Monthly Archives: December 2009

Sony has released figures complied by the MAG Beta tests along with the box art for the multiplayer online shooter.

Apparently, more than 42,000 matches were played during the first public Beta between August 17 and December 5 while in October’s Beta, over 534,000miles were traveled in-game by players each week.

During its final month, more than 65,000 players logged into the Beta, 17,000 of them qualified for Squad Leader, 3500 people qualified for Platoon Leader, 1100 made it all the way to OIC, and 206 made the level 60 cap, nearly 18 million kills were made, 700 million shots were fired, and the top three most played maps belonged to the Sabotage mode.

Sounds like it was very popular, indeed.

Head on over to the US PS Blog for more, and to check out the box art.

In the new video for Army of Two: The 40th Day, gamers will get a glimpse of the storyline featured in the shooter which is expected to hit retail shelves in January.

Watch as our heroic duo walk around Shanghai enjoying the sights like typical tourists when suddenly, things start going horribly wrong.

A woman even gets smashed by a bus. At least it looks likes she does. She may get saved at the last minute though, in pure Rios and Salem style.

We’ll have to wait and see.

Watch it below the break.

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During an interview with an ABC news outlet in Australia, Attorney General Michael Atkinson stated that an adult videogame rating for the country is only wanted by “very zealous gamers” trying to “impose their will” on society.

His comment was in response to the recent rating given to Aliens vs. Predator – a game that Rebellion refuses to edit just to appease censors.

“This is a question of a small number of very zealous gamers trying to impose their will on society, and I think harm society,” he told ABC. “It’s the public interest versus the small vested interest. I accept that 98%, 99% of gamers will tell the difference between fantasy and reality, but the 1% to 2% could go on to be motivated by these games to commit horrible acts of violence.

“You don’t need to be playing a game in which you impale, decapitate and dismember people.”

Yes. Yes we do, Michael.

In response, Australia’s Interactive Games and Entertainment Association CEO Ron Curry countered Atkinson’s remarks, stating that the man has no right to dictate what the population can and cannot interact with.

“It doesn’t seem democratic that a single attorney general should be able to dictate what the vast Australian population can interact with,” he remarked. “The government trusts us to be adults with films, but they only want us to be children with games.”

More through GamePolitcis.

Lou Kesten of the Associated Press has listed his Top 10 games of the year, and some of you may find it a bit better than the one Time Magazine concocted earlier in the week.

Guess what? Modern Warfare 2′s no where to be found on the list.

Without further ado, here it is for you to cuss and discuss:

1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
2. Assassin’s Creed II
3. Dragon Age: Origins
4. Batman: Arkham Asylum
5. inFamous
6. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
7. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
8. Borderlands
9. Forza Motorsport 3
10. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Honorable Mentions: Shadow Complex, Scribblenauts, Professor Layton & the Diabolical Box, Demon’s Souls, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, DJ Hero, The Beatles: Rock Band, Rock Band Unplugged, 1 vs. 100.

Game of the Decade: Rock Band 2.

Hit the link for loads more.

The only thing a bad-ass demon slayer needs besides his massive sword, is an equally bad-ass horse – and that is just what War has in Darksiders.

Ruin. Black as smoke, swift as flame, his pounding hooves are drums of doom.

Okay. We didn’t come up with that, Vigil Games did, but it’s still a very cool description of War’s phantom steed. Oh, you can ride other beasts in the game as well, but none are as awesome and chill inducing as Ruin.

There’s a video below the break, and if you are not yelling “fuck yeah” at the screen afterward, then you need to watch it again.

It’s out in January. We. Cannot. Wait.

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2K and Gearbox announced today that the next bit for DLC for Borderlands is titled Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot.

To be made available on December 29 on XBL and January 7 for PSN, it will run you 800 MS Points/$9.99, respectively.

Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot is for both single-player and co-op, which adds three new Riot Mode arenas along with a new bank feature that allows extra storage, and the ability to acquire two additional skill points as quest rewards.

Guess the rumors yesterday were correct.

Full PR below the break.

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Update: An MTV spokesperson has told IndustryGamers that the lay-offs “was a process and business decision unrelated to the performance of any MTV Games or Harmonix products” and that “Harmonix staffed up its QA department and support positions based on the 2009 worldwide release schedule. At this time, Harmonix will shift to a combination of temporary/part time help, outsourcing and support from external partners (which is in line with how other game developers manage their QA departments.)”

Original: Rumors were circling Twitter all morning that staff members over at Harmonix were laid-off this morning, and MTV Games has confirmed the news to Joystiq.

According to a rep speaking with the site, 39 positions were made redundant as part of a restructuring process to “better align [the] staffing to best suit [Harmonix's] product development plans and schedules moving forward.”

Most positions were in QA, while some administrative and various other positions also suffering the loss of a job, along with one designer as well.

These redundancies are not associated with the lay-offs at EA, as it’s a “totally and completely unrelated” issue.

We’re very sorry to hear this, and wish those affected the best of luck.

More through the link.

bitComposer Games and GSC announced today an official release for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat.

So, come February 2010, you will be able to see what happened after Shadow of Chernobyl using DirectX 11 and graphics developed from aerial surveys and photos the nuclear wasteland.

We’re sure you are excited over this, as you should be.

Thanks, GamingToday.

Square Enix announced today that all preorders for Just Cause 2 in the UK are to be shipped in an exclusive, limited edition format.

Starting today, all those who preorder the game will get in-box and downloadable tools for “causing complete chaos by land, sea and air”.

The edition contains exclusive packaging, and comes with the Black Market Chaos Pack, containing five downloadable guns and gadgets, experimental and upgraded items from the Agency’s research and development division, and a fold-out Panauan Intel Map containing information and hotspots.

Here’s the details:

• Agency Hovercraft: The ultimate in amphibious transport, the Agency Hovercraft is the most flexible form of transport in the game. Equipped with a turret-mounted grenade launcher, you’re guaranteed to blow your opposition out of the water
• Rico’s Signature Gun: Customised by the Agency and adapted for Rico’s shooting style, this deadly accurate and powerful pistol has precision, power and flair
• Bull’s Eye Assault Rifle: More powerful than the standard assault rifle, this lightweight and lethal automatic rifle features increased accuracy and a higher magnification scope
• Chevalier Classic: No agent should be without a hot set of wheels and with an increased top speed and superior handling, you can arrive at your destination in style or make a guaranteed quick getaway
• Chaos Parachute: Featuring a skull motif, make an entrance no one will forget … should you leave anyone alive to remember
• Panauan Intel map: With over 1000km² of tropical paradise to explore, the included fold-out Panauan Intel Map is an ideal reference tool for navigating around Panau, marking faction leader HQs, recommended BASE jump peaks and much more.

Only so many were produced, so to find out where you can get yours, hit this link.

The Major has revealed this month’s Xbox Live Marketplace updates along with Deals of the Week and Games on Demand.

Here’s what you can expect:

Xbox Live Deals of the Week

• December 14:Lips: Coldplay Track Pack for 240 Microsoft Points, Pinball FX (Japan) for 400 Microsoft Points
• December 21 through December 27:Shadow Complex for 800 points
• Week of December 28:The Maw for 400 Microsoft Points

XBL Aracde

• December 16: Alien Breed Evolution (Episode 1) for 800 Microsoft Points
• December 23: Trials HD BIG PACK! for 400 points

Games on Demand

• December 15: Viva Piñata: Party Animals
• December 22: Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition and Devil May Cry
• December 29: Gears of War

Starting today, Microsoft has released Holiday items and tokidoki via the Avatar Marketplace. On December 24, Disney Classic items will also be unleashed upon the Avatar Marketplace.

From December 18 -31, there will also be an Xbox Live Deal of the Day, but MS won’t tell you what those are because it wants you to check in each day to see what the offer is through the dashboard, online or the Major’s Twitter account.

BioWare has announced the voice cast for Mass Effect 2, and it is made up of some rather cool Hollywood actors and actresses.

Returning to reprise their roles as Joker and Admiral David Anderson are Seth Green and Keith David, respectively. The coolest bit though, is that Martin Sheen stars as Illusive Man, who commands Cerberus, a secretive paramilitary organization dedicated to protecting human interests in the galaxy.

We figured that out though already when the Illusive Man was revealed last month.

Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck) is the Cerberus operative Miranda Lawson, and other stars include Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Saddam), Michael Dorn (Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Worf), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica) and the ultra-chic Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix) as Aria T’Loak, the crime lord who rules the planet Omega.

Very cool. Come on January!

Full PR below the break.

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A list of Trophies for LittleBigPlanet emerged today over on PS3trophies, and to say that these are water-centric is an understatement.

Here’s what is expected to come soon, if you want to remain surprised, don’t read it:

Bronze

• PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Booty Master:Collect all of the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Prize Bubbles
• Beast Slayer: Destroy the KRAKEN Boss
• Ace Port Royal: Ace Port Royal
• Ace Pirate Town:Ace Pirate Town
• Ace The Frigate: Ace The Frigate
• Ace Cursed Bay: Ace Cursed Bay
• Ace The Kraken!!!: Ace The Kraken!!!
• Tributary: Publish a Level Using WATER
• Salty Dog:Complete 20 Community Levels that use WATER

Silver

• The Bends: Achieve a score of 7000 in the Diving for Treasure Survival Challenge
• HMS Interceptor: Complete the race in Cursed Bay with at least 4000 Points left on the clock

Via TheSixithAxis.

EA’s released a new developer diary for Dante’s Inferno.

Chatting about the seventh circle of Hell, Violence, the video shows off scary enemies and more of the story.

The game’s out in February and it can’t get here soon enough. Hit the link for the video.

Via GameInformer.

This week, the Euro PSN update is a bit thicker, and there are loads of special deals going on as well with 10 different items on sale for PS3 and loads more for PSP and PSPgo.

On the downloadable end, here’s a taste of what you can expect:

PS3 Downloadable Games

• Call of Duty Classic (£11.99/€14.99)
• PixelJunk Shooter (£6.29/€7.99)
• Buzz! Junior: Dino Den (£3.99/€4.99)

Add-On Content

• Dragon Ball: Raging Blast – Alien Warriors Pack (free)
• EyePet – Lucky Dip Styling Pack 8 (free)
• High Velocity Bowling – Animal Patterns Ball Pack (£0.79/€0.99), Winter Holiday Ball Pack (£0.79/€0.99), Ginger PAINful Xmas Pack (£0.79/€0.99), Jarvis PAINful Xmas Pack (£0.79/€0.99)
• Rock Band and Guitar Hero 5 tracks

Motion Comics

• Uncharted 2 – The Eye of Indra Skins and Comics Bundle (£2.39/€2.99) (includes all four comics and two exclusive multiplayer skins)

PSP and Go

• TEKKEN 6 (not available until Friday, 11th December) (£31.99/€39.99)
• James Cameron’s AVATAR: The Game (£23.99/€29.99)
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (£15.99/€19.99)
• F1 2009 (£23.99/€29.99)
• Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops (£8.69/€10.99)
• Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops + (£6.29/€7.99)
• Metal Gear Solid Digital Graphic Novel (£6.29/€7.99)
• Lord of the Rings Tactics (£15.99/€19.99)
• The Sims 2: Pets (£15.99/€19.99)

Minis

• Dynogems (£2.49/€2.99)
• Heracles Chariot Racing (£3.49/€3.99)
• Let’s Golf! (£3.99/€4.99)
• Telegraph Crosswords (£3.49/€3.99)
• Beam ‘Em Up (£2.49/€2.99)

Add-On Game Content

• Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce Additional Quests 8 (free)

The full bit of everything can be found over on the EU PS Blog.

Sony has said that its motion controller is not called Gem, but it was an early prototype name for the product.

“The term ‘Gem’ was an early code name for the product,” SCEA bossman Patrick Seybold told Kotaku. “We haven’t announced final name at this point.”

This comes to light after John Riccitiello slipped up and blurted the name out yesterday at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference.

Still, Gem is better than the Wand. Sounds less pornographic to us at any rate.

More through the links.

During the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, John Riccitiello stated that EA’s putting loads of effort into Wii now that Nintendo has finally seen the light when it comes to third-party publishers.

However, he also feels that the company needs to focus on innovation and competitive pricing if it plans to compete with Sony and Microsoft.

[Wii] it’s a very compelling platform. Two, third-parties can do a lot better on the platform with the right support from Nintendo,” Riccitiello told attendees. “They’ve always been first-party-centric, and they’re learning how to be third-party supportive.

“My belief is the first platform to reach $149 [like PS2] is going to inherit much of that business. The Wii is not gone. But if they maintain $199 and don’t innovate, they’re going to have a hard time competing with what’s already been announced from Microsoft and Sony.”

More through Gamasutra.

EA just announced a PS3-exclusive Divine Edition for Dante’s Inferno, including developer commentaries, a Wayne Barlowe digital art book, the game’s soundtrack and a digital version of the complete Longfellow translation of Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, all for the standard retail price of $60.

The PS3 version of the game’s demo hits PSN today in the US, followed by the 360 version on December 24. Both versions will release in Europe on December 24.

“We are thrilled to offer an exclusive game pack for PlayStation 3 gamers,” said EP Jonathan Knight.

“The PlayStation platform has a long history of delivering AAA action/adventure games. Adding Dante’s Inferno to that rich catalogue is very exciting for the team. And with the demo now available on the PlayStation Network, players can finally get a taste of what awaits them in the full game on Feb 9th.”

Take that, 360 owners. Hit the link for the full announcement.

One of the first GT Academy winners, Lucas Ordonez, has told the EU PS Blog how hard the entire experience has been for him, speaking before the release of the GT5 time trial demo to find new drivers on December 17.

“The whole thing is tough,” he said. “But for me racing cars was my dream, so it was great. Anyone taking part has to be prepared for a real 360 degree change to their life. You have to have total dedication and be prepared to make sacrifices.

“Lars, who won with me, was a great guy and he was a good driver, but I just don’t think he was focused enough and he ended up not being ready to race.”

Ordonez has now secured your race license and driven in the the 24 Hour race in Dubai.

It could be you next time. Hit the link for the rest of it.

John Riccitiello has apparently called Sony’s upcoming motion controller Gem, speaking at the UBS 37th Annual Global Media Conference yesterday.

“In the coming year, both Sony and Microsoft have announced new controllers. Motion sensor controls, Natal and Gem, these are likely to bring new consumers into the marketplace,” he said, according to IGN.

Sony’s already blanked it: “No official name for the PlayStation motion controller has been announced,” said a rep.

Gem. Gem. Nice turn to it. It’s out next spring.

THQ’s outlined its Darksiders UK pre-order program this morning, with all participating retailers getting a slice of Vigil’s demonic pie, so to speak.

Basically:

• All pre-order copies of Darksiders from GAME will receive a code to unlock an exclusive in-game weapon called ‘The Harvester’. This ornate scythe comes from the arsenal of Death himself and allows War to smite his foes from a distance with ease
• Gamers’ who purchase their copy from PLAY.com will receive a unique unlock code for an exclusive War costume for their avatar on Xbox LIVE or Playstation®Home. This outfit will allow them to be the envy of all their friends as they take on the guise of a Horseman of the Apocalypse
• Pre-ordering the game from Amazon will earn players a Ruin head mask for their Xbox LIVE avatar or Playstation®Home character. This mask can be equipped with any outfit and will definitely help your character stand out from the crowd
• Copies of the game purchased from Gamestation will come with an exclusive Darksiders comic book expanding the back story of the game. Drawn by famous ex-Marvel artist and Vigil Games creative lead Joe Madureira, this is an absolute must have for comic collectors
• Any pre-orders placed with HMV will receive an exclusive Your Last Centrefold calendar

The game, which really is starting to look very awesome, releases for PS3 and 360 on January 8. Get the pull PR after the break.

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