gamescom-2009
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Marvel shows us digital comic service on PSP
Marvel executive Ira Rubenstein was super nice enough to give us a closer look at Sony's new Digital Comics service for PSN at GamesCom -- and we repay him by having a camera that apparently refuses to focus ... sorry. The comics, which Marvel suggests should cost roughly $2 each (Sony has the final say on price), will become available in December. The company isn't currently discussing whether there will be a subscription model. The initial offering of comics will be from the "all audience" category, so we won't be seeing any of the niche Marvel stuff just yet. You can't really see it due to the focusing issue, but the PSP picture is beautiful. We're looking forward to seeing more of the service.
How to reach the Reach beta on ODST
Bungie is trying to make entry into Halo: Reach's beta as easy as possible -- at least if you pick up Halo 3 ODST next month. Bungie explained to Joystiq at GamesCom ODST's main menu will host an "extras" tab, which will contain access to the Reach beta once it activates sometime next year.Bungie considers the beta to be "a big part of the value of the disc." And as much as the studio hopes that the beta launch will "work like buttah," we're already preparing to shut down our tips box on that day to stop the whining wave of entitlement when if something inevitably goes wrong.
Halo 3 ODST's multiplayer disc: all frag, no Chief filler
The easiest way to encapsulate Halo 3 ODST's multiplayer disc is to call it "Halo 3 Multiplayer Complete." That was our takeaway from a meeting with Bungie at GamesCom today. Discussing "the other game" in the ODST box, the Bungie rep reiterated, "It's all the multiplayer maps we released with Halo 3, then all of the DLC we've released since then, along with three new maps."The standalone disc pretty much means that precious Xbox 360 hard drive space can be cleansed of Halo 3 maps ... of course, there's always the option of putting the whole disc on the HDD as well. The Bungie rep explained it best by saying, "It's like putting in Halo 3 into your Xbox, except it doesn't have the campaign."%Gallery-64703%
Cosplayer gathering at GamesCom attempts to break Guinness record
Over 400 cosplayers are expected to gather and break the Guinness record for "The Largest Gathering of Games Characters" today at GamesCom. We were looking forward to telling you if they broke the MCM London record of 376 characters ... but we forgot one little detail: Um, all those people need to be officially counted and that seems to take a really long time.With a couple Guinness representatives on hand, each cosplayer has to write down the name of their character and respective game. Following that, a photo gets taken and then they get to bake in the summer sun -- waiting for everyone else to be counted. We felt really bad for the Tetris pieces! We'll update when we get the official count.Update: It failed.%Gallery-70732%
Overheard@GamesCom: Kicking babies is bad
The protagonist in Activision's Singularity has the ability to age and, um, youth-enize people and objects, which led to a burning question on the minds of a few people during a presentation of the title during GamesCom. See, when you age enemies, they'll turn to dust. However, when un-aging them, they'll turn into "Reverts," creatures in an unnatural state that can assist or attack the player. It only seemed reasonable to those in the room: Why wouldn't they be turned into babies?An Activision rep explained, "If we start turning them into babies, and kicking babies, we're going to run into ratings issues." Oh, come on! There's the ... and the ... okay, we can't really argue with that. It's also worth mentioning that Singularity's violence is edited on the show floor -- something about German censorship issues. %Gallery-45668%
XVII new screenhots of Final Fantasy XIV
click to massive-size If you're feeling ye olde fashioned and footage of Final Fantasy XIV in action is just too newfangled for you, don't fret. Square-Enix has released a fresh batch of perfectly still images from the game during GamesCom -- and they're very, very ... green. Hey, at least they're more exciting than the previously released scenery shots. These are full of the good stuff: menus, characters and -- most of all -- action. Well, as much action as there can be in a static picture.%Gallery-70580%
GamesCom Scribblenauts booth is wide, wide-ruled
5TH Cell creative director Jeremiah Slaczka pointed out this picture, taken by Krystian Majewski, of the GamesCom 2009 Scribblenauts booth. It's ... a bit bigger than the E3 booth, which consisted of two demo DS stations in the back of the largely Batman-themed WB enclosure. Like, behind it. "It's awesome WB is embracing it so much," Slaczka told us about the increased presence, "and really supporting the game."Majewski's Flickr gallery also contains images of items summoned in Scribblenauts, including stuff we hadn't seen before like "river," "echidna" and "lich." Hey, topical! For more Scribblenauts fun, check out the newly redesigned US site, which now shows a Flash simulation of gameplay in the background!
Tony Hawk Ride comes with padding for your hardwood floor
Activision will ship Tony Hawk Ride's skateboard peripheral with some extra padding in the box for those without carpets to place it on. A company representative told Joystiq at GamesCom today that the board will ship with "two strips, stickers," but couldn't precisely describe the thickness or provide an example. He implied the strips would run along the long flat bottom on both sides, which still makes us nervous for folks with hardwood floors if they -- or a rambunctious group of children -- attempt an ollie with the peripheral. For the record, the rep told us the "recommended surface [to play on] is carpet."We asked the rep if the company plans to introduce a prophylactic that could cover the bottom of the board, but were told, "[We] haven't decided on that." Assurances were made that the board has gone through lots of durability testing -- even though it's not the board we're worried about. It uses 4 AA batteries and can apparently last 30-40 hours, with a "sleep mode" kicking in after about 30 minutes to an hour.
Takeuchi: Lost Planet 2 team 'working on' couch co-op
Do you like the idea of playing Lost Planet 2 with a friend, in the same room? You'll be pleased to know that, according to producer Jun Takeuchi, the team is doing its best to make that happen. Well, the game part. You supply your own friend."We are actually working on two-player splitscreen," Takeuchi told Joystiq at GamesCom. "It's not easy, but if we are confident that we can do it, we'll let you know." When asked if the Lost Planet 2 solution would be similar to the staggered picture-in-picture-style display in Resident Evil 5, Takeuchi said that the issue wasn't so much the aspect ratio of split screens, but rather hardware. "Technically, cycling between two split screens, you can actually say it took visual RAM," he said. "You still have to work with two sets of AI and physics and so forth at the same time."So, while Takeuchi "can't guarantee yet" the existence of splitscreen in the final game, don't lose hope. Or any planets -- we've lost enough of those already.%Gallery-45837%
The sights, sounds, and spiderbots of Spyborgs
We didn't realize Spyborgs had such cool music. We watched the GamesCom trailer above expecting to hear the normal crunching metal and explosion noises you'd expect from a sci-fi brawler. Instead, we got something that makes us want to turn the video on, get up and just dance.After the break, see a boss battle against a guy named Colt in a huge spider robot thing. Now there are the sound effects we expected, as a team of Borgs violently dismantles a mech in some kind of lava pit. Spyborgs will be out September 22, one of the few Capcom releases to remain in 2009.%Gallery-24211%
GamesCom offers a closer look at the Sith Warrior class
It seems Star Wars: The Old Republic is the next big thing. We've been raving about it for months and this week's GamesCom gave the press and, more importantly, the public a chance to get down and dirty with BioWare's biggest project to date. IGN took the time to nip to the Jedi Temple and revealed that BioWare were spoiling attendees with a brand spanking new demo focusing on the Sith, specifically the Warrior class. Indeed they report this demo was basically a back to basics with this mysterious sect, focusing on their training on Korriban – could this be their starter area? They report it examines their mentality and beliefs within the Star Wars universe. After all, if you're going to roll a Sith you need to understand how their minds work as well as taking them down pits and killing giant worms. The piece is amazingly detailed and does more than enough to whet the appetites of Star Wars fans as well as Team Massively. Check it out by clicking here and you might want to start thinking up evil-sounding names while you're at it.
Capcom: Dark Void delay made room for more features
Dark Void wasn't just pushed back into 2010 to avoid "the crowded fall game season" (the crowded Q1 game season is so much nicer). Dark Void associate producer Shana T. Bryant offered another, more content-related reason to Kotaku, presumably right before she shot their correspondent out of a cannon."The main reason we delayed Dark Void was because we really wanted to spend the extra time we needed to re-polish it and add a new feature," Bryant explained. The new feature is hovering: by hitting the jump button twice, you can now hover in place, rising higher by continuing to hold the jump button. In happy news for people who want to play Dark Void without going insane with frustration, the damage model has also been tweaked such that wall collisions don't result in instant death.It actually sounds like we're benefiting from the Dark Void delay. Don't tell anyone, though! We don't want the few publishers who haven't moved everything to spring 2010 to think it's a good idea. %Gallery-24248%
Overheard@GamesCom: The adorable little beers in Cologne attack
OK, we're gonna level with you, some folks working Gamescom aren't looking their best this morning. Between a full day of press interviews yesterday and a couple evenings of ... well, stuff, it all appears to be taking a toll. In one meeting this morning, a developer was not looking his best. He cleared his throat, apologized, and said, "I'm suffering from excess."Considering the main beer served in Cologne is Kölsch, which comes in a deceptively small 0.2 litre glass, "excess" requires the dishwasher getting a good workout. [Image]
Red Steel 2 walkthrough highlights ninja juggling
Ubisoft has unleashed a developer walkthrough of Red Steel 2, where creative director Jason Vandenberg takes us through one of the game's levels. There's plenty of context-sensitive prompts to ogle and lots of swordplay, not to mention that super strong double-barreled shotgun, but the real value is in juggling those ninjas. We can definitely see ourselves having fun playing clay pigeon with a few ninjas.
Video: TMNT: Smash Up's crazy environments
If there's one thing worth pointing out in this TMNT: Smash Up trailer from GamesCom, it's those lovely environments. Sure, there's some gameplay and we get to see several different characters lay the smack down, but that collapsing rooftop and intruding Technodrome really add a welcome dose of chaos to the experience. Look for TMNT: Smash Up on September 22.
New DCUO screens appear out of GamesCom
From the deep recesses of GamesCom comes the one threat that no one predicted. The arrival of... "them."Yes, "they" have appeared. All eight of them. They've come marching out of the convention to media sites across the internet, seeking superheroic domination over the masses. They show images, amazing images, of things to come in our future. They are... screenshots!Ok, so perhaps the screenshots don't deserve their own movie trailer, but they are quite impressive. DC Universe Online is shaping up to be quite a gorgeous game in its own right, and we've gotten eight more insights into the game. S.T.A.R. Labs is featured prominently in these shots, and we even have one of Batman facing off against the Joker.Check out our gallery below, and be transfixed!%Gallery-70606%
Snake's not alone in this 9-minute Metal Gear Peace Walker trailer
Are you ready for some hot Snake-on-Snake-on-Snake-on-Snake action? Hideo Kojima finally fulfills the wishes and dreams of MGS yaoi fanfic writers with Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, a multiplayer co-op addition to the revered franchise. In typical Kojima fashion, this trailer takes itself rather seriously, highlighting the various boxes you can use in the game. In addition to Naked Snake's adorable Love Pack (er ...), the video showcases the very exciting tank box!Grab some popcorn and watch the new trailer. At nine minutes long, it's about as long (and interactive) as one of Kojima's notorious (but nonetheless entertaining) cutscenes.%Gallery-70455%
English Final Fantasy XIII demo will be brand new, downloadable (if it happens)
Click to embiggen. Right now, there's only one way to get an early hands-on with Final Fantasy XIII: own the Japanese Blu-ray release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete. Heck, you can't even go to a gaming convention to get a proper hands-on!Square Enix is undecided about releasing a playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII in the States, but if it does, it won't be available on disc form. Square Enix's Yoshinori Kitase commented, "we are thinking of providing it in a downloadable format," reiterating earlier sentiments. However, don't expect to play a localized version of the PS3 demo. Instead, "if we were to provide the demo overseas, it would be a completely new version." The game has progressed quite a bit since the release of the Japanese demo, meaning Square Enix would be more inclined to show something new ... if they decide on actually making one in the first place.%Gallery-70579%
Kojima's next could be something 'you always wanted to have'
Mr. Hideo Kojima, you've been hanging out with too many countdown websites. Speaking to IGN at GamesCom, the Metal Gear Solid maestro had little to say about his numerous unannounced projects, but managed to impart just the right amount of ambiguity to leave us checking our watches for the impending announcement of ... well, what is it, exactly? "The one that I said that I've been wanting to make – this is a new franchise and a new title," he said, confirming at least one fresh property under development alongside Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Metal Gear Solid: Rising. "For the other couple of titles, it could be something that you always wanted to have. It could be, or it could be something else. It's a matter of the timing of when we can get it out."Is it a new Snatcher? Zone of the Enders 3? Lunar Knights 2? That does it! Something that we've always wanted to have is ... the ability to read this man's mind. What do you think is tumbling around in there?
Rabbids don't go home, go to Leipzig
In their usual crazy style, the rabbids have invaded GamesCom this year with hilarious results. But, it seems they missed the memo about where this year's show is located (Cologne, duh) and instead made the trip to Leipzig. Hey, what do you expect from a species that thinks it belongs on the moon?Additionally, Ubisoft has released actual gameplay footage from Rabbids Go Home (available past the break). The gameplay looks just as fun as what we've already experienced and highlights include a stolen jet engine and a pack of crazed chihuahuas. Yo quiero waaaaah!
