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Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! Rumored! For! US! Release!
Siliconera, like many other sites (including this one, now) is taking note of a particularly juicy rumor currently scurrying about in the air vents of the internet. It states that Nintendo has picked up the ridiculously frantic and exuberant music-and-rhythm game, Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! for a North American release. For the uninformed and importing depraved, it depicts the adventures of a motley group of cheerleaders parading about and encouraging people to succeed as they go about performing mundane tasks in their lives. Naturally, the game's concept and original name has passed through the butchering translation machine to produce Elite Agent Force. That doesn't sound generic at all.
Virtua Fighter 5 a PS3 exclusive
Sega has announced Virtua Fighter 5 exclusively for the PlayStation 3. The newest installment in the franchise will feature 15 returning fighters, along with two newcomers, Eileen (monkey kung-fu) and El Blaze (lucha libre). Sega did not confirm online multiplayer support, but did reveal a new game concept where players earn virtual currency for winning matches. The money can then be used to purchase goodies at an in-game shop, which will include costumes and "attachable items."Virtua Fighter 5 is due out next spring.
Joystiq t-shirts are hot and here
The team is sporting our o-fficial Joystiq t-shirts at E3 this week. (Also: good news for all of you who were lucky enough to pre-order a shirt before they sold out: the shirts ship to you today.) If you see any of us in the t-shirts, don't be shy. Come and say "Hi!" Don't worry, each of us has more than just one shirt -- you don't think we'd wear the same t-shirt five days in a row without washing?!?! Each team member actually has two each. (Don't do the math, we won't either.)
Xbox 360 HD DVD via USB, confirmed
Microsoft has officially revealed connectivity details about the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on. The accessory will connect via a USB cable, utilizing the Xbox 360's high definition video output and digital surround sound support. Microsoft did not reveal a price, instead opting for the ole' marketing spiel: "With HD DVD, it is now becoming evident that the entire ecosystem ... is more economical than Blu-ray." Ecosystem? Word?
Breakfast Topic: What do you want from E3?
Another year and another E3 is upon us. Of course E3 is a source for gaming news across the spectrum, but Blizzard and World of Warcraft will certainly have a presence. We've already been told to expect more information on upcoming raid dungeon Naxxramas and the new tier 3 armor set contained within, but I've no doubt that Blizzard is keeping some surprises up its sleeves. More news on the Burning Crusade expansion? New Alliance race information, perhaps? Hero classes? What do you hope for from Blizzard at E3 this year? Tell us about it!
Revolution Fanboy vs. E3: We're here!
It's true. Following a journey that lasted over 24 hours and was filled with in-your-face polite air hostesses, barely edible food and abrasive security officials, I've made it to sunny smoggy Los Angeles in the hopes of attending E3 without being killed or maimed in some way. If that endeavor proves to be successful, the Revolution Fanboy team will be able to provide as much E3 coverage as inhumanly possible. For now, behold some early pictures snapped of the Convention Center, all of them free of drooling geeks (at least for now).
Engadget at E3
Just in case you were concerned, we've landed safely in LA for a fanboy-filled week of E3 coverage. We've teamed up with Joystiq to bring you up to the second breaking news, keynote coverage, and in-depth interviews here on Engadget, and over at e3-2006.joystiq.com. Sony kicks off with the first "big three" keynote around 4PM tomorrow, followed by Nintendo and Microsoft on Tuesday around 11AM and 2PM respectively. Now is the time to call out your predictions for maximum cred potential. Our bets are all set for a Sony controller design reminiscent of the Wiimote, an "oh snap" HD DVD moment from Microsoft, and an open apology by Nintendo for the Wii moniker, but maybe that's just us.
Twilight Princess now Wiimote-controlled
The TIME Wii tell-all has confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will feature Wiimote-specific functionality. TIME, trippin' off a self-confessed Errol Flynn flashback -- now that's old school! -- got a chance to use the Wii controller to sword fight, aim a bow and arrow, and reel in a "stubborn virtual fish."While the details of the play-test were limited, the revelation suggests that Twilight Princess will play a major role in the Wii launch lineup. Twilight Princess is no longer a Wii-functional GameCube title. Uh-uh, Zelda just upgraded to next-gen status.
Sneak peek at E3, with pics!
Team Joystiq arrived at the promised land this afternoon ... geek mecca. First we got a sample of authentic SoCal cuisine: Jack in the Box then next step: E3. We found some parking and marched to the entrance. More pics inside ...
Room full of bloggers on shared EVDO
We're all crammed in a hotel room in the vicinity of E3. 12 bloggers getting ready to cover the heck out of E3 from every angle possible for the Joystiq tier of Weblogs, Inc. So, of course, the first thing I thought of when I arrived in the room was: I wonder how WoW will perform over an EVDO connection being shared over a Kyocera stompbox by a bunch of bloggers. The answer: Not totally horrible. The frame rate was shooting 17-20fps on my MacBook Pro with no noticeable lag during the minute or so I ran around the Crossroads with a good spattering of other players. In any case, check back over the coming days for more E3 goodness (Diablo III!?!?!).
Silent Hill: Origins poster at E3
Here's another snap from the pre-E3 LA Convention Center, this time of Silent Hill: Origins. Common sense dictates that this is simply an alternate title for the forthcoming PSP remake of the original game, titled Silent Hill: Original Sin. Rampant desire and unlikely to be fulfilled dreams, however, suggest that it's the name of the gloriously rendered PS3 version of Harry's twisted quest to find "a little girl with black hair" and his occasional run-ins with deranged cultists, meat monsters (with sewing machines for hands) and deserted wheelchairs. I can hope, right?It's great that the original game in an excellent series is being revisited, but I'm dubious of how well a portable platform will be able to reproduce the qualities of Silent Hill. Immersion may be difficult to pull off successfully in a handheld device, but given its video and audio capabilities, the PSP is likely to be the best choice for a survival horror title.
E3 security guard says watch out for nerds
Team Joystiq visited the Convention Center this afternoon upon arriving in Los Angeles. Vendors were slowly starting to put together kiosks, hang banners, and suspend digital screens so large they make your head spin. Only workers involved in the construction process are allowed on the actual floor for now, and everything is well guarded. I spoke with security personnel at one entrance door and the gentleman had this to say regarding show attendees: "Watch out for nerds."I took a quick self-assessment of my inner-game-nerdness and sheepishly walked away. Should be fun!
WarioWare with the Wiimote
TIME recently spent a "hot minute" with Wii's WarioWare. It's more of the same, that is, "manic five-second mini games ... [with] a zany, cartoonish, game- show bent," but now it's all controlled with the wiimote. Just imagine the (reinvented) possibilities: Swat flies Squat-thrusts (weightlifting) Turn a key in a lock Catch a fish Drive a car Sauté some vegetables Balance a broom on an outstretched hand Color in a circle Fence with a foil Dance the hula [Via Lexis-Nexis] See also: Time magazine previews Wii, Wario Ware, and Zelda: TP
Metal Gear Solid 4 -- final logo
After leaping over a fence, running frantically from security guards and dodging an intricate series of traps, the Joystiq team infiltrated the hallowed walls that house E3. Mysterious barriers and surly men barred us from progressing much farther, but we were able to sneakily snap some pictures of the banners and signs hanging about. Hovering over the Konami booth was this Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots logo, which demonstrates a departure from the previous design and a strange obsession with upside-down sevens. With Kojima having his hands on this title, we can only assume that there's a deeper meaning to be found here.Our guess: Snake will be battling an elite and mostly psychotic team of soldiers called the Seven Deadly Sims. They'll be post-modern virtual entities meant to illustrate how life has become a neo-classical pastiche and how technology is....yeah. We have no idea what it means. Expect Kojima to reveal the truth at the Konami press conference on Tuesday.
E3: The Gears of War mural [update 1]
The guy above is currently sketching a large mural for Xbox 360's Gears of War, currently on display at the E3 2006 show floor. So far, this has been the culmination of 10 hours total of hard labor, and he is contracted to finish by Thursday. We'll keep checking up on his progress so you can see his beautiful work come to life.Click below for more pictures.
Time magazine previews Wii, Wario Ware, and Zelda: TP
Time Magazine recently got their hands on Nintendo's next-gen console Wii for a full-featured article in the publication's upcoming issue (May 15, 2006). Though the article has yet to surface online or in print, some excerpts have surfaced via Lexis-Nexis and provide playable details for a new Wario Ware Wii, a tennis game, and Zelda: Twilight Princess control details.In regards to playing the above three mentioned games, the article had this to say: "It's a remarkable experience. Instead of passively playing the games, with the new controller you physically perform them... The sense of immersion--the illusion that you, personally, are projected into the game world--is powerful. And there's an instant party atmosphere in the room."We'll have our grubby hands on this thing in only two days... More to come.
Airports vending GBA, PSP portables
I took a 9:30 a.m. EST flight out of Atlanta this morning, en route to Los Angeles, and on the way to gate A17 I happened upon the latest in vending machine technology: the Zoom Shop. Using the touch screen to the right, one can purchase (with an accepted credit card) any number of little gadgets to enjoy on the flight: all styles of iPod and associated accessories, along with some gaming goodies care of a Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP ($79.99) and Sony PSP ($249.99). A convenience for sure, but there weren't any games to buy -- what a tease!
Call of Duty 3 announced; leak confirmed [update 1]
Call of Duty 3's just been confirmed, and it looks like we were right on the money with our early leak of the WWII-related game.Back in early March, we printed the following information (and a whole lot more) on the focus of an upcoming sequel: "'CoD 3' ... is being produced by Big Red One dev Treyarch. ... The next Call of Duty World War II-based title will return gamers to the battlefields of Normandy as the Allies take on Nazi Germany to drive them out of France once and for all. This time around, American and British forces are joined by Canadian troops, Polish tanks, and French freedom fighters in a reenactment of the bloody Normandy Breakout campaign spearheaded during the summer of 1944. In the push to Paris, you'll get to choose how you approach each mission, free of menu screens and jarring non-interactive cut-scenes."Here's what IGN quoted from Activision for the announcement yesterday: "Through the eyes of four Allied soldiers, Call of Duty 3 brings players closer to the fury of combat as they fight through the Normandy Breakout, the harrowing offensive that liberated Paris and changed the fate of the world. Developed by Treyarch, Call of Duty 3 is the follow up to the #1 next-generation game and is scheduled for a 2006 release." Fingering the developer and the setting? Not too shabby -- while Joystiq pats itself on the back.Check out the IGN trailer below for a first-person look somewhat reminiscent of the FPS sequence in the Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer from TGS. At the end of the "official E3 teaser" trailer, a number of platforms are listed, with the major manufacturers (including a small "Nintendo Revolution" in text) and publisher/developer combo listed. We suspect that versions for the PC and possibly the current-gen consoles will be covered with ports as well. Now all we have to do is wait for the word on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. (Infinity Ward, we're looking at you!) More info obviously hitting at E3.[Thanks, icemorebutts, jason, & Hiro Protagonist][Update 1: Had to fix a verb. Thanks, Hiro Protagonist, John Q, & Jiiiiihad!]See also: Official E3 teaser trailer for Call of Duty 3 Next Call of Duty leaked: Modern Warfare tackles terrorists Rumor: Call of Duty joining the Revolution Kojima interacts in real-time with MGS4 trailer at TGS
You knew it: Controller redesign next week
Coming straight from the "You knew it was coming" file here at PS3 Fanboy, UK-based site T3 is stating that the final controller for Sony's next-gen system will be revealed at their pre-E3 conference on Monday. The current controller, which has been compared to super heroes and fruit, was received with plenty a 'GASP!' and 'What the?!' when revealed last year. Considering that the PS2 has, arguably, the greatest controller in console gaming, hopefully Sony will adopt a "don't fix what ain't broke" strategy.
Tony Hawk coming to a PS3 near you
1up has posted 2 screenshots and have slapped an official title on the next Tony Hawk game that is destined to grace the PS3. Tony Hawk's Project 8 hasn't received any official announcement treatment from Activision yet, which is sure to change come E3, and the only information available through 1up is "continuing in the tradition of the original series, Underground and American Wasteland, the Tony Hawk series of skateboarding titles carries on."
