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New LucasArts game to debut on Spike this week
This Thursday night (or Friday morning, if you prefer) at 12:30 AM EST, Spike TV's GameTrailers TV will reveal a brand new LucasArts game, according to host Geoff Keighley. Since he announced it in a 140 character-constrained tweet, and since he wants you to watch the show, there was little room for details beyond it being "original." We're just going to guess that the new game is Lucidity, the rumored XBLA adventure game that has yet to be officially announced. Of course, a safer bet would be "another Star Wars game." We'll all find out Thursday night, we suppose. [Via Big Download]
Original Badass Rumble joins sequel on PSP
PSP owners not content with one brawler about Japanese high school gangs are in luck. In addition to Kenka Bancho 3, coming to North America via Atlus as Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble, publisher Spike has just announced a PSP port of the original Kenka Bancho, to be released in Japan on October 29. While no North American announcement has been made about this back-catalog port, Siliconera speculates that a possible release date bump of Badass Rumble on Atlus's part may make room for a localization of the port. We certainly wouldn't be averse to the idea of additional Badass Rumble.
Way of the Samurai 3 coming to North America via two publishers
At long last, there's an answer to the following timeless riddle -- how many publishers does it take to port a Japanese-centric franchise to North America on two different systems? Okay, fine, that's not so much a timeless riddle as it is a question we just made up, but it's been answered regardless: In the case of Way of the Samurai 3, the answer is two. Agetec and UFO Interactive will be bringing Spike's samurai sim stateside, each publishing the title on one platform a piece (PS3 and Xbox 360, respectively).We knew UFO would be bringing the game to North American 360s -- but couldn't foresee Agetec's involvement in the game's importing. Now we just need Atlus to bring the game to the Wii, and this bizarre localization triumvirate will be complete.
Way of the Samurai 2 Portable announced and dated for Japan
Originally released on PlayStation 2 back in May of 2004, Way of the Samurai 2 hit American shores by way of Japanese megapublisher Capcom. After bringing the first in the series to Japanese PSPs last year, the game's developer, Spike, recently announced in Famitsu that it'll be porting the sequel to the handheld. Unfortunately, while the PSP is region-free, we doubt it'll come with an English language choice for those of you interested in living out your dreams of roaming the Japanese countryside, fighting injustice at every turn. And though we asked Capcom for comment on an American release, considering the first one never arrived, we're not expecting much. Siliconera says the game releases in Japan on September 3 for around $40 (plus airfare).[Via Siliconera]
BSG's Tricia Helfer to play 'Dare' in Halo 3: ODST
Battlestar Galactica's Tricia Helfer needs no introduction. Her work as one of the more eye-catching Cylons and time spent as Kane's right-hand gal in Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars means she's got some clout with us gaming folk. And now, she's going to bolster her gaming resume with a pretty big project: Halo 3: ODST.Helfer couldn't divulge anything other than who she would be playing in the game -- a character by the name of Dare -- during the GTTV reveal on Spike last night. And, that's about it. We're serious. This post is over.[Via Geoff Keighley's Twitter]
AT&T's U-verse TV picking up seven Viacom networks in HD
Just days after AT&T announced that NHL Network HD would be gliding over to U-verse TV, in flies a report stating that Viacom and AT&T have linked up on a sweet new deal. Said agreement will enable seven new networks to join the U-verse TV EPG: MTV HD, VH1 HD, CMT HD, BET HD, Nickelodeon HD, Comedy Central HD and Spike HD. The deal also "renews carriage of the MTVN and BETN channels and VOD content featured on AT&T U-verse TV, and provides for carriage of new international channels, including MTV India, later this year." Now, let's wait and see if those monthly rates creep up any after the fact.
CES 2009: MTV Networks adding 2000 hours of programming to PS Store
The PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service will be getting a big boost from a new partner: MTV Networks. While MTV Networks includes the well-known "music" channel, it also includes VH1, Nickelodeon, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike, Logo, CMT, The N, TV Land and Atom. Some shows to be added to the PlayStation Store include MTV's The City, COMEDY CENTRAL's South Park, Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants and VH1's Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels."We're thrilled to add content from MTV Networks to our line up, it's a perfect fit for the PlayStation demographic, one of the most coveted audiences in entertainment today," said Peter Dille, Senior Vice President of Marketing and PlayStation Network, SCEA. "Combined with the superior technology of the PS3 and PSP, the PlayStation Network's video delivery service truly provides consumers the best and most comprehensive content on demand from an incredible line up of entertainment brands to enjoy at home or on-the-go.""From Nickelodeon to TV Land and everywhere in between, MTV Networks' brands feature some of the most popular shows and some of the hottest stars for almost every conceivable demo," said Greg Clayman, Executive Vice President, Digital Distribution and Business Development, MTV Networks. "By making our diverse content lineup available through the PlayStation Network, we're giving PlayStation users instant access to hundreds of hours of our very best programming in the comfort of their own living rooms."
Spike 2008 VGAs name Boom Blox best Wii game
There were plenty of stellar Wii games to release this year, but, as far as the last night's Spike VGAs goes, you should look to Boom Blox as this year's best Wii game. The game certainly deserves the recognition (and sales figures), but we're not sure we'd go and say it is the Wii game of the year. What about Brawl? What about World of Goo? Oh, and how about that little game No More Heroes?So, you agree, or would you name something else as your Wii game of the year?%Gallery-15446%
God of War III to make appearance at Spike VGAs
Oh really, Spike TV? You're really going out of your way to make sure we watch your Video Game Awards show this year. Not only are you debuting Uncharted 2, but you're also going to be giving us a look at God of War III? Really? The Gametrailers.com promo page for the VGAs lists Naughty Dog's upcoming sequel, Brutal Legend and the hotly anticipated GoW III. We can't wait.December 14th. 9PM. Mark it on your calendars.[Thanks, Hyams!]
In a sea of Japanese DS games, two PS3 titles still shine
This week on the Japanese weekly sales charts, two PS3 games make a commendable debut. Yakuza 3 Way of the Samurai 3 (thanks, Fiddlesworth!) was sucked in and spat out by the top dog Kirby Super Star Ultra, but it still managed to land in second place, selling 81,047 copies. And who said Japanese gamers don't enjoy first-person shooters? Resistance 2 makes it into the top 5 by the skin of its teeth, selling 33,584 copies. While Grand Theft Auto IV for the PS3 is still selling relatively strong, taking eleventh place, LittleBigPlanet isn't doing quite as well -- Media Molecule's title in currently in twenty second place. Check out the full chart, after the jump.
Presenting the 2008 Spike Video Game Award nominees
With the end of the year hurtling towards us at an alarming speed, the time has come for prestigious critics and classy establishments to choose and reward the greatest video games of 2008. And because it's the fashionable thing to do, the Spike Video Game Awards will also let you folks know which games -- some "fueled by dew" -- were worthy enough to receive pointy gongs. Peer past the break for the full list, which includes categories such as Best Studio, Best Independent Game and Best Shooter. There's even one that somehow manages to toss Dame Judi Dench in with Liv Tyler, Eliza Dushku and Jenny McCarthy. Never going to happen again, ladies.
Kenka Banchou 3: Zenkoku Seiha landing in Japan November 27th
Download to PSPThe third installment popular Japanese high-school gangster series Kenka Banchou is headed for the PSP. In Kenka Banchou 3: Zenkoku Seiha, the player will have the ability to fight rival gangs, participate on training trips, as well as meet some beautiful ladies. The game will retain many of the trademark mechanics of its PS2 predecessors, such as branching storylines and a peculiar battle system that involves picking lines of dialog to determine who will attack first. New additions to franchise include online play via ad-hoc mode and the ability to change the protagonist's name and place of birth.The game will arrive in Japan on November 27th. Since the first two games were never made it to our shores, this appears to be an unlikely candidate for localization. For more information, check out the scan of Famitsu magazine, screenshots, and the official website.[Via PSPHyper]
Namco Bandai profits take a dip in Q109
It's time for Namco Bandai to bring out the katamari and roll up some loose change, as profits dipped 63% from the same quarter last year. GI.biz reports the company went from making $26 million in profit during Q108 to making only $9.2 million in Q109. The video game section of the company was the only division to see growth at 3.8% this quarter. Much of Namco's sales this period came from Europe and Asia, with Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 selling 420,000 units in the former territory. Japan brought sales with Taiko Drum Master and Tales of Symphonia at 260,000 and 215,000 units, respectively. The company expects sales to pick up over the year, but has already forecast a 31% drop in profits for the full year. Hey, at least they're just making less profit and not sending cash into the ether like Midway.
Twilight Syndrome shots creep in from the darkness
Twilight Syndrome: The Forbidden Urban Legend launches in Japan tomorrow as a forerunner to two separate Twilight Syndrome movies that will release in Japan over the next few weeks. Judging by screens, the DS game appears to be based on the second of these films, Twilight Syndrome: Dead Go Round, in which seven high school students end up being terrorized in an amusement park by a mysterious man in a clown mask (incidentally, the cheesy trailer contains many scenes of the teenage cast clutching their DSes). To celebrate the game's imminent release, publisher Spike invited three of the film's actresses along for an interview about the title, and also furnished us with new shots of the game, which looks attractive, if not very scary. Run into our gallery while screaming hysterically to see more.%Gallery-20543%
Rumor: Wolfenstein will likely appear at E3
We thought it was important to comb through Spike TV's E3 coverage plans, if only so we could plan our walking paths to put us in front of the cameras as much as humanly possible. But imagine our surprise when we actually found news hiding within our ticket to stardom. Check this listing:"Geoff Keighley is on the E3 show floor to give Spike viewers the inside scoop on the sights and sounds of the show. Also, tune in for more world exclusive surprises including something special from id Software and Raven Software. -- Tuesday, July 15 and Wednesday, July 16 (11:59 PM - Midnight, ET/PT)"Something special from id and Raven, huh? Could it be the 2-and-1/2-years-in-development Wolfenstein follow up that's supposed to arrive this year? Yeah, we think that's a pretty safe bet. Here's hoping we get to hear more about another return to the castle next week.
Taking a scary stroll behind the scenes of Twilight Syndrome
Famitsu has a pretty interesting video for those of you who've been watching Twilight Syndrome: The Forbidden Urban Legend. They sat down with three of the young ladies featured in the horror title for a behind-the-scenes talk about things that we can only imagine. We don't speak Japanese, sadly.But there's footage from the game, along with a plethora of screens! As much as we're certain we'll never get this game in North America, we still like to pretend it can happen.%Gallery-20543%
Jawa gets less mysterious through boxart, new screens
Fresh screens and the Japanese boxart have dropped for Spike's Jawa: The Mammoth and the Mysterious Stone, depicting the young caveman protagonist (you can also play with your own Mii) going about his usual business. The boxart, which is pictured to the right, actually kind of clicks with us. We know, line-ups are totally boring, but there's something about this line-up that just resonates with us. Maybe it's the huge, tusked Mammoth that's chilling behind the clan, soaking up the sun. Or, maybe it's just all of those darn dinosaurs going about their business in the backgrounds. That's probably it. Dinosaurs are pretty awesome, you know.Head on past the break for a look a pair of new screens from the game.
Where's the Wrath cinematic?
So it's Monday now, the Worldwide Invitational in Paris is officially over, Diablo 3 has been announced and we've got tons of new info about Wrath of the Lich King -- but where's the cinematic? We know the Wrath cinematic is coming, but there was no sign of it at all at the WWI.Then again, if you look at the timeframes, it's still a little soon -- the acclaimed Burning Crusade cinematic actually dropped on the Spike Videogame Awards in December of 2006 (just a month before BC was actually released in January of 2007), so since there's still some time until the Wrath release, there will still be some time until the cine shows.In fact, it's looking more and more like BlizzCon 2008 might be the place to see it. With a rumored release date of sometime in November, Blizzard's big convention in October would probably be the perfect place to show off the next, undoubtedly beautiful chapter in the fall (and maybe even redemption?) of Arthas Menethil. Plus maybe they'll put a Gnome in there this time around.
Jawa: The Trailer and the Mysterious Battle System
If you're among the elite crowd who has spent precious seconds thinking about Spike's Jawa: The Mammoth and the Mysterious Stone, you've probably wondered two things: first, why the heck it's called Jawa, and second, what they're trying to push on us, here. This R2 unit has a bad motivator! how those rhythm-based battles work.From the trailer, it appears to be a call-and-response type of system: the game shows a motion or button press right before you're to attack, and then a successfully on-beat press of the correct button connects. It's somewhere between Simon and a Quick Timer Event, or something.Between the rhythm-battle system, the communication elements between players, the dinosaur-raising, and the animal-riding, there seems to be a lot going on in Jawa -- much more than the simplistic style suggests.[Via NeoGAF]
New Twilight Syndrome video isn't as creepy as the old Twilight Syndrome clip
As ominous as the quiet subway scene in the first 50 seconds of this video might be, there's little in this new trailer to convinces us that Twilight Syndrome: Kinjiraneta Toshi Densetsu (Twilight Syndrome: The Forbidden Urban Legend) will be even half as scary as Twilight Syndrome: Search for the PlayStation.Check out the old commercial we embedded past the post break to see what we mean! The animated skeleton and bugs are a bit goofy, but the smiling girl that pops up at the end for half of a second freaks us out every time!Fun trivia: Did you know that famed game designer Goichi Suda worked on the original Syndrome games during his tenure at developer and publisher Human Entertainment? More fun trivia: Did you know that we have Twilight Syndrome: The Forbidden Urban Legend's boxart after the break? It's all true!%Gallery-20543%
