Monthly Archives: January 2009

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that Mirror’s Edge was scheduled to receive a DLC time trial pack on January 29. According to a post by producer Tom Farrer on the PlayStation Blog, however, fans won’t be hurdling across blocky, unrealistic levels until February.

When contacted by Shacknews for clarification, EA explained that DICE stuck a leg in front of Faith’s sprint in order to provide “a completely smooth experience.”

The PS3-exclusive “Synethesia” map, on the other hand, is plenty smooth already, and will still release tomorrow – for free, no less.

Check out the PS Blog link for more tantalizing info about the delayed maps, along with a highly invasive peek inside Faith’s noggin.

By Nathan Grayson

Eurogamer’s confirmed its Killzone 2 review will go live tomorrow at 5pm GMT. Expect others in addition.

You may also want to dig a bunker. If any game is likely to exemplify the term “fanboy,” this is it. Those prone to schadenfreude will be hoping for a magic “8″, no doubt.

Don’t forget to fill the bunker with popcorn.

This year’s Interactive Achievement Awards, to take place at DICE in Las Vegas on February 19, will be televised thanks to a deal between the event and Independent Film Channel.

“The Academy is excited to bring the Interactive Achievement Awards — the Oscars of video games — to the IFC audience,” said Joseph Olin, President, AIAS.

“The amazing popularity of interactive entertainment is attributed to the manner that today’s games allow people to be part of fantastic worlds, incredible challenges and the simple fun of sharing these experiences with friends and family.

“As IFC celebrates the creative spirit of independent filmmaking, I can think of no better place to showcase the talented men and women who are responsible for our dynamic entertainment art form.”

Should be fun. Press release after the link.

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Japan’s in trouble. “Decline” is the country’s favourite word. Lucky then, companies like Nintendo are ready to lead the way to a brave new future. Nobuyuki Idei, former Sony chairman, said so to the FT, so it must be true.

From a story in which the electronics super-chief said Japan’s IT industries must consolidate to survive:

For the future, Mr Idei tipped electronics that do not just process information, but sense what it is happening in the world and then act on it.

He gave Nintendo’s Wii games console – which uses accelerometers to measure how a user is moving the controls – as an example.

It is the cluster of Kyoto-based technology companies, including Nintendo, that makes Mr Idei confident in the future of Japan’s electronics industry.

Japan’s technology and skills, Mr Idei said, make it a complement, not a rival, to the growing powers of China and India.

Double awesome. More serious business through the link.

MCV‘s predicted that the UK market will become the second largest in the world next to the US this year, overtaking Japan.

Whilst the Japanese market was worth £520,000 more than the UK in 2008, it declined year-on-year by 15 percent, says the site.

The UK rose by 18.5 percent in the same year. If trends continue in 2009, the UK will attain an annual video games market value of £4.77bn.

In contrast, Japan is currently on target to achieve a 2009 market value of £3.86bn.

There’s a heap of global sales analysis here.

Rockstar boss Dan Houser’s told the Telegraph that writing games allows more freedom than creating movies and books, despite the fact other mediums are more respected.

“I hope it’s long,” he said when asked on what timescale he thought games would be given the same respect as other mediums.

“It’s really fun at the moment because we’re not in any Academy and the medium’s not codified. There’s no accepted way of doing anything so that give us enormous pleasure because we can make it up as we go along,” he added.

“Movies and TV and books have become so structured in the way they have to approach things. Not working in that environment gives us enormous freedom. I’d rather keep the freedom and not have the respect.”

Tons through there.

Square Enix has just informed videogaming247 that a Western version of the new Final Fantasy XIII trailer that has the “correct end frames and subtitles” will be sent out to websites to host from 4pm tomorrow.

You can already see the subtitled version here.

Rather tellingly, the end frame states “in production for Xbox 360 and PS3.”

If you haven’t already seen it, do so, as it’s awesome.

By Mike Bowden

The Japanese version of the new Final Fantasy 13 trailer trailer reveals that the Square Enix super RPG will be released in 2009 for PlayStation 3.

This confirms the earlier Guardian piece that cited Square Enix president Yoshi Wada who said that FFXIII would make it in Japan this year, with US and EU version as late at mid-2010.

However, Square Enix was quick to respond to the protracted Western dates and said that a EU and US release was still TBC.

Through the link to watch or re-watch the rather mouth-watering trailer.

By Mike Bowden

The countdown is up and you can now see the new Final Fantasy trailer through the link.

It’s certainly is action packed, and features some of the most impressive cut-scenes we’ve ever witnessed. After about two minutes, you’re treated to some actual in-game footage.

It all looks very sweet indeed.

Update: We have removed the trailer at Square Enix’s request.

By Mike Bowden

Edge has compiled the top 60 best selling games of 2008 for Europe and the United States.

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV comes in first with 13 million sold. This is followed by NPD 08 winner, Mario Kart Wii on 11 million and all kinds of Guitar Hero games in 3rd, after selling 10 million units collectively.

Top five below, full top 60 through the link.

1. Grand Theft Auto IV – 13 million
2. Mario Kart Wii -11 million
3. Guitar Hero (various) – 10 million
4. Wii Fit – 9 million
5. Super Smash Bros. Brawl – 7 million

By Mike Bowden

Smack Down Productions CEO, Laurent Benadiba, has told GI that Sony needs to act if it is to stimulate the PSP in Europe.

“I worked for two years on the PSP, as one of the only developers then, and I really believed in the platform at the time,” he said.

“I still believe there’s potential, but it’s like self-confidence – if you trust yourself, maybe others will trust you. If you don’t trust yourself, nobody will trust you.

“I think that’s what’s happened with the PSP – Sony released the product, but they never put enough of a push behind it,” he went on.

“Games, ads, better shelf placement – trying to make an effort. I think it was also released at a time when they were still very focused on the PlayStation 3, trying to get it out of the door, that they slightly forgot about it.”

More through the link.

By Mike Bowden

MTV has told Billboard that rhythm action phenomenon Rock Band, could have as many as 5,000 track this year.

“Rock Band offers new music every week,” says the release, and “maintains a selection of more than 500 songs on its platform and has sold an average of four songs per user. MTV said it plans to increase the number of available songs this year to as many as 5,000.”

“What comes with the success of Rock Band and Guitar Hero is the microscopic view of what the potential of music in this medium can be,” said Steve Schnur, EA’s worldwide executive of music and marketing.

“There are other titles that continue to be not just successful, but outsell these games by wide margins. So the question isn’t, What’s the next Rock Band? The question is, When can we take the model of a 24/7, day-by-day musical relationship with not only music games, but with every game? I believe this is the year that’s going to happen.”

Guitar Hero World Tour’s Red Octane recently announced that in the UK, GH:WT was outselling Rock Band at a ratio of 4:1.

Thanks, GameDaily.

Joystiq has come across a new website called NXE Themes that does exactly what it says on the tin.

All the NXE themes are there, so you can literally try before you buy. Any new ones will also be added as they are released, says the site.

Nice find. Check it out.

By Mike Bowden

Remedy’s just confirmed that the supposed leaked Alan Wake footage is fake.

“No Mike, this is not real!” said a senior Remedy representative to VG247 just now.

So there you have it. As we told you exclusively only yesterday, Remedy Games will show us all some more Alan Wake when the time is right.

Update: NeoGaf bloodhounds have unearthed that the footage is actually from Redwood Falls, an axed PS3 title. You can see the gameplay in its entirity here.

By Mike Bowden

The internet has released some off-screen, poor quality, but very real-looking Alan Wake footage.

It’s in first person, and Alan’s looking around a snowy area with a pistol in his hand to some eerie music.

We’re checking with Remedy for comment.

Check it out after the break.

Update: Remedy has confirmed to VG247 that the footage is fake.

By Mike Bowden

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The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced that the overall computer and video game industry hardware, software and peripheral sales reached $21 billion in 2008.

Software sales made up $11.7 billion of that total figure – a 22.9% Y-o-Y increase. According to NPD figures, console software sales reached $8.9 billion (189.0 million units), PC game sales hit $701.4 million (29.1 million units), and portable software topped last year’s record sales with $2.1 billion (79.5 million units) in revenue.

Overall, retailers sold approximately 297.6 million computer and video games last year.

The industry set the new record on the strength of a December sales month in which saw revenue top $5 billion for the first time in any single month. In contrast, the industry generated $5.1 billion over the entire year in 1997.

“Even in difficult economic times, the video game industry continues to support our country’s local, state and national economies with record-breaking sales figures and rapid technological innovation,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA

“Our industry’s exceptional creators, artists, and storytellers, coupled with a commitment to providing unparalleled entertainment, have fueled high-octane growth, turning video games into the most sought-after medium on the market today.”

NPD analyst Anita Frazier added:

“The $11.7 billion in software sales generated in 2008 is more than total industry revenues were in 2005, but even with the strong market growth of the gaming industry over the past few years, what we are seeing is an accumulation of more sales by a select group of titles.”

“In 2005, when the current console generation began to be introduced, the top 20 games of the year accounted for 9 percent of total unit sales. Today, the top 20 account for 15 percent of total unit sales.”

Full release after the break.

By Mike Bowden

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The earlier report that the Street Fighter HD PSN delay was due to “faults” are false, Capcom told videogaming247 today.

Apparently, Capcom’s Leo Tan had never spoken to ThePSN.co.uk and has contacted them as to why they have quoted something he never said.

“It is a site I hadn’t heard of until today, when I contacted them to find out why they thought they had spoken to me,” said Capcom UK’s Leo Tan to VG247.

So there you go.

However, the release date of SSFIITHDR PSN still remains as a mystery. As does the reason for its delay.

By Mike Bowden

This is everywhere so we’ll go with it: Movie mag Empire is rumouring that Warner is making a new Tomb Raider movie that will see the heroine undergo a total reboot.

Apparently the film will be a re-imagining Lara’s her origins, love interest and main villains amongst other things.

Megan Fox is also rumoured to have taken the mantle for the new motion picture.

Totally mental awesome.

By Mike Bowden

A member of NeoGaf has collated the top 50 best selling 360 titles in Japan according to Famitsu number as per 28/12/2008.

Unsurprisingly, the top 5 is made up of RPG’s with Blue Dragon leading the way.

Top ten below, the full top 50 through the link (numbers on the right indicated total units sold according to Famitsu numbers):

1. Blue Dragon – 203,740
2. Tales of Vesperia – 161,070
3. The Last Remnant – 134,611
4. Infinite Undiscovery – 112,444
5. Lost Odyssey – 109,517
6. Dead or Alive 4 – 108,618
7. Viva Pinata (Platinum) – 101,552
8. Forza 2 (Platinum) – 100,591
9. Ace Combat 6 – 95,002
10. Halo 3 – 83,696

By Mike Bowden

Capcom has told CVG that the earlier Inafune quote from the latest copy of Famitsu regarding a sequel to Dead Rising is a “mistranslation.”

“Dead Rising was a huge success for us and is obviously the kind of game we’d like to continue to make,” said the rep.

“However, at the moment we have made no official announcement regarding a sequel. As the source is Famitsu, I can only suggest that it was a mistranslation.”

That didn’t take long.

By Mike Bowden