Posts

The grimly predictable media farce overModern Warfare 2continues to trudge on. This time,Washington Timesculture columnist Marybeth Hicks has decided to demonstrate hercomplete lack of acceptancefor things that she doesn’t understand, urging America to reject “barbaric” videogames likeModern Warfare 2. “Tuesday was one of those days when the news can confuse us,” says Hicks. “We ought not be surprised, but we ought to be concerned. Another immersive first-person game offering players the chance to vicariously participate in acts of violence for the sole purpose of … entertainment....

Poking at and flicking animals with a PC mouse? Old school. In the future, why not just use your actual hands? Speaking withUGO,Black & Whitedesigner Peter Molyneux ponders the idea of bringing the series to Microsoft’s console using the hands-free “controller,” Kinect. “The originalBlack & White— with the hand, reaching in and touching and stroking, you can really factor that with Kinect, and it could be really super cool,” he said before quickly adding “it’s purely me thinking about it, and thinking about what Black & White means....

Square Enix already has digital releaseMoon Diverup on the PlayStation Network. The Xbox Live Arcade release has now been announced. It’s coming May 4th with all its side-scrolling, four-player drop in/drop out action (online or local) for 1,200 Microsoft Points, or $15. Moon Diverhas a silly name (___ Diver), but it has good roots. It was created by Kopichi Yotsui, the designer behindStrider. You likeStrider, don’t you?

In a recent interview with NCSoft’s North America president Chris Chung, he announced thatNCSoftis working hard to port some of their most popular PC titles to the PS3, in addition to a completely new IP which they plan to debut later in the year. Clearly the company is in high spirits about their exclusivity deal with Sony and planning to give the PS3 customer their best. Chung also commented: “We’re going to introduce a lot of new services that will make it easier for people to start playing games right away and make them have easier connections to the people and friends that they play with....

When I sentChad Concelmo to interviewLloyd Banks and Tony Yayo of G-Unit, I thought it was going to be the most hilarious match-up ever. Chad did a great job as usual, and the reality of him together in a room with the hip-hop superstars was as great as it was in my head. Now, seeing this documentary about50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, I realize that G Unit were more than prepared for speaking with Chad, a relatively unassuming, hyper-excited videogame nerd wearing a sports coat....

It’s taken them awhile, but it looks like THQ is finally ready to support itsSmackdown vs. Rawgames with substantial downloadable content. The publisher has just released a slew of new stuff forSmackdown vs. Raw 2011, including new wrestlers, gear, and even an arena. New superstars added to the mix include British Bulldog, Lex Luger, Wade Barrett, David Otunga, and Justin Gabriel. Alternate ring attire for Layla, Shaun Michaels, and Shad has also been added....

For those of you straining your eyes to see the Nintendo DSi’s 3.25″ screen, Nintendo hears your cries. According to Japan’s Nikkei post, Nintendo will be releasing a Nintendo DSi with a 4″ screen in Japan later this year. The functionality, according to the paper, will remain identical to the current DSi… the screen will just be a bigger. The price will also remain the same, at 18900 yen. No word on if this will completely replace the current 3....

If you’ve still got a nasty taste in your mouth after 2004’s Softmax-developedMagna Carta: Tears of Blood, it may be time to reconsider. Like the original, the prosaically-titledMagnacarta 2doesn’t have anything to do with the medieval British document of the same name. Nevertheless, it doesfeature big boobsand numbers coming out of people’s heads, so that’s enough to keep me interested. The Tentacleporn Archipelago (better known as Japan) will get the title on August 6, and Namco Bandai will be localizing the game for Europe and North America some time this winter....

To continue today’sthemeof rather pretty RPG eye-fodder for the DS, the UK’sOfficial Nintendo Magazinehas eight new screenshots from the upcomingWind WakersequelThe Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and far from shabby they are too. Due for a June release in the land of the sobbing Xbox and a vague Q4 outing in the west, the game’s already looking to give the series a pretty good thwack with thetouchscreen stick, as well as a seductive tickle with themultiplayer wand....

Therecent and questionablemove by Sony for all its PlayStation Network users to waive any group-based lawsuits after signing up to the service has had a lot of people outraged. In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Australians have been spared the effort of getting angry about this new clause. A spokesperson for Sonyhas made it clearwhy this new policy doesn’t apply to this region: Although the Terms of Service (TOS) in the SCEE (Sony Computer Entertainment Europe) region have not been changed, in the regions where they have, this updated language is designed to benefit both the consumer and the company by ensuring that there is adequate time and procedures to resolve disputes....

I can’t read a word of French. Sure, I know how to tell you that you smell like a filthy prostitute rank with the scent of a hundred hungry patrons, but who doesn’t know how to say that? La putain de ta m’ere! Seriously though, thanks toJeux – France, we have new art and screenies fromFinal Fantasy 12: Revenant Wingsfor you to peruse and perhaps rub your private parts upon. For you old school RPG fans, this game ought to be a delight....

Thanks to a heads up by the folks at Capcom, you have been saved from my amatuerish screenshots andCloverfield-ish video ofStreet Fighter IVfrom GDC 08. Besides, I don’t think I was allowed to shoot and film there anyway. Oops. You’ve been saved by these professionally made screenshots and a new English language AOU trailer.These screens are the prettiest we’ve seen yet, and I really dig the new trailer. But, I’m witheveryone elsein saying that these images don’t compare to seeSFIVin motion....

Of course I want NewSuper Mario Bros Wii— what good retro fan wouldn’t? It looks pretty, it’s sidescrolling, I can play it multiplayer, there’s lots of Yoshi. The list of reasons go on. And perhaps I expect to be able to breeze through it, since it’s a Wii game and most Wii games aren’t that hard. Right? Perhaps wrong, ifMTV Multiplayerhas anything to say on the matter. They got some time with the later levels in the game, and had some interesting comments to share on its difficulty:...