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This Spartan’s Greatest Challenge
As seen by reader Chris. Thanks!
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 18, 2010 -
The Growing Spectacle of Gaming’s International Spotlight
Last year featured Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Tony Hawk and Stephen Spielberg. This year there will be Cirque du Soleil and perhaps others. Each year in the days leading up to E3’s international gathering of video game makers and publishers in Los Angeles, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo host press briefings to lay out the year’s…
By Brian Crecente Published May 17, 2010 -
Project Natal Is…White? [UPDATE]
Released last year, this is the official concept promotional image of Microsoft’s upcoming motion control system Project Natal. It is black. Update: Microsoft comments, clarifies nothing. “Project Natal” is the code name for Microsoft’s controller-free motion controls that, as the promotional clip states, makes the players the controller. But even when the device was on…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 17, 2010 -
Swedish Retailers Spill Project Natal Price, And It’s Expensive?
At least three Swedish retailers are listing a price for upcoming Xbox 360 motion controller Project Natal, and it’s not good. While UK sources were telling MCV that the motion controller would run $80, perhaps less, the three Swedish retail sites are all listing the device for 1,499 SEK, which works out to just under…
By Brian Crecente Published May 16, 2010 -
At Least The Zune HD Can Play Game Boy Titles
Microsoft’s support for the Zune HD as a game playing device has been pretty abysmal. Luckily there are hackers, one of which has the beginnings of a serviceable Game Boy Advance emulator working on the device. I purchased a Zune HD the first week the device was available, after my bother spent the better part…
By Mike Fahey Published May 15, 2010 -
John Cleese Will Serve You In Fable III
I may be slightly biased in saying this, as I have British family, but games – or, at least fantasy games – always sound more professional to me when they hire a good, English cast to handle the voice work. Case in point: this is John Cleese, of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame, recording…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 14, 2010 -
Project Natal “World Premiere” To Be Complete Media Cirque Du Soleil
Microsoft is holding the “world premier” of Project Natal the Sunday before E3 2010, with a special performance by Canada’s own Cirque du Soleil adding an air of magic, wonderment, and subtle creepiness to the evening. Sunday, June 13 is the date of what Microsoft is calling the “world premiere” of Project Natal, the camera-based…
By Mike Fahey Published May 13, 2010 -
Playing Alan Wake in a Haunted Quarantine Station
Five lucky Australians were allowed to play Alan Wake before it went on sale. The catch? To play they had to be blind-folded, driven to one Australia’s most haunted sites and strapped to heart rate monitors. Sure, it’s all a bit of marketing by Microsoft for the upcoming Xbox 360 thriller, but that doesn’t make…
By Brian Crecente Published May 12, 2010 -
Francis Ford Coppola Doesn’t Really Like Today’s 3D
Francis Ford Coppola, the director of the Godfather and Apocalypse Now, is not a fan of today’s 3D, stating it is no different from the technology available in the 1950s. While Coppola does concede that digital filmmaking is suited for 3D and that 3D has improved, he points out that the necessity of 3D glasses…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 12, 2010 -
South Korea Gets 3D Xbox 360 Gaming
Nintendo is getting a glasses-free 3D handheld. Sony is updating PS3 consoles to full 3D. And Microsoft? South Korean electronics giant LG has joined forces with the Xbox 360 to bring 3D gaming to Korean gamers. LG will be marketing its 3D capable LED televisions alongside 3D capable games in South Korea, reports website Engadget.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 11, 2010 -
These Halo: Reach Problems Are Being Fixed
While the Halo: Reach beta is largely a blast, not everything is perfect. Thankfully Bungie knows this, and is letting us know the things that will be fixed by the time the final game rolls around. Things like FLAG TAKEN…FLAG DROPPED…FLAG TAKEN…etc etc. It’s annoying as hell, but has “already been fixed for fall”. So…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 11, 2010 -
It’s Kinda Like Project Natal, But With Virtual Skirt Lifting
The words “kinda like” are being used loosely. The words “skirt lifting” are not. Japanese adult game developer Teatime, known for its first-person “shooter” adult game, has already brought face tracking “T-Cam” tech to its games, allowing players to look at in-game heroines from various angles, including, well, up female characters’ skirts. The developer went…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 10, 2010 -
Know How To Double Xbox 360 Sales In Japan?
Japan isn’t only The Land of the Rising Sun. It’s also The Land of Xbox 360 Indifference. There must be a way to double weekly consoles sales. Turns out, there is. Well, at least once. In last week’s hardware sales tally, the Xbox 360 sold 2,214 units in Japan. By comparison, there were 28,758 PSPs…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 7, 2010 -
Sir Ben Kingsley Goes From Prince Of Persia To Fable III
Sir Ben Kingsley, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Gandhi in the 1982 film of the same name, will soon be playing a role a little less historical, landing a part in Lionhead’s upcoming Fable III. Kingsley – who many gamers are soon to be re-acquainted with thanks to his appearance in…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 7, 2010 -
Frankenreview: Alan Wake
Can the combined video game reviewers shed light on the quality of Xbox 360 exclusive survival game Alan Wake? Find out in the first (and only) episode of the Alan Wake Frankenreview. Just because Alan Wake spends the majority of his relaxing Northwestern mountain vacation in the dark doesn’t mean you have to. Will it…
By Mike Fahey Published May 6, 2010 -
Report: Gears Of War 3 Is Like Waterworld, Minus Kevin Costner [CORRECTION]
According to translations of a big Gears of War 3 piece in a Russian gaming mag, giving us our first real details on the game, Epic’s upcoming shooter will take place on the open sea. The story below was originally published on Kotaku on May 5, based on a translated article. A correction/clarification follows. There…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 6, 2010 -
Let’s Compare Gears of War 1, 2 and 3
In just three screenshots! The Gears of War franchise is developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The first Gears title was released in 2006, the second one was released in 2008, and Gears of War 3 will be out in 2011. It will have short sleeves! And many people will buy…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 6, 2010 -
Official Xbox 360 USB Drives Now Shipping
Microsoft’s official, over-priced USB drives for the Xbox 360 are on their way to retailers as you read this. So what do you get for your money? You get…a Sandisk-branded USB thumb drive! And not just any USB thumb drive, one that’s black, with a giant XBOX 360 logo on it. As we know, they’ll…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 6, 2010 -
Halo: Reach Beta Goes “Free”, Has Over 1 Million Players
From May 14 to May 17, even those putrid, free-loading Silver Xbox Live subscribers will be able to get in on the Halo: Reach beta, Bungie throwing open the gates to both classes for a weekend of jetpack festivities. There is a catch, of course: you still need to have a copy of Halo: ODST…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 6, 2010 -
The Mechs, Battleships & Sleeveless Shirts Of Gears Of War 3
Those details from Gears of War 3 were just the start. There are pictures to go with the info, too, of robots, lady soldiers and even some hot nautical action. Here they are! I know, I made a Waterworld gag, but in all honesty I like the premise of that movie, and I like the…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 5, 2010