Posts Tagged ‘Speculation’
GameStop to purchase GameFly?
GameStop is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) game retailers in the entire United States but currently they do not offer rentals like companies such as GameFly. That may all change if recent rumors floating around regarding a possible buyout are to be believed.
Apparently, the Antioch Grove was on hand at a Halo 3: ODST event hosted by GameStop where a representative hinted at a possible buyout. Below is an excerpt from their coverge:
“Perhaps even more interesting than all of the buzz and activity surrounding the event, was a conversation that we had with a few of the Gamestop employees who were helping to host the event. After lamenting about the poor customer experience from the video game by mail company Gamefly, we asked why Gamestop didn’t come up with their own games by mail program, so that residents could get their games from the mail or locally. Pretty much all of the employees agreed that this would be a fine addition to the Gamestop family, but it was what they said afterwards that was a bit surprising.
Apparently, the water cooler gossip around the Antioch and Brentwood stores is that “someone” (Gamestop) is planning on buying out Gamefly before the end of the year. When pressed for more details on the subject, the Gamestop representatives grew quiet and didn’t provide a lot of details, but most of the employees in attendance seemed pretty confident about the rumor. Having a hot game come into town for a preview is exciting, but would pale in consideration to how big this would be. We’re still keeping this one on rumor status until we can get more concrete information, but it definitely caught our attention and something that we will keep our eyes open for.”
If/when this deal goes down it is sure to make GameStop a force to be reckoned with, as if it wasn’t already.
Sega reveals new teaser site for upcoming game
Sega has revealed a new teaser website, showcasing an upcoming mystery game. The site’s title is simply “Jackpot” and shows a container filled with lottery-esque balls. Pulling the lever lets a few of the balls go, which represent a timer for when the formal announcement for the game will come out.
There’s no telling what the game could be, but seeing the teaser site’s theme, one can assume that it will most probably be a sequel to Sega Casino for the Nintendo DS. But who knows, it could even be the return of the Dreamcast for all we know.
No Tatsunoko vs Capcom ports, sequel possible
Speaking with VideoGamer, producer Ryota Niitsuma revealed that Capcom has no plans in bringing Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars to the Xbox 360 or PS3. However, a sequel is possible if the game performs well in the western market.
“…the game is optimized for the Wii system, especially the graphics features,” Niitsuma explained. “So if we were to port it to PS3 or Xbox 360 we would have to make the game from scratch, and in that case we might as well just make a sequel of the series on those consoles rather than porting it.”
Tatsuonoko vs. Capcom has been out in Japan since December, but will be reaching North American shores this winter for the Wii. As for Europe, no release date has been given.
Read (VideoGamer)
LittleBigPlanet GOTY edition to include DLC?
It’s no secret that LittleBigPlanet has an extensive library of downloadable content making it almost impossible for gamers new on the scene to keep up. Well, if recent reports are true, Sony is going to make it a lot easier for said gamers to keep on the ball.
Apparently, a LittleBigPlanet Game of the Year edition will be released for the Playstation 3 at some point this year that will include most of the game’s DLC already on the Playstation Network.
While there’s no official confirmation from Sony, I’d say there is a pretty good chance this will happen. I mean, Sony needs something to fill up those Blu-ray discs with, right?
Read (MCV)
ZeniMax Media trademarks “Brink”
The first thing I thought when I heard ZeniMax Media (parent company to Bethesda) applied for a trademark for Brink was the 1998 Disney Channel movie. A game based on the movie? Count me in.
Unfortunately, Joystiq thinks otherwise pondering that the trademark might be for a Wii title, a title from Splash Damage, or perhaps an MMO rumored to be in the works.
Whatever the case, it’s probably not a game based on the movie so I’m thoroughly disappointed.
Chinese firm tells Engadget to take down PS3 Slim photos
Adding even more fuel to the fire, Engadget has recently been issued a cease and desist regarding the images of the PS3 Slim thats supposedly in the works.
Now, why would a Chinese company care if images of a piece of hardware that doesn’t even exist circulate the internet? Well, the logical explanation is that this hardware does in fact exist but there’s no telling because Sony insists that it doesn’t.
Let’s just hope that Sony announces this thing along with a price cut at E3. Hey, we can dream, can’t we?
Modern Warfare 2 definitely not Call of Duty
Ever since the game’s trailer was released some time ago there has been some speculation over whether or not Modern Warfare 2 would be dropping the Call of Duty name.
Destructoid points to the fact that Activision’s Michael Griffith referred to the highly anticipated title as Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 in an earnings call yesterday along with the fact that Amazon and GameStop both have the game listed as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
However, they promptly contacted Activision who responded with, ” The name of the game is Modern Warfare 2.”
That’s it, no more speculation, the game will be called Modern Warfare 2, it’s coming on November 10th, and it’s sure to kick ass.
Worms coming to iPhone
The above video has been circulating on the web showcasing what appears to be an iPhone, and iPod touch, rendition of Team17’s popular Worms franchise.
First only appearing as a rumor, Joystiq has since contacted the game’s developer for more information; the game, along with the video, is in fact real and Team17 will be publishing the game independently (read: no EA).
Unfortunately, they weren’t able to squeeze a release date or pricing out of the developer but we’ll keep you posted.
Skype probably not coming to DSi anytime soon
After word got out that Skype could “technically be possible” on the Nintendo DSi, rumors began circulating over Nintendo possibly picking up the VoIP software.
I mean, the front facing webcam-like camera coupled with built-in microphone featured on the Nintendo DSi would make for a perfect Skype platform, right?
Unfortunately Nintendo, being the party poopers they are, responded to the buzz stating: ”We have no plans to release a Skype application for Nintendo DS or DSi.” Total bummer, I guess the homebrew community will have to take matters into their own hands.
Read (CVG)
Old Wii games probably won’t get MotionPlus support
Nintendo’s latest controller addon, the Wii MotionPlus, is quickly approaching its June release date. Other than a handful of titles, there aren’t many games announced that would support the new addon. So, it would only make sense to release updates for old games adding support, right?
If it’s up to Nintendo, which it is, this won’t be happening anytime soon. After GameDaily speculated that previously released games would be gaining MotionPlus support in the future, Nintendo responded with the following statement:
The Wii MotionPlus accessory is only for games that are designed to make use of its abilities
While they didn’t actually say that it won’t be happening, they sure did hint at it.
Netflix job posting points to console expansion
A recent job listing over at Neftlix discovered by Gamaustra details the need for an Engineering Leader for Gaming Platforms. The listing states that all who apply should, ”expect to help build a small technology team to rapidly prototype and iterate on a variety of platforms.”
A variety of platforms, huh? Well, we saw the expansion of Netflix streaming to the Xbox 360 some time ago so who is to say that the Playstation 3, or even the Wii, couldn’t get the same treatment?
Rumors have been floating around that Netflix would be expanding it’s console streaming service to consoles other than the Xbox 360 for some time now. So, it only makes sense that this job listing would point to those rumors and give them a thumbs up.
But wait, maybe they are looking to take on services like OnLive and stream games right to the consoles? We can dream can’t we?
Read (Gamasutra)
Rumor: No physical version of Patapon 2?
We learned back in February that PSP title, Patapon 2, would be making it’s North American debut sometime this year which was later honed down to May 5th.
However, if rumors are to be believed, Patapon 2 won’t ever be making it’s physical debut. Instead, speculation suggests that the game will intead be a digital title only with vouchers being sold at retailers instead of the actual game.
Even stranger is the fact that Patapon 2, when downloaded from PSN with no voucher, will cost just $15.99 but the actual voucher will cost $19.99.
Again, this is just a rumor so we’ll have to wait and see how this unfolds.
Read (Destructoid)
Resident Evil 5 ships 4 mill, sells 1.6 mill
Sure, we found out that Resident Evil 5 was smashing records left and right, but no tangible numbers have been released until now.
Capcom recently released a press release on their Japanese website stating that 4 million copies of Resident Evil 5 has been shipped to retailers.
VGChartz, on the other hand, has compiled some data that leads them to believe 1.6 million of these 4 milion copies have been sold since its March 5th Japanese street date.
Lost & Damned numbers speculated
Well, they are by no means official numbers but analyst Jesse Divnich has a hunch that the following numbers are at least predictably accurate.
Anyways, Divnich says that the GTA IV expansion, The Lost & Damned, raked in less than $3 million dollars at brick and mortar retailers while raking in up to $18 million over Xbox Live.
While these numbers are not straight from Rockstar, it makes it easy to tell that the Xbox Live method of aquiring The Lost & Damned was much more favorable than the physical counterpart.
However, if the expansion’s content had actually been released on a game disc as opposed to getting a code to download the content over Xbox Live, these numbers probably would have been a lot different.
Read (Joystiq)
Ghostbusters theme song on Rock Band?
It seems that talks regarding the Ghostbusters theme song coming to Rock Band in some sort of song pack are underway.
A recent interview done by Eurogamer with Ray Parker Jr., originator of the theme song, reveals this information. When asked if he’d like to see the theme in Rock Band he replied:
We were just talking about that, we’re working on it now. I think they should have Ghostbusters in Rock Band.
So there you have it, no official details, prices, or release dates to go by, just a statement from Ray Parker Jr. himself.
Read (EuroGamer)