Leaked Forza 4 gameplay video is real, says Microsoft

Posted on April 3, 2011 by John Scalzo

Forza Motorsport 4, with some neat Kinect-based features, was first shown off at last year’s E3 expo. Yesterday, April 1st, a new video showcasing some gameplay footage and more of the Kinect motion controls leaked onto the Internet. Microsoft could have passed the whole thing off as an April Fools’ Day hoax, but instead, they confirmed to CVG that the whole thing is real:

“The video in question was not intended for public distribution and may not accurately reflect features and functionality that ship in Forza Motorsport 4. We will have more to share on Forza Motorsport 4 in the near future.”

Just a guess, but I bet that “near future” reveal will be at E3 2011.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Capcom, Namco won’t interfere with the other’s Street Fighter/Tekken crossover game

Posted on April 3, 2011 by John Scalzo

While Street Fighter vs Mortal Kombat is still just a pipe dream of teenagers from the 90s, Capcom and Namco Bandai are moving full speed ahead with their Street Fighter and Tekken throwdowns.

But if you were worried that making two separate games based on the battle would be overkill, fear not, because apparently the two publishers have agreed not to interfere with anything the other does with one of their most sacred franchises. Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono recently sat down with The Guardian to promote Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition and delivered the news in the awesome way that only he can:

When we first decided to go ahead with this project we agreed not to interfere with each other at all! So Namco Bandai has no say in anything we do in Street Fighter X Tekken and vice versa for Tekken X Street Fighter – we have no idea what that’s going to look like and we cannot object to whatever Namco does!

If they go down the Dead or Alive route and Chun-Li comes out rather sexy, we STILL can’t say anything!

This news was already awesome, but Ono’s example showing just how much freedom each developer has in developing their “X” game is something you rarely see in inter-company crossovers.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Jane McGonigal hosting “Find the Future” at New York Public Library

Posted on April 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

If you’ve ever wanted to pretend their was something strange in the New York Public Library, then PAX East 2011 keynote speaker Jane McGonigal has an alternate reality game for you.

The author and ARG designer will be spearheading “Find The Future” at the NYPL on May 20th. The event will honor the 100th birthday of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (yes, the one flanked by the big lions) by having gamers descend on the stacks in a scavenger hunt of great importance. If you want to participate in the event, you have to register at the NYPL’s website and be one of the 500 lucky players chosen by McGonigal and her team.

If you’re selected, you’ll be able to explore the collections of the Schwarzman Building on the night of May 20th and complete quests sent to you via mobile device. A completed quest will not include a treasure chest of immense wealth, but a QR Code that must be scanned to prove you solved the puzzle. According to Gamasutra, “the quests will also ask the players to consider literature and write pieces that will eventually be collected into a book that will go on display at the library.” If you’re not picked, fret not, for an online version of the “Find the Future” game will be available as well.

“Like every game I make, it has one goal: to turn players into super-empowered, hopeful individuals with real skills and ideas to help them change the world,” McGonigal said.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

BloodRayne: Betrayal goes 2D on PSN, XBLA this Summer

Posted on April 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

Even Uwe Boll can’t kill the BloodRayne franchise (maybe it helps that Rayne is already undead). Majesco has announced that they’ve teamed up with WayForward (the developers of Contra 4 and Shantae: Risky’s Revenge) to resurrect the Nazi-killing vampire in BloodRayne: Betrayal.

Instead of the 3D action titles of olde, WayForward will be bringing BloodRayne: Betrayal to the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade as a 2D side-scrolling hack ‘n slash. In what’s described as her “final mission,” the half-vampire teams up with a group of slayers to “stop an evil vampire massacre.” So is Majesco saying there are good vampire massacres? Hmm…

Betrayal will “[introduce] new characters and gruesome environmental puzzles” as well as include a “full arsenal of lethal weapons” in its quest for bloody vampire action. The game will also likely include co-op play as Rayne is said to team up with “a mysterious new friend” on her mission.

BloodRayne: Betrayal will be available to download this Summer.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

First Saints Row: The Third gameplay trailer

Posted on April 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

Above, you’ll find the first 2.7 seconds of gameplay footage from Saints Row: The Third. Hopefully, THQ and Volition plan to release more information about the game, which is scheduled for a Holiday 2011 release on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, soon.

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

New Releases: Karaoke Revolution Glee 2, Carnival Games Kinect, Super Meat Boy, More

Posted on April 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

If March was a mad month for new game releases, then you can be forgiven if you didn’t realize April was dead on arrival as big releases are few and far between in the fourth month of the year.

Let’s see…

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

Press Start to Continue →

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

April Fools’ Day Watch 2011

Posted on April 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

April Fools’ Day 2011 is nearing it’s end and we’ve already highlighted some of our favorites, but hit the jump for a quick rundown of more gags, pranks, jokes and hoaxes that the game industry played on unsuspecting gamers this year.

And don’t forget this year’s greatest non-prank, the 100% real feces flinging in Duke Nukem Forever. Also, check out our real rumor report on The Undead States of America.

Did we forget your favorite? We’ll update this post throughout the rest of the day and let us know what we missed in the comments.

Press Start to Continue →

Posted in News |

Daily Scoop: April 1, 2011 – April Fools’ Day!

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Nicole Kline

It’s April Fools’ Day, and that means that ridiculous rumors and hilarious videos abound. This is happening all over the Internet, but the video game spoofs are especially close to our hearts. (So far, my personal favorite is the Killzone 3 special edition with fully cloaked sniper figure and rap CD soundtrack.) Speaking of awesome rumors, did you hear about Activision’s new game, The Undead States of America?

Today’s Amazon Deal of the Day in video games is a real thing: South Peak Interactive’s Two Worlds 2 is $37.99 today for the PS3 and Xbox 360. This game boasts “Various ways of moving, like walking, running, sprinting, riding, swimming, sailing and teleporting.” Really? Walking??? I’m buying this game right now.

The only other exciting thing to announce today is what’s for sale at Think Geek: stuff for smart asses. The Angry Birds Pork Rinds look pretty tasty, as do the Edible Gummy iPhone Cases. What I really want is a Bonsai Kitty Plush:

That one kind of looks like my kitty, whose name is actually Puppycat, because he thinks he’s a dog. Come to think of it, his birthday is today, so maybe I could get him one of those! To remind him what happens to bad kitties who hork on the carpet.

Posted in Daily Scoop |