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R.I.P. Calling All Cars! Online, 2007-2010
Today marked the end of online support for Calling All Cars!, the debut PlayStation Network game from David Jaffe‘s Eat Sleep Play studio, leading the outspoken developer to eulogize the game and express his thoughts about its cool reception. Jaffe wrote about Calling All Car!’s success, or lack thereof, in his typically frank fashion last…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
NFL Antitrust Case Could Have Game Implications
This week the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a case involving the National Football League and an exclusive license it granted. No, it’s not the license awarded to EA Sports‘ Madden franchise, but the outcome could conceivably affect it. At issue in American Needle vs. NFL is whether the football league is a single entity…
By Owen Good Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
PlayStation Store Update: “Update” Edition
Technically, the North American PlayStation Store has been updated, but unless you’ve been dying for some Vampire Weekend for Guitar Hero 5 or that Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 table for Zen Pinball, this week’s update just barely qualifies. Sure, we’ve been spoiled! Normally, we’d expect to see something like an UNO demo at the end…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
Zynga Gamers Chip in for Haiti Quake Relief
Games on Facebook have joined the relief cause for Haiti, with Zynga’s FarmVille, Mafia Wars and Zynga Poker offering “limited edition social goods” for sale, the proceeds of which will entirely benefit funds serving earthquake victims in that nation. Zynga announced the fund drive on Thursday; it benefits the World Food Programme, whose emergency response…
By Owen Good Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
Ashes to Ashes
To: Ash From: Crecente Re: Browser Recs, Please! Today Ellie and Lucy came back to us in tiny little Cherry wood boxes. Sort of sad, but we’ve got Littlefoot around cheering us up. Oh, and Trish adopted a 6-month old… um… something? that was about to be put to sleep in Kansas over the weekend.…
By Brian Crecente Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
NPD Instant Analysis: Things You Should Note
Do not risk discussing video game sales figures without having a few talking points. As always, Kotaku has some instant sales analysis, to help you explain why Mario beat Zelda, why the 360 is in third place and more. But! Before you read this analysis, be sure to brush up on the just-reported December video…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
The Sims Beat Warcraft for Top PC Seller of ’09
June’s release of The Sims 3 bested World of Warcraft for the crown of 2009’s best selling PC game, according to numbers released today by the NPD Group. Modern Warfare 2, despite a November release, was a strong fifth. Dragon Age: Origins also saw a November release and also made the top 10, at No.…
By Owen Good Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
NPD: New Super Mario Bros. Wii Stomps The Competition, More Than 2.8 Million Sold
In December, New Super Mario Bros. Wii sold another 2.82 million copies to U.S. consumers, pushing the game past the 4 million mark in the United States, according to the NPD Group. That’s the start of good news for Nintendo. Nintendo also sold another 2.4 million copies of Wii Fit Plus and 1.79 million copies…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
Nintendo Hardware Sells More Than 7 Million To Win December ’09
Nintendo hardware dominated the holidays last year, with the Wii and Nintendo DS crushing the hardware competition, according to new sales figures from the NPD Group. The Wii alone outsold the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP and PlayStation 2 combined, moving 3.81 million units in the United States last month. It was followed closest by…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
Arkham Asylum Gets its GOTY (Edition)
The British Board of Film Classification has listed a Game of the Year edition for Batman: Arkham Asylum, offering no details beyond the fact it’s a separate version under a different name. The game was approved with no cuts made, but that doesn’t really mean much as, of course, the original version passed review by…
By Owen Good Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
IGDA Condemns Alleged Rockstar Work Conditions As “Exploitative, Harmful”
The International Game Developers Association has weighed in on accusations from the anonymous blogger(s) alleging unfair working conditions at Rockstar San Diego, calling the practice of “excessive crunch” during Red Dead Redemption‘s development “deceptive, exploitative, and ultimately harmful.” The statement from the IGDA does not solely focus on the rumored work conditions at Rockstar San…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
Pallurikio Rolls All Over WiiWare
Pallurikio is taking over WiiWare with its new twist on platforming. Get a glimpse of its more than 50 levels in the video (find it after the jump). Pallurikio is out now worldwide on WiiWare via the Wii Shop Channel.
By Chrissie Lamond Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
Army of Two Action Figures Hit Stores, Fistbump Castle Playset Sold Seperately
The battle for Shanghai rages on in your home with the release of NECA’s Army of Two: The 40th Day action figures, bringing total fistbump destruction action to toy stores near you. NECA’s Salem and Rios 7″ action figures feature real pivoting facemask action and more articulation points than any Army of Two action figure…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
What Do You Want In Your Dead Space 2 Collector’s Edition?
The Dead Space Facebook page wants to know what sort of swag you’d like to see in a theoretical collector’s edition of Dead Space 2. EA needs your help! Dead Space 2 is in the works, and they’re trying to figure out what they could put in a special box that would make you pay…
By Mike Fahey Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
Global Agenda Teaser Prepares For Launch
Hi-Rez Studio’s action MMO Global Agenda is coming February 1st, and this official launch teaser should give you a good idea of what to expect once next month rolls around. Laser Gatling guns, sword fights, and giant robots; it doesn’t get much better than this, at least conceptually. Hell, I’d buy a cereal that listed…
By Mike Fahey Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
And The Nominees For Best Video Game Writing Are…
According to the Writers Guild of America, five games from 2009 are worthy of nominations for the organization’s Videogame Writing Award honors. Some have already walked away with multiple game of the year nods, others have certainly not. It’s a mixed crowd that includes games like Uncharted 2 and Wet, as well as Modern Warfare…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
You Can Now Buy Ratchet And Resistance Action Figures
As if we needed another excuse to visit our local comic book stores, DC Unlimited is finally shipping its Ratchet & Clank and Resistance action figures to wherever fine monthly graphical literature is sold. It’s been a long time coming. We first heard about the Resistance 2 action figures nearly a year ago, with the…
By Mike Fahey Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
First-Person Tetris Might Make You Queasy
I just tried playing Tetris in first-person which probably doesn’t play out the way you expect it to. If you don’t get too sick playing first-person games, give it a try. It’s free to play in a browser and, aside from potentially making players dizzy also has a night-time mode. Both interesting touches. Be safe,…
By Stephen Totilo Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
Kingdom Hearts Puts Mario To Sleep In Japanese Game Chart
Only the combined power of Disney and Square Enix can put Mario’s video game sales dominance in Japan on pause. For now, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep is the country’s bestselling game. The latest Kingdom Hearts game—this one for the PSP—sold 446,000 more UMDs to Japanese gamers, the week’s only new release to make Media…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 14, 2010 - Uncategorized
You Will Believe A Hamster Can Fly
Developer The Game Atelier delivers the first screenshots for The Flying Hamster, the first horizontal hamster shooter for the Sony PSP. I am filled with joy beyond words. Okay, perhaps not as beyond words as I initially thought. I’m just a big fan of hamsters in general, and haven’t been able to keep one as…
By Mike Fahey Published January 14, 2010