Ultra Combo News Report 10.05.09: Super Street Fighter IV Announced, Wii Problems With Update 4.2, 100+ PSP Games Added to PSN and More!
Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 10.05.2009
Plus, Trine release date, Modern Warfare 2 DLC, Splinter Cell Conviction Collector's Edition and more!
It is that time of the week again folks! The Ultra Combo News Report is here to fill you in on all of the week's top news. This week I have been really busy, which is why my review for Need for Speed Shift is not up yet. It will likely be another week before I can do it because I hate reviewing a game I am yet to beat and with my time at a premium this past week and a half, gaming has taken a backseat. If you need to read my impressions, well, let's just say it is not a 9 as IGN believed, nor is it as low as a 7 like Gamespot said. I am leaning towards a score in the low 8's thus far (So far I have it around 8.3) and it is a marked improvement over the last 3 NFS games EA has put out. Still, the controls need some work and the physics as well, but I am surprised at how much fun I have had with the game. As for my NCAA exploits I managed to take Penn State from #17 to #2 and managed to beat USC for the National Championship. I went 12-0 for the whole 08 season, but I had a few scares, including a 27-24 come from behind win over the unranked Indiana Hoosiers and a 21-18 win over then #2 Michigan. Still, best $5 I have ever spent. On to the news!
Wii 4.2 Update Bricking Some Systems
The Nintendo Wii has joined the 360 and PS3 in the "updates that kill systems" race. The recently released 4.2 update has apparently bricked a significant amount of systems, although Nintendo states that the systems that experience this malfunction are those that have been modified. The official warning issued with the update stated that "Because unauthorized modifications to data or program files may impair gameplay on the Wii console, updating to Wii version 4.2 will automatically search for and remove such data and program files".
Nintendo has issued a statement in which they state that they will help those who believe their system has not been modified and have experienced the problem. In the statement they encourage Wii owners who have experienced the malfunction to call Nintendo and if they determine that your system has never been modified, then they will repair it free of charge.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: One of the things that the "internet" generation of consoles has allowed the developer to do is to fight piracy directly. Obviously not everyone affected by the system malfunction is a pirate, but I firmly believe a large majority of those cases involve moded systems. I do not want to delve too deeply into the subject because it is a delicate one, but I firmly believe that once you purchase the system it is yours and you should be allowed to mod it or do as you please. However, there are consequences and since Nintendo doesn't (nor any console manufacturer) approve of modding, then you could be excluded from system updates, warranty plans and such and you have no right to complain because you renounced those rights when you opted to mod your system.
100 PSP Games Added to the PS Store
Just in time for the launch of the PSP Go, the Playstation Store has seen 100 or so PSP games made available for purchase. 23 developers have added titles to the store, including Sony and EA. Prices vary per title, with newer titles like Gran Turismo PSP and Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny retailing for $39.99 while older games are retailing for significantly less, including God of War: Chain of Olympus which is priced at $15.99. The first PSP Minis are also part of this 100+ games and so are some new downloadable exclusives, including PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: After reading the names of some of the games made available I realize that the PSP has a better gaming library than people give it credit for. I can name at least a dozen titles that I want to play. However, I still believe the PSP Go is severely overpriced. Still, it is nice to see Sony supporting the system and maybe with good support and a price cut they can make things work.
Details on Splinter Cell Conviction's Collector's Edition have surfaced on the website of Australian retailer JB HiFi. Besides the typical stuff included in Collector's Editions (including a "Making Of" DVD and a 32-page comic book that details the events that transpired between Double Agent and Conviction), the Collector's Edition will feature a Sam Fisher figurine, "exclusive gaming content" and a free download of 2005's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: Not a bad deal at all. Pricing is yet to be announced for US and Europe, but it stands at around $103 in Australia. However, games cost a lot more over there, so I expect it to be priced at around $79.99 when it is officially announced for the US and Europe. For the game, added DLC (that is what "exclusive gaming content" sounds like) and Chaos Theory, that is not a bad deal at all. Conviction looks amazing and after reading more about the game it makes me want to go out and play all the old ones to get up to speed with the series.
Modern Warfare 2 DLC Coming in Spring 2010
Modern Warfare 2 is not even out and already future DLC content for the game is making headlines. Although it had been confirmed that two DLC map packs where planned for Modern Warfare 2, one of them is already set to be released on Spring 2010. That according to promotional material provided by Monster Energy Drinks as part of a contest they are running. One of the items mentions that 5,000 winners will get a downloadable map pack for Modern Warfare 2 that has a planned release date of "Spring 2010".
On related news, Activision confirmed that there will be no pre-release demo for Modern Warfare 2.
[Credit: Gamespot.com] The Beatdown: When news items like this make headlines everywhere, I understand why so many games where moved so that they would not compete with Modern Warfare 2. I mean, we where just told that two map packs will be made available (something everyone expected) and that one comes out in Spring 2010, which is also something we all expected. I mean, getting the first map pack out there 2-4 months after the game came out is not unheard of. Still, this bit of news that people could consider insignificant made headlines all over the place. Overhype? Only time will tell.
More Lawsuits for EA Sports
EA can't catch a break these days. Three more lawsuits have been filed against EA Sports in the last few months. First of all, John Big Dawg Thompson (that is his legal name) has filed a lawsuit against EA Sports. Thompson is better known as the masked leader of the Cleveland Browns' dogpound. He is suing EA Sports for the unlicensed use of his persona in the Madden NFL game. He is seeking $25,000 in damages and that EA is prevented from selling the game or using his persona without his permission in the future.
Meanwhile, Byron Bishop has filed a lawsuit against EA Sports, the NCAA and its licensing arm over EA's NCAA Football and Basketball games. In this class-action lawsuit, Bishop states that EA, the NCAA and its licensing arm are conspiring to violate the NCAA's own by-laws prohibiting the for-profit use of amateur athletes by providing the likenesses (but not the names) of these athletes in the college football and basketball titles. A similar suit was filed by Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller a while ago. The suit states that players in the game have the same number, skin color, hairstyle, height, weight and home state as their real life counterparts.
Finally, a sports management company named Fighters Inc. is suing EA over the illegal use of some of their clients (including Kelly Pavlik and Fernando Montiel) in their Fight Night Round 4 game without Fighters Inc.'s consent and in direct violation of exclusive licensing agreements signed with the boxers. The suit also states that EA has knowingly continued to violate the agreement by pursuing other Fighters Inc. clients like Andre Berto and Andre Ward for use in future DLC for the game.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: EA sure can't catch a break this days. But in all three cases they should have done their homework before signing this licensing agreements or going forward with the games. I bet they did not know that the Big Dawg persona was a registered trademark (it is even part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame) but I am sure that one will be settled pretty easily. The Fighters Inc. one will also be settled pretty easy I think, I guess the company wants a piece of the pie those boxers got and once a number is agreed upon it will disappear. However, the NCAA one is a delicate matter. Either, they go the "fantasy" route and start using entirely fake players or they start paying amateur athletes, even if it's just some tuition money or something. The way I see it the NCAA is getting money out of these athletes without paying them a dime. This only benefits the NCAA and EA while the athletes, many of which will never go pro, are getting screwed out of a paycheck. You can argue that they are getting paid through scholarships, but unless scholarships are modified to include "licensing rights" as part of the agreement, it will still be a violation, since the scholarship basically pays them to play and study, not for their likenesses to be licensed to a third party. This makes the NCAA look more like a villain when they ban athletes who have gotten money from third parties (agents, sponsors) while they themselves are making a lot of money from licensing them away.
New Matt Hazard Game in Development
D3 Publisher has announced a new Matt Hazard game for release this winter. The new title, Matt Hazard: Bloodbath and Beyond will be a 2.5D shooter featuring a host of old Matt Hazard foes and will be available for download on the Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. The game promises the action of an 8-bit classic shooter with plenty of blood and guts.
[Credit: 1UP.com]
The Beatdown: Will gamers give Matt Hazard a second chance? I found the premise very interesting for a new series and I for one will keep my eyes on this one. I hope they continue the laughs from the first game because it was one of the few things that set it apart from the host of other action games. The PSN and XBLA are both full of shooters, so they will need something that makes the game different.
Super Street Fighter IV Confirmed for Spring
Yes, I purposely left the most exciting bit of news (at least for me) for last. It has been confirmed that Super Street Fighter IV is in development and that it will join the mass wave of great games set to be released on Spring 2010. Capcom is promising "about eight" new or returning fighters, balance tweaks, new ultra combos for the SFIV cast, enhanced online play and more.
So far Capcom has confirmed a new character named Juri, who will become the first Korean world warrior and uses an array of Tae Kwan Do kicks. They have also confirmed the return of T. Hawk from Super Street Fighter II. Other rumored characters include Dee Jay, Makoto and Guy, but this are just rumors at this point. Capcom also said that SSFIV will not be compatible online with the old SFIV, but that SSFIV will not be a full-priced game and that they will offer a special bonus for people who already own SFIV.
[Credit: Gamespot.com]
The Beatdown: I can't help it but be excited by this bit of news. Yes, they could have released the new characters as DLC, but what I like the most is that they will revise the game and perform balance tweaks, something that it needs badly. What kind of bonus will they offer for SFIV owners? Will SFIV's costume DLC be compatible with Super Street Fighter IV? Too many questions at this point, but I am really excited for this game and it will be one of the few ones I will actually pick up come spring.
The Quick Hits:
- Trine is finally coming to America! Already out for the PC and on the European PSN, Trine will hit the US PSN by the end of October. I can't state enough how excited I am for this game, since it reminds me a lot of The Lost Vikings, my favorite platformer of all time.
- Activision doesn't learn from their mistakes: They are already bringing in talent to work on DJ Hero 2. The first game isn't out yet! No wonder they are killing the rhythm game market by flooding it with games every few months.
- Apparently the bit of news that stated that Assassin's Creed II will have a bit of sex has caused uproar on the internet. Question: Didn't God of War have sex? Didn't Conan have topless women? Sex is already a part of games as much as it is a part of movies and TV. I don't believe people, they are ok with murdering people in cold blood in a variety of creative ways, but you show a tit and that's a cause for uproar. Maybe the people complaining about it need more tits in their life on the first place!
- Dead Space 2 will be entering production soon. In other news, the sun comes out tomorrow.
- Japanese site Dengeki Online reports that the new episode added to Resident Evil 4: Alternative Edition will be released for the Xbox 360 as DLC, just as I predicted last week. Motion controls will remain Sony exclusive. Why do we get the "crappy" part of the deal as exclusive? Does anyone really want to play RE4 with a wand? Anyone?
- Once again the PS3 outsold the 360 in Japan by a HUGE margin. The PS3 sold 39,960 systems, while the 360 sold 4,860. I DEMAND American numbers! Still, the Nintendo DS outsold the PS3 by a huge margin, since they sold around 69,000 systems.
- The Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time Demo is so large that it is being split up into two different demos. Now I am scared…..will they split the game in two as well?
- Jack Thompson has sued Facebook over the "I Hate Jack Thompson" group that someone created. In the lawsuit he mentions that it has caused him a lot of stress and discomfort among other things. Really, this guy just begs for a sitcom! I mean, I can imagine it now: (Deep announcer voice) "Today, in the life of that whacky Jack Thompson…" SMELL THE RATINGS! Or was that a fart? Who knows? I bet they smell the same.
- One of art directors for God of War III had the brilliant idea of suggesting a first person perspective for the game and got properly ignored. Can we fire this guy before he ruins the franchise for us?
- On a final note: Can you imagine Jack Thompson, Iron Sheik, The Ultimate Warrior and Rhaka Kahn in one sitcom? The world would IMPLODE!
Finish Him!
Sonya Wins!
Until next week folks! Have a great week, play great games, eat your vegetables, take your vitamins and hate Jack Thompson. You know, the every day gamer stuff. If I get sued over that, well, that's why we have Joe Roche on board, is it not?
