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  Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata GDC Keynote Liveblog Party

  Nintendo president Satoru Iwata will get his keynote on at the 2009 Game Developers Conference today, waxing behind his LCD screen lectern about “Discovering New Development Opportunities.” Oh, yes, we’re excited too. According to the official description of the talk, Iwata will focus on Wii and Nintendo DS development, as well as “Nintendo’s role in…

  By Michael McWhertor Published March 25, 2009
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  Aeria Brings Hello Kitty Online To North America

  In the most exciting news out of the Game Developers Conference so far this morning, Sanrio Digital and Aeria Games are partnering to officially bring Hello Kitty Online to North America. Aeria Games will manage the online publishing and day-to-day operation of Sanrio Digital’s Hello Kitty Online, a massively multiplayer online game with a built-in…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 25, 2009
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  505 Games Joins The ESA

  Another small triumph for the Entertainment Software Association today, as the North American branch of 505 Games joins the game industry trade organization. 505 Games is the third new member of the ESA to join this year, together with Natsume and Southpeak bringing the organization’s roster up to 23 companies. The smaller North American offshoot…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 25, 2009
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  The Brutal Art of Brutal Legend

  I can’t yet write about what we were shown at Double Fine’s San Francisco studio earlier this week, but I did get permission to post some of the pictures from our wait. What’ this, a wall full of Brutal Legend concept art? Don’t mind if I do!

  By Brian Crecente Published March 25, 2009
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  id Considering Enemy Territory For Quake Live Treatment

  Quake Live‘s open beta is blowing away id Software‘s expectations, so much so the developer is considering working on a free, web browser version of Quake Enemy Territories, said id’s Todd Hollenshead. “The participation in the open beta is 50 percent higher than what we expected,” Hollenshead said. The beta was perhaps too successful, at…

  By Brian Crecente Published March 25, 2009
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  But Are Needles Really Scary?

  To: Fahey From: Bashcraft RE: Mmmm, Rotting Groceries Had to take Micro-Bash to the doctor today — where the little squirt got his blood taken for an allergy test. Was amazed that the baby didn’t cry at all, but giggled as the needle was being jabbed in his arm. Granted, the kid is four months…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2009
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  Nintendo Keynote Approaching!

  9am. Pacific Time in the United States. Set your watches. That’s when Nintendo president Satoru Iwata will take the stage for his GDC 2009 keynote address. And we’ll be there. This being a major keynote, and this being Nintendo, anything could happen. Nintendo could stick with current form and announce, well, nothing. Just a feel-good…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2009
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  S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Cosplayers Take Cosplay To Its Logical Conclusion

  Remember those S.T.A.L.K.E.R. cosplayers from last year? They’re back. And they’ve taken the last twelve months to step up their game. Around 70 fans met up in the village of Sengileyevskoe, in the south of Russia last week for some serious S.T.A.L.K.E.R. re-enactment. Like, very serious. We’re talking simulated firefights, simulated wasteland bartering, even simulated…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2009
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  Tales Of Vesperia Finally Gets PAL Release

  Your candlelight vigil is at an end, PAL users. Tales of Vesperia will be out in “June 2009”, according to Namco Bandai Europe.

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2009
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  An Updated List Of The Best, And Worst, Street Fighter IV Characters

  All men may be created equal, maybe, but all Street Fighter IV characters? Nunh unh. No fighting game can ever have totally balanced characters, and Street Fighter IV is no exception. So who owns/sucks? Let’s. Find. Out. Before we start, though, a little house-keeping. We saw one of these charts last year, yes, but that…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2009
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  Yes, Yes, The Jaleco Name Lives On

  Earlier this year, Jaleco Holdings announced that it was leaving the video game business. And the company has — poof, it’s gone and moved on. Before it left, as we first broke last January, Jaleco Holdings sold off subsidiary company Jaleco to online game company GAME YAROU. Jaleco has been struggling for the past decade,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2009
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  You Still Having Empire: Total War Problems?

  Don’t fret. You’re not alone. Most, if not all players of Creative Assembly’s masterpiece have been struggling through various technical issues since the game’s launch. Me, I’ve been lucky. In the 17,563 hours I’ve played the game so far, the only problem I’m having is a 10-second stall whenever I click on a port towards…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2009
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  PS3 Breeding Game Getting Sequel

  Record of Agarest War, released in 2007, is a PS3 breeding RPG. And breeding means doing it — and what did that mean? Not that much. Anyway, the game has a “Soul Breed” system in which players must capture the heart of the game’s heroines so that they can create their successor. When this happens,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2009
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  Alienware Laying Off Employees

  Times, they are tough. And Dell, owners of PC gaming enthusiast brand Alienware, are no exception, with tech site ExtremeTech reporting that an undisclosed number of Alienware employees are facing the sack. Citing an internal memo they obtained from an Alienware employee, it’s said that the group will be closing both of its dedicated manufacturing…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2009
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  Capcom Founder Churning Out Wine

  Besides video games, Capcom founder and chairman Kenzo Tsujimoto makes wine. That, and lots of money. Tsujimoto has gotten into wine-making and last year, he launched his first vintage made at a Napa Valley winery. The property was purchased by Capcom USA in 1990, and Tsujimoto later bought it as a private property. He has…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2009
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  Nokia Say N-Gage Popularity Increasing

  Ah, N-Gage. Such a…tarnished brand. You’d think after two failed N-Gage handsets and a “who cares?” launch of an N-Gage gaming portal, Nokia would just give up. But they’re not. According to a statement released by the company yesterday, the number of registered users on the new service (think Xbox Live, but for phones) has…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2009
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  Bionic Commando Gets Firm Release Date For Japan

  While Capcom’s Bionic Commando has been vaguely dated as “May” for the West, the game now has a firm release date for Japan. Bionic Commando will be released in Japan on June 25 and priced at ¥7,340 (US$75). The game is an updated version of the classic NES title by the same name. Bionic Commando…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2009
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  Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Blu-Ray Comes Stateside

  According to a report on Blu-Ray.com, this June, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete will be released in the United States on Blu-Ray. Just in case you missed it first time around. It’ll be out on June 7, and will, like the Japanese version, come with a ton of bonus features, including: * “Legacy of…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 25, 2009
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  Unannounced Resident Evil 6 Could Take 8 Years

  Resident Evil 5 is a big hit. Know what Capcom likes better than big hits? Making big hits into big hit sequels. According to RE5 producer Masachika Kawata, “We haven’t decided whether we’re going to make Resident Evil 6 yet… But if we do, it could take anywhere up to eight years, but hopefully only…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 25, 2009
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  Wii Punch-Out!! Has Another Control Scheme: Your Feet

  Nintendo’s European arm leaks one more previously unannounced Punch-Out!! features, noting that the Wii remake of the NES classic will offer Wii Balance Board support for a third control scheme. Seems Little Mac has a fitness ultimatum of his own to issue, as Nintendo of Italy’s press release brings first word of Balance Board support,…

  By Michael McWhertor Published March 25, 2009