Archive for October, 2006
New video game releases week 44
Here’s a list of this weeks US game releases. All the websites are listed for you to check out. Now we’re talking, these are some amazing games!
Monday:
1701 A.D. (PC)
Children of Mana (DS)
Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony (PSP)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (PSP)
Pokemon Ranger (DS)
Rush (PSP)
The Secret Files: Tunguska (PC)
Tuesday:
ATV Off Road Fury 4 (PS2)
BattleZone (PSP)
Death Jr. 2: Root of Evil (PSP)
Drive to Survive (Xbox, PS2)
F.E.A.R. (Xbox 360)
FIFA 07 (Xbox 360)
Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (GBA)
Killzone: Liberation (PSP)
Lawnmower Racing Mania 2007 (Xbox)
Mind Quiz (PSP)
Need for Speed Carbon (PC, Xbox, GCN, PS2, GBA, DS, PSP, Xbox 360)
Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC)
Power Stone Collection (PSP)
The Sims 2: Pets (DS)
Tom and Jerry Tales (GBA, DS)
Ultima Online 9th Anniversary Collection (PC)
Victorious Boxers 2: Fighting Spirit (PS2)
Thursday:
Every Extend Extra (PSP)
Lumines II (PSP)
World Championship Poker: All In (Xbox 360)
Worldwide Soccer Manager 2007 (PC)
No comments »Japan only gets 80,000 PS3s at launch, USA shipping targets to be lowered next?
The Nikkei Keizai Shimbun morning edition reports today that due to component shortages, Sony will have only 80,000 units ready for the PS3’s November 11th Japanese launch. This cuts back by a fifth the initial launch target of 100,000.
IGN mentions that minor number is even more staggering when you consider that the PS2 sold out of nearly one million units when it launched back in March of 2000.
The big question now is if these PlayStation 3 production problems will stop their influence at the Japanese allocation, Sony’s homeland of all places, or if they will also cut down the North American launch day availability with a fifth from 400,000 to 320,000 PS3’s?
Microsoft accidentally reveals 60GB hard drive! More backwards compatibility with Xbox games coming?
Pictures from today’s Microsoft Xbox 360 press conference in Japan surprisingly featured an 59.5GB Xbox 360 Hard Drive with a capacity of 60GB! 20GB really isn’t enough, so despite that this might be a developers unit, Microsoft should really come out with this if they want to offer more Xbox 360 movies, demos and video sharing through the Vision Camera and recording in games like Halo 3. The conference was really meant to show the 80 new features in the “Fall 2006 System Updateâ€. Via Watch Impress.
A rumor is that the Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility list might soon include new Xbox games like Destroy All Humans 2 and Justice League Heroes.
Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard update tomorrow, 80 new features list!
Microsoft today confirmed the Xbox 360 is going to get the “Fall 2006 System Update” tomorrow, October 31. The update is free and available to all Xbox Live members worldwide!
The Dashboard update feature list has over 80 additional features:
New Features:
* HD 1080p video mode support over VGA and component cables.
* Xbox 360â„¢ HD DVD Player support.
* Stream WMV video from a Windows PC running Windows Media Player 11, Zune software, or Windows Media Connect.
* Play video from storage devices such as USB flash drives, Xbox 360 Memory Units, etc.
* Play video from CD or DVD data discs.
* Xbox 360 Wireless Headset support, including battery level indicator in the Xbox Guide.
* Video support for 50 Hz HDTV modes (DVD and HD DVD only).
* Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel support.
* Set up automatic downloads of newly released Xbox Live Arcade trial games.
* Support for upcoming release of XNA Game Studio Express (separate download and subscription required.)
* Stream music, pictures and video from a Zune device.
Xbox Live Arcade: Article continues »
Oddworld studio developing Citizen Siege game and movie as one
Lorne Lanning and his studio Oddworld Inhabitants (creators of the… yes… Oddworld games) is set to make an ambitious return to interactive entertainment with Citizen Siege, a new original property developed from conception as a CG animated movie and videogame. Although no release date or game platforms were revealed yet.
The movie will be produced by John H. Williams, responsible for the Shrek series, and directed by Lanning himself (who even did the voice of Abe & Mudokons in his previous games). The game is currently being seen by a number of big-name publishers.
“Citizen Siege was conceived as a game and film from the very beginning,” revealed Lanning.
Article continues »
Online retailer Play-Asia cancels PS3 pre-orders
Online retailer Play-Asia just cancelled all PS3 pre-orders. The cause should be obvious, last week Lik-Sang announced it closed down after a series of lawsuits filed by Sony over the issue of import PSPs, which a court in the UK declared illegal. Earlier this month, Sony warned that it would “utilize the full scope of the law” to prevent retailers from importing any of its consoles, thanks to this Play-Asia has to disappoint importers. But worse is once the PS3 is released no importer from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway can buy anything PS3 related.
In an email sent out to consumers yesterday, Play-Asia said the reason was “licensing and distribution limitations. As a result, we are very sorry to let you know that we have now cancelled your non-binding reservation with us.” It could be that they are just being safe rather than sorry, or maybe Sony gave them a firm warning.
Article continues »
Alexey’s Dwice: The latest game from the creator of Tetris
With the history of Tetris coming by this weekend, we were wondering what happened to the mind behind the game. It turns out in August, 2005, WildSnake Software announced a collaboration agreement to make new games with Alexey Pajitnov, famed creator of Tetris, game designer of Microsoft Entertainment Pack: The Puzzle Collection, Pandora’s Box, Hexic and other all time puzzle lover favorites.
In March, 2006, after half a year of working together, Alexey’s Dwice was announced for PC by WildSnake Software as the first new game in a series of Alexey Pajitnov puzzle games. The game is described as: “Stop the avalanches from reaching the little houses at the foot of the mountains by destroying the ice blocks. Just click two blocks of the same shape! Sounds easy? Designed by the creator of Tetris himself, the game - we assure you - will be an experience out of the ordinary.”
Download the free demo of Alexey’s Dwice here.
Xbox Live’s Major Nelson talks about Xbox 360 micropayments on G4TV
Xbox Live’s Director of Programming Major Nelson answered micro-payment questions on G4TV last Wednesday with “It’s about the choice”. Take a peek at ‘The Loop’ segment of ‘Attack of the Show’ presented by Kevin Pereira:
Andrew Pfister, Editor of 1UP, joined Major Nelson on the panel, playing the role of the gamer. Andrew said, “It doesn’t appear that anyone is in control of the situation. You have publishers like EA doing their own thing, you have publishers like Atari doing their own thing, and you even have small publishers like Q Entertainment…” Article continues »
Top 10 Scariest Video Games
It’s a good thing we’ve got Astro here at VGB to review horror games like Silent Hill 2, because I’m not going near them since I got scared way too often in the Phantasmagoria games. Ok so I played Eternal Darkness, but the insanity effect scene in the bathtub nearly gave me a heart attack, oh the terror! 
So, yeah, I’m not going near this top 10, you check it out… with the lights on?
Super Mario Bros. NES parody
Aesthetica presents Super Mario Parodies. This movie is parody of the NES game that needs no introduction, Super Mario Bros. The Tetris reference is fantastic, but really started laughing at the second scene (best left unspoiled).
