September 18, 2007

Team Fortress 2 Beta Live

Posted by Mike Fahey at 11:35 PM on September 18, 2007

teamfortresslives.jpgThings got a little tense last night while I was in my recuperative unconscious state regarding the Team Fortress 2 beta, which was set to go live for preorder peoples yesterday but as of midnight Eastern time hadn't. My tips email reads like an episodic volcanic eruption, stemmed at the very last minute as the game went live and playable at 11:30 or so Pacific time, thus fulfilling the September 17th prophecy. Oddly enough I had to go to the Steam forums to figure this out, as our helpful tipsters completely forgot to tell me that the problem had been solved, far too busy enjoying the game to drop us a line. I see how it is. We're only friends when you are angry, and that's okay. I'll take what I can get.

Every Extended Extra Extreme Impressions

Posted by Brian Crecente at 11:00 PM on September 18, 2007

S4_WIzUrMusikR4._ShootingE4_UNL_stage4_bE4_UNL_stage4_aE4_UNL_stage4_3E4_UNL_stage4_1E4_UNL_stage3_aE4_UNL_stage3_2

Tetsuya Mizuguchi met us in his Tokyo office earlier today. He seemed slightly taken aback by the mass of Kotaku writers that greeted him when he came through the door, but quickly settled into his seat and got straight into his walk through of E4, aka Every Extend Extra Extreme.

Like the PSP version of the game, E4 is essentially a reverse shooter, meaning that instead of zipping around the screen blasting waves of things trying not to explode, the entire game is about making your explosive death meaningful with deft placement of your character and a well-timed button push.

Every Extended Extra Extreme had five different modes, four in single player and a multiplayer mode. Every Extended Extreme Extra is the core of the game, the default mode, in it you zip around the screen trying to create a large chain reaction explosion by blowing up near a large group of things. As things explode you can pick up power-ups and increase your quicken bar (which maxes out at 20).

Mizuguchi said it's the sort of game that you play "sitting in a couch, maybe getting stoned, relaxing." He said porting the game from the Playstation Portable, which he describes as an interactive Walkman, to the Xbox Live was mostly about making full use of the high definition visuals and 5.1 sound.

"We design games by each console, each medium," he said. "This time its for the living room, sitting, relaxing, it's a new form of entertainment. It's like a toy."

Read More »

Smash Bros. Brawl Online Detailed

Posted by Mike Fahey at 10:30 PM on September 18, 2007

dojoonline.jpgThe latest update to the Smash Bros. Dojo! delivers details on the online multiplayer portion of the game and dammit, friend codes are still in effect. Every day I wake up and rush to the PC hoping to read an announcement about them going away, and every morning I die a little inside. Brawl players will be able to link up with their friends via impersonal strings of random numbers to battle it out online, complete with personalised, pre-entered messages mapped to the D-pad for taunting purposes. You can also opt to play random strangers, but without the personalised messages to keep the child predators at bay. Stats aren't kept for battles with strangers either, so you get all the fun of beating up random people with none of the joy of taunting, or indeed any proof that the match ever happened at all. Joy! Visit the Dojo yourself for more details and pretty pictures, and remember, "If you think of your opponent as a simple scarecrow, any psychological barriers may melt away."

Wi-Fi Play [Smash Bros. DOJO!]

Comatose Oklahoma Game Law Dies

Posted by Mike Fahey at 10:07 PM on September 18, 2007

Back in June of 2006, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed into law a bill that would make it illegal to sell or rent violent video games to minors. Due to go into effect November of last year, questions of the constitutionality of the bill caused it to slip from consciousness via a preliminary injunction. After a long struggle to keep the law alive, it passed away quietly in its sleep yesterday via a judicial decision for permanent injunction. My main reason for bringing this up is to share this awesome quote by Bo Andersen, President of the Entertainment Merchants Association.

"It is time for lawmakers to stop targeting video games and the retailers that sell them. They should recognise that all video games are rated, retailers are choosing to enforce the ratings in their stores, and the new PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 video game consoles and Vista computer operating system all allow parents to control the types of games that can be played on them. These voluntary steps, not government regulation, are true to the spirit of the American Constitution."
Someone give that man a cookie, right now.

Oklahoma's Unconstitutional Game Law Permanently Enjoined [GameDaily BIZ - Thanks Lucious]

Justify Your Game: Rez

Posted by Mark Wilson at 10:00 PM on September 18, 2007


We made Tetsuya Mizuguchi justify his Rez. And if our "Justify Your Game" segment is cruel to English-native Western developers, it's straight up evil in Japan.

Miz on Rez 2, Wii Space Channel and Al Gore

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 9:00 PM on September 18, 2007

ashcraftmiz.jpg While chatting with Tetsuya Mizuguchi, we touched on a variety of things. Things that matter. Like new Rez, more Ulala and Al Gore. What would be better than Rez remake? A Rez sequel. Miz didn't explicitly mention a totally new Rez, but did hint at his interest in doing a Rez sequel. So, why start off with the HD port?

I've heard from many who want to play the original Rez, but couldn't buy it in stores anymore. I feel that's the big reason why we're releasing Rez now. I can't say we're doing Rez 2. I am ready to go to the next level. Sequels are a good approach, and Rez is a life theme for me.
Does that mean Rez 2, Rez 3 and Rez 3? Who knows! Miz does! And another thing he might know about is a Wii version of Space Channel 5. Just think of Wii-mote dancing possibilities. When we put the question straight to Mizuguchi, he seems geniuely surprised, stating:
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh... (grabs heart) Give me water... The Wii is special. It's not such a high def direction, but it's a fun direction as a future toy. That kind of idea always stimulates us in our ideas. This [the Wii] is another direction.
When pushed, he would neither confirm or deny a new Wii version of the game — instead, choosing to sweat it out. But hey, Miz can take the heat. He's worked with Al Gore. For the recent Live Earth concert, Mizuguchi filmed a hologram clip with the former Vice President to be used in a Live Earth stage show with artist audio visual hybrid group Genki Rockets. Since Al Gore is a busy man, and busy men have busy schedules, he was available for exactly 17 minutes for video capture in New York City. Was Miz nervous about meeting Gore?
No, I wasn't nervous. He was nervous. During the filming, I had to give him direction like "relax".
And what did Mizuguchi and Gore talk about between takes? "Global warming".

Lumines Live! Holiday Pack Details

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 7:00 PM on September 18, 2007

LuminesLive_logo.jpg Nothing says Halloween like Lumines. Or Christmas. Or summer vacation. On October 17th, Q Entertainment will be releasing a "Rockin' Holiday Pack" of 20 new Lumines Live! skins for Challenge Mode. Usual Q cohorts like Keiichi Sugiyama (Rez, Area 1) and H Ueda (Every Extend Extra Extreme) collaborated for this upcoming pack. Snowflakes and autumn leaves — so festive!

LLHoliday005.bmpLLHoliday004.bmpLLHoliday003.bmpLLHoliday002.bmpLLHoliday001.bmp

Miz Wants Every Extend Extra Extreme on PSN

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 6:00 PM on September 18, 2007

mizgesturing.jpg So, Every Extend Extra Extreme is coming to Xbox Live Arcade this October. But XBLA isn't the only game in town! When asked whether Every Extend Extra Extreme would be coming to Sony's PlayStation Network, Q Entertainment's Tetsuya Mizuguchi said:


We would like to.

What about Rez HD? Is that XBLA title coming to the PSN?

We haven't decided yet.

Okay, E4 looks like it's PSN bound. And Rez HD? Fingers crossed PS3 owners, fingers crossed.

Team Bondi Is Looking For Coders. Lots Of Them.

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 5:01 PM on September 18, 2007

lanoire_delay.jpg
Tuesday last week, we caught wind of the news that Team Bondi's L.A. Noire, a gritty, detective-themed PS3 title, had been pushed back to 2009. Which is a while away.

It seems the developer, headed by Brendan McNamara of The Getaway fame, is now on the lookout for a truckload of coders. On September 14, they posted 10 such job openings on their website.

I asked the PR folks at Rockstar last week how things were going with Team Bondi and L.A. Noire, and the reply was a tentative okay. They weren't exactly eager to chat about the game; they made it clear there was nothing to say.

Well, if you think you can code, load your CV into a shotgun and fire the buckshot Team Bondi's way. The developer is based in Ultimo here in Sydney, so they should be local, or at least in the same state, for more than a few.

Our Little Trip To Q Entertainment

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 5:00 PM on September 18, 2007

qentheder.jpgToday's a hot day in Tokyo. Not burning hot, sticky hot. Not pleasant. Still, a good day nonetheless! Why? Kotaku Heavy Industries just got back from a visit to Mizuguchi's Q Entertainment, where we did a whole bunch of stuff. Like drink coffee as black as the very depths of Crecente's soul. And play Rez HD. And check out the new Every Extend Extra, as well as a new Lumines "Holiday Pack". Good times! Here's pictures.

Read More »

Rez HD Impressions

Posted by Brian Crecente at 4:00 PM on September 18, 2007

The small room in the front of the Q Entertainment offices was packed with people, but the only sound came from the television.

A steady beat filled the room, vector graphics filled the screen, Tetsuya Mizuguchi sat slumped in his chair, playing his game.

A person, made up of crisp lines, swam through the screen, drifting above and then into a canyon of red and orange lights, the beat steadily climbing. Miz shifted the thumbstick of the controller resting in his hands around, highlighting targets, steadily tapping a button with a finger, effortlessly slipping though the code he wrote.

By the second level Sawako Yamamoto, who sits quietly across the table from Mizuguchi, is bopping her head to the beat as she sits entranced, watching him play the game.

A city scape of linear buildings drift by, the music continues to pulse. Five minutes into the game and half the people in the room are silently rocking out to the music, there feet tapping, heads bobbing.

Read More »

First Ever Hands On Impressions of Rez HD

Posted by Flynn De Marco at 3:00 PM on September 18, 2007

miznme.jpg It was a quick trip from our hotel to Q Entertainment where we had an early morning appointment with Mr. Rez himself, Tetsuya Mizuguchi. We discussed quite a few subjects that my esteemed colleagues will be filling you in on later, but I'm going to concentrate on Rez as, much to my delight, I was given the honor of being the first person outside of the Q offices to actually play it.

Read More »

Major Nelson Misses TGS

Posted by Mike Fahey at 12:00 PM on September 18, 2007

larryhryb.jpgMan do I feel bad for Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb right now. Seems he was all set for his flight to Tokyo to attend TGS when he discovered his passport was missing. No passport equals no Tokyo, and as anyone who has ever tried can attest, getting a replacement passport on short notice is no easy task. Thankfully both TriXie and VideoMonkey will be there to cover the event for Xbox.com, but Larry will be heading back to Seattle tomorrow to spend the week catching up on work.

As a public service, I offer this advice: Be very careful with your Passport. And go make a photocopy of it right now and keep it in a safe place so you can have all the details handy if you need to get a replacement.
Having never been outside of the continental U.S. myself, I've heard nothing but horror stories involving passports. When I finally get my own, I am having it surgically grafted to my chest. And that's one to grow on.

Major Nelson grounded [Major Nelson's Blog - Thanks Ben]

Inside The Eye

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 11:49 AM on September 18, 2007

eoj_dragon.jpg
As I promised yesterday, here are some more shots of The Eye of Judgement press kit. Not shown in the following gallery is the table mat on which cards are placed and the EyeToy stand (included so that the tiny camera may stare in silent contemplation and malevolence at our puny human lives. Oh, and at the table mat).

Sadly, the review discs only work in a review PS3, so I won't be playing it anytime soon. Which is no big deal, as I had a ball of a time with it at SCEA's HQ in Sydney yesterday. Good times, good times.

A sampling of the cards

The, *sob*, review disc

The box opened, Victorinox-style

The new EyeToy. Sturdy and cute!

Ninja Gaiden II Versus Sigma

Posted by Mike Fahey at 11:30 AM on September 18, 2007

Because working with video is what they do, GameVideos has gone ahead and cut together footage of Ninja Gaiden II for the 360 and Ninja Gaiden Sigma for the PS3 together to give us an idea of the differences between the two. Right off the bat I notice that the camera is a bit more dynamic in II, working more to enhance the action than simply portray it. The environments look far more detailed as well, and the animations seem a tad more fluid. Now that I've seen them side by side, Ninja Gaiden II is looking like a definite improvement over Sigma. Nicely done, Team Ninja.

Assassin's Creed: The Action Figure

Posted by Mike Fahey at 10:30 AM on September 18, 2007

altairaction.jpgBeing a bit of a toy collector myself, I used to subscribe to ToyFare because it was an excellent bathroom reading material. Then one day they realised I had never actually paid for my subscription, which is why the folks over at bits, bytes, pixels and sprites caught this highly detailed NECA figure of Altair from Assassin's Creed. It's due out in November to coincide with the game's release, and will most likely end up a one-shot. Assassin's just don't lend themselves well to plucky, action-figure friendly sidekicks.

Assassin's Creed.... in action figure form! [bits bytes pixels & sprites]

Bee Movie Game Not B-Grade?

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 10:04 AM on September 18, 2007

beemovie_00.jpg
I'll be honest - I've never played a Dreamworks Animation game. Say, anything to do with Shrek, for example. I can't imagine that I ever would.

Bee Movie, on the other hand, did hold my interest when Activision showed it off at Activate Asia in Cairns recently. It's more than just based on the Jerry Seinfeld-helmed movie of the same name. From what was shown, aptly-named developer Beenox has gone to the trouble of recreating the events in the film, blow-by-blow, for the PC and console title - with the help of Seinfeld, no less.

It should go down well with the little ones, even if the resulting product is extremely linear, and I reckon it wouldn't be too bad for a single play through.

Here's a gallery of PC and PS2 shots for your perusal.

beemovie_Screen_01beemovie_Screen_02beemovie_Screen_03

Dewy's Adventure Promotes Healthy Marketing

Posted by Mike Fahey at 10:00 AM on September 18, 2007

dewydrink.jpgIt seems sort of odd to me to have a video game cross-promotion that encourages you to injest the friends and loved ones of the game's protagonist, but that's exactly what Konami and Nestle Waters North America are doing with the "Green With Envy" campaign, which pairs up young Dewy the water droplet with Aquapod Natural Spring Water for kids. A nationwide contest and sweepstakes is being launched that could net health-conscious families an 'eco-adventure' to Costa Rica and copies of the game itself. Behind the sweepstakes is a multi-million dollar print, internet, radio, television, and in-store advertising campaign to help deliver a health message to children and of course, sell video games. Dewy art is appearing as we speak on bottles of Poland Spring, Deer Park, Zephyrhills, Ozarka and Ice Mountain tap spring water. If I were in charge that would involve the titular character proudly proclaiming, "I Keep Your Innards Moist!", which is why I was never allowed to play in any marketeer games. *sniffs*

Read More »

PA's Khoo On E For All

Posted by Mike Fahey at 9:30 AM on September 18, 2007

bloodlesskhoo.jpgIn all honestly, calling E For All's announced 2008 show dates a conflict with PAX 08 is like calling getting poked in the eye with a sharp stick a conflict with free candy. Obviously people are going to pick one over the other, and in E For All's situation it truly is a case of move it or lose it. It's like they are trying to perfect some kind of twisted game expo that no one wants to go to. They're afraid a few people might show up this year, and they've decided to fix all of that by scheduling the event opposite PAX next year. The point I am trying to make is Penny Arcade's Robert Khoo is a lot more diplomatic than I am. FiringSquad recently interviewed Khoo about the whole messy situation.

But I'll be honest with you - since PAX started I've seen my fair share of consumer shows come and go (take IGNLive for instance). It's super hard to run one of these things, and I'd be surprised if E For All lasts longer than this year.

Read More »

Hellgate: London Beta Signups

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 9:28 AM on September 18, 2007

HGL.jpg
Over at the official Hellgate: London home page, you'll find a rather fetching link that'll let you sign up for the game's upcoming beta. Note that in order to use the link, you will need to create an account at the website.

Hellgate promises to be parts Diablo, Doom and MMO, so it has to be good. And if it isn't, well, here's your chance to make it better.

Wrap-o-matic: Monday Night

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 9:15 AM on September 18, 2007

Cheers to Seamus over at Gizmodo AU for the shout out!

Another Chinese Man Dies From Gaming
Okay, this is just getting silly now...

Talismoon's Shiny Wii Cases
The fastest way to transform your Wii into a fingerprint magnet!

Sega Rally Demo Rolls Onto Xbox Live
It definitely has a place in the garage that is your Xbox 360 hard drive.

Nintendo NSider Forums Close
Don't worry, Nintendo is making way for something better. Apparently.

Dual Shock 3 Confirmed For TGS
And it won't look anything like a futuristic boomerang.

See The Darkness Within

Posted by Mike Fahey at 9:00 AM on September 18, 2007

darkwithin.jpgDarkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder is a PC adventure horror game coming out next month from Lighthouse Interactive. It's inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, which means it will either be amazingly chilling and disturbing or they'll go overboard and it will come across as just plain goofy. You tread a thin line when you draw inspiration from Cthulu's daddy. The story involves you investigating the death of a rich man who was involved with the occult, which leads you on a harrowing journey into the depths of horror that lurk within the human psyche. Head on over to Lighthouse's web page for more info, after you've taken a look at the darkness without below.

DW_2D-WebDW_Screen_07DW_Screen_05DW_Screen_04DW_Screen_03DW_Screen_02DW_Screen_01

How To Pronounce Ubisoft

Posted by Mike Fahey at 8:30 AM on September 18, 2007

Stephen Totilo over at the new and improved MTV Multiplayer Blog has just launched the first in a series of MTV Multiplayer's Pronunciation Guides. To launch the new extremely helpful and indeed educational series, we learn how to pronounce Ubisoft once and for all, with the help of Art Director Alexandre Amancio, Creative Director Clint Hocking, and Producer Louis-Pierre Pharand. My only suggestion is that they splice the "The More You Know" sequence at the end of each guide, and maybe settle the bet Crecente and I have going on how to pronounce his last name once and for all in a future episode.

How To Pronounce... "Ubisoft" (The Official Explanation) [MTV Multiplayer]

Colossus Tattoo - Very Bad Idea

Posted by Mike Fahey at 8:00 AM on September 18, 2007

weakpoint.jpgKotakuite Jason sends in this picture of his friend, who is just begging to have a tiny guy shimmy his way up his body to plunge a sword into his abdomen. The gods of irony are watching your friend's weak point tattoo very closely Jason.

Bladestorm's Spears, Arrows, And Elephants

Posted by Mike Fahey at 7:30 AM on September 18, 2007

warelephants.jpgKoei knows war, so it comes as no surprise that they're going all out to bring you the very best that one of the longest wars in history has to offer in the upcoming Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War. Sure, they could have just included your standard calvary units amongst the archer and spearmen units showcased in the screenshot gallery below, but that would be too plain. Instead, Koei has unleashed war elephants! How do you stop a war elephant? You don't sir, unless you're an elf who can't spell elephant, and unless I am mistaken the elves died out way before the 100 Years' War. Pay attention in history class kids and you too can have stunningly accurate discussions of historical warfare just like mine.

Read More »

PotBS Celebrates Talk Like A Pirate Day In Seattle

Posted by Mike Fahey at 7:00 AM on September 18, 2007

piratesburnsea.jpgPirates of the Burning Sea has become the official video game of International Talk Like A Pirate Day (September 19th), and to celebrate they are raiding the coastline of Seattle, causing a right ruckus in the streets, and hanging about the Seattle Aquarium looking swarthy and unkempt. Local Seattle pirate group SeaFair Pirates will be on hand, offering tours of the waterfront on their pirate ship, and you'll get a chance to meet the devs and get some hands-on time with Pirates of the Burning Sea. There'll even be an appearance by Talk Like A Pirate originators John "Ol' Chumbucket" Baur and Mark "Cap'n Slappy" Summers, commemorating the game's official pirate status. You can hit the jump for more details, though I would suggest hitting the official RSVP page first, as spots are limited. The event runs from 7-10PM, leaving you plenty of time to get home and lock your doors before September 20th - Unofficial Kill Pirates Like A Ninja Day. Only kidding. Locking your doors won't help, silly.

Read More »

Super Olympic Mascot Battle

Posted by Mike Fahey at 6:30 AM on September 18, 2007

Now here's a trailer almost exciting enough to draw attention away from the fact that the most anticipated team up in gaming history is ultimately just a bunch of mini-games. It's got that great, old-timey fight music going in the background, an excellent eye-of-the-tiger moment between Tails and Yoshi, and then in the middle of all of this glorious sports goodness they slow things down to give us a really good look at Amy Rose and Peach's bodies as they pass by in slow motion. The camera stayed focused on the Princess's chest a bit too long for comfort, so I really couldn't tell you how this ends, other than with me still standing on a line somewhere between must-buy and avoid at all costs.

Nintendo NSider Forums Close

Posted by Mike Fahey at 6:00 AM on September 18, 2007

byemario.jpgSeveral members of the Nintendo NSider forums have mailed us today to inform us that the popular community forums have been closed. Members seeking to continue discussions today are being greeted by the following message:

Nintendo is working on a major overhaul to Nintendo.com to support the continued success of Nintendo DS and Wii. As we prepare for this huge site update, Nintendo must unfortunately close the Nintendo NSider Forums message boards indefinitely beginning Sept. 17, 2007.
The forums are now set to read only for the next week, to be removed from public view on the 24th. Fear not, brave Nintendo forum posters, for hope is on the horizon. With the Tokyo Game Show kicking off I can only imagine that they are closing down the NSider forums in order to make way for something better, as the parting message on the page seems to suggest. "Thanks for your understanding and continued support. We'll see you soon elsewhere on the Web".

Nintendo NSider Forums Update [NSider Forums - Thanks Huelen10 & Chromium Blue]

Another Chinese Man Dies From Gaming

Posted by Mike Fahey at 5:30 AM on September 18, 2007

cybercafe.jpgSomeone really needs to tell the people in East Asian countries to stop gaming before they die. Maybe a free latte policy for the 100 or so patrons who fled the cybercafé in Guangzhou this weekend after witnessing the death of the 30 year-old man who had been gaming for three days straight. Watching a person die from lack of common sense always makes me thirsty.

Paramedics quickly arrived on the scene but could not resuscitate the man. I know the loss of a human life is never a laughing matter, but I just cannot fathom gaming to death. Back in 2001, there where weeks when I would spend every waking hour playing EQ, but I at least took chair naps and tried my very best not to die. Worked for me. *sigh*
Chinese Man Dies From 3-Day Gaming Binge [Fox News - Thanks Kris]

Halo 3 Cat Helmets Set To Sell Out

Posted by Mike Fahey at 5:00 AM on September 18, 2007

nohelmetkay.jpgOn the left you will see Rufus. Rufus didn't want a replica Spartan helmet, so you might have him to thank if you run out to the store real quick and still find a preorder available for the Halo 3 Legendary Edition here in the states. A Microsoft spokesman told GamesIndustry.biz that while there are still quantities left for preorder, they are on course to be completely sold out by launch day next week. They've already sold out in the UK, so don't wait until they start showing up on eBay complete with pictures of very relieved felines. And don't worry about Rufus there. I'm dressing him up like Pinhead from Hellraiser as soon as I find my tiny hammer.

Halo 3 Legendary Edition should sell out in US
[GamesIndustry.biz]

WCG Presents Team USA

Posted by Mike Fahey at 4:30 AM on September 18, 2007

wcgfinal.jpgThe World Cyber Games National Final is over, and as the smoke clears and paramedics carry the battered bodies of the fallen from the fetid field of war, twenty-two figures stand silhouetted in the bright Universal Orlando Resort spotlights, ready to represent our country in the coming battle. Men like Need for Speed: Carbon Champion Kamram Siddiqui from Orlando Florida, and Dead or Alive 4 Champ Carl White from Toledo Ohio. Those two and twenty more bravely listed in the press release below will take to the battlefield on last time at the World Cyber Games 2007 Grand Final in Seattle Washington October 4-7, testing their mettle against 700 gamers from 75 countries for a chance at gold medals, cash, and prizes... but that matters not. Nay, these fine men and possibly women fight for America, ladies and gentlemen. For our freedom and glory. Okay, my hyperbole gland just burst. Hit up the press release while I hunt for a band-aid.

Read More »

Future Weapons Flogs Halo 3 Tonight

Posted by Mike Fahey at 4:00 AM on September 18, 2007

One of the main draws of the Halo franchise is futuristic weaponry, so it sorta makes sense that the Discovery Channel's Future Weapons show tie in with the third installment's impending launch. How exactly it will tie in remains to be seen. I'm hoping it isn't just old episodes with Halo 3 advertainment sprinkled liberally throughout. I suppose we'll find out tonight at 8PM Eastern.

Halo 3 Future Weapons Commercial [YouTube via The Xbox Domain]

Dusk2Dawn Triggers Lockdown

Posted by Mike Fahey at 3:30 AM on September 18, 2007

cale-roster-sheet.jpgWhen the Earth's most powerful spaceship is invaded by pirates and a weapon system powerful enough to annihilate an entire planet is compromised, only one man can shut down the weapon arming terminals before it's too late. That man is Cale 'Trigger' Mollens. His haircut cries emo but the goatee and snarl ooze badass. In Dusk2Dawn Interactive's new FPS Lockdown, you'll play Cale as he works his way through 21 levels of fast-paced action while receiving help and advice from your fellow crew members. The game's twist? One of the crew members might be a traitor, so as the storyline unfolds you'll have to figure out who you can and cannot trust. An interesting concept if done well. Let's hope the writers for Lockdown are better than the character designers. The PC game should be hitting the UK either late this year or early the next, with other territories following after.

Read More »

Sega's Steinberg Moves to SCEA

Posted by Mike Fahey at 3:00 AM on September 18, 2007

stienberg.jpgScott A. Steinberg has been marketing the hell out of the electronic entertainment sector for over 20 years, having worked with Sega, Roxio, Liquid Audio, Eidos, and Crystal Dynamics. Now he's leaving his current VP of marketing position at Sega to jump onboard the Sony Computer Entertainment America train as the Vice President of Product Marketing, a newly created position responsible for all PlayStation marketing in North America. Steinberg will report directly to Marketing and PSN senior VP Peter Dille, who had lovely things to say about him.

"We are thrilled to have Scott join our team as he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the PlayStation marketing staff and the management group here at SCEA," said Dille. "Scott has an ideal blend of experience in digital entertainment and content delivery as well as a proven track record for strategic innovation and implementation within this industry.
Some would say Steinberg has been marketing the PS3 since June, when he famously dissed the Wii in an interview with Reuters. The only difference now is he gets paid for it! Grats, Scott!

Read More »

Talismoon's Shiny Wii Cases

Posted by Mike Fahey at 2:30 AM on September 18, 2007

silverwii.jpgWhat's a warranty when your Wii could be this freaking pretty? Talismoon has released their Evolve series of replacement cases for the Wii, and my great love of shiny things throbbing as I flip through the gallery below. Judging from the look the cases they fall into the "easy unless you're stupid" category of system mods, even including a fully-assembled front panel so you don't have to fiddle with buttons falling out all over the place. The $US 39.99 Evolve cases come in eight delicious flavors: Abyss Blade, Black Katana, Blue Bushido, Green Tanto, Pink Geisha, Red Ronin (of course), Silver Shuriken, and Stealth Assassin. I'm trying to figure out what their theme is, but for the life of me it keeps escaping me. All I know is my Wii warranty is up in two months, and I'm a sucker for a chrome finish. Hit up the Talismoon webpage for more details.

Read More »

Sega Rally Demo Rolls Onto Xbox Live

Posted by Mike Fahey at 2:00 AM on September 18, 2007

segarallydemo.jpgYou got to hand it to Larry Hryb. Even while he is sitting in the Orlando airport waiting for a plane to the Tokyo Game Show, he still has time to let us know that Sega has slapped 691MB of pure racing fury up on Xbox Live for your demoing enjoyment. Sega Rally takes the Sega Rally series into the next-generation (or current gen, if you're counting), with deformable terrain, and smashable scenery to careen wildly into in one of over 30 vehicles. The single player demo is available everywhere Xbox 360's are sold except for Asia, though that might be redundant.

Demo: SEGA Rally [Major Nelson's Blog]

Ubisoft Opens Second Studio In China

Posted by Mike Fahey at 1:30 AM on September 18, 2007

ubichengdu.jpgAfter eleven successful years in China with their Shanghai studios, Ubisoft today announces the creation of Ubisoft Chengdu. Having long been an established centre for the electronics and IT industry, the city boasts upwards of 35,000 programming graduates a year, more than enough to bolster the new studio's ranks from the beginning 10 team members to its goal of 200 over the next year.

"The success of our studio in Shanghai, which has been further confirmed with the launch of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for the PLAYSTATION 3 system, has encouraged us to extend our growth in China," said Christine Burgess-Quémard, executive director, Worldwide Studios at Ubisoft. "We are convinced that Chengdu offers the perfect environment for our expansion..."
The studio will be managed by Richard Tsao, a senior producer from Ubisoft Shanghai, and will initially perform internal outsourcing before moving on to creating online PC, console, and handheld titles.

Read More »

Yoshi's Story Y'all

Posted by Mike Fahey at 1:00 AM on September 18, 2007

faheyyoshi.jpgThe man you see to the left there is a man serious as a heart-attack about his Yoshi's Story. Sure, some may swear by Yoshi's Island, or the puzzle-tastic Yoshi's Cookie, but Story is where it's at. I won't be buying it, as I obviously have it, but snagging the N64 game for 1000 points is highly recommended. Joining Yoshi this week are Genesis launch title Super Thunder Blade (800 points), and World Class Baseball for the TurboGrafx16 (600 points), neither of which hold a candle to a chorus of singing, multi-colored Yoshi's on a quest through a stitched-together land to save the Super Happy Tree.

Read More »

Halo 3 Ending Spills Onto Internets

Posted by Mike Fahey at 12:30 AM on September 18, 2007

Oh no! The ending to Halo 3 has been posted on the internet a full week before the game is due to be released! I've seen the video now, and to whoever posted it on the net, f*** y*** buddy. Even Crecente, who takes great pleasure in telling me things I am not supposed to know just to make himself feel better didn't spoil the ending of the game for me, and now Dr. McRandom Ass goes and tosses up a crappy phone-vid and ruins everything. Curiosity kicks my ass, so I had to look, but I am giving you folks a choice. I am not posting the video here. Screw that. Everybody else is either in or heading to Japan right now, so it's my call. If they show up later and decide to post it, it's their prerogative, but I won't be that guy. If you really want to see it, I'm sure you'll find it. In its place, I give you Charlie the Unicorn, a classic tale of epic adventure. Oh, and don't post a URL on where to find the video in comments. Make them work for it.

Codemasters Remembers Colin McRae

Posted by Mike Fahey at 12:00 AM on September 18, 2007

colinmcraerip.jpgThe company behind the Colin McRae series of rally car video games remembers the racing legend.

Colin McRae, 1968 - 2007

Everyone at Codemasters, especially those who worked directly with Colin McRae, is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events of this weekend.

The loss of Colin McRae is deeply distressing. That it involved his son and another so young makes it even more tragic. Our thoughts are with his