All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

Hi everyone, the next PlayStation 3 (PS3) system software update is coming soon. Firmware update 3.41 will add recommendations for games and videos on PlayStation Store. When you’re browsing through the details of a particular title, you’ll see a new “You May Like” section on the right-hand side. This section lists additional items based on the purchases of other PlayStation Network members who have purchased the item you’re currently looking at.

You can then click on this section to zoom in on the list and scroll the recommended titles.

This feature is a great way to discover new games that you may not know about, and it’s another step toward making the shopping experience easier and better for you all — similar to the five-star ratings feature we added in the last firmware update. Please note that while the 3.41 update will be released shortly, the recommendations feature on PlayStation Store is slated to go live by the end of July.

In addition to this PS3 update, the next PSP (PlayStation Portable) firmware update (v.6.31) will be coming as well. This is a minor update, and system software stability during use of some PSP format software titles has been improved.

As always, we look forward to your feedback.

First on the agenda for my meeting with Dead Space 2 executive producer Steve Papoutsis at Comic-Con was an earnest request: better tutorials, please. After all, I had played through the entire first game without realizing that I could press a button to use a medkit -- that I didn't have to open up the onscreen inventory, while being attacked, to heal. "You're not alone," Papoutsis said laughing. "We're currently focus testing some of our tutorials, and believe you me, we've got two that remind you to do that, because you're not alone."

"That was a feature that we were in hot debate over," Papoutsis added, "and many of us, myself included, really pushed for it." Similar discussions have carried over into the development of the sequel, as Visceral Games continues to refine the gameplay. "We're taking it a step further," Papoutsis said of Dead Space 2, "so now, when you're not in combat or aim mode, you'll use one of your stasis recharge items. We've got health and stasis mapped" to a button.

A THQ press release has announced that upcoming third-person shooter Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, formerly slated to land only on the PS3 and 360, will also arrive on the PC when the game launches early next year.

We'd worry about PC gamers getting this particular installment in the franchise confused with all the other Warhammer titles currently available on their platform. However, considering this one has you mowing down wave after wave of orcs using novelty-sized guns and swords, rather than ... doing strategy game stuff, we don't think you guys will have any problem seeing the distinction.

New Madden 11 Screens

#activision In addition to more than 20 minutes worth of Rush, the next Guitar Hero will feature these 22 newly revealed songs, ranging from the darn good Blue Oyster Cult's "Burnin' For You" to the ear-searing "Unskinny Bop" by Poison. More »

#wow The Super Bowl celebrations and animations for Madden NFL 10 were, honestly, a bit underweight. This year the game goes all out - even bringing in the President of the United States for the big party. More »

Atari announced that revenues were down 65 percent to €19.3 million ($25M) in the first quarter of its fiscal year ending June 30, 2010. The company didn't reveal any profit or loss data, but given its loss during the previous fiscal year, it's pretty safe to guess that Atari isn't doing so hot. Last year's Q1 included Ghostbusters and The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, while this year had, according to the company, "only one major game" ... Sandlot Sluggers.

A small piece of "good news" during the quarter, which also included another major executive shuffle at the publisher, was that online revenues were up 320 percent to €8.4 million ($10.9M). The much-needed money injection was thanks to digital distribution sales and subscriptions for Star Trek Online and Champions Online.

Some of the hopes Atari has for the rest of the year include the reboot of Haunted House in September, The Witcher 2 next spring and "numerous casual and social online game releases based upon Atari's classic video game brands."

#gallery Because it exists. And if you've got money, then you could buy it. I guess. More »

Diner Dash: Emergency Room Edition.

Want to know how much fighting crime is going to cost you?

Shuffling itself into the crowded DSiWare sudoku competition.

I'm a Criterion fanboy. I've explored nearly every nook and cranny of Paradise Island and clocked a lot of mileage with the myriad DLC available for Burnout Paradise. Yet, the team's reboot of the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit series simply didn't click with me. Of course, what I played was an early build and one limited to a 1-on-1 versus mode -- hardly indication of what chaos to expect in a larger multiplayer match -- but that's not necessarily a recipe for a bad first impression.

Criterion's approach to Hot Pursuit, I was told, is to focus on the basis of the franchise: the thrill of the chase. However, the 1-on-1 chase that I played wasn't thrilling at all; despite being based on a solid concept: you play as either cop or racer (escaping the police) and utilize a number of weapons to slow down your opponent. The racer, for example, can jam the cop car's radar, while the cop can summon a barricade.

A DSi pocket assistant for your next family game night.

Platforming under the big top.

Currently in the pipe (five by five).

PC's biggest game this year also available digitally.

Everyone's favorite character from Borderlands is getting a toy, courtesy of NECA. No, we're not talking about a Scooter action figure (though that sounds like an excellent idea), we're talking about bounty board attendant supreme, CL4P-TP -- Claptrap, for short.

NECA was on-hand at Comic-Con this past weekend, showing off the prototype above. The final version, which will be able to recite lines from the game, is slated for release this October. Frankly, we can't wait to get our own, mostly because we've always wondered what kind of loot our house has been hiding.

Our first look at the old-school-meets-new-school PSN title.

#summerofgaming2010 Kotaku's 2010 Summer of Gaming might be over, but there's still plenty of sunshine left this season. Why not spend the time looking over the summer-related things we wrote about last week? More »

#madden Seven NFL teams' fight songs are included for the first time this year in the Madden NFL soundtrack - unfortunately (from my perspective) the best one is MIA. Probably because they didn't want the thing sounding like a porn movie. More »

He will melt your heart, then nuke the remains.

One of the burgeoning microtransaction industry's biggest players, Live Gamer, announced today its partnership with its largest client to date: Electronic Arts. The monolithic publisher will adopt the company's "Elements" microtransaction platform -- currently in use by over 90 different publishers -- into its current business model to create a global storefront for in-game virtual goods.

You may not realize the implications of this deal, so we'll break it down in the simplest way we know how: World Peace. After all, you know what they say: The planet that buys virtual armor for their virtual horses together, stays together.

#esrbrating Warning! The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has passed judgement on Final Fantasy XIV, warning potential players against boozing, whoring, upskirts, euphemisms for masturbation, and creative ways to endanger a penis. More »

Plus more info straight from developer Obsidian Entertainment.

#comiccon2010 Comic-Con 2010 has come and gone. Our coverage will continue throughout the week, but if you missed any of this weekend's big Comic-Con stories, now's the time to remedy that with our handy wrap-up. More »

Kinect is expensive. We know that now, and we talk about it on this week's episode of the Xbox 360 Fancast. We also talk Limbo, Street Fighter X Tekken and Halo: Reach's Forge World. Also, Alexander complains about picking flowers in Red Dead Redemption.

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in Zune Marketplace (MP3).
[RSS MP3] Add the Xbox 360 Fanboy Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.

Hosts: Richard Mitchell (SenseiRAM, @senseiram), Alexander Sliwinski (Sli Xander, @xandersliwinski) and Dave Hinkle (KnifefightYaDad, @davehinkle)

Music: Intro/Outro: "Electromooq" by Uma Floresta. Break: "Hot Romance" by Parlour Steps.

For fans: Xbox 360 Fancast Facebook group

Greetings everyone Ramone Russell here with another ModNation Monday update!

MNR Creations of the Week

Amazing creations in ModNation get shared every day and we are playing a ton of them. If you are interested in submitting your mod, kart or track to be a future “creation” of the week be sure to visit up on the official ModNation Community site and who knows? You might see your handy work on the PlayStation.Blog.

Mods of the Week

Mod Name: Break Time
Creator: coltsandcubsfan

Mod Name: Ike(Remaster)
Creator: paradise131

Karts of the Week

Kart Name: Buggy O’Hare
Creator: SuperSpecs

Kart Name: DualShock
Creator: cros1625

Tracks of the Week

Track Name: The Desert Kingdom
Created by: StealthReborn–

StealthReborn—says “This is another map that’s well suited for the beginners and a very fascinating map for the advanced players. There’s a lot to see in this map, and a couple of minor surprises. You think you’re going to be going through that hoop in the air? Think again, you might just find yourself on the same road heading straight for a devastator if you’re not careful. This map is has tons of scenery, nice twists and turns to satisfy everyone.”

Track Name: Alpine Stadium
Created by: dragon_Bremen

dragon_Bremen says “Blast up (or over!) Winding mountain roads, through dangerous caves and BLAST OFF the peak at maximum altitude and velocity! Pods are easy pickings at the base, but become harder to grab toward the top. Can you find all the shortcuts?”

Track Name: Roma
Created by: CIV_BOSS

CIV_BOSS says “This is a trip through ancient Rome. When you play this track you’ll have a choice of whether to focus on the track and win or just be absolutely amazed at how beautiful this map is, and probably hit a wall staring off into the scenery. You will blast off over the Pantheon through the roman city and market, around or through the coliseum, across the aqueduct and through the Circus Maximus. Have fun playing or just enjoy the beauty.

Hot Lap Roster for this week

Continuing with the trend we started weeks ago, this week’s Hot Lap roster features all new community created tracks.

• Monday: The Desert Kingdom, by StealthReborn–
• Tuesday: Mount St. Salad Climb, by SaladSnacksSTD
• Wednesday: Morning Sprint, by Crashdance23
• Thursday: Roma, by CIV_BOSS
• Friday: Festival Circuit, by dragon_Bremen
• Saturday: Crimson Valley 1.6, by BorrelnootjeNL
• Sunday: La Lotte, by INeon_INoodle

What’s up with the PATCH?

We know everyone has been extremely patient with this patch and it’s much appreciated. We are happy to say that we hope to have a solid release date next ModNation Monday.

Until then… see you in the ModSpot!

Plus more info straight from developer Obsidian Entertainment.

Responding to recent legal action between former My Baby franchise publisher SouthPeak Games and new publisher Majesco Entertainment, My Baby developer (and IP owner) Nobilis has placed blame for the move on "uncured breaches from SouthPeak, notably for non-payment." In so many words, it appears that Nobilis -- like other SouthPeak debtors -- is still waiting on unpaid bills from the publisher.

Nobilis managing director Arnaud Blacher spoke with IndustryGamers regarding the lawsuit, saying that his company will also pursue litigation with SouthPeak over the issue. Furthermore, he confirmed that "all the contracts signed with SouthPeak in the US or in the UK have been terminated." As with most things legal, this situation is sure to get a lot more complicated long before we hear any sort of resolution. SouthPeak had yet to respond to a request for comment as of publishing.

Still waiting to get your NDS and Wii fix for Trackmania in 2010? Here are some pics to curb your wheels.