The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report 07.20.09 Rock Band Getting User Made Tracks, Madden 2010 Details and More!

Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 07.20.2009

Plus, Microsoft opening retail stores, new PSP bundle and Marvel vs Capcom 2 release date!

It's that time of the week again folks! Time for The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report. I am sad to inform you that this is yet another slow news week, or maybe I just got used to the many big news we had in the weeks leading to E3. I am going to make this intro short and sweet since I am in a bit of a hurry, rushing through multiple tasks at once. That's what happens when you are juggling games writing, college and future career opportunities at the same time. So to get us started, here are the Top 5 things I did during the week:

5. Curse at the TV because Trash Panic is so F****** hard!!

4. Listen to news about the H1N1 Virus in PR. People are buying masks and hand sanitizers like crazy!

3. Curse at my ISP for dropping my internet connection just as my download of Battlefield 1943 was at 99%. Then they made me wait TWO DAYS to get it back on.

2. Study like crazy for three tests FROM THE SAME CLASS in the span of one week.

1. Troy Glaus is up to a HOT start on my new MLB The Show Dynasty. .426, 5 HR, 13 RBI in the first 11 games! Then he goes down with an injury diving to make a play at third. So I CURSE at my TV again! God doesn't like it when you curse. So in the very same inning, Ryan Dempster kills Pujols with a fastball to the head and gives him a concussion. How's that for bad luck?

Biggest News of the Week: Rock Band Gets User-Made Tracks!

I am a big Guitar Hero fan, but it is very hard to be optimistic when Rock Band has the best feature set. Now it looks as if indy bands worldwide will be able to bring their songs to Rock Band thanks to the Rock Band Network and the XNA Creators Club. By using the Reaper Digital Audio Workstation (valued at $225), artists will be able to upload their master tracks and add note charts for every instrument. Then they can upload these tracks to the Rock Band Network as part of the Xbox 360's XNA Creators Club (which also requires a fee). Other club members will review the track and if it gets final approval, it will go up for sale. Users can sell their tracks from anywhere between 50 cents and $3 and will receive a 30% cut of the sales.

The tracks will be exclusive to the Xbox 360 for 30 days, but will eventually find their way into the Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]


GOOD: It is hard to predict the amount and quality of user created content we might get from this service, but it will give independent artists an opportunity to bring their songs to Rock Band and promote themselves. We have seen that songs on these video games see their sales increase and artists like Bang Camaro have become overnight sensations based on their Rock Band success.

Microsoft Retail Stores Opening This Fall

In another step towards world domination, Microsoft will be opening their first retail stores this fall. Microsoft COO Kevin Turner confirmed that they will have the first wave of stores opening "right next door" to Apple Stores, followed by a second wave of openings in 2010.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]


GOOD: I have to say good to this news. Yeah, it might seem that Microsoft is trying to dominate the world, but I think that since Sony and Apple have their own store chains it is only fair for the Big M to do the same. Plus, this might lead to more competitive prices. I just hope that prices stay low, unlike my local Sony Style that sells the same things as Wal-Mart, just more expensive.

Madden 2010 Goes Gold, Demo Coming This Month, Madden PC Discontinued

Here is a collection of news items regarding Madden 2010. The game is scheduled for release on August 14th, 2009. The game has already gone gold, meaning that it will meet the scheduled release date.

A free demo version will be made available for download on the PlayStation Store and XBLA on July 30th. The demo will feature a snowy game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. People who pre-order at GameStop will receive a Super Bowl demo, pitting the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Arizona Cardinals. The GameStop demo is more extensive, allowing for 4 five minute quarters of football.

Madden 2010 will be released on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2 and PSP. The series has been officially discontinued on the PC.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]


GOOD/UGLY: The GOOD part here is that EA will release a free demo that everyone can try out, instead of forcing people to pre-order the game in order to get access to the demo version, which was stupid. Although the last Madden I have played was back in 08 (and prior to that back in 04) I am looking forward to some of the new features. The UGLY part is that the PC version was discontinued. That literally leaves PC gamers without any NFL football titles to play. As an owner of Madden 99 and Madden 2004 for the PC I feel really disappointed. It seems that PC games are getting scarce (unless they are MMO) and if EA discontinued Madden, a guaranteed seller, we might see the same for NHL and NBA Live in the near future.

Marvel vs Capcom 2 PSN Release Date

PS3 owners will need to wait two extra weeks for Marvel vs Capcom 2. The game is set to be released on XBLA on July 29th, but PS3 owners will see it release on the PSN on August 13th. The game will be available for download for $15.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]



GOOD: What? You expect me to complain about waiting two weeks? Not really. I have Battlefield 1943 and about 5 other PSN games on my platter right now. I can afford to wait two weeks. Besides, we mocked 360 owners when we got the playable demo before they did, so I guess this is payback. Hey, at least we are getting the game!

New Assassin's Creed PSP Bundle

Here we go! Yet another PSP bundle is coming in the form of the Assassin's Creed bundle. Set for release in November, the PSP bundle will include a PSP-3000, Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, a 2GB Memory Stick and an unspecified UMD movie. The bundle will sell for $199.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]


GOOD: This is another great reason NOT to invest $250 on the PSP-Go. I mean, for $50 less you get a PSP with a game, memory stick and a movie. There are so many good PSP bundles out there that I don't see a reason to spend more on a PSP-Go and I guess Sony is killing themselves with that.

The Random Rant

Are strategy guides relevant anymore? I ask myself this question because I know someone who works at GameStop and he was telling me that sales of strategy guides are at an all-time low. I mean, you don't have to be a genius to figure that one out. The internet is replacing strategy guides. There are so many FREE, user-created strategy guides at sites like Gamefaqs that anyone who pays $15-$25 dollars for an "official" strategy guide is nuts. I understand the need for strategy guides on certain games. For example, finding all those hidden objects in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was a real pain WITH the guide at hand, imagine how it must be without it. But do fighting games need strategy guides? A friend of mine purchased the guide for Street Fighter IV with the game. There was NOTHING in that guide that wasn't available for free on Gamefaqs. NOTHING! Imagine how he must feel knowing that he paid $22 for that guide.

Back in the day, guides for all types of games sold well because we didn't have access to the internet. But on this day and age everything we need to know is a few clicks away. It's like cheat code books. Does anyone purchase those anymore? Of course not!

So let us take a few minutes to remember the days of yore, when strategy guides meant something besides a waste of cash. Hopefully, you will remember enough to answer this week's reader's voice question!

The Reader's Voice

This Week's Question : What is the best/worse strategy guide you have ever purchased?

The top answers will be a part of next week's edition of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report!

Goodbye:
The following is a public service announcement from the B3yond Team:

Remember to say your prayers, eat your vegetables and BUY TARGET TERROR


Remember to check us out again next week. Now I better leave and finish that half-eaten jelly donut I got from Shaqy as payment for this week's announcement. Until next week!