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Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice (PS3) Released

Shiva Stella — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:20:00 -0500

Loyal Nippon Ichi fans rejoice: Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice has released for the PlayStation 3 and carries a cozy retail price of $49.99.

The game marks the popular RPG franchise's next-generation debut and releases just before Disgaea DS, an updated port of the PlayStation original, which is scheduled to ship early next month.

Hit the link to visit the game's official site, or drop by Disgaea HQ for more information on other titles in the series.

EA Releases New Madden 09 Cover

Zach Lott — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:58:59 -0500

If you're upset that your new copy of Madden 09 doesn't depict Brett Favre in all his glory as a New York Jet now that Green Bay has freed themselves of him, then don't worry - EA's got your back. Over at their website you can download and print a cover with Favre as a Jet, but only if you bought the 360, PS3, PS2, or PSP versions of the game.

EA's also offering an automatic download for the 360, original Xbox, PS3, PS2, and Wii versions that will put Favre at the starting QB position for the Jets. They also noted that those playing offline can use the Franchise Mode to place Favre in the free agent pool and then sign him to any NFL team you want.

GB Review: Battlefield: Bad Company (PS3)

Brian Mohr — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:07:13 -0500

Battlefield: Bad Company may not completely revamp the war game experience, but it does modify it enough to keep you interested throughout both on and offline. The biggest new feature clearly is the ability to blow buildings apart -- and visuals are spectacular, but the game features more than just that. For once, it features an entertaining single-player experience with a meaningful storyline. Of course, it brings a quality online experience as well to keep you playing for some time.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

War games are so common today that in order to stand out from the crowd, the game really has to do something different. Battlefield: Bad Company may not revolutionize the genre by any means, but it does add some nice improvements to the next-generation experience to make it fun and interesting.

Easily the biggest new improvement to the series is the impressive visuals. Worth noting is that it is in first-person. Running through the levels, your player shakes and vibrates. The visuals of guns and various weapons on screen are very realistic.

Those are all well and good, but what really catches your eye the most is the incredible detail of the environments with fires, special effects and more. Even more notable than that are the destructible environments, explosions look incredibly real with chunks of rubble exploding around you. Hiding in a building is far from safe anymore, and can be a bit nerve-racking, as a tank can blow the roof off, literally.

The game features more than just visuals though. The sound is very good with impressive war sounds, the guns are very realistic and explosions are incredible too. The musical score works with the various environments and moods and the single-player experience actually has some good dialogue with character.

Did I do that?

Speaking of the single-player experience, it puts you in the role of the new player in Bad Company. A group of problem soldiers who take on the worst of assignments in order to score money in the form of gold bars. Although youre not able to command your teammates, the action is exciting and the missions are interesting. The game features a number of weapons to play with as well as explosives and health injectors to gain life. There are side goals as well as numerous vehicles including helicopters, boats, trucks and more in the seven-level offline campaign.

As for the control scheme, its very user friendly with the use of the triggers and sticks. If youve played a first-person shooter before it will take little time to adjust. The only difficulty was flying helicopters, which takes some getting used to.

Not to be forgotten from any Battlefield experience is the online component which is once again solid. It features up to 24 players per map, all vehicles in the single-player mode including tanks, jeeps, boats, helicopters and hummers, a variety of weapons including turrets, cannons and rockets on the field as well as five arm sets to choose from, each group features unlockable bonuses too. While the conquest mode that Battlefield is known for isnt featured yet, the online option is solid nonetheless.

Valve Interested In Acquisition

Zach Lott — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:31:13 -0500

Are you a developer-chomping publisher interested in acquiring even more companies? Well, you might want to call Valve, as Doug Lombardi, their VP, mentioned in an interview with Gamasutra that Valve would be "happy to have that conversation" with interested parties even though they are content with being independent.

Valve already has a relationship with EA, who is currently the publisher for Left 4 Dead, and Lombardi said that things are still good between the two companies, which could potentially hamper talks with another publisher.

Valve's acquisition would be huge for any publisher, as Valve's Steam service is currently a mammoth in the PC arena since it's a huge source for digital distribution and online gaming. It'll be interesting to see how how things work out if someone acquires Valve.

Left 4 Dead Headed To PS3?

Zach Lott — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:11:01 -0500

If you're bummed that Left 4 Dead hasn't been announced for the PS3, here's an interesting bit for you: Joystiq is reporting that the Official Playstation Magazine's latest issue claims that the game is hitting the PS3 but will be developed by EA instead of Turtle Rock Studios. However, the mag doesn't disclose its source for the information, so you might not want to get too excited until an official confirmation is made.

If true, EA will be under pressure to deliver a strong port, as their PS3 port of the Orange Box angered many PS3 owners because of its numerous bugs, framerate issues, and other technical mishaps. Let's hope that this one turns out better.

New Sims 3 Screens

Aaron Dunlap — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:23:12 -0500

While they don't tell us much about the game other than that it contains Sims, EA just released these 12 new screenshots from Sims 3.

Launch Gallery: Sims 3

(12 images)

E3 2008: Knights of the Old Republic MMO Confirmed

Zach Lott — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:54:23 -0500

It's been rumored for years, but it looks like a Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic MMO is finally on its way.

The news comes from Joystiq, who reports that Portfolio.com has published an excerpt from their interview with EA CEO John Riccitiello, who says that one of EA's two MMOs in development is "in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare," sparking excitement that the game could be a KOTOR MMO as Bioware was behind the first KOTOR game.

Joystiq then contacted N. Evan Van Zelfden, who wrote the report, who confirmed to them that the game in question is indeed an online KOTOR. Sounds good!

E3 2008: Animal Crossing: City Fok, Wii Speak Screenshots

Shiva Stella — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:00:11 -0500

Nintendo has unveiled new screenshots of Animal Crossing: City Folk on the Wii, including two shots of the new Wii Speak accessory.

Launch Gallery: Animal Crossing City Folk

(14 images)

E3 2008: Left 4 Dead Screenshots

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:27:29 -0500

EA has released these new screenshots from Valve's upcoming co-op survival horror shooter, Left 4 Dead, coming to the Xbox 360 and PC.

Launch Gallery: Left 4 Dead E3 2008

(9 images)

E3 2008: Dead Space Screenshots

Tim Grube — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:20:03 -0500

Launch Gallery: Dead Space

(4 images)

E3 2008: Crysis Warhead Screenshots

Tim Grube — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:11:21 -0500

Launch Gallery: Crysis Warhead

(5 images)

E3 2008: 5 New Gears of War 2 Screenshots

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:45:26 -0500

Launch Gallery: Gears of War 2 E308

(5 images)

E3 2008: Star Ocean: The Last Hope Trailer

Solomon Lee — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:35:19 -0500

The trailer has been unveiled for Star Ocean: The Last Hope, one of three highly anticipated Square RPGs (Infinite Undiscovery, The Last Remnant) for the Xbox 360. Check out the video below.

E3 2008: Unreal Tournament 3 Trailer

Tim Grube — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:13:39 -0500

Unreal Tournament 3 for the Xbox 360 just recently came out, but Midway wanted to show off a new trailer just for E3. Check it out below.

E3 2008: Gears 2 November 7 Release Date Confirmed

Aaron Dunlap — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:00:38 -0500

Today at the Microsoft E3 2008 Press Conference it was confirmed that Gears of War 2 will release on the Xbox 360 November 7th, 2008.

Launch Gallery: Gears of War 2

(10 images)

Hey, We've Got A Gallery System..

Aaron Dunlap — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:05:13 -0500

See that new-looking thing below this paragraph? I hope you do, because it would mean that the gallery system I just built (from scratch, because I'm like that) is working.

Launch Gallery: Gears of War 2

(10 images)

Lucky that I should get it done now, at 3am the morning E3 begins and the floodgates of screenshots and media kits are opened. Like everything else on this site, it's still a work in progress, so any feedback can be left in the comments of this story.

Right now it makes nearly exclusive use of JavaScript, which isn't very friendly to most mobile browsers and people who think any type of HTML newer than baggy pants will explode their computers. A flat, static, boring alternative will be available eventually.

Launch Gallery: Strong Bad's Cool Game

(12 images)

E3 2008: Electronic Arts E3 Lineup

Zach Lott — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:20:34 -0500

Evil Avatar has received word of what EA is planning to show off at their E3 press conference on Monday, and the list of what to expect is quite monstrous.

From John Riccitiello, CEO of EA:

"EAs 2008 lineup is our best ever. This is the year that our core franchises leap forward with stunning innovation and we introduce more brand new games than any other year in our history.... EA has never offered consumers a stronger, more innovative and diverse line up of new games."

Check the full list of games after the jump.

Dead Space
FaceBreaker
HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT
LITTLEST PET SHOP
Madden NFL 09
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
Mirrors Edge
iPhone/iPod Touch Games from EA Mobile

SCRABBLE
Sudoku
TetrisSpore Origins

iPod Games from EA Mobile

Monopoly
Scrabble
Yahtzee!

Mobile Phone Games from EA Mobile

Spore Origins
Wolfenstein RPG
Tetris® POP

The Sims 2 Apartment Pets
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 09
Zubo
MySims
MySims Kingdom
Spore
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
Command & Conquer Red Alert 3
Crysis Warhead
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest
SimCity Creator
NBA LIVE 09
NCAA FOOTBALL 09
Skate It
Rock Band 2 (Will be displayed at MTV Games' booth.)
Left 4 Dead (Will be displayed at Valve's booth.)

E3 2008: Southpeak Games E3 Lineup

Zach Lott — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:43:47 -0500

SouthPeak Games has also revealed what to expect from their E3 booth:

Big Bang Mini
Brave: A Warrior's Tale
Brave: Shaman's Challenge
Igor The Game
Monster Madness: Grave Danger
Ninjatown
Raven Squad
X-Blades

They'll be set up at booth #426.

Double Fusion Provides PS3 In-Game Advertising

Tim Grube — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:13:40 -0500

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced a partnership with Double Fusion to deliver dynamic in-game advertising on the PlayStation 3 console.

Double Fusion will leverage its expertise, technology and sales force, working with publishers and advertisers to create effective marketing programs for brands targeting PS3's coveted gamer demographic.

The worldwide in-game advertising industry is expected to grow 1,150 percent to $971.3 million between 2006 and 2011 according to the Yankee Group.

"PS3 is open for the ad business," said Phil Rosenberg, Senior Vice President, SCEA. "We are very excited about hosting contextually relevant and well-crafted creative advertising on PS3. PlayStation is taking a major role in enabling this fast-developing sector that is both positive and inevitable for the games medium."

"We have already received tremendous support from publishers who want to incorporate ads into their PS3 games, across all of the regions of the world," Jonathan Epstein, president and CEO, Double Fusion, said. "We are very excited to work with SCE on this and PS3 will add a vast number of players to our already robust network. SCE's participation strengthens the in-game advertising ecosystem."

Advertisers interested in opportunities within the Double Fusion Network; and developers and publishers interested in increasing their per-title revenues through integrated and dynamic ad placement opportunities should visit http://www.AdvertisingInPlay.com

The Heavy Up Next For Team Fortress 2 Update

Zach Lott — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:37:06 -0500

With the updates to the Medic and Pyro classes now done, it looks like Valve isn't wasting any time in continuing their renovations of Team Fortress 2's classes, as they've posted on the official TF2 blog that the Heavy is next in line.

The blog post reveals details about how Valve is approaching the Heavy update, with their main goal being to make the class "more viable when he has no Medic to pair with." Their design plan displays a desire to balance the augmented Heavy with the other classes while still making him more fun to play.

Hit up the link to read more about Valve's design process.

New Gears of War 2 Imagery

Solomon Lee — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:56:19 -0500

Microsoft has published new screens for the highly anticipated Gears of War 2. The game features an enhanced multiplayer mode and a chainsaw duelling mini-game. Gears of War 2 is set for a November release for Xbox 360.

Hit the link to view more images.

Left 4 Dead Coming On November 4

Zach Lott — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:58:09 -0500

After enduring numerous delays, Left 4 Dead, the survival-horror FPS from Valve's Turtle Rock Studios, is finally coming on November 4, according to Big Download.

Left 4 Dead is built around four-player co-op in which gamers fight off hordes of zombies throughout several scenarios while also having the chance to play as zombie bosses. The game also features an A.I. "director" that changes the spawn points for enemy zombies with each play-through and controls the flow of the action.

You'll be able to pick it up on the Xbox 360 and PC.

Valve Launches Team Fortress 2 Blog

Zach Lott — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:09:32 -0500

Whether it be through free game weekends, comical trailers introducing each player class, or the constant stream of new maps, weapons, and achievements, Valve has done an absolutely fantastic job of supporting Team Fortress 2 months after its release. Now it looks like they're ready to start speaking directly to the player base, as they've launched an official TF2 blog.

While there isn't much there at the moment, the introductory post promises that Valve will provide a "variety of interesting things to read," including gameplay details and unreleased concept art. Another post includes information on the designing and implementation of the Pyro's recently added flare gun. Be sure to check it out and be on the look out for future updates.

Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm Boxart, Sails Into Stores

Tim Grube — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:14:13 -0500

They do say it's one of the dangerous jobs in the world because every season at least one person dies to the horrible environment they get placed in trying to obtain these delicious crabs. So with that "insider tip" of the day, we just received word that Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm has shipped to stores nationwide for the Xbox 360.

Features:

Career Mode (Extremely realistic and challenging simulation for gamers and Deadliest Catch fans
Missions (Includes United States Coast Guard missions, ice flow navigation)
Mini-Games (Allows casual gamers to enjoy fun crab boat challenges, including crab boat races and skiff races)
Five Authentic Crab Boats (including Northwestern and Cornelia Marie)
Customize Your Own Boat
20 Real Fishermen (including Edgar and Norman Hansen, Josh and Jake Harris)
Five Authentic Captains (including Captains Sig Hansen, Phil Harris and Larry Hendricks)
4,500 lines of recorded character dialogue
1st Time United States Coast Guard in Video Game
Captain the 370ft. USCG Cutter Mellon
Throw-the-Hook Mini-Game
Skiff Racing Mini-Game
34,000 Miles Actual Coastline
Four real Bering Sea harbors (Akutan, Dutch Harbor, King Cove and St. Paul)
Virtual tour of the Northwestern crab boat
100 exclusive crew videos
Xbox Live multiplayer for up to eight players

The game is rated T and is $59.99 on Xbox 360 and $39.99 for PC. The PC version is expected soon. Hit the jump for the box art.

Team Fortress 2 Sniper Video

Tim Grube — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:40:00 -0500

The achievements details for the Sniper class will debut tomorrow, June 18. But for now, Valve released a trailer teasing you for the next 24 hours! Peep it below!

Gears of War Movie In Full Effect

Tim Grube — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:34:49 -0500

It's about time all of these rumors get laid to rest. Len Wiseman, the director behind Die Hard 4 and Underworld will now take on the role of directing Gears of War based upon the popular videogame for Xbox 360.

According to Variety, Chris Morgan will be assisting Wiseman on creating the script. Previously, Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean) first wrote the original script. But we are told that this script will be discarded.

Cliffy B, or should we say, Cliff Bleszinski, will have much involvement in the movie. He is said to be the executive producer on the movie. Movie distributor, New Line, is trying to push out the film in late 2009. Expect more details as it is uncovered.

Len Wiseman

Rumor: Original Metal Gear Solid To Hit XBLA

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:51:43 -0500

In news unrelated to the E3 leak, Wired's Game|Life blog has heard a rumor that the original Metal Gear Solid was recently spotted on Microsoft's developer-only PartnerNet service, which is used to test upcoming Xbox Live games. If true, this rumor means the game will likely be released on XBLA sometime in the near future.

However, members of the NeoGAF forums quickly pointed out that the huge amount of audio in the game would make it nearly impossible to shrink the game down to the 350 megabyte limit on the size of XBLA games, meaning that Microsoft may once again increase the allowed file size to accommodate the game provided that the rumor is true.

E3 Leak: New Details About Forza 3 Emerge

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:28:07 -0500

Here's some encouraging news for you racing fans out there: Forza 3 is on its way, according to the leak responsible for much of today's news.

1up is reporting that the leaked information states that the game is gigantic - so big, in fact, that it will be spread across two discs. It is expected to have 400 cars and 100 tracks at the very least, certainly making this the largest racing game ever released.

1up also posted a large quote from Intellisponse's website that presents possible scenarios for the game. Hit the jump to check it out.

"Assume that new cars and tracks would be released on Xbox Live shortly after the launch of Forza 3 and continuing on each month. For example, every month you might see new pack of 10 cars for $4.00 and every three months, a real-world race track for $4.99

"Assume that a few months after Forza 3 was released, a large expansion pack was released with new cars and tracks. You would have the option of either purchasing this expansion pack through Xbox Live or in a retail store. For example, 30 new cars and a new real-world track could be available for $19.99

"Imagine that a year after Forza 3 was released, a new update [sic] version of the game became available (for example, Forza 3 2010) that not only included all cars and tracks previously released over the past year, but also 30 of the coolest new 2010 cars and a new unreleased real-world track. It would further include the top 20 user-generated car skins and car tuning setup from the fastest track cars. In addition, all professional race cars would revised [sic] with their new 2010 liveries (paint schemes). The price of this updated 2010 version of Forza 3 would be $39.99.

"Suppose when Forza 3 launches, a special VIP membership program was available that would entitle the buyer to all future Forza 3 downloadable content, access to exclusive online race events and prizes, VIP status on Forza auction house and Community boards, extra server space for photos and videos, and a free month of Live. This VIP membership would be available for $19.99.

"Image [sic] that an exclusive Forza 3 limited Collector?s Edition was released that included the full version of the game plus membership in a special VIP program that would entitle the buyer to all the future Forza 3 downloadable content, access to exclusive online race events and prizes, VIP status on Forza auction house and community boards, extra server space for photos and videos, and a free month of Live. The Collector?s Edition would also include exclusive Motorsports content not found anywhere else. This could be anything from authentic racing gear (gloves, helments, etc) to specially created automobile manufacture gear (branded jackets, etc) to VIP Motorsport event tickets."

E3 Leak: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 Information

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:09:44 -0500

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 has long been expected, but it looks like the game may soon be officially on the way, as the leak has revealed details about the game.

The information promises over 20 playable characters, including "the Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Venom and the Human Torch." A new gameplay mechanic will allow players to fuse the abilities of two characters together for more powerful attacks. Another interesting tidbit is the fact that the game will be set during the "Civil War" story arc of the comics. Players will be able to pick which side they want to support. Finally, the game will be available for the 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PSP, and DS.

E3 Leak: Guitar Hero World Tour's New Controller and Price

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:43:04 -0500

Next up in the mess that is the E3 Leak, new information for Guitar Hero World Tour emerged from NeoGAF, revealing details about the new controller, the price, and a preview of what to expect from the setlist.

The guitar will have a new "touch-sensitive guitar neck slide" that "opens up the entire guitar neck for unbound solos." This comes after Activision had said the guitar would be upgraded without spilling any specific details.

As for the setlist, the information promises that players will be able to rock out to Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, System of a Down, Ozzy Osbourne, Interpol, Muse, and others, but it's unknown what specific songs will be available.

Finally, the package of game, guitar, drums, and mike is expected to cost $179.99.

E3 Leak: Microsoft to Announce Their Alternative to Miis?

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:26:07 -0500

First up in the series of posts regarding the Intellisponse leak is news that Microsoft may be planning to finally announce a long-awaited alternative to Nintendo's Miis: "Xbox Avatars."

Joystiq is reporting that "Avatars" were mentioned in a Microsoft survey and may take the place of gamer pictures, giving Live users "an animated, customizable online persona." Intellisponse's website stated that they will be available at holiday time for those connected to Xbox Live and during the spring for everyone else. This, coupled with information from Joystiq's "trusted source" that the 360's fall update would consist of a service that sounds much like "Xbox Avatars," gives a certain credence to this rumor.

As always, we'll keep you updated.

Potential E3 2008 Announcements Leak Due To Security Hole

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:09:47 -0500

Marketing and research company Intellisponse must be kicking themselves right about now, as yesterday it was discovered by various gaming websites that a security hole in the company's password-protected website allowed members of the popular gaming forum NeoGAF to uncover numerous announcements that may have been planned for E3 2008.

Kotaku received word from Intellisponse that the information is pure speculation, so be aware that the upcoming news posts regarding what was leaked may be about concepts and they may not actually exist.

Rumor: Team Ninja To Lose Dozens of Members

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:34:43 -0500

It looks like Tomonobu Itagaki won't be the only one to leave publisher Tecmo, as 1up has discovered that dozens of Team Ninja members may be planning to follow his lead and will jump ship and sue the company for unpaid bonuses.

The news comes after Tecmo issued a statement saying that the team is "intact" and "has several new projects already underway," leading many to believe that Team Ninja may soon be in dire trouble. Even if they hire new developers to work on future entries in the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive franchises, they will run the risk of releasing products that aren't true to their predecessors.

1up also made note that Japanese law requires publicly-traded companies to report lawsuits filed against them to shareholders on the same day as the filing, which could cause huge problems for Tecmo, as they waited for weeks after the filing of Itagaki's lawsuit to reveal the information to their shareholders.

We'll have more information once it becomes available.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Hits Store Shelves

Zach Lott — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:08:10 -0500

The wait for Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is finally over, as Konami announced today that the game has shipped to retailers across the nation.

"Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots not only represents the height of the stealth-action genre, but it also defines what it is to be a next-generation game by setting new standards in gameplay, storytelling and graphics," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "We are incredibly excited for fans and gamers alike to reunite with all their favorite characters from the Metal Gear Solid saga while experiencing a game unlike anything they have seen before. We truly believe Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots symbolizes a milestone for videogames, and will be remembered for years to come."

The game was developed by Kojima Productions, the team run by legendary game designer Hideo Kojima, and is retailing for $59.99. A special edition is available at GameStop for $84.99 while a MGS4 PS3 bundle can be purchased for $599.99 at Konami.com.

Spore System Specifications Released

Tim Grube — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:01:37 -0500

Electronic Arts today released the system requirements for the upcoming title, Spore. Look for it in stores on September 11.

WINDOWS XP

2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
512 MB RAM
A 128 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 2.0
At least 6 GB of hard drive space

WINDOWS VISTA

2.0 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
768 MB RAM
A 128 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 2.0
At least 6 GB of hard drive space

Hit the jump for more specs.

For computers using built-in graphics chipsets, the game requires at least:

Intel Integrated Chipset, 945GM or above.
2.6 GHz Pentium D CPU, or 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo, or equivalent.
768 MB RAM

Supported Video Cards

ATI Radeon series
- 9500, 9600, 9800
- X300, X600, X700, X800, X850
- X1300, X1600, X1800, X1900, X1950
- 2400, 2600, 2900,
- 3650, 3850
NVIDIA GeForce series
- FX 5900, FX 5950
- 6200, 6500, 6600, 6800,
- 7200, 7300, 7600, 7800, 7900, 7950
- 8400, 8500, 8600, 8800
Intel Extreme Graphics
- GMA 950, GMA X3000, GMA X3100

Metal Gear Solid 4 Receives Perfect Score From Famitsu

Zach Lott — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:08:35 -0500

It's not often that Japanese gaming mag Famitsu awards a game a perfect score of 40/40, but Kotaku has discovered via a Japanese blog that Metal Gear Solid 4 has become only the eighth game to ever earn this distinction. Gamers who have been worried about whether or not the game stands up to its predecessors will no doubt be pleased to hear this news.

Interestingly enough, 2008 marks the first time that Famitsu has ever awarded two perfect scores in the same year, the other time this year being for Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Hit the link to see a scan of the review.

Gears of War To Be Re-Released

Zach Lott — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:40:00 -0500

Microsoft has made the announcement over at the Gamerscore Blog that they will release a deluxe edition of Gears of War on June 24. This version of the game will retail for $39.99 and will contain a second disc packed with content like map packs in addition to trailers for the game's upcoming sequel.

Hit the jump for a full list of content and additional details.

Disc One

Gears of War (game disc)

Disc Two

Gears of War - Map Packs 1 & 2
Gears of War - Theme - 'Emergence Day'
Gears of War - Gamer Pics - 'Gears of War,' 'Emergence Day'
Gears of War 2 - Trailers - 'Duel,' 'Assault'
Gears of War 2 - Theme - 'Bare Your Teeth'
Gears of War 2 - Gamer Pics - 'Crimson Omen'

Microsoft also announced that this version will include the Annex mode as well as 250 new achievement points. The PC-exclusive content will not be present on the disc.

Pitfall: The Big Adventure Coming For The Wii

Zach Lott — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:49:16 -0500

Reviving classic franchises may be the hip thing to do these days, as publishers have brought back everything from Super Dodge Ball to Bionic Commando, but Activision has spent years trying to create a successful sequel to one of old-school gaming's most revered titles: Pitfall. The results haven't been pretty, but don't fret - it seems that they're ready to give it another shot, as today they announced that Pitfall: The Big Adventure is coming to the Wii.

Edge of Reality, who has had previous experience working on the franchise, will handle development for the game, which boasts over 60 levels set in the caves, mountains, and rainforests found in the Peruvian jungle.

Activision and Edge of Reality are both excited at the prospect of utilizing the Wii remote to recreate Pitfall's classic vine-swinging gameplay, saying that the Wii "is a natural and perfect fit" for the franchise.

With the results of previous Pitfall sequels being somewhat lackluster, the question arises of whether or not Edge of Reality can finally bring this franchise a game worthy of being called Pitfall. We'll find out when the game hits this fall.

The Sims Tops 100 Million Units Sold

Zach Lott — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:24:05 -0500

Will Wright's army of simulation games has changed the face of PC gaming over the years, but few games have had the impact of The Sims, which he unleashed back in 2000. Being the top-selling PC franchise of all time and having amazing longevity (The Sims 2 and its expansions are consistently at the top of PC software charts every year), it has now passed another milestone, as EA announced yesterday that the game has sold over 100 million units.

Rod Humble, Head of Studio for the Sims Label, had this to say:

"At this milestone, we want to thank players of The Sims everywhere for making The Sims such a worldwide phenomenon. The Sims has been an interactive experience for people around the globe to explore their passion for creativity and we're thrilled to be a part of that. From building houses and relationships, from first kisses to a toddler's first step, from kitchen fires - and even visits from ghosts, players have told more than 100 million unique and fun stories!"

A sea of expansions and a plethora of user-generated downloadable content have kept the franchise going strong over the years, and with The Sims 3 on the way it's obvious that EA isn't done, as there will surely be more units sold and more items downloaded for years to come.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate, head over TheSims2.com, where you can download an exclusive outfit in which your Sims can dance the night away.

Nintendo Denies Mario Kart Disc Error Allegations

Zach Lott — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:04:50 -0500

Rumors stating that Mario Kart Wii suffers from the same disc-reading errors as Super Smash Bros. Brawl have been denied by Nintendo, who told Eurogamer that they haven't heard anything about the problem.

Nintendo also told Eurogamer that the same rumors' claims that Mario Kart Wii is on a dual-layered disc are also false, as the game is on a single-layered disc.

Sonic Unleashed Announced

Solomon Lee — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:37:43 -0500

Amidst the circulating rumors, Sega has announced that Sonic Unleashed is in development for the PS2, Wii, Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. The title will utilize a unique "Hedgehog Engine" and is set for release later this year.

"By combining rich and vibrant scenery with dynamic viewpoints Sonic Unleashed will provide an immersive 3D experience whilst keeping alive the 2D gameplay elements and fantastic worlds that Sonic fans know and love" says Gary Knight, European Marketing Director for Sega Europe.

Hit the jump to view more images.

Konami Ships Off a Bevy of New Games, MGS Collection Included

Shiva Stella — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:36:40 -0500

Konami confirmed this morning that the company has shipped three new games nationwide, headlined by Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection for the PlayStation 2.

The collection retails for $29.99 and includes the original PlayStation's Metal Gear Solid (as a PS2 disc), MGS2, and MGS3 with package artwork by series artist Yoji Shinkawa. You can view order details here if you're interested.

Following The Essential Collection comes Diary Girl for the Nintendo DS--the game functions as a PDA-lite and "provides girls of all ages the ability to interact with friends through their own customizable avatars, as well as organize a calendar and address book in their own password-protected electronic journal." Sounds spiffy.

And remember, ladies: it's not a game, it's a "lifestyle accessory". I'm going to keep that in mind any time I buy anything. Diary Girl retails for the standard $29.99.

And finally, add Lost in Blue 3 for the Nintendo DS to the list.

In Lost in Blue 3, players guide one of two stranded characters, each with their own personal history, through exotic locales on a mysterious island while surviving the elements to stay alive. Players can work alone or cooperatively with other characters to gather food, explore the island and hunt dangerous wildlife. Completing one character's storyline will unlock the storylines of two additional characters, allowing players to explore the island in different ways, experience new storylines, and uncover different endings.

Lost in Blue 3 also retails for $29.99.

Konami Confirms Pre-order Bonus for MGS4

Shiva Stella — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:49:45 -0600

For those of us who already own a PlayStation 3 but would still like a nifty Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots bonus, Konami is launching a pre-sell program in April that'll include a Metal Gear Saga 2.0 DVD.

The DVD features character biographies, trailers, a 20th Anniversary special, and a code for accessing the Metal Gear Online beta test.

The game includes the Metal Gear Online "starter pack" that allows for up to 16-player matches and is set to ship on June 12, 2008.

If you don't yet own a PlayStation 3, Konami has also teamed up with Sony for an MGS4 console bundle (MSRP $499) that includes the 80GB unit, a Dualshock 3 controller, and the game.

As an aside, I have no idea what this image means.

Disgaea 3 Announced

Solomon Lee — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:16:27 -0600

NIS America has announced that Disgaea 3 is scheduled for release sometime this summer for the Playstation 3. The company has stated the game "makes a bold new step towards the next generation console with a whole new cast, story and game system."

Those that wish to visit the official site can do so here.

Sony Announces MGS4 PS3 Bundle

Aaron Dunlap — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:02:20 -0600

Good news for the large chunk of humanity that's been waiting for Metal Gear Solid 4 to buy a PlayStation 3. Sony has announced a bundle that will contain an 80GB model, a DualShock 3 controller, and a copy of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. All that for $499.99, or five hundred dollars for people without exact change.

This should be replacing the not-so-popular Motorstorm bundle, and considering the price, game, and DualShock 3 controller (at last), this is actually a pretty decent bargain. Yes, a $500 bargain.

Gears of War 2 Announced

Solomon Lee — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:51:07 -0600

Microsoft and Epic Games has officially announced, in their keynote speech at this year's GDC event, that Gears of War 2 is slated for a November 2008 release for the Xbox 360.

Check out the teaser trailer after the jump.

Wii Review Bonanza, or: Your Wii is Sick - Must be Something you Played

Eric Jonathan Smith — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:25:13 -0600

Kneel. Place hands on either side of the ceramic-like object. Wait. A sudden urge takes you, spewing the remains of a previous ingestion. You glance at what was just created; between the remains of what were once good ideas you see those extra things you tacked on that seemed like a quick fix at the time but ultimately caused their own regurgitation. You lament at the pain you caused yourself, but deep down you can feel that the pain is still there.

So what have you been eating? Or in this case, what have various developers been feeding the ceramic bowl in question, the Wii? Their own regurgitation, that's what - and a little bit of Nintendo's own leftovers for good measure. The Wii is the one that's sick, suffering from delirious spells of minigame collections, shoddy ports, forced motion control schemes, and God knows what else.

A little examination is in order. Five case studies have been prepared, each a different opinion of how Wii software appears. Some of it isn't too pretty but fear not, we might even discover a cure. So lean back, relax, and try not to throw that Wii remote into the tv.

CASE STUDY #1: AUTO MINIGAME SUFFICIENCY SYNDROME

Subject: Namco Museum Remix

PROGNOSIS: Sudden ingestion of too many minigame collections causes repetition, boredom, and possible suicide in large doses.

A certain kind of bug that especially has a tendency to bite the older and wiser is nostalgia. It can be a pretty nasty little sucker, causing previously sane and logical men and women to do foolish things like pine for dated graphics and simpler gameplay styles. As the years have gone by, once bustling arcades have forever shut their doors and the game consoles of yesteryear require a type of mouth-to-cartridge action bordering on fellatio to get the games working.

Namco's Museum series of arcade home conversions are some of the first treatments that should come to mind when considering ubiquitous, readily available classical cures. After all, every system under the sun absolutely needs multiple versions of Pac-Man on it, right? Namco has now made sure that the Wii is no exception and has released Namco Museum Remix, the Museum containing the nostalgic classics and you guessed it the Remix consisting of Wii-specific minigames.

However, it's not a good sign when a classic compilation makes you wax nostalgia for older compilations. That's not to say that Namco Museum Remix has any large, glaring faults: it is by all means a competent product, even if you have to roll around Pac-Man in lieu of a standard menu interface, which can be slightly annoying. But no, as with any other compilation, its success or failure hinges on its selection of games, and Namco Museum Remix drops the ball a bit. Sure, it has standard classics in Xevious, Mappy, Dig Dug, and Pac-Mania (you know, that are available on most of the other collections) but trades in Galaga for its inferior predecessor Galaxian (dear God, why?) In the games that no one ever wanted to play section, there's Cutie-Q (a poor Breakout clone) and Super Pac-Man and Pac & Pal, two rather poor sequels to the original. At least it offers Gaplus (Galagas sequel) as a sort of cruel consolation prize.

If this somewhat mediocre selection of its past was all Namco offered in Museum Remix, this collection would be DOA. Luckily, they put a slight bit of effort in its resuscitation: the titular Wii-specific "remixes" of other classic titles. Unfortunately, they aren't enough to keep this one alive for too long. However, they did get the nostalgic feel down pat! Feel like playing the rollercoaster minigame from Final Fantasy VII? Play Galaga Remix! How about Whack-A-Mole? Then Gator Panic Remix is for you. Granted, Rally X Remix is a rather fair version, as are Pac Motos (a Pac-infused version of the original bumping off the edge game Motos) and Pac 'n Roll. But the problem is that these suffer the same shallow fate as other Wii minigame collections, and in the few minutes that you'll be done with them you're then left with merely the arcade collection.

Diagnosis? The entire weight of Namco Museum Remix will rest on how much you like the classic arcade games included. Considering the selection isn't all that great to begin with, the weight will likely fatigue the classics in a relatively short amount of time.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

She'll eat the monkey.

CASE STUDY #2: PORTROENTERITIS

Subject: The Sims 2: Castaway

PROGNOSIS: Patients suffering from contact to shoddy, careless ports from other systems suffer from: shattered belief in console's viability, fatigue, and indigestion.

One of the oldest epidemics in videogamedom is that of the port. Whether it was arcade to console, PC to console, or vice versa, the word port has connotations of mediocrity and for good reason: many ports are sloppy, rushed, stripped down versions of the original. Even in more modern times, ports retain that sloppy, rushed feel when they stray from the hardware they were built on. Unfortunately, this has been a lazy way for developers to cash on the Wii's success.

One such wave that has plagued nearly every piece of gaming hardware to ever exist, past, present, and future is The Sims. Popular with 15-year-old girls of all ages, The Sims is an omnipresent choice with casual gamers, and logic would successfully conclude that it should end up on the Wii.

The premise is simple: after constructing your Sim on a yacht, something bad happens and he or she washes ashore on a mysterious, deserted island with nary a volleyball around to keep as company. Obviously a tropical island is a terrible place to be lost, so it's up to you to guide your Sim to his/her ultimate goal of getting off the island alive. And to be perfectly honest, the interface in which you'll be accomplishing this works fairly well; with the Wii Remote acting superbly as a pointer in lieu of a mouse, navigating menus isn't all that hard.

Too bad the menus themselves looked like they were ported from a higher resolution without the proper tweaking. The entire game really looks very simple and to be frank, boring. You could choose to stay on the island for as long as you wanted, but when it looks that dull, why would you? Jagged edges are more reminiscent of the graphical hell that was the 32/64-bit era more than a tropical Eden.

But, this is a simulation at heart, and that gameplay still works. The Sim will have to collect resources to survive with the help of monkeys (of course) and eventually should have a decent little living space set up. There are also various goals that you can find scattered across the island that will give you some objectives amidst the rather open-ended (if not mundane) tasks.

Diagnosis? Not as bad as it could have been. Wii Pointer functionality works well amidst the poor resolution and the gameplay experience isn't a complete throwaway. More hardcore gamers, stay away (if the name wouldn't make them do so already).

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

My, Soulcalibur. You look as beautiful as you play.

CASE STUDY #3: MOTION SICKNESS

Subject: Soulcalibur Legends

PROGNOSIS: Prolonged exposure to poorly implemented Wii waggle controls can lead to: madness, frustration, and nausea.

Having new ways to control games means that there will be new ways for developers to screw up their implementation. Even after decades with a pretty standard diagonal pad and any number of supporting buttons, some still couldn't get it right. Poor control is absolutely killer to a game's success and probably the worst blight it could have.

Enter Soulcalibur Legends. A spin-off of Namco's eternal (also, a mere shadow of its former self) fighter, Legends tells the story of Teutonic Knight Siegfried Schtauffen and his dealings with Soul Edge, the evil blade. Yeah, it's a fighting game story. What the hell do you want from me?

Though it may have been built ground-up for Wii, it plays nothing like it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that it was built ground-up to be a cheap cash-in. Siegfried and the other Soulcalibur heroes you command all control by swinging the Wii Remote as you would their weapons. It's a good enough idea in concept. In execution, it's abysmal. Controlling attacks in this manner is ungodly unresponsive and makes you question whether simple button presses would have been better. Considering this is a central gameplay mechanic, this is inexcusable. There is no way that Legends could be an adequate action title due to this flaw alone.

The game is also cringe-worthy in the visual department. In some aspects, especially the environments, it looks like a launch title for the PlayStation 2. That might be forgivable, but the level designs are as monotonous as the enemies you fight. Character models fair a bit better, because they are based around the designs from Soulcalibur II, if not taken wholesale from it. Legends also suffers from the tired design choice of "defeat every monster in the room before you can move on". Please.

I found myself looking more at the menus and the art in the story sequences because, well, they are actually rather decent, and not just in comparison to the game itself. I'd be tempted to say that the menus are the best part of the game. When all is said and done then, the most hardcore of Soulcalibur fanatics will be able to eke something out of this game though I wouldn't go so far as to call it enjoyment. The controls are just too poorly implemented for anyone with more than a merely casual interest in the franchise.

Diagnosis? Highly contagious, and not in the good way. Contagious in that it will creep up on your brain and soul and make you regret every penny and second spent on it. Unless, of course, you're just a hardcore and gullible fighting game fan - those people are crazy.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

Okay, so it's not the sexiest thing on earth. Maybe you can dig it.

CASE STUDY #4: THE MYSTERY BUG

Subject: Smarty Pants

PROGNOSIS: ???

Sometimes even the best doctors can get baffled. True to that, every once in a while a game will come up that makes you question why it was necessary to be in videogame form. Was it really easier to play Monopoly on a TV than on a board (Hint: no)? Much of the experience of such a famous and standard board game rests on handling those gaudy bills and tapping your piece of choice past go. In other words, the actual game could sometimes be boring, but having it physically in front of you kept you from falling asleep.

EA's Smarty Pants dares to go into this territory. It is a trivia game, not unlike the old board game pursuits of old. Each of its cavalcades of questions ranging from pop-culture to history has a multiple choice selection. There are a few different modes, including ones for both single remote and multiple remote setups, suitably nudging itself into party game territory.

So. That's it. That's Smarty Pants in a nutshell. Sure, there's some sort of dancing thing you have to do with the Wii Remote, but we'll not mention that any more for its own sake.

Is there a benefit to having a trivia game on a home videogame console? From my own experience, I'd have to say yes. Smarty Pants is actually fairly well presented, with voiceovers and decent sound effects that make it seem more like a game show than just a trivia game. The group mode, which requires multiple Wii Remotes, each acting like a buzzer, manifests this presentation style. As with anything trivial, in a group setting you'll likely find yourself shouting out the answers, as much as you may regret this in your memory later on. The fact that Smarty Pants is capable of this is something positive in and of itself.

Diagnosis? Smarty Pants is hardly a wonderful title, but it's not necessarily a throwaway. If you really want to play a trivia game on the Wii, it's a decent enough choice. But, uh, you know, you could buy a copy of Trivial Pursuit for less.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

I can't even tell what's bleeding.

CASE STUDY #5: NO MORE TEARS

Subject: No More Heroes

PROGNOSIS: Exposure to games designed for Wii from the ground up may cause: enjoyment, fun, laughter, and world peace.

"Will you do it with me?"

If any of the above games had asked you such a question, I hope by now youd have learned to at the very least understand the risk factors involved; simple precautions will keep your Wii from being subjugated to possible infection.

However, another game asks this favor, a game so dirty yet so clean, some would say downright filthy in content yet nearly spotless in design. "Will you do it with me?" If you're privy enough to hear those words uttered by Travis Touchdown, by all means, accept. Travis is the star of No More Heroes, a game with the distinction of being the near opposite of the Wii flu - it is a coherent, focused, original title using the Wii Remote in a startlingly effective manner.

The premise is straightforward but with spry delivery that never takes itself too seriously. Travis is essentially both a dork and a loser and while drowning his sorrows at a bar he runs into a mysterious woman named Sylvia who promises him he can be the world's top assassin all he has to do is off the rest of the world's top-ranked assassins. Naïve Travis of course accepts the offer, with his prime motivation being to sleep with Sylvia. Your prime motivation to play the game will likely be to see what outrageous and foul-mouthed things will come out of the mouths of Travis and his co-stars.

The game's structure is built around going after each of the 10 assassins. To get to each, Travis must pay Sylvia a fee, which he can earn by doing sidejobs like lawn mowing (seriously) and minor assassination gigs all within the façade of an open-ended environment and setting for the game, Santa Destroy. This environment is one of the game's faults because jobs and assassination gigs must be selected at specific locations before they can start, thus the free-roaming world really serves no other purpose than to add the filler of travel. Still, it is ultimately a minor issue.

How the story and gameplay unfold within each of the 10 main assassination missions is, in a way, underwhelming yet satisfying. Combat may appear simple at first, as pressing A controls Travis's attack, but Wii-specific moves come in the forms of finishers and grabs. If an enemy is near death, an arrow will appear on-screen, prompting you to move the Wii Remote in its direction for a super-violent finisher. Travis cuts his enemies into pieces, with blood and guts as exaggerated as his own persona. Later it is not uncommon to dismember entire groups of enemies at once, causing the entire game to slow down, ludicrous in its fulfillment. Travis also has a number of wrestling moves that are controlled by moving both the Remote and Nunchuk and do add a bit of variety. After every successful finisher, Travis also has a small slot wheel that can serve to make him even more powerful than he already is, providing temporary invincibility and the like.

No More Heroes is by no means a cure for the Wii's blues the game is not perfect. The aforementioned faux open-ended structure along with somewhat repetitive combat (the finishers never get old, however) and the fact that the assassin bosses take from dozens of hits to hundreds to defeat can sometimes sometimes leave a foul taste. But it lasts for but an instant in the presence of the rest of the game as a whole. Its language and bloody style may put some off, but if you're into that sort of thing, your Wii could really deserve the pleasure of doing it with Travis.

Diagnosis? While not a panacea, No More Heroes is certainly the type of original, short term treatment that the Wii needs in larger doses. A must-buy for anyone who needs a good action title for any system.

Click here for an explanation of our review and scoring format.

First Deadly Creatures (Wii) Trailer Live

Shiva Stella — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:12:38 -0600

The first trailer for THQ's Deadly Creatures on the Wii is available tonight and linked below for your viewing pleasure.

The game is being developed by Rainbow Studios, the team behind Motorcross Madness, Cars, and ATV Offroad Fury; for this reason I haven't gotten my hopes up, but I admit that I'm curious... monsters go oh-so-well with destruction.

Spore Release Date Announced: 9/07/2008

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:37:54 -0600

After something like a 42-year development cycle and 100 gameplay presentations from Will Wright, Spore finally has a release date.

Via a very brief teaser video posted on the Spore website, EA has announced a confirmed release date of September 7th, 2008 for the PC, Mac, and Nintendo DS.

"The wait is almost over," Chief Designer Will Wright said in a press release. "We're in our final stages of testing and polish with Spore, and the team at Maxis can't wait to see the cosmos of content created by the community later this year."

The seven months until release gives plenty of time for conservative, religious, and parents groups to get up in arms about the "pro-evolution" content of the game.

Resident Evil 5 Due in 2008... most likely

Shiva Stella — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:07:51 -0600

Here's a little something interesting for Resident Evil fans this morning. According to the latest podcast featuring Chris Kramer, Senior Director of Communication and Community for Capcom (I imagine that he handles the hate mail and forums), over at Major Nelson's place, it's highly possible that Resident Evil 5 will see release this year.

And I quote:

We have a really fantastic year ahead of us... a year that's going to include games like Bionic Commando, Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV is going to be making its arcade debut next week in Japan. We've got a new game that we're working on in the US called Dark Void...

If you'd rather skip the radio-like melodrama you'll find the above comment at the 30.00 mark.