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Get Ready For Ten Years of Gears
Gears of War is a hugely successful franchise. It’s what the kids call a “juggernaut.” But don’t expect this juggernaut to fade like the summer sun. Oh no. Gears of War 2 writer Joshua Ortega dished during a recent New York Comic-Con Gears panel: “You will not be disappointed in the next ten years…It’s a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
British Sales Charts
Earlier tonight, we told you that Britain had overtaken Japan to become the world’s second-biggest games market. Last week’s sales charts are as good an example as any as to why. Look at those top 5 games. Just look at them. Then, if you’ve a few more seconds to spare, look at, oh, #17 &…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Be Scary, Win F.E.A.R. 2
Contest time! We’re giving away a copy of multi-plat horror shooter FEAR 2: Project Origin. Here’s the contest: Masks are scary, so make a mask. You can make it out mask out of anything — but the key is that you must make it and not buy it. Take a picture of yourself and send…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Xbox Live Goes Free Of Charge For Grand Theft Auto IV Expansion
Displaying the same kind of “throw that money away” attitude that won them exclusivity for the Grand Theft Auto IV expansions, Microsoft have announced that Xbox Live Gold will soon go (sort of) free. Between February 17 and February 22, anybody playing either Grand Theft Auto IV or its upcoming expansion, The Lost & The…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Nintendo Building New R&D Center In Japan
Companies are hemorrhaging money and jobs. Even Nintendo is cutting its profit forecast. That’s not to say the company is cutting back on everything, though. Nintendo’s expanding. It’s been revealed that the end of last year, the company forked over approximately ¥12.8 billion for a 40,000 square meter piece of property near the current Nintendo…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Sega Losing Money, Closing Arcades, Cutting Jobs
Sega just reported their financial results for the nine months ending in December 2008. And they’re not good reading. The company is losing money, and as a result, will be losing staff and arcades as well. Across Sega Sammy Holdings as a whole – which includes Sammy’s pachinko/pachislot machines, along with Sega’s arcade machines and…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
New Pokemon Center Opening In Japan
Pokémon Centers are official retailers in Japan that sell, you guessed it, official Pokémon goods. Now there are five of these stores in Japan. Starting next month, there will be six. On March 6, a Pokémon Center will open in Sapporo, joining Pokémon Centers in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Yokohama. More info in the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Q*Bert Clone Is The Latest iPhone Copyright Scam
We’ve seen dodgy, unlicensed games on Apple’s App Store before. But rarely have we seen a dodgy, unlicensed game that takes the words “copyright infringement” to heart quite like CuBert. Yup, say that one out loud. Sound familiar? Course it does. But it looks even more familiar, with the “developers” (Italian outfit LagMac Studio) not…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Lara Croft Model, Cell Phone Model
Last week, Lara Croft model Alison Carroll appeared at an cellphone shop in London to promote Sony Ericsson phones — only one of which has anything to do with Tomb Raider. Um, yeah. Guess they need to fill her contract until the character gets an overhaul. Compared to previous Lara Croft models, poor Alison Carroll…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Tart Up Your Arcade Sticks With Custom Street Fighter IV Skins
Street Fighter IV is coming, and Capcom knows you’re going to want to be prepared for it. So for those with both editions of Mad Catz’s Fight Sticks, they have prepared some faceplates. Yup. Faceplates. Blank faceplates. As things stand, when you take the sticks out of the box, you’re greeted with a rather bland-looking…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Black DS Lite Has Been Discontinued
According to this supposed GameStop daily newsletter, the DS Lite Onyx handheld has been discontinued. The newsletter reads: DS Lite Onyx hardware systems have been discontinued and stores will no longer be replenished on this product. Once your store sells through its current stock of this item, please remove any empty DS Onyx display boxes…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Chun Li Movie Poster With Much Overdue Thighs
The other Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li have all been missing one thing very important — no, two things. That’s right, thighs. There are blue eyes, this collection of faces and hot Vega claw action. Not thighs! The latest poster (for Japan) does its best to fill the void. FINALLY.
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Britain Overtakes Japan To Become World’s Second-Biggest Market
When it comes to gaming markets, the USA stands above all others. But who stands just below it? For the longest time, it was Japan, but as of January 2009, it’s the UK. Yes, as Japanese consumers grow increasingly weary of purchasing gaming consoles and software – even those made by Nintendo – seems Britons…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Famitsu’s Best PSP Games of 2008
We’ve already touched on Famitsu‘s best PS3 titles of last year. Now, let’s have a look at the best PSP titles of 2008 according to the Japanese publication. Games are rated by four Famitsu critics on a scale of 1-10. Those scores are then tallied. Here’s the data: Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G: 9,9,9,9 36…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Killzone 2 Rewards In-Game Discovery With Real-World Stuff
Like every other shooter on the market, Killzone 2 features things that are hidden. Where Killzone 2 differs from the rest, however, is that your rewards for findings these are tangible. How’s this work? When you find in-game Helghast intel files, you can then visit the game’s website and redeem real-world bonus items. Some of…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Famitsu’s Best PS3 Games of 2008
Lots of games came out last year in Japan. Lots of games means lots of games for Japanese magazine Famitsu to review. Here are the best PS3 games of 2008 according to Famitsu. Games are rated by four Famitsu critics on a scale of 1-10. Those scores are then tallied. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 10, 2009 - Uncategorized
Wii Fit Target Of Class Action Lawsuit
Wii Fit has been an exercise in smart marketing by Nintendo. Doesn’t matter whether it actually makes you fit or not, you call it Wii Fit, it’ll sell! Oh, and it’ll also attract lawsuits. Slightly nutty fitness “guru” Michael Torchia has looked at Wii Fit, and as a slightly nutty fitness “guru”, does not like…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 9, 2009 - Uncategorized
Square Enix Replies To Financials Delay Questions
Last week, we broke word that Square Enix had shifted announcing its financials from February 6th to February 12th due to an accounting delay. Stocks tumbled, and there was concern about game delays. We contacted Square Enix, asking them why the 2009 third quarter financial announcement has been delayed, and if it was because either…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 9, 2009 - Uncategorized
Killzone 2 Review Party Crashed By Edge Bullies
Things seem to have been going smashingly on the Killzone 2 review front. Outlet after outlet has bestowed its highest honors upon the highly anticipated PlayStation 3 shooter. And then there was Edge. While the majority of reviewers judging Killzone 2 have enjoyed it enough to hand out five stars, ten out of ten, or…
By Michael McWhertor Published February 9, 2009 - Uncategorized
Tales of Vesperia Animated Movie Announced
The February issue of Japanese trade magazine Kinejun announces a big screen anime version of Namco’s RPG Tales of Vesperia. The movie version is slated to be released this year by Kadokawa Pictures. Director Kanta Kamei is helming the anime, and seiyu Kosuke Toriumi will be lending his voice to the project. [アニメ]ナムコ「テイルズ・オブ・ヴェスペリア」劇場映画化決定！ [MOON PHASE…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 9, 2009