The Select and Start News Report: 10.14.08
Posted by Vincent Chiucchi on 10.14.2008
E for All not doing as well as last year, Suda51 announces No More Heroes sequel, Halo 3 Recon announced, more Xbox 360 Blu-Ray rumors, Starcraft 2 split into three games, and more!
I find it really baffling how so many morons on YouTube can actually be fans of the Irate Gamer. Really, if the Irate Gamer can have such loyal fans for his half-assed reviews, maybe I should take up angry game reviewing so I can sell low quality DVDs and horrible looking t-shirts.
Big News
E FOR ANYONE WHO BOTHERS TO SHOW UP [credit: GamePolitics, GameDaily, Gamasutra]
The 2nd annual E For All Expo drew only 15,000 people this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center, less then the 18,000 they drew last year. This number pales in comparison to PAX 2008's 58,500 attendees and Blizzcon also having 15,000 while selling $100 tickets. The biggest problem was that out of all the major game publishers, only Microsoft, EA, and Ubisoft was at the event.
Ever since E3 folded many conventions were trying to become the next E3, and IDG World Expo figured to start a new one where E3 used to be. While many conventions started to see their numbers rise, the new E For All expo is seeing it's numbers decrease. With major publishers not interested in the event, I think it's time for IDG to just pack it up with the E For All Expo
ANOTHER CHANCE TO KILL SIR HENRY MOTHER FUCKER [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
Despite No More Heroes being a highly praised Wii game, it didn't sell as well as Suda51 (Goichi Suda) hoped. However, it hasn't stopped him from working on a...
Hi, I'm Dolph Ziggler!
Er, hi Dolph. Anyways, Suda51 announced at the Tokyo Game Show that No More Heroes is getting a sequel once again for the Wii subtitled "Desparate Struggle." The expected release date will be somewhere around early 2010.
I met someone at my school who said they beta tested the game, and mentioned that the game was going to get a sequel. I dismissed as a rumor up until I saw the NMH2 trailer. According to him, the story line is that Travis is now the #1 Assassin, but then he does something completely stupid that makes him lose his ranking. So in order to get it back, he once again has to work his way up against a new array of bosses. I'm not sure if this follows right after the first game or is some kind of AU story, but whatever the case, another No More Heroes game is fine by me, though it would've been more interesting if it was coming out to the DS like others thought because of those initials.
SO APPARENTLY THE FIGHT ISN'T ACTUALLY FINISHED [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily, 1UP, GameSpot, The Escapist]
Bungie and Microsoft announced at the Tokyo Game Show that a "standalone expansion" game for Halo 3 will be coming out in late 2009. Instead of playing as Master Chief, you play as a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper) in the Halo universe during the events that take place before Halo 3, and apparently he'll be guided by the "Superintendent." The press release says the game will require you to employ more elements of stealth and cunning now you're playing as an ODST rather then the famous spartan. Bungie PR Director Brian Jarrard says the game is not a full, entire game like Halo 3, and you don't need Halo 3 to play this one.
A Halo game where you don't play as Master Chief? Somewhere out there, a group of fanboys are about to incite a riot. Anyways, since this isn't going to be a full game, I think this will be a downloadable only title ranging from $20 to $30 and won't add anything new that gamers will find interesting enough to replay this time and time again over the original Halo 3.
MICROSOFT AND BLU-RAY: WILL IT ACTUALLY HAPPEN? [credit: Gamasutra]
Ever since Blu-Ray won the HD disc war, people have been wondering if Microsoft is going to implement Blu-Ray for it's Xbox 360, whether as an add-on or part of a new SKU. Microsoft's response to this has usually been along the lines of "we're thinking about it" and "we proprably won't." Now a report has surfaced from hardware publication X-Bit Labs says that the Xbox 360 is going to get a Blu-Ray drive, with the price rumored to be from $100-$150. Microsoft made no comment about this story.
It would seem like a no brainer for Microsoft to have an add-on for Blu-Ray, but at the same time, Microsoft seems to support the growing digital distribution market by having NetFlix movies downloaded directed to your Xbox 360. So if you wanted to see HD movies, would you really need Blu-Ray discs if you can just download it? I don't think Microsoft is going to support Blu-Ray anytime soon, if ever.
STARCRAFT 2: THE TRILOGY [credit: The Escapist, Joystiq, 1UP, Destructoid]
Blizzard announced that their long awaited sequel to Starcraft is actually going to be a trilogy, with each race getting their own game. The first to be released will be Terran: Wings of Liberty, followed by Zerg: Heart of the Swarm, and Protoss: Legacy of the Void. The reason for this is because Blizzard really wanted to tell the huge epic story of the game, and it wasn't going to be possible with just one game. Each game will feature 26-30 missions and multiplayer will not be affected at all.
Oh boy. Usually when I hear trilogy for a game series I always think back to other "trilogies" that never did well, usually because the first in the series sucked so bad that a trilogy never existed. Plus if each game is going to be a big stand alone title, odds are the whole series is going to cost you about $150 if released separately. Starcraft is one of the most popular PC games of all time, but I can't imagine why you'd spend that kind of money to get the whole set.
Tidbit News
-The EA horror game being made by Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil creator) and Suda51 (No More Heroes creator) will be using the Unreal Engine 3. [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
-Silicon Knights stated last week that it laid off 26 of their employees. Silicon Knights says that "After any big game ships, there is often some attrition. To that end, Silicon Knights temporarily laid-off 26 employees while they ramp up on other projects. These 26 individuals are hard-working and valued team members that we hope to bring back as we ramp up on our future projects." [credit: Evil Avatar, GameDaily, Gamasutra]
-Microsoft and Namco announced that Tekken 6 will be heading to the Xbox 360 in Fall 2009, simultaneously with the PS3 version. The game will feature over 40 new and returning characters. [credit: Gamasutra, GameSpot, GameDaily]
-Square-Enix is working with bio-sensors manufacturer NeuroSky to create a new game (or at least a demo) that you control with brainwaves. A game you play using brainwaves? Where have I heard that before...
[credit: Gamasutra, Destructoid]
-Back in May, Microsoft indicated that any Xbox Live Arcade title scoring below a 65 percent score average on Metacrtitic, and with a 6 percent or lower trial conversion rate, would be delisted after a three-month grace period. But with the upcoming New Xbox Experience coming soon, Microsoft may no longer be delisting titles from XBLA. [credit: Gamasutra]
-When asked by The Mercury news if the Xbox 360 price cuts was because Microsoft had run out of ideas to boost sales, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard anybody say. All consoles start at higher prices. They always come down through the long cycle." [credit: GameDaily]
-Want to import the DSi when it comes out? You might want to wait until your region gets it, because the DSi will have region-locked software specific for the DSi. "DSi is region locked because DSi embeds net communication functionality within itself, and we are intending to provide net services specifically tailored for each region," said a statement given to UK consumer website CVG. Standard DS games from any region however should work just fine. [credit: Gamasutra]
-Microsoft is once again going to be having special bundles for the holiday shopping season. This year, the 60GB Pro model ($299) and the 120GB Elite model ($399) will both be bundled with two extra games for free: LucasArts' Lego Indiana Jones and Activision's Kung Fu Panda. The Arcade SKU ($199) will come packed with Sega Superstars Tennis. [credit: GameDaily]
-Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley says that the company will release all of its future MMOs to consoles, instead of limiting some titles to PC. Figures since World of Warcraft owns the PC. [credit: Gamasutra]
-Rumors have been going around lately about a "WiiHD" coming out, but is it really going to happen? Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter thinks so, especially with reports that Nintendo was showing a new console to publishers and developers. Pachter says he's absolutely convinced because it would position Nintendo well with it's hardcore fans again. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-Speaking to VG247, Ubisoft Shanghai creative director Michael de Plater said that Ubisoft's upcoming FPS Tom Clancy's Endwar wasn't goint to be released on PC because people would steal the game for free, and says that piracy is killing PC gaming. Considering Assassin's Creed saw 700,000 copies pirated compared to 40,000 sold, it's not surprising. [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
-By the time you read this, the PSP-3000 should be out in North America, along with a Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters pack. [credit: Evil Avatar]
-Konami announced that a new Castlevania game is in the works for the PS3 and Xbox 360, and from a brief trailer, it looks like you may be playing as Alucard again. [credit: GameDaily]
-For those in the UK who've been dying to play Manhunt 2, your wait is almost over. The game will be coming to your shores on October 31st. Of course it's probably going to look even more butchered then the US version, but hey, the gameplay should make up for it right? [credit: Joystiq]
Rock Band:
-Starting this Wednesday, VH1 Classic will premiere a new reality show called Rock Band 2: The Stars. It will feature Alice Cooper (of "Schools Out" fame) and Sebastian Bach (of Gilmore Girls fame) as they play hosts to 12 contestants as they live in a mansion and compete in different Rock Band 2 competitions. [credit: Destructoid]
-Harmonix released some new merchandise on their site for Rock Band 2, where you can make merchandise based on your band, including 6-inch bandmate figurines. Sounds awesome, until you realize that the figurines go for a whopping $69! So if you really want custom stuff based on your band, start saving your money. [credit: Gamasutra, Destructoid]
Guitar Hero:
-Speaking of having to save your money, the deluxe version for Guitar Hero: World Tour is going to cost you $240 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions. The PS2 and Wii versions will cost $220. I really need to find a paying job soon. [credit: GameSpot]
Gaming Calendar
October 14th:
-Dead Space (X360, PS3)
-SOCOM: Confrontation (PS3)
October 20th - Wii Music
October 21st:
-Fable II (X360)
-LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
October 26th - Guitar Hero: World Tour (X360, PS3)
October 28th - Fallout 3 (X360, PS3)
October 2008:
-Bioshock ported to the PS3
-Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 (X360, PC)
November 4th:
-Left 4 Dead (PC, X360)
-Resistance: Fall of Man 2 (PS3)
-Quantam of Solace
November 7th - Gears of War 2 (X360)
November 11th:
-Eternal Poison (PS2)
-Call of Duty: World at War (X360, PC)
-Mirror's Edge (X360, PS3)
November 13th - WoW: Wrath of the Lich King (PC)
November 14th - Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts (X360)
November 19th - New Xbox Experience to be launched
December 2nd:
Prince of Persia: The Fallen King (PS3, PC, X360)
Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (PS2)
Fall 2008:
-MySims Kingdom (DS, Wii)
March 13th 2009 - Resident Evil 5 (X360)
Survivor: Gabon Watch
The good news was that Randy who I LOATHE and Ken the pro gamer are on different teams, so if Fang wins Randy can be eliminated. The bad news is that the possibility of that happening looks to be slim. Fang still sucks as a team, but maybe this week because the people were switched they haven't yet found out how to blend with each other. I hope it's a one week thing because I want Ken to at least make it to the second half. I don't exactly know how I feel with him picking Kelly since she was the worst ranked Kota member. She was ranked the weakest and thus odds are she'll be useless in the challenges, but then again she easily became part of the alliance going on between GC, Crystal, and Ken. If those 4 stick together they basically can vote out anybody.
Meanwhile, I was kind of surprised Bob was picked so late considering he got ranked 3rd and Sugr went back to exile island. It was obvious she was going to pick comfort over clue because she already had the hidden immunity, but I kind of wanted to see what would happen if she chose clue and got a 2nd immunity. Sugr is definitely going to last long in the game, and just might win it.
Videos of the Day
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Halo 3: Recon
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