Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Dead Rising 2's 'Terror is Reality'
by Andrew Yoon 
{ 1 month ago }
The event is a junket unlike any other at Tokyo Game Show this year. Capcom (with the help of Microsoft) took over a restaurant/bar in Ebisu, promising free food and drinks to all attendees -- with the promise of a two-of-a-kind yellow jacket at stake for the person who wins tonight's Dead Rising 2 mutliplayer tournament.
Yeah, multiplayer. Long hinted at, we finally had a chance to play the game's competitive multiplayer mode. It certainly wasn't what we were expecting. You take control of one of four participants in a zombie-ridden game show called "Terror Is Reality." Players will compete in four different minigames, each of which takes a different spin on Dead Rising's zombie-smashing gameplay.
Gallery: Dead Rising 2
Jump for Guitar Hero: Van Halen's full track list
by David Hinkle { 3 months ago }
Additionally, Guitar Hero: Van Halen has been dated for release on December 22.
Kill Southern zombies with four new characters in Left 4 Dead 2
by Mike Schramm { 5 months ago }
Japanese hardware sales, Feb. 16 - Feb. 22: Spit-take edition
by Griffin McElroy { 8 months ago }
We thought it would be considerate to give you guys the ever-so-brief history of the knee-jerk reaction you're likely about to experience, depending on your level of self-investment in the overseas gaming electronics market, and whether or not you're currently drinking a nice, refreshing beverage. Amidst substantial drops in weekly sales totals for all its competitors, the rarely triumphant Xbox 360 pulled off a spectacular ascent with an increase of over 15,000 units. It performed this feat by riding upon the comfortable, pillowy back of Star Ocean: The Last Hope, a 360 exclusive that sold over 162,000 copies in its release week.
Then again, perhaps news that a Square Enix title featuring vaguely effeminate dudes pushed Japanese sales of its designated system doesn't surprise you to the point of expectoration. Your unflappable, steely nerves keep you from being startled by sales figures, let alone the GIANT SPIDER THAT'S ON YOUR SHOULDER. (Yeah, that probably did the trick.)
- DSi: 41,839
11,644 (21.77%)- PSP: 29,552
4,704 (13.73%)- Xbox 360: 25,334
15,501 (157.64%)- Wii: 16,973
4,043 (19.24%)- PS3: 16,149
2,507 (13.44%) - DS Lite: 9,975
4,835 (32.65%) - PS2: 5,029
303 (5.68%)[Source: Media Create]
See: The expectorating archives
Joystiq interview: Resident Evil 5 producer Jun Takeuchi
by Kevin Kelly { 8 months ago }
Jun Takeuchi has been very busy the last few years, dedicating his time to franchises like Onimusha, Lost Planet, and of course Resident Evil. With the latest installment of Capcom-brand survival horror, Takeuchi has been battling accusations of racism and complaints about the dated controls, all while serving up four million downloads of the demo. He didn't have to deal with any such matters back in the days of Resident Evil 2, that's for sure.
We met up with Takeuchi during his recent stop in Los Angeles to discuss these issues and other hot topics. Find out what he had to say after the break.
We met up with Takeuchi during his recent stop in Los Angeles to discuss these issues and other hot topics. Find out what he had to say after the break.
Gallery: Resident Evil 5
Singularity spawns multiple screenshots, first trailer
by Randy Nelson { 8 months ago }
click to enlarge
In Raven Software's latest FPS, Singularity, you play as a salesperson for Cingular Wireless, now AT&T Wireless. No, that's not right. Oh yes. You play as a character who, unlike a Cingular salesperson, can manipulate time -- travel through it, use it to make folks age to death ... y'know, the usual. Anyway, the game's publisher, Activision, has released the first trailer for it and a couple dozen screenshots. The game looks mighty good, but we won't be totally convinced until we confirm players can use time to grow beards quickly. That and play it at E3. The trailer's hanging out just after the break or skip the lame Flash-vid and download it in glorious HD from Big Download.
Joystiq hands-on: FUEL
by Randy Nelson { 8 months ago }
click to enlarge
As the newest racing franchise from Codemasters, FUEL has a lot to live up to. Namely the pedigree of the publisher's two other racers this generation, the stellar DiRT and GRID. Its premise is grandiose: allow players to race on order of 5,000 square miles of open world in a variety of vehicles, rancing from dune buggies and roadsters to dirt bikes and monster trucks. It's obvious from playing the game that its developer, Asobo Studio, has the big picture covered; everything else is all over the map.
Joystiq impressions: DiRT 2
by Randy Nelson { 8 months ago }
click for bigger, dirtier image
The series that gave our own Ludwig Kietzmann his first gaming injury is thundering back this September on, well, pretty much every platform imaginable. Last night we were treated -- and it was a treat -- to a first look at in-game footage from Codemasters' hotly anticipated rally racer, DiRT 2.
There are some fundamental changes coming to the series for its second go-round. The biggest of which is a very strong focus on marrying rally racing with the world of extreme sports. Inspired by X-Games icons such as Dave Mirra strapping in behind the wheel and taking the sport to new heights (and lengths! We watched a video of a rally car landing a flawless 181ft jump) the game's designers are ratcheting up the edge, but, more importantly to gameplay, introducing whole new elements. Rally on after the break for more.
There are some fundamental changes coming to the series for its second go-round. The biggest of which is a very strong focus on marrying rally racing with the world of extreme sports. Inspired by X-Games icons such as Dave Mirra strapping in behind the wheel and taking the sport to new heights (and lengths! We watched a video of a rally car landing a flawless 181ft jump) the game's designers are ratcheting up the edge, but, more importantly to gameplay, introducing whole new elements. Rally on after the break for more.
Note: all images associated with this preview are target renders (not to be confused with bullshots).
Rockstar accidentally censors GTA IV, fix coming 'within hours'
by Griffin McElroy { 8 months ago }
Many of Liberty City's proxy residents who'd returned to the crime-riddled metropolis following the release of The Lost and Damned were recently perplexed by what appeared to be some random acts of censorship that tagged along with the expansion -- certain European versions of GTA IV suddenly lacked the game's most NSFW elements. Namely, bullet infused corpses no longer spilled excessive pools of blood, and when in the company of a paid escort, camera control was stripped of the player while said escort performed the services she was contracted to execute. (Hooker sex, people. We mean hooker sex.)
This censorship seemed an odd addendum to an expansion which unapologetically brought us a faceful of prong -- as it turns out, the censorship was indeed accidental. At least, that's the claim of Rockstar, who attribute the "error" to the game's latest title update. Why the changes were incorporated into the update in the first place, or why only certain copies of the game were affected is still a mystery, but Rockstar is hoping to release a quick de-censoring patch "within the next few hours."
Watch the prologue to Prince of Persia's 'Epilogue' DLC
by Randy Nelson { 8 months ago }
Hitting XBLM and PSN on February 26, this adventure through the Underground Palace -- and confrontation with a new boss, the Shapeshifter -- promises to be more challenging than anything pre-Epilogue. Just watch and you'll see what we mean.
'Retro' Matt Hazard game for XBLA and PSN this summer
by Randy Nelson { 8 months ago }
D3Publisher is working on a retro-style side-scrolling XBLA and PSN action game intended to fill in the backstory of Matt Hazard, the lead character of Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard. It's planned for release sometime this summer. (Eat Lead launches against Halo Wars on March 3.)
If you're not hip to Eat Lead's "hook," it's supposed to be the latest game in a long-running series, and Matt Hazard is supposed to be a "video game icon." Only it isn't and he's not. The downloadable game is ostensibly one of his past titles being made available for the first time in years. Only it's not. Get it?
We'd hazard a guess that this game could do well -- if the synthetic nostalgia and in-jokes of Eat Lead aren't lost on the larger gaming audience.
If you're not hip to Eat Lead's "hook," it's supposed to be the latest game in a long-running series, and Matt Hazard is supposed to be a "video game icon." Only it isn't and he's not. The downloadable game is ostensibly one of his past titles being made available for the first time in years. Only it's not. Get it?
We'd hazard a guess that this game could do well -- if the synthetic nostalgia and in-jokes of Eat Lead aren't lost on the larger gaming audience.
Keiji Inafune talks Dead Rising 2 in Capcom podcast
by Jem Alexander { 8 months ago }
"[Blue Castle Games] really understood the Japanese flavor that made Dead Rising so unique," says Inafune. "They showed me that they are serious about making a game that keeps that Capcom 'spice' intact, and so far it's going very well." He hopes to make Dead Rising 2 an improvement over the original, as the game will be developed from a global perspective. This level of collaboration between East and West, he says, is unprecedented for Capcom. Perhaps the Resident Evil team should look into trying something similar for its next title?
In terms of actual gameplay details, there's little to glean from the podcast. Inafune does mention that the new character will be much more interesting than Frank West, but doesn't want to give away too much right now. Blue Castle feels that keeping the time management aspect of the original game in the sequel is important, but is planning a much larger variety of mission objectives. Have a listen yourself for more Dead Rising 2 tidbits.
Robot to develop further Halo Wars content, new IP
by Randy Nelson { 8 months ago }
Robot will also be working with MGS on the Ensemble-created Age of Empires franchise going forward, with the intent to handle support for current and future titles in the series. In a release issued today, the developer also announced that it has begun work on a new project based on an original IP. Given the various unannounced projects revealed when Ensemble closed its doors, we'd be surprised if this new game turns out to be another RTS.
Pure developer Blackrock teases new action racer
by Randy Nelson { 8 months ago }
The purposefully obscured footage provides a glimpse at what looks to be an action-filled arcade racer, one that's part Ridge Racer, part GRID and part Midnight Club. We get some very stylized cars, a huge crash and ... an exploding gas station. More on the game is promised for March 11. Consider us thoroughly teased. Hop on over to Big Download for a high-def-ier version of the video ... and tell 'em the 'Stiq sent you.
GTA IV: The Lost and Damned DLC -- unboxing video
by Randy Nelson { 8 months ago }
In this case, the digits are on a piece of paper. You punch the digits on it into Xbox Live and the content downloads. Ergo, digital distribution of downloadable content. Let the video after the break illustrate what we're talking about. And kudos, Rockstar -- you've managed to make DLC a packaged product. Go hug a tree.
