XBOX 360 BULLY: SCHOLARSHIP EDITION PATCH NOW AVAILABLE

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!

• Bully: Scholarship Edition – 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 

LAZY DAY TRAILERS: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV – THE STEINWAY BEER GARDEN

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.

• Grand Theft Auto IV – Official website
• Grand Theft Auto IV – The Steinway Beer Garden – GameTrailers

GRAND THEFT AUTO IV GETS A NEW RELEASE DATE

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.

• Grand Theft Auto IV – Official website 

LAZY DAY TRAILERS: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard anything significant regarding Grand Theft Auto IV from our friends at Rockstar Games, but that all is about to change. Rockstar has released the latest trailer for GTA IV, and based on what I’ve seen, it looks like one of the things Rockstar did following the delay of the game was to scale the character models back quite a bit.

Now I know one of the rumored issues with GTA IV was that it wasn’t running smoothly, but I really didn’t expect the character models to be knocked back as far they apparently have been. There are some moments in there where I’d swear I was looking at a last-generation game. Thankfully, Liberty City still seems to be rendered beautifully – and more importantly, the story seems to be solid… though I certainly hope that the annoying cousin doesn’t play a huge role in the game.

Anyway, enough talk – I know what you’re here for… check out the video courtesy of GameTrailers.com below;

On a final note, is that not the most disturbing looking stripper silhouette you’ve ever seen in your life? *shudders*

• Grand Theft Auto IV – Official website
• Grand Theft Auto IV: Move Up, Ladies – GameTrailers.com

GRAND THEFT AUTO IV DELAYED UNTIL 2008

Take Two Interactive has announced that due to "additional development time required to complete the title", Grand Theft Auto IV will be delayed until some time in fiscal year 2008.

"Take-Two is reducing its fiscal 2007 guidance primarily to reflect the movement of the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 to fiscal 2008, due to additional development time required to complete the title. The title is now planned for release in the Company’s second quarter of fiscal 2008." – Take Two Interactive press release

Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick’s further elaborated on the situation by stating that the specific problems can be tracked back to both the cutting edge nature of Grand Theft Auto IV as well as the need to develop it simultaneously on two different platforms. This view was further backed up by Rockstar Games founder Sam Houser who stated that both Microsoft and Sony now have teams working with Rockstar on their respective versions of the game.

"With Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar is setting a new standard for next generation video games. Certain elements of development proved to be more time-intensive than expected, especially given the commitment for a simultaneous release on two very different platforms." – Strauss Zelnick

"The new consoles are allowing us to create the Grand Theft Auto game we always dreamed about. Every aspect of the game and its design has been completely transformed. The game is huge and is pushing the hardware platforms to their absolute limits. The top engineers from Sony and Microsoft are working closely with the team in Edinburgh right now, helping us to fully leverage the power of both platforms." – Sam Houser

All I can say on this one is just… wow. I’m quite sure this one has blown a hole in the game lists of many, and to see one of this holiday’s biggest titles drop into 2008 is huge. I can’t imagine Take-Two’s shareholders are all that thrilled at the moment as this announcement further hurts the company’s 2007 bottom line – one that already had taken a pounding from the fallout surrounding Manhunt 2.

Take-Two also took the time to list their remaining titles for 2007 as well as the list of games expected to come out in fiscal 2008 – as expected, Manhunt 2 is nowhere to be found on either. For more information regarding Take-Two’s future plans, check out the full press release linked below.

• Take-Two Interactive – Company website
• Rockstar Games – Company website
• Grand Theft Auto IV – Official website
• Launch of Grand Theft Auto IV Now Planned for Fiscal 2008 – Take-Two Interactive press release

LAZY DAY TRAILERS: GRAND THEFT AUTO IV

Power was only restored here a little while ago, so I haven’t had the time to do my usual news-digging. What I did have the time to do was go over to GameTrailers.com and get my grubby mitts on the new trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV. This latest video gives us a little more of a glimpse into the story behind GTAIV’s action while taking a bit of a tour around Liberty City. Let’s take a look;

While that may not exactly be gameplay footage, it does look like it was rendered from inside the game itself – which would mean things are looking pretty good for GTAIV at this point. Grand Theft Auto IV will be released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on October 16th, 2007.

Those of you who want to watch the above video in high-definition or download one of the GTAIV trailers should head on over to the Grand Theft Auto IV video page at GameTrailers.com.

• Grand Theft Auto IV – Official website
• Rockstar Games – Company website
• Grand Theft Auto IV: Trailer 2 SD – GameTrailers.com
• Grand Theft Auto IV video page – GameTrailers.com

MANHUNT 2 GETS SHANKED AND YANKED

I’d love to go into detail on my thoughts regarding the whole Manhunt 2 rating issue right now, but unfortunately, time is working against me right now – hopefully I’ll get to talk at length about the situation over the weekend. What I will talk about right now is that Gamespot is reporting that Take-Two Interactive has decided to "temporarily suspend" the release of the now embattled Manhunt 2 while the company takes a long look at what it’s options are as far as the game is concerned;

"Take-Two Interactive Software has temporarily suspended plans to distribute Manhunt 2 for the Wii or PlayStation platforms while it reviews its options with regard to the recent decisions made by the British Board of Film Classification and Entertainment Software Rating Board. We continue to stand behind this extraordinary game. We believe in freedom of creative expression, as well as responsible marketing, both of which are essential to our business of making great entertainment.” -Take-Two Interactive (as reported by Gamespot)

The big decision here is whether Take-Two will attempt to change the game enough for the ESRB to drop it’s rating to "Mature" or shelve the title entirely. There’s no middle ground on this one as both Nintendo and Sony have already stated they will not certify Adults Only rated games for play on their consoles, which means the rating no longer just makes the game a pariah to most retailers, but now makes the game (which was scheduled to release on the PS2, PSP and Wii) completely unsellable.

So there you have it – Manhunt 2 will not be making it’s scheduled July 10th release date or quite possibly any other release date. Sounds like Thrill Kill all over again.

• Take-Two shelves Manhunt 2 – Gamespot
• Manhunt 2 – Official website
• Take-Two Interactive – Company website
• Entertainment Software Ratings Board – Official website

GRAND THEFT AUTO IV DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT NOW XBOX 360 EXCLUSIVE

Call it another blow to Sony’s chances for a good holiday season…

Some time ago, Rockstar Games announced that not only would Grand Theft Auto IV be coming to both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but that each title would be getting it’s own exclusive downloadable content for the game sometime after launch.

Apparently, that plan has been changed. GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, has confirmed that only the Xbox 360 version of the game will be seeing any exclusive content – meaning those players wanting the full GTAIV experience will need to play the game on Microsoft’s console.

"Talk of an exclusive deal began following the release of Take-Two’s Q2 financial report on Tuesday. The report stated that the episodic content would be released on 360 during the 2008 fiscal year – with no mention of PlayStation 3.

Now a company representative has told GI.biz, “The Grand Theft Auto IV episodic content is exclusive to Xbox 360.”" – GamesIndustry.biz

My take? This is going to hurt Sony and hurt them bad. For those still waiting on the sidelines of the console wars, this could be a determining factor in their decision to go with the 360 or PS3 and I’m quite sure gamers who have both systems may now lean towards the 360’s offering regardless of console preference.

Is there a chance that any good news can come out of this for the folks over at Sony? Sure there is – There’s been no explanation of exactly what Microsoft and Rockstar have agreed to, and given Rockstar’s past record with exclusivity agreements, there’s always a chance the content will eventually find it’s way to the PS3 as well. I just wouldn’t expect the PS3 version to have anything the 360 one doesn’t.

• GTA IV episodic content exclusive to 360, confirms Take-Two – GamesIndustry.biz
• Grand Theft Auto IV – Official website
• Take-Two Interactive – Company website
• Rockstar Games – Company website

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.

ROCKSTAR TABLE TENNIS DEMO NOW AVAILABLE

A demo for Rockstar’s surprise hit Table Tennis is now available in the Xbox Live Marketplace. Unlike previous demos that have appeared on Live, this one is a limited time demo, meaning that it will only work until the end of August – after that, if you want to play the game, you’re gonna have to go buy it. The demo weighs in at 526.81mb, so head on over to the Marketplace and get ready to experience for the first time the thrill of table tennis in your own home… yeah.

GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY STORIES COMING TO PSP

Finally, some more exciting news regarding the PSP coming out of E3. Rockstar Games will be releasing a sequel to GTA: Liberty City Stories for the PSP. The game is naturally set in Vice City and according to the press release just like Liberty CIty Stories this will be an entirely new game in the series.

"Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a new game in the Grand Theft Auto series with an entirely new storyline, new missions and gameplay that brings an unprecedented experience to mobile gaming. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories features the interactive, open environment of Vice City with professional voice talent, a diverse soundtrack and high production values that have become trademarks of this landmark series." – Rockstar Games Press Release

Nice to see the PSP at least get some love. Check out the full press release here.