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PSA: Dead Rising 2, Case Zero free through Games with Gold now
After plummeting from the colossal height of Agency Tower, why not try a sedate change of pace by dressing up like Elvis and bashing in thousands upon thousands of zombie heads? As of today, Dead Rising 2 takes over from Crackdown as Xbox Live's Games with Gold freebie, meaning Gold subscribers can grab it along with its prologue, DR2: Case Zero, for nada and niente until the end of the month. Both Dead Rising 2 and Case Zero are available for free now - see you at the mall.
Halo: Reach DLC 50% off this week, Toy Soldiers DLC and more next week
If all the talk of Halo Anniversary has put you in the mood for more modern fare, the Reach map packs are down to five bucks each this week. Alternately, if the release of Dead Rising 2: Off the Record gave you a hankerin' for Dead Rising 2 spinoffs, you'll find those half off next week, starting October 25. Dead Rising the first will also be On Demand for 25% off. There's currently a "Shocktober" sale happening, including Castlevania Harmony of Despair for 600 Points ($7.50), and Alan Wake On Demand for just $10 more than retail. What a deal. Racing fans can get a rolling staaaaaaaaaaaaaaart on Daytona USA on October 26, and check out the Toy Soldiers: Cold War "Napalm Pack" and A World of Keflings DLC on the same day. And in Avatar accessory news, it's finally happening on October 20. KISS Avatar clothing.
Top Xbox Live game launches of 2010
It's a curious way to organize data, but Microsoft's Major Nelson has posted the top Arcade and Indie games of 2010, based on "full versions purchased" during a game's first seven days of activity. Topping the Arcade list is Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, which definitely owns its place as Capcom's "most dynamic sales weapon" ever. Capcom's other Dead Rising 2 standalone tie-in, Case West, also did some faaaaa-ntastic numbers, taking the seventh spot. Limbo, which was one of our top games of 2010, took the second spot, while the Perfect Dark refresh can be spied in third. Super Meat Boy, prime at five on our best of 2010, hunkered down on this list at spot 17. In the Indie section, Baby Maker Extreme popped up in first place, followed by several games that have "Avatar" in the title. A game called Try Not To Fart also made it into the list. Check out the top 20 Arcade and Indie titles after the break.
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero surpasses 600K download mark
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, the "most dynamic sales weapon" publisher Capcom has ever had, has surpassed the 600,000-downloaded mark. The $5 XBLA-exclusive sold another 100,000 units in October, topping the Xbox Live Arcade sales chart and apparently making it the "fastest selling" XBLA game of the year. The full-bodied demo/prequel to Dead Rising 2 has been an incredible success, selling nearly a half million units in its first two weeks back in early September. As for Case Zero's sales impact on the full game, it certainly didn't hurt the sequel, as Capcom announced in late October it had shipped over 2 million units of the game to retailers.
Sonic Adventure climbs, Dead Rising 2 tops Xbox Live Activity charts
After a poor, not-even-in-the-top-10 opening week for the XBLA version of Sonic Adventure, some worried that Sega might lose its interest in bringing more Dreamcast classics to the platform. However, it seems that contrary to the nature of its blue, pointy protagonist, Sonic Adventure is just a slow starter -- it placed fourth in this week's top Arcade sales. Dead Rising 2: Case Zero held down its spot at the top of the list, while DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue managed to debut in second. Halo: Reach managed to wrestle the top spot on the Xbox Live Activity chart from Modern Warfare 2 -- where it will likely remain for a good long time. At least, until Call of Duty: Black Ops makes a run for the throne. Ooooh, this is going to be so exciting! Check out the full Xbox Live weekly rankings after the jump.
Capcom calls Dead Rising 2: Case Zero 'most dynamic sales weapon' it's ever had
"It's the most dynamic sales weapon we have ever had in our arsenal, giving us the equivalent exposure of a multi-million pound TV campaign," Capcom's UK product manager Karl Reader told MCV. "We foresee other publishers will follow suit." And why shouldn't they? Dead Rising 2: Case Zero has been a huge success since launching on Xbox Live a few weeks back. At TGS, Capcom announced the game was closing in on 500,000 copies sold. But is there really a way to judge its effectiveness as a marketing solution compared to more traditional sales means, such as TV, print and online ads? Reader said Case Zero "serves as a barometer for us as a publisher, allowing us to gauge demand for the title and adjust our marketing plans for Dead Rising 2 accordingly." We can all agree Case Zero was successful as a standalone game, but there's no way to tell whether it was an effective way to market Dead Rising 2 until it launches on September 28.
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero tops XBLA charts, Sonic Adventure off to a slow start
Even three weeks after its release, Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is the number one seller on Xbox Live Arcade. The performance isn't too surprising, given the low, low price of $5 and estimates of the game's staggering download numbers. Also, Case Zero lets you maim zombies with a pitchfork-shotgun, which probably encouraged sales. On the other end of the Live spectrum lies Sonic Adventure, the first in a new series of Dreamcast re-releases, which didn't even make it into the top 10. The first week of sales is generally where most XBLA titles perform their best, but it seems even Sonic's super speed couldn't get him higher than 15th. Then again, Sonic Adventure is essentially a straight port of the original -- bugs and all -- so Sega probably didn't invest too much money in the port. It's also worth noting that the other two releases last week, KOF Sky Stage and Space Invaders: Infinity Gene, didn't crack the top 20 at all.
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero downloaded over 300K times
According to GamerBytes, leaderboard data shows that Dead Rising 2: Case Zero was downloaded over 300,000 times (328,290 at the time of writing). Even with Microsoft's alleged 30 percent cut, one can estimate that Capcom made roughly $1.15 million off the experiment in less than a week. Publisher Capcom insisted on its blog that "these are NOT official numbers," though we think they serve as a good, early indication of success. Two interesting things are at play here: Will the Case Zero experiment usher in a new type of demo experience? And if sales for Dead Rising 2 fall below expectations, will Capcom place the blame on a $5 demo that proved a little too satisfying? %Gallery-100734%
Japan investigates Dead Rising 2: Case Zero on Sep. 8
According to andriasang.com, Dead Rising 2: Case Zero will hit Xbox Live in Japan starting September 8. The game was delayed last week, reportedly because of some inappropriate content contained in the free trial version of the game. We're not sure what's inappropriate about justly sentencing zombies to a gory death, but the issue has presumably been resolved. Would-be Japanese zombie slayers will be able to purchase the game for ¥600. Of course, now we have to wonder if tomorrow's other undead XBLA release, Plants vs Zombies, will be deemed inappropriate as well. After all, flinging butter at an unsuspecting zombie is just wrong.
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero review: Undead and loving it
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is kind of difficult to judge. While it is a standalone title, it's not really a full game per se. It is, essentially, DLC for a game that hasn't been released yet, an extension of Dead Rising 2. Of course, no one has had that experience yet, meaning that Case Zero serves double duty as a demo as well. It's an interesting experiment for Capcom and for the industry in general; thankfully for Dead Rising fans, it pays off. %Gallery-100734%
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero delayed in Japan [update: English version on track for Aug. 31]
Dead Rising 2's standalone playable prologue, Case Zero, has been delayed in Japan. According to Andriasang, the delay may have been prompted by some inappropriate content presented in the free trial portion of the game (which can be fully unlocked for 400 Microsoft Points). Capcom assured Famitsu that Case Zero's delay would not affect Dead Rising 2's release in the region. We're currently following up with Capcom in other regions to confirm the status of the title, which is supposed to unleash its brain-munching masses on Xbox Live Marketplace tomorrow, August 31. Update: Capcom USA has confirmed that the English release has not been delayed. %Gallery-99768%
Dead Rising 2 Fortune City map unveiled
The shambling, groaning launch of Dead Rising 2 may still be over a month away, but that doesn't mean eager players can't start planning their zombie assaults now. Capcom has released a map of Fortune City, complete with a handy list of the various shops and locations littered about. A few locations guaranteed to house convenient implements of zombie death: SporTrance, KokoNutz Sports Town, High-Noon Shooting Range and, of course, Army Surplus Gift Store. Unfortunately, we're not seeing any cutlery stores on this thing, which could make the search for a katana a little difficult. In other zombie slaughtering news, 360Sync has revealed the Achievements for the Dead Rising 2 prequel, Case Zero. Said Achievements are rewarded for building weapons, spending money at the pawn shop and, naturally, killing zombies.
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero infects XBLA August 31
Better refill your Zombrex prescription: Capcom is letting Dead Rising 2: Case Zero out of quarantine and into Xbox Live Arcade on August 31 -- the original release date of the full Dead Rising 2 game (that's now dated for September 28). Capcom has also released a new trailer for Dead Rising 2, which you'll find after the break. Case Zero, a standalone experience, serves as a prologue to Dead Rising 2. Chuck Greene fights to escape the town of Still Creek and obtain the Zombrex he needs to keep his daughter Katey from coming down with a case of finding human flesh yummy. The prologue won't take a bite out of your budget: Capcom is pricing the XBLA-exclusive Case Zero at 400 Microsoft Points ($5).
Preview: Dead Rising 2: Case Zero (XBLA)
Capcom is doing something pretty interesting with the release of Dead Rising 2. Prior to its August 31 launch, Capcom will put out Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, an Xbox Live exclusive prequel sans co-op that takes place two years after the original and three years prior to the second game. In short: it's distilled Dead Rising 2 on a much smaller scale.
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero prequel detailed
Back during X10, Capcom revealed Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, the stand-alone prologue exclusive to Xbox Live Marketplace that will bridge the gap between the first and second game. It will introduce the sequel's protagonist, Chuck Greene, father and master of duct taping stuff, as he works to free himself and his daughter from the desert town of Still Creek -- two years after the events of the first game, but three years before the events of the sequel. Shacknews managed to secure the details while at Captivate in Hawaii, and says Capcom promises Case Zero will have "unique content not available in the full retail release of Dead Rising 2." Sadly, there's no mention of price or release date for Case Zero, but rest assured: You still have plenty of time to stock up on Zombrex before Dead Rising 2 launches on August 31. Editors' note: Joystiq did not attend Captivate this year. We determined the perceived environment, and associated downtime, of the event was not in accordance with our editorial policy. We expect to provide firsthand preview coverage of all Capcom titles shown at Captivate during E3 this June. For more information on our policies, click here.
X10: Dead Rising 2 'Case Zero' prologue is standalone, will be game's 'demo'
Clearing up some confusion over how exactly gamers will get a hold of the Dead Rising 2 prologue, Case Zero, announced at yesterday's X10 event, developer Blue Castle Games explained to Joystiq that the term "add-on" used by Microsoft was, well, dead wrong. "It's not an add-on, because it's set before [Dead Rising 2] and you won't need [either] retail game in order to play it," the devs told us. As for pricing, they could only say that, "it won't be free, but we'll make it accessible for a lot of players." When we asked about a possible Dead Rising 2 demo -- whether it be single- or multiplayer -- they replied, "We think the prologue is going to give gamers a good sense of how the game is going to play. We haven't announced a release date for it yet, but it's definitely before the retail game." They added, "It's not like it's a chunk of the main game -- it is unique content, so even if you want to look at it as a 'demo,' it's not. It's a unique experience."
X10: 'Dead Rising 2: Case Zero' prologue launching exclusively on Xbox Live
Though most may require little more than a premise involving zombies, a besieged casino and a chainsaw-wielding motorcycle to get hooked on Dead Rising 2's ultra-violent charms, perhaps you demand greater narrative fortitude from your gaming pleasures. Perhaps you're a thespian, desperately seeking an answer for untold undead anarchy. What is my motivation? you wonder as you route another rigor-mortis special. Well, you'll have to turn to Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, a "game add-on" launching exclusively on Xbox Live shortly before the full game's release on August 31. Case Zero will serve as a prologue to Dead Rising 2, introducing new protagonist Chuck Greene (who has not covered wars as far as we know) and elaborating on the events that followed the first game. Pricing and exact release details have yet to be announced. It's also currently unclear how the add-on will work prior to the launch of the full game -- it may be packaged as a separate downloadable game (a la Halo Waypoint) that can interact with Dead Rising 2 ... and explain whence all those zombies came.
