Most Recent: News

Rumor: Wii U will launch on November 18

Posted on April 3, 2012 by John Scalzo

It’s probably best not to consider this a rumor. Instead, look at it as a really obvious prediction.

Wii U Daily is reporting that the Wii U will launch on November 18, 2012. The site claims that they’re in possession of an internal email from Japanese retailer Media Land that confirmed the North American launch date as well as a November 25 launch for Japan.

The questions start piling up when you read some of the site’s other highlighted stories, such as Grand Theft Auto 5 coming to Wii U in 2013. In that article, Wii U Daily cites a “Rockstar financial report” that not only confirms a Wii U version of Grand Theft Auto V, but a 2013 release date. Needless to say, no financial report was issued by Rockstar (or parent company Take-Two) recently and no release date for GTA5 was announced.

But the Wii U launch date might not be bogus. The Wii launched on November 19, 2006 and the GameCube launched on November 18, 2001. Nintendo just loves that weekend for launching new consoles in North America.

So whether or not the email exists, November 18 is probably the real launch date for the Wii U.

Posted in News, Wii U |

Capcom won’t apologize for Street Fighter X Tekken “on-disc DLC”

Posted on April 2, 2012 by John Scalzo

Watch a company lose whatever good will they’ve built up over 30 years in three easy steps…

  • Step 1: Capcom began selling “DLC” for Street Fighter X Tekken that was completed before the game shipped and was included on the disc.
  • Step 2: Several Street Fighter X Tekken players then filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau over the unethical nature of this practice.
  • Step 3: Capcom replies, in essence, “DLC included on the disc and DLC available to download from a server are exactly the same.”

Really? I’m not one of those people who believe “on-disc DLC” is inherently evil as long as the gamemaker is upfront with everything before the sale. But this is just too much. Bad form Capcom. Gamers may constantly crack jokes about the “evil empire” tactics of Activision and EA, but neither one has ever said anything that over-the-top evil.

You can read the publisher’s full response to the BBB after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Xbox 360 Transforming D-Pad controllers get shiny in May

Posted on April 2, 2012 by John Scalzo

The Xbox 360 controller with the Transforming D-Pad is going to get a bit more affordable, and a bit shinier, this May. Priced at $54.99, Microsoft will release the red, blue, and silver “Chrome Special Edition” controllers you see above next month. The lower price is due to the exclusion of the Play and Charge Kit that’s included in the current Transforming D-Pad package.

As a big fan of the Transforming D-Pad (I never play without it anymore), this is great news for those looking to upgrade their Xbox 360 controller.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 |

Lick Lollipop Chainsaw, Mortal Kombat Vita at PAX East 2012

Posted on April 2, 2012 by John Scalzo

Gimme a W! Gimme a B! What’s that spell!?!… You know, that kind of thing doesn’t work when what you’re trying to spell is just initials.

Anyway, Lollipop Chainsaw and its gory school bus full of gore and guts will be making a stop at this weekend’s PAX East expo. The game, which is scheduled for a June 12 release on the PS3 and Xbox 360, will be available in playable form to fulfill all your fantasies of cheerleaders, chainsaws, and doing the splits to decapitate a zombie.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will also be showcasing playable versions of Mortal Kombat for the portable PlayStation Vita, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings for the Xbox 360, The Lord of the Rings Online, and Dungeons & Dragon Online: Menace of the Underdark in booth #424.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Vita, Xbox 360 | Tagged , , ,

PAX East 2012: Play Mario Tennis Open, Spirit Camera, more with Nintendo

Posted on April 2, 2012 by John Scalzo

Are you planning on attending PAX East 2012 this weekend? If so, then be sure to stop by the Nintendo booth where you’ll get a chance to try out Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir and Mario Tennis Open for the 3DS before you can buy them.

The Big N is also bringing a bunch of copies of Kid Icarus: Uprising for players to try as well as hosting a scavenger hunt for select Uprising AR Cards.

Finally, playable demos of Mario Kart 7 and a smattering of 3DS eShop titles (Ketzal’s Corridors, Dillon’s Rolling Western, Pushmo, and Sakurai Samurai: The Art of the Sword) will be available at the Nintendo booth (#412) all weekend long.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged ,

GAME gets a continue thanks to Baker Acquisitions

Posted on April 2, 2012 by John Scalzo

It isn’t the end for British retailer GAME. The remaining 333 GAME stores located in the United Kingdom have been purchased by Baker Acquisitions, meaning that roughly 3,200 employees will remain employed and able to properly pester British game buyers into pre-order something for the forseeable future. Baker’s acquisition of GAME’s UK-based stores has also pulled the retailer out of adminstration (the British equaivalent to bankruptcy).

Henry Jackson, Managing Partner of Baker parent company OpCapita said, “We are pleased to have reached agreement with the Administrator. We strongly believe there is a place on the high street for a video gaming specialist and GAME is the leading brand in a £2.8 billion market in the UK. We have assembled a strong team of experienced industry operators to implement the programme of operational change that is needed. There is a huge amount to do but we look forward to the challenge of restoring GAME’s fortunes in partnership with its employees and suppliers.”

The fate of the GAME stores throughout mainland Europe is still up in the air, but unless they find a similar white knight, they’re likely looking at closure.

Posted in News |

Anomaly: Warzone Earth invades XBLA on April 6

Posted on April 2, 2012 by John Scalzo

When 11 Bit Studios decided to bring their “reverse tower defense” game, Anomaly: Warzone Earth, to platforms beyond the PC and iOS, they realized that they needed to create the perfect control scheme. After testing an old joystick with suction feet on the bottom, a Virtual Boy, the Minority Report gloves, and several others, they were stumped. A breakthrough in the process came thanks to the tireless efforts of Mr. Dr. Ed. The 11 Bit scientists found their perfect control method in the Xbox 360 controller. You can relive the entire process thanks to the “documentary video” above.

So now, the developer is happy to announce that Anomaly: Warzone Earth will be available to download from the XBLA on Friday, April 6 (what’s with all the Friday release dates?).

Personally, I think the Twister controller had potential.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

SOCOM developer Zipper Interactive closing down

Posted on April 1, 2012 by John Scalzo

Zipper Interactive, the development team behind the SOCOM franchise, MAG, and the recent Vita release Unit 13, has announced their closure via Twitter:

After 17 years it’s time to head off into the sunset. A sincere thank you to all our fans for everything you’ve done for us. Farewell.

Zipper’s parent company, Sony Computer Entertainment, responded to the closure with a statement to Game Informer:

The closure is a result of a normal cycle of resource re-alignment within SCE WWS. Zipper has completed all work associated with its most recent project, Unit 13 for PlayStation Vita. Zipper titles MAG, SOCOM 4 and Unit 13 will continue to be supported, including the new Daily Challenges in Unit 13.

Best of luck to the former Zipper employees, a team as talented as they were will catch on somewhere, if they haven’t already.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , ,