Monthly Archives: September 2009

GDC Austin 2009 has been declared a success with 2,650 attending, 130 lectures, panels, keynotes, and roundtable discussions, presented by 230 industry speakers with 80 participating exhibitors and sponsors.

The event’s organizers have also confirmed that it will be back for the eighth consecutive year in 2010.

“GDC Austin was a success both in terms of the turnout and the quality of the discussions led by our talented speakers and panelists,” says Izora de Lillard, GDC Austin event director. ” The advisory board and the entire GDC Austin team is especially proud of the expertise and quality of content we secured this year.

“We are already looking forward to the new trends and new content we will be exploring next year.”

Full thing through the break.

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Over on Bungie.net quite a few more Halo 3: ODST players are reporting that they are having issues with disc read errors occurring during the game, basically making it unplayable.

So far, these errors seem to only occur during the ODST campaign and Firefight mode with the multiplayer disc being unaffected.

Some reports claim that the disc read errors only occur on older Elite models, but nevertheless, Bungie is looking into the problem.

More over on Joystiq.

Valve has announced an update on the ratings status of Left 4 Dead 2 in Australia, and says it plans to appeal being refused classification.

According to a statement from Valve:

“The title has been rated in the majority of the world and awaiting final ratings in the UK and New Zealand, where final ratings are expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, the ruling in Australia from the OFLC has been appealed by Valve.”

Here is a look at the status of L4D2 ratings:

Completed Ratings:

• PEGI (continental Europe) – 18+
• ESRB (North America) – M
• CERO (Japan) -Z (corresponds to Mature in US)
• IFCO (Ireland) – Approved the title for classification
• USK (Germany) – 18+
• Singapore – Mature 18
• FPB (South Africa) – 18+
• KGRB (Korea) -18+

Pending:

• OLFC New Zealand – In progress
• BBFC (UK) – In progress
• OFLC Australia – Refused to rate on September 17. Appealed September 23.

Hopefully, Valve can get this cleared up before the game is released November 17.

Koei has announced that its previously exclusive PC title Dynasty Warriors Online is headed to PS3.

The free-to-play MMO will arrive on the system in 2010, with in-game items that can be purchased via micro-transactions.

That’s great news for DW fans outside of Japan wanting to get their hands on it.

Via D’toid.

Mark Cooke, community manager and designer for Nihilistic Studios, has announced over on the US PS Blog that the firm’s PSN title Zombie Apocalypse lands on PSN today for $9.99.

You will be able to wield chainsaws, make use of environmental hazards, and use the zombie bait grenade not to lead them to environmental hazards to score more points.

Zombies are awesome.

Nihilistic are also giving away 25 codes to the game should you decide to hit follow on Twitter. Better hurry though, the codes will probably go fast if they’re not gone already.

What appears to be the boxart for Final Fantasy XIII has popped up over on the Unofficial FFF Site, straight from TGS.

It shows Lightning riding Odin’s horse, which if it is indeed Sleipnir, he is missing four extra legs.

If you head on over to the site, you will also see the Final Fantasy XIII “Lightning Edition” white and pink PS3 Slim, which has been announced already.

Either way, it’s all very well and pretty. Go see for yourself.

Square and PopCap announced Gyromancer at TGS, a new puzzle RPG for XBLA and PC.

The game uses Bejeweled Twist’s game mechanic, according to PopCap, and so far all that is known at the moment is that the main character is a mage, and there are over 10 stages and 50 different beast to join in battle.

So far there is no release date, but there is a video for it over on Joystiq.

A VG247 source said today that Sony has informed developers of plans to incorporate cross-title voice chat in PS3 play by the end of October.

The feature will be added in Firmware update 3.10, we were told.

Cross-title chat is consistently one of the most asked-for features on PS3 – looks like Sony’s ready to deliver.

Square has put out a video of its catalog of downloadable content for iPhone, WiiWare, Xbox Live and PSP.

Song Summoner, Crystal Defenders, FFIV: The After Years, Zero Day: Attack on Earth, and more.

It’s all there. Go have a watch over on Eurogamer.

Tri-Ace has released a new trailer for its upcoming RPG Resonance of Fate (End of Eternity), and it’s gorgeous.

It’s slated for release in North American and Europe during Q3 2010 on PS3 and Xbox 360.

Eurogamer has the video.

Two lonely screens for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow were released today at TGS.

Sure there’s only two, but they are lovely to behold.

It’s out next year for PS3 and 360.

Have a look over on Eurogamer.

Four extra Yakuza 4 shots were released during TGS today, and Eurogamer has ‘em.

Earlier today, SEGA released quite a bit, which you can look over again here.

Cross your fingers it will leave Japan before you start drawing retirement.

Sony has announced during TGS that it plans to cut the price of PSP-3000 by 15 percent in Japan.

The price-cut goes down October 1 and the handheld is to be made available for for ¥16,800 ($185).

Not a word was uttered about a price-cut for the rest of the world, but we’ll ask for you just in case.

Via Engadget, Bloomberg.

Forza 3 players will be getting the Ferrari 458 Italia as DLC not long after the game’s release, according to Turn 10.

Proof that the shiny, sexy, roaring beast is headed our way comes in the form of a video showing all things Ferrari over on Kotaku.

It’s drool worthy, and past the break.

Game’s out October 23.

Merrrrrrrrwwww.

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Square’s released four new screens for Front Mission Evolved.

IGN has ‘em posted.

Each shows lots of space type stuff. It’s great.

Hit the link.

Sony’s Home service for PSP has a name, and it’s called PlayStation Room.

PlayStation Room will be added to PSP via a firmware update this winter and can be launched directly from the PSN section of the XMB.

PSP owners will be able to invite other players into their rooms to “enjoy real time communication.”

Joystiq has all the details and some shots.

Thanks, Aimless.

Sega has released loads of screenshots and character artwork for Valkyria Chronicles 2.

D’toid has ‘em.

Game’s out for PSP during summer 2010 in Europe and the US.

Rockstar has sent us over a brand-new character clip from Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony.

Past the break, you will see Yusuf Amir, the “affable, cutthroat real estate and construction kingpin of Liberty City”.

According to Rockstar, Yusuf’s vast wealth “fuels his over-the-top lifestyle and desire for women and expensive toys, two of the Arab-born’s unquenchable vices.”

Who doesn’t like women and expensive toys?

It’s out October 29.

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European PS3 owners were reminded by the EU PS Blog this morning to head down to the SingStar Room’s VIP space which opens today in Home.

Once there, you will be privy to Dizzee Rascal’s Tongue n Cheek Launch Party.

Inside will be his exclusive performance playing at 20:00 BST/21:00 CEST, along with six exclusive performances, his avatar and the ability to hear his interview.

His avatar will try and meet as many of you as possible and will hang around for a while after the gig, and on the way inside, users should grab a Dizzee Mask and there will be other Dizzee Merchandise to purchase as well as the SongPack.

Dizzeeriffic.

More through the link.

This week’s European PSN update includes Heavy Weapon and demos for Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, Lost Planet 2 and The Punisher: No Mercy.

Rounding out the DLC this week is the Broken Steel pack for Fallout 3, new stuff for Batman: Arkham Asylum, and UFC Unleashed 2009, along with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, Madden NFL 10, Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

PSP users can get a hold of Colin McRae DiRT 2,Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and additional content for Prinny, and Rock Band Unplugged.

PixelJunk Racers, High Velocity Bowling, Super Stardust HD Double Pack, Echochrome Micro and Disney’s Action Game feat. Hercules are still on special offer this week, however, some Guitar Hero Tracks are also available for one week only starting today.

Head on over to the EU PS Blog for the full thing.