PLAYSTATION 3 THE CLUB DEMO NOW AVAILABLE
A demo of Sega & Bizarre Creations' The Club for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download via the PlayStation Store. Download size is approximately 1.70GB.
- The Club – Official website
XBOX 360 THE CLUB DEMO NOW AVAILABLE
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.
- The Club – Official website
XBOX 360 PROJECT GOTHAM RACING 4 DEMO NOW AVAILABLE
A demo of Microsoft’s Project Gotham Racing 4 for the Xbox 360 is now available for download in all regions via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Download size is approximately 1.27GB.
- Project Gotham Racing 4 – Official website
ACTIVISION ACQUIRES BIZARRE CREATIONS
In a surprise announcement, Activision announced late wednesday that they have acquired UK based Bizarre Creations, the development house behind Microsoft’s Project Gotham Racing franchise. While the exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, the acquisition does not include the rights to the PGR series, as Microsoft is the holder for that particular intellectual property. Geometry Wars on the other hand, as you may have guessed from the upcoming Nintendo DS release of Geometry Wars: Galaxies, is another story. I’d expect to see some form of Geometry Wars finding it’s way to the PlayStation 3 some time in the near future.
"SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sep 26, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) today announced that it has acquired U.K.-based video game developer Bizarre Creations, one of the world’s premier video game developers and a leader in the racing category, a $1.4 billion market that is the fourth most popular video game genre and represents more than 10% of the total video game market worldwide.
This acquisition represents the latest step in Activision’s ongoing strategy to enter new genres. Last year, Activision entered the music rhythm genre through its acquisition of RedOctane’s Guitar Hero franchise, which is one of the fastest growing franchises in the video game industry." – Activision press release
Obviously, Bizarre will be moved into making multiplatform games, which would virtually ensure the end of their participation in the development of the PGR franchise, though the early rumor is that Bizarre will simply move back to producing the Metropolis Street Racer series, meaning that while the name changes, little else will. One thing that many seem concerned about, is whether or not Activision will show the same kind of quality control that Microsoft has shown with Bizarre’s titles. As usual, only time will tell.
- Activision – Company website
- Bizarre Creations – Company website
- Activision Acquires U.K. Game Developer Bizarre Creations – Press release
GEOMETRY WARS: RETRO EVOLVED NOW AVAILABLE FOR WINDOWS XP VIA STEAM
A short while back, Microsoft finally released Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved for the PC – unfortunately, the game was released as a Windows Vista only compatible product, meaning millions of PC users were locked out of the pure arcade goodness that is Geometry Wars.
Thankfully, Windows XP owners will cry no more… Bizarre Creations has released a Windows XP compatible version of Geometry Wars via Valve’s Steam download service. To celebrate the launch of a Geometry Wars that most PC users can experience, and to expand the cult of Geometry, the game will be priced at only $2.50 until June 22nd – after that date, the game’s price will jump to a still incredibly reasonable $3.95.
“The debut of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved for Windows XP delivers a pixel-perfect recreation of the game that has captured the attention and acclaim of console gamers and critics alike. The game has received multiple awards for its old school shooter style remixed for the 21st century with next generation graphics and deep, modern gameplay.” – Eric Twelker, Steam News
Since I’ve long dreamed of putting Geometry Wars on my arcade cabinet, I quickly plunked down my $2.50 and downloaded the game. Having played a few rounds, I can say that the game is indeed the Geometry Wars we all know and love. On my rig (P4 2.53ghz, 1gb PC2700, GeForce 6800GT/256mb) I only noticed some slight slowdown while running at 1360 x 768 with anti-aliasing enabled, mainly at times when you used your smart bomb to clear the field of enemies, and was stable enough that I didn’t experience any crashes during my initial playtests. The game was also perfectly configured for both the wireless and wired Xbox 360 controller straight off the bat.
Bottom line? If you’re still wondering what all the fuss about Geometry Wars is about and your system meets the specifications for the game, you’re not going to find a better game for $2.50 – be sure to check it out.
- Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (Windows XP version) – Steam
- Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved for Windows XP Debuts on Steam – Steam News
- Bizarre Creations – Company website
- Valve – Company website
- Steam – Valve’s digital distribution system
LAZY DAY TRAILERS: PROJECT GOTHAM RACING 4: THE SNOW IN… NURBURGRING?
Bizarre Creations has released the next sneak peak of their upcoming Xbox 360 racer Project Gotham Racing 4. Last time, they showed us what the rain in St. Petersburg would bring – this time around, they’re treating us to snowfall in Nurburgring. Looks like Bizarre plans on making the environment’s ability to change driving conditions a big part of the PGR experience. Check it out below courtesy of the fine folks over at GameTrailers.com.
Hopefully the release of PGR4 will also result in Geometry Wars 3 being brought to the masses. Project Gotham Racing 4 will be an Xbox 360 exclusive and is currently slated to release some time this holiday season.
- Project Gotham Racing 4 – Official website
- Bizarre Creations – Company website
- Project Gotham Racing 4 – Video page at GameTrailers.com
- Lazy Day Trailers: The rain in… St. Petersburg? – nylatenite.com
LAZY DAY TRAILERS: PROJECT GOTHAM RACING 4: THE RAIN IN… ST. PETERSBURG?
If you’re wondering why I haven’t said much about the upcoming Halo 3 multiplayer beta or why I haven’t posted any of the dozens of videos floating around the net recently, it’s because I’m trying to avoid as much of the pre-beta hoopla as possible so that I step into the fun without any expectations of how the game is going to play or how each weapon will feel. Sorry about that, but I hope you understand where I’m coming from on that end.
To make up for it, what I do have is a video of the rain effects in Project Gotham Racing 4, and once you see it, you’ll probably be drooling over PGR4 just as much as I am at the moment. It’s funny – I used to hate the PGR series and love Forza, but having played the Forza 2 demo, I suddenly find that usual role reversed. I guess I’ve just grown too fond of PGR’s cockpit view. Anyway, enough rambling – on with the video!
- Project Gotham Racing 4 – Official site
- PGR4 – YouTube
PROJECT GOTHAM RACING 3 STYLE PACK RELEASED
The latest add-on pack for Project Gotham Racing 3 is now available in the Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 points ($5). The PGR3 Style Pack adds new achievements, 3 new game modes and the following 12 cars to the game;
BMW M6 (2006)
BMW Z8 (2001)
BMW M3 CSL (2003)
BMW MINI COOPER S (2005)
Gumpert Apollo Coupe 4.2 V8 (2005)
2005 Chrysler Firepower Concept
Ferrari 365 GTB4 “Daytona” (1968)
Ferrari F430 Challenge (2006)
Mercedes CLK DTM AMG (C209)
Pagani Zonda F (2005)
RUF R.K. Spyder 3.8 (2006)
Vanwall GPR V12 (2006)
For those who don’t wish to purchase the full pack, individual cars can be purchased for 60 points each ($.75) and the RUF R.K. Spyder can be downloaded for free. In addition to the new cars, the Style Pack also adds achievements for the “missing” 200 achievement points as well as several new game modes;
“The new pack also features Photo Mode Integration, allowing you to upload your best moments online. The pack also includes exciting new mini-games such as “Free Roam Points,” “Team Free Roam Points,” and “Cat and Mouse.” -Xbox.com
Check out the official announcement here and then get to racing. Go Speed Racer, go Speed Racer, go Speed Racer, gooooooo.
Story Updated 11:55pm 7/11/06 – Despite what the description from Microsoft for the Style Pack may say, you do not need the pack to play the 3 new game modes. Apparently those modes are unlocked via an automatic update or can be accessed once you download the free RUF R.K. Spyder.
PROJECT GOTHAM RACING 3 STYLE PACK DETAILED
Computer and Video Games is reporting that the next car pack for Project Gotham Racing 3 is coming soon and will be adding 12 more cars to the game. As with the Speed Pack, CVG is stating that the 12 cars in the pack will be available for 400 marketplace points ($5) as a group, or that each car can be purchased separately for 60 marketplace points ($.75).
The report lists the following cars as being included in the Style Pack;
- 365 GTB4 (“Daytona”)
- BMW M3 CSL
- BMW M6
- BMW MINI COOPER S
- BMW Z8
- Chrysler Firepower Concept
- Ferrari 430 Challenge
- Gumpert Apollo Coupe 4.2 V8
- Mercedes CLK DTM AMG
- Pagani Zonda F
- RUF R.K. Spyder
- Vanwall GPR V12
No date was given for the release of the pack, but we’ll naturally keep tabs on this one and let you know as soon as that changes. Check out the full CVG report here and hope that they’ll increase the number of garages in the game this time as well.
ANOTHER SET OF CARS COMING TO PGR3 – FOR FREE
I was surfing at Kotaku, and came across this news bit – It seems Cadillac will be footing the bill for a new car pack for PGR3 as a way to advertise their cars.
Now I’m not sure how effective of a campaign it will be (just because when I think of cars, Cadillac is one of the last brands on my list) but I’m inclined to agree with Kotaku’s take on this that so long as there aren’t any obnoxious advertising intrusions that come with the car pack, it’s a near perfect example of how in-game advertising should work – The Advertiser gets exposure, the developer gets money, and the gamer gets free goodies.
Now hopefully someone will spring for a few extra garages so you can have all these new cars at once without swapping.
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