Most Recent: News

WTF? Sony can’t keep up with PS2, PSP demand

Posted on February 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

What kind of weird hell is this?

OK, perhaps that’s a bit harsh. After all, Sony probably isn’t selling very many PlayStation 2 and PSP systems anymore. So it stands to reason that they aren’t producing very many either. But however many they’re making, it’s not enough to satisfy the demands of the American consumer.

Here’s what SCEA President and CEO Jack Tretton had to say about the situation in an interview (which mostly dealt with the Vita’s launch) with Forbes:

Forbes: What is going to happen to the PlayStation Portable line?

Tretton: The PSP will continue to sell on at $129. Right now there is more demand for PSP than there is production capacity… that is pretty much truth with the PlayStation 2 as well. PlayStation 2 will continue to sell as long as we can build it profitably and there is an audience for it, and PSP will follow that same trend.

I have to tip my hat to Sony. The fact that there’s still demand for the PS2 after 12 years is an amazing accomplishment.

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Daily Scoop: February 28, 2012 – Gold Box Tuesday!

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Whew! That was some weekend. I never wanted it to end! I loaded myself up with too much Dungeons and Dragons on Saturday – actually, it wasn’t too much, it was just enough. But I still felt like a glutton. And Sunday I got my fill of board games with half a dozen (losing) games of Pandemic. Sometimes you just want to play until you win, but the mutation isn’t going to let you do that!

Anyway, welcome, ladies and gents, to yet another Gold Box event in video games! Hopefully the Gold Box deals today won’t be as bland as they usually are. I’m sorry, is that too pessimistic?

Here’s our list for today:

  • 6AM PST/9AM EST – “Make hell your battleground in this hot release for the PlayStation Vita” – Army Corps of Hell for the Vita for $29.99!
  • 8AM PST/11AM EST – “Grab your eyepatch for this PSP adventure” – this is LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean for PSP for $13.99!
  • 10AM PST/1PM EST – “The latest installment in the world-renowned series, which has shipped over 100 million units worldwide.” – could this be Final Fantasy XIII-2?
  • 1PM PST/4PM EST – “Turtle Beach’s top-of-the-line XBOX 360 headset” – pretty self-explanatory
  • 3PM PST/6PM EST – “Get a total body dance workout on the Nintendo Wii!” – some kind of fitness game – perhaps Zumba Fitness?
  • 6PM PST/9PM EST – “Its getting dark in here… Again” (Hey Amazon – that should be “It’s getting dark in here.” Get some editors!) – Darkness II, anyone?
  • 8PM PST/11PM EST – “Play with all your favorite toys within this DS game” – we’re thinking Skylanders

On the t-shirt tip, this one is completely unrelated to video games, but any t-shirt that references “The Wire” is a must-buy in my book: (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News, PSP, Vita |

Epic will unveil Unreal Engine 4 at GDC behind closed doors

Posted on February 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

Two weeks ago, Epic’s Mark Rein told the world that the developer would reveal their Unreal Engine 4 sometime in 2012. Apparently he meant “really really soon” as the company has confirmed that the Unreal Engine 4 will make its worldwide debut at this year’s Game Developers Conference.

Naturally, the Unreal Engine 4 will be shown off “behind closed doors” during the March 5-9 industry gathering. Epic is also asking prospective clients to sign a non-disclosure agreement before viewing the UE4 demo, so I’m not getting my hopes up too high about learning something new about the next-generation graphics engine.

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

Grasshopper’s Sine Mora coming to XBLA on March 21

Posted on February 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

Suda 51 always has a few irons in the fire (knowing Suda, there’s likely a room in his house with literal irons in a literal fire) and in addition to Lollipop Chainsaw, the developer’s Grasshopper Manufacture is hard at work on Sine Mora for the Xbox Live Arcade. The game, which was co-developed by Digital Reality and published by Microsoft, has been given a release date (March 21), a price (1200 Microsoft Points or $15) and a new trailer where the main character gets killed a lot.

Say it with me… oh, Suda!

If Sine Mora has slipped under your radar until now, there’s a good reason for that. The game is a dieselpunk shoot ’em up, so radar hadn’t actually been invented yet. But that hasn’t stopped Grasshopper from putting your diesel-powered plane against a steady stream of armored zeppelins, angry trains, and one giant spider.

Say it with me… oh, Suda!

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Bethesda hiring for “future-generation console” project

Posted on February 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

That’s right, the Wii U, PlayStation 4, and Xbox 720 aren’t next-generation systems, they’re “future-generation.” And Bethesda has a game in the works for at least one of them.

A job listing on parent company ZeniMax Media’s website revealed the following position today:

  • Extensive experience programming and optimizing for the Xbox 360 and PS3
  • Experience with DirectX 11 a plus
  • Passion for making GREAT games, and being part of a GREAT team
  • Ability to contribute innovative ideas towards all aspects of game development
  • Must create amazing things with minimal oversight
  • Experience playing Bethesda Game Studios games a plus

So what we can infer from this listing is that a PS4 and Xbox 720 release for this unannounced game is very likely with a PC release almost a certainty (it is Bethesda after all). And the requirement that applicants have experience playing Bethesda games possibly points towards a new entry in the Elder Scrolls or Fallout series.

I know it’s just speculation right now, but yes please!

Posted in News, PS4, Wii U, Xbox One |

Guild Wars 2 beta signups gone wild

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Melissa Niedringhaus

In an effort to keep gamers from ever seeing their friends or family again, NCSoft and ArenaNet opened the signups for the Guild Wars 2 closed beta on February 22nd for a mere 48 hours. In that short time, they received over one million signup requests.

For those of you that missed out, the next closed beta is scheduled for sometime in late March, and will provide you the opportunity to experience Guild Wars 2’s RPG elements, World vs. World battles and social gameplay before any of the slow pokes who can’t click the signup button fast enough.

If you want to see what all the hubbub is about, check out the official Guild Wars 2 website for more information!

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

NCAA Football 13 drafts Robert Griffin III for cover

Posted on February 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

Robert Griffin III had a good weekend.

The quarterback from Baylor put on an amazing show at this weekend’s NFL Scouting Combine and, this morning, EA Sports announced he’ll be the cover athlete for NCAA Football 13.

But unlike at the Combine, Griffin will have to share the spotlight when NCAA Football 13 is released in July for the PS3 and Xbox 360 as EA also announced that a fan vote for a second cover athlete will begin on March 12. Voting will take place on the NCAA Football Facebook Page where fans will be able to select one of eight former Heisman Trophy winners to accompany Griffin:

  • Marcus Allen (RB – University of Southern California)
  • Doug Flutie (QB – Boston College)
  • Eddie George (RB – Ohio State University)
  • Desmond Howard (WR – University of Michigan)
  • Barry Sanders (RB – Oklahoma State University)
  • Herschel Walker (RB – University of Georgia)
  • Charlie Ward (QB – Florida State University)
  • Andre Ware (QB – University of Houston)

My money’s on Sanders, but I’d love to see Flutie win.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Mass Effect 3 goes live action with new “Fight” trailer

Posted on February 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

BioWare has released another trailer for Mass Effect 3, but this one’s different… it’s live action! If you watched last night’s episode of “The Walking Dead,” you’ve already seen it. But if not, prepare to fight and “Take Earth Back” by watching the above video.

Mass Effect 3 will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on March 6. But you knew that already.

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