Sunday, June 14, 2009

What Have You Played This Week?

Football Manager 09 – PC – Still playing, still going. It is my vice and will be for many years to come.

Little Big Planet – PS3 – a mate of mine had done a level, so I played the game and had a look at what levels are out there now. It always amazes me how good the levels are and how they've improved since the game launched. All sorts of mechanical devices have been made and used in levels in ways beyond anything in the single player.

Final Fantasy VII: Dirge OF Cerberus – PS2 – it had the possibility of being a good game. Unfortunatly it falls short. The gameplay is average, but the possibility was there for making it great, think Bayonetta. The game was also cut scene heavy, in game was good graphic wise, but CGI was very impressive. Most were relevant, but sometimes it felt like a short cut for changing the topic, or moving on. With the games frequent loading times during this, it made these less fluid. For fans of the FFVII series (not game) it does add to the story and feature a lot of the characters. Overall I enjoyed it, but think it could be better on a current gen system

? – ? – I can't really talk about this game. All I can say is that it made a big showing at E3 with it's single player, and whilst people have talked down its multiplayer aspect, it actually is some fun. It si a Beta, and has some problems, but it looks graphically impressive and it's maps make a great use of height.


So What have you played this week. feel free to comment on what i've played, or add the games you've played in the comments below.





Saturday, June 13, 2009

Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)

  • 360: Microsoft responds to Halo ODST price, say it's scope wasn't realized when they said it would be cheap. http://tinyurl.com/l43d9g

  • 360: Sam & Max Save The World is coming to XBLA on June 17th. http://tinyurl.com/lrhp9v

  • Lost Planet 2 could be a timed exclusive for the 360. The japan site has it out in Winter on 360, TBA on PS3. http://tinyurl.com/kkqrjz

  • Estimates put XBLA downloads ahead of PSN with 18% of all users regularly downloading, to 10% from PSN. http://tinyurl.com/lr3ua7

  • Pachter regrets PSPgo "Rip-Off" comments, regarding it's price. says it was a poor choice of words. http://tinyurl.com/n87tal

  • Assassins Creed 2 is coming out in the UK on November 20th. http://tinyurl.com/n7k2ex

  • DSi: New Tingle website online. expect trailer next Thursday. http://tinyurl.com/mzkam6

  • Sony boss says people don't respect confidentiality in the business. leaks lead to conjecture and misinformation. http://tinyurl.com/mvpbgp

  • Valve are still not talking about Half Life 2 Episode 3. say "there are very good reasons why" http://tinyurl.com/n6gqde

  • PSPgo, SCEE answers questions, 3 new features, will come with everything you need, 3-6 hour battery + loads more http://tinyurl.com/mznadc

  • EA have confirmed that a small team is working on Mirror's Edge 2. no launch window for it. http://tinyurl.com/l62wlg

  • QTE Blog: Atlus - NeoSteam The Shattered Continent, a MMORPG, Is Now Online And Free To Play - Press Re.. http://tinyurl.com/l4kfbb

  • Neversoft have hinted at a Turntable controller for Guitar Hero, not Guitar Hero 5 though. http://tinyurl.com/lat949

  • PS3: MotorStorm 2 DLC detailed, pictures of the new Speed tracks shown and video of adrenaline expansion. http://tinyurl.com/l6hlxh

  • QTE Blog: Microsoft - Forza 3 Announces Le Mans Circuit and 12 of 100 Cars In The Game - Press Release http://tinyurl.com/ktyloj

  • QTE Blog: EA - BioWare's Dragon Age Origins is Coming To 5 Public Game/Entertainment Events - Press Rel.. http://tinyurl.com/lrefw5

  • QTE Blog: Sony Online Entertainment - Free Realms Now Has Over 3 Million Players. 3M Pet Party Pack Ann.. http://tinyurl.com/m68og6

  • The Saboteur's main campaign is expected to last between 12-18 hours, depending on how much the player sprints. http://tinyurl.com/mhy5fm

  • Wii: Mistwalker, lost odyssey and Blue dragon dev's, have "photoshoped" a picture to remove Wii Dev Kit. http://tinyurl.com/nd8ebd

  • Wii: Miyamoto says Mario Galaxy 2 is light on story. Motion Plus Zelda is experience that needs Motion Plus http://tinyurl.com/lkyshr

  • Capcom have announced that Lost Planet 2 will be out on both 360 and PS3 on the same day in US/EU. http://tinyurl.com/nr6e93

  • THQ have said they are working on a anti quitter patch for UFC 2009. other issues will also be fixed. http://tinyurl.com/l27ekz

  • 360: it is rumored that a new Xbox console is coming next fall. Natal comes as standard, add-on for 360. http://tinyurl.com/n3l88j

  • Wii: Muramasa The Demon Blade will not be dubbed into English, will feature subtitles, for it's western release. http://tinyurl.com/kwk69r

  • DSi: Pokemon Gold/Silver, All 493 pokemon follow u, interact with them, can visit Kanto and new locations + More. http://tinyurl.com/m58r6e



Friday, June 12, 2009

Sony Online Entertainment - Free Realms Now Has Over 3 Million Players. 3M Pet Party Pack Announced - Press Release

Sony Online Entertainment have announced that Free Realms now has over 3 million players. to celebrate this, Sony Online Entertainment have announced a 3M Pet Party Pack for it's registered players. this pack is for both the cats and dogs, and is filled with goodies. Players will have until Friday June 19th to redeem this pack.



Press Release

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – June 12, 2009 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) today announced that more than three million unique users have registered for Free Realms™ (www.FreeRealms.com), the free-to-play, family-friendly online video game that launched on April 28, 2009. Recently awarded recognition by Guinness World Records for conducting the first concert to take place simultaneously in the real world and a virtual space during E3 in Los Angeles last week, Free Realms continues to redefine the scope and pace of online games.

“SOE worked diligently over the past four years to ensure that Free Realms would take the online space by storm,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “We are pleased to be able to provide such a vast, in-depth and, most importantly, fun world to an average of 500,000 new gamers per week.”

To celebrate the rapidly growing community of players, SOE will grant its first three million Free Realmsregistrants the “3M Pet Party Pack,” filled with goodies for use with their virtual pets, both cats and dogs. In Free Realms, players are free to do or be anything, including donning the job of pet trainer to raise a pet! From the in-game Marketplace, players can choose from more than 20 different types of playful dogs and cats to train, feed, groom and dress up. Players have until Friday June 19, 2009 (11:59 PM PDT) to redeem the “3M Pet Party Pack”.

Free Realms also features 14 other fun jobs to master, as well as the Free Realms Trading Card Game: a full-featured trading card game, playable both digitally within the Free Realms online game and offline via physical card decks sold wherever you buy trading cards.

To support the initial release and launch of Free Realms, nearly one million Station Cash™ game cards were made available across five major retail chains. Free Realms players can pop into select retailers to purchase Station Cash cards, which are used to redeem Station Cash and buy virtual goodies or upgrade to a Membership status in the game.

Free Realms is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and up with content descriptors of Crude Humor and Fantasy Violence. To play Free Realms, visit: http://www.FreeRealms.com.
Press assets: http://www.soepress.com/product.asp?s=72

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX; Seattle, WA; Denver, CO; Tucson, AZ and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

EA - BioWare's Dragon Age Origins is Coming To 5 Public Game/Entertainment Events - Press Release

EA have announced that BioWare's new game, Dragon Age Origins, will be coming to 5 public gaming/entertainment events across N.America. The game will be playable at the San Diego Comic-Con, Gen-Con, GamesCom, Fan Expo Canada, and PAX.

Press Release

EDMONTON, Alberta --(Business Wire)-- Jun 12, 2009 Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), will bringDragon Age™: Origins to the San Diego Comic-Con, GamesCom, Gen Con, Fan Expo Canada and Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) over the course of summer 2009. This summer consumer show tour gives fans the chance to experience the game’s dark and gritty world of violence, lust and betrayal first-hand, before it hits stores this fall on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Dragon Age: Originspromises gamers an epic adventure as a Grey Warden where they set on a course to defeat the Archdemon in a dark, stunning world. Dragon Age: Origins offers an engrossing story, unprecedented player choice, and bone-crushing, visceral combat, making it one of the most highly-anticipated releases of 2009.

“Dragon Age: Origins is the biggest, most ambitious BioWare game to date, and we will be delivering that great experience simultaneously on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, CEO and co-founder of BioWare and General Manager and Vice President, Electronic Arts. “Whether you’re a PC or console gamer, Dragon Age: Origins reinvents the fantasy experience, combining a great story with raw emotion and brutal action. We’re excited to share it with gamers before it ships this fall.”

Gamers can begin to follow the trail of blood this summer and can get their own hands on Dragon Age: Origins at the summer’s five biggest public game and entertainment events:
  • San Diego Comic-Con, one of the world’s largest comic book, science fiction and fantasy conventions of its kind, on July 22-26 in San Diego, California.
  • Gen-Con, one of the longest running and best attended gaming conventions in the world on August 13-16 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • GamesCom, Europe’s biggest game convention on August 19-23 in Cologne, Germany.
  • Fan Expo Canada, one of the country’s largest comic, anime, science fiction, horror and gaming events on August 28-30 in Toronto, Canada.
  • PAX, a three-day game festival for tabletop and video gamers on September 4-6 in Seattle, Washington.
In Dragon Age: Origins, players take on the role of a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancient order of guardians. Now, as an evil blight threatens to destroy all life, it is up to players to unite the shattered lands and slay the corrupted dragon known as the Archdemon. To restore peace, players must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice their friends and loved ones for the greater good of mankind.
Dragon Age: Origins is scheduled to release this fall on the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 console and PC.
Dragon Age: Origins is not yet rated by the ESRB or PEGI. For more information about Dragon Age: Origins, visit www.dragonage.com. Follow us on Twitter at: @dragonage.

About BioWare
BioWare develops computer, console, handheld, mobile and online video games focused on rich stories and memorable characters. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's best-selling titles, including the award-winning Baldur's Gate™ and Neverwinter Nights™ series, Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™ and Sonic™ Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (for the Nintendo DS™). Original BioWare-created intellectual properties include Jade Empire™ and the 2007 Game of the Year, Mass Effect™. With studios in Edmonton (Alberta), Montreal (Quebec), and Austin (Texas), BioWare is hard at work on the epic fantasy roleplaying game, Dragon Age™: Origins, Mass Effect 2™, the epic sequel to Mass Effect, and the story-driven massively multiplayer game, Star Wars®: The Old Republic™, as well as several unannounced projects. In 2008, BioWare was acquired by the world's leading electronic entertainment publisher, Electronic Arts. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EATM, EA SPORTSTM, EA Mobile TM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

*BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. “PLAYSTATION” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Nintendo DS is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Microsoft - Forza 3 Announces Le Mans Circuit and 12 of 100 Cars In The Game - Press Release

Microsoft have announced that the Le Mans circuit will be in Forza 3 as well as 100 Cars.
A Special press event is being held at the circuit, with Peugeot and Driver Stéphane Sarrazin, to announce these new features and more.

Some of the cars in the game have been confirmed to include the, Audi Sport North America R10 TDI, Audi FSI Champion Racing R8,Team Bentley Speed 8, BMW Motorsport V12 LMR, Team Cadillac Northstar LMP-02, Ferrari MOMO Doran Racing F333 SP, Peugeot Sport 908, Peugeot Talbot Sport 905 EVO 1C, Racing Porsche AG 962c, Toyota Motorsports GT-ONE TS020, Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI, and the Ferrari Risi Competizione F333 SP


Press Release

LONDON, 12 JUNE 2009 – This weekend in Le Mans, Sarthe, France, the world’s best drivers and their finely tuned race cars will compete in the oldest and most prestigious endurance race in the world, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

To celebrate the 77th 24 Hours of Le Mans, Xbox 360 has partnered with Peugeot Sport to host a press event at the Le Mans circuit together with Peugeot Sport’s top driver, Stéphane Sarrazin. The event, held in Peugeot Sport’s Hospitality at Le Raccordement announces the debut of the famed Le Mans Le Sarthe and Bugatti circuits as well as a new multi-class racing mode, all to be included in “Forza Motorsport 3”, when the game launches exclusively on Xbox 360 in October. A consultant to developer Turn 10 on the re-creation of the track for Forza Motorsport 3, Stéphane took some laps on the in-game version of LeMans with press prior to joining his Peugeot 908 teammates to prepare for Saturday’s race.

In the true spirit of motorsport, no “Forza Motorsport 3” experience is complete without the inclusion of the finely tuned and highly engineered racing machines designed by the world’s most prestigious racing teams. To that end, Xbox 360 also announces at Le Mans the first set of more than 100 race cars that will be featured in the game. For the first time in Forza Motorsport history, fans will be able to get into the cockpit of some of the world’s most famous race cars including the Peugeot Sport 908, the Audi FSI Champion Racing R8 and the Ferrari MOMO Doran Racing F333 SP. With the best graphics and most realistically performing cars in gaming, “Forza Motorsport 3’ will let racing fans worldwide live out their love of motorsport like never before.

In the U.S. this weekend, Xbox 360 and Audi North America invite motorsport fans and media to the Audi Forum New York City for a host of activities celebrating Le Mans. Among them, Xbox 360 and Audi North America are hosting the AXF-24 Audi-Forza Challenge where nine of North America’s top “Forza” drivers as determined by rankings on Xbox LIVE will compete in a simulated 24-hour endurance competition complete with regular pit stops to refuel and replenish as that challenge themselves and each other on the just debuted Le Mans Le Sarthe circuit in "Forza Motorsport 3." The competition runs concurrent to the actual race in France with gamers being split into three teams of three drivers, just like Le Mans racing teams then compete to win an all-expenses paid trip for them and a guest to the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans race hosted by Audi. Other activities for media and guests include taking their own turns on Lemans in the Forza Motorsport 3 racing pod, witness pit stop demonstrations featuring the real-world Audi R8 and R10 Le Mans race cars as well as view a live broadcast of the race from France. For more info or to register to attend the events taking place at the Audi Forum New York in Manhattan, visithttp://audiexp.com/axf24.html

With unparalleled physics, stunning graphics and more competition and variety than any game before, “Forza Motorsport 3” captures the thrill of Le Mans and brings it from the track to your living room this October.
Among the more than 100 race cars in “Forza Motorsport 3” announced today:

Manufacturer
Model

Audi
#2 Audi Sport North America R10 TDI

Audi
#2 FSI Champion Racing R8

Bentley
#7 Team Bentley Speed 8

BMW
#15 BMW Motorsport V12 LMR

Cadillac
#6 Team Cadillac Northstar LMP-02

Ferrari
#30 MOMO Doran Racing F333 SP

Peugeot
#8 Peugeot Sport 908

Peugeot
#3 Peugeot Talbot Sport 905 EVO 1C

Porsche
#17 Racing Porsche AG 962c

Toyota
#3 Toyota Motorsports GT-ONE TS020

Audi
#8 Audi Sport Team Joest Audi R10 TDI

Ferrari
#12 Risi Competizione F333 SP

Atlus - NeoSteam The Shattered Continent, a MMORPG, Is Now Online And Free To Play - Press Release

Atlus have announced that their free to play MMORPG Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent is now online. it is the first full length title to join Atlus Online's portal.

The game features a world where two nations battle over the Neo Steam. the game has a focus on customisation, whether it's your nation or your classes. you aim to expand your nations resources and protect it's borders whilst learning how to use the steam technology to improve your equipment.


Press Release

RVINE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Jun 12, 2009 The Neo Steam tanks are overflowing, the gears have been oiled up, and the master switch has been flipped! Players can now jump on a zeppelin and explore the vibrant towns and cavernous dungeons of the commercially launched Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent, a fantasy-steampunk massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). This game marks the first full-length title to join Atlus Online’s portal, a daily destination for community-focused gaming and interactive entertainment.

“The moment is finally here for us to open up the doors of Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent and invite players to take part in an experience that we are exceedingly proud of,” says Jun Hyun Kim, Head of Game Operations, Atlus U.S.A., Inc. “Over the past months, our community has continued to grow and share with us to build one of the most cohesive and collaborative portals I’ve seen. And now, we are so thrilled to provide them with a final version of the game, which they were so inspirational and instrumental in helping to make possible.”

With the commercial rollout of Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent, several previously locked features have now been activated. Most importantly is the premium item shop, which houses untold numbers of vanity items and character enhancers. And now that Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent is live, Atlus Online will periodically provide fresh updates and run quirky promotions to further players’ fantastical journeys long after the game's launch.

Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent, Atlus Online’s first MMORPG, transports players to a world where two nations battle over a precious resource called Neo Steam. From the onset, customization is key to each player’s experience, where they can choose which nation to join and select from a number of specialized classes. As players battle to expand their nation’s resources and protect their borders from invasion, they must learn to harness steam technology to upgrade their equipment, learn new abilities, and progress in their chosen class. Adding to the immersive aspect of the fantasy-steampunk world, the game also features various forms of steam-based machines and vehicles for faster in-game traveling.

Gamers, Atlus Online fans, and those excited to experience the world of Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent can visit http://www.neosteam.atlusonline.com for more information.

About Atlus Online
Atlus Online is the online interactive entertainment division of Atlus U.S.A., Inc., renowned for its proud tradition of publishing exceptional role-playing games with strong niche appeal. The Atlus library of critically acclaimed video games includes Odin Sphere, the Trauma Center series, and the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei series. More information can be found at http://www.atlusonline.com.

Re-Cap of Yesterdays News (oldest to newest)