GamerNode: Latest Game and Console News

ESA: 43-0 against game legislation bills

What do the Entertainment Software Association and boxing legend Rocky Marciano have in common? The answer to that question is simple: 43 knockouts without a single defeat.

The organization's 2009 annual report proclaims this record proudly, stating that of 43 bills targeting videogames for government regulation, zero have been signed into law, thanks in great part to the ESA's tireless efforts.

From the document:

"With a growing network of retained partners across the country, ESA State Government Affairs (SGA) effectively monitored, responded to and shaped industry-related legislation during the past year. While 43 bills sought to regulate content and/or access to video games, our actions ensured that no legislature enacted a law regulating game sales. Conversely, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgi...

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Microsoft holding up 360 Champions Online release,...

Want to play Champions Online on your Xbox 360? Too bad. There won't be a 360 version anytime soon, and Cryptic CCO Jack Emmer says it's all Microsoft's fault.

According to Emmer, a 360 version of the game is "ready to go," but Microsoft's "baffling" hesitance with console MMOs will prevent the game rom releasing anytime near its PC counterpart, which will be available next week.

"Microsoft's a big company, and they have to work out all the various issues related to MMOs," said Emmert. "It just takes time for the big beast known as Microsoft to get moving. I really have no explanation other than that, because it's as baffling to developers as it is to everyone else."

"This year? I don't know," responded Emmert when probed about the expected time frame for the 360 release. "Right now we're ju...

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No More Heroes 2 playable at PAX 09

In just about a week, attendees of 2009's Penny-Arcade Expo in Seattle, WA will be treated to a world premiere of Grasshopper Manufacture's No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle; this trade event will mark the first time the game will be available in playable form to anyone in the gaming press/public.

The first No More Heroes game garnered heaps of critical acclaim and helped to propel game designer Suda 51 further into cult gaming stardom, and No More Heroes 2 looks to build on that success with a second helping of its unique, retro aesthetic and simple, effective gameplay mechanics.

PAX 09 begins on Friday, September 4th.

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Arkham Asylum sets Guinness World Record

Game reviewers have been heralding Batman: Arkham Asylum as the best comic book game of all time. And now they all have a world record to back up their claims.

Guinness announced today that Arkham Asylum has become "Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever" due to its average Metacritic score of 91.67. The game surpassed Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for the Sega Dreamcast, which had an average score of 90.

"We are so pleased to be awarding Batman: Arkham Asylum a Guinness World Record," said Gaz Deaves, manager at Guinness. "It is a fantastic new game and due to the reaction of gaming experts we believe it has a well deserved place in the Guinness World Records book."

At press time there have been no statements regarding the award from either Eidos or Rocksteady.

[IGN]

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Analysts weigh in on PS3 and 360 price drops, pred...

Sony and Microsoft have dropped the prices on their consoles recently as the the Xbox 360 Elite and PlayStation 3 are now $299, with Sony's new PlayStation 3 "Slim" model debuting this week at the same price. Along with the price cuts, industry analysts are taking a look at how these drops in price will effect Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, and the game industry as a whole.

"Historical sales, accounting for inflation, suggest the $249 to $299 price point is the sweet spot where the industry can expand at a comfortable rate while still delivering profitability for the console manufacturers," said Electronic Entertainment Design and Research's Jesse Divnich. "A $249 to $299 price point over the next two years would give Microsoft, and Sony, the breathing room needed to improve manufacturing effic...

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Realtime Worlds still growing before APB launch

News hasn't been good lately for publishers and developers, with Electronic Arts and Activision cutting jobs at Maxis and Raven Software, respectively. However, there is one developer that is actually looking to add jobs.

Realtime Worlds, the studio behind next year's All Points Bulletin, has purchased 8,000 square feet of office space in Dundee, Scottland due to their rapid growth and to prepare for the game's launch.

"When we opened our current facility less than three years ago we hadn't yet shipped our first game," said studio manager Colin Macdonald. "Since then we've had tremendous commercial and critical success, and have done the lion's share of the work towards a successful launch of our online title APB."

"This additional space allows us to continue to grow at the pace needed to at...

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Maxis cuts confirmed by EA

Tough times appear to be hitting publishers as of late. Only a day after Activision confirmed a layoff of employees at Raven Software, Electronic Arts today confirmed that it will be reducing its workforce at Maxis, the studio behind Spore.

"Often in the videogame industry, the size of a studio fluctuates in response to business conditions," stated an EA rep. "In this case, EA has taken action to reduce the workforce at Maxis as we focus the business and focus Maxis. EA remains fully committed to Spore and other IP within Maxis, with games planned for launch in the next few months, including Spore Hero, coming to the Wii for the first time, and Spore Hero Arena on the DS."

Back in April, Maxis founder and game designer Will Wright left the company in order to form what Wright described as a...

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Price cuts for Xbox 360 confirmed by Microsoft

Right on the heels of Sony's price drops on its Playstation 3, Microsoft today confirmed rumors that the Xbox 360 will have prices drops of its own. As of tomorrow, the Xbox 360 Elite will be priced at $299.99 and the Pro model will be phased out.

Production on the Xbox 360 Pro has already stopped and will be priced at $249.99 until the stock is cleared. The Arcade model will still remain and at its current price of $199.99. However the Elite will no longer be shipped with an HDMI cable. The part will have to be purchased seperately.

Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg stated the price drops are due to lower production costs and that the price drops of the Playstation 3 are coincidence. "This has been in the works for months and months," he said. "I think it's a bit coincidental, but it's also somew...

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2K Play publishing a pair of indie games on XBLA

2K Play announced yesterday that the publisher will be delivering a refreshing pair of indie titles to Xbox LIVE Arcade in the coming months.

Axel & Pixel from Silver Wish Games is a point-and-click adventure about an artist and his dog, set in a hand-drawn dream world. It is scheduled to arrive in the fall of 2009. The Odd Gentlemen's (yes, that's the name of the developer) The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, which a few of us here at GN were lucky enough to try out at last year's E3 (see Kyle's preview), is a black-and-white puzzle/adventure game that utilizes time-manipulation to create a very unique gameplay experience. It will be available in early 2010.

Said 2K president Christoph Hartmann, "The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom and Axel & Pixel are passion projects for us. We sa...

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Valve to unveil playable Left 4 Dead 2 campaign at...

Lucky fans attending the Penny Arcade Expo 2009 in Seattle next week will be in for a very special treat courtesy of Valve. The developer will be revealing the third campaign in the sequal to popular zombie shooter Left 4 Dead, but that is not all.

The newest campaign of Left 4 Dead 2, titled Dark Carnival, will be playable on the show floor for fans at both the Valve and Microsoft booths.

Dark Carnival joins The Parish and Swamp Fever, revealed at E3 and Comic Con, on the list of campaigns for the upcoming shooter known for its co-op and competitive play. Only two more campaigns remain to be unveiled before the game's November 17 release.

[IGN]

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Raven Software suffers layoffs

An earlier report by gaming site Shacknews claimed that the developer of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Wolfenstein has suffered a layoff of up to 56 employees. The report has now been cofirmed, as the story has been updated with an official statement from Raven Software on the subject.

"With the recent completion of both Wolverine, based on the summer blockbuster movie, and Wolfenstein, the next chapter of the famed franchise, Raven Software is slightly reducing its workforce to better reflect the studio's upcoming slate," said the developer.

The released employees are reported to be from throughout the studio, with no specific team or project targeted. Those affected by the firings have allegedly been offered severence packages and placement support.

The developer's statement regarding a less...

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Atari being sued by Turbine over D&D Online

The publisher of soon to re-launch as free-to-play D&D Online is allegedly being sued over its MMOG. But the shock isn't just the lawsuit itself, but the source of the lawsuit as well.

Turbine Inc., the developer of D&D Online, has filed a suit against publisher Atari in New York, according to Courthouse News. The developer is arguing that Atari has breached an agreement in 2003, where Turbine licensed the rights to make D&D MMOGs from the publisher.

Turbine is claiming that Atari is deliberately under-promoting the relaunch of D&D Online as part of a license-agreement "termination" strategy. The suit then claims that this strategy is being pursued in bad faith, as Atari is planning to launch its own competing product.

The Courthouse News did not specify what the competing product is. Rumors ...

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Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles gets releas...

Capcom announced today that the Wii-exclusive Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles will be shipping to North American retailers on November 17th, 2009. The on-rails first-person shooter is a follow-up to 2007's Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.

Resident Evil fans can also secure a free bonus t-shirt by pre-ordering the game at GameStop. The "Let Your Darkside Out" shirt features an image of a zombie's face on the inside of the garment, so that when it is flipped over the wearer's head, he or she effectively assumes the role of a Resident Evil zombie. The shirt can also be purchased at Capcom's online store for $24.95.

I kinda want one...

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Best Buy giving free games to stop PS3 returns

Best Buy appears to be implementing a strategy to prevent recent PlayStation 3 buyers from returning their BIG models for the newer, sleeker SLIM model when it becomes available within the next week. How? By giving away free games.

According to an internal memo at Best Buy, consumers wishing to return their consoles (within the 30-day return window) in exchange for the new model will be offered one free game in exchange for keeping their original purchase. The games that available are reportedly inFAMOUS, MLB 09: The Show, and Killzone 2. Customers will still be refunded the $100 difference if they choose to accept this deal, and can of course decline the offer and get their smaller, more energy efficient unit and larger hard drive.

Is a single game worth the compromise? That's up for the i...

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Wii Sports Resort sells 3 million copies worldwide...

Nintendo has announced that the latest Wiimote-waggling first-party title, Wii Sports Resort, has quickly surpassed the one million unit milestone in the three major markets -- Japan, North America, and Europe -- taking global sales past the three million unit mark. The game has been available for two months in Japan; one month in other territories.

Said Nintendo Europe's marketing and PR director Laurent Fischer, "The early sales figures represent a strong start for Wii Sports Resort, which is on its way to becoming another Nintendo title that sells steadily over an extended period of time as opposed to a single flash on its launch day. Combined with strong figures for Wii MotionPlus, the data suggests that more families and friends are playing together than ever before -- which, for Nint...

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PlayStation Network down for maintenance today

Quick! Sign in to PSN before 5:15 EDT or be locked out!

Okay, it's really not THAT urgent, but Sony has announced that the company's online service will be down for maintenance beginning at that time (2:15 PDT, 9:15 GMT), and the downtime will last for roughly four hours. Those who are already signed in when maintenance begins will be able to remain so for the duration, but nobody new will be able to play online, download, etc. until the work is done.

If you want to play online this evening, I suggest you sign in early.

[Kotaku]

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"Reviewers on Reviews" on the Big Red Potion podca...

Over at Big Red Potion, our friends Sinan Kubba and Joe DeLia have posted the latest episode of their podcast, the second in a two-part discussion entitled "Reviewers on Reviews." Particularly exciting about this show is that it features a pair of great guests. One of those guests is Jack Smith, "the engine and encyclopedia" of the WiiDS podcast, and the other is the director of the very website you're reading right now. Yup, that's me, Eddie Inzauto.

It was a very good conversation, as the four of us discussed the importance and relevance of videogame reviews, the critical process, reader expectations, and more. Head over to www.bigredpotion.com and give it a listen... then subscribe to the BRP podcast, right alongside the Versus Node podcast on iTunes.

[Big Red Potion]

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BioShock movie a go, with new director

The future of the proposed BioShock film has been up in the air ever since Universal Studios put the project on hold back in April, citing a growing budget as the primary reason for the postponement. The plan was to rework the script and explore new shooting locations to drive down filming costs, but that strategy has come at a price of its own.

Universal has indeed reworked John Logan's (Gladiator, Aviator, Sweeny Todd) script and arranged for new shooting locations, but in the process has lost the services of director Gore Verbinski (The Mexican, The Ring, Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy), who was unable to commit to the overseas shooting schedule. Taking his place will be 28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. Verbinski will assume the role of producer.

[SlashFilm]

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Tatsunoko vs Capcom getting new content just for t...

Fighting game fans, hold on to your face.

You're already excited that Capcom brawler Tatsunoko vs Capcom is heading to American shores next year, but it won't totally be the same...

...there will be more.

GameSpot reports that during their hands-on with the game at Gamescom in Germany, producer Ryoto Niitsuma says that along with online play, four new characters -- two from each side -- will be added to the North American version, and they will be revealed at the Tokyo Game Show in late September. 

With this revelation, let the pondering begin. Who will they add for us Americans? Wesker or Jill? Dante or Vergil? Phoenix Wright or Franziska von Karma? That doesn't even include the Tatsunoko possibilities. 

Samurai Pizza Cats, anyone?

Tatsunoko vs Capcom is due out in late January.

[GameSpot]

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Halo: Reach beta access included in Halo 3: ODST

Bungie has revealed that gamers aiming to get their hands on Halo: Reach prior to its release late next year will be given just that opportunity if they decide to purchase next month's standalone Halo 3 expansion, Halo 3: ODST.

Like the Halo 3 beta that was tucked away inside Realtime Worlds' Crackdown back in 2007, ODST's menu will include an "extras" tab where players can access the Reach beta when it's ready sometime next year. In Bungie's eyes, the beta will be "a big part of the value of the disc." This time, however, it will likely be less of a motivation to purchase the game, as the audience for the two titles is virtually identical.

Halo 3: ODST is scheduled for release on September 22nd.

[Joystiq]

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