Those of you who have been having issues with the Xbox 360 version of Rockstar's Bully: Scholarship Edition rejoice – a patch that should fix the sound, video and lockup issues many have been experiencing is now available as an automatic update via Xbox Live.
To get the patch, simply connect your console to Xbox Live and pop the Bully disc into your drive – you'll be prompted to download the patch before you can begin playing. Enjoy!
March 22, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Patch, Rockstar, Xbox 360, Xbox Live |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.123.6, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.123u6, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
March 20, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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The week just wouldn't feel right without a MAME update! The MAME development team has made version .123u6 of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator available for download. As with the previous release, this update mainly focuses on background fixes and polishing from previous releases.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
March 20, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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Just a quick note here for all of you stalking the Xbox Live Arcade in search of a new game this morning – It appears that there will be no "new" XBLA release this week, so unless you plan on picking up one of the two games reaching "Arcade Hits" status this week (as we filled you in on yesterday, Assault Heroes and Doom will be dropped to 400 points ($5) each), there's nothing to get excited about.
Move along, nothing to see here.
March 19, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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Microsoft has announced that two more titles will be joining the ranks of it's price reduced Xbox Live Arcade Hits series this Wednesday. Both Assault Heroes and Doom will see their prices slashed from 800 points ($10) to 400 points ($5) – not a bad deal if you've been thinking of grabbing either of the two titles
"Whether you’re avoiding spring cleaning or revving up for spring break, be sure to check out the latest Arcade Hits coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade on Wednesday, including “Assault Heroes” and “DOOM.” The Arcade Hits program offers some of the best-selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games at permanently reduced prices. They can be found within the Xbox LIVE Arcade section of the new Game Store, making it easier than ever to build a library of great downloadable games.
- “Assault Heroes” (Sierra Online). Become the only surviving member of an elite special forces unit searching for a secret underground lab. Play the mission alone or fight side-by-side with a friend in the two-player cooperative mode. The winner of IGN’s Xbox LIVE Arcade game of the year for 2006, “Assault Heroes” will be available for 400 Microsoft Points.
- “DOOM” (id Software). Originally released in 1993, “DOOM” introduced millions to the white-knuckle excitement of the first-person shooter (FPS). Relive the classic demon-blasting action with up to four players over Xbox LIVE*, complete with 5.1 surround sound and smoother graphics. “Doom” will be available for 400 Microsoft Points." – Microsoft press release
While Doom may not have held up to the test of time that well, Assault Heroes is definitely worth the soon to be reduced price. – even when you consider the fact that Assault Heroes 2 is coming soon. It's a great twin-stick top down shooter that captures that classic arcade feel – check it out, I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed.
March 18, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Microsoft, Price Drop, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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Things are looking a little bit better this week, as a few titles worth talking about should be finding their way to retail. Of those titles, one stands out from the rest as being worthy of the coveted "pick of the week" status, and that title is Rainbow Six: Vegas 2.
Now I don't know why Ubisoft chose to revisit Vegas instead of finding a new exotic locale, but if you have to visit a city twice, you could certainly do a lot worse than Las Vegas. If the original Rainbow Six: Vegas is any indication, this one should once again give fans of team-based tactical first person shooters something to look forward to.
Let's take a closer look at some of this week's more notable releases, shall we?
Below is the week's full release list – try not to get too excited..
- Condemned 2: Bloodshot (PS3) – 3/19/2008
- Diary Girl (DS) – 3/19/2008
- Fantasy Aquarium (DS) – 3/18/2008
- George of the Jungle (WII) – 3/19/2008
- Go Pets: Vacation Island (DS) – 3/19/2008
- Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds (PS3) – 3/19/2008
- Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore (Bundle) (PS3) – 3/19/2008
- Lost Empire: Immortals (PC) – 3/19/2008
- Lost in Blue 3 (DS) – 3/19/2008
- Merv Griffin's Crosswords (PC) – 3/18/2008
- Metal Gear Solid: The Essential Collection (PS2) – 3/19/2008
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (WII) – 3/19/2008
- Rainbow Six : Vegas 2 (360) – 3/19/2008
- Rainbow Six : Vegas 2 (PS3) – 3/19/2008
- Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (Limited Edition) (360) – 3/19/2008
- Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (Limited Edition) (PS3) – 3/19/2008
- Samurai Warriors 2 (PS2) – 3/19/2008
- Sega Superstars Tennis (360) – 3/19/2008
- Sega Superstars Tennis (DS) – 3/19/2008
- Sega Superstars Tennis (PS2) – 3/19/2008
- Sega Superstars Tennis (PS3) – 3/19/2008
- Sega Superstars Tennis (WII) – 3/19/2008
- Singstar 90's (Bundle) (PS2) – 3/19/2008
- Singstar 90's (Game Only) (PS2) – 3/19/2008
- World Championship Cards (PSP) – 3/18/2008
- Worms: A Space Oddity (WII) – 3/18/2008
- WWII Aces (WII) – 3/21/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
March 17, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
This Week's Releases |
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Turbine, Inc. has officially anounced that the first expansion for Lord of the Rings Online, it's mmog based on Tolkein's legendary trilogy, will be available at retail this fall.
"Turbine, Inc. and Codemasters Online today unveiled Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online™, the first retail expansion for the award-winning massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG). Announced in Birmingham, the childhood home of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings Online™: Mines of Moria™ will expand the online world of Middle-earth to let players explore the ancient underground cities of the dwarves, battle epic characters in the depths, face off with the Watcher, be a part of the fateful release of Durin’s Bane and more! The Lord of the Rings Online expects to open Volume II of its epic story in the fall of 2008 with an increased level cap, two new classes and the introduction of a unique item advancement system.
“The Mines of Moria is one of the most epic settings in all of fantasy fiction,” said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. “No one delivers more quality content than Turbine and with our journey into Moria, we will raise the bar even higher. We are adding vast amounts of content, debuting massive new environments and unveiling numerous unique feature sets, like item advancement, which will create entirely new dimensions of compelling game play and social interaction which are unique to The Lord of the Rings Online experience.” " – Turbine Entertainment press release
Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria will open the second volume of the trilogy and includes not only the six "chapters" included with the expansion at it's release, but access several more as of yet unreleased chapters. In addition, the expansion will also see the addition of two new character classes (Rune-Keeper and Warden), an increased level cap of 70 and the ability to forge "legendary" items.
For more information on both Lord of the Rings Online and the Mines of Moria expansion, including the full text of the press release, check out the links below.
March 16, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Expansion, Lord of the Rings, MMOG'S, PC Games, Turbine |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.123.5, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.123u5, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
March 15, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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Just when you thought it was safe to go back on the internet…. another MAME update! The MAME development team has made version .123u5 of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator available for download. As with the previous release, this update mainly focuses on background fixes and polishing from previous releases.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
March 15, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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Sony has made the latest update to the PlayStation 3’s system software (v2.17) available for download via the PlayStation Network and PlayStation.com. Unlike the version 2.10 update, which leaned heavily towards enhancing the system’s video playback features, this update seems to be focusing more on fixing some technical issues with select PS3 titles. Let’s take a look;
The PLAYSTATION®3 system software version 2.17 (with 2.10) update includes the following:
“Voice Changer
The Voice Changer feature has been added to voice / video chat. > See details.
Other new or revised features in version 2.17 (with 2.10):
Music
- You can now select [Type 3] as an option under [Settings] > [Music Settings] > [Bitmapping]. > See details.
- A new pattern has been added for the visual player. > See details.
Video
- DivX and VC-1 (WMV) have been added to the types of files that can be played. *1
- Blu-ray Disc Profile 1.1 is now supported. *2
- [BD Data Utility] has been added. *3
*1 – To play VC-1 (WMV) format files, you must go to (Settings) > (System Settings) and set [Enable WMA Playback]. – Copyright-protected files or files that were encoded by using DivX 3.11 cannot be played.
– Files that are 2GB or more cannot be played.
*2 – You can now use the “Picture in Picture” feature that enables playback of two videos at the same time with some Profile 1.1-compatible Blu-ray Discs. Features available vary depending on the disc.
*3 – Management data that is used by the Blu-ray Disc is saved here.
Game
- New for 2.17: System stability during use of some PLAYSTATION®3 format software has been improved.” – PlayStation.com
For further information or to obtain the update via the internet, check out the link below.
March 14, 2008
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PlayStation 3, PlayStation 3 system update, Sony |
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In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, a free song pack from Dropkick Murphy for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Guitar Hero III is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Store.
March 14, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Activision Blizzard, Downloadable Content, Free Stuff, Guitar Hero, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Store, RedOctane, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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I’ve made no secret in the past that Assault Heroes was one of my favorite "original content" titles to hit the Xbox Live Arcade. The game managed to capture that old school top-down arcade shooter feeling almost perfectly, and very much reminded me of a game I once thought of creating as a teenager. It’s that same fondness that brought a smile to my face in the early hours of this morning when I discovered that a sequel to the game will be hitting the Live Arcade sometime this spring.
Assault Heroes 2 looks to take all the fun of the original and mix in new elements such as upgraded weapons with the ability to commandeer enemy vehicles. Don’t take my word for it though, check out the trailer below courtesy of GameTrailers.com.
For more information on Assault Heroes 2, check out IGN’s exclusive first look at the title as linked below. Assault Heroes 2 is slated for release on the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade in Spring 2008. No other platforms have been announced at present.
March 13, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Lazy Day Trailers, Shooter, Video, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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Microsoft returns to the two-game formula for Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays with the release of Bliss Island and Brain Challenge. I'm not exactly feeling up to snuff at the moment, so I'll keep the game descriptions brief and let the demos for each game do the talking.
Looking at the somewhat brief description and photos provided for Bliss Island, I can only assume that it's some type of collection of mini-games, and in truth, the fact that Microsoft's marketing department couldn't come up with more to say about it strikes me as a bit of a bad omen. My advice to you is to definitely try the demo before paying 400 points ($5) on this one.
Title: Bliss Island
Developer: PomPom
Publisher:Codemasters Online
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 3/12/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Bliss Island is a fun and engaging pick-up-and-play game, and once you pick it up, you can't put it down! Delve into the world of Bliss Island and help Hoshi win a day off as you take on over 25 unique challenges, spread across nine crazy levels. Mastered single player mode? Challenge your friends online and see who really is the Bliss Island champion.
- Pick up and play: Experience more than 25 unique challenges across nine crazy levels.
- Play with friends: Jump into online multiplayer and challenge your friends online." – Xbox.com
Next up, we've got Brain Challenge, and as you've probably guessed, it's a knockoff of the whole Brain Age concept. Don't act so surprised, you had to know that one of these would be coming along eventually. If you've got a Nintendo DS, I'd say spend the money on a used copy of the original Brain Age (Don't settle for imitations!) instead of the 800 points ($10) being asked for this one – this way you too can get in on the "Blue…BLUE… BROOOOOO!" jokes.
Title: Brain Challenge
Developer: Gameloft
Publisher: Gameloft
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 3/12/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-4 / 2-4 online
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Get your brain in shape with fun daily exercises—these challenging and entertaining puzzles act like a vitamin boost for your brain. Brain Challenge™ is more than just a game, it's your personal coach for mental fitness!
Twenty different games in five categories (Memory, Visual, Logic, Math, and Focus) will train all areas of your brain. Keep track of your progress every day, and easily evaluate your level of brain activity. Brain Challenge is the easy and enjoyable way to keep your brain alert.
- Multiplayer fun: Challenge friends with four-player offline and online multiplayer modes.
- Game variety: Thirty games are broken down into different categories—Memory, Visual, Logic, Math, and Focus.
- Training room: Play all the mini-games within each category freely.
- Creative mode: Relax by exploring your brain's creative abilities through five games.
- Stress mode: Test your abilities under stressful conditions.
- Personal coach: Choose your favorite coach to accompany you through all your brain development steps and develop a unique relationship with him or her.
- Brain charts: View your overall performance and progression with detailed stats and graphs" – Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade release, I never got a chance to try Rocketmen: Axis of Evil, so you're on your own! I'm going to go find a bed and collapse in it now. Enjoy!
March 12, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Casual Gaming, Codemasters, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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A few days ago we reported that Sega was apparently up to something for the Dreamcast's 10th anniversary via http://www.Dreamcast.com. Before running that story, we had followed several articles around the 'net and checked the site's domain registration information to make sure that it was registered to Sega, and all seemed on the up and up.
While I can't read Japanese, according to Kotaku, Sega is reporting that they have nothing to do with what's going on over at Dreamcast.com. Thankfully, the site's link has been down since we reported on it, so I'm not feeling uber-guilty about it (ah, the benefits of updating a day late and a dollar short), but as the Kotaku article mentions, if you did manage to sign up before the site went under, you may want to both change the password on the e-mail account you used and prepare for the potential deluge of spam/phishing e-mails.
Once again, SEGA SAYS THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DREAMCAST.COM SITE – DON'T BOTHER SIGNING UP OR RESPONDING TO ANY E-MAIL FROM DREAMCAST.COM – all you'll probably get for your troubles is spam and phishing e-mails.
I understand some people were also given an "e-mail address" from the site after signing up. If you even remotely used a password similar to any other ones you use when setting it up, be sure to change those passwords as well. As usual,we'll keep you posted should more information become available.
March 11, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Dreamcast, Oops, Rumor Smashed, Scam, Sega |
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I am completely underwhelmed. To say this week's release list doesn't exactly inspire me to jump up and run down to my local game shop would be an understatement. I won't go as far as to not name a pick of the week, but I will say that I make this pick somewhat reluctantly and would advise you to just stick with a rental this week and use the cash to either pick up some game you've missed or hold put for a future release.
That said, Condemned 2: Bloodshot gets the nod as pick of the week, based solely on early reviews and the fact that I know many people who really enjoyed the first title. Early word is the game once again scores on the spooky atmosphere, so thriller fans will definitely want to give this one a look.
Now let's take a closer look at some of this week's more notable releases;
Below is the week's full release list – also completely unplayable – unless you're playing some gaming version of Scrabble.
- Buzz Jr. Robo Jam (Bundle) (PS2) – 3/12/2008
- Buzz Jr. Robo Jam (Game Only) (PS2) – 3/12/2008
- Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz (Bundle) (PS2) – 3/12/2008
- Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz (Game Only) (PS2) – 3/12/2008
- Condemned 2: Bloodshot (360) – 3/12/2008
- Condemned 2: Bloodshot (PS3) – 3/12/2008
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (DS) – 3/12/2008
- House of the Dead 2 and 3 Returns (WII) – 3/12/2008
- Imperium Romanum (PC) – 3/12/2008
- Insecticide (DS) – 3/12/2008
- Nanostray 2 (DS) – 3/12/2008
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (360) – 3/12/2008
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS2) – 3/12/2008
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS3) – 3/12/2008
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PSP) – 3/12/2008
- Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters (PS2) – 3/12/2008
- Seven Kingdoms Conquest (PC) – 3/12/2008
- Wild Arms XF (PSP) – 3/12/2008
- World Championship Cards (PSP) – 3/12/2008
- WWE Smackdown vs Raw SuperStar (3 Game Bundle) (PS2) – 3/12/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
March 10, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
This Week's Releases |
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Well, I can't say what is going on over at Sega, but they apparently have something up their sleeves to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Dreamcast's launch.
Reports from around the internet have been coming in for the last few days stating that visitors to Dreamcast.com were being greeted with a message asking them whether or not they still own a Dreamcast. Clicking past that screen apparently led to some form of registration page where the user was asked to enter their console's serial number. Unfortunately, it also appears that the volume of responses was so heavy that Sega has, at least temporarily, shut down access to the registration page.
"Due the high volume of account requests, the service will be temporally suspended." – Dreamcast.com
While I'm not going to believe any rumors of a new Sega console, I would love to know what game Sega is playing at. While it's time on the scene was short, I would never say I didn't get my money's worth out of it and then some – unlike some other Sega products I could mention. (*cough* Sega CD *cough*)
Before I start rambling on about the likes of Soul Calibur, NFL2K, Resident Evil Code: Veronica, Crazy Taxi and the rest, I'll cut this one short and get with the linkage.
I'll be sure to report back on this one as soon as more information on what Sega is up to becomes available.
March 9, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Dreamcast, Rumors, Sega |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.123.4, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.123u4, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
March 8, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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Yes, it's that time again… "What time is it?" you ask? Well, it's time for another MAME update! The MAME development team has made version .123u4 of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator available for download. Once again, this update mainly focuses on background fixes and polishing from previous releases.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
March 7, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
1 Comment
A demo of 2K Sports Major League Baseball 2K8 for the Xbox 360 is now available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace in The United States, Asia and Canada. Approximate file size is 968.95MB.
Please note: As of late November, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
March 6, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
2K Sports, Baseball, Demo, MLB, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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We've got yet another original game coming to the Xbox Live Arcade as Rocketmen: Axis of Evil takes it's place in the Live Marketplace. As with a few of the other recent original titles, I really hadn't heard much about this one prior to it's announcement, but from what I can tell, it's an overhead view futuristic action RPG – I'm guessing it's something like Gauntlet with an RPG flair.
In Rocketmen, up to four players battle the forces of the Legion of Terra (this one is already losing points in my book just for the bad pun) using characters created from a mix of three races and three classes. Now, I don't know about you, but this one sounds like it could go either way. Personally, I get the feeling it's going to stink, but that's just from looking at the screenies and reading the product description – I have not actually tried this game as of yet.
What I'm saying here is that before you shell out the 800 points ($10) being asked for this one, do yourself a favor and download the demo first. Better safe than sorry I always say. That said, let's get on to the particulars.
Title: Rocketmen: Axis of Evil
Developer: A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Games Inc.
Publisher:Capcom
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 3/05/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-4
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E10 (Everyone 10+) Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Join Nick Sion, Alec Mink and the Alliance of Free Planets in their white-knuckled, frenzied struggle to free the Solar System from the tyrannical grip of the Legion of Terra! Rocketmen®: Axis of Evil provides non-stop multiplayer action with role-playing game elements, including customizable characters and an engaging story, all wrapped in the game's distinctive cel-shaded art style. Play with up to four players in co-op mode and blast anything that moves.
- Customize your character: Create, customize, and level up your own individual Rocketmen characters with new items, abilities, and looks.
- Multiplayer action: Join with friends to save the galaxy in four-player cooperative play locally or online.
- Your choice: Choose from three races: Human, Mercurian, or Venusian, and from three classes: Warrior, Engineer, or Outcast.
- Explosive action: Simple, addictive, and highly explosive gameplay blasts onto your TV in high-definition with plenty of levels, hordes of enemies, and lots of fun.." – Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade release, if you're a fan of difficult shmups, then Triggerheart Exelica is for you – those who prefer a more casual shooter experience will probably not find the game nearly as entertaining. Like I always say, be sure to try the demo before you buy a title you may not be sure about – and I'd probably recommend it even when you think you will absolutely love a game.
March 5, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Capcom, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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Yes folks, God of War III is coming to the PlayStation 3. Naturally, right about now you're saying something snarky and wondering how this is news – after all, I don't think anyone has ever doubted that Sony would be bringing God of War III to the system.
Well, what you may not know is that apparently the game is "coming soon" – at least that's the word according to the instruction manual for God of War: Chains of Olympus on the PSP. You see, IGN is reporting that much like the back cover of the God of War II manual which announced that Chains would be coming, the back of Chains' manual shows the familiar God of War "Omega" logo with the PS3 logo and "coming soon" written under it.
While there's certainly been no official word from Sony as to when God of War 3 will be hitting retail, one does have to wonder how long it's been in production and if this could be Sony's counterweight to Microsoft's Gears of War 2 come November. Regardless of what the situation is, we'll be sure to keep you updated on any developments as we hear about them.
March 4, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
God of War, PlayStation 3, Rumors, Sony |
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Wow, it's been awhile since I've felt this conflicted over what game should get the "coveted" Game of the Week honors. We've got no drought of contenders at retail this week, with no less than six titles competing for the honor.
When all is said and done, there really was only one choice – Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. Some might say I made that pick based solely on the fact that R.O.B. is going to be a playable character, but I assure you, it's more than that. The game has received glowing reviews in Japan and it's been awhile since I've seen the Nintendo faithful this worked up over a title. (Okay, I'll admit it – maybe the fact that R.O.B. will be in the game helped a bit too)
That doesn't take away from this week's other games in any way. If I owned a PSP, I'd most certainly be picking up God of War: Chains of Olympus this week, and if you ask one of my buddies, he'd tell you that there is no other choice but MLB 08: The Show for the PlayStation 3. It's just one of those weeks where there's a little bit of something for everyone. Let's take a closer look at some of this week's retail titles;
Be sure to check out the below list for all the titles you can expect to find at retail this week.
- Anno 1701: Dawn of Discovery (DS) – 3/5/2008
- Arctic Stud Poker Run (PC) – 3/4/2008
- Army of Two (360) – 3/5/2008
- Army of Two (PS3) – 3/5/2008
- Blokus Portable: Steambot Championship (PSP) – 3/4/2008
- Bubble Bobble: Double Shot (DS) – 3/4/2008
- Build-a-lot (PC) – 3/5/2008
- Bully: Scholarship Edition (360) – 3/4/2008
- Bully: Scholarship Edition (WII) – 3/4/2008
- Chicken Hunter (DS) – 3/5/2008
- Company of Heroes: Gold (PC) – 3/5/2008
- Eco Creatures: Save the Forest (DS) – 3/5/2008
- God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP) – 3/5/2008
- Homie Rollerz (DS) – 3/6/2008
- Imagine: Figure Skater (DS) – 3/5/2008
- Imperium Romanum (PC) – 3/5/2008
- Let's Ride: Friends Forever (DS) – 3/4/2008
- Major League Baseball 2K8 (360) – 3/4/2008
- Major League Baseball 2K8 (PS2) – 3/4/2008
- Major League Baseball 2K8 (PS3) – 3/4/2008
- Major League Baseball 2K8 (PSP) – 3/4/2008
- Major League Baseball 2K8 (WII) – 3/4/2008
- MLB 08: The Show (PS2) – 3/5/2008
- MLB 08: The Show (PS3) – 3/5/2008
- MLB 08: The Show (PSP) – 3/5/2008
- Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer (DS) – 3/5/2008
- Ninja Reflex (WII) – 3/4/2008
- Ninja Reflex (DS) – 3/5/2008
- Petz Bunnyz (DS) – 3/5/2008
- Silent Hill: Origins (PS2) – 3/5/2008
- Spitfire Heroes: Tales of the Royal Air Force (DS) – 3/6/2008
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (WII) – 3/9/2008
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm (PC) – 3/5/2008
- World Championship Cards (PSP) – 3/5/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
March 3, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
This Week's Releases |
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Just a quick follow up to last Thursday's story. Gamefly has confirmed to us that "for the time being" they will once again be including protective cardboard mailer inserts with all rentals.
"For the time being, we have decided to implement the cardboard covers in our mailers once again. Should things change in the future, we will notify our customers." – Gamefly support
While they gave no reason for the change, I'd have to assume that it's due to an unacceptable increase in the number of discs being damaged in transit since they stopped using the mailers back in June of 2007. That's just a guess though – absolutely nothing official behind that.
March 2, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Gamefly, Original Content, Rumor Confirmed |
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The wait is over… at least for Xbox 360 Call of Duty 4 owners. Infinity Ward has finally released the long awaited patch for some of the problems plaguing the console version of CoD4. Players will be automatically prompted to receive the download if connected to Xbox Live the next time they play the game. (PC Owners please note; I believe all of these fixes have been available for the PC for quite some time now, so if you haven't patched CoD4 yet, you may want to look into it)
Number one on my wish list was a fix for the accuracy problems that have so far made using a sniper's rifle or ACOG scope more of a detriment than a benefit. According to the patch message, those problems should now be gone. I haven't tested the ACOG scopes yet, but from my experiences, the standard sniper rifles have definitely seen an increase in accuracy, making them once again an enjoyable option.
If that had been the only fix, I would have been a happy man – but Infinity Ward decided that happy wasn't good enough. According to Infinity Ward Community Director Robert "FourZeroTwo" Bowling, the company fixed quite a few issues in yesterday's patch. Let's take a look;
"New Kill Cams – Everything that can kill you has a Kill Cam now. Grenades, Airstrikes, Claymores, C4, M203 Rounds, RPGs, anything. So jump online, get owned alittle and check them out. They’re awesome, especially Grenades and M203 shots that go across the map and through a window.
Host Migration – Host migration was added, so now when the host leaves you won’t get dropped back to your own lobby by yourself. Everyone will stay together. Host Leaves, everyone returns to lobby, selects next best host, and the game starts up again. No more re-inviting, re-partying up because a host ended the game.
Improved Sniper Accuracy – The Sniper rifle accuracy has been improved. No more, WTF? shots now. Your cross hair will be a better representation of where your shot will ultimately land. Try out a sniper class today, let us know how the new accuracy feels.
Improved ACOG Scope Accuracy – ACOG scopes accuracy on any weapon has been improved. Test it out, throw it on one of your classes and give it a go.
Upgraded Spectator Cam – Now when you’re a spectator you have the option to follow in 3rd person or 1st person. As well as rotate 360 degrees around the player you’re watching. Next time you’re dead in Search and Destroy and just watching your team mates do stuff you know you can do better, now do it in 1st person or rotate around them.
Quick Mute Option – Now you can easily and quickly mute players in-game or in-lobby without ever going through the Xbox Live blades. Just go to their gamertag on screen and hit ‘A’ to quick mute in lobby, or via the in-game scoreboard if playing. Quick. Easy. Salvation!
In addition to these feature additions there will also be:
Improved Network Performance For Larger Games – 18 player games now require more bandwidth to host, resulting in smoother performance for players.
Optimized Server Selection for First Match – Server selection is now optimized to select best bandwidth servers associated by LSP.
Fixed “Playlist Older Than Host” Error – Player will no longer get this error when entering games.
Additional Start Spawn Locations in All Maps – Added a minimum of 9 extra start spawns on each side of all maps." – Robert "FourZeroTwo" Bowling
Overall, this is a great patch for the game, taking into account many of player's complaints and suggestions. Sadly, while the patch notes list some network performance fixes, I still found the same old lag in several of the games I played. Looks like there's still some improvement needed on that end.
Finally, lest PlayStation 3 owners feel slighted, FourZeroTwo confirmed that there is a PlayStation 3 version of this patch going through certification at Sony, and will be available as soon as that testing is done.
March 1, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Activision Blizzard, Announcements, Call of Duty, FPS, Infinity Ward, Patch, Xbox 360, Xbox Live |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.123.3, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.123u3, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
February 29, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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Another weekend, another MAME update! The MAME development team has made version .123u3 of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator available for download. As with the last one, this update mainly focuses on background fixes and polishing from previous releases.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
February 29, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
1 Comment
Last June, I reported that Gamefly had decided (in what was most likely a cost cutting move) to cease using protective cardboard inserts in their mailers. While I wasn't particularly fond of that decision, I will admit that I never received a damaged game from the company when the insert wasn't present.
Apparently, something with that plan didn't quite work out as they envisioned. Over the last week, I've noticed that the company has begun including that protective insert with rentals once more. I can only assume that they found that the increase in the number of damaged discs received when the insert wasn't present outweighed any savings they were seeing from the lighter weight of the packaging.
I've shot an e-mail off to Gamefly seeing if I can get some more information on the insert's return, specifically whether or not this is a permanent change. I'll be sure to report back once I've received an answer.
February 28, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Gamefly, Original Content, Rumors |
1 Comment
Okay, this week, the Xbox Live Arcade brings us a top down shooter in the form of Warashi Inc's Triggerheart Exelica. As with most shmups, the backstory here is a little weak. You control a humanoid weapon system (that for some reason was designed to look like a hot woman) that must defend the Earth from the invading forces of an alien race bent on conquest.
Where this one differs from the standard top-down fare (at least according to it's description) is in the player's ability to use captured enemies in varying ways during the battle. It's an interesting idea, if not completely original, that should add some variation to the gameplay. In addition, the game also features a boss-fight difficulty system that will adapt to each player's skills, making the encounters either more or less difficult based on how well the player is doing.
The game carries an 800 point ($10) price tag, and a demo is available. As always, be sure to give it a try before you buy to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Title: Triggerheart Exelica
Developer: Warashi Inc.
Publisher: Warashi Inc.
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 2/27/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E10 (Everyone 10+) Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Mankind's newest and best weapon is the Triggerheart, a humanoid weapons system with a human-like personality. When the Ver'mith attack, only the Triggerhearts Exelica and Crueltear have the power to destroy the enemy. In the classic vertically-scrolling Japanese arcade shooter Triggerheart Exelica, each weapon has a different combat style, but both can perform unique anchor shots. Anchor an enemy ship, capture it to use as a shield, or throw it back into the fray to cause massive damage. With five levels, three difficulty settings, and all the usual Xbox LIVE® leaderboards and achievements, Triggerheart Exelica is a fast-paced, full-featured arcade shooter masterpiece!
- Unique anchor shot element: The Triggerhearts can anchor enemies, capture them to use as a shield, or toss them back into the field of battle to cause havoc.
- V.B.A.S. (Variable Boss Attack System): The game dynamically reacts to your skill level. If you have a low score, the bosses will be slightly easier to defeat. Carry a higher score, and the bosses become more challenging.
- High-def graphics: Fully compatible with HDTVs, the graphics bring the top-down shooter genre to a new level of intensity.
- New music: New background music willl have you grooving to the rhythm as you destroy the Ver'mith." – Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade release, I thought that N+ was fun, but ultimately felt a bit too much like a web-based game to justify it's price point. At 400 points ($5), I would have certainly snatched this one up. Your mileage may certainly vary (especially since I am generally not a fan of platformers), and if you really are into the genre, you'll probably find this one a worthwhile addition given both it's length and how well the control scheme works here.
February 27, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Shooter, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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Yeah, it does seem like it's "Grub Off Kotaku Day" here at the House of Latenite, but I always go with the first place I saw a story when posting them, and Kotaku just seemed to beat everyone to the punch today.
PlayStation 3 fans have finally gotten the answer they've been waiting to hear for so long… Konami has dated Metal Gear Solid 4. Rather than tease you any further (and since the date is in the title, it's not like that teasing would be effective anyway), the game is scheduled to hit retail on June 12th, 2008.
However, much like a late night infomercial, there's more – Sony has announced that they will be releasing a PlayStation 3 bundle that includes the 80GB PS3, a DualShock 3 controller and Metal Gear Solid 4 for $499.99. That's a combination that will probably win over quite a few who have been waiting on the sidelines for MGS4 before investing in a PS3.
February 27, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Bundle, Dual Shock, Hideo Kojima, Konami, Metal Gear Solid, PlayStation 3, Sony |
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Kotaku is reporting that Sony has announced they will be releasing the DualShock 3 controller for the PlayStation 3 on April 15th of this year. As the name implies, the controller (priced at MSRP $54.99) will finally bring vibration feedback to Sony's console, eliminating one of the bigger complaints about the system.
At the $54.99 price point, I certainly don't see myself replacing both of my Sixaxis controllers, but I'll certainly grab at least one to serve as my "main" PS3 controller shortly after they become available. How about you?
February 27, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Dual Shock, Peripherals & Accessories, PlayStation 3, Sony, Vibration Feedback |
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While no one at Microsoft is shouting this one from the rafters, if you take a look at the product page for the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player over at Xbox.com, you'll notice that the official MSRP is now $49.99.
I'm guessing the lack of any kind of fanfare over this second price drop centers around the fact that Microsoft has officially discontinued the drive and would probably like nothing better than to never hear the words HD-DVD again. Regardless of the reason, if you've been considering grabbing one for either the cheap movies or collectible reasons, now may be the best time to grab one.
(Once again, just in case you aren't aware, Toshiba has officially abandoned the format, and Microsoft has announced they are discontinuing the drive. You have been warned.)
February 26, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Discontinued, HD-DVD, Microsoft, Peripherals & Accessories, Price Drop, Rumor Confirmed, Xbox 360 |
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Well, I was planning on hitting the sack, but then I made one last stop in at Amazon.com to check on the Xbox 360 HD-DVD player and, as was the rumor this weekend, the drive is being sold (at least at Amazon right now) for $49.99 brand new. While I haven't seen the price drop at other retailers as of yet, I can't imagine Amazon will be the only one.
(Just in case you aren't aware, Toshiba has officially abandoned the format, and Microsoft has announced they are discontinuing the drive. You have been warned.)
UPDATE: 10:42AM – 2/25/08: It looks like the drive is now sold-out at Amazon.
February 25, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Amazon, Discontinued, HD-DVD, Microsoft, Peripherals & Accessories, Price Drop, Xbox 360 |
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Unlike last week, there's neither a demo of the game of the week to be played, nor is there a game of the week. Still not feeling 100%, so you're just going to have to deal with both of those facts. So there!
Now let's take a closer look at some of this week's more notable releases;
Below is the week's full release list – also completely unplayable – unless you're playing some gaming version of Scrabble.
- Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None (WII) – 2/26/2008
- Blokus Portable: Steambot Championship (PSP) – 2/27/2008
- Brain Assist (DS) – 2/27/2008
- Bratz: Super Babyz (DS) – 2/26/2008
- Bubble Bobble Double Shot (DS) – 2/27/2008
- Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed (WII) – 2/26/2008
- Disney Friends (DS) – 2/27/2008
- Fantasy Aquarium (DS) – 2/27/2008
- Farm Vet (PC) – 2/27/2008
- Frontlines: Fuel of War (360) – 2/26/2008
- Frontlines: Fuel of War (PC) – 2/26/2008
- Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (PS3) – 2/27/2008
- Lost: Via Domus (360) – 2/27/2008
- Lost: Via Domus (PC) – 2/27/2008
- Lost: Via Domus (PS3) – 2/27/2008
- Naruto Ninja Destiny (DS) – 2/27/2008
- Patapon (PSP) – 2/27/2008
- Petz Wild Animals: Tigerz (DS) – 2/27/2008
- Powerboat GT (PC) – 3/1/2008
- Red Baron (PC) – 2/27/2008
- Rhem 3: The Secret Library (PC) – 2/29/2008
- Ricochet Infinity (PC) – 2/27/2008
- Sega Bass Fishing (WII) – 2/27/2008
- Spitfire Heroes: Tales of the Royal Air Force (DS) – 2/28/2008
- The Sims 2 Free Time (PC) – 2/27/2008
- The Sims 2 Free Time Bundle (PC) – 2/27/2008
- Turning Point: Fall of Liberty (360) – 2/27/2008
- Turning Point: Fall of Liberty (PC) – 2/27/2008
- Turning Point: Fall of Liberty (PS3) – 2/27/2008
- Turning Point: Fall of Liberty (Collector's Edition) (360) – 2/27/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
February 25, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
This Week's Releases |
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Yeah, you're probably groaning right now as much as I am. If this article over at Kotaku is right, then it appears that Electronic Arts has made a considerable offer to acquire longtime rival Take-Two Interactive (2KGames, Rockstar, etc).
According to the article, EA isn't fooling around either. The offer they've made is supposedly $26 a share – some 64 percent higher than the stock was selling for roughly one week ago. That's considerable money, though I'm sure the stock itself would see a rise as we approach the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV.
It also seems that Take-Two has already spurned this offer, and much like the ongoing situation between Microsoft and Yahoo, Electronic Arts will be taking their offer directly to the shareholders of the company – the question now is just how much faith do those shareholders have in TakeTwo's current management and GTAIV.
Wow, I didn't think I'd hear one this week that would dwarf the rumor that Microsoft was looking to acquire Epic, but here it is. We'll be sure to keep you updated on any movement on this story as we hear about it.
EDIT: While posting this one, it appears the news is breaking everywhere about this offer, making it appear that it is indeed legitimate. May God have mercy on our consoles. Consider this rumor confirmed. (The offer, not that it is a done deal)
February 24, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
2K Games, Electronic Arts, Grand Theft Auto, Mergers & Acquisitions, Oh Noes!, Rockstar, Rumor Confirmed, Rumors, Take-Two |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.123.2, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.123u2, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
February 23, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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The weekend is almost here, and you know what that means… yes, it's time for another MAME update! The MAME development team has made version .123u2 of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator available for download. As with the last one, this update mainly focuses on background fixes and polishing from previous releases.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
February 22, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
1 Comment
You read that right, true believers, it’s official – Gears of War 2 is in production and slated for a November 2008 release exclusively on the Xbox 360. If you recall, this site was pretty much engulfed in Emergence Day fever back in 2006, and I fully expect to once again catch the bug for this next installment. I’d ramble on more and more about this right now, as well as all the other juicy announcements coming out of the 2008 Game Developer’s Conference, but I’m still not really feeling 100% and just want to crawl into bed.
Since this is a Lazy Day Trailers post, it wouldn’t be complete without a video courtesy of the fine people at GameTrailers.com – check it out below!
While we’re talking about Gears of War 2, a free Xbox 360 dashboard theme and gamerpicture set (as well as the above video) are currently available in the Xbox Live Marketplace.
Gears of War 2 will be coming exclusively to the Xbox 360 (though you can just about be sure a PC port will eventually follow) in November of 2008. Expect many updates in the months to come.
February 21, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, CliffyB, Epic Games, Gears of War, Lazy Day Trailers, Microsoft, Video, Woot!, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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I'll be perfectly honest – aside from the fact that it's priced at 800 points ($10) and based on a web-based, free-to-play title, I know absolutely nothing about this week's Xbox Live Arcade release N+. I'll also say that I'm really not feeling well enough at the moment to find out more – so for that reason the only recommendation I can make to you is that you download the demo and give it a try for yourself before you decide if it's worth the asking price.
Title: N+
Developer: Slick Entertainment Inc
Publisher: Metanet Software Inc
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 2/20/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-4
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E10 (Everyone 10+)
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"In a futuristic world of inadvertently homicidal robots, a daring ninja must use deft acrobatic skill and guts of steel to survive. N+ is a peerless action-puzzle platformer with more than 300 levels in which to hone your ninja reflexes, plus a built-in level editor for when you're hungry for more. N+ also features unique, physics-based controls, stylish graphics, unlimited lives, competitive and cooperative multiplayer, plenty of gold, and several flavors of sweet, sweet action. Running, jumping, and dying in an unpleasant-yet-comical manner has never been more fun!
- Addictive gameplay: N+ features run-and-jump gameplay with hilarious ragdoll physics. It's easy to get into, but challenging enough for the hardcore gamer.
- Many, many levels: Featuring well over 300 all-new levels, the game also includes a built-in level editor for players to create their own levels. Additional level packs, including the classic N levels from the PC version, and multiplayer level packs, will be available in the future.
- Multiplayer modes: Multiple cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes are included. Try survival, race, or co-op play.
- Replays: Each level can be replayed to see how fast you completed the level.
- Additional content: Check out additional ninja costumes for both single-player and multiplayer games, and skin your dashboard the N+ way." – Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade releases, While not as bad as Tron or some of the XBLA Atari classics, Discs of Tron still feels like it's just missing something. I'd only recommend it to those who desperately want to experience even a small bit of the game again.
If you think that isn't saying much, get a load of this – I never got the chance to try Commanders: Attack of the Genos, so I'll continue to recommend you just try the demo for yourself (wow, that sounds familiar). Enjoy!
February 20, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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I got an e-mail from the fine folks over at Wizards of the Coast yesterday afternoon advising me that they've just announced that Magic: The Gathering, their venerable collectible card game, will be coming to the Xbox Live Arcade at some point in the future.
"RENTON, Wash.—February 18, 2008 — Wizards of the Coast (WotC), the leader in strategy hobby collectible trading card, board and role playing games, and a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), today announced its plans to extend the Magic: The Gathering® franchise to gamers on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Xbox LIVE® Arcade and the PC through partnerships with Stainless Games, Ltd. and Mind Control Software, Inc. Stainless Games will develop a game using the Magic: The Gathering IP for both Xbox LIVE Arcade and the PC, while Mind Control will develop a game for the PC and Mac.
“We’re excited to bring the Magic brand to new platforms and give our fans new ways to experience this great property,” said Jared Gustafson, Brand Director for Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast. “It’s partnerships like these that will advance the strategy games category and transform it to meet the needs and desires of today’s digital gamers.”
Magic: The Gathering, introduced in 1993, is the premier and original trading card game that inspired an entirely new game genre. Combining the dynamics of a card game with the excitement of trading and collecting, Magic™ offers fun for casual play, as well as the option of highly competitive tournaments. Magic: The Gathering currently has a thriving online edition (Magic Online®) made up of more than 350,000 active accounts. The game allows gamers to collect and trade virtual cards, build the perfect deck, get help from mentors, find opponents at all skill levels, and compete for prizes every day without ever leaving the comforts of home.
Specific details on the games Stainless Games and Mind Control will develop using the Magic: The Gathering IP will be announced at a later date." – Official press release
I'm torn over this one. On one hand, I freely admit to single-handedly keeping Wizards of the Coast afloat during the 90's with the number of MTG cards I bought, yet at the same time, I hesitate to play any of the newer online offerings they've made because it would require me to invest in online cards. I just can't justify spending that much cash to play the game the way I'm accustomed to again, you know?
While no announcements have been made as to how exactly the franchise will be making it's XBLA appearance, the smart money is on a console version of the card game with additional cards being available via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Personally, I'd love to see the game appear on XBLA, but instead take the "Duel of the Planeswalkers" route and include a full set of cards. I'd even pay a full release retail price for that one.
Check out the full text of yesterday's press release below. We'll be sure to report more on this one as details become available.
February 19, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Magic: The Gathering, Wizards of the Coast, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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Another week, another list… but wait… what’s that? There’s something different around here…
You’ve no doubt noticed the big window below this paragraph – well, thanks to the folks at Capcom, rather than just tell you about the pick of the week, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, you get to try it. That’s right, the flash box below includes a fully playable part of the beginning of the game. Enjoy!.
Now let’s take a closer look at some of this week’s more notable (and non-playable) releases;
Below is the week’s full release list – also completely unplayable – unless you’re playing some gaming version of Scrabble.
- Abra Academy (PC) – 2/19/2008
- Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (DS) – 2/19/2008
- Balloon Pop (WII) – 2/19/2008
- Carrier Strike Force (PC) – 2/19/2008
- Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (WII) – 2/20/2008
- Dungeon Explorer (DS) – 2/19/2008
- Dungeon Explorer: Warrior of the Ancient Arts (PSP) – 2/19/2008
- Dynasty Warriors 6 (PS3) – 2/19/2008
- Dynasty Warriors 6 (360) – 2/20/2008
- FIFA Street 3 (360) – 2/19/2008
- FIFA Street 3 (DS) – 2/19/2008
- FIFA Street 3 (PS3) – 2/19/2008
- Forgotten Riddles: The Mayan Princess (PC) – 2/20/2008
- History Channel: Battle for the Pacific (360) – 2/20/2008
- History Channel: Battle for the Pacific (PS3) – 2/20/2008
- MX vs ATV: Untamed (WII) – 2/19/2008
- Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate (PC) – 2/19/2008
- Need for Speed: Pro Street (PSP) – 2/19/2008
- Pimp My Ride (WII) – 2/20/2008
- Pirateville (PC) – 2/19/2008
- Rhem 3: The Secret Library (PC) – 2/19/2008
- Spider-Man 3 Enhanced (PS2) – 2/20/2008
- The Club (360) – 2/20/2008
- The Club (PC) – 2/20/2008
- The Club (PS3) – 2/20/2008
- The Guild Universe (PC) – 2/20/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
February 18, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Capcom, This Week's Releases, Web Games |
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Just a quick note here – to celebrate the announcement of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, Activision Blizzard is offering a free download of the band's "Dream On" for use with Guitar Hero III to all PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners from February 16th through the 18th via the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace.
"Santa Monica, CA – February 15, 2008 – Fire up the fret board, crank the amp to 11 and get ready to rock this way with Activision, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero®: Aerosmith®, the first game built around the legendary music of America's Greatest Rock 'N Roll Band: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer. Slated for release this June, this latest installment from the franchise with the #1 best-selling video game in 2007, puts players in the shoes of Perry (guitar), Whitford (guitar) and Hamilton (bass), as they rock out alongside frontman Tyler and drummer Kramer. Gamers will experience Aerosmith's GRAMMY® winning career, from their first gig to becoming rock royalty, in a way that no other entertainment vehicle offers.
To celebrate this historic, ground-breaking collaboration, Guitar Hero® III: Legends of Rock fans will have the opportunity to download and jam to Aerosmith's "Dream On." The song will be available for free from February 16-18 on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. For more information, please visit www.guitarhero.com." – Official press release
No word on if there will be any future option on the song for Wii owners. That's all I've got for you, so get moving and get it downloaded.
February 17, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Activision Blizzard, Announcements, Downloadable Content, Free Stuff, Guitar Hero, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Store, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.123.1, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.123u1, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
February 16, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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Hey gang, it's time for another MAME update! The MAME development team has made version .123u1 of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator available for download. This update is another one that mainly focuses on background fixes and polishing from previous releases.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
February 16, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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A demo of Sierra’s The Spiderwick Chronicles for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in Canada and The United States via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 630MB.
Please note: As of late November, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
February 15, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Sierra, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Yup, you read that right, Electronic Arts has finally stuck a date on Will Wright's highly anticipated god-game Spore. While there's always room for another delay or ten, if all holds to plan, gamers will be taking their creations from microbes to rulers of the galaxy on September 7th of this year.
While I've seen the descriptions of each stage of creature evolution, I'm still a little fuzzy on exactly how the game will play out across them. My hope is that more details will be forthcoming now that the game has been dated.
February 14, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Electronic Arts, Release Date, Spore, Will Wright |
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We've got another Xbox Live Arcade double feature this week, as we get one classic title in the form of 1983's arcade classic Discs of Tron and Commanders: Attack of the Genos – a turn based strategy title making it's debut on the Live Arcade.
I remember the first time I saw a Discs of Tron machine – I was at a small fair in the Pocono mountains, bored as most kids tend to be at those things, when I came across an arcade in the pavilion. Along with the usual machines, there was a large, glowing environmental cabinet… Discs of Tron. Stepping inside, I was hooked – for the time, the game was just an overwhelming experience and a blast to play. I remember racing back and forth to my parents quite a few times for some more quarters. Good times.
Unfortunately, given the treatment Backbone Entertainment gave the original Tron arcade game, I'm not holding out much hope for this one. It's not badly priced at 400 points ($5), but I'd still strongly suggest you download the demo first to see how well the arcade controls have been transferred over to the 360's control pad.
Title: Discs of Tron
Developer: Backbone Entertainment
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 2/13/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) Mild Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"The arcade classic is back! The electronic battleground of Discs of Tron© transports you into an exciting world of sight, sound, and energy. Take control of Tron as he enters the arena to fight against the evil Sark. Armed with only his disc weapon and limited deflector shield, Tron must withstand Sark's multiple attacks to survive all 12 levels to become the most powerful video warrior in the world.
Discs of Tron is even better this time around with enhanced graphics, CD-quality sound, and two-person multiplayer—face off and find out who truly is the greatest disc warrior!
- Perfect recreation: Discs of Tron for Xbox LIVE Arcade is a perfect recreation of the classic arcade game based on the pioneering computer animated Disney Film.
- Next-gen presentation: Authentic graphics, game play, and audio have been upgraded to take advantage of the Xbox 360 high-def graphics and sound (CD bit rate quality).
- Multiplayer fun: The original arcade game was single player only. The Arcade version is the first version of the game with two-person multi-player functionality—co-op and versus.
- Electronic battleground: Get transported to an exciting world of sight, sound, and energy!
- Disc combat: Play as Tron and fling discs at Sark in an attempt to knock him off his platform. Sark has his own discs as well as two unique weapons—a chaser and super chaser making defeating him even more difficult.
- Twelve levels: Beating Sark advances you to levels of even more chaotic platforming mayhem." – Xbox.com
Next up, we've got Commanders: Attack of the Genos… a title I've heard virtually nothing about before it's announcement as one of this week's titles. My understanding is that this is a turn based strategy game with a humorous twist, but don't quote me on that. My advice to you is to download the demo and see what it's all about for yourself before dropping the required 800 points ($10) on the game.
Title: Commanders: Attack of the Genos
Developer: SouthEnd Interactive
Publisher: Sierra Online
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 2/13/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-4
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E10 (Everyone 10+) Mild Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Commanders: Attack of the Genos is an accessible turn-based tactical battle game providing challenge for all levels of players. The genetically enhanced army of the Genos have decided to attack Earth. With your powerful Commander unit, use Missile Launchers, Bombers, Infantry, and other attack units to cripple the enemy and defend your territory—online or off!
- Specialized attack units: Fifteen different units are provided to serve alongside your Commander unit. Use the units' unique powers to conquer the Genos.
- Single-player campaign: Fight fifteen different missions sprawling across three different landscapes, with two levels of difficulty for ease of play.
- Multiplayer modes: Three intense multiplayer modes are included, allowing up to four players in Versus mode. Try the Team Play mode, or take on Skirmish with a friend on the same system.
- Replayability: The game has two distinct endings to encourage replayability.
- Retro-futuristic environment: The science-fiction setting features a gorgeous 30s Art Deco style. It's a blast from the past into the future." – Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade releases, I'm going to stand by my original statements on the game – Poker Smash is a pretty good "match 3" puzzler with a poker twist. If you haven't already soured on the genre, be sure to pick up the demo and give it a shot.
February 13, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Classics, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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In a move that is sure to be reviled by many gamers, Electronic Arts has announced that they have reached a deal with the NFL and the NFL Players Association to extend the exclusivity agreement signed in 2004 through the end of the 2012 season.
"REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – February 12, 2008 – Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) today announced an extension of its exclusive licensing relationships with the National Football League and NFL PLAYERS to develop, publish and distribute interactive football video games. These agreements – which were negotiated separately and are extensions of contracts originally signed in December 2004 – provide EA continued rights to NFL teams, stadiums and players for its critically-acclaimed and best-selling football videogames through the end of the 2012 season, which culminates in February 2013.
Both agreements include all aspects of the interactive experience, including console and handheld games as well as console-based online features. The agreements also provide EA access to both NFL Films and the NFL Network to enrich its game experiences. Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed." – Electronic Arts press release
I can't begin to tell you just how disappointed I am right now. I've been waiting patiently for the original deal to expire in hopes that the at it's expiration, the NFL would come to it's senses and put an end to this "exclusive license" crap. Simply put, any company – whether it's EA, 2K or anyone else – needs to have competition in order to really move a series forward. All the NFL has done here is given EA carte blanche to sit on it's laurels making minor tweaks and changes to each year's edition of Madden knowing that fans will have no choice but to pick up their product if they want to play with current rosters.
Personally, I hope in response 2K chooses to scrap the All-Pro Football "legends" concept and simply release a game that has the same local teams and players just without using the actual team and player names. Let the players edit (and share) their rosters and team colors to whatever they choose or design and sit back and watch as the game becomes an unofficial NFL product.
*sigh* Check out the links below for more details and the full text of the press release.
February 13, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Electronic Arts, Exclusives, Football, Madden, Opinion |
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A multiplayer demo of THQ’s Frontlines: Fuel of War for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all regions except India via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 1.11GB.
Please note: As of late November, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
February 12, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, FPS, THQ, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Well, another week is upon us and, while not as robust as late 2007's lists, there are a few games worth mentioning coming to retail. While I was tempted to give the game of the week honors to Sam & Max's latest episodic adventure, I think the role playing fans out there would burn me in effigy if I didn't give the nod to legendary producer Hironobu Sakaguchi's Lost Odyssey.
Lost Odyssey is an epic JRPG where players will follow the apparently immortal Kaim through the past 1,000 years, living through his greatest moments, loves and failures. The game scored a 36/40 at Famitsu following it's release in Japan, and I think we can all agree that for an Xbox 360 game, that's saying something.
Bottom line from me is that while I won't be racing out to buy it, I will probably give it a rental in the coming weeks. Having said that, I do need to remind everyone that it's not a slam on the game, but rather the fact that I neither have the time for a long RPG, nor am I a huge fan of the JRPG style. What that means is that those of you 360 owners who have a love of classic JRPGs should ignore my personal preferences and give this one a try – you may finally have a title to rally behind.
With that out of the way, let's take a look at some of this week's more notable releases;
Look upon this week's release list and despair.
- Abra Academy (PC) – 2/13/2008
- Balloon Pop (WII) – 2/13/2008
- Carrier Strike Force (PC) – 2/14/2008
- Chessmaster (PSP) – 2/13/2008
- Conflict: Denied Ops (360) – 2/13/2008
- Conflict: Denied Ops (PC) – 2/13/2008
- Conflict: Denied Ops (PS3) – 2/13/2008
- Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements (360) – 2/13/2008
- Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Mermaids (PS2) – 2/12/2008
- Dungeon Explorer (DS) – 2/13/2008
- Forgotten Riddles: The Mayan Princess (PC) – 2/12/2008
- Go Diego Go: Safari Rescue (PS2) – 2/12/2008
- Go Diego Go: Safari Rescue (WII) – 2/12/2008
- Jumper (360) – 2/13/2008
- Jumper (PS2) – 2/13/2008
- Jumper (WII) – 2/13/2008
- Lost Odyssey (360) – 2/13/2008
- Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate (PC) – 2/13/2008
- Pirateville (PC) – 2/13/2008
- Powerboat GT (PC) – 2/13/2008
- Professor Layton & The Curious Village (DS) – 2/12/2008
- Rock Band Drum Set (360) – 2/13/2008
- Rock Band Drum Set (PS3) – 2/13/2008
- Sam & Max: Episode 203 – Night of the Raving Dead (PC) – 2/13/2008
- The Experiment (PC) – 2/16/2008
- Winter Sports (WII) – 2/12/2008
- Wipeout Pulse (PSP) – 2/13/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
February 11, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
This Week's Releases |
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I'll keep this one short as I'm running massively late at the moment and haven't had much time to prepare any kind of a post for today. It seems I forgot to mention that Electronic Arts has officially delayed Mercenaries 2: World in Flames a few weeks back.
According to Kotaku, while retailers are listing the game as coming this November, EA will only commit to a fiscal 2009 release, meaning the game could ship anywhere from April of this year to March of 2009.
I've said it before and I'll say it again until the end of time – these delays don't bother me so long as the end product benefits from teh added time. I would far prefer to see Mercenaries 2 be the kickass funfest the first game was than The Outfit v2.
February 10, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Delayed, Electronic Arts, Mercenaries, Pandemic Studios |
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Hey gang, it’s time for yet another edition of Lazy Day Trailers – today well be looking at Grand Theft Auto IV once again as we’ve got a new "commercial" for the Steinway Beer Garden of Liberty City courtesy of the folks over at GameTrailers.com.
If you’re a fan of the mock radio ads in the previous games, you’ll feel right at home with this one. Before you click though, please be advised that due to language, this is probably best considered Not Safe For Work (NSFW). You have been warned.
Grand Theft Auto IV will be coming to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on April 29th, 2008.
February 9, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Grand Theft Auto, Lazy Day Trailers, PlayStation 3, Rockstar, Take-Two, Video, Xbox 360 |
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MameUI, the Windows GUI port of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, has now made the jump to v.123, incorporating all of the changes seen in the most recent build of it’s command line based parent. Please note: this is the same emulator previously known as MAME32, however it's name has been changed as the builds now come in both 32bit and 64bit flavors.
Check out the official MameUI page here for more details and the download links.
- MameUI – Official home of MameUI
February 8, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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The latest version of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator is now available. Version 1.23 incorporates all of the changes made over the last series of interim updates. If you were having problems with anything in v.122, this new version may be the one for you.
The updated files can be found at the official MAME page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this release.
February 8, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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According to Microsoft's in-house blog, Gamescore Blog, effective immediately the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive add-on will see a $50 price reduction, bringing it's cost down to $129.99.
"We’re happy to announce that we’re lowering the price of the popular Xbox 360 HD DVD player from $179 to $129 (estimated retail price) in the U.S. and Canada, effective immediately." – Gamerscore Blog
That's the whole text of the message – which makes me think that Microsoft isn't quite as happy to be making this announcement as they claim to be. I don't know about you, but this one has the smell of desperation written all over it. With the recent upswing in Blu-Ray's install base and the rumored departures of even more studios from the HD-DVD side, I do have to wonder if Microsoft will continue to produce the drives or if this is just their way of clearing inventory.
One thing is for certain, collectors should begin keeping an eye on the drive, because if history teaches us anything, it's that once the price bottoms out and the spare inventory is gone, the aftermarket cost will explode. It may not happen this month, next month or the even in the next six months depending on how the high-definition video format wars go, but I get the feeling at some point, the drive is going to wind up in the clearance bin.
February 7, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, HD-DVD, Microsoft, Peripherals & Accessories, Price Drop, Xbox 360 |
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This week, Xbox Live Arcade brings us another original title in the form of Void Star Creations' Poker Smash. What we've got here is your standard "match the objects" puzzle game mixed with everyone's favorite card game poker.
I was originally hoping the game would play more like the old Poker Solitaire game found on the Atari 2600 cartridge Casino, but while that little dream may have been crushed, Poker Smash does present an interesting twist to the standard puzzler and offers some fun gameplay all of it's own. Gameplay is simple enough, poker cards appear in columns that are moving towards the top of the screen. Your job is to move cards around sideways from column to column in an attempt to form poker hands. As you create hands, the cards are removed from the column and the game continues until one of the columns reaches the top of the screen. Players are also given the ability to destroy specific cards they target as well as change the speed of the columns movement. Put it all together and you've got a pretty decent puzzler.
Title: Poker Smash
Developer: Void Star Creations LLC
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 2/06/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2 / 2-5 Online
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E (Everyone) Mild Language
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Poker Smash™ is an action-packed puzzle game with a poker twist. Poker Smash expands on the traditional match-three puzzle mechanic with elements of one of the world's most popular card games: poker. Make vertical and horizontal matches by forming poker hands, and play in seven different game modes, including multiplayer. Fast and fluid controls paired with radical features such as super-slow motion and card-blasting bombs make this game a whole new puzzle experience!
- Innovative gameplay: Match-three gameplay with a twist. Create poker hands and form chains to rack up the big score.
- Seven game modes: Intense game modes include action, timed, puzzle levels (55 of them), practice, custom playlist, split screen head-to-head, and multiplayer tournaments.
- Multiplayer experience: Two-player offline and multiplayer over Xbox LIVE® is featured.
- New leaderboards: In addition to the traditional leaderboards, Poker Smash features never-before-seen rivalry tracking and even movie recording with shared playback.
- Immersive environment: The next-gen 3-D graphics feature eleven different highly detailed environments and background themes, coupled with thirteen new original soundtracks for play." – Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade releases, I'm going to keep this short as I've been experiencing technical difficulties all day long here and just want to get this up on the site…
As I mentioned in last week's post, I'm not the person to judge Chessmaster Live, so I have nothing to say about how well it plays a game of chess. You're still on your own on that one. Rez HD on the other hand, maintains all the trippiness of it's predecessors while still being a quality rail shooter. Try the demo and I'm sure you'll agree.
February 6, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Microsoft, Puzzle, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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As promised, the good folks over at the Child's Play Charity have released the final numbers for the 2007 charity drive – and it's a staggering number…
This year, gamers around the world donated over 1.3 million dollars in games, toys, books and cash to over 40 children's hospitals around the globe, breaking last year's record generosity while bringing smiles to sick kids everywhere. I want you to stop and think about that for a moment – if you participated in this year's drive, you're a part of that number. You, and those like you, were a part of this stunning achievement and helped to make the world a little bit of a nice place. Yes, there's no denying it, you rock. Just deal with it.
I'm sure many of you wonder what happens to the cash donations that are made directly to the charity each year, so I'm going to answer that one too. Once more, the charity made it's visit to Nintendo's headquarters and picked up a sizeable amount of hardware and software to be spread out among the charities. While it wasn't expressly noted this year, I know that last year Nintendo gave a pretty nice discount on the purchase, so it wouldn't surprise me if they did so once again. Here's one of the shots Jerry "Tycho Brahe" Holkins of Penny Arcade posted of the haul – makes you drool, doesn't it?
So there you have it – 1.3 million dollars – take a bow. Remember, if you didn't manage to make a donation during the drive, both the Child's Play charity and many of it's member hospitals will continue taking donations throughout the year, so there's always time to make a difference.
February 5, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Charity, Child's Play, Fund Raising, Penny Arcade, This means you |
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Things are certainly looking up this week. While this isn't the end of the post-holiday drought, we do actually have a few games to talk about. Heading up that bunch is my pick of the week – Stardock / Ironclad Games' space RTS Sins of a Solar Empire.
I've been following the development of Sins for a long time now, and it's one of those games that I desperately want to love, but fear will just have too deep of a learning curve to keep me interested. I love the concept of a real-time strategy title that takes place in space – I mean, I loved Homeworld, but it was just too regimented for me to really get into. Every video of Sins I've watched looked absolutely amazing, especially when zoomed in during large scale battles, but when that same camera angle zoomed out, the scope of the game just seemed as if it could be overwhelming.
Bottom line is this – I'll definitely be grabbing Sins of a Solar Empire, but I'm going to hold back from fully endorsing it to you. Those of you who are fans of the genre know whether or not you want the game – as for the rest of you, with no rental option available, I'm hoping we'll see the release of a demo in the coming days so you can see whether or not Sins is for you.
One last note about Sins of a Solar Empire – as with Galactic Civilizations II, Sins of a Solar Empire will be released with no copy protection on the disc. Please support Stardock in their crusade to show that you don't need to kill consumer's pcs with anti-piracy schemes in order to make a profit – in other words, don't pirate the game – buy it.
With that out of the way, let's take a look at some of this week's more notable releases;
Look upon this week's release list and despair.
- 20 Questions (PC) – 2/6/2008
- Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles (DS) – 2/6/2008
- Culdcept Saga (360) – 2/6/2008
- Dance! Online (PC) – 2/6/2008
- Devil May Cry 4 (360) – 2/6/2008
- Devil May Cry 4 (PS3) – 2/6/2008
- Devil May Cry 4: Collector's Edition (360) – 2/6/2008
- Devil May Cry 4: Collector's Edition (PS3) – 2/6/2008
- Downstream Panic! (PSP) – 2/6/2008
- First Battalion: Gold Edition (PC) – 2/6/2008
- Forgotten Riddles: The Mayan Princess (PC) – 2/6/2008
- Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore (PS2) – 2/6/2008
- Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore (Bundle) (360) – 2/6/2008
- Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore (Bundle) (PS2) – 2/6/2008
- Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore (Bundle) (WII) – 2/6/2008
- Medieval II: Total War – Gold Edition (PC) – 2/6/2008
- Merv Griffin's Crosswords (PC) – 2/6/2008
- My Horse and Me (DS) – 2/6/2008
- My Horse and Me (WII) – 2/6/2008
- Nobunaga's Ambition : Rise to Power (PS2) – 2/6/2008
- Paws and Claws: Pet Resort (DS) – 2/5/2008
- Puppy Palace (DS) – 2/6/2008
- Real Soccer 2008 (GameStop Exclusive) (DS) – 2/6/2008
- Sins of a Solar Empire (PC) – 2/5/2008
- Spaceforce Captains (PC) – 2/6/2008
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (360) – 2/6/2008
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (DS) – 2/6/2008
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (PC) – 2/6/2008
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (PS2) – 2/6/2008
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (WII) – 2/6/2008
- Turok (360) – Released
- Turok (PS3) – Released
- Twisted Metal: Head On (PS2) – 2/6/2008
- Zoo Tycoon 2 (DS) – 2/5/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
February 4, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
This Week's Releases |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.122.8, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.122u8, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
February 3, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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Another weekend, another MAME update. According to the MAME development team, version .122u8 of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator should be the last update before version .123 is released. This update is another one that mainly focuses on bug fixes from the previous release.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
February 3, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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A demo of Eidos Interactive's Conflict: Denied Ops for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all regions except Germany and Japan via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 736MB.
Please note: As of late November 2007, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
February 2, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, Eidos Interactive, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Okay, I'll freely admit that I haven't been following all the supposed leaks surrounding Super Smash Bros. Brawl as closely as I should, but one thing I saw over at Joystiq today certainly caught my attention… R.O.B..
For those of you who may be too young to remember R.O.B., back when the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) launched in the United States, it included R.O.B., your Robotic Operating Buddy, a little robot who would play along with you in one of the included games. The initial idea was to use R.O.B. to help differentiate the NES from other gaming systems in an attempt to get retailers and customers to accept it in a post-console crash world.
In reality, R.O.B. was a dismal failure. Only two games were ever released that made use of him (including the pack-in) and in truth, even those games played better without R.O.B. than they did with him. At his best, R.O.B. was a trojan horse that got the NES onto retailers shelves in those early test markets, but one that soon found himself on the outside looking in on the NES' success. Discontinued and alone, it seemed R.O.B.'s glory days had passed – at least until today…
If the screenshots over at Joystiq are real, it would appear that R.O.B. (along with many other borderline Nintendo stars) has found his way into Nintendo's highly anticipated Wii title Super Smash Bros. Brawl. I've always held a soft spot in my heart for the little guy, and the fact that he may finally be seeing the light of day once more is more than enough to pique my interest in the title.
Check out all the latest details at the below links – Good luck little buddy, I'm pulling for you.
January 31, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Fighting, Nintendo, R.O.B., Rumors, Smash Bros., Wii |
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This week, the Xbox Live Arcade brings us two new releases in the form of the Tetsuya Mizuguchi's highly anticipated shooter Rez HD and Chessmaster LIVE.
Many of you probably only know the original Rez from the famous internet story about the game and it's curious peripheral, the Trance Vibrator, posted at GameGirl Advance, but even without the more salacious aspect of the games history, Rez does have a cult following among former Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 owners.
At it's heart, Rez HD – like the original Rez, is a rail shooter that tries to draw the player in by presenting them with a world of color and sound that responds to their every action while simultaneously overloading the senses… and for those of you wondering, while the game does not support the original Trance Vibrator, it will support up to three Xbox 360 controllers for one player – allowing two to be used in that capacity.
Rez HD will be available for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace at a cost of 800 points ($10).
Title: Rez HD
Developer: Q Entertainment
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 1/30/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E – (Everyone) Mild Violence
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Set in a cyberworld, the legendary fast-paced action-shooter Rez HD, created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, will provide the ultimate audiovisual experience as the player targets the enemies and hacks the system while creating their own beats. Rez will open your senses … let's go to synaesthesia was the watchword when Rez released in 2001 to become a fan favorite. The dynamic, total integration of visual presentation, sound and player input provides the ultimate audiovisual experience.
- Legendary gaming experience: Old-school vector style graphics, sensory response, and beat synchronization sets the title apart and is perfectly recreated in this port for Xbox LIVE® Arcade in high-definition and 5.1 surround sound.
- The world of Rez: Rez consists of five different levels, each with its own unique visual theme and style, musical track and a boss battle at the end. The game also features several different modes and lots of unlockable elements, giving it plenty of replay value.
- Game modes: Play through the five areas in regular or Score Attack mode. Go to the Beyond mode and try Direct Assault, Lost Mode, the free play Trance Mission, or take on all the bosses consecutively in Boss Rush.
- Feel the rhythm: To further enhance the Rez experience, artists including Coldcut, Adam Freeland, Joujouka, Ken Ishii and Keiichi Sugiyama (SEGA's Wave Master) contributed tracks to the game." – Xbox.com
Next up, we have Chessmaster LIVE from Ubisoft – which is, quite naturally, a chess game. While graphics may play a huge role in many titles, I think anyone familiar with chess knows that a chess game can really only be as good as it's artificial intelligence. It's because of this that I really can't say much else about Chessmaster LIVE as I've yet to play the game, not am I a good enough chess player to accurately judge how well the game plays. My advice to you is to try the demo and read any reviews that are released regarding the game before investing your 800 points ($10) in the title.
Title: Chessmaster LIVE
Developer: Ubisoft Sofia
Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 1/30/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E – (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Enjoy playing as a real strategist with the Xbox LIVE® version of the most-acclaimed chess franchise. Chessmaster LIVE allows you to challenge friends and players all over the world in thrilling contests and determine who's the real champ. Choose among several 3-D (or 2-D) sets and play against virtual characters or real opponents over Xbox LIVE. Solve puzzles and discover exciting variations of this classic board game. Beginners can learn the basics of chess, and veteran players can improve their mastery of the game with the advanced scenario. The game is yours … it's your move!
- The challenge of chess: Compete against advanced A.I. characters or challenge other Xbox LIVE members to a match.
- New message chess system: Start a game without any time limit, and play the game at your leisure over the course of days or even weeks.
- Chess puzzles and chess variations: Puzzle over a series of classic challenges such as "find the fork" or "mate in one," and experience new ways of playing chess including Dark Chess, Losing Chess, Extinction Chess, and Progressive Chess.
- Customizable environments: Choose from six 3-D chess sets and three traditional sets, each with their own distinct sound effects, piece and board design.
- Interact with opponents: Video options allow you to see your challenger during the course of the game." – Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade title, Boogie Bunnies just really didn't do anything for me. Sure, there were plenty of cute bunnies line dancing, but the game itself felt much like so many other puzzlers that I just didn't feel it justified the 800 point ($10) price tag attached to it.
January 30, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Microsoft, Q Entertainment, Rez, Shooter, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Ubisoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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A demo of Touchstone Studios’ Turok for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in North America via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 1.17GB.
Please note: As of late November 2007, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
January 30, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, FPS, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Earlier today, I stopped in on our friends the Warbears to see how their holidays were, and was surprised to find that our favorite fighting bears had taken on a mission of sorts while we were all drinking our eggnog. That's right, there's a new short Warbears adventure available at the series' official site – Adventure: An A.R. X-Mas lets us join up with Warbears as they do a little Christmas shopping.
If you like graphic adventure/puzzle solving games, this free web-based series is certainly something to check out. Enjoy!
January 29, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Free Games, Fun Stuff, Graphic Adventure, PC Games, Web Games |
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Okay, wow. I didn't think I'd ever see a week where there was nothing on the Nintendo DS list, but here it is. Overall, there's really not much to get excited about here, so I'll be keeping this short and sweet once again. In other words, if you're looking for a pick of the week, you're going to have to look somewhere else.
With that out of the way, let's take a look at some of this week's more notable releases;
Abandon all hope ye who go shopping here.
- American Civil War: 1861-1865 – The Blue & The Gray (PC) – 1/29/2008
- Bomberman Land (WII) – 1/30/2008
- Pacific Storm Allies (PC) – 1/29/2008
- Pet Vet 3D Animal Hospital: Down Under (PC) – 1/29/2008
- Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice (PSP) – 1/30/2008
- The Sims: Castaway Stories (PC) – 1/30/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
January 28, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
This Week's Releases |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.122.7, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.122u7, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
January 27, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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The MAME development team strikes again as version .122u7 of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator is now available for download. This update is another one that mainly focuses on bug fixes from the previous release.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
January 26, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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Ever since it was delayed from it's original October release date, things have been a bit hazy for Grand Theft Auto IV. Diffferent theories regarding why the game was being delayed bounded across the internet and Take-Two/Rockstar was eerily non-committal about when fans could expect to see the title.
Well, at least some of the mystery surrounding the game has been lifted. In a quick little e-mail, Rockstar announced that Grand Theft Auto IV will be making it's debut on April 29th, 2008. Mark that date on your calendars now, because if you think the media circus around Mass Effect has been bad, you haven't seen anything yet.
January 25, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Grand Theft Auto, Release Date, Rockstar, Take-Two |
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A demo of Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all regions via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 613MB.
Please note: As of late November 2007, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
January 25, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Capcom, Demo, Devil May Cry, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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A demo of Codemasters' Turning Point: Fall of Liberty for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all regions via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 1.24GB.
Please note: As of late November 2007, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
January 24, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Codemasters, Demo, FPS, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Just a quick reminder to all – starting this morning at 5am EST and running through 2:59am EST, Monday, January 28th, Chair Entertainment's Undertow will be made available for free to all Xbox Live members worldwide.
"Marc announced that all Xbox LIVE members (Gold and Silver) around the world would have access to a full Xbox LIVE Arcade game to download free of charge. We’re pleased to announce that beginning next Wednesday, 2:00 a.m. PST through Sunday, 11:59 p.m. PST, Xbox LIVE members worldwide can download the full version of the recent award-winning Xbox LIVE Arcade game, Undertow." – Gamerscore Blog
Microsoft has also been very clear that they are not leaving out those of you who have already purchased this title. If you've already bought Undertow, simply contact Xbox support at 1-800-4MY-XBOX during the promotional period and they will see to it that you get credited the 800 Microsoft points you spent on the game.
Regardless of what you may think of Undertow, free is still free, so I'd definitely suggest downloading this one regardless of whether or not you feel Microsoft could have chosen a better title to offer Live members to make up for all the problems of late.
January 23, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Apology, Free Games, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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A demo of Sega & Bizarre Creations' The Club for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in North America via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 1.36GB.
Please note: As of late November 2007, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
January 23, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Bizarre Creations, Demo, Sega, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Yup, you heard me right – while the game is going to set most Xbox 360 owners back 800 points ($10) when it hits the Xbox Live Arcade, a select few are going to get their grubby mitts on Rez HD for the low low price of free. I'll let that sink in for a moment… freeeee.
Okay, now that you've been properly prepared, here's the deal – I came across this little tidbit over at Kotaku earlier tonight, and figured this is something most of you with a 360 would probably want to know about. All you have to do is register at Q Entertainment's official website for Rez HD by 11:59pm PST on January 27th AND make sure to click the box that says you want to be participate in the drawing for the free download codes during the registration process. That's it. Pretty easy, huh?
According to the site, within 72 hours of the above deadline, 50 winners will be notified by e-mail that they've won and will receive their codes. Good luck all!
January 22, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Contest, Free Games, Q Entertainment, Rez, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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Things are definitely looking up this week as we actually have something to talk about this time around. There were several "A List" titles competing for the number one slot this week, but when push comes to shove, I've got to put my money behind… (drum roll please) – Advance Wars: Days of Ruin for the Nintendo DS. This turn-based strategy series is one that has never disappointed on a handheld and is one of those games that has always done an excellent job bringing players along in it's learning curve. Yes, It's due to that long heritage of quality that I'm glad to bestow the oh-so coveted (insert sarcasm here) "Latenite's Pick of the Week" award to Days of Ruin. Congratulations!
That said, there are a few other titles you may want to keep an eye out at retail this week, so let's take a closer look.
- Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (DS)
- As mentioned above, Nintendo's Advance Wars series is a favorite of mine, so this game finds it's way to the top of the list almost automatically. Perhaps the biggest improvement in the series is the toning down of CO powers so that they don't change the face of a battle instantly. In other words, expect a more even battle.
- Burnout Paradise (360 & PS3)
- I should be excited about Burnout Paradise, I really should… I certainly want to be, but unfortunately, I just am not a fan of the "open-city" approach Criterion took this time around. Call me old fashioned, but I'll still put my money for best title in the series on Burnout 3: Takedown any day of the week. Still, if you're a fan of the series, you should probably at least rent Paradise and decide if you like it for yourself.
- Pirates of the Burning Sea (PC)
- It's an mmog based on being a pirate – do you really need to know anything else? While I'm not sold enough to run out and buy a copy, the moment there's a free trial, I am so there. Arrrrr.
Look upon this week's release list and despair.
- Advance Wars: Days of Ruin (DS) – 1/22/2008
- Burnout Paradise (360) – 1/22/2008
- Burnout Paradise (PS3) – 1/22/2008
- Endless Ocean (WII) – 1/22/2008
- History Channel: Lost Worlds (PC) – 1/23/2008
- Iridium Runners (PS2) – 1/22/2008
- Kawasaki Jet Ski (WII) – 1/23/2008
- Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS) – 1/22/2008
- Mission: WWI Combat (PC) – 1/23/2008
- No More Heroes (WII) – 1/23/2008
- One Piece: Unlimited Adventure (WII) – 1/23/2008
- Pacific Storm Allies (PC) – 1/23/2008
- Pirates of the Burning Sea (PC) – 1/22/2008
- Rainbow Islands Revolution (PSP) – 1/22/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
January 21, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
This Week's Releases |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.122.6, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.122u6, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
January 20, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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No doubt about it, the MAME development team is working overtime of late. There's yet another update available for the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, as version .122u6 is now available for download. This update is another one that mainly focuses on bug fixes from the previous release.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
January 20, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
1 Comment
A demo of Touchstone Studios’ Turok for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 1.08GB.
January 19, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, FPS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Store |
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A demo of Electronic Arts’ FIFA Street 3 for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all regions via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 293MB.
Please note: As of late November 2007, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
January 18, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, Electronic Arts, Soccer, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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You know gang, I don't know how to feel about this next bit of news… according to Gamasutra, THQ has entered into negotiations to buy Big Huge Games. Now I know that the two have been working closely together since March of 2007 or so on some unnamed RPG, but I still have to say that I get an uneasy feeling about this one. I don't know, maybe I was just hoping to see Brian Reynolds and company come back to the Rise of Nations franchise following 2006's somewhat weakly received Rise of Legends.
One thing of interest in the article is the statement that it was actually a new intellectual property Big Huge was working on that prompted THQ to make an offer;
"We asked what else Big Huge is bringing to the table, given that one of THQ's stated goals in addition to increasing its internal development capabilities, is to expand its portfolio of owned IP.
He replied, "I would say that the RPG was enough, but what definitely sealed the deal for us on both sides is the next one. It's more innovative, more unique, and we just felt like it requires both long-term thinking from both sides. But also from THQ's perspective, it showed us that this is a studio that can gen some new concepts. Anything else coming out of Big Huge is icing on the cake."" – Gamasutra
Now being as big a fan of Big Huge and Brian Reynolds as I am, I've got to say that the idea of some new concept coming out of the studio is more than enough to snag my attention. I remember talking with a good friend of mine back when Rise of Legends came out that while the game made wasn't the best RTS title I had ever seen, it would certainly be a great backdrop for a massive multiplayer online game.
I almost wonder if this new, long-term game would be just such a thing. Certainly, the profits coming to Activision Blizzard from World of Warcraft are more than enough to make anyone consider trying to grab a piece of the pie. Admittedly, there's been nothing to make me think that's whats going on beyond that conversation – in fact, I'm not even sure if the "Rise" IP is actually held by series developer Big Huge or publisher Microsoft Games.
Getting back to the matter at hand, there is one (hopefully) bit of good news to be found here – according to the Gamasutra article, THQ currently plans on taking a hands-off approach to managing the company. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that this all works out in the end.
January 17, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Announcements, Big Huge Games, Brian Reynolds, Mergers & Acquisitions, THQ |
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Xbox Live Arcade brings us an original title this week in the form of Sierra's Boogie Bunnies. I'll say that again slowly to let it sink in… Boogie…Bunnies.
Initial shock aside, what we've got here is some type of puzzler with mass bunny dances thrown in for good measure. I'm not quite sure if someone (*cough* Sierra *cough*) is trying to cash in on the popularity of the Rabbids or what, but they certainly seem to be banking on the cute factor helping to sell this one.
I'm not going to pass judgment on Boogie Bunnies though, as I really don't know what to expect from it besides puzzle-style matching, dancing rabbits and an 800 point ($10) price tag. It's because of this, I'd highly recommend trying the demo of the game before purchasing it.
Title: Boogie Bunnies
Developer: Artech Studios
Publisher: Sierra Online
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 1/16/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E (Everyone)
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Help the Boogie Bunnies achieve their dream of superstardom as they shimmy shake their way through exotic, colorful destinations all the way to Hollywood. Only you can ensure they make it. In this revolutionary match-3 puzzle game, Boogie Bunnies lets you match up these wacky disco fur balls from three different sides—left, right, and from the bottom. Score chain combinations and watch them get their groove on. Let's get the party started!
- Multiple game modes: Play this great match-3 game with a twist at your own pace in three different game modes, Classic, Arcade, and Endless.
- Exciting destinations: Travel with the bunnies to the Arctic, Amazon, and Hollywood as they adopt the local culture.
- Stylish 3-D bunnies characters: Discover new bunnies along the way from designer sunglasses-wearing bunnies to completely outfitted diva bunnies.
- Fancy dance animations: Set up extensive chain combinations to trigger the bunnies' creative dance moves to catchy tunes.
- Family fun play: Join the party online or offline in two-player cooperative or competitive mode for the whole family to enjoy." – Xbox.com
So what about last week's Live Arcade titles? Well, let me start off by saying that Tron is just a travesty. How they could have picked control schemes that bad for the game is just beyond me. The main culprit in this crime against a classic is the use of the right analog stick as the spinner – it just feels unnatural and makes playing the game a bit of a chore. Since that aspect wouldn't affect the light cycle mini-game, they also chose to add in the usual control issues to make that more difficult than need be.
Thankfully, all was not lost as Omega Five, despite a few notable issues, is quite a fun shooter. It's a game that really captivates with it's look and follows up with some solid gameplay. If I had to take issue with it, my only two complaints are the size of your avatar (too large for the playfield – and quite confusingly, your legs don't seem to count as collision points) and the inability to switch between weapon types. Beyond those gripes, what you've got here is a fun shooter that, in my opinion, is worth the 800 point ($10) price. Don't' take my word for it though, download the demo for yourself and give it a try!
January 16, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Puzzle, Sierra, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade |
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Those of you who purchased the Wii version of Guitar Hero III are probably well aware by now that Activision accidentally recorded your discs in mono sound instead of Dolby stereo. You're probably also aware that Activision promised to ship out replacement discs early in the new year.
Well, according to ArsTechnica, Activision has now opened pre-registration for those replacement discs. Apparently you'll have the option of either calling to get on the list or being notified via e-mail.
"Pre-registration for the remastered disc is fairly simple: owners looking for an updated copy need only call (866) 780-8286 from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday, to get their names on the list. Alternatively, the help entry on Activision's customer support knowledge base has a handy "update me by email" function. No date has been given for when the discs will actually be sent out." – ArsTechnica
You know, while I applaud Activision for making good on their mistake, if I had bought the Wii version of the game, I'd be seriously pissed right now. It really shouldn't take this long to get what you paid for. I certainly hope Activision plans on giving those affected something else for their troubles too – even if just a free song.
January 15, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Activision, Guitar Hero, Oops, Replacements, Wii |
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The drought is back with a vengeance. Looking over this week's release list, I just can't find a single title to get excited about, so I'm once again going to suggest that you just catch up on some titles you've been meaning to get around to, read a book, catch a movie or do whatever it is that you do.
Look upon this week's release list and despair.
- Carrier Strike Force (PC) – 1/16/2008
- CSI: Hard Evidence (WII) – 1/16/2008
- FlatOut: Head On (PC) – 1/16/2008
- FlatOut: Head On (PSP) – 1/16/2008
- Furu Furu Park (WII) – 1/16/2008
- Kidz Sports: Ice Hockey (WII) – 1/15/2008
- Miami Nights: Singles in the City (DS) – 1/16/2008
- Nitrobike (WII) – 1/16/2008
- Rail Simulator (PC) – 1/17/2008
- Samurai Warriors: Katana (WII) – 1/16/2008
- The History Channel: Lost Worlds (PC) – 1/16/2008
- The Sims Carnival: Bumper Blast (PC) – 1/16/2008
- The Sims Carnival: Snap City (PC) – 1/16/2008
Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.
January 14, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
This Week's Releases |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.122.5, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.122u5, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
January 12, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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Yes, there's yet another update available for the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, as version .122u5 is now available for download. This update is another one that mainly focuses on bug fixes for the previous release.
As usual, unless you've been having difficulties with your current installation, I’d recommend holding off on upgrading until the next full release. Those of you interested in testing this build for the dev team should download the update and then head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started.
The updated emulator files can be found at the official MAME development page at Mamedev.org. You can Click here to see the full list of what’s new in this update.
- MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team
January 12, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
1 Comment
If you remember, awhile back H.R. Kaufmann, the president of Xidy (formerly known as Exidy), began making all the titles in the company's classic arcade lineup freely available for use with MAME via the official site of the MAME development team.
Although it's been awhile since the last set of ROM releases, it appears that Mr. Kaufmann is still following through on his generous gift to classic game enthusiasts everywhere, as the ROMs for both 1980's Spectar and Targ can now legally be obtained via MAMEDev's ROM page.
Once again, I'd like to extend a huge thank you to Mr. Kaufmann for his generosity.
January 11, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Classics, Emulation, Free Games, MAME, ROMs |
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A demo of Electronic Arts’ NFL Tour for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in Canada and The United States via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 710MB.
Please note: As of late November 2007, it appears that Microsoft has re-instituted the one week wait before free content becomes available to Xbox Live Silver members. As such, if you're not an Xbox Live Gold member, this demo most likely won't be available for download until sometime next week.
January 11, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Demo, Electronic Arts, Football, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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In the February issue of Electronic Games Monthly (EGM), Editor-in-Chief Dan "Shoe" Hsu announced that EGM had effectively been blacklisted by a few companies for publishing what amount to less than glowing reviews of certain games.
"Except with some game publishers, of course. Less-than-totally-positive previews don't sit well with those who are used to those press-release rehashes. Combine that with our candid reviews, and you can imagine the consequences that we have to face constantly.
For the time being, you'll get little, late, or no coverage of the following products: anything Mortal Kombat (they didn't like our reviews), anything from Sony's sports department (ditto), and now, anything from Ubisoft (it seems our coverage of Assassin's Creed was the last straw). So in case you're wondering why you're seeing so little of these games in our magazines and on our websites, now you know." – Dan Hsu
Now before you think that the above statement is EGM punishing those publishers for their stance, it's not. Hsu does say the the magazine will continue to cover affected titles as much, and as fairly as possible, but that previews and such will be hard to come by while being essentially blacklisted.
Now the whole review thing has certainly been getting out of hand of late, what with the Gerstmann firing over at Gamespot and now this. It's one thing to invite the media in and give them a snow job about your product, show them it's best features only and try to get them excited about it, but when you start attempting to influence the final review by methods of coercion, that's another.
These publishers need to realize that review sites are in the business of reviewing a product, not working as an extension of a company's marketing department. The bread and butter of any good review site is that people know they can trust the reviewers to tell them what they honestly thought about a title. When a magazine or site compromises on that, they either become a laughing stock or people just stop paying any attention to them – either way, it's not good for business.
In short, I'd like to congratulate Dan and the rest of the EGM team on sticking up for journalistic integrity on this one and not caving in to external pressure. Way to go guys – it makes me proud to be an EGM subscriber. Keep telling it like it is, and I'll keep renewing.
Dan's entire editorial has also been reposted over at 1up.com, so check out the link below for all the details.
- Banned – Dan Hsu editorial reprinted at 1up.com
- EGM – EGM's homepage at 1up.com
January 10, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Banned!, EGM, Journalistic Integrity, Magazines, Mainstream Media, PR Nightmare |
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Xbox Live Arcade returns to it's familiar two-a-week format this time around with the release of both an arcade classic and original title make their way to the Xbox Live Marketplace. That's right, we've got the best of both worlds in the form of 1982's Tron as well as Hudson's new shmup Omega Five.
As indicated above, Tron made it's debut in arcades back in 1982, following the release of the Disney film of the same name, and quickly won over gamers with both it's mix of mini-games and replication of the film's iconic light cycle scene. While I do (once again) question how well the game will control with the 360 control pad, this is still a title that I can see myself picking up even if only for reasons of nostalgia.
Title: Tron
Developer: Backbone Entertainment
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 1/09/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E – (Everyone) Mild Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"The arcade classic is back! And Tron is even better this time around with enhanced graphics, CD-quality sound and two-person multiplayer.
Battle as mighty video warrior Tron against the insidious Master Control Program and his ruthless right-hand man, Sark. Tron offers a retro-futuristic test of gaming ability. Race life cycles, demolish tanks, dodge grid bugs, and even face off against the MCP himself to find out who truly rules the computer world!
- Enhanced original: Tron is a perfect recreation of the classic arcade game based on the pioneering computer animated Disney film. Authentic graphics, gameplay and audio have all been upgraded to take advantage of the high-definition graphics and CD bit rate quality of Xbox 360™.
- Light cycles rule: Now you can be a part of the most famous scene from the movie. Ride your blue cycle and battle the enemy yellow cycles in a gridline battle royale.
- Great gameplay elements: Exterminate the Grid Bugs and escape into the I/O Tower before time runs out. Demolish all enemy tanks and Recognizers to clear the board. Smash the blocks and move your character into the MCP cone to clear the level. A bonus is awarded if you destroy all the blocks.
- Multiplayer capability: The original arcade game was single player only. Now, Xbox LIVE® Arcade brings you the first version of the game with two-person multiplayer functionality.
- Multiplayer modes: Split screen and online, co-op and versus, there are lots of ways to play Tron. In Versus mode, the players race to achieve the highest score. Try Versus Speed mode, where the first player to reach a host-defined score wins. In Co-op, both players' scores are added together to achieve a high score. And beware the Pressure Cooker where players race to achieve the highest score, but taking the lead after a sub-stage causes the other player's game speed to increase." – Xbox.com
Next up, we have Omega Five – a new shoot-em-up from Hudson. I haven't seen much of the title so far, but the little that I have seen has been encouraging. O5 seems to be a character driven, side-scrolling shooter with a high-def coat of paint on top of it – and that's certainly not a bad thing to be. The game rings in at 800 points ($10), so be sure to try the demo before committing to buy.
Title: Omega Five
Developer: Natsume
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 1/09/08
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: E10 – (Everyone 10+) Fantasy Violence & Mild Suggestive Themes
Demo?: Yes
From the Xbox.com product description;
"Omega Five is a true next-gen, high-definition shooter, with the most awe-inspiring graphics around. Fly through dangerous 3-D environments in this side-scroller as enemies come at you from all sides, even the background. Grab an extra controller, choose your merc, and engage in two-player local co-op play for more action.
- Unbelievable visuals: This side-scrolling shooter is set in a gorgeous 3-D environment.
- Challenging gameplay: If you're a hardcore player, try your hand at the ultra-challenging ++ Mode, where you're only allowed one hit!
- Local co-op: Grab an extra controller and demolish enemies with a friend by your side.
- Dangerous environments: Enemies come at you from all sides, even from the background.
- Merc variety: Fight as Ruby, Tempest, or other characters, each of whom has three unique main weapons and special attacks.
- Unlockable extras: Discover new characters, game modes, and options.
- Intuitive controls: The modern control scheme uses the right analog stick to aim and fire." – Xbox.com
As for last week's Live Arcade title, I have to say that I didn't experience any of the problems many reported with Metal Slug 3 – or at least the demo version of it. What I did come to realize is that Metal Slug 3 has never been my favorite of the series, and with my recent purchase of Metal Slug Anthology for the Wii, there really was no
reason to pay a premium price for the game.
January 9, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Classics, Hudson, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace |
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Following in the footsteps of the latest MAME update, MameUI v.122.4, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.122u4, is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME applies to this version of MameUI as well.
As you may or may not already know, MameUI was previously known as MAME32. The emulator's name has been changed as it is now available in both 32 and 64 bit versions (as MameUI32 and MameUI64 respectively). Please be sure to download the correct version for your CPU.
January 8, 2008
Posted by nylatenite |
Arcade, Emulation, MAME |
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NYLatenite's Gamer's Paradise 