon be offering a social networking multimedia-platform built on-top of XBMC. Much as Red Hat and Firefox are specific businesses that have products built on open source code and open technologies as their framework, boxee's aim is to bring the core XBMC platform to the mainstream consumer. boxee is fully committed to the growth and success of XBMC and will continue to contribute back upstream to the XBMC code base under the GPL license. boxee is hosting the 2008 DEV CON, and will be going into public alpha testing of their product beginning on the 15th of June 2008. Team-XBMC is very excited to have our code base used in boxee's product, and we look forward to more people discovering XBMC through boxee. This initiative will hopefully lead others to use XBMC in a similar fashion.
How to get involved:
* Propose ideas for stuff that you would like Team-XBMC to discuss: XBMC Community Forum Discussion
* Meet Team-XBMC for drinks on the evening of June the 14th (details will be posted on the boxee blog)
* Sign up for boxee alpha testing: www.boxee.tv
* Follow boxee progress on the boxee blog: blog.boxee.tv
* Send boxee a Twitter with a comment or question: http://twitter.com/boxee
* MCV: "Ninja Gaiden II has got some great previews from the press - how proud of it are you?"
* Itagaki: "I'm very happy with it. It's not 100 per cent as I think that's not possible to do, but I think that I was successful in making a game that no one else could. This is a game that only my team and I would be able to make."
* MCV: "Do you prefer to develop on the Xbox 360, rather than the other consoles?"
* Itagaki: "Yes. In my opinion it is the most powerful hardware. I have a lot of friends that develop on it so in some ways I regard it like being at home when I'm working on it. There's no reason for me to go to a strangers house to make games."
Following a Netflix analyst event in San Francisco, Wedbush Morgan Securities' Michael Pachter has reiterated his belief that the popular rental company will partner with Microsoft to offer a new streaming service over Xbox Live.
"The company is investing heavily in building its online streaming capability, to the point where it is a market leader, and a desirable partner for consumer electronics companies that hope to participate in digital media convergence in the near term. As we have speculated in the past, we believe that one of Netflix's partners is Microsoft. We arrive at this conclusion based upon Netflix management repeatedly mentioning 'Internet enabled video game consoles.' While there are three such consoles, only one (Microsoft's Xbox 360) has a sufficiently large installed base to make sense from a streaming partnership with Netflix," Pachter stated in his latest research note.
"It strikes me that the right business model for Microsoft and Netflix is that they both participate for free, and I think the idea is that Netflix has 8 million subs in the U.S. and Microsoft has probably pretty close to that many Xbox Live members in the U.S., and there's probably not 100 percent overlap - my guess is there's a couple million of overlap, but there's 5-6 million Xbox Live subscribers that Netflix would love to have join Netflix service and there's probably 5-6 million Netflix subscribers that Microsoft would love to sell an Xbox 360 to," Pachter told us.
As you can see, Microsoft have effectively hoisted themselves by their own petard when it comes to XBLA. In trying to manage consumers and overcome what they believed was an image issue, they have created a network that organisationally can't actually sell a lot of games. Their solution is to reduce the catalogue, but this is essentially an admission of failure on their part.
With the 360 probably having peaked in terms of overall appeal and other console providers and technology companies now delivering credible alternatives, it is up to Microsoft to rethink their whole strategy and decide whether this is a sector of the business that they really want to be in any more.
Next Gen recently had a chance to sit down with Ubisoft and discuss the next addition to the Prince of Persia franchise. The team is excited that this isn't just another tired rehash of the same characters and setting, however, promising a new prince and open world adventuring on top of the already rich world of the previous games.
"'We had a whole story with the previous trilogy, and Prince of Persia is a general universe where several different stories can unfold,' [creative director Jean-Christophe] explains. 'We're starting afresh, in the same universe, and we wanted to bring something new while keeping what worked before. We introduce a new Prince, who won't start as a prince, more a drifter and adventurer, lost in the desert. He'll be confronted by a lot of fantasy settings, as opposed to Assassin's Creed, which was more realistic. Here he will come to a land and be engulfed in the conflict between two ancient gods, in this very specific region of Persia. It's based on an old Persian religion, Zoroastrianism, and the battle between light and darkness.'"
We're usually pretty skeptical about rumored release dates as developers and publishers often keep that card close to their chests -- however, we can't help but put our complete faith in a man with a name as awesome as Lester "Mighty Rasta" Speight. Yes, Mr. Rasta, who voiced Gears of War's "Cole Train", recently made an appearance at the TriForce panel at Wizard World to shoot the breeze about the company's line of GoW-related replicas. When asked about the sequel's release date, the TriForce crew remained tight lipped, though Rasta suggested asking him again on November 16.
DS and Wii Fanboy's David Hinkle was at the panel to witness the football player-turned-actor's Q+A session, and hopes to further press Mr. Rasta to discover the accuracy of his claims. Given that it falls in the game's suggested November release window, we wouldn't be surprised if Speight's date was legit.
features
Intense mission-based combat: QUAKE Wars pits teams against each other on massive maps located in desert, Arctic, and tropical environments. Players battle through intense skirmishes with real military style objectives
Offline and online modes: Hone your skills against surprisingly lifelike A.I. offline, then join the battle online with friends.
Unique teams and character classes: The GDF and Strogg are two distinct armies with different soldier classes, weapons, vehicles, and tactics.
Team-based combat: Using class-specific skills, players can be the linchpin of an entire operation
Skill-based matchmaking: Get the perfect challenge in every online game with a match geared to your skills
description
Experience the ultimate team - and mission-based multiplayer warfare, defined by award winning Return to Castle Wolfenstein Multiplayer, now set in the legendary QUAKE universe. Choose to play as the human Global Defense Force or the invading alien menace, the Strogg. Each side has distinct classes, vehicles, and weapons to choose from, giving players countless ways to join the battle.
description
GRID will take players to beautifully realised and dramatic race locations over three continents to compete in an unprecedented variety of racing events. Packed with the most powerful race cars – new and classic, circuit and drift – players will compete to conquer the most prestigious official race tracks and championships and then go beyond to compete in challenging city-based competitions, through to road events and urban street races.
In Europe, race gamers will compete on the greatest official tracks in prestige Marques including Aston Martin, Koenigsegg and Pagani. Iconic cities across the U.S. – including San Francisco, Washington DC and Detroit and each with their own atmosphere and events – play hosts to diverse street races. Here, high-performance V8 muscle cars set the pace in aggressive closely fought pack competitions.
In the Far East, Japanese racing culture sets the tone where night races, including Drift racing, take drivers through neon illuminated cities and to outlying mountain roads. There is also the opportunity to compete in races that operate on the fringes of legality in the back streets and industrial areas of Yokohama.
You know it, you love it, Tell Us Dammit. No, rather TELL US DAMMIT. Yep! Time to learn about each other. How it works: We ask a question, you answer it. Simple and no strings attached! This isn't some marketing survey or whatever. It's an emotional investment in you. Yes, we're interesting in knowing you, Kotaku reader person. You probably know ****tons about us — more than you even want to, we're sure. But, hey, we'd like to know about you. That way you won't be some faceless blob — and we might feel a tinge of guilt when we ban your ass. Or not, because really we're incapable of human emotion. Sadness.
Question
What is the longest you have gone without gaming?
Codemasters has said it is busy working on a patch to stop stuttering issues in the Xbox 360 version of Race Driver: GRID.
Developer boss Gavin Raeburn waded into the official forum to confirm as much, and offered a temporary solution for those of you affected.
"We're close to getting to the root of the problem and we will be including a fix and a backup workaround option (just in case) in our forthcoming patch due within the next few weeks or sooner," said Gavin "Uncle Chewy" Raeburn. "We think the issue is due to specific drive hardware, possibly with bad blocks /sectors.
"The best temporary measure is to copy your Gamertag to a memory card, remove the hard drive and run the game that way. Replays and caching will be disabled, though instant replay will still work as this caches to memory."
The Xbox 360 version appears to have the bulk of the problems, although some have reported similar issues when running the game on PC.
Another strong week for Penny Arcade, (don't forget that high price point), and a decent first week for Buku Soduku, but a disappointing performance for classic Atari remake Warlords.
LucasArts has told Eurogamer that it plans to offer a Fracture demo either in August, or alongside the full game in September.
The PS3 and 360 sampler will let you stomp around the tutorial level where you'll get to grips with the terrain deformation at the core of the title.
Fracture is in development at Day 1 Studios, the outfit that made the MechAssault games, and gives you tools like the Entrencher that can instantly carve holes in the ground or force hills to burst from the floor.
There's much more besides the Entrencher, and you'll use them to tackle hordes of genetically altered futuristic baddies - or up-to 11 of your friends online.
Thanks to an online advertisement that is in rotation over on Gamespot, we're thinking an "Enemy Territory: Quake Wars" demo will be hitting the Xbox Live Marketplace any day now. We say this not because we love XBLM demos and would actually enjoy playing some Quake Wars, but because the advertisement says that you can "download the demo now from Xbox Live Marketplace". Don't hurt yourself though, we already checked the XBLM and there is not Quake Wars demo to be found. But we say it'll be up soon, because we have faith in online advertisements and their validity. We are trusting fanboys.
Microsoft has announced plans to re-release Gears of War in North America with updated maps and achievements.
The updated version of Epic's game will be available from June 24, and cost USD 39.99 for the Xbox 360 and USD 29.99 for the PC.
The two-disc version of Gears of War will feature a preview of its sequel, Gears of War 2, including trailers and other extras.
There has been no date set for a European release of these new versions.
Since its release in November 2006, Gears of War has won numerous awards, including three from the Game Developers Conference, and sold over 4.7 million copies worldwide.
Wedbush Morgan Securities has speculated about a possible Netflix deal to stream movies through Xbox 360 consoles.
The conclusion, made by the investment banking firm, came off the back of comments made by Netflix management. If true it would allow the online rental service to stream movies directly into consumer's consoles.
"As we have speculated in the past, we believe that one of Netflix's partners is Microsoft. We arrive at this conclusion based upon Netflix management repeatedly mentioning 'Internet enabled video game consoles'," said a Wedbush Morgan statement.
"While there are three such consoles, only one - Microsoft's Xbox 360 - has a sufficiently large installed base to make sense from a streaming partnership with Netflix."
"The competitive advantage of such an alliance is clear: Netflix customers who are Xbox Live members will have the ability to stream online content through their Xbox 360s directly to their televisions. The ability to do so is available without the Xbox 360, but requires a measure of technological sophistication and a high tolerance for failure," it added.
Earlier this year, Netflix had surveyed subscribers on the possibility of streaming movies via the Xbox 360 console.
The actor behind Gears of War character Cole Train has hinted that the upcoming sequel will be out on 16th November.
Lester "Mighty Rasta" Speight (who used to play professional American Football before deciding he likes his dramatics) spilled the beans by cheekily suggesting press ask him again after that date.
He was chatting at a TriForce event in the US; this is the company that has just announced it will be creating official life-sized replicas of the Gears of War armour and weapons.
Microsoft was unavailable to clarify the date, which falls on a Sunday according to our calendar - neither a Tuesday when the US typically gets games nor a Friday when Europe gets them.
It is within the November window previously and officially promised, though, and similar to the original Gears of War "Emergency Day" date [I added that bit and I'm not changing it - Ed].
The platform holder and publisher has also just revealed a fresh edition of the original Gears of War for PC and Xbox 360.
It goes on sale across the US on 24th June, and contains all of the downloadable content so far, 250 fresh Gamerpoints to achieve, plus a second disc with a preview of Gears of War 2.
Unfortunately its European whereabouts are still unknown.
Microsoft has said that the decision to delist under performing Xbox Live Arcade titles will force developers to focus on better quality games.
Titles which have a Metacritic rating of less than 65 per cent, have been on the service for at least six months and have a trial conversion rate of less than 6 per cent are due for the chop from the download service this autumn.
Director of product management, Aaron Greenberg, has also told GamesIndustry.biz that he believes developers will still be willing to experiment with niche or new concepts, rather than adopting safe gameplay in order to receive a high score and stay on the service.
"I really don't think we will see that at all, in fact many unique style games typically get stronger reviews because they stand out from the pack," he said.
"If anything you will see developers take more time, make use of the new additional storage space and focus on game quality now more than ever to ensure the title is well received."
Xbox Live Arcade has been criticised in the past for a glut of poor titles, making it difficult for users to find quality games in a crowded digital market. As well as forcing developers to tighten quality control, Microsoft is also planning its own in-house Live Arcade team to lead the way with downloadable content.
"What we are saying is that our focus with Xbox Live Arcade is going to be on quality over quantity," offered Greenberg.
"We are also thinking about the future of the service and want to ensure that new Xbox 360 owners that come into XBLA for the first time have a great experience. We believe that with this focus, the increased size limits and the investment in our first-party studio you will see XBLA games continue to improve throughout the year."
Although Microsoft is still quiet on the amount of titles to be delisted in 2007, Greenberg said the cull will not begin until after the summer, with users and developers receiving at least three months notice.
He also stated that this new policy will not have any affects on the proposed Community Games project due to launch later this year, which will showcase games created using Microsoft's XNA tools.
"This program only applies to Xbox Live Arcade, Community Games created with XNA do not go through the same submission and certification process and since they are developed by community members are less likely to have review scores assigned to them like Xbox Live Arcade titles," clarified Greenberg.
I've gotten word that the "Opus" Xbox 360 motherboard is now shipping and will be included in the repair and refurbish (RnR) operations at Xbox. This means that folks who have their 1st generation "Xenon" Xbox 360 die on them with the Red Ring of Death (or a Core Digital error as Microsoft internally call it) might get a new motherboard. This is a newer "Falcon" generation chip set with a cooler 65 nm CPU but no HDMI port.
Also work on the "Jasper" Xbox 360 is going well and is on track to be out first week in September.
features
Adventure with up to 20 playable characters including Prince Caspian and many creatures from Narnia
Engage in epic combat with hundreds of characters and massive battles
Drop in and play with a friend in co-op mode
description
Experience the full potential of next-gen gaming as you travel back to Narnia to overcome the evil King Miraz and restore Prince Caspian to his rightful throne
In a recent filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Activision has let it slip that Aerosmith won't be the only band to get a dedicated Guitar Hero game. Metallica is set to receive it's own entrant into the rapidly expanding franchise sometime in the near future with Guitar Hero: Metallica. No further details aside from the title were revealed but given Activision's history of sharing the love, you can expect to find it on numerous gaming platforms.
According to the document, "In fiscal 2009, we [Activision] plan to publish Guitar Hero: On Tour for the NDS; Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Guitar Hero: Metallica, and Guitar Hero IV across multiple platforms." If you care to read the entire report, head over to the SEC archives. There you'll also see that Activision's fiscal year ends on March 31, meaning you'll see Guitar Hero Metallica on store shelves before that date in 2009.
Tomonobu Itagaki has reportedly left Tecmo under a cloud, leaving a hefty lawsuit and a personal attack on company president Yoshimi Yasuda in his wake.
1UP has relayed a statement - sourced from "Itagaki aide Andrew Szymanski" - in which Itagaki says he has filed a lawsuit claiming damages of 148 million yen (GBP 750k / EUR 915k).
In the statement, he also apologises to his fans, pointing out that Ninja Gaiden 2 (due out this Friday in Europe) will be his last ever Ninja Gaiden. "I will also never be able to make Dead or Alive 5," he added.
Itagaki seems to blame Yasuda primarily for all this. He says he was promised a completion bonus for Dead or Alive 4 (released in Europe back in January 2006), which Yasuda then denied him, telling him to put up or shut up about it. Itagaki says this caused "significant emotional distress and worsening [of] my personal relationships and work environment".
He claims Yasuda acted in a way "unbefitting of a publicly-listed company", and says he wants to "question the social responsibility" of Tecmo and Yasuda "as well as condemning them for their unjust acts".
"Thus, I have no choice but to resign from Tecmo," he concluded.
Ninja Gaiden should be up on Xbox live now (Tues 10.00 GMT) in all regions except India, Germany, Canada and the U.S.
Its still unknown when it will be available in north America, but Major Nelson hopes it will be out before the end of the week. I should also note that I doubt that it will ever be released in Germany, being so violent and what not (the game, not Germany).
"My fellow Canadians, a matter of the greatest importance has come to our attention. TOMORROW new laws will be passed by the Canadian government which will effectively OUTLAW the use of modchips and flash carts, among other things.
This new copyright reform in the form of the Canadian DMCA has been influenced by US lobby groups rather than the voice of the Canadian people. What we're faced with is legislation that is potentially even more extreme than that of the US DMCA which is what allows the RIAA, MPAA, etc to function in the United States as they do.
This would be a blow not only to Canada, civil rights, and copyright law, but also YOUR rights, this fine community, and all of the businesses that make their living by selling said products. Our digital way of life would effectively come to a stop. They're even going as far as proposing a minimum $500 fine per incident. While copyright reform is an important issue, this is not the way to go about it.
In response to this backdoor policy making a growing movement and coalition has been actively pursuing making the Canadian voice heard in this legislative process. All is NOT lost; they previously attempted to impose similar legislation back in December but this very movement's response stopped them in their tracks. We MUST speak up! We MUST make ourselves heard before it's too late!
As such the Canadian Coalition for Electronic Rights has created a simple letter sending service that will allow for us to be heard. I implore any and all Canadians to use this service to send a letter to Prime Minister, Stephen Harper; Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry; and Josée Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage TODAY before we have no tomorrow."
Bionic Commando producer Ben Judd has told Eurogamer to expect elements of the re-imagined XBLA, PSN and PC game, Bionic Commando Rearmed, to fill out the back-story of next year's 3D game.
"We intentionally put in some nuggets in the story that later tie into the 3D version," Judd told Eurogamer.
"You'll talk to some characters that will ask Spencer about his wife and he'll say, 'my wife left me, I don't why she left me - maybe she just couldn't handle a military man and that lifestyle'.
"So the user is going to play that game, and certainly a fan of the original is going to play that game and go, 'Wait a second, that wasn't in the original game,' so they'll be curious and wonder what that's about. And later you find out more about it in the 3D version."
Judd said that the team behind the 3D version had to work hard to produce a story that would satisfy fans.
"When you think about the original game, it was NES, very limited words and dialogue, so it really is a very thin story, so there wasn't a lot to go off of, so trying to find enough to build out into a real-world serious story that was on multiple levels, versus the original game but yet still have enough dialogue in there that fans would appreciate," he said.
"Trying to find that perfect blend was not easy."
In the end the team went for a shades-of-grey story of a bionically enhanced super-soldier who has to hunt down terrorists driven to act against society by their government's decision to try and strip them of their life-giving bionic enhancements.
"We wanted to drill it down to technology. For us, there's a lot of technology that's good, but it carries a heavy price," Judd explained.
"We wanted to blur the ethical line for the government, because they blur the ethical line a lot [in the real world] when it comes to weapons technology."
Capcom's rebirth of the Bionic Commando franchise arrives this fall in the form of a 3D action game on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. This just in: You won't have to swing alone. At its 2008 "Captivate" event, Capcom finally gave some details on the multiplayer component in BC, though only single-player was demoed.
The multiplayer in BC is set prior to the events of the single-player campaign. Gamers play as test subjects giving a revolutionary new grappling weapon a go in various combat arenas. Not only does this give some context to the BC single-player storyline, but it also allows developer GRIN to alter some of the game mechanics to fit multiplayer. See, this way they can say, "Hey, this is what the prototype was like." According to GRIN, the single-player gameplay just didn't quite fit multiplayer and has undergone some tweaks.
Don't worry, you still get to swing around with a grappling hook. But it's combat functionality will be slightly different than in single-player. Rather than having a fully replaced bionic arm like BC hero Nathan Spencer, multiplayer has players in colorful powered suits.
Expect the standard set of multiplayer modes, including Deathmatch and Capture the Flag. The difference, of course, is that you get to swing around -- something we haven't really seen in a multiplayer game before. In fact, there are going to be some cool tandem moves for those willing to experiment in team modes. If your buddy is swinging, you can attach your bionic arm to him (don't ask where) and swing off him, allowing you to get a greater arc and therefore greater loft to get to otherwise unreachable places.
There will be boundaries to arenas and places where you can fall to your death. In fact, if you get knocked off a platform, you will have one shot to hook your grapple or it's bye-bye for you.
GRIN promises that multiplayer is "a lot of fun." It certainly has that potential. But we won't know for certain until we get our hands on MP, something that will likely occur at E3 2008 in mid-July.
Dark Void creator Airtight Studios has said that it chose to partner with Capcom on its upcoming cover-based third-person shooter because the publisher allows developers to innovate.
"A lot of other companies are like, 'Make it just like the last game that came out because it sells well worldwide'," lead designer Jose Perez told journalists at Capcom's Captivate 08 event in Las Vegas last week. "Capcom is known for innovation...and I just want to see their logo come up before our game."
An interesting side story in Dark Void's creation is that it sees a family of figures who worked on Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge for Microsoft Game Studios brought back together nearly five years after the game shipped on Xbox.
Airtight Studios was founded by members of the Crimson Skies team at FASA Interactive, along with Ed Fries, who helped build Microsoft Game Studios, and soon after Capcom signed Dark Void the publisher's US arm installed another former MGS figure, Scott Baylis, as its US development head.
"Scott came from Midway and before that EA, but before he was at EA he worked for me at Microsoft, and worked with Crimson Skies. In a way it was like this homecoming - all these people coming back together," Fries explained.
Fries himself became part of Airtight because, he joked, he had ruled out including on-foot gameplay in the original Crimson Skies and had promised the development team that he would be let them do that in the next game - only to leave in early 2004 after 18 years with Microsoft.
Given the group's history with the Xbox platform holder, we wondered why they had turned to Capcom with Dark Void rather than go 'home' to Microsoft.
"When we got together as a company Microsoft had just recently cancelled Crimson Skies, so we didn't feel like it made sense for us to go back and pitch Microsoft again on a title that had a lot of similar elements to it, and certainly the original pitch was more like Crimson than where we ended up," Fries told Eurogamer.
The original pitch was an action game that would see players fighting their way out of a pyramid, hopping onto a motorbike, flying a plane and shooting it out with a gigantic boss character all in the space of one level, but Fries said that despite the ambitious prototype, produced in four months, the developer ended up with a good demo but no one element that stood out from the crowd.
Capcom felt the same, but saw something in Airtight anyway and decided to fund development - a reaction that left the team with mixed feelings. It wasn't until subsequent meetings back at the studio that Dark Void started to take shape. The concept of vertical cover-based combat, which applies the gameplay of something like Gears of War to ascending a cliff-face, was what got things back on track.
If Fries is bitter about Microsoft's decision to ditch Crimson Skies though, he wasn't showing it at Captivate 08, and he believes that Dark Void will justify Capcom's faith, hoping to achieve a "95" rating on aggregators like Metacritic and Gamerankings. "I think if we took Dark Void back to [Microsoft now] they'd probably be pretty interested," he told Eurogamer. "But it really took somebody betting on us early when the IP was pretty unformed to get to where we are today."
More wicked and gritty Gears of War 2 screenshots have cropped up on the internet, this time showing off areas of the game a little less vague than before - namely multiplayer action and a 'ruddy great flamethrower.
In the shots (which come in all sorts of sizes) you can clearly see the napalm weapon alongside a new riot shield, which could turn cover standoffs in Gears 2 well and truly on their head.
The player count for multiplayer games has been upped from eight to ten, with five-on-five gameplay options.
New modes include Wingman, which sees ten players face off in teams of two, and Epic's own take on CTF, 'Meatflag', where the flag is a (presumably CPU-controlled) character who runs around the map trying to defend himself. Sounds good.
Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono spoke to Eurogamer about Seth, one of the boss characters in Capcom's upcoming beat-'em-up, last week, and hinted that he will be playable.
"Seth is indeed a new character and a boss. Seth is a really interesting character because he has connections to some other important characters in Street Fighter IV. You may have noticed of course that M. Bison is back. At the end of Street Fighter II everyone presumed that Shadowloo had been destroyed and Bison presumably had been killed. He's a hard guy to kill and he's once again returned.
"What we need to figure out as players looking at the story is why are Shadowloo back, how did that happen, how and why did Bison come back, and what is Seth's connection to that, and he's very much connected to it," Ono told Eurogamer in a video interview you'll be able to see in a Captivate 08 EGTV Special soon.
"If you look at him he's got a kind of expressionless face and a strange skin colour, he has some sort of device embedded in his stomach. He's a unique-looking character, he's clearly not an ordinary human being - there's something going on with this guy."
Seth's story will be explored in some part by the arcade version of SF IV, due out in arcades this summer, but the home version - for PS3, 360 and PC - will go into much greater depth with him, Ono said.
Interestingly, Ono told assembled hacks that Capcom would be unlikely to include any fully-animated characters without letting players control them. When pushed about this and how it relates to Seth, Ono laughed but quickly hushed up. "If people express a desire to take control of Seth, we might see a movement in that direction at some point," he said. "I certainly don't want to say much more than that - I've already said too much!"
Microsoft and Silicon Knights have gone skill tree mental, releasing a video and screens demonstrating how you can spend your Too Human experience points on the game's beefy Berserker class. Riveting stuff.
But seriously, there's some decent footage of robots getting there face smashed in as well, so be sure to give the video a look - the art style's gorgeous as well.
The 360 exclusive has been dated (finally) for August 19. There's a disturbing trend of press writing it off as a generic hack 'n slasher at the moment, but we had a play at Microsoft's showcase last month and found Too Human to be surprisingly deep and satisfying.
Let's hope they sort those camera controls out, though.
Capcom has released a bunch of new screenshots from Resident Evil 5, showing off zombie-dogs, more white zombies and a bunch of gorgeous looking locations. They look stunning.
The shots look mostly like they've been taken from scenes from the awesome trailer released earlier this week, but there are a few glimpses of areas we've never seen before.
Resident Evil 5 is planned for release this financial year. Unfortunately that could be anytime up until March of next year and Capcom has been known to flout normal conventions and release things earlier on in the year. Like Resident Evil 4 for example.
Take a look. We're sure there's more to follow soon.
features
Assume the role of a ninja warrior and experience an all-new combat system that requires skill and mastery of your full arsenal of weapons
Ninja Gaiden II’s new auto-healing system featuring semi-permanent damage restored at save points is the natural evolution of the franchise’s distinctive gameplay
In addition to the single-player campaign, upload Karma scores to Xbox LIVE® leaderboards and participate in an all-new Master Ninja Tournament.
Ninja Gaiden II represents the best in amazing visuals, responsive control, and thrilling combat with an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry
description
Ninja Gaiden® 2 makes its long-awaited debut on Xbox 360™ as the blockbuster action-packed sequel to Ninja Gaiden®. Ninja Gaiden 2 features a new and improved game engine, developed from the ground up exclusively for Microsoft and Xbox 360 by Team Ninja and legendary game developer Tomonobu Itagaki, creator of the famed Dead or Alive franchise.
Guide Ryu Hayabusa on a mission to avenge his clan and prevent the destruction of the human race. Armed with an assortment of ninja weaponry, help Ryu to skillfully maneuver through a world fraught with peril and danger. Ninja Gaiden 2 features an all-new gameplay engine, new auto-health regeneration system, levels, adventures, enemies, and thrilling combat with an extensive assortment of ninja weaponry, representing a true evolution of the highly popular franchise.
features
Re-live his epic adventures in a humorous LEGO world based on the original trilogy of movies
Journey from the jungles of South America to the snowy mountaintops of India
Use Indy’s signature weapon to capture and disarm enemies, swing across gaps, activate levers, and interact with a world of LEGO objects and puzzles
Choose from over 60 playable characters, each with a variety of unique abilities
description
LEGO® Indiana Jones™: The Original Adventures takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, daring, and non-stop action from the Indiana Jones cinematic adventures that enthralled audiences everywhere.
With a tongue-in-cheek take on these original adventures, LEGO Indiana Jones follows Dr. Jones' escapades through the jungles of South America to the mountaintops of India. Build, battle, and brawl your way through your favorite moments, from Indy's entanglements with snakes to his dashing boulder run.
Compared to basically every other appliance you have plugged in at home, the Playstation 3 sucks up more juice. That's according to a new study by Australian consumer agency Choice, which found that when a PS3 is running, it sucks up five times more energy than a refrigerator. If you leave it on all the time for something like Folding@Home, you're looking at an energy cost of nearly $250 a year.
The Xbox 360 isn't all that much better, using 23.57kWh per week when idling compared to the PS3's 31.74kWh. The Wii, on the other hand, is downright dainty in comparison, using only 2.97kWh per week when idling, less than 10% of the energy used by the PS3.
It's all a good lesson to simply turn off your console, whatever it may be, when you aren't using it. I'm not one to disparage the good work done by Folding@Home, but if you leave your console cranking away on it all the time you'll spend enough to go out and buy a Wii by the time a year is up.
Within the 85 plus new features and enhancements in Madden NFL 09, EA Sports BackTrack and the Virtual Training Center allow the gamer to have a unique gameplay experience each time they load up the game. Both Madden NFL veterans and casual gamers new to the franchise can utilize these two features to be competitive in Madden NFL 09 and also improve their overall football knowledge, regardless of their initial skill level.
The Virtual Training Center is a new interactive tutorial mode, set in a holographic environment that aims at teaching gamers fundamental concepts about football strategy and how to use the controls in quick, fun and stylized drills. After players complete these drills, a Madden IQ score is given, and their "My Skills" difficulty settings are automatically set based on their strengths and weaknesses. Throughout their Madden NFL career, the all-new Adaptive Difficulty Engine will continually tailor the difficulty settings as the gamers' Madden IQ score evolves.
EA Sports BackTrack is a new replay learning tool imbedded within the game that dissects plays and shows the player what they should have done in certain circumstances. When a mistake is made, Cris Collinsworth will breakdown where the user went wrong and what they could have done better. For advanced players, EA Sports BackTrack will give more technical information such as the play calls that were made and the success rates of the play.
Madden NFL 09 marks the 20th anniversary of one of the best-selling and most critically-acclaimed videogame franchises of all time, and the game will feature adaptable gameplay tailored to every type of gamer, online enhancements and a broadcast style presentation delivering an authentic NFL experience. Madden NFL 09 will be available in stores across North America on August 12.
The graphical enhancements of Madden NFL 09 are extremely impressive and bring the emotion of NFL football to life. Madden NFL 09 features amazing detail to stadiums, weather effects, player models and a whole host of other elements.
Madden NFL 09 will be available for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems from Microsoft, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system and is rated E by the ESRB.
2K Games is planning to release a demo of Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network this Thursday.
According to GameSpot, the demo will be on Xbox Live worldwide and PSN in North America, with a PAL PSN release to follow at some undetermined point in the future. We've asked 2K to clarify.
The demo will give you control of either Caesar or Cleopatra and allow you to play against the CPU or human players online until 1250 AD. But if you're staring at your 2008 Kylie calendar in alarm, don't worry, you've misunderstood the premise: building civilisations up from nothing and trying to outdo competing cultures by achieving things like military, diplomatic, economical or scientific superiority.
The demo is set to weigh in at 1.08GB.
The full game isn't due out for a month in the US, but for once in our wretched lives the news is better for us, with a European release on PS3 and 360 set for 13th June. A DS version will then follow in the summer. The previously-planned Wii version is on indefinite hold.
Infinity Ward has boasted that its acclaimed shooter Call of Duty 4 has surged past 10 million sales around the world.
The developer spilled the beans to News.com, and revealed that the Xbox 360 version had been most successful, although no figures were mentioned.
Call of Duty 4 was released on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 last November. Its attraction is such that it still commands a top 10 place in the UK All-Formats chart, holding on at nine for the week just passed.
It won universal praise for its cinematic battles and a welcome move onto a modern battlefield, marking a high point for the series as a whole. We also liked the one with the bushy beard moustache thing and cigar. Extra points.
Alas, although unconfirmed, it appears to be alternate series developer Treyarch set to deliver Call of Duty 5, with action rumoured to return to the tired fields of World War II.
NinjaBee, a division of Wahoo Studios, has announced its latest project in unique fashion. The studio, known for Cloning Clyde, Band of Bugs and Outpost Kaloki X, sent out word today it intended to hire 20 three-foot-tall Keflings to work around the office…and that the game they star in will release this fall on Xbox Live Arcade. The only description of the game given is that it will "feature fun and light-hearted gameplay with graphics and original music to match."
Square Enix has released eight new screens from 360 title Infinite Undiscovery, a game that we bet was named by a couple of Japanese guys picking two English words they liked and stringing them together.
The game is being developed by Tri-Ace, which previously made the Star Ocean series and Valkyrie Profile.
Infinite Undiscovery is said to contain ten years worth of ideas from programmer Yoshiharu Gotanda that could only be achieved with current-generation technology.
Looking at the screenshots (below), there's a bunch of kids dressed up in medieval armour, a nice-looking woman, a freckled-faced girl and a couple of fights jam packed with statistics and targeting circles. All seems fairly familiar to us.
SEGA's UK product manager Ben Payne believes everything is in place to ensure the publisher's Hulk video game is a smash hit.
"The Incredible Hulk is Marvel's second biggest property, so awareness of the character is high. As usual, the success of any film tie-in video game is linked to the film itself, " Payne told UK trade magazine MCV. "Thankfully this film is going to be massive, and is well timed, in that it gives Indy IV its deserved moment in the spotlight, and is released two weeks before Prince Caspian.
"We envisage the game doing very well, especially as none of us will be watching the football."
SEGA's isn't banking on the popularity of the movie and the Hulk character doing all the work for them though, with a huge marketing campaign planned.
"We are replicating our Iron Man cinema activity for the The Incredible Hulk. Over the opening two weeks of the film which is released on June 12, we will hit 1.5 million admissions across Carlton Screen and Pearl and Dean advertising," said Payne.
The Incredible Hulk will be release for Xbox 360 and DS on June 13, followed on June 20 by PS2 and PS3, PC on June 20 and Wii on July 11.
Interesting news out of the EA camp today as it was just announced that the Playstation 3 version of the upcoming Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 has been canceled with no reason given. Eurogamer is reporting that EA has stopped production on the PS3 version and will focus their developing efforts on the Xbox 360 and PC versions. Also, it's good to know that the cancelation of Red Alert 3 on the PS3 will not affect the game's scheduled Fall release on other platforms. So, the only place to get your console RTS fun this Fall will be Red Alert 3 on the 360 ... or Halo Wars on the 360. That is if Ensemble can get it out the door sometime this year.
Due to our site being focused on "Retro" we want your entry's to be inspired/focused on "Retro" things or "Retro" gaming. So if your planning on entering a game into the competition, we want it to be based on something "Retro" or based around "Retro" gaming.
Now this doesn't mean it has to be all 2d and pixelated sprites. You can make something 3D if you would like. As long as it is based on something "Retro" its fine by us. Same goes for emulators. If you plan on entering a emulator, your only restriction is your target console. Your emulator cannot be based on any console that is in the 7th generation.
The below list will show you what category each console is listed under :
1st > 7th Generation Consoles List
What do you mean by "Retro"?
By this we mean either any retro games : circa 1970 > 1999 or any event from that time frame. Use your imagination, a 1970's flower power game is one example I guess.
3. You MUST post your entry at RetroEmu first (including the file). You may post about your entry on other sites but you MUST post a link back to your submission post on this site.
4. Judges are Zack and hardhat, and will send out prizes two weeks after the final deadline.
5. Prizes are: 1st place - Nintendo Wii Console + Wii Sports Or 2GB Asus EEE PC (CELM-900M) 2nd place - 2GB iPod Shuffle + $100US paid by PayPal, 3rd place - Indiana Jones collection DVD Or $50US paid by PayPal.
6. You can post and update your competition entry as much as you like, from now until August 31st 2008 at 23:59 GMT.
7. Your entry/submission MUST include the RetroEmu.com splash screen at the beginning/start up of your game/emulator. You can find the splash images at the bottom of this post or HERE
8. You can choose between the following target platforms for your game/emulator entry/submission : Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X, NDS, PS3, Wii, PSP, Ubuntu Linux.
9. You may enter an updated version of your emulator/game, but it MUST have significant changes done from the previous version.
10. Both open source and closed source submissions are allowed.
11. Breaking the rules excludes you from the competition.
12. The submission deadline will not move, so don't ask for a change.
13. The judges decisions are final, so don't say that they are unfair.
14. The judges will take into consideration user votes upon judging.
15. There is no restriction on sprite/content, you may use commercial sprites if you wish.
16. There is no restriction on programming language used. However you must include all needed runtime's, images etc with your entry in order to run your game/emulator.
17. Implementation of the Splash screen counts for a 5% judging bonus, so be creative. (i.e Special effects on splash screen).
18. You MUST include a screenshot with your entry/submission.
19. Have fun and enjoy the competition!
Splash Images :
Here are the splash Images that you MUST have displayed at the start/beginning of your game/emulator entry/submission.
Note : You may NOT make your own variations of these images, you be as creative as you like your implementation of it though. For your entry to be accepted you must use one of the following images. To request a different size, see the bottom of this message.
Remember that there is a 5% judging bonus for your implementation of the splash screen so be creative!
For PS3/Wii/XP/Vista/Mac/Ubuntu Linux :
(640x480)
For PSP :
(480x272)
For Nintendo DS :
(256x152)
If you have any questions regarding the competition or would like a splash image in a different size to the ones posted, feel free to send me a pm (private message) (at RetroEmu)
Forbes recently ran a story focusing on the best-selling US games using updated NPD Group data.
Despite the fact that the data Forbes looked at went back 15 years, all of the titles on the list were released after 2001 - perhaps not so surprising when you consider that the best-selling console of all-time (the PS2) was released in 2000.
Three titles from last year - Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, both from Activision, and EA's Madden NFL 2008 - have now made the Top Ten list, no doubt bolstered by their release on multiple platforms.
The Top Ten best-selling titles in the US based upon units sold are:
* 1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (9.43 million)
* 2. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (8.2 million)
* 3. Madden NFL 2007 (7.7 million)
* 4. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (7.3 million)
* 5. Madden NFL 2006 (6.65 million)
* 6. Halo 2 (6.6 million)
* 7. Madden NFL 2008 (6.56 million)
* 8. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (6.25 million)
* 9. Grand Theft Auto III (6.2 million)
* 10. Madden NFL 2005 (6.1 million)
Grand Theft Auto IV sold 8.5 million units between 29th April and 31st May, with shipments to retail now at 11 million, Take-Two said in its latest round of financials, which announced a USD 98.2 million Q2 net profit.
It took Take-Two subsidiary Rockstar Games just a fortnight to surpass one million units sold in the UK alone, as part of six million sales in its first week on the shelves worldwide - worth USD 500 million according to Take-Two's figures.
However, the publisher also revealed yesterday that the much-anticipated GTA IV downloadable content for Xbox 360 has been put back a bit and will now appear in the company's November-to-January quarter.
Those waiting for more Grand Theft Auto IV content will have to wait a little bit longer. According to Take-Two's Fiscal Q3 2008 report, the first batch of GTA IV downloadable content will be coming in Q1 of fiscal 2009, instead of the originally planned Q4 of fiscal 2008. In real calendar terms, that means the DLC, which is rumored to include whole new cities, is due between November 1, 2008, and January 31, 2009.
The reason behind the delay, according to Take-Two, was to "provide a better balance in Take-Two's release schedule." The statement specifically mentioned Xbox 360, with no talk of content for the PS3.
Sega has announced its UK lineup for the current financial year, revealing the official launch dates for two new Sonic titles.
Speaking to MCV, the firm confirmed Sonic Unleashed will launch in November for PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 and PS2, while also announcing the Bioware-developed DS exclusive Sonic Chronicles will be out in September.
Sega also confirmed that Aliens: Colonial Marines, one of its big hopes of 2008, has been delayed and will not now be released until early 2009. The PS3 and Xbox 360 title was originally scheduled for a winter 2008 launch.
The full Sega lineup:
* The Incredible Hulk (DS and 360 - June 13; PS3 and PS2 - June 20; PC - June 27)
* Beijing 2008 (360, PS3 and PC - June 27)
* Sambe De Amigo (Wii - August)
* Space Siege (PC - August 22)
* Picto Image (DS - September)
* Golden Axe Raiders (360 and PS3 - September)
* Sonic Chronicles (DS - September)
* Yakuzza 2 (PS2 - September)
* Valkyria Chronicles (PS3 - Autumn)
* Sonic Unleashed (Wii, 260, PS2 and PS3 - November)
* Empire Total War (PC - early 2009)
* Alpha Protocol (PC, 360 and PS3 - early 2009)
* Mad World (Wii - early 2009)
* Aliens: Colonial Marines (PS3 and 360 - early 2009)
Japanese hardware saw a jump for the week ended June 1, with all consoles increasing upon their sales, according to figures from Media Create.
The PSP maintained it's dominance of the market, selling 71, 986 units this week compared to 64,449 last week. The Wii trailed behind with a total of 50,851 units sold, compared to the previous week's 49,047 units.
The Nintedo DS and PlayStation 3 followed, selling 38,355 units, up from 37,404, and 9169 units, up from 9017, respectively.
Sony's PlayStation 2 managed to sell a respectable 7203 units, an increase on last week's 7189 unit sales, while the Xbox 360 lagged behind selling only 1959 units, although this too is an increase on last weeks 1947 units.
Speaking to investors in a quarterly financial conference call today, Take-Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick confirmed that plans exist for a third BioShock game, which will likely coincide with the release of the Gore Verbinski-directed film version of the game franchise.
At the tail end of the call, when asked when Take-Two expects the Verbinski film to hit theatres, Zelnick responded, "Its unlikely the picture would be released coincident with BioShock 2. It's more likely it would be released coincident with BioShock 3."
It's been less than three months since Take-Two execs officially confirmed its plans for BioShock 2, which will be handled by the company's new 2K Marin studio. BioShock 2 is set for release in Q4 of Take-Two's fiscal year 2009.
No platforms for BioShock 3 were announced on today's conference call, and there was no mention of which studio will be involved with the project.
Following news of the PSN demo's arrival, EA's Battlefield: Bad Company demo has arrived for download on Xbox Live Marketplace too.
The demo includes a snippet from the game's single-player campaign, apparently giving you an "early look into the quest for Gold with Bad Company".
Meanwhile on the multiplayer side of things you get to try out "the all-new Gold Rush mode on the Oasis map, featuring land, sea and air vehicles," which sounds far more appealing to us than the comedy solo campaign.
And if you reach multiplayer rank 4 in the demo, you'll apparently unlock "an exclusive in-game weapon". Lancer? BFG? Someone let us know what it is.
Microsoft is unhappy with the ability to find content on Xbox Live Marketplace, 360 product management director Aaron Greenberg has put on record.
"I think that we are not, I would say...happy with the ability to find and discover content as easily as we'd like for consumers to be able to do that," Greenberg, told MTV Multiplayer.
The feeling has caused the platform holder to start removing underperforming and poorly reviewed Xbox Live Arcade games from Marketplace.
"I think a lot of that is we built Xbox Live Marketplace for a few hundred items and now we have 17,000 items," said Greenberg. "We built a small store and we filled it with lots of lots of stuff. We're feeling some of these growing pains and [the new policy] is one of those tradeoffs we've had to make.
"Longer term, we're looking to make the ability to find content and organize the 17,000 pieces of content we have a lot better."
We've never had any problems. What's the plan then? A Giant, 720p spreadsheet?
Senior industry analysts have voiced concerns over the future of Microsoft's Xbox business, labeling the US firm's attempts to market 360 to casual audiences "disastrous", and predicting that the console will "start to struggle in the market" over the coming year.
Speaking during a panel session at last month's Nordic Game 2008 conference in Malmo, Sweden, analysts covering the UK, Europe and North America were called upon to assess the current state of the global games market, and predict key trends for the next 12-18 months. And for Microsoft, the picture in their crystal ball was anything but rosy.
"When you look at an installed base basis, the Xbox 360's going to come in third place when all's said and done," said DFC Intelligence analyst David Cole. "The concern I would have with a company like Microsoft is, one of these days they're going to have to make a profit on this business otherwise why are they in it?"
Nick Parker, MD of Parker Consulting and an analyst for Screen Digest, argued that 360's failure to succeed in key continental Europe territories pointed to a fundamental image problem. "The trouble with Xbox 360 is it hasn't managed to shake off this urban, irreverent adult male feel; so it hasn't gained traction in the more casual gaming markets of mainland Europe such as France, Spain and Italy, where it's stalled," he said. "And there are already rumours of Xbox 360 being delisted from certain retailers."
Parker, a former VP of strategic planning at Sony Europe, maintained that Microsoft had failed to learn from the mistakes of its first console: "I think they started off badly with the Xbox itself: blood and breasts. This alienated it immediately to a lot of consumers around Europe, and they never got over that. The brand image never went away. And although Halo 3 is a big game, it just emphasises again what the Xbox is all about.
"If you go talk to people in Seville, in Rome, they're not interested in that. They're much more casual gamers, they don't want to have such competitive games."
Cole argued that, despite Microsoft's perceived failure to appeal beyond its core audience, it was still possible for publishers to do strong business in 360's bread-and-butter areas. "If you're doing a first-person shooter title, you're clearly going to want to be on Xbox 360, and that's for years to come," he offered. "[But] their efforts at marketing outside of the first-person shooter crowd have been disastrous." In March, Microsoft hired former Nintendo Europe boss David Gosen to spearhead its drive for casual gamers on the continent.
While 360 remains particularly strong in its home US market and the UK, bitter rival Sony's PlayStation 3 has overtaken it on installed base in other territories, despite launching over a year later. Sony Europe boss David Reeves claimed last month that the console had already surpassed 360's sales across Europe.
Globally, Xbox 360 has sold through over 19 million units since it launched in November 2005. Sony revealed last month that it has sold 12.85 million PlayStation 3s since November 2006, with worldwide Wii hardware sales standing at 24.4 million units as of April 2008.
Xbox 360 last month hit the 10 million milestone in the US, prompting Xbox boss Don Mattrick to proclaim: "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle." However, the panel accused Mattrick of "clutching at straws".
"[Microsoft] get very defensive because they realise the US is their last stronghold now as their sales go into decline across the rest of the world," said Parker. "So they're a little bit desperate and they're clutching at straws now to cling on to what they've got in the market which is primarily the US." Parker also pointed to the "tremendous brand loyalty to PlayStation" amongst its consumer base, causing many to hold off from entering the new generation until the release of their favourite brands, rather than buying an Xbox.
Asked whether there was any chance Microsoft might reconsider its place in the console business, Cole said: "I think there's always that risk. They will have to assess their position after this round, and clearly they were very committed to saying they were going to stick with this business through another console system. They haven't really talked much beyond that and I know that really at some point they are going to have to figure out how they're going to make money out of this business."
He added that DFC Intelligence expected to "see the Xbox 360 start to struggle in the market" over the next 12 months, but added that Sony faced a similar challenge into turning its PlayStation 3 business into profit.
Despite its huge success, the panel also sounded a note of caution over the long-term prospects of the Wii, specifically in relation to its portfolio and the gaming habits of its casual audience. "There's a risk that they [casual users] could actually put the Wii in the wardrobe if there isn't a steady stream of games that please them," argued Swedish games industry analyst Martin Lindell.
"You've got to remember there's a difference between buying and playing - the fact that you get your grandma to play the game doesn't mean she's going out to buy it," added Parker. "I'm still in that kind of faddish feeling about the Wii."
For Cole, Nintendo's historical issues with third-party support poses a risk: "It's a huge issue that Nintendo dominates the platforms they own, as that's how they make all their money," he said. "We see the Wii having a higher installed base but the PS3 generating, by about 2010-11, more revenue in terms of software."
Microsoft did have one champion at the session, however. When the panel began criticising the multi-SKU strategies of Microsoft and Sony, with specific reference to the 360 Elite, a hitherto unusually silent Epic Games boss Mark Rein called out: "Are you guys crazy?", claiming that Elite had been the only profitable SKU for Microsoft. Parker responded by stating that the real issue was consumer confusion.
After one too many broken promises, the previously Japanese exclusive bloody ninja demo goodness has finally made its way overseas and not a moment too soon. Today, U.S. and Canadian Xbox Live members are being treated to a new'ish Ninja Gaiden II demo that's available for download right this ninja-second via the XBLM. You'll also be excited to hear that the demo comes complete with the option to view Japanese or English subtitles! W00t! via xbox360fanboy
Finally, one of the ideas that has been buzzing for longer down the ears of the Group SceneBeta.com admins, has got to see the light: "kinda contest" of Homebrew. And it's a "kinda contest", like that, because we haven't planned quite a contest, but something truly akin to the film festivals, someplace to bring a little homage to those coders who make the Scene grow. The most outstanding works will, also, have a cash prize; we'll give away more than €2000 (more than three grand$)! And well, those of us unable to code, will be delighted by brand new releases whatever it's our favorite platform, either PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii or PC. Be welcome to Scenery Beta 2008, our own and only homebrew festival, scenery and fiesta!
What is Scenery Beta 2008?
It's a Homebrew Festival, an "exhibition" or "fair" where we'll make know the works of coders from all around the world, and some of them as world novelty (hey, but always at coder's choice, that's absolutely only if you want!).
They may get to win cash prizes, which will be awarded by the score given by their fellow coders, and the related SceneBeta.com community and its users. You've got the details in the Scenery Beta Rules (link at the bottom of this new).
We want to warmly thank to all our sponsors their support and trust which has made this showdown possible.
Where'd you get that idea?
It's been some months now since the community Admins were toying with the idea of making some coding contest. It'd be the first time that a Spanish-speaking web did something like that. And finally, our nice little dream has come true!
I'm a coder, can I enter the showdown?
Any coder can enter the showdown, of whatever country, as long as is willing to show his/her work. The only requisite is that the Homebrew has been under development during last year (or, of course, has been created purposely for this event!), and is available to some of the 4 platforms on which we have an active community at this moment: PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii or PC. You can see the submit periods and schedules at the end of this new (Scenery Beta 2008 rules). There are 2 sections for each platform, Games and Applications (emulators will be classified as Apps).
Even more, we've open an "off-contest section", let's think of some SceneryAlpha, where to show those works which are proofs of concept, purely experimental, still unfinished or whatever, so you can get a broader audience and impact in the international Scene. We think that there is a huge load of really great ideas that get lost due to lack of, put simply, someone seeing them. And, yes, we think about giving some kind of award for great "off-contest" ideas.
Inscription period: From the moment these rules are published until Sep, 1, 2008 at 24:00 hrs (UTC+2 timezone). Just send your works to scenerybeta2008@scenebeta.com (check the rules, at the bottom of this thread, for more info).
All homebrews must include the Showcase starting/splah screen for its platform. (This is mandatory):
Official Splash Screens
For NDS:
For PC:
For PSP:
For Wii:
Scoring system
Contestant (coders/teams) votes: 50% of final score.
User votes: 25% of final score.
Organization's rating: 25% of final score.
More details in the rules (link below this thread).
What are you looking for with Scenery Beta?
First and foremost, to pay homage and respect to the scores of anonymous or little-known coders who daily struggle to make our machines more and more useful. Also, we hope that the thousands of users who visit us every day have lots of fun checking and playing with the works, comfortably sitting at home.
In a nutshell, Scenery Beta is a great homebrew fair, with cash prizes for those people who give us something to talk about in these pages.
¡Cheers to the Scene!
I dont want to bore you, so I leave here the link to know all the rules, and check the Awards for each platform.
Microsoft has furnished Live Marketplace with a new demo for Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.
This is the Battlefield-like take on the famous shooter series where you choose to either be boring humans or the cyborg Strogg and then have a big fight with vehicles and tactics and things.
Quake creator id Software only had a supervising role in the project, with Splash Damage doing the bulk of the work for PC and Nerve Software tidying it up for console.
Call of Duty 4 reclaims the top spot as GTA4 falls to 3rd place.
Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)
1 Call of Duty 4
2 Halo 3
3 GTA IV
4 Guitar Hero III
5 Gears of War
6 Rock Band
7 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
8 FIFA 08
9 Forza Motorsport 2
10 GRID Demo
The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.
Original Xbox Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)
1 Halo 2
2 Star Wars: Battlfrnt 2
3 Fable
4 Counter-Strike
5 Ninja Gaiden Black
6 Battlefield 2: MC
7 Splinter Cell Chaos
8 Gauntlet Seven Sorrows
9 Call of Duty 3
10 Conker: Live Reloaded
The subs issue of this month’s gamesTM has revealed a wealth of information on the now-announced Call of Duty: World at War, the final name for Treyarch’s Call of Duty 5.
From VG247 reader evilashchris, reading from the UK mag: “Right, apparently it’s going to be grittier, as gritty as ANY game out there to quote. The enemy will be scarier and use new tactics.
“There will be co-op for the first time in a Call of Duty. Also there will be vehicles and squad-based elements to the multiplayer. Formats: PC, PS3, 360 and Wii. The Wii version is being worked on by a separate team within Treyarch. [The mag] reckons it’ll be a much closer comparison between the next-gen and Wii versions than any other Wii game on the market.
“Jeez, they have the CoD4 engine running on the Wii apparently. They are using [the CoD4 engine] for all the next-gen ones too. The Wii Zapper will be supported.
“Also, this is how gritty it is: ‘The opening scene of the first level we are shown is a Japanese commander stubbing a cigarette out in the eye of a prisoner before slitting his throat - the blood splatters and dribbles down the side of the tent you are being held in. He turns towards you to deal out the same treatment but help arrives just in time. Cue a daring level-long escape.’”
As is now known, the game will be set in the Pacific theatre of World War II.
GTA IV has finally dropped from the top spot on the UK charts in its sixth week thanks to newcomer Lego Indiana Jones - which outsold Take-Two's game nearly 3 to 1 according to data released by Chart-Track.
Lego Indiana Jones was released on six platforms, as compared to GTA IV's two platforms, with the Wii version slightly more popular than the others. This is the first top spot for LucasArts since Lego Star Wars II was released in 2006.
Third-place Codemaster's Race Driver: GRID is closing the gap behind second-place GTA IV, with just 3,000 units separating the two.
Aside from Lego Indiana Jones, other titles new to the All Formats chart this week include Ninja Gaiden II for the Xbox 360 at number six, Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit at number eleven, and Sports Island by Konami for the Wii at number 14.
The Top Ten best-selling titles in the UK for the week ending June 7 were:
1. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
2. Grand Theft Auto IV
3. Race Driver: GRID
4. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
5. Wii Play
6. Ninja Gaiden II
7. Mario Kart Wii
8. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
9. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
10. FIFA 2008
Microsoft's president of entertainment and devices Robbie Bach has debunked internet rumours that the company will announce a Blu-ray equipped Xbox 360 later on today.
Speculation mounted over the weekend that Microsoft was planning to upstage Apple at its Worldwide Developers Conference later on today by confirming that the 360 would see Blu-ray by Christmas.
However, when asked by SF Gate whether the next generation Xbox would have Blu-ray, Bach responded: "No. There is nothing to even talk about right now with regard to the next generation. That is so far out that there isn't anything to talk about."
Of course, Bach could have chosen his words wisely, as he doesn't say *this* Xbox generation won't support Blu-ray. He does add, though: "Our plan continues to focus on high-definition experiences.
"Xbox 360 has a great ability to deliver those through the Xbox Live (online download) service. It's a great way to get the high-definition concept because it's right there. There's no additional media. There is nothing you need to purchase."
In 2008 Xbox will enjoy its first year as a profitable business, Microsoft's E&DD boss Robbie Bach has told the San Jose Mercury News.
"That's the first time we've been able to say that," Bach told the newspaper. "That's total Xbox business - service, software and hardware."
The Xbox biz has famously operated in the red in order to spearhead Microsoft into the console business, but Bach's statement comes after Xbox's first ever pair of profitable quarters.
It's got a head start in achieving the year goal then, which is probably partly thanks to a certain game with a 'IV' at the end.
"Recognize that for us, the fact that 'Grand Theft Auto' was a positive event for us is an amazing statement. Because if you think back to last generation, anything associated with 'Grand Theft Auto' was bad and was PlayStation," said Bach.
"And so the idea that we've been able to build an ecosystem and an experience that attracts people who have never thought of being on our platform before is a pretty powerful statement."
Yes it's got GTA, and Xbox is finally making money, but is that enough to stop PS3 steamrolling ahead in Europe? We'll have to wait and see...
Eden Games downs tools and puts its feet up as work on Atari's movie-style scare-'em-up is finally wrapped up, although the PS3 version isn't out until autumn.
The game has been floating around since 2006, and was originally planned for a May 2008 release before being hit with a delay which, Atari told CVG, was simply to give developer Eden games another 30 days to polish the final game up some more.
That means the Xbox 360, PC versions of the game, along with the Hydravision Entertainment-developed Wii and PS2 versions, are all set to hit shops on June 20 as planned.
The PS3 version, meanwhile, is STILL hanging on a vague "autumn" release.
"The PS3 version looks brilliant, people have seen it and it looks cool," an Atari spokesperson promised CVG.
Numerous reports suggest MTV and Harmonix are hard at work on a sequel to Rock Band, with some retailer databases suggesting it could be out as early as November this year.
The first sightings were from online focus groups testing things such as price and features as well as box art choices, according to Joystiq.
Following this were obituaries for the late guitar hero Bo Diddley, claiming his cigar box-shaped guitar will be featured in Rock Band 2, presumably as an in-game unlockable rather than a peripheral.
Rock Band was released on Xbox 360 and PS3 in the US last November, with a PS3 version following in December and Wii version out this month.
Europe has so far only been treated to the Xbox 360 edition, with PS3 and other versions to follow later in the year.
It costs rather a lot at GBP 180 for the game plus instruments - guitar, microphone, drums, but is among the most fun you can have with four people in the same room. Head over to our Rock Band review to find out why.
Sega has released eleven screenshots from The Incredible Hulk game that hits shops across Britain this Friday.
There's not much more we can say about this game, other than it looks significantly better than its Wii counterpart.
The city is an open-world, the environment is destructible and you can pick almost anything up and batter things to death with it. We expected nothing less.
Microsoft is expected to reveal a set of new Xbox 360 RPGs this evening, at a planned "RPG Premiere" press conference in Shibuya, Japan.
As it's taking place in Japan, by "this evening" we actually mean, "tomorrow morning" in UK time, but going by the name of the event we'd expect at least some new titles to be revealed - including maybe the next games from Blue Dragon studio Mistwalker.
At least two of the games showcased at the event are expected to be Square Enix's The Last Remnant and Infinite Undiscovery. Hopefully, we'll also get a look at Mistwalker's long announced Cry On, which seems to have disappeared off the radar.
With the announcements the Xbox 360 should once again solidify itself as the current-gen console of choice for RPG fans. Bizarre, considering it's the only one of the big three not come from Japan...
Analysts at Lazard Capital Markets and Wedbush Morgan secutities have said in their May NPD preview that Grand Theft Auto IV has not generated a meaningful increase in sales for either console - contradicting claims made by Microsoft and Sony - and that software sales for the month have increased in excess of 30 per cent.
Outlining predictions for the games industry ahead of the NPD results, the analysts Michael Pachter, of Wedbush Morgan, and Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets, predicted a 39 per cent and 30 percent growth in software sales respectively.
Both noted key titles for driving the sales such as Grand Theft Auto IV, Iron Man, Wii Fit, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, and of Mario Kart Wii.
"Solid videogame software sales continued in May, and we expect roughly 30 per cent growth in console and handheld software for the month," Sebastian said.
However, he added, "We do not believe the recent release of GTA IV has generated meaningful incremental demand for the Xbox 360 or PS3 platforms"
The analysts further noted that price cuts could do more than GTA IV to boost console sales.
"Next generation console unit sales are running well ahead of the level in the analogous period of 2003 (when console prices averaged under USD 200), implying room for significant sales growth as price cuts are implemented," Pachter explained.
Square Enix has listed a load of release dates at the Xbox 360 RPG Premiere event in Tokyo.
Star Ocean 4, or as it's officially titled Star Ocean: The Last Hope, will be released for Xbox 360 in 2009. There's been no mention of when, or indeed whether, it will turn up on other platforms.
Next up is Infinite Undiscovery, confirmed as a 360 exclusive and down for a European release on 5th September. The US will get it three days earlier while Japan will have to wait, for once. But not for long, as the game's out there on September 11th.
And finally there's Last Remnant. The game's in development for PS3 and Xbox 360, but will be released for Microsoft's console first. The 360 version is down for a global release this winter, with no word on how long PS3 owners will have to wait.
Also, A global release schedule has been announced for Tales of Vesperia, the RPG being developed excusively for Xbox 360 by Namco.
The game will launch in Japan on August 7th priced at JPY 7800 (GBP 37 / EUR 47).
A hardware bundle will be available for JPY 37,800 (GBP 180 / EUR 227). This will include the game, a Premium Xbox 360 unit and an unconfirmed bonus item.
Tales of Vesperia will also get an August release in the US. However, the game won't be available in Europe until 2009.
The news was announced by producer Yoshito Higuchi at a Microsoft-hosted event in Tokyo. He also said a TOV demo will be released via Xbox Live later this month, but didn't specify which regions it will be available in.
Return of the 80s with “Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3” and “Frogger 2” launching on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. GMT (1:00 a.m. PDT) and will be for 800 Microsoft Points Each
With the purchase of “Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3,” Xbox 360 owners will be automatically eligible to participate in an beta test to help improve the online version of “Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix.” Participants in the beta will be able to submit bug reports and suggestions through beta.capcom.com and help make the final release version even better! The Beta version of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix will be available to all “Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3” purchasers on June 25.
Ripten has posted a rumour that (the original PS1) Metal Gear Solid is coming to the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade.
The source of the rumour? apparently MGS has been spied on PartnerNet, the developers-only Xbox Live network used to beta-test unreleased downloadable Xbox 360 games. Several new games have been discovered this way, most notable Ikaruga, and like Ikaruga it maybe sometime before it turn from a beta to a release..... if it true.
Santa Monica developer Treyarch has revealed the first details about its upcoming shooter, Call of Duty: World at War (previously known as Call of Duty 5). Having previously developed Call of Duty 3, the team is bringing the FPS franchise back to its WWII roots. Treyarch also revealed in the Official Xbox Magazine that the next Call of Duty will, for the first time, support four-player co-op over Xbox Live. IGN has contacted the game's publisher, Activision, to see if that feature will make its way over to the other platforms, but no confirmation on that yet.
Activision announced that the latest Call of Duty would feature a new military theater last May, and has remained true to its word by taking the series to the Pacific, with players fighting the Japanese. Parts of the game will also take place in Berlin as the Russians advance in on the Germans.
Though Treyarch is developing Call of Duty: World at War, the game is still utilizing Infinity Ward's engine from last year's award-winning Call of Duty 4. The World at War team, has also had an additional year of development time when compared to its first COD effort, Call of Duty 3.
Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith has stated that the next installment of Call of Duty would make its way to the DS, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 platforms before the end of the company's 2009 fiscal year, which has typically ended on March 31.
Electronic Arts has told us Command & Conquer 3 expansion Kane's Wrath will be out for Xbox 360 on 27th June in Europe.
The PC game was released back in April, but this version will feature extra treats specifically for couch-based commanders.
Chief among them is a radial menu interface that makes managing your army much easier on a console pad, with options spiralling out and selectable all with one stick, apparently.
On top of that are additions such as a Risk-like Global Conquest mode, more sub-factions, units structures and powers for GDI, Nod and Scrin forces.
Oh, there's a fresh campaign based around that Kane chap too, who we spoke to not so long ago and found him to be very chirpy and not at all like an evil maniac he portrays.
He said he usually gets cast as villains, though, and also reckons there's lots of snobbery from telly actors towards the videogame sector.
Halo Wars will feature a two online campaign co-operative mode and support up to six players on Xbox Live for versus multiplayer, according to US mag GamePro.
Aside from the now-standard options of co-op and multiplayer, we're also promised a shorter learning curve than traditional real-time strategy games. Don't make it too easy though or they'll be trouble on the forums, we can already sense it.
Maybe Ensemble has stripped out some of the more time-consuming resource-management parts of RTS games? For more information on Halo Wars, go read our most recent preview of the game, which alleviates some fears about transporting Halo into a RTS and putting a RTS on console.
Gameplay footage? Nah, you're not interested in that. Check out this wicked CGI Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise video Microsoft's just released. It erm, shows off some new Piñatas at least, we suppose.
The follow-up adds the obligatory extra critters, new environments as well as something called Piñata Vision, which lets you pop to the shops to pick up Viva Piñata trading cards, and the slap them in front of your Vision Camera to put them in your game. Sounds like an idea to make money to us.
If you fancy seeing the actual game in action, have a gander at this earlier video, and you can read our hands-on impressions here.
The official Japanese 360 site was updated this morning with details on the new content we'll be receiving on Friday 13!
New free mission - "Remote Base" (name pending localization) introduces players to a new field on Moatoob, Il Cabo Base. Here, Guardians will be entering an abandoned research facility to purify the hordes of SEED-infected native creatures!
New item - A new room decoration, Lab Set, will become available as a drop item in the new area.
Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)
1 Call of Duty 4
2 Halo 3
3 GTA IV
4 Battlefield: Bad Company Demo
5 Guitar Hero III
6 Gears of War
7 Rock Band
8 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
9 NINJA GAIDEN 2
10 FIFA 08
Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions)
1 Aces of the Galaxy
2 Penny Arcade Episode 1
3 UNO
4 DOOM
5 Buku Sudoku
6 Warlords
7 N+
8 Worms
9 Marble Blast Ultra
10 Bomberman LIVE
Red = New
The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.
Dark Sector (The Gears of War clone) demo is now available in all region for download via Xbox live. It has got a Metacritc score of 72 so if your itching for GOW2 try out the demo to see if it can fill the void, for a while at least.
Midway just dropped seven new screens for the upcoming Xbox 360 version of Unreal Tournament III. The 360 version, if you don't recall, will include five new levels, two new characters, a splitscreen mode and all of the previously released downloadable content.
The mystery behind the Xbox 360's infamous 'Red Ring of Death' problem, which has been bricking consoles left, right and centre since it launched in 2005, has finally been unravelled.
Speaking at the Design Automation Conference in California, Bryan Lewis, research VP and chief analyst at Gartner, said that the reason Microsoft was forced to admit 360's hardware fault and conduct a $1 billion recall was because it wanted to manufacture the 360's graphic chip itself, rather than paying a third party.
"Microsoft wanted to avoid an ASIC vendor," said Lewis. Microsoft designed the GPU itself, cut a traditional ASIC vendor out of the process and went straight to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, he explained.
But in the end, by going cheap MS ended up paying more than $1 billion in its 360 recall.
To try and fix the problem, said Lewis, the platform holder went back to an unnamed ASIC vendor and redesigned the chip. According to him, it was probably ATI.
"Had Microsoft left the graphics processor design to an ASIC vendor in the first place, would they have been able to avoid this problem? Probably. The ASIC vendor could have been able to design a graphics processor that dissipates much less power."
We're sure it won't make the same mistake twice...
So the long-awaited Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 is out TODAY on Xbox Live. The game is a lot of old-school run+gun fun.
That much is simple, but unfortunately there’s also a bit of confusion swirling around the details about the Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Beta (that you get free!). Let me try and clear this up.
To play the SSF2T HD Remix Beta, here’s what you do:
1) Buy Commando 3 on XBL. Play it, love it.
2) In the Commando 3 menu, you’ll notice an option for “Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Beta” (insert long name joke here). If you hit that option, you’ll get an error. Why is this? Because the SSF2T HD Remix Beta isn’t live until June 25th.
3) If you hit the Beta menu option on or after June 25th, 2008, you’ll be taken to an XBL blade
offering to let you download the new SSF2T HD Remix Beta.
4) Download the Beta, and then you can find it your “Games Library” under “Demos.”
5) Start it up and commence dragon-punchery.
And also, just to be clear, the SSF2T HD Remix Beta does not come with Commando 3 on PSN. Unfortunately the Beta is only available with Commando 3 on XBox Live, although the network improvements that we make post-Beta will improve the final, full product on XBL and PSN alike.
Baboon's bit: I've just bought this game and its pretty cool. To be honest though I only wanted it for the SF2 beta... and I'm gutted you can't play that till the end of the month!
Capcom is offering the British public its first chance to play Street Fighter IV next month.
Arcade cabinets will be wobbling their way to the Battle of Destiny, the Road to Evolution event at the London Metropolitan University on Saturday, 27th July.
Also present for the first time will be Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, which is slated for release on PC, PSN and XBLA later this summer.
The Battle of Destiny tournament has fighting fans slug it out across four games to win a place in the world final in Las Vegas in August.
If you're just going along to watch and maybe play SFIV or the other one with a really long title then you will need to cough up GBP 10.
However, those who fancy their chances at either Super Street Fighter II - Hyper Anniversary Edition, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, Capcom Vs. SNK 2 or Street Fighter 3: Third Strike will need to shell out per game.
For one tournament it will be GBP 10; for two it will be GBP 20; for three it is GBP 25 and for four it is GBP 35.
The Xbox Originals pipeline just keeps on flowing. Today, Microsoft announced that Xbox games The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning and Guilty Gear X2 #Reload will be available for download to your Xbox 360 on June 16.
The Legend of Spyro was developed by Krome Studios and published by Sierra in October 2006. Guilty Gear X2 #Reload, a fighting game featuring online play with head-over Xbox Live, was developed by ARC System Works and released in 2004.
Via: Xbox 360 Fanboy
Over on the ScoreHero forums, Pengwyns noticed that during a Rock Band commercial, one that's airing on MTV promoting the latest round of MTV2 Rock Band DLC, they accidentally reveal a few DLC songs that we've never heard about. During said commercial, they quickly scroll through a set list and on it there are four songs with a "NOT READY TO TEST" label including DLC tracks from Nirvana,
Machine Head and Nine Inch Nails. Check the newly discovered DLC tracks below and cross those gaming fingers in hopes of seeing another NIN track pack.
Once Microsoft Game Studios Europe signs a game, they will never cancel it says business development manager Peter Zetterberg.
"Maybe we sometimes announce them earlier than we should, but we stick with them, we have our resources team work with them as much as we can," he told GamesIndustry.biz
"It's crunch time down in Guildford now and we have people working their butts off to make Fable 2 happen. We do not, we shall not cancel games."
Zetterberg says that he sees around 600 game concepts a year, ranging from a piece of paper to a full-blown presentation with a demo, video and concept documents.
Of those submissions, about thirty go into a discussion meeting to be evaluated - and of those, perhaps five might go into a greenlight process. MGS may sign three of those.
Microsoft Game Studio Europe has the autonomy to greenlight a project, but when it commits to large, franchise developments it obviously needs the entire MGS approval Zetterberg said.
MGS Europe has a slightly different role than the team in the US - genre diversity and local values.
"We need to find games that are globally accepted, that people love on a global basis," Zetterberg said.
"Like music or singing, things that we all love. Then we can nail the local values to it."
In Europe, local values are more important because there are 25 countries, 20 languages and so many different cultures so we have to learn to think small while having the games that have global relevance.
"There's a reason why Microsoft hasn't been that successful in the past on the continent because they sit in Redmond and it's hard to understand how to make fifteen games for a smaller European market," Zetterberg said.
Having MGS Europe is a great opportunity to find globally great games with locally relevant content, he said - something that Microsoft has needed to improve upon.
"We've always moved on a global basis and this means that sometimes we have missed out on the smaller things. If you look at World of Goo or Crayon Physics, these can be easily overlooked by a large corporation that thinks global."
For the week ending June 7, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 sold 23,484 units in the UK. That total pushes it to lifetime sales of 2,320,543 units in the UK. The original Xbox sold 2,320,384 units in the UK from its launch in March of 2002 through March of 2007, a period of almost exactly five years. Xbox 360 has performed much better in the UK than its predecessor. From December 2, 2005 to June 7, 2008, a period just over 2.5 years Xbox 360 has topped its predecessor in the UK.
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit for the PlayStation 3 has broken into the top spot on the Japanese software chart for the week ending June 8, according to figures from Media Create.
It was followed by Mysterious Dungeon for the Wii - another new entry - forcing Konami's Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 for the PlayStation Portable down from first to third place.
Tecmo's DS Misa Yamamura Suspense was the next new title in the chart, entering it at number five and forcing the PSP's Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G further down the chart to sixth place.
Ninja Gaiden 2 was the final new title in this week's chart, debuting in eighth place and the only Xbox 360 title to make it into the top ten.
The full top ten is as follows:
01. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (PS3)
02. Mysterious Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 3 (Wii)
03. Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 (PSP)
04. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
05. Misa Yamamura Suspense: Kyoto Murder Files (DS)
06. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP)
07. Wii Fit (Wii)
08. Ninja Gaiden 2 (Xbox 360)
09. Family Trainer (Wii)
10. DS Beautiful Letter Training (DS)
Microsoft has named the games that'll appear at its booth at this year's E3 in Los Angeles next month, and there aren't any surprises. Or are there?
Banjo-Kazooie, Fable 2, Gears of War 2, Halo Wars, Too Human, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise are all set to appear at the July 15 event, but as anonymous tipsters revealed to CVG last month the company could be revealing two "top" titles that'll also be available before Christmas.
Microsoft is expected to bolster its line-up of ever-lucrative casual or "core" demographic games at the show, including a second instalment of quiz game Scene It? and perhaps even an appearance from that long rumoured motion controller. Our bets are that any announcements made at E3 will be in this area.
E3 runs from July 15 to 17. Check back next month for the goods.
A note inside Midway's press release for the European release date of Unreal Tournament III on 360 has revealed what we can expect to see from the exclusive Gears of War 2 video included on the disc.
In addition to the actual UTIII game, the disc will feature an exclusive video preview of Gears of War 2. The video "will include never-before-seen footage of the game's multiplayer modes featuring new maps, new modes, new weapons and new gameplay elements. The video is narrated by design director, Cliff Bleszinski, and producer, Rod Fergusson."
Just in case you missed it, Unreal Tournament III will ship on July 4 across Europe and July 7 in the US.
Grand Theft Auto IV was the best-selling videogame in the US for the month of May, according to data released by the NPD Group.
The Xbox 360 version of Take-Two's game topped the sales chart with over 871,000 copies sold; The PS3 version sold nearly 443,000 copies to take fourth place.
According to the NPD Group, combined sales of GTA IV have reached 4.2 million units - making it the top-selling title of the year so far.
Guitar Hero III, with 2.5 million units sold, and Rock Band, with 1.3 million units sold year to date, are both in the top ten best-selling games for 2008.
The US games industry has generated USD 6.6 billion in sales for the first five months of 2008, exceeding the total annual revenues for 1997 and putting it on pace to achieve yearly revenues in the range of USD 21 - 23 billion.
The Nintendo Wii and DS captured the top spots for hardware sales for the fourth consecutive month, selling 675,100 and 452,600 units, respectively.
Sony sold 182,300 PSP handhelds and 208,700 PlayStation 3 consoles in May, with Microsoft selling 186,600 Xbox 360 consoles.
"The continued success of GTA IV is not translating into big hardware sales for either the PS3 or the 360 but there may yet to be a lift in June due to gift-giving for Father's Day and Graduations," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier.
The Top Ten best-selling titles in the US during month of May were:
* 1 Grand Theft Auto IV (360) - 871,300
* 2 Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 787,400
* 3 Wii Fit (Wii) - 687,700
* 4 Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) - 442,900
* 5 Wii Play (Wii) - 294,600
* 6 Super Smash Bros Brawl (Wii) - 171,100
* 7 Iron Man (PS2) - 130,600
* 8 Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Wii) - 116,800
* 9 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness (DS) - 107,000
* 10 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (DS) - 102,000
Latest figures for Japanesse console sales are in as follows:
Playstation Portable: 62,016
Nintendo Wii: 44,639
Nintendo DS Lite: 35,020
Playstation 3: 10,856
Playstation 2: 6,279
Xbox 360: 2,280
PSP is still on top but down roughly 10,000 from last week. Wii is second, reduced by 6,000. Next the DS follows, down 3,000. PS3 is 4th in line, up about 1,700. PS2 is in 5th spot, down 1,900. Last in 5th place is the Xbox 360, up 321.
Silicon Knight's controversy-fuelled Too Human is nearly finished, as company president Denis Dyack confirms on his IGN blog that the game "is likely just days away" from being completed. Writes Dyack, the team is currently working to squelch a pair of "rare crash bugs" before sending the long-in-development sci-fi Norse action game off for final approval.
The exec also notes that "there will be plenty of time for press to critique Too Human as they will receive evaluation copies well in advance of the release date." This means that when scores come rolling in this August they should not be based on rushed play throughs to meet unrealistic deadlines, at least that's the theory. We admit that part of us will miss the roller coaster ride that has been Too Human's road to retail, though we can't help but wonder what Dyack will be up to next.
Following the announcement of North American videogames sales figures for May, all three platform holders have given themselves a big old pat on the back.
Nintendo probably deserves one, having actually sold more consoles than anybody else. Last month the Wii made up 63 per cent of all current-gen consoles sold, while the DS took a 71 per cent share of the handheld market. Lifetime sales figures for Wii and DS now stand at 10.2 million and 20 million respectively.
Of the top 30 best-selling games sold in May, 19 were for Nintendo systems. GTA IV may have topped the chart, but Mario Kart Wii was in second place with Wii Fit in third. Wii Play also did well - 295,000 copies were sold, bringing the lifetime total to 5.8 million.
"The Wii Wheel and Wii Balance Board accessories make game play fun for new gamers while presenting new challenges for those who have been playing a long time," said sales executive Cammie Dunaway, polishing the diamonds on the soles of her shoes.
Ignoring the fact Nintendo now owns most of the money in the world, Sony was quick to stick its tongue out at Microsoft. The company's statement said PS3 sales "eclipsed" those of Xbox 360, with a lead of more than 22,000 units sold.
Year-on-year, PS3 sales growth stood at 155 per cent. Software sales were also up, reaching 1.26m units during May - an increase of 234 per cent. And while more copies of GTA IV were sold for 360, Sony pointed out that more than 32 per cent of US PS3 owners bought the game. This means the attach rate was 6 per cent higher.
Between the start of January and the end of May, the PlayStation brand has generated nearly USD 2.27 billion in revenue - that's 46 per cent higher than Microsoft, according to Sony. For May only the figure stood at USD 133 million, 98 per cent higher than Microsoft.
More than 20 million pieces of content were downloaded from the PSN Store during May, including 11.6 million in North America. In total, there are now over 9 million registered PSN accounts worldwide and more than 160 million pieces of content have been downloaded.
Sony described PSP sales for May as "solid", and revealed PS2 sales were up 6.7 per cent over the previous month.
"The media have hailed 2008 as the year of the PS3, and with solid sales and growth opportunities ahead, we feel consumers are saying the same," said Sony bossman Jack Tretton.
Your Mum, said Microsoft, pointing out that Xbox 360 now has a global installed base of more than 19 million. It also has a better attach rate than any other console, with 7.7 games sold per machine.
Of the 25 top-selling first-party franchises, 21 sell best on Xbox 360. That includes GTA IV - 871,000 units have been sold for Microsoft's console, which means the Xbox 360 game is outselling "the other platform's" version by a ratio of two to one.
More third-party games are sold for Xbox 360 than other consoles, with USD 110 million in game sales generated during May. In this generation, 59 per cent of third-party games sold have been for 360.
And besides, Microsoft went on, gamers like hanging out with us best. The company quoted the results of a Nielsen survey that found gamers aged between 10 and 26 spend an average of 75 hours per month playing Xbox 360, compared to 53 hours playing PS3. The figure for Wii was 35 hours.
And besides and besides, the battle's not over yet. "We still have quite a few aces up our sleeve," the company's statement ends. "See you at E3 next month!"
It's not known whether "up our sleeve" is a reference to a new tattoo as per previous E3s, but perhaps not seeing as Peter Moore's left. Rumours Shane Kim will drop his trousers to reveal VIVA PINATA has been stamped across his buttocks, with an interesting interpretation of the dot over the second 'i', are completely made up.
Here in the US, we've heard some pretty terrifying experiences about selling modchips, but it seems as if higher-ups in the UK are being a bit more reasonable about the whole thing. Reportedly, UK-based MrModchips was cleared of all 26 counts against him for his role in importing and selling console modchips, as the Court of Appeal Criminal Division (Judge Justice Jacobs, in particular) ruled that said chips do not circumvent copyright protection. Better still, the defendant was "awarded full costs as a result of his successful appeal," and we can only assume he was smiling all the way out of the crowded courtroom. Chalk one up for the little guy.
Newly-promoted Microsoft bods Shane Kim and Phil Spencer have shared their daring predictions for Xbox 360 in 2008, going as far as stating that it could top last year's spectacular Halo 3-BioShock-Call of Duty triple hit.
"I think the platform is just as strong, if not stronger [than last year]" said Shane Kim, now corporate VP of strategy and business development, told CVG's suit and tie-wearing cousin Next-Gen.biz.
"That's hard to say, because we had incredible titles last year with BioShock, Halo 3, Mass Effect and Call of Duty 4. ... Especially when you look at Halo 3, which was a phenomenal industry event, it's easy to look back and go 'you can't possibly be as strong.'
"But if you look at the initial success of Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360," Kim continued, "that's been super, and we have exclusive [DLC] content coming too. Gears of War 2 is going to be huge, Fable 2 is going to be huge.
"So I don't know. I believe that we're going to have just as big of a year in terms of content on Xbox 360. Maybe we don't have a particular exclusive that's as big as Halo 3, but I do think that Gears 2 and Fable 2 will be really big hits."
But of course like the man says, after the mammoth entertainment launch that was Halo 3, many of us will scoff at the thought of MS rolling in and topping that in 2008. When asked how the chances were of MGS ever creating a franchise as big as (or bigger than) Halo, Kim replied:
"Really good. And I'll tell you why. We've got the talent, we've got people who are always on the lookout for new ideas and talent, and most importantly we have the commitment and the will to create those hits. Those are not easy tasks. There would've been lots of people in the past that would've not stuck with various projects that have turned out to be very successful for us.
"In no way would I say that Halo, or what we know of Halo today, is the peak of what's possible. Far from it. It's another benchmark, another milestone to exceed in the future."
THQ and Sega impressed its retail and distribution partners across PAL territories last week, with a perfectly executed trade conference comprising over 400 delegates.
Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural event in Malta, the two games giants joined forces in Lisbon to show off their range of releases between now and next March.
Representatives from over 35 different countries saw detailed presentations for a slate of key titles covering everything from hard core next-gen to big licences and casual gaming.
Sega Europe president Mike Hayes and THQ executive VP of international Ian Curran (pictured) demonstrated recent growth in both the business as a whole and across the two companies.
“Screen Digest expects software sales in PAL territories to top $12 billion this year – that’s growth of five per cent over 2007,” said Hayes.
“But we think this is a little conservative. Double digit growth, or even as high as 15 per cent looks achievable.”
Sega and THQ are currently tracking at a combined market share in PAL of over 12 per cent, up a third on 2007 and up two thirds on 2003.
“Between us, our games will represent a sales opportunity across PAL of $1.5 billion at retail this year,” added Curran.
Both companies were applauded again by retailers and distributors for holding a single event that covered off two key publishers.
But whilst the addition of a third publisher would probably prove popular, there are currently no plans to widen the event for 2009.
Today is the last day in the DCEmu Games Reviews Contest - WIN 1 of 4 iTOUCHDS IN REVIEW CONTEST. There have been many review submissions from numerous contributors. Its not too late for you to enter. Register (if you havent done so already), read the guidelines and rules and start posting! Check out other reviews for how reviews are constructed.
Remember, you have until June 14th and you can submit as many reviews as you want! The more reviews, the better chance you have in winning.
If you're not going to enter, be sure to cast your vote for best reviewer when review submission has ended!
Well, well, well, what have we here? Looks like we're finally getting some real evidence that Microsoft really does have some sort of response to Nintendo's Miis on the way. It's been rumored for some time now and the above shot of the linked flash page seems to portend the end of the rumors. Giving the rumor more credibility is that the information contained in the image, supposedly taken from an online survey, conforms to details recently given to Joystiq by a trusted source. These "Xbox Avatars" certainly look to do everything that Miis do and more.
Taking into account that Microsoft doesn't seem too troubled by the rest of the year, this, along with the rumored "Newton" controller, could possibly be what they're betting the farm on.
And now, the last of the leaked MS/Acti news items for the day. Included in Intellisponse's marketing/survey data was some information on Microsoft's User Generated Games program, which is what they were calling the service we know better as "Community Games On LIVE". The material says that it's a “new destination” for Xbox Live customers, offering “hundreds” of inexpensive games. Buying one “looks and feels just like buying anything else from Xbox Live”, but most importantly, will be “most likely less expensive” than the “typical Xbox Live game”. Hrm. If Microsoft wrote/approved that, it's a peculiar choice of words. For user-generated content on shoestring budgets (if a budget at all), shouldn't they be "definitely less expensive"?
So you've read about the Guitar Hero IV controller information, the Microsoft Mii-style avatar system and the Forza 3 download scenarios, but that's not everything the dedicated NeoGAF kids managed to bust out of market research firm Intellisponse's website in the dead of the comedy night: there's also stuff on a new Silicon Knights game, Call of Duty 5 and a Microsoft SingStar pretender.
SingStar has been a huge success for Sony, of course, and apart from a miserable karaoke game for the original Xbox Microsoft has been unable to fight back. Apparently the eventual counter-punch is called "Lips", and has two wireless microphones, a catalogue of 30 songs (including Madonna), and a downloadable songs service, and rates your singing based on pitch, tone and rhythm. Distinguishing it a bit would be the option to import your own music from CDs and iPod, which would then reduce the vocal track so you can hear yourself singing along, although presumably you'd have to do without lyric prompts.
Meanwhile, Silicon Knights is on the verge of finishing Too Human - an Xbox 360 exclusive tied up with Microsoft - but the company is also known to be working with SEGA on a current-gen console title originally announced over three years ago, and now it looks like that game could be The Crucible: Evil Within. According to the Intellisponse leaksplosion, it's an action-adventure that you can check out in a short YouTube clip showing various gameplay scenarios. SEGA has been contacted for comment, but we've heard nothing back yet.
Also on the site is news of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance II, which will apparently have "over 20" playable characters including Hulk, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Venom and the Human Torch, and is supposedly set during the "Civil War" story and forces you to choose sides. There's also talk of fusing the abilities of two characters to create hybrid powers, and target platforms are said to be Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PSP and DS.
Elsewhere on the Activision front, Call of Duty 5 is confirmed as Call of Duty: World at War, with box artwork mockups to boot. COD5 is set during World War II and is supposedly due out this year from Treyarch, with a big reveal expected later this month.
That's still not everything, either. There's a leaked video of Ultimate Band, Disney's Wiimote-and-nunchuk-controlled Rock Band equivalent; talk of Wii Yoga, with "adaptable weekly schedule of exercises that will leave you feeling refreshed" where you match a yoga guru's on-screen "poses, stretches and triangular positions" with Wiimote and balance board (publisher/developer unknown); a pop culture version of the "Scene It?" quiz game; and a few other things that we're checking out with publishers at the time of writing.
Poor old Intellisponse. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're off to change all our passwords.
SEGA has confirmed to Eurogamer that Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm will be on Xbox Live Arcade next Wednesday.
This is the Lemmings-like take on the Happy Tree Friends cartoon, which is all about cute and cuddly animals causing lots of bloody carnage.
The idea is to find and rescue trapped friends and guide them to safety by laying down fire or explosives or freezing stuff or by generally interacting with things.
There are 10 levels to clear in total, but sadly no multiplayer to stretch things out.
Developer Stainless has made the game with help from the cartoon makers, so everything will be very authentic. Plus, there will even be an exclusive episode of the series included. And it's based on videogames.
"If you like cute, cuddly animals meeting grisly deaths," creator Kenn Navarro told XCN, "then you should play something else.
"Our game is all about helping, sharing and giving with the occasional spinning saw blade accident or electro shock mishap. There's only as much blood in Happy Tree Friends: False Alarm as there is in your local butcher shop. And hopefully more comedy."
Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has debuted at number one on the UK charts according to data released by Chart-Track.
MGS4 supplants multi-platform title Lego Indiana Jones - last week's number one title - despite being released only on PlayStation 3. It has become the second fastest-selling PS3 game in the UK behind GTA IV and ahead of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue.
MGS4 has also beat MGS3 by 24,000 units but fell 14,000 units short of beating launch week sales of MGS2.
Wii Fit, which dropped off the charts shortly after launch due to supply constraints, has returned to take the tenth position. Sid Meier's Civilization: Revolution, a new release for Xbox 360 and PS3, debuts at number nine.
The week's other new release - Don King Presents: Prizefighter - debuted at number twenty-five on the chart.
The Top Ten best-selling titles in the UK for the week ending June 14 were:
1 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
2 Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
3 Grand Theft Auto IV
4 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
5 Dr Kawashima's Brain Training
6 Race Driver: GRID
7 Wii Play
8 Sports Island
9 Sid Meier's Civilization: Revolution
10 Wii Fit
EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich, in a note to investors following the release of NPD sales data for May, has stated his belief that Microsoft will cut the price of the Xbox 360 in the US at E3 this year.
"With E3 around the corner, we can expect Microsoft to make some type of announcement regarding a hardware price cut, the introductory of a new hardware SKU with new features, or both," he said.
And he added that if a price cut did happen he would expect Sony to follow suit within a two-month window.
Additionally Divnich expects the PlayStation 3 to continue to outpace the Xbox 360 in terms of sales, as in May, thanks to the release of Metal Gear Solid 4 - a much-anticipated exclusive to the Sony platform.
Meanwhile he notes that Nintendo seems to be doing a better job of meeting demand for the Wii console in the US, with the decline in gray market prices from a 40 per cent mark-up to 10 per cent - although supply for Wii Fit continues to be a problem, with gray market prices for that title averaging around a 62 per cent mark-up.
Apparently the Guitar Hero World Tour controller will feature a "new touch-sensitive guitar Neck Slide" which "opens up the entire guitar neck for unbound solos", so you can "shred how you want".
As previously announced the game will ship with a microphone and wireless drum kit, complete with cymbals and soft pads for quieter play. The whole shebang will cost USD 179.99, according to Intellisponse. Historical evidence suggests it'll be more expensive in Europe, but perhaps lessons will be learned from the Rock Band row and the mark-up won't be too high.
The tracklist is said to include songs from Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, System of a Down, Ozzy Osbourne, Interpol, Muse and "dozens more".
Guitar Hero World Tour has already been confirmed for launch on PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii later this year. For more official details, check out our previous coverage.
MTV has lined-up "Doolittle" by The Pixies as the third downloadable album for Rock Band.
It'll be out next Tuesday on Xbox Live Marketplace, and a couple of days later on the PlayStation Store - in the US, where the game is actually out on PS3.
Grab it for Xbox 360 and it'll cost 1520 Microsoft Points (GBP 13 / EUR 18). The PS3 version should be a similar price.
Also worth noting that "Wave of Mutilation" is missing from the album as it already appears in Rock Band.
The 14-song (master-recorded) album is as follows:
"Crackity Jones"
"Dead"
"Debaser"
"Gouge Away"
"Here Comes Your Man"
"Hey"
"I Bleed"
"La la Love You"
"Monkey Gone To Heaven"
"Mr Grieves"
"No 13 Baby"
"Silver"
"Tame"
"There Goes My Gun"
At a "strategy level" Microsoft wants to be first to the market again with its next-generation Xbox, Entertainment & Device Devision boss Robbie Bach has said.
Speaking during an interview with Venture Beat, Bach said that if you asked him whether being first to market with Xbox 360 was the right decision, he'd say "definitely yes," and the platform holder has a desire to do it again with the next console.
"The last cycle for the original Xbox was a little shorter than typical (at four years). We started way late," he said. "If you take the question of whether it was the right thing to try to be first [with Xbox 360], the answer to that is definitely yes. It has given us a leg up in a number of places that are super important.
"It has given us a leg up with game developers. It has given us a leg up from an economics perspective. It helped us expand Xbox Live quickly. At a strategy level, if you asked if we wanted to be first again, I would say yes."
But the E&DD boss said it was "too early to tell" when quizzed on his expectation for the next console's release plans. "Our view is we will be selling Xbox 360 for a long time," he said.
"People ask me how many people I have working on the next generation. On the one hand, it's everybody. On the other, it's nobody. People are continuously working on new technology.
"We start thinking about the next generation before we shipped the Xbox 360," Bach continued. "It doesn't start with a date. It starts way upstream with silicon development.
"From that comes a series of data points. You start making early technology choices. It's an evolving thing. Stuff doesn't become concrete until you get inside a window of when you have to ship, more than 18 months or so out."
If we see anything before 2010, we'll be very surprised.
Forza Motorsport 3 could include over 400 cars and 100 tracks, brand new race modes and take up so much space it requires two DVDs.
That's according to information leaked as part of the gigantic Intellisponse breach this weekend, rounded up by X3F. Intellisponse is a market research firm, and it looks like naughtier sections of the Internet have been rifling through its bins.
Forza 3, which Microsoft has not officially announced, is detailed in a slideshow that also mentions extensive plans for downloadable content and a VIP service for letting people subscribe to access everything for a one-off fee. Presumably the idea was to get a section of the public's feedback on specific pricing scenarios. Well, that's certainly going to happen now.
Those new race modes we mentioned include "drag, drift, oval, point to point racing, etc", and there's talk of "near limitless customisation options for car tuning and custom artwork" and a "powerful assist system" to help idiots learn to drive. Forza 2 had those things, obviously, so we'll assume they are now bigger and better, if not more badass.
"Assume that new cars and tracks would be released on Xbox Live shortly after the launch of Forza 3 and continuing on each month," the slides continue, preparing to test the group's reactions. "For example, every month you might see a new pack of 10 cars for [GBP 3.40 / USD 4.99 - there are US and UK slides] and every three months, a real-world race track for [GBP 3.40 / USD 4.99]." There could also be larger expansions - perhaps 30 cars and a new track for GBP 13.60 / USD 19.99 - a few months after release.
More interesting is talk of a VIP membership option for GBP 13.60 / USD 19.99, which would sign you up to download everything that's released for the game on Xbox Live, entrance into exclusive online events, and other perks like "VIP status on Forza Auction House and Community boards, extra server space for photos and videos, and a free month of Live".
There could also be a Collector's Edition of the game featuring unique content. "This could be anything from authentic racing gear (gloves, helmets, etc) to specially created automobile manufacture gear (branded jackets, etc) to VIP motorsport event tickets"
Finally, there's talk of a special 2010 edition of Forza Motorsport 3 to launch a year after release rounding up all the previous 12 months' DLC and adding 30 new cars, a new real-world racing track and 2010 liveries for each existing vehicle, along with the top 20 user-generated car skins and tuning set-ups. This would then slot in at a mid-range price.
At this point, Microsoft has yet to officially comment on anything Forza 3-related. It's also worth reiterating that the information smuggled out of Intellisponse is not secret squirrel blueprints for Forza 3, but rather possible scenarios to test responses.
Speaking of which, it will be interesting to see how those involved in this impressive Internet meltdown go about cleaning it up.
A behind the scenes video of Fight Night Round 4 has seemingly turned up on You Tube, giving series fans their first look at EA's Mike Tyson.
You can watch it over there, and see EA Chicago's wonderfully Essex artist show off her work on the Tyson model, which erm, looks just like Tyson. Yeah.
Fight Night Round 4 will be the first time that Tyson has appeared in a game since 2002's abysmally-reviewed Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing for PS2.
EA says this version of Fight Night will be the most realistic yet, thanks in part to a new physics-based animation system that "allows for missed punches, glancing punches, knockout blows and for the first time ever, rough and tumble inside fighting". No word on any of the other stuff Tyson's now known for though.
Sega is getting ready to launch Beijing 2008 later this month, and they've just dropped new information and screens on the various track and field events available for play in the Olympic title. Six track events and eight field events make up the T&F portion of the game, with the races benefiting from a new analogue starting block mechanic involving the controller's trigger buttons. Players will be able to either button mash or stick-waggle to work up speed, intermittently leaping hurdles where applicable.
Meanwhile, on the field side of things, players can compete in the pole vault, high jump, triple jump, long jump, or my personal favorite events, the throws, with javelin, hammer, shot put, and discus all represented. Always been a big fan of throwing things. Just ask my borderline neurotic targets cats.
Beijing 2008 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic GamesTrack And Field Events, Screenshots and Details Available Now
LONDON (16 June, 2008) – SEGA Europe Ltd. proudly presents Beijing 2008™ - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games: Track and Field events.
Appearing on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC, Beijing 2008™ delivers a host of Track and Field events.
Of the six Track events, the 100m is the blue-riband event of the Olympic Games and is watched by millions of people worldwide. A new analogue starting block mechanic has been added to the gameplay using the trigger buttons on the controller. After launching out of the starting blocks, players will have the choice to either waggle the thumb stick from left to right, or press the A button and B button alternately to gain speed. Other track events are the 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and the 110m Hurdles for Men and 100m Hurdles for Women.
There are eight Field events in Beijing 2008™ and new to this iteration is the Hammer Throw which is played with both analogue sticks to build up power, whilst using one of the triggers to throw the Hammer. Other Field events are the High Jump, Pole Vault, Long Jump, Shot Put, Triple Jump, Discus Throw, and the Javelin Throw. All of these events have different gameplay mechanics and are playable with both male and female athletes.
Beijing 2008™ is slated for a global release on June 27th 2008 for the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC.
D3Publisher (D3P), a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software, together with its parent D3, Inc., today announced a worldwide publishing agreement with the Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group for videogames based on Focus Features and LAIKA Entertainment's Coraline, the upcoming high-definition stop-motion animated feature - the first to be originally filmed in 3-D. The newest movie from visionary director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas), Coraline is based on Neil Gaiman's international best-selling book of the same title. The games are scheduled to be released for console and handheld systems in Q1 2009 to coincide with Focus' nationwide release of the movie on February 6, 2009.
"The alternative-reality based plot of Coraline translates exceptionally well to an interactive gaming adventure," said Yoji Takenaka, executive vice president and chief operating officer, North America and Europe, D3P. "We are enjoying working closely with the filmmakers and the team at Universal and Focus Features to authentically portray the film's unique cast of characters and allow players of all ages to experience not only key environments and moments from the movie, but also elements that go beyond the feature film."
"Coraline is a fantastically imagined world, filled with quirky characters and unexpected events, said Bill Kispert, VP and General Manager, Interactive, Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group. "And with just the right blend of humor, adventure, and spookiness, it is the perfect source material for a truly unique adventure game."
Coraline (The Game) is a surrealistic adventure game that will enthrall gamers of all ages with its moody atmosphere, engaging narrative and cast of colorful characters. The console products are being developed by Papaya Studios, and the handheld products are being developed by ART.
The always-popular Electronic Entertainment Expo has returned to its roots this year, with the annual game show moving back to the Los Angeles Convention Center after a solo season on the sunny beaches of Santa Monica. Kicking off on July 14 and running through July 17, E3 2008 showcases several of the year's biggest software titles from the industry's biggest publishers. In addition, special tie-in events like Gamecock's BE-3 Initiative and Activision's offsite press conference will spotlight new software as well.
To help celebrate the festivities, we're starting our E3 coverage right here and now. Listed below is every videogame that has been "officially confirmed" to appear at the show and concurrent events happening at the same. Just remember not to go crazy if your most anticipated title isn't on the list -- after all, E3 is known for its surprises and secrets, not every company is going to let us know everything ahead of time. That means that our list will by no means be complete until the show starts. Regardless, this page will continue to be updated immediately whenever we can confirm additional titles.
For your easy navigation, we've provided links to every game listed should you want to use our watch-list system to keep and eye on your favorite titles, and we've even included a handy countdown clock so you know exactly how much time is left before the show happens. Titles added in the last 48 hours are marked with a handy-dandy "New" icon as well.
Oh, and before we forget. If you're a publisher and want us to add games to your list, send us a complete description to this email address and we'll take care of the rest.
Akella
Postal III (PC, X360) NEW
Bethesda Softworks
Fallout 3 (PC, PS3, X360)
Capcom
Bionic Commando (PC, PS3, X360)
Bionic Commando Rearmed (PC, PS3, X360)
Capcom Project #1 [untitled] (other)
Capcom Project #2 [untitled] (other)
Dark Void (PC, PS3, X360)
MotoGP 08 (other)
Neopets Puzzle Adventure (PC, Wii)
Plunder (PC, PS3, X360)
Resident Evil 5 (PS3, X360)
Spyborgs (Wii)
Street Fighter IV (PC, PS3, X360)
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (PS3, X360)
Crave Entertainment
Defendin' de Penguin (DS, Wii) NEW
Ford Racing Off Road (PS2, PSP, Wii) NEW
King of Clubs (Wii) NEW
PBR: Out of the Chute (PS2, Wii) NEW
Purr Pals (Wii) NEW
Solitaire & Mahjong (Wii) NEW
D3 Publisher
Bangai-O Spirits (DS)
Ben 10: Alien Force -- The Game (DS, PS2, PSP, Wii)
Naruto: Clash of The Ninja Revolution 2 (Wii)
Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 (DS)
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (DS, PC, X360)
Deep Silver
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky (PC)
Disney Interactive Studios
Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell (DS) NEW
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (DS) NEW
High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dance (PC, PS2, Wii, X360) NEW
Pure (PC, PS3, X360)
Spectrobes: Beyond The Portals (DS)
Ultimate Band (DS, Wii) NEW
Electronic Arts
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (PC, X360)
Crysis Warhead (PC)
Dead Space (PC, PS3, X360)
FaceBreaker (PS3, X360) NEW
FaceBreaker K.O. Party (Wii) NEW
Madden NFL 09 (PS3, X360) NEW
Madden NFL 09 All-Play (Wii) NEW
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (PC, PS3, X360)
Mirror's Edge (PC, PS3, X360)
NBA Live 09 (PS3, X360) NEW
NCAA Football 09 (PS3, X360) NEW
Skate It (Wii)
Spore (PC)
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest (PC, PS3, X360)
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 (PS3, PSP, X360) NEW
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 All-Play (Wii) NEW
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (PC)
Gamecock
Dungeon Hero (PC, X360) NEW
Legendary (PC, PS3, X360) NEW
Velvet Assassin (PC, X360) NEW
Microsoft
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (X360)
Fable 2 (X360)
Gears of War 2 (X360)
Halo Wars (X360)
Too Human (X360)
Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise (X360)
Midway Games
Blitz: The League II (PS3, X360)
Game Party 2 (Wii)
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (PS3, X360)
TNA iMPACT! (PS2, PS3, Wii, X360)
This is Vegas (PC, PS3, X360)
Touchmaster 2 (DS)
Unreal Tournament III (X360)
Wheelman (PC, PS3, X360)
Namco Bandai
Soulcalibur IV (PS3, X360)
Natsume
Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness (DS)
Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility (Wii)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Killzone 2 (PS3)
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (PS3)
PixelJunk Eden (PS3)
Resistance 2 (PS3)
SIREN: Blood Curse Episode #1 [PSN] (PS3)
SOCOM: Confrontation (PS3)
SouthPeak Interactive
B-Boy (PS2, PSP)
Big Bang Mini (DS)
Edge of Twilight (PC, PS3, X360)
Mister Slime (DS)
Monster Madness: Grave Danger (PS3)
Ninjatown (DS)
Two Worlds: The Temptation (PC, X360)
THQ
All-Star Cheer Squad (DS, Wii) NEW
Baja: Edge of Control (PS3, X360) NEW
Darksiders: Wrath of War (PS3, X360) NEW
Deadly Creatures (Wii) NEW
Red Faction: Guerrilla (PC, PS3, X360) NEW
Saints Row 2 (PC, PS3, X360) NEW
Viva Piñata: Pocket Paradise (DS) NEW
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 (DS, PS3, Wii, X360) NEW
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (PC) NEW
de Blob (Wii) NEW
Valve
Left 4 Dead (PC, X360)
Warner Bros. Interactive
LEGO Batman: The Videogame (DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, X360)
Project Origin (PC, PS3, X360)
XSEED Games
Little King's Story (Wii)
Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)
SEGA Europe has told Eurogamer that The Crucible: Evil Within is not the game Silicon Knights is making for it.
This was another of the leaks from the Intellisponse market research, which contained a video supposedly showing footage from an action-adventure many believed to be made by the Too Human developer.
"I can confirm that SK are not working on The Crucible for SEGA," a spokesperson told us, unable to shed any light on what the developer is making, then.
However, comments made by a US SEGA representative suggest more news is "coming soon"; E3 soon, perhaps.
SEGA signed the talents of Silicon Knights three years ago now, but the fruits of the partnership have yet to be seen.
This could, of course, be the psychological action thriller Silicon Knights is spending its government grant of CAD 500,000 (GBP 251,583) on, aiming for a release in 2010.
Too Human, incidentally, is out exclusively on Xbox 360 on 29th August.
The first footage of the next instalment in the Call of Duty series will be shown exclusively on Xbox LIVE this weekend.
Call Of Duty World At War is being developed by Treyarch whilst Modern Warfare's creators, Infinity Ward, presumably take a well earned rest. It's purported to be a darker, grittier game, swapping some of the 'Boy's Own Adventure' stylings of the previous games for a sense of real endangerment. In fact, according to Treyarch head Mark Lamir, "This is a scarier Call of Duty than we've ever seen."
Speaking to Official Xbox Magazine, Lamir also talked about the changes they'd made to the AI system to reflect the battlefield tactics of the Imperial Japanese army. Apparently there will be less hiding in trenches and flanking manoeuvres, more hiding in trees and suicidal sword charges.
The game will use an improved version of the engine which powers the truly excellent CoD4, with lighting and physics getting a facelift. A fire propagation model features too, allowing the new flamethrower weapon to toast all and sundry.
World At War has had a significantly longer development time than CoD3, being boiled on the ideas hob for twice as long as its elder cousin. Everyone is being a bit coy about details so far, especially as World At War is somewhat optimistically scheduled for this Christmas, but we do know that vehicles will feature again and that co-op campaigning has been introduced. Local co-op will be a 2 person split-screen affair, whilst online will be a hairy foursome.
World At War will be available on 360, PS3, PC and Wii.
Despite going straight in at number one in the software charts and being the biggest PlayStation 3-exclusive release so far, Metal Gear Solid 4 has failed to prove a major driver of hardware in the UK, with Chart-Track revealing a "minimal" spike of seven percent over its opening weekend.
The UK sales monitor revealed last night that Konami's hugely anticipated blockbuster, which released worldwide last Thursday (June 12), has become the second fastest-selling PS3 title in the UK after Grand Theft Auto IV, and 14,000 short of the opening weekend figure recorded by Metal Gear Solid 2 on PS2 in 2002.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Chart-Track director Dorian Bloch played down the game's impact on hardware, revealing: "There's not a lot to say about it – it had minimal impact really. Units were up by seven percent."
But it was a different story for Nintendo, which launched three new flavours of DS - red, turqoise and green - across Europe last Friday (June 13).
"The new colours had a massive impact – sales were up hugely," said Bloch, who also broke down the performance of each model, adding: "Black is still the king, followed by red, pink, white, turqoise, green and silver." Black accounted for "more than a third" of DS sales. Chart-Track does not publish specific hardware sales figures.
In addition to the new colours, Nintendo also launched a new DS bundle featuring Brain Training, specifically targetting Father's Day gift buyers.
"Father's Day had quite a big impact on DS because there was a specific Father's Day pack available - which Nintendo also did for Mother's Day - which was quite important," Bloch noted. "DS is still going some, basically."
The UK sales monitor further revealed that Brain Training has spent a massive 74 weeks in the all formats top 10 – just five weeks short of current record holder, the original Tomb Raider.
Take on the role of being the digruntled employee who just happens to be a mad scientist with the key to weather control in of Elements of Destruction coming to XBLA this Wednesday. Use your power to exact revenge on those who wrongfully terminated your employment through the use of earthquakes, tornadoes and lightning storms.
Elements of Destruction will be 800 Microsoft Points and is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.
If you're after something a little more calm, check out Sea Life Safari, also available this Wednesday on XBLA. Grab hold of your camera and dive deep into the oceans as you seek to capture shots of elusive sea creatures and follow secret routes to spots with hidden items.
Sea Life Safari is family friendly being rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and can be yours for 800 Microsoft Points.
Notice how no-one mentions 'hardcore gamers' anymore in the press releases? Well you're not the only one. Consider it a 're-adjustment' on the part of the PR sector of the games industry.
So if you're reading up on all the coverage about E3 next month, and the phrase core-gamer keeps cropping up where hardcore used to lie, well lets just say they hope you don't think too much of it. Funny thing is, the term core-gamer is about as well defined as hardcore gamer, as in, not at all.
GAME has announced the results of its recent online poll to determine the best 100 games of all time, with Call of Duty 4 beating out the opposition to take top spot.
It was followed by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in second, Final Fantasy VII in third, Grand Theft Auto IV in fourth and Super Mario 64 in fifth place.
The results also pointed to Mario as the greatest gaming icon of all time, with 11 per cent of titles containing Nintendo's plumber, while the PlayStation 2 was crowned "Most Popular Console" with 10 per cent of all titles in the top 100 being exclusive on that platform.
Meanwhile the highest-ranked film tie-ins involved James Bond - GoldenEye was in sixth place overall - and Star Wars, with two titles in the list.
Over 100,000 votes were cast in the vote, which was open to anybody visiting the game.co.uk website, with the Final Fantasy franchise listed as the most popular gaming series, and RPGs the most popular type of game.
The top ten titles were as follows:
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
3. Final Fantasy VII
4. Grand Theft Auto IV
5. Super Mario 64
6. GoldenEye
7. Halo 3
8. Metal Gear Solid
9. Half-Life 2
10. Gears of War
Here's the latest batch of Halo Wars screens, and it's all looking very nice.
to be cooking up a pretty chaotic RTS with the Halo universe, with Scarabs and Scorpion Tanks rumbling through massive open environments packed with smaller infantry units, Warthogs, Banshees and all sorts of other units. Read more about it in this detailed preview.
The shots below aren't the ideal resolution, but well worth a look, and you can see loads more on GamePro.
It feels like forever since I first sat down with Torpex Games' dream team of Bill Dugan and Jamie Fristrom about how fast and easy it was to develop using Microsoft's XNA . While the initial prototype may have only taken four days, the company's first game, Schizoid, has been in the works for quite some time. Well now things are coming to a head, as Torpex has dropped us a line to let us know that Schizoid will be making its Xbox Live Arcade debut next month. While no specific date or price was mentioned, it's good to know I'm that much closer to getting my hands on the title I've been itching for since early 2007.
Iconic game designer Warren Spector has said he believes lengthy adventure games are "on the way out".
The Deus Ex creator, who now heads Junction Point Studios for Disney, believes game designers need to work out how to meet a new generation of demands.
"I love working with Disney because I'm so tired of making games about guys in black leather carrying guns. I don't want to make those any more," Spector told Gamasutra.
"Building a game is as complex as making as a Hollywood movie. We are in a business that is both software engineer and entertainment, and we have to balance it. It used to be that you could trade off gameplay for graphics, but you can't do that any more.
"100-hour games are on the way out. How many of you have finished GTA? Two per cent, probably. If we're spending USD 100 million on a game, we want you to see the last level!" he added.
However, casual games have their own set of problems, according to Spector, who said, "If you don't make it on the front page, you don't get your game seen."
Spector has yet to put his name to a project since Ion Storm (Deus Ex series, Thief: Deadly Shadows) was closed by Eidos in 2004.
All we've heard of his Junction Point project is a teaser quote from the man on the studio website:
"When we do announce what we're doing, half the world's going to think we're crazy and half the world's going to think it's the coolest thing since sliced bread - how great is that?!"
Read to the full interview to find out what sort of people Spector wants to hire to help him. You'll need to love "chaos" and "change", apparently.
To no one's surprise, EA is set to release the next installment in the Need for Speed franchise later this year in the form of Need for Speed: Undercover. In an interview with gamesindustry.biz, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello said that the title is in development from one of EA Vancouver's two NFS teams. He also hinted that its inspiration comes from movies like The Transporter, though we'll have to wait and see what he means by that.
The single previous Need for Speed team was split into two last year to allow each of the two teams more time to create yearly updates for the franchise. Rather than giving one team only 12 months to create the next installment, each team would now have a full two years, with the teams trading release years, obviously. Being that the team was only split last year, the Undercover team will only have a little over 16 months to create the title, but the extra breathing room must certainly welcome in any case.
In the interview, Riccitiello also discussed his disappointment with last year's Need for Speed ProStreet, and said that the reason for splitting the team into to two was to help insure that future titles would actually be a worthy experience.
No consoles were specified for Undercover, but given the franchise's history, we'd expect to see it hit every major system.
Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)
1 Call of Duty 4
2 Halo 3
3 GTA IV
4 Battlefield: Bad Company Demo
5 Guitar Hero III
6 Gears of War
7 Rock Band
8 NINJA GAIDEN 2
9 NINJA GAIDEN 2 DEMO
10 ET: QUAKE Wars Demo
Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions)
1 Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3
2 UNO
3 Aces of the Galaxy
4 DOOM
5 N+
6 Worms
7 Penny Arcade Episode 1
8 Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting
9 Marble Blast Ultra
10 Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Red = New
Green = Re-entry
The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.
Lionhead has shed some light on the characters you'll meet while exploring Fable 2, and claims to have "one of the most evil people in videogame history".
These nasty, or nice people you meet during side-quests in Albion will act as "moral signposts", according to creative director Dene Carter talking to IGN, and will tie in with but not drastically alter the outcome of the main campaign.
You'll also not be able to accidentally butcher a key figure and "ruin the story"; Lionhead likes its open world, but also wants you to see certain bits and do certain things it has spent a long time making.
The first examples of the faces you'll come across in Fable 2 are Arfur, a murderous and vicious thief who sounds like the infamous Bill Sykes; Barnum, an unlucky inventor likely to be laughed off of Dragon's Den time and time again; and Giles, a tough-as-old-boots farmer who used to be a soldier and now has problems with a violent gang.
We're told there are all sorts of characters to meet and each will have a story of varying length to unravel - some may not even exist because of your actions elsewhere in the world. Carter is coy over how many will be in the final game, but suggests that 50 hours of voice-acting gives us a rough idea. That's more than a season of Buffy, admits Carter.
Doing tasks for people earns you renown that can cheapen services offered by those characters. You can also do things for normal people ambling around.
But not everyone will like you, and some will make their mind up based solely upon what you are wearing. However, Carter says there will be a section of the interface to help us understand what makes certain characters "tick".
You can also kill people so you can buy their house on the cheap. Beat that, housing market.
EA has chucked over some exclusive screens from the soon-to-be released Xbox 360 version of Command and Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath.
The screens depict the Global Defence Initiative, Brotherhood of Nod and Scrin battling against each other some varied terrain.
Control systems have also been optimised, so hopefully console owners won't find they are battling with a badly ported interface just to play the game.
It's looking good. Instead of being an expansion pack like its PC sibling, the game will be a stand alone product that will contain a variety of exclusive content not seen before.
Check out the new screens of the 360 version below and hit this link for the full interview.
Metal Gear Solid 4 sold over 465,000 copies in its first week on sale in Japan, putting Konami at the top of the Japanese software chart.
That works out at nearly 12 times more than its closest competitor Mario Kart Wii with 38,000 sales, according to Media Create data for the week ending 15th June.
The effect Metal Gear Solid 4 has had on PS3 sales is still unknown, although Japanese magazine Famitsu has reportedly put its early estimation at around 70,000 hardware units sold.
Sony managed to shift 10,856 PS3 consoles in the week leading up to the game's launch
Full figures are expected tomorrow and, if those early predictions turn out to be true, it will be a vastly different story to the UK where MGS4 had only a "minimal impact" on PS3 hardware sales in Chart-Track's phrase.
The rest of the software chart saw Nintendo best-sellers Mario Kart Wii and Wii Fit take two and three, with the early success of Konami's PSP baseball outing, Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3, fading to four.
Capcom followed with its PSP unit-shifter Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G at five, with D3Publisher entering the chart with a DS Pachinko offering at six.
Namco Bandai fighter Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit continued to sell well on PS3 to take seven, ahead of Nintendo's Beautiful Letter Training for DS at eight.
Rounding out the chart were Tecmo's Kyoto Murder Files for DS at nine, and SEGA with Mysterious Dungeon 3 on Wii at 10.
The top 40 was made up of 15 games on DS, nine on Wii, three on PSP, two on PS3 and one on PS2.
Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots (Konami, PS3) - 465,000
Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo, Wii) - 38,000 (lifetime: 1,444,000)
Wii Fit (Nintendo, Wii) - 37,000 (lifetime: 2,227,000)
A big change in ranking have occurred for console sales in Japan as follows:
Playstation 3: 75,311
Playstation Portable: 64,675
Nintendo Wii: 45,564
Nintendo DS Lite : 39,201
Playstation 2: 7,297
Xbox 360 : 2,163
For the first time ever, the Playstation 3 tops the list, increased highly by roughly 64,500 units, most probably fuelled by the release of Meta Gear Solid 4. PSP is second, up 2,600. 3rd place is the Wii, up 900 or so. Next is the DS Lite, up 4,000. PS2 is 5th, up 1,000 and Xbox 360 is last in line as usual, down 117.
Command and Conquer PlayStation fans (must be some out there) will be disappointed to know that there was never any possibility of the latest game in the franchise ending up on PS3.
Speaking to CVG, C&C producer Jim Vessella said that the "PS3 was not in consideration".
"We weren't planning on PS3 for Tiberium Wars or Kane's Wrath," he told us. "We really wanted to focus on Xbox 360 and master that platform before diving into another one."
The victory cries of Xbox 360 fanboys will be short-lived however, as he added that EA has every intention of supporting the PS3 from now on.
"We're definitely considering the PS3 for future versions of our games and future versions of Command and Conquer," he added. "Although we don't have specifics just yet on when that's going to happen.
"But the PS3 is definitely successful and we really want to give that platform love in the future."
Turn-based RPG battles don't have to be slow, dull number games. Just check out these mental screens of Square's Infinite Undiscovery.
Giant tidal waves battering through crumbling buildings, massive explosions wrecking giant snakes, screen-filling flame effects on slashing swords, dragons raining down fireballs of death - it's all kicking off.
Developer Tri-Ace looks to be doing a bloody good job, and is due to have the game on shelves September 5 over here, too. FFXIII may be PS3-exclusive, but Xbox fans won't care if this is as actually as good as it looks.
These shots surfaced on a nice new official Japanese site well worth seeing. After this lot, you should check the game out in motion as well.
BioWare is is "looking into" making games for Wii and PSP in order to offer a wider array of titles.
"We're looking into Wii and PSP as a company... but nothing has been decided, and nothing has been announced. And we are, from styles of games - we are trying to broaden our portfolio," Mark Darrah, project lead for Sonic Chronicles, told Gamasutra.
He revealed the DS role-playing project had swollen to around 30 staff at one point, but despite the help and scale it had remained a frustrating platform to develop for.
"I mean, the hardware is challenging for someone who's done console or PC development, just because it's got four megabytes of memory, and it's very much hardware from - if you compare it to a PC, it's like hardware from 14 years ago."
Traditionally, BioWare has been a PC developer, but it moved onto Xbox with Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire, before creating Xbox 360 epic Mass Effect.
It was also bought by mega-publisher EA last October.
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood will be its first DS game when it comes out September.
Pop over to our hands-on with Sonic Chronicles to see what BioWare has done with the Sega mascot.
Feel the electricity of Big Play Saturday with the NCAA Football 09 Demo on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network! Try out two different games modes - Play Now and Mascot Mash Up. Take defending champ LSU into Columbus to battle the Buckeyes or duel mascots when Texas stampedes into The Swamp.
Experience all-new gameplay features like the Breakaway Animation engine and Home Field Advantage. Ice the Kicker before the game winning field goal attempt or take the QB Quiz to help the quarterback regain composure after a turnover. Check out the Interactive Timeouts to instantly improve an aspect of your team. Finally, celebrate with mascots and teammates after the big score!
Authentic college football presentation comes to life with cheerleader and flag-runners, new lighting, enhanced crowds and sidelines, and innovative dynamic attendance. With NCAA Football 09, everyone will experience the glory and pageantry of college gamedays!
NCAA Football 09, scheduled for release in North America on July 15, will feature wide open gameplay, college atmosphere and online enhancements. This year's iteration of NCAA Football brings to life the fun and excitement of gameday Saturdays.
Disney is planning a videogame version of the upcoming animated feature Bolt, which tells the story of a heroic dog's cross-country journey.
Gamers will play as the TV star dog, Bolt, and his owner, Penny, from the action TV series featured in the film. As Bolt, players can use his superpowers, including laser vision and his superbark, which sends out a sonic blast to devastate opponents. As Penny, players use stealth, hacking skills and a wheelbar, inspired by her scooter seen in the movie, to outwit enemies.
Bolt will be available for the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 video, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and PC and is scheduled for a November 2008 release.
Core Cooler V2 is a high end version of XCM popular Core Cooler. Now compatible with all Xbox 360 and also coming with Twin Fans for double cooling power, it still features great lightning to add a custom look to your console.
Thanks to the Platinum Games/Sega crossover announcement, I had the opportunity to speak with the head of Nudemaker (Hifumi Kouno), which I was very excited about. As a splinter company from Human (all of which are very interesting - Grasshopper, Sandlot, Spike, and others), Nudemaker has been making odd games like Tekki, Clock Tower, and some hentai games. Currently they are working on Infinite Line for DS. Since this was my first opportunity to talk to Kouno, I didn't waste much time talking about his upcoming game (whoops), but rather about what he's been doing since Tekki. Though the interview was unfortunately cut short, I was able to talk with someone seriously about what you can do in a hentai game from a design and emotional standpoint. Obviously I would've interviewed him for longer if I could, and another opportunity to do so may present itself soon. For now, please enjoy!
On Wednesday, PlayStation Lifestyle posted up a rumor that Microsoft was supposedly gunning for a timed Xbox 360 exclusive, to be paid for in cash money and announced at E3. Following an understandable uproar on the part of PlayStation fans, Capcom has set the record straight via their official message forums.
In fact, said record-straightening was done by Christian Svensson, Capcom's VP of strategic planning and business development, who wrote: "The assertion is false. RE5 is a multiplatform release that fits with our oft-stated crossplatform strategy." In the same thread, Svensson confirms "for the avoidance of doubt" that the game will be a simultaneous release on both platforms. Thanks for being so quick with the extinguisher on this one, Sven.
Welcome to this week's Games Update, our weekly summary featuring all new product arrivals from the last seven days.
Games are coming out in torrents after the release of the grand finale of the Metal Gear Solid series, and these releases include games of all sorts of genres.
Summer holidays are about partying and family fun for a lot of people. Nintendo therefore published their newest sports game Super Mario Stadium: Family Baseball, a game suitable for all ages and all occasions. Besides sports games, the puzzle Puyo Puyo! is another game suitable for families gatherings and all sorts of parties.
As a new special priced version, Puyo Puyo! is not only a a perfect addition to your collection of games, but also a nice way to save some cash.
Likewise, Atlus re-released their thrilling mythical RPG Odin Sphere as a best priced version, so for those who did not manange to to grab the last edition, be sure to get your hands on them this time round.
The revival and upgrade of old games are good buys, just in case you have trouble making out your mind. Since the gaming industry is fast paced and competitive, only the best games get revivals. Super Robot Taisen A [Asian, JPN], is a good example, first released in 2001, it is re-released 7 years later on Sony PSP, powered up, with lots of new features.
A lot of people go travelling in the summer, to make your hours of plane, train or even bus journeys more exciting, a number of new games are released on portable consoles such as Spectral Force Genesis [limited and standard editions]. Think about unifying the world as you travel abroad.
The far east is a good place to travel in your summer holidays, but travelling back time to ancient Japan is an even rarer experience. The Harukanaru Jikuu no Ka de (Harukanaru toki no naka de) series has always taken their players back time to either the Heian or Kamakura period. But this time, in the fourth installment, you travel even further back to the era of the gods and myths.
Aside from games, Square-Enix has published their third book in the Final Fantasy Ultimania series. This time, the book will focus on battle systems and monsters as well as magic.
As usually, here's a summary of all new releases from this week, followed by a quick preview of what is expected to be hot next week.
Xbox360™:
Don King Presents Prize Fighter US US$ 64.90
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit US US$ 64.90
FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage JPN US$ 64.90
Kung Fu Panda ASIA US$ 49.90
NASCAR 09 US US$ 64.90
PlayStation3™:
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit US US$ 64.90
NASCAR 09 US US$ 64.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Backyard Baseball 2009 US US$ 44.90
Blast Works: Build, Fuse & Destroy US US$ 44.90
Harukanaru Jikuu no Kade 4 JPN US$ 64.90
Puyo Puyo! (Special Price) JPN US$ 29.90
Super Mario Stadium: Family Baseball JPN US$ 59.90
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian JPN US$ 59.90
Nintendo DS™:
Dokusho Shitendo DS: Genji Monogatari + Chottodake Bungaku JPN US$ 39.90
Dokusho Shitendo DS: Hanshichi & Yuumon & Ango + Ago & Hatamoto Taikutsu Otoko JPN US$ 39.90
Gakken Mainichi no Drill DS: Mesaze! Miracle Shougaku 1 Nensei JPN US$ 39.90
Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles US US$ 24.90
Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor US US$ 24.90
My Fashion Studio US US$ 34.90
Nippon Shuzan Renmei Kanshuu: Itsudemo Soroban DS JPN US$ 39.90
Ohimesama Debut JPN US$ 48.90
Puyo Puyo! (Special Price) JPN US$ 29.90
Soul Bubbles ASIA N/A
Spectral Force Genesis JPN US$ 48.90
Spectral Force Genesis [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 69.90
Watashi no Pony JPN US$ 39.90
Nintendo DS Accessories™:
Game Card Case 6 (Black) US US$ 5.99
Game Card Case 6 (Clear) US US$ 5.99
Game Card Case 6 (Pink) US US$ 5.99
Sony PSP™:
Puyo Puyo! (Special Price) JPN US$ 29.90
Secret Agent Clank ASIA US$ 39.90
Super Robot Taisen A Portable ASIA US$ 59.90
The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 31.90
World Championship Cards US US$ 24.90
Sony PSP™ Accessories:
Full Protection Filter JPN US$ 9.90
PSP Headset with Remote JPN US$ 39.90
Super Robot Taisen A Portable Accessories Set JPN US$ 29.90
PC Games
Mass Effect (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 39.90
Video Game related Books
Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 3: Battle JPN US$ 29.90
Video Game related Soundtracks
Made Hajimemashita Goshujinsama No Osewa Itashimasu Drama CD JPN US$ 29.90
Radio DJCD Naruto Radio Shippujinrai 3 JPN US$ 24.90
The Idolm@ster Master Live 04 JPN US$ 19.90
A separate Video/Music update containing Japanese releases from this week, including new Anime, J-Pop and Movie releases will follow prior end of the week. So J-Pop, Anime and Movie fans, be sure to look out for that one!
A lot of releases are expected next week, with a lot of hits such as:
Xbox360™:
Battlefield: Bad Company ASIA US$ 44.90
Battlefield: Bad Company Gold Edition ASIA US$ 49.90
Mobile Suit Gundam: Operation: Troy ASIA US$ 49.90
Mobile Suit Gundam: Operation: Troy JPN US$ 68.90
PlayStation3™:
Battlefield: Bad Company ASIA US$ 49.90
Battlefield: Bad Company Gold Edition ASIA US$ 54.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk JPN US$ 64.90
PlayStation2™:
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ (Ultimate Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Sengoku Basara X JPN US$ 62.90
Sengoku Basara X [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Sunsoft Collection JPN US$ 49.90
The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match JPN US$ 49.90
Nintendo DS™:
Arkanoid DS US US$ 24.90
Bleach: The 3rd Phantom JPN US$ 48.90
Daigasso! Band Brothers DX JPN US$ 48.90
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness JPN US$ 48.90
Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard US US$ 34.90
Space Invaders Extreme US US$ 24.90
features
Unlimited Destruction: Become the Incredible Hulk and experience unlimited destruction. Players can demolish anything in their path and also use it as a weapon – pieces of a crumbling building…a passing car…a light standard.
Powerful Rage: Rage is power. Build the Hulk’s rage to learn powerful moves. Cause unheard-of damage to gain and upgrade his abilities.
Incredible Scale: New York City’s towering skyscrapers allow for exciting vertically based gameplay, while powerful, massive enemies such as Bi-Beast and the Abomination challenge the Hulk’s might.
Dynamic Open World: A realistic next-gen, open-world representation of Manhattan provides gamers with an immense playground of destruction that also contains sub-quests, minigames, and a story that reaches beyond the film to include elements from classic Marvel comics.
description
One of Marvel®’s most powerful Super Heroes® unleashes epic destruction this June in Marvel Studios’ blockbuster movie, The Incredible Hulk. Along with the film, SEGA® releases an intensely realistic third-person action video game available on all major video-game platforms.
Fueled with fury, SEGA’s The Incredible Hulk features key moments from the film, as well as additional plotlines and characters from the character’s rich comic-book universe. Players smash through New York City, battling gigantic enemies amidst soaring skyscrapers in a massive open world.
As one of the most anticipated entertainment events of 2008, The Incredible Hulk will have fans lining up this summer on both the big and small screens.
We linked to last week's MLG San Diego coverage that unveiled the remake, for Halo 3, of Halo:CE's popular "Chill Out" map. Bungie has now dropped two screenshots of "Cold Storage" and they're muuuuuch better quality (read: higher res than cell phone vid of a projection screen.) One's above.
How it works: We ask a question, you answer it. Simple and no strings attached! This isn't some marketing survey or whatever. It's an emotional investment in you. Yes, we're interested in knowing you, Kotaku reader person. You probably know ****tons about us — more than you even want to, we're sure. But, hey, we'd like to know about you. That way you won't be some faceless blob — and we might feel a tinge of guilt when we ban your ass. Or not, because really we're incapable of human emotion. Whatever!
Question: Do you have a favorite current gen console? If so, what?
A new survey by consumer research firm Experian has found that PlayStation 3 owners skew the oldest of all three consoles - with appeal at its highest levels to those 44 and older, also tracking low gamer activity in... needlework and antiques shopping?
The survey found that on a scale that found the Wii easily outranking the other two consoles amongst the 18-24 year olds but declining steadily as the age range grew higher, Xbox 360 ranked best with 35-44 year olds, with the PS3 showing a marked jump with the next-older group.
Last week, getting a look at materials thanks to the sieve that is Intellisponse, hints dropped that Forza 3's car and track catalog was so deep it would need to release on two discs. The Angry Pixel says it has a source who "claims that this may not necessarily happen in the long run."
We questioned the possibility of Forza 3 being distributed on more than one disc. Our source was quick to comment that “one way or the other, the core game will be shipped on a single disc. Content won’t be sacrificed … fans will be pleasantly surprised for what’s in store.”
Angry Pixel went snooping around Dhruva Interactive, a Bangalore-based developer that's worked on Forza in the past, as well as Project Gotham Racing 3 and 4, so presumably the unnamed source is from there. There was the obligatory "more to come fairly soon" (which means E3) but no other details.
Gymnast is a physics-based acrobatic game with 100% analog controls. The game makes use of a modern gamepad, using the analog thumbsticks to give 1-to-1 control over the joints on a gymnast character.
I have no clue how I missed this great hack from earlier in the year, but AcidMods has released a tutorial on modding an Xbox 360 controller to do all sorts of neat, cheatie stuff—like adding rapid fire to pistols in Call of Duty—through programmable macros. But since I know that you have almost no interest in picking up that soldering gun, you can just watch this video to appreciate what hours of hard work can produce.
Atari has assured us a playable demo for Alone in the Dark is still coming to Xbox Live Marketplace.
"The Alone in the Dark Xbox 360 demo is currently being finalised," the company said in a statement, "And will be available on Xbox Live Marketplace in the coming weeks."
Still no specific date, then. But you could always just buy the game, seeing as it was released for PC, PS2, Xbox 360 and Wii on Friday. The PS3 version is out the autumn.
With all eyes on the great and the good of European football duking it out in Austria and Switzerland, Konami has wisely seized upon the moment by announcing Pro Evolution 2009, as well as releasing a handful of shots.
As Electronic Art's FIFA games continue to make strides towards the football crown, its make or break time for Konami's once all-conquering series in the first truly bespoke title for next-generation consoles. It's hard to read too much into the images – other than it has some of the most pleasant looking grass we've seen in a football game to date. Take that, EA.
"PES 2009 looks set to reaffirm the series' utter superiority," said Pro Evolution's Project Leader Jon Murphy. "We are committed to extending the realism of the new game with a wealth of key gameplay additions, and will produce a football title that truly embodies all the skill and pace that is good about the modern game."
It kicks off on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, alongside lo-def version on PlayStation 2 and PSP this Autumn.
We know we don't tend to post box art, but we figure this is one you'd probably want to see. It's the box that'll house those lovely Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts discs, and you know you want it.
We took a trip to Rare to play the game for ourselves last month, and what we saw was brilliant. No doubt you've read all about it, but if you haven't, get with the plan and check out our hands-on preview, along with the gorgeous in-game screens.
A new map for Frontlines: Fuel of War has popped up on Xbox Live.
Titled The Boneyard, it'll see you and up to 49 other players battling it out. The Western Coalition is closing in on the last functional Red Star nuclear missile facility, and Alliance tanks are rallying across the Shilnaya Balka missile silos. Cloudy later with small showers by early evening. There are automatic shotguns, rocket jeeps and Red Star transport helicopters to play with.
The Boneyard is available to download now, priced at nothing at all.
Eidos has confirmed the latest instalment in the Tomb Raider series will be released in November.
That's according to the brand new Tomb Raider: Underworld website, which is packed with podcasts, developer diaries and screenshots. Highlight: a picture of Lara fighting a shark.
Tomb Raider: Underworld sees ol' bigtits exploring the junglist massive of Mexico and probably ending up in some kind of, you know, underworld. The game is in development for Xbox 360, PC, PS2, PS3, Wii and DS. There's more info in our preview.
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures - which ended GTA IV's run at the top of the charts only to drop to second place with the release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - has now retaken the number one position.
According to UK sales data released by Chart-Track, MGS4 sales fell 59 per cent while Lego Indiana Jones sales dropped just 29 per cent from the prior week.
Newcomer Alone in the Dark debuts in third place with less than half the sales of MGS4. Another new entry - Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII - debuted at number ten and accounted for 54 per cent of all full price PSP games sold last week.
Grand Theft Auto IV drops one place to number four while Wii Play, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games and Brain Training maintain their chart presence.
The Top Ten best-selling titles in the UK for the week ending June 21 were:
1 Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
2 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
3 Alone in the Dark
4 Grand Theft Auto IV
5 Wii Play
6 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
7 Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training
8 Race Driver: GRID
9 Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
10 Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
The results are in for the DCEmu Games Reviews Contest! Winners were voted based on their contribution and reviews that they submitted and each will be receiving a iTouchDS. Without further ado, the winners are (in no particular order)... *drumroll*
DimensionT
Joe88
Shadowblind
Triv1um
Congratulations!
Although originally, I said there were going to be 4 winners. I felt that another person deserved to win thanks to his contributions and because there were two reviewers with 7 votes, I still feel he's the 4th winner. So instead of 4 people, I'm going to give a 5th person a prize as well. So lets congratulate fg-54 on winning as well.
So you're hankering for a little Halo on the go but you're not willing to put your skills to the test and build an Xbox 360 laptop yourself? Never fear -- we've got just the sketchy web store for you. For just $550, a one-man shop in Kansas called Portable Gaming Solutions promises to convert your 360 into a suitcase-sized 15-inch laptop complete with keyboard and speakers. The web site has quite a few pictures and videos of the mod in action, but we're definitely a little wary of sending our 360 off into the wild blue yonder -- although even Ben Heck had to get started somehow. Anyone daring enough to take the plunge?
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Cinematic single-player experience: A deep campaign loaded with attitude follows a wayward band of ordinary soldiers who risk it all on a quest for personal gain.
War, your way: Battlefield: Bad Company environments are nearly 100 percent destructible, meaning that any structure can be demolished down to its foundation
New vehicles, weapons, and toys: Whether on land, air, or sea, there are dozens of new tools waiting for your explosive experimentation
Genre-defining multiplayer: Support is provided for 24 players online in an all new game mode, Gold Rush, designed to take full advantage of the game's massively destructible environments.
description
Set in the near future, the Battlefield: Bad Company single-player campaign drops gamers into a dramatic Eurasian conflict. As part of a squad of four soldiers, players risk it all to go AWOL on a personal quest, fighting their own war within the war. Featuring a dramatic storyline flavored with attitude, Battlefield: Bad Company leads gamers far from the traditional frontlines on a wild ride with a group of renegade soldiers who decide that sometimes the gratitude of a nation just isn’t enough.
The Battlefield: Bad Company cinematic single-player experience captures the freedom and intensity of the franchise’s legendary multiplayer sandbox gameplay in a dynamic world where nearly everything is destructible. Gamers have total freedom to be daring and innovative, adapting to and tackling challenges in unexpected “Battlefield-style” ways. Create sniping positions by blowing out a piece of a wall or drive your tank straight through a small house. The ever-changing battlefield forces players, their teammates and enemies to react accordingly.
The game also features a full suite of the franchise’s trademark multiplayer gameplay, supporting 24 players online.
Battlefield: Bad Company is the first game built from the ground up for next-generation consoles using DICE’s bleeding-edge Frostbite™ game engine, delivering unrivaled graphics, effects and gameplay.
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Unprecedented Multi-decade Campaign: Kane returns as the centerpiece of an epic new single-player campaign
Specialized Sub-factions: Play to your strengths with six unique sub-factions, each equipped with their own exclusive units, powers, and upgrades.
Live-Action Videos: Witness the rise of the Brotherhood first hand through intense live action video sequences starring Joe Kucan, Natasha Hendstridge, and Carl Lumbly.
Global Conquest Mode: Fight the Third Tiberium War your way. Position your forces on a strategic level and then wage conflict in the fast, fluid, furious, tactical gameplay that Command & Conquer pioneered
description
In the name of Kane! The Command & Conquer™ series continues to thrive on the Xbox 360 with Command & Conquer™ 3: Kane’s Wrath. As the stand-alone expansion pack to the critically acclaimed and fan favorite, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars™, gamers will be able to continue the Tiberium saga without first owning Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars™.
This Real-time Strategy (RTS) game returns to the Tiberium Universe with Kane at the center of an epic new single player campaign spanning 20 years – from the rebirth of the Brotherhood of Nod after the Second Tiberium War through the dramatic events of the Third Tiberium War and beyond.
The story will be told through a new set of high-definition, live action video sequences starring a celebrity cast including Joe Kucan, playing the megalomaniac leader of the Brotherhood of Nod, alongside new talent Natasha Henstridge and Carl Lumbly. With your help, Commander, the Dark Messiah may rise again!
Race, fly and shoot as you take futuristic robots WALL-E and EVE through a fast-paced adventure.
From the desolate waste-lands of Earth to the Axiom space cruiser, throw cubes and blast robots and obstacles while you relive some of the movie’s most thrilling moments and explore worlds filled with non-stop action and adventure, along with head-to-head multiplayer challenges.
Dodge dangerous enemies, carry out intense missions and navigate your way through a futuristic galaxy!
The Blockbuster turned platform game Wall-E is available on these consoles:
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Yes, Captain!: You are the Captain of the boat, with the responsibility for twenty crewmembers. Try different boats for different results.
Real-world environment: The dangerous waters of the Bering Sea are faithfully replicated with over 34,000 miles of actual coastline and four real Bering Sea harbors.
Real-world action: Participate in exciting missions and mini-games, including Coast Guard rescues, throw-the-hook challenges, and skiff racing.
The full experience: Take an interactive virtual tour of the crab boat and check out over 100 exclusive crewmember videos
Multiplayer: The game is suitable for multiplayer for up to eight players over Xbox LIVE®.
description
Head to the high seas in this intense, challenging action/strategy title based on authentic elements from the Discovery Channel's highest-rated TV series Deadliest Catch in the game Deadliest Catch™ Alaskan Storm. Battle 40-foot waves, storms, ice, and crew injury as you serve as Captain of a Bering Sea crab boat, as inspired by Sig, Edgar and Norman Hansen, stars of the Deadliest Catch show
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Platform: Xbox360
Uncover the hidden missions
Master the intricacies of the Cover system
Unlock all the achievements
Complete catalogue of weapons & abilities... and more to get the best ending!
description
Do you have what it takes to lead the Wolf Pack to victory over the occult powers of Nazi Germany? (Having a good field manual couldn’t hurt...)
In the Kung Fu Panda video game, players embark on an epic, action-packed adventure as they master the specialized Kung Fu fighting styles of Po the Panda, the unlikely hero, his teacher Shifu, and the legendary Kung Fu masters, the Furious Five: Monkey, Tigress, Viper, Mantis and Crane. Through 13 legendary levels from the movie and beyond, and spanning land, water and air, players must work their way to become the Dragon Warrior and defeat the ultimate enemy, Tai Lung, as they battle a variety of foes, overcome dangerous obstacles, navigate multi-tiered environments and solve challenging puzzles. Featuring a deep variety of gameplay, unique co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, collectibles, and a host of character upgrades, the Kung Fu Panda video game provides an experience gamers of all ages will enjoy.
This week, two new arcade games are coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade:
In SEGA's Happy Tree Friends False Alarm, take charge of a new 3-D version of Lumpy as you set out to rescue your friends from various disasters in ten levels.
Levels include Mine Shaft, Candy Factory, and the Museum. Avoid harmful items as Lumpy tries to help his Happy Tree Friends escape.
Happy Tree Friends will be available for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.
In Ticket to Ride from Next Level Games, Inc., race your opponents from city to city as you plan routes across the country to become the most travelled player.
Choose from different levels of play depending on your skill level if playing against the A.I. or play against your friends (up to 3) locally or (up to 5)on Xbox LIVE.
Ticket to ride will be available for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.
Today is a monumental day in Grand Theft Auto IV history, a historic date that'll be scrapbooked by gamers the world over (even though scrapbooking is so 2002). Today's monumental occasion is none other than the release date of GTAIV's first patch, huzzah! The patch has already been released as a title update and will be insta-downloaded the next time you plop in GTAIV while connected to Live. Curious to know what's all getting patched?
GTAIV Patch Updates and Fixes
* Fixed an issue where players were unable to enter or exit vehicles in GTA Race.
* Fixed an issue where scripted vehicles were causing games to unexpectedly crash.
* Improved reliability and frequency of PS3™ online leaderboard updates.
* Fixed a rare hang some players encountered when moving from a Race or GTA Race lobby into gameplay.
* Fixed a hang that would occur when players were switching teams during the countdown in the lobby.
* Fixed an issue where players were able to get ridiculously high scores from Cops 'n Crooks matches.
* Changed GTA Race and Race so that the last player remaining always receives a reward of $250.
* Fixed an issue where spectating players would prevent the game from finishing.
* Fixed an issue where players were unable to spectate in Round 2 of Cops 'n Crooks games.
* Changed countdown timer in lobby so that it no longer resets when new players join a game.
* Changed the kick option so that kicked players are no longer brought back to single player.
Check your inboxes because Ubisoft Shanghai has sent out a second batch of invites for Tom Clancy's EndWar Private Beta. If you were one of the lucky one (like me) you will be asked to login to www.endwarbeta.com to get your keycode.
Also included in the email is this message from the developer
Before you get started we do have one key request. Currently many players are selecting the Joint Strike Force (JSF) as their faction. For testing purposes we ask that you join either the European Federation Enforcers Corps (EFEC) or the Russian Spetsnaz Guard Brigade (SGB) when you play the beta. This will ensure a better play experience for everyone involved and will be a huge help to the EndWar dev team.
BioShock lead programmer Chris Kline has said that "constantly messing up, and pushing dates" is "the only way to make a good game".
Speaking at GDC Paris this week, in comments recorded by Gamasutra, Kline explained that "BioShock should've failed."
"In fact, it did fail a lot, over the course of time," he added, pointing to "big mistakes and corrections and slipped ship dates".
Kline's contention, however, is that Irrational Games - these days known as 2K Boston - wouldn't have enjoyed so much success without learning things the hard way.
Examples include the need to emphasise the game's first-person shooter credentials - something that only really became clear after its first E3 showing - and a decision early on just to remake System Shock 2 with "all the things that kept it from being financially successful".
Like System Shock 2, BioShock debuted to huge critical acclaim - it currently has a Metacritic average of 96 on both Xbox 360 and PC, which means a lot to publishing types - and became the first shooter in some time to win credit for its narrative as well as its ambitious location and mechanics.
Just last week, an associate professor of classical studies at the University of Connecticut in the US said that BioShock was "capable of the depth of artistic-philosophical expression reached by the Iliad in the Choice of Achilles".
We didn't say exactly that, but it was on the tip of Kristan's tongue throughout his review, probably.
BioShock 2, developed by 2K Marin, is currently in development, while a PS3 version of the original is due out this year.
Rockstar has released a new patch for GTA IV that should quash the majority of freezing and online connectivity issues on both the PS3 and 360 versions of the game.
The new patch, which should install itself next time you play the game with your console connected to the internet, tightens the nuts and bolts on many of the errors that had gamers in an uproar shortly after launch.
Here's the official list of repairs:
Fixed an issue where players were unable to enter or exit vehicles in GTA Race.
Fixed an issue where scripted vehicles were causing games to unexpectedly crash.
Improved reliability and frequency of PS3 online leaderboard updates.
Fixed a rare hang some players encountered when moving from a Race or GTA Race lobby into gameplay.
Fixed a hang that would occur when players were switching teams during the countdown in the lobby.
Fixed an issue where players were able to get ridiculously high scores from Cops 'n Crooks matches.
Changed GTA Race and Race so that the last player remaining always receives a reward of $250.
Fixed an issue where spectating players would prevent the game from finishing.
Fixed an issue where players were unable to spectate in Round 2 of Cops 'n Crooks games.
Changed countdown timer in lobby so that it no longer resets when new players join a game.
Changed the kick option so that kicked players are no longer brought back to single player.
We'll tell you what's up with Microsoft: new hardware options. It may sound totally insane -- trust us, we did a double-take the first time Qmann whispered it in our ears -- but word has it that Microsoft may begin allowing third-party manufacturers to create Xbox 360 hardware. And we're not talking about peripherals, people; we mean hardware that runs 360 game discs created by someone other than Microsoft. It's a novel way of dealing with that red ring issue, don't you think?
This might not be such a big deal as is sounds, as its been done before, Panasonic made a Gamecube with a DVD player called the Q that was released in Japan. Sega also licensed out Dreamcast technology to Pace (a European company that make the decoders for SKY tv), which ultimately never got past the prototyping stage.
But an Xbox 360 with built-in Blu-ray support could be on the cards if this is true....
- Double zippers for double strength
- Made of super soft and long-lasting airfoam material
- Protects tour controller from damage
- Compact and ergonomic design
- Perfectly fits your controller
features
Action oriented gameplay that features intense “edge of your seat” thrills and twists
Immersive free-roaming, interactive environments intricately based on NYC’s Central Park
Episodic Structure: 30 to 40 minute episodes grip you in a constant, high level of intensity
Story written by Lorenzo Carcaterra (NY Times Bestselling author of “Sleepers” and “Apaches”)
Wide range weapons to destroy both enemy agents and eventually the source of the evil itself
Vehicles not only offer a means of transportation, but become actual game mechanics which are part of puzzles and solutions to in game challenges
Eden’s new TWILIGHT engine creates a lavishly detailed game world with highly realistic effects such as moisture, reflections and advanced cinematography
description
The game that started the popular survival horror genre returns better than ever! Players control Edward Carnby, the main character from the original Alone in the Dark, on a thrilling journey through a dark and terrifying re-creation of New York’s Central Park where Carnby must discover the truth behind a dark conspiracy.
With inspiration from the presentation style of popular action TV dramas, Alone in the Dark will be split into a number of distinct episodes. With approximately 30-40 minutes of gameplay comprising each episode, the structure of Alone in the Dark pulls you into world that delivers a fiercely gripping and terrifying experience. Each time the player launches a saved game, the episode will begin with a video summary of the previous episode to quickly re-immerse the player in the story and removing the need to remember where they were or what they were doing. Every episode will close with a nail-biting cliff-hanger ending to rattle players’ nerves, and if the player is leaving the game a video teaser of the next episode will play to leave them wanting more.
Alone in the Dark will provide a complete next-generation, action packed experience within a highly detailed, free roaming environment, featuring a mixture of real-time physics and full environmental interaction. The game will mark a new beginning for the Alone in the Dark series.
Two military forces, Gion and the Federation are at war, as a soldier your fate is governed by circumstances which has nothing to do with your own will, so board your mobile suit, pick up some firearms and go to war.
There are two main modes of the game, the single mode and the multi-mode. The single mode is something like a practice mode where you travel across the world and take part in all sorts of missions. You are not allowed to choose your mobile suit for these missions, you can only take what is provided for you. These missions include attacking enemy bases, taking over the enemy's mobile suits and even open warfare.
After you have completed the single mode, its time to take on all the veteran pilots out there. A maximum of 10 players can participate in a multi-mode game through the Xbox360's. The ten of you can either split into two sides and make war against each other, conquer the territories of your opponents or get involved in an all out brawl where the single mobile suit that comes through the chaos is the victor.
Microsoft has brushed off rumours of Xbox 360 receiving another price drop this autumn as "rumour and speculation."
We've heard it a few times already but the next issue of EGM reports that MS will announce a price drop on 360 hardware this autumn. When exactly, isn't pinpointed.
The reports don't give any further details on how significant the drop might be, or to which SKUs, but they do say that Sony is also expected to follow with a cut of its own for PS3. It seems they could both after that magical price point of Wii.
As well as MS, who's keeping totally quiet on the matter, we pestered retailers who knew nothing of it and, in general, thought it highly unlikely considering the prices were only cut in March.
Sony was also unavailable for comment on the PS3 cut.
Update: As has been quite rightly pointed out in the comments, the US Xbox 360 has yet to receive a price cut like Europe. So maybe this could just be for North America?
A bunch of brand new screenshots for Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise have cropped up on the web, and they look a lot more gloomy than we expected.
Not that this is a bad thing. It appears to be a stylistic choice Rare has taken, extending the colour palette of the sequel beyond what you'd expect to find in a Crayola set.
Whilst the Ruffians look quite menacing, it's the murky clouds and the barren terrain that makes us feel ill at ease. The gas-mask wearing piñata is more than a little freaky too. It makes you wonder what has happened in the garden...
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise is on track to be released near the end of the year.
A new trailer for Double D Dodgeball has revealed the game will be released on Xbox Live Arcade on July 30th.
DDD is based around the classic American sport of hitting people. It will feature a multiplayer mode for up to eight "ballers", four ball types and multiple playing surfaces, plus exhibition, player match, ranked match and tournament modes.
"With Double D Dodgeball, we've been able to capture the spirit of classic playground dodgeball that we all grew up with," said product manager Ken Koyama, who clearly didn't grow up in a country where playground time is spent either on football or hide-and-seek variation I Just Saw a Chelsea Smiler in the Toilets.
"Instead of meeting up on the hot playground," continued Koyama, who also didn't spend half his childhood huddled against a climbing frame trying not to die of exposure, "You can go on Xbox LIVE Arcade and blast your friend with ball from the comfort of your couch."
If blasting your balls at friends on your sofa sounds appealing, Double D Dodgeball can be yours next month for 800 Microsoft Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60).
A new developer diary for Xbox 360 exclusive Fable 2 has offered a strong hint the game will be released in October.
The video is now showing over on Eurogamer TV. About a minute in, Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux is shown drawing a box round the word "OCTOBER" in a notebook.
Molyneux has previously told us to expect the game towards the end of the year, "when the leaves have a slight brownish tinge - but are still on the trees, if you see what I mean".
Microsoft has been putting the game down for a "holiday" release, but seeing as Thanksgiving means Americans start their holiday season in November, October seems to fit.
Lionhead's official spokesperson declined to comment on the video, but then she's a lot better at keeping secrets than Peter Molyneux.
It's old-school Street Fighter II, but with nice, HD sprites, online modes and ACHIEVEMENT POINTS. That's an insta-buy, surely.
These shots are taken from the beta version of the game on XBLA, which you'll have got access to by purchasing Capcom's top-down shooter, Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3.
EA's getting ready for football season a bit early. Today, EA Sports announced that Madden NFL 09 went gold and will be available in stores nationwide on August 12th. Madden NFL 09 will feature 85 new features and enhancements, such as gameplay that adapts to a player's skill level, a new broadcast presentation from Cris Collinsworth and Tom Hammond, and improved online leagues. The announcement of the game going gold today is a bit surprising, particularly because it won't be released for a month and a half from now.
Madden NFL 09 will be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360, as well as the PS2, DS, PSP, and Xbox. Madden NFL 09 All-Play, which will host new gameplay and play calling systems to take advantage of the Wii-mote, will be available on the Wii.
A Microsoft Zune / X-Box 360 / mobile phone hybrid? Could this potentially be the greatest handheld gadget in the history of the world?
It's by no means a reality, but it's been over a year since Big M big-wigs hinted at this awesome combo. While nothing remains concrete, we at T3 couldn't wait any longer.
Our artist's impressions from the future tech feature in this month's T3 Magazine show the three gadgets brought together in revolutionary harmony.
Our vision features the familiar X logo and coloured buttons of the X-Box with the slim and sleek Zune music player, with a 64GB flash drive and a mobile phone built in for good measure.
Console hits sales milestone as Xbox exec tells analysts to ‘check their numbers’
European VP of strategic marketing for interactive entertainment at Microsoft EMEA David Gosen has revealed that Xbox 360 has sold “well over” five million in European territories to MCV – and that its battle with PS3 is far from over.
“Anyone trying to call a winner this Christmas is calling too early,” he told MCV. “We are incredibly well positioned – our installed base in Europe is well over five million and contrary to what's been reported we are at least, if not more than, three quarters of a million ahead of PS3.”
And Gosen hit back at industry analysts that have claimed Xbox 360 sales have ‘hit a wall’ in Europe.
“If we look at the momentum in the business in
the last few months, the trajectory has changed significantly. My only message to the analysts is to check their numbers,” he told MCV.
Bandai-Namco's Super Robot Wars A Portable for the PSP has debuted at the top spot of the Japanese software chart for the week ended June 22, according to figures released by Media Create.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots drops a place to number two and is the only PlayStation 3 title in this week's chart.
It is followed by two new entries, Super Mario Stadium Family Baseball for the Wii and Koei's PS2 title Harulanaru Tokie no Naka de 4, in third and fourth places respectively.
Bringing up the rear of the chart is Nintendo's Beautiful Letter Training for the DS at nine and Sega's Let's Make a Pro Baseball Team! also for the DS in last place at ten.
The chart for the week ended June 22 follow:
1. Super Robot Wars A Portable (PSP)
2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
3. Super Mario Stadium Family Baseball (WII)
4. Harulanaru Toki no Naka de 4 (PS2)
5. Mario Kart Wii (WII)
6. Wii Fit (WII)
7. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP)
8. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 3 (PSP)
9. Beautiful Letter Training (NDS)
10. Let's Make a Pro Baseball Team! (NDS)
Atari and Eden Games celebrated the news that its revolutionary action survival game Alone in the Dark has topped the Xbox 360 sales charts across Europe following its release on 20 June 2008. Alone in the Dark is officially No.1 in the UK and Germany, two of the largest Xbox 360 markets in Europe (Source: Chart Track and Media Control).
Alone in the Dark marks a blistering return for the legendary franchise with startling innovations and wide screen cinematic presentation. The game follows paranormal investigator Edward Carnby as over the course of one apocalyptic night he must fight to survive and uncover the earth-shattering secret behind New York's Central Park. With an exhilarating mix of challenging gameplay, intense storytelling in the style of a blockbuster TV series, unprecedented environmental interaction, realistic fire physics as a core gameplay element, and DVD chapter select feature which lets everyone reach the game's climax, Alone in the Dark challenges what players expect from video games.
The action survival opus Alone in the Dark is in stores now across Europe for Xbox 360, PC, Wii and PlayStation 2, with the PlayStation 3 version following later in 2008. In addition to the standard game, Xbox 360, PC and Wii Limited Editions are available now from selected European retailers featuring exclusive items including hero figurine, art book and 'making of' documentary DVD.
Downloaded the Super Street Fighter II Turbo High Definition Remix beta? Having problems with freezes, like so many of those posting on the Capcom forum?
Well, tough luck. Capcom says it won't be issuing a patch for the beta - perhaps because it's, you know, a beta.
Responding to the forum complaints, marketing man Christian Svensson wrote, "We wil not be patching the beta. Resubmissions would cost a fortune and not go live for weeks."
Turns out Microsoft would have to approve every new submission, you see: "This isn't like the PC where a developer can make changes daily (for good or ill)."
Svensson concluded by assuring posters, "All feedback and bugs will be factored into the final code."
As reported yesterday, the SSFIITHDR beta is now available for download via Xbox Live. You must have purchased Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 to gain access.
If you're a massive trivia fan and loved the original Fable on Xbox, then all our news stories out together won't please you nearly as much as this one. CVG has received a few facts and figures about the sonic side to Peter Molyneux's Fable II.
The audio, or rather vocal landscape, of the game has been recorded at the London-based firm Side. It's latest newsletter reveals that Side cast over 45 actors (aged from 8 to 80) to play almost 200 speaking characters.
"Four of Side's voice directors ensured that all performances harmonised perfectly with Fable II's idiosyncratic world and captured the complexities of its inhabitants. The voice recording ran concurrently in two studios for over three months, amounting to nearly 370,000 words recorded - that's 38 hours of dialogue."
There's even a quote from Peter Molyneux himself: "The sheer amount of dialogue in Fable 2 meant this was a massive project. Side rose to this challenge in a professional and efficient way. They have done a great job for us".
In case you missed it the latest Lionhead developer diary went live earlier this week and it's well worth a look.
Denis Dyack has taken to the Internet to "draw the digital line" under criticism of his forthcoming Xbox 360 game, Too Human.
In a NeoGaf post, he calls on those who are looking forward to Too Human's release - and those who think it will be rubbish - to "stand up and be counted".
"I feel Too Human is a great game, likely to be better than most that will come out this year," Dyack wrote. "I certainly feel it is the best game we have ever made. I also believe the press and gamers alike will believe this."
And if he's wrong, Dyack is willing to accept punishment in the form of an Internet branding iron.
"When the game is released and everyone plays game all the speculation will be over. If I am wrong and gamers in general think the game is "crap" then I am comfortable with getting tagged 'Owned by the GAF'," he stated.
"However, if I am right and it is received well, I would like to see those 'Against' to be tagged with 'Owned by Too Human'."
The post is signed, "Denis Dyack - 'For'".
So will Denis end up taking a knife and fork to his hat while egg drips from his crying face? Why not rush to judge for yourself by taking a look at all the info over on the gamepage.
Microsoft Europe's David Gosen says that Xbox 360 is still leading PS3 in the European sales race, despite Sony's claims to the contrary.
"Anyone trying to call a winner this Christmas is calling too early," the VP of strategic marketing told MCV. "We are incredibly well positioned - our installed base in Europe is well over five million and contrary to what's been reported we are at least, if not more than, three quarters of a million ahead of PS3."
Back in March Microsoft slashed the price of all Xbox 360 models across Europe in a bid to expand market share, a move that saw the Arcade unit drop to £159.99, cheaper than Nintendo's Wii. Gosen said that there had been a "significant" change in the momentum of the firm's business in the past few months.
However, at Sony's London PlayStation Day event in early May, SCEE president David Reeves said, "I'm delighted to be able to announce that we have sold more PS3s throughout Europe than Xbox 360, even though they launched 16 months before PS3."
"We have been consistently outselling our closest competitor since October 2007," he added, noting that SCEE had sold over five million PS3s in Europe.
Welcome to this week's Games Update, our weekly summary featuring all new product arrivals from the last seven days.
As mentioned in last week's preview, a large number of interesting games of all sorts of genres came out this week.
Starting with music games, we have Guitar Hero: On Tour [US & Asian versions] and Daigasso! Band Brothers DX. With these two games on your Nintendo DS, not only can you listen to music on the go, but perform as well.
Fighting games demands as much from your reflexes as music games. Participate in the fight of the decade in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match.
While the King of Fighters is a well known classic, Sengoku Basara X [limited and standard editions] combines a historical fantasy plot with hack and slash, and Sunsoft Collection which takes on a more light hearted approach by making use of colorful visuals and funny attacks.
Combine strategy with your fighting prowesses in war games such as Battlefield: Bad Company, that allows you uninhibited freedom, Mobile Suit Gundam: Operation: Troy [Asia & JPN] that offers a wide range of mobile suits to pilot and by making use of Xbox360's networking facilities, pick a fight with all the veterans out there.
Aside from joining in the earthly wars, raise some havoc in the supernatural world in Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath.
There are a lot of games that provide exciting fights with a strong, captivating plot. Bleach the 3rd Phantom came out with a storyline that connects past events with the present, while Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk ties up the loose ends from the first installment.
RPG that takes place in fantasy settings include Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard, which is a sequel to Etrian Odyssey, an adventure where you have to ascend to the clouds and retrieve the Grail of Kings.
Another RPG that deals with adventure and royalty is Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, you need to claim the throne before other warlords in the demon kingdom snatches it away from you.
As usually, here's a summary of all new releases from this week, followed by a quick preview of what is expected to be hot next week.
Xbox360™:
Alone in the Dark ASIA US$ 49.90
Battlefield: Bad Company ASIA US$ 49.90
Battlefield: Bad Company JPN US$ 64.90
Battlefield: Bad Company Gold Edition ASIA N/A
Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath ASIA US$ 49.90
Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm US US$ 64.90
Mobile Suit Gundam: Operation: Troy ASIA US$ 49.90
Mobile Suit Gundam: Operation: Troy JPN US$ 68.90
Wall-E US US$ 59.90
PlayStation3™:
Battlefield: Bad Company ASIA US$ 49.90
Battlefield: Bad Company Gold Edition ASIA US$ 59.90
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars JPN US$ 68.90
Overlord: Raising Hell ASIA US$ 49.90
The Darkness JPN US$ 64.90
Wall-E US US$ 59.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk JPN US$ 64.90
The World of Golden Eggs: Nori Nori Rhythm Kei JPN US$ 49.90
Wacky Races: Crash & Dash US US$ 44.90
Wall-E US US$ 59.90
PlayStation2™:
Aria the Origination: Aoi Wakusei no El Cielo JPN US$ 64.90
Aria the Origination: Aoi Wakusei no El Cielo [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 149.90
Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special (Ultimate Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Final Fantasy XII (Ultimate Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Hisshou Pachinko * Pachi-Slot Kouryaku Series DS Vol. 12: CR Neon Genesis Evangelion - Shito, Futatabi JPN US$ 64.90
Kingdom Hearts II (Ultimate Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ (Ultimate Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Sengoku Basara X JPN US$ 62.90
Sengoku Basara X [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Sunsoft Collection JPN US$ 49.90
Taito Memories II Gekan (Eternal Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
Taito Memories II Joukan (Eternal Hits) JPN US$ 34.90
The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match JPN US$ 49.90
Wall-E US US$ 44.90
Nintendo DS™:
Arkanoid DS US US$ 24.90
Bleach: The 3rd Phantom JPN US$ 48.90
Bokura no Telebi Game Kentei JPN US$ 48.90
Code Lyoko: Fall of X.A.N.A. US US$ 34.90
Daigasso! Band Brothers DX JPN US$ 48.90
Dementium: The Ward JPN US$ 48.90
Derby Stallion DS JPN US$ 58.90
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness JPN US$ 48.90
Disney Friends JPN US$ 48.90
Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard US US$ 34.90
Guitar Hero: On Tour ASIA US$ 54.90
Guitar Hero: On Tour US US$ 59.90
Hakoniwa Seikatsu: Hitsuji Mura DS JPN US$ 48.90
Higurashi no Nakukoru ni Kizuna: Dai-Ichi-Kan - Tatari JPN US$ 39.90
Higurashi no Nakukoru ni Kizuna: Dai-Ichi-Kan - Tatari [Limited Edition] JPN N/A
Imagine: Rock Star US US$ 34.90
Jigsaw World: Daigekitou! Jig-Battle Heroes JPN US$ 48.90
MegaMan StarForce 2 Zerker X Ninja US US$ 34.90
MegaMan StarForce 2 Zerker X Saurian US US$ 34.90
Midnight Play Pack ASIA US$ 32.90
My Health Coach: Weight Management ASIA N/A
Odenkun: Tanoshii Oden Mura JPN US$ 39.90
Ookami to Koushinryou: Boku to Horo no Ichinen JPN US$ 48.90
Ookami to Koushinryou: Boku to Horo no Ichinen [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Owarai Zunou Battle: Nobunaga no Yabou JPN US$ 48.90
Petz Dogz Fashion US US$ 34.90
Simple DS Series Vol. 39: The Shouboutai JPN US$ 28.90
Space Invaders Extreme US US$ 24.90
SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis JPN US$ 48.90
Tamagotchi Connection Corner Shop 3 US US$ 34.90
The Tower DS JPN US$ 48.90
Wacky Races: Crash & Dash US US$ 34.90
Wall-E US US$ 34.90
Sony PSP™:
Hellboy: Science of Evil ASIA US$ 29.90
Ken to Mahou to Gakuen Mono. JPN US$ 48.90
Momoiro Sister Yakyuken Portable JPN US$ 37.90
Secret Agent Clank US US$ 44.90
Shinkyouku Soukai Polyphonica 0-4 Hanashi Full Pack JPN US$ 44.90
Space Invaders Extreme US US$ 24.90
Wall-E US US$ 34.90
Winning Post 6 2008 JPN US$ 48.90
World Neverland Olerud Okoku Monogatari & Pluto Kyouwakoku Monogatari 2 in 1 Portable JPN US$ 39.90
PC Games:
Wall-E (DVD-ROM) US US$ 24.90
Video Game Related Books:
Bleach the 3rd Phantom Ban-kai hei hou kyoku no sho (V Jump Books) JPN US$ 18.90
Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch - Lost Colors Perfect Guide + Gallery JPN US$ 27.90
Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 4 Official Guide JPN US$ 18.90
Moe Moe - Spy Encyclopedia JPN US$ 23.90
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G The Master Guide JPN US$ 29.90
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G: Entry Level Books on Weaponry II - Shooters and Bow Guns JPN US$ 9.90
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G: Entry Level Books on Weaponry II - Slashers and Bows JPN US$ 9.90
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G: Information on heightening your defense (G-Class) JPN US$ 9.90
Nana Disco Graphic Seal JPN US$ 1.90
Operation Darkness: The Official Strategy Guide US US$ 19.90
Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk Seirei no Sho Wii (V Jump books) JPN US$ 16.90
The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Master Guide JPN US$ 22.90
Valhalla Knights 2 Perfect Capture Guide JPN US$ 26.90
Valkyria Chronicles Complete Guide JPN US$ 24.90
Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth Material Collection JPN US$ 89.90
Video Game related Soundtrack and Movies:
Eternal Fantasy Character Song CD Vol.3 Ryurika (~Ryurika) JPN US$ 11.90
Famison 8 Bit Idol Master 05 (~Chihaya Kisaragi, Iori Minase) JPN US$ 22.90
Final Fantasy XI Piano Collection JPN US$ 26.90
Harukanaru Toki No Naka De 3 Kurenai No Tsuki Vocal Collection JPN US$ 28.90
Harukanaru Toki No Naka De 4 - Ame Sora No Sho JPN US$ 29.90
Harukanaru Toki No Naka De 4 - Otsuchi No Sho JPN US$ 29.90
L No Kisetsu 2: Invisible Memories Soundtrack JPN US$ 27.90
Sangokushi Taisen 3 Event DVD Sangokushi Taisen Sanshunen No Utage JPN US$ 37.90
Sengoku Basara X Original Soundtrack JPN US$ 27.90
Shunkan Spline (Tayutama: Kiss on My Deity Intro Theme) (~Kicco) JPN US$ 11.90
Tales of Innocence Drama CD Vol.1 (~Akiko Kimura, Yuko Sasamoto, Yuji Ueda) JPN US$ 27.90
Tsuioku No Despair (Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni Kizuna Vol.1 Tatari Theme Song) (~Kanako Ito) JPN US$ 11.90
Tsuioku No Despair (Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni Kizuna Vol.1 Tatari Theme Song) [CD+DVD Limited Edition] (~Kanako Ito) JPN US$ 17.90
Zaika Ni Keiyaku No Chi Wo (Chaos; Head Add-In Song) (~Fantasm (FES CV: Yui Sakakibara)) JPN US$ 11.90
A separate Video/Music update containing Japanese releases from this week, including new Anime, J-Pop and Movie releases will follow prior end of the week. So J-Pop, Anime and Movie fans, be sure to look out for that one!
Here is a quick outlook what's expected to be hot next week, please notice that some of the Asian version releases may still be postponed, so do check back regularly for more updates:
Xbox360™:
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith ASIA US$ 59.90
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith US US$ 64.90
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Bundle ASIA US$ 129.90
Hellboy: Science of Evil ASIA US$ 54.90
Top Spin 3 ASIA US$ 49.90
Top Spin 3 US US$ 64.90
Xbox360™ Accessories:
HORI Fighting Stick EX2 (Soul Calibur IV Limited Edition) US US$ 79.90
PlayStation3™:
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith US US$ 64.90
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith ASIA US$ 59.90
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Bundle ASIA US$ 129.90
Hellboy: Science of Evil US US$ 64.90
Initial D Extreme Stage JPN US$ 74.90
Initial D Extreme Stage (w/ English manual) ASIA US$ 59.90
Top Spin 3 US US$ 64.90
Top Spin 3 ASIA US$ 59.90
PlayStation3™ Accessories:
HORI Fighting Stick 3 (Soul Calibur IV Limited Edition) US US$ 69.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith US US$ 59.90
Top Spin 3 US US$ 59.90
PlayStation2™:
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith US US$ 59.90
Nintendo DS™:
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift US US$ 44.90
Sony PSP™:
Bleach: Heat the Soul 4 (PSP the Best) ASIA US$ 24.90
Bleach: Heat the Soul 4 (PSP the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Joystiq has been in contact with the person who uploaded images (to HighDefDigest.com) showing a "new low price" of $299 advertised for the Xbox 360 in a Kmart flyer, beginning the week of July 6. He snapped the images quite quickly and they've slowly begun spreading across the internet.
We're currently attempting to confirm this information with some of our other retail contact, while our source is attempting to get a full page scan of the Kmart flyer. There is still no word on how this $50 price reduction on the Premium model will affect the Arcade or Elite Xbox 360 consoles, currently priced $280 and $450, respectively.
Sales of the PlayStation 3 have dropped in Japan following last week's boost for the system after the release of Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
Hardware numbers from Media Create show the PS3 shifted 20,336 units for the week ended June 22, compared to over 75,000 units last week.
However, Sony can still claim the best-selling hardware in the region, as the PSP handheld sold 59,351 units in the past week, more than Nintendo's Wii (41,037) and DS (36,599).
The nine year-old PlayStation 2 continues to outsell Microsoft's Xbox 360, with 6,346 units compared to 2,555 units.
Microsoft has released a new Xbox 360 licensed content transfer tool, that will allow consumers to transfer purchased downloaded content from one console to another.
The tool is designed for gamers to transfer old content they have already paid for to a new Xbox 360 console. It is available through the Xbox 360 website, and requires the use of a PC while the new console is turned on and connected to Xbox Live.
Console owners will have to log in to a Xbox's DRM website with their Live username and password - from there they'll be able to transfer the content to the target console.
However, the license transfer can only be done once every year and movie licenses cannot be transferred at all.
While other companies wrestle with Web 2.0, moral dilemmas and the DRM mushroom cloud, Namco Bandai still sits around painting planes with anime characters and charging a couple of quid for them. It's a living. And here's more of it thanks to several new plane skins and a miscellaneous bolt-on for Ace Combat 6.
Released on Xbox Live yesterday (we can't see any reference to this on Major Nelson but we'll take distributor Atari's word for it), the update is headlined by "Ace of Aces Mission 03" for 350 Microsoft Points (GBP 2.98 / EUR 4.20), about which Namco says: "Just like the mode included in the game, Ace of Aces is a very hard mode."
Then there's the Dark Shining Set (300 MS Points - GBP 2.55 / EUR 3.60), which includes a golden Rafale M and a black F-2A along with a "modified sky-painting aircraft for shows and exhibitions" that's been equipped with "collared smoke missiles", with the payload "maximised for show purposes".
Otherwise it's all individual plane refits: a Distant Thunder A-10A (200 MSP - GBP 1.70 / EUR 2.40) that has a lighter body and increased weapons payload; a Typhoon remade to the Ace Combat 3 spec (200 MSP - GBP 1.70 / EUR 2.40), which valued speed and durability over turning response; a Gault Su-47 (200 MSP - GBP 1.70 / EUR 2.40) with improved turning performance in reduced-speed zones albeit with less thrust; and a Wardog Emblem F-14D designed for emergency interception. That one's free.
Last but not least, there's another pair of planes based on Idolm@ster - a Japanese-only Namco Bandai series - called The Idolmaster Azusa (an F-14D refit described thus: "She's got lots of potential, but she doesn't like to be rushed. Just let her go at her own pace as she takes you on a smooth ride to victory!") and The Idolmaster Ritsuko (an F/A-18F: "She tires easily, so use her precise movement to take out the enemy as quickly as possible! You've got the brains, she's got the moves - let's get lots of enemies!") Both of those go for 400 MS Points (GBP 3.40 / EUR 4.80).
MTV Games and Harmonix announced today that a "special collection of tracks" will be released on July 1 on Xbox Live and July 3 on the PlayStation Network to celebrate the opening of Crüefest that same day. Motley Crüe's "Down at the Whisky," Papa Roach's "Time is Running Out" and Trapt's "Who's Going Home With You Tonight" will debut at a special price of 99 cents per track or 80 Microsoft Points. No word on how long that special price will last.
The fourth track released in the pack is from a fictitious hair-metal band called Vesuvius and is titled "Promised Land." The track is featured in the upcoming comedy The Rocker and will be free of charge.
Top Spin 3 brings the fun, action-packed excitement of tennis to your console with authentic features including signature styles and expressions for over 20 top ranked players, more than 40 breathtaking real world venues, jaw-dropping graphics via all-new Evolutionary Visuals™, fully licensed soundtrack, and much more!
Top Spin 3 is the first tennis game to incorporate right analog stick controls, and to include classic legendary players of the past. Are you ready for the challenge?
Game Features:
New gameplay controls: Intuitive controls, now incorporating the right thumbstick, allow for precise movements and shot variety providing gamers with an unprecedented tennis experience.
Signature style: The world's best players including Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, and Andy Roddick are accurately depicted like never before with actual apparel, equipment, and even swing animations.
Tennis legends: For the first time ever, play with or against legendary figures such as Björn Borg, Boris Becker and Monica Seles.
2K Sports online: Play against anyone, anywhere, anytime in up to four game modes including singles, doubles, quick-match, and a comprehensive world tour with live stat tracking
All-new soundtrack: Great new music is included featuring Jamiroquai, Calvin Harris, Boys Like Girls, The Go! Team, Stone Roses, and Franz Ferdinand
2K Sports brings past and present tennis players under your control via Top Spin 3. The US versions of the game are in stock and are available on these consoles:
Xbox360™
Top Spin 3 US US$ 64.90
PlayStation3™
Top Spin 3 US US$ 64.90
Nintendo Wii™
Top Spin 3 US US$ 59.90
Nintendo DS™
Top Spin 3 US US$ 34.90
The Asian versions of Top Spin 3 are available on Xbox360™ and PlayStation3™ and are shipping for US$ 49.90 and US$ 59.90 respectively only.
features
From the mind of renowned developer Chris Taylor
Realize ultimate command of the battlefield with the revolutionary Strategic Zoom. View the entire map and command groups of units, or zoom into the heart of the battle and adjust strategies on the fly
Three massive campaigns complete an epic storyline
Quick, intuitive control scheme and new user interface built specifically for console gaming
Console gamers treated to exclusive new units, updated maps and new online gameplay modes
Deploy hundreds of unique land, sea and air units in massive battles for supremacy
Unleash titanic Experimental Weapons to devastate opposing armies
Dominate opponents around the globe via Xbox Live
description
The Infinite War has raged for over 1000 years and soon will make its way to a videogame console for the first time.
For a millennium, war has raged between the United Earth Federation, the Cybran Nation and the Aeon Illuminate. Unwavering, dramatically opposing systems of belief have locked the three forces of humanity into a bitter, merciless conflict that has come to be known as the Infinite War. Now, after centuries of struggle, a war that has torn the galaxy asunder has finally reached a turning point. A leader has risen above all others, and only this Supreme Commander holds the key to ending the Infinite War once and for all.
features
Platform: PlayStation3, X-Box360
Maps detailed with the locations of all gold and collectibles!
Complete walkthroughs for each mission, including alternate strategies.
Battlefield-tested combat tactics. Our guide shows the best ways to use demolition to your tactical advantage.
Deadly weapons information for all kits. Know which armament is the right tool for the job!
Offensive and defensive multiplayer strategies to help you get the edge in online play. Interior
Earlier today, a tipster who wished to remain anonymous sent us the above pic, something he claimed was the Samsung "X-Series" LCD TV. According to the tipster, the television would be the "first on market" to integrate Xbox 360 hardware when it shipped this November in the United States and Europe. The TV was purported to include four USB ports, 512 MB of hard drive space(?) and a "ring of light" style power button. It even came with a model number (XS40R360A) for maximum believability.
That would mesh nicely with that rumor from EGM that Microsoft was permitting third parties to manufacture their own Xbox 360 compatible hardware, wouldn't it? Unfortunately, it all sounds like total bunkum.
While wrangling coverage of Blizzard's Worldwide Invitational will consume a portion of my weekend, spending more time hands-on with Silicon Knights' Too Human will swallow up quite a bit more of my Saturday and Sunday. Expect extended impressions on that game throughout next week. To wind down, I'll be devoting some personal time with Team Fortress 2, playing as one of the many Pyros clogging the ranks on the hunt for Steam Achievements and new weapons. Oh, and there's Soul Bubbles to finish. Lordy!
Other than that, it's time for serious Summer fun. We'll be bandying about shuttlecocks and grilling lots of meat in the greater Los Angeles area, working on our third sunburn. What have you got planned for this regular sized weekend? Any gaming gettin' done?
Otomedius G has a special box coming for 360 which includes 6 "character badges," and the Hyper Stick Pro, made by Hori. The stick includes a touch pad, which factors into the original arcade game as you can see here on Niconico douga (if you have a login). Presumably in the non-stick version you'll just use the right stick on the 360, which should work just fine. The set will cost 25,780 yen (and includes the game of course) and will be released on September 25. I wonder if this touch pad stick might eventually be usable for anything else? Beatmania comes to mind. If you look at the special box link, you'll see that the stick actually lists which buttons and joystick it uses. Kind of neat.
