Monthly Archives: February 2009

Tomb Raider: Underworld DLC Beneath the Ashes is now available on XBL.

The first of two packs to be released, Beneath the Ashes sends Lara back to Croft Manor, where she discovers crypts used by her father to hide a deadly power source.

It’ll run you 800 MS Points ($10), and includes six new costumes and an additional 125 Achievement points.

The second pack, Lara’s Shadow, releases in March.

Bejeweled publisher PopCap has acquired Gastronaut Studios, the company behind XBLA’s Small Arms.

Gastronaut is currently adapting Peggle for Live Arcade.

“This acquisition is the perfect union as Gastronaut, much like PopCap, is dedicated to making accessible and addictively fun games for a wide range of consumers,” stated Gastronaut co-founder Jacob Van Wingen.

“We’ve enjoyed a fantastic working relationship with PopCap on their XBLA titles and we’re thrilled to be joining their team to create exciting titles that players of all stripes will love.”

Read on for the press release.

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50 Cent has apparently just said he wants to make a Saints Row movie.

“With my relationship with THQ, they’ll actually see me develop Saint’s Row into an actual screeplay and into a film project,” he told US journalists.

“I’m optioning the rights for that right now, so they’ll see that before they see me do it from my own perspective for my game.”

Sounds great. More on Kotaku.

Destructoid’s posted an anonymous email supposedly detailing a promotional video showing of Assassin’s Creed 2.

The Ubi sequel is supposedly set in 15th Century Venice, and the trailer detailed involves a pretty woman and a bribe.

It all sounds pretty plausible, to be honest. The game’s out this fiscal year.

Atlus just confirmed that its PSP remake of Persona will launch in the US in 2009.

That’s it. It’s out this autumn. We’re not sure, but it’s likely you’re going to be whistling for it, Europe. Press release through the link.

Thanks, Hunam.

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Xbox super-boss Don Mattrick will keynote GDC Canada on May 12 in Vancouver, organiser Think Services confirmed today.

His time on stage will focus on the Canadian games industry and how it’s evolving.

“While it’s one thing to discuss the thriving game development field in Canada, it’s another thing entirely to have shaped the transformation of this growing industry yourself; Don Mattrick has done just that,” says Think Services events heaf, Izora de Lillard.

“The mark Don has left, and will invariably continue to leave, on Canadian game development makes him the perfect person to discuss the future role that Canadian developers will play in the industry.”

Press release after the break.

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A free update for the Xbox 360 version of Left 4 Dead is now available now on Xbox Live.

The update has loads of fixes and enhancements to Versus mode.

Full list after the break.

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Killzone 2′s development team grew so large that Amsterdam’s power supply couldn’t pour out all the extra juice, apparently.

Guerrilla’s original team of 45 employees grew to around 200 over the course of development. Sony eventually came to the rescue with gas powered generator.

More through here.

Square Enix has purchased more stock in Eidos, further extending its plans to acquire the company.

The firm bought approximately 11 percent of shares, previously owned by Insight Investment Management and Pioneer Investment Management for $0.46 each.

Square’s stake in Eidos is now over 32 percent.

Warner and Pioneer have both backed the deal.

More over at GI.biz.

Best thing ever. What looks to be the last bit out of Sony’s US Destination PlayStation event today is a picture of a lilac PSP.

The machine will be included in a Hannah Montana bundle later this year.

We’re going to buy two. The pack includes a Hannah Montana “rhythm game,” a UMD of episodes from the series, a 2Gb Memory Stick PRO Duo, and some stickers, according to Joystiq.

2K Sports has released a demo of Major League Baseball 2K9 on Xbox Live.

The demo supports two players, and you can choose either the Tampa Bay Rays or Philadelphia Phillies as your team for three full innings.

The PS3 demo will be available on Thursday, February 26.

Game’s out for everything but DS on March 3.

Rock Band Unplugged will release for PSP this year, it’s just been confirmed.

This news just came out of Sony’s Destination PlayStation event in the US.

The game is expected to use Wi-Fi capabilities, and will be the first PSP game to use an in-game store for DLC.

It’ll be released in Europe and North America: more details are to announced soon.

Update: According to this Primotech story, Rock Band Unplugged’s gameplay resembles Harmonix’s PlayStation 2 games Amplitude and Frequency. It will feature tracks from Blink 182, Boston, AFI, Kansas, Lit, and The Police. Thanks, Shack.

SCEE’s just confirmed a new PSP Buzz! title for release in 2009.

The new comes along with string of other PSP announcements today, such as confirmation of LittleBigPlanet, Assassin’s Creed and Motorstorm games for the end of the year.

The identity of the Buzz! product hasn’t been confirmed.

Press release after the drop.

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SCEE just confirmed first facts on MotorStorm Arctic Edge, putting the game in Alaska and detailing online multiplay.

The title features “multi-route tracks, unpredictable terrain, hostile AI and sub-zero conditions,” according to the announcement.

A video’s also been released. Get it after the break.

The game will ship this autumn for both PS2 and PSP.

First screens on ThreeSpeech. Thanks, Johnny Cullen. Press release after the jump.

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Sony’s finally announced LittleBigPlanet and Motorstorm for PSP, confirming the games at its Destination PlayStation event in the US.

An Assassin’s Creed game was also confirmed for the machine. It, along with MotorStorm Arctic Edge, will release this year.

No timing was put on the new LittleBigPlanet game.

In addition, Killzone 2, inFamous, MLB ’09: The Show, MAG, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and God of War III were all confirmed as hitting PS3 “throughout the fiscal year”.

“With a year of record sales ushering us into the new year, we continue to raise the bar on providing consumers the deepest and broadest entertainment content for every member of the family to enjoy,” said SCEA boss Jack Tretton.

“With new content being added every day to the PlayStation Network combined with an unmatched line up of exclusive titles on PSP, and the roll out of truly groundbreaking games such as Killzone 2 for PS3, we remain confident in our approach and strategy for another record year of growth and momentum.”

Press release after the jump.

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According to this PS3Center report, Capcom’s to press release Lost Planet 2 tomorrow, releasing more details on the now-announced action sequel.

It’s likely we’re going to find out which platforms are to be supported, so keep your fingers crossed until then, PS3 users.

More through the link.

Square games are coming to Steam, Valve confirmed this morning, with The Last Remnant first up for the publisher on April 9.

“Square Enix is a fantastic addition to the Steam lineup,” said Valve’s Jason Holtman.

“We are thrilled that Square Enix chose to bring its diverse portfolio of titles to Steam and know that our customers will be ecstatic to hear this news.”

Pricing for The Last Remnant has yet to be revealed. Other Square games destined for Steam will be announced soon.

Read on after the break.

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Atari’s confirmed the boxed copy of EVE Online is to include a free ship, 60 days of play time and more.

Apocrypha’s in there as well, what with its wormholes and all the rest of it.

It’s out on March 10 in the US and March 12 in Europe. Full details after the break.

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The eight remaining tracks from The Cars’ self-titled 1978 album have been release on on Wii’s Rock Band Store.

Tunes include Good Times Roll, My Best Friend’s Girl, I’m in Touch with Your World, Don’t Cha Stop, You’re All I’ve Got Tonight, Bye Bye Love, Moving in Stereo and All Mixed Up. They’ll run you $2 (200 Wii Points) each.

Just What I Needed was released for Wii back in January.

BioWare has put out a new trailer full of magic and sword-play for Dragon Age: Origins.

Watch people stampede, bludgeon one another, and drink from evil chalices after the break.

Game’s out in the second half of this year for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

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