Monthly Archives: August 2009

Rockstar’s released the first shots of the PSP version of Chinatown Wars – get them here.

The new version, according to Rockstar, includes “upscaled widescreen graphics, enhanced lighting and animation and including all new story missions”.

These are presumably the beginning of the “lots of announcements” expected from the publisher today.

The handheld GTA title releases for PSP on October 20.

EA president Frank Gibeau has told GI.biz that the future of music peripherals is a bit “unclear” thank to recent weak sales of Rock Band.

However, he does feel that the stand alone discs sales are still positive, and will bring about a nice finish to the year.

“Plastic’s way down, so a lot of the music category stuff is not as robust as it’s been, and it’s unclear whether a lot of this peripheral activity that’s happening is going to stick,” he told the site during GamesCom. “125, 115, 99 dollar price points for these things – it appears to have gone soft right now in the market place.

“But for standalone software titles that are high quality, from us? I feel good about it. I look at our first half, our Q2, I feel good about our company, our line-up. We’re not as exposed to some of those other issues – year-on-year our Q4 is going to be very dramatic in terms of the titles released.”

More through the link.

In probably the most obvious announcement of the day, Microsoft has confirmed that Facebook and Twitter will only be available on Xbox 360 for Gold Members.

This bit of news was slapped in with the price cut announcement.

“Xbox LIVE Gold Membership will be required for Twitter and Facebook when they are available, and is required for Netflix. Games, media content and Netflix membership are sold separately; a hard drive is required for storage,” Microsoft’s press release reads.

Both FB and Twitter are expected to land on the service this fall along with Last.fm.

Via GameZine.

Rockstar’s just tweeted that new stuff’s on the way from the publisher today, as you can see here.

The firm’s rebooted its site in anticipation.

GTA V confirmed. Hold onto your hat, granddad.

Looks like the list of famous actors who lent their voices to Dragon Age: Origins has been revealed by BioWare.

Those who play the game will be privy to the vocal talents of none other than Kate Mulgrew, a.k.a. Capt. Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager, Tim Curry who needs no introduction, the lovely Claudia Black, strange faced Steve Valentine, and Tim Russ.

Loads of famous people, there.

Tim Curry plays villain Arl Rendon Howe and Kate Mulgrew plays the witch Flemeth who plays a “pivotal role” in the player’s survival.

Game’s out in November, and more information is included in the press release below.

More »

Someone has torn to bits a PSPgo so that you can see its innards.

Looking inside you see chips, wires, pads, and other stuff that we have no idea what it is or does.

Why would someone tear apart a perfectly good electronic is beyond us, but if you are the type that likes to see the insides of things – there are 12 pictures for you to ogle.

Via Kotaku by way of Gizmodo, Engadget and LevelUp.

CDV has announced that Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter will be shown at PAX 2009.

An new PC game from the firm will also be shown, and while CDV refused to name it, the mailer did call it a “high profile” game.

Also of note, is that designer Marc Ecko will be at the CDV booth on Saturday, September 5, signing limited-edition Ecko brand t-shirts created specifically for this year’s expo.

During the signings, several DS systems will be given away to commemorate Ecko’s collaboration in the development of CDV’s new puzzler, I Heart Geeks.

Fashion. Giveaways. Serious Sam. A new RPG.

Sounds like our kind of PAX booth.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story has been confirmed for a UK release on October 9.

The third entry into the RPG franchise for the DS has Mario and Luigi being shrunk and inhaled by Bowser and our Italian heroes must find their way out of the big dragon thingie.

“At the start of the game, Bowser inhales Mario and Luigi, which leads to the duo exploring organic environments inside the grumpy monster, such as his stomach, arms and legs,” explained Nintendo.

“In another exciting first, you can control either Bowser on the top screen or Mario and Luigi on the Touch Screen, but can always switch between them.”

Sounds pretty fun.

Thanks, CVG.

Sony’s now posted both of the new UK PS3 TV ads on its site – watch them both here.

You will have seen one yesterday courtesy of the Guardian. The second focuses on games as opposed to the services video seen previously.

The American ads were shown in still for the first time overnight, and feature a “comedy” element. Dangerous business.

Xbox 360, eh? Price cuts, price rises, HDMI drama: all we need now is a slim model and we’ve got the full set.

Don’t hold your breath.

“We feel great about our console,” 360 production boss Aaron Greenberg told Kotaku.

“We have taken a different philosophy, adding more value to our existing console through updates and reinventing the system software.

“We feel like our system has done very well for us in the current form. We have no plans for a slim.”

Just remember this when Natal comes out. Fix it in your mind.

Sony is to handle sales and distribution of the PS3 version of DiRT2 in all PAL territories aside from Spain, Australia and New Zealand, Codemasters said today.

To be clear – this doesn’t mean Sony’s publishing the game. As we’ve just been told by Codies PR, “It’s strictly sales and distribution… The game will still be published and on the Codemasters label and marketed by Codemasters offices in UK and across Europe.”

It’s out on September 10 (PAL) and Septembr 11 (UK). PR after the break.

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European Xbox 360 head Chris Lewis has told GI that the 360 Pro pack’s been discontinued due to a need to “clarify” the machine’s SKU-base.

“We felt that the time is right and there’s been a demand to clarify our SKUs and our offerings to the consumers,” he said, speaking after the announcement this morning of 360 hardware reshuffle in both the US and Europe this morning.

“We continue to offer an entry console in the Arcade unit and, now we’ve lowered the price of the Xbox 360 Elite, we’re confident we’re offering a premium gaming experience at a very competitive price.”

It was confirmed today that the Pro SKU would be dropped in favour of a set-up featuring a more expensive Arcade and cheaper Elite.

There’s a full interview through the link.

The Rock Band Network Store is to be ported over to the PS3 version of Rock Band 2, according to this Joystiq report, although Wii owners won’t get a look in at all.

The facility allows users to buy tracks made in the Rock Band Network interface, which is made in XNA and therefore can only be used on 360.

There’s a bunch more through there. Also, there’s impressions of Rock Band Network’s tools here. Warning: not for the fainthearted.

WARNING: Very, very obviously, do not watch this movie unless you want Batman: Arkham Asylum’s plot completely spoiled.

GamesRadar’s posted a 90-second movie of all the major plot points in Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham Asylum.

This may come in useful for people that don’t with to play the game, yet hanker to know what happens at the end.

Not sure who those people are, but there we go. If you do want to play it, however, you’ll be in good company. Maybe you should do that instead.

Another week, another relatively slim update to the EU PSN. Crash Commando’s been dropped to £4, and Smash Cars (£11.99/€14.99) and Battle Tanks (£7.99/€9.99) are now both up.

That’s kind of it. Lots of Disgaea 3 DLC there though, oddly.

Hit the EU PS Blog for the full thing.

Thanks, rrod360lol.

Xbox Europe boss Chris Lewis has told MCV that the now-confirmed 360 Arcade SKU price hike to £159.99 from £129.99 is thanks in part to exchange rates.

“We are making modest increases on the Xbox 360 Arcade console as you can see,” said the exec.

“The reality now is partly to offset currency exchange rate fluctuations which have impacted us in local market conditions – particularly in the UK.

“And you’ve seen other consumer products operate in the same way. But I think even with that we still offer the most affordable console in the marketplace out there.

“So we’ve reset the price point largely based on exchange rate fluctuations, but are still very happy we offer great value through the Xbox 360 Arcade.”

Microsoft said this morning that Arcade would rise £30 in the UK, while the Elite pack would drop to £199.99.

Splash Damage’s Brink will mark the start of a “landmark franchise” likely to stretch to at least three games, creative director Richard Ham told EGTV at GamesCom.

“Players are putting a lot of money on the table; they want to know what they’re getting into,” said the developer.

“But at the end of the day, I think if they’re willing to take a chance, they will find this becomes another landmark franchise that they’ll want to keep coming back to.

“I’m looking forward to Brink 2 and 3 as well. We already have big plans for that.”

The shooter’s out for PC, PS3 and 360 early next year. There’s plenty more info in that interview.

Microsoft has told VG247 that dropping the HDMI cable from the newly-reduced 360 Elite bundle will allow punters to pick the HD cable of their choice.

“In order to offer the Xbox Elite to consumers at a reduced price, now €50/£30 less at $249.99/£199.99, we eliminated the inclusion of an HDMI cable,” said a rep in statement.

“That said, we are confident that providing even better value for our premium console will allow people the flexibility to purchase the HDMI cable of their choice so they can enjoy the full benefits of our high-definition and 1080p experiences over Xbox LIVE.”

Microsoft confirmed Elite’s much-rumoured drop this morning for both the US and Europe. HDMI cables are cheap now, right? Right?

Following news last night that Champions Online’s lifetime and six-monthly subs offers had been pulled, Cryptic’s confirmed that both deal are now available again, completely unrestricted, until 11.59pm PST on August 31.

Cryptic’s creative director, Jack Emmert, told VG247 on the phone last night that unexpected popularity for the offers had caused the company to pull the plug.

“The business folks had a certain amount of life-time subscriptions allocated, and the popularity of the program far exceeded their anticipations, so it was passed down from on high that we had to end it,” he said.

Fear not. You are now able to spend $200 on being a superhero for the rest of your life. Quick. Get to it.

The game launches next Tuesday in the US and next Friday in Europe. You’ll be able to hear our full interview with Jack in this week’s podcast.

Microsoft’s confirmed the Stateside leg of its 360 price cut, saying the American Elite will drop to $299.99.

The 60Gb Pro has been cut to $249.99, although production on the pack, which has been fully discontinued in Europe, has now ceased.

The American Arcade unit remains at $200, which its price has risen in Europe to £159.99 from £129.99.

It looks as though the HDMI cable has been dropped from both the European and American Elite packs.

Get all details on the European cut here.