| GameBump | http://www.gamebump.com Video gaming news blog. en-us Copyright 2006-2008 Gaming Horizon Konami Ships Off a Bevy of New Games, MGS Collection Included Shiva Stella http://www.gamebump.com/go/konami_ships_off_a_bevy_of_new_games_mgs_collection_included http://www.gamebump.com/go/konami_ships_off_a_bevy_of_new_games_mgs_collection_included http://www.gamebump.com/go/konami_ships_off_a_bevy_of_new_games_mgs_collection_included# 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.

]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:36:40 -0500 PlayStation 4 Development Farther Along than We Thought? Shiva Stella http://www.gamebump.com/go/playstation_4_development_farther_along_than_we_thought http://www.gamebump.com/go/playstation_4_development_farther_along_than_we_thought http://www.gamebump.com/go/playstation_4_development_farther_along_than_we_thought# Though the dust has yet to settle on this current generation of consoles (all three have only experienced one holiday season together on store shelves), rumors of next-generation development inevitably spring up here or there.

Popular German site, Gamefront, is reporting that Sony (Japan) is currently seeking a software engineer to work on backward compatibility for the PlayStation 3 and an un-named next-generation system (which as far as we know would be the PlayStation 4). The engineer would implement and improve emulation of PS1, PS2, PS3, and PSP (also for PS3) for this next-generation hardware.

If one believes the rumor then PS4 development must be much farther along than seems reasonable, as all three companies have expressed a desire to extend this generation's life-span as long as possible (remember that ten-year mark that Sony set for the PS3?)

One would also have to believe that it'd be a great bonus for the PS4 to feature backwards compatibility all the way back to the original PlayStation, taking advantage of Sony's extensive lineup throughout the years. Of course, it's just as likely that this is a mistranslation blown out of proportion.

The rumor follows a recent Microsoft rumor regarding the Xbox 3.

You can check out an image of the job listing text here.]]> Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:37:45 -0600 David Bowie Rocks You in Rock Band, New DLC Shiva Stella http://www.gamebump.com/go/david_bowie_rocks_you_in_rock_band_new_dlc http://www.gamebump.com/go/david_bowie_rocks_you_in_rock_band_new_dlc http://www.gamebump.com/go/david_bowie_rocks_you_in_rock_band_new_dlc#

Rock Band fans rejoice, as the game has received its David Bowie goodness in the form of another downloadable content update. Gamers can purchase the David Bowie song pack for $5.49 (that's 440 MS points) or shell out a mere $1.99/track (that's 160 MS points). The songs include:

David Bowie Pack
  • “Moonage Daydream” – David Bowie
  • “Heroes” as made famous by David Bowie (cover)
  • “Queen Bitch” as made famous by David Bowie (cover)

As usual, the pack should be available on Xbox Live today (if it's not already) and will launch for the PlayStation Store on Thursday. You can view a full listing of impending songs here.

]]> Tue, 27 Nov 2007 09:06:39 -0600 Now you can Stalk the Friends of your Friends: New Live Feature Shiva Stella http://www.gamebump.com/go/now_you_can_stalk_the_friends_of_your_friends_new_live_feature http://www.gamebump.com/go/now_you_can_stalk_the_friends_of_your_friends_new_live_feature http://www.gamebump.com/go/now_you_can_stalk_the_friends_of_your_friends_new_live_feature# True to the company's word, Microsoft has announced one of the new features to be available on Xbox Live following the December 4 update. Xbox 360 owners who install the firmware update will be able to view not only their friends list, but the friends list of their friends. I'll give you a moment to re-read the sentence.

Here's the scoop from Microsoft:

Members will now be able to check out the friends lists of fellow Xbox LIVE members right from the Dashboard. With this new feature, members can find old friends or connect with new ones within the community of more than 8 million people on Xbox LIVE around the globe and send messages and game invites, as well as compare games and Achievements.

With the prevalence of social media websites such as MySpace and FaceBook, this type of capability has largely come to be expected from consumers as a means to relate in an online community. Xbox LIVE continually seeks new ways to better serve the expectations of its members, which often result in enhancements made available for free through the bi-annual Dashboard updates.

When the Fall Dashboard update is distributed on December 4th, the new default setting on Xbox LIVE will be active enabling members to see the Friends lists of other Xbox LIVE members.

For those of you who'd rather keep all your gamer buddies to yourself (selfish bastards), Microsoft recommends you head over here and select an option for your gamertag:
  • Everyone (only available to members 18 and older)
  • Friends only (available to members 13 and older)
  • Blocked (available to all members, and automatic for anyone under the age of 13)
Remember, children. Share.

]]> Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:20:00 -0600 Harmonix Publishes Rock Band's DLC Song Listing Shiva Stella http://www.gamebump.com/go/harmonix_publishes_rock_bands_dlc_song_listing http://www.gamebump.com/go/harmonix_publishes_rock_bands_dlc_song_listing http://www.gamebump.com/go/harmonix_publishes_rock_bands_dlc_song_listing#

Harmonix has published a listing of its downloadable content song packs soon to be available for its Rock Band. The game is set to launch on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles on November 20 and follows the successful release of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, its prime competition at release.

The company will sell three-song packs for $5.49 (440 Microsoft points) a piece or $1.99 (160 MS points) a track. Other tracks will carry the $1.99 cost/per with additional music to be released on a weekly basis with some costing a mere $.99 (80 MS points) to $2.99 (240 MS points) a track, though the company states that most will carry the $1.99/per cost.

The three song packs releasing November 20 at $5.49 each are:

Metallica Pack
  • “Ride the Lightning” – Metallica
  • “Blackened” - Metallica
  • “And Justice for All” - Metallica

The Police Pack
  • “Can’t Stand Losing You” – The Police
  • “Synchronicity II” – The Police
  • “Roxanne” – The Police

Queens of the Stone Age Pack
  • “3’s and 7’s” – Queens of the Stone Age
  • “Little Sister” – Queens of the Stone Age
  • “Sick Sick Sick” – Queens of the Stone Age

Hit the jump for a full listing of individual tracks/song packs from Nov 20 - Dec 18.

Full DLC listing, week starting Nov 20:

3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

Metallica Pack
  • “Ride the Lightning” – Metallica
  • “Blackened” - Metallica
  • “And Justice for All” - Metallica

The Police Pack
  • “Can’t Stand Losing You” – The Police
  • “Synchronicity II” – The Police
  • “Roxanne” – The Police

Queens of the Stone Age Pack
  • “3’s and 7’s” – Queens of the Stone Age
  • “Little Sister” – Queens of the Stone Age
  • “Sick Sick Sick” – Queens of the Stone Age

Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360)

  • “Fortunate Son” as made famous by Creedence Clearwater Revival *
  • “Juke Box Hero” as made famous by Foreigner *
  • “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” as made famous by T-Rex *
  • “My Sharona” as made famous by The Knack *
  • “Cherry Bomb” as made famous by The Runaways *
  • “Joker & The Thief”- Wolfmother

Week of November 27, 2007

3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

David Bowie Pack
  • “Moonage Daydream” – David Bowie
  • “Heroes” as made famous by David Bowie *
  • “Queen Bitch” as made famous by David Bowie *

Week of December 4, 2007

3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

Black Sabbath Pack
  • “N.I.B.” as made famous by Black Sabbath *
  • “Sweet Leaf” as made famous by Black Sabbath *
  • “War Pigs” as made famous by Black Sabbath *

Week of December 11, 2007

3-Pack for $5.49 or Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points per track and 440 per pack for Xbox 360)

Punk Pack:
  • “Rockaway Beach” - Ramones
  • “I Fought the Law” - The Clash
  • “Ever Fallen In Love” as made famous by Buzzcocks *

Week of December 18, 2007

Individual Tracks for $1.99 Each
(160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360)
  • “My Iron Lung” - Radiohead
  • “Buddy Holly” - Weezer
  • “Brass in Pocket” as made famous by Pretenders *

*This is a cover version of a song made famous by the artist indicated. All others are original master recordings.

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