Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 announced for Xbox 360, PC, PS3, PS2, PSP, Mobile
Konami has announced Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, PC and Mobile platforms (the Wii version is an entirely new series).
This version however once again seems to not include major upgrades over last year’s game. Which will be disappointing for fans as it was universally accepted that the Pro Evo series lost out to EA’s FIFA series due to not including enough updates over their previous version. In addition to an aging engine and a lack of licensed teams.
Here is the official list of updates to be included in Pro Evolution Soccer 2010:
* Gameplay: PES 2010 focuses on enhancing the excitement of matches between players, making for a truly challenging experience that will constantly test the player. Intuitive zonal defending will cover spaces and players need to look constantly for new ways to attack. PES 2010 focuses on being a real football simulation, as it requires both strategic play and quick reactions, as in real life. In addition to key out-field elements, goalkeepers are more versatile and with abilities matching those of modern shot-stoppers. The game’s referees have also been reworked, with smarter AI elements allowing them to make more balanced calls during matches.
* Improved Visuals: PES 2010 has undergone a major visual revamp, with its celebrated player likenesses and animations now even closer to those of real-life players – including live player expressions to be depicted with an improved lighting system which differentiates between various conditions! Stadium detail is also massively improved, with the grass and other in-stadium elements finely depicted.
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No comments »Six Days In Fallujah announced for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Konami basing it on 2004 Iraq War
Konami has announced “Six Days In Fallujah” as an all-new game that is set during the Fallujah offensive during the early days of the Iraq War. The game will be a third-person tactical shooter.
Six Days In Fallujah is being developed by Atomic Games, who is known for it’s work with the military in creating combat simulation software. For this new game they will even be using video, photos and diaries from real U.S. Marines who took part in the conflict. It will be these diaries that will be used to create the core of the game’s narrative. And video interviews from said soldiers will also be scattered throughout the game as you play.
“For us, the challenge was how do you present the horrors of war in a game that is also entertaining, but also gives people insight into a historical situation in a way that only a video game can provide?” Atomic Games president Peter Tamte said. “Our goal is to give people that insight, of what it’s like to be a Marine during that event, what it’s like to be a civilian in the city and what it’s like to be an insurgent.”
According to creative director Juan Benito, their aim is to “broaden the scope of what’s considered entertaining in a shooting game,” saying, “You can have entertainment that’s not just about violence, or just about Care Bears and rainbows.”
There isn’t a lot known about the game yet, but it will be releasing for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC and will contain multiplayer of some kind.
I’m pretty iffy on this kind of thing, given how easy it is for events to be politicized, which is the sad reality. Particularly from my vantage point as both a conservative and supporter of the war. But if they can try and remain bi-partisan in their viewpoint, then this game could be really interesting.
On a personal note, if you are interested in reading actual diaries from American soldiers in the Iraq War (including the conflict in Fallujah) then I’d urge you to check one of my favorite books called “Doonesbury.com’s The Sandbox – Dispatches From Troops in Iraq & Afghanistan”. At the very least it’ll give you an idea of what to expect when the game eventually releases.
Shadow of the Colossus movie in development at Sony Pictures
Sony has started the ball rolling in bringing the beloved PS2 game Shadow of the Colossus to the big-screen.
The movie adaptation is being set up by Sony Pictures producer Kevin Misher (The Intepreter, The Rundown) and is being written by Justin Marks (Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Disney’s upcoming 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea).
It’s interesting to note that Shadow of the Colossus was published by Sony Computer Entertainment which makes this a rare example of content moving between the game and movie sections of a huge company.
Apparently Sony is also planning on this game being a huge Lord of the Rings style production and as such will be giving some of the game’s lesser known characters (such as those who try to track down and stop the game’s main character) bigger roles in the film.
However the film is still in the earliest stages and is a long way from actually being in production. So don’t hold your breath.
So what do you think about a movie of Shadow of the Colossus. Good idea? Or bad idea. Personally, I’m not sure about the name’s already attached to the project . . .
Rock Band may come to DS, says Harmonix
Rock Band DS may be on the way says Harmonix in a new interview with Edge where they discuss the upcoming PSP game Rock Band: Unplugged.
During the midst of the interview, the developers are asked if they are considering bringing the series to the DS. Here is the response:
“We are looking carefully at the DS, and certainly aren’t ruling out developing for it in the future. However, for right now, our focus is on Rock Band Unplugged as a PSP title.” – Greg LoPiccolo, VP of product development at Harmonix.
And there you have it. Given the success of the Guitar Hero DS games, and the statement above, I’d be willing to bet that the DS may be the next stop for the Rock Band franchise after the release of Rock Band: Unplugged on PSP.
Via GoNintendo
Bleach: The 3rd Phantom announced for DS in North America
Sega has announced Bleach: The 3rd Phantom as the newest game based off the hit animated series. This time the game will be coming to the DS and entering the world of strategy role-playing for the first time. The game is scheduled for release in North America this Fall.
Bleach: The 3rd Phantom employs the best of both worlds as it mixes traditional Strategy RPG gameplay with unique side-scrolling battles. The field map features “outrageous” renditions of the Bleach characters that is sure to please fans while the battles feature anime-styled 2D graphics with beautiful artwork that looks to be ripped straight from the show. Once gamers complete the story mode, a bounty of unlockable content awaits them. Multiplayer is also featured which allows up to two players to battle head-to-head via Wireless Mode.
The videogame-exclusive storyline for Bleach: The 3rd Phatom meanwhile has been created from the ground up while being supervised by Tite Kubo, the author and creator of BLEACH. Shedding light on events that transpire before the animated series begins, players get to choose who they want to play as the story centers between two fraternal Soul Reaper twins, Fujimaru Kudo and his sister Matsuri Kudo.
The game offers an enormous cast with over 50 playable characters who all feature voices lent by the actors from VIZ Media’s award-winning animated series and will ensure that players will get a dynamic range of personalities as they make their way through the game and discover new characters. With each character having their own unique skills and strengths, players will be able to adapt to any situation as they build an army of up to eight Soul Reapers.
In order to unlock certain characters, gamers must manage personal relationships through in-game dialog interactions and various other conditions. Naturally, fans will encounter the familiar faces of Ichigo, Aizen and Rukia alongside never before seen characters developed specifically for the title. Additionally Arturo, the SEGA exclusive Arrancar, makes his return from Bleach: Shattered Blade. As players fight against the Arrancar and Hollows, they will gain experience to further customize their character’s abilities.
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Made In Ore allows you to create your own WarioWare
Nintendo will be publishing a new series in Japan this month called “Made in Ore”. The two titles were announced at a Nintendo conference last October and include “Made in Ore” and “Asobu Made In Ore”.
Although neither game has yet to be announced for release outside of Japan where it hits on April 29th, the game’s will almost certainly do so as they add a unique spin on the popular WarioWare formula.
Made In Ore will include 90 of it’s own microgames on the cart, but also includes the ability for players to create their very own microgames.
The game is divided into three different sections. My House is where you create your own microgames. WarioWare serves as the tutorial for the game. And My Shop is where you save your creations and string them together.
To create your game you will be able to draw sprites using the stylus, add sound effects using the microphone (I assume) and then putting it together into an actual microgame with a set of rules. You also have separate utilities for creating music to add to the background and for creating four-panel comics.
Once you are done you can then upload your created microgames to Nintendo which will enter you into contests. You can also download extra games, music and comics.
So what is Asobu Made In Ore? It is a Wii version of the game that allows you to do all of this on your TV! It’s downloadable via WiiWare and costs 800 Wii Points.
Via 1UP
Will Wright leaves EA to focus on his Stupid Fun Club development house
Will Wright has left EA to focus on his Stupid Fun Club think tank development house, where he will work on developing new IP’s (Intellectual Properties) across multiple media.
Although he will no longer be with Electronic Arts, his services will still be in use due to the fact that EA has a stake in Stupid Fun Club that’s equal to Will Wright’s, meaning that they will have first dibs at publishing anything that Will Wright develops there. Insuring that both parties win.
“The entertainment industry is moving rapidly into an era of revolutionary change,” Wright said. “Stupid Fun Club will explore new possibilities that are emerging from this sublime chaos and create new forms of entertainment on a variety of platforms.”
Will Wright is one of the gaming industries most high profile game designers and is legendary for creating SimCity and The Sims. His final project was Spore, an amazing game that was hampered by extensive Spore DRM, making Spore the most pirated game of all time and undermining it’s ultimate success. It was successful however, as Spore sold 1 million copies despite the situation surrounding DRM which has now been fixed.
Will Wright will certainly be missed. But I can’t wait to see what stupid fun stuff he creates next!
Man finds drugs in used Grand Theft Auto game
A UK man found drugs, specifically ecstasy tablets, inside a copy of Grand Theft Auto (which version is not specified). Which he subsequently reported to the police, who are now investigating the situation.
According to the report in The Telegraph (Via 1UP) the man bought two copies of the game for his children and discovered the tabs which dropped out of the instruction books for one of the games.
“When I opened the box up, the cling film wrap fell out. I could not believe it,” the father, Richard Thornhill, said. “I have two children and my son plays Xbox all the time. He could easily have opened the box and found them. I dread to think what the consequences would have been if he had. He is only 12. He could have died.”
The offending games were purchased at a UK GameStation store in Cheltenham. Thornhill urged the GameStation to make their checks more rigorous from here on out.
“It was a pre-used game, but that should not make a difference. My wife is beside herself over this because she keeps thinking about what could have happened and so do I.”
Gamestation replied with a statement saying, “We have rigorous procedures for accepting pre-owned titles and checking them before they are put back on sale. We have launched an immediate investigation and we will work closely with police to find out what happened in this instance.”
This is what happens when you buy Mature-rated games for your minor kids folks.
Unreal Tournament 3 Sonic The Hedgehog mod released
Below you can watch an in-game video of someone playing Unreal Tournament 3 Deathmatch using the Sonic the Hedgehog mod with a remaking of Green Hill Zone!
If you find that exciting then be sure to download the Unreal Tournament 3 Sonic Green Hill Zone map. Although to play this map you must first install UT2D (which turns gametypes into 2D).
And be sure to check out the Super Mario Bros. Unreal Tournament 3 Mod as well.
All Guitar Hero’s Greatest Hits now called Guitar Hero: Smash Hits
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits is the new name change for “Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits” Activision has announced.
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits will be releasing this June in North America on Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 2. It features 48 master tracks of songs taken from previous Guitar Hero game including Guitar Hero 1, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. This also means that some of the most famous and popular Guitar Hero songs are now playable with a full band for the first time.
Guitar Hero: Smash Hits will support user-created songs created via “Guitar Hero Tunes” (found on Guitar Hero World Tour and the upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica) but other existing downloadable content won’t work with Greatest Hits.
Via Evil Avatar
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