The Good The Bad And The Ugly 05.04.09: Sony, TMNT Turtles in Time and More

Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 05.04.2009

With plenty of news to break down, Armando gives us the rundown of what's good, bad and just plain ugly. Rumors of Sony revealing a motion sensing contoller at E3, has got the gaming world talking and it kicks off the biggest news of the week!

Welcome to Week 3 of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report. What a week this was! I was slammed with work from all sides in college and at home, since we are doing some repairs to the house. Couple that with a slow news week and I think this might be the shortest edition of this report thus far. But don't let that discourage you from reading, because among those news we have a couple of blockbusters! Which leads us to…..

Biggest News of the Week: Sony to Reveal Motion-Sensing Controller at E3?

Less than 48 hours after a geyser of speculation erupted about a new PSP reveal at next month's Electronic Entertainment Expo, the Sony rumor volcano is rumbling once again. This time, Variety's game blog, The Cut Scene, is citing "several sources" as saying that Sony will unveil a new motion-sensing controller at its E3 press event on Tuesday, June 2.

Though not the first report of a new Sony motion-sensing controller--Sony filed a series of patents for such technology last fall--the Variety article appears to be one of the first to boast a detailed description from a developer who has seen the device firsthand.

"A good source saw a working prototype several months ago that largely fit what was in the patent. Sony's controller apparently used LEDs (light emitting diodes, essentially little electric light sources) and a small webcam to track the device's movements," reports Cut Scene correspondent Ben Fritz. "Because the camera can read different color lights and the shape and angle of each light, it's much more accurate than the Wii-mote. It can track precise movements, including along the Z axis (pushing toward and away from the TV; something the Wii is really bad at) as well as velocity."

Fritz's source's description jibes with the form factor shown in the patent: a controller that can be broken apart into two halves topped with bulbous sensor arrays. The unnamed developer is also apparently one of a number of game creators who are being asked to work on games specifically designed for the still-unnamed controller.

Credit: Gamespot.com


GOOD/BAD It is a difficult thing for me to judge this bit of news. From a strictly unbiased standpoint I think this is good news for Sony because if it works they have a shot at hurting Wii sales. I mean, the PS3 already does so many things the Wii cannot that if we add up doing what the Wii does better than the Wii we might have a super console. However, the Wii is still a lot cheaper than the PS3 and I have a feeling we will need to pay an additional $50+ for this new controller/gadget/thing and that just adds up on top of the PS3 price, which is a lot of money. On a personal note, I hate this craze for motion-sensing controls. They do work for some things, for example, I loved Wii Sports Bowling, but I don't want to play every single game I have by moving my arms up and down like an idiot. There are very few games that used the SIXAXXIS motion controls effectively. I just hope that this new controller becomes a casual thing and that developers don't start making every game compatible with it or something.


Batman: Arkham Asylum delayed!

When Warner Bros. released The Dark Knight to theaters in 2008, it did so without the seemingly requisite game tie-in, a move that analysts say cost EA $100 million. In kind, Eidos Interactive has said that it plans to launch Batman: Arkham Asylum this summer, meaning the game won't benefit from the hype surrounding a major theatrical release.

Of course, being unattached to a summer blockbuster has its advantages, as Eidos now has some leeway when it comes to Batman: Arkham Asylum's release date. And, according to Game Informer, Eidos intends to exercise that flexibility.

The GameStop-owned magazine's online arm reports today that anonymous sources with knowledge of the game's happenings have confirmed that Eidos intends to push Batman: Arkham Asylum beyond the game's intended summer release window to the fourth quarter of 2009. Previously, the report notes, print advertising and retailer listings indicated the game would arrive for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC as early as June 23.

Game Informer offered no explanation as to why Eidos may have chosen to delay Batman: Arkham Asylum. However, Eidos is currently undergoing a period of significant upheaval, having just been subsumed by Square Enix in April. Therefore, it seems entirely possible that new management could be assessing the game's suitability for release or would prefer to release the anticipated title during the highly lucrative holiday quarter.

However, it also bears mentioning that Eidos has begun ramping up its marketing efforts as if the game were still on target for a June release. In mid-April, the publisher took the lid off of Batman: Arkham Asylum's collector's edition. The following week, Eidos announced that the PS3 edition of the game would receive an exclusive playable Joker, to be used in the game's challenge modes.

The official story: [UPDATE] Shortly following this article's publication, Eidos and Warner Bros. Interactive confirmed that Batman: Arkham Asylum has indeed been pushed back from its previously announced release date. "Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment can today confirm that Batman: Arkham Asylum will be released at the end of summer 2009," the publishers said. "This additional time will allow us to ensure Batman: Arkham Asylum is of the highest quality for gamers."

Credit: Gamespot.com


BAD Arkham Asylum is probably one of the biggest games of 2009 as fans can't hardly wait to get their hands on the title. So it is a sad day for everyone (me included) that was expecting this game, since we now have the vague "at the end of summer" answer instead of the concrete release date we had before. As long as this extra time is used to make sure the game works fine, I am all up for it.

TMNT Turtles in Time coming to XBLA?

Arcades may be more or less dead in America, but that doesn't mean we don't still hold them in fond regard. One of our great arcade memories is playing the amazing side-scrolling beat-em-up Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. It appears fans of the original will be able to experience the game all over again. TMNT fansite Ninja Pizza is reporting that a remade version is not only in the works, but touring the country.

Last week's Galabunga event in New York, which celebrated the 25th anniversary of the beloved Turtles' comic-book debut, included the unveiling of a new Ninja Turtle Party Van. This van, as pictured on Ninja Pizza, includes a two-level demo of Turtles in Time.

According to one of the site's readers who played the game, the gameplay remains true to the arcade original, but the visuals have been redone. The demo includes the "Alleycat Blues" and "Skull and Crossbones" levels.

If true (and there's little reason to doubt the visual evidence), then gamers are in for a real treat with the release of TMNT: Turtles in Time later this year.


Konami had not responded to our requests for comment at the time of publish.

Credit:IGN.com


GOOD: I considered adding a new rating here and calling this AWESOME. Too bad I don't have a 360!! Turtles in Time is perhaps the best beat-em-up of all time and a game that stays true to the original and adds awesome polygon graphics sounds like a real treat to me. Now I just need an enhanced version of that beat-em-up based on The Simpsons.

Sony beats Nintendo in Japan for Second Straight Month

Since last year, the Wii and DS have been the two top-selling platforms in the US, according to sales figures from the NPD Group. However, Nintendo's reign appears to be coming to an end in Japan, where both its console and handhelds are locked in a fierce battle with rival devices from Sony. On the portable front, the PSP beat the DSi on the Media Create sales charts last week, 41,200 units to 37,500 units. However, the DS Lite sold 6,400 units, bringing the total DS sales to 43,900 units.

Less closely contested is the console matchup, which saw the Wii lose to the PlayStation 3 for the second month in a row in April. According to sales figures provided to Reuters by Enterbrain, the industry-tracking company that publishes Famitsu magazine, the PS3 sold 108,530 units in Japan in the four weeks before April 26--down from 146,948 the month before. By contrast, the Wii sold just 67,116 units of the Wii, down from its 99,335 March total--a 63 percent fall from March 2008.

Credit: Gamespot.com


GOOD: I am not pro-Sony or anti-Wii, as I once owned both systems. I am pro-gamer and I think the best that can happen for all of us is for Sony and Microsoft to catch up to the Wii. Nintendo has a special place in my heart, but I dislike the fact that they have abandoned us hardcore gamers. I sold my Wii because I was tired of only having a few games that I liked or wanted and a rest of filler in between. I do appreciate the Big N for getting more people to play games, but they have to strike a balance between innovation, casual play and the hardcore gamer. After all, it is the hardcore gamer that made you famous and gave you all that money to invest on R & R and make the Wii. Maybe if Sony and Microsoft make enough of a dent on their sales they will finally bring back something awesome for us Hardcore Gamers.

Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV coming to PC

After making PC gamers wait for news on PC versions for Resident Evil 5 or Street Fighter IV, Capcom announced on Friday that both games will arrive for the platform this year. The company announced that Street Fighter IV, which shipped for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in February, will arrive for the PC in July. Also in July will be the PC version of Bionic Commando, which will ship on the consoles later this month. Resident Evil 5 will ship sometime later in the year.

Capcom says that all three games will be optimized for the platform and have PC-specific features. The PC version of Street Fighter IV will support higher resolutions and offer three new shaders that give the game unique looks. These looks are based on trailers that were released for the game. So you can make Street Fighter IV a watercolor style, a posterization style, or a sumi-e ink style. Rest assured that Street Fighter IV will also support online gameplay.

Bionic Commando on the PC will also have support for higher resolutions and online gameplay. It will also support both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10.

Finally, Resident Evil 5 on the PC will support co-op play online (just like the console versions). In addition, it will support Nvidia's GeForce 3D Vision technology, which basically allow for a 3D viewing experience not unlike 3D movies. You need to purchase the 3D Vision glasses separately.

Credit: IGN.com


GOOD: Two of the best games released this year are finally coming to a PC near you. Usually, console games that get ported over to PC's are not as good as their console brethren but I have high hopes for these two. If you for some reason missed the boat on the console releases, grab them for the PC and enjoy two of the best gameplay experiences we will likely have all year.

And now, what is quickly becoming a favorite part of the report:

Useless News of the Week: Prince Says No to Guitar Hero

With Guitar Hero: Aerosmith and Guitar Hero: Metallica already out, and Guitar Hero: Van Halen widely rumored, the search is on for the next big musical act to get its own game in Activision's rhythm franchise. One title people can knock off the list is Prince, the rock-funk legend behind such multiplatinum albums as Purple Rain and Controversy and such hits as "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss.

Appearing on PBS's The Tavis Smiley show, the artist formerly known as "O(+>"--real name Prince Rogers Nelson--revealed he had been approached by Activision to license parts of his catalog for the Guitar Hero franchise. By his account, he turned them down outright on principle.

"Well, I ain't mad at them. I hear it made, like, $2 billion and they came to us and offered us a very small portion of that," explained Prince. "But I just think it's more important that kids learn how to actually play the guitar. It's a tough instrument--it's not easy. It took me a long time, and it was frustrating at first. And you just have to stick with it, and it's cool for people who don't have time to learn the chords or ain't interested in it, but to play music is one of the greatest things."

Credit: Gamespot.com


USELESS: First of all, I want to applaud Prince for sticking to his principles. I agree that music is a great thing and people need to learn how hard it is to play a real instrument and all that. But man, we are talking about the possibility of not only making a gazillion bucks from this deal, but also getting more people interested in your music. Playing Guitar Hero and Rock Band I have been exposed to many great artists that I knew nothing about and that I really enjoy today. Artists that have become favorites of mine and have led to me buying their CD's and songs from iTunes. Prince is a pretty old-school guy and this was a great opportunity for him to expand his fanbase to the new generation. Oh well, guess he doesn't like money.

The Reader's Voice:

What is your opinion on Console-exclusive DLC like The Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum? Does it make the game better or worse? Do you think it has an impact on console sales?

Reader Response of the Week: Iron Knee said: Something as minor as a character that's only available for bonus play won't have much impact. The real way to move consoles is to have exclusive games. I bought the Genesis because of Madden, the PS2 because of GTA III, and the Xbox because of KOTOR.

Other Responses:

Big Joey Spade said:I think it is B3YOND (see what I did there?) a good thing. If there is one thing that people like, its having something that someone else doesn't. For those on the console fence, it will persuade them to buy Sony. For those with both a PS3 and 360, it will push them towards getting the PS version. And while not nearly as good as the Fallout DLC, at least Sony owners have something to lord over the Big M boys now.

I think the big TARGET is going to be on the PS3 version. 360 owners will have to sit in their rooms in TERROR thinking about it (that work for you Mark?).


Travis said:While I have always found the Joker to be an awesome character, making him exclusive will not effect my choice. "OH ME GEE! I CAN HAS JOKER!? SIGN ME UP!", hell I want to play as the Joker I will create him in SVR09's CAW mode, grind him up, and then team him with Doink... Just for my own amusement of course.

And a special appearance by 411's own Todd Vote!

Todd Vote said:The thing about the console exclusive DLC, is that we have seen in the past that it never stays exclusive. Look no further than Soul Caliber for proof of that. Console exclusive DLC will only help out in two instances.

One being if there is a game releasing and someone doesn't already own one of the consoles it is released on. For instance if I have yet to hop into the current gen of consoles, and I seen the Batman news, I might at first be tempted to purchase a PS3, since I can play as the Joker.

The other instance where this could serve to benefit the console makers is the rare occasion where someone owns each and every next gen console out there. Something like this may cause them to choose that version of the game over the other.

I don't think being able to play as the Joker is going to cause any 3609 gamers to rush out and purchase a PS3, much in the same way that the GTA DLC wasn't going to cause PS3 owners to run out and buy an Xbox 360.

Well put Mr. Vote. Ladies and gents, don't forget to read The Top 5 every week! That's Todd's baby and I am sort of like a red-headed stepfather for it .

This week's question: Which band or artist would you like to see getting an exclusive Guitar Hero/Rock Band game?

Don't forget that the top answers will become a part of next week's edition of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report!

Goodbye

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