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It's a tactical RPG. On a current-gen home console. And it's all pretty, and cel-shaded, with fantastic character and unit designs. And, somehow, it's getting a Western release. This can only mean good times lie ahead.
More Details on the 360's 16 Percent Failure Rate
Comment by: dbushik
Nominated by: cheez
I'm an adult owner and an engineer with a masters degree. I totally take care of my stuff. Even the ridiculous requests MS customer support makes like plugging it into the wall socket by itself (no surge protector or extensions or whatever or other devices drawing off that outlet). I've had the wall current in my house measured even to make sure that isn't an issue. (Even though it's ridiculous considering the power supply has to have voltage regulation.) I keep it in a well ventilated location away from any other electronics or sources of heat, have never used an intercooler with it (which actually works against you) and even make sure the cables coming out the back don't interfer witht he air flow. I generally treat the thing like it was a Faberge Egg, and I've had two hardware failures.
Peter Moore's trying to shake things up over at EA Sports. Sure, they sell an imperial fuckton's worth of Madden and FIFA every year, but they want to sell more. So Moore says they're going to start thinking a little more globally:
We need to globalise, and we're taking many steps to broaden the reach and appeal of our product portfolio. FIFA obviously has global appeal, but this is about more than just selling additional copies of FIFA -- this is about truly delivering a global product portfolio.Advice: new, better, current-gen versions of your creaky old Rugby Union and cricket titles would be a good place to start. After that...I've always felt curling has been grossly under-represented in sporting video games.
Contest is so underway and so awesome. Reader Matthew sends along his "Bottle Bug," writing:
I made the hornet from plastic bottles, the antenna from the rings around the opening, and the legs from coat hangers.Bitchin'! This time, we're giving away a copy of Insecticide (DS or PC, the winner decides). Here's the contest, it's a fun one: Make an insect. Like a 3D, real world one.
That's it.
You can use anything to make it EXCEPT CG. So yeah, if you want to make a bug outta newspapers, sticks, clay, whatever, DO IT. Send entries to kotakucontestATgmailDOTcom with the subject line "Insect." The contest ends March 7th. The winner's fame is ENDLESS.
Oh no, Cliffy, you so did not just say PC gaming was in disarray. How could you? Epic and PC gaming are tight, and you've even signed up to PC gaming's very own super friends! Time for Mark Rein to step in and set the record - and your message - straight. Speaking with MTV, the pair said:
MR: We want all these people buying laptops and reasonably priced PCs, to at least be able to be exposed to gaming. They can go out later and upgrade to something better, but let's at least give them a baseline experience."
Square Enix have apparently gone and announced a release date and price for their Final Fantasy WiiWare title, Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King. According to The Wiire, it'll be out on May 12 (the same day as the service's debut), and will cost...1500 Wii Points. Or, in human money, $US 15. Game had better be a meaty one to justify that kind of price-tag.
Crystal Chronicles WiiWare North America Release, Price Revealed [The Wiire]
Tecmo is best known for Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive and Tecmo Bowl. Since Tomonobu Itagaki works at Tecmo and since MTV was interviewing Itagaki, they asked when Tecmo was going to revitalise Tecmo Bowl. Says Itagaki:
To be honest that was a totally different division that made that announcement, so I have no idea what's going on with that... I'm in a tough position because when I am making Dead or Alive, for instance, all the Ninja Gaiden fans say quit messing around with Dead or Alive and make a sequel to Ninja Gaiden. When I'm making a new Ninja Gaiden, all the Dead or Alive fans are like, "You have to quit that and start making Dead or Alive. And that's tough enough as it is, but I also get letters all the time for the past 10 years from Tecmo Bowl fans saying, "When are you going to resurrect that franchise?" So it's tough being in my position.Tough, indeed. Itagaki didn't even mention all the boozing and badarsery that's expected of him. Oh, the pressure!
In case you missed it previously, Ready At Dawn confirmed to us a little while ago that yes, contrary to earlier reports, Okami on Wii would be running in full 16:9, a move that'll have a lot of people who already own it on PS2 considering a re-purchase. Here's footage of what must be the final build of the game running and, well, there's not much more to say. It's one of the most beautiful games ever created, only now it's looking more beautiful.
To: Ash and Crecente (Drew)
From: Crecente (Brian)
Re: Barely Talked to the Family Today, Feel like a Jerk
So Flynn has officially given up the ghost for weekends. He'll be posting a goodbye missive tomorrow, but don't be sad, he's not leaving just shifting over to cover more events for us in San Francisco and write during the week.
In the meantime, as I struggle to (sigh) find a suitable Weekend Editor, we'll have different people running the show over weekends. First up? My older brother, Drew. Little known facts among all but the hardcore: Drew was actually one of the first people to help out around Kotaku back in the day when it was just me. He wrote occasional posts, including wrap-ups for upcoming games.
Anyway, it's been years since he's written anything Kotaku related, so be gentle.
What you missed:
SCi Kills 14 Projects, Cutting 25 Percent of Staff
Microsoft Erases Gamer's Memories
It's Shocking, We're Pissed, Wii Fit Sorta Works
Street Fighter IV, Visual Impressions
Street Fighter IV Impressions: SF2 Edition
The Phil Harrison Letters
Warhawk Gets Monster Bubble Shields
Two days prior to my hands-on experience with Street Fighter IV, we held an impromptu Street Fighter III: Third Strike tournament at the offices of Massive Black. My Elena versus Crecente's Ryu wasn't so much a contest as it was a total bloodletting. (Ultimately, though, the Massive Black guys made the three Kotaku editors look like scrubs.) In Crecente's defense, he was more transfixed with Street Fighter II Champion Edition and largely ended his love affair there. I, on the other hand, latched on to every arcade release, through Super Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alphas I-III and all three iterations of Street Fighter III. Hell, I was even pretty competitive in Super Gem Fighter: Mini Mix for a while there.
Well, it's going to try. Capcom is bringing Rocketmen: Axis of Evil, based on the WizKids property of the same name, to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network next week, resulting in, I assume, either the removal of evil or a severe tilting of the titular axis. Announced early last year, the top down shooter from A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Games ticks off all the right features—multiple classes, online multiplayer, character customisation, HD graphics. We've yet to go hands-on with it, but if you feel like taking a shot for the respectable price of ten bucks, Rocketmen hits XBLA on Wednesday, March 5, arriving on PSN the day after.
Need an excuse to give to the wife in order to negotiate some Call of Duty 4 playtime this weekend? "But, honey, there's a new patch on Xbox Live! I have to test out the new sniper scope accuracy changes for my clan match on Monday!" That'll totally work, trust me. Or wow her with the new Kill Cams, including ones for grenades and M203 rounds, which you know she'll just love. The full list, including new quick mute options, network speed improvements and new spawn points, is detailed at Infinity Ward's official Call of Duty 4 blog.
For those who aren't interested in reading about things being patched, maybe Will "George 'Gob' Bluth II" Arnett's tale of Call of Duty 4 obsession will keep you entertained. Well? Are you not entertained?!
Call of Duty 4 Xbox 360 Patch is OUT - Here's what's changed! [FourZeroTwo]
Warhawk's upcoming booster pack, Operation Broken Mirror, will feature an armored personnel carrier which can serve as a mobile spawning point and weapon producer and also create the "mother of all bubble shields," the game's producer, Dylan Jobe told me in a recent interview.
"You can roll this around a map and it's like this clean blank canvas for combat," he said. "When it's driving around it works as a mobile forward spawn point and when you spawn into it you get additional equipment."
Jobe said the APC will also be able to deploy a piece of equipment that is "like the mother of all bubble shields" and is a couple of hundred feet wide.
Capcom has a brand spanking new version of Street Fighter IV's arcade cabinet on test in Tokyo, one that confirms the return of Street Fighter's Sagat and Street Fighter II's Balrog. Shaky-cam videos of both new characters are up on YouTube, with Capcom's official blog confirming that three new stages have also been added to the latest SF IV build.
When Iron Lore Entertainment announced it was closing its doors, some readers found it hard to believe. After shipping two quality products, with another promising project underway, how did several unspecified "unrelated events" put Iron Lore out of commission? Michael Fitch, Director of Creative Management at THQ, publisher of both Titan Quest titles, helps to shed some light on part of the reason in a rant posted yesterday to the Quarter To Three forums.
Pop open out the patchouli, dust off the tie dye and spark up the finest herb for next week's Rock Band downloadable content. Beginning next Tuesday, virtual musicians can jam to the first batch of Grateful Dead tunes as six of the planned eighteen tracks hit Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. The half-dozen low-key rockers, all original recordings will arrive for $US 1.99 or 160 Microsoft Points and include:
Deadheads can secure the whole lot of Rock Band bonus tracks for $US 9.99 (800 Microsoft Points). Now about Who's Next...
NBC's news and entertainment program Today has decided to get around to airing its late take on the Old People Like Playing Wii phenomenon that swept the nation at the end of 2006. In its "Forever Young" segment, which features old folks who are capable of jogging and smiling, it reveals that the aged quite enjoy virtual bowling between bouts of not being visited by their grandchildren. Hey old people! Stop snatching up all the Wiis! Some of us still haven't played Super Mario Galaxy thanks to your Wii Sports obsession!
I'm actually quite surprised that folks confined to retirement homes and elder care facilities aren't finding the orderly-killing simulation in Manhunt 2 more appealing than Wii bowling. Oh God, I'm so horribly depressed.
It's no secret that we're big fans of almost-former Sony Worldwide Studios head Phil Harrison. In fact, he, J Allard, Peter Moore and Reggie make up our video game exec dream team, a crusading force that we imagine takes to the streets at night to bludgeon criminals to death with their no-nonsense quotes and fierce scowls.
When we heard that Harrison was going the way of Moore and Allard, fleeing from his job to parts unknown, we were genuinely concerned. So concerned, in fact, that Luke made up a missing person flyer and like clockwork Harrison was spotted... by Harrison.
When SCEA released God of War II last year, the game's instruction manual teased the soon to be released PSP entry, God of War: Chains of Olympus. Now it's the PSP's turn to toy with your emotions, as the manual for the on-the-go Kratos quest fires back with a tease of the PlayStation 3 chapter. IGN has photographic evidence of the PS3 sequel teaser ad which opts not to put a release window on the thing, merely announcing that it's "coming soon."
Considering rumours are pointing to a 2009 ship date for God of War III and Sony has a habit of showing these games a year (or more) in advance, we'd say that if you want a Kratos fix in 2008, it's probably going to be on UMD.
God of War III Ad [IGN]
We're just ten days away from Super Smash Bros. Brawl's arrival in North America. Our friends in PAL territories may have a bit of a wait ahead of them, unless they choose to pick up a Wii FreeLoader and potentially forgo online play, but it's almost here over... here. Can you smell the excitement?! I wonder what I'll do with my Fridays without the comfort of the Dojo Dump. Anyway... This week at the official site, there's one spoilerific character reveal and one hidden stage that slipped past my personal radar. I'm still trying to wrap my noodle around this Master Hand business. The Dump is just after this...
Let me start by saying that my love of Street Fighter 2 Championship Edition comes not from the perspective of an aficionado, or someone paid to study each nuanced piece of minutia that comes out about a game as it makes its way from concept to arcade.
My experience with Street Fighter 2 CE was born entirely in my time first hanging out at arcades and then running one in the 90s in Maryland. I loved the game so much that my time spent playing it is what likely lead to me being fired from the job. I slathered more attention on our big-screen SF2 box than I did every other machine in the place, combined. I regularly replaced the cherry switches and springs on a weekly basis.
But I couldn't have told you who the game's producer was, what sort of lore was buried in the creating of such an indelible franchise or how they came about with the idea of the characters in the game.
That being said, read on.
Well, you know what I won't be playing this weekend? Grand Theft Auto IV. But I will be playing some Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a game I've never completed, just for laughs. Of course, there will be hot tears of pain streaming down my cheeks while I mow down pedestrians to the musical stylings of A Flock Of Seagulls, but there may be a giggle or chortle at some point.
I've also been meaning to catch up on some of the titles that walked away with Independent Game Festival awards, plus proper time with the Xbox Live Arcade version of N+. Let us all know what your gaming plans are this weekend!
International bookstore Borders has decided to try their hand at selling video games. The retailer currently carries a selection of DVDs, CDs, and PC game titles as part of their On Demand service at its Oxford Street store in London, England. Commercial Director of Borders UK and Ireland David Kohn says that adding a selection of Wii and DS titles to that lineup would compliment the existing media range. Kohn also said that carrying the game could prove to be a big asset in sales:
"We will need to develop a credible and competitive offer that appeals to our customers. When it comes to Borders, we believe that computer games could deliver a level of sales equal or greater than our current DVD business. This could amount to as much as ten per cent of total Borders sales."Currently, the On Demand service (where customers choose a title out of a catalogue or terminal instead of off the shelf) is still in a trial period, and is only available at the Oxford Street location.
Borders gets into games [MCV]
Here are a slew of screens from EA's upcoming free web game Battlefield Heroes. To catch the promo video if you missed it, be sure to hit up our impressions of the game. Oh, and while you're at it, don't miss our eyes-on of Mirror's Edge, either. Seriously, that's a game you need to mentally bookmark. Yes, we just said "mentally bookmark." And if you have a problem with that, you can take it up with LeVar Burton.
In an interview with VideoGamer.com, a Rockstar employee speculated that the latest installment of Grand Theft Auto will take about 100 hours to complete, give or take. That estimate is based on whether or not you answer the phone. No, not your phone, silly! Niko's cell phone! Says the mysterious, unnamed Rockstar employee:
"It's harder to distinguish between main and side missions - there are loads of both. But there are more main missions than side missions. It's not as clear cut as it used to be because of the phone."Looks like if you're the type to avoid side quests and gun for the ending, it'll take a lot less time, but half the fun of the GTA series is all the little stuff, so it looks like most of us are playing it for the long haul.
GTA 4 Will Take Roughly 100 Hours To Complete [Videogamer.com, via GamePro]
Petroglyph's Creative Director Adam Isgreen is an RTS veteran, having worked on loads of Command & Conquers and, more recently, Universe at War. But he isn't worried that RTS titles making their way to consoles will in some way dilute the experience. In fact, he believes just the opposite:
...you could look at the transition of RTS from PC to console as "dumbing down" of the genre, but really that's completely inaccurate. The evolution of RTS from PC to console is all about re-discovering the core fun of the genre while stripping away the redundancy, over-complication, and bloat that has been attaching itself to RTS games over the years.He continues:
Wow. You know, living in San Francisco for eleven years and attending numerous Gay Pride celebrations and the Folsom Street Fair, I thought I had seen everything. But after seeing this photo which was fished from the muck of 4chan by the lovely tentacled beasts at Ectoplasmosis, I realise I was wrong. Poor Birdo, it's not enough that he/she is sexually confused and had to go through a very public sex change, but now she has been rubber fetishised. For once I am left completely and utterly without words to describe my feelings. Twenty bucks says that's no lady which in this case would be oddly appropriate.
Make the jump to experience the horror at full size.
[4chan - via Ectoplasmosis - via GayGamer]
While Crecente and McWhertor will be flooding your consciousnesses with Street Fighter gameplay impressions later, I wanted to start things off with an amuse-bouche and just focus on one thing: just how freaking gorgeous SFIV is in person.
Because while I was initially skeptical about the 2.5D art direction, now I'm a total convert. SFIV's graphics dropped my jaw in a way that hasn't happened with a fighter since the original Virtual Fighter. Even when you don't have the pleasure of actually playing, the game is pure eye candy high fructose corn syrup concentrate.
We should all know by now that rent-to-own plans are nothing short of vicious wallet rape for the mentally and creditally challenged, but just in case the lesson hasn't quite sunk in yet, observe this ad from renter-retailer Kelly's. After a mere 12 monthly payments of $US 79, you could own a $US 250 Nintendo Wii! Given that 12 x $US 79 = $US 948, the sad populace who takes advantage of such a "deal" will find themselves out $US 698 in games, accessories and pride.
Kelly's Will Rent-To-Own You This Wii For $US 948 [Consumerist]
This new batch of Soulcalibur IV screens features the next-generation look of three fan-favorite fighters! The quick and formal Xianghua, the brutish Lizardman, and the man with the giant stick, Kilik! Kilik's name is generally either greeting with a whooping cheer or a pained sigh, as for every fan of his powerful Ling-Sheng Su Style there is another player sick and tired of having a giant rod slammed down on his skull. Kilik is certainly looking formal this time around, isn't he? Xianghua still dresses as skimpy as ever, and Lizardman is still part lizard, part man, but Kilik seems to have gone and gotten himself a real job in-between games. Good for him!
Let's get this out of the way: Wii Fit does work. Why wouldn't it? It's based on time-trued exercises. Stuff like doing sit-ups, push-ups and jogging. Well, jogging in place. But, to what extend does it work? For the past month, I've used Wii Fit on nearly a daily basis. Wii Fit isn't something you can review in 8 or time hours of play. You need weeks, months even! My Wii Fit workout was interrupted by two breaks: One for when my wife was sick (and I then got sick) and another when my wife was sick again (Nintendo, please make Wii Healthy, kthanxbai). Like with most things, results do vary from person to person. For me, some of it worked brilliantly. And some of it not.
For those who didn't attend GDC last week, there's another chance to catch the Game Developers Choice Awards/Independent Games Festival Awards megashow. Condensed to a 30-minute segment for an X-Play time slot, to catch the event, set your DVRs for G4 at 8pm (eastern) tonight. (You could watch it in real time, but we were pretending you had plans or something.)
Not only is this the first developer-powered award show to make it to mainstream television, but everyone who attended was entertained by some extremely funny acceptance speeches. Tune in and enjoy.
G4 To Show Game Developers Choice Awards Tonight [Gamasutra]
Arcana Heart is a new 2D fighting game coming April 8th for the PlayStation 2 courtesy of Atlus. Developed by Examu - formerly Yuki Enterprise of Samurai Showdown V fame - the game features a cast of adorable female anime archetypes beating each other senseless, with a twist. Players select a character and then select an Arcana, which is an elemental being that grants the character special abilities and super moves depending on which is chosen. Atlus sent me an early copy of the game, which as you can see I have hardly managed to master. In my defense, this video was plagued by interruptions, and I won in every take except this one. Rather that redo it to show myself in a more flattering light, I decided to let you witness just how badly I can fail. Look for a more complete look at the game as we get closer to the April release. For now, please be gentle.
The 2008 Game Developer's Conference saw an all-time high in attendance numbers, as the GDC team has announced that over 18,000 people walked through the convention hall's doors. The five day event featured 400 sessions, 300 exhibitors, and enough Force Unleashed coverage to keep Tori happy (okay, the GDC team didn't announce that, but it's still true).
Today, SouthPeak Games has unveiled X-Blades, an anime-inspired action adventure game that features a cute blond heroine using guns, swords and magic to battle her way through hordes of demonic enemies, developed by TopWare Interactive. Looking through the screenshots, I realized I had seen the game before as Oniblade from Russian company Gaijin Entertainment, which we posted a trailer for back in November. Due out in late 2008 for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3, you can see more of the game either by waiting a week for the X-Blades website to launch or head over to the Oniblade website, already filled to the brim with screenshots and clips. Weird.
Nathaniel loved his Xbox 360, and it loved him back. Purchased at launch, the Nathaniel brought his beloved console everywhere he went, and it showed. The case was lovingly festooned with signatures from Bungie staff, Xbox 360 team members, and even a sketch from Rooster Teeth Comics Luke McKay. His 360 was covered with fond memories, but the outer beauty was soon betrayed by the inner ugliness. Nathaniel's 360 died, and he had no choice but to send it in for repair. He took every precaution to make sure that he would get his friend back in the same condition he sent it, getting assurances from the phone support specialist and even including a heartfelt letter in the packing box, sure to catch the attention of even the most mindless of Microsoft repair drones. And it worked! Soon he was holding his beloved Xbox 360 in his hands - and probably crying.
There's been plenty of talk lately about Street Fighter IV. And good thing, because the game kicks ass. But what about those shameless knock-offs of the original Street Fighter? What about, say, Human Killing Machine?
Game name changes can be good, especially when your original title is something as generic as Sabotage. Gamecock and developer replay studios have announced a brand new name for their upcoming World War II stealth-action game for next-gen consoles and PC - Velvet Assassin. Much, much better.
"Rather than a trite, overused, and generic working title like 'Sabotage,' 'Velvet Assassin™' captures the heart of what we're trying to accomplish," said Sascha Jungnickel, Creative Director at Replay Studios. "From the start we've wanted a game with a strong female lead that stays true to the history of Violette Szabo while pulling players into a world of dark intrigue."Mind you I have terrible issues with the stealth genre, but I will slightly more remorse passing up Velvet Assassin when it releases this Fall than I would have not buying Sabotage. Hit the jump for a larger picture featuring the main character's leather-clad bottom.
The New York Times' Seth Schiesel has written an excellent article on the recent shift of gaming from a solitary or online practice to a more social affair, where friends and family gather and play together, and the way these changes have effected the companies that make the games. The social shift was completely necessary to bring gaming to the masses, and the compani
