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Dawn of War II System Specs
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Wednesday, January 7, 2009
BioShock Could Be A Long-Term, Six-Game Franchise
7:44 AM - - 16 Comments
Global President of 2K Games, Christoph Hartmann, tells MCV that BioShock could emulate Star Wars' long-term success if handled properly:

“Some of the mega-franchises we talk about only lasted ten years because companies took five years to ship a game. Look at Duke Nukem. It’s been a great franchise for 20 years, because it seems like it’s been in development for 20 years.

“For Bioshock, because it’s so story driven, the question obviously arises: how long can you do it without turning into The Matrix? The first Matrix was great, the second one was weird and the third one, you thought: ‘Who [making this] is on crack and who isn’t?’. “But, then again, look at Star Wars. It’s a fight between good and evil, just like Bioshock. If we spin it the right way and get the right twist of innovation, we can make six parts of it, as Star Wars did.

“But we have to be careful not to cash in. I won’t name the company, but there was a great racing game years ago. They brought it back year-on-year. If you look at the scores, it’s hard to believe what they’ve done to it. It’s upsetting, actually.”

Topics: Games: Action
Related Games: BioShock (PC): Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams (PC), Bioshock 3 (PC)
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Movie Trailer
5:08 AM - - 12 Comments
First in-motion look at Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, starring Smallville's Kristin Kreuk as the eponymous brawler:

Topics: Movies
Related Games: Street Fighter IV (PC): Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360), Street Fighter IV (PlayStation 3), Street Fighter IV (Arcade)
Skate 2 Trailer
5:04 AM - - 0 Comments
Three-minutes-thirty trailer runs through Skate 2's extensive online feature set:


Flash HD (142MB) / Flash SD (43MB)
Topics: Consoles: General
Related Games: Skate 2 (Xbox 360): Skate 2 (PlayStation 3)
Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice Coming Soon To Europe
4:57 AM - - 2 Comments
Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice features incredible High Definition Playstation 2 graphics, and will now be released in European territories February 20th:

Welcome to the twisted world of the Nether Institute, Evil Academy where good is bad and bad is good. In this school a good student is somebody that excels in delinquent activities such as skipping classes or not doing their homework, whereas a bad student arrives to school early and does their homework on time.

This is the setting for Disgaea3, a rich and deep Strategic RPG that’s not afraid to display a very bizarre sense of humour. It’s a winning combination that will leave you laughing one minute and fighting cunning enemies the next. Where special attacks can deliver up to 100 million points worth of damage and the power of the PS3 is used to deliver 2D sprites, albeit lots of them!

John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix Ltd. comments, “With Disgaea3, Nippon Ichi have created a wonderful world full of bizarre characters and deep, addictive gameplay. I hope everyone enjoys playing this unique and rewarding title.”


Topics: Consoles: PS3
Related Games: Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice (PlayStation 3)
Edited Silent Hill: Homecoming Cleared For Australian Release
4:51 AM - - 3 Comments
Gruesome scenes of torture and violence have been cut from Silent Hill: Homecoming to secure an Australian release:

The first version contained violence that was considered "high in impact", and - understandably - that's been toned down for this Australian submission, now considered merely "strong" in playing impact, but also justified by context. According to the Board:

"Several depictions of violence have been edited or removed altogether from the game. This includes the removal of many finishing moves that contained high level violence, as well as explicit scenes of torture using a power drill."

If you're a bit upset about the removal of power tools, rest assured that they haven't been removed completely - just that you apparently can't get to them.

"The more impactful scenes are 'cut scenes' consisting of non-interactive action sequences depicting pivotal plot sequences that expand on the storyline of the game."

"Torture consists of implied cutting and drilling using power tools. Much of this violence is depicted during 'cut scenes'. The most extreme examples of this violence are obscured, which mitigates the impact of the violence."


Topics: Games: Action
Related Games: Silent Hill: Homecoming (PC): Silent Hill: Homecoming (Xbox 360), Silent Hill: Homecoming (PlayStation 3)
UK Videogame Sales Up Once More
4:46 AM - - 4 Comments
The recession has yet to hit UK videogame sales, which for 2008 were up a further 23%:

Total sales of all videogame software and hardware amounted to £4.034 billion. There was a huge increase in games sales in 2008, with growth of 23 percent on figures for 2007. The market has now more than doubled over the last five years. The increasing popularity of videogames took total sales to £1.905 billion, compared to £1.552 billion in 2007. Hardware sales have been equally spectacular.

Nintendo formats led the way, with software sales of nearly 40 million units in the UK. Nintendo Wii games were up 153 per cent, with 20.1 million units sold last year compared to 7.9 million units in 2007. Revenue from Nintendo Wii software sales also enjoyed a dramatic increase of 112 per cent to £481 million, compared to £227 million in 2007.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 console notched up its first full year of videogame sales in 2008. Sales rose 145 per cent, with 10.4 million units sold – more than double the 4.2 million games sold in 2007. The PlayStation 3 saw a 115 per cent rise in revenue and software sales reached £334 million in 2008 compared to £156 million in 2007.

Microsoft Xbox 360 also continued to see growth in sales with a rise of 51 per cent of videogames sold – a total 14.9 million units sold in the UK last year, compared to 9.8 million in 2007. Revenue was also up by 38 per cent, with £443 million in 2008 compared to £320 million in 2007.

The total revenue for the UK’s console hardware sales in 2008 was £1.422 billion - an increase of 14 per cent compared to £1.252 billion in 2007. The total value of console gaming peripherals increased by 82 per cent, with total sales reaching £549 million compared to £301 million in 2007.

Topics: Consoles: General
Related Games: General (Other)
Hardware & Tech Nuggets
12:10 AM - - 0 Comments
Topics: Hardware
Related Games: General (Other)
Game Reviews
12:05 AM - - 0 Comments
Topics: Games: General News
Related Games: Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway (PC): Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge (PC), Saints Row 2 (PC), Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness -- Episode Two (PlayStation 3)
In Other News...
12:00 AM - - 36 Comments
I don't know about you girls, but I packed on a few pounds over the holidays. Shockingly enough, they seem to be coming off as fast as they got on. Then again, cake, cookies, muffins, fatty roasts and all of that stuff isn't a normal part of my regular diet. Go figure!

Today's question is from tviceman, who asks:

Which classic games (1999 or older) have best stood the test of time?

Topics: In-House: In Other News...
Related Games: Cookie Mon (Wireless)
Sponsored Links
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Aussies Claim Console RTS Breakthrough
11:26 PM - - 5 Comments
Not that they're biased or anything, but IGN Down Under thinks that Stormrise on the 360 is the kangaroo's pouch as far as playing a real-time-strategy game on a gamepad goes:
Console real-time strategy games have typically had a pretty poor reputation. Often, controls are at the core of the problem. If you can't navigate your way around the battlefield, and you can't give commands quickly and precisely, then the game is simply not going to play well.

Enter Stormrise – The Creative Assembly's (CA) latest project. CA is no stranger to the RTS genre; its Total War series has been both a critical and commercial success, and is considered the benchmark for the genre, and now it hopes to translate that success to the console market.


Topics: Consoles: Xbox 360
Related Games: Stormrise (Xbox 360): Stormrise (PlayStation 3), Stormrise (PC)
Saints Row 2 PC Review
5:55 PM - - 31 Comments
Saint's Row 2 is a big technical stinkaroo according to PC.IGN's 6.3/10 review score:
Saints Row 2 isn't a GTA killer, but it's a GTA alternative. It's tough not to hate on the slightly lacking production values, but when you see the rest of the game it actually makes a bit more sense. The technical shortcomings are the only truly bad part of Saints Row 2, and, sadly for PC gamers, it pretty much kills their experience unless they can play with the bulk of the visual settings turned down or off. Not doing so ruins your gameplay experience. There's enough crazy-insane tomfoolery to keep a machete in the hands of even the most straight-laced citizens, you'll just need a super-computer to even think about running it.

Topics: Games: Action
Related Games: Saints Row 2 (PC)
Aliens: Colonial Marines Has a Story After All
4:56 PM - - 7 Comments
According to Games Radar, Aliens: Colonial Marines will be a lot like Left 4 Dead, but with a story:
The game’s story is being written by Battlestar Galactica’s writers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle and is set after the events of the Aliens and Alien 3 movies. The game not only features the adrift Sulaco, but also the Fiorina ‘Fury’ 161 prison facility and the derelict alien spacecraft from the original movie as backdrops to the action. One aspect of the story that ties neatly into the Aliens universe is the use of the Weyland Yutani Corporation as an over-arching evil, a puppet-master pulling the strings behind the action. Though your immediate survival against the Sulaco’s alien infestation is your primary concern, the game will build in a conspiracy story behind the gunplay. And who knows, maybe an unexpected betrayal.
Topics: Games: Action
Related Games: Aliens: Colonial Marines (PC): Aliens: Colonial Marines (PlayStation 3), Aliens: Colonial Marines (Xbox 360)
Ziff Davis Sells 1UP to UGO, Closes EGM
4:37 PM - - 13 Comments
Gamasutra reports that troubled publisher Ziff Davis has sold the 1UP Network and shut down EGM magazine:

Following repeated rumors to the effect, Gamasutra has learned that Ziff Davis has sold its 1UP division to Hearst's UGO Entertainment, and is shutting long-running print magazine EGM in the process.

According to a statement received by Gamasutra, Ziff Davis Media has now officially announced the sale of the 1UP Digital Network to Hearst's UGO Entertainment division.

The sale includes 1UP.com, Mycheats.com, Gametab.com, and GameVideos.com, and specific financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In association with this, Ziff Davis Media's EGM Magazine, a consumer game print mainstay since 1989, will be discontinued. The January 2009 issue will be the final printed issue.

Thirty staffers have so been let go, so far.

Topics: Games: General News
Related Games: General (Other)
No Demo Plans for LoTR Conquest (PC)
4:12 PM - - 10 Comments
It looks like EA has no plans to release a demo for the PC version of The Lord of the Rings: Conquest:
If you have been waiting for a playable demo for the PC port of Lord of the Rings Conquest, you are officially out of luck. Big Download has learned that the Electronic Arts fantasy action game, due for release next week, will not see a demo released for the PC platform unlike the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles.

Big Download contacted EA's spokesperson for the game at developer Pandemic Studios who told us flat out, "There is no plan for a demo on PC." The spokesperson did not elaborate on why the PC version will not see such a release. A multiplayer demo for the game was released for PS3 owners just before Christmas and the Xbox 360 console got the same demo the day after New Year's Day.

That's a shame. I think PC players might've liked it.
Topics: Games: Action
Related Games: The Lord of the Rings: Conquest (PC)
China's Rehab for Internet Addicts
3:02 PM - - 13 Comments
If you live in China and are addicted to the internet and online games, help is available:

Jia Chunyang, a teenager from the coastal city Qingdao, is a typical patient. Wearing a military-green jumpsuit and hip black-framed glasses, he explains that Counterstrike is his "drug" of choice. A couple years ago his gaming habit – which he indulged at least five or six hours a day – started to seriously affect his life.

"My relations with friends weren't good; I only communicated with them online," says Jia. "I stole money from my family and skipped school. And the games also affected my personality. If I couldn't play for a while, I would feel upset."

He hit bottom in 2006, when he ran away from home and went on a 15-day Counterstrike bender in an Internet cafe. He took breaks for instant noodles and half-hour catnaps, but otherwise went on an uninterrupted shoot-'em-up spree, as his parents searched for him.

Now, at the rehab center, he says he's feeling much better. He was touched by his parents' willingness to come all the way to Beijing to try to address his problems.

He says the toughest parts of rehab are the evening exercises and military training. But he credits the center with helping him regain control of his life. "It's changed me a lot," says Jia, giving him structure, access to counseling, and new friends. "I feel like we're brothers, sharing this different life together ... sometimes I don't want to leave."

Topics: Games: MMOG
Related Games: World of Warcraft (PC): Counter-Strike (PC)
Dawn of War II System Requirements Revealed
2:31 PM - - 4 Comments
Nothing too troubling, though you'll of course require substantially more grunt to enable all the bells and whistles at a high resolution:

Minimum Requirements

  • Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
  • P4 3.2 GHz (single core) or any Dual Core processor
  • 1 GB RAM (XP), 1.5 GB RAM (Vista)
  • A 128MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT / ATI X1600, or equivalent
  • 5.5 GB of Hard Drive space

    Recommended

  • Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
  • AMD Athlon 64x2 4400+ or any Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 2 GB RAM (XP and Vista)
  • A 256MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 7800 GT / ATI X1900, or equivalent
  • 5.5 GB of Hard Drive space


    • Check back Thursday to find out how you can participate in the Dawn of War II beta.

    Topics: Games: Real-Time Strategy
    Related Games: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (PC)
    Street Fighter IV Screenshots
    2:25 PM - - 1 Comment
    Rather revealing shots of Street Fighter IV's Cammy:

    Topics: Games: Action
    Related Games: Street Fighter IV (PC): Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360), Street Fighter IV (PlayStation 3), Street Fighter IV (Arcade)
    Logitech Reveals New Gaming Accessories
    12:14 PM - - 18 Comments
    Pricey keyboard, mouse, surround sound headset and "gaming board" coming to stores throughout 2009:

    The Logitech G19 Keyboard For Gaming - $199.99

    Giving you an arsenal of advanced gaming technology, the Logitech G19 keyboard for gaming is the first Logitech keyboard to feature a color GamePanel LCD. The tiltable, 320-by-240-pixel display provides valuable in-game information for over sixty games, including World of Warcraft (requires installation of included Logitech GamePanel software). In addition to in-game information, the screen can show VoIP communication data, clock, CPU load, or other non-gaming specific items such as pictures or videos. And you can easily switch among types of information – without ever leaving your game.

    Logitech’s newest keyboard for gaming offers 12 fully programmable G-keys with three macros per key, giving you 36 time-saving commands per game. Performing multiple actions simultaneously is also made easier with the keyboard’s multi-key input-functionality, which allows you to engage up to five keys at the same time.

    The Logitech G9x Laser Mouse - $99.99

    Providing precision at any hand speed (up to 150 inches per second on most popular gaming-mousepad surfaces), the Logitech G9x laser mouse extends the promise of the award-winning Logitech G9 Laser Mouse with its next-generation laser sensor. Featuring on-the-fly adjustable dpi from 200 to 5000 dpi, the G9x mouse makes it easy to go from pixel-precise targeting to lightning-fast maneuvers without pausing the action.

    The G9x mouse includes two interchangeable, snap-on grips that let you choose a fit and feel that’s best for your playing style. With more ways to tune for the way you play, the G9x mouse also features onboard memory – program up to five ready-to-play profiles. The weight-tuning system gives you up to 28 grams of extra weight. And custom-color LEDs let you match your G9x mouse to your personal preference – or the colors you choose for your G19 keyboard or G13 gameboard.

    The Logitech G35 Surround Sound Headset - $129.99

    For game-changing immersion, the Logitech G35 headset is the first Logitech headset to offer 7.1 surround sound – a perfect complement to the growing number of action games and high-definition movies that support 7.1-channel surround sound. Powered by second-generation Dolby Headphone technology, the G35 headset simulates the complex acoustics of a listening room, creating a detailed, outside-the-head sound field. Plus, with its proprietary ear-enclosing design, the G35 headset greatly reduces ambient noise from interfering with your entertainment, while an adjustable, noise-canceling microphone focuses on your voice and reduces background noise.

    If you want to sound like your World of Warcraft character or disguise your voice when gaming, you can install the included software to enjoy six voice-morphing options, including cyborg, giant, mutant, space squirrel, troll and alien. If you use popular chat clients such as Ventrilo or Team Speak, the G35 headset includes three G-keys on the left earpiece for one-touch command over voice morphing. Additional on-ear audio controls provide quick access to volume, microphone mute and surround sound adjustments.

    To ensure your headset remains comfortable during long gaming sessions, the G35 headset features three swappable headbands – thin, thick and contoured designs – so you can select the style that fits you best. To enhance sound files recorded in more traditional formats, including MP3 files, the G35 headset uses Dolby Pro Logic II in conjunction with Dolby Headphone technology to create an expanded stereo sound.

    The Logitech G13 Advanced Gameboard - $79.99

    The new G-series products join the recently announced Logitech G13 advanced gameboard, which was just awarded the CES 2009 Design and Engineering Award: Best of Innovations in Electronic Gaming. The G13 gameboard offers a contoured design that complements the natural shape of your hand and fingers. So you don’t have to take your eyes off the screen, the concave keys along the home row make it easy to locate buttons by touch. And for a tactical advantage, the G13 gameboard includes 87 buttons, so you can set up custom button-profiles for each one of your favorite games, and a 160-by-43-pixel GamePanel LCD that shows live game stats, system info and messages from other players.

    Recession?! What recession!

    Topics: Hardware: Logitech
    Related Games: General (Other)
    Saints Row 2 (PC) Steam Release Delayed
    12:10 PM - - 0 Comments
    Technical issues have delayed the Steam release of Saints Row 2 PC, but copies bought at retail can be authenticated through Valve's service without issue:

    I've received some word back and it appears that we have experienced some issues with the Steam client and both THQ and Valve are working on the issue and hope to have it resolved soon.

    This delay does not affect the retail version (in-store) of Saints Row 2 PC, but the game will not be available for digital download off of Steam today.

    Again, anyone who picks up a boxed copy today will be able to authenticate and play SR2 once installed.

    Topics: Games: Action
    Related Games: Saints Row 2 (PC)
    Midway Games Gets Reprieve From Creditors
    11:39 AM - - 1 Comment
    Midway has bought themselves some time in their battle against the debt collectors:

    Midway says it's reached a forbearance agreement with its bondholders that will allow it to delay $75 million in senior note buybacks until February 19.

    According to an SEC filing, the company is also currently negotiating with its remaining bondholders to reach a similar agreement. Midway's expensive buyback obligation went into effect when media mogul Sumner Redstone sold his controlling stake in the company on December 1.

    If Midway fails to repurchase all of the bonds by February 19, it compounds a $90 million loan agreement with Redstone’s National Amusements company and increases total debt to $240 million.

    Topics: Games: General News
    Related Games: General (Other)
    Battlestations: Pacific Screenshots & Trailer
    6:37 AM - - 11 Comments
    Brand new shots and trailer from Eidos' direct-control, action-strategy World War II, genre-melding game:


    Flash HD (56MB) / Flash SD (17MB)


    Topics: Games: Action / Strategy
    Related Games: Battlestations: Pacific (PC): Battlestations: Pacific (Xbox 360)
    Ninja Blade Screenshots
    6:29 AM - - 2 Comments
    Thirteen shots from From Software's Ninja Gaiden clone, Ninja Blade:

    Step into the dark and mysterious world of “Ninja Blade,” where gamers will be given the epic task to defend Tokyo and ultimately humanity itself from a horrific, genetically mutating disease.

    High atop the towering skyscrapers of modern-day Tokyo, Ken Ogawa and his team of skilled ninjas are deployed to destroy the infected monster horde and stem the spreading disease as humanity hangs in the balance. Matters quickly take a turn for the worse as Ken and his team are betrayed from within their own ranks. After narrowly escaping death, Ken is left to fight the daunting battle alone while also attempting to understand the motivations behind his betrayal.

    Armed with an extensive arsenal of specialized ninja weapons, tools and skills including the powerful forces of “Ninja Vision” and “Todome,” players must fight insurmountable odds, and once again bring peace and order to Tokyo.