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XBL Games on Demand adds Vanquish, DiRT 2, more
Xbox Live's Games on Demand service gains several new games today. Most notable among the four titles is probably Vanquish, which can be had for a steep $40. DiRT 2 is also available for $30, while either Velvet Assassin or Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising can be had for $20.
OnLive: The first few weeks
Much like reviewing an MMO, I didn't really feel comfortable "reviewing" OnLive and I don't know that I ever will. I can (and will) make a handful of declarative statements about my feelings on the service as it stands right now, but, like an MMO, sweeping changes could occur tomorrow that obliviate all previous statements. That said, as of right now, OnLive works. In my experience with the service -- on both coasts and three major US cities -- it was quick, responsive, and relatively free of bugs (though I did encounter a couple). And demos are available for almost every game, so I put at least a bit of time in with nearly every title currently playable. Dirt 2 with DirectX 11 running on my 10-month-old (Apple!) laptop? Speeds along without a hitch. Unreal Tournament 3? No issues (well, other than not finding anyone to play against outside of bots). I was also able to hook up a wired Xbox 360 controller without any additional installation and it worked flawlessly -- the Xbox guide button even brought up the OnLive guide and auto-paused games (madness!). And though I probably wouldn't suggest OnLIve for hardcore, twitch gamers -- and neither would the company itself -- I would absolutely recommend it to everyone else.%Gallery-48489%
Codemasters VP casually reveals Dirt 3
Up until now, we hadn't the slightest inclination that Codemasters was hard at work on a third installment in the rallycross racing series, Dirt. According to a recent interview with Edge, though, studio vice prez Gavin Cheshire confirms not only the game's development, but also says, "there's some really great stuff coming from Birmingham that's going into Dirt 3." Cheshire was being interviewed on the subject of Codemasters as one of the last "big British publishers" when he revealed the publisher's development plans for the sequel. The exec hopes to see more of the company's home of origin (and its culture) leak into the next Dirt game, saying "Dirt 2: brilliant game, but it's all American accents, so maybe we're a little over the top with those ... maybe we should fly the flag a bit more." In addition to this week's announce of Bodycount, that brings the publisher's GDC new game reveals up to two. Will we see more before the week is out? We just dont know. [Via VG247]
Ostendo multiple CRVD display games-on
We're sort of hoping the third year's the charm for Ostendo and the CRVD display -- we first spotted the crazy 43-inch curved monitor at CES 2008 with Alienware and NEC branding, then just NEC branding at Macworld 09, and now it's CES 2010 and Ostendo is actually selling it directly. Even better, the company's hooked up with ATI for a pretty sweet Eyefinity demo -- sure, you might have seen the three- or six-screen Eyefinity demos in the past, but having three CRVD screens wrap 180 degrees around you is pretty wild. We played a little Dirt 2 and did a little Google Earth zooming on the rig -- we might never scrape the $6,499 per screen for a setup like this, but we can certainly watch the videos after the break and pretend. P.S.- Yes, the CRVD still has the same weak 2880 x 900 resolution, but Ostendo tells us they're working on something with more pixels for the future. Just don't make us wait another three years, okay? Update: Our friends at Engadget Spanish went back with their super-sweet fisheye lens and took some more pics -- you definitely want to check them out. %Gallery-82357%
Best of the Rest: Ludwig's Picks of 2009
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories I mocked this "re-imagining" of Silent Hill when it was first announced. I thought Harry Mason had become an older, life-hewn Harry Potter and considered the town's frosty makeover as nothing short of sacrilege. But an encounter with the game at E3 2009 (and with candid producer Tomm Hulett) quickly changed my mind. While the game departs significantly from the franchise's known lore, it retains and streamlines much of what made Silent Hill stand out against games like Resident Evil. Encased in the game's frigid atmosphere, you'll experience a sense of bewilderment that, if you've been playing these games for a long time, you will not have felt in years. Indeed, the best surprises prey on those of us who think we know everything about Silent Hill.
DiRT 2 PC demo hits the track
The PC version of Codies racer DiRT 2 may be a bit behind the console pack, but it's crossing the finishing line in style. The extra time has allowed the team to throw a couple of more DirectXs in there (they've got it up to 11 now!) and fine-tune all of the game's tessellation. And if you're still on the sidelines, wondering whether the game is for you (or, more importantly, if your puny rig can handle all of this Xtreme tessellation action), then why not try the game out right now? Codemasters was kind enough to hook up our sister site Big Download with a PC demo, so feel free to get a little dirty. Just, uh, change your clothes first. Your mom would kill us if you ruined that new Nickelback T-shirt.
DirectX 11-powered Dirt 2 heading to PCs in early December
During Microsoft's big coming-out party for Windows 7 today in New York City, Codemasters showed off the new DirectX 11 version of the upcoming PC port of Dirt 2 that you see above. Though the developer said little of new content additions being made to the game, the already gorgeous visuals have been gussied up with help from DirectX 11, and cheevos will be ready for the taking on Games for Windows Live. Meeting its previously announced delay head-on, Dirt 2 starts shipping in North America on December 1, with December 3 and 4 release dates for the rest of the world (in your face, world!).
Codemasters' go-to driving dev departs
Gavin Raeburn, the guy who may be most responsible for beloved Codies-brand racers like DiRT 2 and GRID, has resigned from the company, VG247 reports. After a stint lasting more than 20 years, the former executive producer has "moved on to pastures new," said Gavin Cheshire, VP of Codemasters Development. Cheshire added, "it's positive for any individual to move when they feel they're at the top." "[Raeburn] leaves having built an incredibly talented team that's led by key players who will drive our racing portfolio forward." There's no word on where Raeburn is headed, but there's a good chance it's Disney World.
Best Buy offers $20 racing wheel with purchase of Shift, DiRT 2
If you're looking to acquire a PS3 steering wheel peripheral before the release of that one racing game, Best Buy's got a pretty sweet offer for you. If you purchase Need for Speed: Shift or DiRT 2 through the retailer's online storefront, you can knock $60 off the price of the Logitech Driving Force Wireless Wheel, bringing its cost down to a mere $20. There's no telling how long this deal will be available, so if you're in the market for discounted circular gaming peripherals, you should probably put the pedal to the metal.
Guitar Hero 5 goes straight to the top of the UK charts
Guitar Hero 5, which is like the tenth (give or take a couple) installment in the series, has resonated with UK consumers and hit a high note atop the Chart Track all-formats chart. The Dark Knight of Arkham Asylum -- who was perched above the charts for two weeks -- slipped off the top to the number three spot, with Colin McRae: Dirt 2 taking the silver. The Beatles: Rock Band premiered at the number four spot, which some are sure to find disappointing. Both Guitar Hero and Rock Band have previously debuted at the fourth and sixth spot, respectively, with previous iterations. Music games may be on a sales decline, but they apparently still know how to make an entrance. Source -- Guitar Hero 5 hits the right notes (Chart Track) Source -- All formats chart (Chart Track) %Gallery-63471%
Dirt 2 is the 'breast' tattoo simulator ever
Somehow we totally missed Dirt 2's reinvention of digital "dirt" -- from dusty rally racing to busty Sally tracing. At least, that's what the ploy at Dirtytats.com (NSFW) would have us believe. The game's promotional site presents visitors with a pair of animated assets to put one's ink on. We decided to give our models a lace bra–like tattoo to cover up the ample skin real estate and express -- in a word -- what we thought about this type of marketing being tied into a racing game (after the break, fellow art lovers).Now, if Saints Row 2 had done something like this ... brilliant! It's all about context.%Gallery-45501%
Sony publishing DiRT 2 for PSP, PS3 in PAL regions
Sony continues its third-party publishing strategy in PAL territories today by taking up Codemasters' DiRT 2. Unlike the Ghostbusters venture, however, this is not a timed exclusive for PlayStation platforms. MCV reports that Sony will publish the PSP and PS3 versions of the game, while Codemasters handles publishing duties on all other platforms.Codemasters' senior VP of publishing for EPAC, Axel Herr, is glad to have Sony take over, citing the series' "great affinity with the PlayStation brand in PAL territories for over 10 years" as one of the key factors behind the decision. We're sure all of the buzz around the PS3 Slim didn't hurt either.
Demos for NHL 10 and DiRT 2 join Lost Planet 2 and Mini Ninjas on Live
Need something to chew up your free time between constant attempts to sequence break Shadow Complex? Xbox Live Marketplace has been invaded by a slew of new game demos -- currently available to Gold members -- to help combat your boredom. With four demos hitting the Marketplace in the last two days, Xbox users are treated to a collection of completely different gaming experiences. Strap into the Mitsubishi Eclipse GT and race the Trailblazer event in DiRT 2, lace up your skates and hit the ice in the NHL 10 demo, show off your ninja skills in Mini Ninjas or jump online with up to four players and attack the evil Akrid in the Lost Planet 2 Co-op demo. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a diverse selection of video game demos. Queue up the DiRT 2 demo Queue up the NHL 10 demo (and check out Xbox Canada's exclusive Q&A) Queue up the Mini Ninjas demo Queue up the Lost Planet 2 Co-op demo
DiRT 2 Achievement takes off-putting meme off-road
Though "meme" is perhaps a euphemistic label for the lurid mental virus that is "Two Girls, One Cup" (don't Google that if the phrase sounds foreign), we're nonetheless pleased to see Codemasters taking the piss out of the fecal internet documentary and turning it into something more wholesome and rewarding: an Achievement (slash Trophy)! Witness the "Two Cups One Girl" Achievement, awarded in the upcoming off-roader, DiRT 2, for winning two team events with the same female teammate. Looking over the game's 47 pop-up awards, you'll also spot a Ghostbusters reference, a pun or two, and a joke that requires cursory knowledge of The Karate Kid. It's like they made this just for the internet. %Gallery-45501% [Thanks, Merkaba]
New Dirt 2 trailers feature fancy cars, lots of dirt
What do a BMW Z4 Coupe, a Subaru WRX Hatch, and a mess of big trucks have in common? They'll all be at your disposal in upcoming rally-racer Dirt 2, silly! Aside from the game's striking visuals -- the ones that we marveled over when we saw it last February -- gameplay has always been a strong suit for Codemasters' dirt racer. While the video above, titled "Baja Raid," looks vaguely similar to games like Motorstorm and Pure, we expect a different, more simulation than arcade, feel from Dirt 2. Check out the rest of the trailers after the break or head over to our sister site Big Download and snag them for yourself in full HD glory.%Gallery-45501%
Dirt 2 release date all cleaned up
Codemasters today announced the official release dates for Dirt 2. The utterly filthy racing game will hit US shores on September 8, Europe on September 10 and the UK on September 11. For those out there who aren't filthy rich enough to own all the consoles, have no fear, for Dirt 2 will be available on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS and PSP. Much like actual dirt, you should be able to find it just about anywhere.Unless you want to pick up the PC version, which was recently delayed in order to accommodate DirectX 11. Expect it to arrive in December.%Gallery-45501%
PC version of DiRT 2 delayed until December
If you were planning on using your Compy 386 to tap into the rally-racing action contained within Codemasters' upcoming release, DiRT 2, you're going to have to wait a bit longer than your console-toting brethren. Though the game is leaping onto PS3 and Xbox 360 in September, it's not going to pull into the PC parking lot until December.The delay can be attributed to the developers' desire to implement the brand new DirectX 11 tool set in order to improve the game's graphical fidelity. Such areas of improvement include the "appearance of water and other surfaces as well as crowd animations," not to mention "depth of field, ambient occlusion and shadows." Also, we hear the game's titular dirt will be 300 percent dirtier. Thanks, technology!
First DiRT 2 media lacks polish
When people criticize the Wii, the graphics are usually one of the first things mentioned. Codemasters' DiRT 2 is sure to bring about cries of "N64!" and other such malarkey, because, well, it looks bad. We'd like to be more diplomatic, but, yeah, you can see it in the trailer above and in the screens in the gallery below. Bad, right? %Gallery-66584%
DiRT 2 tips its hat to the late Colin McRae
When Scottish rally racer Colin McRae died in a tragic helicopter accident in September 2007, many wondered how his passing would affect the final version of DiRT, the McRae-branded racing game that would come out later that month. The answer? Well, it was too late in the game's development to include any significant changes -- but Codemasters is making sure that the upcoming sequel to the well-reviewed racer adequately tips its hat to the driver who spawned the series.MTV Multiplayer checked out DiRT 2 during a recent preview in NYC, and reports that players will be working to qualify for the Colin McRae Memorial Cup -- what's more, Codemasters' Mark Turosz explained that players will "hear other drivers talking about him," and that "he's the central figure in the narrative." Rarely do video games dabble in real-life tragedies -- though it looks like Codemasters is handling it with a refreshing touch of class. %Gallery-45501%
E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup
E3 was brütal! If you blinked, for a split/second, you missed something. Even if you were trine to keep up, it was a blur -- staying a.wake like that, you only pushed yourself to the brink of your own dark void. That's where Joystiq comes in; to crackdown on the madness; to reach out ... with conviction -- phew! Crysis averted. We've scoured the dark corners and survived the inferno to piece together this roundup of all things Xbox at E3. Why? Just 'cause we love you. So, draw nier and shift your eyes past the break.
