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Information About Video Games
Video Game News - December 2007
Information About Video Games
December 21, 2007
Playstation Store Update
Lots of new things this week, including a new format for presenting new items on the Playstation Store. This might make things easier to locate, if they keep bringing so much new stuff every week. They've also included a "Play While Downloading" function for the videos. Check the list of new stuff below.
Games
- Toy Home - $9.99
- Trials of Topoq (Playstation Eye required) - $4.99
- Mesmerize: Distort (Playstation Eye required) - $1.99
- Warhawk (PSone title) - $5.99
Demos
- Snakeball Demo
- Blacksite: Area 51 Demo
Add-ons
- Warhawk Omega Dawn Pack - $7.99
- Folklore Holiday Add-ons - Free
- Motorstorm Holiday Skin - Free
- Holiday Single "We Three Kings" for Guitar Hero III - Free
- High Stakes Add-on 1
- High Stakes Add-on 2
- Rock Band "Brass in Pocket" Made famous by the Pretenders - $1.99
- Rock Band "Buddy Holly" by Weezer - $1.99
- Rock Band "My Iron Lung" by Radiohead - $1.99
Videos
- GT 5 Prologue Sizzle Trailer
- DMC4 Final Trailer
- Warhawk Omega Dawn Trailer
- PS3 "Only On" TV Spot
- PS3 "Universe" TV Spot
- THPG - Mike V's Skater Story
- Turok "Dino Mauling" Video
- PSP Feature Video
- Uncharted "Animation" Video
- Strange Wilderness Trailer
- Oral Fixation Tour Trailer
Themes
- Warhawk Theme
- PAIN: Santa Theme
- PAIN: Cookie Theme
Something Else to Blame Video Games On...
Two teenagers from Colorado have been accused of killing a 7 year old girl using martial art moves copied from the once popular game, Mortal Kombat. The teenagers, Lamar Roberts and Heather Trujillo (ages 17 and 16), were suppose to be babysitting Heather’s little half sister, Zoe Garcia, while the mom was at work.
After the teenagers kicked, punched and bodyslamed little Zoe, the girl lost consciousness and stopped breathing.
You can read the full story here.
WipEout Pulse PSP Coming Soon
Daimion Pinnock, producer at SCEA has posted some new stuff on the Playstation Blog about Wipeout Pulse for the PSP. The title was released a couple weeks ago already in Europe and the US is anxiously waiting... I guess. Anyway, he stated that he would be making an announcement after the holidays about the possibility of the title going gold soon here in the US. He also posted some photos taken from the game using the in-game photo mode. Check out the full post and the photos here.
Devil May Cry PS3's
In order to celebrate the very popular game from Capcom, Devil May Cry 4, Sony has announced plans to release some limited edition Devil May Cry 4 Playstation 3's. They will come bundled with the game, a Blu-ray HD computer graphics movie, and a choice between either "ceramic white" or "clear black" for 47,000 yen, or $422US. The bad news for you though, is that Sony will be releasing these in Japan and have not announced any plans for the US. Dammit!
New Guitar Hero III Tracks Released
Those new tracks that I posted about earlier have been released. If you don't remember what I'm talking about, they are "Ernten Was Wir Säen" by Die Fantastischen Vier, "So Payaso" by Extremoduro, and "Antisocial" by Trust. These can be purchased on the Xbox 360 for 200 Microsoft points each. You can also download "We Three Kings” as performed by Steve Ouimette for free.
GT5: Prologue "High Performance" HD
Want to see some video from the newest in the Gran Turismo series. Looks nice!
Activision Wants Money From Harmonix
In the latest news in the whole Rock Band - Guitar Hero III guitar compatibility, Activision has announced that they want to be compensated by Harmonix for the use of their technology. I honestly can't believe what I'm hearing. Why does this have to be about money, when they really should be thinking about the gamers. Just let everyone play. Since guitars for Rock Band can't be purchased seperately, it can only lead to more sales for Guitar Hero's guitar and probably even the whole Guitar Hero III bundle anyway.
Activision Happy About Guitar Hero Copyright Case
The Romantics were suing Activision for creating a cover of their song "What I Like About You" in their game Guitar Hero Rocks the 80's because the song sounded too much like the original. Well, the judge in the case has ruled in favor of Activision indicating that there weren't any copyright issues and that Activision did exactly what they were supposed to do with developing the product. This is good news, in my opinion, for everyone, including the Romantics. Do you know why? This could only bring more sales for the Romantics album that this song is on, because I really doubt anyone will be looking for the album of the band that covered the song. What a waste of time.
December 20, 2007
New Duke Nukem Forever Trailer
The new trailer for Duke Nukem Forever doesn't show a whole much except that Duke is back with his cheesy lines, which I love by the way, and the annoying "brain" like aliens are still around. I have always been a huge fan of the series though, so I'm really excited that they have even gotten this far with the game. Check out the trailer below.
Home Coming Early 2008
Originally, Sony was planning on bringing Playstation Home to the PS3 this year. Obviously, this isn't going to happen. Jack Tretton, President of Sony Computer Entertainment of America, has confirmed this as well. He announced that they are looking to do a beta in the first quarter of calendar 2008, but they aren't completely sure on a release date for the finished version of the full game.
Free Folklore Stuff for the Holidays
Eric Fong, Executive producer of Folklore has announced that they will be giving away some free content for the game this holiday season. There will be two new winter outfits for Ellen and Keats, a new quest called "Holy Night Visitor" for Keats and a new Folk called "Grab Bag."
Video Game Vector Screenshots
Vector Magic is a really cool program that will convert bitmap images into vector images, which can be very useful if you want to stretch or modify an image without ruining the quality. Google Blogoscope has taken some original video game screenshots from popular games and turned them into vector art and they came out pretty cool. Check out the small gallery titledBlown Up.
Folding@Home Upated
There is a new update available for the Folding@Home program on your PS3 and it brings some great features. If you want to help the project, but don't like to leave your Playstation on all night, there's a new option that will let you shut off your PS3 after a period of time. There is also now a music player thrown into the mix. The background music player can play songs that you have stored on your Hard Disk Drive. If you can't figure out how to activate these features on your own, check out this post on Playstation Blog.
Warhawk Patch Has Gone Live
The version 1.2 patch for Warhawk has gone live. Also today you'll be able to download the Warhawk: Omega Dawn Booster Pack for $7.99. If you want to learn more about the new content, check out the Warhawk: Omega Dawn FAQ on the Playstation Blog. Here is what the patch brings (according to a post from Dylan Jobe in October):
- 5 New layouts
- Clan game server option
- Buddy slot reservations
- Integrated Warhawk Store
- Updated CTF capture/return behavior
- Internal stat padder protection
- Booster Pack status display at join game list
- DualShock3 integration
- Separate SIXAXIS motion control on/off per mode (ground, hover, flight)
- Detailed Player Score display at end of game fixed
- Added new server type filters (player, ranked, dedicated, clan, Official Warhawk, etc)
- Added new server full/open filter
- Fall damage exploit fixed
- Dismount into walls exploit fixed
- Invisible Tank, Turret & Warhawk exploit fixed
- Auto-kick of idle players
- Add to Favorites button added to end game screen
- Increased VOIP volume when not using headset
Sensible World of Soccer Pulled
If you wanted to purchase Sensible World of Soccer yesterday, you may have noticed that it wasn't there. This is because Codemasters pulled it. The reason being that they have supposedly put up an incorrect version of the game, which would disconnect users who tried to play online. If you did manage to download the game before it went down, you'll have to delete it and download the new version whenever it's made available.
December 19, 2007
Kane and Lynch Demo on 360
Eidos' game Kane and Lynch: Dead Men hasn't received the greatest reviews but it's certainly had it's share of fame. If you want to try the game out before you believe every word Gerstmann said, download the demo, it's available now.
PSP Firmware Update Live
The PSP firmware has been updated to version 3.80 and it brings a very cool new feature, internet radio. There are a wide variety of genres and thousands of stations available so whatever it is you may listen to, you're probably covered. Learn how to use the feature on Playstation's blog.
UT3 For Mac
MacSoft has sent out a press release announcing that they will be publishing Unreal Tournament 3 for the Mac. Midway has licensed the game and Epic Games will be developing it for a release date of somewhere around early 2008. Mac users are getting more and more good news every day.
Teaser Trailer for Duke Nukem Hits Today
Probably one of the most anticipated games ever, and probably voted least likely to be completed, Duke Nukem Forever is back in the news. The development team created a short teaser trailer for a company Christmas party and they decided that they would let the rest of the world see it as well. You can expect to see the new trailer on their forums around 12pm noon CST. By the way, the picture above is a screenshot taken from the trailer.
Even More Songs For Rock Band
Harmonix just won't stop. There are three more songs available for you to download today. For 160 Microsoft points each you can buy "My Iron Lung" by Radiohead, "Buddy Holly" by Weezer, and the cover of "Brass in Pocket" made famous by the Pretenders. Look for these songs on the PS3 on Thursday.
EA Giving Away Great Game For Rock Band Mishap
You might remember a few weeks ago when EA announced that they would be giving away a free game to those who purchased Rock Band with a faulty guitar. Well, the games of choice have been announced and they aren't exactly crappy like most people probably expected. Check the list below and don't forget that the cutoff date for this program is January 11, so submit your request for a replacement guitar soon.
- Commmand & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars
- Command & Connquer: The First Decade
- FIFA Soccer 08
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Medal of Honor Airborne
- Nascar 08
- NBA Live 08
- Need for Speed ProStreet
- NHL 08
- Rock Band
- Skate
- The Simpsons Game
- The Sims 2 Deluxe
- Tiger Woods PGA Tour
Burnout Paradise Has Got Some Good Tunes
Electronic Arts has announced the upcoming soundtrack for the awesome game, Burnout Paradise. The game will feature songs from Guns N' Roses, Alice in Chains, Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden, Twisted Sister, Jimmy Eat World and N.E.R.D. They've also got some up-and-comers from their own label, Artwerk, such as Airbourne, Jupiter One and Junkie XL. If you wanna hear all of these great songs, you have to wait until January 22nd, when the game comes out. Here's the complete list:
- Adam And The Ants - Stand And Deliver
- Agent Blue - Snowhill
- Airbourne - Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast
- Alice In Chains - Would?
- Army Of Me - Going Through Changes
- Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
- B’z - FRICTION
- Brain Failure feat. Dicky Barrett - Coming Down To Beijing
- Brand New - The Archers Bows Have Broken
- Bromheads Jacket - Fight Music For The Fight
- Depeche Mode - Route 66 (Beatmasters Mix)
- Faith No More - Epic
- Guns N’ Roses - Paradise City
- Innerpartysystem - Heart Of Fire
- Jane’s Addiction - Stop!
- Jimmy Eat World - Electable (Give It Up)
- Junkie XL feat. Lauren Rocket - Cities In Dust
- Jupiter One - Fire Away
- Kerli - Creepshow
- Killswitch Engage - My Curse
- LCD Soundsystem - Us V. Them
- Make Good Your Escape - Beautiful Ruin
- Maxeen - Block Out The World
- Mexicolas - Come Clean
- N.E.R.D. - Rockstar (Jason Nevins Mix)
- Never Heard Of It - Finger On The Trigger
- Operator - Nothing To Lose
- Permanent ME - Until You Leave
- Saosin - Collapse
- Seether - Fake It
- Senses Fail - Calling All Cars
- Showing Off To Thieves - Everyone Has Their Secrets
- Skybombers - It Goes Off
- Soundgarden - Rusty Cage
- Sugarcult - Dead Living
- Swervedriver - Duel
- The Photo Atlas - Red Orange Yellow
- The Pigeon Detectives - I’m Not Sorry
- The Styles - Glitter Hits (J.J. Puig Mix)
- Twisted Sister - I Wanna Rock
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Now Mobile
The game that has been the focus of much controversy lately, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men is now available in mobile format. This version was developed by Kiloo with input from IO Interactive, who developed the original game.
GameStop's Wii Reservation Details
GameStop and Nintendo previously announced that they would be working together to get more Wii's out to the consumer after the holiday season. GameStop has made some clarifications just so everybody is on the same track. The most important clarification being that the reservation MUST be placed on Friday, December 21st and in-person at any GameStop or EB Games store in the US. You also must pay the full price, $249.99 plus tax, for the system in full. You'll receive custom designed DVD case with a picture of Wii and Mario wishing "Happy Holidays" along with the rain check that offers guidelines and an explanation of the rain check. Once your Wii is available, you will receive a phone call for pick up. Yay!
December 18, 2007
Latest PS3 Firmware Is Here
A new firmware update just went live last night. Of course, this is the one that contains the DivX functionallity, which can obviously be the backdoor (pun intended) for porn companies to get porn onto the Playstation 3. Here is what else it includes.
- Blu-Ray profile 1.1 or "final standard profile"
- Picture -in-Picture on Blu-Ray
- DivX support w/exceptions
- Cannot be larger than 2GB
- Cannot contain copyright protection
- Cannot play files made with DivX 3.11 or earlier
- WMV support
- Enhanced audio bitmapping
- Voice Changer (for online gaming I suppose)
Reason to Upgrade to Next Gen: Rock Band on PS2
Rock Band is probably one of the best and funnest games I have ever played, and I just don't get tired of it. Playstation 2 owners are sure to feel the same way when they get it, which is possible as of today. The PS2 version is missing some really good stuff though. The Band World Tour mode forces the band to play the songs in a linear fashion, instead of being able to choose what you want to play. There is also no option for character creation. That's no big deal though. Here are the missing pieces that can possibly sway you to get a next get version. There isn't online head-to-head play and there will not be downloadable content. No downloadable content? Don't get me wrong, you'll still have a ton of fun, but you really should consider an upgrade.
Virtual Console Update
This week, Nintendo has decided to go with a sci-fi theme for the Virtual Console. This time I don't really know any of these games well. They all look like like they could be fun though. Alien Storm and Cybernator both look like games I would have loved in those days. I don't know about Monster Lair, but I won't judge a book by its cover. Check out the press release below.
It's sci-fi/fantasy week on the Virtual Console, and you know what that means. The Cybernators are deadly, the aliens are ruthless and the monsters are...cute. It's a collection of three classic action games designed to keep your blood boiling as the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter. Virtual Console: your winter security blanket.
Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:
Cybernator (SNES, 1 player, rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): It is the near future. Resources are dwindling, and the major powers of the world are in dispute over territory. Pilot the Cybernator G5-E for the 95th brigade of the mechanized marines and throw yourself into the war. Get briefed before each mission to confirm your targets, and then do your best to clear each of the seven stages, freely using the suit's equipped tools and four types of weaponry. By collecting the "power chips" left by defeated enemies, it is also possible to reinforce each weapon up to a maximum of three levels. It is left to your judgment as to whether to reinforce a specific weapon or to power up all weapons simultaneously, adding a bit of strategy to the nonstop action. The powerful background music, military-like atmosphere (look for bullet marks on the walls and the strained communication during combat) and intense story development combine to give the world of Cybernator a gritty, sci-fi feel that you won't soon forget.
Alien Storm (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Shape-shifting aliens have infiltrated the city, creating chaos and panic! Fortunately, a trio of heroes called the Alien Busters has agreed to wipe out the invading creatures. The members of the team wield their own special attacks, and they unload a world of hurt on the Martian menaces from the city streets to the mother ship. Gordon, a tough guy with a bazooka, has a special gunship attack, while Karla has a flamethrower for alien crisping, though she prefers to use her special ballistic-missile attack. Finally, Slammer the robot can self-destruct at will and attacks the intruders with an electric whip and other devices. Take the aliens by storm and save your city.
Monster Lair (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1-2 players, rated E for Everyone - Mild Cartoon Violence, 800 Wii Points): Join young Adam and Laura as they embark on a fantastic adventure in this comical action/shooting game. Featuring beautiful music brought to life by the power of the CD-ROM, the game consists of 14 rounds packed with cute monster enemies. Players can either play alone as Adam (or play with a friend controlling Laura) as they battle their way through round after round. The first half of each round is the action scene, where players must avoid obstacles and pits. Use your Power Boost weapons against enemies and restore your Life Force with food as you head for the gate at the end. The second half is the exhilarating shooting scene, where players must shoot down flying enemies. Take out the boss at the end to clear the round and move to the next one.
Painted Ladies at VGA's
The Spike TV Video Game Awards are always a waste of time to watch, if you are expecting a proper judging of video games anyway. There was one thing that made the awards worth watching this year though, which was nude models painted with video game inspired "art." Take a look.
Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday Update
Two more games will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade tomorrow.
Sensible World of Soccer will be released for 800 Microsoft points. You can play either solo or over Xbox Live with friends, or you can play as manager and take the team to the top. There's also a tutorial which can teach you everything you'd need to know about the sport. That's what I would need, because I don't know anything about soccer.
The other game is Tempest. Everyone know Tempest right? This is a classic shooter from Atari in which you control a small ship that has to fight through hordes of enemies. This version has both the original game as well as the enhanced gameplay mode.
December 17, 2007
Harry Potter For Your Cell
EA and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution has announced that they will be releasing a new Harry Potter game, and this one will be created for mobile devices. Harry Potter Mastering Magic will be available for the holiday season in Europe and in January of the new year in North America.
Guitar Hero III Update
There's a new patch available for Guitar Hero III on he PS3 and Xbox 360 which offers lots of new stuff. Check it out.
- Improve Online Quick Match results and reduce "Failed to Connect to Server" messages
- Introduce calibration screen improvements, helping users with high lag AV systems, and Playstation 3 users with Dolby Digital enabled
- Add the Co-Op Quickplay mode for Playstation 3 users
- Enable the Hyperspeed cheat to work in online games
- Include various stability improvements and fixes
Nintendo Wii "Rain Check" Program
There will be another shortage of Nintendo Wii's this Christmas, which is kinda obvious considering you still couldn't find them throughout the entire year. Well in order to remedy the situation, Nintendo and Gamestop have teamed up to create a rain check program. This program, guarantees that you'll be able to get a Wii after Christmas. If you buy an out-of-stock Nintendo Wii at full price on or after December 20th, you will be given a rain check that will guarantee you'll get the console sometime in January. Nintendo feels that Gamestop is the only store that is capable of pulling this off, so that's where you're going to have to shop, although many other stores will be stocking up as well. Just keep an eye out.
Finally Some More Content For Guitar Hero III
If you own Guitar Hero III, you might be a little jealous of all of the new content that Rock Band has been getting on a regular basis. Yeah it kinda sucks, but you don't have to worry about that anymore, because Activision has announced some new stuff. The upcoming content pack will contain three new songs; "No More Sorrow" by Linkin Park, "Sleeping Giant" by Mastadon, and "Pretty Handsome Awkward" by The Used. There will also be a few singles that can be purchased. This includes "So Payaso" by Extremoduro, "Antisocial" by Trust, and "Ernten Was Wir Saen" by Die Fantastischen Vier. Lastly, you'll be able to download "We Three Kings" by Steve Ouimette for free.
December 14, 2007
Boogerman Commercial
If you owned a Sega Genesis in the prime of its days, you probably remember the game Boogerman. A bit like Earthworm Jim, but not as good. I sure don't remember this commercial though. Check it out.
Playstation Network Update
More good stuff this week. If you didn't read my post yesterday, the Burnout Paradise demo is available on the Playstation Store and there's also tons of other stuff.
In add-ons this week there are two new bowlers for High Velocity Bowling which you can buy for $0.99 each. You can also get those three new songs for Rock Band, which are "I Fought the Law" by The Clash, "Rockaway Beach" by the Ramones, "Ever Fallen in Love" by the Buzzcocks. You can buy each of those for $1.99 each or the whole pack for $5.49. There's also a whole crapload of cars you can buy for Need for Speed ProStreet. Too many for me to list here.
For videos this week you can watch the game videos GT Awards at SEMA Video, Burnout "Stunt Run" Trailer, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground - Tony's Skater Story Trailer, and the Ratchet BTS - Art video. On top of that you can also check out the movie trailers for Cloverfield and Untraceable. That ought to keep you busy.
Call of Duty 4 Threat Locks Down School
A student attending Frostburg State University got a little heated during a gaming session of Call of Duty 4 and may have mistakenly made a threat of "shooting up the school" on Xbox Live. Not to be taken lightly, the statement caught the attention of another player who then reported this to the Frostburg Police Department. The school was placed on lockdown and the player was tracked down through his internet service provider. The student claims that he was joking and the police have stated that no weapons were found. People should know by now that you just can't say things like that.
December 13, 2007
Rock Band Patch Available!...But You Can't Have It
That's right. The Rock Band patch that will let you use the Guitar Hero III guitar is done and ready to go. There's only one problem. Activision, the makers of Guitar Hero, won't let Harmonix, the makers of Rock Band, release it. What a bunch of whiny babies. Their just mad that their game isn't as cool.
New Xbox 360 Demo Available
There's a new demo on the Xbox Live Marketplace and if you like shooters, you may enjoy this one. Frontlines: Fuel of War was created using the Unreal Engine 3 so go see how you like it. If you like it, you can look for the full version in February on the PC and Xbox 360 and the PS3 version later in the year, of course.
Burnout Paradise Demo Now Available
Burnout is one of the most popular and just all around fun racing games and as of midnight last night, the latest in the franchise can be downloaded and played by you. Go get Burnout Paradise either on the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 and call in late to work.
New X-Play Episodes Everyday
One of the only good shows left on Tech...I mean G4TV, is X-Play. If you watch this show, you're in for a big change. X-Play will change the focus of the show, by offering all-around gaming news instead of just reviews. Don't worry, the reviews are still there, it's just not the only thing the show will have to offer anymore. Now you can expect to such things as Tips and Tricks from "Cheat!", The MMO Report, "X-Play" Gamer Challenges, and hands-on demos.
December 12, 2007
LittleBigPlanet Demo Not Coming This Year
SCEA promised that a demo would be available before the end of the year, but sadly it isn't going to happen. Senior manager of PR for SCEA has officially confirmed that a demo will not be available this year. The full game is still scheduled for release in 2008 though.
New Wii Firmware Update
Have you noticed your Wii glowing lately. That's the new firmware update! The update will give you that new gift-giving feature that I was talking about yesterday as an update to the Photo Channel, which adds personalized iconz and removes MP3 support. If you want to keep MP3 support on your Wii, you don't have to upgrade though as this one is optional. Nintendo has also given Wii owners the ability to downgrade if they change their minds down the road.
Halo 3 Heroic Map Pack Now Live
The Heroic Map pack for Halo 3 is finally live and it can be all yours for 800 Microsoft points. The pack contains three new maps; Standoff, Rat's Nest, and Foundry. Remember, if you don't want to pay for 'em, you can get all three of them for free in Spring '08.
More Rock Band Content
There's some new Rock Band stuff available. This time it's some good ol' punk rock. The Punk Pack costs 440 Microsoft points and contains the songs "I Fought the Law" by the Clash, "Rockaway Beach" by the Ramones and a cover song of "Ever Fallen in Love" made famous by the Buzzcocks. As usual, you can also download each song seperately for 160 Microsoft points. Playstation 3 owners can expect to see these available in the Playstation Store sometime this week, likely tomorrow.
December 11, 2007
Parappa Fans! Gather 'Round for Good News
There are many people out there who love the Parappa the Rapper games. To those people, there is some good news for you. The bad news first. The game is not making a comeback. The good news. The team who created Parappa is. Masaya Matsuura and Rodney Alan Greenblatt are reuniting in order to produce an all new music game for the Nintendo Wii. The game is scheduled for release sometime in 2008, but no other details have been given.
Virtual Console Update...and Then Some
Three new games as usual this week as well as a new feature. The new feature goes great with Christmas right around the corner. The Wii Shop Channel now includes a Gifting feature. This new feature will let you send games to other Wii owners if you have their Friend Codes. It's cheap and you don't have to wait in the wrap-around lines at Best Buy.
Now onto the games. This week you get the first Pokemon game ever to be released on the virtual console, Pokemon Snap which did fairly well on the Nintendo 64. Next up is Baseball Stars 2. Nothing special there. Last of all though, is Ghosts'n Goblins. This game was really popular and a lot of fun. In my opinion, this is the winner in this weeks lineup. Check out the press release below.
Get ready to celebrate the arrival of a bunch of fun new features on the Wii Shop Channel. This week marks the debut of the first Pokemon game for the Virtual Console: Pokemon Snap, which originally was a hit on Nintendo 64. This Pokemon photographic adventure comes with a special Wii bonus: It now includes a special feature that allows players to post pictures they take in the game to their Wii Message Board and send them to friends with whom they've traded Friends Codes.
And let's not ignore the other sure-to-please titles: Ghosts'n Goblins and BASEBALL STARS 2. These three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. But wait ñ there's more!
Later in the day on Monday, Nintendo will make your holiday shopping just a little bit easier. If some people on your gift list have visions of classic video games dancing in their heads, you're in luck. Starting this week, Wii Shop Channel patrons can use a new Gifting feature to send games to other Wii owners with whom they've traded Friend Codes. It's an easy and inexpensive way to give your fellow Nintendo buffs the gift of a classic gameóno wrapping paper required. And don't worry about duplication. If your friend already has the game you're trying to give, you'll get a simple message and be bumped back into the catalog to continue shopping.
Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:
Pokemon Snap (Nintendo 64, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): As one of the most unique games in a renowned series, Pokemon Snap was the first truly 3-D Pokemon game and introduced the phenomenon to the Nintendo 64. Travel to Pokemon Island and meet Professor Oak to begin a safari, taking the best possible photographs of 63 different Pokemon as they exist in the wild, undisturbed by humans. This is not as easy as it soundsóthe island has many types of climates and environments to explore, along with secret activities and hidden passages to discover. Plus, some of the Pokemon can be a little shy and won't pose for the camera unless you tease them with special items. After you're done, submit one picture of each Pokemon to Professor Oak, and he'll judge it based on size, pose, technique and number of Pokemon captured.
Ghosts'n Goblins (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for EveryoneóMild Animated Violence, 500 Wii Points): Ghosts'n Goblins was a popular arcade game before it made the leap to the NES in 1986. Like later games in the series, Ghosts'n Goblins presents quite a challenge to players brave enough to take on the role of Arthur and delve into the realm of demons and monsters to rescue the kidnapped princess. Choose your weapons wisely and take advantage of their strengths to deal with the situation at hand. Pass through the six gates that stand between you and Astaroth, and teach him a lesson in chivalry he'll never forget. Demonstrating a high level of technical prowess for a game of its era, Ghosts'n Goblins presents a unique and unforgettable universe. The stage for adventure is set. Are you up to the test?
BASEBALL STARS 2 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 900 Wii Points): Lace up your cleats and step onto the diamond with the pros of BASEBALL STARS 2. You'll find everything you'd expect in a classic game of baseball, but with an arcade feel and intense action that distinguish it from the pack. Pick one of six unique teams from cities around the world, then get ready for nine innings of excitement, whether you're taking on the computer in a 15-game tournament or squaring off against a friend. There are two modes of game play, so even the most inexperienced player can compete at the major-league level (with a little computer-aided fielding). Watch as the game develops through split-screen views and close-up shots worthy of any highlight film, and see if you can catch the numerous over-the-top animations of the large and detailed player models. Think you have what it takes to win the pennant?
Killzone 2 Developers Faked It
Do you remember a long time ago when a video was shown of Killzone 2 at E3 2005? Guerilla Games stated that the video was actual gameplay from the game, but then they later admitted that the video was pre-rendered. That pissed a lot of people off. Well, they've done it again. This time they released screenshots of the game that have been touched up. According to Guerrilla's QA manager Seb Downie, "They are only the tiniest bit touched up. Short answer is yes. Long answer is that there was a little bit of colour-correction done and some minor polish, but nothing major. Still very close to reality and it looks better in motion in my opinion." Doesn't sound too bad, but it's kinda hard to trust these guys anymore.
Atari's Holiday Releases
Recently, it felt like Atari was only a step away from disappearing from the face of the Earth. Actually, that may still be true, but they have plenty of games available for the holiday season before they go. Check it out. Some of the games are already out and Atari just wanted you to know that they are there. Check out the list below.
- The Witcher (PC)
- Eternal Sonata (Xbox 360)
- Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer (PC)
- Dungeons & Dragons Tactics (PSP)
- Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (360)
- My Horse and Me (Wii, DS, PC)
- Asterix at the Olympic Games (Wii, DS, PC)
- Dora the Explorer: Dance to the Rescue (PC)
- Jenga World Tour (DS)
- Tamagotchi Party On! (Wii)
- Dragon Ball Z: Goku Densetsu (DS)
- Atari Classics (XBL)
- Test Drive Unlimited Collection Volume 6 (360)
This Week on XBL Arcade
Two new games for you this week on Xbox Live Arcade.
In Arkadian Warriors you can fight as one of three available characters in order to confront some evil being named Gorgon and to save the goddess, Artemis. This game includes multiplayer co-op and a unique dungeon generator to keep the battlefield different every time.
You may already know what GripShift is. In this game you have to take your car and race the wild level designs and stunts. There are 120 single-player levels to keep you busy as well as online multiplayer over Xbox Live.
December 10, 2007
Devil May Cry 4 Demo in Early '08
Fewer Updates on PS3 = More Gameplay
If you own a Playstation 3, you know that firmware updates happen a little frequently and can be a little annoying too, since all you really want to do is start playing your games. Sony understands this and has announced that they will be trying to cut down on the frequency of these updates and are also trying to find ways to make the updates easier and faster to download. That's some good news.
Mono Audio Sucks on Guitar Hero III
If you aren't happy with the mono only audio of the Wii version of Guitar Hero III, which was advertised as having Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound capability, Activision is aiming to remedy your frustrations. Activision has announced that they will be working with Nintendo to issue improved audio in future versions of the game. They will also be giving this discs to consumers as a replacement at no cost as soon as they are available. You can expect to see the updated game in early 2008.
December 7, 2007
GTAIV Trailer
If you didn't go the Grand Theft Auto IV website yesterday to view the video, here it is. Enjoy!
PSN Update
Lots of stuff. Here's what you get this week:
Games:
- High Velocity Bowling - $9.99
- Wild Arms (PS3/PSP) - $5.99
Game Video:
- GTA IV "Move Up, Ladies"
- MGS4 - TGS 2007 Trailer
- Uncharted "Environments" Video
- TimeShift FPS Video 3
- Turok Inteview Trailer 1
- Battlefield "Frostbite" Video
Demo:
- TimeShift Multiplayer Demo
Add-ons:
- MotorStorm Falfer Domino - $0.99
- Folklore Add-on 1 - $3.99
- Folklore Add-on 2 - $3.99
- Folklore Add-on Bundle 1 - $5.99
- Rock Band Black Sabbath Pack 1 - $5.49
- Rock Band Black Sabbath "N.I.B." - $1.99
- Rock Band Black Sabbath "Sweet Leaf" - $1.99
- Rock Band Black Sabbath "War Pigs" - $1.99
Blu-Ray Video:
- The Legend of Zorro Trailer
Themes:
- Uncharted Theme
- Ratchet Theme
Call of Duty 4: Double XP For Everyone
Everyone who plays the Playstation 3 version of Call of Duty 4 this coming weekend will earn double XP in every gametype of multiplayer. This will take place from Friday at 10 am PT to Monday at 10 am.
Street Fighter VI Confirmed
Capcom has officially confirmed that they have been working on Street Fighter IV in a press release. This will be the first game in the series that will be in 3D. This doesn't usually work out so well, example; Mortal Kombat. I hope it does though.
Stranglehold Multiplayer Map Pack Coming
Midway has just announced that they will be releasing a downloadable multiplayer map pack for Stranglehold sometime soon. It will be available for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game and will come with 10 new maps and 21 new character skins. If you are an "Achievement" freak, the Xbox 360 map pack will provide the opportunity to earn 250 more points. Prices and dates have not yet been announced.
December 6, 2007
Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer Today
In case you forgot, there is a new trailer coming for Grand Theft Auto IV today at 3pm EST. Look for it on the GTA website.
Xbox Live Silver Users Get Content Late
In order to make Xbox Live Gold account users feel like they are actually getting their money's worth, they are now getting free content, such as demos, a week earlier than Silver users. That sucks.
2 Player Time Crisis Costs Double
Time Crisis is a 2-player game, but for some really stupid reason, Namco Bandia is not selling the Guncon 3 gun controller separately. So what's the answer? Well, according to Namco Bandai, you just need to buy another copy of the game. Well, if you are going to spend $90 once, it's no big deal to spend it again, right? Screw that! That's a game that I will now be skipping.
New Folklore Content Coming
Starting this month, you can buy some new add-on packs for Folklore from the Playstation Store. Each content pack will include a new costume for one of the playable characters, an all new Folk, and four new quests. Look for "The Kidnapped Folk" and "Bottom of the Sea" soon. You'll be able to buy these for $3.99 each or for the bundled price of $5.99.
GameTap Releases New Full Mac Compatible Player
GameTap has released a new player which is fully Mac compatible. Sadly the player is still only Intel Mac compatible and does not work on PowerPC Macs. That puts me out. Anyway, now all of the games on GameTap's service is available, with the exception of "Windows" games. There are also many other features that came with this update. Check them out here.
PS3 Rock Band Guitar Compatibility Patch Available
That's right. You'll soon be able to play four player multiplayer in Rock Band on the Playstation 3. The patch was supposed to be here last night and I haven't been able to check if it's here yet, so you'll just have to see for yourself. It will let you finally use your Guitar Hero III controllers to play the game though, but I'm not sure about USB controllers. Anyway, It's about damn time!
December 5, 2007
The Awesome Virtual Boy
WOW! Where can I find one of these?!!
New Demo on Xbox Live
There's a new demo on Xbox Live Marketplace, anxiously waiting for you to download it. Culdcept SAGA puts you in the shoes of a young hero who has the ability to control mystical creatures that live within cards. Using these powers, you have to bring peace back to your land...original.
New BioShock Downloadable Content
2K Games has announced new downloadable content for BioShock for both the Xbox 360 and the PC. The content includes four new Plasmids and Gene Tonics, as well as an interface upgrade. Of course a new achievement has also been added, which is titled "Brass Balls". To complete this acheivement you have to beat the game on the "hard" difficulty without dying once. All of this content is also free, so there's no reason to head on over to the Xbox Live Marketplace right now.
More Rock Band Content
Rock Band content is melting our faces at a rapid pace, and there's some new stuff available right now. A Black Sabbath pack is now available for 440 Microsoft points or the songs can be purchased seperately for 160 Microsoft points. The songs available, cover songs mind you, are "N.I.B.," "Sweet Leaf," and "War Pigs." Dems some good tracks.
Try To Get a Wii For Christmas
If you still haven't gotten your hands on a Wii, there's now a very small, if not impossible, chance for you to get one. Circuitcity.com is giving away a Wii daily from now until Dec. 22. as long as you provide them with your email address and don't mind getting a few spam emails every once in a while. Who knows, you might actually win. Everyone has to win sometime in there life.
December 4, 2007
Permanently Reduced Prices on XBLA
In addition to the Xbox Live fall Dashboard update going live today, five games will also be permanently reduced in price on Xbox Live Arcade. Check them out.
- Bankshot Billiards - 800 Microsoft Points
- Lumines Live! - 800 Microsoft Points
- Marble Blast Ultra - 400 Microsoft Points
- Small Arms - 400 Microsoft Points
- Zuma Deluxe - 400 Microsoft Points
Servers Shutting Down: Resident Evil: Outbreak and Monster Hunter
It's always sucks to see online no longer being supported for your favorite games. Anyway, two Playstation 2 titles will be getting this sad treatment. Both Monster Hunter and Resident Evil: Outbreak will no longer support online play because the external company that hosts their servers are completely leaving the PS2 online service. I don't think there are too many people will suffer from this though, considering how old those games are now. Monster Hunter was awesome!
PAIN To Show In-Game Ads
If you've played PAIN at all, you've likely noticed that there are billboards placed throughout the game. Sony is going to utilize the billboards to their full potential too. Sony will be charging advertisers various rates based on how much traffic the game gets to place their ads on the billboards, which can be changed at any time. This means that if at 5pm at night for example, PAIN received the most amount of traffic, rates would be higher. This is something like www.GetmoGames.com. Just kidding...I couldn't even afford that.
So far, all of the ads are fake or Sony related but as advertisers buy into the program this will change, as will up to 20 other games that will be released before the end of the year. The cost right now is $30 CPM (cost per thousand). Not too bad, I suppose. I have no idea how many people are playing PAIN right now though, so that number could probably shoot right up into "unaffordable" quickly.
GameTap Losing Lots o' Games
Beginning December 11th, the GameTap service will be losing quite a few games. This is due in part to that fact that contracts with Electronic Arts, Interplay, Atari and other publishers will be ending. There will be somewhere around 70 titles being removed. You can check out the list here. Some of the more notable ones I noticed were Earthworm Jim, Sid Meier's Gettysburg!, the Sim series and the Ultima series.
Independant Games Festival Finalist Revealed
The 2008 Independant Games Festival is sure to be exciting with the finalists that have been picked this time around. The festival is set to take place at the Game Developers Conference in February in San Francisco. There is a lot of good competition. The top five games competing for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize are;
- Audiosurf
- Crayon Physics Deluxe
- Hammerfall
- Noitu Love 2: Devolution
- World of Goo
Check out the IGF website for descriptions and photos of the games.
Virtual Console Update
Three more classics this week. The only game I know is Eternal Champions, which I remember was a really cool game when I was in elementary school. One of the first fighting games to include fatalities too. The other two games, ZANAC and The Dynastic Hero, sound like a lot of fun too, although I've never played them. Check out the official press release below.
WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ADDED TO WII SHOP CHANNEL
Dec. 3, 2007
Sometimes the Wii-kly Updates have a nice, unifying theme. Sometimes they don't. This week we scoured the recesses of the classic games vault to come up with some interesting, if unrelated, gems. You can fight mechanized forces, battle with a bunch of fighters in the afterlife or play the role of a heroic regal bug. Like we said: Sometimes they don't.
Three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the Wii Shop Channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week's new games are:
ZANAC (NES, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): ZANAC is a vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up game that was released in November 1986. Take control of the state-of-the-art fighter, ZANAC, with the objective of destroying the bases of the mechanized enemy forces. Use your full array of regular weapons as well as eight special weapons to clear the 12 intense areas of the game. Be careful, though, as the game changes the degree of difficulty in real time based on how well you play. This ensures that it feels like you're experiencing a new game every time you play.
Eternal Champions (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, rated T for Teen - Animated Blood, Animated Violence, 800 Wii Points): This 2-D fighting game introduces a cast of different characters that met untimely deaths in their lives on Earth. Now they have been given a chance to compete against each other, with the winner taking on the Eternal Champion, the ultimate fighter in the universe. The reward for defeating the Eternal Champion is a return to Earth for the opportunity to avenge death and restore balance to the universe. Choose from nine unique characters with a variety of fighting styles, and bring your best moves to defeat all comers in your quest to topple the Eternal Champion.
The Dynastic Hero (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, rated E for Everyone - Comic Mischief, 800 Wii Points): The Dynastic Hero is an action RPG featuring a cast of insect characters. The story begins with the invasion of their peaceful homeland of Tarron by the evil Drilkor Empire. Rushing to the insects' aid is Dyna, the prince of Beetras. Take control of Dyna as he battles through action-filled stages. Equip weapons and items to vanquish the relentless foes, and acquire special items that enable you to brave the journey across the perilous desert or open sea. But it's not just all action. Correctly answer multiple-choice quizzes, and play the ocarina to find the right melody to open doors. Plus, there are countless traps and other puzzles packed into this fun game to keep you entertained and ensure you continue coming back for more.
December 3, 2007
PAIN Downloadables
There are some new characters ready for you to beat up in PAIN on the Playstation Store. You can pick up Santa or Cookie, his helper for $0.99 each. FUN!
Wii Fit Launched In Japan
Over the weekend, Wii Fit launched in Japan for 8800 yen, which is about $80 US dollars. Very exciting news because that just means that the game will be coming here soon enough, sometime in 2008. I can't wait to start losing some of the weight that I've gained laying around playing games over the years.
Gamespot Editor Controversy; Kotaku Redesign
If you haven't heard yet, there is a controversy about a Gamespot editor, Jeff Gerstmann, being fired over a review of Eidos' game Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. In a video review, he didn't have many good things to say about the game and gave it a 6.0 score. This allegedly peeved off Eidos, who was paying lots of dough for Kane & Lynch advertising on Gamespot's website and may have pressured Gamespot to fire the reviewer. People everwhere are pissed off and are boycotting Gamespot as well as canceling paid memberships and so forth. One of the funnier things to come out of this though, is a website that Kotaku purchased, cashwh0re.com. Check the new design out and watch the review below.
Broken Rock Band Guitar = Free Game
If you've returned a broken guitar controller to EA for a replacement, there some good news for you. EA has been sending out emails apologizing for the the long delays and is promising a free EA game to make amends. Here is what the email reportedly says;
Greetings Rocker,
Congratulations on your purchase of Rock Band!
After reviewing our records, we see that your recent request for a replacement guitar has been subject to an unacceptably long delay due to a late shipment from our manufacturer.
By the time you receive this, your replacement guitar should be on its way to you. However, the Rock Band team is committed to providing a world-class customer experience and we do not believe we have met this commitment in connection with your request. As a token of our appreciation for your patience and understanding, we will be offering you a FREE EA game. Details will follow shortly.
We are sorry if your first experience with Rock Band has not met your expectations. We hope our gift will show you how committed we are to your satisfaction.
Thank you,
The Rock Band Team
Activision and Vivendi Merge
In wild and wacky news, Vivendi Games, owner of Blizzard Entertainment has announced that they will be merging it's assets and studios with Activision. Activision Blizzard will be the new name once the $18.9 billion merger is complete. Vivendi will hold approximately 52% stake of Activion Blizzard and Vivendi representatives will hold the majority of the company's board of directors.
Blizzard is know for many hit PC titles, most notably the MMORPG, World of Warcraft as well as Diablo and StarCraft 2. Activision is known for many popular games such as Tony Hawk, Call of Duty, and of course, Guitar Hero. This merger should lead to some very interesting projects.