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TERA box art revealed, game one step closer to release
Upcoming fantasy MMO TERA has been in closed beta for some time and is fast approaching release. Created by Korea-based developer Blue Hole Studio, the game is due to be published in North America and Europe by En Masse Entertainment and Frogster respectively. With the game's first big community testing event officially starting tomorrow, fans of the game will finally get to try it out. TERA took another step toward realisation today as En Masse has given fans a first glimpse of the official box art. The colour schemes and visual styles in the box art are designed to mirror the styles you'll find in the game once it's released. In a refreshing change, the female character featured in the image is a lot more conservatively dressed than is usually expected from box art or from TERA. Head over to the official TERA website for a sneak peek at the new box art.
Dead or Alive Dimensions box art deemed too leggy by ESRB [update]
The artwork adorning the cover of Dead of Alive Dimensions for 3DS when it hits the US this May will look more or less like it did on the Japanese release, with one change: no inner-thigh. Tecmo tells Joystiq that the ESRB found the original art (left) too racy because it showed too much of Kasumi's right leg. In response, the company's art department whipped up an alternate cover (right) with more, well ... coverage of the highly offensive area. Whatever -- we'll still like this vetoed cover much better. Plus, it's completely leg-fee. Update, March 24: In what seems like some backpedaling in order to make nice with the ESRB, Tecmo has told 1UP the following: "[T]his whole thing is getting blown way out of proportion. The truth is that when we submitted the box art as-is from Japan, there were a few parties both internal and external who thought there might be some issue with the image. Nobody 'demanded' anything be changed, it was just pointed out. You have to pick your battles, and covering up that small bit of the image seemed to be harmless. Honestly, if you look at the comparisons between the Japanese and US box shots, it's not like the image loses anything after the edit. "The ESRB has been very helpful working with us on recent projects. If the box art was something we felt really strongly about, we would have kept it as-is. But we just didn't really see the harm in editing it to make it appropriate for everyone involved." [Image: aussie-nintendo]
Russian Super Meat Boy box art winner revealed, delightful
Team Meat's contest to find new box art for the Russian release of its beloved, nightmarishly difficult platformer Super Meat Boy has been fruitful, indeed. Check out the winning art after the jump -- then soak in all the other wonderful submissions over on Team Meat's site. We want posters!
Top Spin 4 is Move compatible, but 'not Kinect'
When Top Spin 4 was announced in September, publisher 2K Games busted out accolades like "uncanny level of realism" and "all-new innovative controls," which certainly sounded like euphemisms for "you're going to play it with swinging motions." At the time, associate producer Michael Kelly told ESPN that support for PlayStation Move and Kinect was "something we are looking into, but I can't confirm or deny that it will be in the final product." Today, the publisher revealed Top Spin 4's box art, featuring Bald Agassi (his "Vintage" look will be available when you pre-order the game from GameStop) flanked by current stars Rafa and Serena. And the box art revealed that the PS3 version will be "PlayStation Move Compatible," which is corroborated by the Move logo's appearance in the new trailer. The Xbox 360 cover, however, is curiously devoid of any mention of Kinect, and a 2K Games representative confirmed to us that Top Spin 4 is "not Kinect ... but it is Move compatible." Considering the strong sales of both Kinect hardware and associated software since the device's launch in November, not to mention that there's no licensed tennis sim for Kinect on the market yet, 2K must have good reason for passing up this opportunity (though the company has "no further comment" at this time). Top Spin 4 is scheduled for release on March 15, 2011 for PS3, Wii and Xbox 360. Check out the full, 25-player roster and a new trailer after the break. %Gallery-114600%
Masthead Studios reveals Earthrise's European box art
It's almost here! It's almost here! Ma, get the kids in the cellar! Pa, grab that shotgun and prepare for the apocalypse! Lassie, Timmy's stuck in a well, so... get on that already! That's right -- Earthrise's February 4th release date is right around the corner, and we're betting that quite a few of you sci-fi sandbox fans are eagerly waiting for its launch. While we cannot speed up the flow of time (yet -- Shawn is working on that, but he's a busy man), we do have one new tidbit to share with you: the European Earthrise box art. While the centerpiece of the box is the same saucy blue/white-haired lady looking over her shoulder as if to say, "I saw you looking at my... guns," it's interesting to note that the background silhouette seems to resemble an atomic cloud. Indulge in a bit of culture today by visiting the Earthrise art museum after the jump.
MotorStorm Apocalypse crashing down April 12
The mere mention of a "motorstorm" itself sounds pretty apocalyptic to us. Just imagine: 1000-pound engine blocks falling from the sky! Given that, can you even begin to imagine how severe a MotorStorm Apocalypse could be? Well, you don't have to, it's happening, as Sony has announced the game's April 12 release date on the PlayStation Blog. With a few months to go before the arrival, you've still got some time to save like, so, so many coins for that 3D TV. You do want to experience the Apocalypse the way it's meant to be played -- in "mind-blowing 3D" -- don't you?%Gallery-114376%
In Russia, Super Meat Boy retail cover makes you!
Okay, not quite. But fans of Super Meat Boy in Russia now have the opportunity to design the cover art for the PC box-copy release in the territory (so team Meat doesn't have to). Published by Buka Entertainment, the Russian release will be the first box copy of the game available in the world, so it's ... sort of a big deal? To enter the box art contest -- well, first you have to be a resident of Russia or any of the former Soviet Union countries, and then -- just put together a 709x709-pixel image using this set of SMB assets (.ZIP link), send it in to Buka before midnight on January 15, 2011, and calmly wait for the results to be announced a day or so later (more specific instructions can be found here). Not only will the winner become "like semi-popular," but he or she will also receive an Acer monitor! A personal message from Team Meat's Edmund McMillen spells out the intentions behind the contest, which you can view after the break. If you don't watch it for the pitch, watch it for his totally sweet hat.
Super Meat Boy PC box art is a nightmare made tangible
We thought that nothing related to Super Meat Boy could possibly be more upsetting than that I Want to Be the Guy level, but there's no way we could have foreseen ... this. Graphic artist Dave Rapoza, who caught the eye of Team Meat with an equally disturbing piece of fan art earlier this year, has drawn up a new hyper-realistic design that will make its way onto the box of the Super Meat Boy PC special edition. Check out the full illustration after the jump. We can't place our finger on what makes our initial reaction to the painting one of immeasurable horror; it really is an incredibly creative and beautifully drawn interpretation of the game's tiny, pixelated lead characters. Maybe that's what's so upsetting -- we never imagined that hidden within that blocky frame was a totally ripped physique.
Bandai is in charge of all video game box art from now on
We're not sure if it's too soon to name our 2011 Game of the Year, but we're awfully tempted to just go ahead and give it to Bandai's DS soon-to-be-classic, Fly Mr. Science. Based solely on the box art alone (the full version of which is posted below), we can tell it's going to be ... important.
Catherine and Katherine split box art duty
If you're shocked to see the seductive poses on the Japanese box art for Catherine, this is likely your first encounter with the Persona team's foray into HD games. The covers feature Catherine (on the PS3 box), the mysterious woman with whom protagonist Vincent has an affair with, and his current girlfriend, Katherine (on the 360 version). The box art is in line with the general marketing for the adult-themed game, which has used lascivious imagery to capture Vincent's insomnia-plagued predicament. Look closer -- notice the falling sheep-men? Catherine arrives in Japan on February 17, and in North America who knows when.
The Perfect Ten: The sadistic shopper's list for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
With the holiday shopping season upon us, gamers are hot for great deals and cheap entertainment. As my wife's logic goes, if something is 80% off, you buy it, even if you didn't really want it in the first place. It's the principle of the thing, an automatic 80% dose of smug satisfaction at being a savvy shopper! Not every deal should be pursued, however. Although most video games are playable for years and decades after release, not so with MMOs that have had their service shuttered. It's recently come to my attention that even though these games are completely unplayable -- rendered nothing more than a few cents' worth of a DVD and cardboard packaging -- online retailers haven't kept up with the times and keep these products on the virtual shelves long past their expiration dates. That's not to say you should avoid these products at all cost, because studies show that a large percentage of Massively readers have a sick and twisted sense of humor. What would make a better gift this Christmas than a multi-million-dollar-budget MMO that died a horrible death years before? So don't be the typical gifter who settles for a Blu-ray player or an iPod -- give a package of misery, disillusionment and broken dreams! Hit the jump for 10 items that absolutely belong in your shopping cart if you wish to be feared!
Cribs: Babysitting Mama Edition
Majesco has released images of the final doll design and packaging for Babysitting Mama. Cleverly, the box for the minigame collection is shaped like a crib, featuring a phrase we didn't ever think we'd see on a game box: "Wii Game Disc Included (Look Under Baby!)"
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 gets multiple covers
Wanna snag eight WWE superstars all on one game box? Too bad, as THQ's WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011 will feature eight WWE wrestlers across several region-specific covers.
Call of Duty: Black Ops box art features Sally ... and her soldier
Activision has just dropped the Call of Duty: Black Ops box art in our laps, and it's ... mysterious. Rather than represent an actual game character in Treyarch's latest Call of Duty title, we're guessing the shadow-faced soldier above represents the player, a quad-gunned triggerman in the shady world of stealth operations.
Activision confirms final Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions cover
GameFly has proven that the speed of a game rental website exceeds the proportionate speed of a radioactive spider. The website posted the final box art for Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions well in advance of next week's Shattered Dimensions Comic-Con panel, which is expected to provide the "official" reveal of the game's fourth universe. Activision confirmed to Joystiq that the box art image is authentic. There's still plenty of info to reveal at that panel, however. The newly revealed, fourth version of Spider-Man (pictured on the far right) looks like he's wearing the famous (infamous?) black "symbiote" costume, which raises questions about which "universe" it represents in the game. In the comics, the Secret Wars storyline that resulted in Spider-Man's acquisition of this costume took place in the normal "Earth-616" Marvel Comics continuity, which is already one of the game's revealed dimensions. (The other two are the Noir [Earth-7207] and Marvel 2099 [Earth-928] universes.) It's possible that this probable symbiote costume is the version from the Ultimate universe, which would qualify as a separate universe and fulfill the game's multidimensional gimmick. Check out the full box art after the break, while we ponder the biggest question brought on by this reveal: When did we learn so much about Spider-Man comics?
The Michael Jordan NBA 2K11 cover
2K Sports calls it the "Greatest Cover of All Time" -- but, you know, it's not even the greatest Michael Jordan cover of all time. Five words: Chaos. In. The. Windy. City. (Click the image for a better look at Jordan's latest comeback.)
Dead Space 2 cover is possibly Dead Space Girl-free
EA just made what it classifies as a "big reveal" via Twitter -- the cover art for Dead Space 2. We regret to inform you that the cover does not feature any terrified, meme-worthy faces, unless there's one behind the visor of that helmet. You know what, we're just going to assume there's a Dead Space Girl face right behind that helmet. It ... helps. Check out the full image after the break. Dead Space 2 is currently slated for an early 2011 release (inside that box), according to EA earnings reports and statements from CEO John Riccitiello.
What the HTC EVO 4G packaging does -- but hopefully won't -- look like
There are actually days when we envy those who are paid to hawk telephones. Today, for instance, we hear that certain Sprint employees have recently obtained an HTC EVO 4G. However, our jealousy is tempered by the fact that we've already spent considerable quality time with the superphone, and, quite frankly, by the ridiculous packaging you see immediately above. Pardon our French, but it looks like a microwavable food tub. See a pair of close-ups after the break. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Fable 3 box art crowned with 'Windows' label
"Dudes, this box art rules!" We would have been satisfied to leave it at that after sharing Fable 3's regal cover art with you, had it not been for the curious stamp at the top: "Only on Xbox 360 & Windows." The label, which denotes "exclusivity" on Microsoft's console and PC, was most recently adhered to THQ's atmospheric first-person shooter, Metro 2033. Since this official Microsoft-provided art has now been retracted (from Games Press), you're either looking at an elaborate labeling error or an accidental announcement of Fable 3 heading to PC. We'll do our best to be royal pains and keep bugging Microsoft for a proper answer. At the time of writing, neither Microsoft US nor Microsoft UK had responded to our calls. Update: A Microsoft representative told us, "We have not made any official announcements beyond 'Fable III' for Xbox 360 at this time," and offered to forward additional information "as it becomes available."
The Fallout: New Vegas box art is stoic
We struggle to find anything else to say about the Fallout: New Vegas boxart that's been revealed via the Bethesda Blog. Depicting a single New California Republic Ranger standing alone (you know, the guy from the first trailer?), he wields his pistol, presumably ready for any ne'er-do-wells lurking. Or maybe he's just showing his gun to us? We can't imagine it's very impressive, what with all the sand in the post-apocalyptic desert. Of course, if the regular edition of the game doesn't do it for you, don't forget there's a collector's edition you can snag for $79.99 on PS3 and Xbox and $69.99 on PC -- or about 7,162 bottle caps.* *Note: Please don't mail bottle caps to Bethesda.
