Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake announced for PSP
Sound the trumpets: the highly-anticipated PlayStation Network title Fat Princess is bringing its comical medieval fun to PSP (PlayStation Portable), and with a host of added features.
Franticly-paced and strategic, Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake pits two hordes of players against each other in comic medieval battle royale on PSP. The player’s goal is to rescue a beloved princess from the enemy castle. There is a catch, though; the adversary has been feeding her magical cake to make her heavier to carry. Therefore, it will take much of the army working together to carry her across the battlefield.
Team balance and strategy is crucial in Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake, as players can switch between five different character classes literally at the drop of a hat. The name of the game is cooperation, whether it is flinging another player over the enemy’s walls with a teeterboard, healing him while he charges into battle, or adding muscle to carry the hearty princess to safety.
The comical, quirky and loveable cast of characters in Fat Princess: Fistful of Cake has been developed specifically for optimization on PSP. Now players can have their cake, and take it on the go, too. (hahahaha)
The PSP game’s main features are:
No comments »Gravity Crash announced for PlayStation Network
Sony Computer Entertainment released a trailer for Gravity Crash, an arcade shooter game developed by Just Add Water. The just announced retro game will be released via PlayStation Network, but the date is still a vague Fall 2009.
Gravity Crash combines old school arcade gameplay with next-gen visuals, delivering a simple yet addictive experience. Pilot a spacecraft and tackle a variety of missions, from taking out enemy installations to rescuing stranded astronauts. Each planet is fraught with danger, from narrow, twisting tunnels to deadly creatures. Players can even create their own custom levels to share. You’ll need quick wits and a precise, steady hand to survive the action in Gravity Crash, coming exclusively to PlayStation 3 and PSP via PlayStation Network.
Gravity Crash’s main features are:
Watch the first Gravity Crash trailer:
Magic The Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalker coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Release on June 17, 2009
Wizards of the Coast today announced that Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers, an extension of the worldwide Magic: The Gathering franchise for Xbox LIVE Arcade, will be available June 17, 2009.
In June, fans can challenge game developers and famous Magic: The Gathering trading card game players in a Duels of the Planeswalkers tournament through Microsoft’s online Game with Fame and Game with Developer events. Game with Fame will take place June 20 and Game with Developer will follow on June 27.
Developed by Stainless Games, Ltd., Duels of the Planeswalkers, rated T-Teen, lets players simulate the Magic: The Gathering trading card game through lush interactive 3-D environments. The arcade-style game takes players on a journey through a vast Multiverse of unique worlds where they are deemed Planeswalkers, powerful mages who battle others for glory, knowledge and conquest.
Players can choose to battle against the computer or compete online against real-life opponents using Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Arcade. With numerous game play scenarios, including multiplayer game mode, Duels of the Planeswalkers offers an unrivaled depth in which each game is different from the last. Wizards of the Coast is supporting this release with an exclusive promotional card, which includes brand new artwork, making Duels of the Planeswalkers a game that both new and existing Magic players will enjoy.
Watch gameplay of a Green Deck in action:
Introduced in 1993, Magic: The Gathering is the first and most widely played trading card game. With more than 10,000 different cards available, Magic offers an unrivaled depth of game play with several choices and customizations available for its players.
System and game sales for May 2009 in the USA
May’s American video game sales data from the NPD is in, and like almost any month the past year, it shows an unchanged result: A Nintendo system on top, this time the DS and DSi handhelds outsold all other systems by a long shot.
NPD analyst, Anita Frazier, had this to say: “The DS was the top-selling hardware platform for the month. There is a lot of new DS content coming to market this month for a wide variety of gamers, so we should see strong hardware sales continue.”
Video game hardware overview:
1. Nintendo DS — 633,500 (390,000 DSi & 243,500 DS)
2. Nintendo Wii — 289,500
3. Xbox 360 — 175,000
4. PlayStation 3 — 131,000
5. PlayStation 2 — 117,000
6. PlayStation Portable — 100,400
The video games industry continues to struggle with difficult comparisons to last year, and this is the first month that industry sales have dipped below $1 billion since August 2007. Then again, May is typically one of the lowest revenue-generating months in any given year for the industry in general.
The NPD mentions that “Two third-party titles had a strong showing in May. UFC Undisputed had a great launch selling over a million units across both platforms, while EA Sports Active Bundle, a Wii exclusive, made it into the top 5. There are more new releases in this month’s top 10 list than we have seen for some time. As we mentioned last month, it’s a great time to release new IP, illustrated by May’s strong debuts of EA’s Sports Active and Sony’s InFAMOUS.”
Video game software overview top 10:
1. UFC 2009 Undisputed (Xbox 360) — 679,600
2. Wii Fit with Balance Board (Wii) — 352,800
3. EA Sports Active bundle (Wii) — 345,800
4. UFC 2009 Undisputed (PS3) — 334,400
5. Infamous (PS3) — 175,900
6. Pokemon Platinum version (DS) — 168,900
7. Mario Kart with Wheel (Wii) — 210,000
8. Punch-Out!! (Wii) — 156,900
9. X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition (Xbox 360) — 120,700
10. Wii Play with Remote (Wii) — 109,800
Ms. Frazier ended by “Looking ahead to June, there are some promising games coming out this month between Sims 3 (PC), Prototype, Red Faction, Virtua Tennis, Ghostbusters, Transformers and Tiger Woods just to name a few. At E3, it was notable how many games were targeted to the tween girl demographic, and this June will see a number of games introduced for girls as well. June comparisons are still likely to be tough, but the wide variety of new content could help reinvigorate things somewhat.
Tiger Woods titles are typically released in August or September. It will be interesting to watch how the title performs when it’s not competing at retail with Madden, and with the impact of the Wii MotionPlus for the Wii version. Releasing it during the month when the U.S. Open (and consequently Tiger) is getting air time can’t hurt either.”
Data courtesy of Neogaf
Dante’s Inferno 2 and 3 possible. Plenty of story left to be told
As you may or may not know, Dante’s Divine Comedy is considered to be one of the greatest literary works ever created. It was written by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri in the Middle Ages between 1308 and his death in 1321. It is divided into three parts: the Inferno (Hell), Purgatory, and Paradise (Heaven).
This means there’s plenty of story left to be told after the Dante’s Inferno videogame has come out. Dante’s Inferno 2 could be called Dante’s Purgatory and Dante’s Inferno 3 be Dante’s Paradise. But that’s nor here nor there. What’s interesting is developer Visceral Games saying as much!
Visceral Games’ Glen Schofield has said in an interview that he’s perfectly aware of the Divine Comedy being written as a trilogy, saying “so there’s at least room for two more [games] after that. And that could take you quite a long time.”
But with the first Dante’s Inferno (Xbox 360, PS3, PSP) game not out until 2010, sequels will be quite a while off according to Mr. Schofield. To quote him: “We’re not going to make any other games unless this one comes out fantastic, and that’s the same thing with any game that we’re working on. We focus, focus, focus on this one, knowing that there are opportunities to make others, but nobody’s thinking about them right now.”
Doesn’t talking about sequels imply he’s also thinking about them? Not to mention that EA has announced both a game and animated movie of Dante’s Inferno, so they must’ve opted the rights for the entire literary works.
Watch the developers talk about the first game in this “Nine Circles of Hell” documentary.
Via VG247
First Colin McRae: DiRT 2 gameplay trailer
Codemasters revealed the full E3 2009 gameplay trailer for the hotly-anticipated off-road racer Colin McRae: DiRT 2. Further showcasing the depth and breadth of the new breed of racing thrills. Colin McRae: DiRT 2 powerslides into stores this September for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows PC, Wii, DS and PSP.
Putting the focus firmly on the action out on the track. From breakneck point-to-point racing through the Croatian mountains, through to the intense stadium atmosphere of London’s Battersea Rallycross track and racing Trophy Trucks through the sun-baked dirt of Baja.
About Colin McRae: DiRT 2:
Melding turbo-charged off-roading with extreme sports attitude, the eagerly anticipated next chapter in the legendary racing series, Colin McRae: DiRT 2, will deliver a thrilling and stylish off-road racing experience. Colin McRae: DiRT 2 takes off-road racing games to a new level with thrilling new race types, big event atmosphere, stunning locations, a new breed of off-roading heroes and feature a peerless line-up of super-charged speed machines covering seven vehicle classes.
Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will take players on a World Tour of adrenaline-fuelled extreme off-road events in stunning real-world locations. Events include exhilarating rally cross in the massive Los Angeles sports stadium’s “Stadium King Shootout”, edge-of-control canyon racing of Utah’s “Creek Trailblazer” event, the “Rawang Rally Run” along treacherous Malaysian rainforest tracks and the “Battersea Battle”, where night races are staged at the iconic London power station.Building on the technical and gameplay benchmark of Colin McRae: DiRT and borrowing from snowboarding and skateboarding lifestyle and culture, Colin McRae: DiRT 2 will also add full online multiplayer and social networking functions, inviting players to become part of an extreme sports community.
Watch the Colin McRae: DiRT 2 (Xbox 360) trailer:
First Homefront game trailer depicts America under North Korean occupation
THQ recently announced their Homefront game, a new First Person Shooter (FPS) from internal developer Kaos Studios (of Frontlines: Fuel of War fame). Penned by John Milius (Apocalypse Now, Red Dawn), Homefront is set ten years after the economic collapse of the United States and follows the American Civilian Resistance as they fight to reclaim their homeland from an oppressive North Korean occupation. Featuring a personal, story-driven single player campaign and a full suite of multiplayer options, Homefront is scheduled for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC.
“Homefront isn’t about going to war on the other side of the world or battling aliens from another planet; it’s about fighting foreign invaders in your own backyard and defending your right to live,” said David Votypka, design director, Kaos Studios. “Homefront combines the unsettling notion of an occupied America with interactive, player-driven narratives to create a deeply engaging single and multiplayer experience.”
About Homefront:
The year is 2027. The world has suffered a decade-long energy crisis, and economies have crumbled. Reduced to a mere shadow of the super power it once was, the United States became the target of a North Korean takeover. American malls, suburbs and city streets are now battlegrounds as the civilian resistance fights for freedom. Featuring a compelling single player story crafted by John Milius (Apocalypse Now, Red Dawn), Homefront immerses gamers in an interactive and cinematic FPS experience where they will assume an infantry role or take command of a wide variety of aerial and ground vehicles. In addition to the single-player experience, Homefront will deliver a robust multiplayer experience. In a land stripped of freedom, the brave will fight for their home.
The Homefront trailer:
In case you were wondering where the game’s name came from. The dictionary’s meaning of “home front” is: The civilian sector of a nation at war when its armed forces are in combat abroad.
The Matrix Online goes offline on July 31, 2009
Sony has announced that the servers for their PC online MMORPG game The Matrix Online will be closing at the end of July 2009. It’ll go offline on the 31st of July to be exact.
Sony Online Entertainment has issued a statement about the closure. To quote Daniel “Walrus” Myers, producer of The Matrix Online:
“Now [since May 2004] we’ve seen how far the rabbit hole goes and it’s time to wake up from that dream (or go back to sleep, depending how you look at it). On July 31, 2009, we will be jacking out for the last time. It’s a bittersweet moment for everyone involved with the game; as a player or as a developer.
It has been a good run. Where many games have fizzled out before or shortly after launch, by August we will have lived on in our home at SOE for more than 4 years. To this day, I have never worked with a community as dedicated as The Matrix Online community.
I’ll be at Fan Faire this year showing The Agency [MMO Shooter for PC & PS3] and hanging out with any redpills making the trip. The past couple years have been a blast, so I hope to see some of you there again.
The team will also be whipping up an end-of-the-world event. It won’t be quite the same as having over 100 developers in the game as Agents like when we ended beta, but we have 4 years of tricks up our sleeve. It’ll be a chance to revisit all the things that make MxO the memorable experience it is. And how could we pull the plug without crushing everyone’s RSI just one more time?
I have a lot of fond memories from my years working on MxO. We’ve had a good time in the Machines’ little playground and will be sad to see it end. I hope everyone enjoys the last few months of playing The Matrix Online.
See you on the other side.”
Say your goodbye’s with this The Matrix Online 2.0 trailer:
Blue pill anyone?
TMNT: Smash-Up demo from E3 2009 shows turtles brawl gameplay
Ubisoft and the creators of Super Smash Bros. Brawl (some of whom worked on Dead or Alive) came together to create Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up (TMNT: Smash-Up for short), a fighting game based in the Turtles’ universe. It’s coming to Wii in September 2009.
The 7 characters unveiled so far are: Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, Splinter, April, and Shredder.
More stuff like the different modes (4-player online multiplayer, single player and versus), characters, stages, powerups, and controller options, will be unveiled at Comic-Con 2009 in July.
Watch the GameSpot live E3 2009 demo here:
Click on the HD button, as the video plays, to view it in high quality.
More hands-on details over at GameSpot.
NBA Live 10 cover athlete is Dwight Howard. Release date is October 6, 2009
Electronic Arts has announced that Orlando Magic center, Dwight Howard, will be the cover athlete for NBA LIVE 10. A three-time NBA All-Star, Howard is currently looking to lead the Magic franchise to their first NBA Championship.
“It’s an honor to be named as the cover athlete for NBA LIVE 10,” said Howard. “This year has been a crazy ride and this is a cool way to cap it off. Of course - there is one more thing I’m on the hunt for that would complete it.”
The No. 1 pick of the 2004 NBA Draft was the 2009 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, an All-NBA First Team selection the last two seasons, and stole the show at the 2008 NBA Sprite Slam Dunk Contest with his superhero antics. Additionally, Howard was the starting center of the 2008 U.S. Basketball Men’s Senior National Team which won the gold medal at the Olympics in Beijing.
NBA LIVE 10 is currently in development under the EA SPORTS brand by EA Canada in Vancouver, B.C. and will be available in America on October 6th, 2009, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PSP.
Featuring several innovations to the core gameplay experience and online game modes, NBA LIVE 10 is bringing a renewed focus to the long-running EA SPORTS basketball franchise. The groundbreaking Dynamic DNA service, driven by Synergy Sports Technology, will make a return in NBA LIVE 10, with significant improvements that will allow players to connect their game to the NBA season like never before.
Along with Howard, regional NBA LIVE 10 cover athletes for France, Germany, Spain and Italy will be named at a later date.
