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Pac-Man world record broken

Pac-Man made its debut almost 30 years ago in 1980 and has seen countless remakes and variations ever since. However, despite being on the market for so long gamers are still working tirelessly to smash previous world records for the game.

The latest record set forth by David Race managed to get to level 256 while collecting every piece of fruit and pill in just 3 hours, 41 minutes and 22 seconds. This is 42 seconds faster than the previous record of 3 hours, 42 minutes and 4 seconds.

So folks, Mr. Race now claims the top Pac-Man spot. What have you done with your life?

via kotaku

Shatter launch trailer

Shatter is a puzzle game to be released for the PlayStation Network. The game is all about box shattering and physics; pretty much a redone Breakout.

Besides the groovy music and Sidhe Interactive’s slogan, the trailer looks pretty mediocre. But I reserve judgment until I actually play the game, because puzzle games can be very fun and addictive regardless of how it looks.

Shatter currently has no release date.

Capcom releases list of Classics coming to PSN tomorrow

Capcom has recently stepped forward to let everyone know that there is a whole slew of Capcom Classics coming to the Playstation Network with the first dropping tomorrow, July 2nd.

These classics will be released in episodic packs with the first titled Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed. This first pack will feature hit arcade titles of yesteryear and will be fully playable on any time of PSP you have:

•    1941: Counter Attack
•    Avengers
•    Bionic Commando
•    Black Tiger
•    Block Block
•    Captain Commando
•    Final Fight
•    Forgotten Worlds
•    Last Duel
•    Legendary Wings
•    Magic Sword
•    Mega Twins
•    Quiz and Dragons
•    Section Z
•    Side Arms: Hyper Dyne
•    The Speed Rumbler
•    Street Fighter
•    Strider
•    Three Wonders
•    Varth

Check back and we’ll keep you psoted as Capcom releases more information on upcoming Classics packs.

Tekken 6 gets its own wireless sticks

If you missed out on a chance to get your hands on one of the Street Fight IV FightSticks, and are planning on picking up Tekken 6 you should check out the recently unveiled wireless fight sticks (pictured above). These are the same fight sticks we mentioned in a previous post earlier today, so dont’ be confused.

Shown above is the official Tekken 6 Wireless Fight Stick bundle which includes the game, the controller and an art book. For those who care, the stick was made by HORI, not MadCatz.

Finally, the bundle will be made available for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and cost $150 for both. The different between the two, however, is that the Xbox 360 version is white and the PS3 version is black.

Read (Joystiq)

Metal Gear Arcade caught in its debut trailer

Yesterday we found out what the Metal Gear Arcade’s hardware would look like and now we know what the its gameplay will look like.

If you didn’t know Metal Gear Arcade is basically just Metal Gear Solid 4’s online component. The different with the arcade version, however, is that you will be using a new kind of controller specifically designed for this application along with the fact that its completely in 3D. So yes, you will be wearing some kind of 3D glasses goggles while playing this game.

Still no word on if Metal Gear Arcade will ever hit American arcades but it is set to his Japanese arcades sometime later this year.

Samsung ad shows off real life Street Fighter II bonus level

If you’ve ever played Street Fighter II you’ll undoubtedly remember the car-smashing bonus level in which the player was tasked to beat-the-living-crap out of a helpless car as fast as possible.

Well, it looks like a man (obviously contracted by Samsung) decided to get all decked out as Ryu and beat the crap out of a car himself. While he has some cool moves, which definitly look like they hurt, my favorite would have to be the drop kick to the side door.

Other than advertising one of Samsung’s cameras I think this advertisement proves just how cool the bonus stage was. So what gives Capcom? Why wasn’t it in Street Figther IV?

Famitsu puts Metal Gear Arcade on display

First announced at EA, Kojima and Konami have kept their Metal Gear Arcade under wraps pretty well. Well, those wraps are still tightly bound but at least we have a few details and the above picture to hold us over thanks to the latest issue of Famitsu.

According ot the magazine, players will control the arcade while sitting down, wearing 3D glasses using a controller that allows for seperate movement and viewpoint control. Better yeah, in addition to being able to play solo players will get the chance to participate in up to 16-player co-op. Sounds awesome.

Unfortunately, there is no word on if Metal Gear Arcade will ever make it stateside but for those in Japan, it is set to hit arcades over there later this year.

Read (Joystiq)

Pop’n Music for Wii announced, doesn’t stay true to arcade version

If you’ve ever played the arcade game Pop’n Music you’ll know that more than half the fun is smacking the different colored buttons in conjunction with the on screen happenings.

Well, Konami has just announced a Wii version Pop’n Music and unfortunately, it’s nothing like its arcade counterpart. Instead of smacking multi colored buttons you will be moving the Nunchuk and Wii Mote “up, down, left and right”.

Yup, the game’s been childified. If you still want to get your hands on this sure-to-be dissapointing version of Pop’n Music you can do so this fall.

Read (Joystiq)

Jambo! Safari arcade port coming to Wii

If you’ve ever played Jambo! Safari as a kid in the arcade you’ll probably agree with me when I say this game kicked ass. Thankfully, Sega has decided to capitalize on the game’s ass-kickery and announced a Wii port.

If, however, you’ve never played this game all it basically is is driving around in various vehicles attempting to catch and/or photograph different African animals. Doesn’t sound fun? Well then you obviously haven’t played it.

The Wii port is said to be called Jambo! Safari Ranger Adventure with the Nintendo DS port titled Jambo! Safari Animal Rescue. Now if I can just dust off my Wii and find that Wiimote I misplaced after getting bored of Wii Sports months ago…

Read (Kotaku)

Boxing dummy rigged up for NES Punch-Out!!

You thought using the Wiimote and Nunchuk for the upcoming Punch-Out!! was realistic? Get a whiff of this –The modder featured in the above video took a Slam Mans boxing dummy, outfitted it with a whole array of different buttons making for a completely unique way to play the classic NES title Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!.

Two buttons on the face for left and right face hits, two in the stomach for left and right body hits, and three in the chest area for dodge, block, and start button for use with star punches.

Honestly though, check out the video because you’re going to have to see it to believe it.

Microsoft Lowering Xbox 360 Price in Japan

To help boost their market share, Microsoft Corporation will reportedly lower the price for its famed game console Xbox 360, hoping that the move can place them in better footing with Nintendo Co. Microsoft, locked in a three-way game console battle with Nintendo’s popular Wii and Sony’s PlayStation 3, has been struggling to stir up demand for its Xbox 360 in Japan.

Microsoft will lower the price of the Xbox 360 Arcade model by 8,000 yen ($73.92) to 19,800 yen. The Arcade does not come equipped with a hard drive and is the least expensive of the three Xbox 360 models, the Nikkei said.

The new price will make the machine cheaper than Nintendo’s Wii, which sells for about 25,000 yen, and the PlayStation 3, which sells for 39,800 yen.

(Source) Canada.com

Street Fighter 4 Game Review–The Epitome Of Mediocracy

One of the good parts about being a gamer toward the top end of that vaunted 18-35 demographic is that you remember all the movements of the past.  Many of my readers, for instance, may not remember that most gaming was done in public buildings for profit called arcades.  Indeed, arcades also offered the very latest and the very greatest games–no home gaming system could ever possibly compete against the might of an arcade machine, and that was why we were more than willing to pump quarters into those things like no tomorrow.  Today, arcades survive largely on sufferage, and those that do offer a panoply of experiences, like jet ski simulators and kayak simulators and the like.

Thus I’m surprised to mention that a little bit of the arcade came roaring back today in the form of Street Fighter 4.  I was arcade gaming back in the days of the original Street Fighter, thus it was a real thrill to see this venerable old franchise back in the saddle once more.

And it’s every inch a standard Street Fighter title, just given that full next-gen sort of treatment.  Every fighter–and there are a whole slew of them–comes standard with their own backstory introduced in a really smooth anime-style cutscene that packs in everything from laughs to sorrow and beyond.  It all leads up to a battle with the main bad guy, Seth, whose powers are all surprisingly familiar.  All your favorite characters are back in full form, along with a whole host of new characters, once again with their own backstory.  It’s great to see that this game can still pack in some originality, despite the fact that it’s really just the same game that we just played five, ten years ago.  It’s also great to see how many different motivations can drive so many different people down the same path–whether they’re out to prove their might or just take out a rival, no two of the Street Fighter characters ever really have the same motivations for doing anything.

The game could not look better, and it plays just about the same as it ever did.  A few new features are available for use, such as the focus attack and the ultra combo.   The only real downside to this game is, despite how good it looks and how smooth it plays, is that, at its roots, it’s really just the same game you’ve already played five or six different versions of.  This is just another Street Fighter game, no matter how pretty it looks or how well it plays.  It’s just another game where you punch and kick and juggle and special move your opponent into oblivion.

And for some people, this is good enough.  They’re just so glad to see Street Fighter back in operation again that they don’t CARE that it’s JUST Street Fighter.  If you loved Street Fighter, or any kind of action-packed fighting game, then Street Fighter 4 will be the experience of a lifetime.  Otherwise, it’s just another lukewarm beat-em-up.

Introducing the Gate Game VU

Here is a product you will most likely never see in your entire life; the Gate Game VU. Recently revealed at the American Trade Exhibition International, the Gate Game VU is pretty much your run of the mill arcade station with an Xbox 360 or PS3 on the inside, and a slot for accepting coins.

Complete with a 32″ LCD, 2 controllers, another LCD screen seemingly to pick games on, and built in subwoofer, the Gate Game VU is a great idea, but will it deliver?

The cool thing about the old school arcades was for the most part, you couldn’t get those titles for your home system. Now, with an Xbox 360 or PS3 built in, you’re just paying to play games you most likely already have.

Although, I could see this being put to proper use if a bar or similar establishment had the latest titles up for play. Hell, you can even get one of these with a PC kiosk attachement.

Read

Classic Board Games Coming To Xbox Live Arcade

While the Xbox 360 still carries a wide range of games that parents might find objectionable for their small children to play the console is making definite steps towards being a family-friendly system. The more intuitive interface that accompanied the NXE was quite obviously an attempt to make households more likely to use the console as a media center.

If you get tired of dressing up your avatar or run out of things to watch on Netflix then you can get a friend or two gathered around your console for digital recreations of classic board game experiences. EA is bringing more games under the Hasbro Family Night banner to Xbox Live Arcade. They’re set to begin releasing in the Spring of this year, including classics like Boggle, Battleship, Yahtzee, Connect Four and Sorry. To keep things interesting there’ll be some new playing modes with mini-games, online play and achievements.

Capcom: No Street Fighter 4 Arcade in US

Seeing as how the arcade business is pretty much dead in the United States, it doesn’t come as any surprise that Capcom won’t release an arcade version of Street Fighter IV in the country despite the franchise’s strong history as an arcade attraction and its ties to competitive and tournament gaming.

This comes from Capcom’s senior director of communications and community, Chris Kramer, who simply stated: "At this point, it does not look like Street Fighter IV arcade machines will officially hit the U.S. arcade market."

Kramer also shot down the idea that the game could revitalize arcade gaming in the US. "Street Fighter IV’s a great game, but could it rejuvenate an industry that died off seven or eight years ago?” he asked. “I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s that great. I don’t think anything by itself would be capable of revamping a whole business like that.”

The console versions of the game are due out in February 2009. A PC version is planned too.