Monthly Archives: April 2009

Sacred 2 developer Ascaron Entertainment filed for bankruptcy protection on April 14, reports WorthPlaying.

According to the site, delays may have attributed to the firm’s financial issues.

To try and get another company interesting in acquiring the studio, it was revealed that an add-on for Sacred 2 is scheduled for release this summer, as is a third installment.

More through the link.

Guitar Hero: Van Halen rumors are floating around again, thanks to Germany’s ratings board.

The Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) has rated the game for PS3 and Xbox 360, and it’s listed as, “Guitar Hero Headlining Van Halen”. Sounds like bad translation there.

GH:VH has been living in Rumorville ever since Activision CEO Bobby Kotick hinted around about it last year. So, while the news that it’s been given a rating raises an eyebrow, is not earth-shattering.

Via D’toid.

Chris Hinojosa-Miranda has confirmed on the US PS Blog that Patapon 2 will be a digital-only release for PSP in the US.

Vouchers for the game arrive in retail on May 5 in PSP packaging, complete with an instruction manual and a download code. The game can also be purchased online on May 7 via PSN.

A video and more information are expected Wednesday.

Some shots for Killzone 2′s Steel and Titanium map pack popped up this morning, and while we’re unsure how many are new, we thought you might like to take a look anyway.

The DLC’s the first for the game, and is expected on April 30.

Still no price point yet, but keep checking back with us.

Very nice looking shots for Mafia II were released on the official website today.

In addition, there’s a video of it posted after the break, featuring footage full of shooting, cursing, and other Mafia-related goodies.

2K Czech’s sandbox shooter is expected sometime around Halloween for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

Thanks, JCC.

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LA Noire developer Team Bondi has posted up a list of job openings specific for the game on its official website.

Opportunities include 3D car modelers and layout artists, a senior and junior level designer, and a senior gameplay programmer.

If you fit the bill, hit the link.

Team Bondi made a previous push last July to hire new staffers, leaving some to believe the game was reaching its final stage of development.

That was not the case, apparently, and there’s still no word on when this Rockstar joint venture can be expected.

Via Joystiq.

Call of Duty: World at War players will get double XP this weekend to celebrate the success of Map Pack 1.

The double XP applies to all versions of the game and will run through Monday, ending at 1.00pm EST.

More information can be found over at the Call of Duty Headquarters.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed wants Sony to pull the recently released Hanuman: Boy Warrior from shelves as he claims it “trivializes the highly revered deity of Hinduism.”

In a statement issued from his headquarters at the Universal Society of Hinduism in Nevada, Zed wants videogame-makers to be more sensitive when handling faith-based subjects, as it can leave a lasting impression on children, he said.

“Controlling and manipulating Lord Hanuman with a joystick/button/keyboard/mouse was denigration,” he said.

“Lord Hanuman was not meant to be reduced to just a ‘character’ in a videogame to solidify company/products base in the growing economy of India.”

According to GamingIndians.com, Zed has a history of entertainment protest and in the past has “taken up noble causes such as protests against singer Rihanna’s misspelled Sanskrit tattoo, Mike Myers flick Love Guru, and supermodel Heidi Klum’s Goddess Kali Halloween costume.”

The site also says that the gaming community is not upset over the context of the game, and the only reason it should be banned is because it’s terrible.

Ouch.

Full thing below.

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Postal: Classic and Uncut is now available on Good Old Games for $5.99. Postal 2 is expected soon.

Yes, we’re serious. Here’s the proof.

If you’ve never played the controversial game before, now’s your chance to get it cheap.

Also, GOG is running a 25 percent off promotion all weekend for the Stronghold and Stronghold: Crusader bundle, should Postal not be your cup of tea.

Via D’toid.

Sega’s confirmed via The Conduit’s official site that the Wii shooter will launch in Europe on June 26.

It was pinned for a June 23 US release earlier this week.

Thanks, NintendoEverything.

Famitsu’s posted up the first non-scan N3 II shots, and very pretty it’s looking too.

The 360-exclusive sequel’s out later this year in Japan, and there’s still no word on a western release.

A Fight Night Round 4 demo is coming in May, recreating the match between Ricky Hatton and Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao.

The game’s out this June for PS3 and Xbox 360.

The news comes from a GTTV video, posted below.

Via Joystiq.

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Microsoft’s offering a trip to E3 and a car in this competition, but you can only enter if you’re American. Which is great and rubbish, all at the same time.

Here’s what you can win:

• A trip for two to LA to attend the Microsoft E3 Press briefing
• $3000 cash (1k for travel and 2k for car taxes)
• A home theater system that includes a Flat-Panel HDTV, Bose Home Theatre System, Xbox Elite Console, 120gb Zune, plus one year of Xbox LIVE Gold and Zune Pass. (valued at $4,800)
• A 2010 Kia Soul Sport (valued at $18,000)

Get to it, American videogame fans.

Naughty Dog boss Evan Wells has revealed that “the demo’s getting closer,” on his Twitter account, saying earlier this week that, “The most important deadline so far on Uncharted 2 is right around the corner!”

There’s been no official confirmation of a demo at all as yet. We’re assured the stream’s legit, but as it’s the weekend Sony’s offline. We’ll ask for comment on Monday.

E3? You betcha. The PS3 exclusive’s out this year.

Update: Stand down, soldier. Wells just tweeted the following: “Clarifying a previous post… we’re working on stabilizing a *build* for an upcoming “demo”nstration of Uncharted 2. NOT a PSN demo! Sorry!”

Still Life 2 is soon to be upon us, and all the adventure gamers out there will be delighted to know that French developer Microïds has put out a demo.

It weighs in at 1Gb, and you can grab it from here.

Game’s out in Q2, and the point and clicker in us simply can’t wait, truth be told. Go get.

Thanks, AdventureGamers.

Gamespot’s gone live with the first screens and impressions of BioShock 2. There’s a video interview feature thing, including game footage, after the break.

There’s a lot of info there, including tons of plot stuff, so don’t look if you want to stay pure.

The sequel, again set in Rapture, casts you as a plasmid-touting Big Daddy up against a Big Sister and splicers that are “even less human” that before, according to that piece.

Of the Big Sister:

Given the raw power and range of abilities the big daddy you’ll play, the team felt the need to create a formidable predator. We saw hints of her handywork in the debris throughout the level, which included numerous battered big daddy corpses. But it wasn’t until she popped into sight that we got a sense for how dangerous she is. The big sister is a lithe being that’s unsettlingly thin, but has a fat needle arm, and a cage on her back to hold little sisters. She’s fast, maneuverable, and has special abilities of her own. In her brutal attack in the demo, she had what appeared to be a telekinesis plasmid–which she used with deadly accuracy.

A general embargo’s about to lift, so keep watching over the weekend for similar deals from other sites.

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

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After the break. There’s no denying it this time: it is a demo of Batman: Arkham Asylum. Looks as though it’s one of the game’s Challenge Rooms being played.

Great cape going on there. It’s shot off-screen, so don’t expect too much by way of visual quality, but it does give a good indication of what to expect.

Take a look. There’s no date on it as yet.

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Dengeki Online has posted new screens of RPG Blue Dragon: Colossal Beast of the Underworld.

Namco Bandai and Mistwalker collaborated on the project, which is expected to land in Japan sometime this year.

A North American release is still up in the air.

The link above also contains the box art and other artwork.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

NintendoPad has the low-down on challenges faced when Punch Out!!, which is due for Wii release on May 18.

If you’re the type who likes to remain surprised, don’t take a peek below the break. It tells you a bit more than just how many boxers you will face off against.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

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Japan will get Persons for PSP in just 12 days, and to celebrate, Atlus has released the remake’s intro video – which is great, aside from the music.

Reminds us of the title track to an 80s ski-movie.

Watch it below.

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