q3 2011
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COD: Black Ops 'Escalation' DLC bringing Hollywood's zombies to PS3 on June 10
Afte arriving exclusively on the Xbox 360 back in May (per previous agreements) and on PC yesterday, Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC "Escalation" is now getting the PS3 treatment on June 10. Beyond the four regular mutliplayer maps it adds, the much loved "Call of the Dead" level -- starring a quartet of movie stars -- is also included. Like the PC launch before it, when the DLC arrives on PlayStation 3 next week, it'll spark a double XP outbreak all weekend on PlayStation Network. No official pricing was given in the release date announcement, but we don't imagine it'll be magically less expensive than the $15 asking price on Xbox 360 and Steam. Update: An Activision rep confirmed to us that the PS3 release will be "consistent with previous Escalation pack pricing."
Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team is a twin-stick shooter
Warhammer 40K: Kill Team, revealed by the Australian Classification Board earlier this week, has been officially announced by THQ. Developed by the publisher's Digital Studios UK, which made Red Faction: Battlegrounds, it appears that Kill Team is the same sort of digitally distributed tie-in for a major release. In the case of Battlegrounds it was for the launch of Red Faction: Armageddon; this one ties into Space Marine. Kill Team is a $10 (800 MSP) twin-stick shooter with two-player "same screen" co-op (we're currently following up with THQ if it's both online and couch co-op). Players will have the option of four classes (two range, two melee) and six chapters of the Space Marines to choose from. Completing the game will unlock the "Power Sword" in the upcoming Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. Kill Team will be available in July, and Space Marine drops in September 6. %Gallery-125171%
The Witcher 2 casting spells on Xbox 360 by the end of 2011
During its "Summer Days" presentation in Los Angeles this afternoon, developer CD Projekt Red announced intentions to release critically acclaimed The Witcher 2 on Xbox 360 by the end of 2011. The confirmation comes after months of back-and-forth over the possibility of a console release, and hot off the bewitched heels of an ESRB rating for the game on Xbox 360. Little is known about how exactly the title's gameplay, not to mention its impressive graphics engine, will translate to 360, but we're sure to find out more in the coming weeks. We'll keep an eye ... er ... ear on the streaming press conference as well and update this story as it develops. Update: During the stage presentation, CD Projekt Red representatives pointed out that the Xbox 360 version will include all PC updates that have taken place since the game's launch. A teaser was also shown off (which we'll have for you soon), though no gameplay has been revealed as of yet -- it'll be shown off during E3. The reps also pointed out that the 360 version will look close or on par with the PC version, and also called it an "adaptation, not a port." Update 2: The teaser is now live after the break!
Otomedius Excellent out July 19, includes optional pillowcase
Hey, you know how you've been shopping for a pillowcase with pictures of girls in spaceship suits? Well, we can finally tell you where to find one, and it includes an Xbox 360 shooting game as a bonus. One day before its pre-E3 event (which would have been the perfect time to announce something like this), Konami announced that Otomedius Excellent, its Gradius-esque anime-girl shmup, will be out in North America on July 19. It'll be available on disc in either a $29.99 version, or a $49.99 Special Edition which includes an art book, soundtrack, and the aforementioned home decor item, a " 2-sided pillowcase featuring the girls of Otomedius." Check out the full-sized boxart after the break. If you're immediately humiliated, you're not ready for the pillowcase.
Now hear this: Sony's wireless PS3 stereo headset arrives in September
If you've found the official PlayStation 3 Bluetooth headset a little too monaural (or small) for your liking, listen to this. Sony will be releasing the PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset this September, offering one more audio channel and a much larger, over-the-ear form factor for a cool $100. It's not actually a Bluetooth device -- the headset comes with a USB dongle needed to make it work, so getting that USB hub you've been thinking about would be a good idea if you want these cans. In addition to delivering "virtual" 7.1 surround sound and a fold-away boom mic, the rather hefty-looking accessory appears to include a PS2 Slim console over either ear. Weird, right?
Shinobi 3DS emerging from the shadows this September
You heard about its existence earlier this week, and Nintendo Power took the liberty of confirming the title yesterday, but today Sega officially-officially unveiled the 3DS relaunch of the Shinobi series. Shinobi is a mix of original 2D side-scrolling gameplay with -- you guessed it! -- 3D occasionally mixed in. This fall's 3DS title will follow Jiro Musashi, progenitor to the original game's main character, as he "becomes a true ninja legend" in the only way he knows how: "by mastering a brand new combo system switching between melee, ranged, and acrobatic attacks." The true ninja way! Beyond announcing a September 2011 release window for Shinobi, Sega sent over a mess of new screens and a trailer with gameplay, which we've dropped after the break. Be careful to watch for shurikens as you sneak past the guards!%Gallery-124532%
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath inhabits PS3 this summer
Assuming the PlayStation Store is up and running by then, Oddworld Inhabitants plans to release the HD remake of the fantasy-themed third-person shooter Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath on PS3 this summer. Other platforms weren't explicitly mentioned in the latest press release, but developer Just Add Water has previously expressed interest in patching the existing PC version with the PS3 remake's improvements. Oddworld Inhabitants also re-confirmed its intention to release Munch's Oddysee on PSN in the fall. Last month, it pinpointed the PS3 release of the Xbox launch title for October.
DeathSpank: The Baconing is the third entry in the DeathSpank series, coming this summer
DeathSpank's run-ins with the evils of thongs are continuing this summer in a third DeathSpank game for Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and PC/Mac. Hothead revealed as much this afternoon, detailing DeathSpank: The Baconing as the final chapter in DeathSpank's quest "to once and for all destroy the evil power of thongs." The dev studio tells Kotaku that The Baconing will be "more satisfying to play than last year's games," with a handful of new areas to explore, a brand new sidekick named "Bob from Marketing," and a quartet of new bosses to battle. Hothead also promises gamers will feel "more in control" of DeathSpank's moveset with an overhauled combat system. As Ron Gilbert is no longer with Hothead, this will be the first game in the series he created to not have him at its helm. And other than the teaser logo shown off in a video clip (found after the break), Hothead has yet to release any visuals for this summer's game. But given that we're wearing shorts even here in the USA's usually frozen Northeast, we imagine those assets aren't far off.
No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise coming August 16 to North America
No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise is cutting a bloody path to North America for an August 16 launch. The PlayStation Move-enabled title will be available tomorrow in Europe; a non-Move version with the same title hit Japan last year. Konami reiterated that the upcoming No More Heroes: Red Zone for Japan simply adds Move support and is the same game as the Western version of Heroes' Paradise.%Gallery-112530%
Brink getting free DLC in June; 360 matchmaking update now live
After launching Brink to mixed reviews, Splash Damage and Bethesda are refining the class-based multiplayer shooter with updates and add-ons. Writing on the Bethesda blog yesterday, a rep from the two companies revealed that the game's first downloadable add-on -- comprising additional maps and other "new content" -- will be available for free at an unspecified date in June. Additionally, a Brink configuration update has gone live on Xbox 360 (no download required). It will cap the number of human players when matchmaking in "Campaign" and "Freeplay" modes, allowing for a maximum of eight online players. Splash Damage believes this will lead to better connections between players and reduce instances of lag. By default, this will eliminate 8v8 matches, but "for players who haven't been [experiencing] lag, we'll still support 8v8 on all maps via a new 'Big Teams' configuration in Freeplay, and through custom settings in Private matches." Meanwhile, the PC version of Brink has gotten a full patch containing several fixes, many of which were already included on the day-one patch sent out to consoles. The matchmaking update will be available on PS3 as soon as Sony's online network is restored. [Thanks, Ryan]
Jeremy McGrath's Offroad and on PSN, XBLA this summer
We think the title of developer 2XL Games' upcoming racer is supposed to be parsed as "'Offroad' endorsed by Jeremy McGrath," but we can't stop reading it as a statement of fact: "Jeremy McGrath is Offroad." And the errant Supercross champ and his game are heading straight to PSN and XBLA, this summer, in a game published by D3. 2XL, made up of Rainbow Studios expats, has a background of working almost exclusively on motocross and offroad racing games, including Baja: Edge of Control, 2XL Supercross, and Ricky Carmichael's Motocross Matchup. Also, Cars: The Video Game. Specifics about Jeremy McGrath's Offroad will be revealed at -- not E3, but the Lucas Oil Off-road Racing Series event, in San Bernardino, CA on May 21 and 22.
Dragon Quest 1, 2, and 3 collected on a Wii disc
Square Enix saw the success of the Super Mario All-Stars limited edition, and has decided to mark Dragon Quest's 25th anniversary in much the same way, with a Wii disc loaded with unaltered old games. The Dragon Quest 25th Anniversary Famicom & Super Famicom Dragon Quest I, II, III collection (that's the title!) shows more interest in completeness than Nintendo's set, however, packing the Famicom (NES) versions of Dragon Quest I, II, and III, along with the updated Super Famicom (Super NES) versions of the Dragon Quest I & II cartridge and Dragon Quest III, in a single package. It's slated for release this September in Japan. Technically, translations for all three games exist, since all three were released in North America on the NES. However, given that they were NES-era translations, some freshening of the text would probably be required before releasing them these days.
FIFA Soccer 12 for 3DS finally shows street soccer in 3D
The 3DS is about to get its second soccer title, with the fall release of FIFA Soccer 12. In addition to the normal professional sports simulation, the new title will also simulate street soccer -- played with nothing more than a ball, a perfectly rounded street surface, and you. The new 3DS FIFA game features "all-new optional touch screen controls," allowing players to pick the destination for the ball and even control the trajectory of their shots by drawing lines. "Over 500 officially licensed clubs" will be available in Career, Tournament, and other modes. That sounds like a lot of clubs! However, if you prefer to see yourself in three simulated dimensions, you can create a player for the curved-pitch 3D Street Soccer mode, and take that player through the FIFA ranks in "Be a Pro" mode. Perhaps most excitingly you'll be able to play online, a feature that is still frustratingly rare in 3DS games.%Gallery-123212%
Guardian Heroes remastered for XBLA this fall
If you've been intensely monitoring eBay, hoping to nab a factory-sealed copy of Treasure's rare Sega Saturn beat-'em-up, Guardian Heroes, it's time to relax. Sega revealed this morning that it intends to release the game for Xbox Live Arcade sometime "this fall," with flashier 2D visuals (HD!) and online play (both co-op and battle modes). And it won't cost upwards of $50 to get it, unlike that eBay auction you've been eying. (Our condolences to the sellers, though!) "Players have been clamoring for this treasured favorite from the Saturn days, and we cannot wait to show them what we have got for them," Sega VP of digital business Haruki Satomi noted in the announcement, calling the fan response to previous Dreamcast re-releases "overwhelming." So overwhelming, in fact, that Sega had to step back to an older console.
DS and Wii go back to Sesame Street in Ready, Set, Grover!
(Warning: there's a monster at the end of this post.) Warner Bros. is continuing to get mileage out of its Sesame Street license, announcing a new fitness-themed game for Wii and DS. Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Grover! is a set of exercises designed by Grover himself, "to help his Sesame Street friends get up and go!" Kids will be able to row, jump, and play "Grover Says" along with Elmo and Abby. The Wii version comes with a Grover version of the Sesame Street Wiimote covers introduced last year, which covers all unnecessary buttons. And the DS version includes a "jumbo click stylus." The games are designed to be playable by toddlers on their own, but they also include a "Parent's Page" so parents can see what the little ones did. The Griptonite-developed games will be out this summer.%Gallery-122808%
Catherine Deluxe Edition delivered in a pizza box, topped with underwear
When the marketing team at Atlus sat down to evaluate Catherine, the company's creepy concoction of nightmarish puzzle realms and adult relationships, it established what needed to be done in order to make the game stand out amongst the year's other offerings: absolutely nothing. But if you're Atlus, lasciviousness is no excuse to omit lavish special editions! The "Love is Over Deluxe Edition" of Catherine is delivered in a "Stray Sheep" pizza box, fresh from the haunt frequented by in-game boy toy Vincent. In addition to the game, on either Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, the special package contains a Catherine pillowcase, a large shirt depicting a depleted heart gauge, and Vincent's boxers. (Not boxers with pictures of Vincent on them -- Vincent's dotted underwear that he removed and sent to you.) The "Love is Over Deluxe Edition" will set you back $79.99 and will be available only in limited quantities. Pre-orders for both the regular edition and special release incur further bonuses in the form of the Atlus-obligatory 11-track music CD and a 36-page Catherine art book. If you're already envisioning your perfect evening -- lying on that pillowcase in your new shirt and boxers, listening to the soundtrack while you flip through the art book -- you might need to take your relationship with Catherine down just a notch. We You have until July 26 to modify and/or hide your obsession.
Cave Story 3D dated once again, coming August 9
We saw one Cave Story 3D release date before, on Nintendo's quarterly release schedule, but that turns out to have been inaccurate -- or the game has been delayed since then. In any case, scratch out the "Cave Story day!!!" note you put on your calendar's June 19 box and rewrite it under August 9. NIS will release the game in Europe sometime in September. Along with announcing the date, NIS America released the box art image above, featuring protagonists Quote and Curly Brace checking out the 3DS logo on the side. The publisher also released a set of screenshots, each with a note that the game is "under development."%Gallery-122526%
Jurassic Park delayed to fall on PC, pre-orderers get free game
Dinosaurs are usually known for their timeliness -- think of people being referred to as "dinosaurs" when they're ahead of the curve on trends -- but the dinosaurs of Telltale's Jurassic Park game aren't going to make their appointed release date. Telltale CEO Dan Conners sent an email out to people who had pre-ordered the adventure series, informing them that the PC and Mac release of the first episode would not occur in April as planned. "The game's mechanics and storytelling have come together in such a way that we see great potential," he said, "so much so that we feel we can push these elements to the next level if we spend some extra time working on them." That means that the PC and Mac releases will now take place simultaneously with the console versions this fall. In addition, Telltale is issuing full refunds to those who pre-ordered, and throwing in a free Telltale game of the user's choice. Can we put Telltale in charge of PSN customer service? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Super Meat Boy Ultra Edition coming to Europe and Australia
A recent press release published by video game distributor Lace Mamba Global is ... well, it's the best thing we've ever read. Imagine you've never heard of Super Meat Boy before, okay? It would seem like a pretty cut-and-dry announcement: "Lace Mamba Global is proud to announce that it is bringing the Ultra Edition of the independently developed gaming blockbuster Super Meat Boy to retail shelves in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, and the Benelux countries." Pretty normal stuff, right? The presser reveals a Q3 2011 release window, and mentions that the company will announce pricing details in the near future. Okay, makes sense so far. Then, with no preface, it drops this: "In the platforming game Super Meat Boy, people play a boy without skin. His girlfriend, who is made of bandages, gets kidnapped by a fetus in a tuxedo wearing a top hat and a monocle." Hey, press release? Don't try to sneak that in there like it's not the craziest sentence anyone's ever written, okay?
Child of Eden pushed back to September on PS3, will support Move
Just a few days ago, Ubisoft said Child of Eden was coming to PS3 on June 17 (in Europe). But don't go thanking your Heavenly Stars just yet -- it's now been bumped to September, according to a statement given to IGN. The Xbox 360 edition of Tetsuya Mizuguchi's synaesthe-tastic rail shooter is still on track for June 14 in North America. There is some good news to be found in the announcement, however. Ubisoft also confirmed that the PS3 version of the game is "expected" to support PlayStation Move controls, so PS3 users will be able to join in on the waving.
