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Libraries Got Game
There are, perhaps, few more disconsonant scenes than of the austere silence of the library and the boisterous play of video games, but a growing movement is starting to put the two under one roof. Libraries around the country, from the Library of Congress, to university and community libraries, are beginning to archive, collect and…
By Brian Crecente Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Sega Sammy Bleeds $108 Million In Gold Rings, Reveals Conduit Sales
It was a tough quarter for Sega’s parent company, Sega Sammy Holdings, as the company announced losses of 10.293 billion yen ($108.85 million USD). It also revealed sales data on recent games The Conduit and Virtua Tennis 2009. Sega Sammy pulled in $639.4 million during the quarter, including video game sales, arcade and pachinko revenues.…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Pearl Jam’s Backspacer Gets Day One Rock Band Release
Harmonix continues to jam as much Pearl Jam into Rock Band as they possibly can, with the band’s 9th studio album, Backspacer, available for download on the day it’s released. Pearl Jam is releasing their 9th album without any major record label assistance on September 20th, but they’ve got a pretty strong support system in…
By Mike Fahey Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
A Boy And His Blob Preview: You Will Fail
Prepare for very nice graphics. And prepare to die. A Boy And His Blob, beloved NES platformer only some of us on the team have played, has inspired a Wii successor from the makers of the crushingly hard Contra 4. Oh yes, you will struggle in this one too, it seems. The guy from the…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Top Devs Defect On Sony’s ‘The Agency’
Sony Online Entertainment‘s The Agency, the massively multiplayer spy role-playing game announced in 2007, may have hit a bit of a development snag, losing key personnel that includes the studio’s director and executive producer. Eurogamer reports that producer Matt Wilson, art director Corey Dangel, and producer John Smith have all defected from SOE and The…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier Preview: Air Combat, Of Course
When I think of Jak & Daxter I don’t think of flight combat. But if that’s going to be 40% of the new game, so be it. It’s fun. What Is It? Jak & Daxter is an October PSP game set after the events of the console Jak & Daxter trilogy (that racing game doesn’t…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta Trailer Beamed Up
The Fallout 3 Mothership Zeta downloadable content hits Xbox and Games for Windows Live on Monday, and Bethesda dropped off the official trailer, in case anyone still needs convincing. Nothing gets me in the mood for a little retro post-apocalyptic science fiction action-adventure like a little operatic chanting. It worked for the original Star Trek…
By Mike Fahey Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
What Are You Playing This Weekend?
If things work out the right way this weekend, I’ll be playing a little Shadow Complex, just one of many still unreleased games I plan to dabble in during my free time. The others… I probably shouldn’t say. But I’ll definitely be making a few minutes for Fat Princess and Shadow Complex, maybe a little…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
TMNT: Turtles In Time Price Dropped Like A Foot Ninja
Ubisoft’s HD remake of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time will be just a bit cheaper than expected when it hits Xbox Live Arcade next week. TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, the HD remake of one of the best mutant turtle video games ever created, was originally priced at 1200 Microsoft points, or $15.…
By Mike Fahey Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Scribblenauts Live Word-Test Preview: Just Say The Words [Concluded]
For the next hour, if you write a concrete, kid-friendly noun, I will try to test it in Scribblenauts. The DS game should render your nouns as objects. I’ll attempt to keep up in the comments. Event now over. I will ignore bad words, so don’t waste my time. Look for a preview of Scribblenauts’…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Braid Coming To PlayStation 3, Says German Ratings Board
A PlayStation 3 version of Xbox Live Arcade hit Braid appears to be in the works, with Germany’s Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) rating the latest port as of yesterday. That’s excellent news for PS3 owners. The USK (via NeoGAF) pegs Hothead Games, developers of Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness and the Mac…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Persona PSP Video Walkthrough
Listen to Atlus’ Aram Jabbari, as he walks us through the new features in the North American PSP remake of the original Persona. Aram goes over everything in this 7 minute-plus video, from the new dialog to the Snow Queen quest, which we already know is coming and doesn’t need to be framed with his…
By Mike Fahey Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Goal: To Make A Game That Does Hip-Hop Right
Anthony Castoro wants to make a video game that gives hip-hop respect. In the process, he’s making an MMO set for 2012 release that happens to be attached to a rapper who is serving a year in prison. Yesterday, the Austin, Texas game development company Castoro co-founded, Heatwave Interactive, announced a partnership with top-selling rapper…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
CrimeCraft Enters Open Beta
Fans of shooting other fans of shooting looking for something new to play with this weekend can check out Vogster’s persistent world shooter CrimeCraft, now entering the open beta phase. CrimeCraft is a third-person shooter that features teams of players fighting against other teams of players or enemy A.I. in a near-future urban setting. It’s…
By Mike Fahey Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Batman: Arkham Asylum’s Subtle Evolution Adds Depth
Despite its over-the-top combat and flamboyant archenemy, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a surprisingly subtle game. As players move forward through the introductory chapters of the game and into the meat of the story, Batman’s moves and the challenges he faces blossom, adding a surprising level of depth to what could have been a straight-forward brawler.…
By Brian Crecente Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
GameStop Goes Casual
Video game retailer GameStop launched its Casual Digital Store yesterday, celebrating with a 50% sale on select casual PC titles. The GameStop Casual Digital Store, located at http://www.gamestop.com/casual, features the hottest and not-so-hottest casual PC games for purchase, download and play. Powered by RealNetworks, the store features casual and independent titles, from Nancy Drew to…
By Mike Fahey Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Aion Class Spotlight: The Sorcerer
Upon reaching level 9, Aion’s Mage gets to chose between the Spiritmaster pet class or the Sorcerer, the massively-multiplayer RPG’s glass cannon. In RPG parlance, a glass cannon is basically a wizard, outputting tremendous damage while wearing the least-protective armor the game has to offer. The sorcerer in Aion is meant to stay behind everyone…
By Mike Fahey Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Playing Alongside The Joker, Making Human Ice Cubes in DC Universe Online
DC Universe Online‘s senior producer Wes Yanagi shows off some of the super evil powers available in the upcoming massively multiplayer game in this video. Playing along side the likes of The Joker and Harley Quinn, Yanagi uses his super evil character to freeze enemies into blocks of ice, which he then picks up and…
By Brian Crecente Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Free Dungeons & Dragons Online Encounters Delay
Dungeons & Dragons Online’s transition into free-to-play game enters a 10×10 room. Up ahead is its original August release date. It rushes forward…pit trap! Saving throw failed, one month delay. Dungeons & Dragons Online was set to become DDO Unlimited next week in North America, morphing from subscription-based game to a new free-to-play model, but…
By Mike Fahey Published July 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
This Is Spinal Tap Rock Band
The original This is Spinal Tap soundtrack hits Rock Band next week, giving fans a whole new way to experience the joy and wonder of songs like “Big Bottom” and “Sex Farm”. Last month Rock Band players got a taste of the latest Spinal Tap release, Back From The Dead, but that only left fans…
By Mike Fahey Published July 31, 2009