Monthly Archives: September 2009

Development on The Beatles: Rock Band had members of the Harmonix “terrified” according to John Drakes.

These feelings of trepidation were present throughout development despite the firm being chosen by Apple Corps to do the game, thanks to the firm’s reverence for the subject matter.

“I don’t know what Apple was considering before they started working with us, and I’m sure that there were conversations on both sides [with Activision],” he told CVG. “I think they saw that we were the company with the most reverence for what they were doing – we’re not looking to turn a quick buck on The Beatles. This is something we’ve loved and respect and would not want to screw up.

“We were terrified while making the game, hoping we don’t make them mad at any point – they’re really nice and easy to work with, but this is The Beatles, you can’t afford to mess this up.”

Drakes also goes on to talk about criticism from bands regarding music games distracting kids from playing real instruments, and the process of getting the remaining Beatles and George and John’s widows involved.

It’s all through the link.

Just Add Water’s Stewart Gilray has posted a developer feature over on the EU PS Blog regarding Gravity Crash.

Describing the game as a “love letter to 80s classic shooter gaming”, Gilray as listed all of the different features you can expect from both the PS3 and PSP version of the game.

There’s also a video for each version posted along with screenshots of the original and current developmental look.

You should seriously have a look, because the game sounds wicked fun.

DeathSpank, Ron Gilbert’s latest, has loads of information and screens for it posted over on 1UP.

“You get a lot of publishers who want humor in games,” the Monkey Island creator told the site. “They see that as an important thing. But then you try to be funny and it scares them.”

Funny and smart is what Gilbert is aiming for with DeathSpank.

Go have a look and see if he accomplished it.

Official PlayStation Magazine UK has released its monthly scores on some new titles hitting or to have hit the market, and those interested in FIFA 10 should be pleased to know that the sports title got a solid 9/10 from the mag.

Other highly reviewed titles include DiRT 2, IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey, Madden NFL 10 and Dissidia Final Fantasy.

Here’s the fill list courtesy of PS3 Vault.

• FIFA 10 – 9
• Colin McRae Dirt 2 – 9
• Wolfenstein – 7
• Soulcaliber: Broken Destiny (PSP) – 7
• Mini Ninjas – 7
• IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey – 9
• Supercar Challenge – 5
• Fat Princess (PSN) – 8
• Madden NFL 10 – 9
• Wipeout HD: Fury (PSN) – 8
• Shatter (PSN) – 8
• Dissidia Final Fantasy (PSP) – 9
• Crystal Defenders (PSN) – 6
• Buzz! Brain of The UK (online mode review) – 8

Blizzard COO, Paul Sams, has explained that the firm’s top-secret MMO will not “cannibalize” on World of Warcraft meaning that both games will be able to exist in harmony with one another – until people leave WoW for the new game.

“I think the game is going to be significantly differentiated enough [from WoW], such that, you’re not going to feel like they’re one in the same resulting in that you have to pick or choose,” Sams told Wired. “My feeling is that they’re distinct enough to where you’re going to say, ‘Okay, I have all my friends over here. I dig this, I have a lot of time and energy in this, I’ve got these characters and my guild, and this that and the other.’ So I have connectivity there, and I want to continue that connectivity. But man, I think, ‘Well, this is awesome, and I want to go check this out too.’

“And so maybe they’ll split a little over time, or maybe they’ll decide they don’t want to play WoW anymore, and they’ll go and play this other thing. That’s a high-class problem to have. As long as those folks are hanging out with us, which I believe they will be because we’re going to keep providing the best experience you can have.

“So, while there could be other games out there, if the bad thing that happens to us is that they leave WoW and go to this other thing of Blizzard’s, then we’ll work through that pain.”

More through the link.

Capcom has confirmed that Okamiden is indeed a sequel to Okami set to land on DS in Japan next year.

To be shown for the first time at TGS this month Okamiden: Chiisaki Taiyo – roughly translated as Okami Legend: The Small Sun – the game is being handled by internal Capcom staff, producer Motohide Eshiro and director Kuniomi Matsushita.

“Around December last year, Matsushita came up to me and talked about making a new Okami that could be enjoyed in portable format,” Eshiro told Famitsu. “He’s very passionate about the game, and he already had a test version created by that time that was extremely high quality, fully capturing Okami’s unique visuals. Seeing that, I thought we were safe to make it an official project.”

“As you know, Okami’s visuals and game system are extmely unique,” added Matsushita. “The original idea was to take what makes this game special and expose it to more people. That was why we chose the Nintendo DS — being on a portable system will allow people to easily pick up and play it, and you can also use the touch pen as a brush.”

Okamiden picks up a few months after the previous game left off after Amaterasu restored things to normal went about her merry way.

More through 1UP.

Valve has released its latest hardware survey results, and the findings pretty much give you an idea of what sort of gaming rigs are being used around the globe.

Looks like most people use DirectX 10 with the Nvidia Geforce 8800 graphics card, Windows XP, Realtek HD Audio output and Intel processors.

Sounds vaguely familiar on this end as well.

Kotaku has it broken down for you here, and the full results complete with charts are through Steam.

Assassin’s Creed is a very buyable game. And what happens to buyable games? They get sequels. And sometimes they get second sequels. And sometimes the developers working on them get so engrossed they’re prepared to dump a decade of their careers on one franchise.

“No, not yet,” said Patrice Desilets, Assassin’s Creed II’s creative director, when we asked him if he was ready to move off the IP now the second game is nearing completion.

“I have many different ideas. I’m not ready yet to exploit them. I think I have some juice left in me left to continue this.”

Assassin’s Creed has long been confirmed as a trilogy, and Desilets told us that change of scenery and opportunity to hone gameplay elements keeps his job fresh.

“I’ve been doing Assassin’s Creed games for the past six years,” he said. “It’s tough to be bored.

“I was a bit bored with the Turk crusade and the monk aspect, and everything, but in this there’s a brand new setting. And it’s my first sequel; I never did a sequel before, because I didn’t do any Prince of Persia sequels.

“I love the idea of refining your ideas, the gameplay and what you can do with it,” he added.

“So I’m not bored yet.”

Assassin’s Creed II releases on November 20. We doubt you’ll be bored of it either.

A video for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising has popped up showing off the co-op.

“The entire single player campaign is fully playable co-operatively for up to four players online,” according to Codemasters. “Teamwork and communication are key as gamers take on USMC infantry and spec ops roles battling the might of the Chinese PLA as the war plays out across Skira island.”

Loads more about it, along with the video are over on CVG. ‘

Go have a look.

Warner has announced the pricing for F.E.A.R. 2′s DLC, Reborn.

Looks like it will run you 800 Microsoft Points ($10.00/£6.80/€9.60) come September 3 for Xbox 360. PC and PS3 will also show up the same day and should run you the same.

The slow-motion deathmatch patch will also land on the same day.

Thanks, Eurogamer.

Major Nelson’s podcast number 330 is loaded to the gill with stuff.

Want proof? It’s 321 minutes long and contains chats with Xbox Live boss Stephen Toulouse, The Guild’s Felicia Day, development manager at Tiburon, Ryan Ferwerda chatting about Madden NFL 10, Josh Randall, the creative director behind Beatles Rock Band and Dan Maher, Xbox UK’s XBL editor.

If you don’t feel like listening to the whole thing, the Major has kindly listed the time each one starts.

Very kind of him considering most of us have ADHD.

Hit up the link to hear all about it.

Cryptic MMO Champions Online is now on sale in the US, Atari’s confirmed.

European’s will get the game on Friday.

If you want to get superheroing, take a look at the official site for more info.

We gave this a run-out over the weekend and had plenty fun. You will to.

We spoke to Cryptic boss Jack Emmert about the game, Star Trek Online and other stuff last week for our podcast – check it out.

PR after the break.

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Koch’s Wii survival horror’s taking a bit of a sacking at review ahead of its launch this week.

The Himalayan adventure, set in the late 1980s, follows a mountaineer as he searches for his lost brother.

Things don’t go very well, obviously. Do as thou wilt.

• Meristation – 7.5/10
• IGN – 7.5/10
• Gamespot – 7.5/10
• GamerVision – 6/10
• Eurogamer Spain – 7/10

Microsoft is to hold a press conference in Japan tomorrow in order to announce Asian 360 price cuts, according to Microsoft Hong Kong’s Julie Leong, NetworkWorld reports.

According to that piece, parts of Asia-Pacific will begin enjoying dropped 360s on on September 10.

The SRP of an Elite will be lowered by around 28 percent to US$305 in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

More through there. Thanks, Kotaku.

Mein Gott. Sony just confirmed Sony Ericsson’s Aino phone will allow Remote Play. And it has an XMB. And, most likely, sparkles.

It’s out “early October,” and, according to SE lady Lisa Canning, “offers a unique multimedia experience for all PlayStation 3 fans as they can seamlessly access and control their PS3 media content anywhere, anytime using Remote Play.”

Canning added: “Remote Play with Aino lets you turn your PS3 on and off, browse and control the XMB and access the internet browser from anywhere in the world. Remote Play also lets you control and access the HD Drive’s media content on PS3 using the built-in WiFi or 3G connections via Aino.

“You can also access PlayStation Store via Remote Play or chat with friends via PlayStation Network. It is also possible to buy and download a new game from the Store via Aino so it is ready and waiting for you when you get home.”

Hit that link right now.

Thinking of going to PAX in Seattle this weekend? Haven’t registered? You’re doomed. It’s sold out.

From this tweet:

It’s official! PAX 2009 is completely sold out!

Got that? Sold out. You’ll just have to wait until next year, or hit up PAX East in Boston next March.

Thanks, Joystiq.

The event opens this Friday. There’s a press release after the break.

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Nintendo just announced that its Wii Internet Channel is now free. Apparently you used to have to spend 500 Wii Points to use it.

Yep, that’s right. You can now look at the internet on your TV through Wii’s Opera browser without having to spend any money. Tuesday just got so much sweeter.

PR through the break.

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Microsoft in-game ad agency Massive will be adding creatives to EA’s Madden NFL 10, NHL 10, NBA Live 10 and Need For Speed Shift this year, the unit’s announced.

Activision’s Guitar Hero 5, DJ Hero, Band Hero, Tony Hawk: Ride and Blur, and THQ’s UFC 2009 Undisputed and MX vs. ATVT ReflexT, among others, will also be served by Massive this year.

The firm’s also secured the rights to deliver Battle.net ads in 2010.

More on Edge.

Good news for Square and Rocksteady this morning: Batman’s debuted at the top of the UK chart.

Wii Sports Resort and Ashes holding on at a comfortable second and third, there.

Data below for the week ending August 29.

The Force Unleashed got a decent bit of DLC today, with a whole new level added.

The content carries the game’s plot past its normal end, and sends the Secret Apprectice to Tatooine to kill Obi-Wan. Hot stuff.

PR’s after the break. It’s out for both 360 and PS3.

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