Serj Tankian or The Used should probably be our focus for next week's Rock Band DLC -- however, we can't get Smash Mouth's "All Star," also available next week, out of our heads. That song is the musical equivalent of one of those brain beetles from Wrath of Khan. Get it out, get it out, get it out! Ahhhhhh!
With this morning's Dashboard surprise (or slipup), we've learned that Gears of War 3 is scheduled to emerge on Xbox 360 next April. Given that Edge Online's earlier prediction of an April 2011 release for the game was spot on, the latest details from the site's anonymous source, said to be in US publishing, could certainly be accurate. From piloting a mech (allegedly appearing in single- and multiplayer modes) to the sequel's summer setting (reported to feature underwater levels, presumably to cool off), the report makes for an interesting read if you're wondering where Marcus and crew could possibly end up next year.
As for the bad guys, the Locust Horde is said to be evolving alongside the game's setting, spawning "tentacle-like appendages," which can attack players that are in cover. We've reached out to Microsoft and Epic for confirmation of any of these details, but, like Edge was told, we imagine the best we'll get is, "We don't comment on rumor or speculation."
Just like that, we suddenly understand some peoples' stern distaste for subscription-based MMOs. A recent bug in the Warhammer Online billing system charged some players its $14.99 monthly fee dozens of times on their monthly due dates. The amount of the overcharge differs from user to user -- reports on this forum thread average between $200 and $500. One player, who claimed to be repeatedly charged for a $77.94 six-month subscription, was hit with fees totaling $1013.12.
The cause of the error is currently unclear, as is the scope of its impact on the game's subscriber base. EA's billing support department is now in full-on crisis recovery mode, working with each affected player's financial institution to refund the fees within "24-36 hours." Considering that this debacle could have likely led to any number of overdraft fees and bounced rent checks for the over-charged, it could prove quite a costly recovery for EA.
Announced as a Rock Band Network release during PAX East, the Joystiq Podcast opening theme, "Gravity (Don't Let Me Go)," is now available for the Xbox 360 version of the Rock Band platform for 80 ($1). As with all RBN releases, the playable song can be demoed before purchase. The RBN version of the track, an update of the show theme, was authored for the game by TheMainDrag and will appear on Jon Black's upcoming EP The Beginning (Up From The Ground Vol. 1), available April 27.
Joystiq Podcast host Justin McElroy wants fans of the show and of music to download the track immediately, saying, "If you're not using your fingers to play 'Gravity (Don't Let Me Go)' on Rock Band, just cut them off and choke yourself with them."
RBN currently hosts around 210 songs, which are listed here. Now go drop "Gravity" onto your console.
#preview
According to Crysis 2, one of the biggest shooters coming to consoles and PC this fall, there will be two ways to save the Big Apple in early September of 2023: Like a predator; or like a tank. More »
The first Crysis is probably best known for its benchmark-setting graphics. Unfortunately, its PC exclusivity meant console gamers weren't able to discover the true beauty of the game: its nail-biting emergent gameplay, crafted by realistic AI, and a truly open world to explore. The Nanosuit endowed players with superhero tools that encouraged playing with the environment: punching a tree to have it land on enemies, for example.
It's so easy to get caught up by the spectacle that many don't know about the nuanced gameplay hidden in Crytek's previous FPS. While the Nanosuit offers remarkable powers, players were still as vulnerable as a regular man. What gamers -- and certainly most console gamers -- may not know about the franchise is that, in spite of its sci-fi influences, it's a tactical shooter at heart.
But don't expect a large focus on the depth of combat today. Like its predecessor, it's easy to get caught up by the sheer spectacle that is Crysis 2.
#art
We've featured the art of Australian artist Patrick Brown a few times before here on Kotaku. But you know what? When someone has such a dense gallery of amazing video game art, a few times isn't enough. More »
#charts
Ever get the feeling there are more games being released than you can even keep track of, let alone get your hands on? Don't worry. It's not your mind playing tricks on you. More »
We actually hadn't heard that Gears of War 3 was announced -- wasn't Cliff Bleszinski's big reveal bumped to Monday? -- but thanks to the marvels of modern technology and inattentive switch flippers, our Xbox 360 has brought us up to speed. The menu item (shown above) in the Xbox Spotlight channel doesn't lead to any further information, but does seem to confirm that "the epic story concludes April 2011."
Oh no, all our GoW trilogies are coming to an end!
#xbox360
Somebody at Microsoft appears to have flicked a switch a little early, with an advertisement appearing on the Xbox 360 dashboard tonight for Gears of War 3. More »
#religionweek
Whether it be action title Bayonetta, fighting game Guilty Gear or role-playing game Rune Factory, habit-wearing characters have made appearances in video games. Many Japanese games simply use nun accoutrements. But why? More »
