The Select and Start News Report: 02.04.08
Posted by Vincent Chiucchi on 02.04.2008
Jack Thompsons defends Mass Effect (WHAT?!), a 120GB PS3 could be coming, various EA news, and more
Welcome to the Select and Start News Report. Sorry for the shortness, but college has been sucking the life out of me and it's been a relatively short news week.
Big News
[credit: Kotaku, Joystiq]
So as we all know by now, Fox News fucked up their reporting on Mass Effect and have yet to apologize or retract any of their statements. Meanwhile, as Kotaku's Brain Crecente was talking to Jack Thompson about how Jack plans to go after Grand Theft Auto 4, Brian asked him what he thought of this whole Mass Effect controversy. You'd think with Jack's history with video games he'd sound like Fox News, but Thompson he finds no problem with Mass Effect at all, and "The guy who shot his mouth off about it had no idea what the Hell he was talking about.". It's assumed he means Kevin McCullough, the journalist who basically started this crap.
Wow. Just wow. You know you've really fucked up when even Jack Thompson himself thinks you're an idiot and he's right about it.
I SO FREAKING CALLED THIS! [credit: GameSpot, 1UP, ArsTechnica]
So first we heard news about Best Buy not carrying anymore 80GB PS3s once they're sold out, which would leave the 40GB PS3 as the only SKU available. But now we've got news that there could be a 120GB PS3 coming according to supposed insiders of GameStop and Sony. The 120GB (or even 160GB) PS3 would be bundled with the DualShock 3 and sell at the same price of the 80GB.
A 120GB PS3? Swell. Just swell. I hope this system really does last 10 years, because how many PS3s are you going to make Sony? Or better yet, how long are you actually going to stick with one before you change you mind? It's almost like how Apple decides to release about a dozen different iPod model and how I felt stupid for getting the Mini three months before the Nano killed it. If I get a PS3 now, how do I know Sony won't release something better and cheaper about a year later?
EA STUFF AND STUFF [credit: Evil Avatar, Gamasutra, GameDaily, GameSpot]
Plenty of news related to the "evil empire" this week.
-The guys behind Fight Night will be making a new boxing game, only this one is an over-the-top arcade style boxing game, called Facebreaker. Facebreaker will be released on the big three consoles later this year.
-One fighting game they aren't going to be making is their Marvel one, because both EA and Marvel have agreed to end the licensing deal. Considering that the last Marvel fighting game they made was the mediocre Rise of the Imperfects, this might be a good thing.
-EA has announced holiday quarter results of $1.5 billion in sales -- the largest in its history, driven by sales of Madden, Rock Band and The Simpsons, but losses of $33 million, and delays for Battlefield: Bad Company and Mercenaries 2: World in Flames to an undetermined time after spring.
GIANTS WIN THE SUPER BOWL! [credit: Manning and the Giants]
The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in last night's NFL Super Bowl XLII, 17-14. The Giants are both number 1 in both the fact they are the first (and last) to defeat the Patriots this season and they are the number 1 team in the NFL. Best play was definitely when it looked like Eli was going down, but escaped and threw that amazing pass that got them near the 20-yard line. A lot of people were doubting that the Giants were going to win (though I don't really blame them), but they've overcome the odds and defeated the New England Cheaters.
A really amazing game that will go down in sports history. I couldn't be more happy to be a Giants fan.
[credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
After a few weeks of hearing ridiculous lawsuits, this one seems at least somewhat legit. California-based Buzztime Entertainment, an electronic trivia game company often used in bars and restaurants, is suing Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for violation of trademarks relating to Sony's "Buzz!" games, including it's tagline "It's time to get buzzing!". Buzztime doesn't actually own the trademark to the word "Buzz", but have trademarked similar phrases including "Buzztime," "Buzzhead," "Share the Buzz," and "Buzzkids." Buzztime claims that Sony's use of the words will confuse consumers into thinking the Buzz games are associated with Buzztime and seek actual and punitive damages, legal fees, and a rejection of SCEE's pending Buzz-related trademarks.
It looks like Buzztime was right in suing them, but since they don't actually have the word "Buzz" trademarked, so really, I don't know. Sony will probably have to pay them unless they decide to suddenly change their franchise name.
Tidbit News
-Blueside today announced that they will team up with Phantagram to co-develop Kingdom Under Fire II, a game the developers are describing as a Massively Multiplayer Online Action Real-Time Strategy. The game is set to be released in 2009. [credit: GameDaily, GameSpot]
-Take-Two has settled with lawyers on the Hot Coffee class action lawsuit. Those who jumped on the sue-happy bandwagon can recieve a compensation of up to $35 in cash. I bet you $35 they use that money to buy Manhunt 2. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-STILL haven't got a Nintendo DS? Starting on February 10th, the DS will have another color available: Cobalt/Black. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-Take-Two Interactive and developer Firaxis have announced that the previously announced Wii version of Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution has been put on "indefinite hold" as work is concentrated on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo DS versions. [credit: Gamasutra]
-Remember Tyrone Spellman, the man who killed his 17 month old daughter because she accidently knocked over his Xbox 360 during a game in 2006? The man has been convicted of third-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child, facing up to 47 years in prison. [credit: Destructoid, Kotaku]
-This February in Japan, the Wii's Virtual Console will start carrying Sega Master System titles, the firsts being Fantasy Zone (at 500 points) and Fist of the North Star (at 600 points). [credit: Gamasutra]
-CNet has recently named Ricardo Torres as the new GameSpot Editor in Chief, the position held by Gerstmann until he was supposedly canned over the Kane and Lynch review. In an interview with GameDaily, Torres wants to regain the trust of those still willing to give GameSpot a chance. [credit: GameDaily, Joystiq, Gamasutra]
-Rockstar's Dan Houser said in an interview with Yahoo that they are expecting controversy to arise with the release of Grand Theft Auto 4. Uh, yeah, because that's what Rockstar's games are sold on and they do that on PURPOSE! [credit: Joystiq]
-Majesco's Cooking Mama franchise has now reached the 1.6 Million unit mark, with 1 Million being the original DS game, and the other 600,000 split between the Wii game and the DS sequel. Majesco is also releasing a Wii sequel later this year. [credit: GameSpot]
Gaming Calendar
February 5th - Devil May Cry 4, regular and collector's edition, to be released
February 8th - The Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition to be released
February 12th - Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney to be released
February 26th - Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors to be released
March 2008 - WiiWare service to be released?
March 4th - Army of Two to be released
March 8th - God of war: Chains of Olympus to be released
March 9th - Super Smash Bros. Brawl to be released
March 11th
-Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates to be released
-Condemned 2 to be released
March 25th - FFVII: Crisis Core to be released
April 25th - Grand Theft Auto IV to be released
Spring 2008
-Heroes of Might and Magic Kingdoms to be released
-The World Ends With You to be released
2nd Quarter 2008 - Metal Gear Solid 4 to be released
September 2008 - LittleBigPlanet to be released
October 9-13 - The Tokyo Game Show 2008 to be held
Fall 2008 - Resistance: Fall of Man 2 to be released
Weekly Smash Bros. Roundup
Everything about Smash Bros has just about been revealed by now, and you can check it all out on Brawl Central or the many, many videos on YouTube. So with that, I think this is the end of my Weekly Smash Bros Roundup. Now I'll be sitting here and waiting patiently for March 9th to arrive.
