MattK

While Assassins-in-Training maybe mourning the lack of achievements/trophies in the Battle of Forli DLC (out Jan. 28), the trailer highlights some of the story potential that the Memory Segment 12 offers. And while this might not be "Episodes of Renaissance" like GTAIV's DLC, the potential for such expansive DLC is there. Via Kotaku Click here to view the article

One of Dead Rising 2's new features is the ability to create and customize new weapons. A meta website, Tape It or Die, has been created to help residents of Fortune City survive the zombie plague that started five years ago by making them aware of the various methods of weapon creation, providing blogs and pictures in hopes of creating the "ultimate weapon." What they may have provided, though, is perhaps the "ultimate spoiler". For those of you who haven't survived the outbreak of Willamette, Colorado, be warned, there be spoilers ahead. So "Johnny Pipes", one of the bloggers and founders, blogs about a recent outing yesterday where he took some photos of new hero Chuck Greene. During the ordeal, his camera was damaged slightly, and the next photo he took, featured below, was less than spectacular...but it still delivers one hell of a revelation. From Johnny Pipe's blog: But then I see some other dude. Vaguely recognized him. Maybe saw him at a party a few years back. Maybe a celebrity. Can't remember his name, though. Phil? Floyd? Regardless, he was fighting zombies, too. It was like Oktoberfest! But replace beer with zombies! And drinking with slaughter! It was like I'd died and gone to heaven. Looks like everyone's favorite photo journalist (he's covered wars, y'know) may still be alive and kicking zombie ass in Dead Rising 2. Of course, this shouldn't be confirmed as offical. It could just be an avatar customized to look like Frank West. Still, considering Frank survived long enough to appear in Lost Planet and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, we think there's still life left in the photojournalist. More info as it appears. Dead Rising 2 releases on XBox 360, PS3, and Microsoft Windows on Sept. 24 (EU), Sept. 28 (US), and Sept. 30 (JPN) Click here to view the article

Last week we posted one of the gameplay videos for Megaman Universe. It evoked classic Mega Man gameplay...almost a bit TOO classic, as the stages seemed to resemble remixes of stages from Mega Man 2. And we still had no clue about the special characters that would guest star (Ryu and American Box Art Man). Well, Capcom Unity has revealed the nature of Mega Man Universe. The people behind the new stages and characters won't be the Capcom designers but the Mega Man Universe players. Taking cues from Little Big Planet, Mega Man Universe will allow players to not only customize and create their own unique robotic hero from various parts of classic, new, and guest characters, but also the very stages that they will traverse to take down the Robot Masters. The customizeable heroes will have unique powers depending upon their build, thus making multiple "Mega Men" a gameplay advantage. Players will be able to determine not only the stage design but also enemy and item placement and will be able to share their stages with other players. More of Mega Man Universe and these gameplay features are set to be featured at the Tokyo Gaming Show. Click here to view the article

Sure they just announced the game a few days ago, but with 10 years and both Marvel's and Capcom's rosters having grown by leaps and bounds, speculation as to who the new and returning challengers will be has already got fans on the net speculating. While only 6 have been revealed so far (3 on each side, and all fighting game vets except for Chris Redfield), the trailers and promotional posters almost act as teaser reveals for the characters yet to be revealed. Think you recognize any? Hit the jump for speculations from Kotaku. While Marvel vs. Capcom 3 will most likely not reach the 50+ characters of the previous game, that's hardly something to be upset about, as most of the fighters were palette swaps and clones, many of which were ported sprites from games as far back as 1994. The trailer shown in spawn's post shows a completely new fighting and graphics engine, so a bit of scaling back will not only ensure that every single fighter, both new and old, will get the special treatment, but also a tighter focus, and most assuredly a finer product. While the image below are still just speculation from Kotaku, educated guesses are more than welcome. Click here to view the article

One of the highlights of Capcom's next generation zombie-killer (no, not RE5) was the ability to pick up just about anything in the Mall and use it as a weapon. Sometimes the results were incredibly lethal and effective, and sometimes they were just comedic, but the fact is that if you could pick it up, you could use it. So how could Dead Rising 2 possibly top that? While it was hinted at in the announcement trailer, Capcom has officially revealed the ability to take two seemingly unrelated weapons and combine them into super weapons, the result being a better way to kill zombies, and a faster way to earn PP (the experience point system of the game). Begin speculation now over the possible combinations available to you. via Capcom's Unity Blog Click here to view the article

Now that the Sony GoW3 has come and gone, Microsoft has announced that its GoW3 will be arriving to finish the fight. Gears of War 3 is in development for a release date of April 2011. According to Kotaku, the official first announcement of Gears of War 3 was to take place on Cliff Bleszinski's appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon April 8th, but his appearance was postponed to the 12th at the last minute, supposedly to "polish what we're showing". Unfortunately (or fortunately if you can't stand Jimmy Fallon), your XBox 360 was tired of sitting on the news and decided to go ahead and announce it anyway. Despite the leak, expect more details, as well as footage, to be shown on Cliffy B's appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Monday, April 12th (check your local listings). Click here to view the article

April 15, 2010. Mark it on your calenders, Original XBox fans. And get your gaming in while you still can, because on that date, XBox Live will be discontinued for all Original XBox games, including games available for download on XBLA. Insiders indicate that the closure of XBox Live for Original XBox games will help to serve the improvement of XBox Live for XBox 360, although the details of which have not been made explicit at this time. And sure, most XBox Live users may not mourn long or at all, and maybe even consider it about time, but for those who still rock the online multiplayer of Halo 2, Counter-Strike, or Forza, the loss will be felt like an old friend you thought would always be there, until you wake up one fateful morning and realize they are gone. Full statements from Kotaku after the jump. XBox Live's Harry Hryb initial statement: I wanted to let you know that on April 15, 2010 Microsoft will discontinue Xbox LIVE service for original Xbox consoles and games, including Xbox 1 games playable on Xbox 360. Our first step in this process will be to turn off auto-renewals for those members who only use Xbox LIVE on a v1 Xbox. While I can't comment on the specifics, this change will allow us to continue evolving the LIVE service with new features and experiences that fully harness the power of Xbox 360 and the Xbox LIVE community. We did not make this decision lightly, but after careful consideration and review we realize that this decision will allow us unprecedented flexibility for future features. XBox Live's Mark Whitten more detailed statement: Dear Xbox LIVE Members, On April 15 we will discontinue the Xbox LIVE service for original Xbox consoles and games, including Xbox v1 games playable on Xbox 360 and Xbox Originals. I want to start by saying this isn't a decision we made lightly, but after careful consideration, it is clear this will provide the greatest benefit to the Xbox LIVE community. Seven years ago we laid out our vision for the connected console when we launched Xbox LIVE. We believed then that the power of the Internet to connect people would revolutionize living room entertainment. It started with amazing multiplayer games, and we've since seen that bet pay off again and again with the launches of Xbox 360, Marketplace, Netflix and powerful social features like Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm. None of this would have been possible without the success of LIVE as a multiplayer gaming network. There's no greater example of the power of the Xbox LIVE community than the "Halo" franchise. "Halo 2" has had an amazing run on LIVE, with a dedicated community more than five years after launch and well into the next generation of consoles. It has fundamentally changed the way we play video games. And while it's difficult to see that run come to an end, the "Halo" franchise continues to act as the benchmark for multiplayer gaming in this generation, with "Halo 3," "Halo 3: ODST" and soon "Halo: Reach" on Xbox 360. Your Xbox LIVE community has grown to 23 million strong. And as we look down the road, we'll continue to evolve the service with features and experiences that harness the full power of Xbox 360. To reach our aspiration, we need to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games. We will contact the Xbox LIVE members directly impacted by this change and if this includes you, I encourage you to check your LIVE messages and associated e-mail account over the coming weeks for more details and opportunities. We view you as a partner in this process. We'll share more details soon, but in the meantime I want to assure you that the best is yet to come for Xbox LIVE. I believe we'll look back on 2010 as a landmark year in gaming and home entertainment, and I couldn't be more excited about what we have in store with "Project Natal" and LIVE. The LIVE community is the driving force behind everything we do, and it's because of the community that ground-breaking experiences on Xbox continue to be possible. See you on LIVE, Marc Whitten Click here to view the article

Despite incredibly oddball Japanese games like Katamari Damacy making it over to shores, some Japanese games don't receive the same following. Sengoku Basara was released in North America on October 25, 2005, but with many significant changes. Whereas the original Japanese game was a fictionalized telling of the Sengoku period in Japan, the localization removed all historical references in favor of a pure fantasy setting, altered various gameplay modes and designs, and renamed the game "Devil Kings". This was a misguided effort, as the game failed miserably outside of Japan. While sequels, spinoffs, and anime have flourished, the series was all but ended overseas...until now. Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes will be released on October 12 and October 15 in the US and Europe, respectively. From Capcom's Press Site: The producer of Devil May CryTM 4, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, brings you the newest installment to the BASARA series, Sengoku BASARA: Samurai Heroes, on the PlayStation®3 and Wii. A fun, action-packed and accessible title set during a tumultuous period of Japanese history, Sengoku BASARA: Samurai Heroes follows players as they fight their way to the dramatic battle of Sekigahara. Players will take control of more than a dozen samurai heroes, each wielding their own unique weapon, in huge battles against hundreds of opponents that grow ever more challenging. On their journey to the final battle, players will learn how to unleash spectacular BASARA Arts and utilize Hero Time to wipe out as many enemies as possible. Victory in battle will not only deliver new territories but the natural resources of that region, which can be used to create various accessories that make heroes and their weapons more powerful. Each unique playable character is aided by a supporting general who makes it easier to lead the player’s army. Players will see the battle from the perspective of each hero with the ultimate goal of re-writing history to rule all of 16th century Japan. In the dynamic new “Heroes’ Story” mode player’s decisions impact history. Based on choices made by the player, friends become enemies and enemies become friends, creating a whole new history. This new strategic element to the game forces players to fight for control of the battlefield and ultimately for the fate of the nation. In Sengoku BASARA: Samurai Heroes it’s not just samurai heroes you will compete with on the battlefield. Each enemy has other means of attacking, including some gigantic weapons such as The Rising Sun machine, Motochika’s latest devastating weapon that crushes everything in its path and the Death Carriage which uses its blazing fast maneuverability and fire launcher to bring enemies crashing down. Key features • Fight your way through hundreds of enemies across many exciting battlefields using cool combos and over-the-top special moves until all heroes have gathered at the decisive battle of Sekigahara. • Features more than a dozen playable samurai heroes, each with their own unique battle styles. • Upgradeable weapons allow players to improve or add special abilities. • Battle against Gigantic enemy weapons such as The Rising Sun, Tiger, Drillatron and Death Carriage. • Team up with a friend in offline co-op play to crush opponents. • Dramatic “Heroes’ Story” mode alters history based on the player’s decisions. Click here to view the article

Video Games | Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 | Captivate 10: Debut Trailer XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii Captivate 10, Capcom's game showcase, has already thrown down the gauntlet to itself with the announcement of the decade-long anticipated Marvel vs. Capcom 3. However, they were only just getting started, as Capcom has followed up that exciting announcement with the debut trailer of Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2. While Nathan 'RAD' Spencer's swing into the true 3-D realm with Bionic Commando was met with lukewarm sales and even more dismal reviews, the 2.5D revamp of the NES classic that served as a prelude to the next-gen sequel was warmly received by both critics and gamers alike. So it's no surprise that the XBLA/PSN hit of 2008 is the one receiving the sequel. Those who were put off by the "claw-only" method of aerial mobility will be jumping for joy, as Spencer has been give the innovation of a jump maneuver to go along with new weapons, attacks, and arm enhancements. One can only hope that the game will also have a way to feature Hitler's Master D's exploding head once again. Press Release from Capcom After the Jump Release Date: Q1 2011 Genre: Platforming Platform: PSN, XBLA Rating: Pending Developer: Fat Shark Publisher: Capcom Price: TBD Capcom unveils the next evolution in 3D side-scrolling action with Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. Nathan Spencer returns as the daring elite soldier equipped with special bionic abilities. Spencer will have to face his greatest challenge yet as General Sabio, a new technologically sophisticated foe, is on the brink of launching a deadly missile attack. Nathan Spencer will make use of his trademark tool – his bionic grappling hook – to grab, swing and leap through series of lush new environments. He’ll be met by plenty of gun-toting soldiers and mechanized threats ready to give him a hostile greeting. Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 improves upon the visual achievements of its predecessor with the addition of more detailed character models, textures, and vibrant colors. New player mechanics will add another strategic layer of platforming to the overall experience and the famous bionic arm will be getting a major makeover delivering a more dynamic bionic experience to the player. Key features: Sequel to the popular downloadable title on PSN and Xbox LIVE, Bionic Commando Rearmed New Weapons, attacks and enhancements for the the all-purpose Bionic Arm New platforming mechanics provides more freedom and challenges. Now the impossible is within your “leap!” New physics-based puzzles will take the platforming experience to another level 2-player co-op is back and better than ever. Enhanced graphics and better camera functionality. All new musical score inspired by NES-era sound effects, produced by the same creative mind behind the original Bionic Commando Rearmed soundtrack Cut-scene art designed by cutting-edge art studio Massive Black, whose previously worked on Infamous, Bioshock 2 and,God of War III Bionic Commando: Rearmed 2 is currently set for a Spring 2011 release on PSN and XBLA. Click here to view the article

Guybrush & Company will be returning to Monkey Island this summer with Monkey Island 2: Lechuck's Revenge Special Edition. Like last years surprise XBLA hit, The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition, Monkey Island 2 SE will feature the ability to switch between the classic graphics and SCUMM interface of the 1991 PC classic as well as enhanced HD paint style and full voice soundtrack. This time, however, XBLA users won't be the only ones plundering the high seas: PS3 and Mac lovers will be able to help Guybrush Threepwood find the treasure of 'Big Whoop!' Even better: The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition will be released shortly on PS3 and Mac, so they too can learn what it takes to be a mighty pirate. Via Kotaku Click here to view the article

Ms Splosion Man Developed by: Twisted Pixel Games Published by: Microsoft Games Studios Platforms: Xbox 360 (XBLA) Players: Single and Multiplayer With a spray of champagne and a stray celebratory bow, Ms. Splosion Man opens with the accidental creation of the Ms. while the scientist are carelessly celebrating their successful capture of her male counterpart. The second game in the Splosion Series created by Twisted Pixel, Ms. Splosion Man runs on the famous Beard engine, making it quick to pick up for fans of the original and easy to learn for newcomers. Ms. Splosion Man pays homage to classic arcade and console games such as Sonic, Mega Man, Super Mario Bros. 3, and of course Ms. Pacman. Menu navigation has been simplified with a world hub a la Super Mario 3 after the first level is completed. Each successful level completion expands the pathways of the world and level labels indicate special features. For instance, red levels are harder and levels with a flashing question mark have hidden exists. Gameplay remains virtually unchanged (Step 1: Run, Step 2: Splode, Rinse and Repeat), though ziplines and bouncing trampolines have given new aspects to the stages, which do occassionally step out of the lab for a glimpse at the Jetson-like world that Ms. Splosion Man disrupts. While the core game play hasn’t changed, what sets the Ms. apart from the Mr. is the fabulous personality and feminization. Unlike Pac-Man, who only needed a bow and make-up to become a Ms., Ms. Splosion Man’s personality is a spastic female; animations both idle and active reflect the stereotypical ditzy female obsessions like gossip, make-up and boys. Instead of hidden cakes, Ms. Splosion Man has her own collectable: shoes. She even “splodes” in graceful ballet poses and quotes popular song lyrics and lines from romantic comedies. Ms. Splosion Man has three modes of play: single player and multi-player (same as the original) and a new mode; “2 Girls, 1 Controller,” which is playable once unlocked from “The Mall” (more on that later) As before, Single player and multi-player have completely different levels and multi-player can be played locally or online with up to four players. “2 Girls, 1 Controller” allows a single player to attempt the multi-player levels by themselves. This mode is for lone wolf players and those hardcore achievement hounds. In-game content is offered through “The Mall”, a gallery where tokens earned from completing levels can be used to purchase items such as avatar collectables, premium themes, and humorous video and audio snippets. Players can opt to speed race their own ghosts or ghosts downloaded from top players via the Leaderboards. Both of these features add much to the replay value of Ms. SplosionMan. Fans of the original will not be disappointed with this clever sequel. And while the gameplay and puzzles will be familiar, Ms. Splosion Man is stylish, clever and most importantly fun. Multi-player mode could become a tool in the marriage counselor’s arsenal with communication being key to solving the more devious puzzles.* Ms. Splosion Man is available on XBLA for 800 points. It is rated “T” for Teen due to cartoon violence, drug reference, mild lyrics, and suggestive themes. *WARNING: Twisted Pixel not responsible for broken friendships or divorce proceedings due to frequent failures in multiplayer. Click here to view the article

While the three in the title might lead some to believe this is the third game in the Bejeweled series, it is actually the fifth and the only direct sequel to Bejeweled 2.This fantasy themed variation on the same is a far cry from the original Bejeweled released ten years ago with only two modes of play. Bejeweled 3 provides players with 8 modes of play and 8 types of gems to swap. Bejeweled 3 brings back 4 traditional modes of play, as seen in Bejeweled 2, and adds 4 new modes. Returning on the platform are Classic mode, Zen mode, Lightning mode, and Quest mode. Classic mode is the basic Bejeweled game at its core. Players continuously swap gems until there are no more moves to make. Zen mode is an endless mode designed to help relax the player with soothing ambient sounds and breath modulation while they swap gems continuously. Lightning mode is the classic time trial mode where players attempt to get the highest score possible within a 60 second window. Quest mode provides 40 unique puzzles each containing mini games with tailored objectives different from the standard game. In addition to these staple modes, Bejeweled 3 brings these unlockable modes; Diamond Mine, Poker, Ice Storm, and Butterflies. Diamond Mine allows players to “dig” for gold and treasure by swapping gems next to the dirt to expose the collectables. In Poker players must create the best hand by swapping gems on the main game board to have that gem appear in their hand of cards. Using the special gems in a swap will increase the total score for that hand. Ice Storm brings rising columns of ice that must be pushed back before they reach the top of the screen. Creating matches above or below the ice will decrease the column’s height. Making a vertical match within an ice column will shatter it completely. In Butterflies, players must release the butterflies by using them in a chain before they reach the top where a spider is waiting. While game play at the core remains the same; swap one gem with an adjacent gem to create vertical or horizontal chains containing, at minimum, 3 matching gems; Bejeweled 3’s game play gets a boost from the various types of gems the player can match. Apart from the normal gem, Bejeweled 3 also has Flames gems, Star Gems, Hypercubes, Supernova Gems, Time Gems, Bomb Gems, and Butterfly Gems. Flame, Star, Hypercube and Supernova Gems are all created under specific circumstances within the game play and throughout all the modes. Time Gems only appear in Lightning Mode and add time to the clock when used in a chain. Bomb Gems are only found in the Time Bomb mini game within Quest mode. These must be exploded before their timer reaches zero. Butterfly Gems are only found in Butterfly mode and the Butterflies mini game in Quest mode. Overall, Bejeweled 3 is a fresh take on a familiar favorite. The unlockable, or secret modes, bring new challenging twists to the gem swapping classic. It doesn’t take long to open them up, but you might find yourself swapping gems for hours trying to create that elusive flush hand in Poker or valiantly struggling against the rising tides of ice in Ice Storm. The dynamic backgrounds are beautiful to look at and lend a sense of story to a simplistic game. Eight modes of play provide hours of addictive fun. And, achievement hounds will be happy to know that in addition to the traditional 12 Xbox achievements for XBLA games, players can strive for badges of increasing difficulty in bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Click here to view the article

While the jury is still out regarding Heavy Rain's playability (is it just a CG version of the full motion video games of the mid-90s peppered with quicktime events?), its packaging for the Europe-only special edition evokes the fun meta connectivity of the PC adventure games of the late 80s and early 90s. Sure, some games' pack-in manuals have had a good meta quality to them (Grand Theft Auto's manuals are brochures highlighting that particular city's hot spots) and limited editions come with the occasional soundtrack or figure, but Heavy Rain's European edition really takes the cake (which may or may not be a lie). Perhaps a letter-dipping sequence a la the NES classic Startropics? Per Kotaku: The Sixth Axis also mentions that this edition will release in the UK, but exclusive to retailer HMV. Were this to come out in America, I'd preorder it on the packaging alone, hoping that other companies would take notice and follow suit. Extras like this not only remind me of the classic adventure games, they also truly define "special" and "limited" editions. Let's hope that the gameplay, or at the very least the story, manages to live up to the packaging. Heavy Rain releases in the US on February 23, in Europe on February 24, and in the UK and Japan on February 26. Click here to view the article

A trailer for yet another video game to movie transition, this time for Namco's Tekken, though judging from the presence of Jin Kazama and Eddy Gordo, it would probably be more appropriate to call it "Tekken 3", but that would have messed with general movie goer's heads too much. (You'll also have to excuse the insertion of captions mocking /Film). So far, the film has only premiered in the United States on November 5, 2009, as part of the American Film Market Film Festival, hoping to find a distributor. While distribution in the US still remains in doubt, it is set for a theatrical release in Japan on March 6, 2010, and a DVD/Blu-Ray release in the UK on April 10, 2010. At the very least, it gets the plot of the Tekken series more accurately than either of the Street Fighter movies. Perhaps it could be as successful as Mortal Kombat (1995)? From Crystalsky.com: Click here to view the article

Fatal Frame fans were disheartened to learn that the latest iteration in the survival horror series, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, would not receive an English translation/release from Nintendo due to poor sales in Japan. This is a shame, as the Wii controls seemed PERFECT for the unique "point and shooting" that the series is famous for. However, that hasn't stopped fans with plenty of time to work around the translation issue. One particular group has actually managed to develop a patch that replaces all on-screen Japanese script with English script, as well as providing English subtitles for the spoken dialogue (and for those of you who hate to "read movies," there's rumor of another group working on an English dub patch). Per Kotaku: A team of Fatal Frame fans have worked out a way to patch the data for the game, using some creative techniques revolving around an SD card and an external hard disk. According to the patch's website, it will run on any North American, European, or Japanese Nintendo Wii, bypassing region constraints and replacing the in-game text with English. Note that the patch requires a retail disc for Fatal Frame 4, meaning pirated copies are not going to cut it. Further information regarding the patch and its release can be found at the Team's Offical Site. The site also makes mention of the other group that is working on dubbing the dialogue into English. Considering poor sales in Japan prevented foreign translations, it would be ironic if import sales increased due to the patch, leading to an official translation and release. Click here to view the article