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The Dishwasher Rewards You For Peter Moore-ing
This week’s Xbox Live Arcade addition The Dishwasher features a great shout out to EA Sports bossman Peter Moore, formerly of Microsoft and Rock Band flub infamy. How does one get “The Peter Moore Achievement”? Simply hit the Xbox 360 guide button “while playing a killer solo,” just like ol’ Pete did way back at…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 3, 2009 -
PlayStation 3 Outsells Wii In Japan For Second Month In A Row
Last year, the Wii made headlines for its trouncing of the PlayStation 3, when Nintendo’s console was outselling its current-gen competition from Sony in Japan. But 2009 has started to work out a little differently. For the past two months, Sony’s PlayStation 3 has outsold the Wii. It hasn’t outsold it by the impressive margins…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 3, 2009 -
This LEGO Nintendo DSi Could Crush You
Built from over 50,000 LEGO bricks and weighing at 250 pounds, this nearly seven foot wide Nintendo DSi could do some serious damage should gravity have its way with it. Built for the upcoming North American launch of Nintendo’s latest handheld—and installed at the Nintendo World Store at Rockefeller Center in New York City—the electric…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 3, 2009 -
Atari Busts Hopes Of Ghostbusters For PSP
Normally, the ESRB is a great resource for leaked information, such as the unannounced PSP version of Atari’s Ghostbusters: The Videogame it rated the other day. Sometimes it’s not such a great resource. Case in point: Atari has denied that Ghostbusters: The Videogame is actually coming to the PSP and the Entertainment Software Ratings Board…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 3, 2009 -
Mortal Kombat Team Looking To Split From Midway
Midway’s team of developers responsible for the 17-year-old Mortal Kombat franchise is currently in active talks with other publishers to leave the company and for its own studio, sources tell Kotaku. The MK team, which comprises about 50 developers, is said to be in discussions with a handful of unnamed publishers, with senior members of…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 3, 2009 -
Reviews
Rhythm Heaven Review: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Nintendo’s Rhythm Heaven is the beat-matching Nintendo DS sequel to a Game Boy Advance title that never made it out of Japan—but did somehow manage to get an arcade port. The collection of more than 50 music mini-games is surprisingly deep for a title that relies on two touchscreen mechanics: tapping and flicking. (Okay, there…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 3, 2009 -
What Are You Playing This Weekend?
Even though I’ve already “completed” Rhythm Heaven, there are still medals to acquire, perfect ratings to… perfect, and things still unlocked. That’s why I’ll be playing it, hopefully on a new Nintendo DSi by Sunday. Outside of that, I don’t expect to be playing much else, unless I get the gumption to hook the Dreamcast…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 3, 2009 -
Turbo: The Video Game Movie Not Based On A Real Video Game
While most video game film adaptations suck, the low-budget, high-gloss Turbo has the advantage of not being based on an existing game. The Tron meets The Karate Kid short was filmed for under $100,000. According to the official site, the plot is your standard fighting film stuff, not unlike a high-tech Bloodsport, in which the…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
Sony, Nintendo Battle For Japanese Hardware Dominance
The weekly battle in Japan for hardware championship goes to Nintendo this week, with the Nintendo DSi outselling all competitors. Thanks the strong PSP software sales, however, it was a fairly close race. The PSP was just a few thousand sales shy of returning to the top spot in Japan, making the portable war a…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
Pro Gamers Are Out Of A Job Too
The business of being really, really good at playing video games is hurting. Professional gaming leagues are shutting down left and right, meaning that many people who participate in those leagues are out now jobless. The New York Times profiles some those ultra-hardcore gamers who made it their job—or “job,” if you prefer—to play video…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
Team Fortress 2 Sniper Update Inbound, Xbox 360 Patch “Still Being Worked On”
The official word from the Team Fortress 2 trust confirms that the Sniper will be the next class to receive an update on par with the Heavy, Scout, Medic and Pyro. For real this time. Valve’s Robin Walker also writes on the official TF2 blog that another update will precede the Sniper changes, one that…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
THQ Successfully Trims $220 Million In People, Costs
Publisher THQ announced today that its plans to eliminate $220 million in spending has been a great success, thanks to the shedding of hundreds of workers, canceling of games and other “business realignment actions.” Fairly quick turnaround, as THQ announced in February that it was canning 24% of its workforce and yanking titles from its…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
WiiWare’s Let’s Hitchhike!!!!!!!!! Lets You Thumb Without Fear Of Murder
Yes, there are nine exclamation points in the title of Nippon Ichi‘s new WiiWare game, a currently Japan-only title that captures the raw thrill of hitchhiking without the murderous side effects. Let’s Zenryoku Hitchhike!!!!!!!!! focuses on the more attractive aspects of hitchhiking—thumbing efficiently for free rides on cows, tractors and rickshaws—with none of the negatives—having…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
This Is Not Artwork From Mistwalker’s Next Game
Mistwalker artist Kimihiko Fujisaka has put the kibosh on speculation that the artwork released on the developer’s official site is part of the Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey co-creator’s “new project.” “My illustrations and designs keep piling up without seeing the light of day. It happens a lot, but I think of it like medals…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
PlayStation Store Update: Go 4D Under The Sea
This week’s North American PlayStation Store update is lean and mean, featuring very little in the way of fluff, with just enough SpongeBob SquarePants downloadable content to get the job done. Two playable games join the ranks with Comet Crash for the PlayStation 3 and 7 Wonders of the Ancient World for PSP leading the…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
Killzone 2’s Interactive “4D” Ad Hits PlayStation Store Today
The PlayStation 3 goes 4D, thanks to the arrival of the interactive Killzone 2 television spot “Bullet Journey.” Downloadable from the PlayStation Store today, the “Behind The Bullet” app let’s you explore that dramatic ad. The “three minute interactive demonstration” can be downloaded for free via the PlayStation Store, letting players manipulate the camera that…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
Konami Picks Up Saw, Releases First Screens
Konami has confirmed that it has picked up rights to publish a video game based on the Saw movie franchise, one of many titles abandoned by the implosion of Brash Entertainment. Variety’s The Cut Scene has first details and a handful of screen shots of Konami’s newest acquisition, confirming earlier reports that Saw would join…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
Giant Robot Games Still Tops In Japan
Mechs? Japan loves ’em! We know, because last week, Super Robot Taisen K topped Media Create software charts and this week it’s Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable outselling everything else. The PlayStation Portable title handily bested all non-giant robot games with a sales missile barrage to the tune of 85,000 units. It was…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 2, 2009 -
New PS3 Firmware Adds 16-Person In-Game Chat, Video Back Up
PlayStation 3 firmware version 2.70 is due to be released “soon”—which often translates to “within hours”—bringing with it new text chat functions that can be used in-game. But wait, there’s more! The new text chat supports up to 16 users in up to 3 chat rooms, both in-game and out-of-game, making it that much easier…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 1, 2009 -
Kratos’ Companion Cube Gets Unchained
Did you know that there’s an extremely well-hidden cameo in God of War: Chains of Olympus? It’s the much deadlier, more ancient Companion Cube, the omega of all cubeforms, capable of kicking serious ass. Ready At Dawn writes today that the developer, known for its PSP expertise, was “surprised no one has found this one…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 1, 2009
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