Monthly Archives: January 2009

According to this Famitsu report, Wii Fit has sold a staggering three million units in Japan.

Wii Fit has been sold countless copies worldwide and we’re sure this milestone will be the first of many for Nintendo’s digital weight watcher.

Thanks, Kotaku.

By Mike Bowden

In an article in this month’s GamesTM it is revealed in a preview article that the DarkWorks developed survival game has you playing as a man called Adam Collins after a mysterious earthquake destroys Chicago and will be a first-person shooter.

There is a huge focus on story and according to producer Alexis Goddard, the game promises to change the rules that both “everyday life and videogames rely on.”

“In I Am Alive, we’re not only turning your everyday life upside down; we’re also changing the very social values and rules that both everyday life and videogames rely on.” said Goddard.

The reason for the person person perspective are as follows: “We wanted the player to really feel the power of Mother Nature, to feel the danger coming from the collapsing towers and devastating rifts, feel the chaos happening all around him. There’s nothing like a first-person view to create that kind of emotion.

“We encourage the players to use tactics, diversion, and discretion,” said Goddard of the combat.

“You’ve found a police shotgun, which is out of bullets — rightfully so, since Chicago has long been a proponent of a ban on guns. How about some intimidation? After all, who knows the gun is empty but you? Just point it at looters and they’ll remain at a distance as you progress toward your objective. However, you can only aim it at one person, so you have to watch for being flanked.”

I am Alive was announced back in July 2008 and Jade Raymond was thought to be involved. It has emerged recently however that Miss Raymond has nothing to do with the project.

Full thing over at 1UP

By Mike Bowden

According to this V for Videogames piece, a Sony rep has said the company expects Killzone 2 sales to be as good, if not better than Metal Gear Solid 4.

“It would be a lie to say Sony has not invested heavily in Killzone 2 and each individual at Guerilla games has worked even harder to satisfy any expectations kept by the company and their loyal community,” said the rep.

“I do see the game breaking a barrier with a huge variety of groups and expect it to see sales as good as Metal Gear Solid 4 if not beyond it.”

More through the link.

By Mike Bowden

ELSPA managing director Michael Rawlinson has proclaimed that family titles are responsible for the huge upturn in UK games revenue, and that games themselves are “bringing families together.”

“It is encouraging to see that the popularity of video games continues to grow year-on-year,” he said.

“More than ever, video gaming is increasingly bringing families together with the introduction of so many outstanding family-based console titles. These have really opened up the market to those who may never have even considered playing a video game before.”

Thanks, MCV.

By Mike Bowden

According to GI, Activision’s stock fell six and a half percent to $8.14 per share – the lowest it has been since November 2006.

Although Call of Duty: World at War has had a stellar year in the UK – just missing out on the Christmas number 1 spot to FIFA 09 – and Lich King performing extremely well Stateside, the firm’s share price still plummeted.

Happy new year indeed.

More through the GI link.

By Mike Bowden

ELSPA data shows that UK consumers spent £4.03 billion on videogame products in 2008 with Nintendo’s Wii system accounting for almost a quarter of all software sold.

Wii sold over 20 million games last year which is an increase of 112 percent over 2007.

Software sales as a whole were up 23% over last year, rising to a total of £1.9 billion, whereas consoles accounted for £1.422 billion.

Xbox 360 software saw 51 per cent sales increase, while PlayStation 3 software jumped 145 per cent, with 10.4 million games sold.

“Videogaming is increasingly bringing families together with the introduction of so many outstanding family-based console titles,” said Michael Rawlinson, MD of ELSPA.

“These have really opened up the market to those who may never have even considered playing a videogame before.”

More over at BBC.

By Mike Bowden

For those of you can’t wait to get your hands on From Software’s Ninja Blade after looking at those shiny screenshots this morning, a Microsoft representative has told videogaming247.com that Ninja Blade is down for a Euro “Q1 2009″ release, so you’ll have to be patient.

There were reports of an English version of the game being ready as early as next month but Microsoft is sticking to its first quarter time frame.

Ninja Blade is released in Japan on January 29.

By Mike Bowden

The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) has announced that videogames is the fastest growing entertainment sector in the UK at retail level.

The statement comes off the back of reports that the games market recorded unit sales of 82.8 million in 2008 which is a 17 percent rise from the previous year.

According to Reuters this growth was driven by the enormous popularity of Nintendo Wii.

By Mike Bowden

A title update for Valve’s Left 4 Dead 360 was released last night that left many wondering exactly what it was supposed to do.

Well, Joystiq got the skinny as Valve told them that “the title update is the client-side fix meant to address the previously mentioned cheating.”

So there you have it. You’ll never prosper, you know.

By Mike Bowden

THQ has revealed the minimum and recommended specifications for the superb looking Real Time Strategy game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II.

The specs are:

Minimum Requirements

• Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
• 1 GB RAM (XP), 1.5 GB RAM (Vista)
• A 128MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) – Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT / ATI X1600, or equivalent
• 5.5 GB of Hard Drive space

Recommended

• Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
• AMD Athlon 64×2 4400+ or any Intel Core 2 Duo
• 2 GB RAM (XP and Vista)
• A 256MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) – Nvidia GeForce 7800 GT / ATI X1900, or equivalent
• 5.5 GB of Hard Drive space

Dawn of War II will be available February 23.

By Mike Bowden

It was revealed yesterday that potential Japanese Xbox 360 owners were to be treated to a Resident Evil 5 bundle. Now a similar PlayStation 3 pack will hit the shops too.

“The ‘Premium Limited’ pack comes with a Resident Evil 5 logo 80GB PS3, two DualShock 2 controllers and a copy of the game. Priced at ¥48.980 [(approx €387)],” writes Kotaku that also has a picture of the console.

The bundle will be released on March 5.

By Mike Bowden

Watch the video below. This could and should give Street Fighter IV a run for its money as we’re coloured very impressed right now.

SNKs King of Fighters XII has a tentative release date of April for Japan and will be released on Xbox 360 and PS3.

Now go watch.

By Mike Bowden

More »

13 new screens of From Software’s 360 exclusive Ninja Blade have been unleashed on an unsuspecting public and they are full of high def shine.

Go see the glare over at Destructiod.

Ninja Blade is released on January 29, although we’re checking with MS to confirm is that date is applicable to everyone, and not just Japan.

By Mike Bowden

Square Enix has put out three new images of the forthcoming tri-Ace RPG, Star Ocean: The Last Hope and they look very colourful indeed.

IGN has them so head on over there and take a look.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is out next month in Japan, March in the US and is slated for an April released in Europe.

By Mike Bowden

It emerged last night that industry veteran Ziff Davis Media and Publishing has quit the business altogether, whilst magazine EGM has closed, and website 1UP sold has been to UGO.

“The transaction allows us to pay down debt and shift our full focus to our core PCMag Digital Network business,” Ziff Davis CEO Jason Young said.

“We thank our 1UP team members for their contributions and wish them the best of success into the future.”

Rumours of an UGO buyout broke early December and it has now become a reality as reports are that dozens of staff members have been laid off as a consequence.

EGM had been in circulation for 20 years.

By Mike Bowden

Capcom has released a bunch of new Street Fighter IV screenshots showing everyone’s favourite exhibitionist, Cammy – and she doesn’t disappoint.

Interested? Of course you are.

Head over to Kotaku to see more.

Game’s out on 20th February.

EDIT: These aren’t new apparently: was was duped. All those shots and more can be found here. Thanks, Rudolph.

By Mike Bowden

Shacknews sends word that Midway’s playing its trump card in its duel with fate’s cruel whims.

Apparently, the beleaguered publisher was able to convince a portion of its investors to delay enacting their money-back guarantee – applicable because a large portion of Midway recently changed hands — until February 19. If Midway’s able to talk down a second group of investors in a similar fashion, the SEC won’t blow the publisher’s house down until February.

However, Midway’s pertinent debt currently sits at $150 million, and Vin Diesel’s wild ride doesn’t begin until February 20.

Please, someone, spoil this story’s ending. We’re somewhat confused and very tired of waiting.

By Nathan Grayson

According to this arstechnica piece, developer Softmax has announced that Magna Carta Crimson Stigma is coming to Xbox 360.

Nothing else is known other than that the game is in development although it is assumed Atlus will publish in the West.

It will be the third title in the Magna Carta series and it will be the first time the game has appeared on Xbox.

More through the link.

By Mike Bowden

SCEA’s announced its latest PS3 Movie Store additions, which this week includes the Monty Python Collection – there are 4 features, 7 specials and 3 TV seasons.

Other than that, there’s Babylon AD, Bangkok Dangerous, Disaster Movie, Pineapple Express, The Wackness and Episode 22 of Xam’d: Lost Memories.

Read all about in on the PSBlog.

By Mike Bowden

In an interview with Edge, Naughty Dog co-president Christophe Balestra said that this time round, the Uncharted: Among Thieves team has something prove in the environment department.

“We wanted a wide range of environments this time,” explains Balestra. “We wanted to show this wasn’t just a jungle game.”

According to the article, Among Thieves looked anything but:

And, from what we’ve seen, the team has succeeded in this aim: alongside ice caverns and frozen mountainsides, we’re shown a real variety of environments, from lush indoor spaces filled with gold leaf and bright colours, to an opulent train with blood red curtains and swinging brass lights, and a desolate Nepalese monastery clinging to the side of a cliff.

Full interview through the link.

By Mike Bowden