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Broken Godfather achievements now un-broken
We know this news only affects roughly 0.8% of the gaming community, but those who own the The Godfather and purchased the Corleone Challenge downloadable content need to be informed. Informed that the DLC's once borked achievements are now working properly.You see, when the Corleone Challenge DLC went live (and all this time) the additional achievements were sorta borked. Borked not because one couldn't unlock the achievements, but borked because no Gamerscore was given once unlocked. Well, today EA confirmed that they've fixed the Gamerscore problem saying that it was due to a "temporary server glitch", but all has been fixed. So, from now on, EA promises that all of The Godfather's achievements will unlock and pony up their assigned Gamerscore. For those who unlocked the achievements previous to the fix, well, you'll have to go through the account recovery process to earn your Gamerscore. And that's no joke.
The Godfather gets Corleone DLC and achievos
The other day, EA smacked us over the head with a bottle of "we're surprising the crap out of you" and released some new downloadable content for ... The Godfather? Yes sir, someone at EA thought creating paid DLC for The Godfather was a great idea and we wouldn't disagree if it wasn't for the fact that we don't believe anyone has played the game for over a year. But watcha gonna do? Anyway, the new Corleone Challenge expansion pack is on the XBLM for 260 Microsoft points and adds twelve new missions to the game as well as ten additional achievements worth 250 Gamerscore. Yeah ... where the heck did this come from again?
Godfather II on the way
During a recent EA share holder meeting, EA let slip that they are currently working on Godfather 2. Frank Gibeau of EA Games said "The appeal of those types of games is growing as the demographics start to open up for that older demographic. We make products like Godfather 2, Army of Two, Crysis- a lot of products that appeal to that older customer". No platforms were listed for the Godfather's return, but given EA's tendency to go multi-platform in a big way with most of their titles, it's likely Godfather 2 would end up on PSP. The question is, do PSP gamers care? Did you like the original Godfather? What would you like to see improved in Godfather 2?[Via Gamasutra]
Godfather 2 in development, it breaks our heart
Just when you think you're out, they pull you back in. In a stockholder meeting yesterday Frank Gibeau, head of EA Games, said Godfather 2 is currently in development. Fredo Corleone better watch out. Although, he's still got time to make up his mind if going fishing is a smart idea, the game currently has no official announcement or release date.We expect Godfather II to have a more expansive San Andreas feel to it compared to the original. Godfather II the film not only had many more locations than The Godfather, but it also had two different time periods. It may actually be cool if the developers allow you to play a character who skips back and forth through time working for Vito and Michael. An official announcement should explain much more in the coming months, but considering The Godfather for Wii was made by using a scaled down version of the PS3 game, it looks like all console owners will be able to enjoy the sequel.
Poll: The best in motion controls (so far)
For such a popular console that tries to offer something for everyone, the Wii also manages to be somewhat controversial -- and we're not just talking about Manhunt 2 here. The motion-sensing controls have been a bone of contention when it comes to nearly every game, even those people seem to enjoy. Some gamers find them awesome, and others ... not so much. We've selected six games which cover a range of game types (and aren't all first-party, either) as a measuring stick of what you think is best when it comes to Wii controls. We encourage you to vote early (and often!), but feel free to talk about other choices in the comments, as well as the reasons behind your picks. You might have noticed that Wii Sports isn't on this list (and neither are several other well-received games!). We considered including it, because not everyone agrees that it works quite well as a showcase of the Wii control capabilities, but decided at the last minutes to include only non-bundled games. Feel free to voice your support for Wii Sports in the comments, however! Which of these games boasts the best motion-sensing controls? The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Cooking Mama: Cook Off Trauma Center: Second Opinion Madden NFL '07 The Godfather: Blackhand Edition Resident Evil 4 (Wii)
Metareview: Godfather: Blackhand Edition
Fuggetaboutit!We're sure that the decision to bring The Godfather: Blackhand Edition over to the Wii was just a quick and easy way for EA to try and make some more money on their Godfather game, which took a pounding before the release of the new-gen systems. Still though, with some gesture-based controls, many were looking to this game for some good olde thyme crime. Has the game delivered or is it merely a quick and shoddy port to the Wii? Let's see what the critics think: IGN (80/100) says the game is plain fun: "A great first step on Wii, as it uses more than 25 gestures, IR aiming, and has a ton of features above the original game in the form of new items, missions, gameplay modes (favors and blackmailing specifically), and RPG elements. More important than any list of numbers and features though, is the fact that The Godfather is just fun to play." GameDaily (80/100) agrees that the game is just plain fun and very much improved over its other versions: "Even without the flashy visuals, The Godfather: Blackhand Edition represents the best Godfather game yet, thanks to the wealth of new content and improved controls. W'd recommended the game to newcomers as well as Godfather veterans." GameSpot (76/100) thinks things are fine: "The Godfather: Blackhand Edition works in a smattering of new content and a brand-new control scheme with good results." GameSpy (70/100) says the controls make the game: "The controls are an interesting hook. Actually slugging it out with your targets by swinging the Wii Remote and nunchuk is fun, and the shooting elements are handled well by making the pointer aspect of the Remote a "precision targeter," rather than your sole firearms control." 1UP (70/100) likes the new controls: "The control scheme is definitely the selling point here (tossing people around never felt more fun). However, for those who already own some incarnation of this series this comes as guarded approval. Ask yourself: How many times do you need to escort the Don to the hospital or take out the Barzini family before it feels too old?" Game Informer (65/100) thinks the improvements don't add much value: "The new weapon wheel makes firefights less stressful, and adding more missions is never a bad thing, but the basic design of the game remains painfully dull. The uneventful stretches of driving, repetition in interrogations, and simplicity of missions has not improved." Have any of you folks given this a play yet? What do you think?
New Godfather trailer shows us how to deal with cops
The content for The Godfather: The Game Blackhand Edition keeps on coming and, in this latest video, we are presented with the proper manner in which one must deal with police officers. No, you do not calmly talk your issues out until a resolution is made, instead you pour them a hot cup of tea and throw it in their face. Or, you could do like the Corleone family does and dig up some dirt and bribe the local police chief.How many of you are looking forward to some digital thuggery on the Wii later this month?See also: Pair of new Godfather: Blackhand trailers extort their way onto the net The Godfather: Blackhand Edition (or, a field day for Jack Thompson) EA: Wii to soon get Capowned
Pair of new Godfather: Blackhand trailers extort their way onto the net
A pair of new trailers for EA's The Godfather: Blackhand Edition have hit GameVideos. The first focuses on persuading shop keepers to give you what they want, while the second trailer revolves around extortion. The videos also make sure to show how one performs these actions using the Wiimote. We've embedded both videos past the post break.See also: The Godfather: Blackhand Edition (or, a field day for Jack Thompson) EA: Wii to soon get Capowned
The Godfather: Blackhand Edition (or, a field day for Jack Thompson)
We're not particular fans of EA, generally lackluster licensed games, or the mafia. Still, seeing this trailer excites us a little, if for nothing else than to beat the crap out of everything that moves. The gesture-based control system includes such perks at beer bottle throwing, choking, slapping, and throwing people into walls. Yep, our buddy J.T. is gonna have a grand ol' time with this one, and to be honest, we're a little worried. If hyper-paranoid parents get a look at this stuff, Nintendo could land in some hot soup. For now, though, simply kick back and enjoy the abject violence.
EA: Wii to soon get Capowned
Get it? Al Capone? No? Well, our love of silly puns is only matched by our love of deadly, ravenous wolverines. Waitaminute, we hate deadly, ravenous wolverines ...All failed attempts at humor aside, turns out EA's love for the Wii is like a locomotive. A locomotive that rarely makes a stop and keeps chugging along with the desire to cross the country that hasn't been seen since an ambitious duo. Also, the Engineer is drunk.So how is EA supporting the Wii? By releasing a version of the game based on the Corleone crime family titled The Godfather Blackhand Edition. Changes made to the game include 'Blackhand Control,' which allows the gamer to use gesture-based movement in combat and aim their firearm with the Wiimote. Anyone out there looking forward to some criminal activity on the Wii?[Via Codename Revolution]
More free stuff: Godfather theme on XBLM
And you thought our Canadian friends only got free stuff today. In all Xbox Live regions you can download a The Godfather theme from the XBLM for free. Actually, there was a mild mishap and the theme went on the marketplace for 150 MS points (a ripoff, looking at the quality of this theme), but all has been fixed and it is free once again. Silly EA, it's not even the holidays anymore, your free content wasn't free, and after looking at the theme I don't see why it is labeled as a holiday theme. But no complaining from us, it's free content.
PSP dominates on list of games for parents to avoid
The National Institute on Media and the Family has just released their annual Report Card, and are advising parents to avoid buying certain games for their kids. All of the titles feature "M" ratings, but meh... parents are too busy to actually look at ratings! Here are the games to avoid, with PSP titles bolded: Gangs of London * The Sopranos Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories * Reservoir Dogs Mortal Kombat: Unchained * Scarface: The World is Yours The Godfather: Mob Wars * Saints Row Dead Rising Just CauseThis list tells me one thing: the PSP really is for the mature crowd. Four of those titles are either exclusive, or enhanced on the PSP, making this system easily much more evil than the childish DS counterpart. At least the Institute recommends Loco Roco for the holidays, which should distract the kids from downloading porn onto their systems.[Via Joystiq]
Major Nelson on G4: microtransactions "are about choice"
Last night on G4's Attack of the Show, host Kevin Pereira held a debate between Major Nelson and 1UP's Andrew Pfister on the much-discussed topic of microtransactions. During the segment, entitled The Loop, Major Nelson pressed that it is "about choice," while Pfister spoke for the gaming community when he said that "it doesn't appear that anybody is in control of the situation." With the recent Godfather and Lumines debacles, we're inclined to agree.Unfortunately, the segment's lead-in was awkward and the debate was way too short for either side to make an argument, but what we heard was engaging. Please, G4, give The Loop its own half-hour time slot; we'd watch it. Continue reading for the video.
An empire of new features for Vice City Stories
GTAPortable.com has been keeping an eye out for everything Vice City Stories-related, and they've uncovered a plethora of new information for this highly anticipated PSP exclusive. Golf is now a playable mini-game. It will be played using only one button. "Empire Building" mode allows you to act like The Godfather and invest in businesses throughout the city. Depending on how much you've invested, and how the business is doing, you can make a fair sum of money... so long as you provide the proper protection. You can hire bodyguards, and when the business isn't being hit, it acts like a Safe House for you to save at. Taking a page from Sim City, you'll be able to place the businesses throughout the city, and proper placement can lead to the mad profit (an example cited by GTAPortable.com is a drug extortion business nearby an airport). Spanning over thirty buildings, this mode seems to add a hefty amount of gameplay to an already massive game. Business types can include protection, extortion, and prostitution, with many more to come. Like in Liberty City Stories, there will be load times between the major islands, but surprisingly this time around, the loads will be even shorter, according to TotalVideoGames. Not only can you ride around in helicopters, you can ride around in jets, according to an IGN preview. Although there is no infrstructure multiplayer, there will be more multiplayer modes to compete in. And unfortunately for German and Australian players, the game will be censored, according to Gamepro.de. This really does seem like it's going to be one of the best games of 2006, not only on the PSP, but across all platforms. The depth of this game is incredible, and the fact that it's on a handheld is even more amazing. The game comes out on October 30th for $50.
EA's launch lineup
Before we break out the goods, let's just clarify: these are launch window titles. Meaning they'll come out within the first few months of the Wii's release. They may or may not be taking up shelf space on launch day. That said, Electronic Arts is supporting the Wii launch window with six titles, including a few offerings from wildly popular franchises like Madden and Tiger Woods PGA Tour. These titles were already announced for the Wii, but EA confirmed all six for the launch window at in Leipzig. The full list: Godfather Harry Potter Madden NFL 2007 Need For Speed: Carbon SSX 5 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007
Images you can easily refuse
Xboxyde brings us images of the long awaited 360 version of the Godfather. "Then why did you post an image of the Xbox version?" you ask. Well, kids, that image up there...that is from the 360 version. Boring building textures, character models that look nothing like EA's early target footage, it's all pretty not great.So, who wants to spend an extra 10 bucks on a (slightly) higher resolution Xbox game? Anybody? Hmmm?
Six from EA
Electronic Arts generally releases games for more platforms than we even knew existed. Thus, when they announce support for the Wii, we have trouble acting surprised, even for the benefit of our readers. When they announce that their tried-and-true franchises are being given unique control schemes by a dedicated team, however, we then tend to pay a bit more attention. Everyone knew, of course, that Madden 2007 was getting a specialized Wii treatment. In a press release earlier today, however, they have announced similar plans for five more games: Harry Potter, Need for Speed, Tiger Woods: PGA TOUR, SSX, and The Godfather. Whoa. Need for Speed: Carbon was indeed known to be coming to the Wii, albeit we had no idea what playing it would be like. Chances are, it will utilize a similar control scheme as Excitetruck, the Wiimote aligned horizontally. Tiger Woods will offer a more intense golf simulation over that of the Wii Sports incarnation, Harry Potter will certainly use the controller as a wand for some excellent spell-casting, and SSX will most likely revamp their trick system. And The Godfather? Is anyone else seeing an intense cigar-smoking simulation?[Thanks, John and Cabbage!]
EA's second half lineup for 2006
Electronic Arts has confirmed their release list for the remainder of the year, and according to studio president Paul Lee, "this is an extraordinary time to be a gamer."EA Sports titles include 07 editions of NCAA Football, Madden NFL, NASCAR, NHL, Tiger Woods PGA Tour, and NBA Live, while the EA Sports Big label will deliver the third iteration of NFL Street. FIFA 07 has not been confirmed, but even though EA has already released two other FIFA games this year, plan on seeing the franchise's flagship title updated in Q4.Next gen and portable versions of The Godfather are also due to arrive in September, followed by Need for Speed Carbon, Superman Returns, and shooters Battlefield 2142 and Crysis. How many of these games are on your list?See also: World Cup keeps EA at top of sales charts EA's plan to rule Asia EA E3 lineup includes playable Wii, PS3 Madden [via Pro-G]
Should the Sopranos video game be whacked?
I couldn't watch the season premiere of everyone's favorite New Jersey family drama last night without wondering what the fanook happened to the Sopranos video game that THQ was supposedly working on last May. Now that EA's take on the Godfather is closing in on a release date, Tony and the Bada Bing crew would appear due for a console adaptation. Despite the superior quality of the show, David Chase and HBO haven't exactly been snobbish with this license, hawking Sopranos-branded cookbooks and pool cues as if they owed money to the mob. On the plus side, that could mean Chase won't reflexively look down on video games as an art form like Francis Ford Coppola apparently does. It also means we could end up with a Max Payne-ish Tony doing slow-mo dodge rolls on his way to the pork store. To truly be worth while, a Sopranos game would have to not only have the total cooperation of the writers and cast, but also capture the psychological depth and richness of the best show on TV. What that means for the gameplay, I'm not sure—something leaning towards strategy as opposed to mission-based runs to Satriale's. I'm going to assume we haven't heard anything about this project because the creative geniuses behind it are waiting until they can devote their full attention toward whacking gamers with a whole new level of licensed next-gen experience. Anything less, and I'd prefer Tony sleeps with the fishes when it comes to the 360. What's the best way to turn the Sopranos into a console game? And while we're strip-mining HBO for material, who should buy the rights to Deadwood?
