Most Recent: News

PlayStation announces first ever PSN Gamers Choice Awards

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

From February 22 to March 1, you can vote for your picks for best downloadable titles of 2010 on the PSN. By downloading a free XMB theme for the game, you can vote for each of the four categories: Best PS3 Downloadable Game, Best PSP Downloadable Game, Best PS3/PSP Mini and Best PSN Exclusive Game. The winner in each character will go on sale for 30% off for regular PSN users and an ill 50% off for PSN Plus subscribers. It seems they want to keep every category mutually exclusive, or else I have no idea why Dead Nation and Soldner-X2 are not up for Best PS3 Downloadable Game.

While most Game of the Year awards have been done for a long time now, it’s pretty awesome for PSN users to have one with free themes and big discounts all along the way, and for some of the best games at that.

Hit the break for the full list of nominees. (more…)

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Hard Corps: Uprising shoots its way onto the XBLA

Posted on February 16, 2011 by John Scalzo

Microsoft has kicked off their 2011 Xbox Live Arcade House Party promotion in an explosive way as Hard Corps: Uprising is now available to download.

Priced at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), the game is a prequel to the Contra saga as a whole and to 1994’s Contra: Hard Corps in particular. Developed by Arc System Works, the game also brings an anime-inspired flavor to Contra’s signature run-and-gun routines for the first time.

In addition to the main game, Konami has made two bonus characters for Hard Corps: Uprising available to download (priced at 200 MS Points each) along with a whole closet full of Avatar items.

Check back later today for our review of Hard Corps: Uprising.

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George R.R. Martin overseeing A Game of Thrones: Genesis for PC, new screenshots

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

If you’re a fan of the fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, or one of the inevitable hipsters who is now because there’s an HBO series about it, there’s a Real Time Strategy game based on it coming out for PC this summer (with a story supervised by author George R.R. Martin). A Game of Thrones: Genesis from Cyanide Studio allows players (I love it when games give us permission) to experience 1000 years of Westeros history, from its founding up to Aegon the Conquerer’s invasion and the War of the Usurper, which sound totally awesome.

The game seems to be more in line with Civilization than Age of Empires, as you can use economic and diplomatic tactics to crush your opponents instead of sending a thousand knights on horseback their way. I might have to check this out if my laptop can run it, judging by just how cool the screenshots below are. (more…)

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Disney raises the 3DS sail with Lego Pirates of the Caribbean

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Ryan Littlefield

Ninajas will be stealthily sneaking into the world of Lego soon, but its pirates that will invading the 3DS and staking a claim for minifigs everywhere. That’s right, a version of Lego Pirates of the Caribbean will be sailing to the upcoming 3DS handheld.

Not only does Lego Pirates feature all the fun Lego gameplay that the previous titles did, but most interesting is the Street Pass feature. Street Pass allows players’ sleeping 3DS systems to interact with each other, where players will involuntarily be involved in “Pirate Duels.” Players will be able to select attacks and blocks to be used while the Street Pass mode is on. This makes the Pirate Duel feature seem like a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, but with more wit involved. Winners of these duels will be rewarded with experience points, which will unlock additional health and power-up bonuses for their in-game characters. This feature is exclusive to the 3DS’ version of the game.

Lego Pirates of the Caribbean will be simultaneously released on the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC/Mac, PSP, and 3DS in conjunction with the new Pirates of the Caribbean film, due out May 2011.

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Go Back to the Future with 2/15/11 PlayStation Store update

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

This week should be pretty special for many different types of gamers on the PSN, especially fans of Telltale Games. Most notable on the PlayStation Store update this week is Back to the Future: The Game, featuring Christopher Lloyd himself as Doc and the best Michael J. Fox impersonation ever. I’ve heard nothing but good things about this game so you couldn’t go wrong with a $19.99 subscription. Also from the folks behind Monkey Island comes four new Sam & Max episodes exclusive to the PSN, for $8.99 a piece.

Acceleration of SUGURI X-Edition and ATV Pure round out the new games list with insane robot combat and quad racing, respectively.

There’s also a few notable entries outside of new games. The demo for the much-anticipated Yakuza 4 is available for PlayStation Plus subscribers, and the Killzone 3 single player demo is available in 3D and normal for all PSN gamers. Definitely check that one out if you haven’t already.

Most importantly for me, as you may tell from our podcasts, is Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. You read that right, Square Enix has released a PSP game on the PSN. No one expected this to land digitally, but Senior Editor Nicole Kline speculated that because the NGP will for the most part use digital media, Square may finally have to get their act together. In any case, be sure to take a look at this masterpiece, as well as more information on the new games on the Store after the break (details on all of this week’s add-ons can be found at the PlayStation.Blog). (more…)

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Battlestar Galactica’s Helo to play Stryker in Mortal Kombat: Rebirth

Posted on February 15, 2011 by John Scalzo

Tahmoh Penikett may not be a household name, but if you’re a fan of science fiction you’re no doubt familiar with some of his most famous roles including Helo on “Battlestar Galactica” and FBI agent Paul Ballard on “Dollhouse.”

According to an exclusive IGN report, Penikett will take his ass-kicking ways to the currently shooting Mortal Kombat: Rebirth webisodes as riot cop Kurtis Stryker. Stryker is known as the black sheep of the Mortal Kombat family, but Penikett’s experience filming fight scenes for Joss Whedon on “Dollhouse” may give the character a newfound respect.

Mortal Kombat: Rebirth will be released digitally this Spring, sometime around the launch of the Mortal Kombat reboot on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

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New Alice: Madness Returns teaser is trippy

Posted on February 15, 2011 by John Scalzo

File this one under “obvious,” but the latest teaser trailer for Alice: Madness Returns is full of whacked out visuals and gruesome violence. Alice is enjoying an idyllic day in Wonderland when a demonic vision turns the skys black and causes Alice to lash out (quite literally) at her Wonderland friends. Down the Rabbit Hole indeed.

Alice: Madness Returns is in development at Spicy Horse and will be released on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 this year.

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Smithsonian asks public to select games for “Art of Video Games” exhibit

Posted on February 15, 2011 by John Scalzo

Ladies and gentlemen, the question of whether or not games are art has finally been answered. The Smithsonian will launch a new exhibit titled “The Art of Video Games” on March 16, 2012. So somebody be sure to tell Roger Ebert, games have officially been declared art.

According to the museum, the exhibit will be “the first to explore the 40-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies.” And what games will be chosen to represent gaming as art? The Smithsonian has decided to ask for the public’s help at ArtOfVideoGames.org. The website will offer participants a chance to vote for 80 games from a pool of 240 proposed choices in various categories, divided by era, game type and platform. Voting will be open from February 14 through April 7 and requires a valid email address.

“I want this exhibition to include the collective voice of the video game world, which is not limited to the developers, designers and artists but also the game players,” said the curator of the exhibit, Chris Melissinos. “It is important to me that when gamers visit the exhibition, they find the experiences that most matter to them.”

The results of the voting will be announced in May.

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