G4 TV - TheFeed - Videogames

'MGS4' Gets a 10/10 from UK PS Magazine

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:42:00 GMT

Metal Gear Solid 4 has received its first official review from the UK version of the Official PlayStation Magazine.

It's a 10 out of 10. I don't want to ruin anything by posting magazine scans, but they do note that it is definitely a "game for fans."

Expect many more scores like this in the near future.

Joystiq: OMGS4: Guns of the Patriots gets its first 10

What if Nintendo Made 'Halo 3'?

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:38:00 GMT

What if Nintendo had made Halo 3? Check it out! This bit of Halo 3 machinima is hilarious.

Sony Online: MMOs Will Sell PS3s

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:13:00 GMT

The head of Sony Online Entertainment believes that Massively Multiplayer Online games will sell a lot of PlayStation 3 consoles down the line.

Smedley said, "I think MMOs are going to be a real strong selling point for the PS3 long term — there's going to be some great ones on the PS3. You're not going to find "The Agency" on the 360."

We wouldn't expect to see The Agency on the 360 because it's a Sony game, but the PS3's guaranteed hard drive and keyboard/mouse support could lend itself to a bright future with MMOs.

Have you ever or would you play an MMO on a console?

Watch the large version of this video

Kotaku: Smedley - MMOs To Sell PS3s

Gamestop: 360 'GTA IV' Outsells PS3 by 2-to-1

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:48:00 GMT

Earlier today, Microsoft claimed that 40% of new 360 owners got GTA IV. We're still waiting on official NPD numbers, but Gamestop has released their sales figures, which should be a good estimate of the real sales.

Gamestop is reporting that 64% of Grand Theft Auto IV sales were the 360 version, while the remaining 36% were the PS3 version.

That's a performance of 2-to-1 for the 360 version. Level Up, who received the numbers from Gamestop, notes that this might represent an underperformance for the 360 version due to its larger install base.

Destructoid: Gamestop: 360 has 2-1 lead over PS3 in GTA IV's first week sales

EA To Purchase Gaming Social Network?

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:36:00 GMT

Electronic Arts is reportedly looking into purchasing Rupture, a social network for gamers, from its creators Shawn Fanning and Jon Baudanza (the makers of Napster).

Rupture, as a service, never really launched and doesn't hold a large userbase. Its infrastructure, however, could be extremely valuable to EA in the development of their own gaming social network.

Some papers are still left to be signed, but this deal will probably go through and net Fanning and Baudanza $30 million. They would also become EA employees, presumably working on whatever long-term project EA has in mind for the tech.

TechCrunch: Shawn Fanning Finally Gets A Real Payday: Electronic Arts Buys Rupture For $30 Million

Niko Bellic's Past Explained

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:17:00 GMT

It seems that just about everyone who has been playing GTA IV the past few weeks has been intrigued by the character that is Niko Bellic. This cynical, sometimes psychotic killer is a welcomed change from the two-dimensional protagonists we're usually treated to in videogames.

Unlike most other videogame characters, Niko posseses a true sense of past. You can feel that he has really done things before the game started, that have made him into who is. Well, kezins.com has strewn together facts from Mr. Bellic's conversations throughout the game to present a biography of sorts on our favorite eastern-European killer.

Be warned! Following the source link will lead to SPOILERS!!! Also, be carfeul reading our comments section, as navigating it without coming across spoilers will something akin to walking through a filled planted with land mines: the might make it, you might lose your leg.

Kezins.com: Behind The Game: Niko Bellic… before GTA IV

Eurogamer Tests 'GTA IV' on PS3 vs. 360

Mon, 12 May 2008 15:07:00 GMT

Eurogamer has conducted some pretty in-depth tests on the framerates of Grand Theft Auto IV on both the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Overall, they found that the PlayStation 3 averages a few frames per second less than the 360 version, but suffers from no "torn frames". The PS3 average never got about 30 in their tests, but the 360 didn't break 30 by that much.

Of course, my wallet is full of Microsoft's money... so much money!

Check it out over at Eurogamer.

Full Spectrum Warrior Helps P.T.S.D.

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:53:00 GMT

Full Spectrum Warrior, after failing in its initial design, seems to be finding a new purpose, by aiding US veterans overcome Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in a new experimental treatment program, named Virtual Iraq.

Released in 2004 for the Xbox and PC (and the PS2 in 2005), Full Spectrum Warrior made waves in the press by being a game developed in association with the US Army for use as a training tool for active military personnel. The Army ended up never using Full Spectrum Warrior to train, but now, with the development of Virtual Iraq, a modified version of Warrior is helping recently returned soldiers cope with the sights, sounds, and pressures of war through a kind of immersion therapy.

In a recent feature for The New Yorker, writer Sue Halpern explores one soldier's experiences with dealing with P.T.S.D. by forcing himself to relive the environments of war again and again. The treatment is still far too new for any conclusions to be drawn, but we could be looking into another area, where videogames can actually do more good than solely entertain.

The New Yorker: Virtual Iraq

Kaz Hirai: Developers Were Confused About PS3

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:45:00 GMT

Why was the PS3 slow to get games? According to PlayStation boss Kaz Hirai, it's because:

"There was some confusion as to what PS3 was initially – some of the third parties didn't understand and they wanted to scale back a little and see how things went before they really put in their resources, but when I re-positioned the PS3 as a videogames console at Tokyo Game Show I think everybody got that message loud and clear."

Seems like Kaz is claiming that the PS3's success as a Blu-Ray and multimedia players actually hurt its initial game development.

We aren't so sure we agree with him. If you say "PlayStation" to us, we think videogames, not movies and photos.

What do you think?

P.S.: It's Riiiiiiiiidge Racer!!!

Destructoid: Hirai: PS3's labeling 'confused' developers

KillerNIC Secures $8.75 Million for New Products

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:37:00 GMT

Bigfoot Networks, the makers of the KillerNIC ethernet cards made for gaming, have secured additional financing of $8.75 million for new products.

Bigfoot claims that their cards reduce lag by running off of a dedicated ethernet card instead of on-board the motherboard. We believe, however, that most lag is caused by not having enough bandwidth to go around.

The average connection doesn't even break 10Mbps, which is the max speed of the average ethernet card. We aren't even close to being able to utilize a Gigabit ethernet connection with an ISP.

Bigfoot was able to convince investors, however, and we should expect some new products from them down the line.

Do you have or would you buy a KillerNIC product?

PaidContent.org: Bigfoot Networks Raises $8.75 Million Second Round To Kill Gaming Lag

WiiWare Save Block Sizes and More

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:22:00 GMT

Our friends at GoNintendo have listed the amount of blocks you will need for each WiiWare game that was released today.

The Wii uses SD cards for downloadable content like Virtual Console (and now WiiWare) games and space could easily become an issue if the platform takes off.

They also detailed the amount of players that can participate and if the game utilizes the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Hit the jump for the information on the 6 titles.

Defend Your Castle
1-4 players
500 Wii points
121 blocks [121 needed]

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - My Life as a King
1 player
1500 Wii points
287 blocks
Pay-to-Play

LostWinds
1-2 players
1000 Wii points
258 blocks (1 save block) [259 needed]

Pop
1-4 players
700 Wii points
110 blocks [110 needed]
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

TV Show King
1-4 players
1000 Wii points
290 blocks

V.I.P: Casino Blackjack
1-4 players
700 Wii points
207 blocks

'Assault Heroes 2' Hits XBLA This Wednesday

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:18:00 GMT

Assault Heroes 2 will hit Xbox Live Arcade this Wednesday for 800 Microsoft Points.

"Assault Heroes 2" reveals that the original enemy in "Assault Heroes" is merely a pawn of a more sinister force, which players must now seek out and destroy. Armed with stronger weaponry and the ability to hi-jack more powerful enemy units, players must prepare to face relentless enemies and outrageous bosses in climactic battles, including an all-out skirmish in outer space.

In the sequel, players can experience the full fury of war outside of the safety of their vehicle with even more intense on-foot gameplay, where increased firepower and the new dodge roll feature are necessary to survive. Players can choose to fight alone or battle with a friend using the enhanced two-player cooperative mode. Either way, players will travel through diverse and interactive environments on land and in space to overcome the newest enemy and save mankind.

Watch the large version of this video

Microsoft Claims 40% of New 360 Owners Get 'GTA IV'

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:11:00 GMT

Microsoft is claiming that 40% of consumers that purchased an Xbox 360 during the week of Grand Theft Auto IV's release were sold with a copy of GTA IV.

What does this mean? It means that GTA IV sold Xbox 360's. If Microsoft's data is correct, we could see a huge jump in system sales.

It'll also be interesting to see Sony's numbers. Many analysts were predicting strong sales for the PS3 with the release of GTA IV.

GamesIndustry.biz: Microsoft: GTA IV has 40 per cent attach rate with new consoles

'Pitfall: The Big Adventure' Coming to Wii

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:49:00 GMT

Pitfall is coming back for the Wii. The franchise will be revisited on Nintendo's console and utilize the Wiimote "to swing on a vine over blood thirsty crocodiles as retro-cool Pitfall Harry!"

The game should release this Fall.

Press release after the cut.

ACTIVISION SWINGS INTO ACTION WITH “PITFALL: THE BIG ADVENTURE” FOR Wii™

SANTA MONICA, CA – MAY 12, 2008 – Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today “Pitfall: The Big Adventure” for Wii™ is in development at Edge of Reality and will swing onto shelves this Fall. With more than 10 million Pitfall titles sold to date, Pitfall: The Big Adventure will introduce the franchise to a new generation of gamers while bringing a fresh Pitfall experience to long time fans.

“Pitfall is one of the most legendary franchises in the history of videogames, so we look forward to releasing a new version exclusively for Wii,” said Dave Oxford, Activision Publishing. “What could be more fun than using the Wii Remote™ to swing on a vine over blood thirsty crocodiles as retro-cool Pitfall Harry?!”

Set in the Peruvian jungle, Pitfall: The Big Adventure combines the action of reptile dodging and vine swinging with clever puzzles. The game will feature over 60 levels spanning lush rainforests, creature-filled caves, and glacial mountains. Within these dynamic worlds, players will explore cavernous jungles, discover lost treasures, battle shamen, narrowly escape treacherous traps and outwit creatures using innovative, accessible game mechanics developed specifically to take advantage of the Wii motion sensing controls.

“Wii is a natural and perfect fit for a Pitfall game, and it’s been fantastic to revolutionize this classic franchise through the application of the innovative Wii game mechanics. It’s a completely new experience for the gamer,” said Binu Philip, President, Edge of Reality.

'Banjo-Kazooie 3' Impressions Off

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:28:00 GMT

Folks are jumping the gun out in the internets about what the new Banjo game is going to be, calling it a racer, some with indignation and scorn. But George Kelion, a spokesperson for Rare, the game's developer, says those impressions are incorrect.

He told Kotaku that "it's nice to see that people think the game is quite pretty, but its definitely not a racer, which is what some people think it is… You're better off waiting until tomorrow, when we reveal what is for us the most spectacular feature of the game, which is the gameplay mechanic."

So stay tuned, B-K fans. Unleaked information is coming out tomorrow.

kotaku.com: Rare: Just Hang On, Banjo 3's No Racer!

Europe 'MGS4' Limited Edition Detailed

Mon, 12 May 2008 13:13:00 GMT

If you live in Europe, you're getting a great package in the Limited Edition of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

The package, which will run you £79.99 will include:

The Game (duh)
Soundtrack CD
6" Old Snake Figure (!)
Making-of Special on Blu-Ray

Gamers that pre-order the game will also get the Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2 DVD that was released in the US.

Kotaku: Europe Getting Metal Gear Solid 4 Goodies

Rockstar's Houser on Potential EA Takeover

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:59:00 GMT

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article and interview with Rockstar Games' Sam Houser on Grand Theft Auto IV and EA's potential buyout of Take-Two.

The article mostly summarizes the release of GTA IV and that it made a boat load of money, but it has an interesting statement from Houser.

If EA gets Take-Two, and therefore Rockstar, Houser doesn't foresee seeking approval from EA on content. He intends to operate independently.

We wouldn't worry about that, as EA has been extremely hands-off with its recently acquired studios like BioWare and Pandemic. That and they probably aren't itching to mess with a franchise that pulls in as much money as GTA.

Wall Street Journal: Studio Is Prize in Takeover Duel

(via Joystiq)

Nugget From The Net

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:43:00 GMT

Hey, remember that sweet Nintendo controller coffeetable we showed you a picture of on Friday? Well, check it out in action on the Youtubs.

Strong Bad Coming To XBL, PSN?

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:29:00 GMT

WiiWare is here and aside from finally getting to play some LostWinds, it also means that we're only a month away from exploring the world of Strong Bad and Homestar Runner with the upcoming TellTale title, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People.

Of course, the point and click adventure seems a perfect fit for Nintendo's point and click console. Also, the Homstar Runner universe has always held nostalgiac ties to classic Nintendo gaming. But is Xbox Live or PSN in Strong Bad's future?

Joystiq got some time with TellTale's Emily Moganti about XBL and PSN subscribers getting to explore Strongbadia. Her official response: "Maybe down the line, but for now we're focusing on WiiWare and the PC." Let's just say, it doesn't look promising in the short term, but only time will tell.

Joystiq: Strong Bad could eventually check mail on Xbox Live, PSN

'Final Fantasy' WiiWare Screenshots

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:25:00 GMT

The recently released WiiWare title Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles - My Life as a King has been released for 1500 Wii Points.

Here is a screenshot gallery of the game.