2007 March « NYLatenite’s Gamer’s Paradise

TWO “NEW” HALO 2 MAPS COMING APRIL 17TH

In the latest Bungie Weekly Update, Bungie’s official Content Monkey, Frank O’Connor announced that two "new" maps will be released for Halo 2 on April 17th. I use the term "new" because as it turns out, the maps are based on some old friends from the original Halo.

The first map, Tombstone, is based on "Hang ‘Em High"…;

"Now, did I say that Tombstone was 90% Hang ‘Em High? I did! There are some subtle and some not so subtle differences. Obviously the graphical look is very, very different. Gone are the senseless pieces of geometry with no context. Now it is perfectly obvious, even to an idiot, that the giant crane put them there. We won’t go into why. It just did.

The massive main ramp has been changed too. It was something of a death trap in its Halo CE form, so now there’s a grav lift that boosts you past the really dangerous part (although the grav lift noise will give enemies some indication that you used it) and the internal corridor structure has changed on that side. There’s even some new areas up there, but they’re pretty small. And we’ve added another way into those corridors, you’ll just have to see when you play." – Frank O’Connor, Bungie

…and the second, Desolation, is based on "Derelict";

"The next most popular question was, “Why Derelict?” Easy. Right now, some of the most active players are competitive players. They get a lot of use out of these smaller symmetrical maps, since the tightly tuned variants they play require a certain amount of predictability. Derelict made the perfect foundation for that. Now, while Tombstone is a cool 90% remake of Hang ‘Em High, Desolation has been significantly altered for competitive play.

Gone are the meaningless upper floor tunnels, replaced instead by ramps that allow easy access to the ground floor, and create tight close quarters battles, and occasional grenade traps. The teleports have been replaced by rapid grav lifts, more direct and quicker to use than the ramps. Graphically it’s changed quite a bit as you can see, but it will feel familiar to Halo CE fans, although we dare say, much better." – Frank O’Connor, Bungie

Now for the important part – when these maps were originally announced, they were designated as being for the Xbox 360 only, however things have changed. Bungie has announced that the maps will be available for both the Xbox and Xbox 360 at a cost of $4.00 for both…

…and there’s the rub. I didn’t give the price in Microsoft Points, because the maps will not be available via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Because of the fact that the original Xbox is not supported by the Marketplace, the maps will only be available by direct purchase through Halo 2’s in-game interface – just like the pre-360 Halo 2 downloadable content. In other words, you’ll need to buy the maps via a credit card.

In addition to that little hitch, the maps are not transferable – they’ll only work on the system you download them for, meaning that if you have both an Xbox and Xbox 360, you’ll need to decide which one you want to play the maps on. There’s also no official word on whether or not the maps will be re-downloadable should you need to have your Xbox or Xbox 360 replaced. (O’Connor says the maps will be tied to your Live account as well as being tied to the machine you downloaded them to, which is why you can’t have the maps on both an Xbox and Xbox 360 you own.)

"Because of that, we can’t use Xbox Live Marketplace – it obviously doesn’t exist on the old Xbox. So this will be one of the last times you use a credit card proper to buy a map. In the Halo 2 game interface, you simply select the download option from the main interface, and it will show the new content there. This likely won’t ever be available on a disc, like the last maps, so this is your only method for the moment. These maps could in theory be made free eventually, like last time, but the truth is that we’ll have moved on to Halo 3 by then and it won’t be a priority. So don’t hold your breath. If you don’t have a credit card, simply buy a $4 Visa gift card at a supermarket. Bam!…

…You WILL have to pick which box to install it on. It’s tied to the box you download it to, as well as your Live account, so you effectively can’t have it on more than one system. Sorry." – Frank O’Connor, Bungie

So there you have it gang – come April 17th, Halo 2 will take a shot at re-taking it’s place as the number one game on Xbox Live. Will Gears of War fall before the Master Chief’s onslaught? I guess we’ll know in about 3 weeks.

Bungie Weekly Update 3/30/07 – Bungie.net
Bungie – Official website

March 31, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Bungie, Downloadable Content, Halo, Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live | Leave a comment

LAZY DAY TRAILERS: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV

Rockstar Games has seen fit to grace us all with the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV, and I’m thrilled to say that it looks like we’re heading back to Liberty City. I’ve got to admit that they’ve done a really nice job in capturing the look of midtown Manhattan this time around, so much so that I couldn’t stop laughing at the MetLife building becoming the "GetaLife" building. It’s juvenile humor for certain, but for some reason it cracks me up every time I watch it.

Grand Theft Auto IV is scheduled to release on October 16th, 2007 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

March 30, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Grand Theft Auto, Lazy Day Trailers, Rockstar, Video | Leave a comment

MASS EFFECT TO SHIP ON JUNE 5TH?

That’s at least the word over at Destructoid. According to this story, Mass Effect, the highly anticipated opening to Bioware’s sci-fi trilogy, will be gracing Xbox 360 owners with it’s presence on June 5th, 2007. While the folks over at Bioware aren’t confirming the date, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this one turns out to be true.

While we’re on the topic of Destructoid, I’d also like to give a huge shout-out to them on celebrating their first anniversary just two days ago – you guys make me feel so inadequate, it’s not even funny. Congratulations on building an awesome site and community!

Mass Effect (finally) has a release date – Destructoid
Destructoid says June 5th release date, is this right? – Mass Effect forums
Mass Effect – Official website

March 29, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Bioware, Mass Effect, Release Date, RPG, Rumors, Xbox 360 | Leave a comment

2K GAMES ANNOUNCES 2ND EXPANSION FOR CIVILIZATION IV

If you follow this site regularly, then you’re probably well aware that I’ve battled a Civilization addiction for a good portion of my adult life. While of late, I’ve managed to avoid getting overly drawn into the game, it’s still with some trepidation that I pass along the news that "Beyond the Sword", the second expansion for Civilization IV has just been announced by 2K Games;

"Civilization is close to our hearts here at Firaxis and we’re excited to up the ante on the series once again with what we consider to be our best expansion pack ever,” said Steve Martin, president of Firaxis Games. “Fan requests and a constant stream of new ideas motivate our team to continue delivering more and better gameplay for our premier series. Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword is a must-have expansion for every Civ® fan.” Key features include:

Expanded Epic Game: Firaxis Games delivers a massive increase in new units, buildings, and technologies to the epic game with additional focus on the late-game time periods.

New Game Scenarios: The expansion will deliver 12 new scenarios, many containing themes never before included in the Civilization series, custom designed by the team at Firaxis and select members of the Civ Fan Community.

New Civilizations: The expansion pack includes ten new civilizations, such as Portugal, Babylon and Netherlands and their associated unique units and buildings.

More Civilization Leaders: Sixteen new leaders including leaders for the ten new civilizations, as well as additional leaders for existing civilizations.

Corporations: A new gameplay feature that allows players to create corporations and spread them throughout the world. Each corporation provides benefits in exchange for certain resources.

Espionage: Now available much earlier in the game, this expanded feature offers players many new ways to spy on opponents, stir citizen unrest and defend their government’s secrets.

Events: New random events such as natural disasters, pleas for help, or demands from their citizens will challenge players to overcome obstacles in order for their civilizations to prosper.

New Wonders: Five new wonders await discovery including the Statue of Zeus, Cristo Redentor, Shwedagon Paya, the Mausoleum of Maussollos, and the Moai Statues.

Expanded Space Victory: Winning the race to Alpha Centauri will now require more strategic planning and tactical decision making.

Apostolic Palace: The United Nations will become available earlier in the game, providing a way for players to win a diplomatic victory earlier. New resolutions will also be added which will expand the available diplomatic options.

Advanced Starts: A major fan request, this new feature will enable players to “buy” components of a custom-tailored empire and begin play in the later part of the game, allowing them to experience many of the new features of the expansion pack in a shorter amount of time.

Enhanced AI: The AI has received many enhancements, making it tougher to beat on the higher difficulty levels. The ways in which the AI will attempt to achieve victory have also been expanded." – Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword press release

Is it just me, or is everyone else recovering from Civ-addiction feeling a little twitch in one of their eyes?

2K Announces Sid Meier’s Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword Expansion Pack – Official press release
Civilization.com – Official series site
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword – Official product page

March 29, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Announcements, Civilization, Expansion, Firaxis, Sid Meier, Take-Two, Turn Based Strategy | Leave a comment

2K GAMES DATES THE DARKNESS

The folks over at 2K Games dropped me a line to announce that The Darkness, a first person action game based on the comic of the same name, will finally be hitting retail shelves on June 25th, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

March 29, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Announcements, FPS, Release Date, Take-Two | Leave a comment

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS: JETPAC REFUELLED

You know, I’ll freely admit that I never played the original Jetpac, so I really don’t have much to talk about regarding this Xbox Live Arcade release. That said, Rare has released an updated version of the game in the form of Jetpac Refuelled, which is now available for purchase via the Xbox Live Marketplace. My advice would be to download the demo before you shell out any cash for this one.

Title: Jetpac Refuelled
Developer: Rare Limited
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 3/28/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Xbox Live Aware: Yes
HDTV Support: 1080i
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mildly Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Rare’s Jetpac Refuelled is a revamped and modernized version of the 1983 classic space blaster Jetpac. Clear a path through hordes of aliens to refuel your ship and amass a fortune over the course of 128 hi-definition levels, complete with achievements, leaderboards, and simultaneous multiplayer action.

Jetpac Refuelled provides everything you loved in the classic, plus 128 new levels of enhanced gameplay. Jetpac Refuelled can be played solo, or against another player on the same console or over Xbox Live.

Retro version: Grab your controller and enjoy the classic eighties version of the game.

Refuelled version: Rare’s remake of the classic comes complete with entirely new hi-def graphics, menacing enemies, new smartbombs that produce an electromagnetic pulse, modernized weapon upgrades, and updated gameplay for next-gen gamers.

Achievements: Earn up to 12 achievements and 200 Gamerscore points as you blast your way through space.

Updated graphics: The completely updated graphical look of the game gives you a truly hi-def and in-depth gaming experience. – Xbox.com

I’d normally take a moment here to talk about last week’s XBLA release, but due to technical difficulties I still haven’t had a chance to play the XBLA port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – maybe next week will be a double dose of mini-reviews. Maybe. (Here’s to hoping Microsoft can get my 360 back in my hands by the time Guitar Hero II launches next week)

March 29, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Microsoft, Rare, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace | Leave a comment

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS: JETPAC REFUELLED

You know, I’ll freely admit that I never played the original Jetpac, so I really don’t have much to talk about regarding this Xbox Live Arcade release. That said, Rare has released an updated version of the game in the form of Jetpac Refuelled, which is now available for purchase via the Xbox Live Marketplace. My advice would be to download the demo before you shell out any cash for this one.

Title: Jetpac Refuelled
Developer: Rare Limited
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 3/28/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1-2
Xbox Live Aware: Yes
HDTV Support: 1080i
Full Game: 400 points ($5)
Rating: E (Everyone) – Mildly Fantasy Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Rare’s Jetpac Refuelled is a revamped and modernized version of the 1983 classic space blaster Jetpac. Clear a path through hordes of aliens to refuel your ship and amass a fortune over the course of 128 hi-definition levels, complete with achievements, leaderboards, and simultaneous multiplayer action.

Jetpac Refuelled provides everything you loved in the classic, plus 128 new levels of enhanced gameplay. Jetpac Refuelled can be played solo, or against another player on the same console or over Xbox Live.

Retro version: Grab your controller and enjoy the classic eighties version of the game.

Refuelled version: Rare’s remake of the classic comes complete with entirely new hi-def graphics, menacing enemies, new smartbombs that produce an electromagnetic pulse, modernized weapon upgrades, and updated gameplay for next-gen gamers.

Achievements: Earn up to 12 achievements and 200 Gamerscore points as you blast your way through space.

Updated graphics: The completely updated graphical look of the game gives you a truly hi-def and in-depth gaming experience. – Xbox.com

I’d normally take a moment here to talk about last week’s XBLA release, but due to technical difficulties I still haven’t had a chance to play the XBLA port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – maybe next week will be a double dose of mini-reviews. Maybe. (Here’s to hoping Microsoft can get my 360 back in my hands by the time Guitar Hero II launches next week)

March 29, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Microsoft, Rare, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace | Leave a comment

GAMEFLY TO OPEN EAST COAST DISTRIBUTION CENTER?

According to Kotaku, many Gamefly subscribers have received e-mail notices from the company stating that they’ll (at long freaking last) be opening a distribution center in Pittsburgh, PA to serve members in the eastern half of the United States.

While this could certainly be great news for those of us who are quite some distance from the current center in Inglewood, California, I do hope that this doesn’t cause any delays due to the company splitting their inventory between the two sites. Certainly, over the years the most frequent reason I heard for people canceling their Gamefly memberships was that it just took too long to get titles in the mail. While they’ve certainly gotten better ever since they instituted their "Fast Return" policy (for reference, my turnaround time has dropped to 2-3 days each way since Fast Return’s inception), anything that can get my games to me quicker is always welcome.

While we’re talking about Gamefly, allow me to stick another shameless plug in my attempts to get a free Nintendo DS-Lite from them into this post. If you’ve never been a member of the service and have been considering taking them up on their free trial offer, why not use this link to sign up? Should five of you wonderful readers choose to remain with the service after the end of the trial period, they’ll bestow me with a free shiny DS-Lite for having gone through the trouble of referring you. (Once a member, you can also take advantage of the same referral offer to try and get yourself a free DS-Lite)

I’ll tell you right now, unless it’s a game that I have to get "right now", I generally buy all my games from Gamefly using the "keep it" option. Their used prices just can’t be beat, and if you rent the game the day it comes out, you’re essentially getting a brand new game at a significant savings – and the savings get better the longer you remain a member.

Okay, self-serving advertisement aside, I would like to state that I am a bit hurt about the fact that i wasn’t one of the people who got the aforementioned e-mail. It kind of stings, you know?

GameFly Expands To East Coast – Kotaku
Gamefly – Company website
The magical link you should use if you want to join Gamefly and help me get a free DS-Lite – Self-serving advertisement

March 29, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Announcements, Gamefly | Leave a comment

PLAYSTATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPGRADED TO V1.60

A little behind on this one, but Sony has upgraded the PlayStation 3’s system software to version 1.60, and this time around, the new features are more than just cosmetic. Before we get to the full upgrade description, let’s stalk about the most important (imho) aspect of the v1.60 system update, and that’s the addition of background downloading. Just like the Xbox 360, you can now use your PlayStation 3 while downloading content from the PlayStation store without having to interrupt your download except in the following circumstances;

When playing a Blu-ray Disc or DVD
When using network features of online games
When starting PlayStation®2 format software
When starting (Folding@home™)
When using voice / video chat
When performing a system update
When adjusting setting items under (Settings)

Background downloading was without a doubt at the top of many people’s wish lists for the PlayStation 3, and I’m glad to see that Sony has begun to implement it. Now if they can just speed up the download rate from the PlayStation Store, things would really be cooking.

Here’s the full patch message as per Sony’s PlayStation 3 system software page;

"The PLAYSTATION®3 system software version 1.60 update includes the following:Precision Zoom and Resolution settings (Internet Browser)

Precision Zoom: You can automatically enlarge to optimal viewing size the area on the screen where the pointer is located. By analyzing the Web page source, the system automatically calculates the best enlargement ratio based on the area where the pointer is located. Select here for details.

Adjusting the resolution: You can adjust Web page size for optimal viewing based on the PS3™ system’s video output resolution. A setting to reduce flickering of the screen when outputting in interlace mode has also been added. Select here for details.

Full-size keyboard You can now use a full-size on-screen keyboard to enter text. Select here for details.

Background DownloadSupport for background downloading of data has been added. Select here for details.

Folding@home™You can now download and use the Folding@home™ program. Folding@home™ is a distributed computing project that is run by Stanford University. The goal of the project is to research protein folding mechanisms in the hope that this will lead to medical treatments for related diseases. Using the Folding@home™ program, you can participate in this project over the Internet. Note that the program must first be downloaded and installed on your PS3™ system. Select here for details.

Remote play via an access point

You can now use the remote play feature from a PSP® system via an access point. You can establish a remote play connection with a PS3™ system that is not equipped with the wireless LAN feature (20 GB model). Select here for details. Other new or revised features in version 1.60:

Overall

Support for playback of BD-RE (Blu-ray Disc Rewritable) ver 3.0 has been added.

The PS3™ system can now automatically detect an HDMI connection to a TV. If the PS3™ system is turned on with an HDMI cable connected, the screen for switching video output settings will be displayed automatically.*
* Does not function unless the TV that is connected by the HDMI cable is turned on.
* If you are already using the HDMI OUT connector, the screen for switching video output settings will not be displayed.

Settings

Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, Chinese (Simplified) and Chinese (Traditional) have been added as options in [System Language] under [System Settings].

You can now select the character set to be used for file names under [System Settings] > [Character Set].

[Enable WMA Playback] has been added as an option under [System Settings].

[Disc Auto-Start] has been added as an option under [System Settings].

You can now restore backed up data to another PS3™ system under [System Settings] > [Backup Utility].

You can now register a keyboard and a mouse under [Accessory Settings] > [Register Bluetooth® Device].

[Remote Play Settings] has been added as an option.

Music

Support for playback of DSD (Direct Stream Digital) discs has been added. *
* These discs are music discs created using SonicStage Mastering Studio Version 2.1 or later or DSD Direct Version 2.0 or later (both Sony products, sold separately).

Video

Motion JPEG and AVCHD (.m2ts) have been added as playable formats.

Network

[Download Management] has been added as a feature.

Friends

[Start New Chat] has been added as an option." – PlayStation 3 system software page

March 29, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 3 system update, PlayStation Network, Sony | Leave a comment

MAME32 .113.4 RELEASED

Following right behind the latest MAME update, MAME32 v.113.4, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.113u3 is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME apply to this version of MAME32 as well.

Check out the official MAME32 page here for more details and the download links.

MAME32 – Official home of MAME32

March 29, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Arcade, Emulation, MAME | Leave a comment

MAME V.113U4 RELEASED

The latest "update" version of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, version .113u4, is now available for download. It would appear that the work on unifying the emulator’s code continues, and while those corrections should promote a few games from "not working" to "working" status, from what I can see there really aren’t any "high profile" titles the fix has added to the land of the living just yet. (Be sure to check out the what’s new file to see if any of your arcade PCB’s have been added to the list).

In other words, for the average user there really isn’t much need to upgrade this time around – unless you’ve been having difficulties with the previous release. As usual, I’d still advise most users to stick with v.113 until v.114 hits to save themselves from any potential headaches. On the other hand, should you happen to be the type that loves a good headache and don’t mind helping to test the latest build for the MAME team, you should head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started. Take two aspirin and call me when you run out of quarters.

The updated emulator 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 update.

MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team

March 29, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Arcade, Emulation, MAME | Leave a comment

MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES XBOX 360 ELITE

P class=”storytext”>The rumors are true… partially. Microsoft has officially announced the existence of the Xbox 360 Elite, but it’s not quite as revolutionary as expected. While the console does indeed come in black, includes a built in HDMI port and ships with a 120gb hard drive, the system is not IPTV ready nor does it contain the newer 65nm architecture.

"In regards to the rumor that the Xbox 360 Elite would contain a smaller, quieter, cooler processor than the current Xbox 360 model, Rodman said that that particular part of the rumor was untrue, and that the “internal workings” of all the Xbox 360 models would be identical." – Game|Life

The system will join the Xbox 360 Core and Premium models on shelves come April 29th, creating three different SKU’s for the system and will be priced at $479.99. That price gets you the Xbox 360, 120gb hard drive, wireless controller, headset, combination composite/component cables, HDMI cable and a one month Xbox Live Gold trial membership.

Microsoft will also be making the 120gb hard drive available separately for $179.99 including a bundled hard drive transfer cable which will allow current 360 users to move their content from one drive to another. Apparently Microsoft still hasn’t gotten the memo about how overpriced the 20gb hard drive was and has decided to take things a step further with the newer drive model. Seriously Microsoft, the need for the larger drive is due to downloadable content and the video marketplace, so why charge users an arm and a leg for a device that’s main function is to allow users to buy more downloadable content. The company also stated that they will not be offering any kind of upgrade deal, though retailers would be allowed to offer trade-ins if they so desired.

Bottom line? If you don’t have an Xbox 360 already, have a TV with a HDMI port and want the larger hard drive, this system may well be the one for you. When you break down the numbers and take the 120gb hard drive out of the equation (at retail cost), the system is priced almost identically to the other two SKU’s – but whether or not you want to pay a premium for the additional hard drive space is up to you.

Xbox 360 Elite – Xbox.com
Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite – Xbox.com
Microsoft Gets Elite – Kotaku
Microsoft’s John Rodman Talks Xbox 360 Elite – Game|Life

March 28, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Announcements, Microsoft, Upgrade, Xbox 360 | Leave a comment

XBOX 360 OBLIVION: SHIVERING ISLES EXPANSION NOW AVAILABLE

The Xbox 360 version of Shivering Isles, the final expansion pack for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, is now available for purchase in the Xbox Live Marketplace. The download will run you 2,400 Microsoft points ($30) and take up roughly 996mb of hard drive space. Of course, Xbox Live will be down today between 3am EST and 5pm EST, so you may have to wait a little bit longer to take the plunge.

Since we’ve now reached the apparent end of Oblivion’s product line, let’s take a quick look at just how much an Oblivion addict may have spent on the title, shall we?

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Collector’s Edition – $69.99 (+ tax)
Horse Armor – 200 points ($2.50)
Knights of the Nine (Expansion pack) – 800 points ($10)
Mehrune’s Razor – 250 points ($3.15)
The Orrery – 150 points ($1.88)
Shivering Isles (Expansion pack) – 2400 points ($30)
Spell Tomes – 80 points ($1)
Wizard’s Tower – 150 points ($1.88)
Thieves Den – 150 points ($1.88)
The Vile Lair – 150 points ($1.88)

All together, we come out with 4,330 Microsoft points in add-ons, bringing the total here to $124.16 for the collector’s edition, and $114.16 for the standard edition (plus whatever applicable tax you paid on Oblivion). Whether or not that’s money well spent is completely up to you.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Official site
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Shivering Isles – Official site

March 27, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Bethesda Softworks, Downloadable Content, Elder Scrolls, Expansion, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Marketplace | Leave a comment

THIS WEEK’S RELEASES: MARCH 26TH – APRIL 1ST

While it’s not the most robust release list I’ve seen recently, there are a couple of titles worth getting excited about this week, so let’s get to it.

We’ll start off with Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, the continuation of Electronic Arts long running RTS series. Choose to play as the Global Defense Initiative (GDI), Brotherhood of Nod or the Scrin – an invading alien race that has been added to the mix for C&C3. There’s a demo of the game available at most PC file sites, so if you’re still on the fence about this one, be sure to give it a try before you buy.

Next up, Bethesda brings the Shivering Isles expansion to the PC and Xbox 360 this week, much to the delight of Oblivion fans everywhere. You should already know what to expect from Isles, so just keep in mind that this one will be offered on the 360 as a download via Xbox Live only – and that the service will be down for most of the day on the 27th, so don’t bother coming down with a case of Sickaworka.

Moving along, Metal Slug Anthology is due for the PlayStation 2 this week, and any game that gives you seven (7) different Metal Slug games in one package is always worth mentioning. If you’ve never played any games in the Metal Slug series and consider yourself a fan of side scrolling shooters, you owe yourself a rental of this one at the very least.

Finally, any game called "Super Granny 3" needs a mention of some kind. I poked around on the ‘net and found the game’s homesite, and it would appear it’s some type of platforming, arcade style game – let’s see what the company line on this one is, shall we?

"The most unlikely hero ever is back for all-new, action-packed, kitty-saving fun! In her most ambitious adventure yet, Granny must navigate a run-down theme park and rescue her arch-nemesis, Dr. Meow, from the clutches of the even more dastardly Mr. Fang! Help Granny run, dig, climb, and float through five new worlds with over 200 levels of puzzle-solving, item-tossing, hilariously addictive fun. Will Granny and her kitties ever make it home?" – Super Granny 3 product description

You go, Gramma, you go. Now on to the depressingly Air Cargo Pilot free release list for the week;

Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars – PC – 3/27/2007
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars – Kane Edition – PC – 3/27/2007
DEFCON – PC – 3/27/2007
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Shivering Isles – 360 (Download only) – 3/27/2007
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Shivering Isles – PC – 3/27/2007
Hard Rock Casino – PSP – 3/27/2007
Made Man – PS2 – 3/27/2007
Medal of Honor Vanguard – PS2 – 3/27/2007
Medal of Honor Vanguard – WII – 3/27/2007
POGO Island – DS – 3/27/2007
Virtua Tennis 3 – PSP – 3/27/2007
Alien Disco Safari – PC – 3/28/2007
Baseball Mogul 2008 – PC – 3/28/2007
Dance Dance Revolution: Universe – 360 – 3/28/2007
Honeycomb Beat – DS – 3/28/2007
Konami Classics: Arcade Hits – DS – 3/28/2007
Meet the Robinsons – 360 – 3/28/2007
Meet the Robinsons – DS – 3/28/2007
Meet the Robinsons – PC – 3/28/2007
Meet the Robinsons – PS2 – 3/28/2007
Meet the Robinsons – WII – 3/28/2007
Purr Pals – DS – 3/28/2007
Red Star – PS2 – 3/28/2007
Splinter Cell: Double Agent – PS3 – 3/28/2007
Super Granny 3 – PC – 3/28/2007
The Settlers – DS – 3/28/2007
Westward – PC – 3/28/2007
Metal Slug Anthology – PS2 – 3/29/2007
Test Drive Unlimited – PC – 3/29/2007

Please keep in mind these are only estimated release dates and could change at any time.

March 26, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | This Week's Releases | Leave a comment

HOW TO GET INTO THE SINS OF A SOLAR EMPIRE BETA TEST

The folks over at Stardock & Ironclad Games have announced that anyone who pre-orders their upcoming space RTS game, Sins of a Solar Empire, through the TotalGaming.net store will be given access to the initial beta test of the game starting on March 27th;

"Sins of a Solar Empire represents the birth of the RT4X genre, seamlessly blending spectacular tactical combat with grand-scale space strategy. Players must conquer worlds, engage in diplomacy and trade with other civilizations, and use the resources at their disposal to enhance their economy, develop new technology and increase military power. They must then test their mettle on a 3D tactical battlefield, where their ships will fight it out in stunning visual glory."

“We’re thrilled to finally give loyal Stardock and Ironclad fans the opportunity to experience Sins of a Solar Empire themselves” said Brian Clair, Director of Games Publishing for Stardock Entertainment. “Their input and gameplay feedback will ultimately help us deliver an incredibly fun, balanced and stable game later this year.” – Sins of a Solar Empire press release

The initial test will only contain one playable civilization and will not support multiplayer modes, but for those out there who have been breathlessly awaiting this one, I’m quite sure that any taste of Sins will be more than welcome.

I originally planned on pre-ordering this one this weekend to take full advantage of the offer, but those PC issues I mentioned yesterday have basically eaten up my entertainment money for the next week or two, so I guess I’ll just have to wait a bit longer to fool around with this one. If you do happen to pre-order the game, feel free to let me know what you think of the beta – inquiring minds want to know!

Sins of a Solar Empire Beta Plans Unveiled – Sins of a Solar Empire forums
Sins of a Solar Empire – Official site

March 25, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Beta test, Pre-Order, RTS, Sins of a Solar Empire, Stardock | 1 Comment

XBOX LIVE SCHEDULED DOWNTIME – 3/27/07

I apologize for the lateness (and lack of) today’s updates, however it would appear that one of the hard drives on my PC has finally kicked the bucket, and I’ve been dealing with that situation for most of the day. Hopefully things will be a bit more normal by tomorrow and we’ll be back with out regularly scheduled updates.

Problems aside, Microsoft has announced that the Xbox Live service, Xbox.com and the Xbox.com forums will be taken down for maintenance on Tuesday, March 27th 2007. The maintenance period is scheduled to being at 3am EST and run through 5pm EST, though given the nature of server maintenance, don’t be surprised if it runs longer than that. Microsoft is also wants to state that this is not a dashboard update, so don’t expect to see anything new when the service comes back online.

Xbox Live Server Maintenance – Major Nelson

March 24, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Maintenance, Microsoft, Xbox Live | Leave a comment

MAME32 .113.3 RELEASED

Following right behind the latest MAME update, MAME32 v.113.3, the Windows GUI port of MAME v.113u3 is now available. The same advice I gave about the latest build of MAME apply to this version of MAME32 as well.

Check out the official MAME32 page here for more details and the download links.

MAME32 – Official home of MAME32

March 23, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Arcade, Emulation, MAME | Leave a comment

MAME V.113U3 RELEASED

The latest "update" version of the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, version .113u3, is now available for download. It would appear that the work on unifying the emulator’s code continues, including some serious changes to MAME’s Sega System E, Sega Model 2 and Konami drivers. While those corrections should promote a few games from "not working" to "working" status, from what I can see there really aren’t any "high profile" titles the fix has added to the land of the living just yet. (Be sure to check out the what’s new file to see if any of your arcade PCB’s have been added to the list).

In other words, for the average user there really isn’t much need to upgrade this time around – unless you’ve been having difficulties with the previous release. As usual, I’d still advise most users to stick with v.113 untilv.114 hits to save themselves from any potential headaches. On the other hand, should you happen to be the type that loves a good headache and don’t mind helping to test the latest build for the MAME team, you should head on over to MAME Testers to find out how to get started. Take two aspirin and call me when you run out of quarters.

The updated emulator 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 update.

MAMEDev – Official site of the MAME development team

March 23, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Arcade, Emulation, MAME | Leave a comment

MICROSOFT TO SHUT DOWN FASA STUDIOS?

Is Microsoft planning on shutting down FASA Studios? According to Game|Life, that’s the word around the old internet water-cooler. The rumor got started due to a post on the forums for the company’s upcoming title Shadowrun by what would appear to be a disgruntled ex-employee. The rumor has been further backed up by Game|Life’s editor Chris Kohler, who stated that he’s heard the very same thing from a source he has close to Microsoft. Let’s take a look at the two most important comments made on the aforementioned post in the Shadowrun forums;

"Fasa Studios is closing and good riddance. After years of substandard management (Mitch) and bad hiring decisions (Evan). Many of its employees (my friends) left to greener pastures because of the reasons stated earlier. It seems that someone finally took notice and decided to cut the tumor that is Fasa studios from the body of Microsoft. The Shadowrun game offers nothing new in the aspect of first person shooters and that it looks visually uninspiring and mediocre. Save your money for Halo3" – BoomStick, poster who started it all

The same poster later continues his assault making it apparent that much of his anger is based on the way many current and past FASA Studio employees have been treated by the company’s human resources department. He also makes it clear that much of the staff has already been informed that their services will no longer be required by the company. The thread itself was quickly closed by the site admin, however one of FASA’s employees did respond to the allegations right before that;

"Shadowrun will be shipping soon. It’s been a long three years for many on the team. I’m certain that some folks will be leaving us to do other things after we ship. That’s normal, and it’s healthy, too. As for our contingent staff here, they’re just that – contingent. They have a maximum amount of time they can work here before taking a mandatory break. Many of them are complete star performers, but when the job’s done, they move on, and the job’s almost done." – Kimona, Project Lead – FASA Studios

As Game|Life pointed out, you’ll notice that they never actually denied that FASA will be closing in that statement, which is something that I really would have assumed they would have done right off the bat. Is this a case of an ex-employee just looking to cause trouble, or a story in the process of breaking? – the world may never… oh wait, we’ll actually probably find out the truth right after Shadowrun hits retail.

Rumor: Something’s Up With FASA – Game|Life
Studio closing – Official Shadowrun forums
FASA Studios – Company website
Shadowrun – Official website

March 22, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Microsoft, Rumors | Leave a comment

XBOX LIVE ARCADE WEDNESDAYS: CASTLEVANIA: SYMPHONY OF THE NIGHT

This is one of those times when the fact that my Xbox 360 is currently among the ranks of the dead really hurts. By the time most of you read this, Konami’s Xbox 360 port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is going to be available for download in the Xbox Live Arcade in all of it’s enhanced glory. Symphony was the game that actually introduced me to the Castlevania series, and I remember not being able to put it down for days. I won’t spoil one of the greatest aspects of the game for those of you who’ve never tried it, suffice to say that truly completing the game is more difficult than how it appears to be.

What more can I say about the game beyond it truly is a masterpiece of the genre and for the 800 points ($10) this one is selling for, you’d have to be crazy to skip it.

Title: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Genre: Xbox Live Arcade
Release Date: 3/21/07
Console: Xbox 360
Players: 1
Xbox Live: Yes
HDTV Support: 1080i
Full Game: 800 points ($10)
Rating: T (Teen) – Animated Blood & Gore, Animated Violence
Demo?: Yes

From the Xbox.com product description;

"Recreated and enhanced for Xbox 360™, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is better than before with enhanced graphics, new achievements, and Xbox Live® leaderboards.

Years ago, Richter Belmont faced the nightmare creature Dracula in what was supposed to be the final showdown to rid the world of his evil. Instead, Dracula’s castle has once again risen from the mists to threaten the safety of the world.

Alucard, a mysterious figure with his own motivations, has taken it upon himself to enter the new castle, confront the evil, and attempt to destroy Dracula once and for all. With swords and magic, he must face hordes of undead demons who will attempt to stop him from harming their master. Unknown allies also await Alucard to help him in his journey. Can Alucard uncover the full truth behind the source of Dracula’s power

Two versions: Play the original version of the game or experience it in enhanced mode with improved graphics and modernized audio and sound effects.

Non-linear gameplay: Collect items, weapons and armor to defeat the powerful boss monsters that block access to key areas of the castle.

Xbox 360 enhancements: Earn 12 achievements and 200 Gamerscore points, and check the top players with the online leaderboards." – Xbox.com

As for last week’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I’ve got to say that I really wasn’t overly thrilled with it. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the game itself, it’s that I forgot just how annoying those boss battles could be from a "constantly dying" perspective. Still, the game controls well and is certain fun when you get a bunch of friends together on Live.

That said, you go pick up Symphony of the Night and I’ll go and sulk in the corner over there. Curse you Red Baron, curse you!

March 21, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Castlevania, Konami, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace | Leave a comment

MLB 07: THE SHOW FOR PLAYSTATION 3 DELAYED UNTIL MAY

While talking to a friend on IM late last night, I heard that Sony had announced that the PlayStation 3 version of MLB 07: The Show has been delayed until May. Now, it’s not that I don’t trust my buddy, but he often attempts to poke fun at the fact that I purchased a PS3 despite all my misgivings about it (not that I don’t do an excellent job of that myself) – so when he mentions that one of the few first party titles expected in stores anytime soon is getting kicked back on the release schedule, it’s time to hit the newswires.

Sure enough, Gamespot is reporting that the PS3 version of MLB 07 has indeed been pushed back to an undisclosed date in May… which isn’t a good thing when you consider that depending on when it releases, the baseball season could already be 2 months old. Anyway, thanks for the tip nyisles, looks like "The Shoe" certainly doesn’t fit on April – just like you said.

March 21, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Baseball, Delayed, MLB, PlayStation 3, Sony, Sports | Leave a comment

WALMART PUTTING THE XBOX 360 HD-DVD PLAYER ON CLEARANCE?

That’s the rumor over at CheapAssGamer (by way of Kotaku) – It appears that several CAG forum members have noticed the Xbox 360’s HD-DVD player on sale at Walmart for the much reduced price of $130.00. While the price isn’t listed on the company’s website, those of you feeling the need to pick up the peripheral may want to check your local Wallyworld over the next few days to see what pricetag they actually have on the drive.

It should also be noted that ever since the launch of the PlayStation 3, Blu-Ray has been starting to pull away from HD-DVD in the high-def movie format war, so this may be a pretty good indication that we’re going to have an early winner. In other words, don’t blame me if you buy the damn thing tomorrow and the HD-DVD format goes in the crapper later in the year. While I wouldn’t say the war over just yet, if the stories on the CAG forums about Walmart saying they’re clearing out their inventory are true, it certainly is a major blow to the format.

Was there a big price drop on xbox 360 hd dvd players – CheapAssGamer
Rumor: 360 HD DVD Players Now Cheaper? – Kotaku

March 21, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | HD-DVD, Rumors, Sale, Walmart, Xbox 360 | Leave a comment

120GB HARD DRIVE, HDMI EQUIPPED XBOX 360 COMING NEXT MONTH?

It’s a really big day for rumor-mongoring, so let’s move on to the next one. According to Kotaku, this months Game Informer magazine is carrying a story that Microsoft will be launching a new model of the Xbox 360 some time next month. This new model will not only come in black, but will feature a 120gb hard drive as well as a built in HDMI port. The projected cost of the system? $479.99.

While the issue in question is the April edition of the magazine, meaning that this could just be another April Fool’s hoax, Kotaku is also reporting that they’ve received confirmation from a senior editor over at Game Informer that the story is indeed true. Since that confirmation didn’t come on April Fool’s Day, I’ve got to assume that at the very least, the folks over at Game Informer believe the story to be true.

While the article also states that the updated system will not feature a built in HD-DVD drive, it doesn’t provide any details on whether this model will include support for Microsoft’s foray into IPTV service. Finally, there was also an indication that the 120gb hard drive will be sold separately for "under $200".

Game Mag Says Black Xbox 360 Is Coming – Kotaku

March 21, 2007 Posted by nylatenite | Microsoft, Rumors, Upgrade, Xbox 360 | Leave a comment