Kotaku

Red Bull Builds An Addition Onto PlayStation Home [Playstation 3]

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:40:18 MST

In addition to all those video games setting up shop in Sony's Home, expect to see plenty of non-game advertisers. First out of the gate is energy drink Red Bull, complete with its own game.

You might think that's a positive sign that your Home avatar will be getting 'faced on Red Bull and vodkas, but you're just a bit off the mark — maybe when the Stoli partnership ink dries. Red Bull UK brand manager John Beasley says the drink's Home presence is designed to "facilitate interaction, to give people stories, memories, experiences and a really good opportunity to interact with the brand." Killer app? Oh, most definitely.

Red Bull will have an airplane racing game playable in its Home room, one modeled after the five year old Red Bull Air Race series. We can't wait to try it out with Van Halen's "Dreams" blasting in the background.

Red Bull becomes first brand on PlayStation Home [Brand Republic]

Draw A Path To Love In The Chase - Screens [The Chase]

Stuart Houghton — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:20:00 MST

The Chase is a good old fashioned love story. Boy meets girl, girl separates from boy, boy and girl attempt to reach each other by running at breakneck speed across surreal platform-filled landscape populated by bad guys and collectable power ups while an unseen hand draws bridges under the feet of both boy and girl.

Aww, its like something out of a Barbara Cartland novel.

The Chase from Razorback is due for release on the DS in February 2009. Some time around the 14th, I would imagine.

Get Your Kotaku On Zune Marketplace [Podcast]

Brian Crecente — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:00:00 MST

Last month Adam Barenblat started uploading our videos and podcasts over to iTunes for the iPhone, Touch, and iPod owners out there.

Of course it wasn't long before we heard from Zune owners, hoping to get their portable Kotaku on the Microsoft media player.

Today we've invaded the Zune Marketplace as well. So now if you must, must listen to Fahey as he talks about the economy while getting whaled on by a Left 4 Dead tank, now you can with your iWhatever, Zune or other media devices. Appropriate links to follow.

We'll be putting up all of our new content on Zune and iTunes and are continuing to dig through Kotaku's golden oldies in an attempt to convert and upload some of them as well. And while you're at it, drop a review on our podcasts on iTunes. We're ranked in the top ten right now, but we have a paltry nine reviews.

Zune Marketplace.
iTunes
Direct Mp4 Downloads

New Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena Screens Show Off Re-imagination [Atari]

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:40:00 MST

We're going to get double the Diesel in 2009, with Vin's face gracing both Midway's Wheelman and Atari's The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena. Atari released new screens of the latter today.

They show that the "re-imagining" of The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher's Bay is looking pretty sharp, excessive depth of field excepted. And, sure, Riddick may look half-Rodian, half-human here, but everything else looks just swell.

Assault on Dark Athena will add online multiplayer and come bundled with a "remastered" version of Escape from Butcher's Bay when it lands on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC next year, so it will at least pack in the value.

Gameloft Launches Brothers In Arms: Hour of Heroes For iPhone [Gameloft]

Stuart Houghton — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:20:00 MST

Gameloft have released Brothers In Arms: Hour Of Heroes for the iPhone, bringing 14 missions over 3 theater campaigns to your pocket.

Control is via a 'fire' icon and a touchable movement circle, that at least looks like it might be a bit more analogue than a fake D-Pad and which changes according to whether you are on foot or in a vehicle. The accelerometer comes into play too as a natural way of lobbing grenades at your foes. (Be sure to hold on tight, lest you lose your precious phone)

During the 3 campaigns in Normandy, Ardennes & Tunisia you will use bazookas, machine guns sniper rifles and grenades, drive a Sherman Tank and a Jeep and die in a hail of bullets. A lot.

First Look Video at ‘Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes’ [Touch Arcade]

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Confirmed for North America [Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]

Brian Crecente — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:00:00 MST

Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories hit stores today in North America and to celebrate Square Enix announced that another oddly named Kingdom Hearts game is headed to our shores.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the DS is officially coming to North America, according to the press release. In the DS title gamers will take on the role of Roxas, a member of Organization XIII. What does that have to do with Mickey Mouse? Read on:

Uncover the events that took place during the year Sora was asleep regaining his lost memories. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days revolves around Roxas, the “other” hero from KINGDOM HEARTS II, and his days as a member of Organization XIII. Follow Roxas and the rest of Organization XIII across the various Disney Worlds, and discover the connection between him, Sora, and the mysterious 14th member, and the reasons behind his eventual departure from the organization. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days also features a multiplayer mode for the first time, allowing players to control their favorite Organization XIII members!

Rumor: LittleBigPlanet Invading Hot Shots Golf [Playstation 3]

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:40:02 MST

Consider this littlebigrumor for now, but it looks like the Sackboy cross-promotion won't be stopping anytime soon. PlayStation-centric site PSN! is reporting that the star of LittleBigPlanet is going to hit the virtual links soon.

The Spanish PlayStation site writes today that Sackboy will join God of War series star Kratos as a downloadable golfer in Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds. Sounds perfectly reasonable to us — and far more fitting than the Greek god of war or Darkstalkers' Morrigan landing birdies. We'd expect to see many, many more appearances in first-party PlayStation 3 games on par with this one.

For the record, PSN is the same outlet that ran that Street Fighter Sackboy rumor, for whatever that's worth.

Rumor: Sackboy como personaje invitado de Everybody’s Golf [PSnow - thanks, Macrike!]

Acekard Announce First Fully Working Dsi Flash Cart [Piracy]

Stuart Houghton — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:20:00 MST

Remember that video we showed you of the work-in-progress DSi flash cart? Yeah, well, work has progressed.

The Acekard 2i is claimed to be the world's first fully-working DSi flash cartridge with cart mavens Acekard claiming the device supports all of the DSi's new features - including the ability to read and store data on MicroSD cards in the new slot.

This video shows what appears to be the menu system (curiously, the site says "The Acekard R.P.G. utilizes the idea of the iPhone which gives the customer a totally new control experience." which I think is just a fancy way of saying that the menu can use the touchscreen) with a quick segue into a probably not-that-legal version of Castlevania. Never mind, Nintendo. You had a good run at being piracy free for, what, two months?

Acekard2i For DSi Released! [Acekard - thanks to Wraggster for the tip]

Prince Of Persia Review: Like Sands Through The Hourglass [Review]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:40:00 MST

Despite the overwhelming success of the first trilogy, Ubisoft went back to the drawing board to bring an entirely new Prince of Persia experience to the current generation of consoles.

The new Prince of Persia marks a total revamp of the beloved franchise that has enchanted millions of players since the debut of the original game back in 1989. Lost in a mysterious sandstorm, a nameless adventurer accidentally stumbles upon a legendary city threatened by the release of a dark god from ages past. Teaming up with a mysterious, magic-wielding woman named Elika, our hero sets off on a quest to keep the dark god from gaining its freedom and wrecking havoc on the world.

Was wiping the slate clean the right move for Ubisoft, or does the new Prince of Persia leave us wishing we could go back in time?

Loved
Ease Of Movement: This is the most fun I've had traveling in a Prince of Persia title, period. The controls are extremely responsive, making traversing the complicated levels a breeze. Remember past PoP titles where they would pan over the path you had to take before you attempted it? Completely unnecessary here, thanks to masterfully intuitive level design.

The Story Unfolds: Rather than reveal the story as scripted events, Prince of Persia allows you to decide how much or little of the story you wish to experience using an innovative conversation system. Simply press the left shoulder button to launch into conversations with your female companion that reveal much about her past as well as the Prince's own. While much of it is optional, I highly recommend you talk to Elika as much as possible, if only for the amazing chemistry that develops between the two characters throughout the course of the game.

A Painting Come To Life: The phenomenal graphics we've seen in screenshots of Prince of Persia are even more amazing when put to motion. The developers put the unique artistic style to good use, creating a world that is alternates between dark and dreadful and colorfully fantastic.

I Like Elika: Your lovely female companion is far more than something pretty to look at as you traverse the game. She's your lifeline, your help system, and the living embodiment of super moves that so often go unexplained in platforming titles. She is your magical attacks. She is your double jump. Rather than coming across as a tacked-on character, by the end of the game she is an extension of yourself. The perfect sidekick.

A Dance With Death: The fighting in Prince of Persia is simple enough for a beginner yet complex enough that the more skilled will be rewarded for mastering it. Consisting of four attack types (sword, magic, acrobatic, and claw) and a block button, battles can be fought and won by simply blocking until you find your opening, but using the parry system to create your own openings offers a much more satisfying experience. Combat is fluid and dynamic, with active time events breaking up the monotony and allowing for some spectacular cinematic moments.

Music Of The Sands: While I didn't notice the music as much during gameplay, as the credits were rolling I sat transfixed as several pieces from the original score played, amazed by the quality of composition. It's the type of music you'd expect from a big-budget adventure movie. This is music I would gladly purchase on its own.

Hated
Easy Peasy: If ever there was a game to accuse of excessive hand-holding, Prince of Persia would be it. You'll never see a Game Over screen, and you will never, ever die. Fall off a cliff, and Elika saves you. Get crushed by an enemy, and Elika saves you. While I understand some of the reasoning behind why Ubisoft Montreal went this route, the mechanic seriously cuts down on dramatic tension. The open nature of gameplay also means that there really is no ramping difficulty as you progress, in order to account for the fact that you can progress in any order you desire.

Redundant Boss Fights: The boss fights in Prince of Persia, save the very last one, are repeated upwards of five times over, with slight variations in-between bouts. One could argue that they are simply one extended boss fight broken up into five segments, but they would be wrong.

While many publishers would have been perfectly content to simply crank out sequel after sequel of a bestselling franchise, Ubisoft instead gambled with a total revamp of the Prince of Persia series, and their gamble paid off in spades. Not only have they maintained the core gameplay of the series, they've managed to improve upon it in a way that might not have been as noticeable had they stayed with the look and feel of games like The Two Thrones. Not only have they crafted a compelling new story for the game, they've created a completely new method for that story to be delivered, giving the player as much control over how the tale unfolds as they do over the Prince himself.

While I could have done with a bit more fighting and a slightly grittier voice actor to play the titular role, Prince of Persia still manages to be one of the most entertaining game experiences I've had all year.

Prince of Persia was developed by Ubisoft Montreal, published by Ubisoft, released in North America on Nov. 24 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Retails for $59.99. Reviewed on the PlayStation 3. Completed game, credits and all. Hungry for more.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

Atari Snatches Up Rez Creator For New Wii Game [Tetsuya Mizuguchi]

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:00:00 MST

The all-new Atari adds another heavy hitter to its line-up: Rez creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi's Q Entertainment. The publisher announced today that it is bringing Q's next music-based game, (tentatively?) dubbed QJ, to the Nintendo Wii.

That's all Atari was willing to announce about QJ, according to a report from CVG. It showed a logo and flew in Mizuguchi himself, but it kept the actual game under wraps — probably until the Spike TV VGAs, we assume, since it seems to be hoarding all the exclusives.

Atari will also be publishing a Q Entertainment compilation disc featuring Rez HD, Lumines Live and Every Extend Extra Extreme, packed with downloadable content. Smart.

Mizuguchi reveals new game [CVG]

50 NES Quotes Every Gamer Should Know [Fly Away]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:40:00 MST

SydLexia's list of 50 NES Quotes You Should know is the perfect way to break up a press release heavy video game news day.

Not only should every game be required to memorize quotes like "A Winner Is You" from Pro Wrestlnig and Metal Gear's "I Feel Asleep!", they should add them to their every day lexicon of useful phrases. I cannot tell you how man times randomly shouting, "Let me remove the eggplant curse!" has gotten me out of a tough jam, mainly because it is a very small, unimpressive, and circular number.

Look, the point here is that it is dangerous to go alone! Take this.

50 NES Quotes Every Gamer Should Know [SydLexia.com - Thanks GPF]

Activision Snags Dreamworks' Monsters Vs. Aliens [Monsters Vs. Aliens]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:20:00 MST

Activision has revealed the first screens for their upcoming game adaptation of Dreamworks' Monsters Vs. Aliens, which features monsters...fighting aliens. Go figure.

The movie stars Reese Witherspoon as a woman who suddenly grows to 49 feet, 11 inches tall. Classified as a monster by the government, she joins other monsters in a government facility who are then called into action when aliens invade. If they get half the voice talent for the game as they did for the movie, I'm buying the hell out of this. Hugh Laurie as Dr. Cockroach? Stephen Colbert as the President? It's like a dream come true!

The game of the movie is due out in March to coincide with the film's release, hitting all platforms but the PSP. Poor little guy. Hit the jump for the second screen, along with a handy, informative fact sheet.

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS™ VIDEO GAME

FACT SHEET

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Based on the upcoming DreamWorks Animation 3D feature film, the Monsters vs. Aliens video game puts the fate of the planet in players’ hands as they lead a dynamic team of five misfit monsters on a mission to save the world…as only they can. The game allows fans to experience the movie’s action and humor while playing as The Missing Link, the macho half-ape, half-fish; the gelatinous, indestructible and always hungry B.O.B.; and Ginormica, the 49-foot-11-inch tall woman and Insectosaurus, the 350-foot tall grub. Players utilize each character’s distinct strengths, sizes and abilities to battle giant alien robots that are wreaking havoc on earth. Friends or family members can join in the excitement at anytime as the world’s most brilliant scientist, Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D., in the unique co-op multiplayer mode.

KEY FEATURES:

Play as your favorite monsters from the film – The rag tag team of monsters are tough, funny and sometimes misguided, but all together are a force to be reckoned with, both in their alien battling abilities and wise cracking personalities. Players relive their hilarious antics from the movie and create an all-new adventure in an epic battle to conquer mankind’s biggest threat, Gallaxhar and his giant alien robots.

Experience unique gameplay as different monsters – Challenges stay fresh and lively through more than 12 distinct levels as players switch between characters, each with vastly different capabilities and sizes.

The Missing Link: Utilize his skillful acrobatics to cling to and scale various surfaces. His agility and brut strength lets him take down enemies of all sizes.

B.O.B.: The gelatinous B.O.B. can swallow and spit out enemies and objects, stretch, bounce, stick to walls and ceilings and seep through grates and cracks.

Ginormica: Her enormous size allows players to race through the city using cars as rollerskates and her sheer strength comes in handy to lift heavy objects and brawl with the robot army.

Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D.: As the brainiest of the group and the mission giver, Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. is playable at any time in co-op mode to assist with slowing down enemies, overcoming obstacles and grabbing collectibles.

Insectosaurus: Command this enormous 350-foot tall monster in epic battle sequences against giant robots. Insectosaurus shoots silk and has a piercing sonic scream that will have enemies running.

Explore cool locations from the movie and more – Visit cool locations from the film and beyond including the streets of San Francisco, Gallaxhar’s huge overcompensating mothership and the super secret government containment area. Game exclusive levels, areas and locations include the inside of a 400-foot tall mining robot, a giant scorpion robot, a deeper look into the monster containment facility and Gallaxhar’s mothership.

Work as a team in co-op mode – A second player can pick up a controller and drop in at anytime as Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. As the most brilliant scientist in the world, players can blast and beam away enemies with tricky gadgets, plus reach hard to access places that only the smartest of cockroaches can get to.

2008 VGAs To Feature Jack Black, God Of War III, Uncharted 2 [Spike VGA Awards]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:00:00 MST

What, no Samuel L. Jackson? Spike has tapped musician and actor Jack Black to their 2008 Video Game Awards, which will feature world premiers of God of War III, Uncharted 2, and many more.

Depending on which version of Jack Black shows up, this could be the first Spike Video Game Awards I actually remember to tune into. If we are getting Tenacious D Jack, I'm in. Kung Fu Panda Jack, not so much. Black will not only be hosting the awards, but also premiering his video game Brütal Legend at the show, sharing the stage with exclusive premieres of God of War III, Fight Night Round 4, Terminator Salvation, Uncharted 2, Watchmen: The End is Nigh, and Mafia II. The press release also teases a special Gears of War 2 announcement and "other surprises."

Tune in to Spike TV on Sunday, December 14th at 9PM Eastern to catch the show live.

JACK BLACK TO HOST SPIKE TV’S 2008 “VIDEO GAME AWARDS”

6th Annual Celebration To Include Mind-Blowing World Premieres Of God Of War III, Brütal Legend, Fight Night Round 4, Mafia II, Terminator Salvation, Uncharted 2, Watchmen: The End is Nigh, A Special Gears Of War 2 Announcement

And Other Surprises

Premieres LIVE Sunday, December 14 At 9:00 PM ET

New York, NY, December 2, 2008 – On Sunday, December 14th, the future is in play when Jack Black, one of the entertainment industry’s most versatile and talented stars, takes viewers on a trip to gamer heaven as host of Spike TV’s 2008 “Video Game Awards.” Recognizing outstanding artistic and technical achievement in the gaming industry, plus premiering first-looks at the hottest games of 2009 and beyond, the 2008 “VGAs” debuts LIVE and in HIGH-DEFINITION on Sunday, December 14 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/tape delay on west coast) from Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, CA.

In emceeing the night’s festivities, Black will be capping a 2008 which saw him star in two Hollywood blockbusters, “Tropic Thunder” and “Kung Fu Panda” that grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. Also, he will star opposite Michael Cera in director Harold Ramis’ June 2009 release of “The Year One.”

“Jack is a huge gamer and a former performer and winner on the ‘VGAs’ having taken home Best Performance By A Human – Male in 2005,” said Casey Patterson, Spike TV’s senior vice president, event production and talent development. “We’re thrilled to have him as our host. With a record 10 world premieres including Brütal Legend starring Jack, it will be a big night and wild ride!”

In addition to the world premiere of Brütal Legend gameplay from designer Tim Schafer (Grim Fandango and Psychonauts) and Double Fine Productions, the 2008 “VGAs” will be stacked with an unprecedented number of wall-to-wall world exclusives. Games scheduled to make their global debut include the first look at the gameplay of the PlayStation 3™ exclusive God of War III, Uncharted 2, EA’s Sports Fight Night Round 4, Mafia II, Terminator Salvation, Watchmen: The End is Nigh, a special announcement regarding Gears of War 2 and more blockbuster surprises set to be revealed shortly.

At the show, legendary game designer Will Wright will receive the first-ever Gamer God award for his achievements in the gaming industry. Other industry luminaries set to attend include Game of the Year-nominees Hideo Kojima (designer, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots), Cliff Bleszinski (design director, Gears of War 2), Todd Howard (executive producer, Fallout 3), Alex Evans (co-founder, Media Molecule, creators of LittleBigPlanet), Rockstar Games and more names soon to be announced.

The official sponsors of Spike TV’s 2008 “Video Game Awards” are Burger King®, GameStop™, Gillette®, Energizer®, Mountain Dew, Stride® Gum, U.S. Army and Verizon Wireless.

Gardening Mama Blooms Stateside This Spring [Even Dirtier Than Mama]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:40:00 MST

It's time to drag Mama kicking and screaming out of the kitchen and into the back yard as Majesco Entertainment announces Gardening Mama for North America.

Taking the same simple, charming, and addictive stylus that made Cooking Mama an international hit, Gardening Mama takes the fun outside, where players will be able to grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Sound exciting? But wait, there's more! Gardening Mama also features creative uses for the things you grow, such as carving jack-o-lanterns or making jam. Players will be able to compete for the biggest harvest, share items they've grown online, and dig holes to bury the ones who have failed Mama in the past.

Majesco plans on bringing Gardening Mama to North America DSes this Spring, just in time for whatever it is gardening folks do in the spring. Tilling or something. I don't know.

MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES 'GARDENING MAMA' FOR NINTENDO DS

New Handheld Game Stars Mama from the Multi-Million Selling Cooking Mama Franchise

EDISON, N.J., December 2, 2008-Rising out of the rich soil sprouts Gardening Mama, a new Nintendo DS™ gardening simulation that was announced today by Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), an innovative provider of video games for the mass market. Developed by Cooking Mama Limited, the team that created the award-winning Cooking Mama franchise that has sold 2.5 million units domestically, Gardening Mama brings back the beloved matron to cultivate a cornucopia of fruits, flowers and vegetables in her backyard.

"Mama has become a certifiable icon since her original introduction in Cooking Mama DS," said Jesse Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Majesco. "Her first brand offshoot captures those features that made the Cooking Mama series a best seller-an innovative concept, full Touch Screen control, approachable gameplay for everyone and, of course, a charismatic mentor who pushes you in her own endearing way to give a gold medal performance every time."

Gardening Mama transforms the DS stylus into a universal gardening tool that players will use to plant, nurture and harvest flowers, fruits and vegetables. Gamers can manage their garden through the seeding, blooming and maturation phases, and then produce items from the plants they've grown (i.e. grow strawberries to make jam or raise pumpkins and then carve a jack-'o-lantern). A robust multiplayer mode lets up to four friends compete to grow the biggest harvest and Treasure Box mode lets players share items they've grown with online friends. Gamers can also decorate various gardens while creating goods like pergolas and hanging baskets. In addition, players can change Mama's outfit to their liking while customizing the screen design to their preference.

Just as millions of players enjoyed slicing and dicing with Mama in the kitchen, they can now move to the great outdoors-planting, pruning, picking, and creating-in Gardening Mama!

Gardening Mama for DS is expected to release in Spring 2009. For additional information about Majesco's exciting line of products, please visit www.majescoentertainment.com.

VGXPO 2008 Triples Attendance [East Side]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:20:00 MST

Organizers of the 2008 America's Video Game Expo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania last month have announced that the show this year saw more than triple the attendance of last year's VGXPO.

NBC Local Media and Lunar Tide Communication claim that 24,674 people attended the three-day video game fan gathering, marking the largest turnout for an East Coast video game-based event in the history of video game-based events.

“VGXPO is an event that caters to both core and casual gamers,” stated Steve Fallas, VGXPO Event Manager. “With our relationship with NBC we were able to market to both groups and bring together nearly 25,000 gamers to experience the rich diversity of gaming experiences. We are very pleased with both the industry and consumer turnout at this years VGXPO.”

About damned time too. Those of us on the East Coast are tired of seeing the West Coasties have all the fun. Now we just need one in Atlanta, preferably within walking distance of my apartment.

NBC Local Media in Philadelphia brings America's Video Game Expo (VGXPO) to the next level.

Record-breaking Attendance at America's Video Game – expo more the triples in size in comparison to 2007.

(For Immediate Release)

Philadelphia, PA – (November 25, 2008) – NBC Local Media and Lunar Tide Communications, Inc. announced today that the 2008 America’s Video Game Expo more then tripled its’ attendance versus 2007, with 24,674 people attending over a three day period. This is largest turnout, to date, for any video game-based event east of the Rockies.

The three-day turnout has put VGXPO on the game industry map, and made it one of the largest video game fan gatherings ever. The high attendee turnout suggests that Philadelphia, and its surrounding region, are a hot bed for gamers and strong market for exhibitors to showcase their latest products.

“VGXPO is an event that caters to both core and casual gamers,” stated Steve Fallas, VGXPO Event Manager. “With our relationship with NBC we were able to market to both groups and bring together nearly 25,000 gamers to experience the rich diversity of gaming experiences. We are very pleased with both the industry and consumer turnout at this years VGXPO.”

"VGXPO far exceeded my expectations with regards to the total number and profile of the attendees," said George Woo, Events Marketing Manager of Intel Corporation. "I am very happy to bring the Intel Extreme Masters to this event to allow attendees to watch Americas top e-Sport teams compete for prize money and qualification to the Global Finals in March '09 and the opportunity to play the latest game titles running on lntel latest gaming processor based PC's."

“VGXPO’s an amazing success story,” said Amber Dalton, founder of the all-girls game competition team, PMS Clan. “There is so much to be said for what VGXPO has become for the video game industry…the core gamers, plus the casual games audience, were here to play all the top games. Certainly, VGXPO 2009 can’t be missed by any company that markets games.”

VGXPO 2009 is currently scheduled to take place October 9-11, 2009 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

For more information about NBC Local Media go to www.nbclocalmedia.com. For more information about VGXPO please visit it’s website at www.videogame.net.

Shin Megami Tensei Online Beta Invites Are Go [Beta Watch]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:40:00 MST

According to countless tips from our beloved readers, Aeria Games has sent out their first round of invites to the closed beta test of Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online.

Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online is the MMO version of Atlus' acclaimed and slightly twisted RPG series, which covers a wide variety of titles from Devil Summoner to Nocturne to the Persona series, characterized by stylish artwork and the ability to summon and breed demons.

The invites began arriving yesterday, so if you signed up, you might want to check your inbox. I've been checking mine nonstop for the past 18 hours, in between bouts of sobbing. No invite for me. *sniffle*

UPDATE: FileFront contacted me to let me know they have 20,000 keys up for grabs here.

Ready 2 Rumble Revolution Cuts Loose This Spring [Ready 2 Rumble Revolution]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:20:00 MST

The beloved cartoony arcade boxing franchise makes it's triumphant return next year Atari announces Ready 2 Rumble Revolution for the Nintendo Wii.

Developed by famed wrestling developer AKI and produced by Stereo Mode, Ready 2 Rumble Revolution features 18 "wildly caricatured cartoony boxers" based on celebrities from movies, music, and sports. Players will be able to brutally beat these caricatures in a way that's sure to be amusing and light-hearted for all involved. Revolution will make full use of the Wii control system, meaning it's most likely going to play exactly like every other boxing game that's been attempted on the system, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Enjoy these first shots of the new title, and look for Ready 2 Rumble Revolution this spring.

Atari LACES UP ITS GLOVES as ‘Ready 2 Rumble Revolution’ WARMS up FOR ITS Wii DEBUT

- The Best-Selling Boxing Franchise Returns with a Huge Roster of Celebrity-inspired Fighters Looking to Land the KO Punch in Spring 2009 -

NEW YORK, December 2, 2008 – The hilarious Ready 2 Rumble franchise is flexing its muscles and planning a major, star-studded return to the ring in spring 2009 with the launch of Ready 2 Rumble Revolution, the newest game in the much-loved series. Bringing the franchise to Wii™ for the first time, the game retains all the knockout features of best-sellers Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Round 1 and Round 2, while delivering a knockout punch of style and attitude. Tailored to take advantage of the motion-controlled realism of Wii, Ready 2 Rumble Revolution makes landing a punch more fun than ever.

“Ready 2 Rumble Revolution is poised to take back he title as the undisputed champion of arcade boxing games and we hope to reach an even bigger audience than ever thanks to the huge popularity of Wii,” said Phil Harrison, President of Infogrames, the parent company of Atari. “The outrageous celebrity caricatures paired with a fun boxing experience made even more over-the-top thanks to the Wii controllers will make the newest version of this famed franchise a must-have for all fans of boxing and physical fun on Wii.”

“Ready 2 Rumble Revolution will put the swagger back into the boxing ring and promote an adrenaline-boosting, positive will to win attitude in the hearts and minds of fans of all ages,” said Gaspard de Dreuzy, President of Stereo Mode and executive producer of the game.

Sure to satisfy newcomers and boxing fans alike, Ready 2 Rumble Revolution features a roster of 18 wildly caricatured cartoony boxers based on celebrities from the worlds of sports, music and movies. Celebrities enter the ring as larger-than-life “Rumble-ized” versions of themselves. Players will step right up and see if they can knock these super-sized egos down a peg or two!

The game is hosted by “The Voice of the Champions” Michael Buffer, famous for his “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble®” trademark call. Characters are brought to life with hilarious moves, detailed facial animations, damage textures and fighting techniques including special moves, combos, extreme knockdowns and special “Rumble” combos. An all new Championship Mode lets gamers create their own unique boxer and nurture his skills through mini-games, developing him as a fighter and creating a completely personalized Ready 2 Rumble Revolution experience.

Developed by AKI who bring their formidable fight game know-how to the franchise, Ready 2 Rumble Revolution brings a virtual boxing arena to the living room and delivers a fun and intuitive experience in either single player or multiplayer mode. The Wii controllers provide would-be pugilists with an intuitive and realistic feel. Using the Nunchuk™ controller as one glove and the Wii Remote™ controller as the other, players dodge, weave and throw the big punches to KO their opponents.

Virtual heavyweights can fight from the backstreet gym all the way to the big Las Vegas showdown with vivid new visuals bringing the five spectacular ring environments to life. The arcade experience is made even better thanks to advanced Artificial Intelligence allowing more strategic fights.

Atari Narrows Down Ghostbusters Release Date [Release Dates]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:00:00 MST

It's been a long, strange trip for Ghostbusters: The Video Game, but we're one step closer to the end today as Atari announces a June 2009 multi-platform release for the eagerly anticipated title.

Atari confirmed the narrower release window today at the Atari Live showcase event in London, England, earlier today, with simultaneous releases planned for the PS3, PS2, Wii, DS, Xbox 360, and PC. For those of you not following the Ghostbusters game saga, the title was picked up for publishing by Atari back in October, after the Activision Blizzard dropped the title along with a whole slew of planned Sierra publications. We'll know whether or not we should be thanking Atari in about six months.

Ghostbusters coming summer 2009 [CVG]

The Witcher To Officially Witch Consoles [Game Announce]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:40:00 MST

Could the best PC RPG of last year be the best console RPG of next year? Atari and CD Projekt RED have officially announced The Witcher for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

As yesterday's rumor indicated, the full title of the console port is The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf. Following the same story as the original PC version, consoles will see a new graphis engine and a revamped combat system to make things more entertaining for the analog stick crowd. Basically they are rebuilding the title from the ground up for its console debut, so even folks like me who've played through the PC version 4 times since release might want to give it another go.

"We're thrilled to continue our great relationship with Atari, whose refreshing focus on quality fits squarely with our own, to bring Geralt and the Witcher franchise to an even larger audience - fans who expressed to us very clearly that The Witcher would be a natural fit on consoles," said Adam Kicinski, CEO, CD Projekt RED.

The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf is currently scheduled for a Autumn 2009 release.

'The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf' Coming Autumn 2009 to PLAYSTATION(R)3 System and Xbox 360(R)

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 NY-Atari-TheWitcher

- Award Winning, Million-selling Role-playing Franchise Coming to Consoles with Thrilling New Dynamic Combat, State of the Art Visuals and Unparalleled Story -

NEW YORK, Dec. 2 — At the ATARI LIVE showcase event in London today, Atari and CD Projekt RED announced plans for the global release of The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf on PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in autumn 2009.

Based on the story of multi award-winning million-selling PC role-playing game The Witcher and completely rebuilt pixel by pixel for the new generation of consoles, The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf brings the unrivalled RPG experience to Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 with a brand new combat system for thrilling dynamic action, and a new engine delivering matchless state-of-the-art visuals. The game is underpinned with the evocative and enthralling story which helped secure the original game's status as PC role-playing game of 2007, based on the mature and compelling universe created by renowned Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski.

"The creative vision and dedication to the quality of the player experience that CD Projekt RED bring to the Witcher games is extraordinary, and it's great to be working with them to bring the Witcher universe to console gamers," said Phil Harrison, President of Infogrames Entertainment, the parent company of Atari. "Taking this brilliantly realised world to PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360 gamers for the first time is a breakthrough in the development of this important franchise."

"We're thrilled to continue our great relationship with Atari, whose refreshing focus on quality fits squarely with our own, to bring Geralt and the Witcher franchise to an even larger audience - fans who expressed to us very clearly that The Witcher would be a natural fit on consoles," said Adam Kicinski, CEO, CD Projekt RED. "Console gamers' tastes are maturing; they're looking for deeper story-driven experiences that are very hard to find in today's console market. We're developing this remake based upon the compelling narrative that helped The Witcher on PC sell more than a million copies and win more than 100 awards, building everything else from the ground up to be the definitive console RPG."

Based on the universe created by best-selling Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf puts players in the role of Geralt, a professional monster slayer who exists on the fringes of a complex society troubled by the kind of problems more commonly found on the front pages of newspapers than in a fantasy universe. Taken as a child, mutated, and trained in the arcane ways of the witchers, Geralt is a reluctant hero, who nonetheless finds himself all too frequently in the heat of battles that are not his own. In this world there is no right or wrong, only decisions and consequences.

With The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf, the best PC RPG in recent years is being completely remade as the ultimate console RPG. The title is being developed by a core team from CD Projekt RED working alongside France-based Widescreen Games who provide their cross-platform DaVinci engine technology. For more information about The Witcher visit www.thewitcher.com and for more details about Atari's entire product line up visit www.atari.com.

Udon's New Chun-Li Comic Gets Thighs Just Right [Street Fighter]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:20:00 MST

Udon Entertainment more than makes up for Kristin Kreuk's lack of thigh meat with their newly announced comic book miniseries Street Fighter Legends: Chun-Li.

Kicking off in January, SFL: Chun-Li will explore our favorite female fighter's earliest assignments with the Hong King police department, where she is partnered with a young woman named Po-Lin who has her own reasons for hating Shadaloo. The series will also offer some insight into the life of Chun-Li's father, Dorai, as well as Dan's dad, Go Hibiki. The press release also suggests that some Shadaloo bosses might make an appearance, and judging by the preview page filled with images of M. Bison, they could be right.

Hit the jump for more details, along with a gallery that shows the horrible, horrible things Chun-Li's mighty, meaty thighs do to a police uniform.

UDON ENTERTAINMENT PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

SHE’S THE STRONGEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD... OF COMICS!

Street Fighter® Legends: Chun-Li Spin-off Series Arrives in January

Toronto, ON – Dec 2, 2008 – Having appeared in dozens of video games, and landing her own live action feature film next year, Chun-Li is undeniably among the most recognizable and popular girls of gaming. Beginning in January 2009 UDON will explore the roots of this high-kicking martial artist in Street Fighter® Legends: Chun-Li, a 4-issue miniseries by the Street Fighter Legends: Sakura team of Ken Siu-Chong and Omar Dogan.

The series focuses on a younger Chun-Li and one of her earliest assignments for the Hong Kong police. Along for the ride will be her partner Po-lin, a young woman who has a very personal score to settle with the terrorist Shadaloo organization. Expect this pair of lovely ladies to get into car chases, shoot outs, and plenty of fisticuffs as they fight their way to the truth about Shadaloo’s latest scheme.

But the cast isn’t made up exclusively of sexy female law officers! Fans will also get their first real looks at the lives of rarely-explored characters like Dorai, (Chun-Li’s father and fellow police officer) and Go Hibiki (the surprisingly competent father of everyone’s favorite walking joke, Dan). And, as always when dealing with Shadaloo, some well known boss characters will likely turn up to cause trouble!

Street Fighter Legends Chun #1 goes on sale January 2009, featuring covers by Omar Dogan and Kevin Lau. For more updates stay tuned to capcomcomics.com.

Petroglyph Takes Strategy Online With Mytheon [Mytheon]

Mike Fahey — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:00:00 MST

Real-time strategy developer Petroglyph and True Games have just announced Mytheon, which promises to combine the best elements of action, strategy, and RPG gameplay into one massive online game.

Mytheon is an online game that lets players explore a fantasy universe based on real-world mythology, beginning with ancient Greece and expanding into other mythologies via planned expansions. The game will feature real-time combat, extensive PVP, and a collectible element in the form of Power Stones, which players can gather and customize to cast spells or summon minions. The game will be free to play, supported by micro-transactions.

And that's really as much as we know so far. The release goes on and on about how they are creating an entirely new genre, so I suppose being vague can't be helped. It's like trying to describe a flavor no one has tasted before. Hit the jump for the official release.

TRUE GAMES AND PETROGLYPH ANNOUNCE MYTHEON - AN INNOVATIVE NEW ONLINE ACTION STRATEGY GAME

Mytheon Breaks New Ground, Combining Action-Strategy and Role-Playing Into an Online Micro Transaction Game

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., (December 2, 2008) - True Games Interactive, an international multi-player online game publisher, in conjunction with renowned game developer, Petroglyph, today announced their new online action strategy game, Mytheon. Developed by the team best known for the award winning Star Wars: Empire At War and Universe at War real-time strategy games, Mytheon is Petroglyph's first online micro-transaction game. Several members of this prestigious developer also played a key role in creating the original Command and Conquer series while at Westwood Studios. Mytheon will launch in Fall 2009. For more information, and to register for news updates on the game, visit www.Mytheongame.com.

Mytheon is an online micro transaction game that uniquely combines the best elements of action, strategy and RPG game-play with a heavy emphasis on collectability and combat. This visually stunning title is set within a fantasy universe steeped in unique mythologies from across the globe. Players will first embark on a rousing journey through the extensive lore of ancient Greece; with ongoing expansions to follow that will delve into exotic mythologies from the far-flung corners of history. With real-time combat and extensive customization features, Mytheon will offer infinite replayability through group, PVP and solo play as well as an integrated social networking feature set.

"There really isn't a game on the market today that someone could compare to Mytheon," said Jeff Lujan, Founder and Chairman of True Games Interactive. "The game truly creates an entirely new genre offering a combination of features that gamers would normally have to play several different games to get. There is no doubt it is an ambitious project, but Petroglyph has routinely delivered AAA quality, genre-defining games and Mytheon continues that pedigree."

In the game, players will collect and customize a vast assortment of "Power Stones" which are used to conjure devastating spells and summon faithful minions in climactic battles against monsters and other players. Mytheon will offer three distinct character classes, each specializing in a specific "Power Stone" type, such as summoning or healing.

"The passion and energy behind Mytheon has been tremendous at Petroglyph. This is exciting new territory for Petroglyph to explore" said Chuck Kroegel, CEO and General Manager of Petroglyph. "We are making a compelling and addictive new genre that will have you fully immersed and entertained. We couldn't have asked for a better partner than True Games to take this journey with us and I'm certain that together we'll deliver a long-lasting new franchise."

For additional details on Mytheon and for continuous updates on the game, please visit: http://www.Mytheongame.com

Neat or Not? [Night Note]

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:40:00 MST

To: Crecente
From: Ashcraft
RE: Hello Arcade Machine

Wow! Nice gift from your brother. Don't know how you'll top that present-wise this year.

Wife called, saying she's going to the doctors for a check-up for herself and Micro Bash. I'll go pick her up at her parents' house, where's she been relaxing. The pickle? She's going to visit our apartment — because she has downtime between her appointment and the baby's. I've been running at full speed doing Mini-Bash stuff, trying to cook, do laundry, and work, blah, blah that cleaning has fallen by the wayside.

You know what it looks like after little kids bake cakes? And there's flour everywhere? That's like my apartment. It's a disaster zone. Seriously am going to have to wake up super early or something. She's not a neat freak or anything, but likes things to be relatively neat. Not like a tornado ran through the place.

Wonder how fast I can clean up...

What you missed last night
Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Getting PS3 Bundle
Halo 3: ODST To Have "Fun, Memorable Characters"
Megadeth Thinks "Dinosaur Bands" Who Don't Do Games Are Stupid
Sony Offering Red And White PS3 Demo Discs
DSi Sales Break 500,000
No, Nintendo, You Are Not Allowed To Trademark The Term "Wii Remote"
So, How Much Money Does Nintendo Make From Each Wii Sold?

Some Guy Tells Us What Sold On Black Friday, And What Didn't [Black Friday]

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:20:00 MST

If we can trust their own numbers - and really, at this stage, we can't - Microsoft had a great Black Friday. Sold a ton of consoles. But what else sold?

Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian says he knows. Based on "initial checks" with retailers, a number of games have emerged as Black Friday best-sellers. And a number - some surprising titles among them - have emerged as Black Friday failures.

Among the best-sellers - at least based on these "initial checks" (remember, things may change when we get actual NPD figures!) - were the Wii and 360 on the hardware front, along with Wii Fit, Gears of War 2 and Call of Duty: World at War.

Among the failures? Sebastian says Need for Speed Undercover, Rock Band & Guitar Hero (all versions of both series) all sold less than expected, which he puts down to "possible consumer boredom with those familiar franchises".

A company that sits uncomfortably between the two is Sony. While they were trounced by Microsoft in overall sales, Peter Dille says PlayStation sales were up 90% from the same time last year, and that overall, sales were on schedule. Kinda lame/boring in comparison to Microsoft's bombastic press release, but gains are gains, we guess.

Black Friday video game sales were strong, Microsoft claims victory [VentureBeat]

Sonic The Hedgehog, The Chessboard [Germany]

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:00:00 MST

"Chess" is the last thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Sonic the Hedgehog. There are other things we think of first. Regardless, leave it to the Germans to make a Sonic the Hedgehog chess board.

The board itself uses a Green Hill Zone motif, while Sonic characters appear as pieces. Everyone's favorite blue hedgehog is the king, Amy is the queen, Knuckles is the bishop, Tails is the knight and the Chaos Emeralds are the rooks. Rings are used as pawns. The set will be out next Feb/March for approximately US$50. Sure, it could have more Sonic characters, but this is actually kind of neat — thank you Germany!

Sonic The Hedgehog - Schachspiel mit 32 PVC Figuren [Gaya via Sega Portal via Sega Nerds]

If Eleven Minutes Of Yakuza 3 Can't Get You Excited, Nothing Can [Yakuza 3]

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:30:00 MST

Yeah, this clip runs for eleven minutes. Lots of Japanese talky-talky, so the verbal stuff won't make much sense, but the vibrant colours and smooth gangster stylings? Those are universal.

Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Getting PS3 Bundle [Japan]

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:00:00 MST

What better way to mark a PS3 exclusive than with a PS3 bundle? The upcoming Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 gets just that. The SEGA PS3 exclusive will launch with an 80GB PS3 pack.

Priced at ¥45,980 (US$492.77), the bundle is cheaper than buying the game and console separately. Dubbed the Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Rising Dragon Pack, it includes a copy of the game and an 80GB Ceramic White PS3 with dragon design on the console's body.

SEGA and Sony haven't yet released pictures of the 80GB dragon console, which is limited to only 10,000 units. No worries — they still have time. The game (and bundle) won't be out in Japan until February 26, 2009.

So, So Many New Dragon Quest IX Images [Dragon Quest Ix]

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:30:00 MST

Believe it or not, Dragon Quest IX will indeed be coming out on the humble Nintendo DS. Famitsu have posted a ton of new screenshots for the game. Let's go take a look.

Most of them focus on character, inventory and menu screens (who builds Toriyama characters with tiny eyes?), but there are some battle sequences shown as well. Which are really making the poor little DS sing.

If all goes according to plan, DQIX should be out in Japan in March. Plenty more screens at the link below.

『ドラゴンクエストIX』キャラクターメイクの詳細が判明 [Famitsu]

Halo 3: ODST To Have "Fun, Memorable Characters" [Bungie]

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:00:00 MST

Halo 3: ODST has flashbacks. That, we knew. You're a rookie ODST troop, tasked with tracking down some lost squadmates.

While you're looking for them, the game is a little bit open-world. Once you find those clues, the game switches things up; you get a flashback of what happened to that soldier, and then you play that flashback.

In the latest issue of game magazine GamesTM, Bungie's Joseph Staten states that each squad mate has a "very distinct personality" — i.e., they have names, faces, etc.

"The reason we decided to keep the rookie faceless and anonymous is to help smooth these clue-triggered transitions from one ODST to another," says Staten. "[The game] is designed to put you in the boots of a bunch of fun, memorable characters so you can experience this awesome pocket of Halo fiction from as many points of view as possible."

Interesting.

Thanks shaunomacx for the tip!

British Sales Charts [Sales Charts]

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:30:00 MST

So this is Christmas...and what have you done...bought Mario Kart Wii again....and Brain Training for your mum...

Yes, as Christmas draws nearer, the silly season gets a little sillier in Britain, as the nation races to stuff its collective stocking with as many first-party Nintendo titles as is humanly possible. Doesn't matter if they've already bought them. There's no Mario Kart Wii 2 or Wii Fit 2 out, so they'll just buy the first ones again.

On a more conspiratorial note, you'll notice Resistance 2 debuting all the way down at #6. That's a rather poor debut for one of Sony's biggest titles for the year, no? Well, it seems there have been a few hiccups, with distributor EUK in the process of going tits-up. This has left many stores in the UK without copies of the game.

While the majors like GAME and HMV weren't affected, a number of smaller stores were, which at least partly explains why the much-hyped alien shooter couldn't finish ahead of a DS game that's been out for 2.5 years.

[British individual format charts courtesy of ChartTrack][Image]