[GameRatty] tag: weekly

Japanese hardware sales - November 24-30

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:04:04 +0000

DSi stable; DS, Wii and PS3 well up; Xbox 360 and PSP down; PS2 bumbling along. It’s the multi-directional rollercoaster that is weekly Japanese hardware sales. Last week’s data here. DSi - 87,185 PSP - 55,090 Wii - 49,848 PS3 - 34,978 DS Lite - 26,851 Xbox 360 - 11,423 PS2 - 5,628

North America: PlayStation Store Update 12/4

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:55:55 +0000

Here is your weekly PS Store update for the United States, including the free episode of Qore, demos, tons of themes and more.

PlayStation Store Update

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:27:11 +0000

Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the weekly PlayStation Store update.

Qore

Qore Annual Subscription ($24.99)
Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network is a monthly interactive video production covering the world of PlayStation. Qore provides its audience with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to developers and their games, from both the SCE Worldwide Studios and the third-party community, where the audience member can freely navigate through the content.
File size: 1.34 GB

Qore Episode 07: December, 2008 (free)
Episode 07 (December 2008) of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation®Network is being offered to all PSN account holders, 18 and older, for free! (*PSN registration required. user responsible for internet fees.) Download now to see what all of the excitement is about!
File size: 1.34 GB

Downloadable Games

Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer ($9.99)
Set in the distant future, Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer is a fast and furious shoot ‘em up with state-of-the-art graphics, driving soundtrack and classic fun gameplay sprinkled with fresh innovations. In the storyline, planet Earth’s resistance aims to stop a deadly infection consuming both life forms and technology alike, oddly having to rely on an anti-hero mercenary and bounty hunter to pilot a mighty prototype star fighter.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 845 MB

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet Kabuki Actor (free)
Download the winning Costume Contest submission from Japan. This free costume will dress your SackBoy in traditional japanese Kabuki attire.
File size: 1.04 MB

Age of Booty Map Pack 1 (free)
Download the new “Oasis” and “Slow and Stead” maps! These maps are available in the 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 playlists.
File size: 100 KB

Age of Booty Map Pack 2 (free)
Download the new “Tight Passage” and “Tug of War” maps! These maps are available in the 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 playlists.
File size: 100 KB

Age of Booty Map Pack 3 (free)
Download the new “Bombs and Whirlpools” and “Bloody Wake” maps! Battle Royal is also unlocked as a new gameplay mode. These maps are official maps and will appear in the 2v2v2v2 playlist.
File size: 100 KB

Far Cry 2 Fortunes Pack ($9.99)
Ramp up the terror with the Far Cry 2 Fortunes Pack. Loaded with 3 new weapons, 2 new vehicles and 4 new multiplayer maps. You get:

Silenced Shotgun
Craftsman Shotgun
Crossbow (with explosive bolts)
All-terrain Vehicle
Heavy-duty Utility Truck

Plus 4 NEW MULTIPLAYER MAPS:

Last Resort
Cheap Labour
Lake Smear
Fort Fury

Let the mayhem begin…
File size: 61 MB

GRID 8-Ball Additional Content ($9.99)
The ‘8 Ball’ pack for GRID features 8 thrilling new cars and two new online events as the first in a series of three new extensions for the game. Car List: McLaren F1 GTR, TVR Cerbera Speed 12, Mitsubishi 2.0 Turbo Lancer Evolution X, Honda S2000, Nissan GTR GT500, VW Nardo, Pontiac Firebird Trans AM, Volvo C30 Green Racing.
File size: 171 MB

Guitar Hero World Tour
For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com

“1979″ by The Smashing Pumpkins ($1.99)
“G.L.O.W.” by The Smashing Pumpkins ($1.99)
“The Everlasting Gaze” by The Smashing Pumpkins ($1.99)
The Smashing Pumpkins Track Pack ($5.49) - Downloadable Track Pack for Guitar Hero World Tour featuring “G.l.o.w.”, “1979”, and “The Everlasting Gaze” by The Smashing Pumpkins.

File sizes: 36 MB - 45 MB (singles), 121 MB (track pack)

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2
Expand your Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 library by purchasing these tracks.

Don’t You (Forget About Me) ($1.49)
For You I Will ($1.49)
Friends in Low Places ($1.49)
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door ($1.49)
Midnight Train To Georgia ($1.49)
Unwritten ($1.49)

File sizes: 15 MB - 54 MB

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM Pack 4 (free)
Download Storm Pack 4 and unleash legendary ninja Asuma as your support character in battle. The Storm Pack 4 also contains new Ultimate Mission to engage!
File size: 100 KB

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

“Real World” - All - American Rejects ($0.99)
“Ready, Set, Go!”- Tokio Hotel ($0.99)
“I Don’t Want to Go to School” - Naked Brothers ($0.99)
“Headphones On” - Miranda Cosgrove (free)
“Hay Poco Rock N Roll” by Platero y Tu ($0.99)
“Body I Occupy” - Naked Brothers ($0.99)
“Are You Dead Yet?” - Children of Bodom ($0.99)
“Tutto E Possibile” - Finley ($0.99)
“Tempted” - Squeeze ($0.99)

File sizes: 17 MB - 40 MB

SOULCALIBUR IV Customization Equipment 3 ($1.99)
Christmas is here with with the Santa equipment set. Turn Santa sexy by picking Ivy or Amy. This equipment can be used for both female and male characters.
File size: 3.1 MB

Game Videos (free)

Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer Trailer
File size: 63 MB (HD)

Prince of Persia Dev Diary 2
File size: 221 MB (HD)

Prince of Persia Dev Diary 3
File size: 214 MB (HD)

Mercenaries 2 Blow It Up Again Trailer
File size: 43 MB (HD)

Facebreaker Audition Video #4
File size: 83 MB (HD)

Facebreaker Audition Video #5
File sizes: 82 MB (HD)

BAJA: Edge of Control - Launch Trailer
File size: 190 MB (HD)

Savage Moon Trailer
File size: 52 MB (HD)

Resistance 2 - Last Hours
File sizes: 91 MB (HD), 158 MB (1080)

Life in LittleBigPlanet: Ep 4
File size: 180 MB (HD)

LittleBigPlanet WELCOME TO MY WORLD Video
File size: 103 MB (HD)

PS3 Themes

Lingerie Girls Theme ($1.49)
File size: 6.77 MB

University of Florida Theme ($1.99)
File size: 5.15 MB

European Highlands Theme ($1.49)
File size: 6.25 MB

Bloodwork Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.71 MB

Atomic Acid Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.4 MB

Metal Battalion Maidens Theme ($0.99)
File size: 3.38 MB

PS3 Wallpaper (free)

Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer Wallpaper 1
File sizes: 220 KB - 660 KB

Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer Wallpaper 2
File sizes: 264 KB - 977 MB

SOULCALIBUR IV Holiday Hilde Wallpaper
File sizes: 2.99 KB - 1.09 MB

SOULCALIBUR IV Holiday Ivy Wallpaper
File sizes: 233 KB - 881 KB

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games

* Archer Maclean’s Mercury ($9.99)
* Brain Challenge ($9.99)
* Super Stardust Portable ($9.99)
* Everyday Shooter ($9.99)

Game Videos (free)

* Ben 10 Alien Force - Making Of Trailer

LGJ: Class Dismissed

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Features

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:

It seems almost weekly a new article appears on Joystiq referencing yet another class action filed against the game industry. If it's not consoles, it's kick pedals. As a result of this class action proliferation, I was asked by a reader to explain this whole class action concept in a little more detail. I'm sure most people have some idea of the basic concept behind the class action, but not necessarily why it's become the weapon of choice, so to speak, of certain disgruntled gamers or what these lawsuits actually entail.

The basic idea behind a class action suit is to resolve a large number of suits with similar elements in one proceeding, rather than requiring each to have its own proceeding. These similarly situated plaintiffs make up the 'class' in the class action. Taking the red ring suit as an example, there are a large number of people whose Xbox360s red ringed who could file suit under the theory presented. Rather than force Microsoft to potentially deal with each suit individually, they can deal with that 'class' in a single legal action. In reality, that's a gross oversimplification of the process.

Continue reading LGJ: Class Dismissed

LGJ: Class Dismissed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virtually Overlooked: Arkanoid

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:13:00 +0000

Filed under: Virtually Overlooked

With the 30th anniversary celebration of Space Invaders (probably) coming to a close, celebrated most recently by the release of Space Invaders Get Even on WiiWare, I find myself brimming with happy feelings about anything that falls in the category of "classic Taito." Arkanoid is a perfect companion piece to Space Invaders, sharing the same basic layout as the shooter: a player character on the bottom of the screen, moving left and right and aiming projectiles at obstacles arranged on the top half of the screen.

DS updates of both games were released simultaneously, and while Space Invaders Extreme turned out to be one of the best games of the year, Arkanoid DS proved to be merely a pretty good Arkanoid-type game. Arkanoid deserves a lot better than that, and while rereleasing the NES game without the paddle controller isn't ideal, it would at least allow new gamers to familiarize themselves with real Arkanoid.

Arkanoid follows the same basic formula as every post-Breakout block-breaking game. You move a paddle on the bottom of the screen to intercept a ball and send it into a cleverly-arranged set of rectangular bricks on the top. Some of the bricks take multiple hits to destroy, and some can't be destroyed. Occasionally, powerup items will fall down that extend your paddle, equip it with a projectile weapon, slow the ball, or provide some other benefit. Enemies will lazily float down from the top of the stage to mess with your trajectory.

It's hard to say what elevates Arkanoid above the thousands of clones that followed (one of which is available on WiiWare). Most of them have extra features or gimmicks, but those often feel like too much. Arkanoid's static levels and modest array of powerups offer just enough variation without having extra junk getting in the way of the crux of the game: moving the paddle around and breaking blocks.

One thing that Arkanoid and its immediate sequels have that no other block breaking game has (including, sadly, Arkanoid DS) is this strange prog-rock sci-fi aesthetic. The logo's signature typeface, the trippy tiled backgrounds, and the vaguely abstract enemies give Arkanoid a unique, memorable look.

The catch with Arkanoid on the Virtual Console, of course, is that it wouldn't include the Vaus Controller, the NES paddle controller that was bundled with each cartridge. Wiimote motion sensing or pointer-based analog control might work (it worked okay for Cutie-Q in Namco Museum Remix), but I doubt Nintendo would allow that kind of work to be done on something that isn't a big first-party game like Pokémon Snap.

Arkanoid remains playable with the D-pad, in any case, and I really want the opportunity to give my "dollar votes" in support of the notion that Arkanoid is rad.

Virtually Overlooked is a weekly feature that spotlights games that aren't yet on the Virtual Console, but should be. Want more Virtually Overlooked? Check out the first year!

Virtually Overlooked: Arkanoid originally appeared on Nintendo Wii Fanboy on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Massively: Is this all there is?

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:00:00 +0000

Filed under: MMO industry, Ask Massively

If, like me, you are seeking a break from your Wrath of the Lich King addiction, join me for another weekly installment of Ask Massively. If you are one of the two people on the Internet who play something other than World of Warcraft, feel free to look in as well. It is only a matter of time before you decide to join us in Azeroth/Outland/Northrend. (note: Please read this with a heavy helping of tolerance for snark and sarcasm. If you think replying to this with "HEY! THERE ARE OTHER GAMES BESIDES WoW, YOU KNOW!" is a good idea, You should pay more attention.) Our question this week comes...

Continue reading Ask Massively: Is this all there is?

Ask Massively: Is this all there is? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 IGF Mobile Competition Reveals Record Number Of Entries

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:00:29 +0000

[After the IGF entrants debuted, a similarly neat set of portable games of various kinds - from homebrew DS/PSP through cellphone, iPhone and beyond - are also showcased in IGF Mobile. Sure, it's niche-ier, but still some neat stuff in here.]

The organizers of the Independent Games Festival Mobile have revealed a total of 107 entries for the second year of the event, more than doubling the amount of entries seen in the inaugural competition.

The entries were bolstered with a strong showing from the emergent iPhone and iPod Touch platform, but entries spanned platforms including mobile phones, DS, PSP and the Zune.

The event (organized by GameSetWatch parent Think Services) is a sister competition to the long-running Independent Games Festival, which announced record entries last week.

IGF Mobile itself, founded in 2007, has seen a host of notable independent projects enter the contest -- for which $30,000 in prizes are to be awarded at GDC 2009 next March. Nvidia is Platinum and Founding Sponsor for the event, and the prize pool includes a Best iPhone Game, presented by Gold Sponsor ngmoco.

A full list of IGF Mobile 2009 entries is now available, including screenshots and details on each of the entries. As always, many of the top IGF Mobile games will only come to the fore during the judging process -- and there are many high-quality titles not listed below.

However, a diverse set of entries have come from many different mobile formats and multiple continents, with the diversity of mobile platforms being reflected in some of the following entries:

Zen Bound [iPhone/iPod Touch] (Secret Exit)
"Zen Bound is a calm and meditative game of wrapping rope around wooden sculptures -- a simple task that can become surprisingly complex."

Soul Trapper [iPhone/iPod Touch] (Realtime Audio Adventures)
"Soul Trapper is a 3+ hour interactive audio adventure that follows the turbulent life of Kane Pryce, a 27 year-old drifter who possess a mysterious device known as the Soul Trap, a supernaturally charged object that allows him to hunt down, capture, and send ghosts from the earthly realm to the afterlife."

Picopoke [MMS] (Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab)
"Picopoke is an interpretive photo game which brings flexible play to a new level. The game revolves around weekly challenge rounds, involving fulfilling challenges by taking photos and voting to determine winners. Picopoke takes advantage of the social networking community. Picopoke can also be played with mobile phones via multimedia messaging service (MMS), capturing moments spontaneously with camera phones."

Rhythm of War [Playstation Portable] (SME Dynamic Systems)
"Rhythm of War is a rhythm action strategy game where the player must travel through different time epochs to fight aliens and saves the planet. The struggle takes place on the four tracks, where the player has to defend himself in accordance with musical rhythm of each track."

Ruben and Lullaby [iPhone/iPod Touch] (Song New Creative)
"Ruben & Lullaby is a story you play like a musical instrument. Two lovers are fighting. You can control what they're feeling, where they're looking, when they speak, and when they listen. Your actions conduct a moody jazz soundtrack that reflects the feelings of the characters as they change in real time."

UZA: The First Journey [Nintendo DS] (Multiple:Option)
"Arcade action meets abstract art in UZA: The First Journey, an arcade action game similar to Robotron/Geometry Wars. Watch as your gameplay performance creates a piece of real-time abstract art. With only one life, how long can you survive, how much can you score, and what will your actions look like?"

FastFoot_Challenge [J2ME] (urban team)
"FastFoot-Challenge is a multiplayer GPS action game. 4 to 5 players with mobile phones and GPS receivers play in an area of 1km radius. One player escapes, the others have 25 minutes to catch him. His advantage: continuous updates of the chasers' positions, while those only see his position every 6 minutes. "

Wardrive [Nintendo DS] (and-or)
"Wardive captures the wireless networks in the immediate area, like a wardrive tool, and creates a game. it reads the names of the hotspots in your immediate area and turns them into enemies which try to take your wardrive-crystal."

Laser [Flash Lite] (CreatePlayShare)
"Creation and customization, community and sharing, single and multiplayer; endless levels with a variety of gameplay. Laser."

Circuit Swap [Zune] (Teabag Games)
"Circuit Swap is an exciting new puzzle game targeting mobile devices. Players are given the task to power up the city as they move battery pieces and get them inserted to the socket 'goal' pieces."

Finalists in the IGF Mobile competition will be announced on January 26th, 2009, and more information is available on the official IGF Mobile website.

SACK IT TO MEWeekly Answers to the LBP Communitys Questions

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:13:32 +0000

Over the past weeks, we’ve been reading lots of forum posts, comments to blog posts and news posts and even heard questions coming into our consumer services hotlines. To better serve the community, we’ve decided to provide a weekly update on the hot topics and answer the burning questions you all have.

LittleBigPlanet level moderation a 'continually improving' process

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:14:00 +0000

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3

That's according to Sony, which addressed several LittleBigPlanet concerns in a recent (and now weekly) post on the official PlayStation Blog. "The vast majority of moderated levels were due to offensive material," wrote SCEA marketing manager Mark Valledor, "however we are evolving the way moderation happens to ensure that creators are made aware of why their level was blocked." Earlier this year, level creators expressed their frustration at becoming victim of Sony's inscrutable moderation policies. The company has since released some general "don't put this stuff in your level" guidelines.

Valledor also noted that other online aspects of the precious platformer are being examined and improved, including the occasionally problematic servers and the maddeningly unhelpful level search function. "We've heard your requests to get better search functionality to find levels and getting the PLAY, CREATE, SHARE stats up and running on the Info Moon and have put this on the top of our list."

We hope you guys tagged that list properly -- it's going to be awfully difficult to find otherwise.

LittleBigPlanet level moderation a 'continually improving' process originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chronicles of ODS Steve: Its a Bird! Its a Plane! (#4)

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:31:18 +0000

ODS Steve. The man. The legend. The hero that knows no fear. Join him and Delta Squad for their comical adventures as they valiantly attempt to drop into enemy territory to take the fight straight to the Covenant. Enjoy the Chronicles of ODS Steve, a regular weekly offering brought to you courtesy of DeepCee.

Posted in Halo Heaven, Regular Features, Video Games Tagged: Chronicles of ODS Steve, Video Game Comics