Microsoft's expected but unexpected reveal of new Gears of War gameplay at tonight's Spike TV Video Game Awards has been delayed. Major Nelson promises the eventual reveal will "definitely be worth the wait." More »
#pc
The phenomenally popular computer game Minecraft which attracted more than two million gamers worldwiide while still in its alpha state will go into beta on December 20. With that comes polish, a raised price and more. More »
#deals
I think I've turned a corner. I beat the shit out of some kids today. But it was for a purpose. It made me feel good about myself. It was like I did something constructive with my life or something. More »
Our little procedurally-generated, co-operative world-building indie gem is growing up so fast -- Minecraft creator Markus Persson has announced on his blog that his super successful title will enter its Beta phase on December 20. The change will be reflected by "a larger focus on polish and content," and will add oft-requested elements like modder support, more late-game goals and "some kind of non-intrusive narrative." Thank goodness -- we've had to create our own narrative up 'til now, and it makes absolutely no sense. (Those pigs -- they have a dark secret.)
Look sharp, though -- Persson explained that when the game goes into its Beta phase, he'll be removing the section in the game's license which "promises all future versions of the game for free." Don't worry: If you purchased the game while still in the Alpha phase, you'll still get future updates on the house. In addition, the game's price will be increased to €14.95 once it enters Beta, so it really pays to get in on the ground floor while you still can.
Do not adjust your computer monitors, friends -- you might think they're acting up, considering how many times the words "Angry Birds" are about to be repeated after the jump. It's not a deja vu-like glitch in the Matrix; Rovio's poultry-flinging casual game made its way into nearly every category of Apple's recently released rankings for the most popular iOS games of the year. These lists are split into the most downloaded free apps, top selling paid apps and top grossing paid apps on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad -- check them all out after the jump.
Unfortunately, these lists are ranked alphabetically instead of by actual downloads, but considering some of the repeated victors include Plants vs. Zombies, Bejeweled 2+ Blitz and Words with Friends, we think we can accurately fudge the numbers: They were all downloaded a spajillion times.
These aren’t available for import in North America just yet, but hopefully an import retailer will pick them up. Surely there are other Nintendo fans out there that like to take baths?!
Dear Amazon.com Customer,
You might like to know your Ivy the Kiwi? is eligible for trade in our Video Games Trade-In Store.
When you are finished enjoying this video game item, you can trade it, or thousands of other titles, in for an Amazon.com Gift Card, which you can use on millions of items storewide.
#originals
Yesterday, we named our four finalists for Game Of The Year. Only four. As 2010 wheels in to a fast finish, we'll be debating the best that games had to offer this year. More »
Metal Gear Arcade, the stereoscopic-3D, head-tracking, online-playable coin-op Metal Gear, will finally arrive in arcades next week -- in Japan, of course. What, do you expect to see an arcade game in America? With the game finally shipping out to game centers, Konami released the opening video -- which, since it's an arcade game, classifies as a genuine "attract mode," attempting to get gamers' attention and entice them out of their 100 yen coins. Check it out after the break.
Also after the break: some off-screen gameplay footage from DigInfo, taken early this year at a trade show. It should look pretty familiar to Metal Gear Online players, but with all those crazy gimmicks afforded by the arcade release, like the head-tracking and the gun controller.
Ever wonder what it'd be like if Sackboy and Sonic had a kid? Well, let your imagination take a break and check out the real deal past the jump -- complete with instructions on how to make one of your own!.
The latest de Blob 2 screens and video offer a lot of information about various iterations of the sequel. For example, the DS version, developed by Halfbrick, is revealed as a 2.5D platformer, rather than the 3D paintathon of the console versions. And the Wii version looks pretty similar to its predecessor, with evidence of some more open environments.
As for the trailer, it offers an indication of the kind of storytelling we'll see in the games and, most likely, the tone of the SyFy "transmedia" programming as well. And it's as close as you could get to a Raving Rabbids TV show.
Direct2Drive has quite a sale brewing this weekend. First and foremost, the company is offering 20 percent off its entire library of titles. Furthermore, the discount also applies to pre-orders and games that are already on sale. To cash in on the promotion, use the promo code "HOHOHO" during checkout. The deal runs until Monday at 10am PST.
Two other deals are also on offer: First, the Atari Complete Collection is 50 percent off this weekend, knocking the usual $531.50 price down to $265.75. We should point out that "Complete" probably isn't the right word here, though there are a handful of decent titles in the collection, including Star Trek Online Digital Deluxe Edition, The Witcher Enhanced Edition Director's Cut and more. Finally, THQ titles are also 50 percent off this weekend.
EA has passed word that three of its games are now ready for the iPad: Monopoly, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and Snood can all be downloaded from the App Store right now.
These three games have been optimized for the iPad with near high-def graphics and interface tweaks made specifically for the platform. Both Monopoly and Hot Pursuit will set you back $9.99, while Snood is a bit more modestly priced at $4.99.
No longer are our United Kingdom-based friends left with few gaming trade-in options other than ... whatever the British equivalent of Gamestop is (Gamestoppe?). Amazon.co.uk has begun extending the "trade your games and accessories for Amazon credit" program to its shoppers, some eighteen months after the program first arrived on the U.S. Amazon page.
Shoppers interested in hocking their ludological wares in exchange for Amazonian currency can search for eligible games on Amazon's trade-in splash page, and can then print off a shipping label for free. Provided the items are shipped off within seven days, and don't arrive covered in scratches, bodily fluids or crumpet residue, the available credit will show up when the items arrive.
During Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, it's possible to leave the Animus and explore Monteriggioni as Desmond Miles in the game's present-day, 2012. However, users on the game's forum are complaining about a nasty glitch where they're unable to sit back down in the Animus after running around the Auditore compound, effectively trapping them in 2012 and halting all progress in the game. You can see the glitch for yourself in this video, though the resolution is fairly low.
We've contacted Ubisoft to see if there's a workaround or patch in the works. We'll update the post as soon as we hear back.
Sure, the Australian federal cabinet approves of an R18+ rating for adult-themed video games, but official adoption of the new rating has been stalled at the latest Standing Committee of Attorneys-General meeting in Canberra. GameSpot AU reports that no decision will be made by Federal Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor "before he meets with his Cabinet."
O'Connor explained as much during a press conference, during which he noted the importance of an amended ratings system and that "gamers have grown, and we have to deal with the convergence of film and games." Unfortunately, despite the Minister's hopeful words, a cabinet vote during the meeting reflected that not all Attorneys-General supported the measure (no word on who voted for what). Additionally, O'Connor promises to broach the subject once more in early 2011 at the next SCAG meeting.
For now, the reevaluation of the Australian game rating system is still in the works -- when it will actually occur, however, remains a mystery.
#psn
Sorry, Nathan Drake, but you and your fully-tucked shirt are not the best thing I saw this week for the PlayStation 3. That honour goes to this trailer for Journey. More »
We're not sure there's a measurement of time small enough to chart how long it took from the very first moment the Kinect was announced to the moment where someone first pondered, "hey, can this thing track my bathing suit area?" It's been a strange point of fascination -- and one that was the focal point for Penny Arcade's Wrapup-winning strip, "Fundamentally Accurate." Congratulations! Also, eww.
Second and third place went to Brawl in the Family's "Frog Suit" and No Cash Value's "One for the Road," respectively. If you've got a favorite strip you'd like to see in tomorrow's Wrapup, make sure to drop a link in the comments, or send in a tip!
We thought that Ubisoft would be the recipient of a lawsuit over its Kinect-equipped fighting game, Fighters Uncaged, but we'd assumed said suit would have something to do with the game's near-lethal terribleness. As it turns out, the Ultimate Fighting Championship took umbrage with the game for another reason: The organization is claiming that the game's on-the-box catchphrase of "Become the Ultimate Fighting Weapon" too closely mirrors the group's name, and may cause shoppers to think they're actually purchasing an officially licensed UFC game.
The group is seeking unspecified damages from Ubisoft, as well as a ceasing of sales of the game until the offending phrase is removed from its packaging. Man, first "It's On Like Donkey Kong," and now this -- is nothing sacred anymore? We can't count the number of times we refer to ourselves in conversation as the "Ultimate Fighting Machines" or "The Kings of Ultimate Fighting." We're talking like, dozens of times per day.
#valve
WETA, the special effects team behind the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and District 9, have given Team Fortress 2 developers Valve a very special gift: a sentry gun. That works. More »
#screens
The folks putting out the party-at-the-end-of-the-world racer MotorStorm: Apocalypse revealed another course with six new screenshots today. They vow that "Skyline" is winnable by all 16 vehicle classes. I'm sure I'll go nuts figuring out how for six of them. More »
