Monthly Archives: September 2009

Namco Bandai has announced the titles that will be playable or on display during TGS.

Here’s the full thing:

Playable titles

• Tekken 6 (X360/PS3)
• Gundam VS Gundam Next Plus (PSP)
• Super Robot Taisen Neo (Wii)
• Macross Ultimate Frontier (PSP)
• Tales of Vesperia (PS3 — already out)
• Tales of Graces (Wii)
• Summon Night X: Tears Crown (DS)
• Blue Dragon (DS)
• .hack//Link (PSP)
• God Eater (PSP)
• Dragon Ball Raging Blast (PS3/X360)
• Naruto Shippuuden Narutimate Accel 3 (PSP)
• Idol Master Dearly Stars (DS — already out)
• Queen’s Blade Spiral Chaos (PSP)
• Kimi ni Todoke: Sodateru Omoi (DS)
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Senaka wo Takuseshi Mono (PSP)
• Element Hunter (DS)
• Battle Spirits Kiseki no Hasha (PSP)
• Kaiju Busters (DS)

Games that will be shown through video only are posted past the break courtesy of GoNintendo.

More »

During J. Allen Brack and Frank Pearce’s keynote at GDC Austin, the Blizzard guys revealed its canceled suqad-based sci-fi title, Nomad.

Apparently, some ten years or so ago, Blizzard put loads of hours and tons of work into it, but then decided to scrap it and go straight into work on WoW.

Joystiq has what little information there is on the title along with some artwork.

You should go have a look.

Sony had a chat with Team Ninja producer and director Yosuke Hayashi and he was kind enough to give the US PS Blog a walkthough demo of Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.

The video below the break not only features Hayashi discussing the game, but there is also new footage, and modes including Momiji gameplay, Team Missions co-op mode, and Chapter Challenge mode.

Game’s out September 29 for PS3.

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LucasArts and Telltale are celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19 by giving you Tales of Monkey Island Episode One free for 24 hours.

To get it, go over to the official site on the 19th and start playing.

The full press release is below.

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Steam and Direct2Drive has LucasArts’ adventure game, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, on sale for 50% off ($4.99/4.95) this weekend on Steam.

The sale runs until Monday, September 21 as part of this weekend’s deal and in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day which commences September 19.

Yarrrgh ya scallywag landlubbers! Get thee over to D2D or Steam now or you’ll be regretin’ it later on down the seaway me hearties.

Just practicing. Sorry ’bout that.

A supposed Target ad for the week of September 27 has surfaced and features a sale on Wii for $199.

This is a $50 price drop just like the one rumored for Toys R Us in the US.

Nintendo has commented that the price cuts are retailer decisions only, and not an official one sanctioned or implemented by the company.

More through Joystiq.

During a keynote delivered at GDC Austin, Blizzard’s J. Allen Brack and Frank Pearce dropped some numbers regarding what it takes on a daily basis to keep World of Warcraft running.

The game needs 20,000 computer systems, 13,250 server blades, 75,000 CPU cores, 1.3 petabytes of storage, and over 4600 staffers to keep it going.

“Operating an online game is about more than just game development,” said Pearce. “World of Warcraft has completely changed the organization”.

And then some – the game has 7,650 quests, 70,000 spells, 40,000 NPCs, 1.5 million assets, and 5.5 million lines of code.

For more astonishing numbers, Gamasutra has the full thing, and and so does Gamespot.

A video for The Saboteur has been released showing about 45 seconds of gameplay footage as our hero walks through a fancy French gentleman’s club.

Gamespot has it here, or you can watch it below the break.

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

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Rockstar has released a new video for The Ballad of Gay Tony.

It’s basically a comedy sketch of sorts, what with it being a fake news report – which is part of a television bit appearing in the new DLC.

“A Weazel News Special Report: Guns in Liberty City”

In this Weazel news exclusive, Weazel’s crack team of investigative reporters and former lobbyists cut through the filter of the mainstream media to find the paranoia behind the truth to a recent string of attacks in Liberty City, which has forced the LCPD into an escalating arms race. Our Weazel News expert demonstrates these fearsome new weapons including sticky bombs, advanced sniper rifles, automatic shotguns and exploding bullets; while recently discovered footage from a Liberty City tourist appears to show a rocket-equipped military grade helicopter known only as ‘The Buzzard’ wreaking havoc in Liberty City airspace.

Fun stuff there.

CVG has the video. Go watch.

Double Fine has announced that those who preordered Brutal Legend can now enjoy the game’s demo before anyone else.

If you ordered from GameStop, log into Xbox Live or PSN and get to it.

The rest of the world will get it “in the coming weeks”.

Full press release is below.

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Sony has commented on the rumored 250Gb PS3 Slim Bundle with Uncharted 2 that was leaked and spotted by Engadget yesterday.

According to a Sony representative speaking with VG247, “Sony does not comment on rumors or speculation.”

What about the possibility of Modern Warfare 2 bundles for PS3?

“For matters relating to Modern Warfare 2, please contact Activision,” the Sony rep told us.

Okay, thanks. We will.

A PC demo for Zuma’s Revenge has landed, and you can get it through FileFront, FileShack, AtomicGamer, Voodoo Extreme, WorthPlaying, and FilePlanet.

The sequel to Zuma features new power-ups, new agilities, high-definition graphics, and four game modes.

The demo is an hour long and around 99Mb in size.

Infinity Ward’s Robert Bowling chatted a bit with GiantBomb during the recent Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer event in LA.

In the video interview, posted below the break, Bowling explains why the developers felt the need to show off the new mulitplayer to the press, discusses why the game is not “considered a sequel”, talks about killstreaks, and other such stuff.

It’s all quite interesting, really.

Head on below the break.

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NCsoft has announced that Aion preorders are nearing the 400,000 mark, making it the “biggest MMO launch of the year”.

As a bonus to those who preordered their copy, NCsoft is allowing buyers to pre-select their servers starting September 18 and participate in the five-day headstart period, beginning September 20.

The game goes live for the rest of the world on September 25.

Full press release through the break.

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Capcom’s Jun Takeuchi has weighed in on the upcoming motion control devices for both Sony and Microsoft, and while he says that the firm is “very receptive to Natal” and looking forward to coming up with games for it, Sony’s motion control is giving developers other ideas.

“I can tell you that we have a lot of good ideas on how to make use of that technology and we’re looking forward to putting them into practice,” Takeuchi told 1UP.

“However, speaking to other developers in Japan, I’ve heard a few of them say they were delighted by the Sony motion controller because they can just port over their Wii titles to the PS3.”

More through the link.

ShopTo boss Igor Cipolletta has told Eurogamer that while his business has no plans to boycott PSPgo like other European retailers, he feels that the handheld is “almost dead before it has arrived”.

“We do have it listed on the site, but we are not concentrating any big marketing behind it,” he said. “Sony has decided to cut publishers and retailers for the software of the PSPgo and deal direct with developers, giving them a 70 per cent margin for any items sold on Sony PSN.

“I have the feeling that as a format it is almost dead before it has arrived, and it relies far too heavily on a customer base that is prepared to pay more for download content than the equivalent disc based product, and I suspect this market will soon dry up based on the technical limitations of the hardware.”

Analyst Michael Pachter has responded to retailers boycotting the system, and thinks that each are being “foolish” and “ridiculous”.

“It’s just silly for a retailer to say that they won’t sell a big ticket gaming device because they can’t sell the games,” he told Eurogamer. “Consumer electronics stores sell refrigerators and not food, everyone sells iPods and not the music for them; this position is just ridiculous.

“I think that it’s foolish for a retailer to be selective about what they carry, unless they truly don’t believe it will sell well. Refusing to carry them subjects them to the risk that Sony will bypass them for Gran Turismo or Uncharted, in which case they lose. To draw a line in the sand is wrong.”

Via GI.biz.

NIS America’s Allison Walter has announced on the EU PS Blog that it’s localizing Atelier Rorona for English and French-speaking audiences.

The localization is being worked on right now, and “should be coming out in English and French next year.”

Atelier Rorona is a JRPG exclusive to PS3, should you be unfamiliar with it, but it’s something fans of the genre have been asking for, and are finally getting.

Via Joystiq.

The latest European PSN update includes Bomberman Ultra, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 – Commander’s Challenge, and Trine.

There are also demos for Pro-Evolution Soccer 2010 and NBA Live 10.

For PSP users, Need for Speed: SHIFT will be released via the PS Store on Friday and to hold you over, there’s the new quest upgrade pack for Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce, and two tracks for Rock Band Unplugged available.

The full list if over on the EU PS Blog.

SCE UK boss Ray Maguire has expressed “serious concerns” about a Watchdog program airing tonight in the UK, which takes on PS3 hardware failures.

“From [our] correspondence to date, I have serious concerns as to the accuracy of these allegations and the likely tone of the Watchdog report,” said Maguire in a six-page letter you can read in full on GI.

“The information that you have provided suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of the technical issues and a mis-characterisation of SCEUK’s OOW repairs policy.”

Maguire added: “We entirely refute the suggestion that PS3 consoles have an inherent defect or other design issue which is akin to any warranty issue experienced by another console manufacturer.

“SCEUK has sold 2.5 million consoles in the UK since March 2007 and stands by the quality of its products. Clearly the allegations you propose to air in your program might have the potential to adversely effect Sony Computer Entertainment’s reputation for supplying high quality products and customer service and we take very seriously any issues that can impact the public’s or our customers’ confidence in those products.”

This is going to be awesome. Have a read of the letter, then watch Watchdog at 8.00pm BST on BBC 1 tonight.

A screen taken of a Swedish GameStop database shows that the European 250Gb PS3 Slim bundles are more than likely the real deal, and people should be pleased as punch with the offerings, which are supposedly all due next month.

The four bundles listed, as you can see, are Uncharted 2, FIFA 10, Need for Speed: Shift, and Ratchet & Clank Future.

Each are tentatively priced at SEK 4,499 which is around £398/$657 and tentatively scheduled for an October 2 release.

While it does not show the Assassin’s Creed II or Gran Turismo 5 bundles, don’t jump off a bridge just yet. None of this has been confirmed 100 percent.

More through Kotaku.

Thanks, Blerk.