Luke Plunkett

Badass 360 Arcade Stick, Made From The Bones Of Real Arcade Sticks

Behold, Hori’s Real Arcade Pro EX SE. The SE stands for “Special Edition”. Why so special, when it looks just like Hori’s regular old 360 arcade stick? It’s all in the insides. The EX SE went on sale in Japan yesterday in “limited numbers” for ¥ 13,500 (USD$151). The appeal – and the limited availability,…

So Why All The Microsoft Game Group Firings?

Microsoft said they were sacking 1,400 people across the entire company, yet a disproportionate number of those cuts fell upon the (relatively) small gaming group. What gives? Did somebody piss in Steve Ballmer’s coffee? In the literal sense, no, but somebody looking at Micosoft’s research & development budget may well have exclaimed “oh man, the…

Listen To The JRPG Soundtrack Of The JRPG That Doesn’t Exist

JRPGs are a predictable bunch. Spiky-haired youths, big swords, doe-eyed ladies and comic relief that’s either an ethnic minority or a robot. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen ’em all. Their soundtracks are no different. Which is why this project by reader Michael Chadwick is so brilliant. He’s composed a 12-track accompaniment to the JRPG “Ebben…

British Sales Charts

We’ve been doing British sales charts for a while now. Don’t think there’s ever been one this kooky, though. I mean, Skate 2, Professor Layton and my Fitness Coach? Very strange. The rest of the upper echelons of the charts, though, are not strange. They’re the musk of familiarity about them, old favourites Wii Fit,…

MotorStorm 2 Patch On The Way

Like every online game these days, MotorStorm 2 has a few issues. A few glitches. Well, Sony have let us know that those glitches are to be addressed in a patch due for release soon. Among the issues to be fixed are: * Restrictions to the copying of Saved Data have been removed. This will…

Fallout 3 DLC is Live

Fallout 3’s “Operation Anchorage” DLC is now out on the 360 marketplace, if you’re interested. It’s 800 points, and gives you access to new missions, new gear and an abundance of frozen, radioactive-free water.

The 50 Cent Game Has A Story. These Are The People Behind It.

We know. You’re sitting there, all smug, thinking the extent of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand’s story amounts to “WHEH MAH SKULL?”. Well, you’re wrong. There’s a rich tapestry at play here. One that weaves together strands of love, betrayal, politics, conflict and the questioning of self. OK, I lied. I’m sorry. Still, amazing…

That Mag For Sale On eBay Actually Found A Buyer

Let’s recap: at the same time Ziff Davis were offloading the 1UP Network, lesser-known magazine Hardcore Gamer also went up for sale. On…eBay. And not a collection of mags. The magazine itself. Seemed a desperate gamble from an owner that, from his selling brief, sounded like he was in the business for the wrong reasons…

Guitar Hero Metallica: There Will Be No Cliff Burton

The upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica will feature the band’s four current members. And just those four. Those hoping for a digital reincarnation of deceased former bassist Cliff Burton need to stop hoping. Speaking with MTV, the game’s lead designer Alan Flores responded to a question about Burton’s inclusion with: I think I can definitely say…

The Inevitable Left 4 Dead/Team Fortress 2 Crossover

Two Valve games, two cult followings, we’re amazed it’s taken you lot this long to whip something like this up. Called “Gravelpit”, it takes…well, you can see what it’s doing. Well done, iFrau over on Deviantart. Funny, I’d always fancied Francis as more of a Heavy, myself, with Zoey a Spy, but who am I…

PC Sales Charts

Good news story: World of Goo went on sale at retail during the week of January 11-17. Innocent, indie little World of Goo. And it charted! For seven days, Maxis surely quaked. NPD Sales Charts January 11-17 1. WoW: Wrath of the Lich King 2. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe 3. Fallout 3 4. World…

Open Up For A Strong Dose Of PSN Stats

Sony released a few statistics on the PlayStation Network during CES, but today, they’re releasing more. And these ones are a little more extensive, a little more handy. It’s not that we didn’t believe them that there are 17 million PSN accounts, we’re just…dubious of them citing a number that includes more than a handful…

Watch/Pity The Participants In The Halo Wedding

As a man on the cusp of marriage himself, I’ve got a few ideas on the kind of wedding I want. A Halo one, I don’t want. But I do enjoy watching them. Watching them and saying, out loud, “thank Christ that’s not me“. Click to view

Want To Take A Real Quick Look At Pandemic’s Batman Game?

Then take a look at these. Don’t expect much – the two clips are using raw character models and little else – but hey, it’s not like you’re ever going to see anything better. The first clip up here shows a rooftop chase. Batman could be…either of them, really, but we’re thinking the latter, because…

So Which Is Faster: XP, Vista Or Windows 7?

Windows 7 is out and up for download, provided you’re OK with using a beta operating system. It promises a raft of improvements over Windows Vista, but how’s it shaping up for games? FiringSquad have taken a look at how it runs across two systems: a mid-spec one (AMD Athlon X2 5000+ Black Edition) and…

GlaDOS & Shodan, Sitting In A Tree…

OK, maybe not a tree. More like a tangled mess of cables, wiring and cold steel. And maybe not kissing. What they’re doing looks a little more “after dark” than a childhood rhyme could manage… Code Sharing by peganthyrus [DA, via Offworld]

World Tour Outsells Rock Band 2

News flash. The NPD Group have compiled the all-format sales of 2008’s biggest music titles, Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2, and found that the Activision franchise was the winner. Combined sales of GHWT were 3.4 million. Combined sales of Rock Band 2? 1.7 million. That’s a convenient 2:1 ratio. Why/how did this…

Presenting The Lost & Damned “Box Art”, Halo Wars Gold Membership Card

Two pieces of Xbox Live-related cardware on show for you today. The first is the redeemable points card you’ll receive when you buy Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost & the Damned. The second? A special Halo Wars-branded version of the fancy 12+1 Xbox Live subscription cards that have started turning up. No word on…

A Giant Ken Action Figure, For The Street Fighter Fan Who Has Everything

This Ken figure is big. Real big. Like, quarter-scale big, which translates to a figure that stands 18″ tall. Due in June, there are only 300 being made, which may explain the $250 price tag. Still, these are tough economic times. $250 for a Ken figure maaaay just be stretching it, but then, Sideshow Collectibles…

Games For Windows Live Boss Sacked

We heard last week that Microsoft’s Games for Windows team was facing layoffs. Weren’t sure how many were going to be affected. Turns out that one of the group’s bosses is among the casualties. VentureBeat report that Chris Early, former general manager of Games for Windows Live, was among those given their marching orders last…