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  What Happened At The Mass Effect 2 Panel

  I’d been dreading writing up what happened at the last GDC panel I attended, and not because it was boring to sit through. Far from it – BioWare showed off a couple Mass Effect 2 videos with combat and cut scenes; two journalists I admire almost got in a fight about the illicit recording of…

  By AJ Glasser Published April 2, 2009
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  Bipolar Weather

  To: Ash From: Crecente Re: IT’S SNOWING?! Yeah, Denver weather is insane. It snowed the day Tristan was born, in may, and then a week or two later we had a blizzard. But it keeps you on your toes. And where else can you live where it’s barbecue weather for lunch and you’re shoveling snow…

  By Brian Crecente Published April 2, 2009
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  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
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  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
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  DSi Accessories Inbound

  With the launch of Nintendo’s DSi in North America imminent it’s only natural that we would start hearing about new accessories for the portable. BDA today announced a whole line up of Power A DSi doodads and whatnots. But sadly no unmentionables. The collection includes, in BDA’s own words: Folio Starter Kit This kit provides…

  By Brian Crecente Published April 2, 2009
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  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
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  Even League Of Legends Needs A Snow Level

  In case you needed further proof that Riot Games‘ League of Legends: Clash of Fates was a real game, we give you…the snow level. I wouldn’t go as far as saying a game requires a snow level in order to be considered a real game, but it certainly helps. As it stood, I was pretty…

  By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009
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  Flock Playset Is Painfully Endearing

  This has to be one of the cutest game-themed playsets I’ve seen in quite awhile. OK, maybe it’s the only game-themed playset I’ve seen in ever. The mother ship is surrounded by a farm’s worth of animals and a lone ship ready to do some gathering and probing. The best part is that the whole…

  By Brian Crecente Published April 2, 2009
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  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
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  Funcom “Opens The Floodgates” With Conan Free Trial

  Funcom really, really wants new players to come try out Age of Conan, releasing a persuasive video and a free trial offer to try and make that happen. Age of Conan has gotten off to a bit of a slow start. Well, that’s not entirely true. More like it got off to a quick start,…

  By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009
• Reviews

  BattleForge Review: Collectible Card-Time Strategy

  What happens when you mix together real-time strategy gameplay with collectible card game sensibilities? BattleForge happens. Developed by EA’s Phenomic, BattleForge is an intriguing mix of real-time strategy and collectible card game on a massively multiplayer online level. Where a standard real-time strategy game has units with various powers and abilities, BattleForge has a set…

  By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009
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  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
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  Arkham Asylum, Punch-Out, Wolfenstein: The Previews of GDC

  This year’s Game Developers Conference was, as is often the case, quite a bit of fun. It was packed with opportunities to sit down and talk with the people behind some of the greatest games, past, present and future. This year, though, it was also quite loaded up with the chance to play soon-to-be-released games.…

  By Brian Crecente Published April 2, 2009
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  Foot Locker has some sweet kicks. You love a trivia challenge.

  Together you can create something beautiful, namely a $100 gift card in your pocket. Go here, hunt around for trivia facts, and answer the questions after the jump. Correct responses could earn you a $100 gift card to revamp your style with the PUMA Archive Collection. Standard Rules Apply. Trivia Questions • In 2000, PUMA…

  By Chrissie Lamond Published April 2, 2009
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  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
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  Wolverine Behind-The-Scenes Is Best There is At What It Does

  Activision unleashes the first behind-the-scenes video for X-Men Origins: Wolverine is definitely the best at what it does: proving that the developers at Raven are a bunch of drooling Wolverine fanboys. Activision seems to have a knack for passing their Marvel properties on to developers in love with the characters, though as was the case…

  By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009
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  Runes Of Magic Channels Mario Kart

  Frogster continues to throw all the gameplay they can possibly find into Runes of Magic, introducing a suspiciously kart-like horse racing mini-game, complete with mystery power-ups. The Wind-Runner Race is an 8-person horse race that players sign up for in the city of Varanas in the game world. Once the race card is full the…

  By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009