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The Video Game Audio Awards
Games have long preferred visual innovation to audio. I mean, they’re called video games, not video and audio games. But that’s not to say game audio doesn’t deserve recognition! GANG stands for Game Audio Network Guild, a group dedicating themselves to championing the work of music and sound effect teams in the game industry. And…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 1, 2009 - Uncategorized
Donkey Kong Monster Truck Has A New Play Control Scheme
And it’s called “driving on 2.5 wheels after crashing”, after the Donkey Kong monster truck – and its bow-tied driver – did a few too many big jumps at the Monster Jam World Finals. As a note to the novice drivers out there, it’s generally not a good idea to keep driving after one of…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 1, 2009 - Uncategorized
First Star Trek: DAC Screens
Top-down, space combat arcade title Star Trek: DAC is coming to Xbox LIVE this May to correspond with JJ Abram’s upcoming Star Trek reboot. It’ll be hitting the PlayStation Network sometime after the May LIVE release. To hopefully hold you over until the game’s out, Paramount has released a couple DAC screens. Well… whaddaya think?
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 1, 2009 - Uncategorized
Kojima Celebrates April Fool’s Day In Style
Continuing a tradition of going completely over the top with April 1 gags, Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima and his team have come up with…this. Metal Gear fans, be warned: you’ll go bananas. First teased at GDC, it’s a long, elaborate video showing an old friend doing…stuff. I won’t spoil any of it. Just hit…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 1, 2009 - Uncategorized
Nothing Says Cute 2D Fighter Like Maid Cafe Food
Two dimensional PlayStation 2 fighter Suggoi! Arcana Heart 2 was released this month in Japan. What better what to mark the occasion than with a maid cafe? Starting April 3, Akihabara’s Cure Maid Cafe will be hosting the “Arcana Heart Cafe @ Cure Maid Cafe”. It’ll feature food with hearts squirted on them or heart-shaped…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 1, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Cruelest April Fool’s Joke In Japan
This is going to be hard to top. Japanese website Akiba Blog has run a post saying that Dragon Quest IX went on sale last night. According to Akiba Blog, over two-thousand people lined up at midnight today for DQIX. Midnight. Today. Today is April 1, and Dragon Quest IX is slated for release this…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 1, 2009 - Uncategorized
A Look At How Microsoft Approve A Game For Release
Introversion – developers of Defcon and Darwinia – have a treat in store for us. Following “unprecedented approval” from Microsoft, they’ve uploaded a paper trail documenting the journey a game takes from pitch to release. And it is fascinating. Provided you find this kind of backroom stuff interesting, anyway. Available for perusal are bug reports,…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 1, 2009 - Uncategorized
Koei Tecmo Reveals Its New Company Logo (Looks Familiar)
Back in January, Tecmo and Koei officially merged. The merger created a joint holding company called Koei Tecmo Holdings as of April 1, when the new financial year starts. In Japan, it’s April 1, and Koei Tecmo Holdings has unveiled its new corporate logo. The logo not only combines the aesthetics of standard Koei logo…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 1, 2009 - Uncategorized
So, How Many PS3 Games Are Any Good?
Picture the scene: your mum walks into GameStop. She walks to the PlayStation 3 section, and picks out a game for your birthday. At random. What are the odds she picks a good one? Let’s find out! Just like they did for Xbox 360 games, market research firm EEDAR have tracked every PS3 game’s Metacritic…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 1, 2009 - Uncategorized
Is tri-Ace Announcing A New, Multi-Plaform RPG?
Japanese developer tri-Ace (Star Ocean, Infinite Undiscovery) has launched a website with a countdown clock for a “new RPG project”. The only catch? Tri-Ace launched it today on April 1 in Japan — you know, the day when the internet turns to crapola. The countdown website features logos for the PS3 and Xbox 360 —…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Katamari Damacy Designer Still Not Involved With New Katamari
Namco Bandai‘s Keita Takahashi (pictured) worked on the first Katamari Damacy game and its sequel We Love Katamari. Those games were great. However, Takahashi did not work on Me & My Katamari, Beautiful Katamari, I Love Katamari. Those games were less great, but whaddayagonnado. What about the forthcoming Katamari Damacy Tribute? Is Takahashi involved in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Is This A Partial Rock Band PSP Setlist?
Probably. It’s on GameStop’s website, after all, and last I checked big corporations aren’t as prone to throwing up April Fool’s jokes as common folk. As you can see from the image below, there are 15 artists/songs specifically named, out of a promised 40+. And if most of them look familiar, that’s because they are,…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Man Stabs Mother of His Children “Hooked” On PlayStation
Malcolm Palmer stabbed the mother of his three children and partner of 30 years after having to sleep on the sofa so she could play Grand Theft Auto on a plasma TV in their bedroom. That, and the 62-year-old Palmer, who is a retired Heathrow airport employee, had become convinced his 46-year-old partner Carol Cannom…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Xbox Avatar Clothing — Serious Business
Your “New Xbox Experience” avatar has just gotten some grown up clothes, eight new pieces of formal and business casual articles that will be a hit at your next Xbox Live con call. New shirts, slacks, waistcoats and skirts are yours for the virtual closet raiding, provided you want your Avatar to look nice, but…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Mafia II Swag Speaks Volumes
I can’t say anything about the game, yet. But this swag should tell you all you need to know for now about 2K’s second mobster game coming out this fall. Note the Italian restaurant-style takeout container. That ain’t pasta sauce splattered on the edge, there… Open it up and you’ll find — not a severed…
By AJ Glasser Published March 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Syndicate Remake Looking More Likely
Way back in October 2008, we first heard talk that Starbreeze were working on a remake of Bullfrog’s classic Syndicate. Was nice talk, but talk nonetheless. Today, that talk has resurfaced. First, industry site Gamesindustry.biz said that, according to sources, Starbreeze (developers of The Darkness) were at work on a new Syndicate title, and that…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Midway Revises Sketchy “Key Employee” Bankruptcy Bonus Plan Following Flak
Mortal Kombat publisher Midway caught some heat from its creditors and a government-appointed trustee over some questionable bonuses attached to the sale of its properties and a publishing agreement with Wheelman co-publisher Ubisoft. But Midway has since altered the deal, submitting a revised version to the courts to address concerns about the proposed $3.75 million…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
EA Passes Us A Madden NFL 10 Release Date
After the exciting cliffhanger conclusion to Madden NFL 09, rabid football fans are undoubtedly looking forward to see what happens to the Madden cast this season. EA announced today when Madden NFL 10 begins. On August 14th, 2009, the epic tale of John Madden and National Football League licensed sports sims continues, with all new…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 31, 2009 -
UncategorizedThe Simpsons Almost Killed Dead Space
If you wonder why Dead Space cribs from other material, consider the fact that they were the sole new IP developed in competition with The Godfather, Lord of the Rings and The Simpsons. There is no way EA would let a licensed game near the chopping block — not if a little-known new IP like…
By AJ Glasser Published March 31, 2009 - Uncategorized
Mad Dog McCree Ushering In Laserdisc Games For The Wii?
Looks like publisher Majesco may be bringing 1990’s laserdisc western shooter Mad Dog McCree to the Wii, according to a listing from online rental service GameFly. Why would we consider that a good thing? While we have no particular attachment to the decades old light gun shooter, already released on multiple formats by publisher Digital…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 31, 2009