Monthly Archives: January 2009

IGN’s rumouring that a second PSP, replete with multi-touchscreens, will be with us sooner rather than later.

From the piece:

IGN has learned from several credible sources that the PSP 2 is indeed on the horizon, and will be packing multi-touch technology. According to our sources, the PSP 2 will feature a widescreen multi-touch interface comparable to that of the iPhone for both in-game control and menu navigation.

Talk’s gathering pace on this. Eurogamer ran a piece in December saying a new PSP unit, described by the site as “PSP-4000,” would release in 2009.

Sony promptly flattened the chat. Just make sure it’s a phone as well, please, Sony.

The PSBlog’s confirmed that Motorstorm: Pacific Rift’s about to get its first major patch. It looks as though there’s a good amount of stuff tweaked and fixed in there, including the following:

• Restrictions to the copying of Saved Data have been removed. This will make it possible for Saved Data to be backed up and then restored to the User Account it was created under (whether that’s on the same PLAYSTATION 3 or not).*
• Changes to the way the game handles data. These changes will help to prevent Saved Data corruption.
• Visual notification of critical save progress has been added. A ‘MotorStorm Helmet’ icon will be displayed on-screen to warn users that critical data is being saved. This is in addition to the HDD Access light which currently flashes while the game makes a critical save.
• The glitch which enables a player to exploit the Boost system has been removed. The development team are working to identify which times have been achieved using this glitch; Action will be taken to ensure that the Leaderboards become genuinely competitive again.
• Time Attack times and Rank information will update correctly for all players. Any pending Time Attack times will begin to filter through systematically and the online Ranks should display correctly once the update is released.
• Additional fixes and improvements to gameplay. Many thanks for your feedback on these and other issues so far; we are still investigating the other issues that have been brought to our attention.

Apparently the update’s in the “final stages of development and testing,” but there’s no fixed date.

The official FFXIII site‘s updated with some screens and the promise of a trailer in a day and 17 hours.

The latest character to be revealed from the super-RPG – Sazh Katzroy – is shown in all his glory. He has hair. And a chocobo.

This site’s different to the one we pointed at the other day, what with its timer and Euro flags. Looks as though they’re both counting down to the same thing, though.

Demo in April. If you’re Japanese. Thanks, IGN.

Hot. EA’s put out a bit of software that allows you to get an install back on your copy of Crysis Warhead. The game allowed five installs originally.

It’s the story you’ve been waiting for. Download the tool from Fileshack.

ESA spent 25 percent more on lobbying in 2008 than it did in 2007, up to a record $4,233,864.50 for the year.

In the fourth quarter, the US industry body spent a total of $1,137,500, which breaks down to $980,000 on direct efforts and $157,000 for the services of four firms.

Spending in the latter half-year saw a 36.1 percent increase over the previous 12 months.

Thanks, Gamasutra.

Ubisoft’s to publish a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game in light of the fact the pizza-eating, cowabungaing franchise is 25 years old this year.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl dev Game Arts is behind the title, which is probably fantastic news. It’s out this autumn.

The press release doesn’t say what formats it’s for, unfortunately, but it does include the phrase “Shell-ebration,” for which someone should probably die.

See after the break.

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What do you mean, “I don’t own Burnout Paradise”? Are you stupid? DO you have a problem? Luckily, Criterion’s got a long tether. A pack including the game and all the 54 tons of DLC the developer brought out last year is coming out next month.

The official trailer’s after the break. It’s called The Ultimate Box. Don’t be dumb, chum: just buy.

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Lionhead has posted on its developer forums stating that the recent PC port rumour on WhatIFGaming has no substance.

“We’re not working on a PC version of Fable II,” said Lionhead employee. “If this changes we’ll make sure you know about it.”

His response comes in the wake of WhatIfGaming claiming that a Lionhead employee them “Fable II for PC users would be likely imminent.”

Move along. Nothing to see here.

Thanks, Shacknews.

By Mike Bowden

Nintendo is set to unveil its fiscal Q3 09 results at close of trading on Thursday, and Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has issued a note saying he expects the company to post strong financial results.

“We expect the company to report results close to our estimate for revenue of ¥789 billion, but ¥100 – 150/share below our EPS estimate of ¥1,033,” said the research note.

“We think that results were driven by strong hardware sales.”

Wedbush Morgan also predicts Nintendo will revise its hardware projections positively with Wii figures rising to 30.5 million units sold, compared with the current estimate of 27.5 million units.

Nintendo DS expectations will rise from 30.1 million units to 31.5 million.

Pachter states that “Nintendo’s recent operating performance has been spectacular and we expect this to continue in FY:10.”

Read the research note in full after the break.

By Mike Bowden

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Below you can see 21 screenshots taken from what looks like a real ding-dong between everyone’s favourite Ryu versus the voluptuous Rose.

The images aren’t that big but they show quite wonderfully all the little graphical tricks and tweaks that would most likely go unnoticed during gameplay.

Check them out.

By Mike Bowden

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Fallout 3 executive producer Todd Howard has responded to criticisms of the post-apocalyptic RPG that MTV drew to his attention.

They are as follows:

1. Criticism: “Fallout 3″ is just mediocre when judged as a first person shooter

   Howard: Agreed.

2. Criticism: The ending isn’t very satisfying and much shorter than other “Fallout” endings

   Howard: Based on the feedback I’ve seen, most people are pissed off that it ends, not the ‘ending’ itself. Maybe that’s one and the same, I don’t know. That’s another thing we’re changing in DLC3 [downloadable content #3, "Broken Steel"]. We really underestimated how many people would want to keep playing, so that’s probably the last time we’ll do something like that.

3. Criticism: V.A.T.S. is boring once you’re accurate enough to head shot everyone

   Howard: Depends on what you find entertaining. I like to blow people’s heads off, so, well, it never got old for me. I agree that the ‘to hit chance’ for head shots is probably too high.

We’re with Howard on that last one. How exploding headshots can get boring is anyone’s guess, but there you go.

By Mike Bowden

Godfather II senior producer Joel Wade has told SI of his disappointment over the original’s reviews, and felt the team were being punished purely on the basis they were doing something new with the hallowed franchise.

“Developing the first Godfather Game was a rewarding and satisfying process… and incredibly challenging for the whole team,” he said.

“Our reviews were not as high as I would have liked in some cases – it sometimes felt like people were punishing us for doing anything new with the license – but the user-review scores on most websites were much higher, so at least the gamers who got their hands on it and actually played the game had a great time.”

Full interview through the link.

Godfather 2 is released on PC, 360 and PS3 on 24 Feb.

By Mike Bowden

Contained within a Midway press release stating that Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe has shipped 1.8 million units, MK co-founder Ed Boon revealed that the team are already hard at work on another game.

“Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was the result of countless hours of hard work by many people, and seeing the game surpass the million-seller plateau makes it worth all the effort,” said Boon.

“We’re already hard at work on our next version of Mortal Kombat, and look forward to being able to reveal more details in the future.”

Full release after the break.

By Mike Bowden

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Develop reports that both Criterion and EA’s Bright Light studios in Guildford have been spared from any lay-offs the company is to make.

This information supports the information we provided you with last week, although Bright Light was admittedly off our radar.

Skate 2 developers Black Box got axed last week as EA looks to shed 1000 staff.

Full thing through the Develop link

By Mike Bowden

A THQ rep has told IGN that after the company’s evaluation of deBlob Wii sales, we can expect to see more games in the future.

“We’re pleased with de Blob’s performance worldwide,” the rep noted. “It’s a great intellectual property and you can tell your readers to expect to see more of de Blob in the future.”

Can’t say it any clearer than that, really.

By Mike Bowden

Tecmo and Koei revealed today that the two companies have merged and have now formed Koei Tecmo Holdings.

The deal will be finalised as per April 1, 2009.

The companies reveal their merger plans in September last year after Tecmo turned down Square’s advances earlier that same month.

Thanks, Kotaku.

By Mike Bowden

Atari has just sent word that its 360 exclusive racer, Race Pro, has been rescheduled for a February 20 release.

Race Pro was originally slated for a “Fall 2008” slot before moving on to February 13.

Hopefully now this one is set in stone.

By Mike Bowden

Off the back of the earlier news that Guitar Hero World Tour has outsold Rock Band by a ratio of 2:1, Red Octane’s UK senior brand manager, Ian McClellan, told VG247 today that this figure is more like 4:1 in the UK.

“From a UK perspective, we think the growth in music gaming in 2008 is a great thing, as it brings new and different music to consumers and allows them to experience the feeling of being a rock star,” said McClellan.

“The emergence of new titles such as Rock Band is great if it grows the overall market. However, based on our UK market figures, that ratio of sales is conservative – its more like 4:1,” he added.

“We have found that more casual titles such as Wii Music have been the titles that have actually grown the overall category by introducing new gamers to this genre”.

By Mike Bowden

Below you can see twelve new Halo Wars images showing all the weapons and troops you will have at your disposal whether you choose to fight as Covenant or the marines.

The images are super-sharp and look very good indeed for what is to be Ensemble’s first and last console RTS.

Halo Wars went gold last week. Demo’s out on Feb 5, full thing at the end of that month.

By Mike Bowden

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Harmonix and MTV have announced six new Grateful Dead tunes will be added to the Rock Band store this week.

The songs – priced at $1.99 (PSN) or 160 Microsoft Points per track – will be available tomorrow on XBox Live and Thursady on PSN.

If you want the full ‘six pack’ then it’ll cost you 800 MS Point or $9.99 from PSN.

The songs included are:

• Hell in a Bucket
• Don’t Ease Me In
• Cold Rain & Snow
• Doin’ That Rag
• Fire on the Mountain
• Uncle John’s Band

By Mike Bowden