Daily Wrap-Up 4.7.08
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, April 07, 2008 6:01 PM
Here's what went down today in the world of videogames, technology, and popular culture!
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TAGS: Daily Wrap-Up, Videos
X-Play Gaming Update 04.07.08
Posted by Jonathan Hunt - Monday, April 07, 2008 5:13 PM
Today, Adam brings you the latest in gaming news, including EA's new peripheral deal, Fallout 3, and Playstation Network games get hacked.
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TAGS: G4, Nintendo DS, PC Gaming
'Major League Eating' Giving Away Food
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, April 07, 2008 4:46 PM
 The new Wii game, Major League Eating, brought to you by the kind folks over at Mastiff, is getting a little extra promotion in the form of a weekly drawing for free food. If there's one thing my friend Steve "Dog" Monell used to say, it's "there's no food quite like food you win as part of a videogame promotion and/or drawing," and I think he's right.
Over the course of the next 12 weeks, Mastiff will choose one of the 12 foods in the game and give away gift certificates in drawings for that specific food. You don't even have to own a Wii to be eligible, you just have to go to the game's website, and it's all good.
Is there anything that competitive eating doesn't make better? We think not.
Major League Eating: The Game
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TAGS: Videogames, Wii
Job Posting Hints 'Bioshock 2' On PS3
Posted by Patrick Roche-Sowa - Monday, April 07, 2008 4:29 PM
WIth the announcement of Bioshock 2 being in development at 2K Marin Studios, the inter-nerds and fanboys are keeping a watchful eye on anything to do with 2K or the inevitable sequel. Thanks to a handful of job postings on Gamasutra, one could possibly deduce that Bioshock 2 will have a multi-platform release, and at the very least on the PS3.
The key here is that the job posting list Bioshock 2 as a multi-platform game, listing Xbox 360, PS3, and the Wii as the platforms it will release on. This doesn't offer much, if any information since it could just be a default for the company to list all consoles as to not raise suspicion. However, the position of "Senior Designer" specifically states that experience working with the Playstation 3 console is required. Many people are pointing to this as proof that the Bioshock series will not continue as an Xbox 360 exclusive.
Oh, and just in case that wasn't enough speculation for you, the job posting for rigger/animator states "You will assist in creating the thousands of animations required to make the world of Rapture compelling and richly layered..." So at least we know none of us will be playing Bioshock 2: Tokyo Drift.
ShackNews: Bioshock 2 Job Listings Suggest PS3, Xbox 360 Editions, Drop Small Story Tidbit
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TAGS: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Xbox 360
Anime Expose: 'Death Note'
Posted by Courtney Kraft - Monday, April 07, 2008 3:45 PM
This exposé is brought to you by the letter L.
Death Note is quite possibly the hottest anime title on the streets right now. We'll review the manga down the road, but for now, let’s talk about the anime. The series comes in 37 episodes which, in our opinion, is five episodes too long. We could have done without 27-31. We've seen up through episode 32 because that’s all we can legally get our hands on because that's all that's out.
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TAGS: Comics
Free 'Kane And Lynch' DLC Coming
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, April 07, 2008 3:44 PM
Remember a few month ago, when America fell in love Kane and Lynch, that two-player, anti-heroic crime game featuring the two most beloved videogame characters since Sonic the Hedgedog and Super Narnia? We're sure you've played through the game's levels at least 14 times by now, so it's with great happiness we announce new, downloadable Kane and Lynch multiplayer content for you to enjoy. For free.
Set to be released on the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace on April 17, The Dope Bag map pack will feature four Fragile Alliance multiplayer maps, each with its own objective.
Here's what Adam and Morgan thought about the game.
ShackNews: Free Kane & Lynch Console DLC Due April 17
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TAGS: PC Gaming, PlayStation 3, Videogames
Yahoo Responds To M'Soft Offer
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, April 07, 2008 3:38 PM
Earlier, we reported that Microsoft has sent Yahoo's board an open letter. To paraphrase: "The buyout offer we made is more than generous. This is an offer you cannot refuse, or we will take it directly to your stockholders."
Yahoo's response is under the cut:
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TAGS: Internets Culture, Other People's Misfortune, Tech
Jeremy Soule Talks Music And Games With X-Play
Posted by Justin Fassino - Monday, April 07, 2008 2:55 PM
 You may have heard of Jeremy Soule; he's one of the most prolific musical composers around the video game industry. His resume reads like an all-star list: Guild Wars, Morrowind, Oblivion, Company of Heroes, Supreme Commander, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Secret of Evermore, and the list goes on. As a veteran to the orchestral composition scene, Soule has worked with some of the biggest developers and publishers while crafting original scores that accent and highlight fantasy realms and sci-fi battlegrounds.
He won the inaugural MTV Video Music Award for Best Video Game Score for his work on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and is still the only American-born composer to ever work on a Squaresoft game. Hit the break to read X-Play's exclusive interview with the man himself: Jeremy Soule.
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TAGS: Music, Videogames
Pokemon Battles Pirates
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, April 07, 2008 2:48 PM
If you had to take bets, who would you pick: Pokemon or Pirates?
We say pirates, hands down, but the obvious imbalance in power isn't stopping Pokémon USA, Inc. The "worldwide leader in trading card games" announced the results of recent anti-piracy actions taken in cooperation with Nintendo of America Inc. to combat the production and distribution of counterfeit Pokémon Trading Card Game products.
On March 26, law enforcement officials in New York raided seven stores known to be selling fraudulent Pokémon Trading Card Game merchandise. Thousands of products were seized and several arrests were made. In early April, one action at a production facility in China secured nearly 1.2 million counterfeit cards and investigations continue. We all feel much safer now.
“Pokémon wants to send a message to importers and producers that we will not stand for the distribution of fraudulent Pokémon product,” says Pokémon spokesperson, J.C. Smith. “Pokémon is committed to ensuring our fans receive the quality product they've come to expect.”
"Arrr, me hearties! Stow the missenmast and set sail for the Cape of Good Hope!" Pirates responded, then everyone had a laugh over the "poop deck."
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TAGS: Other People's Misfortune, Videogames
'Guitar Hero 3' Mono Sound Case Closed
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, April 07, 2008 2:29 PM
 The lawsuit filed over the mono sound in Guitar Hero 3 has been dismissed, and Activision has been cleared of wrongdoing. If you haven't heard, the game originally shipped in mono sound, but has since been cleared up and replacement discs have been offered to those who were offended by the mistake.
This program will remain in place until late August, and Activision is also giving custom face plates to those who participate. In short, a big ol' "no harm, no foul" has been placed on the situation, and Activision, by placing their collective tail between their legs, is avoiding any sort of penalty. Everyone's happy.
Next Generation: Guitar Hero III Mono Case Dismissed
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TAGS: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Wii
'Rock Band' Head-To-Head Video
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, April 07, 2008 2:23 PM
To celebrate the release of standalone Rock Band drums and guitars, Harmonix has compiled a trailer of what a head-to-head, local match looks like.
Check it out:
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TAGS: Music, PlayStation 3, Videogames
Xbox Copying Wii-Mote?
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, April 07, 2008 2:13 PM
We'd think this was a joke if the calendar was back a few days, but it looks like Microsoft is copying the Wii exactly with a new motion sensing, rectangular controller and cutesy avatars.
According to MTV's unnamed "sources," the Microsoft wii-mote has been in development since summer:
"The controller itself isn't much different in functionality or design from Nintendo's Wii remote, but comes with four face buttons, an analog stick and microphone. There are also plans for the controller to interact with the Xbox Live Vision Camera, the source said.
Not content to just ape the Wii, M'Soft wants to improve it:
Microsoft's controller isn't just a response to "Wii Sports"; it's slightly more ambitious. "They want the usual assortment of 'Halo'/ 'Gears'/ 'Forza'/ whatever, just in waggle form," our source told us. Such idea-generation has not gone smoothly. "The whole thing is a colossal clusterf---," the source said. "[Microsoft] marketing just want it so they can match the Wii point for point. The biggest parts of their marketing materials outline how easy it would be for third parties to port their Wii games to the 360."
They are also reportedly going to copy the Mii concept and allow for customizable avatars that will be playable in-game.
Click the cut for an MS-Paint-style drawing of what the thing will look like. (SPOILER: it's a Wii-mote with a couple more buttons.)
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TAGS: Wii, Xbox 360
Rock Band Tour Hits The Road
Posted by Frank Meyer - Monday, April 07, 2008 2:09 PM
MTV Games, Rock Band and MTV2 are teaming up to sponsor a Rock Band tour featuring alt-rock bands Seether (right) and Flyleaf.
Kicking off in Denver, CO April 8 and rockin’ through May 21, fans that attend the Seether and Flyleaf tour will be given the chance to play against the band members on Rock Band. Local competitions will be held at each tour location where several contest winners will be given the chance to receive copies of the game, create a hot MTV2 video playlist as well as co-host Saturday Rock the Deuce on MTV2 with the bands.
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TAGS: Music, PlayStation 3, Videogames
Charlie Daniels Hates Guitar Hero
Posted by Frank Meyer - Monday, April 07, 2008 2:00 PM
 Outlaw country legend Charlie Daniels, he of “Devil Went Down To Georgia” fame, recently posted an open letter to his fans on his website professing his hatred for Guitar Hero, a game his song is featured in.
Here’s what he wrote:
I had a rude awakening recently when I looked at a video game.
It was called Guitar Hero and is wildly popular with the younger set. I heard they had used one of my songs but I hadn't seen it until recently and when I did I was in for some unpleasant surprises.
The game features a rock band playing heavy metal covers of different songs and enables the player to become part of the band, pushing colored buttons on a faux guitar neck which correspond with colors going by on the screen as the song plays.
Actually the game really has a dark side complete with grotesque monsters on stage with the band, strange, eerie lighting effects and all manner of weird things popping up on the stage.
To tell you the truth the whole thing bothered me and struck me as something that is not the healthiest thing in the world for young, impressionable minds to be exposed to, but the thing that really got me was what they had done with my song.
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TAGS: Music, PlayStation 3, Wii
GameStop Offers $10 'Mario Kart?'
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, April 07, 2008 1:56 PM
According to a post from Kotaku (via Cheap Ass Gamer Forums via NeoGAF via DigitalBattle), GameStop may be selling Mario Kart for the Wii in exchange for $10 and two Wii titles. Sadly, not just any Wii titles, so you won't be able to rid yourself of Ninjabread Man and Bee Movie. You have to part with more salable games. Still, great deal, as some of the games have been out for awhile and are most likely gathering dust on your shelves anyway.
The list is under the cut.
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TAGS: Videogames, Wii
PlayStation Store DRM Hacked
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, April 07, 2008 1:53 PM
A new utility called NPDectyptor makes it possible for users to play games like flOw and Beats on multiple Sony PSPs, essentially breaking the DRM on the games downloaded from the PlayStation Store. The utility has been developed by CipherUpdate, and is apparently pretty effective.
Now you know.
And knowing is half the battle.
eXophase.com: PlayStation Store DRM Broken
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TAGS: Sony PSP, Videogames
Orlando Bloom Plays Prince…Of Persia
Posted by Frank Meyer - Monday, April 07, 2008 1:43 PM
 Dreamy Orlando Bloom just scored the lead in Disney's upcoming big screen Prince of Persia trilogy.
In a deal reportedly worth $40 million, the 31-year-old Pirates of the Caribbean is set to star as the prince himself in the big-screen adaptation of the popular computer game Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
The first movie in the trilogy will be directed by Jerry Bruckheimer, and is due to begin filming in July in Morocco.
Bloom allegedly beat High School Musical’s Zac Efron for the role. I only wish he had actually beat Zac Efron…with his fists!
Hollywood.com: Orlando Bloom to Be 'Prince' in Multimillion-Dollar Disney Deal
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TAGS: Movies, Videos
Stephen King Fights For Your Rights
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, April 07, 2008 1:36 PM
 Stephen King is pretty much the monarch of New England, so his opinions are consistently solicited when it comes to things that might happen in that region. So, when asked about a bill that would restrict videogames in Massachusetts in a way similar to porn, he lashed out at the people who would suggest such a thing.
Not that King's all that into videogames, but he points out the inherent hypocrisy in the idea that kids can go to the movies and watch films like Hostel, but they won't be able to go to GameStop and buy GTA IV. Then, he talks about how more needs to be done to address the culture of violence as opposed to putting a band-aid on a perceived problem.
Pretty wise, that Stephen King.
CVG: Stephen King hits out at anti-videogame bill
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TAGS: Movies, Videogames
Sony To Shove Blu-Ray In TVs?
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, April 07, 2008 1:22 PM
According to Sony's Ryoji Chubachi, Sony plans to sell TVs equipped with recordable Blu Ray players. He says Sony is hoping to "increase the global market share of its BD products from 20-percent currently to 50-percent by the end of 2008." Apparently, they plan to do it by packing LCD HDTVs with recordable Blu Rays.
Not too shabby: You could concievably cut out the need for a TiVo with some Blu Ray discs and save yourself a monthly fee.
Engadet: Sony looking to stuff Blu-ray recorders in select LCD HDTVs?
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TAGS: Movies, Tech, TV
'Force Unleashed' Developers Diary Live
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, April 07, 2008 1:06 PM
We're waiting for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed like a career drinker waiting on a new liver. If this game is only 1/8 as cool as we think it will be, it will be twice as cool as a Fonzie.
Check out this developers diary and catch The Force fever with us. The game come out across platform on September 16th.
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TAGS: Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Sony PSP
Teenage Zombies Help Troubled Youngsters
Posted by Ty Colfax - Monday, April 07, 2008 12:33 PM
The release of Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys for the Nintendo DS is most eminent. As part of the promotion process, there will be a launch party on April 12 at Nintendo WORLD in New York City and Ignition Entertainment has partnered with Big Bothers Big Sisters of NYC.
You know the old joke of putting "in bed" at the end of a fortune cookie. It's funny about 98% of the time. Well, we'd like to put "with zombies" at the end of some quotes from their press release to enhance your news experience.
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TAGS: Nintendo DS, Videogames
Hudson Boosts Profits By Making Wii Games
Posted by Patrick Roche-Sowa - Monday, April 07, 2008 12:02 PM
 Hudson Soft Co., a Japenese developer controlled by Konami, is predicting that their profit margin will increase by four times it's current level in the next three years. Hudson claims it can predict this because it plans to focus on developing games for the NIntendo Wii, a console which outsold the PS3 in Japan by a 3 to 1 ratio. WIth 10 Wii titles already under their belt, Hudson also plans to release 8 more in 2008 to continue the success they have had so far developing for Nintendo's little white box. Let's just hope none of that means another Bomberman game.
Bloomberg.com: Hudson sees profits to rise fourfold on Nintendo games.
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