Sega has just announced that they will be releasing several classic Genesis games on XBLA. Among the announced games are many fan favorites such as Shinobi, Comix Zone, Altered Beast, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Phantasy Star II, and Sonic & Knuckles. Sega announced that all the games will have re-worked graphics, and online leaderboards. Each game will be released separately, however there’s no word on when each game will be released. Interestingly enough Sonic & Knuckles will have the “lock-on” feature which allowed gamers to play as Knuckles in Sonic 2 & 3, making it available for the first time to everyone since the original, no word on how this will actually work however.
If you really want to play these Genesis games and can’t wait for them to be released there’s Sonic’s Genesis Collection which is out now for a bargain price of $30.
A few major announcements were made as to the new features to be highlighted in NCAA Football 10 for the XBox360 and PS3 versions on EASports.com:
As in previous years, each platform will have a different cover athlete; XBox360 – Micheal Crabtree (Texas A&M WR), PS3 – Brian Johnson (Utah QB), PS2 – Brian Orakpo (Texas LB), and PSP – Mark Sanchez (USC QB). The Wii cover will still have an arrangement of mascots.
College football is about school pride, and in NCAA Football 10 the all-new Season Showdown mode. In this mode, fans claim loyalty to a school and every game, (online, head to head, or single player) accumulates credits. Players can also get credits by playing new web-based games. The credits are tallied in a nationwide competition to see which school has the most support.
Another new feature available this year is an online create-a-school mode called Team Builder. In this mode, similar to previous year’s create-a-school mode, players will be able to create their own school, team colors, uniforms, stadiums, etc, with surprising detail. Everything from whether or not you want names on the jerseys to what kind of stripes you want on your helmets. There will be several NCAA FCS (Football Championship Subdivision or Div 1-AA) logos that will allow players to create those teams and have them play with the big boys, but if those logos aren’t enough, you can upload your own logo to use. One major thing that separates Team Builder from other create-a-school modes is the fact that this entire thing works online, meaning you don’t need the game, or a console for that matter to create your own school. You can create as many as you want and even browse other people’s schools for their designs. Once created, the schools can also be downloaded onto your console and used in your dynasty, season, exhibition games.
Here is the ful list of PSN content for may 7th 09 along with pricing.
Playstation Store Update MAY 7th 2009
Qore
Qore Annual Subscription
– May 2009 ($24.99) QoreEpisode 12 – May 2009 ($2.99)
Downloadable Games
Puzzle Quest Galactrix
($19.99)
PSone Classics – PS3 / PSP
Bowling
($5.99)
R-Type Delta
($5.99)
Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!
($5.99)
Game Demos (free)
Savage Moon Demo
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Demo
(coming Friday)
Add-on Game Content
BUZZ! Quiz TV: Rock Legends ($7.99)
LittleBigPlanet Norse Mini-Pack
($2.99)
Disgaea 3: Gig
($1.99)
Disgaea 3: Revya
($1.99)
Disgaea 3: Soul Nomad Set
($3.99)
Digaea 3: Raspberyl Chap.1
($2.99)
Digaea 3: Raspberyl Chap.2
($2.99)
Digaea 3: Raspberyl Chap.3
($2.99)
Digaea 3: Raspberyl Chap.4
($2.99)
Disgaea 3: Raspberyl Chap.1-4
($11.99)
Guitar Hero World Tour
Ferret/Metal Blade Track Pack (free) – Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring “On Broken Glass” by Chimaira, “Dez Moines” by Devil Wears Prada and “Grave of Opportunity” by Unearth.
Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library with these song game tracks.
“Do You Want To”— Franz Ferdinand ($1.99)
“Lucid Dreams”— Franz Ferdinand ($1.99)
“Take Me Out”— Franz Ferdinand ($1.99)
Franz Ferdinand Pack 01 ($5.49) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Franz Ferdinand Pack 01. This pack includes: “Do You Want To,” “Take Me Out,” and “Lucid Dreams” by Franz Ferdinand.
“Smooth Criminal”— Alien Ant Farm ($1.99)
“Blue Sky”— The Allman Brothers Band ($1.99)
“Midnight Rider”— The Allman Brothers Band ($1.99)
“Drain the Blood”— The Distillers ($1.99)
“Naked Eye”— Luscious Jackson ($1.99)
“Idealistic Types”— Prong ($1.99)
“The Banishment”— Prong ($1.99)
Sonic Unleashed Mazuri Adventure Pack
($2.99)
Street Fighter IV Alternate Costume Pack
($12.49)
Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. – US Eagles Pack
($4.99)
Trivial Pursuit TV Pack
($4.99)
Wheelman: Free Street Showdown
(free)
Wheelman: Premium Street Showdown Pack
($4.99)
Game Videos (free)
PULSE 5/7 Edition
(free)
inFAMOUS: Power Trip Trailer
Killzone 2: Steel & Titanium Pack Video
PATAPON 2: Build Up Your Army Trailer
SOCOM FTB3 Announce Trailer
Alpha Protocol Gameplay Walkthrough #1
Magic Ball Booster Pack Trailer
Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom Booster Pack Trailer
The rumor wheels are turning already from the Sony event in Sydney. There is now new speculation that the upcoming Ghostbusters video game (which was canceled then picked up again after the third Ghostbusters movie was set to go into production) will be available exclusively for the three Sony platforms. The team from Sony is alledigly working with Atari to help publish and distribute the title. It is still not set in stone whether the title will be released on the XBox360 or Nintendo Wii, but personally, I hope it doesn’t.
One of Sony’s problems is the lack of PlayStation exclusive games. With Final Fantasy becoming a cross platform phenomenon, Sony is left without a real power hitter that is exclusively theirs. I’m not saying that the Ghostbusters game will mirror any type of sales that FFXIII will undoubtedly make, but it could be the beginning of Sony’s attempt to acquire more exclusive licensing.
Video game website 1UP has revealed that a new PSP is in the works that is called “PSP Go!”. The hardware seems like it will remain the same, however the body of the system will change to a “slide up” style rather then the wide body of the current PSP. Also the rumor says that the UMD slot will be gone and that the system will be able to download its games from online. Supposedly the PSP Go! will be in two variation: 8 gigabyte and 16 gigabyte and that it will be released around holiday time.
Keep in mind everyone this is a rumor, Sony has not announced such a system so we will have to wait and see what they say. Personally I don’t want to get my hopes up (it is Sony we’re talking about) but the concept seems pretty cool, and hey even I’d potentially pick up one. So how about you? Think it’s true? and if so do you think I would sell, especially in the current economy?
As the world experiences the swine flu in various areas differently, we can not help but wonder if it can be poked fun at just a bit? What we have for you here are online games with the purpose of either to kill the infection, or spread it. You may catch the Swine Flu but try and steer clear from it….. however if you do it won’t be from these games.
As many of you know, the release date for Final Fantasy XIII was pushed back when the announcement of the franchise including the XBox 360 for the first time. Also, as many of you know the Japanese version of the game releases generally about half a year before the US version does, and then it takes several more months before the UK and other European versions are released. Well according to PS3center.net, the UK release will happen around the same time as the US version is released. Producer Yoshinori Kitase mentioned how they are taking needed steps to eliminate the time difference between the US and UK release dates stating:
“For example we have already started recording English voices, and also the text localisation has been in progress, too. Normally we complete the Japanese version first, then move on to the US and EU versions, but this time there are some tasks that are happening simultaneously. So this time we’re hoping to release sooner than a year later than the Japanese release.”
I have no problem with them moving the UK date closer to the US date, in fact it has absolutely no impact on my gaming experience once so ever, however, I am still agitated over the fact that the original release date for the PS3 was pushed back when they announced the incorporation of the XBox360. In my opinion, especially since the Final Fantasy franchise has been exclusively for PlayStation, I feel that the PS3 version should have been released when planned and have the XBox360 version release at a later date. Many other games have separate release dates for different platforms so why was this game treated so differently?
The only light at the end of the tunnel that I can find for this is that with the extra year of development in the XBox360 version, there is plenty of time to fix all possible bugs and glitches in the PS3 version, in turn, eliminating them in the XBox360 version as well. I am expecting an absolutely flawless game when it is finally released in 2010, and honestly, anything less than that would be like the new Guns N Roses album, waiting all this time just for a disappointment.
The first promo video of Red Steel 2 has shown up on youtube to the surprise of many gamers. Although it was known that Red Steel 2 was in the works for some time now, little was known about the title, until now. The video shows off both gun and sword gameplay, using the Wii-motionplus and though it’s difficult to tell from the video the game will most likely be smoother and play better then the first title. Also the game notably seems to take place in a more sci-fi world whereas the original was in modern day Japan.
For those of you who might have missed the first don’t worry, you didn’t miss much, the game was widely criticized for its clunky use of the Wii-mote and it’s sub-par production values. While the gaming community shunned the title, there were some like me that were sympathetic, the game launched with the Wii so the system was obviously new and developers were still getting used to building a game around the unique controls. So hopefully the team behind the game has learned (a lot) about how to make a game for the Wii that works. The game is supposed to be released Q4 2009.
I found this bit of news from several sources including websites like The Cut Scene and Joystiq. It seems that Sony has a patent on a motion-sensing controller and the speculation is that the industry giant will be showing off their new toy at E3 in the coming weeks. Interestingly enough the patent suggests that the controller is camera based and the movements will be tracked by LED lights on the controller. All of this means that Sony’s new hardware will be more accurate than the Wii’s Wii-mote.
Now I’m all for industry growth but this really seems like a direct copy off of Nintendo’s idea. It seems like Sony has read some of the big N’s sales reports and decided to jump on the “motion bandwagon” in hopes of getting their sales up. One can argue who has more quality games but when broken down to the numbers Sony’s machine is in third place, no questions asked. So do I blame Sony for trying something new to stimulate sales? No. But I do think Sony needs to find their own ideas rather than copying off of Nintendo’s, I’m not trying to be a Sony basher but the PS3 has yet to offer me something that really stands above it’s competitors and if all they can offer “new” is a copy of the Wii-mote then that just solidifies my stance on them. What do you think? Is Sony making a cheesy copy of the Wii-mote or are they making something that will really be an evolution in gaming?
Hello lvlone users! My name is Melissa and I was offered the opportunity to be a guest writer for this website due to a few factors, a major one being that I’m a girl. Yes the fact that I’m a girl and play games might seem shocking to some, but you’d be surprised as to how many of us are taking part in the once guy-dominated world of games. I’ll be using my unique point of view to write about a variety of topics on video games with a particular focus on how they affect relationships, so pay attention and you just might learn something that can help you with the opposite sex.
This entry will be geared towards the ladies (I know your out there!) and for the guys if you want to get some inside info. We all know relationships are a tricky thing. Maybe you’re interested in a guy or even going out with one who is a gamer, their hobby might seem childish to some but most surveys show that the average gamer is in his early 30s, so not to worry; when you learn about this little fact about your guy, he’s not necessarily immature for his age. Gaming has become a major source of entertainment and it’ll continue to be so for a long time, so it might be a good idea to be open to your special someone’s hobby…and who knows maybe you’ll like it yourself.
Getting into gaming might mean investing some time and effort in the interests of your significant other. There’s always something new and seizure inducing in the gaming realm, so why not look into it? Chances are you’ve been exposed to the likes of Mario and his often under appreciated brother Luigi, the wicked bow and arrow skills of an agile Link, or in my case, the unbelievable sucking power of a pink, round, bubble thing named Kirby (seriously, what the hell is he?). There’s no harm in wiping off your old system if you’d had one as a kid and poppin’ in a cartridge or two. Now if you didn’t own a system back in the day try investing in a few dollars for a used previous gen console like a Gamecube or an Xbox, both of which can be found for under $50. In fact, it’s my belief that by playing some games yourself you just might ignite or reignite that gamer spark and feel compelled to partake in more geekery with your boyfriend.
With some background in gaming you can even surprise your special someone by making it a sensual affair. Why not engage in a tournament of Super Smash Brothers Brawl strip tease? First one to get pummeled off screen loses their shirt, pants, socks, well you get the idea. This little bit of fun can be done with any game really, especially Halo and Gears of War, since chances are your guy friend plays these games a lot. If Brawl or Halo seem too complicated for you, retro style games, many of which are downloadable off of Xbox Live, Nintendo Virtual Console and Playstation Network might be more to your liking and can offer the same adrenaline rush that can be shared between the two of you. Games like Alien Hominid, Bomberman Live, and Castle Crashers are simple to learn and play. If my aforementioned reasons to grab a joystick weren’t compelling enough as it is, then just imagine the throbbing boner you’ll give your boyfriend once you start talking about curb stomping someone…how can you deny him that?
