Gamernode: Latest Game and Console News

GameSpot Bumps GTA IV Score?

GameSpot is still under scrutiny thanks to the ordeal earlier this year regarding Kane and Lynch. It seems like any small hiccup and the gaming community is crying foul against the site. The latest is the slight increase in the GTA IV score from 9.5 to a perfect 10.

First off, this is not a huge change. It is not as if GameSpot originally gave GTA IV an 8.0 and now magically it is a 10. The difference between a 9.5 game and 10 is so small that this shouldn't raise a single eyebrow in the gaming community.

Secondly, why does everyone assume this is a bump in the score? Why can't this be explained as a simple database error? These things do happen, and it may have been a glitch in the system that caused the score of GTA IV to be shown incorrectly. One can only imagine the intricate setup GameS...

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Microsoft Cancels Yahoo Bid

For the past three months both Microsoft and Yahoo had been in negotiations in which the outcome could have had huge ramifications for the internet community.

For those not following the news, Microsoft was attempting to buy Yahoo to integrate it into the Microsoft empire, and give Redmond Washington the leverage to become a powerful force online.

Unfortunately or thankfully, based on who you speak to at Yahoo, Microsoft pulled out its offer to purchase Yahoo after the price became too steep. This happened even after Microsoft had increased the offer by five billion dollars. Yahoo still wasn't satisfied. Wisely, Microsoft decided to step out of the deal as explained by Steve Balmer.

"After careful consideration, we believe the economics demanded by Yahoo do not make sense for us, and it is ...

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LittleBigPlanet slips, Home taking its time

Anyone who is eager to play with a bunch of dolls made out of burlap sacks and design environments out of paper cut-outs will have to wait just a little bit longer than previously expected. The flagship PlayStation 3 title LittleBigPlanet has been officially pushed back from September to October, inching ever closer to the holiday hot zone.

Sony Computer Entertainment president Kaz Hirai made the announced at Sony's PlayStation Day 2008 in London yesterday, where he asserted that the game will revolutionize the way gamers interact with videogames.

Additionally, Hirai told the gaming press on hand that Home, Sony's in-development community network, will be open to the public only when it is ready. Hopefully that means that the project will hit users' living rooms completely bug-free and fea...

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Mass Effect/Spore will require online validation

Over in this now locked thread on the official Mass Effect Community forums, BioWare Technical Producer Derek French explained what type of copy protection and activation systems Mass Effect will use upon its release for PC on May 28th.

To say the least, BioWare/EA's plans for the game caused massive complaints from the community. To put it bluntly, Mass Effect for PC will require online validation every 10 days. Taking hints from 2K Games using SecuROM with BioShock, the game will only allow up to three game activations as well.

"After the first activation, SecuROM requires that it re-check with the server within ten days (in case the CD Key has become public/warez'd and gets banned). Just so that the 10 day thing doesn't become abrupt, SecuROM tries its first re-check with 5 days remainin...

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Doom 4 announced!

Today, id Software announced they are working on the fourth entry in their highly successful Doom franchise as well as expanding its team of developers to work on the sequel to Doom 3.

"Doom is part of the id Software DNA and demands the greatest talent and brightest minds in the industry to bring the next installment of our flagship franchise to Earth," said id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead.

"It's critical for id Software to have the best creative minds in-house to develop games that meet the standards synonymous with our titles."

No further details were revealed but the company will most likely utilize its new id Tech Engine 5 to produce the game. id Software's lead artist Kevin Cloud had the following to say:

"You don't even have to worry about how it's going to look on PS3 or 360. Right ...

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GTA IV sold 6 million copies worldwide

To no one's surprise, Take-Two Interactive announced today that Grand Theft Auto IV has sold over 6 million copies worldwide with an estimated retail value of $500 million earned within the first week of the game's release. Of the 6 million copies, 3.6 million copies were sold on its opening day earning about $310 million.

Ben Feder, CEO of Take-Two, said, "Rockstar's goal is to make each new title in the Grand Theft Auto franchise even better than those that preceded it, and Grand Theft Auto IV is a smashing success on that score. Grand Theft Auto IV makes full use of the power of next generation technology, and offers players an experience unique in the interactive entertainment medium. This game sets a new standard in the industry, with critics hailing it as both an artistic and technolo...

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Daily Q: Would a GTA MMO slay World of Warcraft?

World of Warcraft sits high atop the crowded MMO space; a facet of gaming where even the most anticipated games fade into obscurity. Blizzard's MMO has such a vice grip on the genre, it seems that too many studios are a useless gesture to compete. With ten million subscribers logging countless hours, it is clear that the people have made their choice.

But we aren't stupid here at GamerNode. Someday someone, or something is going to finally dethrone WoW. It could be time, lack of interest, or (the most interesting) a new franchise. So for discussion's sake let's tackle the latter; a new franchise.

Today's Q comes from the rumor that the next Grand Theft Auto installment will be an MMO. Think about it; an MMO littered with locals as detailed as Liberty City in GTA IV, but with the rolling hi...

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E3 loses Vivendi/Activision

Poor E3. It's just never been the same since the public was left to stand outside in the cold. The Electronics Entertainment Expo takes place this July, however this year, as already reported, it will be without the world's largest gaming publisher Vivendi/Activision.

Vivendi is part of a growing number of publishers saying sayonara to what was once the biggest gaming spectacle this side of the Pacific. With more and more companies having their own self contained events during the months of April and May, a grandiose event in the middle of July just seems redundant.

Capcom is the most recent company to have completed their press event, and Ubisoft's is coming up later this month. Sony has their own also, and Microsoft has X08.

I mean think about it, wouldn't you rather show off your stuf...

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Nintendo Channel goes live

Earlier this morning, the Nintendo Channel (known as Everyone's Nintendo Channel in Japan) went live in North America. So boot up your Wii and head over to the Shop Channel to download it. This new channel opens up several new and exciting features to Wii owners including the ability to watch videos, commercials, and interviews.

The channel also allows you to rate any game you've played for more than an hour. Nintendo will then use your ratings to recommend games to you, although some games are not currently available for rating. I really wanted to tell people how awesome No More Heroes was too, bummer.

The most exciting feature, however, is the ability to stream demos of DS games right to your DS. It's like those DS Download Stations you sometimes see in stores only now you can do the sam...

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Play the game of chess with Raving Rabbids. Yes!

I've been a fan of the game chess for quite a while although I don't know really why--I'm not that good at it. But I've got everything from chess video games to pocket electronic chess to prove that it has some sort of fascination and allurement for me.

The next game that definitely will be on my list of games to buy is Chessmaster Live on Xbox Live Arcade or the Grandmaster Edition on the PC. Why? You won't have the typical knights and pawns to do battle with in this new series. Instead you'll be going head-to-head with those silly and crazy Raving Rabbids from the Rayman game.

Those nutty plunger wielding characters will star on this iteration of the Chessmaster series and will surely prove to be a fanatical fun fest. How wild will it be? Well, if you look closely at the rook, he seems to ...

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Mirror's Edge gameplay footage

Holy cow, I was pretty blown away after watching this trailer. Mirror's Edge is an upcoming open-world action title from EA DICE where you play Faith, who practices parkour. The gameplay seems so fluid and I'm a big fan of the "bodily awareness" thing too, so leaping over fences and traversing city buildings with ease sounds so cool. Also don't forget the neat unarmed combat system. It looks like EA is trying some new things here.

Expect this game later this year for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

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Daily Q: Can another franchise take down GTA?

When the idea of the Daily Q was first pitched to me, today's question was the very first thing that came to mind. With all of the hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto 4, I wonder how the gaming community views the competition (if you even acknowledge that there is any) that "GTA clones" present to Rockstar's flagship franchise. Here's my question:

After one solid week of playing Grand Theft Auto 4, do you think there is room for other free-roaming action games in that style, or does the GTA series' prominence make competition impossible?

I'd say that GTA is pretty much unsinkable at this point, more due to brand awareness than to actual game quality. While it is definitely a great game, I am fairly confident that another studio could eclipse GTA4 in terms of videogame quality.  It would tak...

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What's the real cost of the 360 120GB HDD?

Upgrading a PS3's HDD to 120GB is as easy as going to an online store and selecting the proper 2.5" drive and buying it. Cost? Around $70-$80. If you want to upgrade your Xbox 360's HDD, you'll be facing a price tag of $179. 

Ouch.

So why the big difference in price? Microsoft says that it's because of special things and magic it has to add to the hard drive before they sell it to you. But iSuppli, a company that likes to track down the real costs of products did a little sleuthing to figure out how much Microsoft's pricey 360 drive might actually cost.

According to iSuppli, the main drive itself probably is either a Toshiba or Seagate that is pre-loaded with software and other tidbits. Cost of the basic unit is probably around $75. Add another $5 for packaging and other frills and the total ...

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Valve not bringing Left 4 Dead to PS3...

...but that doesn't mean that someone else won't, according to Valve marketing director Doug Lombardi.

Lombardi recently spoke about the upcoming zombie-splattering first-person shooter, and when questioned about the possibility of a PlayStation 3 release, he had this to say:

"We're not PS3 developers - we're doing PC and 360 like with Orange Box. EA came to us and said 'Wow, Orange box was an incredible project, can we do a PS3 version?' Left 4 Dead doesn't have that guaranteed appeal yet - it's a new IP. If you mention a new Half-Life, people want to make as many versions of it as possible. If Left 4 Dead is big, then we may see a PS3 version later, or if and when we do a sequel, people may be more interested in that.

We're only 150 people, so there's only so many things we can do. But it'...

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Want free Rock Band tracks? Settle for a dollar ea...

For anyone who has torn through Rock Band forward and backward, but has yet to pick up any downloadable content, this news is for you. Beginning today, select tracks will be available to download for the low, low price of 80 MS points. That's just a dollar, and half off the regular price of Rock Band DLC.

Xbox Live's Major Nelson reports that this promotion is the result of a Harmonix, MTV, and McDonald's(?) tag team marketing effort that will continue until June 1st. Two tracks will be discounted each week, for a total of eight by the end of May.

Here is the official schedule:

5/6/08-5/12/08 :Crushcrushcrush - ParamoreRock 'n Roll Band - Boston

5/13/08-5/19/08 :Shockwave - Black TideSugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead

5/20/08-5/26/08:We Care A Lot - Faith No MoreAll the Small Things - Blink 18...

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Sony launching a new online gaming publication?

Trademark filings have become a great source of advanced industry information as of late - and videogame journalists like myself love to make use of them.

Recently, industry giant Sony filed a new trademark for a product or service called QORE, described as "computer services, namely, providing interactive online magazine and entertainment services in the field of video games."

With a name like QORE, this project will most likely be related to the PlayStation Network, which is indeed at the core of Sony's videogame marketing plan. This makes more sense than a typical videogame website; a new source of information for PlayStation 3 owners about upcoming Sony products and services would be much more effective when delivered directly via PSN.

Then again, trademarks are filed and go unused all...

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Prototype delayed till 2009

A few thrilling gameplay video montages later and Prototype, Radical Entertainment's upcoming open-world action game seems to still entice gamers on its mysterious storyline and zany powers wielded by the game's main character Alex Mercer.

Unfortunately, Sierra Entertainment announced today that Prototype has hit a snag and will now ship in 2009 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

The representative said, regarding the game's delay, "Since its announcement, Prototype has been regarded by many as groundbreaking and taking the open-world genre in new directions, and in the simplest explanation possible, we need more time to deliver the game the team initially set out to create."

It's interesting to note that last month, the multiplayer component for Prototype was cut in order for the developer to comple...

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Jack Thompson sends a letter to Zelnick's mother

All of you guys that have been appalled by Take-Two's unruly behavior in creating the killer creating game GTA, your prayers have been answered.

That's right, Jack Thompson, the only person who seems to actually care about our youth and still know enough about video games to be useful, has set matters straight by sending a letter to Adolph Hitler's mother to tell her of her son's company. Did I say Adolph Hitler? I meant Strauss Zelnick (Chairman of Take Two). I sometimes get the two confused.

With Mother's Day around the corner, our old friend Jack Thompson took it upon himself to inform Zelnick's mother of his ghastly actions. Well, technically he sent it to Zelnick's attorney because he's not allowed to send correspondence to Zelnick or his mother directly, but that's beside the po...

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GTA IV for the PS3. The frustration and the fix

Last week, I spent a good deal of time playing, or should I say, installing and loading the PS3 version of GTA IV. I was pretty excited as I saw the loading bar slowly fill up on that eventful day. It was going to take about five minutes, so I stepped out to the kitchen to get a snack while the installation went smoothly on its way.

After I returned with a cold drink in one hand and a plate of Cheetos, crunchy style, in the other, I saw the loading bar fill up and switch over to the "new game loading" screen. I took a swig of my cold drink and popped a handful of bright international orange colored Cheetos in my mouth and waited for the loading screen to finish.

I waited one minute, then two, and before long I was at the 10-minute mark. "Should I wait longer?" I asked myself. I gave it anoth...

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May 5th Virtual Console releases

Happy Cinco de Mayo from the land of classic videogames! This week's Virtual Console update isn't exactly the celebration of victory one might be hoping for, however, as it features a lackluster addition to a genre whose concept has been perfected elsewhere on numerous occasions, and a re-skinned version of a game that could have made it to the Wii for half the cost.

Renegade is the third NES beat-em-up from Technos to come to the Virtual Console in as many weeks, but this time the excitement of River City Ransom and Double Dragon just doesn't carry over. Actually, Renegade will make you wish you were playing those games, instead. As for Pokemon Puzzle League, it is basically the Pokemon-coated version of Tetris Attack. That's not a bad thing, but if it was replaced by Tetris Attack (an...

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