Most Recent: News

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault, Sega fighters added to PS Store

Posted on November 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

We’ve got a slightly subdued PlayStation Store update this week as only seven games were added to the service.

Leading things off is the latest Ratchet & Clank game, Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault. You know, I think using a double entendre as the title of a platformer that is basically for kids will never get old.

Also available this week is a trio Sega-published fighting games from the 1990s. All three games were developed by the company’s AM2 internal studio and they all should conjure up some good memories: Fighting Vipers, Sonic the Fighters, and Virtua Fighter 2.

Rounding out this week’s new releases is Men In Black: Alien Crisis (just in time for Men In Black 3‘s Blu-ray/DVD debut), Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, and the PSP game Phineas and Ferb Across the 2nd Dimension.

More information on all of these games can be found after the break. And a complete list of this week’s new game add-ons can be found at the PlayStation Blog. (more…)

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Dishonored: Dunwall City Trials DLC scheduled for December 11

Posted on November 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

Bethesda has announced that the first Dishonored DLC, the “Dunwall City Trials,” will be released on December 11. The new content will be available on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 for $4.99 (or 400 Microsoft Points).

“Dunwall City Trials” will add 10 challenge maps to the game “that will test your combat, stealth and mobility skills.” Players will be asked to “fight off waves of tallboys, guards, weepers and thugs, [and] take out targets in a non-stop run of drop assassinations.”

“Dunwall City Trials” will also add a new batch of Achievements/Trophies for your collecting pleasure and the first screenshots of the add-on can be found at the Bethesda Blog.

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Nintendo launching Wii Mini in Canada on December 7

Posted on November 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

It looks like Nintendo isn’t done launching new consoles. After the Wii U’s release on November 18 (and the upcoming European launch on November 30), Nintendo plans to release the Wii Mini exclusively in Canada for $99.99 on December 7.

So what exactly is the Wii Mini? It’s a Wii system in a smaller form factor featuring a matte black finish with a red border. The included Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuk also feature bright red plastic.

The catch is that the Wii Mini is a Wii-only system. That means no GameCube support and no Internet capabilities either. That’s not ideal for a serious gamer, but it looks so snazzy!

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Nintendo adding classic Mario levels to New Super Mario Bros. 2

Posted on November 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has unveiled the latest New Super Mario Bros. 2 downloadable content in Nintendo of Japan’s latest Nintendo Direct video. Available now in Japan, the “Golden Classic Course Pack” includes remade levels from Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. (1-1, the underground-based 1-2, and the Bowser Castle of 1-4) and Super Mario Bros. 3 (1-1 and 1-5) for the game’s Coin Rush mode.

Nintendo of America followed up this announcement with one of their own, confirming that the “Gold Classics Pack” is now available to download in North America for free. After February 1, 2013, the pack will be priced at $2.50.

Be sure to check out the sneak peek of the DLC in the video above.

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Nintendo sells 400,000 Wii U consoles in first week

Posted on November 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime has confirmed to the CNET that the Wii U launch was a sellout. According to Fils-Aime, more than 400,000 Wii U consoles have been sold since the system launched on November 18.

“Wii U is essentially sold out of retail and we are doing our best to continually replenish stock,” Fils-Aime said. “Retailers are also doing their best to get the product to store shelves. But as soon as product hits retail, they’re selling out immediately.”

For comparison’s sake, Nintendo managed to sell 300,000 Wii consoles in the same timespan. Not bad for a six-year-old system that has lived in the shadow of the PS3 and Xbox 360 for years.

Posted in News, Wii U |

Daily Scoop: November 26, 2012 – The sales continue on Cyber Monday!

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Nicole Kline

I managed to survive the entire weekend without buying anything (unless you count cat litter, which I don’t, in the scheme of Black Friday sales). Oddly enough, it’s today that’s tempting me the most, with Journey: The Collector’s Edition on sale for $14.99 at Amazon and GameStop, as well as Theatrhythm Final Fantasy on sale for just $19.99 at Newegg. Will I be able to survive this last day of sales? All signs point to no, according to my d20 magic eight ball.

Once again, John Scalzo’s got you covered for Amazon deals today. Is it just me, or have these sales been going on for way too long? Not that I don’t love being tempted (spoiler alert: I hate it!), but it just seems like it’s five full days of a shopping frenzy, followed by a lot of Christmas music. Am I right?

Let’s not forget that it’s the last day of the Steam sale as well. Get Alan Wake for $9.99, Castle Crashers for $4.99, and/or The Witcher 2 for $7.49. Oh, and Torchlight II is only $9.99, which you absolutely should get.

And now, time for the shirts! (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Atari founder is baffled by Wii U, says console era is over

Posted on November 26, 2012 by John Scalzo

I think Nolan Bushnell needs a Chuck E Cheese pizza and a good long nap. During a recent chat with The New York Times, the Atari founder took a few swipes at Nintendo’s latest console, the Wii U, and console gaming in general.

Bushnell told the newspaper, “I actually am baffled by [the Wii U]. I don’t think it’s going to be a big success.”

But he saved his harshest criticisms for the console industry in general saying, “These things will continue to sputter along, but I really don’t think they’ll be of major import ever again. It feels like the end of an era to me.”

A part of me wonders if Mr. Bushnell is aware that console gaming is still a $20 billion a year industry? But at least he’s more informed than the author of the article. After leaving the Atari founder, he spends several thousand words on a eulogy for Nintendo because of the popularity of phone/tablet apps.

Sigh.

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MLB 13: The Show launches on March 5; fans will choose cover athlete

Posted on November 26, 2012 by John Scalzo

The season may have just ended a few weeks ago, but are you ready to play ball in 2013? Sony hopes so as the publisher announced today that MLB 13: The Show will be released for the PS3 and Vita on March 5, 2013.

In previous years, the franchise has employed David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, David Wright, Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer, and Adrian Gonzalez as cover athletes. For MLB 13, Sony has decided to pull an EA and use a “Cover Campaign” to decide the game’s spokesman. The voting will begin shortly after January 1st.

Sony and their San Diego Studio plan to add a bunch of new features to MLB 13: The Show as well as revamp some old favorites. Here’s what they’re willing to share so far:

Nothing compares to Postseason baseball. That’s why The Show offers an All-New Playoff Mode, which includes an in-stadium atmosphere that replicates the excitement and tension of October baseball. The experience is unrivalled by anything The Show has ever exhibited.

Other new features include a completely new beginner mode and instructional enhancements that make The Show the best pick-up and play baseball experience available. In addition, the improved Play Now mode streamlines gameplay, for faster and simpler games. San Diego Studios has also revamped The Show’s Franchise and Road To The Show modes with expanded options and new gameplay experiences.

Remember, it’s only 77 days until pitchers and catchers report.

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