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Modern Warfare 3 fights off Assassin's Creed: Revelations atop UK charts
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 had the biggest entertainment launch in history, so even with an 87 percent drop in unit sales last week, it's little surprise the shooter maintained its alpha position on the UK sales chart for its second week on retail shelves. Assassin's Creed: Revelations debuted in second, with the strongest opening yet for the franchise. Unit sales and revenue were up four and eight percent, respectively, from last year's Brotherhood launch. Not only was the latest Assassin adventure the strongest opening stab by the franchise to date, it was also the strongest premiere of any Ubisoft title. Skyrim slips from second to third, with Saints Row: The Third entering in fourth. The latest Saints Row crime spree is another strong sequel, with sales up 43 percent from Saints Row 2's launch three years ago. Last week also saw a slew of prominent premieres from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Super Mario 3D Land. Check out the UK top ten after the break.
Redeem PS3 Saints Row 3 online pass, get free Saints Row 2
Two days ago, we observed that the PS3-exclusive Saints Row: The Third content never happened. THQ didn't comment on the lack of exclusive materials when we asked, and now we can assume it didn't want to spoil the surprise. Or that it scrambled to find something after we asked. Anyway, we're not going to question motives too closely, because free stuff. If you redeem the Online Pass for a copy of Saints Row: The Third before February 13, THQ announced today, you'll get a free PSN download of Saints Row 2. The free copies will be available "early next week," THQ said. Not that you'll actually be finished with all the content in The Third by then.
Saints Row: The Third DLC kicks off with invincibility, 'Shark-o-Matic'
You've had a full day to let the madness that is Saints Row: The Third sink in. Now what? Well you'll need a gun that shoots fish guts, obviously. Volition is delivering just that for $1.99 in the "Shark-o-Matic" gun, along with a separate $2.99 cheats pack for dirty, dirty cheaters. Shacknews spotted both packs popping up -- alongside the expected $20 "season pass" -- in all three versions of the title as of this morning, kicking off what is said to be a whopping 40 weeks of additional content. Beyond the upcoming (free) CheapyD DLC, we know of three mission packs -– "Genkibowl VII," "Gangstas In Space," and "The Trouble With Clones" -– as well as the Nyte Blayde DLC pack that THQ has in store for SR3 players. Presumably we'll see more ... uh ... next week!
Saints Row: The Third launch trailer demonstrates more of the madness
It's very likely that this is the first and only trailer you'll see in which a driver is attacked by a tiger from the back seat. You have Saints Row: The Third and developer Volition Inc to thank for this moment.
Saints Row The Third review: Walking the talk
"There's nothing like this game. In fact, I'm not sure there should be anything like this game. There's no concern for taste, no concern for morals -- it's all about the fun factor." That was THQ's VP of "Core Games," Danny Bilson, at a preview event for Saints Row: The Third just last month. Bilson has lead THQ's "hardcore games" push, attempting to reinvent the once-embattled publisher by reinvesting in "core" brands. That didn't work out so well, as we found out this past year. I'm glad to say that, with Saints Row: The Third, Bilson's "Core Games" group is finally on solid ground. And in that respect, actually walking some of the big talk we've heard so much in the past few years. Beyond the now-infamous weaponized dildo and the inclusion of certifiable jams like Kanye West's "Power," there's so, so much to love and enjoy about Saints Row: The Third. For starters, there's totally a hoverbike.%Gallery-136917%
CheapAssGamer's CheapyD will be your homie (in Saints Row: The Third)
You folks know CheapyD, right? He's the owner and proprietor of gaming deals site CheapAssGamer, as well as a swell dude and friend of the site. He's also a big fan of the Saints Row series -- so much so, in fact, that he donated a heap of change to the Ashley Ames Foundation last summer in order to become a character in Saints Row: The Third. What began as a bit role (a random pedestrian) turned into a full-on downloadable pack, adding Cheapy to the game as a "homie." Like in Saints Row 2, homies can be called to help out during missions or whenever you may need them. Cheapy says he recorded "approximately 150 lines" for the character, all done from his Tokyo, Japan apartment with direction over Skype from Volition devs. He's not sure when the pack will be available (though he's been told it's coming out sooner than later), and it'll be free for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC players. [Image of CheapyD's custom character in Saints Row 2, via MTV Multiplayer]
Saints Row: The Third exclusive PlayStation 3 content amounts to ... nothing, actually
After vaguely announcing "an exclusive mode on the PS3 utilizing [Saints Row: The Thirds's] signature weapon" back at E3, we never actually heard what that game mode would be. As it turns out, Volition and THQ apparenly never settled on one, and the exclusive content deal seemingly didn't pan out. We discovered as much when retail copies of Saints Row: The Third arrived for review on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 last week. After booting up each and looking around thoroughly, we can assure you that there's no content difference between the two versions. We contacted THQ, who today offered a "No comment" to our inquiry. It stands to reason that the "exclusive mode" -- which apparently featured the game's "signature weapon" (a dildo bat, naturally) -- could have once been the game's take on wave-based co-op multiplayer: "Whored Mode." That mode is currently a part of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of the game. The publisher would neither confirm nor deny this suggestion.
Saints Row: The Third's amazing 'What I Got' singalong, with all seven characters
We thought briefly about not spoiling the incredible scene from Saints Row: The Third above, and all its variations, but then we thought about how wonderful the clip is and how it'd be unfair if you missed it. So ... uh ... don't miss it!
Valve offers Heavy outfit for Saints Row: The Third pre-order
To be a generic character in Team Fortress 2 nowadays is a constant humiliation, we're sure. But if you're a Heavy kinda guy -- er, rather, you like to play as the Heavy in Team Fortress 2 -- then you may wish to know about the gear that sparkly chap above is rocking. Valve's skills of synergy have culminated in a new Saints Row-themed Heavy outfit. If one were to, say, pre-order Saints Row: The Third on Steam, then, say, their Heavy could wear a diamond-encrusted Luchador mask and wield giant, diamond-encrusted boxing gloves in Team Fortress 2. Actually, that's exactly what Valve is saying. That's the deal. That's exactly how this works. Oh, we forgot to mention the tasteful sweater vest, too. You know, in case all of those diamonds didn't properly convey the classiness of this ensemble.
Saints Row: The Third online co-op campaign and 'Whored Mode' gated with online pass
If you're considering postponing your purchase of Saints Row: The Third until sometime after next Tuesday in hopes of snagging a less expensive used copy, but also yearn for online cooperative mayhem, beware: an online pass is required before taking to the Information Superhighway. Included in new copies of both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Saints Row: The Third are one-time use codes for redemption upon initial launch of any online multiplayer, prompting users to otherwise purchase a pass for an undisclosed amount (we've asked THQ for clarification). Unfortunately, despite having both 360 and PS3 copies available for review at Joystiq, the 360 pass won't activate until launch and very few reviewers have PS3 code. Rest assured, we'll have our own review of Saints Row: The Third -- co-op or not -- by early next week.
THQ Japan enforces rigid dildo restrictions to smooth over controversy
If you're in Japan and considering picking up the local version of Saints Row: The Third when it comes out on November 17, be advised: that version lacks realism in a very specific aspect. THQ told Game Informer that, in Japan, the "Penetrator" weapon -- in common parlance, the dildo bat -- will lack the physics (i.e. wobbliness) and texture (veininess) found in the Western versions. This is despite its CERO Z rating -- the most restricted rating Japanese video games can have. So, back to the hypothetical Japanese customer -- if the insufficient verisimilitude of a virtual, weaponized dong is a dealbreaker for you, you must reconsider your life. Update: GI got a screenshot of the altered Japanese weapon from Dengeki. Give it your full attention after the break.
THQ announces the first Saints Row: The Third season pass
Ah, gaming. There's always something new to be excited about! Last year, it was the online pass, which has become standard practice for almost any game with a meaningful multiplayer component released in 2011. But publishers are always looking to innovate, and this year has seen the rise of the Season Pass. The newest game to boldly ask for your money in advance? Saints Row: The Third! Offering a full fifteen percent off of the DLC if you were to buy all four releases separately, the Saints Row: The Third season pass will get you three mission packs – "Genkibowl VII," "Gangstas In Space," and "The Trouble With Clones" – and the Nyte Blayde DLC pack, which comes with a sweet "vampire-hunting sports car." No word on if the car does the hunting by itself, but with Saints Row there's no way to be sure. The DLC covered by the season pass will release between January of 2011 and "Spring 2011." You can find the full details and press release after the break.
Saints Row: The Third trailer jumps off building, lands on hover plane, does barrel roll
With a little under a week before launch, Saints Row: The Third is whipping out all the crazy to turn the sinful masses into Saints. This in-game footage has the player doing some crazy aerial acrobatics.
Saints Row: The Third's Tim and Eric promo gets weird
You know how you're not supposed to look at eclipses unless you use one of those tubes with the slit paper at the end? We'd suggest crafting a similar apparatus before watching Tim and Eric's 12-minute Saints Row: The Third promotional video posted above.
Saints Row 'Initiation Station' pumps out over 1M characters, 24 'Gods'
THQ stated this morning that players have created over a million characters using the Saints Row Initiation Station. The free download, available on XBLM, PSN and Steam, allows future Saints to create a character for The Third, which launches next week. The publisher stated that 1.2 million people have used the Initiation Station, with the most popular "nontraditional skin colors" being green, red and silver metallic -- no word yet if the latter group all had surfboards. There have also been 24 characters tagged as "God." Apt, since there is sure to be plenty of smiting. %Gallery-137630%
Saints Row: The Third pre-orders surpass those of The Second
Saints Row: The Third has enjoyed four times the pre-orders of Saints Row 2, according to THQ CEO Brian Farrell, who made the announcement yesterday during the company's quarterly earnings call. That doesn't mean that Saints Row: The Third is expected to run away with quadruple the sales. THQ estimates the game will ship over 3 million units before the publisher's fiscal year ends in March 2012. By comparison, Saints Row 2 launched in October 2009 and sold 2.6 million by the end of the fiscal year. While all this seriousness was going on, THQ sent out a trailer this morning celebrating the madness of Saints Row: The Third's pimps, gimps and "everything but the kitchen sink" mentality.%Gallery-136917%
Saints Row: The Third PC system requirements revealed
Volition passed along the Saints Row: The Third PC system requirements to Destructoid and the recommended specs are kinda beefy. Not Crysis 2 at max settings beefy, but you'll need a GeForce GTX 400 series or better, or ATI Radeon HD5000 series or better graphics card, and a quad core processor under the hood -- you know, if you're looking to really soak in the visual symphony that is watching a man in a feathered hat kill a helpless citizen on the streets of Steelport with a gigantic dildo bat. The required specs are a bit more forgiving. On top of that, Volition also posted about some specific PC features over on the Saints Row site, including "AMD Eyefinity support, DX9, DX10, and DX11 support, Crossfire enabled, SLI enabled, advanced depth of field, reflections, and ambient occlusion quality, and, of course, God Rays." Perhaps the platform's best feature, however, is the Saints Video Record Mode, which allows you to save specific gameplay clips and upload them to your preferred video hosting service. Or we guess you could just hold on to the clips as a personal, secret reminder of that one time you did a barrel roll in your Mercedes through a crowd of people. Entirely up to you. Saints Row: The Third launches on November 15 on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.
EA adds Warner Bros, Capcom and THQ to Origin
EA recently announced a partnership which would bring some fellow third-party publishers' games to its recently launched Origin gaming platform. The list is short, but auspicious: Warner Bros. Interactive, THQ and Capcom will begin adding their major releases to the service, with November heralding the arrivals of Batman: Arkham City, Saints Row: The Third and others. "Additional titles" are also promised for the coming months. These games mark the first non-EA-branded titles to appear on the platform, joining over 100 of the mega-publisher's games currently on offer.
Saints Row 3: The Third 'Initiation Station' lets you build-a-Itagaki
If you're eager to build-a-bro/babe/bear in advance of next month's Saints Row: The Third, well ... we hope you remembered to pre-order Volition's other 2011 title, Red Faction: Armageddon. If you did, you've probably been greeted with an email letting you know that It's Time to get to work on the Initiation Station. What kind of work do we mean? How about creating a playable version of game designer Tomonobu Itagaki, shades and all? Too late, Volition already took care of that. But maybe you could work on a playable Ken Levine? No, seriously, can you do that for us? If you didn't get an early access code, the public Initiation Station will be available on PSN, Xbox Live, and Steam next week, on November 1. If you want to get a better idea of just what's possible, check out the above, totally classy trailer, or the gallery below. If you'd rather get your hands on the thing, we'll be sharing some codes on Twitter and Facebook over the next day or so. %Gallery-137630%
Saints Row: The Third 'Cherished Memory' trailer urges caution
"Warning," it says. "Shooting hot dog mascots with a high-powered sonic rifle in a game of human baseball should not be attempted in the real world," which, frankly, is news to us. Now we'll have to cancel virtually all of tonight's plans.
