Torchlight II hacks and slashes its way onto online stores on September 20

Posted on August 31, 2012 by John Scalzo

Two years after it was first announced, Runic Games is finally ready to announce a release date for Torchlight II. The dungeon-crawling RPG will be available to download from Runic Games, Steam, Perfect World, GamersGate, GameFly, and GameStop on September 20.

Runic Games’ CEO, Max Schaefer is particularly proud that the company could keep their promise of a Summer 2012 release: “We worked incredibly hard to make sure we could release Torchlight II before Summer’s official end. Development will continue right up until we ship, and we couldn’t be happier to be putting the finishing touches on a great game. We want to get it to the fans as quickly as possible. Honestly, we can’t wait.”

To celebrate the release date announcement (and today’s kickoff for PAX Prime), Runic has released a new trailer, which you can view above.

Posted in News, PC | Tagged ,

5 Video Game Characters Who Deserve a 3-Day Weekend

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Mike Ryan

Time to celebrate! Labor Day is this weekend! An American tradition since 1894, Labor Day rewards hard-working Americans with a well-deserved day off. To celebrate, many go on vacation, spend time with the family, or just relax at home and grill some burgers. While those of us in the real world get to take advantage of this national holiday, one can’t help but think of those poor characters in video games who break their backs day in and day out, and don’t get the luxury of having a Labor Day to benefit from. Therefore, I’ve compiled a list of five characters out in video game land who toil endlessly and take no time off for themselves. Relax, guys; you’ve earned it.

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Posted in Features, Top Story |

Brain Age: Devil Training comes to America on December 3

Posted on August 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

Dr. Kawashima returned to the Brain Age series in Japan last month with Brain Age: Devil Training, a 3DS game that casts the good doctor as a demonic taskmaster… for your brain!

For all us Americans who want to train our brains, we’re in luck. Nintendo has announced that the game will make its way across the Pacific, albeit with a new title, this December. The game will be released in America as Brain Age: Concentration Training and it’ll be available in stores on December 3.

So sayeth the Nintendo of America Twitter feed:

I really hope Devil Dr. Kawashima makes it to America. Look at him, he’s evil and adorable at the same time!

Posted in News | Tagged ,

Metal Gear Solid movie to be produced by Avi Arad

Posted on August 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

Hideo Kojima has always wanted to go Hollywood and it looks like he’ll finally get his chance as the acclaimed developer, film producer Avi Arad, and Columbia Pictures have announced an agreement to produce a movie based on the Metal Gear Solid series.

No other details about the film (such as a possible director, screenwriter, or casting preferences) were revealed.

[Source: Siliconera]

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Nintendo Download: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy demo, more

Posted on August 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

A demo for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is today’s big addition to the various Nintendo Download services. But if you’ve been tapping out Final Fantasy-style songs with your stylus for months, here’s what else the 3DS eShop and DSiWare Shop have to offer:

SpeedX 3D (3DS eShop) – SpeedX 3D is a stunning tunnel racer that tests players’ skill and transports them into a trance, filled with great electronic music and hypnotic graphics.

Toki Tori (3DS eShop) – In this Game Boy Color classic from 2001, you must keep a small, yellow chicken safe by avoiding monsters and traps while working out how to collect all the eggs in each level before time runs out.

Outdoors Unleashed: Africa 3D (3DS eShop) – Head into the deepest reaches of Africa, armed with your wits, your skills, and an array of high-powered weapons and accessories!

Escape the Virus: Shoot’em Up (DSiWare) – Escape the Virus, an action puzzle series, is back with totally new game-play modes.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News | Tagged

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes announced

Posted on August 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

It doesn’t have a “5” tacked onto its title, but Hideo Kojima has just announced the fifth major Metal Gear Solid game at a special 25th anniversary event in Japan. Officially known as Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes, the game will star a younger Solid Snake in an open-world game.

A short demo accompanied the announcement, showing Snake “avoiding searchlights, riding a jeep, and calling a helicopter in for evacuation.” All of this was also said to take place in the rain, a first for the series.

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is powered by Kojima Productions’ new Fox Engine, but it’s believed that the game will ship for current generation platforms (the PS3 and/or the Xbox 360) in addition to a possible PC version. However, that release date is obviously a closely guarded secret for now.

[Source: Siliconera]

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

GameStop to start selling retro games?

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Mike Ryan

Ever wonder what GameStop did with those old games you traded in back when you were a little kid? Well, it looks like they’ve been sitting on them, and now are getting ready to start selling them via the GameStop website.

Speaking to The Verge, GameStop CEO Paul Raines talked about their plans for those old cartridges and CDs:

“”We think there’s a vintage sales opportunity, so we’re accumulating some inventory. It’s a big idea, and there’s a few problems with it. The first one is sourcing the product, the condition, the refurbishment, all that stuff. But there’s a customer for it. And we’re working on some stuff we haven’t announced yet.”

“If you go to eBay and look at all of the gaming stuff that’s on there, it’s unbelievable. Collector’s stuff. We’ve got to be in that business. We will be.”

So what does this mean for us? Well, if GameStop’s recent Retro Game Vault deal is any indication, expect to pay an outrageous price for games you can find at your local garage sale for a few bucks.

Posted in News, Retro |

Two new LocoCycle trailers reveal gameplay, voice talent

Posted on August 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

We only got a glimpse of Twisted Pixel’s LocoCycle before Microsoft moved on to the next game, but now the wacky developer is ready to reveal a bit more about their game. The titular LocoCycle is actually named I.R.I.S., a sentient secret agent motorcycle with a built-in machine gun that also knows kung fu.

Yeah, it’s that kind of game.

You can check out the first gameplay trailer above and you can listen to voice actors Lisa Foiles (as I.R.I.S.) and Robert Patrick (as her pursuer, the evil motorcycle S.P.I.K.E.) do their thing after the break.

LocoCycle is still on track for a 2013 release, exclusively on the Xbox Live Arcade.

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Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged