Most Recent: News

The Simpsons Arcade Game rated by Australian ratings board

Posted on November 9, 2011 by John Scalzo

Have a cow man! The Simpsons Arcade Game is finally (it was originally released in 1991!) getting a proper port on modern day consoles. The announcement was leaked by a recent rating on the Australian Classification Board website, which also reveals a few choice bits of information.

The Simpsons Arcade Game will be published by Konami (who also created the original arcade game) and developed by Backbone Entertainment (who also ported Konami’s classic X-Men Arcade). A PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade release wasn’t confirmed, but it seems likely. The rating certificate also mentions online play.

Since the show’s debut in 1989, more than 20 “Simpsons” video games have been released, but the arcade game has never received a proper port. A PC version was released in the early 90s, but it just wasn’t the same (remember when PCs were less capable than consoles?).

I can’t wait to be an underachiever (and proud of it) again.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Fusion: Genesis added to XBLA today

Posted on November 9, 2011 by John Scalzo

Today’s Xbox Live Arcade addition may have a generic-sounding name, but it couldn’t be more unique when it comes to gameplay. Developed by former members of Rare, Fusion: Genesis is said to combine elements of the space shooter and the MMORPG, a first for the XBLA:

Unravel a sinister conspiracy in a galaxy on the brink of civil war. Choose your side. Expose the truth. Become a hero. Follow six epic storylines as a trader, mercenary, peacekeeper, soldier, or seeker Explore an “always connected” dynamic environment Complete 100s of solo and co-op quests across 23 levels Fly over 100 ships with 1000s of upgrades Acquire 40 combat skills and 200 weapons Enjoy cooperative (1-4) and PvP (1-8) gameplay.

It’s available to download for 800 Microsoft Points ($10)

Posted in News, Xbox 360 |

THQ: Saints Row 4 in development, “wilder” than The Third

Posted on November 9, 2011 by John Scalzo

While it took Rockstar more than three years to announce a sequel to Grand Theft Auto IV, THQ is not wasting any time when it comes to the Saints Row series. Danny Bilson, the publisher’s Executive Vice President of Core Games, will appear on G4’s X-Play today where he will announce Saints Row 4. For those keeping score at home, Saints Row: The Third won’t be in stores until next week!

According to Bilson, “I already know what Saint’s Row 4 is about, and it is wilder than [Saints Row: The Third]. It’s a good example of how you take what you have and you say, ‘What can happen in the next?'”

Remember, Saints Row: The Third is a game where a fighter jet chases a porn star on a hoverbike (see the screenshot to your left) through the streets of a city controlled by pro wrestling mobsters… who use dildo-shaped baseball bats when they want to send a message.

Wilder than that? Hello “Adults Only” rating.

[Source: G4’s The Feed]

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Activision announces Call of Duty 9, multiple Blizzard titles for 2012

Posted on November 9, 2011 by John Scalzo

As Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches to huge sales and nearly unanimous critical praise, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick is ready to announce the next entry in the series.

Speaking to investors today, Kotick said, “As we focus on 2012, we have a strong product pipeline which features a minimum of two highly-anticipated new titles from Blizzard Entertainment, including Diablo III, and a new Call of Duty game from Activision Publishing.”

As you can see, Kotick also confirmed that Blizzard will release several games in 2012, a rarity for them. And considering the developer’s full production plate, there are several possibilities for this second title including World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, and the free-to-play Blizzard DOTA.

I’m going to go out on a limb and “confirm” that Call of Duty 9 will be developed by Treyarch (it’s their turn as Modern Warfare 3 was an Infinity Ward game) and released in the first week of November 2012. Obviously, I’m a gambling man.

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

Wii U might support multiple tablet controllers

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Brian Bishop

With the rise of online multiplayer gaming, sometimes I wonder about the loss of the days where four people could sit in a room and get some game on together. When Nintendo’s E3 Press Conference revealed that the Wii U would support only one controller per console, I thought this was the beginning of the end of single console multiplayer, and it made me sad.

But Nintendo says that they are working on it. A source that chose to remain anonymous told Develop that Nintendo is working to bypass the coding restrictions the system had in order to allow two controllers to work on the same system. But the source also said that we aren’t going to be having four controllers on the system like the old days any time soon. Apparently, it’s just outside of the systems capabilities to have more than two tablet controllers. The Wii U will suport four Wii Remotes in addition to the tablet controller for multiplayer.

Either way, Nintendo said last month that the Wii U would be shown in it’s final form at E3 2012, so our speculations will become reality by next year.

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Chrono Cross, Dead Space 2, Fight Night Champion added to PS Store

Posted on November 9, 2011 by John Scalzo

After a month of highlighting games that are “Only On PSN,” the PlayStation Store takes a turn backwards in November by focusing on classics both new and old.

The most classic of the classics is Square Enix’s Chrono Cross, a bona fide PSone Classic that is now available to download from the Store for $9.99. A pair of PS2 Classics have also been added to the PSN: the military training sim Full Spectrum Warrior and the wild driving of Stuntman Ignition.

As for original PS3 games, Sony has taken three disc-based games (all published by EA) and given them PSN digital releases. Dead Space 2, Fight Night Champion, and Monopoly Streets can now be downloaded direct to your PS3.

Finally, PSP owners will get a chance to download something new this week as well as Sony has added Cars 2: The Game to the PlayStation Store.

More details on all of this week’s new releases and game add-ons can be found at the PlayStation.Blog.

Posted in News, PS3, PSP | Tagged ,

Daily Scoop: November 8, 2011 – Gold Box Event!

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Nicole Kline

And so another Gold Box Event sneaks up on us! Video games are what’s for dinner over at Amazon. The big Deal of the Day is EA’s FIFA 12, which is just $39.99 today on PS3 and Xbox 360. Other Gold Box Deals today are:

  • 6:00 AM PST/9:00 AM EST: Objection! It’s Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for the DS, just $15.99
  • 8:00 AM PST/11:00 AM EST: Get Suda-crazy with No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise for $27.99
  • 10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST: Get the Xbox game Sonic Free Riders for just $14.99
  • 1:00 PM PST/4:00 PM EST: Engage in combat across the globe, dodging skyscrapers, and turning their enemies into fiery supersonic debris – never before has combat been so fast and in-your-face! – this one’s gotta be Ace Combat Assault Horizon!
  • 3:00 PM PST/6:00 PM EST: Prepare to compete in the Olympic Winter Games with your friends and family like you never thought possible! Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, anyone?
  • 6:00 PM PST/9:00 PM EST: A collection of single player puzzle games designed to provide puzzle fans and fanatics over 500 hours of play time spread across over 1,000 addictive games – Puzzler World, perhaps?
  • 8:00 PM PST/11:00 PM EST: Kill Zombie’s on your PC! – Probably Left 4 Dead 2, though that misuse of the apostrophe makes me want to choke everyone!

No game-related t-shirts today, but I’m loving the nostalgia in today’s Qwertee: (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, DS, Etcetera, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 |

2012 Zelda Symphony Tour begins January 10 in Dallas

Posted on November 8, 2011 by John Scalzo

After a successful world premiere in Los Angeles last month, Nintendo has announced that the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses 2012 tour will begin on January 10 in Dallas.

Produced by Jason Michael Paul Productions, the concert tour will feature music from Zelda’s 25 year history, including the program’s signature piece, a full four-movement symphony that will guide fans through a musical retelling of key chapters from The Legend of Zelda franchise. Each concert will also feature music from the newest game in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which is scheduled for a November 20 release.

“The love that fans feel for The Legend of Zelda series cannot be overstated,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “In 2012, we want to give people across the country a chance to come together and enjoy the music from the games that mean so much to so many.”

Tickets for the Dallas concert are now available through the Dallas Symphony Orchestra website with a range in price from $19 to $115 (Club Nintendo members receive a 15% discount if they order by November 30). Additional tour dates will be announced soon.

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