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XBLA Today: Darkstalkers Resurrection, Kinect Sports Gems: Wave 3

Posted on March 13, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Four games are new to the Xbox Live Arcade today… though three of them are part of the Kinect Sports Gems series of mini-games.

The week’s big new release is Darkstalkers Resurrection, which compiles the second and third games from Capcom’s monster fighter into a single package that’s being sold for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). As is typical of Capcom’s re-releases, it contains all the high definition bells and whistles and online play modes you’d expect:

Darkstalkers Resurrection updates to two games for the price of one – Night Warriors: Darkstalkers Revenge and Darkstalkers 3. These feature classic gameplay and unique characters as well as a host of new features, including a variety of HD visual modes, online play with 8-player lobbies, YouTube replay sharing, improved challenge modes, dynamic awards, and unlockable extras. Embrace the dark!

The third wave of Kinect Sports Gems includes 10 Frame Bowling, Ping Pong, and the pun-tastic Penalty Saver (a soccer shootout game). Fitting for a mini-game, each one is available for the mini-price of 240 Microsoft Points ($3) apiece.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Princeton Review names University of Utah the best undergrad game design program for 2013

Posted on March 13, 2013 by John Scalzo

universityofutah-logoThe Princeton Review has released the latest update to “Top Schools to Study Video Game Design,” their annual list of the best colleges for game design in the country. After dominating the undergrad list for three straight years, the University of Southern California has been dethroned by the University of Utah. However, USC still holds the top spot on the list of graduate programs.

The Princeton Review studied and ranked 50 different game design programs for this year’s report focusing on “the school curriculum, faculty, facilities, and infrastructure, plus career services, student scholarships, and financial aid.” The rankings can be found after the break and the complete report, which includes profiles of the schools, can be found at PrincetonReview.com. (more…)

Posted in Etcetera, News | Tagged

Payday 2 coming to PC, PS3, Xbox 360 this Summer

Posted on March 12, 2013 by John Scalzo

payday2-dudePayday: The Heist skipped the Xbox 360 during its 2011 getaway, but the sequel won’t make the same choice. Payday 2 is taking the cannoli and the gun and will be released on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 this Summer. The game is once again being developed by Overkill Software and the decision to bring it to the Xbox 360 came from new publisher 505 Games.

Payday 2 promises to be a much bigger game than its predecessor with more heists than ever before and multi-tiered objectives that can change due to a variety of scenarios. Hmm, maybe there is honor among thieves.

[Source: CVG]

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

PSN Today: Darkstalkers Resurrection, plenty of PSone imports, more

Posted on March 12, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Capcom’s fighting game compilation, Darkstalkers Resurrection is the big addition in this week’s PlayStation Store update. The package comes complete with Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge and Darkstalkers 3 to sate your monster battling urges.

Also available this week is a sextet of PSone Classics that were previously only available in Japan, the PS3 full game Quantum Theory, the PSN games Psych Yourself and Heavy Fire: Shattered Spear, the Vita game Puzzle by Nikoli V: Sudoku, and the PS2 Classic Kessen II.

More details for all of these games can be found after the break and a full list of today’s new game add-ons can be found at the PlayStation Blog. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, Vita | Tagged

Daily Scoop: March 12, 2013 – Tut tut, looks like rain

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Nicole Kline

What a lousy day it is here in Philadelphia! It’s pouring rain with no sunshine in sight… and no end in sight, either. It’s the perfect weather for video games!

There are lots of digital deals going on at Amazon this week. Champion Pack: Victory: The Age of Racing is on sale for $2.99 from $14.99, and the Days of Wonder Ticket to Ride Complete Pack is only $6.49 from $24.95. Already got the game and just want the DLC packs? Those are on sale for $3.79. Looking for the biggest bang for your buck? That would be the Enormous .EMU Pack, on sale for $9.99 from $91.98. Guns of Icarus is half price at just $9.99, as well as Hitman: Absolution, which is $19.99. You can also get the Professional Edition for just $27.99.

I’ve also got some t-shirts for you! (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News |

Awesome dad hacks Donkey Kong so daughter can play as Pauline

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Nicole Kline

What do you do when your three-year-old daughter, who has been playing Super Mario Bros. 2 as Princess Toadstool, wants to play Donkey Kong as Pauline?

If you’re Mike Mika, you stay up all night hacking the Donkey Kong ROM so she can do just that. Sure, he could just tell her to play Metroid, or teach her how to play Portal, but instead he’s taking charge and changing the game so she can play it her way. And why not? Check out the video to see what it would be like if Donkey Kong had kidnapped Mario, and Pauline had to save him.

[Source: The Atlantic]

Posted in News |

God of War: Ascension’s “Bros Before Hos” Trophy renamed with day one patch

Posted on March 12, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Sony Santa Monica courted a mini-controversy (again) yesterday after Adam Sessler reviewed God of War: Ascension and registered his disgust for the game’s “Bros Before Hos” Trophy. Reacting quickly, the developer has informed Joystiq that the offending award will be renamed in a day one patch.

The Trophy will now carry the much-less-misogynistic name “Bros Before Foes.” In addition to being less likely to cause complaints, it also has the bonus of being funnier. The patch won’t change any other part of the game.

In the game, Kratos receives the “Bros Before Hos/Bros Before Foes” Trophy after defeating one of the Furies (read: ripping her limb from limb), a group of demonic vengeance spirits popular in Greek mythology. While it was likely unintentional, it’s not hard to make the leap from the Trophy name to charges of misogyny.

God of War: Ascension was released exclusively for the PS3 today.

Posted in News, PS3 | Tagged

Madden NFL 25 Cover Vote begins with an old school/new school battle

Posted on March 12, 2013 by John Scalzo

maddennfl25-covervote-round1The initial bracket for the 64-man Madden NFL 25 Cover Vote debuted last night on ESPN2’s SportsNation. The bracket is divided into “Old School” and “New School” divisions, ensuring the final round will pit a former star versus one of today’s best players.

Jerry Rice won the play-in round against Chris Carter, so he’s been slotted in as one of the #1 seeds in the “Old School” division. His 49ers teammate, Joe Montana, has received the other. Over on the “New School” side, Colin Kaepernick (another 49er) and Robert Griffin III are the #1 seeds.

While most of the “New School” picks make a lot of sense, some of the guys on the “Old School” side are just baffling. For example, Reggie Wayne is still an active player. As are Jake Delhomme and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson (technically). And Ron Rivera? Sure, he was an OK player, but where’s Bo “The Greatest Video Game Athlete Ever” Jackson?

Madden NFL 25 will be released for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on August 27. First round voting is open now at ESPN.com/MaddenVote and will continue through Wednesday, March 20. The winner will be crowned on Wednesday, April 24.

Hit the jump to view the complete Madden NFL 25 Cover Vote bracket. (more…)

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