Tsunoda, best known for his fighting games, including a licensed Marvel Comics brawler that may have been scrapped, has been supposedly put to work on a popular franchise. A new Gears of War title is said to be his first project. An interesting fit. And by interesting, I mean, you better not screw this up, Kudo, or you're in big trouble. Oh, and congratulations.

Kudo Tsunoda Jumps EA Ship, Lands at Microsoft [GameTap]

The Godfather, Guitar Hero II, Motorstorm, Excite Truck, SSX Blur, Def Jam Icon, we played it all. In fact, last night, one of the Geek Night attendees even busted out a WonderSwan after a round of intense voting on the Everybody Votes Channel. Yeah, we partied that hard.

So, tonight, after work is done, the dishes are washed, Grindhouse has been viewed, and we've imbibed into a near coma as is our wont, we'll probably just snuggle up with some Dragon Quest Heroes Rocket Slime and dream of tank battles. What about you? What are you playing this weekend? Michael McWhertor

That's why, if you stop by McWhertor Manor, you'll find me chained to the couch, playing Def Jam Icon, Motorstorm, and NBA Street Homecourt. Thanks to the lovely folks at EA, my mailbox has been flooded with no less than SIX games over the past three weeks. Plus, I'm on the hunt for a copy of Puzzle Quest for the PSP. Lord! Why am I made to suffer by excess entertainment?!

While you may not burn in the blistering flames of The Hell of 1000 Videogames as I shall this weekend, I'm sure you've got more than ample software to play. So what's on tap? Let us know what you're playing in the comments, k? Michael McWhertor

I had a chance to speak with rapper Fat Joe over the phone during his recent publicity stop in Atlanta to promote upcoming brawler Def Jam: Icon.

I was working on a story about hip hop culture for the Rocky, part of a package they did on the subject that examined both the culture and some of the violence tied to it.

I thought it was sort of ironic that a culture that seems at times held back by negative stereotypes would so exhuberently embrace a game that is all about linking violence and hip hop.

Fat Joe didn't see a problem:

While the game seems to play up violence in the hip-hop industry and among its biggest stars, Fat Joe downplays that. "Playing a video game is similar to creating hip hop music," he said. "It's not real, your having fun and kicking someone's (ass), but when you turn it off you go back to your normal everyday life." "This is therapeutic." Fat Joe says he's not worried about the game influencing kids or casting hip-hop in a bad light. "You have to keep it real," he says laughing. "Kids have much worse things going on in their lives than a video game."

Fat Joe also told me that he plays mostly on the Xbox 360, though he owns a PS3 as well. He said he favorite games, besides the Def Jam franchise, are sports titles. I asked if he had an early build of Icon for his house and he said he was "working on it." Brian Crecente

Rappers brawl in upcoming 'Def Jam: Icon' [Freeplay]

GameStop and Electronic Arts have teamed up to host a little cross-country Def Jam: Icon tourney that will pit regular gamers against hip-hop artists.

The tournament kicks off today at 3 p.m. (Eastern) in Atlanta at the Union City Gamestop. Fat Joe will be showing up about 4 p.m. to kick some in-game ass.

Here's the rest of the run down in case you want a chance to beat down a hip-hop artist:

Atlanta
Today
GameStop Union City SWM, 4731 Jonesboro Road, Suite 180

Chicago
Feb. 23
GameStop The Brickyard S/C, 6451 W. Diversey Ave.,#G-9

Los Angeles
Feb. 27
EB Games West Side Pavilion, 10800 W. Pico Blvd, Space 353

New York City
March 6
GameStop, 1282 Broadway (Broadway and 33rd).

Hit the link for the full list of locations for the tourney, including the ones without celebs, and rules. Brian Crecente

Def Jam Icon tourney [GameStop]

EA AND GAMESTOP ANNOUNCES DEF JAM: ICON TOURNAMENTS AND FULL ROSTER OF IN-GAME CELEBRITY TALENT

Four Major Cities to Host GameStop Sponsored DEF JAM: ICON Gaming Tournament that Features an All Star Line Up of Hip Hop's Greatest

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - February 12, 2007 - Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), in partnership with Def Jam Interactive, announced today that a series of DEF JAM: ICON tournaments* will be sponsored by GameStop and held in four major U.S. cities throughout February. DEF JAM: ICON will be released for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game entertainment system in March 2007. EA Chicago and urban lifestyle powerhouse Def Jam Interactive continue to push the boundaries of game development by bringing unique and innovative content to the next generation of gaming.

Sponsored by GameStop and held at various GameStop and EB Games retail stores in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York, the tournament gives players a chance to compete as their favorite hip hop celebrities in one of the most highly anticipated hip hop lifestyle/fighting games of the year. Several stores in each city will host the tournaments but only one venue will also have a special appearance from one of the in-game celebrity fighters. Renowned hip-hop artist, Fat Joe, will be launching the tournament in Atlanta on February 13. He will be on location from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The tournament begins at 3:00 pm.

See below for the 2007 DEF JAM: ICON tournament schedule (this list is partial and includes only the venues hosting celebrity appearances):

DATE

CITY

CELEBRITY APPEARANCE

2/13/2007

Atlanta -

5 GameStop locations and 1 EB Games location

GameStop -

Union City SWM

4731 Jonesboro Road

Suite 180

2/23/2007

Chicago -

5 GameStop locations and 1 EB Games location

GameStop -

The Brickyard S/C

6451 W. Diversey Ave.,#G-9

2/27/2007

Los Angeles -

5 EB Games locations and 1 GameStop location

EB Games -

West Side Pavilion

10800 W. Pico Blvd

Space 353

3/6/2006

New York City -

6 GameStop locations

GameStop -

1282 Broadway (Broadway and 33rd)

For tournament rules, information on the event and other tournament locations, please visit http://www.gamestop.com/defjamicon. Players will compete using the DEF JAM: ICON videogame, and Xbox 360 consoles provided by Microsoft. Tournament start date: 2/13/07. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Eligibility restrictions apply.

DEF JAM: ICON features an all-star cast and a soundtrack of hip hop hits as players live out the life of a hip hop mogul, fighting all the way from industry outsider to hip hop icon. The dream team roster spans the spectrum of music superstars such as Big Boi and Redman to industry legends including Russell Simmons and Kevin Liles.

Below is the entire cast from DEF JAM: ICON including playable fighters as well as celebrity special appearances:

Anthony Anderson
Jim Jones
Method Man
Sticky Fingaz
Big Boi
Kano
Mike Jones
Summer Walker
Bun B
KD Aubert
Nina Nicole
T.I.
E-40
Kevin Liles
Paul Wall
Tego
Fat Joe
Lil Jon
Redman
The Game
Funkmaster Flex
Ludacris
Robert Dolan
Young Jeezy
Ghostface Killah
Mayra Veronica
Russell Simmons
James Hong
Melyssa Ford
Sean Paul

DEF JAM: ICON is scheduled to ship in North America on March 6 and in Europe on March 16 for the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. DEF JAM: ICON has been rated M with descriptors, Blood, Strong Lyrics, Violence by the ESRB (Visit www.esrb.org for updated rating information) and rated 18+ by PEGI and the USK.

The style grabbed me immediately. I hit the menu system and the multilayered stylized background started pulsing along with the beat of the music hypnotically, causing me to spend almost a minute just watching the effect before attempting to play the game.

I have to confess that I have no earthly clue who Big Boi and T.I. are. I know, I suck, but at least I got the second name right. Still, the visual style had hooked me so completely that I didn't really care who they were. I just wanted to play.

The included stage takes place outside of a convenience store gas station. While the station itself is rendered in a realistic fashion, the background behind it is exaggerated, almost as if it were living graffiti. As the music starts, the whole world begins to pulse with the beat. The sky, the buildings...the effect is simply awesome.

As the battle rages the scene changes. I get slammed into the gas pumps, and a leak starts. I get thrown into the convenience store door, breaking the glass, and the Asian store owner stars intermittently spraying something out the window at us. Soon the gas station is engulfed in fire, with flames shooting out and explosions rumbling at what I first thought was random, but it definitely wasn't. The world moves to the beat.

The game tells you to master the beat to win the fight. As you get into the music, you see the patterns. You know when a good time to toss your opponent towards the black SUV because you know fire is going to shoot out of it once the next beat hits. Then comes the mixing option. Hold down the left trigger and you can use the analog sticks like a turntable to speed up, slow down, fast forward or reverse the song, in turn effecting the world around you. It looks kind of silly watching your fighter spin his fingers atop an imaginary record, but the results can't be argued with.

I eagerly await a game manual so I don't suck at fighting so much. Playing Big Boi I simply swung away with my fists as T.I. performed elaborate flip jumping moves and kicked me in the face. I'll have my revenge once the real game comes out. And maybe a strategy guide. And a really skilled guy to play in my stead. *sigh*

The first two Def Jam games sought to combine hip hop and gaming together into a singular experience, but they only succeeded in dressing a fighting game in hip hop clothing. Def Jam: Icon looks to finally accomplish what the series set out to do in the first place. Michael Fahey

Tomorrow morning we will all be able to decide if hip-hop style fighting is worth the price of admission on the Xbox 360.

Electronic Arts just sent out a release saying the demo for the game will be hitting the marketplace in the morning. The demo will include the gas station level and give you a chance to thrash or be thrashed as Big Boi and T.J.

I wish it would give you a way to play with the music and see how it affects play. Brian Crecente

Download the demo of DEF JAM: ICON for the Xbox 360 tomorrow on Xbox Marketplace!

Incorporating hip-hop lifestyle and music into every aspect of the game, DEF JAM: ICON delivers the intensity of a no-holds-barred street fight but with style and rhythm. Music affects how players fight in each environment and avoiding hazards become a key strategy to staying alive.

Download the DEF JAM: ICON demo for an early look at the hip-hop lifestyle/fighting game. The demo showcases the gas station level and two hip-hop celebrity fighters, Big Boi and T.I. The game also features both hip-hop artists' hit songs, Kryptonite (Purple Ribbon All-Stars Featuring Big Boi) and Top Back (T.I.)

DEF JAM: ICON is developed by EA Chicago, in partnership with Def Jam Interactive. The game is scheduled to ship in North America on March 6 and in Europe on March 16 for the PLAYSTATION 3 system and Xbox 360. DEF JAM: ICON has been rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI and the USK. Visit www.esrb.org for updated rating information.

Electronic Arts recently announced that the 29-song tracklist for their upcoming brawler Def Jam: Icon for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

While the song list will be of interest to some, I found it more interesting that EA is saying that "music affects how players fight in each environment and avoiding hazards become a key strategy to staying alive."

"The Def Jam Interactive/EA partnership continues to be one centered around innovation. For the first time in any video game, the music is completely interactive. DEF JAM: ICON allows players to use these songs, as opposed to playing them in the background. And not only is there an incomparable soundtrack of today and tomorrow's hottest music, but now we guarantee the player with an authentic hip-hop lifestyle experience", said Lauren Wirtzer, Vice President of Marketing, Def Jam Enterprises.

The game will also allow you to import your own music into the game, which should, according to EA, also drive the environment and gamplay. Cool concept, but I'm really going to have to see it in action to decide how much it really changes gameplay.

Hit the jump for the full list of song that come with the game. Brian Crecente

Big Boi (i.e., Purple Ribbon All-Stars feat. Big Boi)
Kryptonite

E-40
Tell Me When To Go

E-40
Go Hard or Go Home

Fat Joe
Make It Rain

Ghostface
The Champ (Remix)

Jim Jones
Crunk Muzik

Jim Jones
We Fly High

Konkrete feat. Big Boi
What's that Smell

Lil Jon
Get Crunk

Lil Jon (and the Eastside Boys)
Get Low

Ludacris
Get Back

M.O.P.
Ante Up

Method Man & Redman
Da Rockwilder

Mike Jones
Back Then

Mike Jones
Got it Sewed Up - Remix

Nas
Hate Me Now

Paul Wall
Sittin' Sidewayz

Paul Wall
Trill

Redman
Rush Da Security

Redman
Let's Go

Sean Paul
Head in the Zone

Sean Paul
All Out

T.I.
What You Know

T.I.
Top Back

The Game
One Blood

The Game
Scream on 'Em

Young Jeezy
I Do This

Young Jeezy
Soul Survivor

Young Joc
It's Going Down

Def Jam Icon Demo Hits Live This Week [Kotaku]

If you guys and gals do take the time to finish the download, let us know what you think. My hands-on time with the future PS3 and 360 game was surprisingly enjoyable, despite my personal indifference for all things Def Jam. Michael McWhertor

Def Jam demo beats on XBL this week [Gamespot]

Def Jam ICON was on the show floor this week and I spent some hands on time with EA's latest brawler packed with Def Jam artists. There are some significant changes for the forthcoming console release, including a change in developers from wrestling specialists Aki to EA Chicago, the studio that brought you Fight Night Round 3.

Only two characters were available for play in the demo, Big Boi of Outkast and T.I. of... I have no idea. Since I'm in Las Vegas, I'll just assume that stands for Treasure Island. The two face off at a gas station (with car wash) which doesn't take long to go up in flames.

At first blush, series vets will notice some striking differences. The game has a bright, almost bleached out, dusty look to it. Characters look very lifelike, with realistic cloth movement. The interactive backgrounds are lovingly modeled.

The four face buttons will perform standard punches and kicks (quick, strong, high and low), with the analog sticks performing multiple functions. They'll initiate "force" moves, like spinning kicks and heavy punches, as well as set up grapples for throwing. Hold the left trigger to switch to "activate turntables" to switch the music track and perform a DJ scratch. Scratching?

Yeah. Scratching.

Apparently you need to "fight to the beat" using the background music to your advantage. My initial impression of the system meant that you'd need to time your attacks to the beat of the music, which is visualized onscreen by the jumping and cracking of the environment, the turning of signs, the rhythm of the car wash, but from what I gather that's not the case. The combat is slowly paced, so this is not Beatmania meets Tekken.

While the game's graphics are beautiful and straightforward, with some of the best fire effects to date, the animation appears a little stiff. Combine that with moments of BIg Boi spinning a record in mid-air in the middle of a fight along with some waving of hands in the air like your fighter just don't care and you get some unintentional hilarity. Still, the models, textures, and HUD-free display make for a nice looking game.

Amidst the din of the CES show floor, fully grasping how the game's music system benefits each player is a little tough, so hopefully we'll get some more hands-on time in a proper environment soon. Since I don't really care about the Def Jam stable or artists, I'm more interested to see how the fighting engine changes flesh out. Michael McWhertor

Some know him from CDs and countless mixtape appearances, where he's gone by aliases ranging from "Daddy Fat Sacks" to "General Patton." (Even if they're only half as clever as most of those currently making the rounds on Xbox Live: What up NuTBuST3R and AzzHat69?)
Others, courtesy of starring appearances in films Idlewild, ATL and Who's Your Caddy? Still more as: "Hey, aren't you that other guy from Outkast... can I get Andre's autograph?"

Call him what you will though: Chart-topping rapper/producer Big Boi, renowned for classic albums like ATLiens, Speakerboxx and Stankonia, isn't just one of hip-hop's most talented acts. He's also an avowed gamer keen on kicking blinged-out ass as a playable brawler in EA's upcoming rags-to-bitches rap industry brawler Def Jam: Icon. We recently caught up with the Dirty South legend so he could drop a little science on our lily-white asses, in-between flying elbows and spinning clotheslines:

Q: What's up with you and videogames: From cartoons to movies and self-run record labels, you don't have enough side projects going on already?

A: Yeah, man, I was asked to do the Def Jam: Icon game over a year ago. I had experience with the first two, and I was like yo, let's do it. So they came down and scanned me and I got my special moves, then came back and did my voice-overs for story mode. I've actually been playing the game all day today - it looks great.

Q: Seriously - you don't keep busy enough without this shit?

A: Yeah man, it's a lot we got on the plate. I'm just finishing up a movie - Who's Your Caddy? - and now working on a solo record, finishing song titles, laying down cuts and things for that. Def Jam: Icon's gonna be a good addition to the collection, and my kids are getting a real big kick out of it more than anybody.

Q: So you're a big videogame head, eh?

A: Oh yeah, most definitely. When you're out here on the road, on the tour bus, you know that's all you do: Just listen to music and play games. I've been gaming since I was like, you know, very young - Atari days.

Q: Atari, huh? That's pretty dope, grandpa! But given all the hype, what system are you feeling today: PlayStation 3, Wii or Xbox 360?

A: Well, actually I'm a PlayStation man. I played the hell out of PlayStation 2, and I'm looking for a PlayStation 3 right now. I ain't got a chance to play the Wii yet, but I ain't gonna lie, I got a 360 as well. I try not to play favorites too much cause they all got sick games for them...

Q: Oh, please. Stop being a pansy and call a spade a spade: You must have some sense of who's going to come out on top of the console wars...

A: Man, you really can't tell at this point - the Wii and PlayStation 3 ain't had enough time to establish themselves, they just came out. If I had to pick a personal favorite though, I'm going with PlayStation - I've been playing that since the jump.

Q: Any favorite titles you like to play in the off hours: Maybe Hello Kitty Roller Rescue, Snoopy vs. the Red Baron... hell, even some Pokemon?

A: Naw, mane... It's all about a little Madden 07. I'm the reigning champ - I'll put a little ass whoopin' down on anybody who want some.

Q: Speaking of ass whoopings, you put some serious ones down in Def Jam: Icon. Are you really that violent in real life?

A: Nah, unless I'm made to be that mean, you know. I'm a really cool guy, I'm all about positive vibrations. You don't fuck with me, I don't fuck with you. But when it's time to kick some ass, I won't lie - I'll bring that old whooping stick out.

Q: What do you think of your character in the game - he got some moves on him, or what?

A: Oh hell yeah, he's great. It looks just like me right down from the tattoos on my neck to some jeans, t-shirts and Nike boots. That's ass whooping material, and he just come out swinging, you know. He'll split your dome.

Q: There are a lot of rappers in the game who might be known for talking a little shit now and then. Anyone's ass you especially want to beat?

A: No, no, no... I got love for everybody, man. But all their asses is going down, you can count on that. I'm cool and all, but when it comes to gaming, I'm all about me - I gotta come out on top, you know?

Q: Mind sharing some advice on how people who pick your character can play you best or most authentically?

A: You just gotta come out fast and furious, you know, man? You can't come out half-steppin'. The game is, like, so detailed from every move to when a player gets struck, and their facial expressions change and how they look, you really just gotta smack first, ask questions later. My character's a tough cat, so you just gotta come wit it, hey-ey-yay!

Q: If you had to pick a few fellow rappers/fighters to back you up in the game, they'd be?

A: I'd probably get Ludacris, TI and Lil' Jon. We all from Atlanta, you know what I'm saying? We just trying to keep that Dirty South thing going.

Q: We hear ya - it's definitely been a good year for the region. Why's there been so much interest in the South lately anyway?

A: It's the sound right now, man, you know - people just want to hear something different and something new, and the South is providing that for the world right now. Just like we gonna flip shit up in this new Def Jam: It's a straight takeover. People can't hate on that: In games or on the charts, right now, we're the ones who've got the ball.

Q: Any other games besides Def Jam: Icon you'd love to give a shout out too?

A: Aw man, I gotta call out Bully. I loooove that game. I started playing it a couple weeks ago, and it's tight - you're a private school kid in this boarding school, gotta run jobs, make money and shit. It's like an adventure game kinda sorta, and I'm down with that. It's not what I'd usually play, but it's funny as hell, you know?

Q: Ever play any of the other hip-hop games that've come out before: 187, Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style, Getting Up or Saint's Row...?

A: Heh, I ain't want to, man, you heard? I stick with the best. I played that Def Jam game and that was it - I wasn't hearing anything else.

Q: Are you glad you're finally getting a shot at digital stardom?

A: Oh yeah, man, yeah. You know, my main thing has always been music, so when it's time to come and branch out and trying something new that'll get people's attention, I just try to come and do my best.

Q: Hip-hop and games go way back, long before the Def Jam titles though... what's up with that?

A: It's just a part of the culture. From having different soundtracks playing behind you when you jamming on NBA Live or them Grand Theft Autos to now integrating everything in Def Jam: Icon, it's just a natural evolution. In Def Jam: Icon, you have it to where the surroundings behind you are interactive: manhole covers, gas pumps, cop cars, helicopters... you can use those as weapons. It's just real fun, man, a way to escape that just make sense in the context.

Q: I hear the backgrounds bump to the beat as you fight?

A: Man, that shit is the dopest shit about the game, you know what I mean? You can hook your iPod up to it and the game moves to that, if you playing Anita Baker or Johnny Cash or whatever your preference is. They did a great job of designing that.

Q: Make any contributions to its musical repertoire?

A: Yeah, I got like three songs on there. I got Kryptonite, and another song called What's that Smell, and another song called DDT. DDT and What's that Smell are two original compositions too. The best part when you're making them is that it's for a fighting game, so you can say whatever you want to say, and beats hit hard, so you know the background's going to jump to the 808.

Q: Last, but not least, let's say somebody were to step to you in real life - are you going to bring the heat like you do here in this game, or let the bodyguards handle it?

A: Naw, if anybody mess with me, I'ma slap the shit out of him. For real... as long as he alone. My secret move is the backhanded bitch-slap, closed-fist...