Don’t think it’s terribly well-known (and the possibility remains it’s an elaborate hoax), but when Marvel: Ultimate Alliance was in development, Activision apparently were keen on throwing Link & Samus into the game as bonus characters, sweeten the Nintendo-branded pot. They even went ahead and got the characters running in the game. Didn’t work. Nintendo said no, thanks. Bummer. Ah well, this vid’s now surfaced, allegedly of the unreleased content, showing Samus in action. On the PS2 version of the game, no less.

[via Go Nintendo]

Chacun son pack [Gamick]

I had to write this post because Fahey would probably go all Bruce Banner about this.

The Marvel Ultimate Alliance hero and villain packs are finally here, two weeks late. Major Nelson has the details.

You can either buy the packs separately, or in one good-versus-evil combo deal, no drink or fries included.

Name: Playable Hero/Villain Pack Combo Deal Price: 800 Points Availability: Not available in Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Switzerland or Taiwan Dash Details: ESRB: T (TEEN) Mild Language, Violence] Play with 8 entirely new characters, 4 heroes and 4 villains. Free title update required to play. Do not download this pack if you have purchased Marvel:Ultimate Alliance Gold Edition, due out in May 2007, as the new playable characters are already included in that version of the game.

Name: Playable Hero Pack
Price: 500 Points
Availability: Not available in Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Switzerland or Taiwan
Dash Details: [ESRB: T (TEEN) Mild Language, Violence] Play an entirely new team. Hulk, Cyclops, Nightcrawler and Hawkeye. Free title update required to play. Do not download this pack if you have purchased Marvel:Ultimate Alliance Gold Edition, due out in May 2007, as the new playable characters are already included in that version of the game.

Name: Playable Villain Pack
Price: 500 Points
Availability: Not available in Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Switzerland or Taiwan
Dash Details:[ESRB: T (TEEN) Mild Language, Violence] Play an entirely new team. Doom, Venom, Sabertooth and Magneto. Free title update required to play. Do not download this pack if you have purchased Marvel:Ultimate Alliance Gold Edition, due out in May 2007, as the new playable characters are already included in that version of the game.

Hawkeye! Brian Crecente

Marvel Ultimate Alliance: Trailer and in game content [Major Nelson]

He posted on the official Xbox forums earlier today with a status on the MIA DLC. (He says it's en route ASAP, pending QA.)

This is Matthew Paul, the producer from Activision on Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. I wanted you to know that we are still wrapping up QA on the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Heroes and Villains XBL DLC so it isn't out yet as some of you might have read. We are working hard to finalize the packs and will let you know a new release date shortly.

Thanks for your patience and support. The DLC will be well worth the wait once you get your hands on it.

Just hold tight, folks. You'll get your Hulk and Hawkeye fix probably sooner than you think. Michael McWhertor

Marvel Ultimate Alliance XBL DLC [Xbox Forums]

I'm also planning to fired up Marvel Ultimate Alliance for some in-house multiplayer action, some Guitar Hero II expert level play and a few hours with the Sega Ages Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box. I'm trying my best to be a well-rounded gamer.

So what's on your agenda this New Year's Eve weekend? Don't be shy about dropping us info on your NYE plans, too. I will probably be hitting up the Flaming Lips/Gnarls Barkely show on the 31st, followed by some heavy drinking to ring in 2007. Michael McWhertor

While Marvel Ultimate Alliance might not be the best title to show off the graphical capabilities of all three systems, it's still interesting to see how the three current-gen consoles stack up when running the same game. The PlayStation 3 version is noticeably choppier than the other two, maybe a product of the game running at 1080p. If you want a clearer look at the side-by-side-by-side, check out the HD version of the video for maximum nitpickery and flamewar ammunition. Michael McWhertor

Screenshots, who needs 'em? Certainly not the developers of games like Marvel Ultimate Alliance or Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom. Both games got an intense grilling by message board graphics snobs when first screenshots were revealed. But seeing stills doesn't obviously tell the whole story.

A producer for the latter title is loathe to release still shots at all.

Honestly, I wish we could never send out screens, just video. It's a lot harder than in past to create stills that communicate what our games really look like.

Why?

Particle effects are meant to be continuous and moving. When you stop them, it's like looking behind the curtain and saying 'Hmm, that's what a fire effect looks like when it's not moving.'

While screen galleries will never be eliminated, the rise of video trailers via the Web, Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network and (presumably) a future Wii Channel will at some point surely make looking at still shots online or in print, an antiquated experience. Long live hi-res video! Michael McWhertor

Hype: The Screenshot's Long Goodbye

And not any dude, that dude. A not-so-anomyous reader sends a picture of his face next to Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. His store also got in Tony Hawk's Project 8. He writes:

I didn't get any shots of the sides of the cases, but they got this ugly red/white PS3 logo on the top. Blech.

Actually, he did. It's right next to his eyeball, but w/e. Another pic after the jump, minus an extreme close-up of this dude's mug. Brian Ashcraft

Thanks Justin!

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Spider-Man 3: The Game and Spider-Man: Battle for New York will all be making an appearance at the Activision/Marvel booth at this weekend's Comic-Con International in San Diego. And it sounds like there's going to be some real meat to the appearances.

Activision plans to show the first live demo of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and unveil three new playable characters for the game. It will also be the first chance people have to audition to be the in-game voice of Jean Grey or Namor.

Finally, the game will host a panel with comics genius Stan Lee, Marvel writer C.B. Cebulski and actors Gabrielle Carteris (voice of Elektra) and Phil Lemarr (voice of Uatu). The panel takes place on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

First person to send in a picture of Stan Lee holding a Kotaku sign gets a video game from my personal stash. Brian Crecente

You may not have what it takes to be the voice of the Hulk, but what about Namor, the incredible Submariner, Prince of Atlantis? If you can put a microphone in the toilet, submerge your head and clearly gurgle out the words "Aquaman's a pussy" you might just have what it takes.

Alternately, if you've got a sultry, phoenix-like voice, you can also apply to be Jean Grey. This is the second contest to find a voice for a funny book character to come out of Activision's upcoming Marvel: Ultimate Alliance fighter. Bruce Banner was the first one but — sorry, guys — the position was filled. Florian Eckhardt

Activision Adds New Character to Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Voice-Over Contest [Official Site]

Does your nasally falsetto cause glistening, beefy he-men to kick sand in your face and steal your girlfriend, who is actually your elderly mother? Are you a woman? Does your voice sound like a thousand sows belching in unison?

Good, you're just what I'm looking for. Activision is holding a contest to be the voice of Jean Grey or Bruce Banner in the upcoming Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. While it is unlikely you'll be accepted, I dream of your voice effetely lisping out of the Incredible Hulk's six-foot thorax or farting from between Marvel Girl's luscious, fig-like lips. This is prime practical joke territory across which we bravely tread.

If you do manage to win (largely through surreptitious palm greasing and random chance in a godless universe) you will receive: "an XBox 360, a copy of the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance game, a poster signed by Stan Lee, a pack of Marvel: ultimate Alliance playing cards and a trip to Los Angeles to record [your] lines and meet the producers." Golly? Really? A real live producer? Don't let your heart explode there, champ. FLORIAN ECKHARDT

Win The Chance to be Jean Grey or Bruce Banner! [Official Site]

Either way, Blue's News has the full release.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance Announced [Blue's News]