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Check out Nintendo's booth at Leipzig
For those of us who weren't able to get ourselves out to Germany and be a part of the Leipzig show, it's nice to get a tour of Nintendo's booth at the show through pictures. And, given what Nintendo said before entering the show, we wonder if their approach worked out for them. Either way, those hammocks look comfy, so we're sure a few tired souls ended up hanging about.
Leipzig is crazy for Mario & Sonic at the Olympics
It's no surprise that the new Mario game took "Best Wii Game" at the Leipzig Game Convention. No, the other one. That's right, Mario & Sonic at the Olympics beat Super Mario Galaxy in the eyes of the jury. According to the statement released with the list of awards, "Mario and Sonic manage to translate Olympic disciplines into easily mastered, entertaining games fun." Not having played either, we suppose we should trust their judgment. But, on the other hand, what?In somewhat less mind-boggling news, the Wii Balance Board was named the "Best Hardware Accessory." The jury said "Having already converted the remote control into a controller, the manufacturer now turns scales into a games accessory."
Blizzard interviews Nihilum at Leipzig
In the last four days, we've reported on interviews with Lead Designer Jeff Kaplan at the European Game Conference going on currently in Leipzig, Germany. So far he has dropped many new bits of information about the Wrath of the Lich King and some new patch content coming before that. Turns out, Blizzard is reporting on its own activities at Leipzig on its official European page. In addition to the Wrath and Starcraft II demo stations, Blizzard hosted the demise of Illidan Stormrage. Uberguild Nihilum performed a Black Temple raid live at the Blizzard booth in front of 5,000 spectators. Afterwards, Blizzard gave away the keyboards signed by members of Nihilum to the crowd. Blizzard also interviewed the guild. You can read it here.With the convention wrapping up today, we'll have to start looking elsewhere for more news on the upcoming expansion.
Two Blizzard inverviews from Leipzig now on video
Yesterday, new Wrath of the Lich King information began trickling out of the Leipzig Game Convention in Germany. Journalists are lining up to talk to Blizzard and two of the interviews with Warcraft Lead Designer Jeff Kaplan can be viewed as video. First, we reported on German game site Buffed's interview with Jeff Kaplan that revealed more details of the new COT: Stratholme instance and an explanation of the Death Knight rune system. If you go to their page, scroll down past all that German and you'll find a video of the interview (in English!)Later in the day, we covered Curse Gaming's own interview with Kaplan that announced Utgarde Pinnacle, gave more detail on the new Inscription profession, revealed the plan behind the increased pre-60 leveling curve and explored the dev's thoughts about giving the Hunter class some PvP love. Now Curse has put up a video of the interview.Leipzig isn't over yet. Hopefully we'll have more revelations before the weekend is over.
Lean and peek at this new Killzone footage
Straight from Leipzig, the developers at Guerrilla demonstrated some of the gameplay features of the highly anticipated PS3 first person shooter, Killzone 2. While the game is mostly known for its graphics technology, gamers should be most curious about the way the game plays. Certainly, is the gameplay as advanced as the way it looks? Watch this new footage to see the cover and aiming system in work in this new video.
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LifeSigns resurfaces at GC
It's easy to forget about LifeSigns, since it seems to keep coming and going, but the medical sim showed a few signs of life in Leipzig, and the good folks at IGN got in a little hands-on time. All signs point to good, with heavy realism in the surgery department, and the same sort of ass-kickery we've come to expect from surgery games. Thank you, Trauma Center. At least in LifeSigns, players don't have to choose their own tools -- it's done automatically -- so that's one less step for us to screw up while we're sweating over someone's heart operation.The most recent word is that the game is for-really-real scheduled for October ... but since we've seen dates both in June and this very week slip past, we're not holding our breath. We just hope it comes out eventually.
European PSN updates for August 23rd
Come and get these downloads while they're hot. We're a bit late with this post so they've cooled down a bit, but nevertheless the following still requires your attention. In celebration of the Leipzig Games Convention Sony yesterday released a whole load of new stuff onto the European PSN. The full list is below, but we feel we must begin with a disclaimer; the Folklore demo will only be available until the end of August. Here's the full list of new content: Folklore demo (free) Heavenly Sword Anime episode 3 (free) Heavenly Sword Making-Of episode 3 (free) 3 Warhawk trailers (all free) PSN Software Showcase video (free) Heavenly Sword trailer (free) Snake Ball trailer (free) PlayStation Eye showcase video (free) Metal Gear Solid 4 demonstration video (free) Stranglehold trailer (free) Unreal Tournament 3 trailer (free) Reminder (We know how you people like to skip the blurb and jump straight to the list): The Folklore demo will be available only until the end of August. So go get it now!
Devil May Cry 4: new trailer, new gameplay
We're jealous of Jem. At this very moment, he's drowning in a sea of new and upcoming games that we can only dream of playing. Devil May Cry 4, we're certain, is one of those games. Capcom released a new trailer to the German masses, as if gamers around the world weren't excited quite enough. Watch it here, squeal, and then download it in HD for more fun.To see more mayhem and destruction, check out some new gameplay footage after the cut.
Umbrella Chronicles looks horrifying - in a good way
The look of the upcoming Resident Evil on-rails shooter, Umbrella Chronicles, has grown by leaps and bounds since we first started to see screenshots. The November release dates are fast approaching, so what we're seeing here is probably a lot of what we'll be seeing on our televisions once this hits shelves. We discussed opinions on this title back in April, and it seems like a good time to ask if you're now more (or hey, less, for the haters) excited about this one than you were back then. We've updated the gallery with the latest screens, and the dates embedded with the images allows you to compare shots and see how things have come along since we got our first glimpses of the title. There's also a new trailer tucked away after the break for your viewing pleasure. We just love all the new trailers that surface for game conferences![Top image found here, along with others!]%Gallery-3286%
Boss characters invade new Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer
[Update: New video has been added!]Wait ... haven't we seen this trailer before? Yes, the opening moments of this Leipzig-edition Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer starts exactly the same as the previous trailer. But just wait. Your patience will be rewarded ... with bosses. Giant metallic tentacled beasts roar as they take down opposing forces with ease. What's that chill we feel? Could it be fear ... or uncontrollable excitement?Watch the trailer after the cut.
Kojima talks Metal Gear Online, Xbox 360 and "The Rumble Guy"
After his Leipzig presentation, Hideo Kojima took some time to answer some questions from the audience. When asked if Metal Gear Online will be separate from the main MGS4 game, he answered: "When you play story mode you will be able to go online and it will have extra stuff at the end. Haven't decided whether it will be separate or not, but if you buy MGS4 you can play a portion of online at least."When asked about rumble, Kojima-san told a tale of woe: "In Kojima Productions there is a man, we call him The Rumble Guy, and he has nothing to do right now. So every day I worry about him. I want to include Rumble so that he has something to do." Please Sony! Give The Rumble Guy something to do!Finally, when asked about a 360 version, he reconfirmed what we knew all along: "Right now it's only being made for PS3. No plans for 360 for now." For the complete Q&A, visit Joystiq.
LGC07: Rabbids attempt to invade Leipzig ... again
The Rabbid site brings us another gem of quick humor as the Rabbids attempt to get into the Leipzig Games Convention. Ubisoft already has the Rayman: Raving Rabbids sequel all locked and loaded for later this year. If the Rabbids continue to bring Ubisoft even more financial success, we hope that they spin-off into their own demonic-bunny platformer game and ditch Rayman -- or, at least, get top billing in the next title. If you missed the Rabbids attempt to break into the conference last year, you can find that after the break. Be sure to check out the Rabbid website for more clips and pics of the crazy Rabbids as they fumble their way to world domination and attempt to assimilate into our planet.[Via Game|Life]
New Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles trailer released at Leipzig
The Leipzig Games Convention keeps pouring on the goodies, this time in the form of a brand new trailer for Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles from Konami. It's a pretty slick trailer, showing off a ton of different aspects of the game. You see both playable characters, a huge range of different environments and quite a few boss battles. Also you get to see some of the nice in-game cutscenes, which are looking pretty sharp. Castevania ships out on October 24th, just in time for some Halloween vampire killing fun.
New footage of Gran Turismo 5's cockpit view
Slowly but surely, interesting morsels of information are streaming out of Leipzig. Here, Jeux-France managed to capture some new video of Gran Turismo 5. Over four minutes of glorious real-time gameplay to feast on. We could say things like "that looks great!" But, we think you're more than capable of making that judgment yourself. [Thanks, Stefan Torestam! Via N4G]
Go! Video Download Service lets PSP owners buy videos through PC or Wi-Fi
The Go! Video Download Service will launch in early 2008, and will be the first official PSP video download service in Europe. Users will not only be able to access Sky's content, which includes sports, entertainment, movies, music and animation -- they'll also have access to third-party channels and content. This is the first time Sky has offered video content through a non-Sky branded service.Additional pay-per-view services will be provided for new release movies and high profile sporting events. Users will not only be able to download the content from a PC, but they'll be able to download directly to their PSP systems through wi-fi. "Both truly mobile and with a best in class high-quality screen, PSP delivers a great on-the-move video experience. Working with such a well known content brand, we will be able to offer PSP owners access to the best in cross-genre Sky content, available through the first official video download service. This really will make PSP the standout all-in-one portable gaming, video and music device", commented David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. [Update: Kotaku has confirmed that this service is unlikely to ever come to America. "There is nothing really nationwide in the U.S. that delivers video content over the air by subscription. So, until that happens we won't be seeing that in the U.S."]
PlayTV brings HD DVR features to European PS3 systems
In Leipzig today, SCEE announced PlayTV, a TV tuner and personal video recorder (PVR) for the PS3. PlayTV will be available in UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain early in 2008, with other PAL territories to follow in the future. [Update: Kotaku has confirmed that the service is unlikely to come to America. "The problem with the DVR is that the U.S. doesn't have terrestrial digital television yet, so while some cities like San Diego have it not nearly support in the U.S. to make it worth the effort for Sony. When that changes, and it will, Sony will be on the ball, Harrison said."]PlayTV will allow users to watch, pause and record live TV. PlayTV can also record individual shows, or entire series to the PS3 hard drive. The videos can then be watched from the PS3, or can be transferred to the PSP to watch on the go. PlayTV will provide a 7-day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG2) utilizing the "widely available" DVB-T format.The peripheral will feature two TV tuners that are 1080p compatible, allowing users to view, record and play full HD television signals. Through the PlayStation Network, the program will be constantly updated, to improve the service and offer new functionality.See the full press release after the break.
PS3 becomes home to FIFA Interactive World Cup 2008
Do you have what it takes to be the world's best virtual football player? The FIFA Interactive World Cup begins this October, and the Grand Final will take place in the Sony Centre in Berlin next May. Players will be able to compete in one of twenty FIWC Qualifier Events around the world, or online through the PlayStation Network. Not only will players be vying for fame, but the grand prize winner will receive a cash prize of $20,000 USD. The FIWC will be open exclusively to PS3 players.Simon Rutter, VP Sales & Marketing for SCEE commented: "With the added realism that PS3 brings to FIFA 08, we have every belief that now is the time to truly make an impact with the FIFA Interactive World Cup, We're looking forward to PS3 fans helping to make the tournament every bit as iconic for gamers as the real FIFA World Cup is for football fans." While Xbox 360 enjoys a superior version of American football in Madden 2008, it appears that the rest of the world will enjoy a superior soccer game on PS3 through FIFA 2008. Which game of "football" will reign supreme? Registration for the FIWC opens today at www.FIFA.com/FIWC.
Go! Messenger brings IM, voice and video chat to PSP
Sony has officially unveiled PSP's upcoming VOIP service, to be called Go! Messenger. The program will be downloadable and installed into the XMB in a future firmware upgrade. Through it, PSP owners will be able to instant message each other using a "new and intuitive on-screen keyboard." By using a headset, users will be able to voice chat; and by using Go!Cam, video chat will also be enabled. "With Go!Messenger, PSP is pushing new boundaries, adding unique communication functionalities to all the existing multimedia experiences," said Stephane Hareau, PSP European Marketing Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. "Enabling more than 8.5 Million PSP users across the SCEE region to communicate with each other, through Video or Voice chat, truly confirms the always evolving nature and potential of PSP.'' The service has been developed in partnership with BT, one of the world's leading telecom providers. Sony plans on adding even more functionality to the PSP through Go!Explore and the Go! branded video download service. European PSP owners will have a lot to look forward to -- hopefully, SCEA will follow-up with its own American service.
EA finally makes sports game that (shock!) runs at 60fps on PS3
Maybe EA has finally learned the importance of the PS3 community. Maybe they finally tackled the challenges of developing for Sony's next-gen hardware. Or maybe EA wanted gamers to just shut up about the 60 fps debacle caused by Madden 2008. Whatever the reason, EA representatives were keen to make note that the upcoming FIFA 08 was, in fact, running at 60 fps on both the Xbox 360 and PS3. At Leipzig, the development team showed the game off on PS3, highlighting that the game wasn't sloppily ported for our platform. Rather, it was developed from the ground-up for both platforms. That's the way it always should've been, EA.
Video download service to be unveiled at Leipzig
Can you smell it? It's Leipzig Games Convention ...And finally, the PSP video download service will be unveiled. Yes! It'll be real! Considering how this will be a collaboration with sky, the service will most likely be for our European friends only. As previously mentioned, sky's programming includes hit shows like 24, Lost, The Simpsons, Deadwood, and more. Stay tuned for more details.[Thanks, Joel!]
