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| Xbox 360 | Konami grapples with AAA Lucha Libre Aug. 9
April 8, 2010 at 8:02 PM
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| Japanese publisher steps back into the ring, agrees to distribute Slang's debut pro wrestling title for PS3, 360, Wii, DS, PSP. 
Konami is passing on puroresu and looking at lucha libre. The Japanese publisher today announced a deal with Slang to distribute the company's Mexican pro wrestling game Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes Del Ring in the United States, Canada, and Latin America (outside of Mexico). The Xbox 360 and PS3 editions of Lucha Libre AAA are being developed with the Unreal Engine 3 by Immersion Software, with offices in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Bogota, Colombia. Argentine developer Sabarasa Studios is handling development on the Wii, PSP, and DS editions of the game. The game's full roster of playable wrestlers has not yet been revealed, but it will include featured stars of AAA wrestling like La Parka, Konnan, El Elegido, Abismo Negro, Psycho Clown, Electroshock, and Charly Manson. While this won't be Konami's first time in the pro wrestling ring, it is the publisher's first time dealing with a real-life license for one of its grappling games. The publisher had relied on fictitious wrestling federations for efforts like 2004's Rumble Roses on the PlayStation 2, its 2006 Xbox 360 follow-up Rumble Roses XX, and the 1988 arcade game The Main Event. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Wii | War for Cybertron erupts June 22
April 8, 2010 at 5:56 PM
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| High Moon Studios' Transformers origin story scheduled to roll into stores for 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PC. 
Transformers: War for Cybertron is ready to roll out June 22. Activision revealed the release date for its first original game based on the morphing robot series this week in a trailer offering a glimpse at the game's multiplayer modes. While Activision has produced a number of Transformers games since it first acquired the license four years ago, those titles were directly based on the animated series or Michael Bay's big-budget feature films. War for Cybertron takes a different tack, portraying an event often referenced but rarely depicted in the brand's various treatments: the Autobot-Decepticon civil war on the robots' home planet. Set for launch on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, DS, and PC, War for Cybertron will feature two story arcs, one with the heroic Autobots trying to save the planet, the other with the Decepticons in destructive pursuit of power. In addition to single-player action, the game features online co-op play, as well as head-to-head multiplayer modes. A Wii version of the game is also planned, but carries the title Transformers: Cybertron Adventures. Activision entrusted development duties for War for Cybertron to High Moon Studios. Originally an internal studio for Sega Sammy, High Moon gained its independence long enough to create the horror-themed first-person shooter Darkwatch for Capcom. The studio was acquired by Vivendi Games in 2006 to make The Bourne Conspiracy, and joined the Activision fold in 2008 when the two publishers merged. The developer of the previous Transformers game, Luxoflux, was closed by Activision in February. For more on War for Cybertron, check out GameSpot's previous coverage. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | Tim Tebow fronts NCAA Football 11
April 8, 2010 at 5:12 PM
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| Florida Gators quarterback chosen to be the cover athlete for EA Sports' annual collegiate gridiron sim; due for 360, PS3, PS2 on July 13.
EA may have benched its college basketball sim for the 2010-2011 season, but the publisher's NCAA Football franchise won't be slowing its annual rush. Today, EA Sports announced that NCAA Football 11 will kick off on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 2 on July 13. University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow will lead this year's charge as NCAA Football 11's cover athlete. Tebow earned the coveted Heisman Trophy in 2007, the same year the Gators picked up its first of two BCS Championships with the dynamic passer and rusher at the helm. Tebow also gained a measure of notoriety after appearing in a pro-life commercial during Super Bowl XLIV. EA Tiburon returns as the developer for this year's college gridiron installment. The Orlando, Florida-based studio has been mostly tight-lipped on the major changes it has made to this year's outing. However, an assortment of tweaks that EA has announced include on-field refs, gang tackles, and formation subs. The publisher also notes that Tiburon has crafted offenses for each of the 120 team that mirror their real-world counterparts. For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of NCAA Football 2011. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PC | Serious Sam back for more on XBLA, PC
April 8, 2010 at 3:24 PM
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| Majesco confirms HD edition of The Second Encounter coming to Microsoft's downloadable game service and Steam.
Serious Sam isn't kidding around when it comes to digital distribution. Having already staked out his turf with the recent release of Serious Sam: The First Encounter, Croteam's run-and-gun renegade isn't wasting any time before making his return. Majesco Entertainment has announced that it will be bringing Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter to Xbox Live and PC. Downloadable storefront Steam is now accepting preorders for the title with an expected launch of April 28 and a $17.99 price tag. However, Majesco has not provided any pricing information or time frame for the game's debut on Microsoft's service. As with the HD rerelease of The First Encounter, the game is being made in cooperation with original developer Croteam and Austin, Texas-based production and publishing company Devolver Digital. Released less than a year after the original, Serious Sam: The Second Encounter debuted to critical acclaim. The game introduced a sniper rifle, flamethrower, and chainsaw to the Sam's arsenal, five more enemy types, a trio of new bosses, and three diverse regions to explore/blow up. Croteam also packed in a co-op mode for four players to fight through a dozen levels and a handful of multiplayer versus modes. For more on Majesco's first HD remake of the series, check out GameSpot's review of Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter. For more on the original Second Encounter, watch the video review below. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PC | iPhone Game Center arrives this summer
April 8, 2010 at 2:46 PM
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| Apple's new "social network for gaming" will bring matchmaking, friends lists, leaderboards, achievements to handheld platform as part of OS 4.0. 
Apple has taken a number of swipes at Sony's PSP and Nintendo's DS as part of its strategy to promote its iPhone and iPod Touch as the preeminent handheld gaming devices. In September, Apple's Philip W. Schiller marginalized the DS and PSP as inferior devices, saying that their games are too expensive and "not a lot of fun" due to an overabundance of buttons--even while the company has labeled its own devices as "somewhat awkward" for gaming. As part of its iPhone OS 4.0 press conference in Cupertino, California, today, Apple again took shots at Nintendo and Sony's handhelds. However, going beyond simply bragging about how many games and entertainment programs the iPhone OS boasts (50,000, by Steve Jobs' count), Apple introduced a new community-oriented platform for the device called Game Center. Detailed in GameSpot sister site CNET's liveblog of Apple's event, Game Center has been billed as "a social network for gaming," one that operates in a fashion similar to Microsoft's Xbox Live platform for the Xbox 360. The service, which is expected to launch later this year, will offer portable gamers matchmaking services, friends lists, leaderboards, and achievements. Game Center will be available to all iPhone and iPod Touch users. Additional details on what gamers can expect from Game Center were not revealed. However, Apple did detail additional features headed to the iPhone as part of its OS 4.0 update, which is slated to arrive this summer. New features also include multitasking, which lets apps for audio or voice over IP run in the background. However, this enhancement will only be available for iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 3rd-gen models. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | Epic Games' Late Night game announcement pushed to April 12
April 8, 2010 at 2:26 PM
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| Rumored Gears of War 3 reveal delayed until Monday; "You'll like what you see." promises design director Cliff Bleszinski. 
Last week, Late Night host Jimmy Fallon fired up gamers' expectations by announcing Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski would unveil his new game on the NBC program. Though no specific titles were mentioned, it was generally assumed that the designer would use the game-friendly TV program to announce Gears of War 3. Now, it looks like gamers will have to wait a bit longer to see what the designer formerly known as Cliffy B has up his sleeve. Via his official Twitter page, Fallon today revealed that Bleszinski's appearance has been delayed. "Attn gamers: Cliff Bleszinski (@thereallcliffyb) has rescheduled to MONDAY 4/12 to unveil his sick new game," wrote the host and former Saturday Night Live cast member. (Emphasis in the original.) Though Fallon did not give a reason for the delay, Bleszinski used his own Twitter feed to drop a few cryptic clues. "Unfortunately, 11th-hour decisions do happen in entertainment," he wrote, before adding, "You'll like what you see." In another apparently abbreviated post, he added, "The truth of the matter is that we wanted to take a couple more days to polish." Bleszinski's announcement delay comes days after a report surfaced that the Gears of War movie--on which he is serving as an executive producer--has hit a rough patch. According to the The Los Angeles Times, distributor New Line Cinema has decided to scale back the film from a $100 million-plus sci-fi epic to a more modestly budgeted actioner. As a result, director Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) is expected to depart the project. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PSP | Kojima predicts platform-agnostic gaming future
April 8, 2010 at 1:23 PM
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| Metal Gear creator advocates a "near future" where software doesn't rely on a single console, is highly portable.
At a Konami press conference in Japan yesterday, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima laid out a ranging assortment of product placements and crossover tie-ins for his studio's latest creation, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. In addition to the inclusion of brands such as Axe bodywash and Doritos, the portable title will pack scenarios and levels inspired by Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed, Capcom's Monster Hunter, and Square Enix's Front Mission Evolved. Beyond unveiling additional revenue streams for the game, Reuters reports that the venerated game designer also took the opportunity to espouse his vision for a platform-agnostic future. "In the near future, we'll have games that don't depend on any platform," Kojima said. "Gamers should be able to take the experience with them in their living rooms, on the go, when they travel--wherever they are and whenever they want to play. It should be the same software and the same experience." Reuters did not indicate what kind of game-delivery service Kojima had in mind. However, his vision sounds similar to that of OnLive's on-demand game-streaming service, which is set to go live in North America on June 17. The service allows gamers to play technologically intensive games on any PC or Mac with a speedy online connection, regardless of the game's technical demands. The company has also said that an iPhone app and HDTV-compatible micro-console will also be available. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker will arrive for the PSP in North America on June 8. For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of the game. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PC | Starcraft II gets $100 Collector's Edition
April 8, 2010 at 12:46 PM
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| Premium package for Wings of Liberty includes art book, soundtrack, dog tag flash drive loaded with original Starcraft, Brood War. 
It's been a dozen years since the original Starcraft landed on store shelves, and Blizzard Entertainment is finally putting the finishing touches on the real-time strategy game's first true sequel. Today, the publisher moved one step closer to launch, detailing plans for a regular and Collector's Edition of Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty when it debuts later this year. The limited Collector's Edition of Starcraft II will sell for $99.99, but it includes a number of bonuses for the extra expenditures. The premium version of the game will include a 176-page artbook and a 2GB USB flash drive replica of Terran hero Jim Raynor's dog tag that comes pre-loaded with the original Starcraft and its expansion, Brood War. The Collector's Edition will also pack in a handful of other goodies, like a soundtrack CD for the game, a behind-the-scenes DVD, a Starcraft #0 prequel to the comic book series, and an array of exclusive content for Blizzard's revamped Battle.net service. And for those who also play Blizzard's World of Warcraft, the developer is also giving Collector's Edition purchasers an in-game pet based on the Terran unit Thor. Those who want a no-frills eiditon of Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty will be able to pick it up for the PC and Macintosh at a retail price of $59.99. Would-be players who show a little patience will also be able to download it from the online Blizzard Store "shortly after release." Blizzard hasn't confirmed a release date yet, although the company has said such an announcement will happen "in the coming weeks." Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is the first of three installments that will comprise the sequel, each focusing its single-player campaign on one of the game's different factions. Wings of Liberty will include the 29-mission terran campaign, as well as a fully featured multiplayer mode with playable Terran, Protoss, and Zerg factions. For more on Starcraft II, check out GameSpot's previous coverage. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PlayStation 3 | F.E.A.R. 3 spooking 360, PS3, PC this fall
April 8, 2010 at 11:52 AM
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| Warner Bros. announces third installment in first-person shooter series; will feature all-new co-op mode; horror-film veteran John Carpenter advising, Day 1 developing.
Horror gamers have reason to be apprehensive once again. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that it is readying F.E.A.R. 3 for release this fall on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Unlike previous installments, primary development of the game will be handled by Day 1 Studios, which worked on the PS3 and 360 console ports of the original F.E.A.R. Monolith Productions, which was the lead developer on the first two F.E.A.R. games, will not be involved, having "passed the torch" according to Warner Bros. Previous Day 1 titles include Fracture for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and MechAssault 2 for the original Xbox. F.E.A.R. 3 will be the third full-fledged installment in the first-person shooter series, which began in 2005. The forthcoming game will continue the franchise's storyline, but will add an all new "divergent co-op" mode that will let players assume the role of one of two characters. Players can step into the shoes of Point Man, the genetically engineered super-soldier who appeared in the first F.E.A.R., or his brother Paxton Fettel, who has telekinetic powers. Warner says the two characters will provide completely different storylines from each individual's perspective. In an effort to enhance the horror element of F.E.A.R. 3, Warner Bros. has enlisted horror film director John Carpenter to advise on development on the game. After coming to prominence with the 1978 cult hit Halloween, the filmmaker has been behind the camera on such cult hits as Escape from New York, the remake of The Thing, and They Live, co-starring voice acting veteran Keith David. For more on the F.E.A.R. series, check out GameSpot's video review of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin below. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | F.E.A.R. 3 spooking 360, PS3, PC this fall
April 8, 2010 at 11:52 AM
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| Warner Bros. announces third installment in first-person shooter series; will feature all-new co-op mode; horror-film veteran John Carpenter advising, Day 1 developing. 
Horror gamers have reason to be apprehensive once again. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that it is readying F.E.A.R. 3 for release this fall on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Unlike previous installments, primary development of the game will be handled by Day 1 Studios, which worked on the PS3 and 360 console ports of the original F.E.A.R. Monolith Productions, which was the lead developer on the first two F.E.A.R. games, will not be involved, having "passed the torch" according to Warner Bros. Previous Day 1 titles include Fracture for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and MechAssault 2 for the original Xbox. F.E.A.R. 3 will be the third full-fledged installment in the first-person shooter series, which began in 2005. The forthcoming game will continue the franchise's storyline but will add an all new "divergent co-op" mode that will let players assume the role of one of two characters. Players can step into the shoes of Point Man, the genetically engineered supersoldier who appeared in the first F.E.A.R. or his brother Paxton Fettel, who has telekinetic powers. Warner says the two characters will provide completely different storylines from each individual's perspective. In an effort to enhance the horror element of F.E.A.R. 3, Warner Bros. has enlisted horror film director John Carpenter to advise on development on the game. After coming to prominence with the 1978 cult hit Halloween, the filmmaker has been behind the camera on such cult hits as Escape from New York, the remake of The Thing, and They Live, costarring voice acting veteran Keith David. For more on the F.E.A.R. series, check out GameSpot's video review of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin below. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PC | Doctor Who Time Lord-ing over PC, Mac
April 8, 2010 at 10:45 AM
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| The British sci-fi icon will appear in four free episodic games, with designer Charles Cecil, Sumo Digital collaborating with the TV show's production team.
Charles Cecil will join forces with the writers of Doctor Who to create four two-hour "interactive episodes" of the sci-fi show. Doctor Who: The Adventure Games will feature enemies and locations from the series, as well as one unique location that will be created especially for the games. The downloadable episodes will be made available for free via the BBC Web site in June 2010 and will be compatible with PC and Macs. The games will complement the TV series, with scripts penned by Phil Ford, who cowrote the Doctor Who special Waters of Mars, and James Moran, who worked on the critically acclaimed Torchwood: Children of Earth. Matt Smith, who plays the latest incarnation of the Time Lord known as the Doctor, and Karen Gillan, who plays his companion Amy, will both be voiced by the original actors. Charles Cecil joins the team as an executive producer alongside Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger, Beth Willis, and Anwen Aspden, who are all involved with the TV show. Game creator Charles Cecil’s previous works include the classic adventure games Beneath a Steel Sky and Broken Sword. Development of the games will be handled by Sheffield-based studio Sumo Digital, who also worked on the Broken Sword series and recently developed Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing. Doctor Who follows the adventures of a humanoid time and space traveler known as The Doctor. It originally debuted in 1963, and after an extended break, was rebooted in 2005 with Christopher Ecclestone (Shallow Grave) as the Doctor. The show has been inducted into the Guinness Book of Records for being the longest-running sci-fi show of all time. GameSpot has confirmed that the PC/Mac Dr. Who title will not be related to the planned Nintendo Wii game that was announced earlier this year, which has been licensed in a separate deal with BBC Worldwide, the BBC's commercial arm. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Wii | Konami down with Def Jam Rapstar, Dr. Dre, Kanye on board
April 8, 2010 at 10:23 AM
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| Japanese publisher to distribute 4mm's hip-hop karaoke game this fall; song selection to cover old-school hits from Wu-Tang Clan, new tracks from Lil' Wayne; will use Xbox 360, PS3 cameras. 
Last May, two of the original founders of Rockstar Games helped create the all-new publishing label 4mm Games. Today, the New York-based company announced a partnership with Konami to distribute its hip-hop karaoke title, Def Jam Rapstar. As the name suggests, the game will offer licensed hits from the eponymous rap label. It will also offer tracks from other companies, ranging the gamut from retro classics to new releases. Jamie King, chief creative officer and cofounder of 4mm Games, told GameSpot that Def Jam Rapstar's track list will include Wu-Tang Clan's "C.R.E.A.M.," Dr. Dre's "Nuthin' but a G Thang," Lil' Wayne's "A Milli," and Kanye West's "Gold Digger." Six more of the game's 50 songs were also announced today (see below), with the rest of the tracklist to be revealed at a later date. Def Jam Rapstar is due out this fall for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii. It is being developed by Terminal Reality and Def Jam Interactive, with newly formed shop Autumn Games copublishing. It will use the two consoles' cameras for gameplay and will offer region-specific songs in the UK and Europe. It will also offer a Freestyle mode that will allow players to create their own tracks and upload and share videos. Fore more on Def Jam Rapstar, check out GameSpot's hands-on preview of the game. DEF JAM RAP STAR TRACKLIST
2 Pac "I Get Around"
50 Cent "I Get Money"
Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx "Gold Digger"
Lil' Wayne "A Milli"
Notorious B.I.G. "Juicy"
Slick Rick "Children's Story"
T.I. featuring Rihanna "Live Your Life"
Wu Tang Clan "C.R.E.A.M."
Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West "Put On"
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PSP | Slant Six hit with 'temporary layoffs'
April 7, 2010 at 6:59 PM
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| SOCOM Confrontation studio confirms downsizing, intention to rehire staffers in future; affected developers will receive benefits in meantime. 
The Vancouver-based developer of three SOCOM: US Navy SEALs games has suffered some casualties. Slant Six managing director Brian Thalken confirmed for GameSpot that the developer instituted a round of "temporary layoffs" yesterday. Thalken did not say how many employees were affected. In explaining the need for the layoffs, Thalken said, "our current project needs do not align with our current staffing levels." Apparently reluctant to leave a man (or woman) behind, he added the studio will bring back "as many of these staff members as possible" once the workflow accelerates on its next projects. In the meantime, Slant Six will continue providing extended benefits to those who were temporarily laid off. Formed in 2005, Slant Six has created three games to date, all of them in the SOCOM universe. In addition to the series' PlayStation 3 debut, Confrontation, Slant Six also made two PSP installments: 2007's Tactical Strike and Fireteam Bravo 3, released in February. The company's current projects are unannounced. For more on the developer's latest work, check out GameSpot's review of SOCOM: US Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PSP | Slant Six hit with 'temporary layoffs'
April 7, 2010 at 6:59 PM
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| SOCOM Confrontation studio confirms downsizing, intention to rehire staffers in future; affected developers will receive benefits in meantime. 
The Vancouver-based developer of three SOCOM: US Navy SEALs games has suffered some casualties. Slant Six managing director Brian Thalken confirmed for GameSpot that the developer instituted a round of "temporary layoffs" yesterday. Thalken did not say how many employees were affected. In explaining the need for the layoffs, Thalken said, "Our current project needs do not align with our current staffing levels." Apparently reluctant to leave a man (or woman) behind, he added the studio will bring back "as many of these staff members as possible" once the workflow accelerates on its next projects. In the meantime, Slant Six will continue providing extended benefits to those who were temporarily laid off. Formed in 2005, Slant Six has created three games to date, all of them in the SOCOM universe. In addition to the series' PlayStation 3 debut, Confrontation, Slant Six also made two PSP installments: 2007's Tactical Strike and Fireteam Bravo 3, released in February. The company's current projects are unannounced. For more on the developer's latest work, check out GameSpot's review of SOCOM: US Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PSP | $500 iPad costs Apple less than $260 - iSuppli
April 7, 2010 at 6:49 PM
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| Research firm estimates materials and manufacturing for 16GB version of latest electronic gadget are just over half of final retail price.
When hot new gadgets hit store shelves, tech research firm iSuppli makes a habit of breaking them down and figuring out how much they cost to make. The latest in-demand piece of kit to be unceremoniously autopsied by the company is the just-launched iPad, which reaps Apple plenty of profit per unit sold, according to iSuppli estimates. The firm took apart a 16GB iPad without 3G capabilities, a model that currently sells for $500, and estimated that the component parts for each unit cost Apple about $251. Throw in the cost of manufacturing, and the group says it costs Apple $260 to make each 16GB iPad. However, that number does not include other costs to Apple, including software, royalties, and licensing fees. Looking a bit deeper into the numbers, iSuppli took particular note of how much money Apple devoted to the iPad's user interface instead of sheer horsepower. "The iPad's design represents a new paradigm in terms of electronics cost structure and electronic content. Conventional notebook PCs are 'motherboard-centric,' with all the other functions in the system--such as the display, the keyboard and audio--peripheral to the central microprocessor and the main Printed Circuit Board (PCB) at the core. With the iPad, this is reversed. Everything is human-machine-interface-centric, with the PCB and integrated circuits all there to facilitate the display of content as well as user inputs." The results of iSuppli's teardown analysis are markedly different from the company's assessment of another piece of popular consumer electronics, the PlayStation 3. When Sony first launched its console in North America at $500 and $600 price points, iSuppli estimated that the company was losing hundreds of dollars on each system, hoping to make the loss up over time through its cut of software and accessory sales. Technological advances and internal redesigns to the PS3 have brought that cost to Sony down significantly over the years. As of last year's launch of the PS3 Slim, iSuppli estimated that Sony's loss-per-system was down to $36. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| DS | Dark Void Zero blasting off on PC, iPhone
April 7, 2010 at 3:06 PM
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| Capcom confirms April 12 debut for new versions of retro-styled jetpack action game with new secret ending, leaderboards, and achievements. 
Back in January, Capcom launched the downloadable 8-bit-styled DS action game Dark Void Zero to critical acclaim. The DSiWare title actually received a better critical reception than the retail Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC game it was intended to promote. The publisher is looking to make the most of the retro release, as today it announced an April 12 launch date for PC and iPhone editions of the game. The PC version will sell for $5, while Apple will sell the mobile game on its iTunes storefront for $3. The platforms aren't the only new things in store for Dark Void Zero; Capcom is also adding a new secret ending to the game. Both versions of the game will also include online leaderboards for scores and speed runs, as well as achievement systems. When the DSi edition of Dark Void Zero was announced, Capcom created a fictitious backstory for the game, claiming it to be an unreleased project for the Nintendo PlayChoice 10 arcade system. In addition to blocky visuals and a chip-tune soundtrack, Dark Void Zero evoked nostalgia by asking players to "blow" on a virtual cartridge (using the DSi's microphone) before playing the game. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PC | Dark Void Zero blasting off on PC, iPhone
April 7, 2010 at 3:06 PM
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| Capcom confirms April 12 debut for new versions of retro-styled jetpack action game with new secret ending, leaderboards, and achievements.
Back in January, Capcom launched the downloadable 8-bit-styled DS action game Dark Void Zero to critical acclaim. The DSiWare title actually received a better critical reception than the retail Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC game it was intended to promote. The publisher is looking to make the most of the retro release, as today it announced an April 12 launch date for PC and iPhone editions of the game. The PC version will sell for $5, while Apple will sell the mobile game on its iTunes storefront for $3. The platforms aren't the only new things in store for Dark Void Zero; Capcom is also adding a new secret ending to the game. Both versions of the game will also include online leaderboards for scores and speed runs, as well as achievement systems. When the DSi edition of Dark Void Zero was announced, Capcom created a fictitious backstory for the game, claiming it to be an unreleased project for the Nintendo PlayChoice 10 arcade system. In addition to blocky visuals and a chip-tune soundtrack, Dark Void Zero evoked nostalgia by asking players to "blow" on a virtual cartridge (using the DSi's microphone) before playing the game. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | Star Trek Online for consoles moved to 'back burner'
April 7, 2010 at 2:06 PM
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| Cryptic Studios says its tepidly received sci-fi MMORPG will remain on PC only due to difficulties with "the business side of things."
Cryptic Studios announced the massively multiplayer online role-playing games Champions Online and Star Trek Online within a few months of each other for the PC and consoles in 2008. The PC editions of those games landed to soft critical receptions within a few months of each other in 2009 and 2010, and now the demise of their console editions have also come in lockstep. With the Atari-owned studio confirming that "there are no current plans for a console version of Champions" in late March, executive producer Craig Zinkievich has said that a similar fate has befallen Star Trek Online. "It's pretty much in the same boat as the Champions console version right now," Zinkievich told UK gaming site VideoGamer. "It's something we can readily do in terms of technology," he continued. "We've had it up and running on certain consoles, and had plans and designs in order to take advantage of those platforms. But as it stands right now it's a little difficult to make that final leap on the business side of things. So, currently, just like Champions, the console version of Star Trek Online is on the back burner." Star Trek Online operates independently from any of the events established in the film or television series. Players assume the role of a starship captain operating under the banner of either the United Federation of Planets (better known simply as "the Federation") or the Klingon, who are locked in an intergalactic struggle. For more on the PC edition of Star Trek Online, check out GameSpot's video review, below. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PC | Star Trek Online for consoles moved to 'back burner'
April 7, 2010 at 2:06 PM
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| Cryptic Studios says its tepidly received sci-fi MMORPG will remain on PC only due to difficulties with "the business side of things." 
Cryptic Studios announced the massively multiplayer online role-playing games Champions Online and Star Trek Online within a few months of each other for the PC and consoles in 2008. The PC editions of those games landed to soft critical receptions within a few months of each other in 2009 and 2010, and now the demise of their console editions have also come in lockstep. With the Atari-owned studio confirming that "there are no current plans for a console version of Champions" in late March, executive producer Craig Zinkievich has said that a similar fate has befallen Star Trek Online. "It's pretty much in the same boat as the Champions console version right now," Zinkievich told UK gaming site VideoGamer. "It's something we can readily do in terms of technology," he continued. "We've had it up and running on certain consoles and had plans and designs in order to take advantage of those platforms. But as it stands right now, it's a little difficult to make that final leap on the business side of things. So, currently, just like Champions, the console version of Star Trek Online is on the back burner." Star Trek Online operates independently from any of the events established in the film or television series. Players assume the role of a starship captain operating under the banner of either the United Federation of Planets (better known simply as "the Federation") or the Klingons, who are locked in an intergalactic struggle. For more on the PC edition of Star Trek Online, check out GameSpot's video review, below. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Wii | Last Airbender movie game floats onto Wii, DS
April 7, 2010 at 1:33 PM
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| THQ adapting M. Night Shyamalan-helmed live-action film for June launch, will follow story from the perspective of antagonist Prince Zuko.
This June, Nickelodeon's animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender will make its leap to live action with a feature film from the director of The Sixth Sense and The Happening, M. Night Shyamalan. Although the filmmaker is known for twist endings, the publisher of the film's game adaptation was entirely predictable. THQ today announced that it will publish The Last Airbender for the Wii and DS. The company has been releasing games based on the Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series since 2006. Based on the film (which has dropped the Avatar name in apparent deference to James Cameron's Oscar-nominated blockbuster), the games will give players a chance to see the story from the perspective of the antagonist, Zuko. In addition to playing as the Fire Nation prince, gamers will also take control of series protagonist Aang, as well as The Blue Spirit. Shyamalan, who also wrote the film's script, brings some marquee talent to the project, but he's working with a largely unknown cast of actors. Perhaps the biggest names in the bunch are Dev Patel (who starred in the 2008 Best Picture Oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire), Jackson Rathbone (Jasper Hale in the Twilight films), and The Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PlayStation 3 | Gilbert departs Hothead, DeathSpank done
April 7, 2010 at 12:38 PM
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| Secret of Monkey Island creator leaves position at Canadian studio as development on action RPG concludes; certification on 360, PS3, [REDACTED] in progress.
Ron Gilbert got his wish in early 2008, when Hothead Games announced that it had installed the Secret of Monkey Island creator as its creative director and agreed to develop his hard-to-pitch project, DeathSpank. However, Gilbert's time at Hothead is ending along with the action role-playing game's development, as the veteran game designer announced through his personal blog this week that he has parted ways with the company. "I wanted to let all the Premium Gold Level Grumpy Gamer subscribers know that I left Hothead," said Gilbert. "When I started working there two years ago, my goal was to make DeathSpank the most awesome game ever made and have it win a Nobel Prize and the early word out of Stockholm is that DeathSpank is neck-in-neck with some string theory dweeb (eleven dimensions my a**)." Gilbert also confirmed that DeathSpank has left the production phase and will start down "that long and winding road of certification and testing of the Xbox and PS3 and [REDACTED] versions." (Redacted in original.) Last month, Electronic Arts said that it would publish the effort on Microsoft and Sony's consoles through its EA Partners program. Though initially announced as an episodic game a la Hothead's Penny Arcade Adventures, DeathSpank evolved into a full downloadable title for Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Along with its adventure-game-style storyline and puzzles, DeathSpank also features a strong action RPG element, where gamers cut their way through swaths of enemies to gain items and level up. For more on DeathSpank, check out GameSpot's most recent preview. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | Alan Wake arriving early in Europe
April 7, 2010 at 11:37 AM
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| The Xbox 360-exclusive action game is now set to hit store shelves in on May 14; North American release still May 18. 
Alan Wake will be released in Europe a full week ahead of its original release date, Microsoft has announced. The Remedy-developed psychological action thriller was originally scheduled for release in Europe on May 21 but has been moved forward to May 14. The game is still set for release on May 18 in North America. Alan Wake tells the story of a best-selling author who retreats with his wife to a small secluded town in hopes of recovering from a severe creativity block. His self-imposed rehabilitation is cut short when his wife disappears and the town of Bright Falls becomes a dangerous realisation of his latest work. Alan Wake was announced at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo as an Xbox 360 and PC title but has had a number of setbacks throughout its development. Also, after hints of a delay to the PC version, earlier this year Microsoft confirmed that it had been put on indefinite hold. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| ESA scholarship applications due May 15
April 6, 2010 at 6:42 PM
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| Deadline to receive industry body's $3,000 financial-aid package for women, minorities expires next month; non-profit grant submissions due April 15.
The Entertainment Software Association's business ranges from running the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo to defending game makers' rights in court. One other duty the industry body has undertaken is engendering good will on behalf of the gaming industry. To that end, the ESA has issued deadline reminders today for its annual education scholarships and non-profit grants. Financial-aid scholarships are open to women and minorities pursuing a career in game development, studying such subjects as graphic design, computer science, animation, programming, digital entertainment, or software engineering. The industry body awards 30 scholarships of $3,000 each, half of which are given to high school seniors and the remainder offered to current college students. Applications for the 2010-2011 school year are due by May 15. As for the ESA's non-profit grant, the deadline for consideration as part of this year's program is April 15. The ESA notes that while it accepts applications year-round, submissions are only reviewed during May and June. The grants are awarded to "non-profit organizations that benefit American boys and girls between the ages of seven and 18," with past recipients including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Save the Children, and Computers for Youth. More information on the two programs, including applications, can be found on the ESA's official Web site. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | Quantum Theory formulated for late summer
April 6, 2010 at 6:25 PM
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| Tecmo Koei confirms release window for gory third-person shooter on Xbox 360 and PS3. 
In February, Tecmo Koei delayed its PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 shooter Quantum Theory, saying it wouldn't be ready for release before its fiscal quarter ended in March. Today a representative with the publisher confirmed a DualShockers report for GameSpot, narrowing down the game's current launch window. "For now, a solid date hasn't been determined yet, but we're looking at the later part of summer 2010," the representative told GameSpot. Quantum Theory follows beefy protagonist Syd and his female counterpart, Filens. With Earth having suffered a postapocalyptic catastrophe, the duo set out to stem the spread of a mysterious substance known as Erosion, the source of which appears to be in a mysterious "Living Tower." For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Quantum Theory. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | Sony, EA, Konami file new trademarks
April 6, 2010 at 5:20 PM
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| PS3 maker requests rights to "Until Dawn" and "Road to Zero," EA signals "Pirates Ahoy," and Konami chases "Adrenalin Misfits."
The first week of April was a busy one for publishers filing US Patent & Trademark Office applications. In addition to NCsoft's fairly straightforward claim on City of Heroes 2, a number of more ambiguous trademark applications have also surfaced in the government agency's online database. From Konami comes "Adrenalin Misfits." Filed on April 1, the application carries a number of the qualifiers to be expected from a new game, including "video game software, video game programs, computer game programs, computer game software, and electronic game programs." No other information on the potential new game, such as platforms, genre, or release date, could be gleaned from the filing. Electronic Arts and Sony Computer Entertainment America also filed trademark applications during the first week of April, apparently staking claims on names for downloadable titles. EA's application is for "Pirates Ahoy," which the publisher seeks to claim for "entertainment services, namely, providing an online computer game." It is not clear whether the game will surface on the publisher's casual game portal Pogo.com or one of the console maker's online services. As for SCEA, the publisher has filed to trademark "Until Dawn." Sony specifically notes that the name would be used with a product that "may be accessed over global and local area computer networks by network users." SCEA's parent company--that is, Sony Corp.--also got into the trademark application game on April 1, filing to secure the rights to "Road to Zero." However, that trademark would be from goods ranging from games to "saddle bags" to "apparatus and instruments for astronomy." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | Halo 3, Tomb Raider: Legend going downloadable
April 6, 2010 at 5:05 PM
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| Microsoft schedules weeks of Xbox Live Arcade and Games on Demand releases, headlined by digital debuts for Bungie's sci-fi shooter and Eidos' Lara Croft revamp. 
With a new 250GB hard drive accessory available and USB memory support just added to the Xbox 360, gamers on Microsoft's system have more storage options than ever before. To help gamers fill up all that extra space, Microsoft today laid out its Xbox Live Arcade and Games on Demand plans for the next few weeks. Next Tuesday, Microsoft will add Tomb Raider: Legend to the Games on Demand section of the North American Xbox Live Marketplace, with gamers in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand getting Devil May Cry 4. The following week, Bungie's 2007 sci-fi shooter Halo 3 will be available for all Xbox 360 gamers around the world, with Europeans also getting the THQ open-world action game Saints Row for the first time. This week also saw new options added to the Games on Demand service, as Microsoft launched Fable II worldwide and Fallout 3 in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Fable II was already available to download (except in Korea and Japan) in an episodic format, with the first chapter given away for free and subsequent portions of the game carrying a charge. Fallout 3 has also been seen on the service previously, as Bethesda's postapocalyptic role-playing game launched on the North American Games on Demand service last month. Things are quieter elsewhere on the Xbox Live Marketplace, with the biggest launch being Capcom's Final Fight: Double Impact on Wednesday, April 14. The 800 Microsoft point ($10) game pairs the original arcade edition of Final Fight together with another of the publisher's quarter-munchers, Magic Sword. Both games will include high-definition graphical filters (like in the recent downloadable editions of Marvel vs. Capcom 2), with the option to view the games in full-screen mode or to see them surrounded by the original arcade bezel art. Capcom is also adding online multiplayer action to both games, incorporating GGPO netcode designed to disguise latency for arcade-quality online play. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PC | City of Heroes 2 trademark filed
April 6, 2010 at 3:44 PM
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| NCsoft makes filing with US Patent & Trademark Office to lock down naming rights for sequel to superhero MMORPG. 
Fans of muscled protagonists in spandex may be in luck. It looks like the massively multiplayer superhero role-playing game City of Heroes is getting a full-fledged follow-up. Korean publisher NCSoft has filed for a trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office for "City of Heroes 2" for use with "computer game software". The original City of Heroes sold over a half-million units in the US, and its semi-sequel City of Villains sold nearly a quarter of a million copies domestically, according to the NPD Group. City of Heroes was developed by Cryptic Studios, which recently released Star Trek Online and Champions Online. However, since Cryptic was bought by France-based Atari in 2008, development duties for City of Heroes have been handled by Paragon Studios, the Silicon Valley based shop formerly known as NCsoft North. Founded in 2007, the studio has grown from an original roster of 20 employees to more than 50 people--a number that will presumably increase if City of Heroes 2 goes into full-fledged development. Inspired by comic books, City of Heroes lets players assume the role of a superhero and fight a variety of villains in the fictional metropolis of Paragon City. Players can customize their heroes with a variety of costumes and items and hundreds of different superpowers, skills, and abilities. They can then form alliances with other characters, create secret headquarters, and fight evil to become the top superhero squad in the city. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PC | Infinity Ward loses two more leads
April 6, 2010 at 12:47 PM
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| LinkedIn profiles indicate Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer designer Todd Alderman, software engineer Francesco Gigliotti depart embattled studio. 
March saw the high-profile firings of Infinity Ward studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West, and it didn't take an analyst's intuition to guess that the two may be joined by other Call of Duty veterans. Just such a scenario now appears to be coming to pass, as the LinkedIn profiles of Infinity Ward lead designer Todd Alderman and lead software engineer Francesco Gigliotti indicate both left the company this month. Both Alderman and Gigliotti joined Infinity Ward in 2002, approximately one year before Activision acquired the studio and the first game in the $3 billion franchise shipped for the PC. Alderman's departure, in particular, could be considered a substantial blow to the studio, as his profile indicates he led design on the franchise's heralded multiplayer component. Activision had not responded to requests for comment on the departures as of press time. The upheaval at Infinity Ward began last month, when Activision abruptly fired Zampella and West due to "breaches of contract and insubordination." At the same time, the publisher revealed a new business unit devoted to the Call of Duty brand, one that will oversee the creation of a new first-person shooter at Treyarch, an action adventure at Sledgehammer Games, and a massively multiplayer online role-playing game for release in Asia. Zampella and West subsequently sued Activision for $36 million, as well as control of the Call of Duty license. The two also reportedly secured representation by the Creative Artists Agency, whose clients also include Steven Spielberg, Brad Pitt, David Letterman, and Derek Jeter, to name but a few. For more information on Infinity Ward's $1 billion-selling shooter, as well as the rocky launch of its first map pack, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | AU Shippin' Out April 6-9: Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack
April 6, 2010 at 3:15 AM
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| 2K Games take a page out of Fallout 3's book and releases DLC on a retail disc this week down under. 
The past few weeks have seen the release of hit title after hit title, so it's only natural that eventually things would slow and quiet down. Xbox 360 and PC Borderlands fans who haven't got their machine online or just haven…t made it around to buying the Borderlands expansions: The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and Mad Moxxi's Underdome downloadable content packs will be pleased to hear that 2K Games is releasing the two packs on a single retail disc. It will be branded as Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack, and players should keep in mind that you…ll need an original copy of Borderlands to play. There's no word on whether a PlayStation 3 version of the pack will be making its way to the console any time soon. Other games out this week include indie puzzle game Machinarium and Dead or Alive: Paradise. Stay tuned to AU Shippin' Out for all the latest release. April 8, 2010
Rune Factory Frontier (Wii)
Half-Minute Hero (PSP)
Machinarium (PC)
Dead or Alive Paradise (PSP)
The Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5th Sun (DS, Wii)
April 9, 2010
Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack (PC, 360)
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PlayStation 3 | Indian conglomerate cracks 50% of Codemasters
April 5, 2010 at 12:52 PM
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| Reliance Big Entertainment acquires half of Dirt publisher for undisclosed sum; racing, cricket franchises targeted.
In June 2007, Balderton Capital expanded its holdings in Codemasters, building upon the 40 percent stake it had previously acquired to buy out the British game company's founders. Now, the venture capital firm will be sharing control of the publisher, as Reliance Big Entertainment announced today that it has acquired a 50 percent sharehold in Codemasters. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Reliance Big Entertainment is the media arm of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, which is ranked among India's top three largest businesses. The entertainment company's Hollywood ventures include a partnership with Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider to form DreamWorks Studios, as well as development deals with production houses ranging from George Clooney's Smokehouse Productions to Brian Gazer and Ron Howard's Imagine Entertainment Reliance Big's investment in Codemasters will fall under the entertainment company's Zapak label. The Indian gaming company is primarily known as a provider of online casual games and boasts 8 million registered users through Zapak.com. Zapak also publishes a variety of massively multiplayer online games in India, including Runescape and Crazy Kart, creates mobile wares through its Jump Games division, and owns more than 100 Internet cafes. "We are excited to partner with Codemasters and believe its very strong technology, development, and distribution presence will complement our global gaming portfolio," said Zapak CEO Rohit Sharma in a statement. "Additionally, Zapak's global strength in mobile gaming will enhance Codemasters' ability to fully leverage its attractive franchises such as its racing and cricket games." Codemasters is perhaps best known for its racing franchises, which include Dirt, Grid, and Formula 1. Other franchises in the publisher's stable include cricket simulation The Ashes, Overlord, and Operation Flashpoint. The publisher also recently announced Bodycount from Black lead designer Stuart Black, which is due for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation during the first part of 2011. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | Indian conglomerate cracks 50% of Codemasters
April 5, 2010 at 12:52 PM
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| Reliance Big Entertainment acquires half of Dirt publisher for undisclosed sum; racing, cricket franchises targeted. 
In June 2007, Balderton Capital expanded its holdings in Codemasters, building upon the 40 percent stake it had previously acquired to buy out the British game company's founders. Now, the venture capital firm will be sharing control of the publisher, as Reliance Big Entertainment announced today that it has acquired a 50 percent sharehold in Codemasters. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Reliance Big Entertainment is the media arm of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, which is ranked among India's top three largest businesses. The entertainment company's Hollywood ventures include a partnership with Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider to form DreamWorks Studios, as well as development deals with production houses ranging from George Clooney's Smokehouse Productions to Brian Gazer and Ron Howard's Imagine Entertainment Reliance Big's investment in Codemasters will fall under the entertainment company's Zapak label. The Indian gaming company is primarily known as a provider of online casual games and boasts 8 million registered users through Zapak.com. Zapak also publishes a variety of massively multiplayer online games in India, including Runescape and Crazy Kart, creates mobile wares through its Jump Games division, and owns more than 100 Internet cafes. "We are excited to partner with Codemasters and believe its very strong technology, development, and distribution presence will complement our global gaming portfolio," said Zapak CEO Rohit Sharma in a statement. "Additionally, Zapak's global strength in mobile gaming will enhance Codemasters' ability to fully leverage its attractive franchises such as its racing and cricket games." Codemasters is perhaps best known for its racing franchises, which include Dirt, Grid, and Formula 1. Other franchises in the publisher's stable include cricket simulation The Ashes, Overlord, and Operation Flashpoint. The publisher also recently announced Bodycount from Black lead designer Stuart Black, which is due for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation during the first part of 2011. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| Xbox 360 | Shippin' Out Apr. 4-10: Borderlands Add-On Pack
April 4, 2010 at 3:44 PM
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| Retail combo of Gearbox shooter's Dr. Ned and Underdome Riot DLC leads an anemic week of new releases.
With many publishers' fiscal years ending on March 31, it's not entirely surprising to see a bit of a release schedule letdown to start April. That said, the letdown is more like a meltdown this year, as the week of April 4 is one of the lightest in recent memory, in terms of new retail releases. Even the biggest retail release of the week, the Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack, is just a sampling of already available downloadable content for Xbox 360 and PC. Take-Two's brick-and-mortar Borderlands expansion will sell for $20 and includes all the content from The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, the first two DLC packs. The package will not include February's Secret Armory of General Knoxx. The only other high-profile debut for the week will be downloadable only, as Electronic Arts is set to launch the Kasumi - Stolen Memory add-on for the Xbox 360 and PC editions of Mass Effect 2. As detailed in GameSpot's first look at the add-on pack from this year's Game Developers Conference, the pack's primary draw is the addition of the titular new character, Kasumi Goto. Described as a master thief, Kasumi comes with her own loyalty mission in which players aid her in stealthily retrieving information from the criminal mastermind Donovan Hock. The Kasumi - Stolen Memory pack also includes a new research upgrade and introduces the flashbang grenade, which temporarily blinds enemies. For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later in the week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change. April 4, 2010
No new releases announced. April 5, 2010
No new releases announced. April 6, 2010
Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack--X360, PC--Take-Two Interactive
Squishy Tank--DS--Natsume
Mass Effect 2: Kasumi - Stolen Memory--X360--EA April 7, 2010
No new releases announced. April 8, 2010
Satisfashion--Wii--Destineer
Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West--PC--Paradox Interactive April 9, 2010
No new releases announced. April 10, 2010
No new releases announced. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PC | Shippin' Out Apr. 4-10: Borderlands Add-On Pack
April 4, 2010 at 3:44 PM
|
| Retail combo of Gearbox shooter's Dr. Ned and Underdome Riot DLC leads an anemic week of new releases. 
With many publishers' fiscal years ending on March 31, it's not entirely surprising to see a bit of a release schedule letdown to start April. That said, the letdown is more like a meltdown this year, as the week of April 4 is one of the lightest in recent memory, in terms of new retail releases. Even the biggest retail release of the week, the Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack, is just a sampling of already available downloadable content for the Xbox 360 and PC. Take-Two's brick-and-mortar Borderlands expansion will sell for $20 and includes all the content from The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, the first two DLC packs. The package will not include February's Secret Armory of General Knoxx. The only other high-profile debut for the week will be downloadable only, as Electronic Arts is set to launch the Kasumi - Stolen Memory add-on for the Xbox 360 and PC editions of Mass Effect 2. As detailed in GameSpot's first look at the add-on pack from this year's Game Developers Conference, the pack's primary draw is the addition of the titular new character, Kasumi Goto. Described as a master thief, Kasumi comes with her own loyalty mission in which players aid her in stealthily retrieving information from the criminal mastermind Donovan Hock. The Kasumi - Stolen Memory pack also includes a new research upgrade and introduces the flashbang grenade, which temporarily blinds enemies. For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later in the week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change. April 4, 2010
No new releases announced. April 5, 2010
No new releases announced. April 6, 2010
Borderlands: Double Game Add-On Pack--X360, PC--Take-Two Interactive
Squishy Tank--DS--Natsume
Mass Effect 2: Kasumi - Stolen Memory--X360--EA April 7, 2010
No new releases announced. April 8, 2010
Satisfashion--Wii--Destineer
Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West--PC--Paradox Interactive April 9, 2010
No new releases announced. April 10, 2010
No new releases announced. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PlayStation 3 | Sega scrapping Iron Man 2 developer
April 2, 2010 at 7:56 PM
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| Sega Studios San Francisco (formerly Secret Level) being shuttered after completion of feature film-based multiplatform game. 
Though Iron Man 2 won't even arrive in stores for another month, the fate of its developer has already been sealed. Sega has confirmed to Gamasutra the closure of its Sega Studios San Francisco outfit, previously known as Secret Level. Secret Level was founded in 1999, when it began work on the critically acclaimed Dreamcast port of Unreal Tournament. The studio was acquired by Sega in 2006 as part of an increased emphasis on Western development. Since that time, the studio has launched two titles for the publisher. The first was the 2008 movie tie-in Iron Man, which left reviewers cold but sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. Secret Level's encore later that year didn't fare as well, as Golden Axe: Beast Rider was a flop, drawing negative reviews and selling fewer than 42,000 copies in its first three months on US retail shelves. It didn't help matters that the game was launched the same day as heavily hyped hits like Dead Space and Saints Row 2. It's unclear how many employees were laid off as a result of the studio closure. Sega had already downsized its US operations in early 2009, with reports at the time suggesting as many as 30 employees had been laid off at Secret Level. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PSP | Sega scrapping Iron Man 2 developer
April 2, 2010 at 7:56 PM
|
| Sega Studios San Francisco (formerly Secret Level) being shuttered after completion of feature-film-based multiplatform game. 
Though Iron Man 2 won't even arrive in stores for another month, the fate of its developer has already been sealed. Sega has confirmed to Gamasutra the closure of its Sega Studios San Francisco outfit, previously known as Secret Level. Secret Level was founded in 1999, when it began work on the critically acclaimed Dreamcast port of Unreal Tournament. The studio was acquired by Sega in 2006 as part of an increased emphasis on Western development. Since that time, the studio has launched two titles for the publisher. The first was the 2008 movie tie-in Iron Man, which left reviewers cold but sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. Secret Level's encore later that year didn't fare as well, as Golden Axe: Beast Rider was a flop, drawing negative reviews and selling fewer than 42,000 copies in its first three months on US retail shelves. It didn't help matters that the game was launched the same day as heavily hyped hits like Dead Space and Saints Row 2. It's unclear how many employees were laid off as a result of the studio closure. Sega had already downsized its US operations in early 2009, with reports at the time suggesting as many as 30 employees had been laid off at Secret Level. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | |
| Xbox 360 | Sega scrapping Iron Man 2 developer
April 2, 2010 at 7:56 PM
|
| Sega Studios San Francisco (formerly Secret Level) being shuttered after completion of feature-film-based multiplatform game. 
Though Iron Man 2 won't even arrive in stores for another month, the fate of its developer has already been sealed. Sega has confirmed to Gamasutra the closure of its Sega Studios San Francisco outfit, previously known as Secret Level. Secret Level was founded in 1999, when it began work on the critically acclaimed Dreamcast port of Unreal Tournament. The studio was acquired by Sega in 2006 as part of an increased emphasis on Western development. Since that time, the studio has launched two titles for the publisher. The first was the 2008 movie tie-in Iron Man, which left reviewers cold but sold more than 1 million copies worldwide. Secret Level's encore later that year didn't fare as well, as Golden Axe: Beast Rider was a flop, drawing negative reviews and selling fewer than 42,000 copies in its first three months on US retail shelves. It didn't help matters that the game was launched the same day as heavily hyped hits like Dead Space and Saints Row 2. It's unclear how many employees were laid off as a result of the studio closure. Sega had already downsized its US operations in early 2009, with reports at the time suggesting as many as 30 employees had been laid off at Secret Level. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| iPhone/iPod | Apple patenting iPhone gamepads
April 2, 2010 at 7:37 PM
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| Ubiquitous hardware company admits playing games on devices is "somewhat awkward" in USPTO filing for peripherals with rumble, dedicated game buttons for iPhone, possibly iPad. 
During a presentation last September, Apple executives played up gaming on the iPhone--and dismissed the PSP and DS as inferior products. Senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Philip W. Schiller blasted the platforms as having overly expensive games. He also said that the iPhone's lack of dedicated buttons actually made it a superior gaming platform to Sony's or Nintendo's portables. Ironically, Schiller's swagger directly contradicts the wording in a patent application which surfaced this week. Originally filed by Apple in September 2008, the patent states that gaming can "be somewhat awkward, particularly on a portable electronic device having a touchscreen. The same screen used for viewing an avatar's activities is used to control the avatar. This arrangement causes the user's fingers [to] block the action. Thus, while these portable electronic devices include a highly efficient interface, when playing games it is often desirable to have a more specialized user interface." As some might suspect, Apple's patent filing was for an accessory to the iPhone which would offer dedicated gaming buttons. According to the filing, "The game accessory can have input controls, such as buttons, joysticks, and D-pads. Another example provides a game accessory having a thumb pad or keyboard. Other possible features include microphones, cameras and camera lenses, speakers, a second screen, rumble, and motion detection." Illustrations accompanying the filing show an accessory which allows an iPhone--and potentially the just-released iPad--to be slid into it. The filing reads, "The game accessory may have a recess sized to fit the portable electronic device. Inserts or removable adapters can be used to fit portable electronic devices having different sizes. The portable electronic device can be held in the accessory using sliding covers, clips, or other engaging members. In other examples, the accessory can communicate with another accessory for head-to-head game play. The accessory may include circuitry for power, identification, and authorization." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | |
| iPhone/iPod | Apple patenting iPhone gamepads
April 2, 2010 at 7:37 PM
|
| Ubiquitous hardware company admits playing games on devices is "somewhat awkward" in USPTO filing for peripherals with rumble, dedicated game buttons for iPhone, possibly iPad.
During a presentation last September, Apple executives played up gaming on the iPhone--and dismissed the PSP and DS as inferior products. Senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Philip W. Schiller blasted the platforms as having overly expensive games. He also said that the iPhone's lack of dedicated buttons actually made it a superior gaming platform to Sony or Nintendo's portables. Ironically, Schiller's swagger directly contradicts the wording in a patent application, which surfaced this week. Originally filed by Apple in September 2008, the patent states that gaming can "be somewhat awkward, particularly on a portable electronic device having a touch screen. The same screen used for viewing an avatar's activities is used to control the avatar. This arrangement causes the user's fingers [to] block the action. Thus, while these portable electronic devices include a highly efficient interface, when playing games it is often desirable to have a more specialized user interface." As some might suspect, Apple's patent filing was for an accessory to the iPhone, which would offer dedicated gaming buttons. According to the filing, "The game accessory can have input controls, such as buttons, joysticks, and D pads. Another example provides a game accessory having a thumb pad or keyboard. Other possible features include microphones, cameras and camera lenses, speakers, a second screen, rumble, and motion detection." Illustrations accompanying the filing show an accessory, which allows an iPhone--and potentially the just-released iPad--to be slid into it. The filing reads, "The game accessory may have a recess sized to fit the portable electronic device. Inserts or removable adapters can be used to fit portable electronic devices having different sizes. The portable electronic device can be held in the accessory using sliding covers, clips, or other engaging members. In other examples, the accessory can communicate with another accessory for head-to-head game play. The accessory may include circuitry for power, identification, and authorization." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| PlayStation 3 | Big in Japan Mar. 22-28: Fist of the North Star Warriors
April 2, 2010 at 5:56 PM
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| Koei's latest beat-'em-up beats down more than 400,000 units on PS3, 360 as Sony's console tops hardware; God of War III opens to 43,181 sales. 
The PlayStation 3 edition of Koei's Fist of the North Star Warriors topped Sega's Yakuza 4 in terms of opening-week performance on Media Create's weekly sales chart, but not by much. With Yakuza 4 selling 383,972 a week prior, the PS3 installment of Koei's latest Dynasty Warriors-inspired beat-'em-up sold 385,295 units during the March 22-28 reporting period. With the PS3 version of Fist of the North Star Warriors topping the chart, the Xbox 360 edition sold an additional 30,306 units, enough for seventh place. That figure was slightly less than fellow newcomer God of War III, which opened to 43,181 units in Japan. Sony this week said that the game sold 1 million units within its first few days on the market, though it remains unclear whether that figure is a global tally. The final new entrant to crack Media Create's top 10 during the period was Alchemist's Saki Portable for the PSP, which sold 20,165 units. Otherwise, the chart was populated by a number of familiar faces. Yakuza 4 dropped a slot to second, following up its opening week performance with an additional 83,187 units sold. Pokemon Ranger: Hikari no Kiseki edged out New Super Mario Bros. Wii to take third, selling 51,233 units to the side-scrolling platformer's 51,214 copies. Other chart-toppers included Tomodachi Collection, Gundam: Assault Survive, and Wii Fit Plus. As with Yakuza 4 the week before, the PS3 appears to have gotten a lift out of Fist of the North Star Warriors. Sony's console finished atop the hardware chart with 50,448, which outpaced the PSP's 46,449-unit weekly haul. Nintendo's hardware followed, as the Wii sold 36,849 units and the DS family shifted a combined 45,559 units. The Xbox 360 sold 3,002 units, though that slim figure was enough to put it ahead of the PSP Go and PlayStation 2. JAPAN GAME SALES WEEK OF MARCH 22-28, 2010
Software:
Rank / Title / Publisher / Platform / Unit sales
1) Fist of the North Star Warriors / Koei / PS3 / 385,295
2) Yakuza 4: Densetsu o Tsugumono / Sega / PS3 / 83,187
3) Pokemon Ranger: Hikari no Kiseki / Nintendo / DS / 49,548
4) New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Nintendo / Wii / 51,214
5) Tomodachi Collection / Nintendo / DS / 43,997
6) God of War III / Sony / PS3 / 43,181
7) Fist of the North Star Warriors / Koei / X360 / 30,306
8) Gundam Assault Survive / Bandai Namco / PSP / 26,885
9) Wii Fit Plus / Nintendo / Wii / 21,150
10) Saki Portable / Alchemist / PSP / 20,165 Hardware:
PS3 - 50,448
PSP - 46,449
Wii - 36,849
DSi LL - 23,188
DSi - 17,376
DS Lite - 4,995
Xbox 360 - 3,002
PSP Go - 1,874
PS2 - 1,785 Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | |
| PlayStation 3 | Big in Japan Mar. 22-28: Fist of the North Star Warriors
April 2, 2010 at 5:56 PM
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| Koei's latest beat-'em-up beats down more than 400,000 units on PS3, 360 as Sony's console tops hardware; God of War III opens to 43,181 sales. 
The PlayStation 3 edition of Koei's Fist of the North Star Warriors topped Sega's Yakuza 4 in terms of opening-week performance on Media Create's weekly sales chart, but not by much. With Yakuza 4 selling 383,972 a week prior, the PS3 installment of Koei's latest Dynasty Warriors-inspired beat-'em-up sold 385,295 units during the March 22-28 reporting period. With the PS3 version of Fist of the North Star Warriors topping the chart, the Xbox 360 edition sold an additional 30,306 units, enough for seventh place. That figure was slightly less than fellow newcomer God of War III, which opened to 43,181 units in Japan. Sony this week said that the game sold 1 million units within its first few days on the market, though it remains unclear whether that figure is a global tally. The final new entrant to crack Media Create's top 10 during the period was Alchemist's Saki Portable for the PSP, which sold 20,165 units. Otherwise, the chart was populated by a number of familiar faces. Yakuza 4 dropped a slot to second, following up its opening week performance with an additional 83,187 units sold. Pokemon Ranger: Hikari no Kiseki edged out New Super Mario Bros. Wii to take third, selling 51,233 units to the side-scrolling platformer's 51,214 copies. Other chart toppers included Tomodachi Collection, Gundam: Assault Survive, and Wii Fit Plus. As with Yakuza 4 the week before, the PS3 appears to have gotten a lift out of Fist of the North Star Warriors. Sony's console finished atop the hardware chart with 50,448, which outpaced the PSP's 46,449-unit weekly haul. Nintendo's hardware followed, as the Wii sold 36,849 units and the DS family shifted a combined 45,559 units. The Xbox 360 sold 3,002 units, though that slim figure was enough to put it ahead of the PSP Go and PlayStation 2. JAPAN GAME SALES WEEK OF MARCH 22-28, 2010
Software:
Rank / Title / Publisher / Platform / Unit sales
1) Fist of the North Star Warriors / Koei / PS3 / 385,295
2) Yakuza 4: Densetsu o Tsugumono / Sega / PS3 / 83,187
3) Pokemon Ranger: Hikari no Kiseki / Nintendo / DS / 49,548
4) New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Nintendo / Wii / 51,214
5) Tomodachi Collection / Nintendo / DS / 43,997
6) God of War III / Sony / PS3 / 43,181
7) Fist of the North Star Warriors / Koei / X360 / 30,306
8) Gundam Assault Survive / Bandai Namco / PSP / 26,885
9) Wii Fit Plus / Nintendo / Wii / 21,150
10) Saki Portable / Alchemist / PSP / 20,165 Hardware:
PS3 - 50,448
PSP - 46,449
Wii - 36,849
DSi LL - 23,188
DSi - 17,376
DS Lite - 4,995
Xbox 360 - 3,002
PSP Go - 1,874
PS2 - 1,785 Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | |
| Wii | Big in Japan Mar. 22-28: Fist of the North Star Warriors
April 2, 2010 at 5:56 PM
|
| Koei's latest beat-'em-up beats down more than 400,000 units on PS3, 360 as Sony's console tops hardware; God of War III opens to 43,181 sales. 
The PlayStation 3 edition of Koei's Fist of the North Star Warriors topped Sega's Yakuza 4 in terms of opening-week performance on Media Create's weekly sales chart, but not by much. With Yakuza 4 selling 383,972 a week prior, the PS3 installment of Koei's latest Dynasty Warriors-inspired beat-'em-up sold 385,295 units during the March 22-28 reporting period. With the PS3 version of Fist of the North Star Warriors topping the chart, the Xbox 360 edition sold an additional 30,306 units, enough for seventh place. That figure was slightly less than fellow newcomer God of War III, which opened to 43,181 units in Japan. Sony this week said that the game sold 1 million units within its first few days on the market, though it remains unclear whether that figure is a global tally. The final new entrant to crack Media Create's top 10 during the period was Alchemist's Saki Portable for the PSP, which sold 20,165 units. Otherwise, the chart was populated by a number of familiar faces. Yakuza 4 dropped a slot to second, following up its opening week performance with an additional 83,187 units sold. Pokemon Ranger: Hikari no Kiseki edged out New Super Mario Bros. Wii to take third, selling 51,233 units to the side-scrolling platformer's 51,214 copies. Other chart toppers included Tomodachi Collection, Gundam: Assault Survive, and Wii Fit Plus. As with Yakuza 4 the week before, the PS3 appears to have gotten a lift out of Fist of the North Star Warriors. Sony's console finished atop the hardware chart with 50,448, which outpaced the PSP's 46,449-unit weekly haul. Nintendo's hardware followed, as the Wii sold 36,849 units and the DS family shifted a combined 45,559 units. The Xbox 360 sold 3,002 units, though that slim figure was enough to put it ahead of the PSP Go and PlayStation 2. JAPAN GAME SALES WEEK OF MARCH 22-28, 2010
Software:
Rank / Title / Publisher / Platform / Unit sales
1) Fist of the North Star Warriors / Koei / PS3 / 385,295
2) Yakuza 4: Densetsu o Tsugumono / Sega / PS3 / 83,187
3) Pokemon Ranger: Hikari no Kiseki / Nintendo / DS / 49,548
4) New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Nintendo / Wii / 51,214
5) Tomodachi Collection / Nintendo / DS / 43,997
6) God of War III / Sony / PS3 / 43,181
7) Fist of the North Star Warriors / Koei / X360 / 30,306
8) Gundam Assault Survive / Bandai Namco / PSP / 26,885
9) Wii Fit Plus / Nintendo / Wii / 21,150
10) Saki Portable / Alchemist / PSP / 20,165 Hardware:
PS3 - 50,448
PSP - 46,449
Wii - 36,849
DSi LL - 23,188
DSi - 17,376
DS Lite - 4,995
Xbox 360 - 3,002
PSP Go - 1,874
PS2 - 1,785 Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | |
| Xbox 360 | EA, Ubisoft, Microsoft tune in to tie-ins
April 2, 2010 at 5:28 PM
|
| MI6 2010: Marketing reps explain the speed bumps and benefits when taking projects like Dead Space, Assassin's Creed, and Halo from the small screen to the big screen and beyond. 
Who was there: Frank O'Connor, franchise development director for Microsoft's Halo publishing label 343 Industries; Dan Morris, director of strategy and development for Electronic Arts; and Andy Swanson, senior director of consumer products for Ubisoft. What they talked about: Swanson began the session by explaining the difference between entertainment brands and game brands. He said entertainment brands like Spider-Man, Transformers, and Pokemon all expanded well beyond their original medium. Swanson was particularly impressed by Lego Star Wars, which is actually a combination of two existing entertainment brands that is in itself a unique, third brand. Swanson said what makes something an entertainment brand is that fans can interact with it in a variety of ways, from books and movies to theme parks and games. As for what makes for a good entertainment brand, Swanson said they need to have fleshed-out characters that consumers like and some storytelling potential, as well as be a shareable experience to foster discussion. Swanson said he looks to Marvel as an example of doing the brand-building task right. The company narrowly avoided going under entirely in 2000, in large part because it took a more active role in licensing and putting its characters in as many different forms as possible. While game companies dabble in this, Swanson said it could be done better. At the moment, he said gaming brand extensions are largely limited to book and comic publishing, apparel, toys, and higher-end collector's items. Morris took over to explain a change in EA's approach to brands in recent years. He said the publisher basically spent two decades creating original intellectual properties but never gave a second thought to extending those brands beyond the world of games. While there was a comic book here or a tie-in there, Morris said there was no coordinated effort and no opportunity for the company to learn from its past mistakes. To remedy that, EA centralized its brand-extension efforts. One small team now works with all of the developers to coordinate their project's leaps beyond the gaming screen. The publisher's slogan, as articulated by John Riccitiello, is IP Cubed: Create, Sequel, Extend. Morris is focused on the "extend" part of that equation and started going over the publisher's attempts to break onto the big screen. To get into movies, EA allied itself with people that knew how to make movies better than EA did. The publisher has an exclusive deal with United Talent Agency to set up motion picture deals for a variety of its key properties. Morris said the good news is that with UTA and the original IP EA owns, the publisher has been able to land a few deals, specifically Dante's Inferno, Dead Space, Spore, and Army of Two. Morris said EA is hands-on with all of those projects because the worst thing for the company would be for these films to get made--but get made poorly. While Hollywood film production is riddled with pitfalls, EA isn't waiting for those projects to get made before establishing itself in films. Morris pointed to the Dante's Inferno and Dead Space: Downfall animated features created with Film Roman as efforts to push their brands into different aisles of the local department store while the company waits for its Hollywood projects to come together. The company is also planning to release further animated projects to tide fans over and "act as the glue" between major releases of a series. Swanson discussed Ubisoft's recent experiments with short films, saying the publisher wants to keep control of its own IP but also learn about the process of filmmaking in the process. The effort started in 2008, when Ubisoft purchased Montreal-based Hybride Technologies to collaborate with its game makers on new projects. The first product of that union was Assassin's Creed: Lineage, an episodic series of short films created to promote Assassin's Creed II (the full film was also aired on Spike TV around the game's launch). The next step for Ubisoft is to bring in some filmmaking talent, Swanson said. The upcoming Ghost Recon: Future Soldier short film will be the test for that, as the company has Oscar-winning short film directors Francois Alaux and Herve de Crecy helming the 30-minute film. Ubisoft has also teamed with Ridley Scott's Little Minx to produce the project. The Future Soldier project will set the stage for the game, which is scheduled for a fall release. A trailer for the short showed Ghost Recon troops equipped with an abundance of high-tech toys, including remote-controlled mobile artillery pieces, shoulder-mounted rocket launchers, and light-bending active camouflage equipment. For his part of the presentation, O'Connor shared some of the lessons Microsoft has picked up after a decade of working on the Halo franchise. He said the most important thing for any franchise in any medium is that, "You have to own your own universe." He said Call of Duty is a bigger franchise than Halo at this point, but Activision doesn't "own" the universe. A Hummer appearing in anything Call of Duty would still need to be licensed, and there's no monopoly on historical events. Once a company has its own universe, O'Connor said it needs to understand that universe, as well as the audience for it. Nothing can stay the same forever, but knowing what the heart of the universe is and why people like it helps shape good decisions about what to change. O'Connor said that Microsoft has a long-term plan for the Halo franchise, but it has changed over time. While O'Connor said an opportunistic strategy is bad, it behooves a publisher to dabble in areas where it isn't an expert as it can pay dividends. In particular, O'Connor said Halo toys and pajamas turned out better than expected. At the same time, O'Connor stressed that "You have to do what's right for your franchise." Microsoft approved a version of the board game Risk for Halo Wars because the basic gameplay of Risk could be fairly easily mapped to the Halo universe. However, the company passed on Halo Monopoly because it just didn't make sense with the license. Another hurdle to clear is the ESRB age gate. Since the ratings board mandates that M-rated games not be marketed to children, O'Connor said Microsoft has to be very careful about what ancillary products it tries to sell and how it tries to sell it. Quote: "It's not the same as the video game industry in any way. They are not necessarily about selling things."--O'Connor, on the lessons learned from dabbling in the film industry with Halo Legends. Takeaway: Gaming is still at the tip of the iceberg as an entertainment medium. Examples of massive entertainment brands that sprung from games may be limited today (Pokemon, for instance) but should be significantly more common in the future. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | |
| PSP | EA, Ubisoft, Microsoft tune in to tie-ins
April 2, 2010 at 5:28 PM
|
| MI6 2010: Marketing reps explain the speed bumps and benefits when taking projects like Dead Space, Assassin's Creed, and Halo from the small screen to the big screen and beyond. 
Who was there: Frank O'Connor, franchise development director for Microsoft's Halo publishing label 343 Industries; Dan Morris, director of strategy and development for Electronic Arts; and Andy Swanson, senior director of consumer products for Ubisoft. What they talked about: Swanson began the session by explaining the difference between entertainment brands and game brands. He said entertainment brands like Spider-Man, Transformers, and Pokemon all expanded well beyond their original medium. Swanson was particularly impressed by Lego Star Wars, which is actually a combination of two existing entertainment brands that is in itself a unique, third brand. Swanson said what makes something an entertainment brand is that fans can interact with it in a variety of ways, from books and movies to theme parks and games. As for what makes for a good entertainment brand, Swanson said they need to have fleshed-out characters that consumers like and some storytelling potential, as well as be a shareable experience to foster discussion. Swanson said he looks to Marvel as an example of doing the brand-building task right. The company narrowly avoided going under entirely in 2000, in large part because it took a more active role in licensing and putting its characters in as many different forms as possible. While game companies dabble in this, Swanson said it could be done better. At the moment, he said gaming brand extensions are largely limited to book and comic publishing, apparel, toys, and higher-end collector's items. Morris took over to explain a change in EA's approach to brands in recent years. He said the publisher basically spent two decades creating original intellectual properties but never gave a second thought to extending those brands beyond the world of games. While there was a comic book here or a tie-in there, Morris said there was no coordinated effort and no opportunity for the company to learn from its past mistakes. To remedy that, EA centralized its brand-extension efforts. One small team now works with all of the developers to coordinate their project's leaps beyond the gaming screen. The publisher's slogan, as articulated by John Riccitiello, is IP Cubed: Create, Sequel, Extend. Morris is focused on the "extend" part of that equation and started going over the publisher's attempts to break onto the big screen. To get into movies, EA allied itself with people that knew how to make movies better than EA did. The publisher has an exclusive deal with United Talent Agency to set up motion picture deals for a variety of its key properties. Morris said the good news is that with UTA and the original IP EA owns, the publisher has been able to land a few deals, specifically Dante's Inferno, Dead Space, Spore, and Army of Two. Morris said EA is hands-on with all of those projects because the worst thing for the company would be for these films to get made--but get made poorly. While Hollywood film production is riddled with pitfalls, EA isn't waiting for those projects to get made before establishing itself in films. Morris pointed to the Dante's Inferno and Dead Space: Downfall animated features created with Film Roman as efforts to push their brands into different aisles of the local department store while the company waits for its Hollywood projects to come together. The company is also planning to release further animated projects to tide fans over and "act as the glue" between major releases of a series. Swanson discussed Ubisoft's recent experiments with short films, saying the publisher wants to keep control of its own IP but also learn about the process of filmmaking in the process. The effort started in 2008, when Ubisoft purchased Montreal-based Hybride Technologies to collaborate with its game makers on new projects. The first product of that union was Assassin's Creed: Lineage, an episodic series of short films created to promote Assassin's Creed II (the full film was also aired on Spike TV around the game's launch). The next step for Ubisoft is to bring in some filmmaking talent, Swanson said. The upcoming Ghost Recon: Future Soldier short film will be the test for that, as the company has Oscar-winning short film directors Francois Alaux and Herve de Crecy helming the 30-minute film. Ubisoft has also teamed with Ridley Scott's Little Minx to produce the project. The Future Soldier project will set the stage for the game, which is scheduled for a fall release. A trailer for the short showed Ghost Recon troops equipped with an abundance of high-tech toys, including remote-controlled mobile artillery pieces, shoulder-mounted rocket launchers, and light-bending active camouflage equipment. For his part of the presentation, O'Connor shared some of the lessons Microsoft has picked up after a decade of working on the Halo franchise. He said the most important thing for any franchise in any medium is that, "You have to own your own universe." He said Call of Duty is a bigger franchise than Halo at this point, but Activision doesn't "own" the universe. A Hummer appearing in anything Call of Duty would still need to be licensed, and there's no monopoly on historical events. Once a company has its own universe, O'Connor said it needs to understand that universe, as well as the audience for it. Nothing can stay the same forever, but knowing what the heart of the universe is and why people like it helps shape good decisions about what to change. O'Connor said that Microsoft has a long-term plan for the Halo franchise, but it has changed over time. While O'Connor said an opportunistic strategy is bad, it behooves a publisher to dabble in areas where it isn't an expert as it can pay dividends. In particular, O'Connor said Halo toys and pajamas turned out better than expected. At the same time, O'Connor stressed that "You have to do what's right for your franchise." Microsoft approved a version of the board game Risk for Halo Wars because the basic gameplay of Risk could be fairly easily mapped to the Halo universe. However, the company passed on Halo Monopoly because it just didn't make sense with the license. Another hurdle to clear is the ESRB age gate. Since the ratings board mandates that M-rated games not be marketed to children, O'Connor said Microsoft has to be very careful about what ancillary products it tries to sell and how it tries to sell it. Quote: "It's not the same as the video game industry in any way. They are not necessarily about selling things."--O'Connor, on the lessons learned from dabbling in the film industry with Halo Legends. Takeaway: Gaming is still at the tip of the iceberg as an entertainment medium. Examples of massive entertainment brands that sprung from games may be limited today (Pokemon, for instance) but should be significantly more common in the future. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | |
| PlayStation 3 | God of War III slays 1 million
April 2, 2010 at 4:07 PM
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| SCEA's Peter Dille confirms Santa Monica studio's acclaimed action adventure reached platinum sales milestone "in the first couple of days." 
It would appear as if God of War III is turning in a herculean effort at retail. As part of the MI6 marketing conference in San Francisco this week, Peter Dille, who serves as SCEA's senior VP of marketing and PlayStation Network, confirmed that the Sony Santa Monica-developed action adventure sold 1 million units "in the first couple of days." The game achieved high critical marks upon its debut exclusively for the PlayStation 3 on March 16. Dille did not indicate whether God of War III's sales figure pertained to the global market or was limited to North America. The publisher had not responded to requests for clarification as of press time. However, the God of War franchise has a multimillion-unit-selling history, as the first two PlayStation 2 installments have combined to sell in excess of 8 million units, according to the LA Times. God of War III marks the conclusion of Kratos' current story arc to bring about the fall of Olympus. As in previous installments, the visceral gameplay sees Kratos dismembering, decapitating, eviscerating, mutilating, and otherwise doing grievous bodily harm to a variety of mythological beasts. For this installment, gameplay also emphasizes fighting on monolithic Titans and mounting enemies, as well as gaining new weapons and additional attacks. For more information, check out GameSpot's video review, below. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| iPhone/iPod | Mirror's Edge, Geometry Wars lead iPad App Store debut
April 2, 2010 at 1:42 PM
|
| Apple's online storefront opens up a new section for latest hardware, launch lineup also includes Sam & Max: The Penal Zone, Zen Bound 2, numerous updated iPhone titles. 
The iPad doesn't officially launch until tomorrow, but Apple is already letting eager customers stock up on software for the new handheld system. The company has added iPad-specific programs to iTunes, and game publishers have wasted no time in jumping on board. When Apple first showed off the iPad's gaming abilities, it did so with an assist from Electronic Arts, so it's not surprising the publisher is providing significant launch support. EA has five games available for the system, four of them (Scrabble, Tetris, Command & Conquer Red Alert, and Need for Speed: Shift) being updated editions of previously released iPhone and iPod Touch games. The fifth EA title is Mirror's Edge ($12.99), a 14-level action game inspired by the 2008 PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game (also released on the PC in 2009). Mirror's Edge isn't the only new experience on the iPad. Activision is now offering Geometry Wars: Touch for $9.99. Geometry Wars: Touch includes all the gameplay modes from the Xbox 360's critically acclaimed Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 and adds a new Titans mode exclusive to the iPad. Another iPad port from other gaming systems is Sam & Max Episode 1: The Penal Zone ($9.99). Just like its PC and console counterparts, the Telltale Games adventure title is the first in a five-part series that the developer plans to release on a monthly basis. Of course, not all noteworthy games on the iPad are adapted from the console and PC worlds. The iPad launch is being accompanied by Zen Bound 2, the sequel to one of the iPhone's most popular original games. Described as a "meditative puzzle game," Zen Bound 2 has players twist and rotate objects on the screen in order to thoroughly wrap them up in a length of rope. The $7.99 offering features more than 100 levels, including all of the puzzles from the original Zen Bound. Previously released iPhone games like Uno, Worms, Metal Gear Solid Touch, Super Monkey Ball 2, and Civilization: Revolution have received iPad-specific updates that typically center on enhanced visuals. Some publishers are attempting to make substantial improvements to the games as they move to the new platform; for example, 2K Games has added a new scenario and world editor feature to the $12.99 Civilization: Revolution, allowing players to make their own challenges and game types. One common theme is that companies are charging a premium for the iPad versions of their games. For example, Need for Speed: Shift and Call of Duty: World at War Zombies each cost $14.99, while their iPhone counterparts are $6.99 and $9.99, respectively. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | |
| iPhone/iPod | Mirror's Edge, Geometry Wars lead iPad App Store debut
April 2, 2010 at 1:42 PM
|
| Apple's online storefront opens up a new section for latest hardware, launch lineup also includes Sam & Max: The Penal Zone, Zen Bound 2, numerous updated iPhone titles.
The iPad doesn't officially launch until tomorrow, but Apple is already letting eager customers stock up on software for the new handheld system. The company has added iPad-specific programs to iTunes, and game publishers have wasted no time in jumping on board. When Apple first showed off the iPad's gaming abilities, it did so with an assist from Electronic Arts, so it's not surprising the publisher is providing significant launch support. EA has five games available for the system, four of them (Scrabble, Tetris, Command & Conquer Red Alert, and Need for Speed: Shift) being updated editions of previously released iPhone and iPod Touch games. The fifth EA title is Mirror's Edge ($12.99), a 14-level action game inspired by the 2008 PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game (also released on the PC in 2009). Mirror's Edge isn't the only new experience on the iPad. Activision is now offering Geometry Wars: Touch for $9.99. Geometry Wars: Touch includes all the gameplay modes from the Xbox 360's critically acclaimed Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 and adds a new Titans mode exclusive to the iPad. Another iPad port from other gaming systems is Sam & Max Episode 1: The Penal Zone ($9.99). Just like its PC and console counterparts, the Telltale Games adventure title is the first in a five-part series that the developer plans to release on a monthly basis. Of course, not all noteworthy games on the iPad are adapted from the console and PC worlds. The iPad launch is being accompanied by Zen Bound 2, the sequel to one of the iPhone's most popular original games. Described as a "meditative puzzle game," Zen Bound 2 has players twist and rotate objects on the screen in order to thoroughly wrap them up in a length of rope. The $7.99 offering features more than 100 levels, including all of the puzzles from the original Zen Bound. Previously released iPhone games like Uno, Worms, Metal Gear Solid Touch, Super Monkey Ball 2, and Civilization: Revolution have received iPad-specific updates that typically center on enhanced visuals. Some publishers are attempting to make substantial improvements to the games as they move to the new platform; for example, 2K Games has added a new scenario and world editor feature to the $12.99 Civilization: Revolution, allowing players to make their own challenges and game types. One common theme is that companies are charging a premium for the iPad versions of their games. For example, Need for Speed: Shift and Call of Duty: World at War Zombies each cost $14.99, while their iPhone counterparts are $6.99 and $9.99, respectively. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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| iPhone/iPod | Sharp shows off mini 3D screens
April 2, 2010 at 1:21 PM
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| Electronics company debuts glasses-free, touch-screen-enabled tri-dimension tech that's limited to 3-inch screens held one foot from face.
Just 10 days after Nintendo officially announced the DS in 2004, speculation arose that the system's dual screens would boast 3D functionality, courtesy of new technology from electronics kingpin Sharp. And while the prospects of a dual-screen, 3D-capable handheld were at the time derided, Nintendo has six years on announced just such a device in the 3DS, which will boast depth-of-field gaming without the need for specially designed glasses. Coincidentally enough, the AP reports that Sharp debuted a new line of 3D displays for mobile devices in Japan today. The liquid crystal displays (LCDs) support glasses-free 3D motion and touch-screen functionality, with Sharp showing off animated sequences, as well as 3D photos and videos. The AP reports that the technology is limited, however, as it supports only 3-inch screens held 12 inches from a user's face. The newswire also reported that while the 3D technology is similar to what's currently seen out of current TV screens, the "images were less convincing than those seen in a darkened cinema." Photos were also "a bit blurry from certain angles," the AP observed. Sharp declined to comment on which companies would be adopting the new technology, though it did say that the screens are designed with "cell phones, game machines, and digital cameras" in mind. The AP reports that Sharp plans to begin mass producing the 3D-capable LCD screens during the first half of its 2010 fiscal year, which began April 1. Nintendo expects to launch the 3DS by the end of its current fiscal year, which closes out in March 2011. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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