A demo of 2K Sports College Hoops 2K8 for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 579MB.
- College Hoops 2K8 – Official website
ELECTRONIC ARTS MAKES OFFER FOR TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE
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)
- Electronic Arts – Company website
- Take-Two Interactive – Company website
- EA Makes Offer to Buy TakeTwo – Kotaku
BIOSHOCK UPDATE AND PLASMID PACK NOW AVAILABLE
Just a quick note here for those of you with BioShock for either Windows or the Xbox 360 – an update for the game is now available via the Xbox Live Marketplace (Xbox 360 version) or your favorite file download site (Windows version).
This update not only fixes several issues with the game, including the game's "widescreen" issues (it will now play in true widescreen), but also adds new plasmids and tonics to further enhance the experience that is the City of Rapture. It's a free download, so be sure to check it out!
- BioShock – Official website
- The Cult of Rapture – 2KGames
PLAYSTATION 3 COLLEGE HOOPS 2K8 DEMO NOW AVAILABLE
PLAYSTATION 3 ALL PRO FOOTBALL 2K8 DEMO NOW AVAILABLE
A demo of 2K Games All Pro Football 2K8 for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 607MB.
- All Pro Football 2K8 – Official website
BIOSHOCK BIG DADDY BROKEN FIGURINE SUPPORT WEBSITE NOW OPEN
Last week we told you about an issue where many of the figurines included with the collector’s edition of BioShock had been damaged in shipment and that because of this, 2K Games would be setting up a website where consumers could request a replacement figurine from the company and get a printed version of the previously downloadable only “Breaking the Mold” art book for their troubles.
That site is now active, so if your Big Daddy arrived in less than pristine condition, now is the time to go about letting them know. Full instructions for the return process are included on the site – with the exception of what carrier they use for the return.
- BioShock – Official website
- Return Broken BioShock Figure, Get BioShock Art Book – Kotaku
- Big Daddy Figurine Issue – 2K Games
- BioShock: Breaking the Mold – The Cult of Rapture
DROP BIOSHOCK COLLECTOR’S EDITION BOX, GET AN ART BOOK?
If you’ve been following all the BioShock news, you may have heard the rumor that many of the Big Daddy figurines included with the Collector’s Edition have been damaged in shipment. If you happen to be one of the "lucky" few who get a broken Big Daddy, don’t despair – it may be a blessing in disguise. According to a post over at Kotaku, 2K Games will be making replacement figurines available to those who received broken figurines. As an added bonus, because of the delay involved in receiving a replacement, 2K will be sending out printed versions of the downloadable art book available at the Cult of Rapture website.
Now then, before you go and do anything like "accidentally" breaking your Big Daddy figure, keep in mind that 2K has not yet posted any specific requirements for getting a replacement figure or the art book. The information on the replacement policy will be posted at this link once 2K has made all the details available.
- BioShock – Official website
- Return Broken BioShock Figure, Get BioShock Art Book – Kotaku
- Big Daddy Figurine Issue – 2K Games
- BioShock: Breaking the Mold – The Cult of Rapture
BIOSHOCK $10 OFF AT CIRCUIT CITY
I’m telling you, this is actually getting funny. Halfway through typing that last story, I glanced over at the Sunday paper and notices that this week’s Circuit City flyer has both versions of BioShock listed as on sale starting Tuesday. The sale knocks ten dollars off the price of each, so you can grab the Xbox 360 version of the game for $49.99 and the PC version for $39.99. The sale price is apparently also available online (though who would want to wait for the game to arrive in the mail?)
If you haven’t pre-ordered already, this could certainly be the way to go. I wouldn’t expect quantities to last long at this price, so if you plan on taking advantage of the sale, be sure to order online or get there as soon as possible on Tuesday.
- BioShock – Official website
- Circuit City: Bioshock (Xbox 360) – CircuitCity.com
- Circuit City: Bioshock (PC) – CircuitCity.com
BIOSHOCK DOWNLOADABLE ART BOOK AVAILABLE
No sooner did I finish writing that last article did I remember what I actually wanted to tell you about today – always seems to work like that, doesn’t it? 2K Games Cult of Rapture website has a downloadable book featuring art from their upcoming title BioShock. The book was originally one of the options gamers voted on for inclusion in the Collector’s Edition boxed set, but apparently it lost out to the Big Daddy figure, the mini-soundtrack CD and the making of DVD. (Ok, I get how it could lose to the Big Daddy figurine, but to be voted down as opposed to a mini-soundtrack and "making of" disc? what were those people thinking?)
Anyway, the book is available in both standard and high definition formats and can be downloaded via this link. One word of warning – 2K’s Elizabeth Tobey advises that you NOT read the forward of the book until you’ve actually played through the game as it contains several spoilers. I’d suggest downloading it but not actually looking at it until you’re done just to be safe.
- BioShock – Official website
- The Cult of Rapture – 2K Games
- BioShock: Breaking the Mold – The Cult of Rapture
BIOSHOCK SETTING THE WORLD ON FIRE
If you’re like me, you’re no doubt sitting around right now cursing the fact that you weren’t able to secure one of those copies of BioShock that was sold a week too early. While I can take come solace in the fact that in just a few days I’ll have not only the game, but a Big Daddy statue to put on my desk, that knowledge isn’t doing me too much good as I look at all the reviews for BioShock popping up across the internet.
Those reviews are what we’re here to talk about today – for want of a less cliche’ d tagline, BioShock is indeed setting the world on fire. The reviews coming in on the game are, without exception, all near perfect. It’s rare that you hear a game not get bagged on anywhere, so I thought I’d give everyone a chance to read most of those reviews for themselves. Let’s tale a look, shall we? (Click on the below links to head over to the reviews they represent – thanks to Tenwyn over at Gamer’s Lounge for finding two of these early reviews)
- Destructoid: 10 / 10
- IGN: 9.7 / 10
- GameSpy: 5 / 5
- GamePro: 5 / 5
- 1UP.com: 10 / 10
- GameInformer: 10 / 10
- Eurogamer: 10 / 10
- GamesRadar: 10 / 10
In related news, Kotaku is reporting that GameStop has stopped taking orders for the limited edition of BioShock – guess this time it really was limited… that or advance word on the game has become so great that it’s already massively selling above it’s original estimates.
No matter what the story is on the Limited Edition or the above reviews, it really looks like Xbox 360 and PC owners are going to be in for a treat next week. I guess I’ll just have to console myself (no pun intended…maybe) by playing the demo over and over until Tuesday.
- BioShock – Official website
- Gamestop/EB Games No Longer Taking Bioshock LE Pre-Orders – Kotaku
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