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Team Ico Project Trico Unveiled?

Solomon Lee — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:44:53 -0500

An early trailer showing Team Ico's third project is available due to an exclusive video posted by the PlayStation Lifestyle website. The video shows a young boy who bears a striking resemblance to the lead protagonist from the game, Ico.

Sony has offered no comment on the video at this time. Those that wish to visit the site can do so here.

THQ Puts Big Huge Games Up For Sale

Zach Lott — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:23:37 -0500

Crispy Gamer has received word from THQ that the publisher is putting Big Huge Games, responsible for the Rise of Nations series, up for the sale, and that the studio will be closed if a buyer is not found.

Also, two other studios, Heavy Iron Studios and Incinerator, will become independent companies as a result of THQ's latest moves to cut workforce and reduce financial losses.

THQ, who acquired Big Huge last year, released this statement:

As part of THQs previously announced business realignment and related headcount reduction plans that targeted cost reductions of $220 million, including a reduction in workforce of 600 people worldwide, THQ today notified the staff at two of its development studios that they will be spun out as independent companies: Heavy Iron in Los Angeles, CA, and Incinerator in Carlsbad, CA. In addition, THQ informed the staff at its Big Huge Games studio in Timonium, MD, that it plans to close the studio if a sale is not completed in the near future. These actions were unfortunate but were necessitated by the difficult economic environment.

Big Huge, who also developed the popular XBLA title Catan as well as an expansion for Age of Empires III, has two unnamed titles, one for the Wii and another for the 360, PS3, and PC, in development. They have a good track record with their RTS games, so hopefully THQ won't have much trouble finding someone to sell them to.

Multiplayer Confirmed for Bioshock 2

Zach Lott — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:39:19 -0500

Though details are rather scarce, Joystiq has discovered that the latest issue of Game Informer's cover story on Bioshock 2 has confirmed that the game will feature multiplayer.

We'll be on the lookout for more details once someone has gotten their hands on the issue. Stay tuned.

More Fable 2 DLC on the Way

Zach Lott — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:40:43 -0500

Even the folks at Lionhead are "tweeting" these days, and CVG has discovered that the developer has announced via their Twitter page that more DLC for Fable 2 is on its way:

"Will there be any more DLC for Fable 2? The answer is quite simple: Yes. The team here in Guildford is working on some new content right now! More information will be shared in the coming weeks."

This comes after Wednesday's accidental announcement of Fable 3, which came via voice actor Jonathan Ross' Twitter page. Perhaps companies like Valve and Nintendo should start practicing the art of Twitter leaks.

Five New Guitar Hero Titles Coming in 2009

Zach Lott — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:14:39 -0500

Activision has announced that it will continue to milk the Guitar Hero franchise, revealing that five new iterations, including one based off of the works of Van Halen, will make their way to store shelves in 2009, according to Eurogamer.

The releases of Hard Rock Van Halen, Guitar Hero 5, DJ Hero, and Band Hero will span four platforms (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and PS2) and should occur within the span of a few months during the second half of the year. Activision also has plans to release another Guitar Hero: On Tour title for the DS during 2009.

It seems that, for the time being, the oversaturation of the rhythm game market will continue unabated.

Playstation Store Update: Flower, Motorstorm: Pacific Rift Demo

Zach Lott — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:36:22 -0600

As usual, Sony has released the weekly Playstation Store update today, and this week marks the long-awaited release of thatgamecompany's latest project, Flower. There's also a demo of Motorstorm: Pacific Rift and some DLC for Guitar Hero and Rock Band along with the usual extras.

Check out the list of additions after the jump.

Qore

Qore Annual Subscription ($24.99)
Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network is a monthly interactive video production covering the world of PlayStation. Qore provides its audience with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to developers and their games, from both the SCE Worldwide Studios and the third-party community, where the audience member can freely navigate through the content.
File size: 1.17 GB

Qore Episode 09: February, 2009 ($2.99)
Episode 09 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network kicks off Spring training with an inside look at MLB 09 The Show and demonstrates Resident Evil 5s co-op gameplay with new QoreVision technology.
File size: 1.17 GB

PULSE

Pulse 2/12 Edition (free) (also available from PSP storefront)
PULSE presented by the PlayStation Network is a free high definition video showcase of whats happening right now on PlayStation. Featuring new game releases, demos, movie and television arrivals available for your PS3 and PSP systems, PULSE is a fast-paced new source to keep you connected and informed about the world of PlayStation.
Hosted by Christina Lee.
File size: 269 MB (HD) 446 MB (1080)

Downloadable Games

Flower ($9.99)
Flower lets you take control of the wind as you explore and navigate beautiful, lush environments using only the SIXAXIS motion controls. This is an interactive escape that takes you on an emotional journey like no other game youve ever experienced.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 628 MB

Add-on Game Content

NBA Live 09 All Star Weekend (free)
Get up-to-date for NBA All-Star Weekend 2009 from Phoenix, Arizona with the official jerseys and court. This free update pack includes the official All-Star Weekend Court and official East and West All-Star game jerseys for All-Star 2009.
File size: 39 MB

LUMINES Supernova Classic Pack ($4.99)
This LUMINES Supernova download pack contains special classic skins!
File size: 136 MB

Disgaea 3 - Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set with Free Theme! ($5.99)
This package file adds new custom characters Tink, Yukimaru, and Priere. The download pak also comes with a free bonus item, a Priere theme for your PLAYSTATION 3!
File size: 1.23 MB

Disgaea 3 - Priere ($1.99)
This package file adds a new custom character called Priere. Purchase the Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set and get a free Priere theme!
File size: 1.22 MB

Disgaea 3 - Tink ($1.99)
This package file adds a new custom character called Tink from Disgaea 2. Purchase the Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set and get a free Priere theme!
File size: 1.22 MB

Disgaea 3 - Yukimaru ($1.99)
This package file adds a new custom character called Yukimaru from Disgaea 2. Purchase the Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set and get a free Priere theme!
File size: 1.22 MB

Rock Band

Creepin Up the Backstairs - The Fratellis ($1.99)
Flathead - The Fratellis ($1.99)
Henrietta - The Fratellis ($1.99)
The Fratellis Pack 01 ($5.49) - Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: The Fratellis Pack 01. This pack includes: Creepin Up the Backstairs, Flathead, and Henrietta by The Fratellis.

File sizes: 26 MB - 35 MB (singles), 90 MB (track pack)

Guitar Hero World Tour

Wonderwall by Ryan Adams ($1.99)
New Slang by The Shins ($1.99)
Drive by Incubus ($1.99)
Acoustic Track Pack ($5.49) - Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring Drive by Incubus, New Slang by The Shins, and Wonderwall by Ryan Adams. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

File sizes: 40 MB - 41 MB (singles), 119 MB (track pack)

Game Demos (free)

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
This new MotorStorm: Pacific Rift demo offers both a single player and a split screen multiplayer race, but this time we let the veterans of MotorStorm.com choose their favorite track, Razorback.
File size: 673 MB

Game Videos (free)

Flower Trailer
File size: 93 MB (HD)

Flower Developer Diary
File size: 231 MB (HD)

LocoRoco 2 Launch Trailer
File size: 66 MB (HD)

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - The Ride Of Your Life
File size: 172 MB (HD)

Tekken 6 Call To Arms Trailer
File size: 12 MB (SD) 48 MB (HD)

GTI Club+ Trailer
File size: 48 MB (HD)

Brain Challenge Expansion Pack
File size: 86 MB (1080)

50 Cent: Blood On The Sand Trailer #1
File size: 45 MB (HD)

50 Cent: Blood On The Sand Trailer #2
File size: 34 MB (HD)

50 Cent: Blood On The Sand Trailer #3
File size: 37 MB (HD)

Movie Trailers (free)

Rent: Live on Broadway Blu-ray Disc Trailer
File size: 38 MB (1080)

PS3 Themes

Flower Theme (free)
File size: 1.79 MB

LocoRoco 2 The Planet Theme (free)
File size: 2.04 MB

PAIN: The Hoff Theme (free)
File size: 1.97 MB

Prier Custom Theme free with Disgaea 2 Sacrebleu Set ($0.99)
File size: 1.43 MB

Magic Ball Theme (free)
File size: 2.20 MB

Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom Theme (free)
File size: 3.11 MB

Cuboid Theme (free)
File size: 1.99 MB

Anime MBM Theme ($0.99)
File size: 3.48 MB

Valentine Hearts Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.18 MB

Fractal Hearts Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.63 MB

Valentine Angels Theme ($1.49)
File size: 6.60 MB

PS3 Wallpaper (free)

Flower Wallpaper
File size: 220 KB (SD) 504 KB (1080)

Game Love Wallpaper
File size: 414 KB (1080)

PlayStation Store for PSP Game Videos(free)

* Pulse 2/12 Edition (free) (also available from PS3 storefront)
PULSE presented by the PlayStation Network is a free high definition video showcase of whats happening right now on PlayStation. Featuring new game releases, demos, movie and television arrivals available for your PS3 and PSP systems, PULSE is a fast-paced new source to keep you connected and informed about the world of PlayStation.
Hosted by Christina Lee.
File size: 269 MB

* LocoRoco 2 Trailer
File size: 9.73 MB

PSP Themes

* LocoRoco 2 Planet Theme (free) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 372 KB

* Anime MBM 1 ($0.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 443 KB

* Anime MBM 2 ($0.99) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 494 KB

* Valentine Hearts ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
File size: 310 KB

Nintendo Constructing New R&D Center

Zach Lott — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:23:12 -0600

The news out of Japan is that Nintendo, despite forecasting lower profits for 2009, is set to begin construction on a new research and development center, according to Kotaku.

The center will be built on a 40,000 square meter lot that was formerly a golf range and was procured last year for 12.8 billion yen.

Nintendo is planning on integrating it with their existing R&D complex and will use it to develop new software and do research for new hardware. It should be interesting to see if they use it as a casual games division or for something else.

Halo Wars Demo Hits Xbox Live

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:23:58 -0600

The Xbox Live demo for Halo Wars, the RTS title from the recently-disbanded Ensemble Studios, was released back on Thursday, giving fans a chance to check out how Halo holds up as a strategy title.

The download contains a tutorial, along with a skirmish map and couple of scenarios from the campaign. There's no online or single-player co-op, but there's still plenty to check out.

The game will hit store shelves on March 3, so download the demo and let us know what you think.

Criterion Announces Cops and Robbers Pack For Burnout Paradise

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:46:26 -0600

1up is reporting that Burnout Paradise developer Criterion has announced that the racing title will receive its sixth DLC pack, entitled Cops and Robbers, later this year.

According to Criterion, the pack brings "the thrills and spills of cops and robbers car chases in Paradise City" and will be released after all of its siblings.

Fallout 3 DLC Delayed

Zach Lott — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:43:12 -0600

Operation Anchorage, the first DLC pack for Fallout 3, is out, but fans of Bethesda's latest title are going to have to wait another month for the next pack to arrive, according to a GameSpot report that it has been delayed until March. The third pack, originally slated for March, will now be released in April.

"The next DLC for Fallout 3, The Pitt, will be out in March," Bethesda vice president of marketing Pete Hines told GameSpot. "Broken Steel will be out the following month, in April."

The Pitt will send players against a group of raiders in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while Broken Steel continues the main storyline and will raise the level cap.

Playstation Store Update: MLB 09 The Show Demo, Guitar Hero/Rock Band DLC

Zach Lott — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:50:37 -0600

Thursday has arrived, and that means that Sony has once again updated the Playstation Store. The latest batch of content includes a demo for MLB 09 The Show, new songs for both Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band, and a new pack of costumes and stickers for LittleBigPlanet.

Hit the jump to check out the full list of additions.

Downloadable Games3 on 3 NHL Arcade ($9.99)
EA SPORTS welcomes you to the fast paced world of arcade hockey. From the same team that brought you NHL 09 comes a 3 on 3 experience that throws conventional hockey, and its rules, out the window. Choose from 40 of the NHLs top players and bring them into this no rules hockey game where big heads and big hits rule the day. With loads of power-ups falling on the ice to the ability to level a guy clear out of the rink, this is definitely not your typical simulation. This full version of the game offers online play, achievements, leaderboard tracking, and more features that will have you coming back for more.

ESRB Rated E
File size: 188 MB

Burnout Paradise - The Ultimate Bundle ($29.99)
Get the full version of Burnout Paradise - 2008s Racing Game of the Year - and get the brand new Pass the Pad Party Pack as well. Paradise City is the ultimate driving playground, set in a vast open-world, filled with gameplay that will push your driving and riding skills to the limit.
ESRB Rated E10
File size: 3.25 GB

Add-on Game Content

Burnout Paradise Party ($9.99)
Want to play Burnout Paradise at home with your friends in some offline multiplayer action? Burnout Paradise Party introduces fun, quick-fire challenges around Paradise City that can be played by 2-8 players of all skill levels.
File size: 100 KB

High Velocity Bowling: Dwayne ($0.99)
Its time to bowl High Velocity style! Add Dwayne Harper to your High Velocity Bowling roster. It aint easy being a gangsta thug bowla, but Dwyane manages by combining good aim and power for an awesome shot. Download includes Dwaynes special Urban Assault ball, plus the new Inner City Alley lane, set in a back alley of a major city with unique audio.
File size: 48 MB

High Velocity Bowling: Candy ($0.99)
Its time to bowl High Velocity style! Add Candy Lincoln to your High Velocity Bowling roster. Candys a clash of old school and new tattoos. Her aim is great, but her ball is a bit too heavy for her. Download includes Candys special Candied Cherries ball, plus the new Jumpin Joes Diner lane, with a rockin retro atmosphere and unique audio.
File size: 42 MB

Hot Shots Golf New Course ($4.99)
Download the new Golfasaurus-Rex B.C.C. course now available for play in Hot Shots Golf Out Of Bounds. Take your favorite players and caddies and tee it up on this new, beautifully designed course and see if you have what it takes your game to a new level of play.
File size: 100 KB

LittleBigPlanet Valentine's Day Mini-Pack ($2.99)
New costumes and stickers to spread some love in LittleBigPlanet!
File size: 1.04 MB

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM Pack 8 (free)
Download Storm Pack 8 and unleash the legendary Sound Ninja Kidoumaru as your support character in battle. The Storm Pack 8 also contains new Ultimate Mission to engage!
File size: 100 KB

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

Cowboy Song (Live) - Thin Lizzy ($1.99)
Jailbreak (Live) - Thin Lizzy ($1.99)
The Boys Are Back in Town (Live) - Thin Lizzy ($1.99)
Thin Lizzy Track Pack 01 ($5.49) - Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Thin Lizzy Pack 01. This pack includes: The Boys Are Back in Town (Live) (Live), Cowboy Song (Live), and Jailbreak (Live) by Thin Lizzy.
Precious - The Pretenders ($1.99)
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar ($1.99)
Dont Tell Me - Nikko ($0.99)
Break My Heart - Nikko ($0.99)

File sizes: 21 MB - 36 MB (singles), 101 MB (track pack)

Guitar Hero World Tour
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

Gimme All Your Lovin as made famous by ZZ Top, covered by Wavegroup ($1.99)
Commotion by Creedence Clearwater Revival ($1.99)
Black Betty as made famous by Ram Jam, covered by Wavegroup ($1.99)
Southern Rock Track Pack ($5.49) - Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring Commotion by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Black Betty as made famous by Ram Jam, covered by Wavegroup, and Gimme All Your Lovin as made famous by ZZ Top, covered by Wavegroup.

File sizes: 27 MB - 41 MB (singles), 106 MB (track pack)

Game Demos (free)

MLB 09 The Show Demo
In 08, ESPN called the the game the most realistic baseball game ever created and IGN dubbed it Sports Game Of The Year. If youre a baseball fan, you owe it to yourself to get hands-on experience with the MLB 09 The Show. See for yourself why Nothing Gets You Closer. For more details, visit www.MLB09TheShow.com.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 1.56 GB

3 on 3 NHL Arcade Trial
EA SPORTS welcomes you to the fast paced world of arcade hockey. From the same team that brought you NHL 09 comes a 3 on 3 experience that throws conventional hockey, and its rules, out the window. This trial version of the game lets you get a taste of the power-ups, NHL stars, and outrageous gameplay that is definitely not your typical simulation experience.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 188 MB

Game Videos (free)

LocoRoco 2 Pre-Launch Trailer
File size: 106 MB (HD)

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin EPA Trailer
File size: 52 MB (HD)

PAIN: Darts Trailer
File size: 63 MB (HD)

PAIN: Fortress Trailer
File size: 42 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Kevin Pearce in Japan
File size: 101 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Colby West
File size: 98 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Breckenridge Ridin Highlights
File size: 124 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Breckenridge Recap
File size: 94 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Breckenridge Freeskiing Thrills
File size: 95 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: Breckenridge Athletes
File size: 101 MB (HD)

Winter Dew Tour: PlayStation Pro Moments - Breckenridge
File size: 63 MB (HD)

Movie Trailers (free)

2012 Trailer
File size: 15 MB (SD) 49 MB (HD) 75 MB (1080)

Open Season 2 Blu-ray Disc Trailer
File size: 80 MB (HD) 106 MB (1080)

PS3 Themes

LocoRoco 2 MuiMui Theme (free)
File size: 1.12 MB

Evil Clowns Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.2 MB

Gothic Girlz Theme ($1.49)
File size: 4.41 MB

Polar Bears Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.56 MB

PlayStation Store for PSP Game Demos (free)

* Phantasy Star Portable
Check out the long awaited demo of Phantasy Star Portable and experience what others have been enjoying for years. Up to four friends will team up to unravel the exclusive new storyline that picks up where Phantasy Star Universe ends and before the start of PSU: Ambition of the Illuminus.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 272 MB

Game Videos (free)

LocoRoco 2 Pre-Launch Trailer
File size: 18 MB

PSP Wallpaper (free)

LocoRoco 2 Wallpaper (x4)
File sizes: 129 KB - 185 KB

Prince of Persia DLC Not Coming to PC

Zach Lott — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:18:42 -0600

Here's a story for those of you who played Prince of Persia on the PC: Big Download is reporting that Ubisoft has chosen to release the game's upcoming DLC pack, which continues the storyline, only on the 360 and PS3.

From Ubisoft's community manager via the Ubisoft message boards:

"Unfortunately for business reasons we won't be seeing any PoP DLC appear. Sorry guys!"

While unfortunate for PC gamers, the expansion will make its way to the Xbox Live Marketplace and Playstation Network on February 26.

Prototype to be Released in June

Zach Lott — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:06:50 -0600

Prototype may have missed its 2008 release date, but Activision hasn't forgot about it, seeing as they've sent Joystiq a New York Comic Con invitation that contains this nugget:

"Hands-on fans get their first chance to play the highly anticipated open-world/action thriller, PROTOTYPE, planned for release in June."

Naturally, we'll keep you updated with any announcements made at the event, which begins on Friday and lasts until Sunday.

Mario Kart Wii, GTA IV Among 2008's Top Sellers (Editorial)

Zach Lott — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 17:20:56 -0600

Over at Joystiq they're reporting that the NPD, Enterbrain, and GfK Chart-Track numbers for software sales from the past year have been compiled, revealing the industry's top-selling titles for 2008 in the U.S., U.K. and Japan:

Mario Kart Wii - 8.94 million
Wii Fit - 8.31 million
Grand Theft Auto IV - 7.29 million
Super Smash Bros. Brawl- 6.32 million
Call of Duty: World at War- 5.89 million

Also, according to the report, the U.S. and U.K. markets both saw significant gains in sales at 15 and 26 percent, respectively, and the Japanese market took a big dip, dropping 13 percent.

It's not surprising that the best-selling games were either first-party Wii titles or established core games that appeal to a broader audience, seeing how creativity hasn't lent itself well to high sales figures over the past few years.

Overall, though, the industry is doing better than ever from a sales standpoint, but whether it's in good condition or not is a highly debatable topic depending on how you feel about the impact of the casual player upon gaming.

Many of these gamers aren't the kind of people that are willing to take risks on innovative new titles that aren't from an established franchise or developer, opting instead to stick with name recognition. However, there's a growing number of core gamers who are doing the same thing, and this is stifling innovation and creativity in the gaming community.

Of course, part of that is the fault of the gaming media, because we don't always give enough time and space to games that don't have that name recognition that demands attention from gamers. We have to do a better job of letting everyone know about fresh and exciting games coming down the pipe, but it's also fair to expect gamers to be willing to take the chance on a new game that may not get much press coverage but seems like it's doing something innovative.

If these kinds of games don't sell, then their developers either have to shift focus to something more bland and played-out or shut down, and that's not good for the industry, for us as gamers, or for anyone else. So please, take a chance. Be willing to support creativity in gaming, because this great cornerstone of design is quickly being lost.

Resident Evil 5 Demo Hits PSN

Zach Lott — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:11 -0600

PS3 owners have been waiting patiently for the Resident Evil 5 demo that hit the Xbox Live Marketplace last week to make its way to the Playstation Network, and today that patience was rewarded, as the demo is now available for download. Check it out and let us know what you think.

ESA Announces Exhibitor List for E3 2009, Activision-Blizzard to Attend

Zach Lott — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:43:21 -0600

After pulling out of the ESA and holding its own media event last year, Activision-Blizzard is headed back to E3, according to the current list of exhibitors for the 2009 event on the official E3 website.

Activision-Blizzard isn't rejoining the ESA, but it seems that they've managed to come to terms with the organization after an abrupt exit last year over reported displeasure with CEO Mike Gallagher.

Also, Joystiq is reporting that NCsoft will once again miss the event.

"While NCsoft has been a member of the ESA in the past, we are not currently an ESA member and do not expect to attend E3 this year. We will continue to evaluate how E3 fits into NCsoft's plans each year," a representative told the gaming blog.

The show will be held from June 2-4, so stay tuned for future announcements from the ESA and exhibitors. Hit the jump for a list of companies expected to attend.

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Atari, Inc.
Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Bethesda Softworks LLC
Capcom Entertainment, Inc.
Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.
Eidos Interactive
Electronic Arts, Inc.
Epic Games, Inc.
505 Games
IndieCade
KOEI Corporation
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC
Majesco Entertainment Company
Microsoft Corporation
Midway Games Inc.
MTV Games
Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Nintendo of America, Inc.
Rebellion
Sega of America, Inc.
Serious Games
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Online Entertainment LLC
Square Enix, Inc.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
THQ Inc.
Ubisoft Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Resident Evil 5 Demo Hits Xbox Live

Zach Lott — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:16:41 -0600

Although Microsoft is rather busy these days with firing their employees, it seems that they haven't forgotten that they still have an online service to maintain, as Major Nelson has announced via his official blog that a demo for Resident Evil 5 has arrived on Xbox Live.

The demo, which is the same one released in Japan last month, allows you to play "by yourself or play with a partner in co-op mode, either online or offline with a split screen," according to Nelson.

Capcom has yet to reveal a date for the PSN demo, but it shouldn't be long before it'll be available. We'll let you know once it's announced.

Limited Edition White Dragon PS3 Available in Japan.

Ryan Fulton — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:34:02 -0600

"White Dragon" used to my my nickname in martial arts circles prior to my career ending loss in a tonfa pit fight in Cambodia. Ok, so maybe I'm making some of that up. Fine, ok ok, all of it was made up, but the amazing PlayStation 3 that you see above is very real. One day, it could be yours if you can snatch one of 10,000 pebbles from the hands of Japanese gamers. The alabaster creature of legend is part of a bundle that includes Yakuza 3, err well I guess it will be Ryu Ga Gotoku 3... since it's Japanese and all. Granted the game itself is unlikely to be importer friendly for those of you who don't speak Japanese, but the system itself would perform well enough for importers who don't mind region locking on backwards compatible titles and DVDs. Look for it around march 6th.

PSN Update. More Importantly Suikoden.

Ryan Fulton — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:41:55 -0600

Due to unforeseeable circumstances Christmas, the PlayStation Store update hit today. And why do we care? Because Suikoden, one of the best PlayStation RPGs was released today. Additionally, maybe, if we all knock our heels together we'll be blessed with a downloadable Suikoden II at somewhere less than 1/10-1/15 of the going rate (depending upon season, moon cycle, and oprah's weight.) So basically, if you're even remotely in the market for a decent RPG, it may be worth tossing your $5.99 towards a classic. Lots of other stuff came out too... That's after the jump.

Lumines Supernova: More Lumines puzzle fun with more themes, including Christmas themes for the next few weeks (to wit.)

Lord of the Rings: Conquest demo.

Toro the Japanese PlayStation mascot has been added as a playable character in Hot Shots Golf.

A new episode of Pulse.

Metal Gear 4 Little Big Planet levels and accessories. What's not to like?

Disgaea 3 add-ons.

Some music game song things for random music games. Notable: Foo Fighters songs are available for Rockband.

And well, tons of other things. Feel free to hit the jump if you're not already turning on your PS3/PSP/PC to check the store out.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix Destroys Sales Records

Zach Lott — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:55:34 -0600

Over at Capcom's website, John Diamonon has revealed in a blog post that Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix may very well become the highest-grossing digital game ever made, having already sold over 250,000 units since its release in late November.

Diamonon mentioned in his post that the game has "shattered" day one and week one sales records and is on pace to break the 30 day sales mark.

The game has been reviewed very well and has garnered praise for its music and artwork, the latter of which, interestingly enough, almost got the game cancelled at one point for a perceived lack of quality. You can download it either through the Playstation Store or Xbox Live Arcade.

Fable 2 DLC Delayed Until January

Zach Lott — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:28:12 -0600

Looks like those of you that have been eagerly awaiting the upcoming Fable 2 DLC will have to wait a bit longer, as Lionhead has announced that the content has been delayed from December 22 until late January.

"Due to unexpected technical difficulties, the Fable 2: Knothole Island expansion will not be available until late January 2009. As a result, the Fable 2, Knothole Island Download and Win, originally scheduled to take place December 22 23, 2008, has been temporarily suspended," reads a notice on the game's page on the official Xbox website.

Hopefully it won't take any longer for the issues to be worked out and everyone will be enjoying the DLC come next month.

Voice Chat Temporarily Removed From Home

Zach Lott — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:55:54 -0600

In an attempt to alleviate some of the technical issues that are currently plaguing the Home beta, Sony did some system maintenance this morning and issued a patch that upgrades Home to version 1.04, which includes a temporary suspension of voice chat, according to the Playstation Blog.

"As soon as we are ready to resume the voice chat feature, we will inform you via PlayStation.com and PlayStation.Blog. In the meantime, we encourage users to make use of the Wireless Keypad for PLAYSTATION 3 or any USB or Bluetooth-enabled keyboard for text chat and also the 'phone friend' features to communicate within PlayStation Home," said Abagail Murphy, PR Manager for PSN.

Sony has been garnering harsh criticism from those frustrated with the numerous error codes and connection issues as well as those upset with the lack of content, but at least they're trying to fix things on the technical side. We'll let you know if any other announcements regarding the situation are made.

Capcom announces dates for Super Street Fighter II HD for XBLA, PSN

Zach Lott — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:10:06 -0600

Capcom announced today the release dates for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix - November 25 for the PSN version and November 26 for the XBLA version.

Also announced was that various Street Fighter-themed DLC will be released for various XBLA titles while another "little surprise" will be coming for PSN later in the year. In addition, a downloable album of hip-hop music inspired by Street Fighter will be made available for PS3 owners when SSFIITHDR is released.

GB Review: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (360)

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:42:24 -0600

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is Treyarch's first Spider-Man game not based on a movie. The gameplay, especially in combat, is a step up from previous Spidey titles but the story is short and unsatisfying. Too much emphasis is placed on a half-baked "choose your fate" branching storyline that quickly devolves into a non-stop series of boss fights. The ability to switch between red and blue Spider-Man and black-suited symbiote Spider-Man is novel, but wasted. People like me who pine for a game with Spider-Man 2's quality of web slinging with a decent game attached might be satisfied, but not impressed. This game is worth a rental for Spidey fans or any curious gamer, but at the end you wont be itching for more.

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

Spider-Man is probably the perfect character for video games. He can jump higher than anyone; he can walk, run, and sit on walls; he can beat up multiple attackers with blinding speed and feline agility; and he can swing around town on webs he shoots from his wrists. If ever there was an entity better suited for virtual representation, I'd like to hear it.

He's had a spotted past in games. I have no qualms saying that Spider-Man 2 on the Xbox is one of my favorite games to play. Altogether, the game is a wreck, but it's the web swinging I love. I could sit in front of that game for hours doing nothing but swing around its digital Manhattan. It just felt right in that game. You could feel the weight of Spidey as he grabs a fresh webline, feel the G-forces as he reaches the apex of a swing, feel the wind sheer off his body as he pulls his legs in and kicks out at just the right moment to maximize airtime and distance. That game is the perfect Spider-Man webslinging simulator. Every game since then has tried to be a better game, cramming in more story or more combo attacks and celebrity voices, abandoning the web mechanics altogether. Spider-Man 3 was a complete waste. How couldn't it be? It was rushed to come out with the movie, which itself was a waste.

Launch Gallery: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

(15 images)

Spider-Man: Web of Shadows is different. It's not based on a movie or a particular series of comics (like Ultimate Spider-Man). If I had to describe Web of Shadows as intrinsically as possible, I'd say that it is Treyarch and Shaba Games' attempt to create a Spider-Man game that perfectly captures not only the feeling of swinging like Spidey, but the feeling of being Spidey. Not being bound or hurried by the release date of some summer movie, this game actually stands a chance of accomplishing that.

The web swinging is simplified and made more efficient, for sure, but the the focus this time around seems to be on the combat. Previous Spider-Man games have always been heavy on combo-attacks, but never very much fun. You never got the feeling during combat that you could do everything Spider-Man could, only that you were playing a watered-down beat-em-up tacked onto a web-swinging game. This time around, it feels much better. Combat makes heavy use of Spider-Man's abilities, and allows (at last) to make use of Spidey's best advantages in combat: his speed and ability to stay airborn.

How silly is it for Spider-Man, a man who can walk on walls and lift himself or anything else into the air with ease, to be seen standing with two feet on the ground, throwing punches against enemies? In Web of Shadows, there's no need to stay on the ground for the sake of grounded baddies. Better to knock them up into the air, where you're free to mangle their helpless bodies. The most welcome addition is the ability to "web strike," or zip yourself up to an enemy from far away, get in a quick attack, and then bounce out before he knows what hit him. You can string together web strikes and clobber dozens of enemies, one at a time, bouncing from head to head, staying in constant motion the entire time.

Treyarch's previous Spider-Man games have all been so-called "sandbox games" like Grand Theft Auto where an entire city is under your control, and you can attempt story-based missions at your leisure. This time around, the game is much more linear, but built around a sandbox architecture. You can still go anywhere in the city, and you still start missions by approaching specific characters and starting them, but there are no real alternatives. There are no real side-missions, and the random crimes you'll encounter just by wandering around aren't very engaging.

No, the game sees itself as linear and story-based, and shouldn't be ashamed for it.

The story itself involves the return of Venom and the black symbiote, and its eventual attempt to spread its inky tentacles across the whole city. Early in the game, Spider-Man gets re-introduced to the symbiote and through much of the game is free to switch between normal (red and blue suit) Spider-Man and symbiote (black suit) Spider-Man. Herein lies the biggest bullet point in the game's sell-sheet.

The game insinuates that your actions as either red/blue Spidey or black Spidey affect how the story branches. This is partially true. There are several points during the story where you're given the option to follow either a "good" path (marked by a red/blue Spidey icon on screen) or a "bad" path (marked by black Spidey). Whether you chose to be red/blue or black Spider-Man within the game itself makes no difference, and is altogether pretty arbitrary. Each suit has its strengths and weaknesses as far as combat and agility go, but it really just comes down to your choice of outfit. The branching storyline is controlled by your selection of the good/bad path, and when you're playing a super hero does it make that much sense to ask the player if he wants to do something good, like save somebody, or something bad, like let them die? Sure, after playing through the game once as a goodie two-shoes you might go through again to see what lies on the dark side, but the so-called conflict between good ol' Spider-Man and his evil suit doesn't come across very well when you're basically given the options of "be good" or "be bad."

It would be better if the branching paths in the story were based on your actions and not simply your selection of them. If the black suit had a more noticeable advantage in-game, maybe I'd be more tempted to use it. Maybe the game could keep track of how often you use the black suit or how much damage you cause with it, and from that make it harder and harder to go without it. Then, based on which suit you've spent the most time with, the story can branch however it likes. This is what I thought was going to happen. This is how the marketing material makes it sound.

Altogether, the story mode is somewhat satisfying but brief. The intention is probably to let people try the various branches, but I can't imagine it being too enticing.

Once you've beaten the game, you can't re-load your saved game and freely roam the town with all of your upgraded and unlocked abilities, nor can you start a new game with your earned abilities. This is a huge, huge problem for me. You spend the whole game unlocking and upgrading attacks and combos, and then after a boss fight wherein you can't even use them, they're completely wasted. I feel like I wasted all that time.

As I said, I can spend hours inside Spider-Man 2 ignoring the missions and just swinging around, looking for collectible items, earning points, unlocking new combos. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows doesn't really allow for this. It's a shame, really, because the swinging sure is fun.

I'm left at an impasse. I can't recommend this game for fans of Spider-Man video games. For people who don't really care, the more refined package and far fewer bugs compared to previous Treyarch Spidey games, as well as it being the first one truly designed for next-gen (although from the graphics you might not know it), it might be worth a rental.

They've finally made a game that feels like being Spider-Man, now they just need to make one with a satisfying game on top of it.

Sony: 80% of PS3 users are "active" on PSN

Zach Lott — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:04:27 -0600

In a post celebrating the second anniversary of the release of the PS3 on the official U.S. Playstation Blog yesterday, Sony's John Koller went through an extensive list of the system's achievements, but one that should draw your attention more than the others is this figure: 14 million "active" PSN accounts.

If Sony is to be believed, then this means that around 80% of PS3 owners are currently active on PSN, but chances are that this isn't the whole story. I'd be willing to bet that the 80% figure is counting people who have made an account, not just people who are actually using it on a regular basis, as I think that figure would be somewhat lower.

What do you guys think?

Jimi Hendrix DLC not coming to Wii

Zach Lott — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:55:15 -0600

Turns out that the Wii won't be getting this week's Guitar Hero World Tour Jimi Hendrix pack after all, as a representative from Activision Blizzard has confirmed to MTV's Multiplayer Blog that the console won't be getting the download pack.

Due to technical or licensing restrictions, the DLC offerings will not be the same for every console platform, the representative told Multiplayer's Patrick Klepek. For example, certain artists prefer to keep the integrity of the track pack rather than releasing singles and the Wiis infrastructure only allows us the ability to release single songs as DLC.

This kind of occurance isn't doing Nintendo any favors when it comes to competing in the online space, but when your console is printing money, what does it matter?

Metal Gear Online MEME expansion set for November 25

Zach Lott — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:39:47 -0600

Good news for those of you still playing Metal Gear Online: Joystiq is reporting that MEME, the game's second expansion, is set for a November 25 release at the low price of $9.99. You'll also be able to pick up the expansion through a $14.99 bundle that includes GENE, the first expansion.

New content includes two new characters, Mei Ling and Liquid Ocelot, as well as new avatar content and three new maps, Silo Sunset, Forest Firefight, and Winter Warehouse. An official tournament lobby and a couple new modes will be available without purchasing MEME.

Sony Addresses Little Big Planet Moderation

Solomon Lee — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:54:31 -0600

For those of you wondering why your precious LBP level was deleted without cause or notice, Sony has provided a formal explanation on the Three Speech blog in the form of guidelines:

Ensure that the content you share with other users is suitable for all ages - everyone has access to your level if you publish it
Please respect other people's intellectual property rights. For example, don't use images, brands or logos that you're not entitled to use.
If you come across any content that you feel the need to report, then please do it responsibly. Hoax reports will be considerable inappropriate behavior.

There you have it folks! Don't be afraid to create a living canvas or to build something truly unique - as long as they adhere to these guidelines.

Fable 2: Making Big Promises, Again.

Ryan Fulton — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:56 -0600

On the Fable 2 Dev Blog, Lionhead has gone and thrown down the big promises gauntlet again. This time they hint at big announcement next week. As to what it is? No clue, but since I'm here... and you're here... and maybe, just maybe someone at Lionhead may look at this before it's too late: Un-fix the co-op camera and give us the ability to be our own heroes in coop. You're welcome to add another dog, some new STDs, actually include the girl from the above posted shot (in fairness I have yet to finish it, but I'm going to guess she was replaced by the blind lady) you know, whatever you want. Just, please, fix the co-op.

Resident Evil 5 Coming To PC?

Tim Grube — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:34:02 -0600

Resident Evil 5 is approaching quite rapidly and today the folks over at MCV have found something deep within a Capcom Q1 2009 release schedule. It states the RE5 is scheduled to be coming out on the PC as well as the previously announce PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

This is big news for PC fans because many RE fans have been asking for a PC port and now it is here! The game is scheduled for release on March 12, 2009 in Japan, and March 13, 2009 in North America and Europe.

Valkyria Chronicles DLC confirmed for US release.

Ryan Fulton — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:07:07 -0600

Sega's beautiful action-strategy-rpg Valkyria Chronicles released today, so if you're keen on experiencing a unique game that bends an established genre and blends another, now's the time to pick it up. If you're further interested, two bits of DLC have already been confirmed for US release in early 2009. One allows you to play as a side character called Edie, and the other allows you to take on the role of the game's antagonists. If Japanese prices are anything to consider, you can expect them to run $5-10 a piece. You can also expect them to be fully voice acted.

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM Ships

Tim Grube — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:33:03 -0600

Namco Bandai Games America Inc., today shipped NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM to retailers across North America exclusively for the PlayStation 3 console.

The Ultimate Ninja series is recognized by Naruto fans and gamers alike as the video game franchise that best captures the high-energy ninja action of the hit animated series, said Todd Thorson, director of marketing and public relations at Namco Bandai Games America, Inc. NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM represents an incredible leap forward for the franchise as we make our debut on the PLAYSTATION 3 system with an all-new battle system, free-roaming gameplay and undeniably stunning graphics.

Developed by CyberConnect2, NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM is rated T for Teen by the ESRB and carries a suggested retail price of $59.99.

Metal Gear Online Reaches One Million Mark

Tim Grube — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:02:57 -0600

With all the mass voting going on here in the states, Konami was able to sneak in some good news surrounding Metal Gear Online. The company revealed that Metal Gear Online has established over one million members since the service launched back in June.

To go along with this great news, Konami will launch a special campaign Metal Gear Online: Commemorative Campaign, which will officially begin on November 25, 2008, awarding reward points to gamers who access Metal Gear Online during the promotion. The 10,000 reward points will be updated to account owners on the last day of the campaign, December 9, 2008.

These reward points can be used to purchase new online gear from the in-game reward shop.

Heavy Rain: 30 Minutes of French and Good Lighting.

Ryan Fulton — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:20:20 -0500

Recently released video of Quantic Dream's Heavy Rain from the Micromania Expo in France has reached the gaming site formerly known as Jeuxfrance which shall henceforth be known as Gamekyo. The animations could use some work, and the gameplay looks as if it may be somewhat dry just yet, but damned if the game doesn't have lighting down to a science. Qualms aside it looks like it could very well be an interesting game. The video is definitely worth a look. Just excuse the French... unless you speak French, then please, by all means, ignore what I was just talking about.

EA Announces More Burnout

Tim Grube — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:29:48 -0500

Criterion Games and Electronic Arts announced today Burnout Paradise The Ultimate Box. This "box" will include the Burnout Paradise game plus the previously-released Burnou Paradise Cagney and Burnout Paradise Bikes content updates, and the brand new Burnout Paradise Party content.

Whether youre an experienced player or a gaming novice, Burnout Paradise is a game that anyone can enjoy, says Pete Lake, Senior Producer at Criterion Games. With The Ultimate Box, we aimed to deliver the most fun, high quality and high value experience possible to players both online and in the living room.

Burnout Paradise Party will be on display and available for free play at EAs booth during the London Games Festival in Trafalgar Square from Oct 31 Nov 1, 2008.

Now for the players that already own Burnout Paradise, Burnout Paradise Party will be sold separately as downloadable content.

Happy Halloween To All - Now Go Play Fallout 3!

Tim Grube — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:19:33 -0500

Shameless plug incoming...I have been locked into Bethesda's Fallout 3 on the PC for a couple days now and I have to admit that this game is almost my game of the year. Well, the World of Warcraft expansion is due out on November 13, so that might consume most of my time--but as of right now, Fallout 3 is an exceptional game and you must purchase it today!

Game reviews:

GameRevolution
Gaming Nexus
GameTrailers
Atomic Gamer
Total Video Games
GoodGearGuide
Spillmagasinet Norway
Vandal
Hardgame2
Gamesurf.it
PS3Italia
Spaziogames
Big Download
Spike
Fox News
MSN
Empire Online,

Patent Crawling Reveals New PS3 Controller from the Future!

Ryan Fulton — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:24:36 -0500

In a move to further confirm the assumptions of jocks and parents world-round, Sony has patented a controller that looks like some sort of a cross between a Star Trek phaser and a novelty item for children that you see in magazines that sell cheap Chinese crap designed to waste batteries and break. To further engender the lusty gaze of Star Trek fans you can slap the controllers together to make something that looks sort of like a Bat'leth. (Please note that I put a considerable amount of time into finding out the name of that weapon... I can assure you that I've never spent this much time looking up a Star Trek related item that didn't involve 7 of 9 porn.)

All derisive comments aside, this looks like a really neat piece of kit. It can sense like 58 billion things like relative motion, and everything else that the Wii remote can't even come close to doing. Additionally, since it teams up with the PlayStation Eye it can sense body and facial motion. All-in-all, it looks as if Sony could have something amazing on their hands if they can bring it out for a reasonable price, and supply a constant stream of quality software based on the technology including third party support.

I Wrote A Book: Mind + Body Published Yesterday

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:22:31 -0500

In addition to my duties as co-owner and lead editor of this website, I also write non-videogamey stuff. For example, I just published a novel. Mind + Body, she's called

In addition to being able to buy the book, like most goods and services, Mind + Body is also available as a free digital download in various ebook formats, released under a Creative Commons license. Yes, you can download it for free. Legally.

Click here to check it out on Amazon.

Mind + Body is a thriller about a teenager trying to unravel a conspiracy that seems to surround and envelop his entire life.

For the uninitiated, books are kind of like video games where instead of controlling them via a gamepad or plastic guitar, you control them with your brain. They're entirely portable, require no batteries, and have no region locking.

Unlike some books which are about John Adams or make metaphors to caged birds singing, this book has guns and killing and explosions and wisecracking penguins. I made one of those things up.

Official PS3 Headset: A Non-technical, Non-lengthy Review.

Ryan Fulton — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:40:57 -0500

The Official PS3 Wireless Headset that recently shipped with SOCOM and will see a future solo release on this upcoming Tuesday it is quite a nifty piece of tech. Through testing with a friend and by simply playing SOCOM it's rather apparent that this is a top quality headset.

The speaker is crisp and clear, and the dual microphone setup does an amazing job of picking up what you're saying with minimal distortion. Though untested and personally unconfirmed, the headset also works as a general microphone when docked if you should so chose to use it in such a manner. The inclusion of a mute button is also a welcome addition, especially when you consider the fact that games like Call of Duty 4 use an "open mic" system. The headset is considered comfortable by general consensus and personally I find it easy to forget that I'm even wearing it.

All in all, it's a top quality headset that if you own a PS3 and you happen to not have a headset, or if you're just sick of the horrible one that you have now, it's definitely worth looking into picking this headset up.

Little Big Planet: See You in Another Week.

Ryan Fulton — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 00:42:24 -0500

In a move that's just shy of incomprehensible Sony and Media Molecule have decided to push the release date of the exceedingly anticipated Little Big Planet back by a week and to break my heart in the process. Citing issues of a song that contains messages from the Qur'an, the game has been delayed in shipping until October 27th in order to remove the offending lyrics; the game can be expected around the 4th of November if Amazon is to be believed.

So... Feel free to play Fable 2 without feeling guilty now. At least for a week or two. Unless Sony does something awesome for atonement and opens a full public beta or something. Please do something awesome?

Portal: Still Alive; Even More Extra-dimensional Hyjinx

Ryan Fulton — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:29:38 -0500

Come October 22, Xbox fairing fans of Valve's Portal will be delighted to find an expansion available for their favorite mind-bending pseudo shooter on XBL's Marketplace.

You can expect to find an additional 14 challenge maps, and assumedly, more witty banter from computers with sultry voices. Expect to pay out somewhere around $15 for the privilege. Granted that's more than the game's original percentage based price in The Orange Box, but if you're like me you were only interested in Portal anyway.

Image courtesy of Brickshelf.com

Mother 3: If You Want Nice Things, Sometimes You Just Have to Do It Yourself.

Ryan Fulton — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:12:22 -0500

Glorious news for those of you eager for information concerning the perennially disappointing handling of the Mother series by Nintendo. No, Nintendo hasn't announced that they're translating and releasing the title. If you're the sort of person who has been waiting for a new Earthbound, you're the sort of person who knows that Nintendo will never release a new Earthbound.

For several people who were faced with that stark reality the solution became apparent, if the masses were to ever have any hope of Mother 3 getting an English copy they would have to do it themselves. So thusly, they embarked upon an epic journey involving translating squiggles into slightly more recognizable characters and attempting to pay service to Shigesato Itoi's legendary writing ability.

Fortunately for them and for the rest of us who were not blessed with such multi-lingual functionality, their work is nearly at an end and the patch for an English Mother 3 is ever closer to release.

Thanks to Shannon of Ganza Watching for the amazing picture.

Firmware Alert: PS3 2.50 and PSP 5.0 Due Up Soon.

Ryan Fulton — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:09:06 -0500

Today is a momentous occasion for those of you who were waiting on baited breath for the newest firmware releases on Sony's systems. For today, marks the day, when most of the features for the new updates were announced. While there is no hard release date given, we can assume that the PS3 update, at least, will be sometime this week due to the inclusion of the PS3 headset with SOCOM which releases this week.

For a list of notable features for both systems, hit the jump.

PS3:

Support for the new PS3 Bluetooth Headset.
The ability to take your stalking to a new level and spy on your friends playing habits, or at least see when they last played.
Trophy improvements, for the 3 games that you have which support trophies.
A more upfront manner for redeeming PSN codes to coincide with the advent of PSN cards being available at more retailers.
A welcome sleep-mode for both the PS3 and controllers.
A screenshot function. Allow me to be the first to thank Sony for this awesome feature. I don't know how this is the first time that it has been introduced to a system.

PSP:

You can now access the PlayStation Network and PSN Store by way of your PSP.
I suppose I didn't need a bullet list.

GB Preview: Snag some Little Big Love in Little Big Planet

Shiva Stella — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:49:41 -0500

If you haven't heard of Media Molecule's Little Big Planet by now, I want to be you. I've spent the last 72 hours holed up in my imaginary cubicle with nothing but the PlayStation 3's holiday savior, completing creatively designed levels with dragon bosses, Silent Hill pyramid heads (think SH 2; you know what I'm talking about), rockets, ghosts, dinosaurs, Mario (sorry Luigi), Indiana Jones (I kid you not!), Nathan Drake, and--of course--the deliciously adorable sackboy. Or sackgirl. As Media Molecule would probably interrupt right now, it's all up to you.

I don't want to be too cruel to those of you unfortunate enough to not receive a highly coveted invitation to join the beta, (okay, maybe a little cruel), but really, you're not missing too much--only one of the most interesting, thought-provoking, heartwarming, sweetest masterpieces we've seen from this console generation the likes of which may actually put Fable II in its place, and yes, Mr. Molyneux, I did just say that. Possibly I'm over-exaggerating, but after spending significant time delightfully chained to the sackboys and sackgirls in the beta (community hug!), Little Big Planet may just convince you that your PlayStation 3 purchase was worth it after all.

At the heart of LBP lies its undeniable, addicting charm. A tiny, plain sackboy might not look like much--just a little creature your grandmother could have knitted for you eons ago, you know, when you still played with dolls--but herein you'll find that its stark simplicity is what is most endearing: a trite, but almost loving creature operates as your mirror self, full of limitless potential and impossible to measure possibilities, complete with a witty British narrator who would have made your childhood so much easier when he wasn't drowning you in tea.

And if painting your own canvas is your thing, you're in luck--you'll have ample opportunity to turn your sack-self into something truly dashing, like an Elizabethan housewife, a bunny-eared cowpoke, a pirate with a savvy polkadotted dress, or even Kratos if you're all smash and no class. Name a customization option and it's here; change eyes, material color, throw in some teeth, maybe a disgusting mustache or a miscellaneous animal part to let everyone know you walk on the wild side, and viola--instant sack-asso. Your mum would be proud.

After you've completed your "look", you'll want to stroll through the enchanting levels designed by MM in the game's story mode. LBP's stages contain the whole package; you'll listen to infectious music and great sound effects, swing from giant sponges, watch a little tutorial tv, hop a ride on a bird, and, most importantly, sticker the place up with collectible items. And here we find the magic of LBP: at its core half of the game is about getting your grubby sack-paws on every single item, object, sticker, material, or decoration you can spot. The other half is about using those items to create a living world.

This dynamic universe is the epitome of videogame self-expression. If you ever wanted to design a level in which Solid Snake fought off Metal Gear Rex with snazzy cardboard boxes, you can do it. If you've dreamed of Mega Man racing your friends in the latest WipeOut, you can do it. And if you've fantasized about recreating every single level from the original Mario Brothers, you can do that, too--with some obvious caveats, the point being that if you're creative enough, the game gives you the tools with which to realize your fun delusions.

And everything is easy to master. The level design tools offer tutorials for every aspect, from placing an object or using a template to covering the world with bright purple flowers or coating the walls with blood (hey, this makes for a great aesthetic effect). Your only real limit is a bar that lets you know much room is left in your stage to fill with objects, and if you're not using a template that's a lot of space to test your imagination in.

Once you're creation is set to rock the sack-world, it becomes available for you and all your sack friends to play through together, including newbie strangers who operate as fantastic q/a testers and leave great comments like "SNAAAAAAKE!" and "needs more Mario". Anyone who plays through your level can rate it with a tag, from "awesome" and "fun" to "short" and "stupid", and those who love what you've done with the place can mark the stage with a heart so they always have immediate access to the thrill-zone that is your creative genius. At this point there is some lag when you're playing online with your fellow sack-peoples, but how much of this is relegated to the final product is impossible to tell yet, so cross your delicately stitched fingers and remember that a little lag is worth the chance to show off your sack-casa to your buddy list.

If you're as enthusiastic about Little Big Planet as the rest of the world, you can join the pre-order gig by clicking on one of my handy links below, where I've noted what pre-order goody goes with which retailer to save you some googling. Meanwhile you'll find me in LBP, robbing banks and rescuing sack-peoples from ferocious red-ringed Xbox 360s. Here's hoping I see you there on October 21.

Best Buy: Nariko (Heavenly Sword)
EBGames/Gamestop: Kratos, Medusa, Minotaur (God of War pack)
Amazon: Downloadable level design guide, sometimes a free $10 gift card as well
GameCrazy: Adorable knitted zipper pouch
Circuit City: Free $10 gift card
ALL: Space Suit Sackboy Costume (free from MM/PSN)

Little Big Planet: SquareEnix/Konami approved!

Ryan Fulton — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:05:56 -0500

God's honest truth, I didn't care about Sony's Little Big Planet until just a moment ago. Ok, that was a blatant lie, it's already pre-ordered, but that's hardly the point of what I'm going for here. Basically, we all knew that Kratos and Nariko were going to be making appearances in LBP, and that was cool. PlaySation Blog one-upped those two by breaking news of an additional round of sacked-out franchise characters.

Assuming you added your own drum roll there, the newly announced characters are none other than Metal Gear's Solid Snake, and Final Fantasy VII's Sephiroth. Please, kindly, resist the urge to make LBP Sephiroth x Snake yaoi. Who am I kidding; I'm sure someone is already writing the fanfic as I'm posting this.

Fable 2: Revenge of the Molyneux, Redux!

Ryan Fulton — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:48:04 -0500

Remember many moons ago when we first reported that Fable 2 would be shipping without a vital component? Well, it looks as if the gang at Lionhead Studios may just have pulled it out in the last moment. Should all go according to plan and the patch passes certification, the feature should be available at launch. See what we get for worrying?

TGS 08: Demons Souls, a New PS3 RPG.

Ryan Fulton — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:19:00 -0500

Sony has announced a new RPG title for the PlayStation 3 by the name of Demon's Souls. Billed as a spiritual successor to the Japanese only PS1 RPG King's Field, not much is known about the game at this point.

Launch Gallery: Demons Blood

(11 images)

Thanks to NeoGAF for the original link.

White Knight Chronicles: Bring a friend.

Ryan Fulton — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:43:27 -0500

Japanese gaming magazine Dengeki PlayStation has revealed some of the sordid details involving Level 5's White Knight Chronicle's online-multiplayer. In a level of interaction unprecedented in console RPGs, WKC offers 16 person multiplayer that melds directly into the single player game, if you should so chose to use it, and you probably should. I mean, they went through a lot of trouble to add it and all.

Once the desired number of players is reached the game takes it upon itself to split the players into groups of 4 so that they may venture forth into the world of giant turtle-city-beasts and fiery dog-things.

Thanks for this info go to 2chan by way of Kotaku.

Sony's Jack Tretton, "[Numbers and Stuff]."

Ryan Fulton — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:07:45 -0500

SCEA's big man on campus, Jack Tretton, recently announced that the PlayStation brand as a whole is selling like half-priced Ensure at a retirement community. Numbers are up from estimates and everything is going well.

The PlayStation 3 has been selling at a rate that's over 30% better than originally estimated and is on track to hit 10 million units by March '09. That's an increase of over 100% versus last year's sales. So that means, that over the same period of time, Sony managed to sell 100% more consoles than last year which is 30% more than what they were expecting to so that works out to roughly... Ok, we can assume that they're pretty happy with the sales; math was never my strong suit.

The PSP is also said to be selling at somewhere between 20 and 30% over their estimates. All told, things are going pretty well, or at least better than planned.

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.

Rumor: PS4/Wii HD Planned for 2011.

Ryan Fulton — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:41:01 -0500

I never thought I would say this, but I think technology is moving too fast. Perhaps I'm growing old, but it seems as if this generation has hardly learned to crawl and already there are rumors of the next generation of consoles due in 3 years.

Within the last 24 hours, rumors for both the PS4 and Wii HD have surfaced on the web. Just for safety's sake, they're rumors, again, rumors. That being said, it's not implausible that both are interested in getting onto the market first after seeing how much having a first place spot helped the Xbox 360 and PS2 (Let's ignore Dreamcast for argument's sake.)

The PS4 is said to use a similar cell architecture with slight improvements and will be ditching the faster XDR RAM in favor of a more conventional form of RAM. Supposedly Sony has been mentioning the proposed specs to third parties. Other than that details are scant.

The Wii HD rumor is slightly more fleshed out citing rising R&D expenditures and various other tidbits. The tech end of it leaves much to be desired.

Maybe I'm just being cynical, but I'm not sure these tired bones can hope to keep up at this rate. The world seems to have gotten itself into a big damned hurry. Maybe the companies should work on maxing our their current product or providing enough to meet demand before they get too involved in producing what's next.

Thanks for both goes to NeoGAF for finding the information, and the respective sources found therein.