Rockstar’s Table Tennis Wii Release Date Announced
August 31, 2007
Leipzig, Germany’s Game Convention is over and with it a slew of news is upon us.
Everyone’s favorite Xbox 360 ping-pong game, Table Tennis, has had its release date confirmed for the Wii. This of course means that you won’t have to settle for the mediocre, yet fun, table tennis game bundled with WiiPlay anymore and you will finally be able to see the Wiimote at it’s best.
Expect Rockstar’s Table Tennis to hit shelves October 23rd.
Capcom Bringing Okami To The Wii?
August 31, 2007
What could Japan, Capcom and Rumors possibly have in common? If you said the last three stories you’d be partially correct, because they also have a great deal in common with this one. The upcoming issue of EGM has another interesting and somewhat old rumor worth mentioning. Although it seems all the more valid given the successful sales of RE4, a port of an old game on the Wii.
Okami has been heralded by quite a few notable sites as the game of 2006, and rightfully so. Although Clover has since been absolved, many found Okami to be very much a Zelda type title, that managed to perfect the series even more so that Twilight Princess. Probably the one thing that has long fueled the flames is just how perfectly Okami would work with Wii motion control. Using a unique brush of the gods that gave the player the power to do a variety of activities, it’s a perfect fit for IR. And of course, PS2 ports are something we’ve seen a lot of in the past as well.
From the sounds of things, Capcom may very well be working on an upgraded port that much in the same way they treated Resident Evil 4. For people whom haven’t yet played this highly acclaimed title, and there are quite a few seeing as it was a sleeper hit, this could easily push a million units. Of course, as we’ve already learned, the pricing will hopefully follow in line with the old, but updated title.
Japanese Hardware/Software Sales Aug 26
August 31, 2007
Generally this was a weird week for Japan. After a busy holiday season, hardware sales have dropped across the board, with only PS2 basically remaining level. All consoles suffered, especially the Wii, which for once is precariously close to a Sony platform. Of course, the Nintendo DS refused to budge from its gigantic lead, but it still suffered it’s own drop.
(Pictured Right - Nintendo should probably just have all of their cover art featuring their characters laughing their way to the bank from now on.)
- DS Lite: 100,430
- Wii: 46,283
- PSP: 26,089
- PS3: 16,393
- PS2: 15,139
- Xbox 360: 2,044
The software side of things was equally interesting, once again being dominated by the Nintendo DS, Final Fantasy Rings of Fate has hit the DS to fairly strong sales, as can be expected. Probably the most surprising game is still Mario Party 8, which despite mediocre reviews, and being released several weeks ago is simply selling by the boatloads in Japan. It’s already moved over 650 thousand copies in Japan alone, and seems likely to break one million in that territory. And this is exactly why Nintendo continues to focus on this franchise year after year. Read on for the top ten in software last week.
Capcom Announces New Wii Golf Game
August 31, 2007
Capcom is charging up their Wii support as of late. Do you think the 750k plus sales of Resident Evil 4 on the Wii alone had something to do with it? That’s not bad for something that was a port, of a port with added Wii controls. Of course, the other quick lesson is that budget titles sell, and very well at that.
Capcom is joining the long line of gold developers vying for sports title glory on Wii, but the development team is one already familiar with the sports genre on Wii. Camelot, developers of both Mario Golf and Mario Tennis in recent years is working on a completely new IP called We Love Golf. We Love Golf has a very soft and cutesy look that will surely hit well with the Wii audience, especially in Japan where series like Hot Shot Golf sell extremely well. The game is set to hit Japan sometime this winter, which could fall into late 2007 or 2008 from the sounds of things. Zack and Wiki as well as Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles both show a great deal of promise. Could Capcom finally have found the proper Wii audience that no other developer has been able to tap in to on a regular basis?
EGM Hints At Kingdom Hearts Spin Offs
August 31, 2007
Mark this rumor as completely plausible and even likely given the current trend Square-Enix has taken to the gaming market. EGM rumor mill suspects Kingdom Hearts’ prequel-spin offs are in the works for all major consoles. The positive thing is, despite Square-Enix flooding the market with their IP’s, things could be handled a lot worse. Console gamers still hold strong allegiance to their console of choice, so when Square-Enix is stuck with producing a lot of their numbered sequels exclusively for a platform, they’ve found a decent middle ground.
While some might dislike series spin offs, generally original efforts are more appreciated than sub-par ports. You only have to looking at Ubisoft’s launch efforts on the Wii to notice both original efforts broke a million, while all the ports didn’t break the charts. So what franchise is lying completely dormant just waiting for Square to bring to every single console under the sun? Don’t look any further than Kingdom Hearts to figure something must be in the works. On the cusp of TGS, it’s only a matter of time before we know what exactly Square-Enix is planning for Kingdom Hearts.
Neo Geo Games Hitting VC In September
August 31, 2007
Neo Geo was the last major console joining the long line up of support for the Wii virtual console. And to think Nintendo managed to gather all of this support before the Wii started selling like crazy. Of course, the deal is pretty sweet for developers looking to make a quick buck. Unlike those other markets and networks out there, Wii virtual classics are just that, pretty true to the classics. Requiring minimal effort to churn out old titles for easy cash.
But quite a while has passed and while all other announced consoles, have seen at least a handful of releases, N64 being at the bottom of the pile with roughly a game a month so far. Finally the upcoming month of September, for Japan at least contains a total of 19 titles 3 of which belong to Neo Geo. While Japan generally has the favored release schedule of all the territories, you can bet Neo Geo titles for North America are not far behind. To see the complete list, which is a good indication of what titles we can expect, read on!
Smash Bros. Dojo Update: Gliding
August 31, 2007
Although a little late I know everyone is looking for any news they can about the newest installment to the Smash Bros. series.
Yesterday’s update from the Dojo introduced a new ability for winged characters in the game called Gliding. Although pretty self explanatory and doesn’t seem to be much different than the glidingesque ability that characters like Kirby had in Melee but apparently you can control the angle and speed by tilting the Control Stick up and down.
You can get some more in depth information from the Dojo.
Top Ubisoft Games Offered Free
August 31, 2007
Yep, you read that right. Three of Ubisoft’s top games are now being offered on FilePlanet for free. Of course you have to put up with a little in-game advertising but Rayman: Raving Rabbids, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time and FarCry for free make it all worth it, right?
FarCry’s here
Prince of Persia here
and Rayman here
Mafia 2 Debut Trailer
August 31, 2007
The first official trailer for Mafia 2 has been released. In development at Illusion Softworks, the masterminds behind the original, the game is set to feature the underworld of 1940-1950s Chicago, having the player work for mobsters.
Mafia 2 is currently in development for PC and next-generation consoles. Check out the debut video below:
Warhammer Online Book Coming
August 31, 2007
EA and BL Publishing today announced that they will release an original novel based on Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, their upcoming MMORPG. It will be the first book in the new series of books set in the game’s universe; dubbed Empire in Chaos, it will be available in all major bookstores and on the BL Publishing website in early 2008. Details:
In EMPIRE IN CHAOS, by noted Games Workshop author Anthony Reynolds, the lands of the Empire are being ravaged by a terrible plague. When Annaliese Jaeger’s village is overrun and destroyed by mutants, she and an injured Elf captive are the only survivors. As the two unlikely companions fight their way towards Black Fire Pass, Annaliese discovers within herself powers of courage and faith that inspire all around her. With a grizzled Witch Hunter and a Dwarf Ironbreaker, the heroes battle alongside the armies of the Empire and the Dwarfs, above and below the earth, against greenskin tribes and the hordes of Chaos. Together, they must find their courage and help turn back the tides of darkness, lest all of the Empire be lost.
Commenting on the upcoming book, Anthony Reynolds, author of the novel, commented, “The Warhammer world is a grim place, full of horror, violence and dark humor, and the EA Mythic team have really brought that to life - faithfully creating a living, breathing, bellicose world being torn apart by constant warfare. It’s the perfect backdrop for a novel. I’d been following the progress of the game for some time and it was easy to see that Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning was going to be something special.”
Halo3-themed Accessories Hitting Europe
August 31, 2007
European gamers now have something to look forward to in September: Halo 3-themed accessories for the Xbox 360. Microsoft has announced that it will release limited edition wireless controllers and headset in the region on Spetember 26, and the Xbox 360 Messenger kit, which will be available starting September 7 in the region.
The controllers were designed by Todd McFarlane himself, featuring both the Covenant Brute and Master Chief themes. They are both scratch-resistance and come with a Master Chief figurine for £39.99. The Spartan green and gold wireless headset will retail for £34.99, while the messenger kit, which features a chatpad and Xbox 360 headset, will go for £24.99.
DIRT Demo on PS3
August 31, 2007
A playable demo of Colin McRae: DIRT is now available from the PlayStation Store. Offering a preview of the game before its release on September 14 (PAL), the demo features a multitude of race events and three events including Crossover, CORR and a point-to-point rally stage.
The game is already available on PC and Xbox 360 in various regions.
No More Prime for Retro
August 31, 2007
According to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption director Mark Pacini, there will not be any Metroid Prime games for some time to come. He revealed this through a Yahoo Games video interview, where he bluntly said, “We are taking a break from the Metroid series and from Samus. So I’m sure there will be other titles created, but as far as Retro Studios is concerned, we’re taking a break for a little bit.”
It is not known what other projects Retro Studios, the company behind the series, has in the works, though it is known that they were working on numerous projects including an RPG called Raven Blade before focusing on the development of the original Metroid Prime in 2002.
Company of Heroes Opposing Fronts Beta Registration
August 31, 2007
Previously available only to premium customers, registration for the Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts beta is now open to all registered FilePlanet accounts. Space is limited and potential testers are asked to apply only if they meet the minimum hardware requirements.
The next entry in the RTS franchise, Opposing Fronts features two unique armies with full length campaigns. It will feature improved vehicle AI, DirectX 10 support and will be fully compatible with the original Company of Heroes.
Half-Life Graffiti Spotted
August 31, 2007
Some could argue that chalk isn’t graffiti, but nevertheless this is a pretty cool picture. Unfortunately, no one is quite sure what the source is on this. Remember that it’s alright to take a break from your PC once in a while.
Manhunt 2 Not Banned in Netherlands
August 31, 2007
Video games censorship seems to be non-existent in the Netherlands as a decision by Dutch Justice Minister declared that Manhunt 2 can be sold without any modifications within the country. Apparently, there aren’t any governmental or non-governmental institutions like the ESRB or BBFC in most countries in the EU, resulting in a case taken to court by the parliament. This is how the Ernst Hirsch Ballin, the aforementioned Justice, handled the issue: “The current law is based on the principle that every adult is considered capable of deciding for himself which games he wants to play, unless it contains illegal material.” Makes sense, doesn’t it.
The game has received a new “M” rating from ESRB after the fiasco over its original “AO” rating. Manhunt 2 is still banned in the UK and other parts of the EU.
Tekken 5 Multiplayer Add-on Released
August 31, 2007
I reported earlier that an online multiplayer add-on for Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection would be released soon. Lo and behold: it is now live! Those who wish to beat the crap out of strangers (or vice versa) will have to shell out $9.99 for the add-on if they have the original game. Newcomers to the game can get the add-on plus the original game at a combined price of $29.99.
This add-on, as stated before, brings online multiplayer to the game complete with voice chat, and four different modes – Opti Match, Quick Match, Custom Match and Friend Match. It also features Practice and Survival modes, and on the online side, features leaderboards and an online news ticker.
In related news, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix has also hit the PlayStation Network, along with demos for three EA Sports titles – Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008, All-Pro Football 2K8 and NASCAR 08.
Blackbeard’s Revenge Announced
August 31, 2007
Tri Synergy and Fireglow Games have jointly announced that they are developing and publishing Blackbeard’s Revenge, an arcade action game set on the high seas. Players get to become pirates who are rewarded with money and resources looted from defeated enemies’ sunken ships. These resources will then be used to build better ships, weapons and cannon balls to aid in future battles.
There will be thirty-five single-player missions, four buildable ships, night, day and weather effects, multiplayer modes and various upgrades. Though no definite release date was provided, it was mentioned that it will be released soon.
Gears of War Hidden Fronts Goes Free
August 31, 2007
Coming as good news to Gears of War-heads, Microsoft has announced that the Hidden Fronts Map Pack, which has become the number 1 premium downloadable content on Xbox Live, will be released for free on September 3 (coming Monday). This map pack joins the Annex gametype and multiplayer map pack 1 as another piece of free DLC for the game.
This ex-premium pack contains four new maps, including Bullet Marsh, Garden, Process and Subway. Here’s the scoop:
Bullet Marsh
In this Kryll-infested swamp, an old generator still powers the area lights. A few stray bullets could easily knock out the generator, leaving combatants to fend for themselves against the Kryll.Garden
This overgrown and crumbling conservatory still has a working fertilization and pesticide system. This system can pose a serious hazard to anyone who ventures into the greenhouse without first venting the air.Process
Fight for control of this subterranean Imulsion processing plant, still active despite the cessation of the Pendulum wars.Subway
Timgad ’s Central Subway station used to serve as a central hub for commuters. Now the tunnels are crawling with Locust.
Gears of War was released on Xbox 360 to wide critical acclaim and great sales last year. It is being released this November on PC, which will include exclusive content and DX10 support.
Fatal Inertia ‘Gold’
August 31, 2007
Add this to the ‘gone gold’ list: Fatal Inertia. The action-racing game that was originally supposed to launch with the PS3 has finally gone gold and will be released on the Xbox 360 on September 11. A free demo of the game is now available via Xbox Live Marketplace, offering single-player and split-screen two-player races as well as races from the game’s exhibition and elite racing leagues.
Fatal Inertia will include 8-player racing on Xbox Live or on System Link, over 1.3 million race craft customization combinations plus 15,000 performance combinations, 51 courses across six environments and fifty unlockable achievements. The game is powered by Unreal Engine 3 and has been developed in Koei Canada in a team led by producer Takazumi Tomoike, creator of the Dynasty Warriors series, and Koei co-founder and chief advisor Yoichi Erikawa.
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