March 12th, 2010 at 01:45am Under News
So, I was pretty sure I put this up yesterday, but I was in a flu/crappy weather induced fog and may have been imagining it. I’m not gonna treat you with one of my staple pre-news rants today, so let’s jump right in…
If you pay any attention to the world of gaming then you know [...]
By Mike W Continue Reading A Reaction to Playstation Move…Add comment
March 11th, 2010 at 06:12pm Under News
UPDATE – HMXHenry has confirmed on the Rock Band Forums that exporting will also be free for those who pre-order through GameStop. If you aren’t interested in the other Plus features, it looks like that’s the way to go.
ORIGINAL STORY – Harmonix and MTV Games announced today that Green Day: Rock Band is set for a worldwide release on June 8, 2010. The game features over 47 tracks, including “Brain Stew,” “Jaded,” “Hitchin’ a Ride,” “American Idiot,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” We expect to see a full track list teased in the coming months. It sounds like Harmonix is aiming to take a similar archival approach to The Beatles Rock Band, offering unlockable images and rare videos of interviews and performances.
Unlike the Beatles version, however, we apparently won’t be seeing instruments in the style of Green Day’s own. This could be a sign that the days of large instrument bundles may be starting to wane, at least for spin-offs. Instead, the Wii standalone version is the cheapest option at $49.99, while the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions will be $59.99. As previously reported the game supports song exporting, but it will cost you extra. The “Plus” edition is only for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and costs an extra ten bucks at $69.99. For the money, you get special packaging, the export feature, and access to six Green Day DLC tracks. From the sounds of it, these are the tracks already available on the Rock Band store, but with added visual flair.
By Steve Watts Continue Reading Green Day: Rock Band Coming June 8Add comment
March 10th, 2010 at 10:20pm Under News
Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime has claimed that the company is not yet ready to seriously think about releasing a new home console.
Speaking to Forbes, Fils-Aime commented:
“When the software developer comes forward with an idea that can’t be executed on the current platform, that’s when we start thinking seriously about the [...]
By hey_suburbia Continue Reading Nintendo “not there yet” on new console, says Fils-AimeAdd comment
March 10th, 2010 at 07:49pm Under News
Tomorrow Corporation is pleased to announce the existence of Tomorrow Corporation, a massive new “indie game” studio.
“We’re literally bursting with cash,” said a Tomorrow Corporation PR spokeswoman, “because if there’s one thing that makes money these days, it’s indie games.”
“For years, giant corporations have been hurt by scrappy indie studios hogging the limelight with titles [...]
By hey_suburbia Continue Reading Tomorrow Corporation – A Home for Indie DevsAdd comment
March 10th, 2010 at 05:41pm Under News
In Japan, the equivalent of the ESRB is the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO), the industry outfit responsible for giving content ratings to every console game released in the country. CERO rates based on a scale of five letters: A (all ages), B (ages 12 and up), C (ages 15 and up), D (ages 17 and up), and Z (ages 18 and up only).
That “only” attached to the Z rating has been the source of consternation for many a gamer in Japan. Unlike the ESRB’s “Adults Only” rating, CERO’s Z seems to be applied almost exclusively based on violence standards — if there’s too much blood, you’re out. What’s worse, while a Z on the box isn’t as bad as an AO rating in America (or being refused classification at all in Australia, effectively banning it from shelves), it essentially means that the game cannot be advertised in any public manner within Japan.
The situation came to a head recently when Sony’s God of War III was given a Z, even though the first two games both got D ratings in Japan. Game-store owners were, to say the least, miffed. “[The Z rating] basically means I can engage in no practical advertising,” one Tokyo-based store owner blogged last month. “There are no TV ads, no videos playing in the store. The best I can do is put up posters and flyers, but no matter how great the game is, you can’t show what makes it fun with still images. Capcom [the publisher of GOW 1 and 2 in Japan] spent all this time building up the brand, and now it’s all ruined!”
By Kevin Gifford Continue Reading All about Japan’s Anti-Violence Game Rating SystemAdd comment
March 10th, 2010 at 05:41pm Under News
In Japan, the equivalent of the ESRB is the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO), the industry outfit responsible for giving content ratings to every console game released in the country. CERO rates based on a scale of five letters: A (all ages), B (ages 12 and up), C (ages 15 and up), D (ages 17 and up), and Z (ages 18 and up only).
That “only” attached to the Z rating has been the source of consternation for many a gamer in Japan. Unlike the ESRB’s “Adults Only” rating, CERO’s Z seems to be applied almost exclusively based on violence standards — if there’s too much blood, you’re out. What’s worse, while a Z on the box isn’t as bad as an AO rating in America (or being refused classification at all in Australia, effectively banning it from shelves), it essentially means that the game cannot be advertised in any public manner within Japan.
The situation came to a head recently when Sony’s God of War III was given a Z, even though the first two games both got D ratings in Japan. Game-store owners were, to say the least, miffed. “[The Z rating] basically means I can engage in no practical advertising,” one Tokyo-based store owner blogged last month. “There are no TV ads, no videos playing in the store. The best I can do is put up posters and flyers, but no matter how great the game is, you can’t show what makes it fun with still images. Capcom [the publisher of GOW 1 and 2 in Japan] spent all this time building up the brand, and now it’s all ruined!”
By Kevin Gifford Continue Reading All about Japan’s Anti-Violence Game Rating SystemAdd comment
March 10th, 2010 at 03:19pm Under News
Over in Japan this week, Namco Bandai Games took the veils off Masou Kishin: The Lord of Elemental, the latest game in their sprawling Super Robot Taisen series of anime-inspired robot sims. The game is due out for the Nintendo DS May 27 in Japan for the retail price of 6090 yen.
The Lord of Elemental is more than just another SRT Original Generation title — it’s the one that kicked off the whole series, sort of. Originally released in 1996 for the Super NES in Japan, the game marks the debut of hot-blooded robot pilot Masaki Ando and his elementally-powered craft Cybaster, popular enough that they starred in a 26-episode TV anime in 1999. Once a normal Japanese kid, Masaki gets his mecha career kick-started in this game when he’s summoned to La Gias, a world housed under the Earth’s crust, and asked to pilot one of the four elemental robots built by the kingdom of Languran to stave off a prophesied disaster.
“We’ve never dug into the backbone of Masaki and Cybaster, even though they both appear regularly in the SRTOG series,” producer Takanobu Terada told Famitsu magazine this week. “The Lord of Elemental answers the question of where those characters came from.”
By Kevin Gifford Continue Reading Super Robot Taisen Prequel AnnouncedAdd comment
March 10th, 2010 at 03:19pm Under News
Over in Japan this week, Namco Bandai Games took the veils off Masou Kishin: The Lord of Elemental, the latest game in their sprawling Super Robot Taisen series of anime-inspired robot sims. The game is due out for the Nintendo DS May 27 in Japan for the retail price of 6090 yen.
The Lord of Elemental is more than just another SRT Original Generation title — it’s the one that kicked off the whole series, sort of. Originally released in 1996 for the Super NES in Japan, the game marks the debut of hot-blooded robot pilot Masaki Ando and his elementally-powered craft Cybaster, popular enough that they starred in a 26-episode TV anime in 1999. Once a normal Japanese kid, Masaki gets his mecha career kick-started in this game when he’s summoned to La Gias, a world housed under the Earth’s crust, and asked to pilot one of the four elemental robots built by the kingdom of Languran to stave off a prophesied disaster.
“We’ve never dug into the backbone of Masaki and Cybaster, even though they both appear regularly in the SRTOG series,” producer Takanobu Terada told Famitsu magazine this week. “The Lord of Elemental answers the question of where those characters came from.”
By Kevin Gifford Continue Reading Super Robot Taisen Prequel AnnouncedAdd comment
March 10th, 2010 at 06:30am Under News
Today is Tuesday, which can only mean another episode of WiiNintendo’s interactive Nintendo Fuse Podcast! This podcast is done every Tuesday at 10 pm EST (or rather, 10:15 pm). Not only do we discuss the latest Nintendo news and rumors, but we’ve had special guests (like Tommy Tallarico from Video Games Live) and contests as [...]
By DarkWish Continue Reading REMINDER: Nintendo Fuse Podcast TONIGHT at 10:15 pm EST… GDC, Scribblenauts 2, Wii world reveal, and more!Add comment
March 10th, 2010 at 04:08am Under News
What do you think about watching movies and TV shows on your Nintendo DS? Netflix wants to know. While this might seem crazy to some, remember that they asked these questions of a possible service for Wii as well. How the service might work is still complete speculation, as is the idea that we will [...]
By hattrick Continue Reading Netflix for Nintendo DS?Add comment