Monthly Archives: July 2009

Got $1,124.55 just sitting in your wallet? Sure ya do, and the best way to spend it is to purchase Battlefield 1943 on Xbox Live for 90000 MS Points.

Granted this is some sort of snafu on Microsoft’s part, it will actually run you 1200 MS Points ($14.99).

Still it’s rather funny, and we just had to share it with you.

Via MTV Multiplayer.

Marvel vs Capcom 2 will arrive on Xbox Live July 29.

The PSN date is still up in the air a bit, but there should not be much of a wait.

It will run you 1200 MS Points ($15).

Thanks, Evil Avatar.

Yasuhiro Maekawa, the US president for Natsume, has said that mid-sized companies can benefit from digital distribution because there is less competition than what exists at retail.

“I think that Natsume, and also publishers in general have a big issue right now,” he told Gamasutra. “Basically, there are so many titles out there, but retailers, store shelves are very limited. If you go to Wal-Mart, they have one case there, which may hold 48 titles. However the top row is all Nintendo titles, second row, all EA.

“Which means the middle-size publishing companies like us, if it’s Reel Fishing or the Harvest Moon franchise, or maybe Afrika, they might possibly show interest. But if it’s our original titles, and we have some more original titles here, it’s very tough to sell to retail stores.

“In that case, the online downloadable content becomes viable. Plus the development costs are not as high as in the package business. So for us, I think it’ll do well.”

Hit the link for the rest.

EA has confirmed to VG247 that Command & Conquer 4 will not release on consoles.

No reason has been given for the decision to keep the game as a PC-only release as yet, but we’ve asked for official comment. We’re guessing we’re going to get something including the word “focus”.

C&C4 was announced earlier today for a 2010 release.

Gamespot’s now posted the game’s first screen, showing units doing the do. As they do.

Hit the release link for full details.

Koch Media and Deep Silver has announced that the board game Carcassonne is headed to DS.

Some of you may have already played in on Xbox Live. It’s rather fun.

The handheld version contains the main game including the River expansion and the addition of three new locations:

Story mode features numerous levels and a storyline, Quick game determines the number and strength of AI opponents for the next match, and Multiplayer contains both Single-Card Play and Multi-Card Play via Wi-Fi.

The game is expected to be released during the second half of the year.

Press release and more details are through the break.

More »

Platinum Games will be in San Diego, California July 24 to promote Bayonetta and you can win yourself a ticket and possibly walk away with a special Xbox 360.

To enter, become a fan of Platinum Games on Facebook, email littleangels@platinumgames.com with a link to your profile, make sure you are 21, and that you can be in San Diego that day by your own accord.

Deadline to enter is July 13 and more details are through here.

Via Joystiq.

Sony’s announced a deal to bring Netflix to internet-enabled Bravia TVs, meaning owners of the sets will have access to the service’s thousands of movies out of the box.

Which is great. But there’s no mention of PS3 in the confirmation at all. A little odd, seeing as it’s the most obvious deal in the history of mankind.

Does MS have a console exclusive on the movie outlet? We should probably ask the question.

Bravias get Netflix in the US this autumn.

Tales of Vesperia lands on PS3 this fall, and looks rather cute.

Japan gets a demo for it on July 13.

It’s been out for Xbox 360 since last month.

Thanks, Kotaku.

Those that pre-order Splinter Cell: Conviction through Gamestop in the US will receive an exclusive in-game shotgun, the retailer’s confirmed.

And not just any shotgun. It’s a semi-automatic shotgun.

“If you prefer the rugged sophistication of a manual shotgun, but also enjoy the convenience of an automatic, then this is the shotgun for you,” said the shop.

Not scary. Yours for $60. It’s out in October.

Sony says the Fury expansion for WipEout HD is currently in the last bit of its QA testing and a release date will be announced when completed.

“Once this is completed we will be in a position to announce the release date here on the PlayStation Blog,” said a rep on the EU PS Blog.

The expansion adds 8 new tracks, 13 ship models and 3 game modes, two of which will be available for online play.

Thanks CVG.

Nelson’s just confirmed a Ghostbusters demo’s gone up on the US Live. Euros can’t have it, obviously, as Sony’s got a timed exclusive in the region.

Blurb:

Who Ya Gonna Call? The Ghostbusters are back for an all new adventure! The year is now 1991: Who haunts Library? What happened to the Grey Lady? Try this demo to get a taste of the new supernatural spectacular haunting Manhattan. Take the role of a new recruit joining the famous Ghostbusters team and be equipped with a variety of unique equipment and gadgets as you hunt, fight and wrangle a wide range of ghosts in an all-new battle to save New York City from its latest paranormal plague.

EA’s just come clean on C&C4′s development by issuing the press release it alluded to yesterday. Get it after the break.

It’s out in 2010 for PC. No consoles are mentioned in the announcement.

Additions include class-based gameplay, mobile bases and persistent player progression throughout all game modes.

The game also includes 5v5 objective-based multiplay.

A BattleCast PrimeTime episode on July 24 will offer more. Gametrailers TV will exclusively reveal the first cinematic trailer on July 23.

Update – EA’s just confirmed it as PC-only.

More »

Konami’s confirmed that the Wii version of PES 2010 will ship this autumn.

The Wii version of the last PES title was pushed over into 2009 instead of joining its HD brethren in 2008, so Wii football fans can be thankful for the news.

PR after the break.

More »

THQ core boss Danny Bilson has told GI that the publisher will support Sony’s wand-based motion tech and 360′s Project Natal from day one.

“We’ll be there at launch with some very friendly titles for the first audience who will adopt that stuff, which is families,” said the exec.

“The technology is really excellent, for both Xbox 360 and PS3, so now it’s all about the creative versus the business model. What’s the installed base like and how much can I spend against those? Of course at first you’ll see games that cost less money, but as the installed base grows we’ll do more robust stuff.”

Full interview through there. Neither system has a launch date as yet.

Team17 just officially announced its Alien Breed reboot, branding it Evolution.

It’s being developed on the Unreal Engine and it described by the UK firm as a “retro-modern” remake of the 18 year-old Amiga game.

No platforms yet. First screens and PR after the break.

More »

FIFA Manager 10 will allows players to go head-to-head online, EA said today, a series first.

The online mode is free and you can play at least two seasons with up to eight players in one session,” said lead designer Gerald Köhler.

But that’s not all. The offline game has benefited from “400 enhancements” based on player feedback, said the firm, including “deeper AI”.

It’s out for PC this autumn. PR after the break.

More »

Pirahna president Russ Bullock has confirmed to IGN that the newly-revealed MechWarrior reboot is to have four-way co-op, with each player taking on a separate mech in a “lance,” a robot team built of light, medium, heavy, and assault class mechs.

“We’re really aiming for four player co-op,” said the dev. “I really want to see the possibility for anywhere between one and four. Again, these are just initial thoughts, but similar to how in Gears of War, you can go through the entire campaign with someone or not. We’d like to have that – I’d love to see you going through that.

Bullock added that the MechWarrior IP in general is well-suited for co-op play.

“We can’t imagine hardly a better property for it: when you think of a lance as four mechs, we have an opportunity here to have a four-player lance, all with player controlled mechs and utilizing all four classes of the mechs in the universe from light, medium, heavy, and assault,” he said.

Hit the link for the entire, epic interview with Bullock and series creator Jordan Weisman.

The game was confirmed for PC and 360 today, although it’s looking very early doors at the moment.

If you’re a proper PES-lover you may want to have a look at this. It’s a competition which could end up with you appearing in PES 2010 marketing next to cover stars Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres.

All you have to do is upload a video to that site saying why you love the game so much. Try to keep your cock in your pants, obviously.

You need to be UK-based to enter. Press release after the break.

More »

Open world racer FUEL’s getting a demo today, Codies said this morning.

The taster’s releasing for PC, PS3 and 360, so no one’s left out.

Included is a career event called Ocean Rush, and a challenge thing called Blitz.

Press release after the break.

Update: It’s up on both Live and PSN now.

More »

Lego Rock Band will let you battle denizens of the deep with the “power of rock,” according to TT Games boss Jonathan Smith. We’re not lying.

“In a Lego world, where anything is possible, all the brilliant things about Rock Band mix with all the brilliant things about Lego,” Smith told VG247.

“The Lego character customiser means that pirates, knights and skeletons can be rock stars too, in amazing new locations. Battle sea-monsters, smash up an entire building, or take a trip into space, all with the power of rock!

“That essential Rock Band gameplay is still there; but now it’s also accessible to a broader audience, with new easy-play options, songs which everyone knows, and lyrics which are appropriate for all ages.”

Don’t worry, though. All that customisation shizzle won’t get in the way if you don’t want it to.

“Customisation is a key concept in all Lego games – but it’s totally up to you how much time you spend on it,” Smith added.

We’re pumped now. Destroying a building with rock power has to be a good thing.

Lego Rock Band releases for Wii, PS3 and 360 later this year.