All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

Why the Wii can still be the system choice for hardcore gamers.

BioWare has posted a clarification for those having issues redeeming Mass Effect 2 promotional codes received in the Collector's Edition of the game or as pre-order bonuses from retailers. The codes require you to go to MassEffect.com to redeem, and although PC players just have to download a file in most cases, it's the Xbox 360 users that are stumbling into an issue. Take note: If you have played a recent EA game with an online component (like Battlefield 1943) on your Xbox 360, chances are you already have an EA.com account linked to your Gamertag. If this is the case, do not create a new account on BioWare's or EA's site to redeem your code. Xbox 360 owners that have played an EA game online and have their Gamertags tied to an account should not input their codes until they can log into their EA.com accounts. If you've already tied your Mass Effect 2 DLC code to a new account, the only way we know to get the game content is to transfer your new account over to an existing one, which requires getting in contact with EA. We're currently contacting the publisher to see if EA can implement a streamlined process to transfer accounts and will update as soon as we hear back. Update: We've placed EA's suggestions on fixing various Mass Effect 2 DLC issues after the break.

Above is footage of Fami-Mode 2009, a Famicom music event that lasts until the wee hours of the morning. That event is kicking off again, taking place Star Pine’s Cafe in Kichijouji, Tokyo this Saturday. It looks like a hell of a good time!

Feel the waves of energy surging through your whole body in this animated trailer that's almost three minutes long!

click to enlarge Having seen the game debuted during the 2009 VGA broadcast, we sat down for a live demo of 2K's Spec Ops: The Line last week at the company's Northern California headquarters. Behind the controls was Cory Davis, lead designer at Yager (developer of -- you guessed it -- Yager), who led us through a roughly 15 minute slice of the game designed to convey the uniqueness of the setting and some pleasantly surprising play mechanics that tie into its backstory. Set about 18 months after a massive sandstorm has ravaged Dubai, the game sees players entering this "no man's land" as part of an elite team sent to locate the origin of a transmission from an earlier mission that had been presumed dead, swallowed up by the sand. The demo began mid-firefight, with the player character (voiced by a decidedly all-business Nolan North) and two AI squad mates seeking cover behind remnants of an office, as unknown gunmen fired at them from a half-collapsed building nearby. What happened next was, well ... unexpected and very cool.

The hidden object game makes its debut on WiiWare.

It's got everything you need.

Microsoft is rolling out some new ads for the Xbox 360 in Japan. Spotted on the Japanese Xbox.com and featuring a trio of businessmen, the ads certainly represent a big departure from the "Do!Do!Do!" ads of yesteryear. The three suits include "Sanrokumaru" (translated 3-6-0) a man with an Xbox 360 sphere for a head. Together, the group forms the Xbox Special Division, which goes forth in order to obtain big name titles for the Xbox 360. One such title is Monster Hunter, which has already been announced by Capcom for the console. In fact, at end of the Monster Hunter ad -- embedded after the break -- the text translates as "XXXX is next!" and then fills in "XXXX" with "Monster Hunter." As noted by Andriasang.com, the promotional site has several spaces filled with Xs, implying that Microsoft has some other game announcements up its sleeve. [Via Andriasang.com]

Shed others' blood in Egypt, Italy and elsewhere in Europe with the complex multiplayer features of Napoleon: Total War.

The art style of Trauma Team goes on display in this Japanese trailer.

Hunt is on!

Twisted Pixel's highly combustible Xbox Live Arcade platformer and object of Joystiq adoration, 'Splosion Man, will headline the upcoming Marketplace schedule (as relayed by Major Nelson) with a temporary 50 percent price reduction. After dropping to 400 MS Points ($5) for the week of February 1st, 'Splosion Man should prove more challenging to blow off than up. Other highlights include Chime, February 3rd's non-profit Xbox Live Arcade release from Zoe Mode and OneBigGame, the Halo 3 Mythic 2 Map Pack, and the first part of Assassin's Creed 2 downloadable content, "Battle of Forli." Expect a Joystiq review on that closer to its January 28th launch.

After pushing most of its anticipated titles from Fall 2009 into the new year (and some even further), Ubisoft has finally revealed when Red Steel 2 will exit the saloon doors and somersault onto retail store shelves. The latest trailer -- titled "Caldera" -- reveals the Wii-exclusive sequel will release on March 26 in Europe, while GameSpot confirms the game lands in the US on March 23, as previously suggested. Ubisoft plans to launch Red Steel 2 in two flavors: Standalone software for $50 and bundled with the Wii Motion Plus add-on for $60. GameStop preorder customers will also get exclusive access to two in-game swords. We're still smitten with the sequel's new manga-esque, East-meets-West visual style and "desert-bound, high-tech metropolis" setting, but we're also still holding our breath to see if Ubisoft can tweak the "canned" gameplay we experienced during our last hands-on with Red Steel 2.

We always suspected we had nothing in common with Silent Hill: Shattered Memories developer Climax. We crave Coke, they prefer Pepsi. We swoon for Daniel Craig, they say George Lazenby is the best. We say tomato, they say ... well, that one works better when you say it out loud. Finally, though, we've found something we agree on: We both want them to make another Silent Hill game. Speaking with the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine, lead designer Sam Barlow said, "For us we felt we've put our stamp on the series with Shattered Memories so we'd love the opportunity to do another one. So everybody go and buy it!" He's absolutely right, you should do that this moment. ... Hey! That's more common ground already. [Via Nintendo Everything]

This installment of the online web series focuses on the combat and interaction of online multiplayer.

Zipper Interactive's massive first-person shooter delivers revolutionary online battles with a squad-based command system and a persistent world.

Find your inner board gamer with Southpeak's latest.

We look ahead to the year's best RPGs, strategy games, shooters and sequels.

The Moki Mokis need your help, but you'll be too bored to save them.

John McClane Oh lord, Die Hard for the NES is one of the weirdest, worst game adaptations I’ve seen. I wish this title just didn’t exist. Everytime I see a reminder of it, I shudder. What a disaster of a title.

Sandstorms have turned the prosperous city of Dubai to ruins and the soldiers of Delta Force must deal with enemies and perilous terrain in this upcoming shooter.

The soldiers of Spec Ops: The Line will have to deal with the consequences of their actions in a dark time of war.

Out soon for Xbox 360 gamers.