One Life Gamer

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

'a boy and his blob' boxart arrives

It's here, and it's perfect. Way to go Majesco!

'NyxQuest' U.S. release date revealed

That blurred North American release date for Over The Top Games' WiiWare 2D title NyxQuest has been revealed. Those looking to enjoy the closest thing to a Kid Icarus title will be able to play the title on Monday, August 10th. Although I still think NyxQuest sounds like a prescription medication, I still this the game looks great!

Metroid Prime Trilogy GameStop Swag

While Club Nintendo USA may be coming up short in the prize department, GameStop is giving away an assortment of prizes for reserving a copy of Metroid Prime Trilogy.

For starters there's a pretty cool shirt bearing a battle ready Samus Aran. The only downside I can see to this is that most GameStop pre-order shirts come in size "Orson Welles" but here's to hoping.

Those pits won't be white for long...

The piece de resistance (with smarmy French accent for full effect) is this very pimptabulous Metroid Prime Trilogy poster. It screams over the top 80's color and will look great in whatever kind of man or woman cave in which you dwell.

Look at it!

Metroid Prime Trilogy ships August 24th.

Assassin's Creed II: Master Assassins Edition

If you're a fanatic for Assassin's Creed or a real life master assassin then pay attention. GameStop is releasing a very swanky collector's edition of UbiSoft's upcoming blockbuster Assassin's Creed II.

Said swank includes:

8.5 collectable Ezio statue
Artbook: The Art of Assassin's Creed
Premium Collectable Metal Case
Two Exclusive In-Game Maps
Additional Content DVD
Behind the scenes of Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed II Soundtrack

If this swag floats your boat, be sure to reserve a copy of Assassin's Creed II at your local GameStop or online.

Xbox lays out new LIVE update

[Less than a week from today, the Xbox LIVE summer update will arrive to more than 20 million Xbox LIVE members and with it will come the next evolution of connected entertainment on Xbox 360. Get ready to meet the many new faces of your Xbox 360; whether it’s new Avatar clothing and awards from Adidas or “Splosion Man”, or even a private home cinema, Xbox LIVE has something for you.

Movie night on Xbox LIVE
Browse, select and jump right into your favourite movies from the top genres: comedy, action, horror…even a tear-jerking chick flick. There are hundreds to choose from, with many in HD.

Avatars are people too!
Now thanks to Avatar Marketplace the options for customising your avatar are endless. With an ever-expanding selection of stores, full of premium outfits and accessories from your favourite games and fashion brands, you can express yourself through your Avatar like never before. Your Avatar’s one-stop-shop will launch with a growing collection from the top names in fashion and gaming including:

• Top Brands: Adidas, Quiksilver, Roxy, Tokidoki
• Unique Fashions: Steampunk, Recessionista
• Your Favourite Games: “BioShock 2,” “Halo 3,” “Halo 3: ODST,” “Gears of War 2,” “Fable II,” “The Secret of Monkey Island SE,” “Splinter: Cell Conviction,” “Star Wars Clone Wars: Republic Heroes”

You can also earn special Avatar clothes and items just by playing your favourite games, starting with a hot logo t-shirt from “Splosion Man,” the hit Xbox LIVE Arcade title that kicked-off off the 2nd annual Summer of Arcade. And to keep your Avatars from getting bored, we’re giving them fun new props to play with; everything from a basketball to pompoms, even a mobile phone…just try to stick with nights and weekends.

Full Xbox 360 games at the push of a button
Xbox 360 games: Games on Demand. Launching with a library of 21 great titles, Games on Demand marks the introduction of digitally distributed full Xbox 360 games: the titles you want, when you want them, straight to your Xbox 360 at the push of a button. You’ll also have the option to easily purchase Games on Demand titles directly via credit card.

From award-winning hits like “Mass Effect,” “and “Assassin’s Creed,” to family favourites like “LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga” and “Sonic the Hedgehog,” Games on Demand gives you access to a growing catalogue of full Xbox 360 titles, updated weekly and available to browse and download 24 x7 from the comfort of your couch. Check out our line-up at launch:

Assassin's Creed (Ubisoft)
Burnout Paradise (EA)
Call of Duty® 2 (Activision)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Fight Night Round 3 (EA)
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios)
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (LucasArts)
Mass Effect (Microsoft Game Studios)
Meet The Robinsons (Disney)
MX vs. ATV Untamed (THQ)
Need for Speed Carbon (EA)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios)
Prey (2K Games)
Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis (Rockstar Games)
Sega Rally (Sega)
TEST DRIVE: UNLIMITED (Atari)
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas
Tomb Raider Legend (Eidos)
Viva Piñata (Microsoft Game Studios)
Viva Piñata 2: Trouble in Paradise (Microsoft Game Studios)

No more hide and seek
Now you can view, find and arrange your content on Xbox LIVE the way you want. Want to send a specific friend a message? Sort your friends list by Gamertag, status and even activity, so you can easily find the friends you want. There are also new options for viewing your Achievements and progress, improved matchmaking support and more.

Best of all, you can now rate every single piece of content on Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a five star system. Support your favourite XBLA game with a five star rating, or find the top-rated titles in the newly-updated Indie Games Marketplace – it’s never been easier to find the best and most beloved game content on Xbox LIVE.

Just the beginning…
The Xbox LIVE summer update brings all new ways to play games, and connect with friends or friendly rivals anywhere in the world. It’s another step toward realising the Xbox 360 promise of entertainment for everyone, and another reason why Xbox LIVE is hands down the best entertainment value in your living room. But this is just the beginning…

Coming soon, we’re bringing a whole new wave of partnerships and custom features straight to your Xbox 360 – instant on 1080p streaming video with 5.1 audio from Zune, personalised digital radio stations from Last.fm, and the biggest forces in social networking: Facebook and Twitter.

In the meantime, have fun with your Avatar, or download that classic Xbox 360 game you’ve been meaning to pick up. Sit back, relax and enjoy and stay tuned for the next evolution in connected entertainment, courtesy of Xbox LIVE.] - Microsoft Press Release

'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare' heading to Wii

Kotaku has confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is coming to Wii this November. The came arrives the same day as the release of Modern Wardare 2, which is not coming to Wii. The original Modern Warfare was initially released in 2007 for all next gen consoles, except Wii. I'm not sure if Wii owners should be happy to get the game 2 years late, or just be appalled for getting the game 2 years late.

FIFA '10 UK boxart: Lampard, Walcott and Rooney on the cover

[Electronic Arts Inc. today unveiled the UK cover athletes for EA SPORTS™ FIFA 10. Chelsea FC midfielder Frank Lampard and Arsenal’s rising star, Theo Walcott, join Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney as the faces of FIFA 10 in the UK. FIFA 10 will be available from October 2nd on PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, Wii™ home video game system, PC, PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, PSP (PlayStation®Portable) system and mobile.

FIFA 10 marks the fifth year the 23-year-old Rooney has been featured on the UK pack cover while Walcott makes his debut. Lampard previously featured on the UK cover for 2006 FIFA World Cup.

“FIFA is definitely the best football game on the market, and I am delighted to be featured on the cover again,” said Manchester United and England striker, Wayne Rooney. “I play the game regularly online and against a lot of the lads at the club and I’m looking forward to the 360 degree control as it will make FIFA even more realistic than any other football game out there.”

“I’m really pleased to be part of the EA SPORTS FIFA franchise. Being on the cover of this great football video game with such a long history is really special for me”, said Lampard. “

"To join the likes of Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard on the cover of FIFA is a huge honour for me" said Theo Walcott. "FIFA is the game of choice in the Arsenal dressing room so I'll have to keep on top of my game to make sure I’m the best FIFA 10 player at the club."

“We’re delighted to welcome both Frank and Theo to the EA SPORTS FIFA franchise for the 2009-2010 season,” said Trevor Uzice – Marketing Manager for FIFA 10. “Along with Wayne, they represent the very best of English football talent and we’re proud to have them join us for FIFA 10”.

FIFA 10 will deliver a new standard for authenticity with gameplay refinements and innovations that will make it the most complete and intelligent simulation of football to date. On the pitch, critical gameplay fundamentals have been enhanced to ensure that FIFA 10 mirrors real-world football, providing more sophisticated ball control, and physical interaction between players. The first-ever true 360° dribbling system gives players finer control of the ball, enabling them to find spaces between defenders that previously were not possible. FIFA 10 also features a deeper iteration of the ever-popular Manager Mode with more than 50 major improvements.

FIFA 10 will be available in stores worldwide from October 2nd 2009. It is developed under the EA SPORTS brand by EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C., FIFA 10 is localized into 17 languages and sold in 37 countries–-it is the most popular EA SPORTS franchise globally. FIFA 10 has not been rated yet.] - EA Press Release

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

DSi Facebook update also blocks R4 card

Those who use an R4i card for their DSi gaming will likely be disappointed when downloading the 1.4 update. Bundled free of charge comes the blockage of all flashcards. This little video shows what happens when you try and access your R4i card.

Little Big Planet explores history through DLC

LittleBigPlanet is about to become historical. With the new History Kit, LBP will show off new levels and stickers designed with different historical regions in time. Additionally, a new costume pack will bring new character costumes like Mozart and Genghis Khan, akin to Bill and Ted. The 'History Pack' of stickers, backgrounds and music will be $3.99 and available August 13th. The 'History Costume Pack will be $2.99. Enjoy.

Nintendo: How 'bout some new Club rewards?

Nintendo opened the Club Nintendo service as a nice way to say "thank you" to the fans who continuously purchase their products. But do we have a right to complain? The free goodies on the Club Nintendo North America site are, well, not the best. The saying "beggars can't be choosers" rings true. After all, we wanted the service in the U.S. so badly, but now that it's here, we want better rewards. Still, I can't help but want new cool exclusive Nintendo rewards to come, and I blame Nintendo for that.

I mean, think about Nintendo's merchandising campaign in the 1980's and 90's. They made the coolest products for decades; soaps, pillowcases, tons of stickers, clothing,... the list goes on. How about some cool stuff like that? Again, let me make it clear, I love that Nintendo offers free rewards for its biggest fans. Rewards that cost them money to make. But I've got 1,380 coins waiting to be spent, and I can't help but feel that some sort of Nintendo awesomeness would be better suited for my funds.

Majesco releasing 'Chipmunks: Squeakquel' Wii/DS game

Majesco Entertainment Company, an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising (Fox Licensing) and Bagdasarian Productions, today announced Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel for Wii™ and Nintendo DS™. Featuring everyone's favorite musical group-Alvin and The Chipmunks and their girl group rivals The Chipettes making their videogame debut-this rhythm action game challenges players' timing and musical skills as they perform in a variety of concert locations. Developed by ImaginEngine, Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel launches this December in advance of Twentieth Century Fox's theatrical release of the same name that opens on Christmas Day.

"The first Alvin and The Chipmunks film was a box office hit that earned more than $360 million worldwide," said Jesse Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Majesco. "As a family movie event, the holiday sequel is positioned for similar success and we are excited to offer those fans the ability to interact with The Chipmunks and The Chipettes in a whole new way."

"For all those people who loved Alvin, Simon and Theodore in the first film, there's even more to love now with the introduction of The Chipettes," said Gary Rosenfeld, Senior Vice President of New Media Licensing for Fox Licensing. "Majesco has done a great job translating the characters and music into a fun game that the whole family can enjoy together."

"Janice and I wanted to make sure the game captured The Chipmunk and Chipette personality and we recorded nearly 500 different lines of dialog for the game," said Ross Bagdasarian, CEO of Bagdasarian Productions.

In Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, players can play as Alvin and The Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon, Theodore) or The Chipettes (Brittany, Jeanette, Eleanor). Musical sparks ignite as they jet around the world, rock the house in 25 concert locations on Wii™ and 11 in the Nintendo DS™ version, and perform together in the ultimate concert finale. Featuring songs from the Grammy and American Music Award-winning Alvin and The Chipmunks library, the game lets players use the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk or Nintendo DS™ stylus to keep the rhythm in the main game and in three mini-games. Players will gain thousands of fans by keeping the band on tempo through songs that grow more challenging and complex.

Offering hours of replayability and family fun, Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel provides gamers the freedom to redo their performance in any of the venues with the associated music tracks that feature The Chipmunks, The Chipettes, or a duet with both bands. After beating the game in Normal Mode or breaking six attendance records, Expert Mode will be unlocked offering an even higher level of difficulty. In addition, Jukebox Mode lets players enjoy their favorite unlocked songs while watching music videos, and Multiplayer Party Mode lets them play with up to two friends on Wii™ or up to three friends on Nintendo DS™.

TMNT Turtles In Time Reshelled, the launch trailer

Tomorrow is Turtle Day. How will you celebrate? I'm going to bring my katana swords to work. I think they'll appreciate that.

Monday, August 3, 2009

New Avatar Poster Shows Off Neytiri

Recognize that face? That's Zoe Saldana with a WETA facelift as she appears in James Cameron's upcoming sci-fi epic, Avatar.

Saldana is portraying Neytiri, a member of the Na'vi alien race that finds their planet in conflict with human marines. Avatar is touted as a visual orgasm, so hopefully we'll see more eye candy soon.

TMNT: Turtles In Time Reshelled, release celebration

The XBLA (and soon to be PSN) title we've been waiting for launches August 5th. Finally we can play TMNT: Turtles In Time Reshelled online or with friends. To celebrate the game's release, here's an O.C. Remix of arguably the best level of the game, Sewer Surfers (at least musically). Enjoy.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilised Coming to DS

Earlier today, Activision announced that the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise would receive a handheld spin-off for the Nintendo DS. The dual colon wielding title of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilised is exciting in itself, but Activision did one better and rattled off a healthy list of features:

A unique story line and companion narrative
Six player online multiplayer with local hosting options
All new survival mode for fending off hordes of enemies
Expanded six player multiplayer mode
Arcade mode with time limit and point objectives

Close but no cigar, stay tuned for actual game screens.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilised will ship worldwide on November 10th, the same day as Infinity Ward's highly anticipated Modern Warfare 2. More news as it develops!

Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 Stat Tracking

So you've downloaded Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 and you're dominating all of your friends right? Well how do you stand against the rest of the world? Enter tu4ar.

An acronym for the MvC 2's stuntastic menu select song (Take You For a Ride), tu4ar is your one stop shop for online stat tracking the Marvel Vs. Capcom universe.

Just webswing over to the gamercard section of the site and select XBL or PSN. Enter and verify your gamertag and all of your stats will automatically be entered into the stat tracking service. This lists your rating, rank, wins/losses, total snapbacks, total combos, and total one character victories.

But the fun doesn't stop there. Hit the button that says "Last 20 Teams Played" and you can check out the stats of your online adversaries. It will even show you how often your personal top five most used characters are played. Swanky.