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EA Calls Gaming Recessing A “Blessing”
Like many companies, Electronic Arts is having a rough time. Earlier this month, EA exec John Riccitiello called the lower than expected earnings “a clear disappointment,” announcing additional, extended layoffs. The impact of the cratering global economy on the game industry is not a bad thing necessarily says Riccitiello. It is a “blessing.” Hard times…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 20, 2009 - Uncategorized
Former Nintendo President Not As Rich (Still Filthy Rich, Though)
Hiroshi Yamauchi, who ran Nintendo from 1949 to 2002, was the richest man in Japan last year with a net worth of approximately US$7.8 billion. What about this year? With even Nintendo hit by the global financial crisis, the 81-year-old Yamauchi’s net worth plunged by $3.3 billion to $4.5 billion. He is now ranked third…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 20, 2009 - Uncategorized
Grand Theft Auto IV Censorship Was Accidental, Will Be Fixed
It’s OK, Europeans. Yes, your versions of Grand Theft Auto IV have been censored. That’s the bad news. The good news? It’s all a mistake, and Rockstar are working on a fix. “We are aware of an error with the latest GTA IV title update and are confident the issue will be fixed within the…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
Three Masks With Bonus Shirtless Man
Scary Tim Curry face! Nice watch though. Kotakuite Neo Deus writes: “I have a recurring nightmare in which a shirtless Tim Curry is stalking me at a masquerade ball, dressed as the scariest thing he knows of (consequently, also Tim Curry), and suspiciously proffering an apple to me. This is my attempt to share this…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
Street Fighter Movie Won’t Be Screened For Critics
Do you still hold high hopes for the Street Fighter movie? Really? This might dash them a touch. Turns out the movie won’t be screened for film critics. Which is rarely a good thing. Rather than open the film up for a potential savaging from reviewers, Fox have decided that critics can get in line…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Nintendo DSi’s Launch Video
As previously announced, the Nintendo DSi is launching in the U.S. on April 5 for US$169.99. Nintendo has released this slick, glossy video to help explain the hardware. Watch it. Alrighty, quick show of hands: Who’s buying? Thanks, Supa_S for the tip!
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
Harmonix, MTV Games Give $50,000 plus 650 Rock Band Bundles to Sick Kids
The Starlight Foundation has been using gaming as part of their charity operation for years — but it looks like they’ve struck it big with a Harmonix/MTV Games partnership and a hefty donation. Fifty-thousand dollars is described as a “generous minimum donation” by Starlight, but they’ve got to be thrilled about the 650 Rock Band…
By AJ Glasser Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
PlayStation Store Update: Noby Noby Noby
“Spring Fever” continues this week with two new downloadable titles for the PlayStation Network, Zuma and Noby Noby Boy, the latest from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi. Those two will serve as most people’s highlights, though the Mirror’s Edge DLC is probably also worth a serious look (though the emphasis on floating islands, and not…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
See a Slew of Persona PSP Vids
Boy, St. Hermelin High is a lot more lightning-y now than it was back in 1996 — I guess that’s the power of the redrawn cinema in action. Siliconera dug up these four vids from YouTube for your viewing pleasure. The first contains the aforementioned lightning and a glowing child. The rest are long, drawn-out…
By AJ Glasser Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
New Resident Evil 5 Trailer Builds Character
The latest trailer for Capcom’s Resident Evil 5 goes much deeper into the story and characters in the game then ever before, ending on a note of mysterious mystery. This is more exposition on the story of Resident Evil 5 than I’ve received in a year of watching trailers, playing demos, or writing about the…
By Mike Fahey Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
Bonfire Rises From The Ashes Of Ensemble
Robot Entertainment isn’t the only development house rising from the ruins of Halo Wars developer Ensemble Studios, as 35 ex-Ensemble employees join together as Bonfire Studios, already hard at work on an original title. Days after Ensemble co-founder Tony Goodman announced the formation of Robot Entertainment, former management team members of Ensemble announce Bonfire Studios,…
By Mike Fahey Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
Deadly Halo Sand
To: Ash From: Crecente Re: Japanese Newspapers FIGHT! My trip through Halo Wars is progressing nicely. I’m hoping to finish it up tonight, though I really have no sense of how long it is or how far in I am. Really impressive cut scenes, by the way, really impressive. After that I think I’ll be…
By Brian Crecente Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
Bonk Energy Drink, Now With Scout Achievements
The latest daily update to Valve’s special Scout class update page contains a list of the 35 new Scout achievements being introduced to the game, sponsored by Bonk Energy Drink. From the text on the page I am assuming that Bonk Energy Drink is a power-up item for scouts that temporarily makes them even faster…
By Mike Fahey Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
New Killzone 2 TV Ad “Playable” In March
With Killzone 2 a little more than a week away, the marketing engine is in full drive. Take, for instance, this amazing commercial for the upcoming PS3-exclusive shooter. It was, the Sony folks tell us, created in-engine to show off the game’s technology. The idea for the commercial centered on telling the story of war…
By Brian Crecente Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
Fallout 3: Welcome To The Pitt
Bethesda formally welcomes you to post-apocalyptic Pittsburgh, PA, with three new screenshots from the upcoming Fallout 3 add-on The Pitt. Did somebody say auto-axe? The Pitt content opens with the players responding to a desperate radio message. Someone in The Pitt has created a cure for mutations, and the player must travel there and retrieve…
By Mike Fahey Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Return of American McGee’s Alice Set For PC, Consoles
Electronic Arts is teaming up with Spicy Horse and American McGee to create a sequel to Electronic Art’s PC classic from 2000. Currently titled The Return of American McGee’s Alice, the game is still in pre-production and “won’t be completed for some time.” The game is in development for the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox…
By Brian Crecente Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
NASA Goes Massively Multiplayer With Astronaut
NASA wanted a massively multiplayer online game, and now they’re getting one, signing three separate development studios to work on Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond. While video game players have long dreamed of traveling into the stars and meeting exotic alien species, real outer space is relatively boring. Now NASA seeks to change all of…
By Mike Fahey Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
EA Announces New American McGee’s Alice Title
Talking at DICE 2009, Electronic Arts John Riccitiello announced that there would be another Alice game coming from American McGee to the PC and consoles. More details, he said, would be coming later today. Live Blog: DICE 2009 – John Riccitiello, Electronic Arts [The Feed]
By Brian Crecente Published February 19, 2009 - Uncategorized
Operation Flashpoint 2 Strokes Its Ego
Here’s a new developer diary-style clip from Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising developer Codemasters, proving that their EGO game engine can handle more than racing games. Until now, Codemasters has limited their utilization of the EGO game engine to their racing titles, such as the stunning Colin McRae: DiRT and Race Driver: GRID games. Now…
By Mike Fahey Published February 19, 2009 - Reviews
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin Review: Scary Made Simple
After two unofficial expansions from TimeGate Studios, developer Monolith Productions returns to the series they made famous with F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin. F.E.A.R. 2 ignores the two TimeGate expansions, instead picking up more or less exactly where F.E.A.R.: First Encounter Assault Recon left off, with the creepy psychic entity known as Alma understandably angry after…
By Mike Fahey Published February 19, 2009