Mike Suszek
Articles by Mike Suszek
Thursday's Nintendo Direct is all about Wii U's Smash Bros.
Nintendo is hosting a new livestream event on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. PST), and this one is focused on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The publisher says it will reveal "50 new things" for the game, which will launch on November 21. It's possible the latest announcements for the fighting game will include the level editor and board game mode mentioned in an Amazon listing late last week. Thursday's Nintendo Direct may also show off poses for trophies in the game, which Game Director Masahiro Sakurai noted in a Miiverse post over the weekend. We're nearly one month out from our review of Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, which praised the fighter as "a game that every 3DS owner should play." [Image: Nintendo]
PSN Flash Sale highlights heroines across games and movies
Sony is discounting 20 games and 30 movies as part of this weekend's PSN Flash Sale – and it's not hard to figure out the theme. The deals include PS3 games like Bayonetta ($7.99), BloodRayne: Betrayal ($2.49), Portal 2 ($4.99), Remember Me ($11.99), Mirror's Edge ($2.25) and Beyond Good and Evil ($3.49). The sale also features a few games for both PS3 and Vita, such as Hatsune Miku: Project Diva ($11.99 for Vita, $19.99 for PS3), Knytt Underground ($2.49) and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis ($1.49). PSN's discounted movies vary in price based on whether viewers pick up the standard or high-definition versions. Kill Bill Volume 1 and Volume 2 are $6.99 each ($9.99 HD), as is Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its follow-up, Lara Croft: The Cradle of Life ($10.99 HD each). Plus, Five Resident Evil films as well as four Underworld movies are discounted this weekend to $8.99 each ($9.99 HD). The sale ends at 3:00 p.m. EST (12:00 p.m. PST) on Monday, October 20. [Image: Majesco]
Project Cars delayed to March 2015
The launch of Project Cars has been delayed to March 2015, Bandai Namco announced today. It will now arrive on March 17 in North America and March 20 in Europe and Australasian regions. The delay affects the game's Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC versions, which were previously scheduled for November 18 and November 21 in North America and Europe, respectively. The decision "positions the title away from the competitive holiday scene dominated by household names while affording the team at Slightly Mad Studios additional time to extend and polish" the game, according to the publisher. Slightly Mad Studios also has a Wii U version of Project Cars on the way, though it was already planned for 2015. It's currently unknown if the Wii U edition will align with the others in March 2015; we've asked Bandai Namco as much and will update as we learn more. The Wii U version was announced in January 2012 prior to Xbox 360 and PS3 versions being cut from the developer's plans in November 2013. Update: Bandai Namco says "the announced date is still 2015" for Project Cars on Wii U. [Image: Bandai Namco]
Upcoming NBA 2K15 patch to address MyPark, other issues
2K Sports submitted an update to Sony and Microsoft for certification to patch issues with NBA 2K15 in the "coming days." The publisher's support team noted on Twitter that the patch will address a number of issues, including the game's MyPark mode. Since the game launched last week, players have been regularly booted from the online mode. NBA 2K15 is the latest in the publisher's annual pro basketball series, and was generally met with critical approval last week. The game also received a card-battling companion app this week on iOS and Android. While the details of NBA 2K15's patch are not yet known, here's hoping it alleviates the nightmarish results of its face-scanning feature. The game is available for PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. [Image: 2K Sports]
Majority share in Warframe dev purchased by Chinese companies
The majority of shares in Warframe developer Digital Extremes have been acquired by two Chinese companies, Multi Dynamic Games and Perfect Online Holding. As a subsidiary of Sumpo Food Holdings Limited, Multi Dynamic Games purchased 58 percent of Digital Extremes' shares for $69.6 million, whereas Perfect Online acquired three percent of the developer for $3.6 million. Negotiations for the agreement began in late June. The value of the transactions, a total of $73.2 million (approximately HK $567.3 million according to Sumpo Food Holdings), is subject to future adjustment by the companies. Warframe launched in March 2013 for PC before the free-to-play shooter arrived on PS4 when the system launched in November 2013. The game hit Xbox One last month, after it reached 10 million registered users in July. Digital Extremes was founded in Ontario, Canada in 1993 and had a hand in the development of the Unreal and BioShock series. [Image: Digital Extremes]
Link's Master Cycle makes spirit tracks in Mario Kart 8 DLC
The first downloadable content pack for Mario Kart 8 will include a special motorcycle inspired by the Legend of Zelda series, Nintendo revealed on Twitter. The Master Cycle features Link's iconic Hylian Shield on the side and a body shape that vaguely resembles a horse. Seen in the concept art above, the cycle also sports a blue and gold paint job and a Triforce on the front wheel. The Master Cycle is one of four new vehicles arriving in the November DLC pack, another being Mario's B Dasher kart from Mario Kart DS. The pack will also include three new playable racers, Link, Tanooki Mario and Cat Peach, as well as eight race tracks. Mario Kart 8's first piece of DLC will cost $8 on its own, though players will be able to pick it and another pack up in a two-for-one bundle for $12. The second DLC pack is Animal Crossing-themed and will arrive in May 2015. [Image: Nintendo]
Deals with Gold: Outlast, Rayman Legends, Dragon Age
This week's Deals with Gold on Xbox Live discounts three games and one add-on for Xbox One users. Players can download Rayman Legends at 40 percent off, Outlast for 25 percent off and Worms Battlegrounds at 40 percent off. Additionally, the Battlefield 4 Support Shortcut Kit is also 33 percent off this week for both Xbox One and Xbox 360 versions of the game. Xbox 360 players can save money on RPGs this week as well, with Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2 both 75 percent off. The sequel's Mark of the Assassin and The Exiled Prince DLC packs are both half-off, just in time for Dragon Age: Inquisition's launch on November 18. Lastly, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is 67 percent off and its Teeth of Naros and The Legend of Dead Kel add-ons are also half-off. This week's deals are good through Monday, October 20 for Xbox Live Gold subscribers. [Image: Ubisoft]
WWE 2K15 season pass includes three new rivarlies
2K Sports detailed its downloadable content plans for WWE 2K15 today, divulging information on the game's season pass program as well. The wrestling game will receive three additional 2K Showcase stories, two character packs and one moves pack. The game's 2K Showcase mode features two historical rivalries, John Cena versus CM Punk as well as Triple H versus Shawn Michaels, as Yuke's and Visual Concepts' major single-player feature. The three additional rivalries are One More Match (2011's Randy Orton versus Christian rivalry), Hall of Pain (the top matches of Mark Henry) and Path of the Warrior (the career of Ultimate Warrior) for $10 each. Those 2K Showcase bonuses as well as the WWE Diva Paige and the game's "accelerator" on-disc content unlock tool will all be part of the $25 season pass. The other three pieces of DLC, which are not included in WWE 2K15's season pass, add over 30 new moves ($4), WCW superstars like Diamond Dallas Page and Lex Luger ($8) and NXT wrestlers such as JBL, Adam Rose and Emma ($7) to the game. WWE 2K15 will launch on October 28 for PS3 and Xbox 360, then on November 18 for PS4 and Xbox One. Those that pre-order the game will receive two playable versions of WCW icon Sting as well. [Image: 2K Sports]
The Flame in the Flood survives roguelike rains
Roguelike survival game The Flame in the Flood reached its $150,000 target on Kickstarter today, promising the delivery of the PC and Mac game. Developer The Molasses Flood will soon announce stretch goals, which may include PS4 and Xbox One ports, according to the project's FAQ. The developer includes BioShock Art Director Scott Sinclair as well as five other designers with credits in the BioShock, Halo, Guitar Hero and Rock Band series. The Flame in the Flood puts players in the shoes of Scout, a survivalist that uses her wits and patchwork raft to avoid the oncoming rains in a post-society backwater America inspired by the Mississippi Delta, Louisiana Bayou and other real-life locales. Players guide Scout and her trusty companion dog Aesop through procedurally-generated rivers, crafting new tools and hunting down resources while avoiding predatory wildlife, all to the tune of an original soundtrack by alt-country singer Chuck Ragan. The funding project will complete on Thursday, November 6 and the game is planned to launch in July 2015. [Image: The Molasses Flood]
Destiny balances weapons, shuts down another loot cave
Bungie updated Destiny to balance some of its weapons and fix a few bugs today. For starters, the developer swatted a bug where the Valkyrie-O5X ship appeared to be the same as the Aurora Lance and fixed issues related to quick weapon swapping. The base damage of scout rifles were increased six percent, whereas the damage of all auto rifles as well as the Vex Mythoclast was decreased two percent and 34 percent, respectively. The developer also shut down another loot cave, one located in the rocket yard area of the game. The hot new treasure farming spot, a room where Fallen enemies consistently spawned, surfaced after Bungie closed the first loot cave. "The Fallen have also retreated from their hold over the Rocket Yard to discuss a new takeover plan," Bungie wrote in its update notes. For now, Destiny looters will have to take the stairs, if you catch our drift. [Image: Activision]
RuneScape getting Hearthstone treatment with new card game
RuneScape developer Jagex revealed a new complementary game to the studio's MMO today, Chronicle: RuneScape Legends. Set in RuneScape's primary world, Gielinor, the game is of the collectible card-battling variety and "focuses on quest building, allowing players to craft their own miniature RPGs against enemies." The game first debuted at Jagex's RuneFest event in London over the weekend, and the developer said it's been quietly working on Chronicle: RuneScape Legends "since the start of the year." Jagex's announcement follows the recent success of Blizzard's Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, a card game based on the World of Warcraft universe. Hearthstone reached 20 million players as of September on PC, Mac and mobile platforms. Likewise, Chronicle: RuneScape Legends will launch in 2015 for PC and Mac as well as mobile and tablet devices. [Image: Jagex]
Humble Bundle celebrates IndieCade: Proteus, Ibb & Obb
This week's Humble Weekly Bundle is courtesy of IndieCade, the annual independent games festival being held in Los Angeles this week. The IndieCade 2 bundle features seven PC games and benefits both developers and the IndeCade Foundation, and it ends next Thursday, October 16. Three of the games are available to all donors: Cube and Star, Lyne and Ian Bogost's A Slow Year, an IndieCade 2010 award-winning game. Those that spend at least $7.25 as of this writing will receive Ibb and Obb as well as Proteus, the former as a "Best Friends Forever Double Pack" that includes a second Steam key to give to a friend. By dishing out at least $8, players will also get Dinosaur Polo Club's Early Access game Mini Metro and Incandescent Workshop's Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator. The latter is a multiplayer-only game, which is why it will also come with a second Steam key for fellow starship troopers to enjoy. The final tier gives players four more copies of Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator in addition to all the other games listed, for $17. [Image: Humble Bundle]
Report: Sony to ship 200K PS4s to China by December
Sony plans on bringing 200,000 PS4 systems to China by December, Bloomberg reports. The number comes from a filing on the Chinese (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone website, which reportedly notes that Sony intends on shipping that many consoles to the region on an annual basis. Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Masaki Tsukakoshi confirmed the report with Bloomberg and noted that the actual PS4 production amounts may vary. This follows news of Microsoft's relative success in China, as it reportedly sold 100,000 Xbox One consoles in its introductory week. Microsoft is the first to bring an official foreign console to China in 14 years since the government lifted its console ban in January. China issued a new set of rules for foreign video game and console sales in April, one of which requires that companies work with a China-based partner. Sony paired with the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group in May to bring the PS4 to the country. [Image: Sony]
Super Smash Bros. Wii U Amiibo figures up for pre-order
Nintendo's Amiibo figures are now available to pre-order at various retailers. There are 18 total figures that players can pre-purchase through Target, GameStop, Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart, each tied to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Most of the figures are listed for release on November 21 as previously announced, the same day that Super Smash Bros. will launch for Nintendo's home console. Certain figures are paired with a December 31 launch date however, which may be a placeholder. Those figures are Zelda, Captain Falcon, Diddy Kong, Little Mac, Luigi and Pit, though release date listings may vary. Walmart is also offering a Super Smash Bros. bundle, which includes a copy of the Wii U game in addition to Link, Pikachu and Mario Amiibo figures for $100. The collectible Amiibo figures were revealed at E3 2014 in June, and given a price of $12.99 each two months later. Head past the break to see the full list of figures that are up for pre-order. [Image: Nintendo]
PSN going offline for maintenance October 13
Do you have next Monday, October 13 off work? Are you planning ahead to call in sick for school that day? Do you have that date circled on your calendar with the note "gaming marathon" written on it? If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, be aware that Sony has PlayStation Network maintenance scheduled for that day. The routine maintenance is planned to begin at 1:00 p.m. EST (10:00 a.m. PST) and will last until 8:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. PST). PlayStation's support team noted that those that log in to PSN at any point from yesterday on will retain online play and app access during the maintenance period. However, the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home and account management services will not be available during that time. [Image: Sony]
The Master Chief Collection getting Halo 2's 'Warlock' map
The final Halo 2 map being remade for the Halo: The Master Chief Collection is Warlock, Microsoft announced today. The multiplayer map was itself a remake of the Wizard map from Halo: Combat Evolved. Warlock, now known as "Warlord," joins five other multiplayer maps from Halo 2 that will return in the The Master Chief Collection: Ascension, Coagulation, Lockout, Sanctuary and Zanzibar. The map will include "additional cover, new skill jumps, and a new weapon in the center," according to Certain Affinity President Max Hoberman, former multiplayer lead designer for the original version of Halo 2. Microsoft first revealed the collection during its E3 2014 press event in June following rumors of the bundle's existence in May. Halo: The Master Chief Collection packs together Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo 3 and Halo 4, and is Xbox One exclusive. It will also include formerly PC-exclusive maps from the first two games. The collection will launch on November 11. [Image: Microsoft]
Square Enix sues SNK over past copyright infringement allegations
Square Enix announced that it brought a declaratory judgment suit against SNK Playmore as a response to previous accusations of copyright infringement. SNK sued Square Enix in May, claiming the Final Fantasy publisher used copyrighted SNK characters without permission in the High Score Girl manga. SNK alleged that characters from The King of Fighters and Samurai Shodown were used more than 100 times without permission. Following the lawsuit, police collected evidence in early August from Square Enix's offices, and the publisher stated it "has been cooperating fully with police investigations since the domiciliary search, and will continuously maintain the cooperative stance with good faith." Square Enix is now seeking an authoritative opinion from the Osaka District Court to determine that it has not infringed on SNK's copyright and will "prove the point through civil procedures." [Images: Square Enix]
Disney draws up 20 games on Steam, including Epic Mickey 2
Disney Interactive jumped into the magical world of Steam this week, launching 20 PC games on the platform. Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two ($17.99) is among the list of games from the publisher now available on Steam, and the one on the list that is new to PC entirely. Epic Mickey 2 first launched in November 2012 to an unenthusiastic reaction at retail, leading to developer Junction Point's closure in January 2013. Disney also dropped the price on each game on Steam by 10 percent until Sunday, October 12. The complete list, which features Pure ($17.99) and Split/Second ($17.99 each), can be found after the break. The launch sale page also includes five game packs, such as the seven-game "Other-Worldly Adventure Pack." [Image: Disney Interactive]
Final Fantasy Explorers ditches 3D, uses new 3DS' C-stick
Final Fantasy Explorers will not use the 3DS' stereoscopic 3D functions, Siliconera reported. The game will make use of the new 3DS and 3DS XL's buttons and C-stick, however, controlling the third-person game's targeting and lock-on mechanics. It will also be compatible with the Circle Pad Pro, unlike a certain popular Nintendo-published fighting game that launched recently. Square Enix isn't the first publisher to dismiss the handheld system's 3D capabilities to some degree; Nintendo's own Pokemon X and Y limited their use of the stereoscopic 3D visuals to the game's battles. The console manufacturer even launched an entire version of the system without the 3D functions roughly one year ago, the Nintendo 2DS. Final Fantasy Explorers will launch on December 18 in Japan. While both US and European trademarks exist for the game, it hasn't yet been given a release date elsewhere. [Image: Square Enix]
Report: Microsoft sells 100K Xbox One consoles in China
Microsoft has reportedly sold over 100,000 Xbox One consoles in the system's introductory week in China. The sales figure comes from an interview with Shanghai Media Group Vice President Zhang Dazhong, courtesy of Chinese news site 17173 (translated by Kotaku). Dazhong also noted that Microsoft's Chinese partner BesTV aims to sell one million consoles in the region over the next year. The system launched in late September along with 10 games, and Microsoft said it is preparing an additional 70 games for the region. The Xbox One is the first official foreign console to arrive in China in 14 years following the government's move to lift its longstanding console ban in January. It then began drafting rules that dictates how companies can sell games and game consoles under Shanghai's free trade zone, settling on a new set of policies in April. Game sales in China are restricted based on whether the government determines that products threaten "China's national unity, sovereignty, or territorial integrity," whether they "instigate racial/ethnic hatred," include gambling-related features, promote drug use, obscenity, violence or violate China's constitution. [Image: Microsoft]