All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

We haven't heard anything about Dark Energy Digital's water physics-based horror/puzzle game Hydrophobia in nearly a year, which makes today's news that the game is heading to XBLA rather than getting a full retail release all the more jarring. According to a preview of the game from Xbox World 360 as reprinted on CVG, not only is Hyrdrophobia getting the digital distribution treatment, it'll be heading to Microsoft's console in the form of "three episodes of around five hours each, to be released within a twelve month window." The preview contains undoubtedly the largest glut of info on the game we've seen since we first heard about it way back in 2007 -- when it was still planned for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Apparently the episodes could continue if they prove successful enough, though no word is given on if they'll ever head to PS3 and PC. The game has already missed its planned March 2009 release window and dropped a few consoles for its eventual release, so we've reached out to Dark Energy Digital for more details.

This week’s Nintendo Channel update in Japan is all about TGS trailers, which means we’ve seen all of these videos already! Still, if you’re interested in seeing footage of Sengoku Basara 3, Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom, Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles, FFCC: The Crystal Bearers, Sengoku Mosou 3, Tales of Graces, Okamiden, Ghost Trick, Cross Treasures, [...]

Direct link here SANTA MONICA, CA – September 30, 2009 – Big game excitement just got bigger as Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2010 is out now for Wii™, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. The Wii™ version can be purchased with [...]

When we review a game without finishing it, we call it a Snap Judgment. Read why here. Time played: 3 hours I'm personally a big fan of on-rails shooters, a genre that I think rarely gets its due. I'm not all that big on exploration, and I'm lazy, so having someone else take the reigns for me is a welcome relief, allowing me to focus on the all-important business of murder. So it's quite a treat to see a game like Dead Space Extraction that strikes a blow for lazy guys everywhere by finding the strengths of the genre and running with them.

The answer to that is a lot more. If you thought the trailer for PS3’s ‘3D Dot Heroes’ showed a game that was a little too close to Zelda, wait until you see this footage. Bombing walls to reveal hidden paths, very similar sound effects…and was that a hookshot I just saw?! More videos [...]

Direct link here Majesco Entertainment (NASDAQ: COOL) today released the first trailer from the upcoming tactical role playing game (RPG) for Nintendo DS™– Dawn of Heroes. A unique RPG, Dawn of Heroes tasks players with restoring the Kingdom of Brimthule to its former glory by battling through perilous quests and dangers. This trailer gives viewers a [...]

Direct link here Huge thanks to Hero of Legend for the heads up!

As you can see above, Tales of Graces is set for a December 10th release in Japan. Still no word on localization for this game, but I have a good feeling about it! Thanks to Choas_Warchild for the heads up.

A portion of a Nintendo Life review… If you can somehow curb your expectations of Dragon Quest Wars being a typical Dragon Quest-style RPG experience and accept it for the simple, yet enjoyable strategy title it is, then you’re likely to find a very fulfilling and playable DSiWare title that will provide you with many hours [...]

Despite word from a few European retailers that Sony's download-only handheld, the PSP Go, won't be sold in their stores, the company's UK product manager isn't afraid of poor sales. Even with no ability to read physical media (read as: nothing for retail to sell other than the console), and a £224.99 price point ($362.07 -- seriously), Sony's Claire Blackhouse says retailers are happy to have the new console in their stores. "We were very aware of concerns when we went into it and I actually expected a lot more negative responses than we actually got," Blackhouse told GamesIndustry.biz. "[The retailers] were really quite fine with it." Furthermore, she says that retailers see the console launch this week as a "way of getting people into the store," that those not able to afford the new hardware will "aspire to it" and "might buy the PSP 3000 instead." She even riffs on a PSP-ified family, where "dad might buy the PSP Go but the kids might get PSP 3000s." Sony's 180° marketing shift we've seen recently for the PSP 3000 certainly helps to serve as proof of the company's belief in this strategy. Only time will tell if it'll work.

LinkedIn continues to provide our only link to the status of a true sequel to Dead Space. A recent job posting on the professional networking site, created by EA senior recruiter Jeff Ballard, reports, "The previous installment in the Dead Space franchise received numerous awards ... and the same core team is in place to create an even better follow up." The posting adds, "The game is in the later stages of pre-production, ready for production in the next few months, with many of the navigational and combat mechanics in place."With the point-n-shoot spin-off, Dead Space Extraction, releasing this week for Wii, confirmation that the core-series sequel (expected for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC) will soon roll into production phase comes as welcome news to fans looking for the franchise to stay the traditional course. Hopefully, EA and developer Visceral Games' transmissions will continue to pick up from here on out.[Via superannuation]

LinkedIn continues to provide our only link to the status of a true sequel to Dead Space. A recent job posting on the professional networking site, created by EA senior recruiter Jeff Ballard, reports, "The previous installment in the Dead Space franchise received numerous awards ... and the same core team is in place to create an even better follow up." The posting adds, "The game is in the later stages of pre-production, ready for production in the next few months, with many of the navigational and combat mechanics in place."With the point-n-shoot spin-off, Dead Space Extraction, releasing this week for Wii, confirmation that the core-series sequel (expected for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC) will soon roll into production phase comes as welcome news to fans looking for the franchise to stay the traditional course. Hopefully, EA and developer Visceral Games' transmissions will continue to pick up from here on out.[Via superannuation]

Click image for massive size We thought we had a grasp on this month's Avatar Marketplace content, but some late arrivals have just popped up, namely the two Mass Effect items listed in the title of this very post! If you're playing catch-up on what's in the Avatar Marketplace, check out our extensive look at its launch on Xbox Live. Mass Effect Alliance Dress Uniform - 160 ($2) Mass Effect Mako RC - 240 ($3) [Thanks, James!]

When Jun Takeuchi surprised Tokyo Game Show attendees with a motion-controlled version of Resident Evil 5 (subtitled "Alternative Edition"), he also revealed some new included content, reportedly a flashback scene set in the Spencer mansion featuring Jill Valentine. According to an IGN translation of a Dengeki Online article, the new scene (and whatever else Alternative Edition includes) may not be constrained to Sony's platform. Dengeki says that the new content may come to 360, but in a "different format," possibly implying a DLC release on Xbox Live Marketplace. It's great news, but keep in mind: there will only have motion control support on one platform.

From the day Atari first announced it would be doing a new video game installment in the Ghostbusters franchise to the day said installment was released, we had to maintain a careful linguistic balancing act. We had to ration out quotes and references to the Ghostbusters films in our posts, working tirelessly not to exhaust our resources. We made it to the game's release by the skin of our teeth -- but earlier today, Atari did us the great discourtesy of announcing that the title is coming to PSP. We've just ... we've got nothing left. The debut trailer for the title is posted above. It looks like a fairly faithful recreation of the console versions, only, y'know, tinier. It's got a launch window of November, meaning you can look forward to a month of uncreative, reference-free posts from our end. Just make sure you don't ... cross the ... oh, forget it.