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TGS 2009: Gran Turismo 5 coming to Japan in March 2010
Announced just now at the second -- that's right, the second -- Sony press conference at Tokyo Game Show, Gran Turismo 5 will be coming to Japan in March 2010. Series creator Kazunori Yamauchi announced the launch window without specifying any other regions. We'll pester Sony and Polyphony Digital all this week for more info. Promise.%Gallery-71410%
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker demo available now
If you weren't able to make the trip to Japan for the Tokyo Game Show this year, don't fret -- not only do we have you covered on the hot news scoop front, but IGN managed to snag a downloadable copy of the co-op enabled, TGS-exclusive (well, formerly TGS-exclusive, we guess) Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker demo for the PSP. Just make sure you've got the latest firmware, download the file from the acronymed gaming news site, unzip it and place it in your PSP's "Game" folder, and enjoy. If, while enjoying, you also happen to kick ass, you might even get a high enough ranking to unlock a special wallpaper for your Sony handheld. Finally, we have incentive to do something other than make cardboard box fortresses.
TGS 2009: Frank West is rising to the occasion in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom
Everyone's favorite wartime photojournalist and Dead Rising protagonist Frank West was just confirmed to be a contender in Capcom's upcoming inter-franchise brawler, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. This news comes two weeks after a number of the game's assets, which indicated the appearance of West, Mega Man series regular Zero, and a bunch of anime characters we absolutely do not recognize, were leaked. You can check out a video demo of West's brawling expertise after the jump. Know where he learned to fight that well? Probably from his recent encounter with the unyielding zombocalypse. (What did you think we were going to say? "Because he's covered wars?" That just doesn't make any sense. Think before you speak, silly goose.)%Gallery-73852%
Joystiq live @ Sony's Tokyo Game Show keynote
Team Joystiq is on the ground in Tokyo, set up outside the Chiba prefecture's Makuhari Messe expo center, home to Tokyo Game Show 2009. At 10:30 a.m. local time, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai will address those in attendance and we'll be liveblogging it right here. Check the list below for the keynote's start time in your timezone: London, England: 2:30 a.m., Thursday 9/23 Sydney, Australia: 11:30 a.m., Thursday 9/23 US Pacific Time: 6:30 p.m., Thursday 9/23 US Mountain Time: 7:30 p.m., Thursday 9/23 US Central Time: 8:30 p.m., Thursday 9/23 US Eastern Time: 9:30 p.m., Thursday 9/23
Nintendo officially announces Wii price drop to $199 in US
The second volley has officially been fired from one of Sony's competitors during its Tokyo Game Show 2009 liveblog with Nintendo officially unveiling the Wii price dropping to $199.99 in the US. The much rumored price drop goes into effect on Sunday, September 27 (that's this Sunday, folks), confirming reports from earlier today from a leaked Best Buy internal memo. The official info from Nintendo doesn't comment on price drops anywhere else in the world or the rumored UK re-bundling. We'll follow up with Nintendo as TGS continues this week.
PS3 Motion Controller confirmed for next spring, finally ready for its close-ups
We've heard plenty about Sony's PS3 Motion Controller, but we hadn't actually seen a press shot of it until now. Looks pretty PlayStation-ey, wouldn't you say? Sony has also confirmed that spring 2010 is the launch window (with those rumors of a March date in Japan floating around). It can't come soon enough! At the TGS announcement Kaz Hirai reiterated that the controller will meet the "stringent" requirements of hardcore gamers -- which is always a comfort, no matter how much of that gamer-pleasing will have to come from the actual games themselves. Hit up the read link for Joystiq's live coverage of the Sony keynote from TGS! Update: Press release! %Gallery-73841%
Splinter Cell Conviction dated for Feb. 23, new trailer hits
As Tokyo Game Show 2009 gets underway, Ubisoft has announced that it has settled on February 23, 2010 as the release date for Splinter Cell Conviction. The game was most recently rumored to be hitting that month after being delayed into the "March quarter" of next year.Ubisoft followed up the news with a new trailer for the game, which you can watch in all its sneaky, violent and vengeful glory above.%Gallery-64705%
TGS 2009: Every major publisher 'actively working on games for Project Natal'
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/tgs-2009-every-major-publisher-actively-working-on-games-for-p/'; Kicking off Tokyo Game Show 2009 with a kick digitally translated into a game, Microsoft has announced massive industry support for upcoming motion device Project Natal. Trumpeting a laundry list of gaming industry all-stars from Activision to Ubisoft, it appears that every major publisher is in some way "actively working on games for Project Natal" (full list after the break). Microsoft says publishers received development kits in early June and have been hard at work ever since. EA's Peter Moore thinks Natal "could fundamentally change the way people play sports games" while Capcom's Keiji Inafune says it "will expand the possibilities of gaming." In fact, Microsoft is so intent on proving that developers love it, the company is hosting a panel at TGS featuring the aforementioned Inafune, Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi and Konami's Hideo Kojima. Wait a minute, Kojima is working with Project Natal? But we can't do any of that crazy Raiden ninja stuff!
TGS 2009: Dead Rising 2 in one awesome screen
Click to embiggen Excuse us if we dedicate this entire post to one, single screenshot. A picture -- of gigantic metal death spikes protruding from Chuck's helmet in Dead Rising 2 -- is worth a thousand words, after all. Also, that bodysuit is pretty snazzy. Go on, take it all in ...See what we mean? Totally worth a post.
New AoT: 40th Day screens drop shield, charge head first
We're misleading you a bit. The screenshots aren't quite dropping anything themselves, so much as the stars of upcoming bromance sequel, Army of Two: The 40th Day, are putting down their shields. Donning masks with flames -- so as to terrify enemies into thinking they're being advanced upon by White Zombie, of course -- Salem and Rio are clearly concerned with meeting attire standards for the professional workplace: sporty, yet hardcore. That's what those bad guys get for standing in the way of movie night! %Gallery-73808%
Alienware slaps 2GHz Core i7 920XM in M15x, new designs on Area-51 / Aurora desktops
It's a wild day in the land of Dell, so it makes sense that said meshugaas is carrying over to the company's Alienware portfolio. We knew that five new rigs were slated to launch today, and now we've finally got the details you've been craving (in official fashion, no less). Up first is the revamped Area-51 M15x laptop, which boasts a streamlined chassis and the entirely overused "most powerful 15-inch gaming laptop in the universe" tagline. Those with deep pockets can get this pup outfitted with a 2.0GHz Core i7 920XM (yes, that's the new Clarksfield mobile Core i7!) and a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M, both of which should work wonders on your most demanding NES ROMs. You'll also find up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a 500GB HDD or 256GB SSD, slot-loading Blu-ray drive, FireWire, gigabit Ethernet, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets, VGA and DisplayPort video outputs, an ExpressCard slot and an 8-in-1 card reader. There's no mention of a starting price, but before you even look, you should decide whether or not you're kosher with toting around a 1.92-inch thick machine weighing 9 pounds.Moving on, there's the all-new Area-51 and Area-51 ALX desktops, both of which usher in yet another case change along with ridiculously fast / pricey innards. The standard Area-51 is a liquid cooled beast with factory overclocked Core i7 CPUs (as high as 3.6GHz), an array of multi-GPU options from ATI and NVIDIA, internal lighting effects and a handy door to quickly access the HDD compartment. All of the hard drives are loaded via a cable-free dock, and there's enough room for six SATA II HDDs. The rig also holds up to 12GB of 1,333MHz DDR3 memory, twin Blu-ray drives and a pair of gigabit Ethernet jacks. The ALX edition, on the other hand, is the "most powerful desktop" the company has ever created, as it packs an optional 3.86GHz Core i7 975, twin 1.8GB GeForce GTX 295 GPUs and a power supply large enough to trip most household breakers. Closing things out is the Aurora and Aurora ALX, the latter of which is the most potent microATX rig Alienware has ever called its own. The liquid cooled ALX can be equipped with a 3.6GHz Core i7 975, dual 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5870 GPUs and up to 12GB of DDR3 RAM, while the slightly more affordable Aurora -- which goes down as the smallest mid-sized desktop ever crafted by the outfit -- can be upgraded nearly as much itself. Pricing on these rigs still remains open, but we've a feeling that'll be cleared up just as soon as the new product pages go live.%Gallery-73748% Show full PR text DELL FEEDS GAMERS' PASSIONS WITH FIVE NEW 'ALL POWERFUL' ALIENWARE GAMING RIGS All-New Alienware Gaming Systems Include the M15x Laptop and Aurora and Area-51 Desktops Alienware M15x Features the New Intel® Mobile Core™ i7 Processor Alienware M17x Laptop Receives Up To 145 Percent Graphics Performance Boost with Addition of Dual 1GB ATI Radeon Mobility™ HD 4870 Alienware Peripherals, Including the New Alienware TactX Keyboard and Mouse, Offer Gamers a Fully-Integrated PC Gaming Ecosystem ROUND ROCK, Texas, Sept. 23, 2009 – PC Gamers now have five new ways to level up with a fleet of high-performance gaming rigs from Alienware, including four overclocked* liquid-cooled desktop systems and the most powerful 15-inch gaming laptop in the universe. Jointly developed by the Dell and Alienware teams, and featuring the latest technologies for maximum performance, aggressive designs and unmatched customization and personalization through Alienware's exclusive Command Center software suite, these systems represent a new era in PC gaming.The All powerful Alienware Aurora, Aurora ALX, Area-51 and Area-51 ALX desktops and the Alienware M15x laptop join the M17x, launched in June, to expand the Alienware arsenal and reaffirm Dell's position as visionary and designer of the industry's most coveted gaming systems. The News: Alienware M15x – The most powerful 15-inch gaming laptop in the universe. Sporting Alienware's acclaimed new mobile ID which debuted with the M17x laptop, the M15x offers Alienware performance in a compact package guaranteed to appeal to mobile enthusiasts and hardcore gamers on the go. The first Alienware laptop to feature a mobile Core i7 processor, the M15x also offers a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M GPU* and up to 8GB DDR3 1333MHz memory* to take on, and dominate, even the most intense game titles. Prices start at $1,499 and additional technical specifications are here. Alienware Aurora and Aurora ALX – The Aurora is most upgradeable and the Aurora ALX is the most powerful MicroATX desktops Alienware has ever created. Featuring the latest Intel® Core™ i7 processors, including an optional Extreme Edition overclocked** to 3.6GHz, the Aurora line of desktops are designed to deliver the power needed for hardcore gaming, pro-level HD audio and video editing, 3D animation and more. To crank up your gaming performance, Aurora and Aurora ALX have options for dual 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics cards, up to 24GB DDR3 1333MHz memory[asterisk] or 12GB DDR3 1600MHz memory, respectively, and up to 2TB of hard drive storage – all in a compact, MicroATX chassis for taking up less desk space. Prices start at $1,299 and additional technical specs are here. Alienware Area-51 and Area-51 ALX designed for extreme gamers and tech enthusiasts who demand only the latest, most advanced equipment, the Area-51 line of desktops features Intel Core i7 processors factory overclocked* to an intense 3.86GHz for peak performance. To max out your graphics benchmarks, these systems offer the quad-GPU power of dual NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 295 graphics cards. Other featured specs include up to 12GB DDR3* memory clocked at 1333MHz or 1600MHz, respectively, and six easy-access, cable-free hard drive bays that support both 7,200RPM and 10,000RPM drives, solid state drives and RAID 0, RAID 1 and RAID 10 configurations. Prices begin at $1,999. The ALX brand denotes a distinguished class of Alienware systems that deliver both unique designs and peak performance. Both Aurora ALX and Area-51 ALX offer technology options beyond their respective standard editions, allowing for higher benchmarks, extended future-proofing and all-around increased bragging rights. Aurora ALX features design elements not available on Aurora such as the Active Venting louver system, internal theater lighting and cable-free hard drive bays. Area-51 ALX ups the ante with an anodized aluminum body and motorized front panel. All Alienware desktops also offer CPU liquid cooling right out of the box which allows the ease of overclocking that deliver extreme computing.Also announced today, Alienware customers can now configure the M17x laptop with the intense power of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4870 in both single and ATI CrossFireX configurations for up to a 145 percent graphics performance increase1. The result is an immersive, cinematic experience when playing the latest HD games and movies.Alienware users can build out a complete, high-performance gaming ecosystem with the recently announced Alienware TactX Mouse and Keyboard, and the Alienware OptX™ AW2210 Monitor which features a 21.5-inch full HD screen for experiencing the latest generation games and HD movies in glorious 1080p resolution.The Aurora and Aurora ALX start at $1,299, and are available for order immediately at www.alienware.com The Area 51 and Area 51 ALX start at $1,999, and will be available to order in the coming weeks. The Alienware M15x starts at $1,499 and is available for order immediately at www.alienware.comThe branded peripherals can be ordered immediately at: www.alienware.com Alienware is one of two brand pillars within Dell's broader consumer portfolio. Dell's Alienware gaming brand delivers high-performance computing for enthusiasts and tech lovers alike, and complements the Adamo by Dell brand, which offers unmatched style, design and craftsmanship. Alienware and Adamo are the standard-bearers of Dell's personalization efforts, which extend to the entire consumer portfolio, including Inspiron and Studio and Dell Design Studio, which reinvents the way people can customize their laptops as extensions of self-expression.Quotes:"These newest additions to the Alienware lineup represent the culmination of months of hard work, bringing together two world-class teams to create a family of world-class products targeting PC gamers," said Arthur Lewis, general manager of Dell's Gaming Group. "Our current offering of desktops, notebooks and peripheral products signals our commitment to providing the best PC gaming experience possible and to being the global industry leader for PC gaming products." "Alienware systems are, and always have been, our benchmark for PC gaming performance," said Michael Tatelman, vice president of sales and marketing for Dell's consumer business. "Through the Alienware brand, Dell is committed to offering gamers the richest possible PC gaming experience with the latest technology and coolest designs." "The new Intel® Core™ i7 mobile processor redefines expectations for performance, flexibility and extreme gaming on mobile platforms," said Mooly Eden, vice president and general manager of the PC Client Group at Intel. "We are pleased that Alienware has designed the Intel® Core™ i7 920Xm processor into their latest mobile gaming laptop." "As the first-ever DirectX® 11-capable graphics card, the ATI Radeon™ HD 5870 is the pinnacle of PC graphics performance," said Matt Skynner, Vice President & General Manager, GPU Division, AMD. "By pairing the awesome power of this card with Alienware's reputation for industry-leading technology, gamers can expect an unmatched gaming experience."
EA's Rex Ishibashi talks about missing Suda 51, Shinji Mikami project
Remember when EA announced a new project with No More Heroes' Suda 51 and Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami over a year ago? We were surprised to find that it was completely absent from EA's extravagent pre-TGS Tokyo press conference. We talked with EA Japan's Rex Ishibashi about the game's mysterious absence from the show."We'll make the updates when they're appropriate and when we're ready. In fact, EA Japan is now involved in some of the communication, helping EA Global to manage that very important relationship for us," EA Japan's Ishibashi told Joystiq. "We'll make the announcements on those games, but they look very promising."Stay tuned for our full interview later this week. Video produced by Ross Miller
Left 4 Dead 2 demo running straight for Xbox/PC on October 27
Speaking about upcoming co-op zombie shooter Left 4 Dead 2 at EA's Tokyo press conference today, Valve's Kim Swift announced intentions to release a demo on October 27. Though no platforms were explicitly mentioned, we're betting pre-orders on both Xbox 360 and PC platforms will be getting first dibs, as Valve has already stated. From what we understand, the demo will feature multiplayer, though we're not sure to what capacity this will extend. Either way, Xbox 360 and PC owners will get a chance to try out at least some of the 10 melee weapons well before the game's November 17 release. We'll ask EA for more details on the demo as the Tokyo Game Show continues this week.%Gallery-64704%
Joystiq liveblog @ EA Showcase Tokyo
Hey Joystiq! We're live from Roppongi Hills' gorgeous Mori Tower, where we're attending the EA Showcase Tokyo. We're not sure if there will be any big revelations, but stay tuned as we update this liveblog with all the details.
EA Japan announces Tsumuji for DS
Unlike other publishers, EA isn't waiting for Tokyo Game Show to start to reveal their big news. High atop the Mori Tower in Tokyo's luxurious Roppongi Hills, EA Japan has announced a brand new original game. Tsumuji, aka Whirlwind, is a DS-exclusive being produced in Japan.We're reminded a lot of Celda. The trailer has a big-eyed character running around a top-down field that's reminiscent of A Link to the Past. There will be towns to visit, dungeons to crawl. Like the DS Zelda games, all the action is controlled by the stylus.We'll be getting hands-on with this game, and a whole slew of other EA titles: Dead Space Extraction, Army of Two: The 40th Day, Battlefield Bad Company 2, Dante's Inferno, Left4Dead 2 and more. Stay tuned for the rest of our pre-TGS coverage.%Gallery-73770%
Alienware launching new M15x laptop and Aurora / Area-51 ALX desktops at TGS
Wondering what all those teasers were about? So were we, and now we've got the skinny on what exactly is looming at the Tokyo Game Show. For starters, you may have noticed that Alienware has completely removed the option to purchase an Area-51 m15x gaming laptop except in refurbished form, and the only desktop remaining in the store is the Area-51 X58, which is conveniently discounted today. The reason? It's launching five of its most powerful creations yet on September 23rd (that's tomorrow, bub), including the quickest 15-inch lappie in the galaxy (the all-new M15x) as well as the dual-GPU Aurora / Aurora ALX desktops. Finally, a refreshed Area-51 and Area-51 ALX will also be on tap, though exact specifications for the whole lot won't be revealed until the 23rd. Oh, and we'll totally be on hand in Japan to provide all the hands-on media you can stand, so stay tuned![Thanks, Anonymous]
Alienware threatens to 'shake gaming world to its foundation'
PC manufacturer Alienware has be teasing a reveal at TGS that it says will "shake the gaming world to its foundation." As you can tell from the video after the jump and the company's Facebook page, there's not much more information than that to go on. Though Alienware's keeping mum, we've got a theory: What if the big reveal ... is an extremely powerful computer? We know, it seems out there, but think about it. Connect the dots.
Video: Alienware invades TGS: will 'shake the gaming world to its foundation'
Alienware's been running a series of teasers hyping an invasion. Get it, invasion... aka, new product launch? The Round Rock mothership reveals that the big unveil will occur at the Tokyo Game Show, presumably Thursday when the event officially begins. A launch so big that it will "shake the gaming world to its foundation," according to its Facebook page. Well, in that case anything less than a mutated lizard, gigantified by a diet of radiation and city buses will be a disappointment. It is Tokyo after all. Latest video tease after the break.
Red Steel 2's TGS trailer introduces your buddy Payne
He may be introduced as "a nice guy," but we're betting Red Steel 2's newly introduced character "Payne" isn't quite as friendly as the trailer above would let on. Sure, he may take you for rides on his motorcycle and ... um ... show you the inside of his new truck (?), but won't he get you killed when his path of destruction drags you down with him? The risk is yours, friend, should you decide to take the chance. You'll have plenty of time to decide between now and the notoriously vague "early 2010," when the game's set to hit store shelves. With a sword! There, are you happy?!%Gallery-51378%
Resonance of Fate sends us to bullet hell in TGS trailer
Sega has seemingly forgotten that Tokyo Game Show hasn't started yet, by releasing a brand new trailer for its upcoming Resonance of Fate (aka End of Eternity in Japan). Tri-Ace is breaking the JRPG norm by creating a trailer that isn't entirely comprised of CG cutscenes. There is a lot of gameplay footage here -- and as noted earlier, it's bizarre.Resonance of Fate creates a rather distinct look for itself by giving its main characters guns, and moves that would make Chow Yun-Fat jealous. It's entirely over-the-top, and gives the game an original feel missing from tri-Ace's previous works. It'll be interesting to see if Japanese gamers will pry themselves away from Final Fantasy XIII long enough to give this game a fair shake.[Via Sega Nerds]
