Armored Core
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Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of June 11th
Ready to discover Sony's release plans for this week? Us too. Let's get started. US Games Fantastic 4 Rise of the Silver Surfer EU Games Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer Asian Games Call of Duty 3 (Japan) Ninja Gaiden Sigma (Japan) Amored Core 4 (Korea) Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom (Korea) Hooray. Another movie tie-in. Just what we English speakers have been waiting for. At least the Japanese will be having some fun this week with Ninja Gaiden. Knowing their mad skills they'll have completed it by the time it's released in the west in a couple of weeks. If you need something to occupy you until then, then you might want to pick up my new book - How to generalise an entire nation in a single sentence: It's easy with my three step program.. If you're particularly language savvy, or you can deal with just looking at the pretty pictures and not the words, then feel free to import any of the Asian releases. You may not be able to read those funny squiggles, but your PS3 can. Release dates are subject to constant change, so check with your retailer just in case.
Gran Turismo HD 1.2, GTA 4 trailer to hit PS Network today
Sony has sent word of their new offerings for the US PlayStation Network today. Most importantly for racing fans, Gran Turismo HD Concept will be upgraded for free to version 1.2, which enables force feedback through Logitech steering wheel peripherals. (European gamers have been enjoying GTHD 1.2 since the console's launch in the region.)The Grand Theft Auto IV trailer is also available for download in high definition, as is the Armored Core 4 demo. Microsoft's Peter Moore, proud that Xbox Live got the GTAIV trailer up before Sony, has added yet another tattoo on his arm to add to his collection of AAA-titled inkings.All of the content will be available free of charge and should be online sometime today.[Update: It's the Armored Core 4 demo, not trailer, that is released today. All parties responsible for the error have been thoroughly sacked.]
Today's best-looking mech video: Armored Core comparison
It's an old-fashioned PS3 versus 360 graphics showdown in today's video pick, with GameTrailers running a side-by-side comparison of Armored Core 4. Which version of this mech title looks best? Judge for yourself after the break, or visit the HD version -- it doesn't embed like the SD file -- on the GameTrailers site. Let the scrutiny begin!Image from CSG_Starfury's account of life-sized BattleMech project.
Armored Core 4: 360 vs PS3 comparison
With this Tuesday's release of Armored Core 4 on both the Xbox 360 and PS3, GameTrailers decided to put together a visually informative graphics comparison video. After watching their comparison, one thing that is noticeably different between the 360 and PS3 versions is that the 360 version is much darker where as the PS3 version is more white washed. Sometimes the 360 version is way too dark, but sometimes the PS3 version looks like a snow storm ... it's a give and take. Though, we feel the two versions are nearly identical in some respect, we fully expect someone to pick apart each frame to see which version does better lighting, textures, and anti-aliasing. Watch the video above and tell us which version you think looks better. Don't worry, if you like the PS3 version better we won't ban you from our site ... yet.[Via TeamXbox Forums]
Armored Core 4 on Xbox 360 in March
Xbox 360 will receive some love from an important Japanese franchise in early 2007. From Software's Armored Core 4 is scheduled to arrive on Microsoft's console on March 22 -- it's already available on PlayStation 3. The deal will be sweetened by a "special movies" DVD and art booklet, available to reservation makers.Sega, which has signed on as publisher, plans to bring both versions of Armored Core 4 to North America. The Xbox 360 release marks the first time the Armored Core series will be available on a non-Sony platform (with the exception of mobile phone spin-offs).See also: PS3 loses more exclusives
PS3 loses more exclusives
It's said that the rats are the first to abandon a sinking ship. While not rats, publishers are beginning to abandon the PS3 after its less-than-impressive launch and news of production woes. Three titles have pulled up stakes and moved to the Xbox 360 (as cross-platform). Koei, long time PlayStation supporter (and company frequently billed as key support to win the generation) has pulled Fatal Inertia and Blade Storm: The Hundred Years' War from the PS3 exclusive list and plopped them squarely into the Xbox 360 camp. Another PlayStation staple, the Armored Core series, is also coming to the white box in the form of Armored Core 4. Sony is going to be in for a difficult battle if key players keep moving over party lines; Microsoft is doing far better coaxing exclusive content over to the 360. If Sony continues to lose its differentiation, why should gamers continue to shell out up to $200 more just to play the same games? Enjoy this machine translation for those who can't read Japanese. [Thanks, Stephen]
Armored Core 4 release date set in Japan
We can get our mech-smashing on earlier than anticipated! Well, in Japan. Just a month after launch, on December 14, Japan will get its grubby hands on the much-hyped, much-awesome title, Armored Core 4. Jealous, U.S.? We in the states (and Canada!) can still expect this puppy in Spring of '07. Oh, and the price is kinda high. It's going for about 8,190 yen, which is quite a markup from the casual 6,800 pricing of Sonic and Sega Golf. Then again... Armored Core games have always been this price in Japan, so let's not think this is indicative of anything dubious, shall we?
Armored Core 4 not a launch title -- only two confirmed
It was never officially announced as a launch title, but we did kind of hope Armored Core 4 was going to come out hand-in-hand with the PS3. Well, it's official now. The game isn't due to get released until December in Japan. That stinks. There are two titles officially stated for a November release in Japan: Fatal Inertia and Mahjong Taikai IV. If either of those are appetizing, please line up now. But they won't satisfy our mech-crushing desires. Sony! Listen up. Stop, please. It's growing nearly impossible to throw a positive spin on things. What can we say about all that's gone on lately? "Uh, well, when the PS3 comes out in March in Europe, they'll have more launch titles"? We love you Sony. We trust you. But you've got to be honest with us! Yeah, this doesn't really have much to do with Armored Core 4, but it was just another title that made the pain a little more bearable. Now we have to wait for that, too. Sorry for the tangent -- sometimes it's tough to make bad news good. Even so, look for some mech-smashing come December.
Armored Core 4 movie goodness [update 1]
myFlash = new FlashObject('http://www.gametrailers.com/umremote310.swf', 'swffile', 425, 362, 8); myFlash.altTxt = ''; myFlash.addVariable('mid', 12512); myFlash.write(); God is force. At least that's what this Armored Core trailer says. But we all know the truth. God may be force, but Armored Core is giant robots blowing each other to smithereens. Smithereens, we say! So, you can either argue about whether or not this movie is real time, or, you can enjoy the contrails and robots asploding. Your call. Also, is it just me, or does the mech at the beginning of the video have an H. R. Giger look to it?The video is surprisingly devoid of any platform designations. Interesting. Discuss.[Update: It's H. R. Giger. Not Geiger. One of my favorite people and I misspell his name. Oy.]
