Most Recent: Xbox 360

Full House Poker Review: Avatars Playing Poker

Posted on March 25, 2011 by John Scalzo

Full House Poker isn’t Microsoft’s first try at creating a card-playing franchise on the Xbox Live Arcade. That distinction actually goes to the Tik Games-developed Texas Hold ‘Em, which was released way back in 2006. It seems that Microsoft has learned something in the ensuing five years, as Full House Poker is a superior game in almost every way; but is it a must-have XBLA release? I wouldn’t go “All In” on that bet. (more…)

Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Weinstein Company gets into the game business

Posted on March 25, 2011 by John Scalzo

Famous film brothers Bob and Harvey Weinstein have announced that their company, the creatively named The Weinstein Company, has started a video game division. The equally creatively named TWC Games will tap into the back catalog of The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films to develop and publish video games for mobile, social, and console platforms. Among the Weinstein/Dimension films that could get the game treatment are Scream, Hellraiser, Halloween and Children of the Corn.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if TWC Games teamed up with Freddy and Jason rightsholder Warner Bros. to create the ultimate slasher movie fighting game of Ghostface vs Pinhead vs Michael Myers vs “He Who Walks Behind the Rows” vs Freddy Kruegger vs Jason Voorhees? Considering the fact that Warner Bros. also owns Mortal Kombat maker NetherRealm Studios, it’s practically fate.

TWC Games will be working with Beefy Media, who has worked with Capcom in the past on a ton of projects, to bring their video game dreams to fruition. The consulting company will work with TWC Games to “foster relationships with publishers and create high quality games.”

Bob Weinstein, The Weinstein Company’s co-chairman, is thrilled about the announcement: “The video game marketplace is changing at such a rapid rate. With all of the digital platforms, there are so many opportunities to broaden our audience with compelling, high quality, cost-efficient, video game entertainment.”

Seriously, someone needs to convince Bob and Harvey to make that monster crossover happen.

Posted in 3DS, DS, Mobile, News, PC, PS3, PSP, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360 |

THQ’s Homefront is a hit

Posted on March 25, 2011 by John Scalzo

THQ’s take on a Korean invasion of America in the 2027 has proven to be a hit with gamers across the globe. Described by company executives as one of the biggest games they’ve ever done, Homefront has now sold one million copies worldwide. THQ has also revealed that they’ve shipped 2.4 million copies of Homefront to stores since its release two weeks ago. So there’s plenty of copies out there if you want to become Homefront player #1,000,001.

“We are very pleased with strong worldwide shipments and sell-through for Homefront, and we continue to fulfill new retail orders for the game across the globe,” said Brian Farrell, THQ President and CEO. “Homefront is clearly resonating with gamers and we are certainly pleased with our initial sales results.”

Even before Homefront was released, THQ hinted that a sequel was in the planning stages. With the game crossing the million-seller mark already, expect to hear an announcement of Homefront: London any time now.

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

Capcom continues outsourcing – Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City announced

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

Over the last few years, Keiji Inafune vehemently demanded that Japanese game developers blindly imitate what Western developers are doing, so they can make the money. A few months ago, he left Capcom. I can’t tell if it’s because of his demands, or because all their key game directors keep leaving, but Capcom seems intent on giving away all of its classic franchises to their friends in the West.

The world was shocked, absolutely shocked, as Capcom handed the reigns of Devil May Cry over to Ninja Theory when they unveiled their hideous, regurgitation-inducing (at least to DMC fans) makeover of protagonist Dante. Now, Official Xbox Magazine has confirmed that the next title in Capcom’s premier survival horror franchise, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is underway at Slant Six Studios for the PlayStation 3 and (of course) Xbox 360. Slant Six just did a stint with PlayStation’s SOCOM franchise, working on last year’s SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 (which was awesome) and SOCOM: Confrontation before that (which wasn’t so awesome). Stick Skills has tons of bullet points about the game on its site, and you can get even tons more from OXM. If you’re wondering what a western dev is going to do to this franchise, I believe this quote will satisfy your curiosity:

This is not a one-versus-one game where you’ve got one clip full of ammo and zombies on you. If you’ve ever thought of those times in an RE game when you thought, ‘I’d wish I had a big gun’, that’s what this game is.

There you have it. I’ll be sure to let you all know when Phoenix Wright: Space Marine is announced for the Xbox 360.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Portal 2 Interview: Valve Talks New Characters, 2 Campaigns, and… *Spoiler Deleted*

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Nicole Kline

Valve had another one of their awesome theatre-style booths at this year’s PAX East. Outside, they had demos of Portal 2 running and were giving out t-shirts; inside, they were giving fans insight into two new characters in the single-player part of the game and giving me more spoilers than I wanted to see. But as faithful journalists, News Editor Mike Gutierrez and I were determined to bring the information back home and deliver it to our readers. Afterwards, we were able to interview one of the game’s writers, Erik Wolpaw, who left me wishing April 19th was tomorrow. (more…)

Posted in Features, Interviews, PC, Previews, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Resident Evil 4, Code Veronica X getting HD remakes

Posted on March 24, 2011 by John Scalzo

One day after revealing that high definition remakes of Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil: Code Veronica X are coming to Japan, Capcom has announced that the classic RE adventures will be available in North America as well.

The HD remakes will be released this Fall as downloadable games on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. Pricing details weren’t announced and it’s currently unknown if they’ll include any new features beyond the HD graphical overhaul. But if the standard definition-to-high definition comparison screenshots that Capcom has released are any indication, that overhaul will make the games look better than ever. Although I have to say, I don’t remember RE4 looking that ugly on my Wii (or any of the half dozen other platforms these games have appeared on).

Hit the jump for all five comparison screens. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Surprise! Duke Nukem Forever delayed again

Posted on March 24, 2011 by John Scalzo

Put away your ice skates for Hell isn’t frozen over yet. Duke Nukem Forever has been delayed again. I know, try to hold back your surprise. But don’t worry, instead of retreating to the wilds of release dates unknown, The Duke has only been delayed a month and will now land in stores on June 14 (internationally on June 10).

2K Games has tried to pass off the new release date as “The Shortest Delay in the History of Duke Nukem Forever” but Gearbox President Randy Pitchford feels your pain, as you can see in the special message from him above.

As an additional “we’re sorry,” 2K has revealed that the game’s official website DukeNukemForever.com, has relaunched with “Duke approved” content. In addition to screenshots, game info and the like, the site also contains “Duke’s Boobtube channel and The Duke Cave, featuring babe and alien surveillance.”

I guess that’s something.

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

Honky Tonk Man struts into WWE All-Stars as free download

Posted on March 23, 2011 by John Scalzo

The Honky Tonk Man, the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in the WWE’s history, will be added to the WWE All-Stars roster as a free DLC download in April.

And that’s not all. THQ has added a range of WWE All-Stars-inspired Avatar items to the Xbox Live Marketplace including Hulk Hogan’s “Hulkamania” outfit, Jake The Snake’s snake, The Ultimate Warrior’s facepaint and a whole lot more.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged