Video Celebrates Pokemon Fandom
September 9, 2010 by Laura
Filed under Nintendo DS, Video Games
For more than a decade, the Pokémon video game series has had of fans of all ages across the globe. Nintendo is celebrating the continued enthusiasm for Pokémon that lives on, with games like Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver Versions for the Nintendo DS family of systems helping people discover the unique brand of social enjoyment that Pokémon delivers. In the video below, meet face-to-face with participants at The Pokémon Company’s 2010 World Championships and find out what makes this franchise a favorite for kids, teens and adults all over the world. For more information about these great games, visit www.pokemongoldsilver.com.
Case Zero Breaks Xbox LIVE’s One Week Sales Record
September 9, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Video Games, XBOX 360
Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO has broken all records on Xbox LIVE with the best week one unit sales in the history of all content distributed through Xbox LIVE Arcade. The prologue to the highly-anticipated Dead Rising 2, Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO, launched last week as a unique piece of downloadable content exclusively for Xbox LIVE Arcade. A standalone title that helps bridge the gap between the original Dead Rising and the soon-to-be-released Dead Rising 2, it allows fans a taste of the new Dead Rising world on Xbox 360.
Case Zero give a glimpse of what’s to come in Dead Rising 2 as it includes new combo weapons; your first look at survivors and a psycho; an introduction to new protagonist, Chuck Greene and his daughter Katey and a system that allows you to carry your character attributes collected in Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO into the main game.
Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO is now available exclusively to download on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Dead Rising 2 will launch on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on September 28, 2010.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep in Stores Now
September 7, 2010 by Doug
Filed under PSP, Video Games
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Square Enix announced today that Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is now available at North American retailers. Developed exclusively for the PSP, this latest installment reveals the origins of the franchise and is an essential experience for new players jumping into the series for the first time as well as returning players uncovering the secrets of the iconic franchise.
A unique gaming experience that unfolds through the perspectives of three different main characters, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep allows players to explore the worlds of their favorite Disney stories. With settings new to the series, such as Sleeping Beauty’s Enchanted Dominion, the Dwarf Woodlands from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Deep Space from Lilo & Stitch, this prequel takes players through a magical journey of courage and friendship, all with an enhanced, action-packed battle system.
The game features the voice talents of an incredible cast of actors including Jason Dohring, Mark Hamill, Willa Holland, Jesse McCartney, Haley Joel Osment, Leonard Nimoy and James Woods.
Four exciting multiplayer modes: Experience the excitement and fun with your friends with four brand-new multiplayer modes: Versus Mode, Arena Mode, Command Board and Rumble Racing.
New game features: The North American release will include a number of new features, including an extra boss, additional multiplayer options and Crown Stickers: a reward system where players earn prizes by collecting and placing stickers into an album
A Kingdom Hearts PSP
Also available today is the limited edition Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep PSP system Entertainment Pack from Square Enix and Sony exclusively at GameStop stores nationwide. This bundle includes a “Mystic Silver” PSP-3000 system, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep on UMD, a 50-song voucher for Sony MusicPass and a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo.
The Story
Long before Sora was chosen by his Keyblade, the worlds’ safety lay in the hands of the true Keyblade Masters.
Three youths – Terra, Ventus and Aqua – have been training long and hard under Master Eraqus to prove that they, too, exhibit the Mark of Mastery.
But they will soon find themselves in the middle of a crisis affecting worlds far beyond their own – just as another Keyblade Master, Xehanort, goes mysteriously missing.
Three friends, three destinies. Everything will link back to the beginning.
Rating, Price and Availability
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) and is available for the PSP system at North American retailers nationwide for the suggested retail price of $39.99.
DJ Hero 2 and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Demos Hit Xbox LIVE
September 7, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Video Games, XBOX 360
Activision announced that the demos of DJ Hero 2 and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock will be available today for free download on Xbox LIVE.
Gamers looking to score any one of various exclusive bonus offers can pre-order both games in-store at retailers nationwide or online by visiting www.djhero.com/buy and hub.guitarhero.com/buy/ghwor/.
In the DJ Hero 2 demo, fans will get a taste of four exclusive mixes from the best soundtrack in entertainment as they freestyle scratch, sample and crossfade through various gameplay tutorials, QuickPlay and all-new multiplayer modes including Accumulator and DJ Battle. Mixes included in the demo of DJ Hero 2 are:
- Pussycat Dolls Featuring Busta Rhymes “Don’t Cha” Mixed With Pitbull “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”
- Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis “Just Dance” Mixed With Deadmau5 “Ghosts N Stuff”
- MSTRKRFT Featuring N.O.R.E. “Bounce” (Battle Mix)
- Estelle Featuring Kanye West “American Boy” Mixed With Chic “Good Times”
Gamers looking to be among the first to experience Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock’s all-new, story-driven Quest Mode, narrated by notorious KISS front man Gene Simmons, will be transformed into rock warriors and shred to the following four hit tracks off the game’s quintessential rock collection:
- Black Sabbath “Children of the Grave”
- Foo Fighters “No Way Back”
- Slash featuring Ian Astbury “Ghosts”
- Dethklok “Bloodlines”
Ship Dates and Ratings
Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock shreds onto store shelves September 28 with DJ Hero 2 spinning into retailers on October 19. Both games are rated Teen by the ESRB.
PS3 3.42 Breaks PSJailbreak Hacks
September 7, 2010 by Doug
Filed under PS3, Video Games
Sony today posted version 3.42 firmware for the PS3 in an attempt to squelch the software version of PSJailbreak. The update is only described as including “additional security features.”
Many users forums are reporting the update now blocks unofficial code, such as alternate operating systems or bootleg games. The current technique is believed to freeze both the software and the short-lived USB adapter.
Sony has been extremely aggressive in attempting to shut down PSJailbreak and device-based variants like PSFreedom. Although it has used the pretext of security in each case, it’s primarily concerned about piracy and also has a minor concern about jailbreaks being used to cheat in games.
More Music Hits the Sims 3
Sul sul zeedab nas! The Sims fans will turn up the volume on their HD and PC hardware this Autumn and rock out while playing The Sims 3 game on their PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360, and Wii or when firing up The Sims 3 Late Night Expansion Pack for the PC or MAC. The EA Play Label announced today the robust music line-up for The Sims 3 for console platforms and The Sims 3 Late Night PC/MAC that includes music from a variety of genres such as hip-hop, alternative, pop, rock, electronic, and more. Artists from around the world including Travie McCoy, 3oh!3, Flo Rida featuring Jovi, Kelly Rowland, Kelis, and more recorded current or upcoming hit singles from their latest albums in an entirely new language, ‘Simlish,’ which is the official language of The Sims franchise.
Global artists and Simlish re-recorded songs featured in The Sims 3 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii include:
- 22-20’s – “Latest Heartbreak”
- 3oh!3 – “Double Vision”
- Aceyalone and RJD2 – “Ever Seen This”
- Aeroplane – “We Can’t Fly”
- Alpha Rev – “Phoneix Burn”
- Cody Simpson – “IY IY IY”
- Crash Kings – “You Got Me”
- deadmau5 – “Some Chords”
- Flo Rida featuring Jovi – “Fresh I Stay”
- Free Energy – “Free Energy”
- Hot Chip – “We Have Love”
- Innerpartysystem – “American Trash”
- Jasmine V – “All of These Boys”
- Jessica Mauboy – “Saturday Night”
- John Butler Trio – “Gonna Be a Long Time”
- Kidz in the Hall – “Flickin’”
- Lazee featuring Apollo Drive – “Calling Out”
- Mickey Factz – “Dreamland”
- Ozomatli – “Are you Ready?”
- School Of Seven Bells – “Dust Devil”
- The Dirty Heads – “Stand Tall”
The Sims 3 Late Night includes:
- 3oh!3 – “Double Vision”
- Bryan Rice – “There for You”
- Chiddy Bang – “Here We Go”
- Electrolightz – “Miss Outta Control”
- Eliza Doolittle – “Rollerblades”
- Foxy Shazam – “Unstoppable”
- Hadag Nahash – “Lo Maspik”
- Hadouken! – “M.A.D.”
- Jessica Mauboy – “Saturday Night”
- Junkie XL – “Live Wired”
- Kelis – “Brave”
- Kelly Rowland – “Rose Colored Glasses”
- King Fantastic – “All Black Ying Yang (The Party Song)”
- My Chemical Romance – “Na Na Na”
- Nikki & Rich – “Next Best Thing”
- The Ready Set – “More Than Alive”
- Soulja Boy – “Speakers Going Hammer”
- Travie McCoy – “Need You”
The Sims 3 Late Night gives players all-access and lets them loose on a vibrant, active downtown scene where they’ll rub elbows with celebrities at the hottest parties, hit the local bar after work, tour the scene with their Sims’ band, kick back in a plush hot tub, and discover what’s lurking in the thick of the night. Players will be able to take their Sims into the bustling urban setting where they’ll be able to become a celebrity, member of a music band, mixologist, director, and more. To gain entrance into the most elite clubs in town, players need to keep their attitude in check otherwise they’ll be given the cold shoulder by tough bouncers or find another way onto the list. If chilling is the player’s forte, their Sims can lounge at a chic club or dive bar. If they like to live on the edge, they can be initiated into the dark life of a vampire. Whether embarking on a new career, painting the town red, or throwing a party on the rooftop of a penthouse, it’s always up to the player to tell their unique stories with The Sims 3. What will happen when the lights go out and Sims get all-access?
For more information about The Sims 3 games or The Sims Late Night, please visit http://www.thesims3.com/.
Duke Nukem Forever is Coming in 2011- No This is Not a Joke
September 6, 2010 by Doug
Filed under PC Games, PS3, Video Games, XBOX 360
After revealing its stewardship of the Duke Nukem Forever title at PAX, Gearbox Software just revealed that it has actually purchased the Duke Nukem brand. Gearbox president Randy Pitchford told an audience at PAX Sunday afternoon that they’re not just making sure Duke Nukem Forever makes it to store shelves, but they’ve actually purchased the entire Duke Nukem IP from 3D Realms. “We actually bought the brand,” Pitchford told fans. “We bought Duke Nukem.”
Sengoku BASARA: Samurai Heroes Demo Hits PSN on Tuesday the 7th
September 6, 2010 by Doug
Filed under PS3, Video Games, Wii
The producer of Devil May Cry 4, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, will bring you the newest installment to the BASARA series, Sengoku BASARA: Samurai Heroes, on the PlayStation 3 and Wii on October 12.
Well PS3 fans you will get an exclusive demo on September 7 when the Sengoku BASARA: Samurai Heroes demo hits the PlayStation Network in North America. Featuring two of the more than 15 playable characters available in the retail version, players can pound their fists as Ieyasu Tokugawa, or yield their sword as Mitsunari Ishida.
Taking place during 16th century feudal Japan, Sengoku BASARA: Samurai Heroes tasks players with fighting their way through hundreds of enemies in an effort to take over the whole of Japan. With highly stylized characters taken from the realistic stories of this period, each has their own unique weapons and moves that are upgradeable as they progress throughout the game. After filling their BASARA meter, players can unleash over the top BASARA moves for maximum damage.
Microsoft at PAX Prime
September 3, 2010 by Doug
Filed under Video Games, XBOX 360
At PAX Prime Microsoft will have four booths (Nos. 412, 670, 682 and 822), where it will show off Kinect for Xbox 360, Fable III, Gears of War 3, Halo: Reach, Windows Phone 7 Gaming, Games for Windows, Gears of War 3 and Xbox Live Arcade.
Below are some are the panels and event that MS will be part of at PAX.
Friday, Sept. 3
- “Fable III” signing with lead designer Josh Atkins | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Booth 412
- “The Myth of the Gamer Girl” session | Noon | Unicorn Theater
- “Testers vs. The Game: The Life of a Tester” | 2 p.m. | Wolfman Theater
- “The Community Manager Challenge: Part 1″ | 2:30 p.m. | Pegasus Theater
Saturday, Sept. 4
- “Welcome to ‘Halo: Reach’” | 10 a.m. | Pegasus Theater
- “The Community Manager Challenge: Part 2″ | 11:30 a.m. | Pegasus Theater
- “Halo: Reach” meetup | 12:30 p.m. | Serpent Theater
- “Game Writing & Rabid Badger Combat” | 1:30 p.m. | Raven Theater
- “Fable III” signing with lead designer Josh Atkins | 2-3:30 p.m. | Booth 412
- “Rise of the Indie Game Developer” | 4 p.m. | Game Developer Workshop, Room 310
- “The Future of PC Gaming” | 8 p.m. | Wolfman Theater
- “Twittering for the Man: Social Media & Game Publishers” | 8 p.m. | Serpent Theater
Sunday, Sept. 5
- Live taping of Major Nelson’s show | 10:30 a.m. | Benaroya Hall
- “X-Play Live” with “Gears of War 3″ charity presentation | 12:30 p.m. | Main Theater
- “Xbox Live Enforcement” | 1:30 p.m. | Pegasus Theater
Players to Compete for Honors at Wii Games
September 2, 2010 by Laura
Filed under Video Games, Wii
Participants and spectators from across the United States will come together in Los Angeles on Sept. 3-5 for the Wii Games: Summer 2010 national championship. As many as 90 winning teams from dozens of qualifying events held throughout the country will join six sweepstakes winners to participate in this first-of-its-kind tournament event. Players of all ages will enjoy the fun of Nintendo’s groundbreaking motion-control video games as they compete for prizes and celebrate the active, inclusive spirit of the Wii console. Olympic gold medalist and Dancing with the Stars champion Shawn Johnson, the official Wii Games: Summer 2010 Ambassador, will make a special appearance to lead participants in a Wii warm-up session on Sept. 3.
Winning teams representing the categories featured in the competition, such as Teen, Adult and Super Adult will receive prizes including custom Wii Remote controller-styled trophies, a Royal Caribbean family cruise, Netflix memberships, Wii prize packs and Panasonic entertainment systems during a special award presentation on Sept. 5. Throughout the tournament, families, fans and spectators will also be able to enjoy activities such as noncompetitive game demos. Full details, rules and regulations can be found at http://www.wiigames2010.com.