All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

Following last night's NPD report for February, Nintendo has issued a press release lauding the amazing selling power of its own products. In typical fashion, the gaming giant that got your grandma into gaming has managed to sell a ridiculous amount of DS and Wii systems in the U.S. -- 1.9 million in the first two months of 2010, to be exact.

As impressive as that 1.9 million figure is, Nintendo's ability to break its own records is even more impressive. In selling 613,000 DS units throughout February 2010, Nintendo has managed to set a new monthly record, besting the previous top-selling month of February 2009's figure of 597,000 units. It would seem that two things are certain in this life: we're all going to die one day and before that day comes, each of us is going to own nine DS systems.

With March 28 fast approaching -- that's the release date for the DSi XL -- Nintendo is hoping to further build on the success of its now six-year-old handheld. And, to think, even after all that time, the gif still hasn't gotten old.

With the Japanese console release of BlazBlue: Continuum Shift approaching, publisher Arc System Works sent out a new trailer of the HD fighting followup. Instead of uninterrupted footage of giant sprites brawling, Arc has presented what looks like the game's intro, a hyperkinetic anime clip featuring dramatic poses, exciting fight sequences, and ... the Earth being shot from orbit?

At the end of the trailer, after the release date, is a brief reminder of the new character added to the console version of Continuum Shift: the new character μ-12. Aksys Games has yet to announce a localized version of Continuum Shift, but if you absolutely have to buy a new BlazBlue disc, the company released the PSP port of the first BlazBlue this week.

[Via GameVideos]

#clips Splash Damage's Brink, your bright blue shooter for a rainy day, won't be out until later this year. Until then, all you've got are trailers. Trailers like this one. More »

Peter Molyneux lives a fearful life. Ever since he promised the moon and failed to deliver with the original Fable, he has been relentlessly trailed by PR ninjas. We were expecting a special Fable 3 reveal during GDC, and Molyneux obliged, but not before checking with PR. During the Fable 3 panel at GDC, Molyneux said that people have referred to Fable as a "Monty Python-esque" game, and so Lionhead decided to recruit John Cleese himself to play your butler in Fable 3.

He noted that Lionhead has record a "vast amount of AI dialogue" for Cleese, whose job as the butler is to "big you up, in a slightly sarcastic way." Unfortunately, Molyneux stated that the rights for Cleese's voice hadn't been secured "just yet," so we didn't get to see Cleese implemented in the demo. He's definitely a perfect fit for Fable though, and we can only thankful that he hasn't run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible.

More multiplayer mayhem from Splash Damage.

Recorded before a live studio audience.

Recorded before a live studio audience.

Recorded before a live studio audience.

Ubisoft has issued a recall for Collectors Edition copies of the submarine sim Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic, According to a report from the German site ComputerBase. Apparently, some offending World War II-related symbols (we're guessing swastikas) were left in some of the bonus content, which violates German law. This only affects the Collectors Edition.

The ComputerBase post briefly mentions the Ubisoft DRM that has been so problematic for players of Assassin's Creed 2 and this game, confirming that the same scheme is in use there. It must not be as bad in Germany, because someone was able to play long enough to see a swastika.

[Via Blue's News, Edge]

Recorded before a live studio audience.

Immediately following his well-attended GDC panel, Nintendo's Yoshio Sakamoto talked with us about (what else?) Metroid: Other M. In addition to all sorts of questions on the unique Team Ninja collaboration, we asked Sakamoto about the long-rumored Metroid Dread project and, barring a confirmation of that product, when we'd see another 2D handheld Metroid.

Joystiq: Speaking of the core Metroid development team that last worked on the GBA, there have been rumors of a game known as 'Metroid Dread' - purportedly a 2D Metroid game for DS. First question: Was 'Dread' a real project? Second question: If not, where is a 2D Metroid on DS?

Yoshio Sakamoto: It seems we get a lot of questions about Metroid Dread, especially at interviews following E3 for example. But nothing's ever been announced about this game; it's all just been rumors so far. So we never know exactly how to respond to questions like this.

While there actually was a point where some teams were meeting to discuss if it was possible to create a 2D Metroid for DS using a relatively small team size, it's not something that we ever really announced or thought of as "Metroid Dread." But whenever people bring out that idea, we recognize that the basic concept is something that we can't say never existed. But at the same time, we can't of course, make any official comment about a Metroid Dread-like project coming out.

Our main goal [with Metroid: Other M] is to, as I said earlier, first raise knowledge about the Metroid universe and the Samus character before we start to introduce different elements like online or even going back to another handheld game for the next in the series. So there's nothing coming immediately, we want to think about these new challenges first.

But, of course, we never say never.

Hey Everyone – Here is the weekly PlayStation Video Store update.

For TV new arrivals this week, I recommend checking out JLo’s guest appearance on How I Met Your Mother. In other HIMYM news, that Barney Stinson (played by Neil Patrick Harris) is hilarious – he is such a womanizer! Whether you’ve never watched the show before, or are a die-hard Barney fan, you can check out the Bro Code Six-Pack, a selection of HIMYM episodes hand-picked by Neil Patrick Harris himself, under Featured Collections.

Also under Featured Collections, we’re continuing to showcase Award Nominated Movies throughout the weekend, so if you still haven’t seen The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Bastards or Precious, now is your chance.

For new release movies this week, Boondock Saints II and Pirate Radio steal the show. Below is the trailer from Pirate Radio, which takes us on a trip back to the freewheeling, free-loving 60’s. The film is based on a true story, and it came to PlayStation Store prior to its DVD release. It’s available now to rent or own in HD. Enjoy!

FREE NEW ARRIVALS

• Kick-Ass – Theatrical Trailer
• No One Knows About Persian Cats – Theatrical Trailer
• Red Riding – Theatrical Trailer
• South Park: Uncensored | Season 14 South Park HD Highlights
• Season of the Witch – Theatrical Trailer

HD MOVIE NEW ARRIVALS

• Old Dogs
• Precious
• 2012
• Bronson
• Casino
• State of Play
• The Stoning of Soraya M.
• Pirate Radio
• Empire
• Pride & Prejudice
• American Pie Presents: Band Camp (Unrated)
• American Pie Presents: Beta House (Unrated)
• American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (Unrated)
• American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (Unrated)
• Let’s Go To Prison
• Passport to Love
• Slap Shot 3
• American Pie (Unrated)
• American Wedding (Unrated)
• Clockers
• October Sky
• Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice
• The Perfect Man
• The Pianist
• Psycho

MOVIE NEW ARRIVALS

• Precious
• Old Dogs
• The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
• Capitalism: A Love Story
• Planet 51
• Dr. T And The Women
• Turn the Beat Around
• Alien Siege
• Nine Dead
• The Stoning of Soraya M.
• Wall Street
• Pirate Radio
• Empire
• Pride & Prejudice
• Altered
• American Pie Presents: Band Camp (Unrated)
• American Pie Presents: Beta House (Unrated)
• American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (Unrated)
• American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (Unrated)
• Let’s Go To Prison
• Passport to Love
• Slap Shot 3
• Brother Bear
• American Pie (Unrated)
• American Pie 2 (Unrated)
• American Wedding (Unrated)
• Clockers
• October Sky
• Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice
• The Perfect Man
• The Pianist
• Psycho

HD TV NEW ARRIVALS

• Saturday Night Live | Season 35 - Zach Galifianakis – March 6, 2010
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Season 1 - Highlights: 3/1/10 – 3/5/10
• Til Death | Season 4 - Merit Pay
• Til Death | Season 4 - Day 8: 2:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.
• 24 | Season 8 - Day 8: 2:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.
• Chuck | Season 3 - Chuck Versus the Beard
• Damages | Season 3 - You Haven’t Replaced Me
• Gossip Girl | Season 3 - The Hurt Locket
• House | Season 6 - Private Lives
• How I Met Your Mother | Season 5 - Of Course
• Law & Order | Season 20 - Brilliant Disguise
• Lost | Season 6 - Dr. Linus
• Trauma | Season 1 - Tunnel Vision
• Human Target | Season 1 - Salvage and Reclamation
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Season 11 - Confidential
• Mercy | Season 1 - I’m Fine
• Psych | Season 4 - Mr. Yin Presents…
• The Tester | Season 1 - LARPing in the Park
• 30 Rock | Season 4 - Future Husband

TV NEW ARRIVALS

• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Season 1 - Highlights: 3/1/10 – 3/5/10
• Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood | Season 1 - An Alchemist’s Anguish
• MuscleCar | 2010 - Blue Collar Buick Roof and Rust
• Saturday Night Live | Season 35 - Zach Galifianakis – March 6, 2010
• Bakugan | Season 8 - BT: The Final Battle
• Bleach | The Bount - Bleach 88
• Bleach | The Bount - Bleach 89
• Freaknik: The Musical
• Til Death | Season 4 - The Concert
• Til Death | Season 4 - Merit Pay
• Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Season 5 - Puberty
• GT Bonus Round | Season 4 - Story in Games Part 1
• 24 | Season 8 - Day 8: 2:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.
• Chuck | Season 3 - Chuck Versus the Beard
• Damages | Season 3 - You Haven’t Replaced Me
• Gossip Girl | Season 3 - The Hurt Locket
• House | Season 6 - Private Lives
• How I Met Your Mother | Season 5 - Of Course
• Law & Order | Season 20 - Brilliant Disguise
• NBA Games of the Year | 2009-2010 - L.A. Lakers vs. Miami 03/04/2010
• Rules of Engagement | Season 4 - Snoozin for a Bruisin
• The Buried Life | Season 1 - #85 Throw the Most Badass Party in the World
• Two and a Half Men | Season 7 - I Found Your Moustache
• Blue Mountain State | Season 1 - Marathon Monday
• Lost | Season 6 - Dr. Linus
• Naruto Shippuden Uncut | Season 1, Vol. 3 - Impossible Dream
• Players: Uncensored | Season 1 - Grand Re-Opening
• Parenthood | Season 1 - Man Versus Possum
• Southland | Season 2 - Butch and Sundance
• White Collar | Season 1 - Out of the Box
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Season 11 - Confidential
• Mercy | Season 1 - I’m Fine
• Modern Family | Season 1 - Truth Be Told
• MonsterQuest | Season 4 - Lizard Monster
• Psych | Season 4 - Mr. Yin Presents…
• The Tester | Season 1 - LARPing in the Park
• Archer | Season 1 - Job Offer
• The First 48 | Season 10 - Episode 8
• Comedy Central Presents: Stand-Up | 2010 - Episode 8
• Glenn Martin, DDS | Season 1 - Vegas Strip
• Kell on Earth | Season 1 - Love Hangover
• Trauma | Season 1 - Tunnel Vision
• The Sarah Silverman Program | Season 3 - Smellin’ of Troy
• TNA Wrestling | 2010 - TNA Wrestling 3/11/2010
• Ghost Hunters | Season 6 - Fort Ticonderoga
• Human Target | Season 1 - Salvage and Reclamation
• Tosh.0 | Season 2 - Tosh.0 209
• The Real Housewives of Orange County | Season 5 - Reunion Special, Pt 1
• The Real Housewives of Orange County | Season 5 - Reunion Special, Pt 2
• 30 Rock | Season 4 - Future Husband
• Important Things with Demetri Martin | Season 2 - 2

Top Movies

Zombieland Where the Wild Things Are 2012 The Hurt Locker The Box Couples Retreat Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant The Informant! Precious Boondock Saints 2

Top HD Movies

The Hurt Locker Zombieland Where the Wild Things Are Couples Retreat The Box Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant The Stepfather The Informant! Precious Inglourious Basterds

Top TV Episodes

Lost | Season 6 - Sundown Family Guy | Season 8 - Extra Large Medium The Office | Season 6 - The Delivery, Pt 1 The Office | Season 6 - The Delivery, Pt 2 Naruto Shippuden Uncut | Season 1, Vol. 2 - Puppet Fight: 10 vs. 100! Smallville | Season 9 - Conspiracy House | Season 6 - Private Lives Naruto Shippuden Uncut | Season 1, Vol. 3 - Impossible Dream Sports Illustrated: On Location with 2010 Swimsuit Models Archer | Season 1 - The Rock

Top HD TV Episodes

Lost | Season 6 - Sundown Family Guy | Season 8 - Extra Large Medium Sports Illustrated: On Location with 2010 Swimsuit Models The Office | Season 6 - The Delivery, Pt 1 The Office | Season 6 - The Delivery, Pt 2 Smallville | Season 9 – Conspiracy 24 | Season 8 - Day 8: 2:00am-3:00am House | Season 6 - Private Lives Lost | Season 6 – Lighthouse Caprica: The Series | Season 1 - Know Thy Enemy

#telltale Telltale, developers of the episodic series of Sam & Max, revealed today that not only is there a third season of the dog & rabbit detective series on the way, but that for the first time it'll be on PS3. More »

There was an interesting moment during the Q&A session of Peter Molyneux's Fable 3 panel at GDC this year. When asked if Fable 3 will be released on PC, Molyneux was cagey though he did say that he would 'love' to see the game appear on the platform. He was careful not to raise the ire of Microsoft's "PR police people ... with sniper rifles," but went on to state, "I can say, mystically, that I love the PC." He continued, "I love what's happening to the PC, and I would love to see the Fable franchise on the PC." He concluded that he would want to make sure it was "a truly amazing experience on the PC and that, you know, it's brilliant."

Hardly a confirmation of any actual plans for a PC version of Fable 3 -- and it should be noted that Fable 2 has remained exclusive to the Xbox 360 since 2008 -- but it's clear that Lionhead would jump at the opportunity if given the chance.

#pc Torchlight is a game we like. A lot. So we also like the news that it's developers are looking at bringing the game to consoles. More »

#hideokojima Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima cannot be clear enough. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker isn't just some PSP game. Oh no. More »

Fantasy author R.A. Salvatore took the stage at GDC 2010 today and, while he made it clear that his talk about how to create believable fantasy worlds wasn't specifically about his work with 38 Studios' Copernicus project, he did talk a little bit about what he wants from an MMO game and gave the first mention of what the world of Curt Schiller's game is like. Salvatore talked for quite a while in his thick Massachusetts accent about his time in Everquest, which he said was "the best world in a game I've ever seen." He also lauded the idea of a death penalty in an MMO, and said that during his formative MMO experiences the threat of death (he once lost a hard-earned level when he was killed by an NPC that he accidentally clicked to attack) made living that much better. "If you take the pain out of the world," he said, "you lose the accomplishment of winning."

And while he admitted that the Copernicus designers were fighting with him on whether or not to include a death penalty in the game, the company would at least make sure that a return from death was explained. His team has written over 10,000 years of history for the game's world (all compiled on "a wiki with over hundreds of pages in it"), and one of the major features of the setting's lore is a "device that's perfected" called the "Well of Souls." The Well, "when you die, will bring you back -- if you meet the conditions." He didn't elaborate about what those conditions were, but he asked the audience what a worldwide death-prevention device would do to institutions like kings and religions. "What happens when you take power away from powerful people?" he asked rhetorically. "How would it play out?" And, he suggested, if there were people who "turned the Well on," what if they threatened the rest of the world with turning it off?

Vague, but intriguing. Copernicus still seems like it has a long way to go (Salvatore didn't show any slides or screenshots during his talk), but fans of the old EQ might find the game a return to the old ways if R.A. has his say.

#wii There's some big NBA Jam reveal on Friday night on Spike, but we can't wait that long. So we're making do with around ten seconds worth of in-game footage from this commercial, right now. More »

#toys Been a lot of GDC news here the last few days. Let's take a break for a moment, then, and look at this model kit from cult Japanese shooter series Silpheed. More »

#toys It very well could be! More »

#politics Silent Hunter V is a game in which Nazi submarines feature prominently. Oh, sorry. German submarines. Nazi submarines are still a taboo subject, which explains why the collector's edition of the game has just been pulled from German shelves. More »

#yakuza Sega has made cuts to the Western version of gangland brawler Yakuza 3. The publisher says that hostess bars are gone. People playing the game say a lot more than that is missing. More »

This year judges enjoyed spending time in Monaco and Limbo.

#rumor With studio heads at Infinity Ward, the developer of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and its sequel, no longer employed, you'd think all those remaining at the company would be leaving in mass exodus. They're not, apparently, and here's why. More »