Thursday, 17 April 2008
Xbox 360 Takes 42% of All Videgame Sales In Europe
The momentum behind Xbox 360 continues to grow, as Microsoft today announced that European sales have more than doubled in the wake of recent adjustments of the estimated retail price (ERP), solidifying its leadership position as the number one next-generation console in Europe and significantly broadening the console’s audience.“Xbox 360 is truly the next-generation console of choice among consumers, and today’s numbers are proof that we are delivering on our commitment to achieve critical mass in Europe,” said Chris Lewis, Vice President, Microsoft Interactive Entertainment Business Europe. “The highly competitive ERP, coupled with entertainment content that’s appealing to everyone in the home, makes Xbox 360 the ultimate high-definition entertainment choice, and it’s clear that we’re already seeing this resonate with consumers.”Xbox 360 is the number one next-gen console in EMEA, owning 42% of the market in terms of life-to-date revenue. Xbox 360 continues to enjoy the highest software attach rate of any game console in Europe with more than 7.0 games sold per console (PS3: 3.8; Wii 3.5) after 27 months on the market.On Friday, 14th March, Microsoft lowered the ERP for its Xbox 360™ family of consoles in Europe. Now with an entry-level ERP of £159.99, Xbox 360 is a video game and entertainment system that is appealing to an even broader audience. Upcoming releases of blockbuster games such as “Grand Theft Auto IV,” “Rock Band,” “Lego Indiana Jones” and “Ninja Gaiden 2,” will continue this momentum and give consumers even more reasons to buy Xbox 360.
More Details About Namco Bandai’s Afro Samurai
High-style action comes to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system this fall with Afro Samurai® from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. Join Afro in his tale of revenge as he searches for his father’s murderer and the holder of the coveted number one headband. Based on the hit animated series starring and co-produced by Samuel L. Jackson, Afro Samurai blends modern hip hop and technology with traditional Japanese culture into a brutally fresh cinematic experience.“Afro Samurai’s unique mash-up of urban hip hop culture with traditional Japanese aesthetics and innovative combat mechanics provides a fresh new approach to the action adventure genre,” said Todd Thorson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for NAMCO BANDAI Games America. “Afro Samurai delivers an episodic experience with addictive, immersive and compelling gameplay that’s literally dripping in style.”
Follow Afro Samurai as he fights to become the number one warrior, a title currently held by Justice, the man who killed Afro’s father when he was a child. The game follows the plot of the original series with added material and background for fans and new comers alike.Blood is beautiful™ in this hip hop infused action adventure as Samuel L. Jackson reprises his role as Afro and Ninja Ninja. A striking art style gives Afro Samurai a truly unique look and feel across beautifully animated open environments as he wages war against his adversaries to become number one. Using an innovative gameplay system, enemy AI is affected by the beat of the musical score produced by RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame. These dynamic battles ensure stylized encounters throughout the game that affect the overall tone of gameplay. Slice and dismember opponents as Afro acrobatically leaps from one location to the next, interacting with anything and everything in the environment to help him on his journey.
Sega Dreamcast’s Soul Calibur Coming to XBLA
While Namco Bandai was busy pitching all their upcoming projects and games to the media, they broke out some new that they apparently didn’t think was that big. The Sega Dreamcast classic – Soul Calibur – will be available for download later this year
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Cowon iAudio D2 Review
The D2 is Cowon's first ultra portable video player and their first foray into the wondrous world of touch screens. Although similar in appearance to the iriver clix, the D2 sports some significant differences under the hood: things usually not found in this class of players like TV output, support for lossless audio codecs, and an SD/SDHC card slot for unlimited expansion.
Spiritlorre recommends Cowon D2 mp3 its awsome, amazing sound & features in this small beautiful package.
full review below
New Halo 3 Map Pack On Marketplace
The new Halo 3 "Legendary" map pack is now up on Marketplace and ready to be downloaded. This map pack will cost you 800 Microsoft points and will bring three new maps to Halo 3. The new maps are titled: Ghost Town, Avalanche & Blackout.
On Ghost Town the best game types, according to Bungie, seem to be Team Slayer, One Flag CTF, Multi-Flag CTF & One Bomb. On Avalanche the best game types seem to be Multi-Flag CTF, One Flag CTF, One Bomb, Team King & Team Slayer. Finally on Blackout the best game types seem to be Team Slayer, One Flag CTF & One Bomb.
Don't forget that the Halo 3 "Heroic" map pack is also available on Marketplace and that particular one is a free download.
On Ghost Town the best game types, according to Bungie, seem to be Team Slayer, One Flag CTF, Multi-Flag CTF & One Bomb. On Avalanche the best game types seem to be Multi-Flag CTF, One Flag CTF, One Bomb, Team King & Team Slayer. Finally on Blackout the best game types seem to be Team Slayer, One Flag CTF & One Bomb.
Don't forget that the Halo 3 "Heroic" map pack is also available on Marketplace and that particular one is a free download.
Kane & Lynch New DLC Arriving This Week
Beginning on April 17th there will be some new downloadable map packs for the controversial game, Kane & Lynch Dead Men. You will be getting four new maps four maps entitled: Clean Cut, Flying High, Hooker's Trail and Hasta La Vista. Check out the trailer below and if you are a fan of the game keep your eye out for when these new maps show up on Marketplace.
Bourne Demo coming to Xbox Live...
it looks very much like it does justice to the film and book franchise, taking action gaming to a whole new level. Thankfully we won't have long to wait to get our hands on it, as Sierra have confirmed they'll be releasing a Bourne Conspiracy demo to Xbox Live Marketplace early in May, giving gamers the chance to experience the frenetic action for themselves.
Monday, 14 April 2008
OXM Gives Grand Theft Auto Perfect 10
You won’t need to take a seat for this one as there shouldn’t really be any shock involved. The first reviews for Grand Theft Auto IV are leaking out and the results are positive. The first official review leaking out is that of Official Xbox Magazine.
OXM has given the game the distinguished 10 out of 10. This would be a bigger deal if Future Publishing, the parent company of OXM, hadn’t brokered a deal to publish the first review. Whenever a deal is made to publish a review, we fell there might be a little bias. This isn’t to suggest the game isn’t a 10 though.
The OXM review praises GTA IV’s storyline, while also giving a big thumbs up to the new visuals and huge multiplayer environments. According to OXM, it’s all good. This is definitely good news for Take-Two (Rockstar’s parent company).
OXM did have one criticism. The magazine did find the new cover system, similar to Gears of War, a bit confusing. While we’re not sure how a cover system inspired by a popular cover system can be confusing, we’ll have to wait and see for ourselves. The review also claims that the backdrops seem to be filled with far too much repetition in the form of burning trash cans, burning cars, and bodies. That’s nothing new and something we expected. So no biggie there right?
As for the exclusive DLC headed to the Xbox 360; OXM claims these downloadable missions will provide an additional 10 hours of gameplay. Sounds pretty good to us.
You can check out the latest OXM when it goes on sale this week
OXM has given the game the distinguished 10 out of 10. This would be a bigger deal if Future Publishing, the parent company of OXM, hadn’t brokered a deal to publish the first review. Whenever a deal is made to publish a review, we fell there might be a little bias. This isn’t to suggest the game isn’t a 10 though.
The OXM review praises GTA IV’s storyline, while also giving a big thumbs up to the new visuals and huge multiplayer environments. According to OXM, it’s all good. This is definitely good news for Take-Two (Rockstar’s parent company).
OXM did have one criticism. The magazine did find the new cover system, similar to Gears of War, a bit confusing. While we’re not sure how a cover system inspired by a popular cover system can be confusing, we’ll have to wait and see for ourselves. The review also claims that the backdrops seem to be filled with far too much repetition in the form of burning trash cans, burning cars, and bodies. That’s nothing new and something we expected. So no biggie there right?
As for the exclusive DLC headed to the Xbox 360; OXM claims these downloadable missions will provide an additional 10 hours of gameplay. Sounds pretty good to us.
You can check out the latest OXM when it goes on sale this week
Friday, 11 April 2008
Gamers already camping out for GTA IV
Still weeks away from Grand Theft Auto IV’s release date of April 29, cold weather hasn’t prevented those eager to be the very first to play Rockstar’s highly anticipated title from setting camp.
Gears of War 2 - New faces, new places, new vehicles...
...but this time he's brought some new pals along for the ride. Gears of War 2, the hotly anticipated sequel to the original million seller, takes the fight directly to the Locust. Sure enough, Fenix is heading underground...
The way your character takes cover is much improved over the original, ensuring that sneaky Locust scum can't pop off a shot at you and hit you when you're hiding behind a wall or peeping round a corner. Weapons are tweaked though all the oldies but goldies are there of course. There's a new dual-wield chainsaw gun ensuring that Marcus and the other characters in the game can get up close and personal, and spill some alien blood. Underground levels aren't tight twisty dark dank little corridors but vast subterranean spaces, breathtaking in scale and scope and much improved over the originalA new enemy, the Kantus, can use focussed sonic attacks on the player, causing damage and loss of energy. These focus chant attacks are probably the newest most lethal weapon in the Locust arsenal. If you're looking for something bigger to pick a fight with, Cliff Bleszinski promises monsters that will "make the Brumak from the original game look like a baby panda bear."With vast improvements to the original spec Unreal 3 engine used for the sequel, the gushing Cliffy B also added that far more enemies would be on-screen at once, making you really work for your achievements and those end of level encounters with big nasty bosses. Along with Fenix, Baird and "The Cole Train" will be reappearing in the sequel, along with new characters like Tai Kaliso, a spiritual warrior chick, Chairman Prescott (no he doesn't own two jags), the previously unseen head of the human government, and Dizzy, a human vehicle specialist with rather too fond an attachment to his truck - one of many new vehicles in the game. Multiplayer has also been universally expanded and improved over the original. Can't wait. Tune in towards the latter half of the year for the game's release, and keep 'em peeled here - we'll bring you more details, screenies and movies when we've got 'em.
The way your character takes cover is much improved over the original, ensuring that sneaky Locust scum can't pop off a shot at you and hit you when you're hiding behind a wall or peeping round a corner. Weapons are tweaked though all the oldies but goldies are there of course. There's a new dual-wield chainsaw gun ensuring that Marcus and the other characters in the game can get up close and personal, and spill some alien blood. Underground levels aren't tight twisty dark dank little corridors but vast subterranean spaces, breathtaking in scale and scope and much improved over the originalA new enemy, the Kantus, can use focussed sonic attacks on the player, causing damage and loss of energy. These focus chant attacks are probably the newest most lethal weapon in the Locust arsenal. If you're looking for something bigger to pick a fight with, Cliff Bleszinski promises monsters that will "make the Brumak from the original game look like a baby panda bear."With vast improvements to the original spec Unreal 3 engine used for the sequel, the gushing Cliffy B also added that far more enemies would be on-screen at once, making you really work for your achievements and those end of level encounters with big nasty bosses. Along with Fenix, Baird and "The Cole Train" will be reappearing in the sequel, along with new characters like Tai Kaliso, a spiritual warrior chick, Chairman Prescott (no he doesn't own two jags), the previously unseen head of the human government, and Dizzy, a human vehicle specialist with rather too fond an attachment to his truck - one of many new vehicles in the game. Multiplayer has also been universally expanded and improved over the original. Can't wait. Tune in towards the latter half of the year for the game's release, and keep 'em peeled here - we'll bring you more details, screenies and movies when we've got 'em.
PS3/360 Cry Engine 2 to Look Near High Settings on PC
It almost sounds too good to be true. Almost? It is too good to be true. Could Cry Engine 2 on consoles really look any where near as good as Crysis on the PC? Crytek’s Engine Business Manager, Harald Seeley, states that they expect the console versions to “look like they’re running at high settings, or nearly high settings, on a PC.” *Shock.*
When asked what differences there would be between the PC and console versions of the Cry Engine 2, and whether the engine will be tailored to each platform, Seeley replies:
When asked what differences there would be between the PC and console versions of the Cry Engine 2, and whether the engine will be tailored to each platform, Seeley replies:
Yes, we definitely tailor the engine specifically to each platform. More than just the difference in CPU and video hardware capabilities of PCs and consoles is at play here. So are the much smaller memory budgets we must work with, the lack of a hard disk on some models, and the acceptance requirements of the hardware vendors themselves. All have an effect on how we approach each version of the engine.
The surprising thing has been how well the consoles can perform visually, once this tailoring is in place. We expect the final outcome will result in games that look like they’re running at high settings, or nearly high settings, on a PC. Actually, we found it as much or more challenging to address the memory limitations of the consoles when converting our current AI system, as we did while converting our rendering engine or physics system, which was not something you might have expected at the start.
by Patrick Steen on April 7, 2008
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
New info and shots of Gears 2
Gears of War 2 begins six months after the deployment of the Lightmass bomb at the end of part one. Read more here
Monday, 7 April 2008
High infernal priest Dark Radai from Ninja Gaiden 2
Exclusive shot - You've seen it here first!
The story follows as (the guy on the right in the picture) the high infernal priest Dark Radai is trying to restore the arch fiend - aka the Devil which could see the end of the human race. Helping Dark Radai is a female from the CIA (to the left of the shot).
The game begins when a mystirous lady called Sonia tries to find Ryu to tell him about the arch fiend. She is kidnapped by the spider clan who seem to be working with the fiends, but then later rescued by Ryu. Sonia who also seem to be with the CIA then tells him that his village is under attack for the demon statue. Ryu Hayabusa is out to once more save his clan and the human race. Exclusive NG2 content is supposed to hit XLM on April 15, the demo in May and the game release on June 6.
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