All Topics Gaming older than one year ago

Here’s something that I can’t believe we haven’t seen already. A modder has decided to add in rumble to the NES controller. While the rumble itself cannot be controlled, there’s no denying that the idea is one that we’d all like to see pushed forward. Time for Nintendo to release an old-school [...]

Due to our strict silk pants-only policy, the PSP Go (and, really, any other handheld) has been a hard sell -- sure, the $250 asking price isn't helping, but that may be changing in the near future. A dutiful tipster sent us the above image from his AAFES-based store of employment, indicating a $50 North American price drop to $200 for the digital-only handheld. Oddly, Sony has kept mum on the possibility, not even offering a "We don't comment on rumor and speculation" to our repeated attempts at contact.

Our friends in other retailers have yet to uncover any news of the price drop, but Sony's silence gives us the impression something's up. Perhaps you have something to share? Don't hesitate to drop us a line!

#rumor A mere two weeks before the release of its second game, Tony Hawk: Shred developer Robomodo is hit by layoffs, with sources reporting 30 to 60 jobs being cut due to the loss of the Tony Hawk franchise. More »

There are stories emanating from the mysterious coalition known simply as "Europe" that Sega -- responsible for some of your dearest childhood memories and, maybe, your first heartbreak -- is busy "delisting" less-than-stellar Sonic the Hedgehog titles from European retailers. Jurgen Post, Sega SVP of EMEA (that's Europe, the Middle East and Africa), told MCV, "Any Sonic game with an average Metacritic has been de-listed," continuing, "We have to do this and increase the value of the brand. This will be very important when more big Sonic releases arrive in the future."

While that certainly sounds ominous, we asked Alan Pritchard - newly instated veep of sales and marketing for Sega US and the man who held Mr. Post's spot until just a couple month's ago - to clarify what it means for Europe, for Sonic and (jingoism be damned!) for North America.

"I think perhaps Jurgen's comments have somewhat been taken out of context," Pritchard told Joystiq. "It's not quite as drastic as what Disney do for example. They bring out Lion King and all of a sudden there's a cut-off date, and you can't buy Lion King for another six months. It's not quite as drastic as turning the tap off completely. We want consumers and retailers to defocus from the back catalog, the older titles and focus more on the new-release titles."

It is finally time to take that step; a step so critical that it will elevate you to a new level of gamer. It’s time to step up to Tier 1! Medal of Honor for the PS3 is now on retail store shelves in the US.

Edit: Below, Sid Shuman from the PlayStation.Blog interviews Medal of Honor Executive Producer Greg Goodrich about the differences between the Danger Close-developed single-player campaign and the DICE-led multiplayer mode, the PS3-exclusive Medal of Honor: Frontline HD campaign included on the Blu-ray disc, and more.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Medal of Honor, it’s a modern reboot of the venerable franchise that has existed for ten years. Operating directly under the National Command Authority, a relatively unknown entity of handpicked warriors are called on when the mission must not fail. They are the Tier 1 Operators.

Over two million Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines wear the uniform. Of those, approximately 50 thousand fall under the direct control of the Special Operations Command. The Tier 1 Operator functions on a plane of existence above and beyond even the most highly trained Special Operations Forces. Their exact numbers, while classified, hover in the low hundreds.

They are living, breathing, precision instruments of war. They are experts in the application of violence. The new Medal of Honor is inspired by and has been developed with Tier 1 Operators from this elite community. Players will step into the boots of these warriors and apply their unique skill sets to a new enemy in the most unforgiving and hostile battlefield conditions of present day Afghanistan.

The single-player, created by Danger Close, is an authentic, emotional and exhilarating look at the war in Afghanistan through the lens of a band of fictional characters. The multiplayer, created by world-class studio DICE, is an adrenaline-fuelled experience that will put your first-person shooter gaming skills to the ultimate test.

Also, the PS3 edition of the game comes with the re-mastered Medal of Honor Frontline. For the first time ever, you’ll be able to storm the shores of Normandy in full HD! Medal of Honor Frontline was a landmark title for the PS2 when the game was released in 2002. It helped pave the way for first-person shooter titles and defined and established Medal of Honor as a force to be reckoned with.

When we started to talk with Sony Computer Entertainment about the possibility of releasing an HD version, everyone familiar with the franchise was extremely excited and considered it a no-brainer; it had to be done! Visual aesthetics wasn’t the only thing to get improved, however. The team also managed to implement the “aim down the sight” mechanic into the game. Get ready to suit up as Lt. Jimmy Patterson once again and head back behind enemy lines for 15 missions based on real events that occurred during WWII.

Make sure you follow us on Twitter, fan us on Facebook, and visit us at the official website for up-to-the-date Medal of Honor news and information.

Some Split/Second DLC is pulling into the left lane -- wait, we can't do this. It's not fair to you and it's not fair to us. We're better and more capable than pulling these types of shenanigans. Let's put it in park, take a second to collect ourselves and take another lap around the track.

...

Okay, now that we've got that out of our system: today, fans of Black Rock Studio's racer can download some additional content with the Survival at the Rock DLC pack. Within you'll find the Minepit Park track and a new game mode called Survival Race -- it's a take on Survival mode where instead of lapping semis beneath the shadow of the looming clock 'o doom, players will be tasked with simply completing a set number of laps. Survival at the Rock is available for download right now on Xbox Live and PSN for 400 MS Points and $4.99, respectively.

Throughout the next month, however, Disney will also be dishing out two more DLC packs. On October 19 you can download the Deadline pack, which adds four new vehicles -- the Ryback Coyote Special, Cobretti Centaur, Ryback Javelin and Hanzo Kanobo -- and Deadline mode, a clock-based race mode where players can freeze the timer by picking up items on the track. Finally, on November 2, you can snag the Quarry Onslaught pack, adding the titular Quarry track and a new game mode, Onslaught -- a single player and multiplayer-compatible mode where drivers dodge "waves of missiles from a circling helicopter." This game mode will be compatible across nine different tracks in the game, including Deadline. These packs will join the currently available Elite Vehicle Livery and the High Octane Supercar packs.

The Deadline pack will set you back 400 MS Points ($4.99), while Quarry Onslaught will cost a bit more: 800 MS Points ($9.99). Head past the break for a trailer showcasing Survival at the Rock. Heads-up: it in no way involves Sean Connery. Yeah, we were kinda bummed about that too.

#mmo Marvel's Super Hero Squad Online is an upcoming MMO for kids, featuring cutesy versions of Marvel characters. At New York Comic-Con, the people behind the game wanted to surprise us, but showing us some of Marvel's nastiest. More »

Occasionally, you see a remake that simply works better than the original. When Aretha Franklin belts out "Respect," it somehow has significantly more power than when Otis Redding first recorded it. And when the new series of Battlestar Galactica aired in 2003, it garnered critical acclaim, rather than relying on nostalgia and the cheese factor of the original show.

But most of the time, imitations can't come anywhere near the quality of that which they're attempting to capture the magic of. That's when you get The Monkees and the New Monkees trying to cash in on the success of The Beatles. Following in that grand tradition, Quantum Theory is the Airheads to Gears of War's Wayne's World. That is to say it's almost identical to Gears of War, except terrible.

Hello! I’m the Creative Director for SCEE’s Cambridge Studio in the UK. The PlayStation Move launch has been a really exciting ride for us, and as everyone prepares for the next wave of PlayStation Move games I wanted to take a moment to share a little more about our latest title TV Superstars. Apparently some retailers can’t wait and we’re shipping it early, so look for it starting this Wednesday, October 13th!

For anyone who hasn’t heard of TV Superstars yet, here’s a bit of background info to help you get excited about its release this week.

TV Superstars was developed by Sony Computer Entertainment’s Cambridge Studio, the creative minds behind the popular Medievil series, Primal, Ghosthunter and the award winning LittleBigPlanet on PSP, just to name a few. TV Superstars lets you and your friends and family actually appear in the game and compete in a world of TV stardom. It uses the PlayStation Eye camera to capture your likeness and the PlayStation Move motion controller to get you competing in a series of crazy TV show challenges, battling it out to become a famous superstar! Each of the TV shows within the game showcases a different use of the PlayStation Move controller and PlayStation Eye camera.

Here’s a look at each of the interactive TV shows within the game:

Let’s Get Physical:

Get set for madcap mayhem with everyone’s favorite extreme sports host, Spike Powers, as he puts unsuspecting contestants through crazy physical challenges. A giant spinning wheel. A robotic monkey wearing boxing gloves. A giant catapult. You’ll need quick reactions and skill as you use the PlayStation Move to twist, turn, duck, run, jump, and aim your way through each challenge.

Frockstar:

If you think being a model is just about putting one foot in front of the other, you’re in for a surprise! Go backstage with host Randy Darling at some of the world’s most glamorous fashion runways. Using the PlayStation Move motion controller, you must select the right clothes and makeup before hitting the catwalk, earning the crowds’ applause for striking the correct pose during your debut runway performance.

Big Beat Kitchen:

Host Big Chili D puts wannabe chefs to the test in the hip hop heat of Big Beat Kitchen. Use the PlayStation Move motion controller to pour, chop, and whisk, then tip, flip and shake following Chili’s instructions to plate the perfect meal then rap along with Chili following the on-screen lyrics.

DIY RAW:

Grab your toolbox and join Jenny Ratchet for the do-it-yourself show where dream homes can become a reality… or a nightmare. You’ll use the PlayStation Move to smash through walls, saw through lumber, and paint walls as you build your clients their dream home.

Super Television Acting Agency:

Vivian Katzenburg runs the Super Television Acting Agency, home to all the brightest rising stars and the only place to go to get your face in TV commercials and on posters and billboards. From toilet cleaner to perfume, you’ll need all your acting talent and skills to sell these products. Use the PlayStation Move to follow the director’s instructions as your acting talent and skills are to put to the test to sell everything from toilet cleaner to perfume.

While competing in each of the shows, players earn “Fame Points” to rise from a Z-list wannabe to an A-list superstar. As players earn Fame Points and become more famous, they’ll have the opportunity to compete in lavish reward challenges and even star in their very own TV commercials, rising through the ranks to leave their own unique mark on the world. You’ll have to battle it out to see who controls the global television media as the world of TV Superstars comes to life based on your performance, allowing you to choose your own path through the world of TV fame.

Keep an eye out for TV Superstars coming soon to a retailer near you and we hope you and your friends and family will have as much fun playing it as we had making it!

Disney Interactive Studios has sent us a note announcing a November 16 release date for the PlayStation Portable version of Split/Second, the demolition racer that debuted on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in May. The new game will introduce an additional track (for a total of 13) and challenge mode to the explosive proceedings, and offer four-player ad-hoc multiplayer. Hint: Don't worry about burning bridges so much as dropping them on your former friends and opponents.

We hope the art of catastrophe evasion translates well to PSP -- you'll note the graphics haven't avoided a significant downgrade -- and that Disney's promise of platform-specific control tweaks holds up. We don't need high-definition to spot the plane coming right at us, do we?

#capcom Capcom has completed testing its Fight Club events in the western and northern U.S. and is ready to bring Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 to where the real fighters live - Atlanta, Georgia. More »

A couple of tiny updates to last weekend's announcement of the classic X-Men Arcade game making its way to Xbox Live Arcade and PSN. The title will be transferred from arcade cabinet to consoles by Backbone Entertainment, which was also responsible for ports like Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix and Marvel vs. Capcom 2.

We also followed up with Konami after noticing some reports of the game's "high-definition graphics." A representative for the publisher explained that the gameplay graphics may be upscaled, but that there are new HD updates for some of the UI and menus.

Also, before there are riots in the streets, we did ask about the game's "widescreen." Refresher for some: the X-Men arcade game came in a couple versions: one that was just a standard 4:3 television, while another used some visual trickery by sticking two screens together and creating a "widescreen," supporting six players. We were informed that the game will support widescreen when the game is open to six player "drop-in multiplayer." The PS3 supports six players both online and couch, while the XBLA version only supports six online. On either console, if there are four players or less, the game flips to a 4:3 scale; however, it sounds like if you just leave the game open to the possibility of six, it will stay widescreen. We'll have to test that once we get some hands-on time with the game.

Shantae: Risky’s Revenge is dangerously close to joining the best-reviewed DS games out there, according to Metacritic. Hopefully once some more reviews get added in, Shantae will get to share the top spot!

#preview Lagging in my awareness of Fable III, I've missed a few details. I caught up yesterday and learned new things about Fable III. More »

Sleeve available to those that have registered all three Layton games at Club Nintendo.

Looks like the preorder bonus for Super Scribblenauts had a lot of people fooled. Turns out that what you get is a pair of earbuds you slip onto an adjustable plush shell. Thanks to sbbgamemaster for the heads up!

ATTENTION: STORMTROOPER SQUADS OPERATING NEAR KAMINO CLONING FACILITIES
It has come to our attention that one of Lord Vader's emotionally conflicted "Starkiller" clones has escaped. Again. We are currently unable to acquiesce to any transfer requests, and advise troopers who encounter Vader's twirling pet to remain calm, even in the face of his terrifying "dual-wielding" of lightsabers (see: ELEGANT WEAPONS chapter in "CIVILIZED AGES, THIRD EDITION"). Firing upon him is foolish and is not recommended under any circumstances whatsoever. Note: A self-inflicted wound from a deflected laser bolt will NOT count toward your appalling accuracy rating.

If an encounter is unavoidable and you somehow survive, you will most likely require medical attention. Be sure to bring any severed limbs to the medical bay along with your person. While it is preferable that arms and legs match the serial number of the torso, there is some degree of convenient interchangeability offered by the fact that you're all clones. Complaints of mismatched items being "gross" will not be tolerated.

Hi everyone! This is my first official PlayStation.Blog entry, and I want to let you know Invizimals for the PSP system is available in stores beginning today AND it comes bundled with our new camera! This is the first camera-based PSP game for North America.

Imagine being able to search for invisible animals but you can only do it with your PSP system. Just point the camera to locate virtual creatures anywhere– behind sofas, into corners, and under bushes and they will pop up on your PSP system screen. With a magical trap (rectangular shaped card also included with the game), you interact with the monsters by grabbing, tickling and luring them into your collection. With over 120 creatures to capture, indulge in a single player game of magical discovery or enjoy multiplayer action online. You can battle by using special moves such as blowing onto the camera to create a hurricane; shaking the PSP system to start an earthquake, or casting a shadow over the battlefield to deploy a lightning strike. You can also take pictures of your monster collection and trade online with friends.

This is a fun one for PSP fans! We’d like to thank Novarama and Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, Liverpool Studio for all of their hard work in coming up with Invizimals and allowing fans to become virtual monster hunters! We’re really excited to bring Invizmals and the new PSP camera to you guys!

Invizimals including the camera for the PSP retails for $39.99. Also, there is an Invizimals PSP Entertainment Pack available today too at retailers nationwide for $199.99 containing a special “Vibrant Blue” PSP-3000 system, Invizimals game on UMD, a camera for the PSP system, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movie on UMD, and a 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™ storage media. One thing to note: Invizimals is not compatible with PSPgo.

Sure, Toshihiro Nagoshi’s appearance in ‘Black Panther Yakuza New Chapter’ may be more related to the Yakuza series than anything else, but we don’t really care about that here. We know of Mr. Nagoshi as the brains behind the Super Monkey Ball series as well! Congrats to Nagoshi on his first TV appearance!

New update challenges players to defeat a legend.

#indie If Red Dead Redemption had been released on the Super Nintendo, and hadn't looked like Sunset Riders, it might have looked like this instead. More »

I couldn’t find this listing on the Amazon.com site, but I’m sure it’ll pop up eventually. Looks like Epic Mickey is getting a nice range of accessories to coincide with launch.

The battle begins in ijji.com's multiplayer online sci-fi FPS.

Latest entry in the karaoke franchise features tracks from today's favorite artists and offers vocal tips from Disney Channel TV star and music artist Demi Lovato.

Jamie Jackson, creative director at DJ Hero 2 developer Freestyle Games, told PlayStation UK in an interview recently that the latest title was made in just seven short months. The game reportedly kicked off development immediately after a "mass exodus" at the studio, clarified to Joystiq as a "big holiday" for the team. According to Jackson, "15-hour days for quite a long time" resulted in the vast majority of the studio vacationing in places like Ibiza to get the creative juices flowing once more. When everyone was back, the team had to hop right back in the saddle for the sequel.

"We had to get straight back on it ... so DJ Hero 2 has been made in around seven months," Jackson explained. And though the team only had a handful of months to get the sequel together, it wasn't interested in putting out "the same game again with different music" -- Jackson got specific, shouting out the new Battle Mixes and Freestyling features as improvements made despite a dramatically shortened development cycle. And now, with the game nearly complete, we have to imagine that various Mediterranean islands are bracing for impact.