Monthly Archives: July 2009

Platinum Games revealed during a Comic-Con panel yesterday that the team does not plan on releasing DLC for Bayonetta.

Reason being: “The game ships with everything you want,” it was said.

This has been hinted at before, but now it appears to be solidified.

Via D’toid.

During a Capcom panel at Comic-Con, Resident Evil 5 producer Masachika Kawata was asked if Albert Wesker would appear in more Resident Evil games considering Resident Evil 5 left you wondering for some reason.

Apparently, the answer is no.

“Even if you want Albert Wesker to come back there is no chance of that happening,” Kawata told the audience, reports Siliconera.

So after appearing in the original, Code Veronica, Zero, RE4 and RE5 (Darkside Chronicles technically doesn’t count) Wesker is no more.

But if there is one thing we have learned playing different videogames over the years, it’s that you can’t keep a good series villain down for long.

Right Ganon/Ganondorf?

Telefilm Canada, the federal cultural agency formed to promote media in Canada and hand out grants, has listed a new Silicon Knights project currently in the works for consoles.

Titled Siren in the Maelstrom, it’s listed as a possible portable or console project.

Over on the official SK forums, the community is chatting this up a bit, but there is still no hint as to what this formally secret project could entail.

Hopefully more will be revealed soon.

Thanks, GoNintendo, Via NextGen Player.

Lionsgate president of digital media, Curt Marvis has said that he is hopeful Nintendo will launch its Wii movie store worldwide soon, where it is already a go in Japan.

Over on Casualgaming, Marvis explained that company wishes to sell more film and television properties through videogame consoles and different consoles are better outlets for certain genres.

“I imagine the Wii’s movie store will launch worldwide soon,” he told the site. “The essential point is that the game machine is already connected into the TV, and we see it as a major conduit inside the home to bring movies via the internet into the television.

“Our horror and action movies are ideal for the Xbox and PlayStation’s hardcore audience, while the broader audience of the Wii are likely to enjoy our more mass-market properties.”

Thanks, Joystiq.

During the Star Wars panel at Comic-Con last night, it was announced that Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes would miss its September 15 release date and instead bit shelves on October 6.

Krome Studios is developing it, and it’s a third person action game based on the Cartoon Network animated series.

When released you will be able to purchase it for DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360.

Thanks, BigDownload.

Lucasarts has announced the Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition.

Set for a holiday release on PS3 and Xbox 360, Ultimate Sith Edition combines The Force Unleashed and three new levels to create an evil storyline of the events that occurred between the two Star Wars movie trilogies.

The additional content includes two levels set on Coruscant and Tatooine previously only available via direct download, and an exclusive level available only in the package.

The exclusive level concludes the Infinities storyline set up in the Tatooine mission, as the Secret Apprentice is sent to the planet Hoth to crush the Rebellion once and for all.

While on Hoth, players face Luke Skywalker while visiting locations seen in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back.

No exact date yet, but it will arrive just in time for the holiday shopping extravaganza.

TaleWorlds has announced that it is taking applications for Beta testers for the Mount & Blade: Warband multiplayer expansion pack.

Those who have purchased the game and still have their serial number lying around, will have preference over those that did not purchase the game, and if you are located close to the multiplayer servers, you will also be given preference.

With that being said, more servers are expected to be opened, and when that happens, more will be invited as well as randomly picked.

Warband adds multiplayer, and will support up to 32 players and eventually handle 64 once mods are created. A complete graphics overhaul will be included, better AI with a greater sense of morale, and improvements to the combat system.

Mount & Blade is an RPG with a focus on mounted combat. While not a bad game at all, it has a reputation of being notoriously hard to play until you get the hang of things.

A release date for the expansion has yet to be announced.

Via IndieGames.

Champions Online goes into open Beta on August 17, and if you want in on all the fun, all you have to do is preorder the game to guarantee access to the Beta.

There are four different preorder options to choose from:

• GameStop: Receive access to the Early Start Program. Battle an alien menace, collect exclusive items, and join the early start weekend to get a jump on the action! GameStop customers also receive the exclusive Insectoid Airfoil costume piece and Experimental Anti-Graviton Generator flight travel power at character creation for an early boost in mobility.

• Wal-Mart: Exclusive Limited Edition Package with collectible lenticular cover that includes an exclusive zone map, iron-on decal and an additional ten in-game micro-transaction dollars! Check online and in-store for more details and other potential offers.

• Best Buy: Get the fun and functional Lil’ Champ Pack. These persistent pets are iconic, knee-high characters from the Champions universe! Best Buy Customers receive their own Lil’ Champ. In addition, Lil’ Champ owners also receive a functional damage resistance item. Best Buy preorder customers will also receive access to the Early Start Program and head start weekend.

• Amazon: The High Roller Pack is perfect for players who insist on the finest accouterments for their avatar. With three unique, exclusive apparel options (harlequin headpiece, black knight helmet, grenade chest strap), and an additional five in-game microtransaction dollars, you’ll have plenty of options to push your “High Roller” look.

The Beta is being sponsored by IGN, and all preorders – no matter which you choose – net 30-days of free play and five in-game microtransaction bucks.

Game launches September 1. Thanks, Massively.

Looks like the ESRB has outed the sexy bits of Dragon Age: Origins.

BioWare said it would push things just a bit, and, well – just read the description:

“Players can also initiate brief cutscene sequences in which couples (male and female or same sex couples) can be depicted kissing, embracing, and caressing one another as the screen fades to black.

“During the course of the game, players are able to visit a brothel where a hostess asks what they are interested in. If players select ‘Surprise me,’ they can sometimes wind up face-to-face with a woman, a man, a transsexual, or an animal; sexual activity is never depicted during these brothel encounters.”

Actually that sounds rather humorous. Walk in. Fade to black. Fade back to man and chicken sharing a cigarette.

However, all this aside, there are no nudie parts to the game according to the ESRB: “Though the game never features human nudity, one female demon character is briefly depicted with bare breasts.”

There ya go.

Lucasarts has sent over a lovely press release stating that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will get some downloadable content in the fall for PS3 and Xbox 360.

The Tatooine mission continues at the end of The Force Unleashed and re-imagines the Star Wars Saga as if the Secret Apprentice had killed Darth Vader and taken his place at the Emperor’s side, becoming the most powerful Sith Lord in the universe.

It picks up as the Emperor sends his new apprentice to the planet Tatooine to dispatch Obi-Wan Kenobi.

During their hunt, players will explore the depths of Jabba the Hutt’s palace and encounter bounty hunter Boba Fett.

Full thing through the break.

More »

Epic CEO and founder, Tim Sweeney, has told G4 that the firm does not plan to release retail versions of Unreal Tournament for quite a while.

“Unreal Tournament is certainly a major long-term priority but we’re planning not to release a major retail game in the series. for several years,” Sweeney said. “So we have that effort somewhat on hold while we work on a few other initiatives.”

Meanwhile, Sweeney stated that Epic will continue to support the mod community and in the future announce plans to “open up the engine to more people to use freely and use cool stuff.”

Thanks, BigDownload.

Ubisoft has announced that the same actors who lent their voices to James Cameron’s film, Avatar, will reprise their roles in the game.

Sigourney Weaver plays Dr. Grace Augustine in the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and PC versions; Michelle Rodriguez voices helicopter pilot Trudy Chacon in the PC, PS3, and 360 versions which feature bad guy Col. Quaritch, played by Stephen Lang.

Giovanni Ribisi will only appear in the Wii version as Parker Selfridge.

A trailer for the game will be released next month on August 21 but there’s no word on whether it will contain the actors’ voices.

Thanks, Joystiq.

Mark Rein has clarified to VG247 his stance on making games for Wii, stating that Silicon Valley Insider misquoted his remarks regarding the system during his interview with IndustryGamers.

According to Rein, he never said nor implied that designing games for Wii was a waste, just that it’s not Epic’s specialty.

“The kind of games we make just would not work well on Wii,” he told VG247. “With our high-end engine, making a game work on Wii would spread our resources too thin and cause us to lose focus.

“Hardcore games have been hit or miss on Wii. Some have done well, some have not and we would not expect Gears or any of our games to sell well on the system. Games like Madden are great, especially since the developer designed a user interface specifically for Wii, but again, doing something like that would take up resources we are using to make other titles.

“Again, I never said making games for Wii was a waste. There are some great games for it, but it’s just not for us.”

Here’s a link to the original post, which has been fixed to accommodate this new information.

Silicon Valley Insider has also updated its original post.

Valve has revealed that some of the zombies in Left 4 Dead 2 will be wearing kevlar, making them virtually bulletproof.

Showing up in the Parish segment of the game, the undead are basically police officers who didn’t make it out alive, so to speak.

The only way to end their suffering, and the impending suffering they plan to inflict on you, is to stun them with a melee attack from behind.

Sound interesting.

More over on Kotaku.

A trailer for Scribblenauts is posted after the break.

It’s loaded with zaniness. Best trailer of the day, we reckon.

Get it come September 25 on DS and DSi.

Watch on courtesy of Joystiq.

More »

Bungie senior designer Lars Bakken has said that Halo Reach will probably be the last Halo game made for Xbox 360.

According to the talk he had with CVG, Microsoft may have other ideas.

“In terms of a platform for Halo games made by Bungie, yes. I can’t answer that question for Microsoft though,” he said.

“Whether they have something in the works or not, I don’t know if they’re actually ready to talk about it yet, but in terms of Bungie-produced Halo games, ODST and then Reach is probably all you’re going to get.”

More through the linky.

Eurogamer France has some new Halo: ODST pics up for your viewing pleasure.

Two more posts containing anything Halo related, and we will officially declare this Bungie Day across the land.

Hopefully the government will take the hint and make it a paid holiday.

Have a look through here.

Sony Online’s Free Realms has close to 5 million registered players and the game has only been live since April 28, according to SOE president John Smedley,

During it’s first ten days, the game hit 1 million subscribers and has steadily grown by leaps and bounds each week.

Smedley attributed the popularity and success of the game to the company’s free-to-play business model, with microtransactions.

More through Gamasutra.

Bungie has told Eurogamer that Halo: Reach will not be revealed this year.

“I would bet that we’re not going to see it this year, only because we want ODST to shine this year,” said Bungie’s Lars Bakken.

“It’ll be familiarly Bungie in that it’ll be big and epic and fun and people will want to play it,” he added while stating that Halo:Reach will be teased to beat the band.

“There are a lot of things like that,” Bakken explained. “Like ‘Remember Reach’ spray-painted on the side of a wall. There’s things like that littered all throughout the game that are cool little nods to fans. And that actually makes a lot more sense now that we had announced the Reach game.”

Halo: Reach is due for release on Xbox 360 in autumn 2010.

Dear Lord.

Apparently, EA is taking misogyny to a new level at Comic-Con this year, basically begging people to sexually harass the booth babes.

According toArstechnica, if you commit “an act of lust” with an EA booth babe and take a picture, you could win dinner with said babes, as well as Dante’s Inferno prizes, a limo ride and faux paparazzi shots.

Seriously all you have to do is take a picture, but we can only imagine the sorts who will use this as an excuse to rub the thighs of these gals with the “pen” in their pocket.

More through the link.