Archive for May, 2008:
Star Wars: Clone Wars Revealed for Wii, DS
The back sleeve of the instruction booklet for LEGO Indiana Jones reveals the existence of a Star Wars: Clone Wars game in development for Wii and Nintendo DS.
As IGN points out, the advertisement has a URL which currently redirects to Star Wars’ official homepage, meaning that LucasArts is still not prepared to disclose information on the game. As per the ad, the game is due out this Fall.
Conviction Team: Game Shaping Up "Nicely", Will Show More Soon
Following up on rumors and the subsequent dismissal, the team behind Splinter Cell: Conviction has posted on the official Ubisoft forums that the game has “evolved” and that the game is “shaping up nicely.”
“There are lots of rumors flying around right now about Conviction’s development status and we can tell you that the gameplay has evolved, similar to what happens in every game’s development process, and you won’t be disappointed,” read their message. It added that the game will be shown in the “forthcoming months.”
It seems most likely that Conviction will be shown at the coming E3 convention this July.
Mad Tracks Developer Not Worried About Possible XBLA Delisting
If you remember, last week Microsoft revealed that they would delist games from Xbox Live Arcade which met certain requirements. While the XBLA title Mad Tracks scored a 63 on Metacritic (lower than Microsoft’s requirement), its developer isn’t worried about the possibility of the game being removed.
“It was news to us,” said Dennis Bourdain, adding, “our conversion rate is much higher than 6%, but Microsoft remains the only one calling the shots. They could delist Mad Tracks – or decide to keep it.” Bourdain further added that they made PC games prior to Xbox Live Arcade and that “you get removed without notice after 6 months in most stores.”
Personally, I feel it is a bad move for Microsoft, as delisting titles may move developers to greener pastures, i.e. Sony and Nintendo.
Failed Foot-based Controllers
Besides the fat kid who got called fat by Wii Fit, the whole world is going crazy for the balance board peripheral for the console. This, apparently, brought back memories for GamePro editors who have cooked up a list of seven failed foot-based controllers, some of which are truly atrocious, to say the least. Here’s a snippet:
7. Fragpedal Gaming Footpedal
At first glance this contraption appears to be some sort of foot massager, but it’s actually a keyboard that you can control with your toes. There’s nothing more appealing than a pair of sweaty feet fumbling over two slab pads pressed against two protruding rubber buttons. You can look forward to some serious foot cramps if you plan on using this pedal for driving games, and don’t expect to get many frags or any respect if you decide to take this expensive piece of equipment to your next LAN party. Come to think of it, anyone taking their shoes off at a LAN party is a bad plan.
Yes, there are worse ideas that hardware makers tried, including the venerable Sega. What do you guys think are some of the worst controllers out there, foot-based or not?
New DS Colors Coming
Smarthouse reports that Nintendo, riding on the success of the Wii, will be adding two colors to its DS lineup. The new colors will be Blue/Black and Red/Black, which will be available starting June 19; these will be purchasable only for a limited time.
Pricing is set to be the same as before.
EndWar to Take Advantage of PlayStation Eye
While developers try to make both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of their game similar technically and content-wise, some games do take features exclusive to either console. And Tom Clancy’s EndWar just might be getting sweeter to the PS3.
When asked about any potential differences between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game, content director Julian Geright replied: “Maybe we’re going to have some PlayStation Eye stuff, but that all depends on whether we can slip it past Microsoft. I might not be able to talk about this just yet…”
However, he points out that anti-aliasing on the PS3 still needs work, but that they’ve got time ahead of them to launch with the same feature-set on either consoles.
Too Human Developer Nervous About Game, Still Blames Epic
Too Human has been subject to much criticism since early previews started coming in. The game simply wasn’t ready for primetime, however, that is not what Denis Dyack, Silicon Knights’ president and founder, believes. He puts the blame on Epic Games, whose engine powers the upcoming action title.
Dyack skirts the main point, stating, “If Too Human is perceived for what it is, and people look at it, I think it will do extremely well.” He then takes an indirect jab at Haze, saying how previews often do not say anything negative, thus hyping it even further.
The president then goes on to mention that the studio is hoping to up staff levels from the current 180 to 1500 after the release of Too Human, on whose success the future of the studio lies.
Too Human is set for release this August on Xbox 360.
PS3 2.40 Update to Add In-game XMB Support, More
The much expected in-game XMB may materialize with the upcoming v2.40 firmware update for the PS3, but the new functionality may not work in all games, according to this report by Videogaming247.
The site notes that the in-game XMB may not work with all games, adding that Sony is currently going through their games library to check whether or not they support the new feature. It’s not yet known which games will support this much expected feature.
Moving on, the site reports that user-music functionality has been added to the PS3 SDK and that new games will most certainly use the feature. However, older games will need to be patched before gamers will be able to rock out to their own music in-game.
Finally, the in-game XMB may be a bit gimped, as the site points out that features such as the photo viewer may not work in-game. Gamers will be asked to exit the game to access such features.
No release date has been announced for the firmware update, though Sony is adamant about a “Summer” release.
Fei Long, Dan Hibiki in Street Fighter 4
Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu reports that Street Fighter veterans Dan Hibiki and Fei Long will appear in the console editions of the upcoming Street Fighter 4.
The magazine includes artwork for either characters, suggesting that they will be exclusive to PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game.
Fei Long and Dan Hibiki first appeared in Super Street Fighter II and Street Fighter Alpha, respectively. The fourth game in the series, which also includes new characters, will be released to Japanese arcades this Summer, with the console version due out this Holiday season.
Mainstream Publication Slips Game Artwork as Terrorist Propaganda
Terrorists can’t get enough of videogames, it seems, as a piece of concept art of a decimated Washington DC from Fallout 3 has been circulated through mainstream publications, reported as terrorist propaganda after an intelligence contractor said that the image was used in Al Qaeda videos.
“This is the apocalyptic scene terrorists hope to create if they ever get their hands on a nuclear bomb… posted on an Islamic extremists’ website yesterday,” reads Daily Mail’s article.
The artwork in question was released as part of Bethesda’s early marketing for the apocalyptic action-RPG, which takes place in the city decades after a nuclear catastrophe.
Disturbed, Jimmy Buffet Hit Rock Band
Harmonix, pulling off a very strange move this week, has announced that upcoming downloadable content for Rock Band will be music from soft-rocker Jimmy Buffet and thrash metal band Disturbed.
New original recordings of “Margaritaville”, “Cheeseburger in Paradise” and “Volcano” by Jimmy Buffet will be available for 160 Microsoft points ($1.99) each or 440 Microsoft points ($5.50) for the pack.
Master tracks from Disturbed’s new album ‘Indestructible’ will be available for 80 Microsoft points ($0.99) each – “Inside the Fire”, “Indestructible” and “Perfect Insanity”.
The songs will be available on Xbox Live starting June 3, followed by a PS3 release two days later.
Street Fighter 4 Online Multiplayer Confirmed
Through the venerable Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu comes word that the console edition of Street Fighter IV, announced last week, will include online multiplayer, as well as new characters not featured in the arcade version.
Speaking to the magazine, Capcom producer Yoshinori Ono revealed that the new characters are Rufus, a rival of Ken, and Seth, whose modified body allows him to pull off different fighting styles.
Street Fighter 4 is set for release this Winter on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Real-life Gears of War Armor, Weapons Coming
Ever wondered what it would feel like to relive moments from a certain little testosterone driven game called Gears of War? Well, you can now, except for those damn Locusts, that is. It was announced today that TriForce Sales has acquired the license from Epic Games to create 1:1 scale armor and weapon replicas from the game.
The company will offer full-size and wearable COG armor, helmet and the Lancer Assault Rifle. The replica armor and weapons were created in a partnership with sculptor Sid Garrand of Nightmare Armor Studios.
“In my spare time I sculpted a full set of armor for myself, which I enjoyed showing off at conventions,” Garrand said. “When the fans saw it they all asked me how they could get it. I was thrilled when the team from Epic saw it, and liked it, which allowed us to move to the point to where we are today. It all truly began as a labor of love.”
No pricing details were given, though the company notes that fans with money will most certainly be entertained through advance orders online starting July 8. Grab yourself an armor and star crashing into walls for cover.
Dark Horizon Sighted
Paradox Interactive has announced Dark Horizon, a space combat simulator that will let players pilot their own ship through an “action-packed” adventure. Hyped to be along the same lines as classics Freelancer and Wing Commander, the game will offer 22 missions, full ship customization, original weapon creation, joystick support and several modes of combat.
Dark Horizon is scheduled for release during Q3 2008.
EndWar Private Beta Applications Being Taken
Interested in beta testing Ubisoft’s upcoming voice-controlled strategy game? Then head on over to this website where you can sign up for the Tom Clancy’s EndWar private beta, provided you have a Xbox 360 with a Xbox Live Gold account and 3GB of free space on the hard drive.
The beta will offer three maps and the ability to play 1v1 and 2v2 matches. It will run for three weeks in June and July.
The retail game is expected sometime later this year on all major platforms, which does not include the Wii.