Monthly Archives: October 2009

Hideo Kojima has followed up his Zone of Enders blog post from last week with a new entry stating how surprised he was over staff and public reaction to it.

“The reaction [to the post] was greater than I’d expected,” he wrote. “The comments topped the 100 mark, and the access count reached levels of the Tokyo Game Show time. It was picked up in a variety of places, including the net and press, and spread throughout the world.”

Over at Kojima Productions, former ZOE staff members in the building were so excited, they asked to be a part of the next installment, wanted to know when it be started on, and one even decorated his desk in ZOE style.

Kojima was even a bit shocked to hear rumors that used prices for the previous two games had gone up as well.

People really love theses games, we reckon.

More through Andriasang.

Treyarch community manager, Josh Olin, has announced on the US PS Blog that until November 1, Call of Duty: World at War Map Packs 1, 2, and 3 for PS3 will be half-off through the PlayStation Store.

Sorry to say that this is for the US only.

Also, between now and November 1, you can earn Double-XP playing online.

Along with these announcements was a list of changes to the playlist, which are outlined below:

• Hardcore HQ: The addition of Hardcore Headquarters to the Hardcore playlists has taken effect, by popular demand.
• Team Flags: In the MAP PACK category, the old “Team Objective” playlist has been removed, and replaced with two playlists; Team Flags being one of them (CTF, Domination, and War).
• Team Objectives: Also in the MAP PACK category, the counterpart to Team Flags is this new playlist, Team Objectives (S&D, HQ, and Sabotage).
• Also, all 3 map packs are now in the MAP PACK rotation. So if you want to play only new content, but are tired of the same 3 maps, this will hopefully be a happy medium for you.

Hit the linky.

If you have yet to fire up your Xbox 360 today, when you do, please be advised that message noting a mandatory system update will greet you.

Should you go online, that is.

Anyway, don’t get too excited. You won’t be Tweeting or Facebooking afterward – it’s just an update for the wireless adapter.

If you plan on getting the new 802.11N wireless adapter next month, you’ll need this update.

More through through the Major.

Past the break is a new multiplayer video for BioShock 2, featuring Capture the Sister mode.

The footage, courtesy of CVG, shows players battling to kidnap a little sister from a Big Daddy in Rapture.

Once nabbed, the gal will punch, bite and squirm to get away while other players try to stop you from running off with her.

Neato.

It’s out next year.

More »

The reviews for GTA IV’s final bit of DLC, The Ballad of Gay Tony, are starting to pour onto the net.

So far, the reviews are generally positive.

You can get in on the action when the episode is released tomorrow via XBL and on disc at your local retailer.

As more reviews hit, we’ll be sure to update the page, so be sure to keep checking back.

• Eurogamer – 8/10
• Kotaku – N/A
• MTV – N/A
• Videogamesdaily (Kikizo) – 9/10
• 1UP – A-
• NowGamer – 9.3/10
• IGN UK – 9.2/10
• IGN – 9.2/10

During the London Event for Epic Mickey, Warren Spector took the stage to chat a bit about gameplay details along with the history of the antagonist, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

After inadvertently destroying the magical land the sorcerer created, Mickey is pulled from home, kidnapped, and dropped off in the Cartoon Wasteland he created where he must figure out where he is and how to harness the abilities he has acquired.

There, he rediscovers Oswald along with other things and cartoons he knew back in the 30s and his main goal is to make the Wasteland better since he destroyed it, all the while trying to get back home.

The Wasteland is a place where Disney’s forgotten and rejected ideas go. It’s full of rides, people and places that want to be remembered. There’s the Gremlin Village based off an old ride at Disney World, along with 2D platformer segments inspired by classic cartoons like Clock Cleaners and the Lonesome Manor, which is reminiscent of the Haunted Mansion.

Gameplay has you wielding magical paint and thinner to re-shape the world, both of which give you creative or damaging effects, with the dynamic choices you make consequentially affect the environment, interactions with other characters, and Mickey’s appearance and abilities.

The game is being described as a “platformer meets RPG/adventure” with paint and thinner mechanics where everything is sketched and painted. As an example, if a bookshelf of flying books is blocking your way, you can just erase it – but you can’t use it as a platform or gain information unless you repaint it.

There’s loads more past the break.

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During the Epic Mickey event today in London, Warren Spector and Disney announced more details regarding the game, along with the announcement that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit will be the antagonist in the game.

Apparently, the sorcerer Yen Sid (from Fanatasia) “creates a beautiful, whimsically-twisted world where Disney’s forgotten and retired creations thrive” and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, his children, and other retired Disney characters and creations live there.

When Mickey curiously stumbles upon Yen Sid’s map of the magical land, he inadvertently devastates Oswald’s world and his mistake pulls him into the Cartoon Wasteland to “face the destruction he unknowingly created” along with the resentment Oswald has been harboring for him since Mickey’s creation in 1929.

“Mickey is an adventurous and rambunctious mouse,” said Warren Spector, creative director and vice president of developers Junction Point. “I want to bring his personality to the forefront, place him in a daunting world and connect his spirited character with video game players worldwide.

“Ultimately, each player decides for him- or herself what makes Mickey cool.”

Screens from the game are posted past the break.

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Rockstar has sent over the final video for The Ballad of Gay Tony before its launch tomorrow.

It features Luis Lopez, a new protagonist for the second episode and right-hand man to Tony Prince.

The full bio for the character as well as the video are posted below the break.

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Disney’s hosting an unveiling for Epic Mickey in London today at 5:00pm.

1UP is liveblogging the event here, should you decide you want to know what’s happening when it happens.

We’ll keep an eye on it ourselves in case anything interesting pops up.

Konami plans to release a new demo of Peace Walker for PSP on November 1, which is launch day for PSPgo in Japan.

The demo will be made available via PSN and is based on the Tokyo Game Show demo.

It will feature enhancements along with new additions and content such as a new control setting, maps and cutscenes.

Unfortunately, it will be in Japanese, but that probably doesn’t matter to some folks.

Via Examiner.

The fourth episode for Tales of Monkey Island: The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood launches this Friday, October 30.

Description:

Guybrush is double-crossed by the pirate hunter Morgan LeFlay and returned to Flotsam Island against his will. Facing an angry mob of poxed pirates with a long list of grievances, Guybrush must defend himself in court against a smooth-talking prosecutor and absolve himself of the false accusations in order to continue his quest to rid the Caribbean of the insidious pox of LeChuck.

A pox on thee! Screens are after the break.

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Rebellion’s David Brickley’s keeping his lip zipped regarding whether or not the PC version of Aliens vs. Predator will have dedicated servers or not.

Speaking with CVG, the game’s producer was repeatedly asked whether dedicated servers would be used for the game, but he dodged the question each time.

“The one thing we can say is obviously running an operation like that is monumentally expensive,” said Brickley. “For the period the original was up, people who played that game got an incredible experience.

“You know what the internet’s like. We’re obviously used to getting things for free over the years. I guess on our side the thing we’re focusing on is whatever your set-up at home, you get the best possible experience from it. We’re just trying to use our time and resources wisely.

“The game is still quite a way from release so I guess there are other things to be determined during that time.”

Maybe it just hasn’t been decided yet.

More through the link.

PS2 has turned nine years old, folks and was unleashed on the world October 26, 2000.

To celebrate, Sony has sent along some figures and information on the system that you may not have known:

• One in every three US households own a PS2 system
• 140 million people around the world own a PS2
• The SOCOM franchise has become one of the most played of all time, with over 530 million online hours logged since the debut of SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs in 2002 equaling 60,000 years of online play
• More than 500 million software units have been sold for PS2 in the US
• More than 485 developers have developed for the platform since its launch
• By the end of this fiscal year, nearly 10,000 titles in total will be available for the system

“With nine years under its belt, the PlayStation 2 system shows no signs of slowing down and at $99 it still offers hours of fun for the whole family”, said Sony.

“The PlayStation 2 system is well on its way to delivering ten years of value to consumers and will continue to serve as a testament to the leading innovation and unbeatable entertainment the PlayStation brand provides its consumers.”

Happy Birthday, then.

To celebrate the launch of Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City and The Ballad of Gay Tony, Rockstar has announced a weekend filled with multiplayer mayhem on Xbox Live.

From Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1 players can experience multiplayer in Liberty City with special guests from Rockstar North and singer/composer Henry Santos Jeter from the band, Aventura.

Multiplayer for the game will be free all weekend for people playing GTA IV, The Lost and Damned, and The Ballad of Gay Tony.

Those wanting to play with the Rockstar team or Jeter should add the Gamertags posted below the break to their friends list.

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Ubisoft has released a second developer diary for Avatar: The Game titled Beautiful But Deadly.

In it, James Cameron and the development team discuss the landscape of Pandora and the danger and beauty that lurks within it.

Apparently, the world is its own living, breathing character in a sense with its bioluminescence and otherworldly creatures and you can experience it as either a Human or Navi, seeing both sides of the situation.

Game’s out in December for PS3 and Xbox 360.

Video is past the jump, courtesy of Ve3tro.

More »

Atari’s put out a movie and shots for Champions Online’s Blood Moon update, which released yesterday in celebration of Hallowe’en. Get the lot after the break.

The new content pitches super-players against Arch Lich Takofanes and his zombie things.

The video features Cryptic’s Bill Roper, and other devs from the studio, explaining what the Sam Hell’s going on.

More »

Xbox Live has been updated with Inferno Pool and Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure now available for 800 MS Points each – just as promised on Monday.

Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure is available most everywhere except for Australia, Korea and New Zealand and is an XBLA platformer remake where you shoot out rainbows to defeat your enemies as well as climb them towards the top. You can also use your Avatar to personalize the action, it has cooperative play with a friend with 2 Xbox 360 Controllers or race to the top against other players over Xbox LIVE with 10 Areas in 4 different game modes.

Inferno Pool, available in Asia and North America is a simultaneous multi-player Pool action game.

Full descriptions can be found through the links.

Activision has just confirmed to VG247 that a leaked Modern Warfare 2 video of civilians being gunned down in an airport is of real, skippable content from the shooter.

We’ve just been given the following statement in response to a question as to whether or not the scene is from the game. Here’s the full thing:

“Yes it is. The scene establishes the depth of evil and the cold bloodedness of a rogue Russian villain and his unit. By establishing that evil, it adds to the urgency of the player’s mission to stop them.

“Players have the option of skipping over the scene. At the beginning of the game, there are two ‘checkpoints’ where the player is advised that some people may find an upcoming segment disturbing. These checkpoints can’t be disabled.

“Modern Warfare 2 is a fantasy action game designed for intense, realistic game play that mirrors real life conflicts, much like epic, action movies. It is appropriately rated 18 for violent scenes, which means it is intended for those who are 18 and older.”

So there you have it. Go nuts.

Yesterday, it was reported that Aussie gamers playing Borderlands on Steam accidentally got the less violent version of the game. Looks like to fix the issue, players will have to redownload the game.

According to Games On Net, players must delete all the previous game files before redownloading the 8Gb game.

Full thing through here.

Yep, it’s true: WoW players can now switch race. The feature’s been announced as live. There’s a FAQ here.

You can switch a character’s race, but only within your faction. It costs $25.

Thanks, BigDownload.