Kotaku: vampire rain

AP's Worst Games of 2007

Brian Crecente — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:00:25 MST

The Associated Press just published their worst of 2007 list for video games. The straight forward list includes Manhunt 2, Deal or No Deal and Lair along with some biting explanation:

1. "Manhunt 2": Rockstar Games' strategy — offend the watchdogs, reap the publicity, then sell a substandard product — reached its nadir with this ugly, unplayable mess. It begins with a lunatic flinging human waste at you; after about an hour, you'll want to fling "Manhunt 2."
4. "Lair": Sony lavished a lot of attention on this PlayStation 3 title, and it sure looks great. And who wouldn't want to fly a dragon? But with awkward, imprecise controls and lackluster, repetitive missions, "Lair" crashed and burned.

More interesting is their list of best sellers that still managed to annoy the big A. P. Among the list? The common-sense flouting, consumer-hurting feud between Guitar Hero and Rock Band controllers and the games Halo 3, Assassin's Creed, Blue Dragon, Heavenly Sword and don't forget the unavailability of the Wii.

Week in Video-Game News [AP]

XBL DLC Love - Sylpheed, Vampire Rain, Mad Tracks

Mike Fahey — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:40:59 MDT

Along with the release of Wing Commander Arena and Super Contra on Xbox Live Arcade, today sees Xbox Live bursting at the seams with new downloadable content of both the paid and free varieties. Project Sylpheed heads up the list with six new challenge missions complete with six powerful weapons, along with leaderboard support to track your rank. Next up is ~~Chocolate~~ Vampire Rain, a game described to me as Splinter Cell with Vampires, only not nearly as good. Available free today is VR Bonus Level 2, a mission that has you gathering equipment as Duane Hanson. Mmmbop. Finally today we have part three of the Xbox Live Mad Tracks trilogy, the Bravo Expansion Pack. 350 points nets you seven new races and eight original mini-games.

I'll be snagging the Sylpheed and Mad Tracks updates myself, while saving Vampire Rain for that special day I set aside to play as a guy named Duane that I like to call never.

Week in Games: Ninja Gaiden Sigma Edition

fdemarco — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:28:11 MDT

As we move into the pre-E3 season, the list of exciting titles starts to thin out. I can't say there's anything I'm terribly interested in this week, but some of you might find something appealing on the list. Ninja Gaiden certainly looks pretty, but being PS3-less, I'll have to pass on that one. Anything here you're looking forward to?

Ninja Gaiden Sigma (PS3) Ninja Gaiden gets revamped for the PS3.
Dead Reefs (PC)
Arrrgh! Beware the pirate curse!
Vampire Rain (X360)
Blast those bloodsuckers!
Chicken Shoot (WII, DS)
Around the world poultry poaching.
Seven Kingdoms: Conquest (PC)
Lead your army of demons or humans to conquer the kingdom.
Marvel Trading Card Game (PC)
Collect them all!
Steel Horizon (PSP)
You sunk my battleship!
Turn It Around (DS)
Mini disc mini games
Taito Legends 2 (PC)
Get olde schoole with Taito

Xbox 360: Adult Games For Japanese Adults

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 00:22:09 MST

With titles like Idolm@ster and Onechanbara, the Xbox 360 is a console for Japanese consumers with discerning tastes. Not only that, but hit "American" titles like Dead Rising and Gears of War get slapped with country's dreaded games-as-porn "Z" rating. And Microsoft is starting to realize this. And hopefully capitalize on it.

Next January, Xbox Japan is holding an "Adult Games Festa" at the Akihabara UDX 3D Theater. Save for sandbox game Crackdown and the cross platform Vampire Rain, the other games aren't exactly new: Gears of War, Dead Rising, The Godfather and Onechanbara vorteX. The 18 years-old and over event kicks off at 3:30 pm on the 12th and ends at 10 pm, because ADULTS play video games LATE. Except for me. Brian Ashcraft

Not For Kids [Xbox Japan]