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  Taito Bringing FPS To Arcades (Again!)

  A first-person-shooter arcade game…for Japan? Why not, it wouldn’t be a first. Taito rolled out dual-joystick-foot-pedal-controlled networked FPS Half-Life 2: Survivor in 2006. Now, Taito has announced another first-person-shooter for arcades. Dubbed Cyber Diver, its described as an “original” take on the FPS genre with 5-on-5 networked play and a new game system that displays…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009
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  The Science Behind World Of Warcraft’s Item Drop Percentages

  Strip back the story and the inter-personal relationships, and really, World of Warcraft’s all about the loot. Killing things in return for things. But what’s the science behind those loot drops? In a talk today at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Blizzard have revealed that, when WoW expansion Wrath of the Lich King…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009
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  Virtual Console Getting Game From Famous Japanese Game Hater

  Beat Takeshi is a well-known Japanese comedian, actor, director, writer, painter and pundit. He also made a video game. Takeshi’s Challenge was designed by Takeshi and released by Taito for the Nintendo Famicom in 1986. It is hitting the Japanese Virtual Console on March 31. Takeshi’s Challenge followed a salaryman as he beat up yakuza,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009
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  Project Offset LIVES!

  Whhooaahh, Project Offset! Been a while. The fantasy epic, which may we remind you has been in development for a long time, reared its head this week and let us know it’s still kicking. Not only is there a new website, with the promise of announcements to come, but there’s a couple of trailers as…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009
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  My Chemical Romance Writes Final Fantasy VII ACC Song

  Legendary Japanese rocker Kyosuke Himuro, member of seminal band Boøwy, has joined forces with emo vocalist Gerard Way from the group My Chemical Romance for the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete. Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura is a big Boøwy fan. Back in 2005, Himuro’s tune “Calling” from his 1989 album Neo Fascio found its…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009
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  Are These Box Art Designs Similar?

  Folks are fluttering around on the Japanese internet about the boxart similarity between these two games. Kwinky-dink or sinister thievery? Namco Bandai’s Xbox 360 role-playing-game Tales of Vesperia was a big hit when it was released in Japan last summer, selling 161,070 copies. The game was so popular it caused the Xbox 360 to sell…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009
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  The Art of LittleBigPlanet: Never Compromise

  Media Molecule‘s Creative Director, Mark Healey, and Art Director, Kareem Ettouney, had an hour to try and explain the look and feel of LittleBigPlanet — it took them about two seconds and one trailer. But the talk went on for well over an hour as the two creative types gushed about their award-winning innovation. LittleBigPlanet…

  By AJ Glasser Published March 27, 2009
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  Mega Man 2 Limps Onto The iPhone

  Mega Man 2 has been released on the iPhone! Like, the full, proper, 1988 version! Cause for celebration, yes? As it stands, no. Cool your Mega Busters, kids. While the game retains all the levels and bosses of the original, some things are different. The controls, for one, which you’d expect from a touch-screen-only device.…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009
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  How Sackboy Learned to Love Physics

  Last night, Media Molecule’s David Smith accepted four awards for LittleBigPlanet at the Game Developers Choice Awards. I’m amazed he’s awake enough to lecture on the game’s physics this morning. Here are some key insights Smith had into the challenges of making a game where physics is everything and logic is next to nothing: “I…

  By AJ Glasser Published March 27, 2009
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  Katamari Damacy PS3 Rolls Up A New Look

  Katamari Damacy has already made a current-gen appearance, on the Xbox 360. It was a bit of a let-down, though. The upcoming PS3 title – Katamari Damacy Tribute – is at least trying something new. You’ll notice in the trailer that, apart from the fact there are animals providing a play-by-play, the graphics for the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 27, 2009
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  Triggerheart Exelica Limited Edition Set Shoots Up The Cute

  Arcade shooter Triggerheart Exelica is getting a PS2 port, called Triggerheart Exelica -Enhanced-. There’s a limited edition version for the PS2. Packaged with a Exelica figure from figure maker Good Smile Company, the limited edition version includes a balloon for those who pre-ordered. The game includes new elements like an opening movie and new CG…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 27, 2009
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  And You Thought YOU Combed Over The Modern Warfare 2 Trailer…

  On the one hand, we really should scold Infinity Ward for their interactive Modern Warfare 2 teaser. It’s silly. But on the other hand, who can resist the opportunity to go digging for clues? Not us. And probably not you, either. But where our lack of both patience and Russian language skills brought our digging…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 26, 2009
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  New DSi Colors Are Fast

  First the new PSP shades were slick race cars, and now it’s Nintendo’s turn to turn its colorful DSi in speed demons for the Japanese viewing public. Less a car motif and more a colored pencil one, this Nintendo ad is pleasant eye candy — though not has heavy on the glossy hardware sexy, but…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 26, 2009
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  PlayStation Store Update: I Smell A Riot Goin’ On

  That odor we’re smelling? Crispy zombie flesh as Burn Zombie Burn shambles its way to the North American PlayStation Store alongside Worms. Not a bad Thursday on the PlayStation Network front, we’d say. Those two brand new games join a horde of Resistance 2 downloadables, with skins and maps abound for the PlayStation 3 shooter.…

  By Michael McWhertor Published March 26, 2009
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  Left 4 Dead Sales Figures (Sort Of) Revealed

  Left 4 Dead has been hanging around the charts for months now, like a…well, like a zombie hanging around a shopping mall. But how many copies has it sold in that time? Speaking today at GDC, Valve revealed that it’s sold 2.5 million copies at retail. Note, that’s at retail. So GameStop, Amazon, that kind…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 26, 2009
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  Only A Few Hours Of Smack Talk Left

  Only a few hours left! We’re giving away a sofa (not a couch, a SOFA) and an Xbox 360. What do you gotta do? Impress us with your classic game board smack talk. Click below for more details, contest rules and how to enter your smack talk. The Best Board Game Trash Talker Wins A…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 26, 2009
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  Nintendo DSi Returns To Sales Dominance In Japan

  After a few weeks of the Nintendo DSi being outsold by the PSP, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the Nintendo handheld returns to the top of the charts in Japan, thanks to mech fans. With Super Robot Taisen K out and topping sales charts, Japanese gamers are storming electronics stores, snatching up DSis at a…

  By Michael McWhertor Published March 26, 2009
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  Infinity Ward Dropping “Call Of Duty”?

  Judging from both the game’s website and, more importantly, its official press release, it appears that Infinity Ward have dropped the name “Call of Duty” from upcoming title Modern Warfare 2. Go on, look at the website. Tell me how many times you see the words “Call of Duty”. Then read the game’s press release,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 26, 2009
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  Why Molyneux Will Likely Never See Marley & Me

  As my interview with Lionhead’s Peter Molyneux wrapped up today and I was about to walk out of the hotel door, I remembered an important question. “Have you seen Marley and Me yet,” I ask. Molyneux seems confused for a second than remembers it’s that movie based on the true story of a man and…

  By Brian Crecente Published March 26, 2009
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  Gamify Your Google With iGoogle Game Themes

  Google makes web searching so much more exciting with the introduction of iGoogle video game themes, featuring art from Mega Man, Animal Crossing, Tomb Raider, Street Fighter, and more. The new themes were revealed last niught during a Game Developers Conference meeting that hardly anyone attended, possibly due to the invitation’s last-minute arrival and the…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 26, 2009