Monthly Archives: January 2009

America’s Army 3 will release in 2009, as confirmed in the free title’s official announcement.

The game’s third version marks another chapter in a six-year history of America’s Army, and will apparently include “authentic weapons and technologies, realistic training and exciting gameplay missions.”

It probably doesn’t include the bit where you pile people up in stacks on a prison floor, or the part where you get blown to smithereens in some godforsaken desert by a nail-filled roadside bomb, but we’re sure it’ll be a great laugh.

Full thing through the link.

Ubisoft’s bought “Brazil’s longest-standing independent video game developer,” Southlogic Studios.

The 20-strong studio’s a Jack of all trades, performing both title and outsourcing functions. It most recently coded indubitable DS powerhouse, Imagine: Wedding Designer.

“We have been delighted with our collaboration with Ubisoft on their Imagine line of games,” said Southlogic founder Christian Lykawka.

“The entire Southlogic team is excited about the potential for growth and development as part of Ubisoft Sao Paulo, and having our creations reach players throughout the world.”

Press release after the link.

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The first extra Dawn of War II content may arrive almost immediately after the game’s February 19 launch.

Game producer Mark Noseworthy confirmed the news today in a post on the title’s official site.

“As for post-launch plans,” Noseworthy said, talking of DLC in general, “we are extremely interested in working with Microsoft to offer several types of free and premium downloadable content through their Games for Windows – LIVE Marketplace.

“In fact, there may even be some DLC available during the first few weeks after the game’s released if everything goes to plan.”

No specifics were given on the content itself.

The anticipated RTS sequel was confirmed as gold yesterday.

Update: The software’s confirmed by both SCEE and SCEA as releasing tomorrow.

SCEA’s announced PS3 Firmware 2.60, saying the update is “coming soon.”

The main additions to the console’s functionality are a photo gallery and DivX 3.11 support.

“The PS3 firmware update (v2.60) is designed primarily to enhance the system’s media capabilities,” PSN boss Eric Lempel said on the PSBlog.

“The key feature is a new Photo Gallery application, which delivers a suite of tools for sorting through and displaying your digital photo collection.”

Other additions include:

• Guest access to PlayStation Store – This enables non-PlayStation Network members to browse through the storefront to check out the latest games, demos, videos, etc.
• DivX 3.11 support – Videos in this format can now be played on PS3.

There’s an explanatory video after the break. No firm date on when it’s going to be released, but “very soon” is a safe bet.

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Mythic boss Mark Jacobs has essentially confirmed the EA-owned developer has seen some lay-offs as part of the publisher’s cost-saving plan.

Said the exec, speaking in a forum post on Warhammer Alliance:

1) Our CEO JR has publicly stated the need to cut costs across all of EA. This statement is old news and applies all throughout EA.

2) As part of EA, all studios are expected to do their fair share to meet the expectations of our CEO.”

EA declined to comment to VG247 on the subject this afternoon.

Joystiq rumoured last night that Mythic had shed 21 customer service staff.

Jacobs points out later in the post that more than 400 people were working on Warhammer Online – the firm’s ongoing MMO – at launch, and that a large team still remains on the game.

EA is currently in the throes of dropping 1,000 staff in an effort to cut costs.

According to UK development sources, Rebellion proposed to LucasArts that its PlayStation 2 version of Star Wars Battlefront III could form the basis for both 360 and PS3 versions of the game.

The sequel’s next gen SKUs were being compiled at Free Radical, the British outfit that entered administration just before Christmas, shedding 100 staff.

Rebellion was rumoured to be the title’s new home at the time, although Free Radical is thought to have lost the game months before hitting serious trouble.

“Rebellion was actually working on the PS2 version,” a source told us today.

“The plan was to take the PS2 game and use it as a basis for 360 and PS3 versions, as opposed to using the Free Radical tech.”

Pandemic is now being solidly touted as Battlefront III’s final landing pad. The US developer created the first two versions before being bought by EA.

The assumption now is that EA will publish the game.

It’s unknown if Rebellion is still working on the PS2 version.

Battlefront III has never been announced, but was widely known to be in the works at Free Radical. Footage of the project – verified as genuine by insiders – has leaked since Free Rad sailed into troubled waters.

EA offered a “no comment” on Battlefront’s return to Pandemic.

Neither LucasArts or Rebellion had responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

Blizzard has released the World of Warcraft v3.0.8 patch: grab it right here.

The update enables players to create a Death Knight on any realm after hitting level 55. It also removes racial restrictions on mounts and adds support for Nvidia’s GeForce 3D Vision glasses.

Full patch notes – which are incredibly long – over at Shacknews.

By Mike Bowden

The Marvelous Entertainment Japanese website is counting down to something.

As the developer is most famous for its work on Harvest Moon, we’re guessing that it’s got something to do with that.

Oh well, only another 19 and a half thousand seconds until we find out.

We’ll keep you posted.

By Mike Bowden

2K global president Christoph Hartmann has told MCV that he believes the games industry’s progress will not be halted by the current economic slowdown.

“Traditionally, when the economy does badly, the entertainment market grows,” said Hartmann. “I don’t see why it should be any different this time.

“The recession is coming, but it’s not only about the sad situation of people worrying if they can pay their mortgage – it’s people wondering if they can still afford to spend £500 to go crazy in Ibiza twice a year.”

“People spend less than a tenth of that on a video game that will last for hours in their own home. Cost-wise for a decent amount of hours of entertainment, it’s cheap. Brutally cheap. The recession shouldn’t have too much of an impact,” he adds.

By Mike Bowden

Activision Blizzard has reminded everyone that it will be releasing its December quarter and calendar year 08 results on February 11.

In conjunction with this release, Activision Blizzard will host a conference call that will be broadcast over the internet.

If you feel like tuning in to the publishing giant’s round table chat then full details can be found below:

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
1:30 pm Pacific Standard Time (4:30 pm Eastern Standard Time)

In order to listen to the call dial:
719-325-4748 in the U.S.
Passcode: 9818084

or log onto the Investor Relations Section at
www.activisionblizzard.com

Anyone planning to dial in to the call should RSVP to Paula O’Connor at:

E-mail: POconnor@activision.com

We’ll be monitoring the results and will of course report everything newsworthy right here.

By Mike Bowden

Peter Moore has updated his blog to reveal that he believes a game as simple but as effective as 2D Boy’s World of Goo is something EA Sports could learn a lot from.

“By every admission, I am more of a sports guy and this isn’t my default cup of tea, but there’s a ton to admire in something so simple, yet full of impressive physics that make for an elegant and somewhat addictive experience,” said Moore.

“There’s a lot to learn from the EA alumni who started 2D Boy and built something as creative and unique as World of Goo with such a small team and little money.

“It’s that type of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that can really drive innovation, and I’d like to think we’re setting the right priorities and taking the right steps to deliver more experiences in this vein from EA Sports,” he adds.

More Moore through the link.

By Mike Bowden

“Are you looking for a dating site that connects you with people just as passionate about games as you in your area?” Says the Game 4-a-date website.

Yes, it’s your lucky day. Future publishing (CVG, OPSM among many others) has launched a UK dating site for sad loners like us.

It’s only costs a pound to join and you could even win a PS3 for your troubles.

The new initiative is “about putting you in touch with people who share that same genuine passion as you do for all things videogames,” the sites reads.

“So go on then, are you Game 4 A Date?”

Well, are you?

By Mike Bowden

Sega is ramping up up the assets release unveiling five new screenshots for its 18-rated action game for Nintendo Wii, MadWorld.

We’ve got them all below for you to look at. Very impressive they are too.

Mad World ships in March.

By Mike Bowden

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Screen Digest analyst Ed Barton has said that Sony’s ten year PS3 plan isn’t about how long the console will be around for, it’s to do with how long the company will continue to invest in the machine and give consumers a reason to buy it.

“When Sony talks about the PS3’s lifecycle, they’re not simply referring to how long the console stays on the market, but also how long Sony’s internal development teams are producing reasons for people to carry on buying it,” he told Edge.

“Seven years into the PS2’s lifecycle and Sony dropped a little-known game called God of War 2 on the Western market. That game, in my opinion, stands up pretty well to a lot of current generation games.

“Thinking about the level of investment games like God of War 2 required, and looking at how well Sony has supported the PS2 in the latter years of its lifecycle, I think the company has a pretty good record in that sense.”

Loads more through the link.

By Mike Bowden

Llamasoft has announced that Jeff Minter’s Gridrunner+++ will be released at the end of April on XBLA.

“Gridrunner+++ (working title; the final title will likely involve less plusses) is a fast-paced extrapolation of the oldschool single-screen shooter, brought brilliantly into the 21st century with beautiful abstract visuals and intense, challenging but fair gameplay accessible on a variety of levels from novice to twitch-shooter expert, ” says the release.

“Gridrunner+++ will be released at the end of April.”

So there you have it.

Oh, and before we forget Llamasoft has also informed us that PC Gamer gave Space Giraffe 92 percent.

By Mike Bowden

In an Q&A with Gamepreo, Halo: ODT writer and creative director Joseph Staten sheds some more light on how stealth will play a part in the next instalment of Bungie’s mega-shooter.

“The silenced SMG is just one of the tweaks to the Halo 3 sandbox that make ODST a stealthier experience — one that, at least in the open environment of nighttime New Mombasa, rewards a more measured approach to combat,” said Staten.

“As a non-Spartan, you’ll need to be careful about the fights you pick, especially when you’re on your own.”

“Brutes in ODST are much more interested in self-preservation than they were in Halo 3 which makes for terrific, multi-layered encounters,” he explained.

“You need to think before you engage — decide how you want to take apart an encounter before diving in or you’ll get into trouble pretty quick, especially on higher difficulty levels.

“Unlike a Spartan, an ODST doesn’t have shields,” concludes Staten. “You’re a little slower too, so if you get hit you can’t just run sprint to safety.”

We want this game right about now, please Bungie.

Full interview through the link.

By Mike Bowden

Miles Jacobsen, studio director at Sports Interactive, has told Videogamer that he believes piracy will never be fixed as the problem is a social one.

“I don’t know whether there is a proper cure for piracy without a change in society, to be honest,” he said.

“There needs to be some kind of copy protection in your product otherwise retail aren’t going to stock your product, so we do have to take some measures.

“We will investigate all avenues open to us once again for next year to see what the best solution is. What we believed we had this year was something that was going to be better for the consumer compared to the system where you had to keep the disc in the drive, which you don’t have to do with our system, and be completely unobtrusive,” he went on.

“I don’t think it will ever be fixed and it is a shame because the price of games would go down if the issue was fixed and we’d be able to have more people working on the titles.”

More through the link.

By Mike Bowden

According to publishers in general, the reason for title such as Penny Arcade adventures and more importantly Street Fighter Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, is down to Sony.

“Sony’s process for getting titles on PSN varies in North America, Europe, Japan and the rest of Asia,” said Joel De Young, COO of Penny Arcade developer Hothead Games to British Gaming when questioned about the delays.

Capcom added that it is “a question better directed at the console manufacturers themselves”, whilst telling VG247 that SSFIITHR “doesn’t have a date yet.”

A Sony PR rep told BG that “this has been an ongoing issue and we’re doing our best to resolve it.”

We’ll check with Sony UK for further comment.

more through the link.

By Mike Bowden

Nintendo’s admitted being “pleased” at seeing Wii Fit get back to the top of the UK charts this week, and has claimed stock for the global smash has been constant since release.

“Yes, we’re pleased,” a rep told us this afternoon when asked if the number one spot had raised a smile.

“We’ve always been bringing stock into the UK on a weekly basis ever since Wii Fit launched in April last year, and it’s encouraging to see that demand for Wii Fit appears to continue to be strong.”

Wii Fit has been a constant sell-out in Britain since launch.

The “game” has been a key driver for Nintendo in all regions since launch, with more than 3 million units now sold in Japan and 1 million units moved in the US in December alone.

No specific sales data has been released for the game in the UK.

One word: Wow. Below you can see a whole host of screenshots for Capcom’s now stunning looking brawler, Street Fighter IV.

Some might be old, but when they look this good, I’m sure you’ll agree that seeing them again won’t exactly hurt.

If you ever needed a reason to buy this in February then these images should be all you need.

Take a look.

By Mike Bowden

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