Monthly Archives: August 2009

Polyphony Digital boss and the father of GT, Kazunouri Yamauchi has confirmed that Gran Turismo 5 will be released shortly after GT PSP.

Right now, they are working hard on the PSP edition of the game, but they are aiming to have it out after the release of GT PSP on October 1, speaking in an interview, hosted on  DailyMotion.

“[We're] just thankful that so many people are interested in Gran Turismo 5″, said Yamauchi, adding further “[It] should be out shortly after that date”.

It come as mounting speculation is growing that the game will release before Christmas. That speculation grew bigger when GT5 was, surprisingly, playable on the showfloor at GamesCom. It’ll be at TGS next month.

Thanks, TSA.

Activision’s sent out these brand new screens of Modern Warfare 2. Not many to look at, just two, but they’re still fresh and new to look at.

They’re after the jump.

It’s out worldwide on PC, PS3 and 360 on Tuesday November 10th.

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The English demo of Final Fantasy XIII will be in English and completely new and different from the Japanese demo, but only if there will be one.

That’s what Yoshinori Kitase, producer for the game, told journalists at GamesCom earlier today.

If a demo does come, it wont be on a Blu-ray or DVD. Instead, expect it on the PSN and Xbox Live.

“…we are thinking of providing it in a downloadable format,” said the Square dev legend.

“…if we were to provide the demo overseas, it would be a completely new version.”

Kitase also confirmed that the Japanese development of the game for the PS3 is over ninety percent complete now, while development for the Xbox 360 version is over seventy percent complete.

More over at Joystiq and IGN.

The game will release in the winter in Japan for the PS3, but Kitase-san told VG247 today that the game will receive a simultaneous release next spring in Europe and the US for PS3 and 360.

He also told us they’re aiming to keep the amount of discs for the 360 version down to a minimum of three discs.

Quantic Dream’s David Cage has told journalists at a Heavy Rain presentation at GamesCom that the game will feature up to a staggering 13 voice languages, with five more added in for the subtitles.

The voiced languages obviously include English and French, where QD is based. But it also contains Italian, Dutch, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean and more.

A Polish language is still tbc.

More over at Joystiq.

We sat down with David Cage this week in Cologne.

Nice man.

Catch the interview here, where he mentions a demo for the game, a possible sequel (or lack of it, more like) and the PS3.

Sega COO Mike Hayes said to G4 that Bayonetta has the capability to be a hit, thanks to the “lifts” of the quality and gameplay in the game.

“I think we have a huge, high degree of confidence with Bayonetta because games in that genre on those platforms have been successful in the past. We think Bayonetta actually takes that and lifts the quality and lifts the gameplay further to make sure that that’s going to be a hit”, said Hayes.

He also mentions that, despite MadWorld’s blow up of sales, they intend to make sure that past mistakes wont be repeated for Bayonetta.

“I think there are clearly development differences between the two.”

“On MadWorld itself, we’re researching it as we speak to try and identify some of the causes behind that. I think Bayonetta comes from a background and a genre that’s been already proven to be popular. I think with MadWorld we were trying to be so many different things probably all at once that maybe we pushed the envelope a bit too far.”

The game’s due in Q1 2010, originally for Q4 2009, for the PS3 and 360.

Developer of the game, Platinum, spoke to VG247 this week in Cologne about the game’s delay. See what they said here.

Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing at GameStop US, Tony Bartel, has said the retailer is very “excited” for the impending release of the PSPgo on October 1 in the US.

Speaking in the company’s financial call for the quarter of Q2 09, Bartel said that they were excited even more to be selling the new PSP model.

“On the PSPgo, we are excited to be carrying that for a couple reasons. We do participate in the downstream revenue via both POSA (point of sale activation) cards and through points cards,” said the GS exec.

“We are very excited about selling the PSPgo. We are very excited to be reserving it; reserves are picking. And we have a very clear roadmap as to how we can drive profitability on the sale of games.”

In case you can’t tell, he says “excited” quite a fair bit.

More over at IGN. If you’re into the kind of thing, read Gamestop’s financials here.

The PSPgo launches on October 1 in the US and Europe, with a November 1 launch in Japan. It’ll retail for £225 here in the UK

Sega’s announced Napoleon: Total War for PC at GamesCom.

It takes place as you get the chance to control Napoleon Bonaparte’s army as he fights through Egypt, Russia and Italy in three separate campaigns before the ultimate battle – the Duke of Wellington and The Battle of Waterloo.

They’ve sent us the first screens as well as the PR. They’re after the jump.

It’s out February 2010.

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Not content with waiting until September for the PS3 Slim? Live in the US? Gamestop have you covered.

The retailer is now taking pre-orders on their website and that the console will ship on August 25th.

That’ll be next Wednesday in-case you haven’t figured it out, and not the September 1 date SCEI president Kaz Hirai gave when the Slim was announced on Tuesday at SCEE’s GC presser.

Thanks, Joystiq.

There’s a trailer after the break for Pandemic’s The Saboteur.

Game’s out December 4 and 8 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in the UK and US, respectively.

We honestly can’t wait. It looks bad ass.

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Famitsu’s put live some brand new screens as well as the first videos of the PSP port of Persona 3.

The screens are actually those from the scans revealed on Monday, but the videos are completely new.

Go get them through the link. It’s out on October 1st: day and date with the Western launch of the PSPgo. It doesn’t launch in Japan until November 1.

Update: This aint as big, but EB Games have listed the strategy guide for The Ballad of Gay Tony for 360, PC and… wait for it …PS3. This is starting to snowball a bit.

Thanks, Dr. Ghettoblaster.

Original Story: Take with a pinch as always, but this may have some validity to it.

PS3 EU Mod, Yaster, has apparently confirmed that a PS3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned is at GamesCom. Better yet, it’s playable apparently.

“And they were certainly showing some PS3 love – Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and the Damned was available to play in a special 18+ area, we didn’t manage to get our hands on it due to the MASSIVE queue – but those inside looked pretty ***** excited.’”

We’ve left an email with Rockstar to see what the fuck is going on.

You can find more info through here.

Looks like Rock Band 3 is in the works already and possibly another artist-centric title, according to an interview with MTV Games boss Scott Guthrie.

Speaking with MCV, Guthrie was asked what was in store for gamers in 2010, and the answer was not really surprising.

“We’re exploring both – and possibly will do both,” he said. “The Harmonix development team are working on what is effectively the next game, or ‘Rock Band 3’. We aren’t standing still – we will keep moving into new areas and look at new technologies that our platform holder partners are also developing, such as Project Natal from Microsoft. We’re working with them to pull some things together.

“So it’s pretty exciting time for the future of our music game business.”

Rock Band: Led Zeppelin confirmed.

Okay. It will never happen.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling has revealed some of the actors who will appear in Modern Warfare 2.

Keith David, who has starred in many movies, has previously lent his voice to such games as: Halo 2 and 3, Mass Effect, Saints Row 1 and 2, Lords of EverQuest, PlaneScape: Torment, and the original Fallout.

Kevin McKidd, who played Love Fist’s Jezz Torrent in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, will make his second appearance in a game. Formerly, he played Tommy in Trainspotting, Lucius Vorenus in Rome, the lead in canceled NBC show Journeyman (god show!), and is currently on Grey’s Anatomy.

Barry Pepper, who voiced Alex Mercer in Prototype; Glenn Morshower, agent Aaron Pierce on 24; and Craig Fairbrass who voiced SAS commando Gaz in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – wonder how he’ll pull that one off.

Oh yeah, and don’t forget 50 Cent lends his voice to the multiplayer.

More over on Gamespot.

Downloadable games this week included in the US PSN update include: Smash Cars and Bloody Roar, along with demos for IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey and Mini Ninjas.

Add-on content includes Andy Dick for Pain, the Zen Pinball Street Fighter II Tribute Table, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger additional colors, Cross Edge packs, and the usual Rock Band and Guitar Hero stuff.

PSP goodies consist of Warriors Orochi, Bloody Roar and add-on songs for Rock Band Unplugged.

Full thing is over on the US PS Blog.

Some screens from Rabbids Go Home for Wii and DS have shown up over on ONM UK.

GoNintendo also has two videos for the DS version posted. You should go have a look.

Game’s expected to be released for both November 3.

Amazon UK has a preorder page up for The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.

Not only is the online retailer listing the game for £24.96 which is 38 percent of the suggested retail price of £39.99 – but it has it down for a December 4 release.

Granted, we need to wait for word to come down from Nintendo, but still if that’s the case we don’t have much longer to wait.

Hit the link to see for yourself.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

Take-Two showed off Mafia II at GamesCom, and CVG has you covered.

There’s a video and some screens posted over on the site, and it looks mobalicious.

It’s out next year for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

Past the break there is a video of Seth Luisi, director of development at SCEA providing a walk-through of the 128-player “Acquisition” mode Valor map for MAG.

Qore subscribers will have the chance to get in on the MAG Official Public Beta on September 17, so if you don’t currently subscribe, now may be the time to do it.

Watch on, courtesy of the US PS Blog.

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Paradox Interactive has announced a new expansion for Europa Universalis III called Heir to the Throne.

Expected for a December release, here is what you can expect from it:

• Casus Belli system, where wars have specific goals from start to finish
• Monarchs now belong to dynasties, with far reaching effects on the diplomatic model
• More involving and powerful Holy Roman Empire and Papacy options
• Special diplomatic options for Republics
• Set your National Focus in a province to enhance growth and strengthen your hold in the region
• Permanent Terra Incognita removed and replaced with impassable regions
• Cultural Tradition allows better advisors in the same way that Military Tradition allows better generals and admirals
• Spheres of Influence simulate the Great Game of the major powers
• More dynamic pirates. Issue letters of marque to plague the sea zones of rival nations
• Monarchs need to uphold their legitimacy in the eyes of their subjects
• Many other additions and improvements

Gamespot has three screens featuring the expansion here.

On top of that, Victoria 2, which is an expansion to Hearts of Iron 3, will be released in 2010.

EA Montreal VP Alan Tuscan has told CVG that some of EA’s legacy games from the 16-bit era could make a return to the gaming spotlight.

“I am certain that some of them will come back. I won’t be able to tell you which one,” Tuscan told the site during GamesCom. “Look at Ubisoft and what they did with Prince of Persia – in my memory one of the best exercises in taking a beloved franchise and making something really special out of it.

“So from this example, I’m pretty certain that we’ll see within EA as well some franchises that we say hey – we’re keen, we’re excited, the audience wants it.

“Maybe it’s going to be Road Rash that’s going to be one. I don’t know.”

The Seven Cities of Gold, anyone?