Archive for February 6th, 2007
Blind Item: Why Sony’s Not Funding Huge PS3 Sequel
Kotaku Pointing Fish says: Rumors have been swirling that a highly anticipated PS3 game will make its way to the Xbox 360. Sources say they are 99.99999 percent certain that the game won’t appear on the Xbox 360. It’s a sequel, and the game’s maker has funded all of the pricey promo trailers out of its own pocket, receiving nothing from Sony. The reason for this blind PS3 gung-ho support? The creator apparently views American game consoles as inferior and is hesitant to get tangled up in a distant US corporate hierarchy.
Okay, Kotaku-land. Who is it? Three guesses. Get to it.
Badass Twilight Princess Figures
That’s right, positively badass. Due for release in May, a confirmed price is still up in the air, but what we do know is that there are four figures plus a super-secret…secret one. Pictured above is Link and Wolf Link & Midna, while the other two announced figures are Zelda and Zant.
These are small figures (only 120mm), so as you can see the detail is pretty amazing.
Start saving your pennies and brushing up on your Japanese, kids (or at least go hit up your favourite importer), something tells me these are going to go fast.
５月中 SRゼルダの伝説 トワイライトプリンセス [Calamel]
My Japanese Cellmate Is A Nintendo Crook
Ever wonder what life is in a Japanese prison? No? Me neither! But Japan site Stippy has been posting a series about a foreigner named “George” (not his real name, folks!) who spent a stretch on the inside in a holding prison. George describes his cellmate:
His charge was robbery, which he quite readily admitted. He saw an opportunity to make some money and he took it. 1 million yen worth of Nintendo game software was sitting in the warehouse in which he worked and he figured that they needed to be sold. He pocketed around 300k yen but within a few days it was fairly obvious to his bosses that he had done it. In fact not long after he had started making sales to shops in Akihabara, he had some sort of accident on his bicycle and jarred his back. He could not go to work for a week and was laid up in hospital when his boss decided to check his locker at work where, low and behold, lay a stack of gaming software that he hadn’t yet been able to take home.
Lesson of this story? Don’t ride bicycles. (And piracy stealing is bad, blah, blah, blah.)
Japanese Prison Is Not Fun [Stippy via Dark Diamond]
Alan Wake Now Microsoft Exclusive
While most of us see something that’s vaguely promising in Alan Wake, Microsoft must see a whole lot more, because they’re going to be turning some special attention towards Remedy Entertainment’s upcoming “psychological action thriller”. And by special, I mean they’ll be publishing it. Remedy are happy with the benefits:
Microsoft has huge machinery for games production. If a team of 80 voice actors are needed from the States, they can provide it. Their test laboratory is also fantastic.
And Microsoft are happy too, since that makes Alan Wake a 360 and Vista exclusive.
Cooperation with Microsoft gives lift to game developer Remedy [HELSINGIN SANOMAT, via Game|Life]
The 10 commandments of a console launch
Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360
Now that the PS3, Wii, and 360 have all launched, the gents at Gaming Nexus have put together a set of standards for console manufacturers to abide by next time they decide to launch new platforms. Commandments if you will. And wouldn’t you know it, there’s 10 of ‘em; 10 things we as consumers don’t want to see happen again. For example: thou shall have more than 100k units at launch, thou shall make accessories readily available, and thou shall only launch with one SKU. Read on for the full list peppered with old school ecclesiastical prose. Thou shall entertain.
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Thank Thanko For Wii Recharger
Look how happy that lady is! She can now recharge her Wii-mote and never worry about buying batteries again. A rather pricey 3,480 yen (US $29) includes a charger that connects to the Wii and two AA lithium ion batteries. Charge time is three hours, but the batteries are good for 25 hours. Though, that new charger doesn’t seem nearly as neat as this one from last December. If you want endless Wii gaming, guess you gotta pay for it.
Wii Recharger [Insert Credit]
Unit Shifter: British Sales Charts Jan 29 - Feb 3
Lost Planet rugs up and scores another week at the top.
1. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
2. Pro Evolution Soccer 6
3. FIFA 07
4. Sega Mega Drive Collection
5. Wario Ware: Smooth Moves
6. Need for Speed: Carbon
7. Wii Play
8. New Super Mario Bros
9. Cars
10. The Sims 2: Pets
Who hasn’t already bought Pro Evo or FIFA by now?
Lost Planet digs in at number one [MCVUK]
Clip: We Love Katamari. And Trauma Centre. And Cake.
I know I said no more Katamari cakes, but I’m something of a backflipping expert. Oizys from EndgameRadio recently turned 26, and to celebrate, got this yummy Katamari cake. Combining yummy gaming cakes AND a Trauma Centre gag gets a gold star.
Katamari Cake [EndgameRadio]
Trashy Bullet Witch Costumes Rated By Fashionista
Movie stars get grilled by the fashion police so why not game stars? Christian Nutt has a feature up at Games Radar that does just that. Stephen Pierce, grad of The London College of Fashion rates the fashion sense of Bullet Witch’s Alicia. Stand out quote:
The directional choice of the ‘Pantkerchief’ is brave, and would take the wearer from a Parisian cuddle party to a trailer park chicken-chase with ease. The studious specs suggest a woman who could lecture on quantum theory, before going to town on your ass with a fist-full of Chinese Love Eggs.
Pantkerchief? This Stephen guy is a hoot!
Alicia’s Clothes Rated [Games Radar via Insert Credit]
First Look At Manhunt 2
The official Manhunt 2 site has gone live with a brief look at the game announced eariler today by Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive.
The trailer clocks in at less than a minute and offers very little in the way of gameplay or in-game scenarios, instead opting to hint at the game’s themes and cast of characters. The game now focuses on a new lead named Daniel Lam (Lamb?), a patient who must escape from what appears to be a mental institution.
The site offers downloadable versions of the trailer in Quicktime and Windows Media versions. PSP and iPod tailored options are also available.
Manhunt 2 Official Site [Thanks, Max!]
Major Nelson Wants Marketplace Rules, Seeks Input
And it’s not a moment too soon, Major.
The murmurs of discontent surrounding XBL Marketplace rorts may have finally gotten through to Microsoft, with Major Nelson today announcing he’s looking to lay some rules down for the service.
As you can imagine, we have some very specific guidelines and policies in place for Marketplace, but I want to open up the floor for discussion and see what the community thinks. I’d like to frame this as what should the ‘Xbox Live Marketplace 10 Commandments’ look like?
Gee, you’ll never guess what the first comment was:
THOU SHALT NOT ABUSE THY CUSTOMER’S WITH MICROTRANSACTIONS
Amen, brother. The thread is becoming increasingly cluttered, but if you’d like to throw your $0.02 into the discussion, head over to the good Major’s blog and make your mark.
Marketplace 10 Commandments [Major Nelson]
Day Note: Safe Words
To: Ash
From: Crecente
Subject: Rough Play
Waking up to yet another legal threat from Jack is never fun, let alone the half-dozen emails we exchanged throughout the day. He still hasn’t explained how the story is wrong or given me comments to include in the story. Oh well, my ball, his court.
I don’t think I mentioned it, but my retail Xbox 360 died on me again recently. Counting debug 360s, number six arrived in the mail today. I need to unbox it. I sense that it is scared.
I told Jason over at Giz about it and he asked what the hell I was doing to them. From our IM:
Jason: wtf?
Me: i know
Jason: I think I play as much as you and i’m still on my first one
Me: im into rough play, apparently
Jason: Yeah you’re a monster… Need to come up w/ a safe word
Me: ya the safe word is apparently
Me: three flashing red lights
ooooh-hoooo, I crack me up. Sigh…Anyway to business.
While you were sleeping:
The real GOTY nominees were announced
Defenestration and suffocation, now with motion control
La Boheme ala PS3
I think McWhertor is leaving for DICE tomorrow… or the next day. Make sure to harass him. I swear I’m going to work on the Whorecraft story tonight… seriously. The nub fell off of my PSP from playing Ratchet and Clank too much…it hasn’t stopped me though. That Whorecraft guy said he wanted to send me a bottle of champagne… is it a bad idea to accept bottles from a guy who makes porn for a living?
Peace out… to sleep, well dinner, a book perhaps, maybe some TV and then to sleep!
New Mass Effect Screens, New Alien Fetish
Bioware posted a half-dozen new screens of their upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive sci-fi RPG recently, further confirming the uncontested hotness of Mass Effect. It wasn’t the seemingly ever-improving graphics and character designs that shocked me, but my previously unknown attraction to bald-headed lavender skinned alien babes.
Today’s overkilliest video: Nerf Druid
Filed under: Culture, PC, Action, Adventure, RPGs, Video, MMO
Finally, some hard video evidence that druids are a bit too overpowered in World of Warcraft. You can’t really argue after seeing this video. Could your poor warlock, paladin, or shaman stand up to this? We highly doubt it. Hopefully Blizzard will heed the call and scale back on the druids just a tad, because while some of the other classes are pretty powerful, this one goes to 11.
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Wii Power Gloves? Nope.
Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Sports, Peripherals
What’s more useless: plastic shove-on attachments or boxing gloves with Wiimote pockets? We suppose those attachments are, but these ‘un-official’ Wii boxing gloves rank among the lamest of 3rd-party peripherals.
Maybe if you have a tendency to fling your Wiimote the gloves are $22 well spent; then again, Wii Sports’ boxing requires players to hold the Wiimote vertically. You won’t be punching with these gloves on; you’ll be knocking on doors. Awkward.
A better Wii “Power Glove”: Wii Remote Power Glove Hack
[Via VideoGamesBlogger]
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Today in Joystiq: February 6, 2007
Filed under: Culture
Joystiquery
Readers pick best webcomic and hate Mario Party
Today’s hottest game video: Command & Conquer 3
Joystiq Podcast 001 - The Dreamcast
News
Ping Pong with Penny Arcade, to the pain!
Blue Dragon paraphernalia arrives in Japan
Wii-chargeable battery packs (almost) ready for release
Xbox 360 sporting new ’super-quiet’ internal DVD drives
TransGaming and Nvidia team up for high-end games on the Mac
Sega: Virtua Tennis 3 brings its 1080p game to the Xbox 360
EA bullish on future PS3 performance
PSP mod inexplicably adds a cooling fan
Bubble Bobble Revolution recalled
Rockstar reveals Manhunt 2 for the PS2, PSP, and … Wii
University of Rochester: Action games improve vision
News Alert: Syrian prez doesn’t play video games
Crysis will run on ye olde gaming rig
Sony to market PS3 at English National Opera
Microsoft to reward Xbox Live achievers with freebies
Casual games consuming ‘me time’
Oblivion, Okami top GDC Awards Nominations
Tekken in PS3 Store this month
Microsoft to soon decide fate of Space Giraffe, alpha build shipping out
Wii email informs consumers of strap replacement
Rumors & Speculation
Rumor: Killzone 2 demo before Halo 3 beta
Blizzard: consoles soon obsolete, becoming one with PCs
Culture
Tilt modded Xbox 360 controller now wireless
Metal Gear Solid 4 Snake figure
Ben Heck explains how to make Wii laptop
The death of the game mascot
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Wii email informs consumers of strap replacement
Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Business
This evening Nintendo sent strap replacement information directly to Wii owners who have an internet connection. Using the Wii’s mail function, Nintendo sent an email to Wii owners regarding replacement straps: “Nintendo has received some reports that when consumers swing the Wii Remote with the original version of the wrist-strap using excessive force and accidentally let go, the cord connecting the controller to the wrist strap can break.”
The wrist strap replacement program has been in place since December. The interesting thing here is that Nintendo sent the information directly to consumers, albeit a little late, instead of solely depending on the press to disseminate the information. When Microsoft extended the warranty on the Xbox 360, we don’t recall if any post was made on the Xbox Live network informing consumers. We appreciate that Nintendo sent this email out to consumers. Next time though, it might help to do it during the scandal, rather than three months later.
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Microsoft to soon decide fate of Space Giraffe, alpha build shipping out
Filed under: Arcade, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Online
Jeff Minter’s latest Space Giraffe update exposes the designer’s undulating emotions, as he prepares to ship an alpha build of the Xbox Live Arcade hopeful off to Microsoft tomorrow. While his confidence grows — “I have 32 levels in now and I’m getting happy with it” — Minter knows that everything is riding on Microsoft’s reception of the early submission. “The release to MS is a little bit scary because we effectively get the go/no go for the whole thing,” writes Minter.
Still, as Minter seems to conclude, it’s unlikely that Microsoft will pull the plug on Space Giraffe. It’s an indie shooter, after all — a shoo-in for Xbox Live Arcade.
[Via 1UP]
See also:
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Tekken in PS3 Store this month
Filed under: Arcade, Sony PlayStation 3, Fighting, Online
Tekken Dark Resurrection plops down in North America’s PlayStation Store later this month, following its debut in Asia. Namco Bandai’s downloadable fighter joins Sega’s disc-based Virtua Fighter 5 in the waning weeks of February, as two high-profile franchises battle for PS3 owners’ idle attention. While unconfirmed, expect Tekken to be offered in the $15-20 range; VF5’s gonna go for the standard $60.
1UP speculates that Namco Bandai could offer additional updates for Tekken — like online multiplayer — but the publisher has shot down rumors that the (initial) North American release was delayed to add new content. If you already nabbed the Asian version, no worries, you won’t be missing out.
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Oblivion, Okami top GDC Awards Nominations
Filed under: Culture, Business
With Capcom’s recent bitterness over the AIAS “snubbing,” four Okami nominations and a Technology nod for Dead Rising should satiate their ego. We’re also glad that Rayman Raving Rabbids, Dreamfall, and Sam & Max: Episode One are getting some much-deserved kudos.
The awards ceremony will occur Wednesday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m. and is being hosted by Tim “Psychonauts owns your soul” Schafer (also known for Monkey Island and Grim Fandango). The nominations are listed after the break.
Continue reading Oblivion, Okami top GDC Awards Nominations
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