Full version of Wii Fit U available as a month-long trial download on November 1

Posted on September 19, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Nintendo is trying something a little different with the release of Wii Fit U. If you’ve got a Wii Balance Board, the game will be available through the Wii U eShop as a free download beginning on November 1. Naturally, there’s a catch.

The free download of Wii Fit U includes the full and complete game… all 77 Activities, all the Custom Workout options, and all the Miiverse support. But the download comes with a countdown clock that only gives you 30 days of access after the game is first launched. If you want to continue using Wii Fit U, you’ll have to purchase a separate Fit Meter (for $19.99), which will be available in stores on November 1.

If you’d prefer to bypass this offer and just buy Wii Fit U outright, the game will be available in stores on December 13 (in both game-only and game + Balance Board editions) and as a paid download through the Wii U eShop on February 1, 2014.

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Flashback Review: Like the Old Guy at the Disco

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Troy Matsumiya

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Delphine Software’s Flashback: The Quest for Identity, originally released in 1992, was a critical hit due to its smooth rotoscoped animation, hand-drawn backgrounds, and challenging gameplay. So it is not surprising that fans were excited about the HD remake, especially since members of the original team – including lead designer Paul Cuisset – are involved. So is the updated Flashback worth going back to the future past?

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

XBLA Today: Foul Play

Posted on September 18, 2013 by John Scalzo

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Side-scrolling beat ’em ups have been taking the Xbox Live Arcade by storm over the last few weeks, and this week is no exception. Now available on the XBLA is Foul Play, a beat ’em up from Devolver Digital that takes place entirely on a theater stage. Priced at $14.99, Foul Play is also available for the PC through Steam:

Play as the daemon hunter Baron Dashforth in a side-scrolling brawler set ENTIRELY on a theater stage. Perform shattering takedowns and reversals! Electrify spectators with linked attacks, have a friend join as sidekick Scampwick and use every stage-trick you know to bring the house down! Play out the most spectacular moments of the Baron’s life; improbable beasts, astonishing villainy and, at the heart of it all, the mysterious Foul Play.

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Grand Theft Auto V’s $800 million day is franchise’s biggest debut ever

Posted on September 18, 2013 by John Scalzo

grandtheftautov-logoSurprising no one, Grand Theft Auto V had a very big launch yesterday. When all was said and done, the game tallied day one sales of more than $800 million worldwide. Official numbers will surely be released at a later date, but that dollar amount translates to at least 11 million copies sold, making it the biggest launch in franchise history.

Strauss Zelnick, Take-Two Interactive’s Chairman and CEO, was especially happy about this news: “All of us at Take-Two are thrilled with the initial response to Grand Theft Auto V. Once again, the team at Rockstar Games have outdone themselves, setting the entertainment industry’s new standard for creativity, innovation and excellence. Beginning at midnight on Monday, consumers around the world gathered in anticipation to be among the first to experience the evolution of this remarkable series. In North America alone, more than 8,300 stores opened their doors at midnight to welcome fans whose loyalty and enthusiasm were rewarded with what The New York Times called ‘the most immersive spectacle in interactive entertainment.’ We are incredibly proud of Rockstar Games’ creative achievement and could not be more pleased with the success of this launch.”

It’s unknown if Zelnick was holding two sacks with comically large dollar signs on them when he made this statement, but I’d like to believe he was.

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Wii Sports Club comes to Wii U eShop on November 7

Posted on September 18, 2013 by John Scalzo

wiisportsclub-logoNintendo is bringing Wii Sports back in a big way on the Wii U this Fall. The Wii pack-in’s five sports – bowling, tennis, baseball, boxing and golf – will get a high definition makeover as part of the “Wii Sports Club,” a series of downloadable titles that will be released separately through the Wii U eShop. These “Wii-makes” will also include MotionPlus support and online multiplayer.

Wii Sports Club: Tennis and Wii Sports Club: Bowling will be available to download on November 7, with Wii Sports Club: Baseball, Wii Sports Club: Golf, and Wii Sports Club: Boxing scheduled for release “in the months ahead.”

Each Wii Sports Club title will be priced at $9.99, but Nintendo also plans to release a demo version of each sport. In addition to the standard purchasing model, Nintendo is attempting something different with the Wii Sports Club “Day Pass.” Priced at $1.99, the Day Pass will give players access to all five sports for a 24-hour period.

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Sega is now the proud owner of Atlus

Posted on September 18, 2013 by John Scalzo

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I guess Atlus is going to have to stop looking at themselves as “the little guy.” Index Corporation, the parent company of Atlus, has been acquired by Sega in an auction that was completed yesterday.

According to the acquisition contract, Sega is now the new owner of Atlus’ game catalog (including popular JRPGs like the Persona series and the larger Shin Megami Tensei series) as well as the new employer of the company’s nearly 400 employees. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but Bloomberg is estimating that Sega paid 14 billion yen ($141.5 million) for Atlus.

Atlus will be run by a new division within Sega known as Sega Dream Corporation and the acquisition is expected to be finalized on November 1, 2013.

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Grand Theft Auto V, Capcom Fighting Evolution, more added to PS Store

Posted on September 18, 2013 by John Scalzo

grandtheftautov-box-largeGrand Theft Auto V fever has infected the PlayStation Network!

Rockstar’s open world game was added to the PlayStation Store last night along with three other titles: Hot Wheels: World’s Best Driver (PS3), Capcom Fighting Evolution (PS3), and Real Boxing (Vita).

More details on all of these games can be found after the break (though I trust you’re familiar with GTA5) and a full list of this week’s new game add-ons and bonuses (including the addition of Ico HD and GTA: Liberty City Stories to the PS Plus Instant Game Collection) can be found at the PlayStation Blog.

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Posted in News, PS3, Vita | Tagged

Metro: Last Light Developer Pack now available

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Zackery Cote

metrolastlight-developerpackUpon its release, Deep Silver offered a Season Pass that would give players a discount Metro: Last Light‘s four DLC packs. Those who have been following the game have already seen the Factions Pack and the Tower Pack, but as of yesterday, Deep Silver has announced the official release of the third DLC pack, the Developer Pack. Unlike the previous two packs, which focused mainly on Last Light’s extended universe, the Developer Pack takes a more in-depth approach to the game itself by including various different options to play around with the game’s assets.

The Developer pack includes a shooting range, which allows players to experiment with every gun and attachment combination in the game. The Shooting Range comes with unique marksman challenges for every weapon which players can complete to prove their prowess. In addition to the Shooting Range, the Developer Pack features an AI Arena, which allows players to create squads of human soldiers and mutants and have them battle against one another. Players must customize their squads perfectly to complete the several challenges in the AI Arena. The pack also boasts the “Metro Museum,” which allows players to get up close and personal looks at each and every character and model in Metro: Last Light. Finally, the Developer Pack will feature an original solo mission called “The Spider’s Nest” that will chill the bones of arachnophobes everywhere. With nothing but their wits, a lighter, a torch, and the newly added Flamethrower, players must do their best to escape from spider-infested catacombs. The Developer Pack is available now on Steam, Xbox Live, and the Playstation Network for $3.99 / £3.19 / €3.99.

The final DLC pack for Metro: Last Light, the Chronicles Pack, will be available later in the month and will feature three original single-player missions.

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