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Ubisoft CEO Expects $60 Million Game Budgets Next Gen
If Yves Guillemot, chairman and CEO of publisher Ubisoft, is correct, the next generation of video game consoles won’t just look visually on par with current CGI movies, they’ll be outrageously expensive to make—more than double current budgets. Guillemot, according to a report from CNBC, estimates video game budgets will “average $60 million to make”…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Red Faction: Guerrilla Price Hammered Quickly
THQ’s sci-fi third-person shooter Red Faction: Guerrilla was released in North America just eleven days ago, but prices appear to be quickly dropping on the Xbox 360 version of the game. Both NewEgg and Amazon.com are marking it down. The two online retailers were both listing the title for $20 below its normal asking price,…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
How Our Game Platforms Will Change In 2009
PSP, DSi, and Xbox 360 owners can expect their consoles to gain some new abilities over the next month — many for no added cost. We’ve broken down the big changes coming. [NOTE: The following reflects the plans for the U.S. market] Spring In June, during E3, Sony enabled the PSP Video Store, which allows…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
These PlayStation 3 Games Are Now Greatest Hits
The price of the PlayStation 3 may be holding steady, but the software library just got a price cut, effective today. That includes a cheaper Metal Gear Solid 4, now sporting a tasteful new red “Greatest Hits” bar. As previously posted, the PS3 game library welcomes six new “Greatest Hits” budget offerings in North America,…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Space Invaders Extreme Gets A Bit More Extreme Tomorrow
More levels, more bosses, more enemies, and two classic arcade emulators add even more extreme to Space Invaders Extreme as new DLC for the Xbox Live Arcade version drops from the sky tomorrow. A total of three new stages are being added to Space Invaders Extreme with tomorrow’s new downloadable content, along with the requisite…
By Mike Fahey Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Best 2009 Video Game Soundtrack So Far?
You’ve heard the theme to Bowser’s castle from Super Mario Bros. But have you heard it remixed in kind of a hip-hop way and officially commissioned by Nintendo as part of the Pictobits soundtrack? A reader rightly chided me for omitting mention of YMCK in my Pictobits review last month. That’s YMCK, the Japanese chiptunes…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Microsoft: 1 Vs 100 Live Season Pass “Simply A Test”
1 Vs. 100 Live is currently in beta testing on Xbox Live and currently free to Xbox Live Gold members. That may change with the introduction of the “Season Pass,” but Microsoft calls the double subscription possibility “simply a test.” The Xbox Live Primetime game show recently had its description clarified, formerly planned as free…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Remembering Final Fantasy VIII
PopMatters recently posted an extremely in-depth look back at Final Fantasy VIII, exploring the themes, emotions, and insight into human behavior that make one of the most neglected entries in the franchise great. Final Fantasy VIII was light-years ahead of VII both graphically and in terms of complexity, and perhaps that’s the reason the game…
By Mike Fahey Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
PSA: Nintendo DSi Doesn’t Rock
For those of you looking forward to picking up a copy of Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits, don’t forget that it doesn’t work with Nintendo’s DSi. Despite coming with an adapter that lets you use the game with either the original DS or DS Lite, the game doesn’t include anything to let you use…
By Brian Crecente Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Bethesda Softworks Goes Full Steam Ahead
Steam users can now enjoy more of the fruits of Bethesda Softworks labor, as The Elder Scrolls series and Call of Cthulhu join Valve’s digital distribution service. Hardly shocking news, but news nonetheless. Typical of new Steam additions, the updated Bethesda catalog is currently cheap. That means things like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 16, 2009 - Reviews
Prototype Review: Alex Mercer SMASH!
Anti-hero Alex Mercer takes more than a few cues from The Incredible Hulk as he stalks the streets of New York City in Activision’s free-roaming action adventure, Prototype. Developed by Radical Entertainment, the team behind The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Prototype follows much the same formula as that Marvel Comics inspired title. Both feature super-powered…
By Mike Fahey Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Great Chain Interview, Part 2: Metroid Guy To Xbox Guy To PS3 Guy
When last we left off, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto was asking me to ask Metroid designer Yoshio Sakamoto when he wants Miyamoto to retire… [This post is the second in a series that recounts the chain of questions I solicited from the people I interviewed during E3. I asked each of my interviewees to ask a…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Wait is Over
The Ghostbusters are back in Ghostbusters™: The Video Game, available now from Atari! 2009 is the 25th anniversary of the original theatrical release of Ghostbusters and original writers Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd have teamed to script the video game. Click here to order now or click through for a preview of Ghostbusters. With Manhattan…
By Chrissie Lamond Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Wheelman Devs Unveil ‘Necessary Force,’ Seek Buyer
With all things Midway up for auction and interested buyer Warner Bros. committed to purchasing only portions of the company, some of the company’s assets are looking for a new home. That includes Midway Newcastle—and its new game. So Midway Newcastle, developers of the coolly received Vin Diesel vehicle Wheelman, is looking for a buyer,…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
And The Game Critics Best Of E3 2009 Award Nominees Are…
The official Game Critics Best of E3 2009 award nominee list has been released, with Brutal Legend and Uncharted 2 punctuating EA and Sony’s nomination domination. Both EA’s Brutal Legend and Sony Computer Entertainment’s Uncharted 2: Among Thieves rise to the top of this year’s nomination list, both scoring four each including the coveted Best…
By Mike Fahey Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Msoft: Gay Tony OK, Gay Gamer Tags Not Yet
This fall, an Xbox 360 game will have the word “gay” in its title. But will 360 gamers be able to call themselves gay by then? During an E3 interview with Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Xbox Live software and services, John Schappert, I posed a question that I’d been sent by a reader: How…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Autobots Seem Terribly Outmatched In Transformers 2 Multiplayer
The Decepticons might be bigger, stronger, faster, and more maneuverable that the Autobots in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen mutliplayer, but the Autobots have spunk! This is the main with accurately depicting a battle between the opposing robot factions in the Transformers. The Decepticons can fly. Not only that, but in the Michael Bay movies…
By Mike Fahey Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Apple Gaming Console Makes Sense, Says Gameloft CEO
It would make sense for Apple to expand their reach into gaming in light of the success of the iPhone and iPod Touch, Gameloft CEO Michell Guillemot told Kotaku today. Late last month Yves Guillemot, Michel Guillemot‘s brother and the CEO of Ubisoft, said that he didn’t think Apple’s gaming success would stop with the…
By Brian Crecente Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
PEGI Triumphs Over The BBFC
The war between the British Board of Film Classification and the Pan-European Game Information system over UK game ratings comes to an end today, with PEGI to act as the UK’s sole age rating system. The war has been long and hard, with the BBFC contending that a local board would be more in-tune with…
By Mike Fahey Published June 16, 2009 - Uncategorized
Donate Your Used Games To Needy Children
Which is worth more, a $15 trade-in credit or getting your used games into the hands of children who would never get a chance to play them otherwise? This is a question raised by Pixel Equity, a new non-profit organization dedicated to getting video games and consoles into the hands of children at youth centers…
By Mike Fahey Published June 16, 2009