The Select and Start News Report 02.02.09
Posted by Vincent Chiucchi on 02.02.2009
DJ Hero is confirmed by Activision, Ninja Turtles game in the style of Smash Bros, Sony squashes PSP 2 rumors, and more!
So the Steelers have won the Super Bowl for the 6th time. As much as I wanted the Cardinals to win, I think it was over for them the moment that guy made a touchdown by running through the entire damn field (100 yards). Kudos to the Steelers.
Big News
SUPER SMASH NINJA TURTLES [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra, Videogaming247, Joystiq]
Has it really been 25 years since the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came out? Apparently so, because Ubisoft announced that they'll be making a new TMNT game to celebrate the occasion. The game will be a fighting game exclusive to the Wii with Tokyo-based Game Arts, who contributed heavily to the development of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, being involved. Unlike other TMNT games, this one will not be tied to any specific movie, cartoon, or comic book.
Even though I like both Super Smash Bros and the Ninja Turtles (TMNT Tournament Fighters is one of my top favorite SNES games), I'm not really excited about this. Most games that try to copy Smash Bros style of fighting usually range from mediocre to horrible, with the only exception being the Jump-Star games on the DS, and they were published by Nintendo. Plus turtles games over the past few years were really horrible. Even though it's being developed by the guys who contributed to Smash Bros Brawl, I have a feeling this game will be destined to suck.
ACTIVISION'S CEO CONFIRMS DJ HERO [credit: GameDaily, GiantBomb, 1UP, Gamasutra, JoyStiq, GameSpot, Videogaming247]
After weeks upon months of hearing about Activision possibly making a DJ Hero game and people from Activision denying that they're actually making a DJ Hero game and then people from Activision saying there actually will be a DJ Hero game, it's finally official straight from CEO Kotick's mouth during an interview with CNBC:
"We have this product called DJ Hero coming out later this year, which is a turntable that you can play competitively and spin discs and mix songs."
Alright Activision, your own CEO has now brought up the game. Can you PLEASE start giving us actual information about the game now? Seriously, I don't see why you have to hide it anymore unless you think Harmonix is somehow going to steal your idea or Konami is going to sue you.
PSP 2? SONY SAYS NO [credit: GameDaily, SlashGear, MCV]
After IGN reported that credible sources are confirming the existance of the PSP 2 and that it would have multi-touch screen technology like the iPhone, Sony responded with a sarcastic remark:
"Clearly, being a quiet time of year, many, what we thought to be credible websites, are making up stories about PSP2, and how it allows you to teleport across the globe, travel through time, and will be powered by the horns of baby rhinoceroses. Hopefully, you can sense a mild tone of sarcasm, which should hopefully indicate how 'on the money' IGN are. Needless to say, we don't comment on rumour or speculation, but this is nonsense."
Fine Sony, you're not going to make a completely different PSP. Have fun trying to mildly improve your inferior handheld while everyone else surpasses you.
Tidbit News
-According to the ESA, family-friendly video games, or titles rated Everyone 10+ or lower by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, accounted for over half of all games sales in 2008. Teen games only made up 26.7% of the $22 billion revenue and Mature games only raked in 15.9% of the revenue. The percentages were nearly the same as those from last year. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-Konami announced that it will continue its distribution partnership with Atari Australia. They were planning to end it and join with Red Ant, but that company looks to be going the way of Circuit City, so Square is staying with Atari since they're still, you know, in business. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-EA announced that they'll be making three new Need For Speed games, each with a different format. Need for Speed: Shift (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PSP) will play like a serious racing game, Need for Speed: Nitro (Wii, DS) which will have "unique visual style" (I assume this means this will be a toned down casual game), and Need for Speed: World Online (PC) will be a free-to-play online game that will first launch in Asia. [credit: Gamasutra, Joystiq]
-Newly formed company Mamba Games, a casual game publisher co-founded by former THQ vet Robert Nielson, has announced new titles they'll be releasing in 2009. Over the next year, the company will launch Microsoft Simulator X add-ons, The Lost Crown: Ghost Hunting Adventure for PC and Matchman for DS, Wii and PS3. [credit: Joystiq, GameDaily]
-As if PC gamers didn't have enough to hate about DRM, Gears of War has now been shut down because of it. The game has a certificate experation date of January 28th, meaning that the game can now no longer be played after that date unless you reset your computer's clock before that date. So now we've gone from limited installations to just outright stopping you from playing. Epic says they're working on the problem. [credit: Slashdot, GameSpot]
-Speaking to the Financial Times, Sony's former chairman and CEO Nobuyuki Idei would like to see more electronics which "do not just process information, but sense what it is happening in the world and then act on it." He says the Nintendo Wii is a positive example, and amkes no mention of any of Sony's products. Idei was replaced in 2005 by Howard Stringer and was named as one of the "Worst Managers of 2005" by Business Week magazine. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-Reed Exhibitions announced that video games will be a larger part of the upcoming 2009 New York Comic Con, February 6 - 8 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. Game industry companies will occupy over 11,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 50% increase as compared to 2008. Companies that'll be represented at the Con include Activision, Atari, Codemasters, EA, Namco Bandai Games America, Southpeak Games, and more. [credit: Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-BAFTA announced that Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E Chesse, will be honored at this year's GAME British Academy Video Games Awards taking place on March 10th in London. [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
-Organizers of the Leipzig Games Convention have officially canceled the event, citing increased competition on the German trade fair market. In it's place will be the Games Convention Online, slated to take place from July 31st to August 2nd. The event will focus on client, browser-based and mobile gaming, will be both an online and offline event, and will be split into two sections (one for industry members, one for the public). [credit: The Escapist, Gamasutra, GameDaily]
-In what must be the only good news for Midway in months, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe has shipped about 1.8 million copies worldwide and was also the most pre-ordered Mortal Kombat in the franchise's long history. Guess making it a Teen rated game really helped. [credit: GameDaily, Gamasutra]
-Boom Blox, the Wii puzzle game created by Steven Spielberg, will be getting a sequal coming this Spring, entitled Boom Blox Bash Party. The game will focus on multiplayer features, as well as include 400 new levels in addition to an online community and level browser. At least this guarantees at least one good third party game on the Wii this year. [credit: Videogaming247, Gamasutra, The Escapist, Giant Bomb]
-"Nature Boy" Ric Flair will be one of the many celebrities who will be featured in EA's Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising. He'll be playing Commander Hill, a commander players will have to take on in the new Commander's Challenge mode. Remember, in order to be the Commander, you've got to beat the Commander! [credit: GameDaily]
Guitar Hero
Here's what Oasis member Noel Gallagher had to say about Guitar Hero in a recent interview with Total Guitar magazine:
"When I meet kids I always say to them playing a guitar is not a f*cking videogame, there is no level to get to. You'll never master it and you'll never complete the game."
Which is weird because last time he takled about Guitar Hero he seemed to like it. This is what he had to say several months ago:
"If it puts little plastic guitars into kids' hands and fires their imaginations, I think that's a good thing. It's harmless fun, innit. I'd rather that genre of videogames than somebody getting their f***ing head chopped off with a samurai sword while getting f****d by a goblin up the arse with a laser. Do you know what I mean?"
Guitar Hero: Better then gobilins raping you in the ass with lasers. [credit: CVG]
Rock Band
According to an article from Billboard, MTV said that they plan on having an astounding 5,000 songs be playable in Rock Band in 2009. Harmonix clarified however that what they meant was from interview Harmonix CEO Alex Rigopulos gave to Ars Technica where he said that they could expand the catalog from 500 to 5,000 within the coming years, not just in 2009. [credit: GameDaily]
February 2nd - Gauntlet (DS)
February 3rd:
-Rygar: The Battle of Argus (Wii)
-My World My Way (DS)
-Burnout Paradise ported to PC
-Ninja Blade (X360)
February 5th - Halo Wars DEMO (XBL)
February 9th - Deadly Creatures (Wii)
February 10th:
-Legacy of Ys: Books I & II (DS)
-Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection (PS3, X360)
-F.E.A.R. II: Project Origin (PS3, X360)
-X-Blades (PS3, X360, PC)
February 12th - Flower (PSN)
February 16th - Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS)
February 17th:
-Street Fighter IV (X360, PS3)
-Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (DS)
-Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (X360)
-Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? (PSP)
-Sacred 2: Fallen Angel (X360, PS3)
February 19th - Noby Noby Boy (PSN)
February 20th:
-The Sims 3 (PC)
-Race Pro (X360)
February 23rd - Dawn of War II (PC)
February 24th:
-Puzzle Quest: Galactrix (X360)
-The Godfather II (PS3, PC, X360)
-Star Ocean: The Last Hope (X360)
February 27th:
-Killzone 2 (PS3)
-Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop (Wii)
February 28th - Tabula Rasa to be shut down
March 2nd:
-Damnation (PS3, X360, PC)
-Shellshock 2: Blood Trails (PS3)
-This Is Vegas (PS3)
-Samurai Shodown Anthology (PSP)
March 3rd - Halo Wars (X360)
March 10th - Madworld (Wii)
March 13th - Resident Evil 5 (X360, PS3)
March 17th:
-Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume (DS)
-GTA: Chinatown Wars (DS)
-Trackmania DS
-Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball (Wii)
March 20th - Wheelman (PS3, X360, PC)
March 22nd - Pokemon Platinum (DS)
March 24th:
-Phantasy Star Portable (PSP)
-Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (DS)
March 27th - Flight Simulator X (PC)
March 29th - Guitar Hero: Metallica (X360, PS3)
March 31st - Don King Boxing (Wii, DS)
May 1st - Batman: Arkham Asylum (X360, PS3, PC)
May 12th - Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon (PS2)
microsoft are now looking into a handheld device which "allows you to teleport across the globe, travel through time, and will be powered by the horns of baby rhinoceroses" just to spite sony.
Posted By: shaydee (Guest) on February 02, 2009 at 07:32 AM
"microsoft are now looking into a handheld device which "allows you to teleport across the globe, travel through time, and will be powered by the horns of baby rhinoceroses" just to spite sony."
Sounds good to me. There are a lot of places I'd like to go. Scared to fly
Posted By: Guest#5711 (Guest) on February 02, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Come on, where's the March 24th WWE Legends of Wrestlemania release date? It was in the trailer on youtube that ran at the Rumble PPV
Posted By: Byzdalmyt (Guest) on February 03, 2009 at 12:53 PM
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Posted By: Flair References FTW (Guest) on February 04, 2009 at 04:03 PM
Wow... that song is just the worst thing since ever.
Posted By: M:-X (Guest) on February 04, 2009 at 04:04 PM
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