Rumor: EA Acquiring Social Networking Site
May 13, 2008
In more EA news, the monolithic publisher is rumored to be in talks with game-oriented social networking site Rupture for acquiring it for a cool $30 million. This comes from an unconfirmed TechCrunch report which cites “sources with knowledge of the deal.” The report claims that EA is primarily interested in the technology behind the startup.
Under the terms of the agreement, creator Shawn Fanning, founder of Napster, and partner Jon Baudanza will become EA employees after the acquisition.
Social gaming has become quite the hot term lately, with companies scampering to set up such features in their games. EA games such as Skate already allow players to upload and share their videos through the game’s website, among other things.
Guitar Hero 4 Gets Multiple Instruments, Song Creation Functionality
May 13, 2008
Relaying information from the June issue of Game Informer magazine, NeoGAF forum user SolidSnakeX reveals that Guitar Hero 4 will feature custom song creation and support for multiple instruments when it launches this Fall.
According to the magazine, the game will expand the series’ instrument support to add drum and vocal gameplay in addition to bass and guitar, ala Rock Band. However, it doesn’t state whether the game will be compatible with Rock Band instruments or not.
The song creation functionality will apparently allow players to customize everything but the vocals, though exact details weren’t shared. Users will be able to upload and share songs on all platforms, as well as create and share album art.
Guitar Hero 4 is also confirmed to have master recordings of music from the four following bands – The Eagles, Linkin Park, Sublime and Van Halen. Further details are expected soon.
Rockstar Boss On EA, Spiritual Healers
May 13, 2008
While EA acquiring Take-Two Interactive and its subsidiary Rockstar Games is seen as a nightmare by many, Rockstar founder Sam House admitted that he sees potential in partnering with EA. Houser told The Wall Street Journal that he views EA CEO John Riccitiello as the “real deal” and that he has no problems in being a “much smaller fish in [a] much bigger pond.”
With all that said, Houser is “unlikely” to run subject material past EA in the event that the companies do have some form of business agreements.
In hilarious news, Houser revealed that during the production of GTA 4 the company brought in a spiritual healer who performed an exorcism-type ritual after two employees committed suicide. Apparently, the healer got “pretty strong readings” from an empty desk.
LucasArts: "We Aren’t Abandoning PC Gaming"
May 13, 2008
The state of PC gaming has seen a disappointing trend of no major releases in the last couple of years. LucasArts is adding to that by releasing highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on every major platform except the PC this Fall. The publisher assures gamers that it is not abandoning the platform.
“We’re not shutting the door on PC at all. For this project, it happens to be that we don’t have a PC SKU,” said producer Cameron Suey to VideoGamer. “We do hear that complaint. I definitely wish it had been possible.”
The reasoning for all this is because of the variations in computer hardware configurations, with the developer stating that they do not want gamers to have a watered-down experience on a low-end machine; whereas making the game available for everyone will cause gamers with high-end machines not take full advantage of it.
Force Unleashed is due out this Fall on PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, Wii, PSP and DS.
Skate 2 Annnounced
May 13, 2008
Seeing as how the original was so successful at retail and with critics and gamers alike, EA has announced that it is developing a direct sequel to Skate. Simply referred to as Skate 2, the game is being developed for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
The publisher isn’t keeping Nintendo fans in the dark either. They have announced Skate It, an entirely new game designed from the ground up for the Wii and DS. This game is due out later this year and will let players use the Wii motion-sensitive controller to perform moves in-game; DS users will get to use the portable’s touch screen to control tricks. The Wii edition of the game will also support the Wii Balance Board that comes with Wii Fit.
No release date or further details for Skate 2 was mentioned though.
Atari Delisted from Nasdaq
May 13, 2008
Atari has disclosed that its stock will no longer be listed or traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The action follows several warnings from Nasdaq, which previously informed the company that it would be delisted if the value of its public shares did not increase to $15 million or more and stay above that figure for at least ten days.
The game publisher’s stocks can now be purchased through delisted company trader Pink Sheets. Atari does not expect the delisting to affect its merger with Infogrames, its parent company. The merger is scheduled for the Q3 2008.
Rumor: Kombo Shows Off Kid Icarus Concept Art
May 12, 2008
When Kombo claimed they had an insider informing them of a Kid Icarus project in development, I dismissed it pretty quickly as just another rumor. But since they broke the story, it’s been confirmed, although not by Nintendo or Factor Five, but by refutable sources like IGN (who discuss it constantly on their podcast).
Now once again the site has broken news on the project, this time with concept art for Kid Icarus. However, the kid is not so kiddy anymore.
Factor 5 is pitching a grown up version of Pit, “cursed for thousands of years for a crime and becomes a ‘fallen angel. A tattoo on Pit’s arm bears the inscription of Pit’s crime.”
The concept art is simply across the board, and there is no saying one which one they will settle, but the concept is pretty clear, an adult version of Pit will certainly be featured in the game. Although maybe we’ll still see a Kid in the title ala Ocarina of Time in order to hold up the name.
You’ll definitely want to check out the concept art for this project, although not planned by Nintendo but instead fully executed and pitched by Factor 5, it’s certain to become a major push for the Nintendo line up.
Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise Smashed Open
May 12, 2008
It’s been a small Rare blow out today, as Microsoft gears up for their gamer day, plenty of leaks have been uncovered by the internet crowd at large. One such find is a new and proper sequel to 2006’s extremely addicting Viva Piñata.
I feel that everyone is allowed to have their own guilty little pleasure, and for me that game is Viva Piñata. If you can wrap your head around the cutesy, although extremely beautiful looking exterior, lies an extremely fun title, whose only fault was that it didn’t wind up on a Nintendo console (where it would have entertained a much bigger audience).
But Microsoft certainly hasn’t given up hope, given us two solid family games from Rare this holiday season. Of course, since this is merely a leak, we don’t really have a bullet point of features. But from everything I can gander by the few screens, there are new environments, it looks like possibly the addition of seasons and the same beautiful visual style.
Watch for more details from the Microsoft gamers day when they announce this project properly.
Retail Week: We Ski/Myst and This Weeks Movie Release
May 12, 2008
Yes it’s that time of the year again. Not the drought of games following the release of a GTA game - but the onslaught of weekly movie releases following the major film releases.
We’ve already been treated to Iron man, but now Prince Caspian joins the mix. Other interesting titles are a extremely old port, but still none the less very popular Myst. And We Ski, sans the Wii balance board. You’ll be forced to merely pretend you’ll be leaning into the curves until next week Nintendo drops Wii Fit.
But then again, the news really isn’t in the retail channel. On their surprisingly strong attempt to pull away attention from GTA, Nintendo follows through on another new good week with WiiWare. Next week Wii Fit, the week after, the world?
Nintendo Wii: We Ski
Deca Sports
Castle of Shikigami III
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Xbox 360: Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
PS3: Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
PS2: Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Nintendo DS: ATV Thunder/Monster Trucks
Drone Tactics
Myst
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
PC Games: Baseball Mogul 2009
Deadliest Catch Alaskan Storm
Ford Offroad Racing
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Pitfall Harry Coming to Wii
May 12, 2008
An upcoming Wii game will be reaching way back into the murkily pixellated aventures of early video game history. Before there were bosses, mini games and context-sensitive controls a hardy aventurer braved the dangers and perils of the jungle. I speak of course of Atari’s classic Pitfall and its bold hero Pitfall Harry. Activision has announced Pitfall: the Big Adventure which will be exclusive to the Nintendo Wii.
Coming out this fall, the newest in the series will be a carefully balanced blend of action and puzzles which takes place in the Peruvian jungle. Its sixty-plus levels will take you through the dense heart of the jungle, through dim caverns and across snowtopped mountains.
DC Vs. MK Keeping Fatalities
May 12, 2008
From its very inception Mortal Kombat stood apart from most fighting games for its fantastic plots and characters. From cybernetic ninjas to evil necromancers the game has been known as much for its unusual characters as its trademark fatalities. The newest twist on the series will have Mortal Kombat characters squaring off against classic characters from DC comics.
While we can still expect bizarre characters and arenas there will be some definite changes in the game, mostly because the game is aiming for a wider audience by toning things down to a ‘Teen’ rating (seemingly at the behest of DC comics). After the announcement of the game and its slightly more parent-friendly rating many assumed that the fatalities would be excised for the sake of easier ratings. Ed Boon, co-creator of the franchise has assured gamers that although the will be altered, the classic finishing moves that has always been a hallmark of the games will still be present. Since we’re talking about a ‘teen’ rating and the fact that everything has to be run by DC comics it’s hard to say how much you recognize the feature past the distinctive ‘Finish him’ but the MK team will of course push the boundaries as far as they’ll reach.
Will you be able to tear out Batman’s heart or pummel Aquaman with his own legs? Doubtful, but you might be able to toss them off a cliff, which should be good enough. All I’m hoping for is that they include Robin. You know you want to kick the crap out of him.
Blizzard Announces BlizzCon 2008
May 12, 2008
Hardcore fans of games like Starcraft and World of Warcraft were sure to have been waiting for this announcement for some time now.
Well, the time has come and Blizzard has officially announced that BlizzCon 2008 will take place from October 10th to the 11th at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.
BlizzCon is the time for those who can afford the $100 ticket to compete in tournaments, collect swag, and mostly importantly get some hands on time with those oh-so-desirable games like Starcraft 2 and the WoW expansion; Wrath of the Lich King.
Tickets for BlizzCon 2008 will go on sale in the next few weeks again, for 100 dollars.
Banjo-Kazooie 3 Screenshots Arise
May 12, 2008
I don’t know about you guys but I’ve been looking forward to this game ever since its announcement, since I grew up playing the N64 Banjo-Kazooie titles and all.
Well, it seems that Banjo-Kazooie 3 is nearing its release as screen shots of the game have started to arise. Featuring several blueprintesque screen shots of vehicles we can expect to see in the upcoming game like the Banjo Plane and Banjo Copter, along with various shots of the duo in action.
You can head over to Xbox Live Addicts to see the new screenshots.
Banjo Kazooie 3, the working title of the game, is currently in development by Rare as an Xbox 360 exclusive.
WiiWare Goes Live
May 12, 2008
While all that care probably already know, but for the rest of you Nintendo’s new service WiiWare has officially gone live today. If you’re still clueless as to what this new service is, just think of it as the Wii’s version of the Xbox Live Arcade or PSN.
Unfortunately for you retro gamers out there, in lieu of WiiWare’s new launch, there will be no virtual console updates for this week. Anyways, thanks to Joystiq we have a list of all of WiiWare’s launch titles that you will find when you first log onto the service:
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (Square Enix, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,500 Wii Points): FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King takes a legendary franchise and launches it into the realm of simulation gaming. Players are challenged to rebuild a kingdom, leading its young king on a path of discovery through an adventure bristling with mystery and intrigue.
- LostWinds (Frontier Development, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): A fresh, enchanting platform adventure that puts the power of the wind in the palm of your hand – from raging tornados to the gentlest breeze. You’ll wield your Wii Remote™ controller to power Toku’s jumps and glides, suspend and smash enemies, meet friends and solve puzzles using LostWinds’ novel, intuitive and playful control system.
- Defend your Castle (XGen Studios, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Cartoon Violence, 500 Wii Points): Defend your Castle takes place on a grassy plain surrounded by invaders. You are the commander of your castle, and it is your duty to fling the invading enemies sky-high, watching them plummet to their demise. As you progress, add powerful spells and upgrades to your arsenal for repelling the attacks. How long can you hold them off?
- Pop (Nnooo, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Pop bubbles to score points and stop the timer from running out. Pop can be enjoyed by anyone – casual gamers can simply play to pop bubbles and keep the game moving, whereas advanced players will need to pick their shots rapidly and accurately and generate combos to maximize their score.
- V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack (High Voltage Software®, Inc., 1-4 players, Rated T for Teen – Simulated Gambling, 700 Wii Points): V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack re-creates the casino experience, with fully animated players and a realistic Las Vegas dealer. Single players can increase their bankrolls, while multiple players can engage in a head-to-head mini-blackjack tournament.
- TV Show King (Gameloft, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 1,000 Wii Points): TV Show King transforms your living room into a real TV quiz show studio where you’ll face the challenge of answering more than 3,000 questions across six different categories. Compete against family and friends and use your Wii Remote controller in original ways to make it to the finals to see who can win the greatest amount of cash in one final, deciding duel.
First Gears of War 2 Gameplay Footage
May 10, 2008
As promised earlier, Microsoft and Epic Games have released the first in-game footage from Gears of War 2. The video features an introduction by series creator Cliff Bleszinski, who delivers details on the game’s storyline and some of the gameplay mechanics. The video showcases huge environments, large numbers of enemies on-screen, chainsaw duels, and new and improved visuals.
Gears of War 2, similar to its predecessor, is exclusive to Xbox 360 and will be released this November.
Guitar Hero 4 At the Drive-In
May 10, 2008
Fearless Records has announced that progressive rock band At the Drive-In will be contributing a song to Guitar Hero 4. The company stated that “One Armed Scissor” from the band’s third album “Relationship of Command” will be included in the game, alongside music from Aerosmith and Def Leppard.
At the Drive-In is an American post-hardcore band from Texas that was active from 1993 to 2001. Their most recent album, from which GH takes the song, was released back in 2001 after which the band broke up due to creative differences and band members feeling they were being held back.
Guitar Hero 4 is expected sometime next year for PC, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii.
Mass Effect, Spore "Draconian" Online Check Removed (Partially)
May 10, 2008
Unsurprisingly, the revelation of Mass Effect and Spore’s DRM, which was described as being “draconian” by many, caused uproar among fans. The DRM would require online validation every 10 days in order for the games to continue functioning.
Fortunately, that won’t be the case anymore, as EA and BioWare both announced today that it has removed the strict validation, saying that it will only be required when the player downloads new game content or patches.
Spore’s copy protection will similarly be changed to allow for offline play. The publisher additionally notes that the protection will allow users to authenticate each game on up to three computers. Approval of further authorizations will be handled by EA customer support on a case-by-case basis.
EA Gets $1B More for Take-Two Purchase
May 10, 2008
It seems that monolithic publisher Electronic Arts still haven’t given up its hopes of acquiring Take-Two Interactive, for which it made a $2 billion offer back in March. While the deadline for the offer passed in April, Take-Two is reportedly open to “possible business agreements” and EA is ramping up for it. In fact, they have secured up to $1 billion in financing for a possible takeover of Take-Two, should it acquire the company by January 2009.
This money comes from agreements with multiple banks, including Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, BNP Paribas, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, among others. The whole offer would be increased to $3 billion it seems, though Take-Two has stated its intent to remain independent. The company recently got a major injection of money in the form of the GTA 4 release which brought in $500 million during its first week.
Sonic Youth, Clash, Blondie in Rock Band
May 10, 2008
Keeping its weekly tradition intact, Harmonix revealed that three new downloadable tracks will be available for Rock Band next week. The three songs are master recordings of “Hanging on the Telephone” by Blondie, “Train in Vain” by The Clash and “Kool Thing” by Sonic Youth.
The tracks will be sold individually for 160 Microsoft points, or $1.99 at the PlayStation Store. As usual, the songs will be available starting May 13 on Xbox Live Marketplace, followed by a PS3 release on Thursday, May 15.
Call of Duty 5 Announced
May 10, 2008
Though Tony Hawk may be getting a break, it seems Call of Duty isn’t. Activision’s biggest cash cow, a new entry in the series is being developed and will take place in a “new military theater,” according to company publishing CEO and President Mike Griffith.
Speaking at a conference call, Griffith revealed that the fifth entry in the series, unofficially called Call of Duty 5, will arrive on PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and DS later this year. He did not offer further details, though his comments suggest that the title may not go back to the World War II setting the series originally debuted with.
While no details were provided, job listings for Treyarch suggest that they might be taking on development duties, while speculation is going around that series creator Infinity Ward is already working on Call of Duty 6. None of this is confirmed though.
Latest Headlines
- Rumor: EA Acquiring Social Networking Site
- Guitar Hero 4 Gets Multiple Instruments, Song Creation Functionality
- Rockstar Boss On EA, Spiritual Healers
- LucasArts: "We Aren’t Abandoning PC Gaming"
- Skate 2 Annnounced
- Atari Delisted from Nasdaq
- Rumor: Kombo Shows Off Kid Icarus Concept Art
- Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise Smashed Open
- Retail Week: We Ski/Myst and This Weeks Movie Release
- Pitfall Harry Coming to Wii
- DC Vs. MK Keeping Fatalities
- Blizzard Announces BlizzCon 2008
- Banjo-Kazooie 3 Screenshots Arise
- WiiWare Goes Live
- First Gears of War 2 Gameplay Footage
- Guitar Hero 4 At the Drive-In
- Mass Effect, Spore "Draconian" Online Check Removed (Partially)
- EA Gets $1B More for Take-Two Purchase
- Sonic Youth, Clash, Blondie in Rock Band
- Call of Duty 5 Announced
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