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Speculation

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secrets

Folklore Devs Working On Secret Movie Game

Movie video game producers Brash Entertainment (Jumper: Griffin's Story, Alvin and the Chipmunks) has signed a deal with Japanese developer Game Republic (Genji series, Folklore) to work together on a game based on a "popular Hollywood film". While we've no idea what movie the game is to be based on, famed Game Republic CEO Yoshiki Okamoto hints at a fantasy theme.
"In collaborating with Brash, we were introduced to a very compelling fictional world and given the freedom to expand it through the game. We are working directly with the creative talent from the film, and feel that the close collaboration will result in an amazing game play experience that immerses the player in an incredible fantasy world."
Incredible fantasy world with a 2010 release? Warner Bros. 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans would certainly fit the bill, with the original film allowing it the "popular Hollywood" film label, and Brash does have an agreement with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Just my speculation mind you. We'll just have to wait and see! More »

11:20 AM on Wed Mar 12 2008
By Mike Fahey
1,055 views, 21 comments

Latest by Mike Fahey: @mindscienceofthemind: That pretty much seals it. This is definitely Clash of the Titans. more »

party castle

Square Enix Bringing "Dragon Quest Party" Stateside?

Is Square Enix finally bringing its Itadaki Street series to North America? We've got a hunch it is. The latest entry, known as Itadaki Street DS in Japan, features a guest appearance in the long-running board game series from the Mario universe cast, including Peach, Bowser, Wario and Yoshi. While previous games in the series featured characters from Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, the inclusion of Mario and pals may have the star power Square Enix needs to finally localize it.

Square Enix has made no such announcements about such a game, but its recently filed trademark for Party Castle certainly makes us think it may have sights set on an English port. Everyone knows "party" translates to "dice-rolling board game" in Nintendo-speak. Plus, Itadaki Street DS has no shortage of castles. Conjecture? Totally. That's why we're getting in touch with Square Enix to learn more about what this new trademark means. (Pray it's not a mobile game!)

Party Castle Trademark [USPTO]

3:20 PM on Mon Mar 3 2008
By Michael McWhertor
1,712 views, 41 comments

Latest by Bokusatsu_Tenshi: Nice... I always wanted to play Itadaki Street. And I'm mainly using my PS2 for party games right now, so this came in a perfect timing. more »

speculation

New Sony, Ubisoft, Square-Enix Trademarks Reveal New Games?

Recent filings at the US Patent and Trademark Office may give us some insight into upcoming plans for a number of publishers. While not all filings eventually make it to actual product, there are a few interesting unknowns within. Leading the pack is Capcom's Wolf of the Battlefield which, while unannounced, may be the final name or part of the name of the company's top-down shooter Commando 3.

Sony Computer Entertainment has just registered In The Beginning There Was Darkness, a game we don't believe is based on the book of the same name, chronicling a blind man's life journey while reading the Bible. [Update: As commenter CONFUSEDGAM3R points out, this is part of the God of War: Chains of Olympus ad campaign. Thanks!] Square-Enix has two new filings with Sigma Harmonics and My Life As A King, the latter of which may be a spin on the name of its announced WiiWare game.

Finally, it looks like Ubisoft has two new properties in the works, Aftershock and Strike Hawk. Why do both of those instantly sound like Tom Clancy branded games to me? Regardless, the first may simply be the post-earthquake survival game previously known as Alive. Go ahead, speculate!

8:00 PM on Tue Feb 12 2008
By Michael McWhertor
3,131 views, 41 comments

casual gaming

Hasbro Readies Risk: Black Ops

The last time I played Risk was New Year's Eve, 1999, which I spent with some folks from the local Renaissance Faire, figuring if the world were catapulted back into the Dark Ages, they would be the people to hang with. It went like many Risk games do...two hours of engrossing play followed by people wandering away from the table for various reasons, eventually forgetting we were playing. The game is just too damn long, and manufacturer Hasbro knows this. Their answer to the problem? Risk: Black Ops. It's the Risk you've come to know and love in short bursts, redesigned with a sleek and sexy new look, a new resource system that rewards possession of territorial capitols, and the big change - an objective system. Objectives are tasks such as "Control Europe" that reward a player for completing them. The game starts with four major and four minor objectives from a pool of twelve, and completing any three is considered a win. This changes the face of the game completely!


More »

8:20 AM on Tue Feb 5 2008
By Mike Fahey
8,132 views, 87 comments

Latest by Witzbold: @rainofwalrus [XBL]: ooo nice! more »

rumor

MicroCenter Dates GTA IV

Has a retailer let slip the release date of the next Grand Theft Auto? National electronics chain Micro Center has released a sales circular with the bottom of one page stamped with the Grand Theft Auto IV logo, a few choice pieces of art, and the words, "March 08." That would be a Saturday for those of you who keep track of such things, which is a pretty odd day for such a huge title but certainly not unheard of. The circular warns that new release availability is subject to change, but it seems like an awful lot of black ink to waste on speculation. GameDaily, who broke this particular story, got in touch with the folks at Rockstar to see if they could get some sort of confirmation.

A Rockstar Games representative on Tuesday replied by reiterating that Grand Theft Auto IV "is going to come out during our second financial quarter of 08."
So no help there. With Super Smash Bros. Brawl releasing on the 9th, this could mark the most I've gone out on a weekend since I turned 21.

Recent circular advertises early March date for the upcoming Rockstar game. [GameDaily]

8:20 AM on Tue Jan 15 2008
By Mike Fahey
3,253 views, 66 comments

Latest by manjikengo: While checking out the damned list at work the past few weeks,the date was march 10th, and it went to april first along with ninja gaiden 2 and a few others. more »

rumor

BioShock Getting The Prequel Treatment?

Ah rumors, how I love you so. Especially when they make as much sense as this one does. Tom Ivan over at Next Generation's blog reports on rumors surrounding the next BioShock. According to what I can only imagine is wildly unfounded speculation, the next game will be a prequel that focuses on the initial fall of Rapture itself, giving players a glimpse at what the utopia looked like before it all fell to pieces and little girls were transformed into walking moral choices. Rumors also indicate that the development of the game will take place at the new 2K Marin studios, and that BioShock creator Ken Levine will not be involved in the project. While of course we take any unconfirmed rumors with a heaping helping of salt, it does sound like the perfect way to explore the BioShock universe without trying to build on the first game's lame endings.

BioShock Prequel in the Works? [Next Generation Blog]

11:40 AM on Tue Jan 8 2008
By Mike Fahey
5,132 views, 105 comments

Latest by --Core--: @Article "and that BioShock creator Ken Levine will not be involved in the project." Okay, why would they do this? I mean, from what I have read, BioShock, was a fairly popular game. And it was Fairly successful. If so. Then why more »

rumor

Treyarch Taking Call of Duty Back To WWII?

The gang at UK pub Gamer picked up on a job listing from Call of Duty 3 developer Treyarch that might point to the series returning to its World War II roots. The posting at Activision's career opportunities page is looking for a level builder to work on an "industry leading First-Person Shooter action war franchise" with serious experience. Later in the job description, Treyarch writes "if you're a fan of World War 2 shooters, then even better!"

Quite the leap, no? While we're positive that Call of Duty 5 is coming, we aren't sure whether Infinity Ward or Treyarch or another developer altogether will be holding the reins.

Level Builder - Call of Duty [Treyarch via Gamer]

10:00 PM on Sat Dec 8 2007
By Michael McWhertor
6,276 views, 153 comments

Latest by Weaves0003: BOOOOOOOO!!!!!! WWII GAMES BLOW!!! yea it was cool for the first 2, but making a 4th WWII game. And made by treyarch to boot. It is going to be like COD3. So heres what i think. Infinity Ward buys out more »

speculation

Team Fortress 2 Art Director's Next Vision

Moby Francke must feel incredibly powerful at the moment. As Valve's art director on Team Fortress 2, he can look over the industry and point fingers to suckitude with unquestioned justification...a Zeus-like authority. And when he talks about the next project he'd like to do, we genuflect with one ear to the sky:
The next thing I'd love to do is not based on realism, but stylizing with a little more in-depth look to the materials in the world. Instead of just having an impressionistic background, or having highly stylized characters. Making the characters a little bit more believable, even incorporating bold design, getting a little bit more specific.

More »

12:00 PM on Fri Dec 7 2007
By Mark Wilson
4,555 views, 50 comments

Latest by hahnchen: @Coldbrand: This is going to happen, we all knew this anyway, but the latest Robin Walker interview in GFW magazine confirms new stuff is on the way. more »

pachter watch

Pachter - Rockstar May Split From Take Two

Wedbush Morgan analyst always seems like such a mundane title when dealing with the master of video game precognizance that is Michael Pachter. Speaking with Shacknews, the Pachtman puts forth the possibility that Rockstar Games founders Sam and Dan Houser could very well slip from under Take-Two Interactive's wing once their contracts come up in February 2009, much like Bungie jumped from Microsoft. It all comes down to money.

"I don't think that this is an issue of dissatisfaction with Take-Two; rather, I think it is rational to believe that in the wake of the $850 million Pandemic/BioWare deal, high quality developers like Bungie and [Rockstar] North would look to test their market value"
How much do you think a company like Microsoft or Sony would be willing to pay to secure Rockstar's exclusive service? How much would you pay? What if we threw in the magic of Pancake Puffs?

Pachter: GTA Dev Rockstar North May Eventually 'Pull a Bungie,' Split from Take-Two [Shacknews]

7:00 PM on Thu Dec 6 2007
By Mike Fahey
2,611 views, 92 comments

Latest by Kevin_the_Sony_Fan: Wasn't there a rumor going around that Sony was going to pick up Rockstar anyway? I wouldn't be surprised if that were to happen seeing as Sony IS the worst keeper-of-secrets in the industry... more »

purposefully vague

WotC Partners With Stainless Games

Wizards of the Coast, creators of Magic the Gathering and holders of the sacred Dungeons and Dragons property are teaming up with the UK's Stainless Games to create an online downloadable video game. Stainless has done several games for Xbox Live Arcade, including Novadrome, Crystal Quest, and most recently Asteroids Deluxe.
"Wizards of the Coast has created many of the most popular brands in roleplaying, trading card and tabletop strategy games" said Patrick Buckland, CEO for Stainless Games. "We're proud to be working with one of the most treasured IPs in the games field in a true partnership which will produce a real gaming revolution later next year."
Let the wild speculation begin! Is it Magic the Gathering for Xbox Live? An online version of D&D with downloadable episodic content and community created modules? We won't know until details start trickling out next year. Until then, something is coming. Hooray for something! More »

10:00 AM on Thu Dec 6 2007
By Mike Fahey
1,066 views, 16 comments

Latest by Lyner: @Huginn: MTGO? I mean, it's been there for so long that I even forgot it existed. more »

wii

Nintendo Says 200 Virtual Console Titles By Year's End

During Nintendo's presentation at the BMO Capital Markets Conference, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime came armed with the stock slides the company loves to show any chance it gets. Typically, they involved plenty of bar graphs featuring a brightly colored column towering over every other column that doesn't have the word "Wii" underneath it. One of the slides, publicly presented by a NeoGAF member, shows Nintendo planning for some 200 Virtual Console titles available by the end of the year. More »

6:40 PM on Wed Nov 7 2007
By Michael McWhertor
4,711 views, 97 comments

Latest by giovonti: @d-_-b: Wow! Why are you so defensive? more »

speculation

Wii Fit Board Might Work For Tony Hawk, Might Not

You may or may not be interested in Wii Fit, but let's face it, no one wants to admit to having a step aerobics board in their bachelor pad. On the other hand, a skateboarding simulator...that could almost not get you laid. In an interview with Eurogamer, this from the Bird Man himself:

I think it's possible to incorporate the Wii Fit board into one of our games, but it would change the control scheme dramatically and we'd have to figure out how to make that work. So I don't know yet.
My guess is that the game would need to be simplified a bit to make this happen, but why not? Do it, Tony (and all the developers who actually do 99.999% of the work).

Tony Hawk on Proving Ground [via maxconsole]

10:40 AM on Wed Oct 24 2007
By Mark Wilson
1,707 views, 30 comments

Latest by L_K_M: Gagamus hilariously wrote "Second of all, the Wii Fit board presents absolutely no other input other than the way you stand on it. How are you going to do tricks? The answer- you can't." Wait, let me help you with that: "A more »

speculation

Is *This* The Super Smash Bros. Box Art?

There's been tons of phony or placeholder Super Smash Bros. Brawl box art floating around. But when really neat art recently pops up on big name retail sites (Go Nintendo found it elsewhere), then we think that maybe, just maybe this is the real deal. If not, it's still pretty cool!
SSBB Box Art? [Amazon, Thanks Jacob!]

2:00 AM on Thu Sep 6 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
16,302 views, 87 comments

the name game

New Nintendo Trademarks - Wii Handle?

Nintendo has been busy at the Japanese trademark board recently, registering several new names that could hold a titillating look into future Wii products. Trademarked items include the Wii Body Controller, Mii Contest Channel, Nintendo Magic, Wii Handle, and something called Soma Bringer. Now the Wii Body Controller is probably the Wii balance board with a better name, and the contest channel speaks for itself. Nintendo Magic? The ability to make something called the Wii a commercial success? Powerful juju there. Soma was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, Vedic and Persian cultures with hallucinogenic properties, so I am going to assume the Soma Bringer is a drug delivery device. Could be wrong. Finally we have Wii Handle, which intrigues me somewhat. Perhaps a unique user name for your Wii to do away with the cumbersome friend code system? I won't get my hopes up. It's probably just a carrying handle for your Wii. Guy can dream though.

Nintendo trademarks reveal new products? [CVG]

11:30 AM on Tue Sep 4 2007
By Mike Fahey
5,833 views, 39 comments

Latest by idontwanttobeauser: Soma means body. Ie. psycho somatic means the illness isn't in your body, it's in your head. more »

speculation

Was Square Enix Terrified of Own Original IP?

Back at the Square Enix Party (a delightful time), I got a look at Square Enix's Subarashiki Kono Sekai (AKA "It's a Wonderful World"). The game was developed by Kyoto's Jupiter Corporation, which also brought us Picross DS. The game is a totally original IP, based on Final Fantasy character designer Tetsuya Nomura's creations. Though, the characters don't look all that FF, but rather, have an urban edge. The game itself is interesting and difficult as players must concentrate on both screens (sometimes at the same time!) during play. In short, the game is somewhat risky for the conservative Square Enix — but a commendable risk. Oddly enough, the game wasn't reviewed in Famitsu when it was released last July. Next-Gen's Tim Rogers has a theory about that: More »

11:00 PM on Fri Aug 24 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
10,460 views, 60 comments

Latest by 108: @Witzbold: At least it's a pretty good game! I don't think it could be direct competition for Samurai Warriors because it's so above that shit, generally speaking, that people would be bound to not like it. As in, you know, it more »

speculation

Korea Getting New Elite Beat Agents Songs?

Nintendo of Korea is localizing a trio of games into Hangul: Elite Beat Agents, Picross DS, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. NoK is handling the translating duties, so it looks like the games will get proper releases. (Good news for Koreans traditionally neglected by Nintendo!) What is intriguing is the Elite Beat Agents release. Will it have Korean popstars like BoA or Rain or will it stick with the Sum 41 and the Ashlee Simpson? I sure hope not. For Korea's sake.
EBA for Korea [Siliconera]

3:00 AM on Tue Aug 7 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
1,342 views, 16 comments

Latest by MidnightScott17: Nevermind, I tried the Korean version of Wario Ware and the text and everything worked fine. I even saw Dr. Kim Dental ;p more »

speculation

New New Xbox 360 Chip Incoming!! Not Yet!!!

Smaller. Cheaper. And hopefully cooler. Singapore's Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing will 45-nanometer processors for video game consoles, but won't go into production until late 2008 or 2009 as designs are being finalized. According to Charted's president and CEO Chia Song Hwee:

We have customers' activity for products in the CPU space that goes into a video-game device.

This was said during a conference call with analysts. No, the exact gaming device was not named, but the smart money is on Microsoft. Charted has produced 90nm and the upcoming 65nm processors for the Xbox 360. Those on the fence about picking up an Xbox 360 might want to wait until 2009. Maybe they'll even stop crapping out all the time by then.
Xbox 360 New Processor [PC Advisor via Games Industry]

6:40 AM on Wed Aug 1 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
6,966 views, 55 comments

Latest by mx5: @VakeroRokero: Nope. One very good reason is: the 45nm chips will be cheaper to make than the 65nm ones. Just like the 65nm chips in the current X360 are cheaper than the 90nm chips in the previous X360 iteration. The more »

speculation

UK Retailers Price Unpriced Xbox 360 Elite

First American retailers let it slip that the 60GB PLAYSTATION 3 was getting a price drop, and now their British counterparts spill the beans that the Xbox 360 Elite is getting, well, priced. European sellers HMV, Play and GAME are all pricing the still unofficially priced Elite at £329.99 (US $676) when it drops on August 24th. (Yes, everything is expensive there!) When questioned about this leaked price, Microsoft replied that they have "nothing to announce at this point." Hey, why announce anything when retailers are doing it for you?!
Retailers Put Up Elite Price [Eurogamer]

6:40 AM on Wed Jul 18 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
1,828 views, 29 comments

Latest by Grum: @OtakuboyT: doctor who round house kicking daliks down some stairs and deflecting laser beams with his beard would be tv worth watching i think more »