Monthly Archives: November 2009

Telltale has announced that Episode 5 for Tales of Monkey Island, Rise of the Pirate God will be released on December 8.

In celebration, the first four episodes are now $8.95 each over on the official site.

Wondering what happened to our hero since the last episode? Thankfully, we won’t have to wait much longer.

Full PR below the break.

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A new video for Army of Two: The 40th Day has popped up on the game’s YouTube channel, and it shows all the wonderful customizations available for weapons in the game.

Weird paint jobs, scopes, magazines, and suppressors. It’s all there, folks.

Go have a watch.

Game’s out for PS3, PSP, and 360 January 12.

Sony has posted over on the US PS Blog that due to a few hiccups, LittleBigPlanet PSP is not available through the store on PSN just yet.

However, it’s being remedied.

“We’re currently working around the clock to get this issue worked out so keep your eyes peeled for updates this week,” said senior producer Mark Green. “We appreciate you bearing with us”.

Just hang tight a bit longer then, we reckon.

More through the link.

Kazunori Yamauchi has told Official UK PlayStation Magazine that the weather system in Gran Turismo 5 has passed the development stage

“Night racing is going to be a part of GT5, but with things like dynamic weather, the choice is about whether it will improve the experience,” said Yamauchi. “The functionality is not a problem – we’ve got the weather system done – but if we are not sure about the quality of it, and how it improves the driving experience, we are not going to have it in the game.

“There is a massive amount of content in this game, I don’t think there are many teams that put as much into a game as we can. The launch of the game isn’t a start, we are releasing a full game. Everything we want to put into the game is on the disc when it ships.

“Having said that, we do have a sizeable online team that will look after it once it’s launched. They’re spending less time with a single game and this is reflected in the design of GT Mode.”

Via GT Planet.

SCEA has announced that it has seen a 70 percent growth in sales for PS3 when compared to October 2008, making it “the only console to experience significant growth year over year”.

According to a statement from Sony, October also marked the “highest month of revenue on record for the PlayStation Store, with downloads increasing 60 percent over October 2008.” To date, more than 650 million bits of content have been downloaded worldwide and there are more than 31 million registered users for PSN.

“Many believe a console race is a 100-meter dash, but it’s really a marathon. The PS3′s ten-year lifecycle is clear testament of Sony’s commitment to providing entertainment value to consumers,” said EEDAR’s Jesse Divnich. “PS3’s growth in recent months is a perfect example of how a new low price along with upcoming innovative, exclusive titles such as MAG, Gran Turismo 5 and God of War III, will act as large catalysts for driving the PS3′s install base even higher.

“Add in the robust offerings on the PlayStation Network and there’s no doubt that PS3′s success will continue well throughout 2010, and beyond.”

Sony received 17 nominations for the 2009 Spike Videogame Awards today which according to the company is “more than any other first or third party publisher”.

SCEA has announced today that the PlayStation Network is three years old this week.

Wow. Time flies when you’re having fun.

“We are extremely proud that in just three years into its lifecycle, PlayStation 3 and the unmatched digital offerings of PlayStation Network have helped to redefine the connected home entertainment experience,” said SCEA’s Patrick Seybold. “From a tremendous lineup of blockbuster titles, to Blu-ray movies and games, to access to a library of thousands of movies, TV shows and games on the PlayStation Store, no other system on the market today delivers a more complete entertainment experience or a better value than PS3.

“With the continuing addition of new features such as Netflix and Facebook integration, highly anticipated break-out games like MAG and God of War III on the horizon, and the on-going evolution of connected experiences through PlayStation Network, we’ve only just begun scratch the surface.”

Sony said that because of the “strong consumer demand for rich, digital and connected entertainment experiences”, popularity for the service has grown as “what began as an online commerce option for games and content has evolved into an innovative entertainment network in just three short years”.

Currently, there are 17,400 TV episodes and movies for rent and purchase; 450 games for PS3 and PSP, 4,000 pieces of add-on game content and the new “minis” and the “digital comics,” section which is to be available later this year.

SCEE’s confirmed its version of SCEA’s PS3 Movie Store, dubbed the “PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service,” will launch in Europe tomorrow.

The facility will be first available in France, Germany, Spain and the UK, with “more than 2,000 movies” up for download.

There are both rent (from €1.99) and buy (from €7.99) options, and films in both SD and HD.

Titles available “within the launch window” include:

• Angels and Demons
• Bruno
• Cars
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
• Crank 2
• The Dark Knight
• Dead Space: Downfall
• Drag Me to Hell
• Gran Torino
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• National Treasure
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
• Public Enemies
• Star Trek
• Terminator Salvation
• Transformers 2
• Valkyrie
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Additional content will be added weekly. PR after the break.

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Toys R Us has announced deals that will go into effect starting November 22 and ending on November 26 – Black Friday – for both online and actual store locations.

Here’s the dealio:

• DS and PSP games will be buy one, get one half off
• Wii and Xbox 360 Arcade hardware purchases will be bundled with a $15 gift card for Wendy’s, Subway, or Cold Stone Creamery (in-store only)
• Select video games will be bundled with a $25 iTunes gift card (in-store only)
• The Beatles: Rock Band standalone software will be $49.99
• The Beatles: Rock Band Special Value Edition will be $134.99
• Select video game storage units will be $34.99

Starting November 20 through November 22, TRU stores and Toysrus.com will offer a “Ready to Play DS Lite Pack” for $157.95 which inlcudes a DS Lite, case, accessories, and two DS games from an edited assortment.

Decent deals all around there. Full PR is below the break.

Thanks, Joystiq.

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Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has told ONM to Nintendo has surprises in store at E3 2010, and he thinks that long-time Zelda fans will be in for a “fresh surprise”.

“It is something we used to talk about with Mr. Miyamoto, and he and I agree that if we are following the same structure again and again, we might not be able to give long time Zelda fans a fresh surprise,” said Aonuma.

“So we have been trying something new in terms of the structure of the Wii version of the new Zelda game this time. I am really hopeful that people will be surprised with the changes we have implemented for this Wii version.

“I hope that we can show you something at the E3 show next year and it is something we are hopeful will be surprising.”

Full thing through the link, courtesy of GoNintendo.

Famitsu has detailed the DLC for the Alternative Edition of Resident Evil 5, and it includes new costumes and a Mercenaries Reunion, which has the same rules as the original but lets you play as previously unplayable characters.

There will also be another chapter, which has yet to be revealed, and the already announced Lost in Nightmares flashback episode and motion control for the PS3 version.

The DLC will be released separately, and the pricing listed is for Japan. It will likely be the same when released elsewhere.

• Lost in Nightmares Episode – 400 MS Points ($5)
• Costume Pack 1 – 160 MS Points ($2)
• Costume Pack 2 – 160 MS Points ($2)
• Additional TBA Episode – 400 MS Points ($5)

Via Joystiq, Andriasang.

Konami has announced details on a Metal Gear Online 24-hour Survival Challenge, which is open to all registered players.

The challenge will be held once a month for the next four months, and players will be awarded Reward Points based on their team’s winning streak.

Scheduled dates are November 28, December 26, January 23, 2010, and February 27. Participants will need to log into the game during the 24-hour period and select to join a Survival lobby with numbers capped at approximately 3,000 total players.

All participants will receive a specific in-game Regain T-shirt while different levels of Reward Points will be given for each team’s achievement, and those that participate in all the events and collect all four Regain T-Shirts will get a special Regain Hat.

Neato.

Krome Studios has revealed that its to lay-off “an undisclosed number of employees” across three studios as part of a restructuring process.

“With declining game sales the industry is really feeling the effects of the struggling economy,” said Krome CEO Robert Walsh> “In spite of industry wide cutbacks and Krome’s need to reduce costs, we’ve worked really hard to minimize the impact on our staff.

“These cuts, while incredibly difficult as they affect the co-workers we consider friends, are necessary as we position Krome for the future. We’re also actively pursuing several business opportunities which, if secured, will enable Krome to reemploy some of the staff given notice.”

Tiles developed by the Australian studio include Viva Pinata: Party Animals, The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning and Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes.

More through IndustryGamers.

Looks like the list of nominees for the VGAs are up, and Game of the Year contenders include Uncharted 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Modern Warfare 2, and Left 4 Dead 2.

Studio of the year noms include Infinity Ward, Naughty Dog, Rocksteady, and Valve.

The full thing is through here, so go vote people.

Spike’s 2009 Video Game Awards show goes live December 12 at 6:00pm EST.

Bobby “Bobby” Kotick has just dropped another 1.68 million shares, personally raking in a further $17 million.

The ActiBlizz metaboss grabbed $20 million from a three-day stock-sell marathon over Modern Warfare 2′s launch last week, taking his profits in the last nine days to a cool $37 million.

Holy fucking fuck. We’ll do straight sex for $1 million, Bob. No kissing on the mouth, though.

More on Gama.

The 2009 Video Game Awards will host the exclusive world premiere of HALO: Reach on Spike TV December 12.

This is according to a tweet posted by Geoff Keighley.

VGA nominees are expected to be announced today, as well, and the awards show will also be home to world premiere titles and announcements. You won’t want to miss it.

Hit the link and see for yourself.

In what appears to be a hidden camera video of The Witcher 2 has popped up over on YouTube.

It’s below the break and shows a bit of gameplay on the screen, as well as part of the chair in front of the person filming it.

CD Projekt said that the game would be released for both PC and consoles when finished.

Head on through the break.

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Those who purchased the Red Alert 3 Premier Edition and registered their “Future Beta Access” codecan now participate in the Command & Conquer 4 Beta.

Starting today and every Tuesday and Thursday, the team will open up new spots to RA3 Premier Owners on a first come, first-served basis.

Once the limit of open spots is reached, access will close for that day and you will have to try again the following Tuesday or Thursday.

Full details on how to access your spot can be found through here.

Thanks, Blue.

According to Funcom, the public has higher expectations for The Secret World than it did for Age of Conan.

This was revealed through the firm’s Q3 financial report, which can viewed here in lovely PDF format.

Included in the report was the announcement that the game is progressing as planned, with the combat, core mechanics and content being worked on at the moment.

Funcom announced plans this month that Age of Conan players who purchase a multi-month subscription and the new expansion, would get Beta access to The Secret World when it goes live.

Thanks, IncGamers.

Square just confirmed the PAL version of Supreme Commander 2 for a spring release, with GPG boss Chris Taylor calling the partnership with the publisher a “highlight” of his career.

“I couldn’t be more proud of what the team has accomplished, as the game has continually exceeded all of my expectations throughout its development,” said the developer.

PR after the break.

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Below the break is a new developer video for Star Trek Online where members of Cryptic discuss ship-to-ship combat.

Apparently, players can use phasers to weaken certain areas of an enemy spacecraft, which wears down the shields so you can use photon torpedoes to finish ‘em off.

Just like Kirk.

Game’s out in February 2010.

Via BigDownload.

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