Most Recent: PS3

Sega Rally Online Arcade to race onto PSN/XBLA this year

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Ryan Littlefield

Just yesterday, Sega announced that it would be revamping the classic Sega Rally series in the form of Sega Rally Online Arcade – which was inspired by Sega Rally 3 and Sega Rally Revo. Sega Rally Online Arcade will feature full-fledged HD visuals and the ability to compete in races online, a feat never-before tackled by the Sega Rally titles.

In addition to online competitive play, Sega Rally Online Arcade will also offer the famed Time Attack and Championship Battle modes, achievement/trophy support, online leaderboards, and the combination of five drivers and 13 rally cars to choose from.

And as you may have guessed from the “Arcade” attached to the end of the title, the game will be available only on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade when it’s released later this year.

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Kevin Tancharoen talks Mortal Kombat: Rebirth

Posted on January 31, 2011 by John Scalzo

Director Kevin Tancharoen recently sat down with Gamasutra and revealed that his awesome Mortal Kombat: Rebirth short film caught the public’s attention by accident.

“I am not the most technically savvy YouTube person. What came out wasn’t the final product in my mind. I wasn’t done yet,” he told the industry blog. “It was still in its rough phase, but I couldn’t send a 2GB file over email, so my friend said I could create a private page on YouTube and sent it to him to review. It turns out it wasn’t that private.”

The interview also confirms that the web series will be spread out over nine episodes, instead of the previously announced ten, and that they will be between seven and ten minutes long (totalling a feature length running time of 63-90 minutes). All of the actors from Rebirth are currently in negotations to reprise their roles including Michael Jai White (Jax), Jeri Ryan (Sonya Blade) and Ian Anthony Dale (Scorpion).

Tancharoen is not alone in building the Rebirth universe as Mortal Kombat creator Ed Book is working very closely with the director. “We’re working together hand in hand, Tancharoen said. “I’ve got to admit, I had a little fanboy geek moment when I met him. I flashed back to when I was 12 or 13 and played the first game and was obsessed with it. He was very, very happy with the short. He knows it took liberties with the universe of Mortal Kombat, but was okay with that. It blows my mind.”

Filming on Mortal Kombat: Rebirth will begin in February with a “Spring” release planned on digital download services.

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Mortal Kombat’s new X-Ray feature gives players an inside look, literally

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Ryan Littlefield

Wow. Just wow. As if I didn’t already have enough of a reason to check out the new Mortal Kombat game, NetherRealm Studios showed off their X-Ray fighting technology in a recent video. The X-Ray technology allows players to hone in on critical hits, fully displaying their effective blows. The video showcases spines bending backward and breaking, cracked ribs, shattering skulls, and organs being crushed.

While this addition only ascends the government’s attention to violent video games, it’s high time that Mortal Kombat had this kind of a face lift – through excessive punching of course.

This video also includes the first gameplay footage of Liu Kang from the upcoming reboot. The champ is here and he looks awesome.

Check out the video after the break. (more…)

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New Releases: Rock Band Country Track Pack 2, More

Posted on January 29, 2011 by John Scalzo

I hope you’re still busy with Dead Space 2 as this week’s batch of new releases is nearly non-existent. Harmonix plans to bring the Rock Band Country Track Pack 2 to the PS3, Wii and Xbox 360… and that’s about it.

Oh, a Mr. Bean game is coming to the DS and Wii this week. I guess that’s something. Although it doesn’t appear in the release lists for every game retailer, so call ahead before searching for it at the mall.

The full list of the rest of this week’s new releases can be found below.

DS

PC

PlayStation 3

Wii

Xbox 360

Posted in DS, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 |

Mindjack Review: An Intrusive Headache

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Ryan Littlefield

Ever since Square Enix teamed up to publish games by other developers, the quality of the company’s branded output hasn’t been quite the same. This logic is proven with the recent release of developer FeelPlus’ title Mindjack. The attempt to make it a unique multiplayer shooter was well-intentioned, but once Mindjack is put to the test, it crawls like a handicapped, elderly secret agent. (more…)

Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360 | Tagged

SO ready for SOCOM 4; release date announced

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Ryan Littlefield

The good folks at Zipper Interactive have finally come clean in announcing SOCOM 4‘s release date, after a long wait following the third game (but with the Zipper-less SOCOM: Confrontation and MAG in between). Really? It was released way back in the PS2 days? Well, now the wait is over. SOCOM 4 will be available in the US on April 19th.

It’s been a LONG time since I’ve personally played SOCOM, and I’m unexpectedly excited to get back in on the action. Hopefully everyone else will remember the SOCOM series for the awesomeness that it was, especially after seeing this multiplayer footage:

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Heavy Rain movie announced

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

David Milch, creator and producer of shows like “NYPD Blue” and “Deadwood”, has signed on to adapt Heavy Rain into a film. Bob Shay and Michael Lynne, who purchased the film rights last May, are set to produce under their Unique Features company, through a deal with Warner Bros. Shay commented “David Milch’s incredible ability to transform intense and complex storylines into gripping, popular drama makes him the perfect partner for us to have on Heavy Rain.” Milch will begin writing the script soon after his team finishes up working on the first season of “Luck,” a new HBO series.

Heavy Rain was notable last year for telling a more mature story than most games are used to, without relying on gratuitous elements like killing 1,000 henchmen over the course of ten hours. From the beginning, creator David Cage stated his aim was to make the rest of the entertainment world take games more seriously. Having big names on the project for the film version, you could argue Cage did just that. Unfortunately, Prince of Persia also had great talent attached to it and was still poorly received. Heavy Rain was one of the most experimental big-budget games over the last few years, so let’s hope this one doesn’t get messed up.

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Anarchy Reigns on North America this Fall

Posted on January 27, 2011 by John Scalzo

One day after its Famitsu premiere, Sega has revealed that Platinum Games’ Max Anarchy will be coming to America as Anarchy Reigns. The PS3 and Xbox 360 brawler is scheduled for a Fall 2011 release.

Platinum Games has promised to turn the beat ’em up on its head with Anarchy Reigns. The game will be built around multiplayer with a boatload of different modes including Tag Team battles and Battle Royal. After looking at the game’s first screenshots (which are available after the break), it would be easy to assume that Anarchy Reigns is a colorized version of the developer’s MadWorld. And seeing as how both games star Jack, a chainsaw-wielding beast of a man, that’s an obvious leap to take. (more…)

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