Most Recent: 3DS

Hype Fatigue: Why I’m Exhausted With Viral Marketing, Elaborate Advertising Campaigns, and Countdowns

Posted on April 17, 2015 by John Scalzo

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The machinations of video game marketers absolutely baffle me. Obviously, “video game marketing” is an incredibly broad term that encompasses hundreds of different campaigns a year, all run by different people, and all carried out with different expectations. Whipsawing between a seemingly neverending series of hype events and viral campaigns has started to make my head spin. Following hashtags and decoding secret messages has become de rigueur if you want to come up with all the latest game news. Last week, three publishers launched three very different viral campaigns that made me long for the days of the simple press release/trailer combo platter. But maybe they aren’t to blame, as video game marketing has been growing increasingly insane for years now. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, Mobile, Opinions, PC, PS3, PS4, Top Story, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , , , , ,

Nintendo Download: Donkey Kong 64, Battleground Z, Ultimate Angler, more

Posted on April 16, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Are you a fan of Nintendo’s StreetPass Mii Plaza on the 3DS? If so, you’ll definitely want to pay attention to today’s Nintendo Download because the publisher has added two brand new StreetPass Mii Plaza titles to the 3DS eShop.

StreetPass Mii Plaza: Battleground Z asks 3DS users to join up with their friends to battle the zombie menace by gathering weapons and taking the fight to the Zeds. Meanwhile, StreetPass Mii Plaza: Ultimate Angler is a relaxing fishing trip with friends at the StreetPass Islands. 3DS owners might also be interested in A-Train 3D: City Simulator, a train management sim from Natsume and Artdink.

Over on the Wii U eShop, Donkey Kong 64 becomes the second Nintendo 64 game available to download through the Virtual Console.

More information on all of these games (and a few new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U |

New Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains trailer looks at the game’s features

Posted on April 15, 2015 by John Scalzo

Attack on Titan is ridiculously, wildly popular among anime fans. So it surprises me that it took nearly two years for Atlus and Spike Chunsoft to announce an American release date for Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains. But with the 3DS game finally ready to cross the Pacific next month, Atlus has served up a new gameplay trailer showcasing the game’s feature set. Here’s just some of the features Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains players will get to experience…

  • Online Multiplayer
  • Familiar Locales (Forest of Giant Trees, Beyond the Wall, Trost District)
  • Fearsome Titans
  • Challenging Missions
  • Combat Skills
  • Mighty Weapons
  • Titan-on-Titan Fighting Abilities
  • Character Customization

If you missed the whole Attack on Titan craze, Nintendo wants to help you catch up. The first two episodes of the anime are now available to download through the 3DS eShop (for free) through June 30.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

Sega adds to 3D Classics line with Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Streets of Rage 2, Gunstar Heroes

Posted on April 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Sega has announced they’ll be expanding their 3D Classics line this Fall with the release of three new titles. All three games will be priced at $5.99 apiece (€4.99 in Europe and £4.49 in the UK).

3D Streets of Rage 2 will lead things off in July, followed by 3D Gunstar Heroes in August, and 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in September. Like the previous games in the series, all three will come equipped with “stunning 3D visuals [that have been] optimized for the 3DS.” Brand new modes and features will also be included in each title.

Two other 3D Classics will close out the most recent wave of releases including this Thursday’s 3D Fantasy Zone II and May 14’s 3D Thunder Blade.

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Bloodborne, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, Cities: Skylines all sell one million copies

Posted on April 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

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While the weather outside was frightful, gamers across the globe responded by purchasing a trio of games in droves this Winter. In fact, each game has sold more than one million copies worldwide.

Sony Computer Entertainment announced that Bloodborne has sold more than one million copies worldwide since its March 24. According to the PlayStation Blog, From Software is also hard at work on patch 1.03 to “to reduce certain load times” and add in a few “performance optimizations.” They’ll also remove that bug that makes the game easier after you’ve been playing for more than 12 hours.

According to Capcom, they’ve shipped one million copies of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate to stores across Europe and North America, so they haven’t crossed the seven figure sales figure just yet. But the publisher still plans to celebrate by releasing a free Monster Hunter theme for the 3DS in May.

Finally, Paradox Interactive and Colossal Order have sold one million copies of their city-builder, Cities: Skylines, since March 10. The game has been heartily embraced by sim fans who felt letdown by SimCity, but it looks like its begun to reach gamers of all stripes. I think this Facebook post (which includes a cameo appearance from Dr. Evil) says it all.

Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS4 | Tagged , ,

Bandai Namco/Sega/Capcom crossover Project X Zone 2 will be released this Fall

Posted on April 13, 2015 by John Scalzo

Bandai Namco, Sega, and Capcom got together in 2013 to create a wild crossover game known as Project X Zone. Today, the three companies announced they’re teaming up with developer Monolith Soft once again to create Project X Zone 2. Scheduled to be released for the 3DS in Fall 2015, the strategy RPG sequel will have quite the eclectic cast of characters:

  • Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine from Resident Evil Revelations
  • Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 6
  • Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima from Yakuza: Dead Souls
  • Yuri Lowell and Flynn Scifo from Tales of Versperia
  • Dante and Vergil from Devil May Cry
  • Erica Fontaine and Ichiro Ogami from Sakura Wars
  • Jin Kazama and Kazuya Mishima from Tekken
  • X and Zero from Mega Man X
  • Akira Yuki and Kage Maru from Virtua Fighter
  • Kite from .Hack
  • Haseo from .Hack: GU
  • Strider Hiryu from Strider
  • Hotsuma from Shinobi
  • Natsu from Soul Calibur V

Expect more characters to be announced as we get closer to Project X Zone 2’s release date.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

Insert Quarter: Should Mega Man Make a Comeback? Maybe We Don’t Need Him…

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Insert Quarter is our showcase for some of the best and most interesting writing about video games on the Internet.

With Shovel Knight, 20XX, and the upcoming Mighty No. 9 giving the gaming populace their fill of homages/spiritual successors to Mega Man, some people have started to wonder if a new game starring the original Blue Bomber is even necessary. GameRadar’s David Roberts is one of those people.

According to Roberts, Capcom is so handcuffed by the Mega Man formula that we might just be better off with the imitators. I’m not sure I agree, but he makes an interesting case:

It’s been nearly five years since Capcom released the last official Mega Man game. Mega Man 10 was just like all the other Mega Man games (Mega Mans?) that came before it; crunchy 8-bit graphics, a series of themed robot bosses, and soul-crushing difficulty. Since then, Capcom has released a fan-made Street Fighter/Mega Man crossover and let the Blue Bomber fight against a stable of Nintendo characters in Super Smash Bros. That’s all Mega Man has to show for the last five years; everything else has been cancelled. And you know what? Maybe that’s for the best.

The full article is available for your perusal at the GamesRadar.

Posted in 3DS, DS, Insert Quarter, PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, PSP, Vita, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

Nintendo Download: Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, Pokemon Rumble World, more

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

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It’s a big week for the Nintendo eShop as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is available to download for the 3DS. But remember, not just any 3DS system can handle Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. You’ll need a New 3DS XL in order to play Nintendo’s beautiful remake of the Wii hit. But if you’ve got one, you’ll be able to download the game through the 3DS eShop on April 10 (AKA tomorrow).

If you’re looking for something on the 3DS eShop today, you’ve got a few options. Atlus has released Etrian Mystery Dungeon, a procedurally-generated dungeon-crawler that merges the Etrian Odyssey and Mystery Dungeon franchises. Also available today is Pokemon Rumble World, a free-to-play arena brawler starring all 700 of your favorite Pokemon.

Over on the Wii U eShop, players will be able to download a pair of DS games through the Virtual Console and Affordable Space Adventures. Affordable Space Adventures offers exactly what it says on the tin… a space simulator on the Wii U that is completely affordable by the average person. And players with a love for the DS will want to know that minigame collection WarioWare: Touched! and stylus-based platformer Yoshi Touch & Go are both now available to download.

More information on all these games (and one more new release) can be found after the break. (more…)

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