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WoW Responsible For Half Of Activision Blizzard’s Earnings, Says Analyst
World of Warcraft alone will be responsible for half of Activision Blizzard‘s earnings for 2009, according to one analyst. I suppose 11.5 million people paying monthly subscriptions really add up. According to a report from Edge Online, Stern Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia pegs WoW subscriptions as responsible for $400 million worth of Activision Blizzard’s earnings…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Europe’s Getting A “Best of Halo” Xbox 360 Bundle
Halo Wars‘ attach rate should be comfortably boosted in Europe, thanks to a new bundle that Microsoft looks to be introducing in the continent. Swedish retailers are now listing a “Best of Halo” hardware release. What, according to the box, comprises the “best” of the Halo franchise? Ensemble Studios‘ Halo Wars and Bungie’s Halo 3,…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Megan Fox Also Plays Guitar Hero Outside Of Your Dreams
Why is Megan Fox playing Guitar Hero on the Wii news? It’s not, you ungrateful little jerks. Here I am giving you pictures of Megan Fox and you question my posting judgment? How dare you. This is clearly not news, but still potentially valuable. Say, for instance, you happen to run into Ms. Fox on…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Somewhere Between RZA And Margaritas
From: McWhertor To: Ashcraft Re: Pop-Up Books Rule Hey Ash! Long time no Day Note. Saw the RZA last night, whom I know you’ve talked to in the past. He performed at Namco Bandai’s launch party for Afro Samurai at the Geisha House, an event I rolled up to extremely late and without an RSVP,…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Could Mii Mittens Possibly Be More Adorable?
No. And, my God, do I want to be a baby right now, because I would scream bloody murder until someone knitted me a pair of bulbous, fingerless hand-warmers, Mii-style. Say, if you have a baby, toddler or infant — or simply know someone with extremely tiny hands — and you have some knitting skills,…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Retired NFL Players Shafted By Madden Deal *Will* Get Paid
Former NFL football players swindled out of royalties fees from EA Sports‘ Madden NFL video game series will get $28.1 million by the National Football League Players Association. A federal judge has upheld the decision. Judge Williams Alsup expressed his opinion on the matter just a fortnight ago, but has since squashed the NFLPA’s hopes…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Nobel Prize Museum Goes Postal
Infamously infamous first-person shooter Postal 2 will be making an appearance at the Nobel Museum in Stockholm, the game’s developer’s said today. The footage of the game will be shown as part of the museum’s exhibit on freedom of speech: Freedom of Speech: How Free is Free? Game developer Running with Scissors says they were…
By Brian Crecente Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Office’s Dwight Reveals Gamertags Of The Stars
Don’t piss off Rainn Wilson on Xbox Live. You might live to regret it, especially if you’re a anonymity-loving celebrity. “Dwight” from the The Office has, spitefully, divulged some of Xbox Live more famous gamers. Wilson, after being snubbed by his Office co-star John Krasinski, himself a supposed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare player,…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Legacy Of Ys: Books I & II Delayed, But No One Cares
Today Atlus has announced that every copy of Legacy of Ys: Books I & II will come boxed with a soundtrack disc, while vaguely muttering something about the game being delayed two weeks. Sure the Nintendo DS game is being pushed back to February 24th, but it’s for a good cause. The soundtrack pack in…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Blood Bowl: Chaos Versus Humanity
Following up yesterday’s clip of the Goblin team in action, today we get to see the forces of humanity square off against the legions of Chaos in Cyanide’s Blood Bowl. Blood Bowl is the second adaptation of the classic Games Workshop fantasy football board game, pitting the creatures of myth and legend against each other…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Mirror’s Edge PS3 Exclusive Time Trial Freebie Hits Tomorrow
Electronic Arts is doing PlayStation 3 owners a solid tomorrow, handing out Mirror’s Edge downloadable content like it grows on trees. Dubbed “Synethesia,” the free time trial map is an abstract, dreamy affair. The full time trial map pack for Mirror’s Edge will hit in February, but this quick hit, exclusively for PS3 players, should…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Your Xbox 360 Massages You Gently
The XNA Community Games program continues to be a wealth of innovation on the Xbox 360, as a new program available for download turns your 360 controller into a “portable massager”. Rumble Massage is a new XNA game now available for download in either demo form or the full version, which will set you back…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Competitive StarCraft Gets UC Berkeley Class
A new course being offered at UC Berkeley aims to teach students how to enjoy the “art of competitive StarCraft”. Suggested prerequisites includes a working knowledge of StarCraft strategy and suggested reading includes The Art of War by Sun Tzu and Crazy as Me by Lim Yo Hwan. While the course isn’t listed on the…
By Brian Crecente Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Bask In Mario & Luigi RPG 3 Trailer Ecstasy
.html As an irrationally huge fan of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga for the Game Boy Advance, a return to form for the third entry, simply titled Mario & Luigi RPG 3 has me giddy. Go ahead and dig for any references of Baby Mario and Baby Luigi in this trailer. You won’t find ’em,…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Frankenreview: Afro Samurai
Namco Bandai Games christens their new western games division Surge with the release of Afro Samurai for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, based on the Spike TV anime starring Mr. Samuel L. Jackson. Afro Samurai combines a hip hop vibe and music with a futuristic take on feudal Japan, creating an atmosphere that is…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Rock Band DLC Catalogue Could Reach 5,000 Songs This Year?! [Update: No]
Harmonix’s reached a milestone of 500 downloadable tracks available for Rock Band thanks to a baker’s dozen of No Doubt hits. Impressive, eh? Can it possibly reach 5,000 this year? MTV thinks it might. According to a report from Billboard, the owner of Harmonix says “as many as 5,000” songs could be available for download.…
By Michael McWhertor Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Persona 4: Reflecting The Self
Recent Persona games have become cult hits thanks largely to their gameplay framework — traditional Japanese RPG leveling mechanics reframed around personal improvement, social relationships and the concept of the self. And though it’s about the lead character’s ultimately linear story arc, this framework subtly becomes about the player’s self, too. Persona 3 and Persona…
By Brian Crecente Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Rockstar’s Dan Houser Favors Creative Freedom Over Respect
Rockstar creative VP and lead GTA IV writer Dan Houser would rather have the creative freedom of writing for video games remain intact than be treated with respect. When an interviewer for the UK Telegraph asks Houser if it will be long before video game writers are afforded the same respect as TV and film…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
The 12th Annual AIAS Awards Will Be Televised, Eventually
The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences and the Independent Film Channel today announce a partnership to bring the 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards to a television screen near you. The 12th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards will be taking place on Thursday, February 19th at the Red Rock in Las Vegas, Nevada, but you won’t…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Today On Xbox Live Arcade: Funtown Mahjong
Xbox Live Arcade gets a healthy does of everyone’s favorite traditional Chinese tile game with the release of FunTown Mahjong, which gets a headstart on DLC right out of the gate. FunTown Mahjong combines the fun and addictiveness of the ancient Chinese tile game with all the modern bells and whistles, including Xbox Live online…
By Mike Fahey Published January 28, 2009