All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

Duo of hyperkinetic Dragon Ball games blasts onto multiple consoles this Fall.

Ladies and gentlemen ... turn off your engines. Take the keys out of the ignition, and place them calmly on your living room end table. The Blur multiplayer beta has come to a full stop in anticipation of the game's May 25 release. We know you're worried about your sharpened driving skills dulling within the 14-day interim. Might we suggest driving recklessly while shooting devastating power-ups at other cars ... in real life? Sure, that might be physically impossible (not to mention illegal), but that's the price you pay to stay on top of the leaderboard.

So, some games are available this week on the Virtual Console, WiiWare, and DSiWare in Japan. Last year's NyxQuest, the Greek-themed platformer, is the star among the Wii releases. Otherwise, the Wii Shop a pretty unassuming lineup, unless you're three years old or love both war history and numbers.

DSiWare has ... Miami Nights! Perfect if you like The Sims and constantly thinking of David Caruso jokes.

• Genghis Khan 2: Clan of the Grey Wolf (Super Famicom, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
• World Amusing Party Game 2 (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points)
• NyxQuest (WiiWare, 1-2 players, 900 Wii Points)
• Learning with the PooYoos Episode 1 (WiiWare, 1 player, 500 Wii Points)
  
• Miami Nights Celebrity Version (DSiWare, 1 player, 800 DSi Points)

#republished Once again, we're talking about why we can't play war games as female avatars. This time, guest blogger Brad Gallaway weighs in on the male-dominated Brink. More »

Microsoft gives last player standing the boot.

#atlus One of the coolest features of Atlus' 3D Dot Game Heroes is the ability to create your own animated protagonist using the game's built-in character editor. Now there's a place where players can share their creations with the world. More »

PlayStation Skaters,

The Skate franchise is back and rolling into some sick new territory with the release of SKATE 3 for the PS3. There’s tons of new stuff for Skate fans to get stoked on – a whole new city to skate, innovative new team and co-op gameplay, new difficulty modes that enable you to skate exactly how you want, and for the first time in Skate, a Create A Park feature that will change the way the game is played. If you’re new to the world of Skate, don’t sweat it because we’ve added Skate.School, a fun place to session where you can learn the ins and outs of skating as taught by Coach Frank – this weirdly hilarious and oxymoronic “skateboarding coach” played by legendary pro skater and actor, Jason Lee.

Your mission in SKATE 3 is to start a skateboard company and sell boards. Sell enough boards and you’ll unlock four huge skateparks and plazas that are also “create a parks” with all sorts of varied and super fun terrain to play with. The dev team is especially proud of Skate 3’s commitment to blurring the lines between Online and “single player.” We’ve basically taken the approach that we want to reward all skaters, whatever their style of play or even creative bent.

Are you the competitive type? Take your game online and battle it out in ranked matches and races. You on a team that kills it? Show it by challenging other teams in contests or the new Domination, 1-Up, or Own The Lot modes. Like abusing your body for poops and giggles? Play the revamped Thrasher Hall of Meat Mode. Or, share your creative side by using the Graphics Creator or Skate.park features to upload your work. And, here’s the beauty of SKATE 3… you get credit for your play and “work” in the form of board sales that drive your progression. No more wasted effort for a pat on the back on the message boards or in a blog. In SKATE 3, if you kill it skating, or people are downloading and digging your “art”, you’ll get rewarded. And, that gets us hyped because we are proud of what our community creates, now we get to give them something back.

Check out this hot, new trailer for more SKATE 3 goodness:

Well, that’s it for now…the game is hitting shelves now and I’m hitting the road to Los Angeles to take part in what promises to be a pretty cool launch event at Venice Beach Skatepark. We’ve got a bunch of Skate’s pros, some kiosks to play the game, lots of product to heap on fans, and a bunch of meat to chew on. Things get started at 4 PM tomorrow, Wednesday, May 12, but I’d get there early to get some lines in before the heavies show up. See below for more details. See you there…

…and keep rolling.

Check in on ONM staffer Chris Scullion’s continuing adventure to catch them all in Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver!

Duo of hyperkinetic Dragon Ball games blasts onto multiple consoles this Fall.

Metro 2033 developer 4A Games is set to unveil plans for the future -- as in next week, not post apocalypse. The game's official Twitter account stated yesterday: "Like a fine single malt, the DLC is almost done ... we hope to be able to take the wraps off it this week."

We don't know what items will be added to the atmospheric foreign-person shooter, only what won't be included: nothing multiplayer ("not possible") and "it won't be new SP [single-player] narrative content, 'missing levels' or anything like that." In fact, the DLC only began production back in March. We'll be sure to let you know more as soon as we hear it, seemingly later this week.

[Via IncGamers]

Take your ninja men on the go.

May is Zombie Awareness month in Sparkplay's free-to-play MMO.

#sexandviolence A GameStop employee interviewed for a piece on Japanese rape simulator RapeLay suddenly finds himself without a job. Was he fired for his comments on the controversial game? More »

#ubisoft With a 15 hour long single player adventure, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood is far more than a multiplayer side story in the Assassin's Creed universe. It's time to join the Brotherhood, as Ubisoft details Ezio's continuing adventures. More »

http://i.imgur.com/PQGXU.jpg Mentally defective sadist? With that smile? Yes, very much yes. [As seen on Imgur via Reddit] More »

Lions, and tigers, and poisonous gassy chubby bunnies.

TimeGate and Southpeak have taken serious measures to help move their download-only PS3 version of Section 8 -- for the next week, the game's price will be dropped by fifty percent. For $14.99, you can pick up the full version of the game and its three DLC multiplayer maps on the PlayStation Store. It's hard to say no to that price -- especially since you'll need to absorb the game's rich backstory in order to have any idea what's going on when you play Sections 9, 10 and 11.

Bay Root Productions takes home title of top producer and Yung Automatik wins top honors in the MC category.

Get ready to switch character classes and storm The Coliseum.

#expansionism Funcom's Age of Conan triumphantly returns to store shelves two years after its debut, as the Rise of the Godslayer expansion pack goes live. More »

click to Colosseum-size
This morning, Ubisoft officially revealed the upcoming addition to Ezio's piece of the Assassin's Creed franchise, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Though the game was outed and cursorily detailed in some placeholder box art last week, the game's official press release locks down a 15-hour time allotment for the game's single player story ("set in the living, breathing, unpredictable city of Rome") and has Ezio recruiting/training "promising young Assassins" for deployment across the historical capital or for assistance on missions (no word on co-op, but it seems like a no-brainer, right folks?).

Rather than using money earned to bolster a villa, this time around the money will go to fixing up Rome itself, which affects how citizens interact with Ezio as well as unlocking missions and currying favor with various factions. The release also promises collaboration with Da Vinci, Machiavelli, and Caterina Sforza, while employing new "secret weapons" (ranging from poison darts to parachutes to hidden blades and guns, not to mention an "advanced flying machine" -- presumably useful in more than a single mission this time). Multiplayer is said to feature "multiple authentic character classes" (presumably the characters seen above) who each have "signature weapons and killing moves." We'll look for more details and a more specific release date than "Holiday 2010" at E3, perhaps on a giant advertisement emblazoned on the side of the convention center.

Hi Everyone – It’s time for the weekly PlayStation Store Update.

Spring Fever Update

This week Spring Fever celebrates Sony Online Entertainment titles packaged into the following bundles!

PopCap Spring Fever Bundle ($24.99)
Kick off the spring season with all your PopCap favorites brought to you by Sony Online Entertainment! Can’t decide which game you want? Get them all! The PopCap Spring Fever Bundle includes Bejeweled 2, Peggle, Zume, Heavy Weapon, and Feeding Frenzy 2 Shipwreck Showdown, so get yours now for some crazy unbeatable fun!
ESRB Rated E10+

Midway Spring Fever Bundle ($14.99)
Celebrate spring with all your favorite classic Midway games, brought to you by Sony Online Entertainment and available for one week only! Get ready to re-live all of the classics. The Midway bundle includes Mortal Kombat II, Championship Sprint, Gauntlet II, Joust, and Rampage World Tour!
ESRB Rated E-M

Updates

Tetris minis Sale (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
Zombie Tycoon minis Sale [Also available in French] (now $2.99, original price $7.99)
Section 8 Sale (now $14.99, original price $29.99)
Tokyo Police PS3 & PSP Theme Permanent Price Drop (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
Echoes minis Permanent Price Drop (now $0.99, original price $2.99)
Unbound Saga Permanent Price Drop (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Free Gravity Crash Dynamic Theme with purchase of Gravity Crash (Full Game) ($9.99)

Qore

Qore Episode 24: May 2010 ($2.99)
Episode 24 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network jumps into the action with Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, dukes it out with UFC champ Jens Pulver, takes it to the next level in LittleBigPlanet 2, and returns to PlayStation Home.
File size: 1.73 GB

Qore Annual Subscription: May 2010 ($24.99)
Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network is a monthly interactive video production covering the world of PlayStation. Qore provides its audience with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to developers and their games, from both the SCE Worldwide Studios and the third-party community, where the audience member can freely navigate through the content.
File size: 1.73 GB

Downloadable Games

World Of Outlaws Sprint Cars ($19.99)
World of Outlaws Sprint Cars is the first game that lets you race on your favorite dirt tracks, against your favorite sprint car drivers or your friends online. Your career will take your across the country to build your racing empire. Win races, win cash and sponsorships to upgrade your car. See if you have the stamina to be the next World of Outlaws Champion..
ESRB Rated E
File size: 1.88 GB

Game Demos (free)

Split/Second Demo
In Split/Second you trigger devastating explosions to decimate drivers and change the track!
ESRB Rated E10+
File size: 752 MB

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Hippo ($0.99)
The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Hippo Costume today! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Fly ($0.99)
The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Fly Costume today! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Turtle ($0.99)
The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Turtle Costume today! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Peacock ($0.99)
The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Peacock Costume today! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Costume Pack ($2.99)
The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Costume Pack today and get the Hippo, Fly, Peacock, and Turtle costumes! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet.
File size: 1.04 MB

Bioshock 2: Exclusive Characters ($1.99)
Passion, drama and adventure. Find yours with 2 brave new characters for the multiplayer experience. Mlle Blanche de Glace, the internationally acclaimed actress, or Zigo D’Acosta, one of Rapture’s great sailors.
File size: 101 KB

Bioshock 2: Kill ‘Em Kindly (free)
What’s your golf handicap? Take this chance to turn your handicap into your enemy’s with this fresh melee mode where every blunt object is a golf club. No putting.
File size: 8.81 MB

Bioshock 2: Rapture Metro ($9.99)
As one of our valued Sinclair Solutions testers, we specially invite you to enjoy the pleasure of Rebirth! But only if you are truly dedicated and fully ranked up. However all testers are eligible for the 6 new maps in Rapture Metro.
File size: 1027 MB

DJ Hero – Domination Mix Pack DLC ($7.99)
Downloadable Mix Pack for DJ Hero featuring Wolfgang Gartner, Danny Byrd, Darude, and Josh Wink.
File size: 62 MB

Lost Planet 2 Map Pack #1 ($4.99)
Download two new battlegrounds in this Map Pack for LOST PLANET 2. In “Helix,” fight in a multilayered NEVEC ocean research facility at the bottom of the ocean. “Back to the Island” brings the new weapons and abilities of LP2 back to Island 902, a remake of the classic map from the original LOST PLANET.
File size: 74 MB

Super Street Fighter IV: Super Shoryuken Costume Pack ($3.99)
Download the second pack of alternate costumes for Super Street Fighter IV! New costumes for Ryu, Ken, Gouken, Dan and Akuma are included. Mix things up with your favorite Shotokan characters! Only available for use with Super Street Fighter IV.
File size: 100 KB

Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Of The Year Edition: Play As The Joker Challenge Map Pack (free)
Become The Joker in Challenge Maps only available on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. Experience a whole new set of unique fighting moves as well as Joker’s demented tricks and gadgets. This downloadable content is for the Game of the Year Edition only!
File size: 107 MB

Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Of The Year Edition: Prey In The Darkness Map Pack (free)
Test your combat and Invisible Predator skills in 2 new locations, the Arkham Pumping Station and the Abandoned Glasshouse. This downloadable content is for the Game of the Year Edition only.
File size: 70 MB

Batman: Arkham Asylum: Crime Alley Challenge Map ($3.49)
Experience the unique FreeFlow combat system in this all new Combat Challenge Map, set in the iconic Gotham location of Crime Alley. You will face 4 consecutive waves of The Joker’s henchmen armed with a range of weapons.
File size: 54 MB

Batman: Arkham Asylum: Dem Bones Challenge Map ($3.49)
Enter this villain’s nightmarish world and experience a unique combat challenge that will test you to the very limits.
File size: 43 MB

Skate 3: Time Is Money Pack ($6.99)
If you are busy, or just plain lazy, Time is Money will unlock all locations, skaters and gear, and Skate.Park objects that can be earned by playing through Skate 3’s career and online modes.
File size: 1.52 MB

Nier: The World Of Recycled Vessel ($6.99)
The diary of Nier’s wife opens a gate to a strange world where an unnamed warrior battles powerful Shades. Engage in 15 nightmarish battles to unlock bonus costumes, weapons, and a special quest.
File size: 470 MB

Record Of Agarest War: Add-On Dungeon 5: Generation 5 Deep Forest Naruvia (free)
An add-on dungeon for generation 5. Embark on one last adventure into the [Deep Forest Naruvia]!
File size: 2.33 MB

Record Of Agarest War: Item Pack 5: Ellis Kit (free)
We’ve prepared five items that increase your magical power. This powerful kit comes with [Adaka], [Shield Sword], [Bird Eye], [Magic Frame], and [Seed of Happiness]. It’s a must-have for any aspiring sorcerer.
File size: 2.33 MB

Record Of Agarest War: Item Pack 6: Power Up (free)
Assorted items for increasing one’s stats. It contains two each of [STR Up], [VIT Up], [INT Up], [AGI Up], [LUK Up], and [Max. HP Up] . Train your favorite character with this set.
File size: 2.33 MB

Record Of Agarest War: Points Pack 2: Service Point Pack (free)
A set containing 5,000G and a whole bunch of ability points (50PP, 500TP, and 500EP). This special package has more stuff than the Trial point package.
File size: 2.33 MB

Guitar Hero 5
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com.

• “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner ($1.99)
• “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99)
• “Take the Money and Run” by Steve Miller Band ($1.99)
• Classic Rock Track Pack 3 ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner, “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “Take the Money and Run” by Steve Miller Band. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.
• “Face Down” by Alpha Rev ($1.99)
• “Low Day” by Capra ($1.99)
• “You’re All I Have” by Snow Patrol ($1.99)
• Alternative Pop Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Face Down” by Alpha Rev, “Low Day” by Capra, and “You’re All I Have” by Snow Patrol. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading.

File size: 31 MB – 58 MB (singles), 116 MB – 132 MB (track pack)

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

• “Breaking The Law (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99)
• “Grinder (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99)
• “Living After Midnight (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99)
• “Metal Gods (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99)
• “Rapid Fire (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99)
• “Steeler (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99)
• “The Rage (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99)
• “United (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99)
• “You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise” – Judas Priest ($1.99)
• British Steel Live Pack ($14.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: British Steel Live Pack. This pack includes “Breaking The Law (Live),” “Grinder (Live),” “Living After Midnight (Live),” “Metal Gods (Live),” “Rapid Fire (Live),” “Steeler (Live),” “The Rage (Live),” “United (Live),” and “You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise (Live)” by Judas Priest.

Rock Band Network

• “I’m Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?” by A Day To Remember ($1.99)
• “Mordecai” by Between the Buried and Me ($1.99)
• “Remedy” by Seether ($1.99)
• “Tongue Twister Typo” by Blackmarket ($0.99)
• “When I Get Home You’re So Dead” – by Mayday Parade ($2.99)

File size: 20 MB – 42 MB (singles), 291 MB (track pack)

Game Videos (free)

God of War 3: Chaos Trailer
Download the GOD OF WAR® III — Chaos Trailer. IN THE END, THERE WILL ONLY BE CHAOS… God of War III finds Kratos raining carnage and destruction upon the Gods who have betrayed him and the entire Ancient Greek world. Armed with his deadly double-chained blades, Kratos will take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles on his merciless quest to destroy Olympus and the mighty Zeus himself.
File size: 75 MB (HD), 122 MB (1080)

LittleBigPlanet PSP – Turbo! Level Kit Trailer
PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. Put the pedal to the metal with this massive vehicle-based pack. Race, battle and bounce your way through six completely new levels. And the fun doesn’t stop there, with hundreds more bits and pieces to fill your Popit, you can create turbo-powered vehicular contraptions of your very own.
Download the Turbo! Level Kit trailer today! NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 52 MB

3D Dot Game Heroes – “The Hero Your Hero Could Be” Trailer
Watch this short vignette to find out how awesome your hero could be if he was created in the 3D Dot Game Heroes 3D character editor. Retro chic meets modern sleek in this, the ultimate love letter to retro gamers. Seamlessly fusing new and old, the golden era of gaming is felt in every detail of this adventure.
File size: 35 MB (HD)

Crysis 2: “The Wall” Trailer
Experience the first trailer for Cryteks new genre defining shooter: Crysis 2.
File size: 145 MB (HD 1080)

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City Network Trailer
The all new trailer for Grand Theft Auto’s highly acclaimed downloadable episodes, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony.
File size: 49 MB (HD)

Kick-Ass Trailer
This Kick-Ass Trailer shows this third-person action fighting game based on the movie of the same name. The game takes the player through different mission areas of New York, facing petty thugs and even powerful mob bosses. The player’s main goal is to bring justice back to the city — at any cost, including frantic Superhero action.
File size: 72 MB (HD)

PS3 Themes

3D Dot Games Heroes Theme (free)
File size: 2.97 MB

After Burner Climax Premium Theme ($3.99)
File size: 5.43 MB

Gravity Crash Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
File size: 1.94 MB

PS3 Wallpaper

Kick-Ass Wallpaper
File size: 402 KB (SD), 1.89 MB (HD)

Kick-Ass Wallpaper 2
File size: 321 KB (SD), 1.55 MB (HD)

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Harvest Moon: Hero Of Leaf Valley $29.99
The tranquil town of Leaf Valley is scheduled for demolition! The heartless Funland Corporation is going to bulldoze the town and replace it with an amusement park unless its citizens can find a way to stop them! You’ll need to grow crops, raise animals, and mine ores and gems to help save Leaf Valley and your family farm. With a branching storyline and multiple endings, how you choose to save the town is up to you!
ESRB Rated E
File size: 120 MB

Game Demos (also available from PS3 Storefront) (free)

ModNation Racers PSP Demo
Be among the first to test drive ModNation Racers on the PSP system! In this free demo you’ll experience kart racing for a new generation as you boost, drift, and race your way through two over-the-top tracks using any one of six racers. Plus, get a taste for the game’s revolutionary Create tools with the Track Studio preview! Drive your idea of the perfect track into existence for the included Track Theme, then tweak it and test drive it.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 135 MB

PSP minis (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Busy Sweets Factory (PSP Only) ($1.99)
ESRB Rated E
File size: 5.84 MB

Love Cupid (PSP Only) ($1.99)
ESRB Rated E
File size: 6.49 MB

Quiz Animania (PSP Only) ($1.99)
ESRB Rated E
File size: 11 MB

Add-on Game Content (also available from PS3 Storefront)

LittleBigPlanet PSP – Wilderness Costume (free)
PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. LittleBigPlanet’s critically acclaimed “PLAY, CREATE, SHARE” experience, makes its way to the PSP system with a completely new Sackboy adventure. Get these free costumes from the Wilderness Theme Pack. NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 2.51 MB

LittleBigPlanet PSP – Wilderness Theme Pack ($2.99)
PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. Download a new set of costumes and CREATE materials to create your own Wilderness levels! The Wilderness Theme Pack includes 5 Costume items, 13 CREATE Materials, 15 Stickers, 1 Music kit, and 1 Background. NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 2.64 MB

LittleBigPlanet PSP – Sackfari Explorers Costume (free)
PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. LittleBigPlanet’s critically acclaimed “PLAY, CREATE, SHARE” experience, makes its way to the PSP system with a completely new Sackboy adventure. Get this free costume from the Jungle Sackfari Explorers Theme Pack. NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 1.35 MB

LittleBigPlanet PSP – Sackfari Explorers Theme Pack ($2.99)
PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. Download a new set of costumes and CREATE materials to create your own Jungle Sackfari levels! The Jungle Sackfari Explorers Pack includes 4 Costumes and 12 Stickers. NOTE: Manual Update required
File size: 1.46 MB

Game Videos (free)

LitteBigPlanet PSP – Turbo! Level Kit Trailer
File size: 10 MB (SD) (HD)

3D Dot Game Heroes: “The Hero Your Hero Could Be” Trailer
File size: 4.37 MB (SD)

3D Dot Game Heroes: “Dot-Mart” Trailer
File size: 4.16 MB (SD)

PSP Themes (also available from PS3 Storefront)

Draganov PSP Theme 1 ($1.49)
File size: 554 KB

Draganov PSP Theme 2 ($1.49)
File size: 539 KB

Disney Princess and the Frog PSP Theme ($1.49) (US only)
File size: 580 KB

PSP Wallpaper (free)

Armored Core: Last Raven Wallpaper 1
File size: 31 KB

Armored Core: Last Raven Wallpaper 2
File size: 30 KB

Falling sales do not seem to worry Nintendo CEO.

The gates to Khitai have opened, a whole new world of adventure beckons in 'Rise of the Godslayer.'