resident evil 5
Latest
Future Capcom titles hitting Steam day and date with retail; more RE5 DLC considered
Capcom's business and strategy VP Christian Svensson mentioned in a recent interview that the company plans to release future titles on Steam day and date with retail. ButtonBasher, following up on information provided in a recent Rock Paper Shotgun interview, discussed the topic of PC digital distribution and Svensson noted that Dark Void and Bionic Commando will be available on Steam at the same time as retail. The executive also noted that Capcom's western offices take digital distribution "very seriously."Svensson added that the company is "considering" more DLC for Resident Evil 5. He notes that "there's nothing to announce by any stretch," but that a request for DLC suggestions on the company forums created a thread that's "hundreds of posts long." That's not really shocking, considering fans are passionate enough to give their blood for RE swag.[Thanks, Jono]
Xbox Live Top 10: Halo 3 and the usual suspects
It's time to check in with the Xbox Live Top 10 again, and Major Nelson informs us folks were pretty much playing the same stuff they've always been playing last week. Snagging the top spot again was none other than Halo 3 (big surprise there), however folks set aside some time to head into the Wastes with a bit of Fallout 3 (thanks to Broken Steel, no doubt). Resident Evil 5 managed to hold onto last place, with the UFC 2009 Undisputed demo also being a hot item for gamers last week.On the XBLA side, people have been enjoying the colorful Space Invaders Extreme, as well as the usual amounts of Hasbro Family Game Night and Castle Crashers. Invading the list (rather surprisingly, we might add) in last place is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which we guess can be attributed to people needing a fix after seeing the new version.
Big franchises boost Capcom's net sales 10%
Capcom's financial report for fiscal year 2008 reveals that the company seems to have found a way to protect itself against the recession: sequels. Net sales for FY 2008 came to 91.8 million yen, up 10.6% from 2007, an increase that Capcom attributes to its massive franchise releases.Following the sales numbers, Capcom names the games that drove the growth. It refers to Resident Evil 5 as a "mega hit with the first shipment of over four million copies worldwide." According to the report, this game and Street Fighter IV "served as the sales growth engine overseas."In Japan, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite continued to sell throughout FY 2008, in high enough numbers that both MHFU and its lower-price re-release get separate mentions in the document. If it does well in North America, it could appear on a third year's financial report!
Street Fighter IV PC to be joined by Resident Evil 5, Bionic Commando
Capcom just sent a press release our way confirming that the GFW Live-compatible Street Fighter IV will be accompanied by two other big Capcom games on PC: Resident Evil 5 and Bionic Commando. July will see the release of Street Fighter IV and Bionic Commando, with Resident Evil 5 arriving sometime later this year, featuring support for NVIDIA's new GeForce 3D Vision technology. Considering that Street Fighter IV supports GWF Live, we're assuming the other titles will, but the press release makes no mention of it. It only cites the games are "optimized for the PC platform and will have new PC-specific features added." We've put in word to Capcom and will update you all as soon as we hear back.
Pulse: Resident Evil 5 and Family Guy top PSN downloads
What are PlayStation fans downloading these days? Resident Evil 5 tops the free game demos of 2009 so far, beating out the PS3-exclusive Killzone 2. What's up PS3 owners? You don't want to check out the best looking game on the system? Top 10 Game Demos of 2009 Resident Evil 5 Killzone 2 F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin Afro Samurai Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. Skate 2 Wanted: Weapons of Fate Watchmen: The End is Nigh The Lord of the Rings Conquest MLB 09 The Show Check out the top 10 TV shows after the break.
Secure an RE5 Progenitor Virus kit before it's too late
Do you worry about the onset of grotesque mutations caused by the Progenitor Virus? Sure, we all do. That's why it's important to have a Tricell Progenitor Virus Detection Kit in your home. These kits, available now from the Capcom Store, also provide suitable, though temporary, treatment for the condition known as "Not Having Enough Ridiculous Swag in Your House." Previous offers of life-saving swag from Capcom ran out of stock quickly, providing respite to only a few sufferers of the endless hunger for game-related chotchkes. And since Resident Evil 5 has turned out to be kind of popular, we expect supplies to run out for this item soon.[Via Capcom Unity]
Bionic Commando has Resident Evil 5 to thank for 'M' rating
Technically, the now-gen revival of Bionic Commando is rated "M" because of some violence and light language. But the reason that Capcom didn't trim that to go for a Teen rating is a bit more complex. MTV Multiplayer reports that the game was originally supposed to ship with a demo for the definitely M-rated Resident Evil 5.Plans changed and Bionic Commando ended up being released after RE5, and since it had already gotten an infusion of dirty words and blood, the rating stuck. Bad news for some, but good news for us who want one more reason to feel superior to 15-year-olds.
March NPD: Capcom wins at software while consoles drop
Not too much movement this month in terms of NPD hardware sales. Well, there's a systemic downward movement, but in the relative terms that everyone really cares about, nothing. All the consoles are in the same "rank" relative to one another as they were last week. April should prove a bit more tumultuous, with the PS2 price drop and the DSi launch. Consider this the calm before the (report about the previous month's) storm.-Wii: 601K152K (-20%)-DS: 563K25K (-4%)-Xbox 360: 330K61K (-16%)-PS3: 218K58K (-21%)-PSP: 168K31K (-16%)-PS2: 112K30K (-15%)In software, however, there is big news. Between the PS3 and 360, Resident Evil 5 sold a million and a half damn copies. The other big time winner: Pokemans, of course! NPD's software top ten: let us show you it after the break.
Godfather 2 whacks competition in UK, debuts at number 2
The UK likes its crime, apparently, as EA's Godfather II has managed to soar to the #2 spot on the region's sales charts. Sure, we've seen a few Guy Ritchie flicks in our life, but we're fairly surprised that you lot turned out in droves to check out the exploits of the Corleone family. The game even managed to topple Resident Evil 5 and Mario and Sonic at the Olympics, which we all know are like crack to the UK.Godfather II was not able to keep Wii Fit from the top spot this week, however. But, hey, the sky is still blue and the grass is still green, so what did you expect?
CAPTIVATE09 takes place in Monte Carlo, new game announcements imminent
In an effort to reach out to its fans in the Western European version of CAPTIVATE08's setting, Capcom announced details (via Capcom-Unity) this week about its "totally not a gamer's day" event, unironically titled CAPTIVATE09. Taking place in Monte Carlo, Monaco, the company says it's announcing "new games" at the event (emphasis on the "s" at the end there) -- an especially interesting statement to make considering Capcom's Chris Kramer said this week on the Giant Bombcast, "We are announcing at least two titles at E3." How many games are in development at Capcom right now that we don't know about?!Other items of note are new looks at Spyborgs (the "actually a game" game for Wii) and Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles. If you're one of the lucky few already chosen from the Capcommunity (see what we did there?) to attend, make sure to bring your jewel-encrusted Wiimote and blood-spattered Tricell messenger bag, so you don't look out of place. And send us tips!
Capcom insists RE5 Versus wasn't on the disc
Resident Evil 5 controversy -- much like a zombie -- refuses to die but Capcom says claims of charging gamers for on-disc content are false. Already taking shots for charging for content gamers expected in the retail release, Capcom was recently accused by IGN of charging for its Versus DLC, claiming the content was already on the disc. The controversy stems from the DLC's file size, which sits at a slim 1.8MB on Xbox 360 and 351KB for PS3. According to Capcom's VP of strategic planning and development, Christian Svensson, the file size is because all assets for the DLC are being pulled from the retail disc; however, the download itself is programming code that "does not exist on the disc." "Keys are 100K or less. It is not a key," Svensson replied to a forum thread regarding IGN's claim. We're not programmers but it sounds feasible for file size to remain slim for content that pulls all assets from the disc, but you're the consumer. Do you believe Capcom?[Via Siliconera]
Joystiq Review: Resident Evil 5 Versus Mode (DLC)
Many gamers didn't respond well -- it's an outrage! -- to Capcom's plan to offer Resident Evil 5's Versus Mode as post-release DLC. It's easy to see why: The new, premium gameplay modes have been released less than a month after the retail game. Should Capcom have waited a bit longer to unveil these new modes? Perhaps. But after a few hours of gameplay, we can see other reasons to cry foul.Versus Mode will be familiar to anyone that has played the bonus Mercenaries Mode included in RE5. The DLC is, essentially, a five dollar repackaging of Mercenaries, allowing players to forgo cooperation for deathmatch-style gameplay. It's a simple twist, and one that doesn't even provide the illusion of effort on Capcom's part. It's clear to us that Versus should (and could) have been part of the original retail package. Yet in spite of this shadiness, it's hard to deny that Versus is a fun mode, and, if you've already exhausted the disc's content, worth the five dollar asking price.%Gallery-47571%
History lesson: Why Biohazard is Resident Evil out West
If you're like us (lucky!), at times you've wondered while munching on green herbs why Capcom opted to rename Resident Evil from its original, if not equally silly sounding Japanese title, Biohazard. It turns out this is one scheme that can't be pinned on Albert Wesker. Capcom's Chris Kramer explained to GamesRadar that, as with so many conspiracies, it all came down to marketing. "In late 1994, Capcom Entertainment in the US was starting to ramp up marketing plans for the game," explained Kramer, who pointed out that while the company had settled on the name Biohazard for Japan, "it would be next to impossible for Capcom to register the name in the US." He called out a "crappy DOS-based game" and a New York-based punk band, both named 'Biohazard,' as potential hurdles to securing the title. "As a result," recalled Kramer, "the head of marketing held a company-wide contest to come up with a new name for the game."The winner, of course, was 'Resident Evil,' a groan-worthy pun given that the first game took place in a mansion. It's a title that Kramer himself voted against, calling it "super-cheesy." And now you know. And knowing is half the ... OH CRAP, BEHIND YOU!
Video: Resident Evil 5, now with more Muppets
Finally. Not a day goes by that we don't play Resident Evil 5 and think, "Man, this would be better with Muppets." Seemingly hearing our mental prayers, IGN and Black20 Studios have created Jim Henson's Resident Evil 5. It's pretty much exactly what you'd expect: Resident Evil 5 -- with Muppets. Of course, these aren't actual Muppets, but that doesn't really matter. If there's one thing Muppets have taught us over the years, it's how to pretend.Despite the silly premise, the video actually features pretty good zombie makeup and special effects, including some nice gunshot wounds. Also, we might prefer its cat-stroking, Bond villain version of Wesker to the whiny, pseudo-British one featured in the real Resident Evil 5. Check out the video after the break.
More Home content coming April 9
New content is bound for Home in America on April 9, including a Godfather II room from EA and an update to the Resident Evil 5 space. The Godfather II room will feature a sneak peek at the poker tables from the upcoming EA Sports Home space. It will be used to host a Celebrity Poker tournament which you can attend on the night of Thursday April 9. Just turn up at around 8pm EST dressed as your favorite celebrity and join in.The newly updated Resident Evil 5 space will also play host to an event on Thursday April 16, where players will be able to play with the game's developers and the Home community team in co-op mode. The event will take place between 6pm and 10pm EST and developers will jump in with anyone who has set up a game-launching session and they will stick around for an entire chapter, or 20 minutes. Whichever comes first.The updated Resident Evil 5 space will feature a new minigame and a souvenir shop where you can buy Chris and Sheva costumes. Home continues to upgrade and expand at a decent pace now so if you haven't checked it out in a while, now might be a good time.
Resident Evil 5 Versus DLC available April 7 [update]
According to a recent Capcom press release, the "Versus" add-on for Resident Evil 5 will be available on Xbox Live and PSN this week. Available starting Tuesday, April 7 on Xbox Live [and PSN], the DLC pack will cost $4.99 (400) and will add two new online modes: Slayers and Survivors. In Slayers, players will team up to go against Majinji, while in Survivors, players will have to run-stop-gun against each other. Both modes will support 1v1 and 2v2 play.The "Versus" add-on has been largely criticized for its close proximity to the game's original release, with some believing these online modes should have been included on the disc. Capcom has defended the pricing, calling the DLC "above and beyond the initial scope" of RE5.%Gallery-47571%
Resident Evil 5 maintains UK sales chart lead
Capcom's Resident Evil 5 has been performing well in the UK (and all over the world). Ever since its release earlier this month, it's been selling like crazy. Well, the streak continues, as the game is once again top dog of the UK software world, beating out Wii Fit for top honors during the week ending March 28. With nothing much on the release calendar for the immediate future, we're willing to bet that another post like this will find its way onto our site next week.
Resident Evil 5 gets new Trophies in v1.02 patch
Resident Evil 5 was updated last night with a v1.02 patch. Taking a quick look at RE5's Trophy list, we've noticed that ten new Trophies, the ones linked to the upcoming DLC, have been added. The new multiplayer DLC isn't out yet and we're wondering if this new revelation means we'll be seeing it very soon -- perhaps as early as next week. But don't get your hopes up; Japan is the only region that has a specific release date and that's been delayed to April 9.Other than the new Trophies, there weren't any other noticeable changes to the game. We've contacted Capcom for full patch notes and will update as soon (and if) we get them.
The Guide: Master of Unlockables
Welcome to The Guide, an editorial feature in which former Xbox 360 Fanboy lead Richard Mitchell looks at issues important to Xbox fans. The opinions expressed here belong to the author and don't necessarily reflect those of Joystiq, Weblogs Inc. or its affiliates.The Joystiq masters have us working full-steam this week because of GDC, but that won't stop The Guide. Despite the fact that GDC is in full swing, there haven't been any major Xbox announcements. I was really hoping I might be able to write about some earth-shattering megaton too. Alas, it looks like a column about Metal Gear Solid 5 being Xbox exclusive just wasn't meant to be*. Thankfully, there are a few more things to say about Resident Evil 5.
Kawata: Resident Evil 6 'could take 8 years'
Masachika Kawata thinks a Resident Evil 5 sequel could be as far away as eight years, but hopes it's closer to four. Speaking with The Gadget Show, the RE5 producer said it could be a long time before Xbox 360 and PS3 owners see Resident Evil 6, if they ever see it at all. A lot can change for games over time, as our flow chart explains (it's 110% scientific, we swear).Over time, games can advance with new ideas and bring our favorite characters into exciting new situations. However, sometimes (much to the chagrin of plenty of our own readers) things don't change enough, while others believe the old stuff works just fine. Preferences. They so crah-zay![Via D+Pad]
