Monthly Archives: September 2009

Gamepro’s just posted up a heap of new Final Fantasy XIII gameplay footage – get it after the break.

There’s video from yesterday’s Premiere Party in Tokyo, as well as off-screen play, summons, and so on.

The RPG was confirmed for PS3 release in Japan on December 17 at the event.

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A few PAX gameplay videos of Left 4 Dead 2 after the break, and very awesome they look too.

The footage features the newly-announced Jockey infected, what with its jumping antics and shit. There’s a bit of melee in there, too: crunchy.

It’s out soon. No brainer. Thanks, RPS.

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Gearbox has released a small movie of a Borderlands robot shouting a lot. That’s pretty much it.

There’s also some funny stuff about murder. Watch and see after the break.

The RPG-shooter’s out for PC, 360 and PS3 on October 23.

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The PAX twitter feed‘s confirmed that swine flu cases were present at the show.

A list of 15 flights – both from Seattle and ongoing connections – that contained attendees carrying the illness is now up on the Penny Arcade homepage.

Kotaku has a quote on the outbreak from Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade:

“This is the real thing. If you get this number of people together in this close a proximity it is the perfect storm for these kind of wild fire virus spreads. We just want to make sure everyone is informed.”

Thanks, GP.

Splash Damage boss Paul Wedgwood’s explained the thinking behind the title of his upcoming shooter Brink, saying the name is supposed to signify the “critical moment just prior to catastrophe or success”.

“You know, the reason I love the name ‘Brink’ is because – well, the literal definition of the term is ‘the edge of a precipice,’” he told us, speaking in an interview published today.

“It has good connotations in that sense. But actually, the definition that comes to mind for most people is ‘the brink of disaster.’ Because what Brink really means is that critical moment just prior to catastrophe or success.”

The Splash Damage shooter is set on the Ark, an artificial city floating at sea on the brink of a civil war.

“It’s kind of the perfect description of what it is,” added Wedgwood.

The game’s out on PC, PS3 and 360 early next year.

Dave Perry’s Cloud-based Gaikai system is to get a closed beta in Europe this month.

“Over 30,000 people have already signed up to help test and many came from Europe, they were really bummed that they would be left out of our launch plans,” said Perry, speaking in a statement you can find after the break.

“Gaikai is all about reaching a massive audience, so we are embracing Europe right away.”

Europe first, America next.

“After we choose the hardware configuration in Europe, our next phase will be our USA Nationwide Network Test, that will be using 8 Tier-1 Data Centers, getting hammered by Closed Beta testers,” Perry added.

“During that process, will be identifying the other data centers we need to include to blanket the USA in a low latency array. Phase 2 of that is Europe, in exactly the same test.”

Gaikai is a service product that allows clients to let users play or test games remotely. The concept’s similar to OnLive, but it’s not a subs-based thing. Publishers will hire Gaikai to let you play a demo without installing it, for example.

Want to try it? Sign up.

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Capcom’s issued a proper Okamiden trailer. It’s after the drop.

It’s got dragons and puppies. And it looks awesome. And that’s that.

Thanks, Kotaku.

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Rockstar’s released another Gay Tony trailer – get it here.

This one’s an intro to Tony Prince, his clubs, some swearing and virtual gay clubbing. The fact this game is to release exclusively on a machine that doesn’t allow any variation of the word “gay” to be seriously used in its community is probably one of the funniest things in the world. Ever.

Watch it. Grab the poppers. Make a night of it. It’s out on October 29.

Interview by Nathan Grayson.

Splash Damage’s Paul Wedgwood is living the dream. The UK developer’s working on a massive shooter project for Bethesda in a new, wholly-created IP in Brink, and has been given the opportunity to cherry-pick some of the biggest names in game-making to do so (“Our lead character artist is the guy who created Shepard in Mass Effect”). He’s a lucky guy.

But you make your own luck. Paul’s becoming more visible now the game’s approaching its early 2010 launch. VG247′s Nathan Grayson caught up with the Brit in Texas recently and manage to make him say “cocks”. No lie. Get the full chat after the break.

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Makes you feel old, right? The American Dreamcast launched ten years ago today. It really was the Vietnam of games consoles; you had to be there, man.

Sega’s last, valiant assault on the hardware market ended in grand drama when the machine was discontinued in the US in 2001, a cessation followed in Europe in 2002.

Fill your boots with Wikipedia nonsense. Read Peter Moore’s Dreamcast whimsy here.

Peter Moore’s waxed lyrical on Dreamcast’s tenth American birthday on his EA blog, saying the machine was a forerunner to the gaming world we know today.

“The Dreamcast had a profound and lasting impact on the world of video games,” said the boss.

“Isao Okawa, the Chairman of Sega Enterprises and the driving force behind the Dreamcast, tragically passed away two months after that fateful January conference call [Where is was decided to discontinue the machine - Ed].

“He had a vision that a game console, combined with the power of the internet, could bring people together in ways that were previously unimaginable.

“He didn’t live to see that vision come to fruition, and his beloved Dreamcast couldn’t survive to play a role in the powerful world of connected gaming we all enjoy today, but it certainly lit the spark, and that we should never forget.”

Must-read. So do so.

Sega associate brand manager, Ken Balough, has confirmed to Gamespot that a new Sonic game is in development – currently branded Project Needlemouse – that will feature 2D, HD graphics. There’s a teaser trailer after the break – it’s out next year.

The game’s concept is a response to “old-school Sonic fans” who “have long asked to see Sonic return to a more 2D style of gameplay,” said the staffer.

“Speed returns in an all new 2D adventure built from the ground up,” says the movie.

Amazing. It had better be.

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BioWare’s lead designer for Dragon Age: Origins, Mike Laidlaw, has said that good writing in videogames is “essential.”

“I think good writing is honestly essential, because as we see the technology curve start to slow down, we’re kind of past that exponential two-year gain that we used to have,” he told D’Toid.

“We’re wrestling more with the uncanny valley than the number of pixels. I think a good story is what makes [a game] linger.

“… Maybe there’s only one path to do that … That’s where I see a game like Splinter Cell succeeding. Sam Fisher’s got a got a cool, strong character but at the same time he’s also pulled in to do stuff that no one else can do, and as the player I get to adopt some of that coolness and what I’m doing is guiding how he achieves his objectives.

“The story itself can be linear, yet I’m still immersed in the gameplay.”

More through the link.

Bizarre Creations has put together a five-part video series called “Under the Hood”, so gamers can get to know more about the racer.

The first episode deals, posted below the break courtesy of BigDownload, chats about power-ups.

There are five, and include Barge, Mines, Nitro, Shunt, and Shock.

Game’s out November 3 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

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THQ has announced that Edward L. Kaufman has been appointed the new executive vice president of business and legal affairs, and corporate secretary for the company.

“We are pleased to strengthen our management team with an experienced general counsel who has spent many years in the media and entertainment business,” said THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell in a statement.

“I am impressed with THQ’s strong turnaround and am excited to join the team as the company moves forward with its new more focused strategic plan,” said Kaufman in the same release issued to the press. “I look forward to helping THQ capitalize on the opportunities for growth in the interactive entertainment industry.”

Kaufman was previously executive vice president, legal counsel, and secretary of World Wrestling Entertainment, were he worked for 12 years. Prior to that, he was employed with Hanna-Barbera, and NBC.

Press release through the break.

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Preorder bonuses for MAG were revealed by Sony over on the US PS Blog, today.

Exclusive in-game characters, one-of-a-kind Home Spaces, Public Beta access, it’s all there.

Game’s out January 26, 2010.

Hit the link for more.

Activision has revealed Iceman for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2.

Released at PAX, the trailer over on CVG has the skinny on this icy person, along with loads of screens.

Game’s out next week for DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360.

Over on the EU PS Blog, a Q&A is posted on the latest Firmware update for PS3.

Loads of explanations are on there ranging from Uncharted issues to not being able to surf the net and listen to music at the same time.

Adverts, fonts, icons and the whole gambit are mentioned, so go have a read.

Nintendo has announced that tomorrow, Europeans will be able to check their horoscopes via new channel for Wii called Today & Tomorrow.

September 9 huh. Wonder if it will tell you if you are getting Beatles: Rock Band or not.

Anyway, the channel provides you with hints on relationships, activities and even the types of food that your horoscope recommends.

The channel is free, and allows up to six people to take part by registering their Mii character and date of birth. You will all then receive a detailed daily fortune in five categories: love, work, study, communications and money. The next day’s fortune is displayed every evening, so you can check ahead of time before a big day.

Lifestyle tips are also included, listing activities that can “improve your daily life”, you can even check the compatibility of different Mii characters for the day.

There are pictures of it here on the official Nintendo UK site.

Looks like Call of Duty: World at War was number one again for the third week in a row on Xbox Live.

Left 4 Dead is back on the list, while the Lost Planet 2 demo falls off. Arkham Asylum entered, while FIFA 09 and Trials HD trade places.

Live Titles

1. Call of Duty: WaW
2. Halo 3
3. Call of Duty 4
4. Gears of War 2
5. Madden NFL 10
6. GTA IV
7. Batman: Arkham Asylum
8. FIFA 09
9. Left 4 Dead
10. Trials HD

Arcade Titles

1. Trials HD
2. Shadow Complex
3. Defense Grid: The Awakening
4. Battlefield 1943
5. NBA 2K10 Draft Combine
6. Castle Crashers
7. Marvel vs. Capcom 2
8. Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
9. Splosion Man
10. Hasbro Family Game Night

Original and Indie stuff after the break courtesy of the Major.

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