Gamer News 04.21.09: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…Piracy may bring about the end of the PSP? We’re not talking piracy on the high seas here, we’re talking straight up illegal downloading of PSP games. In a recent interview with Gamasutra, Sony’s Peter Dille gave the scoop on all things Playstation, including the future of the PSP. Dille was quoted as saying, “We can look at data…and see how many copies are being downloaded illegally, and it’s frankly sickening.” He went on to say, “I think gamers, if they understood if this meant that a platform would go away, can we convince gamers to pay for their content?” Full story: Gamasutra
…Tuesday was the official birthday of GameBoy? The little portable gaming unit that could marked it’s 20th anniversary on April 21st. 20 years?!! Does that make anyone else feel ancient? I remember vividly when they first hit the scene. Excuse me while I sit in my grandma corner and cry now. Props to Gizmodo for posting a complete timeline/history of this mini legend of gaming. Check it out at: Gizmodo
…the Left 4 Dead Survival Pack is now available for download? This new game mode allows you and your team to battle a seemingly never ending group of infected (think: Horde mode in Gears 2.) You can download the PC version from Steam’s website, or on Xbox Live for 360 players. Details on the official Left 4 Dead blog are slim at best right now, but there is a great recap on Steam’s website of what is included in this download. Full story: Steam
Tags: Gamasutra, GameBoy, Gizmodo, Hey Did You Hear..., Left 4 Dead, News, Nintendo, PC, Peter Dille, Playstation Portable, PSP, Sony, Steam, Survival Pack, Xbox 360
Gamer News 01.28.09: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…a new trailer for Final Fantasy XIII is out? The trailer, launched this week, includes new game play footage. Check it out at: Square Enix
…Team Fortress 2 will be launching a new Scout pack in the near future? According to the TF2 blog, the pack will include new weapons and achievements, and should be out following a few bug patches on the way. Full story: teamfortress
…looks like the wait for a touch-screen PSP will be a little longer than people hoped? Sony officially dispelled rumors that a PSP2 with a touch screen is in the works, despite the recent reports from IGN to the contrary. Full story: Techradar
…video game writers gave a collective middle finger to the Writer’s Guild Awards this year? A number of the top selling games of 2008 were not submitted into the WGA’s video game writing category this year including GTA IV, Call of Duty: WaW and many more. In addition, some games like Left 4 Dead were not even eligible due to a lack of “official writing credits”. So why did some game developers decline to enter? Many feel that the award is more of a drive for Writers Guild memberships, and not a true awarad based on merit. So what games DID get nominated? The nominations for best video game writing in 2008 are: Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3, Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble, Fallout 3, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Tomb Raider: Underworld all of which had meh, but not award winning stories. Full story: Variety
…video has been released from the Jan 17th Halo wedding? In case you haven’t heard about it, a hardcore gamer couple wanted to extend their love of Halo all the way to their nuptuals, so they had the first ever Halo wedding. Their ceremony was officiated by Master Chief. The bride wore her Halo avatar on her dress and walked down the isle to the Halo score. When the ceremony was over, they were pronounced “teammates for life.” Guests were given candles that resembled plasma granades as favors. I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Take that you lame medieval-renaissance-fair-themed weddings! Get the inside scoop on the wedding and check out the video at: MTV
Tags: Final Fantasy XII, Halo, Halo Wedding, Hey Did You Hear..., IGN, MTV, News, Playstation Portable, PSP, Scout Pack, Sony, Square Enix, Team Fortress 2, Techradar, trailer, Variety, Writer's Guild Awards
Gamer News 01.26.09: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…Microsoft has responded to Sony’s ballsy statements made last week speculating that the Playstation 3 would eventually lead the console wars by the end of this generation. Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg stated in response, “…that complacent attitude is out of touch with where the industry and consumer are today….” He went on to say, “…I can’t imagine any scenario where the PS3 can catch up with us.” I have to agree with you on that one Aaron, but only time (and sales) will tell, so until then, you may want to keep your trap shut. Full story: The Bitbag
…the full tracklist for Guitar Hero Metallica has been released? The game, which hits streets on March 29th, will feature a slew of the band’s famous tunes, including Enter Sandman, Master of Puppets, Battery, One and The Unforgiven just to name a few. In addition, expect tracks from some of Metallica’s self proclaimed faborite bands including Alice in Chains, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Slayer and more. Full story: Metallica
…if you shop at Wal-Mart, sometimes you get nothing but redneck s**t? Apparently, the mass merchant recently sold a copy of Madden 09 to a young customer who come gone to find his brand new (sealed) game disk replaced with a blank disk with the handwritten label, “redneck s**t.” Now, as much as I agree with the sentiment that Wal-Mart is the home to rednecks…and their respective s**t, I’m thinking this was probably not something that happened on purpose. Likely some creative criminal snagged the real disc and swapped it with the fraud. Full story: Consumerist
…new concept art for Star Wars Battlefront III was leaked a few weeks back, and it will BLOW your mind? The latest includes character art for a “Dark Obiwan” that is described as, “…an old man, gnarled by the corruption of the dark side.” Dude! With his craggly beard and creepy yellow eyes, Kenobi looks freaking sweet! Full story: Kotaku
…PSP gamers in Japan can purchase a “carnival colored” version of the device for a limited time? Four bright color versions of the Playstation Portable including “Vibrant Blue,” “Radiant Red,” “Bright Yellow” and “Spirited Green” have been released in limited quantities in Japan. Full story: TechRadar
Tags: Aaron Greenberg, Consumerist, Dark Obiwan Kenobi, Guitar Hero Metallica, Hey Did You Hear..., Japan, Kotaku, Madden 09, Microsoft, News, Playstation 3, Playstation Portable, PS3, PSP, Sony, Star Wars Battlefront III, TachRadar, The Bitbag, Wal-Mart, Xbox 360
Gamer News 01.21.09: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…you can play the NES classic Duck Hunt on the iPhone? There are a few versions, but the one closest to the original is LawMart’s non-Nintendo approved game called “Duck Hunt.” It is available for $.99 in the app store, and provides the same type of game play as the original, but with new controls and without the hunting dog (although LawMart says this is coming soon). I’d say grab this one QUICK before Nintendo puts a kibosh on it. Something tells me Nintendo doesn’t look too kindly on trademark infringement. Check out the app in action at: You Tube
…the latest firmware update for the PSP is now available? The newest update, version 5.0.3, can be downloaded now and is a required update to access the Playstation Store. Full story: Playstation Blog
…Capcom is gearing up to change distributors in Australia? Rumors abound that the gaming giant is swapping from Australian distributer Red Ant to either THQ or Atari. With so many big releases in the hopper for first quarter 09, this seems like a risky time to make that kind of move. Here’s hoping our hardcore gamer readers in Australia don’t see a delay in any of the upcoming Capcom releases as a result. Full story: Gameplayer.au
…Sony is still holding onto hope that the PS3 will (eventually) outsell the Xbox 360? Sony chairman, Kaz Hirai, recently stated that he is confident that the PS3 will outsell the 360 “at the end of the console generation’s cycle.” Um…not to be Debbie Downer here Kaz, but I’m thinking the chances of that happening are slim to done. Xbox has such a huge lead in sales, not to mention a game library that dwarfs the PS3’s offerings. But hey…hold on to that optimism. Full story: Endsights
…MMO gamers in China will soon be forced to use their real names when setting up online gaming accounts? Apparently, China believes that MMOs are so addictive, they are requiring users to register their names and their govertment issued ID code as an “anti-addiction” measure. The new law will apply to all gamers, regarless of age. This is not new news to China. They also have a system that links real names to online IDs and monitors blog commenting and sharing of online media. Can you say bug brother?! Full story: arstechnica
Tags: arstechnica, Atari, Capcom, Duck Hunt, Endsights, Gameplayer, Hey Did You Hear..., Kaz Hirai, LawMart, MMO, MMORPG, NES, News, Playstation 3, Playstation Blog, Playstation Portable, PSP, Red Ant, Sony, THQ, You Tube
Gamer News 01.20.09: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…you can expect a better crafted story for Doom 4 than in past versions of the game? ID Software has brought in British author, Graham Joyce, to contribute to the storyline for the most recent version of the Doom franchise. Full story: ZD Net
…you can now “play” Streetfighter II online via You Tube? The video is called YouTube Street Fighter, but includes something I haven’t really seen in YouTube before: user-controlled interactivity within a video. REALLY cool. Full story: Destructoid
…you can use your PSP as an extra Windows monitor for your PC? All it takes is the installation of PSPDisp and the connection of your PSP to your computer via USB. Check out a complete tutorial at: Lifehacker
…giving your Xbox 360 WiFi capabilities can be cheap and easy to do? Forget shelling out $90 for an Xbox WiFi dongle. You can get your 360 WiFi ready for as cheap as $50. There is a really helpful step by step guide over at: Gizmodo
…new screenshots for GTA: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS have been released? Check them out at: Nintendoeverything
Tags: Destructoid, Doom 4, Gizmodo, Graham Joyce, GTA: Chinatown Wars, Hey Did You Hear..., iD Software, Lifehacker, News, Nintendo DS, Nintendoeverything, PC, Playstation Portable, PSP, PSPDisp, Sony, Streetfighter II, WiFi, Xbox 360, You Tube, ZD Net
Gamer News 01.14.09: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…the Wii Rock Band 2 downloadable music story is (finally) open? The store features 20 FREE songs for download and an additional 30 or so songs available for purchase for 200 wii points (about $2/each.) Full story: Wiihotties
…kids in schools will soon be using Nintendo’s Wii Music in the classroom? Nintendo has partnered up with The National Association for Musical Education to bring Wii Music to schools in 51 cities across the US. The game will help kids learn the basics of music like tempo and rhythm. Wait, does that mean kids won’t be forced to play recorder concerts anymore?! Full story: 1Up
…you can make some sweet music with those gaming hands of yours? A dude named Gerry Phillips who claims he’s been making music with his hands for 38 years tackles the Super Mario theme song using only his hands to make little fart-y noises. Now, I’ve posted a lot of funny musical numbers based on games, but this one is certainly the most unique I’ve seen. Check out Gerry in action on You Tube
…the Resident Evil 5 demo will hit US Xbox 360’s later this month for a one week limited download timeframe? The highly-anticipated demo to the even more highly-anticpated sequel will be available for download on Xbox Live on Monday, January 26th. What a great birthday present for KP1gL37! Full story: Nothing But Software
…Sony may have succeeded in creating an unhackable PSP? The most recent PSP that was released on Oct 14, 08 (the PSP-3000) has gone unhacked since its launch. Considering the previous PSP versions were hacked within what seemed like minutes of release, a few months seems like an eternity. Is it possible Sony finally got wise, and found a way to really lock it down? Give it another couple months, and then we can call this one a success. Full story: PSPWorld
Tags: 1Up, demo, Hey Did You Hear..., News, Nintendo Wii, Nothing But Software, Playstation Portable, PSP, PSP 3000, PSPWorld, Resident Evil 5, Rock Band 2, Sony, Super Mario Brothers, Wii Music, Wiihotties, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, You Tube
Gamer News 01.07.09: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…gamers are bidding farewell to Electronic Gaming Monthly? Publisher Ziff Davis announced that they are selling their 1Up gaming division to Hearst’s UGO Entertainment division, and the print magazine, EGM, will be the first casualty of the sale. No word yet from UGO on the fate of the other properties that were part of the sale, including 1Up.com, Mycheats.com, GameVideos.com and Gametab.com. Full story: Gamesutra
…Wii Sports has surpassed Super Mario Brothers for the NES as the best selling video game of all time? This is based on recent sales figures from the last week in Dec that place units sold at 40.24 million. Full story and a chart of the 10 best selling games of all time: VG Chartz
…the FTC is getting involved in the whole DRM in video games issue? Thanks in part to the massive consumer backlash surrounding the SecuROM DRM/Spore issue of 2008, the FTC has decided to hold a conference on March 25th in Seattle to discuss DRM in more detail. Read more about the town hall, and how you can participate from the official FTC website.
…the new Laura Croft has been unveiled and she’s smoking hot? Alison Carroll will be the latest model for the infamous adventurer, following in a line of lovely ladies who have held the distinction. Check out a photo gallery of the brunette beauty at buzznewsroom
…next time you are at the airport, you can pick up a handheld game from a vending machine? Best Buy launched vending machines at select airports in the US where you can purchase handheld consoles and games for the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP. And, unlike everything else at the airport, these vending machines shockingly offer the same prices as regular retail. Full story: 1Up
Tags: 1Up, 1Up.com, Alison Carroll, Best Buy, DRM, EGM, Electronic Gaming Monthly, FTC, GamerTab.com, Gamesutra, GameVideos.com, Hearst, Hey Did You Hear..., Laura Croft, MyCheats.com, NES, News, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Playstation Portable, PSP, SecuROM DRM, Sony, Spore, Super Mario Brothers, UGO Entertainment, vending machine, VG Chartz, Wii Sports, Ziff Davis
Gamer News 12.13.08: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…new, downloadable content for Fable II will be available on Dec 26th and it includes an additional 100 possible achievement points? The expansion, called “Knothole Island” will include new areas, items and quests and will cost 800 MS points (about $10.) Full story: Xbox 360 Fanboy
…issues are already popping up in the open beta of Sony’s virtual environment, Home? Sony posted on their official Playstation blog yesterday, acknowledging that some users were experiencing problems accessing Home, and asking for patience while they resolve issues. Full story: Venture Beat
…according to John Geleynse, Dir of Technolohu Evangalism at Apple, the iPhone is for all intents and purposes a “gaming console?” He went on to say that when it’s not being used as a phone, the iPhone provides a, “console experience.” We expect to see more and more titles available for the iPhone soon, based on the company’s clear indications that they see the iPhone as a threat to the DS and PSP. Full story: engadget mobile
…there is a quick and easy way to convert Microsoft Xbox Live points to currency? Check out the handy conversion tool on Gangster Panda that takes MS points, and converts them to currency, including US dollar, Euro, Canadian dollars and more. Nifty!
…you can pick up Team Fortress 2 this weekend for a song and a dance? For this weekend only, Steam is offering the classic FPS for only $10. If you don’t own this one already, it’s a great deal on a hell of a great game. Full story: Joystiq
Tags: Apple, Engadget, Fable II, Gangster Panda, Hey Did You Hear..., iPhone, Joystiq, Knothole Island, Microsoft, News, Nintendo DS, Playstation Home, Playstation Portable, PSP, Sony, Steam, Team Fortress Two, Venture Beat, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 fanboy, Xbox Live Points converter
Gamer News 12.12.08: Hey, Did You Hear…
Posted by HCG KP1gL37 | Filed under Hey Did You Hear..., News
…Guitar Hero may be coming to an arcade near you in early 2009? Activision is teaming up with Raw Thrills and Konami to bring this fret-burning title to the arcade a la DDR. The arcade version will be based on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. Full story: MTV
…Nintendo is planning to launch a DS book reader similar to the Kindle? A deal was made between Nintendo and publisher, Harper Collins to bring “The 100 Classic Book Collection” to the DS. The book reader hits stores in the UK on Dec 26th, with a price point of £20 ($30US.) No word yet on when the book reader will be available in the US. Full story: Times UK
…you may soon be able to play Parasite Eve in the palm of your hand? The third in the series of Parasite Eve games will be coming to the Sony PSP, according to an announcement at the Tokoyo Game Show. No word yet on a release date, but the new trailer is live and Eve fans are already foaming at the mouth. Full story and trailer: Not In There
…now your WoW experience never has to end (even during dinner)? A restaurant in Beijing has recently opened featuring a World of Warcraft themed menu and deor including an entrance designed to mirror the Dark Portal. Full story: WoW Insider
…the Xbox 360 may soon be plagued by a Soulja Boy video game? Word on the street is that the game will be released in 2009. No one is sure what game company is behind this train-wreck-in-the-making, but I’m sure the gamer community will not be shy about voicing their opinion. When asked about the game, Soulja Boy commented (no kidding), “…a couple video game companies hit me up…and hit me up like, “Blah, blah, blah, blah.” So I was like, “Oh snaps!” Full story: Joystiq
Tags: Activision, Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, Hey Did You Hear..., Joystiq, Konami, MTV, News, Nintendo, Nintendo DS, Parasite Eve, Playstation Portable, Raw Thrills, Sony PSP, Soulja Boy, Times UK, World of Warcraft, WoW, WoW Insider, Xbox 360
Pre-Order Exclusive for Yggdra Union PSP Announced
Posted by HCG Musashi | Filed under Collectibles, The Shit to Get
You don’t have to be a schwag hound like me to notice that pre-order bonuses have exploded over the past year in the US. Not only in quantity, but quality as well.
Tags: Atlus, Collectibles, Playstation, Playstation Portable, Pre-Order, PSP, The Shit to Get, Yggdra Union
New Alien Syndrome Screenshots for PSP and Nintendo Wii
Posted by HCG Paco | Filed under News
Keeping up with the SEGA “Revival” theme, we have fresh screenshots from their upcoming third-person title: Alien Syndrome. As you may remember we posted about Alien Syndrome originally, way back in December, but now we have a ton of screenshots, a wallpaper and a new gameplay video.
For those hardcore gamers out there that still remember the original on the SEGA Master System, we applaud you. Alien Syndrome on the SMS was basically Gauntlet with Aliens; blantant 20 Centrury Fox, Ripley-esque Aliens. Which is ironic, considering that SEGA has now partnered with Fox for a revival of the Alien franchise as a video game property.
Check out more screenshots and the official press release after the jump.
Tags: Alien Syndrome, News, Nintendo Wii, Playstation Portable, PSP, Screenshots, Sega
After Burner: Black Falcon Screenshots
Posted by HCG Paco | Filed under News
SEGA is currently pulling a “Midway” by reviving some of its older, maybe lesser-known properties and updating them for an entirely new generation of hardcore gamers. After Burner: Black Falcon is the first of these “revival titles.”
While After Burner is stuck on the PSP (sadly), we are glad to see it making some sort of a return, none the less. We can’t help but think about a wasted opportunity to return After Burner to its previous stature by skipping the obvious choices of the Xbox 360, Wii and PS3. Take a look at these PSP screenshots after the jump, and think how much more amazing they could’ve been on system whose only competition is Ace Combat 4 and Over-G Fighters. Maybe if this sells well we’ll see a more triumphant return of this forgotten franchise. Just seeing the F-14 and the logo make me hungry for Hills’ burned hotdogs, nachos, crunchy day-old pretzels and an ICEE.
Tags: After Burner: Black Falcon, News, Playstation Portable, PSP, Screenshots, Sega
