Loading ...Sure, there might be some minor graphical differences between these two versions of Mercs 2, but we don’t see anything huge from where we’re sitting. We understand that some of our readers will be looking through every frame of this video for the minute differences that will allow them to claim victory for one console over the other however, so we like to put it out there for them.
Let us know if you find anything will ya’?
Here’s a rumor that’ll make you read on past the headline. OXM is reporting (in their October issue’s rumor section) that Gearbox Software, the company that ported Halo to the PC, will be developing the fourth installment of the Halo series. Allegedly, the title is going to be released as a launch title for Microsoft’s next console (please call it the Xbox 720!).
But wait, there’s more! A second rumor has surfaced today regarding Gearbox’s possible handling of a Halo game, this time from Variety. According to Variety’s Ben Fritz, a reliable source revealed that while no deal is currently in place, Gearbox has definitely been talking to Microsoft about developing some sort of Halo title.
While it is a little shocking to hear that a core Halo game could be developed by a studio other than Bungie, this rumor really isn’t that hard to believe. Bungie has hinted that they are interested in moving past Halo, and Gearbox does have some experience in working with the brand. Don’t count on hearing much more than the standard ‘We do not comment on rumors or speculation’ statement from Microsoft anytime soon though. In fact, you should probably just expect this story to stay a rumor for a long, long, while.
Here is the artwork that will grace the cover of Ensemble’s upcoming Halo themed RTS:
Halo Wars will be set before the events of Halo 1, and will allow players to lead UNSC forces into battle against covenent legions from a command perspective. The game is scheduled to hit the Xbox 360 later this year and will feature unique RTS controls built from the ground up for the 360’s gamepad.
[Via Gamerscore Blog]
Bad news for gamers who were planning on blasting zombies come this Nov. 4th: Valve’s severed undead limbfest has been pushed back until Nov. 20th. Valve has not given an official reason for the game’s two week delay, but we’re guessing that it has something to do with all those other blockbuster titles which will be coming out around the time of Left 4 Dead’s original ship date (see Fallout 3 and Gears of War 2).
Interestingly, this delay places Left 4 Dead’s launch on the same day as Half Life’s 10th birthday. I guess playing one of the most highly anticipated games of the year is as good a way to celebrate as any!
(6 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)Here are this week’s shownotes:
Pat’s Twitter: sgtspade // Ali’s Twitter: blackrabbit
Music featured on the Rotpod Podcast is provided by The Podsafe Music Network.
Intro Song: AudioUK - West School Mitch
Outro Song: Darkeye - Something’s Wrong
Bandwidth provided by podOmatic.
(5 votes, average: 4.2 out of 5)Sonic has had a bit of trouble reaching out to gamers over the past few years. Ever since Sonic the Hedgehog hit next gen consoles, fans have been starting to wonder if their favorite speedy blue critter still has what it takes to be in a game that’s, well, fun.
Well forget about the past people, because Sonic looks to be on course for a major comeback. The above trailer shows off the touch centric real time combat system that will be featured in Bioware’s upcoming Sonic Chronicles RPG, and it’s looking pretty promising. Between this and Sonic Unleashed our little blue friend might just be able to redeem himself.
Wipeout HD will be speeding onto the PS3 later this year. The visuals are looking very impressive, but the above trailer really emphasises the game’s sense of extreme speed over all else. This is definitely one of the PS3 titles that you’ll want to keep an eye on in Q4.
Bethesda has been hard at work on the latest installment of the Fallout series, but fans have been eagerly anticipating the title since long before development even began. Thankfully, the Fallout faithful will not have to wait much longer to get their hands on Bethsoft’s newest RPG, as Fallout 3 will be hitting store shelves in North America on October 28th of this year. Our friends across the pond shouldn’t worry too much about having to wait on this one either, as the game will be launching on October 31st in Europe.
Bethesda is promising a larger-than-life launch for this title, so don’t be surprised if you see a picture of Pip-Boy on a bottle of Soda or something. Now why does that sound familiar?
World of Warcraft is known for its extremely cinematic CG intros, and Lich King’s opening scene is no exception. While World of Warcraft players will probably get a lot more out of this than a bystander like me, its still nice to look at all of the pretty colors. And huge armies. And winged dragon-like ice creatures.
Erm, just watch the video embedded above.
It seems as if video game retailers may not be as affected by the recession as other entertainment industries; some very convincing evidence for this statement can be found in Gamestop’s quarterly earnings report that was released today. Gamestop raked in a record $57.2 million in profit from a gross income of $1.8 billion in the second quarter of 2008. Compared with the situation a year ago, when Gamestop made $21.8 million in profit from $1.4 billion gross revenue, it is surprising. That is a 162% yearly increase in profit and a 38% increase in revenue. This is quite an accomplishment in today’s economy, and a good sign for video games making a place in mainstream entertainment. Gamestop cited GTA IV, MGS4, NCAA ‘09, Wii Fit, and Battlefield: BC as the top 5 sellers in the quarter, in that order, also noting that GTA IV’s first five days of release were out of the quarter. Things can only go up in the second half of the year with major blockbusters like Gears of War 2, Rock Band 2, Fable 2, Guitar Hero: World Tour, Call of Duty: World at War, Fallout 3, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and many more set for release.
There has been a lot of hype surrounding the Sims 3. Firstly, the game will be a sequel to two of the most popular PC games of all time. Secondly, the Sims has always been innovative, and this game should be no different. Thirdly, the Sims has always been the type of game that appeals to all audiences, so it is no surprise that everyone is excited for it. Fourthly, who doesn’t want a shiny new Sims game?
Well, people, I am happy to tell you that the Sims 3, being developed and published by Electronic Arts, has a release date! On February 20, 2009, all of you die-hard Sims fans can torture your new Sims by burning or drowning them. Isn’t that what everyone does?
Long after the introduction of the Xbox 360 Chatpad, Sony has finally unveiled its answer to Microsoft’s controller keyboard attachment. The Playstation Keypad, announced yesterday at Leipzig, is a full QWERTY keyboard that clips on to the top Playstation 3 Controller. The Keypad features a small touchpad as well, which can be used when surfing the web. There is also a possibility that the touchpad will be used in future games, but only time will tell. The keypad’s priority, however, is to make communication and navigation easier in Playstation Home.
The only downside that I see to this attachment so far is that it clips at the top of the controller, rather than the bottom. There is a possibility that this layout can make typing uncomfortable, but it is hard to tell without getting a hands-on trial.
We can’t wait for this one to hit the Xbox 360 and PS3 later this year.
It looks like Microsoft has finally given us a release window for the first episode of the Xbox 360 exclusive DLC that we were promised long ago. In a statement made to IGN at Leipzig, a Microsoft rep confirmed that we would be able to get our hands on some downloadable episodic goodness this fall.
“In autumn there will be news from Liberty City; the first episodes of GTA IV will be available for download exclusively on Xbox LIVE, underlining Xbox 360’s leadership role in the field of digital entertainment.”
We don’t have a date yet, but as autumn gets closer, our excitement for the release of this DLC will likely go through the roof. Let’s just hope there are no more delays after a hint like this.
The above demo, shown during SCEE’s Games Convention press event today, gives us a first look at Heavy Rain’s horror movie-esque gameplay. The game is due to hit the Playstation 3 sometime in 2009, and seems to be coming along very nicely for a title that we haven’t heard much about since E3 ‘06. The scary look and feel of a big budget horror film is carried over very nicely into this title, and the graphics are about as crisp as any other title that we’ve seen on the platform.
The rumored Playstation button has been confirmed true as pictures of the PSP 3000 begin to surface. The button is said to simply act like a guide button and will bring up the X-cross media bar in-game and in-movie. This is an interesting feature for the PSP, but definitely not a huge advancement that will displace the DS as the leader in the market. Check out more pics after the break.
Continue reading ‘Leipzig ‘08: PSP 3000 to Feature a Playstation Button’
The internet has been abuzz these past few weeks with rumors of a new PSP. Some said it might solve the oil crisis, others said it could change the course of history, and others said it would just include a built-in mic. The last would prove to be the closest and who would have guessed that?
Sony announced the PSP 3000 today at Leipzig. The new PSP will look identical to the PSP 2000, but will have two new features: a built-in microphone for use with Skype and Go Messenger, and a better LCD screen with more vibrant colors and less glare. The system is set to launch in Europe on October 15th for 199 euros, while the PSP 2000 will fall to 169 euros. The system will be available as parts of various single-game bundles with games like FIFA ‘09, Harry Potter, Buzz! Quiz Master and others.
There is no word on US details, but we should except them very soon.
Update: Sony has confirmed that the PSP 3000 will be hitting North American shores on October 14th. A PSP core pack will be available alongside the single-game bundles, which will include a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo and a PSN download code for Everyday shooter.
Upon hearing Sony announce that all PS3 drum and guitar controllers would work for every music game on the platform, Microsoft was quick to assure Xbox 360 rockers that their versions of the game would be getting the same treatment. The confirmation came today via a post on the the Gamerscore Blog, so 360 gamers can rest assured that the cross compatability issue is all worked out on their console of choice as well.
Looks like we won’t have any problems at all this time around.
Many people have been writing off PC gaming as slowly nearing death and being replaced by console gaming. But there are still some definite signs of life, mainly in the fast growing Asian markets. At Leipzig, PC Gaming Alliance released their report on PC Gaming revenues and it was pretty big. PC Gaming brought in a total of 10.7 billion dollars worldwide last year with a heavy influence on the Asian markets, which alone brought in 4.8 billion dollars. Retail sales saw a slight decline, but online sales, for such things as MMOs, were up and showed signs of strong growth. MMOs seem to be a constant growing factor for PC gaming and shows no sign of slowing down. Another big factor was the increasingly popular casual games market, which gains a lot of revenue from in-game advertising.
So who said PC gaming was dead?
In an exclusive interview with Official Xbox Magazine, Silicon Knights founder Denis Dyack has claimed that those who are bashing Too Human are doing so because they just don’t understand it. According to Dyack, the game’s demo had a pretty positive reception overall, and the people who don’t like it just don’t get what it’s all about.
“What we’re also seeing is for the people who don’t like it, generally just don’t get it. And it’s because we’ve created something so innovative and different. It’s ironic, it just shows that human nature of if you don’t understand something, you immediately attack it. It’s pretty interesting in that regard.”
Well played Mr. Dyack. I suppose the game’s extremely mixed reviews are a result of a complete lack of understanding by some of the top gaming critics too.
What about our readers? Do you guys understand how innovative and unique Too Human is, or are you in the dark with the likes of GameSpot and 1UP?
