Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows Impressions
Game Club: Beyond Good & Evil The Final Assignment
On The PSN Video Service's "Missing" TV Episodes
The Making Of Street Fighter IV: The Liveblog
Liveblogging The Comic-Con Halo Universe Panel
Key Titles, Back Catalog Help Ubi Beat Expectations
Splinter Cell: Conviction Delayed
Sony Holding Resistance 2 Beta Keys Hostage In Next Qore Episode
Frankenreview: Final Fantasy IV DS
Xbox Live Makes Horror Funny This Fall
Midnight Club: Los Angeles Hands-On
What Microsoft Did At E3 2008
Castlevania Japanese Arcade Game Hands-On
Wii Fastest Console To 500,000 (In Australia)
Game Club Beyond Good & Evil: Discussion Two
Gamefest 2008: Microsoft's Satchell Talks Xbox 360 Homebrew Scene
Hands-On With Fable II, Molyneux's "Biggest" Game
Interview: The Winning G.I.R.L.
Tecmo's SPRay Brings Puking Adventures To Wii
The E3 No Shows: Why They Weren't There
Halo Wars Is In Control
Rounding Up Sony's E3 Presser Announcements
New York Gov Signs Video Game Law
Things We Don't Ever Want To See At E3 Again. Ever.
Of Course, Capcom Wants Mega Man 9 Hard
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff Hurry Up Impressions
Dragon Age: Origins Impressions Of No Dragons
Wheelman Hands On Impressions For The Vin
Does This Target Card Show LBP's Release Date?
Silent Hill: Homecoming Hands On With The Pipemaster
EA Extends Take-Two Offer As FTC Continues Investigating
Fracture: Here Is Fracture
Rock Revolution: The Rubber Drum Brigade
Using The Force In Soul Calibur IV
Namco Bandai Roundup - Digimon, Naruto, And The Game That Never Ends
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Hot Lightsaber Action
Rise Of The Argonauts: Not Mything A Beat
Operation Flashpoint 2 Is Going To Be Huge
Killing A Dead Space Boss
Fallout 3: No Two Hands-On Alike
Insider Describes the World of Sony's MAG

I don't believe the adage that the artist should be able to express whatever he wants is necessarily applicable in this case, because we're creating entertainment. And entertainment shouldn't include things that make people feel uncomfortable or extremely upset...[and] people out there that want to create something that is very far removed from societal norms and the moral sensibilities of the general public ... They're unfortunate, and I don't want to be grouped in with that group of people.

...from a Japanese perspective, when you decapitate someone you're killing them instantly. So from a Japanese perspective, with the sword, when you decapitate somebody you're basically giving them a very quick and easy death.

I've never played a good game where the developers put a big icon of the button you're supposed to press onscreen... I look at Heavenly Sword and it seems really half-assed, because it's asking you to do all these button-timing sequences but you are not getting much payoff from it.

Snap! Heavenly Sword producer Kyle Shubel's answer to those criticisms?

My response to Mr. Itagaki would be that the intent of the Hero sequences is to empower the player to experience events that would be nearly impossible to play in a natural platforming state... for example, making the player run down ropes, leaping from rope to rope as they're being cut from underneath you, all while dodging other objects — that would be a frustrating experience to 99 percent of our users if we were to force them to do that manually.

Thanks Christian!

Tekken sucks. I don't know what you're talking about.

We're doing a lot of research, that's about all I can say right now. Although, to add on that note, my kids have been saying they want a game for the Wii. To tell you the truth, Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword, that's because my kids were asking for one of my titles to be on the DS.

In explaining the best stylus controls ever, Itagaki says we won't know how completely mind-blowing they are until we see them in their heavenly glory. Fortunately, he's here to help!

I plan to have footage of the actual game being played available to view on the Internet in the near future. My reasoning for this is that, because the controls in this game are so innovative, watching someone play this game is the only way to realistically understand how wonderful it is.

I personally look forward to trying out Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword's "immensely intuitive" tap-and-draw control scheme, which the Ninja Gaiden creator says we can expect to hit in the fall. Fortunately, for the ninja dogs who aren't that hardcore, the game will have a lower difficulty than previous Ninja Gaiden games. It's just all coming together so swimmingly! Michael McWhertor

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword [CVG]

Fortunately, the PVC-loving pervs at Moeyo have put both the "Southern Cross" and "Virgo" variants through their patented rigorous testing process to determine just how good this sculpt and paint application is. Their testing process, of course, consists of taking dozens of close-up photographs of Kasumi's T&A for the lonely otaku crowd. The results are online and most likely not safe for work.

How do they look? I'm no PVC connosiuer, but the butt sculpt looks pretty good and the thirteen Kasumi crotch shots really show Kotobukiya's attention to detail. My review? Better than the actual DOAX2 video game but worse than Max Factory's Kasumi. Michael McWhertor

Kotobukiya DEAD OR ALIVE XTREME 2 Kasumi "Virgo" and "Southern Cross" Sample Review [Moeyo]

The portrait perspective action game doesn't stop the DS design cliche at its Dragon Sword moniker, mind you, it also takes advantage of the second screen in the most predictable way possible. Maps! In addition to standard stylus ninja control, it piles on the touchscreen schtick with Ninpo spells that must be drawn to execute. Sigh.

While it may seem like I'm ninja-dogging Itagaki and Team Ninja for their stock design decisions, it still looks pretty damn sexy. Shit. Damn sexy. Now they've got me doing it. Michael McWhertor

Ninja Gaiden DS [Famitsu]

Series director Tomonobu Itagaki has gone the way of Dragon Quest IX bringing Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword to the ultra-popular dual screen handheld. Sporting a top-down look, Ninja Gaiden DS is probably what Itagaki was referring to when he hinted at a game "like no other type of game I have ever made."

The game looks to be played in portrait mode, similar to Brain Age, and will be primarily controlled with the stylus, not unlike The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.

Scans from the mag are available over at NeoGAF which show plenty of promise. This should be interesting to say the least. Michael McWhertor

This week's Japan mag news [NeoGAF]

The jubblies aren't the only thing different about Dead or Alive the movie and Dead or Alive the game. The actors don't really look like their in-game counterparts. Here's a handy chart for Japanese otaku. Let's see, actress Jaime Pressly is Tina Armstrong. Holly Valance plays Christie Allen. Sarah Carter is Helena Doulgas. And Kane Kosugi appears as Ryu Hayabusa.

Okay. That's not funny.

But if you knew that picture of Kane Kosugi was from Century 21 ads he did, then it would be HILARIOUS. Brian Ashcraft

DoA Movie Explained To Otaku [AkibaOS]

Suuure ya do! Here's a Dead or Alive 3 ad for the original Xbox. An oldie no doubt, but a goodie. Brian Ashcraft

Classic DoA 3 Ad [VGB]

Ass-pinchin', booze-hound Tomonobu Itagaki sits down with 1Up and talks up a good interview. He discusses last year's console launches and is very open about Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, which was met with a frosty reception. Standout Itagaki quote:

In our house, my daughter was playing DOAX2 almost exclusively, playing volleyball and playing Kokoro and getting all her swimsuits. But as soon as the Wii came to the house she's been playing Tennis. And she plays tennis in real life, she can return a serve from an adult, so I've just been seeing her playing tennis a lot.

Is it because this is coming from Itagaki that this remark seems so dirty? Must be! Brian Ashcraft

Big Itagaki Interview [1Up]

When Microsoft proudly showed the Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 trailer at this year's TGS, I felt embarrassed for them. This was the game the company was pinning hopes and dreams on? Come on. DOA X2 is anything but mainstream and appeals only to a small segment. Hardly a title worth giving that eXtra push to. Well, turns out I was wrong, and Microsoft Japan was very right. Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 has cracked the top ten in sales, coming in at number 7 and moving 45,065 copies in its first week. Wow, just wow. Brian Ashcraft

I played a good 30 minutes of Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 earlier this week, which was more painful than I could imagine. The broken sequel is just not worth a premium price when internet porn is essentially free. So, as a public service, I present you with a smattering of pole dancing videos featuring the girls of DOAX2.

If you like sloppy boob physics and thick ankles, check 'em out.

Christie
Hitomi
Kasumi
Kokoro
Lei Fang

Turn down the volume, lock the door, then send me a thank you e-mail after your finished. I just saved you sixty bucks. Michael McWhertor

Following the universe collapsing news that breast-man and boozehound Tomonobu Itagaki was accused of sexual harassment by a Tecmo employee and slapped with a lawsuit, comes response from the Ninja Gaiden producer's publisher. They say that the reported harassment never took place—instead calling the allegations a "result of the former employee's desire to vent frustrations over her own personal affairs"—and that "Tecmo did not issue an unjustified notice of dismissal to the former employee."

Still, Tecmo points out that Itagaki and unnamed, unnumbered "others" "mingled personal affairs with their corporate responsibilities." Hmm. Strip club-based team meetings, anyone? This dirty mingling resulted in salary reductions, demotions, and reprimands toward Itagaki and "others."

Why the statement now, in the middle of litigation? Tecmo finds it "unfortunate" that certain media outlets are "one-sidedly cover[ing] the false claims of the former employee." This "egregious defamation" has them all riled up, including Itagaki, who plans to file a reversal move countersuit against the accuser.

Damn, my double-quote button is tired. Good luck with your lawsuits, everyone! Michael McWhertor

A Statement Regarding Certain News Reports Concerning Ongoing Litigation (pdf)
Itagaki Sued for Sexual Harassment [Kotaku]

When not downing bottles of Jack Daniel's, smoking unfiltered cigarettes and pinching Tecmo staff, Tomonobu Itagaki makes video games. He's announced Dead or Alive 5 in a press conference that celebrated the 10th anniversary of the series' conception. Itagaki already has game play concepts in mind, such as no Tag Team and a special hiding-behind-your-company-while-you-sexually-harrass-female-employees mode. Bets are that DoA 5 is an Xbox 360 exclusive and that Itagaki is currently drunk. Brian Ashcraft

More Dead Or Alive [VGB]

You know what to expect right? Some sloppy breast physics, bad music, dull gameplay, and every opportunity to see some digital booty in all manner of suggestive poses. Still, its better than looking at real humans most of the time. They're so gross! All fleshy and freckled. Yuck. Michael McWhertor