-
Ubisoft Teases Rabbids Go Home With Wii Jokes
Ubisoft’s giving the hideously adorable rabbids from the Rayman spin-off series their own adventure, one that’s not a collection of Wii mini-games. Rabbids Go Home offers heavy-handed zaniness, Ubisoft style. The game’s first teaser doesn’t give one a great sense of how the Wii title will play, instead taking a few jabs at console-proprietary controllers.…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 8, 2009 -
Persona, Portables Do Big Business In Japan
This week’s (slightly delayed) Japanese software sales chart is packed with new games populating the top ten, with Atlus’ redux remake of Persona for the PSP outselling all new competitors. The PlayStation Portable title, with its updated presentation and various refinements, bested new Nintendo DS games like Dragon Ball Z: Story Saiyajin Raishuu and Nintendo’s…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 8, 2009 -
Duke Nukem Forever Screen Shots, Artwork Rise From 3D Realms’ Grave
Now that Duke Nukem Forever developer 3D Realms appears to have become little more than vapor itself, the unreleased fruits of the game’s art staff have been posted online, ready to be picked over. In-game screen shots from Duke Nukem Forever art director Tramell Isaac and artwork from concept artist Layne Johnson have been uploaded…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 8, 2009 -
What Are You Playing This Weekend?
If today counts as the weekend, I suppose I’ll be playing some upcoming Ubisoft games, as I’m off to the Palomar Hotel this afternoon for a pre-E3 preview of all things Ubi. Hopefully, that means hours of hands-on time with games like Assassin’s Creed II and Beyond Good And Evil 2. Aw, who am I…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 8, 2009 -
NIS Reveals The Last Rebellion For PlayStation 3
HitMaker and Nippon Ichi Software are readying a new action role-playing game for the PlayStation 3, with NIS America announcing The Last Rebellion for a Fall 2009 release today. One look at first screen shots of the action-meets-turn-based title and you’ll likely think “PlayStation… 3?” But that’s not a typo! While The Last Rebellion may…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 8, 2009 -
Sega’s Sakura Wars Finally Coming Stateside (But Not From Sega)
Sega and Red Entertainment’s popular Sakura Wars series has never seen release in North America, denying English-speaking fans of both tactical military action and dating sims an opportunity to experience the game. No more! Today NIS America announced that Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love will be coming to North America this Fall, letting PlayStation…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 8, 2009 -
Reviews
Klonoa Review: Do Hew Wahoo?
Namco Bandai‘s Klonoa, the Wii remake of the 1997 PlayStation game Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, is a game from a simpler time, when “platformers” involved actual side-scrolling platform-to-platform jumping as their core mechanic. Such is the case with the 2009 version of Klonoa, which is amazingly simple in its concept, with regular play requiring only…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 7, 2009 -
These Konami Code Enabled Web Sites Are Bill And Lance Approved
The Konami Code—up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start—does wonderful things to games like Gradius and Contra. But it also does unexpected things on the internet, as ESPN.com recently proved. The sports news outlet isn’t the only online destination to (unwittingly?) have its behavior change when video game nerds input the…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 7, 2009 -
Please Play ‘Today I Die’
Daniel Benmergui, creator of the impressive Flash-based game I Wish I Were The Moon, has released the equally creative Today I Die, a gorgeous little adventure with a fascinating gameplay twist. In Today I Die, players must manipulate the game’s characters and a few lines of ever present text to progress. Benmergui is able to…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 7, 2009 -
Disney Porting Toy Story Midway Mania! Theme Park Ride To Wii
Disney’s looking to its own theme parks for new video game opportunities, bringing its interactive Toy Story-branded theme park attraction to the Wii. The publisher will be officially announcing Toy Story Midway Mania! later tonight. The attraction, which gives theme park goers wearing 3D glasses a vehicle mounted cannon, has been available at Disney’s Hollywood…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
Piston Honda Returns To Punch-Out!!, Mostly Intact
The latest classic boxer to return to the Wii version of Punch-Out!! will be Tokyo, Japan born and bred Piston Honda. Or at least a close approximation of Piston, as Nintendo has changed his name. The return of the Japanese pugilist, who first (and last) appeared in the NES version of Punch-Out!! comes with a…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
3D Realms “Situation” Won’t Affect Duke Nukem Trilogy, Apogee
Duke Nukem Forever developer 3D Realms is reportedly out of gum, allegedly planned to close its doors this week. But that won’t affect the other Duke Nukem game currently in development or Apogee Software. Following rumored reports that Duke Nukem devs 3D Realms had given up the ghost, reps for publisher Deep Silver issued a…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
Somali Showdown Lets *You* Take Down Virtual Pirates
The developers behind the episodic KumaWar series are once again capitalizing on deadly real-world events, putting players in the shoes of the plundered with Somali Showdown: Pirates on the High Seas. Kuma Games has quickly turned the recent spate of Somali cargo hijackings into a free to play video game based on the real world…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
Is Duke Nukem Developer 3D Realms Gone For Good? [Update]
3D Realms, still plugging away at the slightly delayed Duke Nukem Forever, may have given up the ghost, as the Texas-based developer is rumored to have shut down. We heard from an anonymous tipster earlier today of 3D Realms demise, with Shacknews reporting the very same thing, citing a “very reliable source” close to the…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
THQ CEO Sees No PlayStation 3 Price Cut At E3
If the asking price for Sony’s PlayStation 3 is currently too rich for your blood, you may have to wait until later this year for a price drop. Or so thinks THQ boss Brian Farrell. The publishing head honcho said during today’s quarterly earnings call that the royal THQ “we” isn’t expecting Sony to cut…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Box Art Is Truly Next-Gen
How can we tell? It’s not the visual clarity or high-res 3D models on the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen box art. It’s the sparks! Everyone knows that particle effects like that require serious hardware. Unfortunately, my theory is blown when one realizes that the same box art is being used for the PlayStation 2…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
Texas May Force Sex Offenders To Register Gamertags
Legislators in Texas have proposed a bill that would expand what registered sex offenders would be required to disclose, including the release of online screen names. That could potentially even cover online gaming social networks. While the bill, publicized by GamePolitics, doesn’t explicitly name video game communication services like Xbox Live and PlayStation Home, it…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
Prototype Pre-Order Promotional Products Pimped
Plan on picking up Prototype? Perhaps you’d prefer to pre-order, as Activision is pimping the pre-order possibilities from three of its partners, each proffering its own collectible pre-purchase products. Activision will be offering up three pre-order product possibilities at GameStop, Game Crazy and Amazon, giving serious fans of Radical Entertainment‘s upcoming open-world, super-powered action game…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
THQ Has “Challenging” 2009, Loses $431.1 Million
Publisher THQ announced its quarterly and annual earnings today, pulling in $830 million worth of revenue last year. That’s down from the $1.03 billion the company made during its fiscal 2008, leading to substantial losses. THQ saw a fiscal 2009 deficit of $431.1 million, losses way, way up from the $35.3 million the company lost…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009 -
EA Bossman Shrugs Off Declining Wii Sales In Japan
Wii sales in Japan have been on the decline. But don’t expect that trend to be indicative of a worldwide shift in tastes, notes EA CEO John Riccitiello. He believes the Wii is still strong. While Wii sales have dipped in recent months, to the point where the more expensive PlayStation 3 is overtaking the…
By Michael McWhertor Published May 6, 2009
Michael McWhertor
Michael McWhertor's posts