Kotaku: finally

Zune Update Brings Free Games

Mike Fahey — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:40:00 MDT

As we speak, I am excitedly staring at the progress bar for the download of the new Zune 3.0 software, as I am sure many of you already have, eagerly anticipating the launch of the Zune gaming era. The update adds various new features to Microsoft's device, such as the ability to read audio books, wireless marketplace browsing, the ability to tag songs you hear while listening to the FM radio for later download, and wow - a clock, but by far the greatest development of all is the gaming features. The update even comes with two games - Hexic and Texas Hold Em, offering a fresh new way to play slightly older games.

The download is almost completed. I would have done this sooner but I couldn't find the Zune under all that iPod Touch packaging. Installing. Wow, it's taking a long time to prepare my computer. Hmm. *gets distracted playing Spore on the iPod Touch, wanders off*

Squenix Brings Odin Sphere To Europe

Mike Fahey — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:00:06 MST

This makes me so sad. I hadn't realized that an entire continent had missed out on what is possibly one of the most beautiful action RPGs of all time. Square Enix Ltd. has announced that they'll be bringing Odin Sphere for the PlayStation 2 to PAL territories in early 2008, marking the first time the company has released a non Squenix title in Europe.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "Odin Sphere embodies the commitment of Square Enix in bringing new experiences to European gamers. This is especially reflected in our partnership with Atlus, allowing Square Enix Ltd. to publish the first non Square Enix title in PAL territories. The wonderfully crafted Odin Sphere is the best possible start to an exciting new period for the company."

Interesting, sure, but who cares? Europe is finally getting Odin Sphere! I get tingles every time I type the name. *tingles* There it goes again!

Experience The Ultimate 'Hand Made' Fantasy With Odin Sphere
London (30th November 2007) - Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces the release of Odin Sphere™ in early 2008, across all PAL territories and exclusively on the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system.

Be inspired by the renaissance of the lost art of hand-drawn in-game artwork. Odin Sphere brings a lavishly illustrated world to a home console, experienced through an intuitive, high quality control system. Odin Sphere's fantasy world interlaces five individual tales to tell an epic story of amazing power, inevitable loss and irresistible love to enchant users.

Fully optimized for Europe, Odin Sphere delivers unique action-combat gameplay that rewards speed and style, revamping the action RPG genre. An alchemy system that lets you combine the spoils of combat for added bonuses and rare items adds further depth to this epic experience.

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, "Odin Sphere embodies the commitment of Square Enix in bringing new experiences to European gamers. This is especially reflected in our partnership with Atlus, allowing Square Enix Ltd. to publish the first non Square Enix title in PAL territories. The wonderfully crafted Odin Sphere is the best possible start to an exciting new period for the company."

Street Fighter IV Confirmed

Mike Fahey — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 09:20:24 MDT

What could be better than Capcom bringing back Bionic Commando? How about Street Fighter IV? Games Radar is reporting from the Capcom Gamer's Day in London that the 4th game in the series has been officially confirmed. A stylized trailer of Ken and Ryu fighting was shown, but no actual gameplay footage, and while development has started the game is still more than a year away for whatever platform it ends up coming out on, Still, we can all rest easy that it is indeed on the way.

Along with this amazing news, Capcom also announced Lost Planet for the PS3, a new Ace Attorney game for the Nintendo DS featuring and new main character, and an all-new sci-fi action adventure game called Dark Void. It takes a special kind of company to wait 20 years from the release of the original game to finally get to number four in the series. I can't wait for the year 2012, when we'll be playing Super Street FIghter IV Hyper Mega Hologram Remix. Yum.

Street Fighter 4 announced! [Games Radar - Thanks Paul!]

The Prince Of Wii Sports Tennis Controllers

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:40:38 MDT

The licensing department at Prince—normally a manufacturer of real life tennis rackets and tennis equipment—smells cash. The kind of cash that only casual gamers can provide. That's why they're getting into the Wii accessory game with their own Prince branded Wii-mote holders designed for last year's non-hardcore hit, Wii Sports. Remember that?

Well, Linda Glassel, Vice President of Marketing and Brand Image at Prince, says the licensed shells are "really a win-win for players and gamers" and we have a hard time arguing with win-win assessments that come from the VP level. They'll be available the second week of November for a cheap $14.99.

More pics of the princely rackets after this.

Yakuza 2 Coming To The U.S.

Mike Fahey — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:50:27 MDT

With the announcement of Yakuza 3 last week, gamers across the U.S. had one question on their minds: "Where's Yakuza 2 for the PS2?" Well Sega's got your Yakuza 2 coming, announcing it and two new DS titles slated for stateside release in 2008. The second game, released in Japan last December, picks up where the first left off, continuing the story of Kazuma as he fights to prevent a war between two rival clans. In addition to Yakuza 2, Sega also announced Dinosaur King and Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer for the Nintendo DS. Dinosaur King somehow involves digging for fossils plus special moves, which sounds...nice? Meanwhile Shiren is a remake on an SNES game using the Mystery Dungeon engine you either love or hate with every fiber of your being, with me firmly in the latter camp. Still, Yakuza 2!

Sega Bringing Yakuza 2, Shiren To North America [Gamastura]

TimeShift Demo On Live Marketplace

Mike Fahey — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:30:49 MDT

My internet connection is hating me right now. Not only am I downloading the Tekken 5 online add-on on my PS3, now I've got my Xbox 360 downloading the 581mb TimeShift demo I just read about over at Larry Hryb's blog. I had TimeShift preordered before the Xbox 360 came out nearly two years ago, so it will be fun to finally get my hands on a playable version of the title so I can see if I need to go back to my old GameStop and get my fiver back or not. If the old GameStop is even still there. It has been awhile.

Demo: TimeShift [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Japan Now Swimming In DS Lites?

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 14 May 2007 08:00:14 MDT

When the DS Lite first went on sale in Japan, it sold out. And then it sold out again. And again. As soon as the product showed up in stores, it was cleaned right out. From late 2005 until April 2007, getting a DS Lite was hard. You had to be lucky. But, is the supply-and-demand problem slowing? Blog Ota-Road points to a flood of Lites that have hit stores in Den-Den Town. While I was in Tokyo over the weekend, I noticed that it's much easier to get a Lite there as well. And people I was talking to kept bringing up the same thing: The DS drought is over. Well, until Dragon Quest IX hits, and people start buying Lites in four packs. Get 'em while you can, Japan. Brian Ashcraft

DS Lite Can Be Purchased Recently [Ota Road]

FF Party: The Wrap-Up

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 14 May 2007 04:00:27 MDT

Square-Enix Party Start!
They Come in Droves
You Got Questions? FF XI Online Has Answers
The... Announcements
The Lines
Nothing Says Booth Like Stained Glass
What Remake the People Really Want
Twenty Years of Final Fantasy
Parasite Eve 3 Hitting Cell Phones
Gallery

In a nutshell: Mostly playables that have already gotten public airings, an announcement of an announcement, hair gel with costumes and lots of people. Brian Ashcraft

Talkman To Let Me Eavesdrop on Wife

Brian Crecente — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 12:00:35 MST

You see, my wife mostly grew up in Australia, but was born in Italy and her mother is Swiss, so the two of them have a lot of conversations in French and other languages. While this doesn't typically bother me, I sometimes feel like the family dog. I'll be minding my own business, my wife talking away to her mom on the phone in French, when suddenly I hear "Brian" and then more French. It's most disconcerting when my name is followed by lots of laughter and the word "Oui" repeated like a dozen times.

Talkman Coming to Europe [Gamebrink]