Monthly Archives: April 2009

More from Square’s “let’s take over Eidos” presentation has been posted up on GameFront, showing lifetime sales for all of Eidos’s “big” franchises.

Ever wonder why you get endless Hitman games? Want to see just how big Lara was back in the day?

Hit the link. Thanks, GoNintendo.

The US bods have all gone live with their BioShock 2 previews, having been made to follow Gamespot, who’s piece when live over the weekend.

Obviously, don’t be retarded if you want to avoid spoilers. Hint: there are some in these articles.

• IGN video preview (after the break)
• IGN preview
• Kotaku preview
• Joystiq preview
• Destructoid preview
• Shacknews preview

Thanks, Johnny Cullen.

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Have an iPhone? Sick of wading through 50 million Apps trying to find a decent game? Trixel, a grid-based puzzler, may be for you. There’s a video of it after the break.

The game’s in submission at the moment, and will cost $3 when launched. Take a look.

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Developing games for the App Store means less outlay and less set-up risk than making titles for PSN, XBLM or WiiWare, indie developer – and “leet hardcore” Street Fighter IV player – Dan Boutros has told VG247.

“The cost of entry to a developer is way lower, you can control your own destiny by way of managing your own pricing and marketing, and you get paid monthly instead of quarterly, which does wonders for your ability to survive as a ‘free’ man,” said Boutros, who’s just finished working on Adept-Games iPhone puzzler Trixel.

“You can buy a top of the range Mac, download the SDK and pay for the dev license and any other dev-requiring software license for less than any of the big three’s dev kits. You may even be able to afford two or three of these setups depending on who we’re comparing things with.

“The other major distribution platforms (can’t speak for Steam) also only pay you quarterly, whereas you’re paid monthly by Apple.”

Boutros added that barriers to creating indie games on the console formats weren’t just financial. Developers are also unable to control when games are released on services such as Xbox Live.

“You’re also at the whims of the console format holders for when your game comes out, who sees it and when they see it,” he said.

“I worked on an XBL game for another team a few years back and even though our game was done in December 06, we didn’t release till summer of ’07, which really hurt the guys who had the bulk of their payment in the game’s back-end.

“This also really hurt our PR and marketing side as we didn’t know when the game was coming out and therefore couldn’t plan for it. Because the game was just a port, we were set loose at a time when the market climate looked at straight ports unfavourably, whereas six months prior, our selling odds would’ve been better. So yeah, definitely not a fan of handing over my fate in that way.”

Don’t expect an instant win, though, Boutros said. With a low entry point comes the hordes.

“Because of [iPhone's] attractiveness, the competition is large and fierce, so you have to work harder to make something worthwhile and you have to work harder to pimp it.”

Trixel went into submission on April 20 and will cost you $3. See some screens after the break.

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PCGamesHardware.de‘s gone live with a ton of BioShock 2 images, and very pretty they are too.

An embargo’s up on these today, so expect to see the same shots about 400 times. Thanks, Joystiq.

After the break. It’s a montage of the titles announced in Microsoft Japan’s spring preview earlier this week.

There’s a lot of it. Most of which you’ve seen before.

Take a look.

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Square’s revealed lifetime sales figures for its big RPG franchises as part of its moves to takeover Eidos, showing Final Fantasy as having sold over 85 million units worldwide.

Dragon Quest has moved more than 47 million copies for the firm, and Kingdom Hearts has shifted a staggering 12 million copies globally.

Who’d have thunk it? Thanks, Kotaku.

Wii Fit has left the building. The Nintendo powerhouse has finally slipped out of the Japanese top ten, having sold over 3.3 million units in the country since launching on December 1, 2007.

Still, at least another Nintendo game, Pokemon Fushigi no dungeon, has gone straight in at the top. You rule, Nintendo.

Last week’s chart here. Data below for the week ending April 19. Thanks, ChartGet.

01. [NDS] Pokemon Fushigi no dungeon (Nintendo) 142,000 / NEW
02. [PSP] BASARA Battle Heroes (Capcom) 28,000 / 114,000
03. [NDS] Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (Nintendo) 19,000 / 541,000
04. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2 G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 18,000 / 591,000
05. [NDS] Hitman Reborn (Takara Tommy) 17,000 / NEW
06. [PSP] Fantasy Golf Pangya Portable (Takara Tommy) 13,000 / NEW
07. [NDS] Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 (Konami) 11,000 / 55,000
08. [PS3] Musou Orochi Z (KOEI) 10,000 / 205,000
09. [PSP] Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable (Namco Bandai) 9,000 / 144,000
10. [WII] Deca Sports 2 (Hudson) 9,000 / NEW

According to Andriasang, Wii’s video download service – dubbed Wii no Ma – will launch on May 1 in Japan.

The venture’s a collaboration between Nintendo and Japanese media firm Dentsu, with the latter Dentsu apparently handling negotiation for original video content.

As you can see on the service’s official page, the service takes the form of a family living room, complete with virtual TV.

Click on the TV, download video. You can transfer video to DSi for movies on the go.

Hit the Andriasang link for full details. There’s no word on whether or not this’ll make it west as yet.

Mythic has announced that an exclusive griffon or manticore mount can be yours if you refer six players to Warhammer Online through the recruit-a-friend program.

Other referral goodie include non-combat hounds, free game time, and special items that grant additional XP allowing you to temporarily raise a friend’s level to within two of your own.

Sure sounds nice and all, but we would rather have the cool mount.

Extra details on how to get such swag are on the official Warhammer site.

Rumor has it that Krome Studios is working on a new Star Wars title for PS3 and Xbox 360 called The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes.

Said to be a third-person action title, the game features a co-op mode covering both Jedi and Clone missions.

Players will get to choose to between Anakin Skywalker or Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano in a Jedi mode, and bounty hunter Cad Bane in the Clone missions.

It is also rumored that the game will focus on melee combat, contains purchasable upgrades, and the ability to control rolling Droideka and other driods.

Destructoid has contacted LucasArts and Krome Studios for confirmation, and has yet to hear back.

More through the link.

SouthPeak has announced that Velvet Assassin has gone gold.

To get more interest piqued, the publisher sent off a few new shots of the game to Shacknews.

Looks decent enough. See for yourself.

Should be in stores by April 30 for PC and Xbox 360.

Turbine has announced the launch of The Lord of the Rings Online in Korea and Russia.

Through partnerships with NHN in Korea and ITT in Russia, Turbine’s plans to spread The Lord of the Rings Online around the world is coming to fruition.

‘Bout time someone else got frustrated with those damn hobbits.

Press release through the break.
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Looks as though the Pepsi-Rock Band promotion rumored last month has been confirmed.

Offering soda drinkers the chance to win downloadable tracks, promotion details went live earlier on the Pepsi site.

One lucky winner who takes on the challenge to make their own video, may even walk away with one of those cool Moonmen given away at the MTV Music Awards.

No word on whether the one million song giveaway part of the rumor was true or not, but you can still win loads of other prizes like an Xbox 360.

Hit the link for more details.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

This week’s Xbox Live update brings hip hop styling to player avatars.

• Men can choose denim shorts, jeans with print, a striped visor beanie, a diamond stud earring, and square stone rings.
• Women can pick out an oversized jacket with chains, short shorts, a sports vest and diamond stud earrings.

All the clothes are free, and will remain available for the foreseeable future.

The action-adventure title Lode Runner is also available for 800 MS Points ($10.00). It features 2D action, 3D graphics, “lodes of modes”, 220 levels, multiplayer options, puzzles, and a level editor all weighing in at 512MB.

Hit the link for more details.

American McGee has told Geek.com that users who create content for games like LittleBigPlanet should be compensated for the added value.

“I seem to recall this being a ‘trend’ back in the Doom days,” he said. “The only difference now is that someone is trying to monetize it.

“That’s all fine and good, but I think if game products or publishers are relying on ‘outside the box’ content created by users to drive interest in their titles – then they should find ways of compensating those users for developing added value. That might even inspire the user content communities to step up their game.”

He also goes on to talk about the upcoming Alice game with EA, and his experience working on episodic gaming through Grimm.

Via GameDaily.

A list of characters that are included in X-Men Origins: Wolverine has been revealed over on Videogamesblogger.

Marvel fans should recognize a few.

In alphabetical order:

• Agent Zero (David North)
• Blob (Frederick J. Dukes)
• Deadpool ( Wade Wilson)
• Gambit (Remy LeBeau)
• John Wraith (aka: Kestrel)
• Sabretooth (Victor Creed)
• Sentinels
• Wendigo (aka: W.E.N.D.I.G.O. Prototype)
• William Stryker
• Wolverine (Logan)

Characters who appear in the movie, and may be in the game:

• Banshee (cameo)
• Bolt (Chris Bradley)
• Cyclops (cameo)
• Emma Frost
• Jason Stryker (cameo)
• Silver Fox (Kayla)
• Weapon XI

The game is expected to be released alongside the movie on May 1 for everything.

LEGO Rock Band was officially announced yesterday, and today some extra details have surfaced on Xbox.com – like destroying a giant robot using the power of rock.

No joke.

Here’s the lowdown:

• Songs you know and love: Rock out to everything from current radio hits to past favorites the whole family will enjoy.
• LEGO-themed rock challenges: Play killer riffs to destroy a giant robot, summon a storm, and demolish a skyscraper using the power of rock!
• Enhanced customizer: Don’t stop with your avatar, customize your whole entourage! Design the band, roadies, and manager just the way you want.
• Build fame LEGO-style: Collect LEGO bricks after each song to build cooler vehicles and move to new venues.
• LEGO rock den: Buy furniture, decorate the walls and customize your band’s hang-out as you climb the ladder to rock success.
• Fun for everyone: Turn down the difficulty with an easier skill set option for budding musicians.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

The official PlayStation Portugal site has revealed that Uncharted 2: Among Thieves will be released in September.

Expected sometime late 2009, this is the first time we have heard of an actual month being listed for the sequel.

Also confirmed was the fact that the game contains no multiplayer.

Keep your shirt on until Sony makes an official announcement.

Thanks, Eurogamer Portugal.

World Of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King has topped the US PC chart for the week ended April 11.

What a shock.

Here are the top 10 according to NPD, courtesy of Edge:

1. World Of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
2. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe
3. Company Of Heroes: Tales Of Valor
4. World Of Warcraft: Battle Chest
5. Empire: Total War
6. Left 4 Dead
7. Starcraft: Battle Chest
8. The Sims 2 Apartment Life Expansion Pack
9. World Of Warcraft
10. Nancy Drew: Ghost Dogs Of Moon Lake