Monthly Archives: April 2009

In fact, we’d go as far to say that it’s very unrubbish.

There’s a good look at gameplay in there, including a cover system, split-screen, grenades and guns.

It’s out for PC, 360 and PS3 in May.

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Sega’s just released the first proper movie and some fantastic screens of tri-Ace RPG End of Eternity.

Video after the break, shots on 1UP.

The media comes as part of Microsoft Japan’s spring showcase this morning.

It’s out for PS3 and 360 later this year.

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Namco put out a new trailer of Tekken 6 this morning as part of the Microsoft Japan spring showcase, and very rocking it is too.

Power is everything. It says so there.

It’s out for PS3 and 360 this Autumn. Thanks, Kotaku.

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The first trailer of Namco RPG Magna Carta 2′s after the break. The game formed part of the Microsoft Japan spring showcase this morning.

Developed by Softmax, the title hits Japan on August 6.

Thanks, Siliconera.

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Actor Stephen Fry has revealed via Twitter that he’s currently adding audio for a “2nd edition of a video game.”

“Morning all,” he tweeted – or whatever it is you people call it. “In studio today voicing 2nd edition of a video game. Will check when I’m there if I’m allowed to say what it is…”

Considering the only voice work Fry has done previously is Fable 2 and LittleBigPlanet, don’t be surprised if it’s the latter.

More at E3, hopefully.

Radical’s Tim Bennison has confirmed that Prototype will have no multiplayer component, instead focusing solely on you, and you alone. Makes you feel special, don’t it?

“Prototype is 100 percent focused on a great single-player experience,” the game’s executive producer told VG247.

“The game is an origin story that weaves a government conspiracy around the main character of Alex Mercer, and we really need to get those elements perfect.”

Shying away from multiplayer has allowed the team to crank up the open-worlder’s combat to 11, Bennison said.

“The biggest benefit of focusing purely on single-player is the team’s ability to really maximize the over-the-top powers and abilities of Alex’s shape-shifting and combat skills.

“The first time a player throws a corrupt Blackwatch soldier into the blades of an attack chopper, we think they’ll have a big smile on their face,” he added.

There was some tooing and froing on the subject of whether or not multiplay was to be included last year.

The feature was confirmed as cut from the game in March, but then Bennison said in June that Radical was “evaluating” whether or not online play would make it.

Prototype – a PC, 360 and PS3 release – is one of three new IPs shipping from Activision this year, the other two being Raven’s Singularity and a Bizarre Creations racer.

It’s out on June 12.

Would you comment on a recent Metal Gear Solid Integral Podcast? Because, unless the sometimes maddeningly crafty tricksters over at Kojima Productions are yanking our chains, your input might just be enough to save the cult-favorite mech series from rusting away in the scrap heap.

“How many people really want Zone of the Enders a sequel?” Asked the team during its most recent podcast.

“If there’s so many people wanting to see Zone of the Enders, why not put the priority on top, a little further up, you know, but we just want to know,” Konami’s Aki Saito added, stoking the flames.

“Make sure you write your comments and we’ll check your comments out,” he concluded.

Tell your friends. Tell all of them.

Thanks, PS3 Center.

EA’s put out some new Madden NFL 10 screens, showing “the Wildcat”.

We don’t know what a “Wildcat” is, but it looks to be some sort of feint play.

American football, eh? It’s out this summer.

Microsoft just closed off its spring showcase in Tokyo with news that Gears of War 2 will release this summer in Japan.

Whitewash the windows. Get the rest of the news from the conference here. It’s just finished.

Microsoft said this morning it’s to hand out 1 million Microsoft Points in celebration of Xbox 360 reaching 1 million units in the territory.

The news comes as part of Microsoft’s spring showcase in Tokyo, which is ongoing. More bombshells as they happen.

Microsoft confirmed this morning that the XBLA version of Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram will release on April 29 in Japan.

The game has only had a “spring” release up to this point.

This could well mean westerners will be playing the update next week.

We’ll check with Sega today.

Sega made the first gameplay showing of tri-Ace’s End of Eternity in Tokyo this morning as part of Microsoft Japan’s spring showcase.

The footage included a section of in-game combat, as well as some CG of two men fighting.

The glimpse, while brief, lends credence to a release date this year in Japan.

The game is tri-Ace’s first for PS3, and will release on both 360 and the Sony machine.

There’s no confirmation of a western release as yet.

Capcom aired the first gameplay footage of Dead Rising 2 in Tokyo this morning, showing the game’s protagonist attacking zombies in casinos with a chainsaw and a broom.

He was also shown wearing an animal skull like a mask. Scary.

A movie for the game was promised for XBLA soon, but no specific details were given.

Capcom has just trailered four-way co-op in Lost Planet 2 at its Japanese 360 spring showcase.

The footage showed four players attacking a giant monster.

That’s it. Lost Planet 2 is to be shown in Monte Carlo at CAPTIVATE this week.

Activision has been ordered to return code for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ to developer Genius.

The ruling came as part of the same hearing that said last week that there “no evidence of wrongdoing” on the part of Activision in the case.

“There is evidence that…7 Studios has a duty to return the work product, source code, and software of the plaintiff [Genius],” said the judge in the hearing, as reported by Gamespot.

The judge added, talking to Activision’s lawyer: “It is actually very straightforward. They hired you. They have terminated the deal. Their agreement requires return of materials. No matter how you slice this banana, they are entitled to the work product back. I don’t know why your client would want to continue working on a project for which they have been terminated.”

Why indeed. The judge wrapped things up in an apparently testy manner.

“You [Activision] turn over the source code, and then if you want it back, you can argue on May 6th as to why you should get it back. I can’t under any circumstance think why you would be entitled to keep the source code.”

And added: “Show me anywhere where you can refuse to turn over source code because it incorporates your pre-existing tools and technology. … They can use it for any purpose. It is theirs. It belongs to them. They paid $6 million for it. I’m done.”

The complaint against Activision and 7 Studios alleges that the companies conspired to withhold and delay the release of Scratch: The Ultimate DJ.

Good news, morning people. The Left 4 Dead Survival Pack is to release this morning at 2.00am PST.

That’s 10.00am GMT if you’re in the UK, and this is the 360 version. The PC download is coming today, but doesn’t have a time on it as yet.

Loads of little goings on the land of MMOs last week, but as per usual, the biggest stuff hit our front page.

WoW patch anyone?

Get the rest after the link.

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It’s the story that keeps on giving. After Kotaku today published sales threshold levels WiiWare developers have to reach before getting paid, a Eurogamer “source” has added a note of caution to any negativity surrounding the issue.

“I’m concerned this recent threshold news is generating an artificially negative wave of press,” said the contact.

“The spirit of the threshold was never to screw the developer – it was, as far as I can tell, a quality control mechanism to prevent the service from getting overrun with a bunch of crappy games.

“Once the threshold is crossed, the developer is retroactively paid for every single unit sold below the threshold. I know there has been confusion on that point in the past.”

Got it? WiiWare’s awesome. Lots more words through the link.

MTV Multiplayer editor Stephen Totilo has joined Kotaku as its deputy managing editor.

Totilo confirmed earlier tonight that he was leaving MTV after four years.

He’ll be starting at Kotaku in May. Full details through the link.

The latest Fight Night Round 4 video shows specific boxing styles. It still looks stupidly good. See after the break.

It’s out on June 30 for PS3 and 360.

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