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  Online Gaming Jumps in 2009

  Although PC online gaming has dipped slightly, a recent survey by the NPD Group shows that online gaming as a whole has increased from 19 to 25 percent this year. The console leader for online gaming is, not surprisingly, the Xbox 360 which dominates the survey with 50 percent. I was more than a little…

  By Brian Crecente Published March 10, 2009
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  FigurePrints Making World Of Warcraft Statues For Europe

  European World of Warcraft players can now order their own custom character statues, as FigurePrints announces the international expansion of their innovative service. Launched in 2007 by, The FigurePrints service, which takes game data from World of Warcraft and creates a 3D statue of a player’s character, has proven wildly popular with North American World…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 10, 2009
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  Lit Devs Working on New DSi Game

  WayForward, the developers behind Lit and A Boy and His Blob, are working on a puzzle game for the upcoming launch of the DSi. Mighty Flip Champs will be available through the DSi’s download service as a DSiWare game. In the game players control Alta as she warps through a stack of levels filled with…

  By Brian Crecente Published March 10, 2009
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  Pretty Sure Anything Tastes Good Fried

  To: Crecente From: Ashcraft RE: A Sad Passing Terribly sorry to hear about your colleague. My condolences to his family. Tonight’s dinner was eggplant. I hate eggplant. Eggplant is disgusting — it’s purple. (Yeah, so are grapes, but still.) Though, the eggplant dish tonight was fried eggplant with cheese. It was heavenly. I’m pressed to…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 10, 2009
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  A Glimpse At The New Game From Castle Crashers Dev

  The Behemoth will be unveiling their new game on March 18, the developers said today. The developers behind Castle Crashers and Alien Hominid also said they will be showing a very early version of the game off at the Tokyo Anime Fair on March 20 and 21. Until then they’ve posted this single shot from…

  By Brian Crecente Published March 10, 2009
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  Watchmen Artist Does Bionic Commando

  For a while now, visitors to the official Bionic Commando site have been able to read an online version of a Bionic Commando comic. So why bother with a real copy? It’s a damn good question, but one comics fans may want to actually ask themselves, as the man who drew the Watchmen (and Beneath…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 10, 2009
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  British Sales Charts

  Shame I used that “thin red line” headline in the PC charts, because it’d be more appropriate for these British ones. Ah well, the basic point remains: Empire Total war is #1 in the UK. Last week it managed to knock Killzone 2 off the top spot, push Halo Wars a further spot back and…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 10, 2009
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  It Gets Harder To Press Buttons As You Get Older

  Just ask game developer Hudson’s human mascot Takahashi Meijin. In his prime, he could press a controller button 16 times in a second, earning him the nickname “16 shot.” That was when Meijin was 27 years-old. He isn’t 27 anymore. “I will turn 50 in about 2 months,” says Meijin. “And I was 27 when…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 10, 2009
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  Activision: Note To Self, Must Do Better On Wii

  Like many other big-name publishers, Activision release most of their “big guns” on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Problem is, the Wii is where the money’s at. So it’s time for a change! While beating the same, tired, worn old drum of cheaper consoles that he’s been beating since 2007, Kotick took time…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 10, 2009
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  Nintendo: Wii Motion Plus Not Delayed

  According to game site IGN’s Wii podcast, the Wii MotionPlus is delayed. According to Nintendo, it’s not. The IGN podcast, which is often privy to Nintendo announcements before they’re announced, stated, “Nintendo is internally struggling with Wii MotionPlus, trying to figure out a few hiccups.” These “hiccups” would mean that Wii Sports Resort would be…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 10, 2009
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  Guitar Hero Bundles vs Software In Sales Showdown

  Activision sell a lot of copies of Guitar Hero. Ever stop to wonder, though, what the breakdown is between sales of the game’s band kit, guitar bundles and plain ol’ game discs? Course you have. And Gamasutra have the answer. Charting sales of all three versions of Guitar Hero: World Tour, they’ve found that, surprisingly…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 10, 2009
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  Order Metal Gear Online SCENE Expansion Early, Get Cardboard Box Head

  On March 16, Konami is releasing the SCENE Expansion for PS3 title Metal Gear Online. Previously, we featured a clip of the expansion, and now we’ve got screens. Besides adding characters Raiden and Vamp, the SCENE Expansion adds three maps: Ravaged Riverfront, Outer Outlet, and Hazard House. Starting today, it’s possible to pre-purchase the expansion…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 10, 2009
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  Classic PC Adventure Game Re-Released As Cartoon

  No, it’s not Day of the Tentacle. Sorry. But it’s something almost as neat: a playthrough of Jordan Mechner’s The Last Express, re-cut to look like an animated film. Poor Last Express was a PC adventure game from the 90’s, which nobody really played because the publisher’s marketing team didn’t market it. At all. Though…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 10, 2009
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  19cm Of beatmania IIDX

  Konami is releasing a limited edition beatmania IIDX Celica Mizushiro figure. The latest in its beatmania series, Celica is 19cm-tall statue is slated for an August 28 release. She’s priced at ¥5,985 (US$60) and comes with different sets of arms in various poses. 2,500の声集まり『beatmania IIDX』フィギュア第3弾「セリカ」発売 [Gpara]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 10, 2009
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  Study Determines How Often The Princess Is Actually In Another Castle

  The Princess is in another castle. The Princess is in another castle. GAH. Seems that stupid Toad says that every time you finish a level in Mario. But science shows he, in fact, doesn’t. No, it has now been proven – and this is proven by science, so it’s without refute! – that she is…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 10, 2009
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  Stripes Make This Guy’s FACE Go Faster

  Oh yes. Reader Gerrit went there. *applause* He writes: Easy one, it’s all in the contest briefing: “Put On Racing Stripes […] Racing stripes make race cars go faster. Face it, they do. […]” Reminder: Don’t put Gaffa on your face. We’re giving away a copy of Xbox 360 game Race Pro. Racing stripes make…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 10, 2009
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  PS3 Owners Getting Red Alert 3 Demo

  Word on the street has it that the upcoming PS3 version of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 is a doozy. Which is probably why EA are going to be releasing a demo. It’s scheduled to arrive in “a couple of weeks”, and should give PS3 owners the chance to check out the fancy, upgraded…

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 10, 2009
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  Listen To PlayStation Father Talk About… TVs And The Internets!

  Ken Kutaragi, former CEO and President of Sony’s PlayStation division, is best known for being the mastermind behind the successful PlayStation consoles. He’s ready to tell you about the future. Kutaragi will be giving a business seminar at the International Design Liaison Center in Tokyo Midtown on March 19th. The seminar focuses on “The Future…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 10, 2009
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  Even Disgraced Japanese Boxer Bought Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 (Yakuza 3)

  SEGA’s PS3 exclusive Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 is a smash. Lots of people have bought it — including suspended former flyweight fighter Daiki Kameda. On his official blog, Kameda posted that he’s got Ryu Ga Gotoku 3, writing, “The game I’ve been waiting for. My pops bought it for me! Weeell, gonna play! Catch later!!”…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 10, 2009
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  Excitebots Has SUPER SANDWICHES

  Forget Excite Truck. You’re living in the past. This year, it’s all about Excitebots, as Nintendo do away with that pesky realism and re-tool the game’s engine to a setting a little more suited. For example: spinning trucks? Not believable. But giant, SUPER SANDWICHES? Totally believable.

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 10, 2009