Daily Wrap-Up 5.5.08
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, May 05, 2008 6:00 PM
Here's what went down today in the world of videogames, popular culture and technology!
- This week's Wii virtual console titles feature two fantastic games: Pokemon Puzzle League, originally available on the Nintendo 64 and NES classic beat-em-up Renegade.
- On Saturday, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer sent a letter officially withdrawing $46 billion bid for search engine Yahoo.
- Niko Bellic's biggest crime of all may be the slaying of the Nintendo Wii.
- Fans of Disturbed, you'll want to mosey on down to your local Best Buy and pre-order their new album, Indestructible. It comes with a code to download two of the tracks off of the new album to play in Rock Band.
- A lot of people bought GTA IV and a lot of people went and saw Iron Man this weekend.
- A Rock Band track pack is coming to the Wii and PS2.
- Iron Man cruised to a bruising box office win over the weekend,
- Valve's Doug Lombardi told CVG, "We're not PS3 developers."
--Read More--
Permalink
|
TAGS: Daily Wrap-Up
Olivia Stuffed With Sausage
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, May 05, 2008 5:35 PM
Next week, Olivia and Kevin are going to take each other on in a series of stunts that will force you to decide which of them are mas macho. That's next week. This week, we look up, and notice Olivia stuffed with big sausages...
You may thank us later.
Permalink
|
'Bourne Conspiracy' Embassy Gameplay
Posted by Brian Leahy - Monday, May 05, 2008 4:28 PM
The demo for Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy landed on Xbox Live Marketplace today and we took a run through it today.
See if you can beat my time for escaping. I bet you can.
Permalink
|
TAGS: G4 Web Exclusive, PlayStation 3, Videogames
Midway Loses $34 Million
Posted by Brian Leahy - Monday, May 05, 2008 3:48 PM
 Midway posted first quarter losses of a whopping $34 million. This is mostly because they only released one game in the US during the period, which was the Stranglehold DLC Pack... yeah.
There were a couple European releases, which can be summed up as: games that already failed to sell a lot of copies in the US.
They hope to turn things around with such releases as Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe and Unreal Tournament III for the Xbox 360.
Good luck, Midway. Too bad you don't get to publish Gears of War for Epic. Instead, you just got UT. So sad.
(I love that picture)
Kotaku: Midway Sees $34 Million Loss in First Quarter
Permalink
|
TAGS: Other People's Misfortune, Videogames
Nugget From The Net: 'GTH IV'
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, May 05, 2008 2:58 PM
Attack of the Show segment producer Luke Wahl snapped these Obama-centric Grand Theft Auto IV ad re-mixes on the streets of Los Angeles...
--Read More--
Permalink
|
TAGS: Grand Theft Auto IV, Nuggets From The Nets, Videogames
'Dark Knight' Trailer Madness
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, May 05, 2008 2:38 PM
Have you seen the new Dark Knight trailer? I think you want to take a few minutes and do just that. Seriously...it's ridonkulous.
Then, when you're finished, check out this excellent breakdown of all the trailers most important points by Batman expert and friend of TheFeed Eric Alt.
Permalink
|
TAGS: Movies
Gamefly's Weekly Rental Chart
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, May 05, 2008 2:30 PM
Want to know what the most requested games at gamefly are for the week ending May 5th? It's right below:
Cross Platform:
1 Grand Theft Auto IV Xbox 360 Action Adventure Take Two
2 Iron Man Xbox 360 Action Adventure Sega
3 Grand Theft Auto IV PlayStation 3 Action Adventure Take Two
4 Mario Kart Wii Wii Racing Nintendo
5 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Xbox 360 Shooter Ubisoft
6 Dark Sector Xbox 360 Shooter D3P
7 Iron Man PlayStation 3 Action Adventure Sega
8 Army of Two Xbox 360 Shooter Electronic Arts
9 Viking: Battle for Asgard Xbox 360 Action Adventure Sega
10 Ninja Gaiden 2 Xbox 360 Action Adventure Microsoft
Click the cut for the console by console look.
--Read More--
Permalink
|
TAGS: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Wii
Guitar Hero Aerosmith Gets Slurped!
Posted by Frank Meyer - Monday, May 05, 2008 1:30 PM
The folks behind Guitar Hero: Aerosmith are teaming up with 7-11 for a Slurptastic promotional campaign for the rockin’ game to be rolled out this month.
Yes, Activision, Microsoft and Coca-Cola have united with 7-11 to launch Full Throttle Frozen Blast Slurpees, which are made with Coca-Cola's energy drink Full Throttle. Characters from the game, which features not only the music of Aerosmith but other Aero-aligned rockin’ acts such as Mott the Hoople and Cheap Trick, will appear on Slurpee cups. Plus, a slurpee.com contest will let users upload codes from the Full Throttle Frozen Blast Slurpee cups for a chance to win a copy of the game and points.
--Read More--
Permalink
|
TAGS: Internets Culture, Music
'Prototype' Delayed to 2009
Posted by Brian Leahy - Monday, May 05, 2008 12:36 PM
We were really looking forward to Prototype, but we'll have to wait a bit longer to get our hands on the game. It just slipped from a 2008 to 2009 release window.
The delay was confirmed by Sierra Entertainment, the publishers of the game, which will give developers, Radical Entertainment, more time to complete the title.
Check out X-Play's exclusive hands-on here:
Permalink
|
TAGS: PC Gaming, PlayStation 3, Videogames
Capcom Expands 'Rocketmen'
Posted by Brian Leahy - Monday, May 05, 2008 12:18 PM
The downloadable game Rocketmen: Axis of Evil is getting an expansion pack called, It Came From Uranus. LOL.
The pack will feature... pffft, hold on. I'm still holding my sides from that hilarious title. I don't even know if I can finish this article because I'm laughing so hard at the genius behind using the word Uranus in place of "your anus". It don't get no better than this, folks.
Whew, anyway, the expansion pack will be available on May 14 (Xbox 360) and May 15 (PlayStation 3). It will cost 400 MS Points or $4.95.
Hit the jump for the feature list.
--Read More--
Permalink
|
TAGS: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Xbox 360
Rumor: 'BioShock' Team Working on new 'X-COM'?
Posted by Brian Leahy - Monday, May 05, 2008 12:15 PM
What's next for BioShock creator Ken Levine? According to some snazzy web rumors it could be a new X-COM game. The classic top-down strategy franchise is probably due for some next-gen treatment.
Fallout is already going next-gen from Bethesda and it'd be great to have a new X-COM from Ken Levine. The rumor originally comes from the resume of Irrational Games' lawyer, which listed an X-COM title in the credits of the company.
The Official Xbox Magazine resurfaced this rumor in their latest issue, but offered no new information.
Have you played X-COM? Would you play an next-gen sequel? We would love to kick some more alien ass!
Shacknews: Rumors Persist of New X-COM from BioShock Folk
Permalink
|
TAGS: PC Gaming, PlayStation 3, Videogames
Seth MacFarlane Gets Foxy Megadeal
Posted by Frank Meyer - Monday, May 05, 2008 12:00 PM
 Family Guy/American Dad creator Seth MacFarlane just signed a new deal with 20th Century Fox TV that would make him the highest-paid writer-producer working in television.
Besides loveable Different Strokes star Gary Coleman (pictured right), of course…
The deal took over is said to be worth over $100 million and took 2 1/2 years to negotiate. It keeps MacFarlane at 20th Century Fox TV through 2012, covering both of his current shows, the upcoming Family Guy spinoff The Cleveland Show, as well as series development, which includes a multicamera comedy with Family Guy writer Gary Janetti. It also includes new-media projects, DVD and merchandising revenue related to his shows.
"I get a lot of pleasure out of making shows," MacFarlane said. "It's a bonus to be getting paid well for it, and it's a double bonus to be getting paid exorbitantly for it."
Reuters.com: Family Guy" creator seals megadeal
Permalink
|
Activision's Sales up 88%
Posted by Brian Leahy - Monday, May 05, 2008 11:50 AM
 Analyst Michael Pachter believes that Activision's stock will climb coming off of an 88% retail sales increase and the pending merger with Vivendi.
The merger should finish within the next few weeks and Activision Blizzard will be official. Stockholders will have to approve the move, but it is expected for them to do so as they like money.
Pachter believes, however, that their sales will decrease over 2008, but the company will be able to grow anyway.
Also, Activision still plans to crank out Guitar Hero, Call of Duty, and Tony Hawk games.
GameDaily BIZ: Pachter: 'Huge Upside' Expected for Activision, Sales Up 88%
Permalink
|
TAGS: Nintendo DS, PC Gaming, PlayStation 3
Nine Inch Nails Give Fans The Slip
Posted by Frank Meyer - Monday, May 05, 2008 11:36 AM
Without any warning, always web-friendly industrial overlords Nine Inch Nails posted access to a free download of its complete new album, The Slip, on its website (NIN.com) this morning.
The 10-track album is available in several formats, including MP3 and high-quality lossless formats.
To download of The Slip, which will also be issued to retail on CD and vinyl in July, you gotta join the site and enter an email address, to which a link will be sent that will include access to all format options. All downloads will also include a PDF with lyrics and artwork.
--Read More--
Permalink
|
TAGS: Internets Culture, Music
Wii Poledancing; No Electra Included
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, May 05, 2008 11:33 AM
 Peekaboo Pole Dancing, the folks behind the Carmen Electra Poledancing Kit, are looking for partners to make a pole dancing game for the Nintendo Wii. However, they say that Carmen Electra won't be involved in this particular project, which kind of sucks.
However, trying to figure out the mechanics behind getting a Wii pole dancing game to work sounds pretty darn hilarious. We can only imagine what they will be. Peekaboo, to its credit, just wants to show people the aerobic and fitness potential behind doing the stinkpole. This, of course, is something that strippers have known for years. How do you think they keep those bodies so tight?
MTV Multiplayer: Wii Pole Dancing Game Intended For Fitness, Fun For Men And Women
Permalink
|
TAGS: Videogames, Wii
EA: We Do Not Steal Souls
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, May 05, 2008 11:10 AM
In a recent interview with Portfolio, Bobby Kotick, Activision's CEO, had some pretty nasty things to say about Electronic Arts; specifically that the videogame publishing giant has "taken the soul out" of many studios that it acquires.
Today EA vice president of corporate communications Jeff Brown responded on Newsweek's excellent LevelUp blog, denying the soul-stealing accusations with a laugh.
"The truth is, everyone laughed," said Brown. "In the past year EA has made radical changes to decentralize the company and put creative control back in the hands of development teams. It's too early to declare victory but if you talk to people like Patrick Soderlund at dice in Stockholm, Mark Jacobs at Mythic in Virginia or Josh Resnick at Pandemic--they'll probably tell you that it's working. They get a lot of resources and creative freedom. That freedom has already contributed new start-ups like Dead Space, Mirror's Edge and Boom Blox and there's a lot of others to be announced soon...We've got a lot of work to do--internal and external--to let people know that EA has changed."
"While we don't steal development companies' souls, We do steal human souls," Brown did not say later, "But that's because we are undead wraiths who feed on the spiritual-energy of the living. It has nothing to do with gaming."
LevelUp: War of Wordcraft: After Repeated Shots From Activision CEO, Electronic Arts Finally Fires Back
Permalink
|
TAGS: Videogames
Marvel Announces Movie Slate
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, May 05, 2008 11:03 AM
 It's been, let's face it, a banner week for Marvel Studios, so there's no time like the present to capitalize. That's why Marvel has announced their slate of projects all the way up until 2011, and there's some pretty awesome stuff in there. What stuff, you might ask? Well, beyond this year's Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, and next year's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, there will be much more.
How about Iron Man 2 on April 30th, 2010, followed by Thor on June 4th? Wait, though, because May 6th, 2011 will see the release of The First Avenger: Captain America, followed by...are you ready? The Avengers in July, 2011. That's a ton of stuff, but it's not all. Because Edgar Wright is attached to write and direct Ant-Man at some point in the future as well.
That's a lot of hot Marvel action coming your way. Get ready!
Yahoo! Finance: Marvel Reports Q1 EPS of $0.58 and Raises 2008 Financial Guidance
Permalink
|
TAGS: Comics, Movies
Microsoft Still Has "No Plans" for Blu-Ray
Posted by Brian Leahy - Monday, May 05, 2008 10:47 AM
Despite a new rumor on Friday about a possible Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360, Microsoft is sticking to their guns and claiming that they have "no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for Xbox 360."
Microsoft added that, "Games are what drive consumers to purchase game consoles, and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster games available."
Rumor smashed... for now!
GamePro: Microsoft has "no plans" for Xbox 360 Blu-ray drive
Permalink
|
TAGS: Movies, Tech, TV
Tech Review: Nikon D60 Camera
Posted by Eugene Morton - Monday, May 05, 2008 10:25 AM
Get your gadget fix three times a week, every Monday, Thursday and Friday right here on TheFeed. Today’s technological marvel is the Nikon D60 Camera. Here’s what Attack of the Show’s Chris Hardwick had to say about it…
--Read More--
Permalink
|
TAGS: Tech, Tech Reviews, Videos
Valve: "We're Not PS3 Developers"
Posted by Brian Leahy - Monday, May 05, 2008 10:18 AM
Valve Software, the studio behind the Half-Life series, The Orange Box, and the upcoming Left 4 Dead talked about why there is no PS3 port of Left 4 Dead currently planned.
Valve's Doug Lombardi told CVG, "We're not PS3 developers - we're doing PC and 360 like with Orange Box. EA came to us and said 'Wow, Orange box was an incredible project, can we do a PS3 version?"
Remember that the PS3 port of The Orange Box was handled by EA and not Valve.
This could also mean that EA might want to make a PS3 version of Left 4 Dead. If you don't remember anything about the upcoming zombie survival co-op FPS, take a look at this:
CVG: Valve: "We're not PS3 developers"
Permalink
|
TAGS: PC Gaming, PlayStation 3, Videogames
'Iron Man' Makes Lots of Money
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Monday, May 05, 2008 10:01 AM
Iron Man, unaffected by the release of Grand Theft Auto IV, cruised to a bruising box office win over the weekend, drawing over $104 million domestically, and over $96 million elsewhere to drop in at a pretty amazing $200 million. This bodes particularly well for the summer box office season, and proves once and for all that no one went to see The Heartbreak Kid the weekend that Halo 3 came out because it sucked, not because it was a conflict of audiences.
In the meantime, if you haven't seen Iron Man yet, you should, because it was really amazing. This is also the first film to be made under the Marvel Studios banner, and they must be really stoked, because it means a great big influx of money coming to them, and it's only just begun.
Variety.com: 'Iron Man' a box office marvel
Permalink
|
TAGS: Comics, Movies
Wii, PS2 'Rock Band' Track Packs Announced
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Monday, May 05, 2008 9:56 AM
If you're rockin' the hell out with Rock Band on your PlayStation 2 or your Wii, don't mourn your lack of downloadable songs. Harmonix is releasing a track pack specifically for you.
You'll have to buy it on disc, but the 29.99 purchase will net you a bunch of new songs, and they end up being cheaper than DLC.
Click the cut for the list. It's due on July 15th.
--Read More--
Permalink
|
TAGS: Music, Videogames, Wii
'GTA IV' Doesn't Hurt 'Iron Man'
Posted by Brian Leahy - Monday, May 05, 2008 9:52 AM
Remember all that speculation about |
