Monthly Archives: April 2009

ACE has told Shacknews that it plans to release a demo, downloadable content and a SDK for Zeno Clash after release.

“We’re planning on releasing DLC and releasing a compatible SDK so users can edit levels and other assets” said ACE’s Andres Bordeu.

The planned DLC will be free and includes  new Tower Challenges and the possibly “other things” that ACE  is “not ready to share yet”.

Release dates have not been scheduled, but the firm says it shouldn’t take very long.

A patch is also in the works to address game play mechanics and some general bug fixing.

More through the link.

Looks like there’s multiplayer in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves after all.

According to this shot up on Kotaku, when you pre-order inFamous you not only get access to a demo, but you get a multiplayer beta voucher for Uncharted 2.

Says the demo for inFamous is valid from May 8-20 and the beta voucher for Uncharted 2 is good from June 3-28.

So this is what Sony plans to announce on Monday, eh?

Full image is after the break

Via NeoGAF.

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Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles is now available on the iPhone and iPod Touch through the App Store.

Just in case you like to play games on your phone or mp3 player.

The seven-hour adventure carries a $9.99 price tag and looks very decent for a tiny-screened game.

Thanks, Joystiq.

Valve has The Orange Box on sale this weekend for $9.99.

Never bought it? Now’s your chance.

After the sale is over it goes back up to $29.99.

Head on over to Steam.

Loads as usual for the American PS Movie Store this week, including HD versions of The Wrestler, Frost/Nixon, and Fright Night.

The usual large list of TV shows has been added, and for non-HD movies The Reader’s been included. Just in case you fancy seeing Kate Winslet in the nip.

Get the full thing after the break or from the PS Blog.

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The full version of Metal Gear Solid Touch is now available on the Apple App Store.

Set in the world of MGS4, the extra part of the game introduces eight additional gameplay levels to the original release.

The story unfolds in five chapters over 20 stages, and the characters featured in the latter eight stages feature new abilities.

Once all 20 stages have been cleared, a Survival Mode is unlocked, and lets players skip the story images and play stages consecutively without replenishing their life gauge.

Players who have already installed the initial game can update to the complete version for free.

Press release after the break.

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Destructoid got a hands on with EA’s Grand Slam Tennis at an event yesterday, and is calling it the most realistic tennis game to date.

Playing split-screen co-op, it was noticed that there was a bit of a lag between the players actual swings and what happened on-screen – this did not deter from the game being fun though.

As for graphics, the site said the game “doesn’t aim for realism in the visual department; instead, it succeeds with a neat, stylized look”.

There were also no frame-rate drops, which is always a good thing.

The game’s out June 12 and 15 in Europe and North America, respectively.

After the break, there’s a video of producer Thomas Singleton explaining how the game works.

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The intro movie for Ghostbusters: The Video Game showed up on GameTrailers today.

If it’s any indication of how fun the game is going to be, we’re getting it day one.

Not much longer to go – it’s out June 16.

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Criterion’s Cops and Robbers pack releases next week for Burnout Paradise.

To get you interested, the developers released another episode of Crash TV today.

The video shows the folks who work there playing it – dressed as cops and robbers.

Right then.

Watch it below.

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A couple of Nintendo rumors are floating about the web today, one of which concerns a LostWinds 2 announcement at E3.

According to a source close to French site LiveWii, Nintendo is expected to make the announcement for the WiiWare title during its presentation.

Although we’ve know for quite some time a sequel was imminent, don’t take it to heart until we hear otherwise.

However, GoNintendo has it on good authority from a GameStop employee that Nintendo will release a Lime Green DS bundle for Mother’s Day, complete with Personal Trainer: Cooking.

That sounds a bit more likely to us.

Our mom’s would smack us over that one, though. No joke.

Thanks, D’toid.

[UPDATE]: Looks like the bundle has been confirmed.

A pre-order listing for Guitar Hero: Van Halen popped up on GameStop this morning, with a release date of August 4 for PS2, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360.

Activision has yet to announce the title, despite its existence being essentially proven by the German Ratings Board.

The ad has been pulled, but not before Joystiq got a shot of it.

Seems GameStop’s making all sorts of snafus lately.

American McGee has told Geek.com that the approval process for digitally distributing games through PlayStation Network and Xbox Live needs to evolve.

Citing his recent stint into episodic gaming with Grimm, McGee feels that the game could easily make the transition to consoles if the process did not take so long.

“The content could certainly make the transition – porting this sort of stuff is straightforward – and the audiences are indicating desire for things like Grimm on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network,” he said.

“The biggest issue we’ve found is inside the content approval and distribution model at the publishers. When a single title might take months to get through review and approval (take Braid, as an example), pushing 24 episodes through would translate to years of approval process.

“Content and audience are there, but the process isn’t. Hopefully that will change someday soon.”

McGee said in the same interview that players should be compensated for user created content in games such as LittleBigPlanet.

Hideo Kojima was given “Person of the Year” honors at the Famitsu Awards in Japan today.

Solid Snake was given “Character of the Year,” and Metal Gear Solid 4 won the “High Quality” prize.

Other winners included Capcom for “Company of the Year,” as well as “Game of the Year” and “Best Seller” awards for Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G.

The annual Famitsu Awards recognize the year’s top performers.

Full list follows the break.

Via 1UP.

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MCV sources have claimed today that Warner Bros is ready to pounce on Midway.

“Warner is pretty confident that they will get Midway – which will be an immediate boost to their portfolio,” said one telltattle.

“The deal isn’t done yet. Midway is still open to offers from other potential buyers – but Warner looks to be favorite to wrap it up.

“They look ready to put the money on the table.”

Speculation from trade groups suggest that Warner is gagging for Midway’s Mortal Kombat and Stranglehold franchises, as well as retro IPs Gauntlet, Joust and Galaga.

Midway has previously set the target sale price at $30 million, but may sell each IP off separately.

Sega has been releasing free DLC for lucky Yakuza 3 players over the past two months.

This week marks the last of it.

Over 29 items in total were released automatically when players switched on their connected PS3s.

Content included different missions and item packs, with one such bit having something to do with a Mexican wrestling outfit.

We hate missing out on wacky stuff like this.

Head on over to Kotaku and have a look.

Nothing’s Shocking, the second album from Jane’s Addiction, will be added to the Rock Band music store on April 28 for PS3, Wii and 360.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Up the Beach
• Ocean Size
• Had a Dad
• Ted, Just Admit It…
• Standing in the Shower… Thinking
• Summertime Rolls
• Idiots Rule
• Jane Says
• Thank You Boys
• Pig’s in Zen

Each track will run you 160 MS Points ($1.99) and $2 on Wii.

The album will cost 1,280 MS Points ($15.99) and with Wii only allowing individual sales, the entire thing will set you back $20 on that end.

The Major Nelson signature edition Saleen Mustang S281E is now available for Forza Motorsport 2.

To get the free car, all you have to do is log into the Turn 10 Studios blog with your Gamertag and leave a comment.

It’s pretty darn cute actually.

Thanks, Joystiq.

According to a report on Gamasutra, the Entertainment Software Association’s head of government relations, Jennifer Manner, has left her position with the group after just one month.

A former FCC senior counsel member, Manner was hired because of her experience with public policy, broadband, and federal tech issues while working for the FCC.

No specifics were given regarding her departure, but it is believed it was due to her lack of lobbying experience on Capitol Hill.

The ESA spent $4,244,364.50 on federal lobbying in 2008.

EA has revealed the Madden NFL 10 cover athletes for the next iteration in the franchise.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will both be featured on the cover, set to hit retail shelves on August 14.

This is the first time in 21-years that two athletes will grace the cover.

The game is to be made available for PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360.

Press release is below.
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GamersGate has announced that over 1,000 different titles appear in its online distribution library, including Braid.

“Braid not only challenges traditional game design, it challenges the very fabric of the industry by achieving critical success as a download only title,” said GamersGate CEO Theodore Bergquist.

“Our goal is to enable market access for small development companies in order to foster innovation in the industry, and having Braid as our 1000th title is a symbol of our success.”

Originally part of Paradox Interactive, the service became independent of the publisher by way of budgets, goals and management – yet still maintains close ties.

The site just recently added X3: Gold, Happy Tree Friends False Alarm, Fishdom H2O: Hidden Odyssey, Modern Warrior Special Tactics, and is currently running a 75 percent-off special on Space Siege.

Thanks, GI.biz