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Free Ninja Blade, Superstars V8 and more from Green Man Gaming this weekend
Green Man Gaming is offering a few free PC games this weekend. Starting at 7am Eastern every day from this Friday through Monday, a different game will be free for 24 hours. The first free game will be Zombies. on Friday, followed by Ninja Blade on Saturday, Unstoppable Gorg on Sunday and Superstars V8 Next Challenge on Monday. All told, the offer is worth about 40 bucks.As you might expect, there is a catch – albeit a free catch. The first part is obvious: You'll need a Green Man Gaming account. You'll also have to sign up for Playfire, a service that tracks the games you play across multiple platforms (similar to Raptr). Finally, you'll have to link your GMG and Playfire accounts.Once that's done, you'll be able to nab each game for free as they become available over the weekend.
Engadget's recession antidote: win a copy of Ninja Blade for Xbox 360!
This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we've got a copy of Ninja Blade for Xbox 360 on offer. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff!The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) copy of Ninja Blade for Xbox 360. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Entries can be submitted until Wednesday, May, 20th, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here.
SXSW 2009: 'Funologists' and unorthodox research methods
In the panel "Funologists Live & In Person: Guerrilla Game Research," a group of experts took turns explaining methods for researching user experience in games that goes in some way beyond the normal focus groups and QA cycle. The often ad-hoc methods provide valuable data about gameplay at a fraction of the budget of most data gathering exercises. And sometimes they involve becoming a frog.
Ninja Blade demo takes giant spider warfare to XBLM
There's a new 473MB Ninja Blade demo available for download off the Xbox Live Marketplace and it's full of ninja stunts, button mashing sequences and a touch of Japanese-inspired content.To give everyone a taste of what Ninja Blade is all about, we recorded a short video of the demo's green tinted gameplay and embedded it above. An acrobatic ninja evading a ginormous arachnid, all while attempting to navigate skyscrapers: it's Japanese game development at its finest![Via Major Nelson]
Ninja Blade coming to U.S. April 7
The week before the tax filing deadline can be a stressful one, thanks in no small part to the incessant ads reminding you that Uncle Sam has unhinged his mighty jaw in anticipation of your financial offering and has begun to grow ... impatient. But you'll have a secret weapon this year, as you spend every day after April 7 -- the day Ninja Blade hits our stores -- cutting things to ribbons.Also, if you missed out on the region-free Japanese demo, an American one will arrive on Xbox Live March 9, just in case you're the sort who likes to file early.%Gallery-33964%
Ninja Blade released in Asia region-free and in English
When we heard back in December that the Japanese demo for Ninja Blade would feature both region-free access and English text, we never thought that these elements would carry through to the final build. Nope, never saw that one coming. Well, it did; the Asian retail version features English language options (among a slew of others) and it's region-free, making it also import-friendly.Without a confirmed release date for North America, importing Ninja Blade seems like a rather tempting option if you find yourself looking for more ninja action on the 360. It's also 10 bucks cheaper than what you'd get locally.
Video: Ninja Blade QTEs into your heart
What is this Ninja Blade Fanboy? Nah, it's just one of those days ... you'd think it was New Years Eve or something. Yesterday, GameTrailers threw up a few videos ripped from the Japan-exclusive demo of Ninja Blade and we thought we'd share. The opening cinematic starts with a transport plane flying high over the Tokyo skyline as a group of organized ninjas prepare to jump out and destroy some ancient evil. We've never been to Japan but we'll agree this is probably something that happens on a regular basis. For the rest of the Ninja Blade goodness, QTE yourself to GameTrailers.
Ninja Blade demo online, plays nice with all systems
Remember a few days ago when we said the Ninja Blade demo would make its way to the Japanese Marketplace? We're not saying we're magic or anything but as Picard would say, "Make it so." According to Major Nelson the Japan-only demo is now available on the JXBLM. For those keen on checking out the ninja-action, comments on Major's post claim the demo is both region-free and includes English text. Earlier in the month Japan was rewarded with an exclusive Resident Evil 5 demo that was originally region-free. Soon after realizing non-Japanese gamers had been downloading and playing the demo, new downloads of the demo outside of Japan were blocked and the online co-op was disabled. So, let's keep news about Ninja Blade on the DL okay? That means don't tell anyone you're downloading it and please do not post this information on the internet. Oh, wait. Crap.
Ninja Blade demo hits Japanese Live Marketplace, likes US systems
Major Nelson has made a not-so-subtle "psst!" post on his blog announcing – to a Western audience – that a demo version of From Software's Ninja Gaiden clone homage, Ninja Blade, has hit the Japanese Xbox Live Marketplace. In other words, if you have a Japanese Xbox Live account set up, make with the downloading.Comments on the Major's post indicate that the demo is both region-free and in English ... much like the Resident Evil 5 demo that recently went up on the Japanese XBLM, only to be region-locked after Capcom realized that – shockingly – people outside of Japan really wanted to try the game.%Gallery-33964%
Ninja Blade demo to land on Japanese XBLM soon
A picture is worth a thousand words but a demo could mean the difference in millions. From Software's upcoming ninja-blade-ing (not a real word) game, creatively named Ninja Blade, will see early life on the Japanese Xbox Live Marketplace in the form of a playable demo. Japanese gamers, and possibly others who have access to the Japanese Marketplace, will be treated to the demo on December 29. [via Kotaku]
Video: Six minutes of Ninja Blade action, ninjas with blades included
A few days ago a video containing six minutes of Ninja Blade action found its way online. The footage was so hot we had to let it cool down for a few days until we ... okay, you know what. We can't lie. It just slipped by. But hey, Ninja Blade is about two of our favorite things and we thought we'd share.Comments on the video call it Ninja Gaiden on steroids and while the action is intense it seems to include an awful lot of QTEz (Quick Time Events, the Z is in there to spice things up). Now, we don't have anything against QTEs but we'd rather actually play a game not play Simon with our controller while a movie is playing in the background. Maybe we're spoiled, who knows. One thing is certain, the ninja in the video totally runs down the side of a building and jacks a motorcycle in midair ... that's rad.
Avatar ninja-wear not included with Ninja Blade theme [update]
Update: We may have run into a mis-mistranslated problem. According to new reports, the Ninja Blade premium theme DOES NOT come with ninja Avatar clothing options. Insert sad face here:(original blog below)Even though we'll be receiving some free Avatar apparel in the weeks to come, we've always been keen to Microsoft's plan to monetize Avatars. Now, thanks to a lil' ninja game by the name of Ninja Blade, we finally have our first set of paid Avatar duds. Purchasable for 250 Microsoft points, the Ninja Blade (premium) theme can be purchased and not only comes with theme wallpapers and sets, but also five pieces of ninja clothing for your Avatar. That's right, you can dress your mini-me Avatar to look like a ninja or as we call 'em, a Ninjatar. Pro-tip: Don't expect priced Avatar goods to go away.
TGS 08: Ninja Blade cut from familiar cloth
"The main character is, as you can see, a ninja." We were quite pleased to have figured this part out on our own, shortly before From Software's Kazuhiro Hamatani laid down the pertinent facts in a pre-Tokyo Game Show presentation of Ninja Blade. Which, as you can see, is a "cinematic action game." For better or worse -- and it's better if Ninja Gaiden II failed to satisfy your unhealthy hankering for third-person kill-em-ups -- Ninja Blade appears to be almost exactly what you'd expect. We're not proponents of judging a game by its cover, but in this case, we're almost able to peer through to the back of the box and recite the bullet points: Cinematic Action Game (i.e. quick time events)! Ninjas (i.e. running on walls, being a badass)! Hideous enemies (i.e. giant spiders and bats)! Crazy Ninja Powers (i.e. bullet time and highlighted weak points)! Upgradeable Weapons (i.e. kill more to kill better)! Exotic Locations (i.e. monsters just won't leave Tokyo alone)! %Gallery-33964%
From Software unsheathes Ninja Blade for Xbox 360
With Tales of Vesperia hysteria winding down to hushed, library whispers, Microsoft is forced to look to the next great game to carry the Xbox 360 into the folded and largely apathetic arms of Japanese consumers. Otogi developer From Software is hoping to satisfy this need with its previously leaked and generically titled actioner, Ninja Blade. Set for release on Microsoft's console during early 2009, the game has very little to show for itself, outside of a teaser trailer featuring a Tokyo predictably beset by demons and a ninja wielding ... oh, we don't know, some sort of sharp and pointy thing. See for yourself after the break.
Rumor: Up to three dozen Team Ninja members leave with Itagaki, AND file lawsuits
Wait, you mean there's actually a rumor today that didn't come from the infamous survey? Yup, indeed there is. This one comes to us from the good folks over at 1up who have been keeping their collective ears to the ground for just this purpose. Apparently, when Tomonobu Itagaki left Tecmo for not receiving his bonus, key members of the team realized just how badly they'd been shafted, and left as well. So now the word is that they've all filed individual lawsuits of their own in response to not receiving their bonuses either. If Microsoft was smart they'd grab all these guys and give them a studio and game right away. Or maybe (despite what time and space may have to say about it) they already have ...
'Lips' and 'Ninja Blade' revealed, what are they?
Ready for round number three of the Microsoft Gamers Day 2008 leaks? Great! Thanks for being a sport. According to that same Microsoft press set that accidently posted all the MGD08 categories a bit early also posted two mysterious categories for games we haven't heard of. The two games in question are labeled as "Lips" and "Ninja Blade" ... so what could they be? No, really, we don't know. We're totally clueless and asking you your opinion on what they could be. Heck, we'll even start the guessing fun.We guess that "Lips" will turn out being an XBLA game where players administer beauty enhancing lip injections to plump up the lips of insecure, wannabe actors. And for "Ninja Blade", it's a simulation game where you have a blade, named Ninja, who you treat like a pet dog. Now it's your turn to guess ... get to it![Via Joystiq]
'Lips' and 'Ninja Blade' also revealed, speculate away!
This is the last Microsoft leak story we have to tell you about (at least for now), but it was too interesting to pass up. When one NeoGAF user discovered the treasure trove of data that confirmed both Scene It? 2 and Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise on a Microsoft press site, they also found listings for "Lips" and "Ninja Blade," presumably titles to be revealed at tomorrow's Microsoft Gamer's Day '08.So what could they be? That's the beautiful part: We have absolutely no idea. And as you know, when the internet isn't sure about something, the internet makes shit up. It's your Gore-given right, make sure you exercise it in the comments below with some rampant speculation.
