The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report 06.22.09: Activision Leaving Sony, No New Xbox 360 in 2010, Mortal Kombat Back to M and More!

Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 06.22.2009

411’s Armando Rodriguez discusses Mortal Kombat 9, Activision dropping support of the PSP and PS3, Splatterhouse being moved to 2010, the prices for both DJ Hero and Band Hero and more! Check out the full column for all the details!

Welcome to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report! I am your ruggedly handsome host Armando Rodriguez ready to bring you a recap of this week's top news. This week was a bit slow in terms of top news, so this entry might be a little bit shorter than usual. However, this week will also mark the debut of a new feature inside this report that I call The Random Rant. The title speaks for itself folks; it will be a small (or large, depending on how involved I get in it) rant about something that's on my mind. Of course, it will be game related and maybe it will spark a reader debate in the comments section, which is always fun.

So what am I up to this week? Believe it or not I am still playing InFamous trying to get the always elusive Platinum Trophy. Also I have been playing a bit of PixelJunk Monsters since I purchased the Encore add-on and never finished it. Finally, I have finished Restaurant Empire II's story mode and can now concentrate on writing the review, which will be up this week (hopefully around the same time you are reading this).

But before we begin I have something to ask out of my readers: Please, DO NOT flood Mark Salmela's B3YOND The Report to ask Shaqy how Kobe's ass taste. I repeat, DO NOT (In other words, go out and do it! NOW!) do this. It will piss him off tremendously…and amuse me greatly.

Biggest News of the Week: Activision To Stop Supporting PS3, PSP in 2010?

Despite a growing user base for the PlayStation 3 and PSP, Sony recently reported a total net loss of $1.03 billion , its first since 1995. The news came on top of previously announced job cuts and vast restructuring, while its flagship console, the PS3, continues to lag significantly behind both the Xbox 360 and the Wii in worldwide unit sales.

Now it looks like things might be taking an even greater turn for the worse for Sony. Speaking to The Times of London, Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick threatened to pull support for both the PS3 and the PSP as early as 2010, saying that the return on creating games for the platforms isn't as good as on competing systems.

"I'm getting concerned about Sony; the PlayStation 3 is losing a bit of momentum and they don't make it easy for me to support the platform," he said. "It's expensive to develop for the console, and the Wii and the Xbox are just selling better. Games generate a better return on invested capital on the Xbox than on the PlayStation."

"They have to cut the price, because if they don't, the attach rates are likely to slow," he continued. "If we are being realistic, we might have to stop supporting Sony." When asked about a time frame he said, "When we look at 2010 and 2011, we might want to consider if we support the console--and the PSP."

Kotick's recent statements aren't the first time he's called for a price cut to the current generation of consoles. In November 2007, he told a Reuters Media Summit that all three consoles need to be priced under $200 by 2009 if they want to continue pursuing mass-market adoption.

Activision Blizzard is weathering the current global economic crisis with aplomb, having reported a $189 million profit on revenues of $981 million during its January-March quarter. The publisher's rhythm franchise Guitar Hero also continues to perform, with Kotick describing the series "as big as Titanic with better margins." The franchise is soon to be bolstered by the upcoming release of turntable-equipped rhythm game DJ Hero, which is due to be released on the Xbox 360, PS3, PlayStation 2, and Wii later this year.

[UPDATE] Sony didn't stray from the company line in issuing a response to Kotick's statements. "PlayStation has tremendous momentum coming out of E3, and we are seeing positive growth with more than 350 titles slated to hit across all our platforms, including many anticipated games from our publishing partners," the publisher said in a statement. "We enjoy healthy business relationships with and greatly value our publishing partners and are working closely with them to deliver the best entertainment experience."
Credit: Gamespot.com



UGLY: Activision is one of the biggest third-party developers/publishers *thanks to Guitar Hero and COD* and if they pull support from the PS3 it will encourage other publishers to do the same. To be honest *and I am a PS3 owner and supporter* Sony has brought this upon themselves. They should have cut the price on the PS3 a year ago and stop making stupid business decisions *such as pricing the PSP Go at $250*. It's time to do something to increase console sales and that something is cut the damn price. I know a LOT of people who want a PS3 and the only reason they have settled for the Wii or 360 is because they can't afford a PS3. If Sony cuts the price to say, $250 I bet it will see a big surge of console sales. The thing that is killing Sony this generation is their arrogance and reluctance to give in and do what they know they have to do. They have this mentality that they are #1 and eventually people will realize that and buy their console. Well Sony, it's not working! Time for a change of strategy!

Microsoft Denies New Xbox 360 Coming Next Year

What we heard: Earlier this month, Microsoft unveiled Project Natal at its press event at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Though eager to show off its motion and emotion-sensing capabilities, developers such as Kudo Tsunoda and Peter Molyneux carefully avoided any mention of a release date. The closest thing to such an announcement was the mention that Natal dev kits are already in the hands of third-party developers, with Bungie and Epic Games being specifically named later on during the expo.

This afternoon, though, the Internet lit up with reports of a new Xbox 360 which incorporates Natal's camera. All those reports stem from a single source, an article on tech blog TG Daily. Under the banner headline "Ballmer announces 2010 Xbox 360 at The Executive Club Chicago," the site reported that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had let slip that "a new Xbox 360 will hit the store shelves in 2010" at a presentation at the Executive's Club of Chicago.

However, the quotes above are the words of the TG Daily correspondent Wolfgang Gruener, not of Ballmer. In fact, the famously energetic executive is only directly quoted via two jumbled fragments with a grand total of five words. TG Daily's story reads as follows, with Ballmer's quotes in bold:

"The new device will be equipped with technology that is 'really, really, close' to an actuality. The console, which was described as having a 'natural interface,' will have a built-in camera with the ability to recognize movement and voice."

As further evidence, TG Daily refers to its own live blog of Ballmer's presentation--which curiously doesn't mention the Xbox 360 at all. Despite noting such critical events as a lunch break, the two bloggers (who are not credited in the byline) make absolutely zero mention of games or the word "Xbox." The closest the live blog comes to describing anything Natal-like is the following line: "Computers have cameras built in, you can interact with friends, the computer recognizes what you are doing."

Indeed, nowhere in either article are the words "Project Natal" mentioned, raising the possibility that Gruener confused the release of the peripheral--expected next year--with the launch of a new Xbox. What appears to be the sole article on TG Daily to mention Natal by name was written by a different correspondent, who cites a secondary source speaking about a widely discounted rumor of a new Xbox 360 with integrated Natal functions arriving next year.

The official story: When asked about Ballmer's response, Microsoft reps said they did not currently have immediate access to a transcript or recording of the executive's speech. They did, however, offer the following somewhat opaque comment:

"As the Xbox team stated at E3 two weeks ago, we are not even halfway through the current console generation life cycle and believe Xbox 360 will be the entertainment center in the home for long into the next decade. Project Natal will be an important part of this platform, but we have not confirmed a launch date at this time."

Bogus or not bogus?: Draw. TG Daily's lack of specifics or direct quotes raises some Soviet-era-sized red flags. But if Microsoft has nothing to hide, why can't it deny the claim outright?

[UPDATE] The director of Xbox 360 product management and Xbox Live Aaron Greenberg has since dismissed the TG Daily story, telling the gaming blog Kotaku flatly that, "We're not going to be launching a new console any time soon...I really believe [Ballmer] was speaking about Project Natal."

Greenberg went on to underline Natal's status as an optional, standalone peripheral. "We are saying that the Natal will run on the Xbox 360, so there's no new hardware to purchase," he explained. "What we're doing that's unique is, instead of asking you to invest in a new generation of hardware, a generation that's already well established, extending the experience even longer by adding this whole new category of experiences with Project Natal."
Credit: Gamespot.com



GOOD: Good for Microsoft. Support the console you have, forget about new models. However, I still believe we will see a new 360 BUNDLE next year. That is, the same 360 console bundled with Project Natal, which is not a bad idea at all. Perhaps with such a bundle they will encourage Wii fans to make the move to 360. The good news *I hope* is that it won't change the console's functionality at all, so it will not make current Xboxes obsolete and those that want to get into Project Natal just need to buy the peripherals instead of having to upgrade their entire system. Good business move for Billie Gates.

MS Game Studios Chief Defects to EA

Earlier this month, John Schappert presided over Microsoft's jam-packed press conference, which saw the unveiling of Crackdown 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Halo Reach, and the motion-sensing Project Natal. Ironically, supervising the event would be one of his last duties as corporate vice president in charge of Microsoft Game Studios and Xbox Live.

Today, in a shock announcement, Electronic Arts announced that Schappert has been hired to be the third-party publisher's chief operating officer. If that sounds familiar, it's because his job before going to Microsoft was as an executive vice president at EA overseeing its company-wide development and online efforts. Prior to that, he was COO of EA's worldwide studios.

"We are thrilled to welcome John Schappert back to EA," said EA CEO John Riccitiello in a statement. "He has a great track record as a leader and innovator in our industry. His years of experience with EA and in Microsoft's Xbox business provide him great insight into recognizing what consumers want." For his part, Schappert said, "I've got EA in my blood."

Schappert's appointment as EA's COO is doubly surprising, given his predecessor's high profile as of late. Just last week, ex-EA COO John Pleasants presented the company's agenda at an investor conference where he revealed the existence of Battlefield 3 and Criterion's takeover of the Need For Speed series.

As for Pleasants' fate, EA's announcement said only that he would "be leaving the company." However, a near-simultaneous press release touted the executive's new gig as CEO of Playdom, a social-gaming service that makes titles playable on Facebook and MySpace.

Schappert's departure also echoes that of current EA Sports president Peter Moore. The longtime Microsoft corporate vice president and tireless Xbox 360 promoter also left the software giant for EA shortly after touting the Xbox 360 at an E3 presentation (back in 2007).
Credit: Gamespot.com

BAD: Yes, slow news week, I am even covering executive moves! Anyway, this one is bad for Microsoft because Schappert was doing a good job. Just look at how Microsoft has become #1 in the console gaming market and how Xbox Live is leaps and bounds ahead in terms of being the best online gaming service *although I would NEVER pay for it. That's why I have a PS3* I still recognize how great it is. As for EA this is nothing short of great news and I hope this move leads to more quality titles for us gamers.

Next Mortal Kombat To Be M Rated

Last year's Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe represented a huge departure for the Midway fighting franchise. Not only did it devote half of the game's roster to the comic book maker's star heroes and villains, but it also toned down the series' violence level in order to get a T for Teen rating.

No more. In a series of posts on his Twitter page, Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon confirmed that the next installment of the series (referred to as Mortal Kombat 9 for the time being), will go for the jugular.

"People want an M-rated MK," Boon said. "Dammit, we will give them an M-rated MK."

The post came shortly after Boon discussed a motion-capture session being done for the game's special moves and fatalities. It appears the designer is pushing his own comfort zone with the new fatalities, as he referred to them as "sick," before musing, "I hope we aren't taking these too far."

An M-rating would certainly preclude the game from being a sequel to Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, and Boon confirmed that Mortal Kombat 9 would not feature any superheroes. When asked by another Twitter user if the motion-capture session was for a new game or rumored downloadable characters for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Boon joked they were actually "for the next MK9: Attack of the Nuns: Get in the Habbit!" (sic)

Whatever shape the next Mortal Kombat takes, it might be some time before gamers get to see it. Earlier this month, Boon posted that the game is "over a year away." Similarly unknown is who the game's publisher will be. Midway recently declared bankruptcy, and while Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has put in a $33 million bid for most of the company--including the Mortal Kombat license--other bids can be submitted until later this month.
Credit: Gamespot.com



GOOD: Wow, it is such a slow news week that we are covering Twitter posts! By the way, did you know that you can follow us at www.twitter.com/411Games? Or that you can follow me at www.twitter.com/411Armando? Now you now! Anyway, back on topic *after my shameless plug* this is great news. Finally MK is going back to its gory, violent roots and I can't wait for more info on the next MK *although I am sure Midway will be done by the time it comes out*. Although I found it funny that Mr. Boon had to talk like a 13-year old teenager to get the message across.

Splatterhouse Moved To 2010

Namco Bandai's revival of Splatterhouse has been, well, kind of messy. After announcing the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game as in development at California-based BottleRocket Entertainment in May 2008, Namco Bandai abruptly pulled the studio off the project in February 2009. After a slap-hands exchange between the two companies, Variety reported last month that Namco Bandai had picked up a number of ex-BottleRocketeers to finish the project.

As could be expected, the tumult has had an adverse effect on the game's expected ship date. Originally announced as a 2009 release, Namco Bandai has confirmed for GameSpot that Splatterhouse is now due sometime in 2010. Namco Bandai declined to comment on whether the game would be an early- or late-year release.

Though it is an update of the original gross-out arcade beat-'em-up released in 1988, Splatterhouse features an original storyline by comic-book scribe Gordon Rennie (Judge Dredd, Necronauts). Players assume the role of a college student in search of his kidnapped girlfriend and subsequently happen upon a mask that confers great power--and an insatiable bloodlust.
Credit:Gamespot.com



BAD: I know this game is likely going to suck, but I still wanted to play it this year. The old Splatterhouse titles where a guilty pleasure *Not good at all, but I just could not stop myself from playing them* and I know this new re-invention is going to be similar. Plus, with the lack of a new MK title this year I need something with gory violence and people's heads getting ripped off.

Namco Museum Coming To PSN

The PlayStation 3 has been on store shelves since November of 2006, yet some two-and-a-half years after launch, it lacks a version of Namco Museum, the publisher's ubiquitous franchise of arcade classic compilations. That oversight is being rectified, as Namco Bandai this week announced Namco Museum Essentials for the PlayStation Network.

Set for release next month, the downloadable compilation will include the original arcade editions of Pac-Man, Galaga, Dragon Spirit, and Xevious. In addition, Namco Bandai is including Xevious: Resurrection, a newly remade version of the top-down shooter for which the publisher promises a high-definition facelift and "enhanced gameplay for today's refined shoot 'em up audience."

To help promote the game, Namco Bandai is also launching its own PlayStation Home destination. Set for a simultaneous launch with the game, the Namco Bandai destination will feature a "virtual arcade" with sample versions of the Essentials games and an assortment of 50 collectible Home items.
Credit: Gamespot.com

GOOD: I don't give a crap about Home. Seriously, I have more fun in YoVille! On Facebook than I do in Home. Still, as long as they sell this for $5 I will get it. Some great classic games and an HD-upgraded Xevious sounds great. Anything more than $5 is too much, because we have played all of these games before *they have come out for every console imaginable* and only one title is HD-upgraded. Why nobody has come up with a new HD Pacman or Galaga is beyond me.

Prices Revealed For DJ Hero, Band Hero

In Activision Blizzard's pre-E3 investors conference call, CEO Bobby Kotick set a goal to get gamers who might have spent $50 on the company's products in the last console generation to spend $500 on them this time around. Recent product listings on Amazon.com and GameStop's online store suggest a few ways the company is trying to reach that goal.

The gaming retailer is currently accepting preorders for DJ Hero (complete with turntable peripheral) for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation 2 with a $119.99 price tag attached. There is some dissension on the PS2 edition of the game, as Amazon.com currently offers the turntable bundle of the game for $99.99. While Guitar Hero gamers have become accustomed to a price break on the Wii editions of the franchise, no such benefit will be extended on DJ Hero if the retailers' listings prove accurate. It's worth noting that Activision's other title sporting a brand-new peripheral this year, the skateboard-equipped Tony Hawk: Ride, is also listed for $119.99 on both GameStop and Amazon.

Even some of the company's tried-and-true peripheral-based products are seeing a price hike. While prices on Guitar Hero 5 are comparable to those of last year's Guitar Hero World Tour, GameStop's product pages for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii Band Hero bundles--which include a drum kit, guitar, and microphone along with the game--all carry a $199.99 price point. (Amazon lists only the stand-alone version of the game at present.) When it came out, the World Tour bundle included the same basic components and a $189.99 price point.

Finally, GameStop and Amazon indicate that Activision is planning a collector's edition of the much-anticipated Infinity Ward shooter Modern Warfare 2. Scheduled for release on November 10 alongside the standard editions of the game, Modern Warfare 2 Collector's Edition for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 carries a list price of $79.99. Unfortunately, the product page contains no information about what gamers will be getting for the extra $20 above and beyond the standard edition's $59.99 price point.
Credit: Gamespot.com



BAD: There is a trend in the industry to find ways to charge $100 for anything this days and these news are no exception. I think that DJ Hero's price is pretty fair, but why is Band Hero $10 more expensive than the other Hero games? Prices seem to be going up instead of down these days. Also I would have priced Tony Hark's Ride at an even $100 since it is a new franchise and you NEED people to try it and buy it over the Skate franchise. As for the Collector's Edition of Modern Warfare 2, I will not comment until I get details on what extras it brings. Too many collectors' editions these days only bring a few pieces of crap and they charge you $20 for that.


No Useless News this week, so we are moving directly to our new feature, The Random Rant.

The Random Rant:

During this week's Games Top 5 (which you should go check out immediately) we talked about crossovers and plenty of them had something to do with Mortal Kombat in it. I talked about how awesome it would be to have Street Fighter vs Mortal Kombat and how cool it would be for Sony to license Kratos as an exclusive bonus character for the PS3 version of the next Mortal Kombat. That got me thinking about characters from other gaming franchises, movies, books, cartoons, etc. that I would love to see in the next MK game. So in the first edition of The Random Rant, I will randomly rant (how's that for a pun?) about characters I would love to see in the next MK. I already mentioned Kratos in the Top 5, so I am not going to mention him again here.

Wolverine: After playing the X-Men Origins Wolverine game and seeing how bloody, violent and awesome it is I really want to see Wolverine in Mortal Kombat. Really, the obvious blade/claw duel with Baraka is a no brainer, but using him to rip people to shreds would be such a treat. Of course, the problem is finding a reason for him to be in the MK tournament in the first place, but that's up to the MK team.

Altair: Yes, the dude from Assassin's Creed. He can use swords, bows, throwing knives and the hidden blades. He can also move really quick, climb stuff and basically be a pain in the ass. He could be MK's version of Vega. Of course, being an assassin would lead to some inventive fatalities.

Darth Vader: The only way we could get to see a truly violent, ruthless Vader is in MK. The Star Wars fighting games (ok, game) never explored this area. One of his fatalities could be choking someone to death until his head blows up or cutting people into tiny pieces with the lightsaber. The options are endless.

Cole: Yes, from InFamous. Think of all the cool electricity-based crap he could do. We could make him Evil Cole and have him feud (MK-wise) with Raiden. One of his fatalities could be sticking someone with an electric grenade and shockwaving him into the air, where he would blow up into tiny chunks and unleash bloody rain. Or he could suck all their energy (like Shang Tsung's soul stealing fatality) and then use it against their already dead body by unleashing a thunder storm on them.

Hannibal Lecter: I really don't know how he would fight. But just imagine the cannibal-esque fatalities he can unleash. Eating brains, cutting out their guts and cooking them, sick crap like that.

Sonic: OH GOD PLEASE! The only reason I want him there is so I can do everyone's fatalities on him.


Well, that's a wrap on the first edition of The Random Rant.

The Reader's Voice:

Last Week We Asked: What old-school (8-bit and 16-bit) franchise would you like to see resurrected in modern consoles?

Dogpound7382 says; Castlevania. It looks like its going to happen!

Yes, it looks like it and I hope this one turns out to be good. Castlevania fans deserve it.

Travis:In quasi-3d, and with online multiplayer...
Bring back Rampage to it's former glory...
Destroying my home city with Lizzy was a blast, I want to do it again...

Oh yes! I loved Rampage World Tour on N64 but after that the franchise became crap. I would love that they made a new download-only game for PSN and Live Arcade.

This Week's Question: Which video game/movie/comic book character would you like to see make an appearance in the next Mortal Kombat?

Once again the top answers will be a part of the next edition of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report!

Goodbye:

That wraps up this week folks. Remember to bookmark us and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/411games. If you don't bookmark us, you will get copies of Stalin vs Martians as Christmas presents! OH THE HORROR! Save yourselves now and bookmark us!