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  Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon: New Screens, Old Logo

  The arrival of a new Fire Emblem is a frightening thing for me. Why? Well, while the prospect of playing this NES remake is exciting, the obsessive desire to keep every soldier alive isn’t. I’ll likely have to forgo that obsession Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, scheduled to move six spaces forward to retail next week.…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2009
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  Wanted: Weapons of Fate Shows Promise

  I thought I’d seen the last of Wanted after seeing falling asleep during the film — but, nope! Warner Bros. Interactive is determined to do better with the game than they did with the movie. Movie games tend to leave a bad taste in my mouth. They’re most often cheap cash-ins Hollywood studios use to…

  By AJ Glasser Published February 10, 2009
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  Team Fortress 2 Demake Gang Garrison 2 Goes 2.0

  When things go 2.0, it’s a big deal. Remember Web 2.0? Boy did we have some fun with that! Thankfully, the fan-made, Team Fortress 2-inspired 8-bit”demake” Gang Garrison 2 has reached such a milestone. The game’s creators, having officially flipped the 2.0 switch, feel Gang Garrison 2 “is now stable enough to start telling the…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2009
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  Report: Game Industry Spent $823M Shilling Games In ’08

  The video game industry racked up impressive sales in 2008, pulling in more than $21 billion in sales in the United States alone. That make for a similarly impressive marketing tab. According to researchers at the Nielsen Company and its Monitor-Plus advertising monitoring service, the industry spent an astounding $823 million promoting its video game…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2009
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  Without Guitar Hero, We Might Never Have Had Brütal Legend

  The fate of Double Fine Productions’ Brütal Legend has been in doubt before, but without the success of Harmonix and RedOctane’s Guitar Hero, it might never have seen the light of day. Double Fine founder Tim Schafer tells OXM that pre-Guitar Hero, when the team was pitching concept of a roadie turned savior of a…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2009
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  Doc

  To: Ash From: Crecente Re: “I’ve Heard Warm Dr. Pepper With Lemon Helps” I’m going to the doctor tomorrow for a physical. Somehow I’ve managed to miss the last three year’s worth. Man I hope it only involves removing things and not inserting things too. What you missed: The Cosplay of NYCC (Part Two) Scholastic…

  By Brian Crecente Published February 10, 2009
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  Ric Flair Knocked Out By Man In Bear Suit In The Name Of Red Alert 3 Marketing Confirmed

  Seems that our sources at Electronic Arts are correct. Professional wrestler and Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3: Uprising star Ric Flair was indeed fighting bears in Los Angeles. Here’s video proof. In part one of the “To be continued” series of Flair Vs. Bear spots, Mr. Flair is assaulted by a Russian bear, imagery…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2009
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  Nintendo Magazine Delay Hints At Exclusive Game Reveal?

  Subscribers to the UK’s Official Nintendo Magazine have suffered a momentary delay in monthly Nintendo news, possibly in the interests of exclusive new game info, which could hit as early as Friday. According to subscriber communication passed on to a GoNintendo reader, the Official Nintendo Magazine staff apologized for the long wait between issues, noting…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2009
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  SpongeBob iPhonePants

  iPhone game developers seem to be working through the genres in record speed. We’ve already seen action, shooters, racers, casual and now kids. Atlantis Treasures brings SpongeBob to the iPhone and iPod Touch. The game includes five themed rooms and a bevy of characters from the Nickelodeon show. Spin the 3D game board to match…

  By Brian Crecente Published February 10, 2009
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  The Lost And Damned Soundtrack Gets More Death Metal, Hip Hop

  When Rockstar Games ships Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned for the Xbox 360 next week, it will do so with an updated playlist tailored to serious fans and biker gangs. While we’d heard a few peeps about the new (and old) tunes from Busta Rhymes and Motorhead coming to The Lost and…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2009
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  New York Comic Con: It’s a Wrap (Up)

  That’s it, all our coverage, our pictures, our impressions and our stories from this year’s New York Comic Con. In case you missed something here’s our full run down: Cosplay The Cosplay of NYCC (Part 1) This Blue Dragon ‘Shu’ Mascot Is Really Creepy The Cosplay of NYCC (Part Two) Culture Square-Enix Brings Toys, Not…

  By Brian Crecente Published February 10, 2009
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  The Best Way To Play F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

  …and you thought your gaming chair was sweet. This was certainly the most immersive gaming display at the New York Comic Con. We got a look at this contraption a few weeks ago at a Gamestop in NYC, but now we’re finally able to see everything. The chair gives you real-time feedback on your heart…

  By Jim Reilly Published February 10, 2009
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  Dante’s Inferno: Like God of War, But Marginally Different

  Details on Electronic Arts’ video game interpretation of Dante’s Inferno, announced last October, have been hard to come by, but UK’s PSM3 has first details. What is it? God of War in Hell, apparently. So much for originality, it seems. PSM3’s own cover description boils down Dante’s Inferno‘s mechanics to essentially “Dead Space meets God…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2009
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  This Is Entirely Way Too Much Pac-Man Stuff, Namco

  Square-Enix wasn’t the only publisher at the New York Comic-Con trying to turn a profit. Namco brought, well, everything from their Club Namco online store to the show. I really, really wanted one of those Pac-Man plushy hats, but it turns out I have to eat this week. Bummer. I also saw some glorious looking…

  By Jim Reilly Published February 10, 2009
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  KenKen Makes Math… Fun?

  The New York Times this weekend started running a new numerical logic puzzle from Japan called KenKen next to their crossword puzzle. It’s sort of like sudoku, but with math involved. I found this web version of the game that lets you play online and get your solutions right away, without having to wait around…

  By Brian Crecente Published February 10, 2009
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  Activision Hastily Tosses Together Fun4All Wii Label

  Activision UK has had a smashing idea, cobbling together a half-dozen Wii games that “the whole family can enjoy!” then slapping on the Fun4All label. Sound familiar? The North American Activision recently did the same. The UK’s Fun4All label is, for all intents and purposes, North America’s “Wee 1ST” label, a branding scheme that will…

  By Michael McWhertor Published February 10, 2009
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  Snoop Dogg Gets Variety Show, Coming to Rock Band

  Grammy-Award nominated rapper and man-about-Hollywood Snoop Dogg just landed a new MTV-aired variety with benefits. The benefits? He’s also going to be releasing songs from his “impressive catalog of hits” on Rock Band. The TV show, called Dogg After Dark, will feature interviews, sketch-comedy and musical performances. It has been picked up for a seven…

  By Brian Crecente Published February 10, 2009
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  Four New Glimpses of Brutal Legend

  Due out this fall on the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, everything I’ve seen about Double Fine’s Brutal Legend just leaves me hankering for more. But I’m tightly gripping my pessimism until after I see some lengthy hands-on gameplay with the Jack Black vehicle.

  By Brian Crecente Published February 10, 2009
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  90 Minutes With GTA: Chinatown Wars

  After sitting down with the game for a few minutes early in the show, the folks at Rockstar Games gave me a more in-depth look of their upcoming massive title for the Nintendo DS. Original I only got a chance to spend about 10 minutes with this game on the Comic-Con floor, but that’s clearly…

  By Jim Reilly Published February 10, 2009
• Reviews

  Flower Micro-Review: All We Are Is Dust In The Wind

  Flower is an odd proposition. Just like thatgamecompany’s last title, flOw, it’s not really a game. It’s a relaxant, suited more for a 3am slump on the couch than a 3-hour session after work. And like flOw, Flower is sure to again divide critics and gamers alike. While the basic structure of a game is…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 10, 2009