New 'Resistance' stuff? Next week!
11:56 AM, May 31, 2007
It's not the "end of May" as promised, but there will be new 'Resistance' (PS3) content for downloadin' next week (June 7th)...
May 29, 2007
... and Microsoft's secret is a $10,000 table. great.
11:46 PM, May 29, 2007
OK, it's a little past midnight and here's the Microsoft secret... a 10,000 buck interactive table.
I'm going back to bed.
Watch it, here:
Victor: Hey, don't knock it. That table looks pretty cool, especially the way photos spill out of your camera and then can be dragged wirelessly to a cell phone or whatever.
Imagine, when the price comes down to about $800 or so, having your main PC in one room, but then having one of these tables built into your kitchen counter or whatever, just for handling media duties and having it wirelessly networked to your PC.
And it could be a really nifty gaming display, particularly for Xbox Live Arcade-type games. Imagine playing Geometry Wars by dragging your fighter through the level with your finger.
Combine this multi-touch display with a good voice recognition system, and we could be finally looking at the obsolescence of the keyboard-and-mouse combo.
'Halo 3" beta hacks show achivements and reveal levels
5:37 PM, May 29, 2007
Some people just can't keep their hand out of the cookie jar.
Leave it to Halo-nerds to hack the current 'Halo 3' beta and reveal what we all should be patiently waiting for come September... SPOIL IT HERE
Something secret at midnight... and it's from Microsoft
4:20 PM, May 29, 2007
Several of the gadget blogs are buzzing about something super-secret that Microsoft is planning to release, tonight, at midnight.
The rumors say it's from the Xbox/Zune team and will "change the way users interact with technology."
Is it a hoax or a lame product launch?
I'm too sleepy to stay up that late.
One more day and you can start doing this...
11:49 AM, May 29, 2007
... to your cars in 'Forza 2' on the Xbox 360.
Apparently Japan has a head start on us... witness 80+ pages of insanely great 'Forza' customizations.... HERE
Then I found this... via Kotaku:
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Add your comments
Comments
The hiragana on the hood translates to:
Pururun! Shizukuchan
'Roller Coaster Tycoon: the Movie'
10:35 AM, May 29, 2007
I did a double take with this article... read here.
It took me a minute to grasp what I was reading.
May 25, 2007
Beta hell... or heaven?
3:56 PM, May 25, 2007
I'm in the middle of a LOT of beta projects.
'Halo 3' beta (Xbox 360), 'Home' beta (PS3) and 'Warhawk' beta (PS3)... I have a long weeked to kick the tires so I'll update you when I run them into the ground...
HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY WEEKEND!
May 24, 2007
Streaming media with PS3 1.80 update
11:38 AM, May 24, 2007
Looks like you can stream mdia to your PSP from your PS3 and FROM your PC to your PS3. The PSP streaming is very "Sling-boxy" since you can access media wherever you are... or when the PSP finally updates it's firmware.
Here are the details of the PC streaming from Engadget: CLICK
May 23, 2007
PS3 updates to v. 1.80 tomorrow
1:57 PM, May 23, 2007
Kotkau has the details on the PS3 firmware update tomorrow... which includes UPSCALING for old PS/PS2 games and DVD's!
Woo hoo!
info from the lovely Kotaku here
New details on the next 'Guitar Hero'
10:33 AM, May 23, 2007
Activision press-released us today with the deatils about the next iteration of 'Guitar Hero', check it...
ACTIVISION SHREDS NEW DETAILS ON NEXT GUITAR HERO™ GAME
Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Come Out, the Third Installment of Guitar Hero Rocks to A Whole New Level
SUNNYVALE, CA – May 23, 2007 – After warming their amps in the basement garage to rocking sold out shows at Stonehenge, fans of Activision, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ATVI) wildly popular Guitar Hero™ franchise will now be able to shred like never before with the next iteration of the game that will be available this fall. The new game will be released on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Wii™ video game system from Nintendo.
Turning it up to 11, Guitar Hero fans will channel their inner rock god using Gibson Guitar's Les Paul and Kramer models as the industry standard. In addition, players will experience an incredible number of newly added features and explosive content including a new multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a bevy of exclusive unlockable content and authentic rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status.
While continuing to retain all the key features from their prior legendary performances, fresh downloadable content will be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the gnarliest rock songs ever recorded. Delivering more master tracks than ever before, strategic partnerships have been secured with all the major and independent music record labels and publishers to allow unrivaled access to their deep history of music catalogs, along with supplying artists' original recordings for even greater authenticity.
The initial list of face-melting awesomeness includes:
Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)
Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins)
Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)
The Metal (by Tenacious D)
My Name is Jonas (by Weezer)
Knights of Cydonia (by Muse)
Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)
School's Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper)
Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat)
Cult of Personality (by Living Colour)
Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)
For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform. The exclusive Gibson guitars will include innovative features such as removable faceplates that will allow fans to later personalize their guitars and make it their own, and a new button color design that will be integrated for an even greater authentic feel and rock experience. Gibson Guitar's Les Paul model will be the battle axe of choice, and an industry standard for all rock gods on the Xbox 360™, PLAYSTATION®3 system, and Wii™. After much anticipation, PlayStation®2 system fans will also be receiving a new exclusive shape as well, the classic Kramer guitar, also a Gibson brand, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics, and construction for furious finger fretting.
"The development team at Neversoft has been exceptional, and we've been able to incorporate a host of fresh new online and multi-player game play modes, along with exciting content into this version of Guitar Hero that our fans have been asking for. Also, many of the top bands and songs we've tried to get in the past are now on board, and we've definitely got some giant aces in the hole to say the least," said Dusty Welch, head of publishing at RedOctane. "In addition, offering a new line of Gibson wireless guitars for each platform is going to truly add to the authentic rock star experience like no other."
The next iteration of Guitar Hero, published by RedOctane® and developed by Neversoft, is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information about Guitar Hero, please visit the dedicated community site www.guitarherogame.com.
Listen awl yawl, it's Sab-ah-tawaj!
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Add your comments
Comments
Tenacious D!!! No one can destroy the METAL!.
Did you guys already mention that there will also be an 80's version of the game?
Doug note: no, but you did!
US may get 80 gig PS3
10:26 AM, May 23, 2007
(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)... oh... I'm sorry, what was I saying?
Oh yeah, the US may get 80gig PS3's.
Article here via CNET.com.
I'm dozing off again.
May 21, 2007
Someday...
4:52 PM, May 21, 2007
There's nothing quite like a meticulously assembled and overwhelmingly complete video game library for sale on eBay.
This guy's collection of PSone hardware and software is up for grabs for a mere $30,000.
Someday, when my lottery number finally turns up, I plan to build a house with a separate wing for a video game museum, with each console lined up in chronological order, accompanied by shelves of games and accessories. Perhaps I'll include a little description of the system and a list of notable innovations and games. Someday.
In the meantime, I'm surprised none of the big three hardware companies have come up with a lifetime subscription plan, say $10,000 a year or whatever, where you'd automatically get every console, peripheral and game released that year delivered to your door a day or two before the official retail release.
Sure, you'd only have a handful of celebrities and Arab oil sheiks and so forth who could afford it, but it would be an awesome prestige service, kind of like the American Express Black Card .
And the rest of us plebian gamers would all have something to dream about.
Doug note: that kinda looks like my house...
'Need for Speed: Pro Street' details and trailer
12:02 PM, May 21, 2007
CVG has details and a teaser trailer for the upcoming 'Need for Speed' game... looks like more details are coming to NeedforSpeed.com on May 31st.
May 18, 2007
A very cool $30 game...
4:28 PM, May 18, 2007
Sega Rally Revo
4:22 PM, May 18, 2007
One of my favorite old Saturn games makes it to the next-gen on September 4 (360/PS3)...
'Halo 2' vs. 'Halo 3'
4:17 PM, May 18, 2007
GameTrailers.com has a cool comparison between the two... I still think '3' looks better:
May 17, 2007
I know it's cliche, but... OMG!
4:25 PM, May 17, 2007
Not game related, but Yahoo(!) just posted the new exclusive trailer for the 'Transformers' movie... every childhood dream I ever had just came true:
Click the pic to head over to Yahoo...
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Add your comments
Comments
Dammit! Why can't they let us hear the robot's voices!?!? I wish they'd use the voices from my old favorite cartoons...I miss hearing Starscream's scratchy-wimpy voice, "MEGATRON, hold your fire!!!, it's meee..."
Love, Bungie. 'Halo 3' beta impressions.
10:46 AM, May 17, 2007
Last night I was all excited about getting home and starting the 'Halo 3' beta.
I booted 'Crackdown,' clicked the link and got the message that the beta had not yet started. Awwwwwww.
I rushed to Bungie.net and checked the boards and discovered, for some users, there was a trick needed to force the beta to work properly in 'Crackdown.' I was one of those.
Here's what to do if you can't get the beta to download:
From the "system" blade on your 360, select "memory" and choose your hard drive using the "Y' button. Then click "X" "X" "LB" "RB" "X" "X". The prompt will ask if you want to perform maintenance on your hard drive... select "YES. This clears any title updates. WARNING: don't format your hard drive!!!
After restarting 'Crackdown' the new update loaded and I was able to download the 900+ meg file. An hour later, I started the game...
First thing's first, the front end, while obviously beta, looks very nice: simple fonts, flowing scenery, blurry effects and a cool Matchmaking system. It's very high-tech and easy to use.
After you're paired up with players, and the game begins, the real questions are answered.
• How does it look? Pretty good. Not 'Gears of War' good, but good... and some of the graphics look great. There's way more detail and cool elements like blood on the snow, ice that really looks like smooth-melted ice, metal that looks metallic and water that looks like water. It's nice, but not overwhelming.
• How does it play? Fantastic. It's like the 'Halos' of yore, but now seems smoother and more refined. I seriously didn't look up from my TV for three hours; this beta's a blast and completely engrossing.
It's funny how people have already found tricks to exploit the game even in this beta.
It's also funny how every player I met was WAY better than me, even though it was their first time to play the beta. So all you 'Halo' nerds will be able to jump right in.
Now to the bad news: after three ridiculously fast hours, the beta server went down. Kaput. The prompt said the beta had ended and I could buy the game in September. HUH?
Hopefully when I get home tonight it will all be back up. I really hope so, because the beta ends June 10th. That mean I only have a more weeks to figure out how NOT to come in last place.
May 16, 2007
Halo 3 Beta download from Crackdown now working
10:32 PM, May 16, 2007
As of 10:30p CT the downloadable Halo 3 Beta appears to be working. I was playing Crackdown and noticed I got disconnected from Live. When I tried to reconnect, there was a new update available. I did that, checked back in on Crackdown and there she was! It's a whopper of a download though. 911.18 MB. And apparently no downloading in the background! Now, I sit and wait and fire up my PS3....
Victor update: Finished downloading last night around 1 am, and got busy cracking some skulls. It took awhile to get used to some of the new controls, such as tapping the shoulder buttons to reload and using X for the bubble shield and other equipment, but overall I think the changes are improvements.
The three maps were fun and big, almost a little too big for some of the smaller matches. The graphics, though, were a major letdown. Bungie has apparently indicated that what we see in the single-player mode will be prettier than the multi-player, since they want to avoid any lag during online gameplay (and they did, at least in the beta). But, man, I kind of wondered at first how Halo 3 had ended up on my GameCube.
'Killzone' beta, maybe
11:19 AM, May 16, 2007
Kotaku points out that there should be a 'Killzone' coming soon for the PS3.
I participated in the original beta, so this doesn't seem to be too much of a stretch.
'Halo 3' beta not working via Crackdown
11:15 AM, May 16, 2007
If you wanted to join the 'Halo 3' beta via our copy of 'Crackdown', you're outta luck... at least for a while.
The Xbox Live servers aren't working correctly.
Bungie knows about the problem and are posting updates on their News section of their site HERE
The only reason to buy a Zune...
11:03 AM, May 16, 2007
I'm an avid iPod and Apple fan, but I'm also a complete dork. This will make me buy a Zune:
Microsoft releases Halo 3 Launch details
11:01 AM, May 16, 2007
The date is announced....the hype begins to swell.....
When can you get it? Tuesday, September 25th...a worldwide launch
May 15, 2007
Awful things to do on a guitar... Super Mario
2:52 PM, May 15, 2007
808Mel's comment led me to find these:
Stop it, all of you!
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Add your comments
Comments
I think the best ones have to do with Zelda. Especially when the music involves a piano or violins.
Proof below:
Texas Gamer Review - Guitar Hero II (Xbox 360)
12:52 PM, May 15, 2007
360 owners finally get their chance to Rock. I think it's time to put away my PS2.
Doug note: Watch when Marc jumps in the air and fails to hit the note... AWESOME! (snicker snicker)
Coming to a symphony hall near you... NERDS! (just kidding)
12:03 PM, May 15, 2007
Hey, this is coming to Dallas:
Video Games Live™ is an immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time. Top orchestras & choirs perform along with exclusive video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique interactive segments to create an explosive entertainment experience!
Video Games Live™ features the best music and exclusive synchronized video clips from the most popular games from the beginning of video gaming to the present. Games include:
Mario™, Zelda®, Halo®, Metal Gear Solid®, Warcraft®, Myst®, Final Fantasy®, God of War™, Kingdom Hearts, Castlevania®, Medal of Honor™, Sonic™, Tron, Tomb Raider®, Advent Rising, Headhunter, Beyond Good & Evil™, Splinter Cell®, Ghost Recon™, Rainbow Six®, EverQuest® II and a special retro Classic Arcade Medley featuring over 20+ games from Pong® to Donkey Kong® including such classics as Dragon's Lair, Tetris, Frogger, Gauntlet, Space Invaders & Outrun!
I don't really know any of those songs... well, kind of 'Donkey Kong.'
Uh, 'Pong'? I can't play that song on my CasioTone.
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Add your comments
Comments
WoW! This should be a cool experience. I have fun browsing the various renditions of my favorite video game music on youTube.
New updates for everything (well, not really)
10:25 AM, May 15, 2007
Looks like there is a lot of fixing and patching in the works:
• PS3's MotorStorm gets patched and new game modes on June 7: details here
• The Xbox 360's HD-DVD player has it's own Spring-time update to make it Spring-time fresh: details here
• And the rumored June PS3 2.0 update seems to be a hoax: details here
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Add your comments
Comments
Don't know where to put this, but there are also a couple of things going on with Nintendo right now.
1) Next week in Seattle, Nintendo is apparently going to have a press event where they will be showing off games that are slated to come out later this year (Super Smash Brothers and Metroid Prime 3 are likely candidates, hopefully Super Mario Galaxy will also appear)
2) Nintendo Power magazine is going to shut down in September, at least in print form. It was a staple of my childhood (along with magazines EGM and GamePro). It is rumored that the magazine could show up as a Nintendo channel on the Wii Menu.
Doug note: good call... was about to mention the sad Nintendo Power news.
May 14, 2007
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword. DS Demo
2:27 PM, May 14, 2007
pb! user "Revolver" alerted us to this clip... a very cool DS edition of 'Ninja Gaiden' in demo-form and also part of the time/space tear that occured last week:
Anyone else feeling a little nervous about Halo 3?
12:11 PM, May 14, 2007
Bungie had a big bang planned for the rollout of the Halo 3 beta this week, starting with press events last week to let gamer journalists try out the multiplayer goodies before the unwashed masses.
But the feedback from the bloggers and reviewers who attended the events has been pretty mixed. In fact, I'd say this is a bad sign for Microsoft, given that the game is less than six months away from its full retail release and the Xbox boys really need a system-selling hit to deflect the ongoing national obsession with the Wii.
Granted, Halo 3 will sell a bajillion copies just because it's Halo. But Halo 2 (particularly the single-player campaign) was seen as -- and in fact was -- a letdown from the first game. If Halo 3 proves to be a disappointment in any way, the franchise could begin to lose some of luster.
I think the problem might be simply that Bungie is taking way too long to make this game, a problem I touched on in my column this week.
After all, Halo 2 came out in 2004, and the three-year gap has led gamers to expect something revolutionary from the third entry.
Here's hoping Bungie can deliver.
May 10, 2007
Did some hole tear open in the Universe?
5:58 PM, May 10, 2007
Months of nothing good then 10,000 cool gaming things happen in one day:
• Xbox 360 Spring Update
• EA announces Simpsons game: info here
• Limited edition Simpsons Xbox 360: info here
• 'NCAA 08 Football' screenshots: info here
• This:
• 'Calling All Cars', 'Forza 2' demo, 'Nascar 08', huge Sega announcement... you name it!
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Add your comments
Comments
You forgot about Tecmo showing off some new games, the biggest of which was Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword for the Nintendo DS. It is fantastic looking and apparently blew many people away when they saw the game up close. You can find a video of the game in motion at gamevideos.com
'Calling All Cars' finally available
5:55 PM, May 10, 2007
David Jaffe's follow-up to 'God of War' is now available on the PlayStation Store for your PS3. Go get 'Calling All Cars', now. Right now.
pb! post #300!!! Now let's see some 'Nascar 08'...
5:50 PM, May 10, 2007
We just posted our 300th entry... now, take that Tony Stewart...
That Lambo is dynamite!
5:44 PM, May 10, 2007
Check out this bulletproof Lambo from 'Forza 2':
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Add your comments
Comments
Is Kurt Russel (A.K.A Stuntman Mike) driving that car?
Crackdown gets awesomer
1:47 PM, May 10, 2007
A look at some of the new gear coming to Crackdown.
There's a mammoth chunk of downloadable content coming for Crackdown in the next few days.
Check out all the deets at Major Nelson's blog, but my faves:
*God mode -- give yourself unlimited ammo, super abilities, drop in vehicles and items wherever you want (100 explosive barrels on top of the gas station, for example).
*Nail gun -- Pin bad guys to walls, cars, dumpsters, whatever. Apparently, there are actually achievement points for nailing enemies to moving cars.
*Invisiblity -- Think of the Predator's shimmering camoflauge, good for sneaking and infiltrating.
The first batch of bug fixes will be free, as will some of the additional content, while the best stuff will cost 800 points.
Sign me up for another tour.
Storms and Microsoft make me sad: 'Forza 2' demo out now
11:07 AM, May 10, 2007
I had huge storms bashing my house for hours last night, otherwise I would have turned on my 360 and download the 'Forza Motorsport 2' demo that went live at 1:00 am (my time).
I also have been reluctant to download anything else to my old Xbox since Microsoft has YET to send me my transfer kit (it's been 2 weeks!!) for my Elite system!! ARGH!
I can only visit the Forza boards (here) and read what others are saying :(.
May 9, 2007
NiGHTS pics
10:38 AM, May 9, 2007
Screenshots of 'NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams' (Wii) have been floating around for a few weeks. None on the official Sega site, but everywhere else... in case you haven't seen them: here's some for ya!.
I know there were some people that enjoyed the "on-rails" gameplay of the original game (me) and some that wished it was more "free-roaming;" it looks like this new title might be more of the latter.
I wouldn't mind the "on-rails" stuff again.
OK. Now it's live: Xbox 360 Spring Update
10:18 AM, May 9, 2007
May 8, 2007
Xbox 360 Spring Update?
2:52 PM, May 8, 2007
Did the Spring Update for the Xbox 360 release yet?
I was in juty duty. Anyone, anyone?
Doug Note: Nevermind, it's June 6th.
Doug Note: It IS this week: details here. That picture over there (as Chris pointed out) is from 2006. I knew it was supposed to be this week.
So is it out?
Permalink
| Comments (1)
Add your comments
Comments
Well, it was released on June 6th last year, since that's the release information for last year's Update...
Doug update: OMG! You're right... it is this week!!!
I want this to be good... but...
12:14 PM, May 8, 2007
Kotaku has new details on the limited "Cybertron" edition 'Transformers' game for the Xbox 360.
I really don't want to spend $70 on a paperweight. Fingers crossed it will be worth it, cuz you know I'm spendin' the cash. And so will 80 million other people.
May 7, 2007
Texas Gamer - XBOX 360 Elite First Look
12:52 PM, May 7, 2007
Should you run out and upgrade to an Elite if you are an existing 360 owner?
May 2, 2007
Sorry about the dead goat.
11:51 AM, May 2, 2007
Dear Sony,
Press releases should never need to include the following phrase:
"We recognise that the use of a dead goat was in poor taste and fell below the high standards of conduct we set ourselves."
In the future, marketing events should include fewer semi-decapitated farm animals.
That is all.
May 1, 2007
'Burnout Paradise'
2:11 PM, May 1, 2007
Where's the crashin'?
'Driver 76' (how is this a PSP game?!)
2:08 PM, May 1, 2007
Premium 'Gears of War' map pack out Thursday
2:00 PM, May 1, 2007
- New 'Resistance' stuff? Next week!
- ... and Microsoft's secret is a $10,000 table. great.
- 'Halo 3" beta hacks show achivements and reveal levels
- Something secret at midnight... and it's from Microsoft
- One more day and you can start doing this...
- 'Roller Coaster Tycoon: the Movie'
- Beta hell... or heaven?
- Streaming media with PS3 1.80 update
- PS3 updates to v. 1.80 tomorrow
- New details on the next 'Guitar Hero'
Movable Type 4.1