Monthly Archives: November 2009

PlayDevil just got back from the Just Cause 2 event in London, and it looks like the PS3 version of the game will have the following additional features, not included in the Xbox 360 version:

• Video capture feature
• Can auto-record/record last 30 seconds of gameplay
• Manual record up to 10 minutes
• Can transfer directly to Youtube

We’re sure more news will be coming out of the event, and we’ll keep you posted.

Until then, check out these screens on IGN.

The reviews are starting to hit for New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and so far the general consensous is that it’s a rather good game.

It’s Mario after all, ya know.

Here’s the list so far:

• IGN: 8.9/10
• Gamesradar: 7/10
• Kotaku: Go Buy a Wii
• Joystiq: N/A
• 1UP: A+
• NintendoPower (per NeoGAF): 9/10
• MyWii AU: 9.5/10
• Gamspot AU: 8.5/10
• D’toid: 9/10

Good God Almighty, next week is massive for those who play Rock Band and the Beatles version.

Sgt. Peppers and AFI were already announced for next week, now comes word that Them Crooked Vultures’ track New Fang will be added to the Music Store for 360 November 17.

Wii users get it November 24 and PS3 on December 3.

It will cost the usual $1.99/£.99/€1.49, 160 MS Points, and 200 Wii Points ($2).

Just in case you don’t know who the band is, it’s comprised of Dave Grohl, Joshua Homme from QotSA, and none other than Mr. John Paul Jones himself.

Jones needs to tell his buddy Page to get with the program after this.

Rockstar has released new screens for Red Dead Redemption, and each one is a sight to behold.

Seriously. It’s great stuff.

All four are posted passed the break.

It’s out next year.

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What appears to be a leaked Best But sales flier for Black Friday has popped onto the net, thanks to Gear Live.

Here’s what it advertises:

• PS3 bundled with Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time and LittleBigPlanet Game of the Year Edition for $299
• 120Gb Xbox 360 Elite bundle with four unnamed titles for $299
• Brain Age or Mario DSi bundle for $169.99 with a free $20 gift card
• Brütal Legend, Left 4 Dead 2, Dragon Age up for $34.99
• Older titles will be $20 or less
• Several Wii titles reduced to $14.99
• Certain DS titles at  $9.99 or less

There’s tons of stuff listed, even appliances.

Go have a look, courtesy of Joystiq, but remember – rumor until the sales advert is released.

Sony has released screens, collector’s edition goodies, details, and a video for the sixth expansion of Everquest II, titled Sentinel’s Fate.

In it, players will explore the lands of Odus, go on epic quests, hack and slash through dungeons and tons more stuff.

It’s out February 16 at retail, followed by a digital launch on the 23rd and is an all-in-one compilation pack.

There’s also the EverQuest II Sentinel’s Fate Collectors Edition, which along with the contents of the normal package plus more, all detailed passed the break with the trailer and a ton of screens.

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Titmouse Games has released the trailer for Seven Haunted Seas that was only shown to press at E3.

It looks great for a game in its earlier stages, but of course any game with an undead pirate with a machine gun for an arm named Scurvy Pete is alright in our book.

No word on a release or platforms yet, but just knowing it’s coming is good enough right now.

Watch below the break, via D’toid.

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Dream Theater drummer and background vocalist Michael Portnoy has announced on the band’s official site that it will be recording an instrumental track for God of War 3.

Here’s the quote:

In an unexpected move, we will then enter the studio right after New Year’s to write and record a brand new instrumental track for inclusion on the upcoming Gods Of War 3 soundtrack. This will mark the first time in the band’s career we have written and recorded an exclusive track for an outside project. Roadrunner invited us to participate and we decided we were up for the challenge!

Great news if you are a fan of the band and its music.

Via CtrlAltKill.

EA has announced that it will release Madden NFL Arcade November 24 on PSN and November 25 on Xbox Live.

It will run you $14.99 or 1200 MS Points.

According to Joystiq, the playing field is much smaller than the game’s console counterpart, and players have to get touchdowns within four tries. There are power-ups there as well, so that should make things easier.

A video of it is posted through the link if you are interested.

In probably the most obvious news of the day, Activision’s Guitar Hero CEO Dan Rosensweig has told MCV that the “next iterations” of Band Hero, DJ Hero and Guitar Hero are in the works.

Keep breathing. You don’t want to go into shock, there, kiddos.

“We’re working on our 2010 slate now,” he told the site. “You will probably see fewer SKUs from us, but the focus on making the best-selling, most fun to play, best-reviewed games will continue. Those are the things that are constant.

“[There will be] more DJ Hero, and the next iterations of Guitar and Band are on the way. But we will see how the market plays out. What you will see is the games will live longer and be more vibrant through DLC.”

More through the link, courtesy of Joystiq.

A source close to MCV has told the site that Alan Wake will be released on Xbox 360 worldwide during May of 2010.

The source also claims that the game will be promoted “in the style of a Hollywood movie”.

Microsoft’s response was that the company “does not comment on rumors and speculation”.

We’ll ask ourselves as well, but don’t expect a response that is any different, but remember that it has been confirmed for “spring 2010″, and last we checked, May fell into that season.

Thanks, Joystiq.

Cryptic’s Craig Zinkievich has told the Associated Press that Star Trek Online will feature 20 ship bridges when the game launches February 2, 2010.

That’s a lot better than none, which was the original launch plan.

“We didn’t want to have interiors at launch,” said Zinkievich. “We thought it was just a little bit too much. We really wanted to make sure we delivered a really deep experience, but your bridge not being in the game, it really felt like a hole in the game, and it was just something that we had to put in.”

The bridges will mostly function as social hubs where bridge captains and officers can hang out, and it turns out that the game is set 22 years after the events in the movie by J.J. Abrams.

“It’s familiar, but it’s new,” said Zinkievich. “We’ve changed a few things and added a few things to the universe. I think that’s what keeps us from stepping on the hardcore Trekkies’ toes.

“The team is made up of ‘Star Trek’ fans and avid MMO fans, so if we can make a game that doesn’t churn our stomach, then I think we can definitely satisfy the fans.”

Full thing through the link.

Harmonix and MTV announced today that The Bangles and a five-pack from AFI are heading to Rock Band next week on November 17 and 19 for Xbox 360/Wii and PS3, respectively.

Walk Like an Egyptian is the track from The Bangles – hard to believe bassist Michel “Micki” Steele was once in The Runaways isn’t it?

The AFI track pack consists of Beautiful Thieves, End Transmission, Love Like Winter, Medicate, and The Leaving Song, Pt II.

Individual tracks will run you $1.99/£.99/€1.49 EU, 160 MS Points or 200 Wii Points ($2).

AFI Track Pack 01 costs $8.49/£5.25/€6.59 or 680 MS Points.

There’s a new video for Avatar: The Game passed the break, featuring a look at the world of Pandora through the eyes of the Na’vi.

It’s full of gameplay.

Game’s out December 1.

Thanks, BigDownload.

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With recent the recent wave of modded Xbox 360 console bans by Microsoft, loads of these boxes are going up on Craigslist.

According to a report on CNET, these modded come with a “slew of hit titles” if you want one despite the fact you can’t log into Live with ‘em. One listing promised a console with a 20Gb hard drive; 20 HD movies; and 13 games including Madden 2010, Modern Warfare 2, and NBA 2K10.

Apparently, these folks are selling the banned consoles to get money for a new one. No doubt. It also seems it’s just the console and not the account that has been banned.

More through the link.

The latest episode of GTTV that was teased yesterday has been released, and it is full of Mass Effect 2, Alan Wake and many other nifty things.

In it, the BioWare Doctors talks about how they see games as an art form, and how the team is pushing the envelope once again with Mass Effect 2. There’s also information on your new squad member, and “The Man” is revealed to be not only Sheperd’s nemesis, but also someone he is kind of taking orders from.

There’s also a badass new trailer for Dante’s Inferno in there, and a new one for C&C4: Tiberian Twilight as well and then there’s GTTV’s review for Modern Warfare 2 and a preview of Alan Wake.

The video is passed the break.

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Square has sent over a press release announcing story and feature details on Final Fantasy XIII, as well as confirming the US and European March 9 date earlier heard ’round the world.

“We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of the franchise,” said Square president and CEO John Yamamoto. ” Final Fantasy XIII will exceed all expectations.

“Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time, FFXIII will be available to all players who are looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010.”

Read the full thing passed the break for yourself.

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Update: Here’s the UK version. Thanks, Blerk.

Update 2: Aceybongos just confirmed the offer’s not available in Europe outside the UK, but will be next week. See here.

Original:

Nelson’s just launched a “FF XIII White Promo” Twitter competition for the 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII. Details here.

We’re not sure what the “White” bit relates to as yet.

Everyone that registers will get an “exclusive Xbox LIVE FF XIII gift”.

Do it now. It takes seconds. The prize will be emailed to you in token form.

Square said today that FFXIII will release in the US and Europe on March 9 next year.

Making good on its promise last week, BioWare has released extra details on the Imperial Agent class for Star Wars: The Old Republic.

It looks like the character is about as close to a rogue as we’re gonna get in the game, which is rather cool to be honest.

The pics are the same as the one’s released last week as well, but the character has been given the holonet treatment like previously announced playables, so that is a good thing.

Go see for yourself on the official site.

It has been announced that Final Fantasy XIII will land on US and European shelves March 9, 2010.

To celebrate the imminent release, Square will announce new information on the game on the 13th of every month as part of a Lucky Number 13 campaign.

The new video is up now on the official site and the EU PS Blog, which we put below the break.

By the way, Leona Lewis sings the theme song to the game.

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