Archive for August, 2006
TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge racing on PSP in Europe only
Codemasters is on a roll, yesterday they sent Cannon Fodder to PSP and today they announced TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge, a new game in the motorsport series, coming to PSP in the winter of 2006.
Set to launch exclusively in PAL territories, TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge is being designed from the ground up for PSP gaming with an emphasis on burst play and will deliver all the motorsport excitement the series is known for.
TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge will roar in with a cavalcade of officially licensed racecars, world-famous tracks and a new, progressive central game mode - the World Challenge. As the piston-pumping heart of the game, the World Challenge will see players competing through a series of international championship tiers, each packed with skill tests, specialised events and championships that span different racing styles.
In addition to the World Challenge, TOCA Race Driver 3 Challenge will come loaded with additional play modes including: Free Race and Time Trial. There’s also wireless WLAN multiplayer action play for up to a staggering 12 players simultaneously and further multiplayer action via Game Share, enabling up to four players to enjoy fantastic WLAN racing from just one UMD. Article continues »
No comments »First Far Cry Vengeance Wii screenshot info
Thanks to Ken for the tip. The Spanish site Ultimagame visited Ubisoft and where they got the first look at Far Cry Vengeance for Wii. They mention it adds improvements over the game Far Cry Instincts Evolution on Xbox.
In these first images they say you can see some of the modifications that the gameplay will receive, as the interface is adjusted to the Wii. Although at the time there are no details about the change in control system, it’s expected the character controls will be very similar to Ubisoft’s other FPS, Red Steel.
The price is expected to be similar to other Wii third parties, around €50 (or $50). The game is expected to be released at the Wii console launch in November, 2006.
New Stargate Worlds MMO PC game will use Unreal Engine 3
Epic and Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment announced their upcoming PC Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) Stargate Worlds will use the Unreal Engine 3 technology. Players will be able to play as part of the SGC (Stargate Command) or the System Lords (the evil Goa’uld) and also features the Tok’ra and the Ori. And all will look very pretty with the Unreal Engine 3.
The universe evolves as players inhabit and vie for control over alien worlds. Local populations will shift their allegiance between the two alliances. Outside threats, such as the Ori, will conspire to further change the face of these worlds. Players will be able to tip the balance of power on these worlds, beating back the Ori invasion, and swaying the local populations to their side through quests, combat and trade. Whether you are a solitary explorer, master tradesman, or commander of a massive armed force, your every action will alter the worlds of the Stargate universe.
Aside from that press release quote, 1UP also mentions the MMOG will combine the Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis mythos! The release date is set for late 2007, which should make for a nice replacement of the ending Stargate SG-1 series.
Sim City 3000 coming to DS
Tentatively titled “Sim City DS”, the PC game Sim City 3000 is going portable on DS. Perfectly suited for touch-screen controls, Electronic Arts will be porting the simulation game to the Nintendo DS sometime Winter 2006 in Japan. No word on releases in other regions. But what’s for sure is that you’ll be able to build your perfect city in the Europe, Asia or North America.
The four included modes are:
* New Mayor Born mode (main mode)
* Save the City mode (mission clear type)
* Collection Room (collection of the buildings / landmarks)
* Sleeping mode (exchanging messages and get new landmarks in some ways)
Via Rakuten & Neogaf
Dead Rising turns 500,000 gamers into Xbox 360 zombies!
Capcom’s Dead Rising has become a surprise summer hit for the Xbox 360 by shipping half a million copies to stores. The Dawn of the Dead-influenced action game has received rave reviews all over, not surprising cause zombies rock. This all despite Dead Rising only being released in America so far. The European launch is set for September 8th, with Australia following on the 14th & its last release in Japan on the 28th.
“Response to Dead Rising from the trade, press and consumers has been tremendous,” said Charles Bellfield, VP of Marketing at Capcom, in the announcement release early this morning. “The success of the game is a result of Capcom’s recognition of Xbox 360 system’s possibilities and starting development early on in order to deliver such a high-quality game.” Via 1UP
Tecmo brings classics to Nintendo Wii Virtual Console
Tecmo, the maker of the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden series announced as part of a financial report issued on August 28th, that the company will support the Wii’s Virtual Console “aggressively.” Specifics were not revealed to IGN.
Other areas mentioned in the financial report, are a worldwide simultaneous launch for Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 on Xbox 360 and a promise to tackle new titles, with the Wii’s Super Swing Golf Pangya given as an example. The company didn’t make mention of Xbox Live Arcade or Sony’s PS3 download service.
It looks like our crew member astrotriforce was right on the money in reviewing the entire NES Ninja Gaiden Trilogy in advance (see our “Easy Review Links” in the left menu), because it’s very likely you’ll be download them and other classics like Tecmo Bowl later this year.
Other NES, SNES & Genesis possibilities include: Mighty Bomb Jack, Solomon’s Key 1 & 2, Rygar, Tecmo Baseball, Tecmo World Wrestling, Star Force, Secret of the Stars, Tecmo Super Bowl 1 & 2 & 3, Tecmo Super Hockey, Tecmo Super Baseball.
Next Halo Novel titled Ghosts of Onyx
The next Halo novel is titled Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, and written by Eric Nylund. Bungie’s new publishing partner, Tor, will release the latest novel in November 2006. Continuing and expanding the scenarios and characters created by Mr. Nylund, and expanding the Halo universe a little bit more.
“Halo has established itself as one of the finest science fiction universes to emerge from the video game industry,” says Tor editor Eric Raab. “The first three novels merely scratched the surface. The storyline that the folks at Bungie have created is phenomenal, and its characters are begging to be explored further in novels.”
The announcement of the new novel also heralds the fact that (at least) two other Halo novels will be published by Tor, and those will have some very exciting news attached to them. But up first in the next one or two weeks is the unveiling of this books coverart.
MegaMan X suit killing zombies in Dead Rising
This is perfect for a late night update. In Capcom’s Xbox 360 exclusive game Dead Rising, once beat the game and kill 60,000 zombies, you get the full MegaMan suit. Aside from ripping out zombie intestines the MegaMan suit has a Mega Buster that gives you 300 shots, it respawns right where you got it when you finish all the shots. And it looks freaking sweet!
Dead Rising is out in the US right now, and release in Europe is set on September 8th. Via Xbox360fanboy
Madden NFL 07 Wii controller gameplay demo
Madden NFL 07 is an exclusive 2007 edition of EA’s football franchise, built specifically to do football Wii-style.
Utilizing the unique Wii game controller of the system, you can get out on the line of scrimmage like never before. Players can hike the ball with a real “hike” move. They can punt the ball with motions that simulate a punt kick, with the angle and straightness of the punt determined by how clean the “punt” is. They can even control the speed and accuracy of passes with the precision of their real throwing motions. See for yourself in this nine minute demo.
For 1 or 2 players, it’s set for the Wii launch (likely November).
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade spells, abilities, talents listed and race modifications shown on video
Blizzard has unveiled the new spells, abilities and talents that will be available to character classes from level 60 to the new level cap of 70 when the Burning Crusade expansion will be released on November 15, 2006. On the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade page the new stuff for the Mage, Paladin, Rogue, Shaman, Warlock and Warrior are reveiled.
Here’s a video of all the modifications you can make to the two new races in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade.
