Kotaku

The King Of Kong Becomes 'Bones' Murder Mystery Fodder [Television]

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:40:00 -0700

This week's episode of crime procedural Bones tells the tale of Billy and Steve, competitive gamers vying for the "perfect score" on a classic arcade game. But unlike documentary The King of Kong, one of these gamers winds up... murdered!

And unlike The King of Kong, gamers Billy Gabel and Steve Rifton—the less fortunate of the two video game proteges—play Punky Pong, an old-school arcade game that apparently features a giant monkey and a Pong-like interface, but no plumbers and bananas instead of barrels. But Punky Pong does have a "kill screen," which Bones' writers appear to have taken quite literally.

Fox's official description reads: Steve turned his success into a lucrative partnership with a gaming referee and charged fans to play on the very machine that gave him the perfect score. But between sour business deals and bitter competitors, the team at the Jeffersonian must work to narrow down the many suspects with motive for ending Rifton's reign as gaming king.

Well, that certainly sounds like 48 minutes of network television I'll be watching!

The show airs tonight in the U.S. on your local Fox affiliate if you're interested. See if you can spot some of the subtle, fall into a coma and you could miss it product placement for James Cameron's Avatar!

This Treasure Chest Made No Sound [Screengrab]

Stephen Totilo — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:20:01 -0700

Box sent by Nintendo containing both a copy of the new Zelda DS game and a noise-making device that was probably supposed to make a sound when the chest was opened.

Check Out Girl Han Solo And Other Old Republic Characters [Screens]

AJ Glasser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Now that we've got all eight classes out in the open, here's how each of them look. I defy you to differentiate between the Jedi Consular and Knight purely on visuals.

Yes, Michael Jackson Did Work On Sonic The Hedgehog 3 [Genesis]

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:30:00 -0700

Late pop star Michael Jackson had a fairly close relationship with Sega, lending his image to Space Channel 5 and Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. Jackson was also rumored to have contributed to Sonic the Hedgehog 3, a rumor now confirmed.

According to an interview in the French magazine Black & White—the "official magazine of Michael Jackson"—Jackson's composer and musical director Brad Buxer says Michael was responsible for some of Sonic 3's compositions. The themes that appear in Sonic 3 and some of Jackson's own songs are not a coincidence.

As for Sega and Sonic the Hedgehog lead Yuji Naka's caginess about confirming Jackson's involvement? This may be your answer.

"And if he is not credited for composing the music, it's because he was not happy with the result sound coming out of the console," Buxer said. "At the time, game consoles did not allow an optimal sound reproduction, and Michael found it frustrating. He did not want to be associated with a product that devalued his music..."

That translation of the interview comes from a poster on the VGMdb forums, who we'll credit for helping to finally put an end to this mystery.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Michael Jackson: So it was true. [VGMdb via Original Sound Version]

Tropico 3 Review: Go Bananas For El Presidente [Review]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0700

I've played a lot of games over the past 29 years. I've been wizards, warriors, soldiers, pilots, businessmen, cops, athletes and actors. One thing I've never been, until now, is the despotic ruler of a tinpot Caribbean island.

Tropico 3 is the third game in a series that tasks you with assuming control of small, tropical islands then building the most benevolent (or malevolent) regime you can manage with the limited resources at hand. While the second game shifted emphasis to the age of pirates, this one takes us back to the age of Batista and the Cold War.

Can Tropico 3 lead its people into a new era of peace and prosperity? Or will it be taken out back and shot with the rest of the revolutionary pigs?

Loved
It's Good To Be The King - I've got to say, having never played a Tropico game before, I love the premise. It sounds completely uninteresting, but there's a reason power-mad little men are always fighting for total control over small Latin American countries: it's fun. Or, at least, these games make it fun, somehow glossing over the nastier aspects of totalitarian rule, and whatever is left, brushing it off with a smile and a wink.

Hands-On Rule - In Tropico 3, you're not some ethereal presence, hovering over the land as a mouse pointer. You're given an avatar - which can be suitably customised with big hats, cigars and medals - who can wander around the countryside on foot or in a limo, inspiring the people to do things faster/better. It's a shame more strategy games don't do this, as it's nice to see your rule given a little on-screen representation outside a collection of statistics.

Zeitgeist - Like I said, Tropico makes the Cold War fun. But it also does a good job of basing both its tone and indeed core gameplay on the politics of the time. The entire game hinges on your ability to interact with the US and Soviet Union, and having to both manage your daily affairs and keep the superpowers happy adds a nice piece of context to your actions.

Simlish - I'm often intimidated by strategy titles that have you rule your kingdom/land via numbers and sliders. Tropico still does this, but the way it provides feedback is a big help, taking the route of more recent SimCity titles and making each inhabitant a personality, who will tell you how hungry they are, what their job situation is like, etc. Seeing angry mobs forming on street corners, or groups of workers trudging off happily to the banana plantation, is a much better way of presenting the workings of your government than raw numbers.

Hated
The Garden Path - With a big strategy game like this, you need a good tutorial. Problem is, Tropico 3's is too good to start with, then not good enough for the more complicated matters of state. It could have done with smaller training wheels, but leaving them on a little longer.

Click & Miss - Tropico is a fully 3D game. No grids or tiles here. Which leads to problems laying down roads and buildings, as quite often the game seems to delight in refusing to link up two perfectly compatible pieces of road, or in letting you place a building on a perfectly flat piece of ground. So, yeah, the actual process of enacting your will can be a little hit-and-miss.

Shut Up - To update you on the status of your people and your island, you'll continually be interrupted by DJ Juanito, telling you this, telling you that, all in the most grating voice an actor could possibly manage. If only the game had an option to have the man shot.

Tropico 3 won't be to everyone's tastes, sure; at the end of the day, it's still a "proper" strategy game, requiring you to juggle resources, micromanage the economy and make sweeping diplomatic decisions. But the way the game wraps all that up and personifies it, immersing you not just in the stats but in the world, also makes it one of the more accessible and presentable games in the genre.

While it's a little rough around the edges, Tropico 3 is a game you can't help but be impressed with, its vision, black humour, originality and sole tenancy over a gratifying niche outweighing any issues you may have with the game's learning curve or interface.

Tropico 3 was developed by Haemimont Games, and published by Kalypso Media for the PC (version played) and Xbox 360. Released on October 20 on PC, and on February 2, 2010 on Xbox 360. Retails for $40. Played all 15 "missions", and spent considerable time in sandbox mode. Smoked two cigars, had countless dissidents shot, and consumed several glasses of expensive French brandy.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

Games On Demand Coming To Games For Windows Live [Microsoft]

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:40:00 -0700

Microsoft has announced that on December 15th, Games on Demand comes to Games for Windows Live, which is a very fancy way of saying it's going to start digitally distributing PC games.

It's really the next natural step in Games for Windows Live development. The Xbox 360 Games on Demand program has been doing well enough, and services like Stardock's Impulse and Steam have already proven the viability of the digital download store model, so now we're getting Games on Demand for Games for Windows Live.

"With Games on Demand, we didn't just want to create a cut-and-paste version of existing digital distribution services," said Mike Ybarra, general manager of LIVE Engagement Services. "We challenged ourselves to deliver an integrated platform that takes full advantage of the unique capabilities offered by the LIVE service. Our goal has always been to create a seamless online gaming experience for the Windows community, and Games on Demand is a great step toward that end."

From the initial announcement, the main difference between Games on Demand and something like Steam is the use of Microsoft points to purchase games along with actual cash money, but it's certainly a start. If they can keep prices competitive, they could be on to something.

Speaking of starts, the service's launch lineup will include Resident Evil 5, Red Faction: Guerrilla, and Battlestations: Pacific, along with Live-enabled versions of popular downloadable titles like World of Goo and Osmos. If those aren't enticing enough, there's also a free Live-enabled version of Tinker, the Windows Vista Ultimate Extra exclusive for those willing to download the Games for Windows Live client when the service goes live on the 15th.

You can download the Games for Windows Live client at Microsoft's official website.

Funcom Demos Age Of Conan Expansion Live On Monday [Live Demo]

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:20:00 -0700

Funcom is letting fans in on the Rise of the Godslayer action, showing off never-before-seen content in a live gameplay demo of the Age of Conan expansion on Monday, December 7th.

The Rise of the Godslayer expansion introduces players to the lands of Khitai, with several new world regions filled with new dungeons, quests and rewards. There's a new player race, alternate advancement, and all kinds of goodies to make your stay in Hyboria more enjoyable. The expansion is due out next year, but fans can get an early peek on Monday when Funcom presents a live gameplay demonstration on Xfire.com.

"We have been working on the expansion for ‘Age of Conan' for quite some time now, and everyone on the team is eager to lift the veil and include the public in what we are trying to bring to life," says Game Director and Executive Producer Craig Morrison who will be hosting the live gameplay demonstration together with expansion Lead Designer Joel Bylos. "Development is coming together nicely, and we are really excited to see the empire of Khitai coming to life! Doing a live demo on Xfire is a brilliant way for us to reach out to a broad audience and show just what they can expect from ‘Rise of the Godslayer' as we continue to move closer and closer to launch."

The demo kicks off at 12PM Pacific time, so make sure you pack a lunch.

The Saboteur Offers Day-One Free Nudity DLC [Dlc]

Stephen Totilo — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:00:53 -0700

Such are the vagaries of clean living. EA's upcoming game, The Saboteur offers free in-game nudity via downloadable add-on — even interrupts the opening of the game to point that out — but... not in my house, not today.

I have played the final PlayStation 3 version of The Saboteur for about 11 hours in preparation for a review (look for it in the coming days), and I had played the game clean.

The game is an Assassin's Creed-esque, GTA-ish adventure of an Irish race-car driver assisting the resistance in Nazi-occupied France.

Wholesome fun.

But the game came with a card, on which was printed a redemption code for The Midnight Show, some free downloadable content. "Enter code for in-game topless dances, a game of chance, and rewards for every risk," the card stated.

I didn't punch in the code.

I started the game and got this heads-up right away:

I resisted. No code. Not yet.

I did that, frankly, for gameplay reasons. The Midnight Show DLC isn't strictly an adult content tease. It suggests that it makes the game easier, by producing more hiding places for the Irish hero, Sean Devlin, to hide in when the Nazis chase him. The game already allows the player to duck Sean into sheds, run to a urinal or kiss a woman to throw the Nazis off. According to EA press materials regarding the Midnight Show, that DLC would allow Devlin to also duck into brothels.

So the content would make the game easier, in theory. It's something I wanted to test only after having played the game for a while.

Today, with EA's restriction on talking about the content lifting, I attempted to download it and see what it was all about. I understood that it would make the ladies in the game's central cabaret club topless, that it would add the ability to get topless dances, add a money-making gambling game, add the brothel hiding spots and who knows what else.

But after putting in my free code, I got this message:

So maybe the content isn't available through the PlayStation store yet. It's not surprising. The game won't be released until next week. The women in my game's nightclub will remain barely dressed, with pasties covering their nipples.

As much as the release of the Midnight Show will become a part of the discussion about adult content in games, it's important to also look at is as a sales device. EA will sell the Midnight Show for $5 for consumers who don't get the code on a card packed-in with the game's disc. But the fact that it is free to those who do purchase the game new and find that card suggests that the Midnight Show may be designed to incentivize consumers of new copies of the game, as opposed to those who buy it used. After all, it is probable that used copies of the game would not include the card for the free download, because it would likely already have been used. If that's the case, it winds up being similar to day-one free DLC for games such as Gears of War 2, which offered free multiplayer maps through a redemption code. It could be another salvo against used game sales at places like GameStop.

I asked about the Saboteur content to EA CEO John Riccitiello yesterday. He laughed about it, saying he was interested in seeing what the reaction was. He wondered aloud if people would nickname it. Not DLC but TLC, perhaps?

The Saboteur, which is rated M, ships for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 next week.

GoG.com Brings Myst Back To The Masses [Classics]

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:40:00 -0700

Good Old Games, the DRM-free digital download service for classic PC games, teams up with Cyan Worlds to bring classic adventure game series Myst back into service.

Myst is one of those games that brought countless newcomers into the world of PC gaming, with it's high-quality visuals and challenging puzzles making it one of the earliest hits of the CD-ROM era. Now GoG.com has reached an agreement with developer Cyan Worlds to put the games up for sale once more, starting with Myst Masterpiece, available now for $5.99.

"Keeping the Myst series alive is incredibly satisfying," said Rand Miller, co-founder of Cyan. "GOG.com allows us to keep the ages of Myst accessible for our fans, and in addition make them available to a whole new generation of gamers."

Masterpiece will be followed shortly after by Riven, which weighs in at a 2.2GB, a truly massive game for its time, and Manhole, Rand and Robyn Miller's earlier adventure game for kids.

Over the years I've probably purchased Myst in one form or another more than a dozen times. I suppose it's nice to have another option.

Forged By Chaos Explores The Darker Side Of Warhammer Online [Required Reading]

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:20:00 -0700

Because there are two sides to every conflict, Mythic and Games Workshop publishing arm The Black Library have released Forged By Chaos, a novel that explores the fragile, deadly alliance of the forces of Destruction.

In Forged By Chaos, the third novel based on Warhammer Online, author C.L. Werner takes on Dark Elves. Greenskins, and the forces of Chaos as they explore the Bastion Stair in search of the Spear of Myrmidia, a relic that could ensure their victory over the Empire of Man.

"FORGED BY CHAOS provides readers with a horrific look into the warped minds of the soldiers of Destruction – the megalomania of the Dark Elves, the destructive single-mindedness of the Greenskins, and the unholy obsessions of Chaos", said Jeff Hickman, Studio Executive Producer for Mythic Entertainment. "C.L. Werner provides a never-before-seen look at a single side of the Realm vs. Realm conflict, and shows just how fragile, and deadly, this alliance of dark powers can be."

I've always been a huge fan of fantasy novels from the bad guys' point-of-view, at least when they don't simply portray the villains as uglier heroes. Hopefully Werner gets it right! Forged By Chaos is now available at fine booksellers everywhere.

EA CEO: Mirror's Edge "Deserves To Come Back," Design At Crossroads [Ea]

Stephen Totilo — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 10:00:53 -0700

The head of EA, John Riccitiello, told Kotaku this week that the 2008 first-person free-running game Mirrors Edge, not only merits a sequel, but explained the design conundrum its developers face.

"We're still working through things like how to best deal with Mirror's Edge 2," he said during a Wednesday morning interview in New York. "There are some things we learned about that [first] game. It was, I think, a massively innovative product. To be honest with you, I think it's a game that deserves to come back."

Riccitiello spent much of his interview with Kotaku affirming that his stated commitments to game quality and innovation made in 2008 were not shaken by relatively light holiday sales of original EA games such as Dead Space and Mirror's Edge last year. He considers both games, particuarly Dead Space, having set good foundations.

He also pointed to the company's 13% rise in revenues this year and said that it was directly attributable to efforts regarding quality and innovation.

Riccitiello is a gaming executive who believes not just in sequels — he was already saying, on the eve of EA's newest game, The Saboteur, that he's "hopeful for a sequel" — but is equally vocal about innovation and how the two so often go together.

Everything from recently improved EA FIFA games to some loved blockbusters of old such as Grand Theft Auto IV prove that successful sequels house can and should innovation.

But, Riccitiello said, sometimes the sales success for an innovative game doesn't occur until a sequel or two, more polished than the predecessors, is released.

"Innovation doesn't mean it all works the first time," he said. "If it did everyone would do it."

And that kind of talk brought him back to Mirror's Edge and its future. He got specific about design decisions relevant to the original team at Mirror's Edge DICE and whoever is on the case — he didn't specify DICE or otherwise — who are pondering a sequel:

"I think Mirror's Edge was a fascinatingly original world.Fascinatingly original art direction. Music and sound design was great. I think the gameplay mechanic was a blast, but was intermittent and the levels didn't work. You found yourself scratching at walls at times, looking for what to do. Sometimes you had a roll going, downhill, slide, jump, slide, jump and then you just got stopped. It sort of got in the way of the fun.

"It was like we couldn't quite decide if we were building Portal or a runner. And I don't think the consumer was ready to switch it up quite that way. You could say it was a sharp and great innovation. I believe that it was. You have to figure out what to do from here if you want it to be a five million seller vs. a one-million unit seller.

"I've had several very lively debates with the dev team. And they are working on it. But there's a couple of different directions you could go.

"You could say: This thing needs to be more traditional. It's first-person game. There's a lot of successful FPS products out there that do really well. We could move in that direction.

"Or [you could say]: This was never about guns. It was about its stark originality. Maybe we can back away from some of those [older] things… and emphasize the smooth play and puzzles and move it toward, if you will, a Portal.

"And they're both valid. Innovation is a lot of times about getting so far, stepping back, assessing and then moving forward. And that's what I'm proud is happening at EA every day."
Potential fans of Mirror's Edge 2, you see the parameters of the design debate. Surely, you have some thoughts.

Square Enix Remakes Song Summoner For The iPhone [Square Enix]

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:40:00 -0700

Does your music collection have what it takes to create an unstoppable army? Find out with Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes - Encore, the iPhone remake of Square Enix's original iPod game.

Right before Apple launched games for the Apple iPhone on the App Store, Square Enix released the original Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes, a strategy RPG for the original click-wheel iPod. The game used your own music to generate troops in battle, with power, class, and rarity determined by the song used in creation. You could even power up your characters when not playing, just by listening to the music that summoned them.

It was a brilliant concept, but why wasn't it on the iPhone instead? Well now it is, and I can stop asking that question.

Song Summoner follows the story of Ziggy, a young conductor with the power to give music physical form. His brother has been kidnapped, and he must rally the troops to fight by your side.

The iPhone version of Song Summoner features more than 50 unlockable troops to aid you through a story twice the size of the original game, for more than 30 hours of gameplay. 30 hours of gameplay is a hell of a deal for the $9.99 asking price, and there's also a free lite version available if you want to try before you buy.

I've spent the past hour going through the music on my iPhone, trying to create the perfect army. Apparently Weird Al isn't good battle music. Go figure.

Cutest. Assassin. Ever. [Dlc]

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:20:00 -0700

Here's an Italian Renaissance assassin so adorable you'd pay him to kill you just to see him up close.

Assassin's Creed II protagonist Ezio Auditore de Firenze looked good in white, but not nearly as good as Sackboy does. The complete outfit goes up for sale today for LittleBigPlanet on the PlayStation Network, allowing LBP players to deck their tiny avatars out in Ezio's cloak and cowl, breeches and boots, tunic and cape, and most importantly, his hidden blade glove.

The whole ensemble is a steal at $1.99, and even if you don't like Assassin's Creed II, you could probably fashion a hell of a Moon Knight costume from the pieces, and who doesn't love Moon Knight?

Assassin's Creed II Costume [Media Molecule - Thanks Ursus-Veritas!]

So Many Gundam Games, So Little Time [Gundam]

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:00:00 -0700

To mark the 30th anniversary of Gundam, a series of 11 titles at budget pricing will be released in Japan on December 17. Look at all those Gundam games.

The games are:

PSP
Mobile Suit Gundam: Giren no Yabou Axis no Kyoui
Gundam Battle Universe
Mobile Suit Gundam: SEED Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. PORTABLE

PS3
Gundam Musou 2

Xbox 360
Gundam Musou 2

Wii
Mobile Suit Gundam: MS Sensen 0079

PS2
Gundam Musou 2
Mobile Suit Gundam: Giren no Yabou Axis no Kyoui
SD Gundam G Generation Spirits
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Gundam Masters
Mobile Suit Gundam: SEED Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. II PLUS

The PSP and PS2 games are priced at ¥2,800 (US$32) each, while the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii games are ¥3,800 ($43).

『機動戦士ガンダム』シリーズ計11タイトルがお求めやすい価格で再登場 [ファミ通.com]

Star Trek Online "Belly Of The Beast" Trailer Contains No Bellies Or Beasts [Clips]

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:40:00 -0700

Seeing more Star Trek Online ship combat is always nice, but when you call a trailer "Belly of the Beast" there had damn well better be bellies or beasts in it. Or beast bellies.

Perhaps I am just not seeing the beast in the trailer, or perhaps the whole thing takes place inside said belly and I am just not versed enough in Star Trek lore to see it. I suppose it's a better title than "More Ships Shooting At Each Other," but I still want my money back.

Ace Combat Xi Launches On iPhone [New Release]

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:20:00 -0700

Is that experimental flight technology evaluation squadron Falco in your pocket, or have you not yet downloaded Ace Combat Xi: Skies of Incursion, available today on the iTunes App Store?

The People's Republic of Leasath has launched a sneak attack on the Federal Republic of Aurelia, and it's up to the Falco squadron to rock Amadeus and barrel roll all over their sorry asses. That's the basic plot for Ace Combat Xi for the iPhone and iPod Touch, now available for $4.99 from Namco Networks. The game features an original story, HD quality graphics, full 360-degree flight combat, and environments ripped from satellite imagery to give the whole package a hunt of realism.

Answering the question Crecente poised in his hands-on, there sadly doesn't seem to be any multiplayer, but the price is right, and the promise of downloadable planes in the future leaves me hopeful that something pink and Id@lmaster-y might be in my iPhone's future.

Average Mario Wii Playing Time Just Under 10 Hours So Far [Wii]

Stephen Totilo — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:00:33 -0700

Following up yesterday's Kotaku report of Wii play-time stats, here's how much time some of the bigger Wii games of the summer and fall are getting played by those who have them.

The following are average playing times, per Wii user, since the launch of the game through December 1, 2009.

The data is collected only from users who volunteered to share their data with the Wii's Nintendo Channel. In the case of Call of Duty, for example, that appears to cover a little over 3,700 consoles' playing history. The Mario number is from the stats collected in just under 29,000 consoles. (For more on the methodology I use in these Wii stats posts, check yesterday's article).

The Beatles Rock Band (Released Sept. 9) - 14 hours, 50 minutes

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Edition (Released Nov. 10) - 14 hours, 56 minutes

Madden NFL10 (Released August 14) - 15 hours, 45 minutes

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Released Oct. 13) - 10 hours, 50 minutes

Metroid Prime Anthology (Released Aug. 24) - 22 hours, 53 minutes

Muramasa: The Demon Blade (Released Sept. 8) - 12 hours, 48 minutes

New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Released Nov, 15) - 9 hours, 47 minutes

Wii Fit Plus (Released Oct. 4) - 9 hours, 50 minutes

Wii Sports Resort (Released July 26) - 18 hours, 39 minutes

(No data available yet for Lego Indiana Jones 2, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, EA Sports Active More Workouts, Dead Space Extraction and WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2010)

Bear in mind that these numbers do not represent sales or popularity. Many more people bought New Super Mario Bros. Wii than did Muramasa. But how much time did people who got these games spend with that? That's what is measured here. Consider it a satisfaction index, a measure of pleasure.

Talk Amongst Yourselves [Official Kotaku Forum]

Stephen Totilo — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:40:59 -0700

It is seldom sunny enough for Boktai, but the weather is always good for commenting about video game in TAY.

Confused about commenting on Kotaku? Read our FAQ.

Are You A Cosplayer? [Note]

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:20:00 -0700

To: Totilo
From: Bashcraft
RE: I Had One Good Tiger Woods Anecdote (Emphasis On *Had*)

No, not you, Total. But you reader person. If cosplay and have a website, shoot me an email. THANKS!

Bummer about the Tiger Woods anecdote.

What you missed last night
Reviewing A Game On Their Terms: The Increasingly Prominent "Review Event"
Happy 15th Birthday, PlayStation!
Star Wars: The Old Republic Preview: The Space Inquisition
What Did Japanese People Search For Online? You Will Be Surprised
Which Games Made Google's 2009 "Best/Worst Of"?
Medal of Honor Soldier Evokes Real Afghanistan Warrior

Canada's Bungie-Scented Xbox 360 Bundle [Xbox 360]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Microsoft announced this week that, for a limited time, Canadian gamers will be able to grab a special bundle that includes a console and both of Bungie's Halo games for the 360.

In all, you get a 360 Elite, two controllers and copies of both Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST, all for CAD$400 (USD$380).

It should be on sale right now, so if you're interested in the 360 and somehow missed Halo, why not. At the very least, you'll be supporting the idea of consoles coming with two controllers.

Wii Hits British Sales Milestones [Britain]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:30:00 -0700

The Nintendo Wii has carved two big notches on its belt today, passing not only the six million-sold barrier, but also becoming the fastest console in British history to do so.

The Wii went on sale in the UK in December 2006, so we're looking at an average of 2 million per year. Not bad. Sure, sales have slowed over the past 6-9 months, but I'm not going to be the one to rain on Nintendo's parade.

Six million is good, but if it wants to claim the title of best-selling British console of all time, it's got another four million to sell before it overtakes the PlayStation 2.

Wii hits six million in the UK [MCV]

Bring Your Slave Gladiator Girl To Work Day [Gallery]

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Do you know what today is? Why, it's bring your slave gladiator girl to work day — or as it's commonly know "BYSGGTWD".

Sure, we've already seen this girl loads. But we haven't seen her using a computer, a telephone or a copy machine. The lady even takes off her helmet and lets a staffer at Dengeki Online go bananas in the office.

あの女剣闘士が編集部を襲撃!? PSP『剣闘士』体験版PRにやってきた！ [Dengeki Online]

The 2009 PlayStation Award Winners Are... [Sony]

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Every year Sony Computer Entertainment Japan recognizes the biggest selling domestic titles on the PlayStation platform with the PlayStation Awards.

The ¥500,000 (US$5,700) "Gold Prize" is given to titles that ship between 500,00 and 1 million units. This year's winners are Yakuza 3 and Resident Evil 5 on the PS3 and DISSIDIA Final Fantasy on the PSP.

The ¥1,000,000 ($11,400) "Platinum Prize" is given to titles that ship between 1 and 2 million units. This year's winner is Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G PSP the Best.

A special prize was also given to the top five downloaded games on the PS3 PlayStation Network. Those titles are GOMIBAKO, Minna de Spelunker, Katsuragi Misato Houdou Keikaku, Bomberman Ultra and Battlefield 1943.

Congrats to all the winners.

Cover Your Christmas Tree With Hand-Made Gaming Ornaments [Christmas]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Just in case those fancy controllers weren't pushing your yuletide buttons, here are some more game-related ornaments suitable for hanging from your Christmas tree.

Thrown together by the lovely Alice, there are Zelda rupees, Mario mushrooms, a 360 and even some delightfully garish Yoshis.

Interested? Get more info on each item over at Wonderland.

Gamey tree ornaments [Wonderland]

SingStar Sells 20 Million [Sony]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:30:00 -0700

It's popped corks and slapped backs at Sony's London Studio today, with news that the SingStar series has just hit the "20 million sold" mark.

The first SingStar was released all the way back in 2004, for the PS2, and the series now spans over seventy releases across fourteen languages.

Not bad for a game that's essentially only been big in one market (Europe).

SingStar Holiday Update [PlayStation]

Happy 15th Birthday, PlayStation! [Sony]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:00:00 -0700

It all began 15 years ago today. On December 3, 1994, Sony released the PlayStation in Japan. The rest, as they say, is history.

Yes, it's hard to remember now, but there once was a time, before WipeOut, before Tomb Raider, before PaRappa, that Sony entering the gaming business didn't sound like such a sure bet.

There was a failed attempt at a CD-based system in partnership with Nintendo. There was the fact Sony were an unproven force in a market dominated by Nintendo and Sega. And the PlayStation's approach was all so adult.

Time, of course, has proven any doubts unfounded. The original PlayStation blew people's minds from the moment it launched, and its successor - the PS2 - is still the #1 selling video game console of all time. So it too did OK.

True, things haven't quite been the same for the company since, with both the PSP and PS3 failing to achieve the same level of market dominance. Oh well. There's still plenty of time left for both platforms (well, at least the PS3, which has been coming along in great strides all year), and besides, today isn't a day for nit-picking.

It's a day for clinking glasses. Happy birthday, PlayStation. Think it's safe to say the video game business wouldn't have been the same without you.

(History buffs/Sony fans might want to check out this celebratory site, which is quite neat. It even has the ducks!)

NSFW: Adult Game Bundled With "Personal Assistant" [Maximum Risky]

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:30:00 -0700

Unabashedly 18-years-old-and-up PC game Lots of Mothers!! features just that — lots of mothers. The limited edition bundle features something else.

Priced at ¥9,420 (US$107), the bundle comes with the game disc, a special manga, an audio CD and, ahem, a "personal assistant". Those who order by mail get two personal assistants. There are apparently seven different varities, so those will two boxes will probably get totally different ones. Yeah.

Lots of Mothers!! will be released in Japan on December 25. In Japan, nothing says Christmas quite like Kentucky Fried Chicken, cakes with frosting and having sex with plastic.

お母さんがいっぱい！-オフィシャルホームページ- *TOP* [NSFW via オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃]

Jimmy Kimmel Looks At Gay Sex In Dragon Age [Clips]

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Remember kids: In America, kissing a male elf, eyebrows raised, but killing a male elf, a-okay.

More about the sex scenes in Dragon Age: Origins right here.

Thanks Otaku Man!

Redbox Closer To Rolling Out $2 Game Rentals [Rentals]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:30:00 -0700

DVD rental firm Redbox are in talks with a number of publishers over the possibility of adding video games to the company's range of DVD dispensing machines.

Redbox boss Mitch Lowe says that he's holding the talks in an attempt to not only expand the range of products they can offer, but also to try and pre-empt the kind of disputes Redbox currently find themselves in with movie studios.

Studios like Fox, Universal and Warner have withdrawn from Redbox's kiosks in recent months, unhappy with the way the company charges so little for rentals, as they feel it undermines actual DVD sales.

So Lowe is sounding out the idea with a number of undisclosed publishers, one of which is THQ. "If you look at movies and music in some ways", THQ boss Brian Farrell says, "resisting new business models has not been a great formula for success, so one of the things I like about our industry is we tend to think, 'We have to adapt to this change.' So it's part of our DNA".

To help with the talks, Redbox have already begun trialling "Gamebox" machines in a number of locations in the US, like the one above, sent in by reader Richard. They've been in select markets since the middle of the year. Should these talks go well, though, you can expect them in a lot more markets.

Redbox talking with video game makers [Reuters]

Final Fantasy XIII Giant Turtle Is So Big [Japan]

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Huge, jumbo and gianormous. Adamantoise, an enemy in the FF series since Final Fantasy II, is a large turtle. In upcoming Final Fantasy XIII, the monster is much more.

He's big.

『FF13』「アダマンタイマイ」デカすぎ！:オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃

EA Releases Battlefield Specs For The PC [PC]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:30:00 -0700

EA released today the specs for both upcoming Battlefield games on the PC, namely Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 1943. Let's see how your/my PC shapes up.

Both games run on the same engine, so both share the same specs. And those are:

Minimum Specs
Processor: Core 2 Duo @ 2.0GHz
Main memory: 2GB
Graphics card: GeForce 7800 GT / ATI X1900
Graphics memory: 256MB
OS: Windows XP
Free HDD space: 15GB for Digital Version, 10GB for Disc Version (BFBC2), 10GB for Digital Version, 4GB for Disc Version (BF1943)

Recommended Specs
Processor: Quadcore
Main memory: 2GB
Graphics card: GeForce GTX 260
Graphics memory: 512MB
OS: Windows Vista or Windows 7
Free HDD space: 15GB for Digital Version, 10GB for Disc Version (BFBC2), 10GB for Digital Version, 4GB for Disc Version (BF1943)

Please, now, bore us all with tales of whether or not this game will run on your PC, and how you say it'll make you go out and upgrade, but really won't.

Star Wars: The Old Republic Preview: The Space Inquisition [Preview]

AJ Glasser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:00:00 -0700

All eight classes of Star Wars: The Old Republic have been revealed, leaving me only one question: What the hell is a Sith Inquisitor?

I get that they're supposed to be a more badass version of a Sith Warrior with different ranged abilities. But if that's the case, wouldn't all players playing as Sith Warriors graduate to Inquisitors after playing long enough? Jedi Consular — the other new class revealed — confuses me less. "Consular" sounds like a political position; one you'd have to train for specifically as opposed to a rank you achieve over time.

So I guess I'll be playing on the Jedi faction simply to avoid asking myself uncomfortable questions.

What Is It?
Star Wars: The Old Republic is a massively multiplayer online game set way, way back in the ancient history of the galaxy far, far away. The Sith and the Jedi are rival factions and apparently things are getting explosive between the two. Enough so that players who choose to play on one faction side or the other will have plenty to shoot at, lightsaber cut or otherwise inconvenience on various planets in the Star Wars universe.

The classes are Jedi Consular/Sith Inquisitor, Jedi Knight/Sith Warrior, Smuggler/Bounty Hunter, Trooper/Imperial Agent. Companion characters will figure heavily into gameplay, as will storytelling (come on, it's BioWare). Space travel has yet to be revealed or discussed.

What We Saw
I played through about 95% of a quest we'll call "The Tomb of Tulac Horde" because I'm not sure what its official name is, but that just about sums it up. I was in the role of a Sith Inquisitor acolyte with a nice rack and red hair — and I was role playing her with an attitude problem that somehow didn't get her Force-choked even once during the play through. The quest involves going into a tomb to collect three tablets and returning to your Sith master. Additionally, you could accept a quest to activate something in the tomb called the Red Machine for some other dude standing outside the tomb. Also, you could talk to and accept another quest involving mind-raping a Jedi being held in a Sith dungeon, but I was told by a LucasArts representative not to pursue that quest.

How Far Along Is It?
It's hard to say with so limited an experience. Furthermore, no release date has been suggested and while names have been collected for the closed beta, there's no word on how that's progressing. I think I was playing on a very unfinished product on account of some missing text, the fact that I wasn't allowed to explore very much and the part where I was playing an MMO strangely devoid of other players.

What Needs Improvement?
I can't tell the difference between Sith Warrior and Inquistor: Just looking at the list of powers suggests that the class difference between Warrior and Inquisitor is supposed to exist. But while playing my big jugged female character, I just didn't feel any different from a Sith. I shocked people, I drained life force, I cut ‘em up with lightsabers. How is this different whether I'm a Warrior or Inquisitor?

Wow, is the whole galaxy a size D or just the Sith chicks? I'm not as annoyed as I am bemused by the boobs I saw in Old Republic. I almost missed half of what my acolyte was saying during the opening quest cinematic because I was watching her bosom stay oddly stationary while the rest of her body would shift when she sighed in boredom at her boss. Then, I practically ran into the bosom of another Sith female just trying to walk out the door. Finally, the Sith who assigned me the Jedi mind-rape quest I wasn't permitted to explore must've been using the Dark Side to keep her rack from sagging. Seriously, they took up one third of the screen in some camera angles during her quest-assignment cinematic.

What Should Stay The Same?
Excellent Voice Work: This is where BioWare really feels different than other MMOs to me. Every character I talked to had a different voice and sounded like they could actually act. It definitely speaks to the quality of the product LucasArts is encouraging BioWare to produce.

Good Use of Camera Angles: During cinema scenes, the camera would cut angles – much like they do in Mass Effect cut scenes. It kept things interesting and gave me more opportunities to look at things other than my character's chest. Also, they didn't over-use it, which is crucial to its success as a storytelling tool.

Hey, It's A Star Wars MMO: The quest involved navigating a series of rooms around an open space. The enemies were all slime-filled worms, reprogrammed droids or escaped Sith slaves. There was also a larger worm near the Red Machine — but it died just as quickly with a quick life drain followed by a lightsaber ground pound. Overall, the experience felt exactly like I'd expect an MMO to feel. The controls worked exactly like you'd expect them to (WASD to move, M for map, numbers or clicking for attacks, etc.), the menu system was familiar and it wasn't hard to master the combat once you got used to lightsaber fighting. Old hats of MMOs will have zero trouble adjusting and the rest of us will overcome the learning trauma for the sheer joy of swinging a lightsaber around.

Final Thoughts
I'm happy I got to see the game, but I'm sad that it was such a limited experience that basically amounts to your average fetch quest in any other MMO (only with more story behind it and higher production values). Also, I would've really liked to see that Jedi mind-rape quest because that sounded like it would yield more of the BioWare dialogue I'm addicted to.

But, from what little I saw, I can say that it's coming along. And no matter how many times I see that E3 trailer, it still looks badass. They actually let us re-watch it in LucasArts' super-huge theater with surround sound. LucasArts Old Republic Producer Jake Neri actually cautioned me when I headed for the third row back from the screen, "Don't sit there, you'll throw up." It was awesome.

Mario? There's An App For That [Clips]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:30:00 -0700

For a limited time (ie until lawyers take it down), you can get an app for the iPhone that lets you walk around pretending you're stuck in a Mario game.

It's called iRwego (un hunh hunh), and is $1 (the $1.19 listed above is for the Australian store). My extensive hands-on impressions follow.

Japan's Top Ten "Crap Games of the Retail Shop" [Japan]

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0700

One game shop has listed the top ten letdowns of 2009. The retailer isn't talking about the buggiest or worst titles, but rather, the games that didn't do as expected.

In short, this is a list of titles that fell short sales-wise.

10. Persona
Retail expectations were high, but the game got off to a slow start and never fully recovered.

9. Tamagotchi no Narikiri Channel
The title also was thought to have brisk sales, but apparently, they've been horrible.

8. Dragon Ball Tenkaichi Daibouken
Dragon Ball just doesn't folks excited anymore, it seems.

7. PSP Shin Sangoku Musou 5SP (Dynasty Warriors)
"This is the beginning of the end for the Musou mythos LOL"

6. Gran Turismo PSP
Since it is a marquee Sony title, expectations were high, but the game ended up being sold at a loss.

5. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
Sales are moving exceedingly slow.

4. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (DS)
In particular, the DS version is not doing well — the retailer is praying for strong end of year sales.

3. Taiko no Tatsujin Wii: Dodon to Nidaime
Don't give up on this game just yet, but currently it is not doing so hot. Inventory is not moving and is taking up lots of space.

2. Monster Hunter 3 (Standard Edition)
As with some of the other titles, expectations were high. But Capcom's "fraud-like shipping methods" meant that the game was sold in the red and to make a profit, retailers had to sell something like 50 copies of the game to make a mere US$45. "It got ridiculous!"

1. Blood of Bahamut (DS)
"This game was gobbled up by Dragon Quest." The retail also calls Square Enix's promotion "weak" as well and just got lost in the shuffle. Way lost.

クソゲーオブザ販売店｜ゲームは一日○時間

Hey, Hellgate Is Back! [Clips]

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:30:00 -0700

Proving you can't keep an ill-conceived MMO down, the Hellgate series is back. And it's moved on from London. And the English language. And now finds itself in Japan. Speaking Korean.

March 2010? Best of luck to you, Hellgate.

Japanese Stores Rev Up For Final Fantasy XIII [Gallery]

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:00:00 -0700

Final Fantasy XIII will be released in Japan soon. Pre-orders have commenced, and retailers are going all out. It's a Final Fantasy frenzy! Check out these shots from shops in Tokyo's Akihabara.

もうすぐ発売ＦＦ１３　アキバはこんな感じ [アキバBlog]

New Alan Wake Screenshot Is Comfortable Following A Well-Worn Path [Remedy]

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:30:00 -0700

Remedy Entertainment released a single screenshot for Alan Wake today. Just the one. Here it is.

Alan, torch, darkness...yeah, it's much like everything else we've seen from a game that will see you spending most of your time in the dark, with a torch in your hand.

Love the Twitter advertisement, too. It was only a matter of time before screenshots became as cluttered with ads as a TV screen is with watermarks.

Even Pikachu Uses The ATM [Screengrab]

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:00:00 -0700

As seen on Kirai.

R-Type in Diecast [Toys]

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:20:00 -0700

Side-scrolling shooter R-Type is ready to blast up in diecast model form. Diecast — bringing back childhood memories of metal.

The model is of R-Type's "Madou Gokin RWF-9A Arrow Head" and will be released in Japan next March. It's 5.11" long and fully painted. And there's a force pod, too! Pre-orders start at US$129.90.

Merch'Em Up: Diecast R-Type Model [GameSetWatch]