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Valhalla Knights 3 out Oct. 23 in Europe
XSEED Games' upcoming Vita-exclusive RPG finally has a release date for the fine folks in Europe. Valhalla Knights 3 will arrive in Europe on October 23, XSEED Localization Lead Ryan Graff confirmed in a blog post on the European PlayStation Blog. Valhalla Knights 3 features "200-plus quests and over 500 in-game items, weapons, armor and special goods" in its "over 40 hours of gameplay." The latest in the series will launch in North America on October 15. Available both digitally and in authentic plastic boxes(!), Valhalla Knights 3 carries a $40 price tag.
PS3 party game Sportsfriends headed to PlayStation 4
Die Gute Fabrik's Kickstarter-funded compilation of local multiplayer games, Sportsfriends, is on its way to the PlayStation 4, following its upcoming launch for the PS3. Backers who pledged toward the PlayStation 3 version of Sportsfriends will receive the PS4 edition for free. The package includes the PlayStation Move-powered rhythm game J.S. Joust, Noah Sasso's basketball-like BaraBariBall, Bennett Foddy's pole-vaulting polo game Super Pole Riders, and Ramiro Corbetta's minimalist sports game Hokra. Developer Doug Wilson additionally revealed that J.S. Joust will receive DualShock 4 support in the PlayStation 4 version of Sportsfriends, thanks to its enhanced hardware capabilities and built-in light bar. Currently, J.S. Joust is only available as a downloadable game for PC platforms, and requires the use of multiple PlayStation Move controllers in a musical chairs-like setting. [Photo by Brent Knepper]
Tales of Symphonia Chronicles gets adorable limited edition
Namco Bandai has revealed a "limited collector's edition" is in the works for Tales of Symphonia Chronicles, launching exclusively for the PlayStation 3 in 2014. Chronicles celebrates the tenth anniversary of the series, packing two HD-enhanced titles in the box: 2003's GameCube-exclusive Tales of Symphonia and its Wii-exclusive follow-up Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World from 2008. The $100 edition of Chronicles features five Chibi Kyun Chara figurines from Tales of Symphonia , a multi-disc soundtrack, specialized packaging and a paperback novel that dives into the events between both games. Namco Bandai says the set will be limited to 15,000 copies.
Now Playing: October 14-20, 2013
Step forth and do battle this week with Valhalla Knights 3... Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:
Telltale's Poker Night 2 goes all-in on PlayStation Plus this week
Telltale Games' tongue-in-cheek gambling sim Poker Night 2 headlines this week's PlayStation Plus lineup, and will be available as a free download for subscribers on the PlayStation 3 starting tomorrow. Poker Night 2 stars a motley crew of characters from both Telltale's own franchises and other pop culture sources. Players match wits with Sam from the Sam & Max series, Borderlands' blabbermouth robot Claptrap, Army of Darkness star Ash Williams, and The Venture Bros' Brock Samson in a series of high-stakes Texas hold 'em and Omaha hold 'em matches. Portal's GLaDOS officiates the proceedings, promising swift punishment for cheating and poor sportsmanship. This week's PlayStation Plus update also brings a variety of discounts for Capcom-published PSN releases and DLC-bundled Ultimate Editions of select retail games.
New Vita ditches proprietary charging cables for micro USB
The next model of the Vita handheld (officially dubbed model 2000), will not be tethered to Sony's own power cords. Instead, the handheld gaming machine will be able to pull down both power and data through the same micro USB cables currently in use by many portable devices. "You'll be happy to know PS Vita 2000 can charge with a smartphone charger with micro USB," wrote Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony Worldwide Studios in a tweet translated by CVG. Alongside the message Yoshida posted the above image which clearly shows the handhelds' micro USB port. This new version of the Vita was initially announced at this year's Tokyo Game Show. As we reported at that time, the 2000 model Vita is both lighter and slimmer than the models currently found on retail shelves. The next Vita is currently slated to hit Japan on October 10. As of now there is no word on when it might find its way to the West.
Walking Dead: Game of the Year Edition rated by ESRB [update]
Whether or not to pick up a GOTY version and relive all those horrors again; that may be the next heart-wrenching choice for The Walking Dead fans to make, going by a recent ESRB rating. The listing notes a Game of the Year Edition that's apparently headed for Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and Mac. We've reached out to Telltale for comment. The Walking Dead was one of our favorites from last year, placing third in our Top Ten list after winning and subsequently breaking our hearts. The zombified adventure continued via the 400 Days DLC this summer, and we'd expect that to be included in a GOTY version. As for the second season, Telltale is teasing more news on that later this month. Last we heard, the next batch of difficult decisions is due sometime this fall. Update: Reliable Xbox-hound @lifelower unearthed a GameStop listing that has it going for $30. According to that, the GOTY edition includes the 400 Days DLC, the soundtrack, and a behind-the-scenes vid.
GTA 5 reclaims rule in UK charts, wild Pokemon X, Y appear in top 4
The battle between Grand Theft Auto 5 and FIFA 14 rages on, with Rockstar reclaiming the UK No. 1 after EA Sports held it for two weeks. It's maybe a bit surprising to see Pokemon X and Y not on top, the duo instead placing in third and fourth in the all-formats chart. If the two Poke-versions were combined they'd almost certainly be Numero Uno, however, since X and Y are first and second in the individual formats chart. Maybe the biggest stat for Nintendo is that the 3DS games' first week sales are around double of Pokemon Black 2 and White 2's debut showing - I'm sure we'll be hearing about very big numbers soon. The other new release in the top ten is Beyond: Two Souls, Quantic Dream's PS3 game charting fifth. As for Dragon's Crown debuting all the way down in 19th, I have to wonder if the game's late European arrival and Sony's region-free policy played their part...
The Wolf Among Us Episode 1 delayed for Mac
Telltale Games' The Wolf Among Us, an episodic adaption of the Fables graphic novel series that tells tales of mythical characters trying to exist in the real world, has hit a bump on the road to its fairytale beginnings. The studio updated its initial post celebrating the episode's October 11 launch to note that an "unforseen issue" has delayed the release of Episode 1 for Mac. The post explains that the studio is "working on an update right now and expect to have the Mac build live on Steam and the Telltale website within the next few days." Windows users can currently purchase Episode 1 via a five-episode season pass on Steam or through TellTale's site for $24.99. Xbox 360 fans can purchase the first episode and a pass for the future four episodes for a collective $19.98, while PS3 users can look for Episode 1 in the PlayStation Store on October 15. Our review called Episode 1 "slap-your-face brilliant."
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 video game set to sling webs in 2014
You won't need spider-sense to see this coming: Activision and Beenox are teaming up again to create an Amazing Spider-Man 2 game. The title is scheduled to swing onto PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC and 3DS systems alongside the film, which is currently slated for May 2014. Polygon reports the announcement was made by Marvel representatives during a panel at New York Comic-Con. The game will take place in an open world Manhattan, and like the previous Amazing Spider-Man game, will not be a straight movie-to-game translation in terms of plot. Players won't just be playing as the wisecracking superhero, as some portions of the game will also place control within the more mundane shoes of Peter Parker. The game will also feature a morality system dubbed "Hero or Menace," which will reward or punish players depending on how they respond to crises within the city. We doubt J. Jonah Jameson will be swayed regardless.
Skylanders Swap Force review: Swappin', not stoppin'
Skylanders is a tough sell for adults. No matter what sort of gameplay lies beneath the surface, it's difficult to reconcile the fact that playing Skylanders means you're playing with children's toys. If you have a healthy inner child (or, at the very least, no sense of shame), you'll discover that the Skylanders series is secretly a total blast. Similar in premise to Gauntlet Legends and the Diablo series, the Skylanders games are lightweight, action-heavy dungeon crawlers that offer a surprising degree of depth, with gameplay bolstered by expansive skill trees and stat-boosting loot. Skylanders: Swap Force continues that tradition, and if you can stand a few funny looks when your friends see you playing with figurines with ridiculous names like "Grim Creeper" and "Stealth Elf," you'll discover that this is the best Skylanders to date.
God of War: Ascension hits PSN Oct. 15, team ends DLC development
Sony Sana Monica has finished its DLC efforts for God of War: Ascension, but will continue to assess the need of balance patches "in the weeks or months ahead," a post to the PlayStation Blog has detailed. The post also announced that Ascension will descend on the PlayStation Network on October 15. The team's most immediate balance efforts will come in an update meant to "tune-up all the Allegiances," the bonds between a player's character and Greek gods that grant them specific powers. The post notes that team will be "monitoring online 24/7" in search of future exploits that need to be addressed. In honor of the game's digital release, Ascension's DLC will be marked down to "special pricing" and the Ascension soundtrack will be free for all PSN users to download for a limited time. A Double XP Weekend is also planned worldwide from October 18 - 21.
Final Soul Sacrifice update adds 16 new (and tough!) quests
The Marvelous AQL and Japan Studio-developed Vita-exclusive Soul Sacrifice has been given its final update, SCEA producer Kumi Yuasa revealed in a post on the PlayStation Blog. Update 1.30 adds "16 challenging new quests" to the game, for free. Unlike previous updates, unlock keys from the PlayStation Store are not required to enjoy the content. Yuasa says the game's final bonus quests are all at level ten difficulty. "You'll be tasked with facing challenging boss characters you may have come across before," Yuasa adds. Soul Sacrifice launched for the PlayStation Vita in North America on April 30. The Joystiq review noted that playing it could exact an "unexpected toll on your thoughts." Spooky!
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure may drop microtransactions in the West
Developer CyberConnect2 has been forced to reconsider its international release of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle after Japanese fans expressed dismay at their version's microtransaction scheme. Similar to many free to play mobile titles, the Campaign mode in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle equips players with a stock of 10 batteries. These batteries are exhausted each time you enter a fight. They will replenish over time, or players can opt to purchase DLC items for real cash to instantly rejuvenate their battery supply. Player reactions to this plan have been largely negative, even after the developer reduced the time necessary to refill a single battery by 75 percent. As a result of this backlash, the international version of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle is being reworked, with "lots of adjustments and improvements" promised by producer Noriaki Niino. Neither CyberConnect2 nor Namco Bandai has officially stated that the microtransaction scheme will be stripped from the game, but as Siliconera points out, the developers are currently rethinking this section of the game and are hoping to reward players who supported the original microtransaction scheme, "perhaps by offering something that might have been a paid item for free." JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle is currently scheduled for release in North America and Europe at some point in 2014.
Artist wants GTA5 recalled for unlicensed use of his music
A law office representing music artist Daz Dillinger has issued Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games a cease and desist letter, in an attempt to block the sale of Grand Theft Auto 5. The complaint is over the use of two tracks released with fellow artist Kurupt under the group banner "Tha Dogg Pound." The letter reportedly claims Rockstar attempted to purchase rights for the "offensively low offer of $4,271.00" for his songs 'C-Walk' and 'Nothin' But the Cavi Hit.' Dillinger and his lawyers at the firm Kushner Carlson have given Take-Two 14 days to comply with their demands to recall and destroy any unsold copies of the game, or strike a new business deal for the use of the artist's music. Speaking with TMZ, Dillinger said the suit was about "respecting an artist's work." The artist noted that Rockstar neglected to do so and he "can't let them get away with it." Only days after launching on September 17, Grand Theft Auto 5 sales had surpassed $1 billion worldwide, according to Take-Two's estimates. Joystiq has contacted both Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive for a comment on the filing, but no response was issued at the time of publishing. [Image via Muzikosvirtuve]
BioShock Infinite DLC heralds the return of the weapon wheel
BioShock Infinite's forthcoming Burial at Sea DLC will re-introduce the series' classic weapon wheel mechanic, level designer Andres Gonzalez revealed during a recent Reddit AMA session. Previously featured in BioShock and BioShock 2, the weapon wheel pauses in-game action while players select from an arsenal of available firearms and abilities. BioShock Infinite ditched the mechanic in favor of a new system that limited players to two equipped weapons at any given time. Gonzales notes that the wheel mechanic will make its return alongside new plasmids and weapons exclusive to the Infinite's Burial at Sea chapters. "I can tell you that for Burial at Sea: Episode 1 we added new weapon, a new Plasmid, new Gear, Tears and we brought back the weapon wheel," Gonzalez said. "As far as upgrades go, there are upgrades available for Plasmids and you can upgrade the new weapon."
Class of Heroes 2 ships to UMD buyers, Gaijinworks hints at future PSP releases
After months of delays stemming from licensing issues and last-minute bug fixes, the PSP UMD version of MonkeyPaw's Class of Heroes 2 began shipping out this week to buyers who pre-purchased the game earlier this year. Previously the subject of a failed Kickstarter campaign, Class of Heroes 2 was later released as a physical and digital combo pack via online pre-order. The Acquire-developed first-person dungeon crawler, which features a localization by Working Designs veteran Victor Ireland and his studio Gaijinworks, premiered as a downloadable PlayStation Network game in June. The UMD version of Class of Heroes 2 was delayed while Gaijinworks sorted out licensing issues relating to its opening theme song, which the studio has since replaced with an English-language track. An updated version of Class of Heroes 2, which fixes a widely reported alchemy recipe bug, among other gameplay tweaks, will hit the PlayStation Network on October 15. Gaijinworks' Ireland recently hinted at plans to "squeeze out at least 3-4 more PSP RPG titles (and offer them as physical+digital sets) before we're done with the platform," though specific titles have not been announced. The studio will gauge interest in a Class of Heroes 3 release starting in January.
The Order: 1886 mixes horror with the Knights of the Round Table
New storyline details have emerged for Ready At Dawn's next-gen debut, The Order: 1886, that outline the game's blend of horror and historical fiction. The Order: 1886 puts players into the formfitting armored boots of one of the Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur's legendary 5th century order, according to the latest issue of GameInformer. In Ready At Dawn's fiction, human evolution has splintered and "half-breeds" have threatened the world's pure population. Thanks to the industrial revolution, The Order is finally equipped to put an end to the long-standing war between humans and half-breeds and the group sets out on a quest to put a stop to the half-breed's tyranny. "The game itself is a mix of all these moments that basically take you on a ride of adventure, suspense and horror," The Order: 1886 Creative Director Ru Weerasuriya said in a video interview with GameInformer. The third-person action-shooter is in development for the PlayStation 4 and, despite the developer's moniker, no release date has been solidified.
Grand Theft Auto 5 Online players to receive a half-million (in-game) bucks
Rockstar plans to give Grand Theft Auto Online a "stimulus package," bestowing a half-million GTA$ to every player in the game. The developer plans to start deposits by next week. "In order to keep the current worldwide in-game economy balanced, we will be providing this GTA$ to players via two deposits of $250,000. We will announce specific dates as soon as possible," wrote Rockstar Games on its site. As long as game progress issues are confirmed and remain fixed, the first deposit should should occur by the end of next week, with the second by the end of the month. The developer continued, "For players who experienced cloud server errors, connection issues, and lost game progress and characters in these first days of GTA Online, we hope this GTA$ helps to facilitate a fresh start or makes your continued life in Los Santos and Blaine County extra sweet." We've placed the qualifying details on how to get the cash after the break. Bank robberies not required.
Report: PS4 won't recognize Bluetooth headsets for voice chat
Bluetooth headsets will not work for voice chat on PS4, Sony has confirmed to Game Informer. This is in contrast to the PS3, which has enabled Bluetooth pairing from the get-go. USB headsets will be a viable option for voice chat following an update, due sometime after the console's launch, and anything that requires a digital optical connection will play game audio. Owners of Sony's Pulse headset will also have to wait for a future update, Sony says. The PS4 will launch on November 15. The $399 console, which sports a new DualShock 4 controller and optional PS4 Eye camera, is currently up for pre-order through most retailers.
