Mario Power Tennis US Trailer

A gameplay trailer for New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis has arrived. I'm pretty excited about the New Play Control! titles. And for only $29.99, this looks like a steal!

Killzone 2 Review

Truly a zone for killing.

When it comes to sci-fi themed first person shooters, gamers have a lot of options. Be it with a chieftain of masters or a theoretical physicist who looks good in orange, the sub-genre has seen its epics. So how well does Guerilla Games' PS3 exclusive, Killzone 2 hold up against such strong competition?

The answer is very well.

Killzone 2 follows up the events of Killzone for the PS2 and Killzone: Liberation for the PSP. In short, a militant world known as Helghan decided to invade the very Earth-like world of Vetka. The forces of Vetka prove mighty and force the Helghast to retreat to their homeworld. The Interplanetary Strategic Alliance then sends its forces to counter-invade Helghan, putting an end to the Helghast threat once and for all. Which is where the game begins.

The opening movie sets the scene for the conflict.

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Plenty of games out there have you defending your homeworld, but Killzone 2 takes a much more refreshing approach of invading another planet in the name of justice. It may sound a little like GTA IV’s “Republican Space Rangers” cartoon, but trust me, SCEE and Guerilla games have done a truly top notch job of fleshing out the cinematic scope of the game.

For starters, the opening scenes are gorgeous. Helghast leader Emperor Scolar Visari is shown delivering an anti-ISA propaganda speech immediately before our protagonist, Sergeant Tomas “Sev” Sevchenko, and his unit drop onto Helghan.

And the drop is what really hooked me in.

The ISA dropships are little more than multi-jet equipped platforms, completely open to the world and made for quick boardings and exits. The dropship departs from the ISA attack ship in a cursing filled free fall that gets both your and the soldiers’ hearts pumping.

As I assume all real soldiers do, the ISA curse like lunchroom ladies. Any form of descriptor, be it adjective or adverb, is replaced with language only suitable for the darkest corners of high school cafeterias. The Helghast on the other hand speak mostly through gunshots, which is pretty effective communication.

Luckily Killzone 2, with its M rating and all, decides to treat gamers like the pale skinned FPS masters they are. The tutorial is perhaps the most simple, to the point, and short training I’ve ever had for a game. Console shooters all hover in the same ballpark control wise and KZ2 gets the basics out of the way quick and dumps you straight into the action.

And there’s action aplenty. The Helghast, a race of former humans who colonized Helghan and have adapted to survive in the harsh environments, are very good at killing. If you’re far away, they can kill you. If you’re up close, they can (and will) make your head ‘splode. A basic rule of thumb: If you can see or shoot at them, they can see and will shoot at you.

This brings us to the AI, which (hats off to Guerrilla) results in some of the most refreshing Nazi-esque folks I’ve ever mowed down with a machine gun. The AI for the most part is almost as challenging as online multiplayer. They will take cover when being fired at, wait for you to reload, and come at you with speed and efficiency. So yeah, the Helghast play it smart. Dolphins with machine guns smart.

While the action is pretty much non-stop throughout, there are a few fire fights specifically that will challenge the skills of any Halo or Call of Duty master. This isn’t Hitler’s Germany and the enemies don’t make George Lucas-esque squeals when hit. The amount of intensity and adrenaline Killzone 2 evokes in its heated shootouts is amazing.

Speaking of killing folks, let’s talk about how you do that. Killzone 2 utilizes a primary weapon, which can consist of a number of heavy firearms, and an always faithful revolver as a secondary. In true FPS fashion you have access to grenades, melee attacks, and even a combat knife.

Weapons are numerous including machine guns of varying strengths, shotties, grenade launchers, RPGs, flamethrowers, sniper rifles, and one swanky electricity gun. Like any good shooter title, head shots are the way to go, but Killzone 2 makes hits anywhere on an enemy feel fantastic as well.

Killzone 2 also makes use of a nifty cover system. It’s not uber clingy like Gears of War and it feels very natural. You can peek over and around objects to see what dangers lie ahead, but remember the rule of thumb from earlier. You know how you love to shoot enemies that take even the slightest peek around a corner? Well the AI takes to peekers like the homeless to soup. Consider yourself warned.

An area that is a bit hit and miss is the inclusion of a few brief Sixaxis scenes. For the most part, these events simply involve turning a valve which is ultimately not adding to the overall experience. That would be the previously mentioned miss. A sleeper hit for Sixaxis controls comes from the setting of D Charges. Rotating the controller to activate charges (albeit a little Hollywood in nature) made me feel like I was that much closer to the action. The Hollywood factor was usually upped by detonating the charges which serve to drop towering structures and buildings.

One aspect that truly shines is in Killzone 2 is its atmosphere. The world of Helghan is very bleak and abysmal, with a nice dash of militant superpower thrown in. The despair of the environments do a great job of evoking the sense of unfamiliarity and solitude that Sev and his crew are feeling. The odds of invading a war hungry planet and stopping its die-hard soldiers are pretty slim, and the atmosphere the game evokes makes sure that the player knows it.

The fights of Killzone 2 take Sev and company through large Helghan cities and deserted wastelands. The environments alone speak legions more than any narrator could about the Helghast. The structure and layout of their cities and palaces scream elitist military complex and the wastelands allow you to understand why the Helghast have adapted to their tough as nails humanoid state.

While the intensity and brooding atmosphere may be a bit much for some players, Killzone 2 throws you a bone every once in a while. At points where I would feel nearly overwhelmed after narrowly escaping death at the hands of a Helghast onslaught, the game would throw in a turret or mech piloting scene. Both events render the player mostly invincible and allow you to vent some that tension through a quickly increasing body count.

Overall, the story won’t make you cry or anything, but what space themed shooter has succeeded in that department? It’s a story about soldiers on a suicide mission so expect a lot of cursing and explosions. Once again though, I applaud Guerilla for taking something so generic and executing it with a quality that serves to ratchet up the force of the single player campaign. I was perfectly fine with the nearly all alpha male cast necessary for the job at hand. And the game’s closing scenes totally defied the Michael Bay ending I predicted.

Without spoiling too much, suffice it to say that the ending leaves you feeling alone and hopeless. Not what I expected (in a very good way) from a testosterone filled tour of duty.

The single player mode clocks in at about ten hours (for an average FPS person such as myself) but that’s ten of the most intense gaming hours I’ve had in a while. Throw in the harder difficulty levels and you are in for a session of combat that even John Rambo would call in sick for.

So far, Killzone 2’s online multiplayer has been a breath of fresh air for the PS3. All of the matches I have played have been lag free, even the epic 32 player skirmishes. I will remain a tad skeptical of lag issues as more and more people get in on the online action, but as of now Killzone 2 is one of the most pleasing online experiences I’ve had with my PS3.

The online Warzone has all the FPS staples: assassin, body count, defend your base, and capture the flag type modes are readily available. Players can also customize their characters via differing combat classes. Each class has its own skill, which adds a touch of diversity to the otherwise standard affair.

For example, scouts can earn badges that allow them to activate a cloaking device or mark the coordinates of enemy combatants. Saboteurs can wear enemy disguises and set C-4 charges. Other classes include engineers, medics, assaults, and tacticians; all of which add some flare and customization to Killzone’s online mode. Throw in a points based leveling up system and you’ve got one fleshed out online smorgasbord.

Granted, none of this reinvents the wheel, but combining the online aspect with the next gen visuals and solid controls makes for one delightful global experience.

Sony’s also doing a great job of birthing and supporting a Killzone 2 community. From the game’s main menu you can access killzone.com to get your clan on, talk strategy, and see the latest news for the Killzone universe. It’s a smooth setup that really stands out from the typical online Sony experience. And with new maps supposedly on the horizon, this overall package looks to get even sweeter.

The Game:
Despite humble beginnings, the PS3 is finally getting a stable of quality exclusives. Killzone 2 is THE first person shooter for PS3. Sure it’s all been done before, but Guerilla Studios does it so well that it feels like a new experience. So what if the ISA soldiers are required to curse after every adverb? If I were in their shoes, my sneezes would sound like the random cursing of a Kevin Smith film. All that aside, Killzone 2 offers a superbly well done single player experience and one of the best online outings Sony has to offer.
(9.0/10)

The Time:
The single player is surprisingly friendly to gamers with little time to spare. Continuing your campaign later will drop you off at the last checkpoint you crossed versus restarting the entire level. While this is a nice feature, you can still expect to invest some time into advancing through the brutally efficient Helghast.

But if you’re in the mood for a gaming quickie, just hop into the well implemented online mode and go to town. Albeit a morbidly depressing militant town.
(7.0/10)

The Verdict:
I am by no means a die-hard FPS fan, but I had a blast playing Killzone 2. The sheer quality and execution delivered from the first to last bullet fired is everything I could want in a shooter. Guerilla Games does a phenomenal job of taking a near stagnant sub-genre and making it feel like Saving Private Ryan on space crack.

Killzone 2 takes all of the best from FPS titles before it, along with amazing visuals and solid controls, to produce a bullet riddled roller coaster. If you like to shoot things (in the video game sense) and own a PS3, Killzone 2 is a must have title.

Rock Band 2 UK Bound

Finally, you Brits can put down your air guitars, because MTV Games, developer Harmonix and distribution partner EA have announced Rock Band 2 will arrive in Europe this March.

The game will grace the PS3 and PS3 the week of March 23, and then hit the Wii the week of April 20th.

Rock Band 2 will retail for £49.99 for the PS3, £39.99 for the Wii and £29.99 for the PS2. An "Instrumental Edition" including drums, guitar and a microphone will retail for £89.99.

New Tiger 10 Boxart

Either Tiger just hit one hell of a shot, or he's just trying out a new "sex face." Either way, the boxart for the latest Tiger Woods PGA Tour installment has been released.

EA also mentioned that the Wii title will ship, regardless of whether Wii MotionPlus is in stores at the time, since the game can be played without the peripheral.

Let's hope Tiger 10 is the best golf experience yet.

Xbox 360: Big in Japan

This week, the Xbox 360 edged out the PS3 and the Wii to top the home console sales charts in Japan. This is particularly significant because the Japanese have been very reluctant to adopt Western-developed consoles in the past. The original Xbox was all but ignored in the land of the rising sun, and it's taken years for Microsoft to carve a niche for itself in Japan's HD market.

Maybe the hesitation about the 360 stems from Sony and Nintendo's powerhouse name recognition. Or maybe the Japanese just aren't too keen on any machine that doesn't make bubble tea and/or hunt monsters. Whatever the case, this is a milestone achievement and possibly a sign of a larger geographical shift in the video gaming universe.

Of course, this news should be tempered by the knowledge that sales of the 360-exclusive Star Ocean 4 are what really pushed the 360 over the top. It took the (supposedly) final sequel to a long-running spiky-haired-hero Japanese RPG series to make the country sit up and take notice with their wallets. It'll be more interesting to see whether Microsoft can maintain their momentum across a wider variety of games.

Also worth noting is the fact that the Nintendo DS is still the top selling game system in Japan overall. At the rate that thing is selling, every person in Japan must either own a closet full of backup DSes, or they're performing complicated fireworks experiments on them just for kicks.

Source: GamesIndustry.biz

Street Fighter IV Review

Would the real Street Fighter HD, please stand up.

No fighting game has received more publicity, more critical acclaim, or more fan-boy devotion than the Street Fighter series. Embarking on the road less traveled, Capcom has again delivered a winning installment with the release of the epic Street Fighter IV, while celebrating 20 years of the franchise’s history. SFIV maintains the feel of Super Street Fighter II, a game considered to be the definition of greatness, but really focuses on newness. Instead of serving as a modern update of the fighting classic, the game feels like it was built from the ground up. This is the game Street Fighter fans have been waiting for.

The game is broken down into select modes, all familiar to the series. The Arcade Mode is the classic versus battle mode you’ve come to know and love, where you’ll fight a total of 8 different opponents from around the world, including the new and very challenging boss Seth. Prior to your final battle with Seth, you’ll fight against your character’s rival. Rivals will often repeat amongst characters, but they serve as sort of a mini boss before the final battle.
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The Street Fighter IV roster features the usual suspects from the previous installments, as well as some new characters. Many of the new fighters fit in so perfectly with the old challengers, it’s surprising. Abel, a French martial artist, has a past he can’t remember, but will fight to regain his memory. Crimson Viper is also a welcome contender, who uses her electric and flame attacks to weaken her rivals. El Fuerte and Rufus are comical additions that are more fun to play against than to play as.

A new, unique feature to the Arcade Mode is the addition of a real story. A short anime movie clip is played at the beginning and end of each game, focusing on the character you are playing with. This movie clip serves to explain what vested interest the character has in fighting their challengers. The movies are actually entertaining, and a great way to add some depth to the fighting title, or “fightle” as I’m coining, right now.

The Arcade Mode contains 8 difficulty settings to choose from, but I strongly recommend you start with the “Easiest” mode. I really cannot stress how hard this game is, which is one of the only negative things I can say about the game. Even the Street Fighter enthusiast like myself, couldn’t make it far without spending most of my time on the “Easiest” setting.

It will be extremely beneficial to learn as many combo moves as you possibly can, in order to progress through the Arcade Mode, and to dominate in general. You’ll find that simple punches and kicks won’t get you very far outside of the “Easiest” mode.
The game’s Versus Mode features traditional player vs. player combat, player vs. computer, and even a spectator mode where you just watch two computer players duke it out. The Challenge Mode allows you to unlock different game components, such as outfit colors and profile titles.

The Network Battle mode is where you can challenge opponents across the globe. You can take part in a Ranked Match where points are earned depending on your fighting performance. The Player Match battles are just for fun, and not dependent on any points system. A much appreciated new feature of the Network Battle mode is the ability to view a player’s network status, where if a player has a very low Internet signal, you can avoid them like the plague, as it could result in an evident lag in gameplay. In all of my Wi-Fi experiences, each round went off without a hitch. I was able to play several matches without any interruptions, resulting in truly a perfect Wi-Fi experience.

From the Arcade Mode, you can actually change the settings so that when a Network Battle becomes available, it will rip you out of that mode and right into a Wi-Fi fighting match. As soon as your match is over, you’ll be placed right back into the Arcade Mode, and can continue as planned. It’s a great addition, but a little unnecessary. If I want to play a Network Battle, or just Arcade Mode, I can do both easily. I’m not quite sure why one would want this option selected, especially because in my experiences, I was ripped out of the mode 3 times between my 3 rounds of the first stage. Mucho annoyingo.

Graphically, this game is incredible. The characters and stages are flawlessly designed, with bold, bright colors and unique environments. Different in this installment, is that stages are not character specific per say, but many reference old school environments. For instance, there’s a Guile inspired airbase stage, but it’s in Africa. The character fireballs are bright, colorful and mesmerizing. When attacking your opponent, black ink spews out, as if it were blood. It’s hard to describe the beauty of it, but think of it like when Jaws attacks a human, and the blood from the wound slowly begins to disperse through the water.

Despite so much flawlessness, some oddities are included. The opening game’s theme song “Indestructible” sounds more like it’s from the B-side of an O-Town record, a huge step down from the killer soundtrack provided for Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix. However, the rest of the game music, including updated versions of older tracks, is incredible. And while the stages are great, I would have liked to see more. However, with DLC already on the way for new costumes, it is possible that new stages could always become available.

The Game:
If you enjoy the fighting genre, this is a must buy. Not only is this the best fighting game on any next-gen system to date, but it’s a contender for one of the best Street Fighter installments ever. However, it is a shame that the game is shockingly difficult, catering to only the most skilled fighting enthusiasts. Although the game carries an impressive character roster, you do walk away feeling like there just aren’t enough stages. And while the included stages are well designed, more diversity would have been a huge plus.
(9.0/10)

The Time:
You can easily jump in and out of the game, to play as little or as much as you want. There is no save mechanic set up for the Arcade Mode, so if you have to jet before defeating Seth, you’ll lose your progress. You can easily skip through the in game movies, and load times are minimal. Unlocking all the characters can be done within a few hours by tweaking some of the game settings such as the length of each round, and number of rounds.
(10/10)

The Verdict:
Get the game. It’s the best-looking HD game I have seen to date. The gameplay, the different modes and the characters work together to create a perfect fighting experience. Despite Chun-Li’s massive hands, and Ryu’s newly Muppetized face, the game is worth every penny. While successfully carrying its old-school charm into a next-gen world, Capcom impeccably delivers; this is the real Street Fighter HD Remix.

Note: This game was reviewed for the PS3 version of the game. One thing to note is that significant load times were noticed when playing the game. However, if you select the option to “Install game data onto HDD” you’ll notice the load times literally disappear.

MadWorld Slashing on 360?

It's pretty unbelievable that such a stylishly inventive and unrelentingly violent game as MadWorld will be a Wii exclusive. And by that I mean that many people just don't believe it.

After the Australian game ratings board listed MadWorld as a "multi-platform" title, speculation starting speculating all over the place that the game will enjoy the company of someone other than the Wii. And now a behind the scenes video tour of developer Platinum Games' office reveals an Xbox 360 dev kit near MadWorld's lead animator's workstation.

Publisher Sega claims the black and white bloodfest is still a Wii-exclusive, so WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS MACHINERY??

They could be working on an HD MadWorld port, or they could just be a game studio that has made games for other systems before and plans to in the future. Either of these scenarios is likely, but I'm thinking one may be likelier.

Still, MadWorld wouldn't be the first "exclusive" to later find a home on another system as well. (Final Fantasy XIII, you harlot!) If the stick waggling casual crowd doesn't connect with MadWorld, it's a safe bet to assume it'll be ported over to another console that's a little more gore-friendly.

Source: Xboxist

Sam & Max Headed to XBLA

Probably because I spent the better part of my childhood with a crappy, smoke-stained Tandy computer and they were the only kinds of games it could run, I grew up loving point and click adventures. When you take away the heavy focus on graphics and switch-fast movement, you have time to shine the spotlight on writing, and I was fortunate enough to witness first-hand the rise of expertly written adventures like Day of the Tentacle, Discworld, and Full Throttle. Plus, I now know that if you combine an old handkerchief, a broken mirror, and a pair of tongs, you can build a tool capable of opening the dragon's mouth wide enough to climb to the top of the church. Useful information, that.

All of this is to say that the point and click genre continues today. No, I'm not talking about those gothy "interactive novels" littering the Nintendo DS bargain bin. I'm talking about the episodic adventures put out by Telltale Games. The Strongbad series and, more recently, the Wallace and Gromit games have seen ports to console download services, but it's just been announced that Telltale's flagship Sam & Max series will finally make it to the Xbox Live Arcade this year.

Both seasons will be available as their own downloads. Season one will be called Sam & Max Save the World, and numero two will be Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space. No word yet on pricing, but it's reasonable to assume that each season will run $15-$20 apiece. Any more than that, and I will personally strangle Major Nelson. You heard it here first!

Source: ShackNews

EA On Par to Deliver With Wii Motion Plus

EA SPORTS will be launching Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 and EA SPORTS Grand Slam Tennis for the Wii, both utilizing Wii MotionPlus.

"With the new Wii MotionPlus, slicing a winner on Centre Court at Wimbledon or dropping an 8 iron pin high on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass have never felt better," said EA President Peter Moore. "We couldn't be more excited about the dynamic new EA SPORTS experiences coming this year to the Wii."

EA SPORTS guarentees an unmatched golf and tennis experience, where gamers will feel a near 1:1 perfect swing everytime. Both games are set to launch this June.

Source: EA SPORTS

Punch Out!! Wii Hits Stores May 18, Excitebots Announced

Nintendo has released a long list of titles set to hit the Wii and DS this year. Some notable titles are the newest Punch Out!! installment, which will debut May 18, New Play Control! Pikmin and New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis both on March 9, and Excitebots: Trick Racing on April 20th. Excitebots is a new racing game where you "perform crazy tricks in a game that builds on the Excitebike and Excite Truck franchises." AWESOME!

For the DS, GTA: Chinatown Wars will debut March 17 and Rhythm Heaven on April 5.

For a complete list of all titles set to release in 2009, click here.

Kotaku

Additional Costumes DLC for Sackboys

Media Molecule is gearing up to launch some more game related costumes onto the PSN Store, for the Sackboys of LittleBigPlanet. Costumes for Killzone 2, Buzz and Heavenly Sword are all on the way.

It has also been confirmed through the official PlayStation Blog, that the LittleBigPlanet game set to debut on the PSP will in fact be brand new. It will feature brand new levels and adventures, while maintaining the same create and share gameplay from the original.

Nintendo Reveals New Wii Classic Controller

A brand new version of the classic controller has appeared on the Japanese Nintendo website. The "Classic Controller Pro" features a few differences from the original, including hand grips, adding more space between the analog sticks and includes two rows of R and two L buttons up top.

The controller presumably plugs into the Wii Remote, just like the original classic controller.

The controller will hit store shelves this summer, hopefully in the U.S. as well.
Kotaku

Conan Still Planning to Conquer 360

The Age of Conan MMO hasn't been nearly as successful as developer Funcom hoped. Actually, it's been a disaster. Despite a deep and popular universe to work with, the game just didn't have the work put into it that a successful MMO requires. Lack of planning past the first several levels left many players cold. There's only so much running around in skimpy chain mail a person can do before he starts to yearn for new content.

So with many of Age of Conan's servers closing, a report that the subscription base for the PC version is still below 100,000, the posting of $23 million in losses, and the resignation of their CFO, it's reasonable for people to question whether the planned Xbox 360 port will ever hear the lamentations of our women.

Not to worry, says Erling Ellison, Funcom's Product Manager. And to prove it, he tosses out a few choices phrases like "still in development" and "making progress". Of course, he also says "we are not setting any release dates at all just yet". So...chin up?

Personally, I'm hoping for the best. I love the sweat-stained style of the Conan universe and hope it can find a home on the consoles. Of course, I also hope Funcom can get their house in order enough to support the game like they should have in the first place.

I do a lot of hoping in my spare time. It's Barack Obama's fault.

Source: Strategy Informer

Left 4 Dead 360 Patched

You may have been too busy screaming "RELOADING! I SAID RELOADING! OH GOD, NO!" to your worthless companions to notice, but there were a few niggling problems with the retail version of Left 4 Dead. Issues with interface, exploits, and balancing were addressed with a handy patch for the PC version, but it's taken until this week for the same fixes to hit the console. Here's a rundown of what's been tweaked:

• Survivors can no longer climb surfaces meant only for Versus infected.
• Survivorbots are now better at rescuing injured players.
• You can no longer grab ladders while flying through the air.
• You can't set off a car alarm twice by shooting near it.
• Mini-gun physics exploit? Fixed.
• Propane tanks no longer make you fall through elevators.
• Achievement bugs? Fixed.
• Map exploits? You guessed it...

There are plenty more, but you get the picture. The game now runs better, and the cheaters are going to have a hard time doing their thing.

By that, of course, I mean cheating. They will continue with their pumpkin eating, because there's just no way to stop them.

Source: Armchair Empire

Nintendo Calls Out Global Pirates

In order to crack down on the increasing trend of software piracy, Nintendo has compiled a list of the most lackadaisical countries in the fight for protecting video game products against piracy. Nintendo has called on the United States to help the fight against these countries.

China, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Spain and Paraguay are all listed as pirate hot spots. Their lack of control, inability to establish proper anti-pirating laws and the import of illegal products all contribute to their growth. During a random raid at 10 premises in Korea, officials obtained more than 75,000 game copiers.

Nintendo also attributes the rise and ease of piracy to the availability of "game copiers" and "mod chips."

Regardless of your feelings of pirating, you have to admit its effect on the music industry was crippling. Let's hope that doesn't happen to the gaming industry!

New DSi Colors For Japan

These are the latest colors that will soon grace Japan. I likey! The colors will make their debut March 20th. Let's hope the U.S. gets some additional colors that quickly too.

Source: Famitsu

New PSP Lineup Announced

And you thought the PSP was on its way out!

Sony has just announced some solid titles to help the handheld regain some of its fading popularity. Portable installments of Little Big Planet, MotorStorm and Buzz will be available later this year. The new off-roader MotorStorm: Arctic Edge, will also launch on the PS2.

“There are a lot of big claims in the gaming industry but we’re confident when we say that 2009 is going to be an exciting year for PSP,” said Mark Hardy, European Marketing Director, SCEE.

Whether or not the PSP will see a redesign anytime in the near future, it's clear that Sony has no intention of phasing the handheld out anytime soon.

Source: SONY

TUESDAY TUNEAGE! - "Hillbilly Bubble Bobble"

This is one of those remixes that you are either going to love or hate. Personally, I can't get enough of it! To celebrate the newest installment launching overseas, let's enjoy this Bubble Bobble remix, with some southern charm thrown in.

Behind the Scenes of Killzone 2

With Killzone 2 being released in just under seventy-two hours from this post, I thought it would be a good idea to feed the hype machine for Sony's latest killer app.

And by killer app I mean a drop dead gorgeous first person shooter.

The following video breaks down a few of the production aspects that went into the look of the Helghast homeworld.



Did I mention that the Guerrilla Games / SCEE members seen in the video were mostly British? Well they are, so consider this a feast for the eyes and ears.

Source: Sony

Punch Out!! Wii To Debut Soon?

Known for spoiling upcoming game releases, the ESRB has conveniently put a rating on their website for the new Punch Out!! installment for Wii. The game rating is E 10+, for the "cartoon violence" that comes from punching someone continually in the face until they pass out.

The game is still on target to meet its early 2009 release date for the US and Europe.

Red Xbox 360 Bundle Official

For the launch of Resident Evil 5 on March 13th, an exclusive limited edition red Xbox360 will be made available.

The red console will include Resident Evil 5, a red wireless controller, a black headset, 120 GB HD, access to an exclusive Resident Evil 5 theme, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (to spread the Capcom love) and ethernet and HDMI cables. The bundle will cost you $399 (ERP). The bundle is in limited supply, so be sure to pre-order when available.

Source: MajorNelson

Pelople Love Pretend Fighting

The week one sales numbers are in and according to Capcom, Street Fighter IV has shipped a whopping 2 million copies. Keep in mind that these are copies shipped, not so much purchased. But knowing the rabid fanbase Street Fighter has, these games won't be on shelves for long.

Two million is also the number of hadoukens that were thrown within the first few hours of Street Fighter IV's release. The hadouken was followed closely by E. Honda's hundred handslap which rang in at 1.5 million uses.



Those last numbers were made up, but if you've played Street Fighter IV online... it's totally believable.

Source: Capcom

Today's Wii Shop Releases 2.23.09

Attention retro fanatics:
Commodore 64 has officially landed on the Virtual Console. This week's Wii Shop Channel update includes 3 precious C64 gems, plus 1 WiiWare title.

Today welcomes the release of The Last Ninja, Pitstop II, and INTERNATIONAL KARATE (it's in all caps because I think you are supposed to yell it when you say it.) All 3 games are 500 Wii Points.

For WiiWare, the futuristic FPS Onslaught arrives for 1000 Wii Points.

For the full press release, click Nintendo.

PSP 4000 Rumors

Sony has been denying a PSP2 for quite some time now, but the gumshoes over at VG247 have come across some interesting information from a "trusted" source. Word on the street is that the next PSP will be a cosmetic/aesthetic change versus a hardware upgrade. The PSP 4000 will supposedly house current PSP tech with additions like bluetooth support, a GPS, and a hard drive.

The biggest cosmetic news (seen in the above mockup) is the addition of a sliding screen similar to that on many of Sony's cell phones. It would also be most sexy of Sony to go the above route with a second analog stick. Speaking of sexy, go ahead and throw in L2/R2 buttons so that PSP games can operate more like their console brethren.

Something to keep that gorgeous sliding screen from getting scratched would be most swank as well.

Source: VG247

Lost Planet 2 Announced

Capcom has officially come clean on that top secret project they hinted at previously. Lost Planet 2 was announced on the Xbox Live Marketplace, launching on the Xbox360 later this year, presumably hitting the PS3 as well. Check out more screens of the game, courtesy of Gamersyde.

New Matt Hazard Trailer

Below is the latest Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard trailer. The game launches March 3rd, but it doesn't seem like the title is getting the publicity it (potentially) deserves. The trailer also points out that voice acting for the game is being done by actor/voice over extraordinaire Will Arnett and everyone's favorite TV doctor Doogie Hows... I mean Neil Patrick Harris.
Enjoy!

GameTrailers

GameStop Managers Can Snag Swag

While GameStop offers pre-order bonuses to customers for some of their new releases, the higher ups offer incentives to the store managers for big sales numbers. One current promotion offers a prize for the 100 GameStop managers who help to break launch night sales quotas for Resident Evil 5. They will receive this personalized RE5 jersey:
And by personalized, I mean only if your name is Chris Redfield, the game character whose name is on the back. Still pretty awesome though!

Source: Kotaku

'Iwata Asks' Reveals More About DSi

During the newest Iwata Asks Q&A segment on Nintendo's website, a conversation between Iwata and Development Engineer Masato Kuwahara revealed some interesting tidbits about the creation of the DSi.

The system at one point was going to feature two DS game slots. This would allow for more fluid play, allowing users to switch between games without having to constantly take out and put in a game. This idea was scratched due to the bulkiness it subsequently created.

The Q&A also explained that the "i" in DSi really stands as a metaphor for the addition of the cameras. These cameras serve as the "eye" of the system, where the microphone is the "ears" of the system and the touch capabilities are the sense of touch. Pretty interesting!

Read the rest of the Q&A here!

Smash Bros. Wins Odd Award

According to IGN, Super Smash Bros. Brawl has won the IAA Gighting Game of the year. It's so weird because I consider myself to be a pretty hardcore gamer, but I've never played a gighting game before. I wonder if its a mixture of like, kiting and gaming?

Anywho...congratulations Smash Bros!

U.S. Court Finds Video Games are Protect Speech

Another big win for the ever-booming video game industry occurred, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that video games are protected under the first amendment, just as much as video, music and any other medium.

The case, titled Video Software Dealers Associate v. Schwarzenegger ruled that the state of California could not enforce a 2005 law to regulate the sale and/ or rental of computer and video games. Schwarzenegger was for a law which would enforce stricter penalties for minors who purchased mature titles. This is the 13th ruling by a court to declare that video games are indeed protected speech, and such regulations would be unconstitutional.

The courts also found that no direct link existed between those who play violent video games and violent behaviors. This is a great day for gamers!

Source: VGVN

Adventure Island: The Beginning Screenshots

Hudson has FINALLY released the first screenshots of Adventure Island: The Beginning, a full fledged update of the classic NES franchise.

Adventure Island: The Beginning will feature updated graphics, new music and online rankings. The game will also come packed with mini-games. The game will debut on Wii Ware this spring.



These aren't lookin' so hot...

Source: WiiWare World

Katamari and Mr. Driller to Hit DSiWare

The Japanese DSiWare service will soon get a new installment of Katamari Damacy as well as a new Mr. Driller game.

The Mr. Driller game will be titled SekuttohamureruHoriHoriAction (say that ten times fast!) The game will feature 17 levels to drill through.

WiiWare will also be receiving a Mr. Driller game, Mr. Driller World, which will feature 24 stages.Source: Eurogamer

MadWorld Massacres March

SEGA has finally given MadWorld a solid release date. The black and white (and red) Wii action game will hit stores March 20th.

The game follows the main character Jack, as he and his mighty chainsaw compete on a TV gameshow. The prize? Keeping his life!

Source: Eurogamer

Little Big Planet Wins Big at AIAA

As the top games of 2008 were honored during the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, it was no surprise to anyone that Little Big Planet would take home a few awards. However, Media Molecule was honored with a whopping 8 awards. Some of their achievements included Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction, Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction and Console Game of the Year.

"It's the best blank CD we ever made," said Alex Evans of Media Molecule.

Other winners included Spore for Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering and Super Smash Bros. Brawl for Fighting Game of the Year.

Source: 1up

Club Nintendo Shows VC Love-ish

Club Nintendo is slowly coming around towards being a fully functional fan appreciation website. The bugs are gone out and Post-Play game surveys are available on tons of popular titles. Now, it looks like Virtual Console Post-Play surveys are starting to be added.

A Kirby's Dream Land 3 Post-Play survey has appeared in my To-Do list. Out of the 20 some VC titles I own, that's the only one offering a survey, assumingly because it was only released a few weeks ago, post Club Nintendo launch. However, it is promising that we could see a lot more VC titles, potentially past and present, eligible for survey points.

After all, should it really matter when we purchased the game for Nintendo to show their appreciation?

CN