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  Afrika Is Finally Coming To American PS3s

  Sony Computer Entertainment and Rhino Studios’ safari and photography sim Afrika is finally coming to North America, publisher Natsume has announced, giving PlayStation 3 owners a chance to experience the gorgeous game on Western shores. According to IGN, Natsume has picked up publishing duties where National Geographic Games and Sony Computer Entertainment America appear to…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2009
• Reviews

  Rock Band Unplugged Review: It’s The Frequency, Kenneth

  MTV Games‘ Rock Band series shrinks down and drops the plastic instruments for the PlayStation Portable release Rock Band Unplugged, which turns the band video game series into a break out solo effort. There’s no singing or plastic drum controller to smack in Rock Band Unplugged, as players use the PSP’s default controls to beat…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2009
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  Zune Marketplace Comes To Xbox Live [Update]

  Speaking with The Guardian, Microsoft’s Chris Stevenson has announced that the Zune Marketplace – and everything available on it – is to be made available to Xbox 360 owners. The move is part of a growing effort by Microsoft to bring their two “entertainment” devices closer together, and is one which will no doubt heighten…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 26, 2009
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  Monday Part Deux

  To: Ash From: Crecente Re: Daily Or Two Week? That Is The Question Today felt like a Monday and the long weekend didn’t help. Gloomy, overcast, packed, busy and stressful. I can’t wait until E3 kicks off and we can get down to the covering. What you missed: LucasArts Confirms Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 26, 2009
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  The Kid Stays In These Army of Two: The 40th Day Screens

  Who doesn’t love the introduction of a pint-sized sidekick who cracks wise in established franchises? I know I do. So I hope these new screens of Army of Two: The 40th Day are telling. When I played the Army of Two sequel a few weeks back—more about that later—I certainly don’t remember any precocious kids…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2009
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  We Get It, Terminator Salvation Movie Is Just Like A Video Game

  In trying to describe how much they disliked the new Terminator movie, many movie reviewers decided that comparing it to video games would do the trick. Terminator Salvation, the fourth Terminator movie, opened last weekend to cranky reviews. Unimpressed with actor Christian Bale and director McG’s take on the evil-android series, movie reviewers eviscerated the…

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 26, 2009
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  Swine Flu Fears Won’t Affect Nintendo’s E3 Appearance

  Worries about being bitten by infected pigs at E3 2009 may have put a damper on the giant video game expo, but those fears haven’t affected Nintendo’s plans to exhibit its wares next week. The company told Kotaku today it has not restricted international travel for key Nintendo employees due to concerns over swine flu,…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2009
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  Rockstar, Obama Put Latinos Front And Center

  While it’s unlikely that the White House coordinated with the makers of Grand Theft Auto, the two parties managed to make May 26, 2009 a significant date for Latinos. Today saw the announcement not just of the first Latino protagonist of a Grand Theft Auto adventure but the nomination by President Barack Obama of the…

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 26, 2009
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  Take-Two Q2 News: $10 Million Loss, Beaterator Hype, More

  In an earnings call today, Take Two executives worked revenue drops, the word “Beaterator,” a denial of a digital distribution sea-change and praise for Rockstar into one conversation. This is how they did it: Highlights from Take Two’s second quarter earnings call follow, minus the big BioShock and GTA stuff, since we covered that already……

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 26, 2009
• 

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  Is This Aliens: Colonial Marines For Nintendo DS?

  Gearbox Software’s first-person shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines is apparently still alive and kicking in some capacity, but who knows when it will be released. The same is true for the… Nintendo DS version?! A very official looking trailer for Aliens: Colonial Marines DS, one that requires a great deal of squinting, was uploaded to YouTube…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2009
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  World Of Warcraft Druids Getting A Makeover

  In the next big content patch for World of Warcraft, Blizzard finally addresses one of the most pressing matters the game has been facing for the past several years: ugly druids. Now the Night Elves cannot help being giant Smurfs any more than the Tauren can stop being so delicious when grilled, so Blizzard instead…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 26, 2009
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  Red Dead Redemption, Mafia II To Come After The Fall

  Take-Two Interactive announced delays for two of its upcoming open-world games today, pushing back the release dates of Rockstar San Diego’s Red Dead Redemption and 2K Czech’s Mafia II. Both titles were slated for a somewhat vague Fall release, but have been delayed today to, at the earliest, November 1, 2009. Take-Two has re-scheduled the…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2009
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  BioShock 2 Dated, Coming First To Europe

  November 3 is the date for BioShock 2 in North America, but Europeans will get a head start. During the company’s conference call to discuss second quarter financial results, Take-Two CEO Ben Feder announced that BioShock 2 will hit Europe on October 30 and North America on November 3. The game, which is expected to…

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 26, 2009
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  GTA IV Episodes Coming To Disc As Standalone Game

  Today’s newly announced The Ballad of Gay Tony episode for Grand Theft Auto IV was only half of Rockstar’s GTA news. The other half could usher in a new approach to downloadable content. Rockstar Games announced that the fall-slated The Ballad of Gay Tony and the February-released GTA IV episode The Lost and Damned will…

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 26, 2009
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  GTA IV Fabulously Expands With The Ballad of Gay Tony

  Your Liberty City adventures will continue this Fall on the Xbox 360, as Rockstar Games has announced Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony as the game’s second downloadable episode. In contrast to Grand Theft Auto IV‘s seedy biker gang expansion The Lost and Damned, The Ballad of Gay Tony is said to focus…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2009
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  Return Of The Aggressively Competitive Gaming Ad

  Do you long for the days when video game ads were designed to attack or undermine competitive products? Don’t despair. We can confirm such days are still here. EA’s got a Wii fitness game. It’s called EA Sports Active. Don’t believe us? Try Googling it. But don’t type in “EA Sports Active.” Type in “EA…

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 26, 2009
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  Walk, Don’t Run (Or Sidle), With Nintendo’s Personal Trainer: Walking

  Personal Trainer: Walking comes with two activity meters that track your day-to-day movements, but the tiny device is not without its quirks. The activity meter is a small digital pedometer of sorts. The device has no power button, instead turning on or off when it detects movement. It has a built in infrared sensor for…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 26, 2009
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  What Sega Is Bringing To E3 2009

  Sega is bringing its A game to E3 2009. Two A games, in fact, along with a B game, a C game, two Olympic titles, and a movie tie-in. Sega’s official E3 line-up announcement doesn’t hint at any big surprises, but it does mention a fair number of titles we’re definitely keeping an eye on.…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 26, 2009
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  Who’s Keynoting For Nintendo At E3?

  This year, Nintendo’s E3 media briefing will be all “about the games,” with promises from the Wii maker that we won’t be subjected to tales of Mother’s Day cards and on-stage snowboarding. Yes, Nintendo of America executive vice president of Sales & Marketing Cammie Dunaway will be there. Also appearing will be Nintendo president Satoru…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2009
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  New PlayStation 3 Bundle Arriving Week After E3

  Sony may have just one more PlayStation announcement pre-announced before its E3 showing, as retail sources are indicating that another “new” PlayStation 3 bundle is en route to Best Buy. That’s “new” in double quotes. Because this doesn’t sound like a new new hardware bundle for the PS3. Sorry, this retail listing is not “slim”…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 26, 2009