25 most recent entries:
Free Game: Meat Boy (Oct 07 2008 01:50 GMT)
The guys who made independent favorite Gish and the previously featured atmospheric freebie Aether are at it again. This time they've crafted a game that's a little cute, a little gross, and hard as all hell. Meat Boy is, appropriately enough, a squidgy little cube of meat tasked with making his gory way through a gauntlet of fire, salt, and grinders to rescue his companion, Band-aid Girl from the clutches of the bastardly Dr. Fetus.It's a particularly nice touch that Meat Boy's levels are bundled in groups of five, of which only three must be completed to unlock the next set.
McFarlane Toys Releasing Slash Guitar Hero Action Figure in February (Oct 07 2008 01:25 GMT)
Continuing their line of Guitar Hero action figures, which are set to be released this November, McFarlane Toys will be releasing another next February, this time basing it on Slash's in-game character from Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. The new figure is six inches tall, includes 15 moving parts as well as a removable guitar (which is interchangeable with the other Guitar Hero figures), and will come with a sculpted base. Having your very own miniature Slash will cost you between $10 and $15.While there's not a specific release date for the little guy, one thing is for certain:
John Davison Talks Nintendo With 1UP FM (Oct 07 2008 01:05 GMT)
Does the recent spate of Nintendo news have you confused and aroused? WhatTheyPlay's John Davison joins us to go over the announcements and delve into his "nextWii by 2011" article. We're also joined by the Sports Anomaly's Todd Zuniga and our own Michael Grimm for Shelf Life, where we hit on Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals, Fracture, and the NBA 2K9 vs. NBA Live 09 rivalry.
NBA 2K9 Soundtrack Revealed (Oct 07 2008 00:30 GMT)
2K Sports has announced the soundtrack for NBA 2K9 which includes an original recording by The Cool Kids. The track "2k Pennies" is featured in NBA Blacktop streetball mode and is available for free on the 2K Sports website. The Cool Kids will also perform on the 2K Sports Bounce Tour. Other artists on the NBA 2K9 soundtrack include N.E.
Ex-EA CEO Larry Probst Becomes U.S. Olympic Committee Chairman (Oct 06 2008 23:35 GMT)
First, Johnson & Johnson, then Electronic Arts, now the United States Olympic Committee -- such is the career of Larry Probst.The Associated Press is reporting that the former CEO of EA will replace Peter Ueberroth as the chairman of USOC's board. Ueberroth believes Probst's history with EA, a company whose revenue he helped grow from $175 million to $3 billion during his 16 years as an employee, will help relations with companies that provide the USOC with sponsorships. "The EA Sports brand is one of the most recognized brands in the videogames industry. I've been doing that for 15-plus years.
Quantum of Solace Demo Now Available From FileFront (Oct 06 2008 23:10 GMT)
I know not everyone will agree with me, but the newest Bond films have completely reinvigorated my interest in the film franchise. Hopefully the team at Treyarch behind the Quantum of Solace videogame can in turn resurrect my love for Bond games that died shortly after the glory days of N64's GoldenEye. Care to find out for yourself? Then you should download the new demo for Quantum of Solace from FileFront. Download the demo now right here.
Nintendo Claims MotionPlus Tech Was Too Expensive During Wii Development (Oct 06 2008 22:52 GMT)
One of the most significant announcements to come out of Nintendo's otherwise abysmal E3 press conference (and even this was announced before the conference) was the Wii MotionPlus. With this adapter, which attaches to the bottom end of the Wiimote, the controller will be capable of a 1:1 response to the user's movement. Great, right? But there's one nagging question about MotionPlus that we raised immediately after it was first announced:
Viva Pi?ata: Trouble in Paradise Demo Lands on Xbox Live (Oct 06 2008 22:45 GMT)
The trend of releasing console demos of games that have already hit retail selves continued late last week with Rare's Viva Pi?ata: Trouble in Paradise landing on Xbox Live. If you have been waiting on purchasing the game until you can play the demo, now is your chance.Want recap of what to expect?
Demon's Souls Looks Incredible in First Screenshots (Oct 06 2008 22:12 GMT)
The newly announced RPG Demon's Souls is going to be shown off later this week in playable form at the Tokyo Game Show, but we have some screenshots of the game for you to check out right now -- and they look terrific. The game looks quite a bit like Oblivion, just without any of those terribly ugly people in it. Last week's issue of Weekly Famitsu magazine explained that the game -- being designed by From Software, the team best known for the Armored Core series -- might play a lot like Oblivion or any other title in the Elder Scrolls series, too.Click here to check out the full image gallery with all of the Demon's Souls screenshots. Right now, there isn't much information kicking around on the game, but expect to hear a lot more on this PS3 exclusive as TGS kicks off later this week.
Funcom Says Players Demanded Age of Conan Server Merge (Oct 06 2008 22:00 GMT)
Funcom product director J?rgen Tharaldsen moved to assuage player fears about what the upcoming server merge might mean for Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. The future of the massively multiplayer online game is unclear despite an outstanding debut.In an interview with Strategy Informer, Tharaldsen said the merge is meant to make it easier for players to find groups and participate in PvP.
Big Names in Gaming Industry Donate to Presidential Campaigns (Oct 06 2008 20:30 GMT)
Game developers are just like every other business when it comes to donating money to candidates who share their philosophy or whom they think will benefit them in the long run, and this year the presidential race is no exception. Over the past few years, big names in the gaming world, such as Strauss Zelnick, John Riccitiello, and George Lucas, have donated to different Democratic candidates running for senate or the White House, while others like Bobby Kotick and Will Wright have sent checks to Republicans running for different offices.Thanks to some in-depth sleuthing from GamePolitics, we now have information pertaining to where each one of these big names sent money, and while each person donated to different sorts of campaigns over the years, we will only focus on which presidential candidate they were rooting for this year.Republican donations:Will Wright:
Swing Away in MLB Stickball on XBLA This Wednesday (Oct 06 2008 19:22 GMT)
Both the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers have already been knocked out of the 2008 MLB playoffs, and the season is nearing its end. But gamers needn't worry as there's more MLB action to be had this year -- albeit in a slightly different form than they're probably used to. MLB Stickball releases this week for 800 Microsoft points ($10), and as the name implies, it isn't exactly your traditional baseball game in downloadable form.We don't know a ton about the game, but it is 2K Sports' first release on XBLA. You can buy and collect Topps MLB cards that will unlock their corresponding players for use in the game.
Take a Whack at Mario Golf, Midnight Bowling, and More on WiiWare (Oct 06 2008 19:05 GMT)
Nintendo is throwing in a little of everything in their latest bigger-than-usual Wii update. This week there are two WiiWare titles available for your downloading pleasure. Midnight Bowling gives you all the fun of an after-dark trip to your local psychedelic bowling alley for a mere 800 Wii Points ($8.00). If puzzle games are your thing, you can stretch your brain with MadStone, a title that challenges players to clear away blocks so that the titular MadStone can reach the bottom of the screen.
Eidos Announces Exclusive 360 DLC for Tomb Raider: Underworld (Oct 06 2008 17:28 GMT)
Lara Croft will soon be embarking on her eighth major adventure when Tomb Raider: Underworld releases in November, but for Xbox 360 owners at least, the game won't necessarily end when the credits roll. Eidos has announced that they'll release two DLC packs exclusive for the 360 version, which all add new areas and even a new playable character, for a total of six additional hours of gameplay.The first "chapter," titled Beneath the Ashes, will release this Christmas, and will add a new area to explore with new enemies to battle against. The second chapter, titled Lara's Shadow, is even more intriguing -- it'll release in early 2009, and add "a new kind of playable character" that will create a "unique Tomb Raider experience.
Little Big Planet User Recreates Final Fantasy X Theme (Oct 06 2008 17:00 GMT)
Little Big Planet Beta 'To Zanarkand' clipSince the launch of the Little Big Planet Beta, Playstation 3 users have been publishing so much awesome content that gems sometimes fall by the wayside. Fortunately for fans of videogame music, intrepid users on the NeoGAF forum have brought this delightful re-creation of the Final Fantasy X song "To Zanarkland" by PSN user Kirathian to light.We can't wait to see what great songs LBP users recreate next. How about a 1UP Show theme level? Have you created or discovered something new in the Little Big Planet beta that you want to share with the world?
DSi-Only Software Will Be Region Locked (Oct 06 2008 16:39 GMT)
The new DSi will be region locked only for DSi-specific software, reports CVG. A spokesperson for the company has said, "DSi software (software that is only compatible with DSi) is region locked." The statement goes on to clarify, "Nintendo DS software is region free so you can play any DS software on DSi from any region. You can also browse the internet on your DSi wherever you are in the world and exchange your photos with friends from around the world." Confused?
Stargate Worlds Closed Beta Begins October 15 (Oct 06 2008 16:06 GMT)
Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment has announced that the closed beta test for their upcoming Stargate MMO, Stargate Worlds, will begin on October 15 for the first group of testers. But if you're not already among that first group and still want in, don't fret -- sign-ups are still open, and new players will be added down the line.To get in, simply head over to their official registration page and create a new account. "From now until launch, everything we do is about polish and fun," said Stargate Worlds studio head Dan Elggren. "We've laid a great foundation for the beta testers and their feedback is a vital part of the game development process.
DragonForce No Longer Want Your Guitar Hero Questions (Oct 06 2008 14:52 GMT)
You may have achieved immortality by getting 100% on "Through the Fire and Flames" in Guitar Hero III, Chris Chike, but that doesn't mean the authors of the fan-favorite and blisteringly difficult song want to keep hearing about it. In an interview with Metal Injection (embedded above), DragonForce guitarist and co-founding member Sam Totman made it explicitly clear they don't want any more Guitar Hero questions."Yup, definitely. Don't ask if I can play my own song in Guitar Hero, because I've answered that question about five times a day," Totman said when asked if he was sick of Guitar Hero-related inquiries. But that didn't stop the band member from also crediting the game with giving his British group more popularity in the U.
Satoru Iwata Says DSi Not a Reaction to iPhone, PSP (Oct 06 2008 13:50 GMT)
When Nintendo officially revealed the DSi last week (which, if you've been living under a rock, adds a .3 megapixel camera and limited music playback functionality), many made the obvious connection: It seemed like an attempt to make the enormously successful handheld more of a direct competitor with Apple's iPhone and Sony's PSP. But not so, says Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, who in an interview (subscription required) with the Japanese publication Nikkei Net (via Edge Online) denied the idea that the DSi was an attempt to reach parity with their competitors.Rather, according to Iwata, the goal in adding the new features in the DSi was simply to offer more essential functionality that would give owners reasons to carry it with them besides just playing games on the go.
Mega Man 9's Proto Man Now Available On WiiWare (Oct 06 2008 12:13 GMT)
Mega Man 9 is one of the hardest games to come along in a while, but plenty of players have finished it and are looking for even more pain. If you're one of those hardy few, Capcom has a present for you.The next time you log on to the WiiWare Channel, you will have the chance to add the mysterious Proto Man, also known as Blues, to your roster of robots for 200 Nintendo Points ($2). Proto Man will also be available on Xbox Live Arcade on October 7, and the PlayStation Network October 9.Proto Man isn't available for the rankings or the challenges, but he should provide an interesting change of pace with his ability to deflect bullets with his shield.
Microsoft Outlines Revamped Xbox 360 Games Store (Oct 05 2008 22:51 GMT)
Microsoft has posted some new details and pictures on their Gamerscore Blog of the newly revamped Xbox Live Marketplace Games Store, which will be made available with the "New Xbox Experience" dashboard overhaul before the end of the year. Along with completely changing the navigation to work like the other menus in the new dashboard, the main focus of the revamp seems to be on adding more information that's easier to access for each game.While in the current Games Store you only see basic info like a game's title, ESRB rating, and a short description, the new Games Store will add a host of additional and expanded information. "You will be able to check out screenshots of the game, watch trailers and read the back-of-the-box description like you are shopping at a retail store," explains the blog post. Each "game page," of sorts, will also feature every download available for that game, including previews, trailers, gamerpics, downloadable content, themes, images, etc.
ABP Will Use Facebook as a 'Major Community Tool' (Oct 05 2008 21:51 GMT)
Realtime World's APB, the massively multiplayer crime game follow-up to their Xbox 360 hit Crackdown, will incorporate Facebook as a "major community tool," according to a mailout recently sent to fans. Unfortunately, what this mailout doesn't seem to elaborate on is how at all the Facebook integration will actually work.As Develop points out, though (via Kotaku), incorporation of Facebook for use in online community features does fall in line with Realtime World's tendency to use pre-existing community tools rather than create those solutions for themselves. When APB was first revealed at GDC back in February, it was announced that the game would use LastFM for its in-game radio. For instance, if you drove past someone listening to a song on their radio, LastFM will check if you have the same song on your hard drive to play it as well.
First Deus Ex 3 Details Emerge in U.K. Mag (Oct 05 2008 21:02 GMT)
Deus Ex 3, the third entry in the influential FPS/RPG series, was confirmed to be in development by Eidos Montreal nearly a year ago -- and now the first solid details on the game have finally emerged. U.K. magazine PC Zone has a cover story on Deus Ex 3 for their 200th issue (which has reportedly just begun reaching subscribers), and CVG has relayed a number of interesting tidbits from the preview.For starters, the game is indeed a prequel that takes place in 2027, as was theorized back in December of last year, which sets the game 25 years before the original Deus Ex.
MadWorld Not Planned for Release in Censor-Heavy Countries (Oct 05 2008 20:05 GMT)
Platinum Games' MadWorld, their heavily-stylized and massively violent action game for the Wii, is shaping up to be so violent that Sega may not even release the game in its native country of Japan -- or other countries with track records of heavy censorship like Germany and Australia.According to a report by MTV Multiplayer, Sega (the game's publisher) isn't sure whether they will release MadWorld in Japan, with a representative (at the recent Nintendo summit in San Francisco) saying any Japanese release would be "evaluated" only after the game is released in the U.S. next March. The same, evidently, applies to other countries with high sensitivity toward violent media, such as Germany and Australia.
Marvelous Promises New TGS Reveal From World Famous Game Creator (Oct 05 2008 10:26 GMT)
With the Tokyo Game Show fast approaching, teases for some of this week's big reveals are starting to hit. Japanese publisher Marvelous (known for the upcoming Muramasa: The Demon Blade for Wii) just boasted that it will be making a significant announcement at the show -- but making things more interesting, the game is from a major game creator who will be on hand to present it. Louis, in charge of the overseas business at Marvelous, had this to say on the company's Japanese blog.Since we got into the next-gen console era, everyone is saying that Japanese games are lagging behind Western games and don't fit the Western taste anymore.
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