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Enslaved PS3 title update adding 5.1 surround sound for optical output
Shortly after Enslaved's launch we were informed that the game was only outputting stereo for those using optical audio output for surround sound on PS3. We were told by Namco today that it is currently working on a title update to support 5.1 sound output. A Namco rep tells Joystiq, "[The update] will be ready around the same time as the paid DLC, which will be available within the next couple of months. Details on that DLC will be announced soon." So, good news: patch incoming. Bad news: gonna take a while to fix. The game does currently support 5.1 surround via HDMI (provided you have the appropriate receiver).
Microscopic Pac-Man installation makes a play for the smallest part of your heart
"Cute" doesn't even begin to accurately describe it. Kotoro "dotimpact" Tanaka, a Japanese design professor, has been credited with designing what may actually be the world's smallest game of Pac-Man. The microscopic installation was recently showcased at the 30th anniversary Pac-Man exhibition, utilizing original Pac-Man hardware, a projector and a microscope in order to blow up a minuscule game of cat and ghost for human eyes to recognize. We're told that it's able to reflect its image through a mirror in order to produce a 1cm square image at a resolution of 1439 pixels per inch (PPI), and users are highly encouraged to screw with the zoom and focus controls in order to heighten the level of difficulty. So, dotimpact... how's about an on sale date?
Ninja Theory hasn't planned Enslaved sequel, but 'would like something to happen'
Following the completion of Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (and its release this week), Ninja Theory has turned to the next project on its plate, DmC: Devil May Cry. However, studio head Tameem Antoniades tells Eurogamer that an Enslaved sequel isn't entirely off the table. In fact, Antoniades says the studio has the "capacity to do two games." "The thinking from the beginning was not to assume there would be a sequel -- just to put everything into this game. It's a new IP, so let's not plan for a sequel because the chances are we'll only disappoint ourselves. So we mentally prepared for that -- we've not planned for a sequel. But if it gains some traction, I'd like to see something happen." Before there's any sequel talk, people will have to buy the game, of course. And Enslaved is going up against some stiff competition as the fall season ramps up; beginning this week with Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. But, hey, even if a sequel's ruled out, at least there will be DLC.
Enslaved review: A barrel of Monkey
It's embarrassing, but true: Every single reviewer tries to think of what they're going to say while they're playing a game. For me, it's like a mental first draft, constantly evolving as I play. "EFF THIS CRAP IT'S TOO HARD" gets struck through when I figure out what I'm doing wrong, and hilarious jokes I come up with about the main character's haircut become more refined as I go along. As I sat down to write my review for Enslaved though, I realized that my brain had been so captivated, so entranced by the adventures of the brutish loner Monkey, that my mental slate was entirely blank. And that's saying something, because he's got one really stupid haircut.
PSA: Enslaved, Gothic 4 demos released on Xbox Live Marketplace
As foreseen yesterday by the Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Twitter account, Xbox Live Gold members now have access to the game's previously PSN-exclusive demo. Additionally, Major Nelson points out that Arcania: Gothic 4 also got a demo. That means killing robots with a giant baton in the post-post-post apocalypse and exploring the unknown depths of the Southern Islands are just two downloads away! Click through for each below. Xbox.com: Add the Enslaved: Odyssey to the West demo to your Xbox 360 download queue Xbox.com: Add the Arcania: Gothic 4 demo to your Xbox 360 download queue
Pac-Man reenacted by humans in stop motion masterpiece
What's it with Pac-Man and awesomeness these days? First Google, now this? As the story goes, PAC-MAN is the fifth video performance of the GAME OVER Project, put on by the French-Swiss artist Guillaume Reymond. The video -- which is embedded after the break -- shows a great many human bodies (111 to be exact) working together for over four hours in one of the most smile-inducing stop motion clips we've ever seen. Oh, and make sure your volume's up -- the experience just isn't complete without man made blips and bloops. [Thanks, Matt]
Namco talks Game Center
It's funny -- right in the middle of all of the fervor during the Game Center launch this week, the first company to the fore didn't happen to be one of these big new startups that's making headway in iPhone gaming. It turned out to be Namco, as one of the oldest brands around, Ms. Pac-Man, became the first title on the App Store to support Game Center. Now, of course, there are a few more games that support Apple's service (and more every day), but Macworld has a great look at what's coming next from Namco. Turns out Namco's planning to go all-in on both iPhone and Game Center -- in addition to bringing a sequel to the Time Crisis on-rails shooter, it will bring a hidden object, ghost-catching game called Mishap; Gaijin Games' great Bit Trip HD (already a hit on Nintendo's WiiWare); and of course Puzzle Quest 2 very soon. There's no official release dates or prices yet, but all of those should be out in the next few weeks. With full Game Center integration, there will be plenty of achievement-chasing and leaderboard competition to be had, no doubt. We'll look forward to all of those releases soon.
Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi leaves Namco
King of all kings of the cosmos -- Katamari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy creator Keita Takahashi -- is leaving Namco, reports Play.tm. A Namco representative confirmed Takahashi's resignation. The developer expressed his dissatisfaction in the past with developing for the Japanese publisher, even saying he was disappointed with the support he received for Noby Noby Boy. He's also expressed interest in branching out to other careers, telling the BBC in 2005, "In 10 years time, I am not going to be making games any more." More recently, he got to work on plans for a playground in Nottingham, UK. [Image credit: jontintinjordan]
The Pac-Man Dossier just might cure your Pac-Man fever
Sure, you've played countless hours of Pac-Man and seen the game spawn endless products (official and otherwise), but have you ever taken the time to really think about Pac-Man? Jamey Pittman has -- a lot -- and the end result is The Pac-Man Dossier, which Pittman describes as "most complete and detailed study of the game." While the dossier has been around for a while, we feel we'd be remiss if we didn't do our part to help bring the scholarly work to a wider audience -- after all, where else can you not only learn about tricks like the ghost pass-through and secret 256th level, but literally have the game broken down pixel by pixel? Trust us, you'll never look at Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde the same way again.
Namco wants Enslaved 'to stand out amongst the crowd,' will actually market it
Namco-Bandai is banking quite a bit on Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, the action-adventure game from Ninja Theory -- at least, in Europe. MCV reports that Namco-Bandai has revealed it'll back the game with a massive marketing campaign leading up to its October launch, one that will even eclipse marketing efforts for the studio's previous big AAA release, Tekken 6. Big deal, thy name is Enslaved. "We really want this title to stand out amongst the crowd as not just a brilliant gaming experience, but also as one of the greatest stories told within an interactive universe -- if it doesn't win awards then I'm going to eat my joypad," said PR and marketing manager Lee Kirton. Frankly, we don't know why he thinks eating joypads is a bad thing. How else are you supposed to get your daily allotment of plastics and dyes? "Enslaved really is the cream of British talent uniting for an epic video gaming experience. Ninja Theory is a truly brilliant studio that has done a remarkable job creating a totally believable story in this futuristic post-apocalyptic world," he added. Despite Kirton's confidence in the game, it's certainly got its work cut out for it, what with Dead Rising 2 and Halo: Reach launching in September and a little game called Call of Duty: Black Ops following in November. But, hey, if there's anything that can get it done, it's teamwork -- Enslaved's got that in spades.
Knights Contract seems really, really dangerous
We're all for super tough, magical knights with transforming sword/scythe weapons. Snarling 15-foot beasts, though? Not so much. The latest trailer for Knights Contract features both. This could pose a problem for us, juxtaposing two things that we, respectively, like and despise. When we saw the magical knights brutally murder a handful of the beasts ... we'll be honest: it made us feel a lot better. Hopefully you'll click past the break and it'll have the same effect on you.%Gallery-99725%
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 isn't short on characters
Naruto games tend to be on the gorgeous side of things, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 looks to be another visually impressive entry in the franchise. And that attractiveness won't be lacking for applications, as the game features "over 40" playable characters, evidenced by its latest trailer from Gamescom. If you were looking for a Naruto trailer with, like, dozens of combinations of characters fighting each other, this is the one for you. If not, well, maybe this Dragonball: Raging Blast 2 trailer is more up your alley? We're doing the best we can here, folks.%Gallery-99730%
Latest Splatterhouse trailer shows off retro roots, machetes them
The strangest concept for us about this fall's Splatterhouse re-imagining is the departure it takes from the series' 16-bit origins. Oddly, the latest trailer features a mashup of the original game with the new one, spliced with music from the original. We'll be honest -- it's pretty confusing. That, however, is significantly less of an issue than one of the screenshots Namco sent along with the new trailer. It's ... well, let's just say it's probably not the safest image for your boss to see. Or anyone, really. Actually, you know what? Maybe just stick with the trailer for now. Besides, you probably don't have enough Tide in your house to get out the stains left by this screen. We sure didn't.%Gallery-99731%
Swag Saturday: Clash of the Titans (360) [update]
Update: We've closed the comments and will be contacting a winner shortly. Thanks for commenting! Unless you're a big Madden fan, there's still a few weeks before the deluge of holiday releases begins and we're all swept away in its overabundance. It's the perfect time to pick up a title that might fall by the wayside in the next month or so -- say, like this week's Swag Saturday giveaway, Clash of the Titans. Sure, Justin probably wouldn't agree that anyone should spend time with it, but, well, it's free! How can you say no? Drop a comment below with your favorite character from the 1981 film for a chance to win -- and keep an eye on your commenter-tied inbox! You should probably also watch out for the Kraken. He is, after all, right behind you. To enter this giveaway: Leave a comment with your favorite character from the 1981 film. You must be 13 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec). Limit 1 entry per person. This entry period ends at 7:01PM ET on Sunday, August 7. At that time, we will randomly select one winner to receive a copy of Clash of the Titans (Xbox 360) (ARV $60). For a list of complete rules, click here. What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.
Tales of Graces coming to PS3, new Tales game revealed
Tales of Graces and a new, currently unnamed Tales of title are on the way to PlayStation 3, according to info leaked from Japanese mag Jump (translated by Andriasang). Tales of Graces F will be the second entry in Namco Bandai's popular RPG series to ditch platform exclusivity before undergoing enhancement for PS3. The formerly Wii-exclusive title will get a facelift and some added features before it debuts in Japan this winter (possibly to the sound of snapping game discs). Namco has also revealed plans to release Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 3 on PSP sometime in 2011. We'll let you know as soon as the publisher shares its plans for North America and Europe. Update: Namco currently has no plans to release "Tales of Graces (PS3)" in North America.
Street Fighter X Tekken two years out according to producer
Street Fighter IV producer Yoshinori Ono expects Street Fighter X Tekken to be released in two years, with the Capcom-developed fighter debuting first in the proposed two-game deal. Speaking to Famitsu (via Andriasang), Ono added that Tekken X Street Fighter, under development at Namco Bandai with long-time franchise producer Katsuhiro Harada, is being developed completely separately -- and the two teams aren't actively sharing information. Are they locked in battle, trying to see who'll make the better game? Place your bets now, ladies and gentlemen. Ono claims the next major announcement for the crossover won't occur until Capcom's Captivate conference, which will likely be held next April. In the meantime, check out the SFXT reveal at Comic-Con after the break -- along with some serious hootin' and hollerin'.
Preview: Pac-Man Party
Did you know that, before the driving force of Pac-Man was named "pellets," the items were called "cookies?" I didn't either, but that's exactly what a Namco rep told me while showing off upcoming Wii minigame collection Pac-Man Party. She did this, you see, because that's what Pac-Man (and his nebulous cohorts) spend a lot of time chasing. Cookies. Also, not a single "power cookie" in sight. Madness! Unfortunately, Pac-Man Party isn't quite as exciting as that tidbit of trivia. In fact, it's downright awful (at least the bit I played of it was). At a recent press event in NYC, I played through some of the game's party mode with the aforementioned Namco rep. We were first asked which character from the Pac-Man universe we'd like to choose. Wait, there's a Pac-Man "universe?" Isn't it just ghosts and Mr./Ms. Pac-Man?%Gallery-97630%
Idolmaster 2 announced for Xbox 360, coming in 2011
There have been nearly half a dozen Idolmaster titles in the past five years. But, it looks like the franchise is finally ready to jump to the big number 2. Andriasang reports that a new Idolmaster for Xbox 360 -- Idolmaster 2 -- will be coming your way in 2011. A new trailer (which we sat through in public for you) was also released via the game's official website. Apparently, this time around, players will be tasked with turning three Idols into national hits. Characters from the first Idolmaster, as well as characters from Idolmaster SP and a couple new Idols, will be making up the game's roster, and everyone is said to have aged by one year. Little else is known about the sequel at the moment, but if you want to sing along to some bubblegum J-Pop, click past the break.%Gallery-96832%
Time Crisis: Razing Storm trailer shoots up your browser
During Sony's E3 keynote, a new Time Crisis game was revealed in Time Crisis: Razing Storm. As you can see in the trailer past the break, Razing Storm features a lot of the same stuff you've come to expect from the franchise: you shoot dudes and you shoot furniture. Frankly, we think there are better ways to evict tenants and remodel homes, but maybe that's just us. The game's first trailer also takes time to highlight its PlayStation Move support, eight player online functionality and two included extras: Time Crisis 4 and Deadstorm Pirates. Shoot your way past the break and check it all out!
Pac-Man Championship Edition coming to PSP and PS3
The hypnotic charms of Pac-Man: Championship Edition are being packed into a downloadable Mini for PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3. According to a Namco representative, the Mini should become available sometime this fall. Barring a delay, it would arrive alongside the new game in the series, Pac-Man: Championship Edition DX, which is slated for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. We got a chance to play the PSP game at a Pac-Man 30th Anniversary event in Los Angeles and found it to be identical to the XBLA version, right down to the in-game trophies. The d-pad certainly gives this handheld version the edge, and the colorful visuals look great on the PSP's screen. It should be a perfect distraction during your dull train commute, provided you don't mind missing your stop. And the next one. And the next one. And just one more.
