Most Recent: News

A Game of Thrones: Genesis gets release date, new screenshots

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Are you like me, and foolishly thought A Game of Thrones: Genesis was still months away from release? Well, the dude in that new screenshot above is here to tell you that the game will launch for PC on September 29. As though this month wasn’t crowded enough already…

A little more information about the game has been revealed over at Focus Home Interactive’s official website:

Faithful to the world imagined by George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones – Genesis emphasizes the backstabbing and political intrigues which are common in Westeros and the fight for the Iron Throne. Command the assassination of an opponent’s Great Lord, set up secret alliances, send a spy to take the place of the opponent’s unit, or harass his trade routes to weaken his economy. Treasons, espionage, kidnapping and ransoms… treachery is everywhere, so always watch your back!

It is also very possible, by cleverly using all the low blows the game allows you to use, to earn victory without ever entering an open war or recruiting any army. A real first in a real-time strategy game!

Damn. This game just keeps sounding better and better. Hit the jump for all of the brand new screenshots. (more…)

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

Rage system requirements revealed

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Rage will be out in just a few short weeks, and Bethesda has finally announced the PC specs for it, both minimum and recommended:

Minimum Requirements:

  • OS: Win XP SP3, Vista, Win 7
  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo or Equivalent AMD
  • Memory: 2GB
  • Hard Disk Space: 25GB
  • Video Card: GeForce 8800, Radeon HD 4200

Recommended:

  • OS: Win XP SP3, Vista, Win 7
  • Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad or Equivalent AMD
  • Memory: 4GB
  • Hard Disk Space: 25GB
  • Video Card: GeForce 9800 GTX, ATI Radeon HD 5550

If you’re looking for an excuse to upgrade your rig, I’m pretty sure Bethesda just gave you one.

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

Daily Scoop: September 7, 2011 – Over the hump!

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Yay, Wednesday! Truth be told, I’m about to spend the rest of this morning – err, going into afternoon – running errands, and picking up the copy of Resistance 3 I didn’t go out and get yesterday. Bad Nicole!

Amazon’s Deal of the Day in video games today is a $50 promotional credit when you buy the Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect. While you’re at it, don’t forget to check out their list of bonus offers, and if you’ve been really itching to get a copy of Disney’s Epic Mickey, you can get another Disney game free right now as well. Scoopity :)

No gaming shirts today, but the “Dire Brew” over at Tee Fury is tempting me mightily: (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News, Wii, Xbox 360 |

BloodRayne: Betrayal, Crimson Alliance, more added to XBLA today

Posted on September 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

Not to be outdone by Sony’s PSN Play promotion, Microsoft has added four titles to the Xbox Live Arcade today.

Two of the new releases, vampiric side-scroller BloodRayne: Betrayal and plane racer SkyDrift, were previously added to the PlayStation Store yesterday. New to the XBLA is the Kinect-powered “full body puzzle action game” Leedmees and the multiplayer action RPG Crimson Alliance.

BloodRayne: Betrayal and SkyDrift have both been priced at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15) while Leedmees has been given an 800 Microsoft Point ($10) price tag.

Crimson Alliance’s price is a bit harder to explain. The game uses an a la carte pricing scheme whereby players can purchase the “full game” for 1200 Microsoft Points and receive to all three of the game’s classes (assassin, mercenary, wizard) or they can lock in to a single class for 800 Microsoft Points.

More information on all of this week’s new releases can be found at Major Nelson’s blog.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

3DS Slide Pad adds second analog stick, R2 button to system

Posted on September 7, 2011 by John Scalzo

Oh Famitsu, nothing will ever stay secret with you around.

In case you missed it, Nintendo is hosting a 3DS-focused media event in Japan on September 13. One of the crazier rumors said that Nintendo planned to use the press conference to announce a 3DS peripheral that would add a second analog stick to the handheld. As you can see to your left, the pages of Famitsu, Japan’s biggest gaming magazine, have revealed all once again.

The 3DS Expansion Slide Pad is actually more of a cradle and when the handheld is encased in it, the 3DS will have a second analog stick and an R2 button (but strangely, no L2 button). The cradle will also cover the game slot, so changing games will require removing the Slide Pad first.

And in case you thought this was some kind of sick joke, Nintendo UK has confirmed the Slide Pad’s existence in a statement:

We can confirm that Nintendo does plan to release the attachment but that any further announcements on the attachment will be made at some later time by Nintendo.

It was obviously unspoken by Nintendo, but this peripheral likely also confirms that a redesigned 3DS incorporating the extra buttons is in the works.

[Source: Nintendo Life]

Posted in 3DS, News |

Want this cool Uncharted 3 controller? Hope you live in Japan!

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Poor PlayStation 3 owners. They’re always getting the short end of the stick when it comes to cool controllers and add-ons for the system. Our DualShocks came in black only until very recently, and we never have anything cooler than pink (no, seriously – the pink one is the best. Trust me.).

But check out this awesome Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception controller. Can’t you just feel it now, rumbling in your hands as Drake dives to get out of the way of an enemy’s grenade? Well, you could, if you lived in Japan. The controller won’t be available here in the US, according to G4.

What a bummer. I’d absolutely add in some extra money to the already ridiculously overpriced collector’s edition just to get that controller. I guess my wallet says thank you, Naughty Dog.

Posted in News, PS3 | Tagged

Halo 4 Narrative Designer leaves 343 Industries

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Ryan Payton, Narrative Designer on Halo 4, left 343 Industries, according to Kotaku. Payton – formerly of Kojima Productions, where he worked on Metal Gear Solid 4 – was diagnosed with severe depression a few months ago. “I had a great run at Microsoft,” Payton said. “I don’t regret one day of it. But after a few years, there came a point where I wasn’t creatively excited about the project anymore… The Halo I wanted to build was fundamentally different and I don’t think I had built enough credibility to see such a crazy endeavor through.”

The split is amicable – Payton has said that he doesn’t think Halo 4 is a bad game, and 343 Industries wishes him the best of luck in his new endeavors. What are those new endeavors? He wanted to start up his own game studio and do something less constraining than work on triple A titles, and so he has started up his own studio, Camouflaj. Two new titles are already in development. Payton said, “I think time is the most valuable thing we have, and I’ve decided that I’m not going to waste one more day working on something that doesn’t speak to my values.”

Payton has been replaced by Armando Troisi, Lead Cinematic Designer on Mass Effect 2, as the Halo 4 Narrative Director. I have to say that what Payton did took a lot of courage, and I look forward to seeing what kind of games he can create in this new atmosphere.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

ESRB pulls a great trick by outing Devil May Cry trilogy for PS3, Xbox 360

Posted on September 6, 2011 by John Scalzo

Are you in tears over Capcom’s steadfast refusal to admit a Devil May Cry HD Collection exists? Well quit yer crying because new ratings on the ESRB website have revealed that Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2 and Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening will be released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in the near future. Because each game is listed individually, Capcom is likely planning to release each HD remake separately like the upcoming Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil: Code Veronica remakes.

But we can’t say anything for sure until Capcom officially announces the Devil May Cry remakes for the PS3 and Xbox 360. I mean, what are they waiting for? Satan got their tongue?

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