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Square Enix may not let Kane and Lynch's 'Sleeping Dogs' lie
Square Enix has trademarked the name "Sleeping Dogs," which could be a canine-based Final Fantasy title, Hitman with a Scooby-Doo-inspired sidekick, or, most likely, another Kane and Lynch game. Yes, most likely -- we never said most desirably.The previous Kane and Lynch title was Dog Days, and while it struggled to receive critical and commercial praise, Square Enix has hinted that the series may not be dead after all. Eidos "life president" Ian Livingstone said as much at the end of 2010 in an interview with Eurogamer: "We haven't made any announcements about Kane & Lynch going forward, but we all know that Kane and Lynch are two amazing characters who have a lot of brand equity," Livingstone hinted. "People like those guys, so they're not going to disappear."Also, developer IO Interactive put out a suspicious job listing for people to work on an unannounced, third-person, AAA action title in September 2011. Again, "Sleeping Dogs" could be Square's answer to Nintendogs, but for now the evidence is piling up like a stack of old laundry against Kane and Lynch.
Steam Autumn Sale: Limbo, Overlord 75 percent off
Steam's Autumn Sale continues today, with some spectacular sales on Limbo ($2.49), Civilization 5 ($10.19), the Overlord complete pack ($4.99) and more. There's also a terrible sale on Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, wherein Steam is still asking people to actually pay for it. Steam is also offering franchise sales on The Witcher, F.E.A.R., Tom Clancy and, to keep the excitement at manageable levels, Kane & Lynch titles.
Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light half off, Kane and Lynch character packs available today on XBLM
As part of Xbox LIve's "Countdown to 2011," today's deal is the excellent downloadable title Lara Croft & the Guardian of Light at 50 percent off, which means the co-op adventure can be yours for 600 Microsoft Points (that's $7.50). That's quite inexpensive for some time with Lady Croft. We'd say "cheap," but she ain't cheap. Also available today is the free Kane & Lynch character pack for Guardian of LIght. Don't ask questions, just let the weird wash over you. Finally, there's a dose of randomness with a pet monkey for your Avatar, half off for 120 MSP ($1.50). "He's not horrible. He's lovely. He's a lovely little monkey." %Gallery-87912%
Steam deals today include Batman, Audiosurf, Deathspank, Kane & Lynch 2
Steam has a big "Give and Get" sale going on throughout the weekend, with a couple of daily deals mixed in for good measure (and your post-download pleasure). Musical racer Audiosurf is a steal at $2.50, and we can't imagine hiring better heroes than DeathSpank and Batman for just over $10 each. Have a look at the full list: Audiosurf -- $2.50 Batman: Arkham Asylum GOTY Edition -- $10.20 DeathSpank -- $10.04 Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days -- $5 Indie Story Pack (includes Gish, And Yet It Moves, Jolly Rover, Puzzle Agent and Recettear!) -- $4.99 EVE Online: Tyrannis -- $5 Defense Grid: The Awakening -- $2.50 Cities XL 2011 -- $29.99 As of 10PM EST, you have 15 hours left before the daily deal concludes. This counts for Steam's nifty gift packs too, which offer several copies of a game to be distributed amongst your pals.
Square Enix profits down, but not out as familiar franchises keep sales alive
If you think we're going to explain that mess of scribbles above -- fuggedaboutit! What we have parsed from Square Enix's six-month financial report (April–September 2010) is a rather slight net income: ¥1.723 billion ($21.4 million). While any company would take pocket change over a loss, Square Enix profits are indeed down 36 percent from the same period last year, and software sales for the first half of this fiscal year have relied heavily on "contribution from highly profitable carryover sales of major titles released in March" -- in other words: Final Fantasy XIII picked up the slack. And who were the slackers? Square Enix highlighted five "major titles" released during the period: Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 (DS) - 1.28 million units sold (Japan-only) Final Fantasy XIV (PC) - 630K units sold (worldwide) Just Cause 2 (multiplatform) - 560K units sold (worldwide)* Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (multiplatform) - 1.12 million units sold (worldwide) Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (PSP) - 510K units sold (worldwide)* *Title released in some regions prior to April 2010; sales only reflect those recorded in the six months ending September 30, 2010. Finally, Square Enix heralded its recent partnership with Chinese online games publisher Shanda Games; a deal indicative of two of the company's three proclaimed growth strategies: globalization and becoming "network centric." As for the third? Square Enix's three-pronged attack also stresses "strengthening our own-IPs." So when's that next Final Fantasy coming out again? [Image: Year-over-year comparison of monthly revenues from existing outlets; source: Square Enix]
Mafia 2 is top UK earner for third week
Take-Two's Mafia 2 whacked the competition to hold the top of the UK sales charts for a third week in a row. Making that feat even more surprising is the fact that Chart-Track notes the mob epic had a 58 percent drop in sales for the week. Second place went to Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2, which, after premiering the week before, flew up six spots with the launch of the PS3 version. Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days suppressed the rest, despite a 50 percent sales drop, to take the bronze. Three new titles entered the top ten: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and R.U.S.E. took sixth through eighth, respectively. Red Dead Redemption just barely hung onto the top ten, but the real shock is that Just Dance took eleventh place -- we think that's the lowest it's gone all year. Check out the full list of the UK's top 10 bestselling titles for the week after the break.
Mafia 2 controls top of UK Charts for second week
Did you think Take-Two's Mafia 2 would slip off the top spot in the UK charts after one week? Well, fuhgeddaboudit -- Chart-Track notes that despite a 23 percent drop in sales, the crime sandbox maintained its Godfather status. Last week, the publisher announced that it expects the game to continue being a good earner. Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days maintained its silver status with Nintendo's Wii Sports Resort rallying into bronze (thanks to a Wiimote bundle). Sales stalwarts Toy Story 3 and Red Dead Redemption remain in fourth and fifth, respectively. It appears that the time for one of Ubisoft's Dance titles is over. Older brother Just Dance is still jammin' at seventh, but Dance on Broadway has a bum leg and laryngitis, slipping even further this week down to 22. Check out last week's top 10 selling titles in the UK after the break. Update: Oops, we neglected to mention Metroid: Other M premiered last week at 12. Looks like we weren't the only ones who didn't notice it was available.
Mafia 2 enters UK charts, biggest launch since Red Dead Redemption
Take-Two's crime drama, Mafia 2, debuted at the top of the UK charts last week, with Chart-Track calling it "the biggest UK game launch since Take-Two's very own Red Dead Redemption 14 weeks ago." Though it's an impressive start, we've yet to see how the game fares in the United States, and whether sales have the stamina to recoup the costs of a lengthy development. Kane and Lynch aren't done with their Dog Days up on the charts just yet. Despite slipping into second place this week, the duo managed a 33 percent increase in sales. Toy Story 3 and Red Dead Redemption found comfortable spots in third and fourth, respectively, and a Wii sale in the region helped boost the system-bundled Wii Sports Resort from 16 to number five. If there's one surprise, it's that one of Ubisoft's Dance titles is out of the top ten. Don't worry, Just Dance is still gettin' down like an all-night rave at sixth, but Dance on Broadway has fallen off the stage and into row 16. Check out this week's top selling titles after the break.
Kane and Lynch 2 apparently nailed belly chic
In my otherwise totally accurate and insightful review of Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days, I mocked the couture of the game's villains. I might have even said they dressed like my dad, which is wholly unfair to a man at least 50 percent to thank for giving me the precious gift of life.
Kane and Lynch 2 shoots up UK sales charts
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days has stormed the UK sales charts in its premiere week to hold the top spot -- for ransom, no doubt. According to Chart-Track, the dubious duo's first outing only reached the number 14 spot in its second week of release back in 2007. It would seem the two have gained a significant following in the meantime. The rest of the chart involves the usual suspects, with Toy Story 3, Red Dead Redemption and Lego Harry Potter holding the next three spots in the queue following Kane & Lynch, respectively. Ubisoft's Dance titles keep on movin' and shakin', as Just Dance moves up the chart to the fifth spot and Dance on Broadway gets knocked down by the understudy to ninth. Whatever else goes on in the charts, those Dance games refuse to leave the top ten. Also, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has surpassed Brain Age (known there as Dr Kawashima) to become "the biggest selling UK title ever" after 41 weeks. Out of those weeks, it was absent for only three. Check out this week's top selling titles after the break.
Kane & Lynch 2 DLC begins in two weeks, game now on OnLive
Kane & Lynch 2 isn't just hitting the consoles and PC. It's heading straight into the future, into the cloud gaming service, OnLive. For a limited time, the service is offering a free game from the (very small) OnLive library when you purchase a pass to the sequel. This special version, we must note, does not include the option for multiplayer at the moment -- it'll be "enabled" for free on August 31. If you already own the game (in a version that you can play with others), you can expect to start shelling out for DLC in a mere two weeks. Beginning August 31, three downloadable add-ons will be offered: Multiplayer Mask Pack, Alliance Weapon Pack and Doggie Bag Pack. All three packs extend the multiplayer experience by adding new heist locations and weapons. Good thing, too. We're certain that -- in the one day the game's been out -- you're already begging for DLC, right?
Review: Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days
Out of Jack Handey's "Deep Thoughts," one of my favorites goes something like this: "If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting." It's a quote that was oddly present in my mind during my time with Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days. If you end up with this game in your disc drive, you'd better be ready to hide behind cover and shoot your way from one end of the game to the other over and over again, because that's what you're going to get. If that doesn't sound so bad, I should warn you that this isn't necessarily a great enchilada. ... Err, cover-based shooter. Sorry. %Gallery-96734%
Kane & Lynch fire off a few thousand rounds in new Dog Days trailer
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is sure to have an actual plot, though you're not going to see any of it in this trailer. However, if you want to see two men shooting everything, and everyone, they encounter -- and you're likely to, if you're a Kane & Lynch fan -- then we invite you to check out the video after the break.
Kane & Lynch 2's greedy, bloody pre-order bonuses revealed
When it comes to extremely violent heists, more is better, which is -- wait, what are we saying? You guys shouldn't really be engaging in extremely violent heists. Largely because they're against the law, but also because it's kind of a mean thing to do. However, if you're planning on taking part in a virtual extremely violent heist via Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days' multiplayer modes, you can gain access to a few extra pieces of content by pre-ordering the title at various retailers. Check out a list of these bonuses and a video of them in action just past the break.
Get to know Kane & Lynch, Dog Days' multiplayer director in these new videos
They say opposites attract, which would explain the effectiveness of the titular duo in IO Interactive's upcoming sequel, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. Lynch is a psychopath, a well of unchecked aggression who hardly has the foresight to see the repercussions of his actions -- a dog without a leash, if you will. His partner, Kane, on the other hand is a bit more calculating. An ex-mercenary whose interests lie in financial gain, Kane is the type of guy who doesn't fly off the handle and, for the most part, keeps it cool -- a feat considering his partner. Also beyond the break, you'll find the latest behind-the-scenes video produced for the game. This one features Kim Krogh, director of Kane & Lynch 2's multiplayer component. (Spoiler: He really likes it.)
IO Interactive's second look behind the scenes of Kane & Lynch 2
Ready for more ultra-violence? IO Interactive is here to supply it, with a second behind-the-scenes, extra gruesome look at upcoming murder-'em-up Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days. Jump past the break to check it out.
This is the third Kane & Lynch comic cover
Yeah, that's right: This is what the third cover for the Kane & Lynch comic, coming this October from DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint, looks like. Got a problem with that? No? Good. Drawn by Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) it can be seen in full after the break.
IO Interactive takes us behind the scenes of Kane & Lynch 2
Wondering what's changed from the first Kane & Lynch title to the second? The folks at IO Interactive are here to tell you, with a peek behind the scenes of the upcoming sequel. Aside from adding online co-op to the game's main campaign, a mess of other mechanics have been tweaked in the game, apparently to quell issues fans had with the first. Unfortunately, the issues named are things like "cover system," "aiming and shooting," and "AI," which kind of ... worries us. That said, art director Rasmus Poulsen promises the game is going to be "so visceral, so intense, so in your face, that you're gonna be left without any skin left." So, you know, there's that. Join us behind the scenes just after the break, won't you?
Kane & Lynch 2 demo assaults the public next week
The public demo for Kane & Lynch 2 -- requiring no subscriptions or hoop jumping -- will release sometime next week. The PlayStation 3 demo will go live Tuesday, July 27. As for the PC and Xbox 360 versions, um, Square Enix doesn't seem to be too sure, but the company line is "next week." The demos should be available in North America, Europe and other PAL territories. Kane and Lynch's Dog Days will start on August 17 and 24 in North America and the PAL lands, respectively.
PSN Tuesday: Kane and Lynch demo for PS+
We repeat (from last week): "Some slim pickings this week." There's the Kane & Lynch 2 demo for those who've got a PS+ subscription, and there are some deals to be had thanks to several price drops. Check out the full update after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
