News

Run for the border

Posted by: Nathan at 5/10/2008 5:26 AM - Comments (0)
More On: Championship Gaming Series
The Championship Gaming Series announced the 2008 Latin America Finals location and dates. June 20 Mexico City's Team Furia and Rio 's Team Sinistro will be heading across the border into United America Land and will be playing the final match up in Los Angeles, California. The Finals will be broadcast on SKY Mexico and Sky Brazil and in other Latin American countries on DIRECTV Latin America. I have no idea what games they will be playing at the event but I'm sure the competition will be fierce. Seriously it takes a master gamer to compete in a Strawberry Shortcake game.


CHAMPIONSHIP GAMING SERIES ANNOUNCES 2008 LATIN AMERICA FINAL

- Mexico City Furia and Rio Sinistro Teams Will Battle in Televised Competition in Los Angeles June 20;
- Winner will Advance to CGS 2008 World Final in July

LOS ANGELES – May 8, 2008 – Championship Gaming Series™ (CGS), the only worldwide professional video gaming league, announced the CGS 2008 Latin America Final event for its Mexico City Furia and Rio Sinistro teams will be held June 20. The winner of that competition will advance to the 2008 CGS World Final in Los Angeles this July. The events will be broadcast in Mexico on SKY Mexico, in Brazil on SKY Brazil and throughout the rest of Latin America on DIRECTV Latin America.  The CGS 2008 World Final will be broadcast globally to a potential audience of more than 400 million viewers worldwide.

Mexico City Furia and Rio Sinistro are headed by returning General Managers Augusto "NoobZaibot" Zapata Delgado of Mexico City Furia and Paolo "pvell" Velloso of Rio Sinistro. The GMs are selecting their teams by scouting Latin America for the most talented competitive gamers, operating within a recruitment zone that includes South America, Central America and Mexico.

"Latin America has a tremendous and underrated community of competitive gamers from a multitude of nations and cultures and they have extraordinary dedication to the sport," said Andy Reif, CGS Commissioner. "Both the Rio Sinistro and the Mexico City Furia showed extraordinary promise during our 2007 season and I'm sure the fans of both teams and the Latin American gaming community are eagerly awaiting the teams' performances this summer."

The CGS Latin America region plays an important role in the league and for the larger video games sector, as evidenced by impressive growth in the overall video game industry – pegged at 10 percent each year through 2010 by a recent analyst report, which makes the region's video game players an important targeted segment for advertisers and sponsors.

Later this month, top video gamers from the United Kingdom and Europe will convene in Birmingham, England for the CGS 2008 UK and European Qualifier and Draft, May 16-18. Gamers there will compete for a share of more than $55,000 in prize money, and a spot on one of four CGS teams in the UK and Europe. CGS recently completed its 2008 Pan-Asia Final event in Wuhan, China, where more than 80,000 fans attended the four-day event. The winning Pan-Asia teams, Sydney Underground and Wuhan Dragon, will also compete at the CGS 2008 World Final this summer.

About Championship Gaming Series
Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, the Championship Gaming Series™ (CGS) is the only worldwide professional video gaming league. Launched in 2007, and a joint venture among BSkyB, DIRECTV and STAR, CGS features teams of the world's best gamers from North America, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. The league distributes entertainment content to more than 400 million viewers worldwide via DIRECTV in North America and Latin America, BSkyB in the UK, Eurosport in Europe, and STAR in Asia and Australia. CGS sponsors include Mountain Dew, Creative, Xbox 360 and Dell XPS.

GamingGibs for 5/17/2008

by: Chuck - posted: 5/17/2008 1:03 PM - Comments (0)
Here are a few things I missed while watching Jacke Chan highlights:
  • We could see an Eternal Darkness sequel but probably not until 2020
  • The design lessons of REZ HD, hallucinogenic drugs not included
  • Age of Conan computer tweaks listed for those of you who are getting the game next week
  • The story behind Killzone 2 revealed

W00T - Castle Crashers is done!

by: Chuck - posted: 5/17/2008 12:43 PM - Comments (0)
According to Behemoth's developer diary, Castle Crashers is done and is being shipped off to Microsoft for certification and then roll-out to Xbox Live.  This is awesome news as the game is one of the most anticipated Xbox Live games in development and both Cyril and I haved loved what we've seen from the game so far as the game's art style and beat-up up gameplay is a fantastic flash back to games like Golden Axe.  Hopefully the game cruises through certification but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Thanks to NeoGaf for the link

ESA defection continues, LucasArts leaves and infighting over E3 awards breaks loose

by: Chuck - posted: 5/17/2008 12:25 PM - Comments (0)

Things are certainly not going well with the Entertainment Software Association, first Activision/Vivendi leaves and now Lucasarts bails out.  You have to wonder what's going on with the game industries to cause two of the larger publishers in the industry to move on and what they are doing to prevent future defections.  Most of the rest of the big publishers are still there (EA, Capcom, Sega, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, etc) but I get the feeling that the ship is taking on water and if something isn't done soon then we could either see the flagship group of the game industry fall apart with nothing to fill it's place.

If that wasn't bad enough the ESA is now trying to get cheap revenge on Activision/Vivendi by making their games ineligible for the E3 awards in July.  Of course the critics association (no affiliated with the ESA) is fighting back and making sure that any game shown (even if offsite) is available for the awards.  I have a feeling that this is something that's not going away any time soon and is going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.

First Red Alert 3 trailer online

by: Chuck - posted: 5/17/2008 12:22 PM - Comments (0)

Gametrailers premiered the first trailer for Red Alert 3 last night and here it is for your enjoyment.  I always enjoyed the Red Alert 3 series a bit more than the original Command and Conquer games so I'm interested to see how this one turns out.  

Nearly one year later, Dungeon Runners still spews 'chunks'

by: Randy - posted: 5/16/2008 11:53 PM - Comments (0)
NCsoft's free-to-play Dungeon Runners is still running dungeons, and the newest update, "Chunk 3," brings even greater benefits to freeloaders and subscribing players.  "For the cost of a latte," says Producer and Lead Programmer Stephen Nichols, players can enjoy the very best Dungeon Runners has to offer, with 15% perma-boosts in experience points and gold drops.  Overall, all players will see Chunk 3's new skills, quests, and PvP tweaks, and "quality of life enhancements" (although the news brief doesn't necessarily mention whether these quality of life enhancements improve an individual's health, diet, or protection from pain and disease).  We've got half a dozen new screenshots up-chucking sights from the new chunk.
[READ MORE]

Mass Effect going manufacturing

by: John - posted: 5/16/2008 1:49 PM - Comments (0)
Mass Effect for the PC is being manufactured as we speak and it'll be ready for North America on May 28th and for Europe on June 6th. As previously noted, the checking of keys every 10 days or so has been removed so that's good. If you pick the game up for the PC, don't forget to sign up in the BioWare Community area for your free download of Bring Down the Sky add-on. [READ MORE]

Ken Levine to keynote PAX 2008

by: Chuck - posted: 5/16/2008 1:41 PM - Comments (1)
It looks like it's going to be another good Penny Arcade Expo as it was announced today that Bioshock creater Ken Levine would be the keynote speaker at this years show.  He's got a hard act to follow as Wil Wheaton did a spectacular job last year. 

Musical guests were also announced with MC Frontalot (Cyril's Favorite), Jonathan Coulton, and the OneUps returning from last years show.  New to the lineup is The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets and Anamanaguchi.

The show will take place on August 29-31 at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle. [READ MORE]

What we're playing this weekend

by: Chuck - posted: 5/16/2008 12:10 PM - Comments (0)
Here's what we're playing this weekend.  Let us know what you're playing in the comments.

Elliot Bonnie
My GTA IV habit will be hard to break, but maybe DiRT, No More Heroes and Mario Kart can help out a little. If not... its back to Liberty City.

Sean Colleli
I'm still putting GTA IV through its paces, and while it's much better than any of the previous games, it still has some of the old problems that bug me. I'll be playing more Mario kart Wii, which is turning into a hard game to review, and then I'll continue my trip through feudal Japan in Okami.

Charles Husemann
My plans of getting an early start with Age of Conan were shattered yesterday when Gamestop informed me that my pre-order didn't get me early access to the game so this weekend will be spent playing GTA IV, Team Fortress 2, and futzing around with the preview of Kung Fu Panda Activision sent me.

Randy Kalista
When you invest blood, sweat, and tears into an MMO, one that really nails your online realm cravings, it can be hard to fathom playing anything else. Likewise, when you come up for air from MMO submersion to rediscover single-player games, it can be hard to imagine returning to the ol' massively-multiplayer cirque du soleil. I've been offline for some time now, but I'm tying a rubber tube around my arm, tapping away at the vein, and getting ready to grind the IV needle under my skin one more time with Lineage II: The Chaotic Throne: Hellbound.

Matt Mirkovich
More of The World Ends With You, the endgame for this game is extensive. I've also got Flat Out: Head On in the PSP which feels like a mish mash of Burnout and Twisted Metal. Hell it shares the Head On name with Twisted Metal. Not much GTA time as I'm in the middle of traveling, but I can't believe that ********* killed ***** with the ******** while hopped up on *********. Man that scene was intense.

Nathan Murray
I've decided that I will be trading in my titles that I just cant seem to finish to make room in my game library. I've been avoiding Lost Odyssey and Overlord and I've rented FEAR Files and Rome the first season. I am also currently playing through Skate for the second time. Why can't I quit you San Vanelona?

Tyler Sager
Still plugging away at Universe at War on my end. I might also be giving the latest GalCivII expansion, Twilight of the Arnor a whirl.

Rachel Steiner
No Grand Theft Auto IV for me, I'll be playing better things ..AKA Mario Kart Wii.

John Yan
I will be playing with Resume Maker and Job Hunter MMORPG.

Gaming Gibs for 5/16/98

by: Chuck - posted: 5/16/2008 9:34 AM - Comments (0)
Here are a few things I missed while reading the Foo Fighter's awesome tour rider:
  • Microsoft explains their policy on the word Gay in gamertags
  • Gory games cut crime?  Expect new lows of real world violence when Ninja Gaiden II hits
  • CBS buys C|Net (owner of Gamespot) for way more than it's worth
  • Is Call of Duty 4 a MMO?  I guess I missed the Morloc mission
  • Lucasarts gets pithy about the lack of multiplayer in Force Unleashed
  • Ars Technica takes Microsoft down a peg or two about the Xbox 360 numbers
  • New racing rig is totally awesome, Dave might have to sell the plane to get it though
  • Capcom wants to know which Street Fighter IV figure you want, no Stretch Armstrong Dhalsim available
  • Haze questions answered, I guess we find out next week if the game was worth the wait

Debut trailer for Dracula:Origin online

by: Chuck - posted: 5/16/2008 9:24 AM - Comments (0)
Here's the debut trailer for Dracula:Origin the upcoming adventure game that's supposed to suck (your blood).

New screenshouts show Jason Bourne being Jason Bourne

by: Chuck - posted: 5/16/2008 7:22 AM - Comments (0)
Here are seven new screenshots from The Bourne Conspiracy that show off all the fun things you'll be able to do in the game.  Things like hitting people in the head with a wrench, throwing them into signs, and driving around Paris in a mini-Cooper while getting shot at (just like my last vacation there).

Sega partners with Platinum Games

by: Nathan - posted: 5/16/2008 1:22 AM - Comments (0)
SEGA and Platinum Games have become partners. Platinum games will be the development force behind three new Sega inspired intellectual properties MADWORLD, Infinite Line, and Bayonette. There is also a fourth title yet to be announced and Sega has dropped the name Shinji Mikami.

MADWORLD is slated to be released for the Nintendo Wii and is a third person action game with "...a unique black and white style..." Oh and one of the weapons in the game is a chainsaws so I don't think it will get below a Teen rating. "entertaining sports commentary", "irreverent humor", and "over-the-top violence" could make this game hit or miss but one thing is for sure it will be unlike most of the kiddy "come on grandma let's go play" games that have come out for the Wii so far.

Infinite Line (working title) is a RPG for the DS and will give players the ability to build space ships. Lots of spaceships. More than 150 spaceships and over 200 characters could make this the most immersive RPG handheld title yet. Or it could make it incredibly complicated and too bogged down to be fun. We won't find out until next year.

Bayonetta is a "stylish and cinematic" action game coming out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the year 2009. It features a witch facing off against "angelic enemies". Almost feel like I'm going to Hell just for typing that. Theological funnies aside the game will focus on action so it might just be as easy to picture yourself as a ninja facing off against demons, oh wait... [READ MORE]

Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit demo now available on Xbox Live and PSN

by: Chuck - posted: 5/16/2008 12:26 AM - Comments (0)
I'm not sure why but I've never gotten into the Dragon Ball Z franchise but I'm guessing they are fairly popular as Atari keeps cranking out games based on the series (which Cyril ends up reviewing).  If you want to get a taste of Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit, the new high-def version of the game be sure to check out the demo which was released on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network this afternoon to see if the move to the HD era was good for the franchise or not.

Soul still burns in new Xbox Live Soul Calibur screenshots

by: Chuck - posted: 5/16/2008 12:18 AM - Comments (1)
Soul Calibur was the game that convinced me to buy a Dreamcast back in the day.  The combat was fairly easy to learn but took a while to master and the graphics were drop dead gorgeous.  I used to own the guys at work with Kilick and Cervantes except for the weird guy who liked to use Voldo all the time.  Anyway, these ten new screens from the Xbox Live version are looking pretty good so far and I think this will certainly be a good warm up for Soul Calibur IV when it's released later this year.

Gaming Nexus' hometown hockey star Rick Nash appearing on the cover of NHL 2K9

by: John - posted: 5/15/2008 5:17 PM - Comments (5)
I don't know there's much of a "Madden Curse" for hockey cover athletes but Columbus Blue Jacket's own Rick Nash has been selected as the NHL 2K9 cover athlete. I'm sure Chuck's got something to say about this good or bad. It's nice to see the Columbus star headline the game so let's hope this leads to a playoff appearance next year for the Jackets and not being out for the year for Mr. Nash. [READ MORE]

Footy to make your foot hit the floor

by: Nathan - posted: 5/15/2008 1:57 AM - Comments (0)
Undeniably GRID is looking to be pretty if not pretty fun to play. Code Masters released this new trailer that showcases some of the tracks located in Japan and focuses on street courses and drift racing. You get a real feeling of bone crunch when you see the way collisions are done. Yet another racing game that I will play simply to destroy my collection of pretty cars. Muah ha ha ha.
[READ MORE]

More weapons to blast to Uranus

by: Nathan - posted: 5/15/2008 1:41 AM - Comments (0)
Blobber Bomber Lord Angelica Falcon Screw bomb. That may look like gibberish but it is in fact a short list of some of the new weapons and enemies available for Capcom's Rocketmen: It Came from Uranus. The expansion pack was released yesterday on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. The expansion will run buyers about $5 and will come with new maps, weapons and enemies. The screw bomb is my favorite. It is a rocket that turns into a proximity mine on impact. So even if you miss the enemy is still screwed. For a complete list click more for the press release. [READ MORE]

OCZ promoting DIY notebook

by: John - posted: 5/14/2008 9:01 PM - Comments (0)
OCZ is touting to be the first to offer DIY notebooks. While notebooks have become more customizable in the recent years, I wonder what OCZ has planned to really make this a DIY solution. Having the ability to swap out CPU and video card would be great start and I am hoping OCZ's solution offers this. Just purchasing a notebook from Dell a few weeks ago, you're already given plenty of options to choose from so I guess we'll see what OCZ has in store to improve on this. [READ MORE]

X-Fire hits 10 million users

by: Chuck - posted: 5/14/2008 12:25 PM - Comments (0)
The folks at Xfire announced today that they've hit the 10 million registered user mark.  The service which allows gamers to hook up and play games together was launched in 2004 and has become a defacto install for a lot of gamers.  John and I have used the service in the past as it's very easy to use and the in-game chat feature is nice for helping to kill time between rounds of Counter Strike.

This has to be a little bittersweet for Microsoft as their Live for PC service was supposed to do a lot of the same things and while it's only been out for a few years it hasn't exactly lit the world on fire.  One almost wonders what could have been in Microsoft and not MTV had bought the service out a few years ago. [READ MORE]

Picture of the Guitar Hero IV drum set

by: John - posted: 5/14/2008 12:20 PM - Comments (3)
Yes it looks like Guitar Hero IV is going the Rock Band route and adding drums and singing. So how do you make it different? Why move one pad to the cymbal area and add another cymbal. Joystiq has a picture from Game Informer showing off a prototype. This just means another drum set I need to keep in the living room because I bet this thing won't work with Rock Band. My house isn't big enough to hold all these faux instruments.

XPS is not dead yet. In fact it feels fine and might go for a walk

by: John - posted: 5/14/2008 8:11 AM - Comments (0)
Looks like the WSJ was a little quick in determining the demise of the XPS line for Dell.  Dell's blog has stated that both lines will continue to co-exist and there are no plans to phase out that line. I know some people will be happy to hear this as they like the XPS line of systems with a more subtle design and lesser price over the Alienware counterparts.

Rabbit virus infects windows, multiplies rapidly

by: Nathan - posted: 5/14/2008 2:08 AM - Comments (6)
Sierra Online has let the bunnies run loose and soon they will be running right onto your Windows PC. Boogie Bunnies is a causal match three puzzle game that recently came out on Xbox Live Market place that "...revolutionizes the popular genre with... wacky critters full of personality." The game didn't get horrible reviews on the Xbox 360 so here's hoping mouse controls, improved graphic capability, and more memory space make this port onto PC a real winner. Cost is $19.99, rating is E and the game is out now. Oh and there is a FREE TRIAL . [READ MORE]

Chinese Fortune Cookie say...

by: Nathan - posted: 5/14/2008 1:48 AM - Comments (0)
Let your smile be your umbrella. But enough of fortune cookie wisdom let's talk about fortune boxes. K2 Network Games has added new content for their game Red Stone a fantasy based MMORPG. Fortune boxes are one of the new features and are more like lottery tickets than fortune cookies. Each box has at least one item and some have tickets of varying values (bronze, silver, gold) that can be exchanged for uber items. Who knows? Maybe you'll be running down the street singing "I've got a golden ticket, I've got a golden ticket..." [READ MORE]

News Roundup: Nuts & Bolts Gears of PixelJunk

by: Randy - posted: 5/14/2008 1:24 AM - Comments (0)
Demos
 Articles
 Videos
 Screenshots
 Thanks to Xbox America, Techgage, TheTechLounge, Cryptic Studios, Digit-Life, and Strategy Informer for today's news roundup.

[Pictured: Nikopol: Secrets of the Immortals]

We Ski challenges Wiikly Wiileases Wiivealed for sequential vowel sounds

by: Sean Colleli - posted: 5/14/2008 12:22 AM - Comments (0)
Namco Bandai isn't content to let Nintendo have all of the Wii sports pie, so they jumped on a sport Nintendo hasn't gotten to yet.  We Ski is shipping to stores and allows for control with the Wii remote or the brand new balance board bundled with Wii Fit.  Namco Bandai also smartly stamped We Ski with a very reasonable $29.99 price, putting it squarely in the impulse buy range.  I'm curious to see how the balance board works--it's rare to see a game get released before one of its peripherals launches, especially a first party one. [READ MORE]