All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

We'll be the first to say it: Rhythm games don't exactly seem like the best venue for playable versions of full-length concept albums. Yeah, that one breakout track is still really fun to play, but the 14-minute theremin solo that follows can't be too fun to wait through. That said, we can't help but applaud Activision's recent initiative to include Rush's 20-minute-long 7-part epic, "2112," in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

Sure, there are a few parts of the prog-rock suite during which we might want to take brief naps, but the collection's more rocking moments more than make up for it. Here's hoping for an Achievement for playing the whole shebang front-to-back in one sitting -- an act which would cause lesser vocalists to burst into flames.

#culture Geek Chic Cosmetics recently launched a new line of gaming-themed cosmetics. Their make up includes blush, foundation and eye shadow with a gaming twist. More »

Since we've already reviewed Limbo -- check it out! -- there won't be an XBLA in Brief preview this week. In its place is this giveaway: One lucky entrant will receive Limbo and enough creeps to last a lifetime.

To enter:

• Leave a comment telling us the scariest thing you've ever seen in the dark.
• You must be 13 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec).
• Limit 1 entry per person.
• This entry period ends at 6:00PM ET today, Wednesday, July 21.
• At that time, we'll randomly select one grand prize winner to receive a download code for Limbo (ARV $15). [Code requires an Xbox Live account to redeem.]
• For a list of complete rules, click here.

What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition.

For more info on our policy, click here.

We already recommend Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney without hesitation, but now we're even quicker to do so. In honor of Comic-Con (for some reason), Capcom has temporarily marked down the iPhone version of Phoenix Wright, along with several other iPhone and even iPad games. We suggest you take that! ... opportunity and pick up Phoenix Wright for just $2.99.

Other highlights include the iPad and iPhone versions of Resident Evil 4 for $2.99 each, Street Fighter 4 for $6.99, and Dark Void Zero for just .99. Mega Man 2 is also just .99, if you want to hate your iPhone. See the full list of discounted games after the break.

Capcom notes that Street Fighter 4, Resident Evil Degeneration, Resident Evil 4, and Phoenix Wright will go back to regular price after July 25, but offers no expiration date for the other titles.

Joystiq has confirmed with SouthPeak Games that the company has taken legal action against Mama game publisher Majesco Entertainment, specifically regarding the right to publish My Baby titles in the United States. The litigation was spurred by an announcement last month that Majesco would be publishing the Nobilis-developed My Baby 3 & Friends, an action SouthPeak claims Majesco wasn't legally allowed to take.

For its part, SouthPeak issued this statement on the impending litigation: "We are exceptionally proud of our success in making the My Baby franchise a leader in the North American market; our innovative sales, marketing and PR strategies brought My Baby to a huge audience and built a loyal fan base for future products. SouthPeak continues to hold the rights to subsequent My Baby games and we intend to vigorously protect those rights." Additionally, we've confirmed that, while SouthPeak claims a contractual right to publish "subsequent My Baby games" in the US, Nobilis owns the My Baby IP. So, whose baby is it? That remains to be contested (Majesco and Nobilis reps hadn't responded as of publishing).

And while SouthPeak recently acquired a $10 million loan, as well as another $5.5 million injection announced just this week, the company's still running into financial and legal issues left and right. "It's no secret that CDV is currently in dispute with SouthPeak Games along with many other companies, whilst CDV is itself in administration," SouthPeak exec Jonathan Hales told IndustryGamers recently, responding to the seizing of 40,000 units of SouthPeak stock by bailiffs on behalf of CDV. "We have sent High Court Enforcement Officers in last Friday and they took 40,00 units -- two trucks worth of stock -- out of the warehouse that SouthPeak uses. They had until yesterday to apply to court to stop that being sold at auction and as far as I'm aware they didn't make an application. We've also frozen the money from their distributor Centresoft," reps from CDV said.

It looks like the custodianship of My Baby is just one of many legal battles SouthPeak may be facing in the coming months.

Senator Leland Yee submits hits arguments.

Senator Leland Yee submits hits arguments.

Senator Leland Yee submits hits arguments.

#podcast The timing for this week's podcast could not be better. No, really. It could not. What better way to dive into Comic-Con than with Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. More »

#tetsuyamizuguchi Worried about Kinect lag? Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the game designer behind Rez and Lumines, is here to quell your fears. More »

Senator Leland Yee submits hits arguments.

#starcraft Starcraft is so damn big that many people who have never rushed a Zerg in their life will be keen to see what all the fuss is about next week. If that's you, here's what you need to know! More »

#rumor Just when you thought you'd seen all the characters Street Fighter IV had to offer, along comes a tease for more. More »

The latest Japanese trailer for Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded features some startling freshness for the action-RPG series: gameplay segments featuring different genres. Footage of turn-based combat, platforming and even a Space Harrier-style shoot 'em up wait in the trailer below.

#sega There are two new Yakuza games, both forthcoming. One is for the PSP and out this December. It doesn't star series protagonist, but some young kid with bad hair. More »

#microsoft Kinect will cost $150 in the United States, but many of you are not from the United States. You're from the UK! Or Ireland! Or Belgium! How much will it cost for you? More »

#arcade In early 2006, members of Japanese idol group AKB48 were standing on Akihabara street corners passing out fliers. Now they're the biggest female group in Japan. What a difference a few years make. More »

You'd think it doesn't take much to be a sniper. You're away from the action, striking your foes from a distance. Aside from having to deal with a grumbling tummy, we can't imagine there's much more to it. According to both Tom Berenger and the latest trailer for Monday Night Combat just past the break, there's plenty more to it.

Aside from being a bit off, every good Monday Night Combat sniper should have a repository of skills to call upon -- including traps that freeze your enemies in their tracks and a rather neat grapple skill that allows for some flashy melee maneuvers. Whoever said snipers never get their hands dirty?

#crime If I didn't have enough money to impress a girl, I'd, I don't know, make her something. Write her a poem. Sing her something. 17 year-old Anthony Etienne took the easy route, and stole some poor kid's DS. More »

#residentevil There are words to describe this. I, however, am at a loss for them. More »

#movies The Professor Layton animated film, which by all accounts is rather good, will be getting its first official Western release in the United Kingdom. And what a release it is! More »

Hardcore preservers of Star Wars canon might want to avert their eyes while we share with the rest of you Gamestop's recently announced pre-order bonuses for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2. No peeking!

Okay, we good? Cool. Folks who reserve the game will be able to play through the game using the "Maulkiller" skin, which is a genetic fusion of Sith superstars Darth Maul and Starkiller. See -- they took the awesome stuff from both dudes and combined it into a doubly awesome doubledude. Can you handle the power?

Pre-orderers will also get the Maulkiller Silver Saber Crystal, which, according to Gamestop, "allows the player to consume less Force energy when using Force powers in order to devastate enemies." It also turns your lightsabers silver, which we all know to be the world's best color. Those chumps wielding red, green, blue and purple laserblades are going to be so jealous.

#xbox360 The big, breaking news of the 2008 E3 gaming expo was that role-playing game Final Fantasy XIII was coming to the Xbox 360. The game had been previously thought to be a PS3 exclusive. More »

EA Sports gives the PC some football love, but is it enough?

It's been some time since we've seen proof of the existence of Frogster and Hanbitsoft's European relaunch of Flagship's canned action-MMORPG, Mythos. Today, the new developer revealed the game does indeed have a pulse, as evidenced by a handful of recently released concept art renders.

Two new fighting games to be announced this Saturday?

Two new fighting games to be announced this Saturday?

Two new fighting games to be announced this Saturday?

#gameface As seen on IGN via Bloody Disgusting. More »

If you punch and kick the air while you watch this trailer for Kung-Fu Live (after the break) -- and if you happen to look exactly like the guy in the trailer -- it'll be just like playing it! The latest video of Virtual Air Guitar Company's PlayStation Eye-based brawler demonstrates the fighting abilities, otherworldly powers, and even storyline integration that you'll be able to experience by simply standing in front of your TV.

In a lengthy PlayStation Blog post accompanying the trailer, Virtual Air Guitar Company's Teemu revealed a weird multiplayer feature, in which up to four players can use PlayStation controllers to fight against the player using the camera, presumably with the unstated goal of making him or her pass out from exhaustion.