Vicarious Visions
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Band Hero's DS 'drum skin' in action
Activision is making people believe in the weird DS "drum skin" attachment for Band Hero the best way it knows how: by finding the most excitable shills it can in shopping centers, and putting the game in their hands. Predictably, they love it. We've never seen a mall so full of people willing to dance awkwardly to a DS game.The buttons that go on top of the DS's buttons are only one of the selling points espoused in this trailer. Band Hero's extensive track list and flexible multiplayer (just like in the console version, you can combine instruments in any configuration) get lip service too. But they aren't as noticeable as that thing you put on the DS to play drums.
Cable arrives from the future as a playable Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 character
Cable, the mutant with the amazing power to have a gun (he has other powers, but the gun one is the standby), appears in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 as an NPC, but the latest announced downloadable content for the game adds him as a playable character. Soon, you'll be able to have a big futuristic space-gun in the game as well! Activision didn't specify a time frame for this DLC. It's just "upcoming."Video game fans might know Cable best as one of the cheapest characters in Marvel vs. Capcom 2. For the sake of this game, let's hope he's a bit less powerful now.%Gallery-76411%
Marvel.com spotlights upcoming Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 sim missions, Psylocke
In a recent blog post, Marvel.com spotlights upcoming downloadable content for the superhero action title Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, which will add simulation missions and the previously Wii- and PS2-exclusive character Psylocke to the game. According to Marvel Games Intern Randy Ma, the katana-wielding "ninja babe" -- his awkward words, not ours -- is a welcome addition to the HD version of the game, giving Jean Grey's mind powers "a run for her money." In the spotlight, Marvel also reveals tidbits of information for two of the game's upcoming simulation missions. Insidious Alliance pits players against some of the universe's toughest bosses in an arena-style match and adds an achievement/trophy for defeating the mission without using any health canisters, perfect for gaming masochists. According to scenario designer Mark Webster, the mission Balance is an homage to classic 2.5D brawlers like (get this!) the original X-Men arcade titles. More DLC news is expected in the coming weeks.[Update: Corrected quote attribution] %Gallery-76161%
Band Hero demo walking on Xbox Live
The Major sends word that a Band Hero demo is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The demo allows players to try out three different songs in the new, family-friendly Hero title and offers both the Party Play mode and the new Sing-Along mode. The three playable songs are: Finger Eleven - "Paralyzer" Katrina & The Waves - "Walking on Sunshine" Taylor Swift - "Picture to Burn" That's right, Taylor Swift is right there. With some clever positioning and a few mirrors, you might be able to convince your daughter this is the full game, saving you the trouble of actually buying it. Good luck.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2's first DLC character is another Spider-Man
We can only imagine the meeting at Vicarious Visions where the development team behind Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2's DLC was arranged. "Well, we've already got Spider-Man and Venom, but we really feel like the game's still lacking in the Spider-Man spinoff department -- what about that other Spider-Man guy?" And thus, Carnage enters the fray as the game's first downloadable character. Known for his stint in the super-violent Spider-Man mini-series "Maximum Carnage" and, um, that SNES game we played so long ago, Carnage will assuredly lend an over-the-top je ne sais quoi to MUA2's proceedings. We're not exactly sure what happens when you pair him with Spider-Man and Venom on screen, but we worry they might get eaten by Carnage, which could be really awkward.%Gallery-75268%
Ms. Marvel lends her talents to Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
Joining confirmed characters Juggernaut, Penance, Songbird and Deadpool is the latest addition to the Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 cast: Ms. Marvel. Activision just sent us a press release with some media showcasing the super-strong, super-fast super-blonde doing, well ... doing what looks like a lot of the same stuff she did in the first game. There's flying, there's lazerin' and plenty of dudes getting the business. Check out the video above to see her in action, then be sure to head into the gallery below for some in-game shots.%Gallery-70075%
Activision clarifies Guitar Hero 5 song importing process
Activision's announcement that songs from Guitar Hero World Tour and Smash Hits can be "imported" into Guitar Hero 5 (and Band Hero) had everyone thinking back to Rock Band 2's ability to rip songs right off the original Rock Band disc. As it turns out, in this case you won't need a disc at all.We followed up with the publisher to find out exactly how the process works, as it had been referred to as both "importing" and "downloading" on an initial info sheet. The short answer: you'll be downloading new versions of your old songs. "Within the Guitar Hero 5 song import menu, gamers will key in their unique ID from the manual of the previous game, pay a small re-licensing fee and then be given access to download the available songs (like DLC) in a big batch," we were told this morning. That's for PS3 and 360; with the Wii version, the songs can be downloaded on a track-by-track basis."This is done to bring these songs up to date with enhanced Guitar Hero 5 features like band moments, expert+ drumming (new for World Tour songs) and the new vocal star power. The game reacts to these songs as though they were DLC and are available in the same play modes," Activision explained. So, you just need the manual (and a decent internet connection). Unfortunately, this means that some second-hand copies of GHWT and Smash Hits can't be used for the process, as they'll either be missing the original game manual, or their previous owner already redeemed the 20-digit code. "These codes can be used only once," a PR rep revealed. "However, once you have downloaded the content, you are free to re-download it at anytime at no extra cost, if you need to make more hard drive or SD [card] space."
Hands-on: Guitar Hero 5
We recently went hands, feet and ... voice-on with the latest Guitar Hero installment, and while we didn't come away with our world totally rocked by innovation, we can confirm that there's more to Guitar Hero 5 than just a new song list. It's a game that does more to challenge hardcore series veterans than Guitar Hero World Tour did, but its variety of new mechanics and modes make it clear that Neversoft (and Vicarious Visions on Wii) haven't forgotten those who just want to party.%Gallery-63471%
Hands-on: Guitar Hero 5 'Roadie Battle' mode (Wii/DS)
The biggest surprise of Activision's Guitar Hero 5 pre-launch event in San Francisco wasn't the addition of a hot band to the song list or something to do with DLC; it was a game mode exclusive to the Wii version called "Roadie Battle," which wound up being the most refreshing and fun addition to the series since ... ever.In this guitar-only duel, two players can assist the pair battling on the big screen using Nintendo DS. Using DS Download Play, the Wii transfers the Roadie Battle "app" to both DS units (two human "roadies" aren't required; the CPU can fill in for the friend-deprived) and the (frantic) fun begins. %Gallery-69695%
More on Guitar Hero 5 song import, DLC support (Band Hero will do it, too)
Yes, Guitar Hero 5 is getting all modern-like and letting those who buy it -- and own other GH games -- access all those songs they already bought (on disc or in DLC form) without firing up another title. GH5 and the upcoming Band Hero will work with songs from the Guitar Hero World Tour and Guitar Hero Smash Hits game discs, along with GHWT DLC -- even on Wii.PS3 and Xbox 360 owners who own GHWT will be able to download a free update from within GH5 that enables DLC backwards-compatibility (for 152 of 158 available tracks) and adds new GH5-specific features to their existing DLC. In order to rip the tracks from GHWT and SH discs will need to purchase what Activision says will be a "nominal re-licensing fee" and have the unique 20-digit code on the back of the games' manuals. As with Rock Band 2, all songs from the discs will be ripped to the systems' hard disks, but unwanted tracks can be individually deleted.The process will be similar on Wii, with a couple noteworthy differences. First, DLC must be re-downloaded (to add new GH5 features, plus they'll sound better) either en mass or track-by-track to the Wii's internal memory or (thankfully) SD card. There'll also be an individual song copy option for importing disc-based songs from GHWT. Now to find out what those six DLC tracks that aren't supported are ...
Wii Guitar Hero 5 doesn't use in-game Friend Codes
And we thought the announcement of a returning feature from a previous game was exciting. In an interview with IGN, Vicarious Visions' Karthik Bala revealed that the Wii version of Guitar Hero 5 won't bother you for Friend Codes when you try to play online."For GH5, we've implemented support for your global Wii Friend Codes," Bala told IGN. "If you've got friends in your Wii address book, they'll automatically be added to your friends list in game, so you can easily connect up with them in online multiplayer games."GH5 on Wii is now at "full feature parity" with the other versions, Bala said. It includes eight-player online play (no longer limited to two Wii consoles), and also adds a couple of Wii-exclusive features like a "Roadie Battle" mode and DS control of aspects of the (updated) Mii Freestyle.
See Juggernaut smash, Penance blast in new Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 media
Activision has dropped a whole heap of new Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 media. Perhaps the beefiest of the bunch is the trailer above. While it contains some snippets we've seen in other trailers, there's plenty of new action in there too, including some sweet Venom and Gambit action.After the break you'll find quick looks at Juggernaut and (exclusive character for Ultimate Alliance 2 pre-orders) Penance. You can also find a pair of Penance screenshots in the gallery below. Be sure to check out our recent hands-on impressions of the game too.%Gallery-68926%
Band Hero DS attachments revealed, gameplay details
Click for life-size DS! If you and your bandmates are ready to take your five-star show on the road, get ready to grab your DS Lites and crank the speakers up to elev ... well, push the little volume switch all the way to the right. Activision's Band Hero is coming to the DS, and includes four-player ad-hoc for full-band rocking. Players can use the On Tour guitar attachment, drop some vocals on the system's built-in mic, or use the drum skin attachment pictured above to supply the percussional accompanyment.There's just one minor caveat -- if you've already upgraded to the DSi, then you're S.O.L. Not only will the guitar attachments not be able to plug into the GBA cartridge port that the system doesn't have, the drum skin won't fit on the handheld's svelte frame. Sorry, early adopters!%Gallery-68590%
Hands-on: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
First, let's get the latest playable character reveals out of the way: Jean Grey and Gambit. There. That was easy, if not the best-kept secret. What is a surprise, though, is that I was able to clearly distinguish Jean from the other on-screen heroes and mess of beaten-down baddies as I stood a distant twenty feet from a Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 demo at a recent Activision games showcase. As I approached, I was amazed by the difference three years makes. MUA2, at least on Xbox 360 (and PS3, presumably), is a hot dayam–better looking game than its predecessor. This is not a last-generation production brushed with high-res assets.Vicarious Visions proves a worthy successor to Raven Software, taking over lead development of the franchise -- and finally ending its streak of assignments to Activision's lesser ports. While it was evident the first time we played MUA2, it's worth reiterating that the game's camera angle has been adjusted to provide a closer perspective of the foreground and more distant view of the background. I could identify Jean from across the room because the character models are larger and more detailed. Additionally, updates to Vicarious' Alchemy game engine have added Havok physics and more on-screen enemies. While the grandiose (super) heroism has been amplified by newer technology, MUA2's style is still very much that of a Saturday morning cartoon.%Gallery-48082%
Pre-order Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, get the Juggernaut
In revealing the latest Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 character, Activision has also revealed its pre-order bonus. As part of an ever growing trend, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will award pre-ordering players with exclusive in-game content. In this case, it's the Juggernaut (obligatory NSFW YouTube link), and he's only available to those that pre-order the game from GameStop. He's also only available on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, according to GameStop's website, so Wii and PS2 owners will never know his sweet, crushing embrace.If you'd like a closer look at his glory, you can check out yet another 3D screenshot of the game -- from the future, we presume -- after the break.
The future is now: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 screens in 3D
Normally we don't get excited for new screens in the "Holy S! It's the future in front of my eyes!" kind of way, but friends, today is an exception. Vicarious Visions has posted its second 3D screenshot of upcoming superhero extravaganza, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (both found after the break) on its website and, to be honest, it's really impressive, allowing you to spin the full image in three dimensions.The newest one features Deadpool leaping into the air and firing dual pistols at a bunch of fools, while the first (and even more impressive) screen has Thor combining with The Human Torch's powers to create some form of fire tornado. That's right -- a fire tornado. And no, things don't get much sweeter than that.[Thanks, Wombat!]%Gallery-48082%
See Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits ... and not some guy playing it
dfdIn the trailer for the first Guitar Hero On Tour demonstrated how the game's portability made it easy for people to "perform" anywhere, in essence adding portability to the social Guitar Hero experience, something that is helped by the song sharing. However, there's one major problem with advertising the game in this way: it shows customers what they look like playing Guitar Hero on the DS. This trailer for Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits doesn't feature any of that. In fact, the camera's so tightly focused on the screen that you can barely see the player embarrassing himself. %Gallery-47080%
Deadpool returns for Ultimate Alliance 2
The "Merc with a Mouth," otherwise known as Deadpool, has received his official in-game reveal for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (and no, it's not the movie version of Deadpool). The official MUA 2 website has posted a developer diary in which the devs discuss what went into adding Deadpool into the game, including some details on his powers and fusion moves. Deadpool will be able to utilize swords, grenades, teleportation and, if the above image is any indication, he also has pistols that fire bullets nearly as big as his head. That's intimidating no matter how you slice it. Check out some new images in the gallery below.[Via Marvel.com. Thanks, The Dark Wayne]%Gallery-63725%
Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits' full hit list
How do you know when you're old? When you see a list of supposedly "modern hits" and you've never heard of half of them. That's, uh, not the case for us with the final Guitar Hero: Modern Hits track list, released today -- we were just saying. We're definitely hip to all these music groups. We were totally into Endeverafter before they got popular. Check out the full 25-song list after the break, and see if this year's DS Guitar Hero is more in line with your musical sensibilities than the last two. And then get off our lawn, whippersnappers. Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits comes out June 9th. %Gallery-63400%
Transformers: Nintendo Versions of the Fallen
Activision released new assets for the upcoming Wii and DS adaptations of the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie. If the last movie is any indication, these games will be your best shot at actually seeing some Transformers instead of just Shia LeBeouf with a talking car.Revenge of the Fallen on DS, like the last DS Transformers game, is divided into Autobot and Decepticon versions, both of which are developed by Vicarious Visions. The last Wii game was developed by Traveller's Tales, but the new one is being made by Krome Studios and appears to be much more of a brawler than the somewhat sandbox-style Transformers: The Game. At least, we hope it's as brawl-y as it looks. What could be better than huge robots just beating each other up?%Gallery-50047%%Gallery-50048%
