-
AbNo
To: Owen From: Crecente Yay Friday! It’s been a looooong two weeks. I think I’m going to do absolutely nothing. And maybe cook and drink. What you missed: Are You As Good At Gaming As This Person? Do it Yourself Counter Strike Squirt Their Orders Are To ‘Make A Better Donkey Kong Country’ The Halo:…
By Brian Crecente Published June 25, 2010 -
Here’s Where You Can Play Kinect Right Now
Can’t wait until November to play with Skittles the tiger or flail wildly until slightly moist with some Kinect Sports? Good news! Microsoft will be demoing its new motion controller “nationwide” for the public at retail this weekend. If you live near one of the four Microsoft Stores—located in Scottsdale, AZ, Lone Tree, CO, Mission…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 25, 2010 -
Regardless of World Cup, EA Sports Predicts an American Triumph
Landon Donovan’s miracle goal on Wednesday did far more than propel the United States to the World Cup’s knockout stage. It’s made America the No. 1 soccer video game market on the planet. So says Electronic Arts, whose FIFA series of console games is both the biggest-selling and highest-rated sports video game in the world.…
By Owen Good Published June 25, 2010 -
A Half-Dozen Glimpses of Lost in Shadow
Upcoming Wii puzzler Lost in Shadow is an amazing little game. And it’s not just a platformer with a twist. While there are some interesting elements to the gameplay that has you controlling a lost shadow traveling through the shadows of the physical world, there’s also something interesting in the story we know so little…
By Brian Crecente Published June 25, 2010 -
Marvel’s Flaming Skulls, Alien Symbiotes & Vigilantes Coming To A Sackboy Near You
Will the adorableness of LittleBigPlanet’s Sackboy be lessened when sporting a flaming Ghost Rider skull or the slippery alien garb of Venom? When the new Marvel-themed blow out comes to LittleBigPlanet next month we’ll find out. Starting July 7, PlayStation 3 owners will be able to wear the Punisher’s skull of vengeance upon their Sackboy’s…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 25, 2010 -
Two Turntables And A Sequel
Is DJ Hero 2 best played as a battle? Last week I played DJ Hero against someone. I had never done this in 2009 using the first DJ Hero game, but I was in the Activision demo area at E3 and the people making this fall’s DJ Hero 2 had two turntables set up. Two…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 25, 2010 -
The Nintendo DS Makes Colorful Splash In Japan
Nintendo’s price drop on the bigger and now brighter version of its Nintendo DSi is going over pretty well in Japan, with the handheld tripling sales after the change. The Nintendo DSi LL got three new colors this week—blue, green and yellow—along with a new price, 18,000 yen, down from 20,000. That puts the DSi…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 25, 2010 -
Babysitting Mama Controller Comes In Only One Color
UGO’s Tracey John got a plush baby in her arms at E3. The baby contained a Wii Remote, the better to let her control Babysitting Mama. She reports that manufacturing costs will limit the “controller” color to Caucasian-only. But in the game you will be able to babysit a baby of one of six different…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 25, 2010 -
The Bloodiest Game Of E3?
I didn’t play the original 1990s arcade game Splatterhouse. I told Crecente last week that the new one I played at E3 felt like a more violent God of War. Be careful, he warned me. That analogy might upset fans of the classic Splatterhouse. OK, but can I say the game was gory? More gory…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 25, 2010 -
What Are You Playing This Weekend?
I’m cleaning my Maverick M4A1, equipping my kevlar vest and helmet, maybe picking up an HE grenade and flashbang, and getting back into some Counter-Strike this weekend, a chance to revisit just how terrible I am at this game. Well, I’d say I’m more average than terrible, but when you’re playing against grizzled, teenaged Counter-Strike:…
By Michael McWhertor Published June 25, 2010 -
Make Money Winning Video Games, With The Help Of A Billionaire
What brings the world’s richest daredevil back into video games? Balloon-riding, building-jumping billionaire Richard Branson believes you want to get paid for beating gamers online. The Branson-branded VirginGaming.com launched last week amid the blizzard of video game news emanating from Los Angeles’ E3. It’s live now and legal in 36 states for you to sign…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 25, 2010 -
Reggie To Play Donkey Kong With Jimmy
Brief programming update: The person who will play Donkey Kong Country Returns on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight is Nintendo of America chief Reggie Fils-Aime. First time a video game executive gets on late night network TV?
By Stephen Totilo Published June 25, 2010 -
Confessions of A Failed Gaming Parent
I have a confession to make: My 9-year-old spent about two weeks playing Modern Warfare 2 on the Xbox 360, and I had no idea he was doing it. My wife and I set up parental locks on the console and on Tristan’s Xbox Live gold account, which allows him to play online. But we…
By Brian Crecente Published June 25, 2010 -
The Halo: Reach Techno Music Was Intentional
Watch the E3 live gamplay footage of Halo: Reach and, 67 seconds in, you might hear…. is that techno music? That’s part of the game’s soundtrack? Why, yes it is! While the Halo series is known for having music that is so sweeping and lovely that you could set your wedding to it, it doesn’t…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 25, 2010 -
For Now The Bionic Cat Just Walks, But Could Laser Feet Be That Far Off?
After losing his back feet to a combine harvester, Oscar the cat thought he would never walk again, but we can rebuild him. We have the technology. Noel Fitzpatrick, a veterinary surgeon based in Surrey, England, is the subject of a BBC documentary titled The Bionic Vet, and for good reason. Working in tandem with…
By Mike Fahey Published June 25, 2010 -
Jimmy Fallon’s Killzone 3 Enthusiasm Increases In 3D
We told you Jimmy Fallon would play Killzone 3 on his Late Night show yesterday, and we were right. Jimmy Fallon with 3D glasses playing PS3 game Killzone 3. Or, as the game’s developer calls it: “Blackhawk Down in space.” Click to viewNote how much more excited he seemed when he was playing the game…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 25, 2010 -
Tron Happened To These Game Controllers
These official Tron video game controllers from Disney will run you $50. The PS3 and Xbox 360 ones are wired. They’re scheduled for release alongside the Tron Evolution video game, which is tied to December’s Tron: Legacy movie.
By Stephen Totilo Published June 25, 2010 -
Their Orders Are To ‘Make A Better Donkey Kong Country’
The man who created Donkey Kong had some specific advice for the people who are making the next Donkey Kong game: The gorilla better slap the ground properly. “He was very clear from the get-go about his expectations for the ground-pound,” Retro Studios’ Bryan Walker told me, speaking of a meeting top Retro people had…
By Stephen Totilo Published June 25, 2010 -
How Xbox 360’s Live Gold Family Plan Could Be Free For You
When the Xbox Live Gold Family plan hits Xbox Live this November, you may not have to pay a penny to sign up, depending on how many existing paid accounts you have. The Family plan includes four one-year Xbox Live gold memberships for $100. Currently, one-year gold memberships run about $50 a pop. So how,…
By Brian Crecente Published June 25, 2010