Mr. Universal's Blog

...and so it begins.  With an entirely new, top-down Xbox Dashboard experience (or should that be X-perience?) coming soon, Microsoft isn't wasting any time in getting the word out that things are gonna change.  To ease the pain celebrate the next experience, they've launched a handy new website detailing the new features and video walkthroughs of the new Avatar system.  Despite the hair-pulling of diehard Xbox fans who will no doubt miss their dark 'n dirty Dashboard of yesteryear, the new update is looking pretty good and I personally can't wait to turn my Xbox 360 into another Wii console.

Oops, did I say that out loud?  Just kidding with ya.  Check out the official New Xbox Experience site for yourselves by clicking right HERE!

While the history of videogame-to-film projects is littered with the bodies of many attempts (most from the good Dr. Uwe Boll), a few bright spots have led Hollywood into the idea that a good film is still possible.  The upcoming Max Payne adaptation is looking very likely to join that small group of non-bad ones, and the latest comic book-style trailer does nothing to dispel that notion.  Wahlberg's a great choice for the titular anti-hero, and as long as they keep the spirit of the extremely violent games, this one could be a winner.  Check it out!

With all this talk about Capcom's upcoming Street Fighter IV bonanza, you'd think that it was the only supremel-anticipated fighter in town.  Not so!  While it may lack that all-important "Chun Li" factor, SNK/Playmore is readying the most significant entry to the King of Fighters franchise since the series first launched with the '94 edition.  Significant because, if nothing else, its all been completely redrawn and revamped (without the need for polygonal improvements).  And did I mention its looking GORGEOUS?

Yeah, it's looking gorgeous!  King of Fighters XII really looks spectacular, and I'll take one of these over a dozen Guilty Gears, even if saying that hastens my demise.  Check it out!

Actually I fibbed a bit...but only a little.  But without question, the European trailer for the upcoming Sambo De Amigo Wii-make has already seared its joyous, samba-self into my brain (thankfully washing away the ickiness of a certain Microsoft ad) and will probably stay there all night long.  Chock-full of all the necessary Wii Ad staples, only substituting zombified 'happy' families are two bodacious babes who probably couldn't care less about the game - but who cares?  We're all winners with this one, and maybe Sega's killer maraca (sadly missing) rhythm sensation will finally find an audience this time around.

But if not, we've still go the girls!  Let's arrasta-pé!

Live Your Moment

With the Xbox 360 finally hitting that magic (yet deceptive) $199 price-point, it seems Microsoft is pulling out the big guns this holiday season and launching what could be their biggest-ever promotional push for the Xbox 360.  With sagging sales and a resurgent PlayStation brand (to say nothing of a certain waggle-inducing white box...) MS really needs to get the message out and get it out hard.  So what's a multi-billion dollar conglomerate to do?

FREAK YOU THE F&*% OUT, that's what!  As you can see from the embedded ad just above, MS has decided to adopt the famously ineffective model of appealing to some sector of the population that craves demonic babies, gothic themes, and hollowed-out skulls (insert joke here).  Of course, none of this worked selling the PlayStation 3, and I'm not sure why they think it's going to attract a larger (presumably) casual audience.

Years of hype + proven experience doesn't always have to lead to crushing defeats, as the preliminary numbers for Will Wright's long-awaited follow-up project to The Sims (best-selling PC game franchise ever, btw) is now officially a hit.  In less than 17 days of release, Spore has already sold a cool million copies across various formats, including PC, MAC, and Nintendo DS.  Although tepid (if not earnest) reviews and a massive backlash over the game's implementation of DRM (digital rights management) have cooled what should have been a white-hot celebration, things look good for the future of the intelligent-design inspired simulator.

So says EA Games president Frank Gibeau:

"Will Wright's latest delivers an incredibly diverse game that appeals to casual gamers and the core alike. We're off to a great start moving into the holiday season and believe Spore will deliver a platform of creativity for gamers of all stripes for years to come.

Even more Street Fighter IV related news today (because frankly, it never gets old), only this one should turn heads.  If you're one of the countless SF-loving nerds that drained college funds or took out second-mortgages to get EGM's infamous 1992 "April Fool's Joke" concerning a certain 'master'...well, vindication is here!  In what started a literal mistranslation of the game (see above) has become reality, as the fabled trainer of Ryu and Ken officially gets real.

Famitsu is reporting that Shen Long (Gouken) has been inserted into Street Fighter IV arcade machines across Japan, to which 1UP.com is reporting includes special attacks like the 'forbidden shoryuken' and other potentially game-changing madness.  As if Akuma wasn't enough!  More info as it comes in, but as we like to say...better late than never!

I was online the other day, looking for some fun pictures of a certain fictional sumo champion to lighten the mood (don't ask).  Wouldn't you know it, that even typing 'E. Honda' brought up pix of Chun Li.  SCADS of them.  So I guess it shouldn't be much of a problem for Street Fighter fans that gaming's first lady of kicking butt graces the North American cover of the upcoming Street Fighter IV for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.  Presumably this will coincide with the upcoming live-action SF movie The Legend of Chun Li...not really sure they should be stringing those two together...

Europeans are still getting the game as well, but they'll have to settle for a standard Ryu-hurls-hadoden version instead.  Choices, choices, and if you want to see them both why not just click READ MORE!

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and while Sony may have gone motion-control with their PlayStation 3 (slightly), Microsoft's going all the way with a total (and mandatory) Xbox interface change-up later this Fall.  Among the upgrades to the aesthetic is the questionably familiar use of Avatars, which might give a few out there a serious case of deja vu.  Although no real word of their function is mentioned, Microsoft's Major Nelson gives us a peek to the little buggers creation in this short, but sweet walkthrough.

The creative side of me is torn apart with the Xbox Avatars: I'm a big advocate of user-generated content when its possible, but the rather transparent cloning of a competitors most unusual innovation drives me batty.  Nintendo's Mii creator was a stroke of genius, designed from the ground-up to be at home on the console.  Two years on, Microsoft's version strikes me (at best) a sign of the times and (at the lease) a bit 'me too' in more ways than one.  I love you MS, but couldn't you have at least thought of giving them a big flashier name than just Avatars?

Although I don't always say it, I love blogs.  Love 'em.  Where else can you get rushed, unverified rumors, and (most obviously) blurred-up screenshots weeks, if not months, before the legit sites and sources?  Such is the case with the upcoming Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS.  The first (blurred-up) batch of screenshots would seem to verify many things for the shrunken platform version of everyone's favorite crime-laden epic.

A return to the classic top-down perspective, cell-shading, and plenty of carnage await those anxious DS fans this coming holiday season, which all would indicate that Rockstar has done fans right and built a totally exclusive game that takes advantage of the best that the DS can do.  It sounds like win/win for everyone, and just click on down for all the visuals you can handle!

Monster Hunter, the franchise that almost single-handedly saved the PSP in Japan is going Wii - all the way, baby!  No doubt Capcom is looking for mega-intense numbers when the game launches in its native Japan later this year, and to celebrate the sure-fire madness a number of screens to get those Japanese hearts a'pumping.

A bit blurry, but at least we can't blame the console's power for this one.  Blame scans, the internet if you like, and here's the link that shows off the goods!  Check them out for yourselves by simply clicking right HERE!

Oh brother, don't I just feel like a fool!  Earlier today we reported that Capcom decided to up their MegaMan-type coverage with a brand new, totally dedicated site to all things Mega...and now we've got a set of official release dates for the upcoming MegaMan 9 retro goodness for all the next-gen consoles.  You like staggered releases?  Capcom's got you totally covered.  Here's how it breaks down:

The Wii gets first dibs, as it debuts on Nintendo's console September 22th.  Sony gets sloppy (but oh-so-sweet) seconds on September 25th, with the Xbox Live version bringing up the rear on October 1st.  The game retails for roughly $9.99 on all platforms...so many choices, so many sprites - which version are you guys gonna get?

Big thanks to Capcom-Unity!

Few film franchises are so intrinsically linked with their soundtracks the way James Bond is.  Love 'em or leave 'em, seems like just about everyone has a favorite tune from 007's various adventures, and with musical queue that includes names like Paul McCartney, Duran Duran, Shirely Bassey, and even Madonna (let's not forget that incredible John Barry theme) there's plenty to love.  It looks like the latest tune, "Another Way to Die" by the strange coupling of Alicia Keys and Jack White is online in streaming form - at least for now - and we've got a link!

What do you guys think?  Classic or post-modern disaster?  Personally, I'm digging it hella more than Chris Cornell's take for Casino Royale.  My favorite recent-Bond song is most definitely Garbage's "The World is Not Enough", but this will sound excellent when A Quantum of Solace drops this November!  Take a listen!

Those who've yet to give up the Liberty City dream can look forward to at least one more crack at fame and glory as Rockstar's Social Club is hosting a special weekend event that should appeal to your inner despot.  Starting today and running until September 28th (next Sunday), there's plenty to win and even more bragging rights.  So sayeth the blurb: 

No purchase necessary?  Interpret that as you will (I kid), but if you're looking to feel like going on a digital crimewive (without the crimewave) then head on over to the official sweepstakes site by pointing your inner Niccos' right HERE!!

With MegaMan 9 just around the corner (hopefully), the king of cool Capcom has opened up a brand-new, fully detailed website dedicated to everyone's favorite Blue Bomber.  Thoroughly modern (i.e. all-flash) and chock-full of Mega-goodies, Mega-music, and all sorts of downloadable sweetness.  If you're into all things MegaMan than its pretty safe to say that your ship has finally docked.

Me?  More of a casual fan myself, but I'd be lying if the spritey-goodness that is MegaMan 9 doesn't have my trigger finger all a twitter!  Check out the official site for yourselves by heading over to http://megaman.capcom.com!

While Nintendo Wii owners may be used to (or conditioned) to the various blue-light tinged updates to their white-boxed consoles Channel line-up, PlayStation3 owners regularly have to settle for more professional (i.e. bland) firmware updates to play with any new digital toys the company throws their way. Perhaps its fitting to mention the two videogame systems within the same sentence, as Sony's recent singular update (Life with PlayStation) to the PS3 could probably learn a thing or two from features that Wii owners have been enjoying for quite some time.

Read on for the whole sordid tale!

If you're just waking up, wipe that sleep from those eyeballs because you've got some terrain to deform!  That's right kids, with so much emphasis on that other Lucasarts game (some Force thing...), many forgot that the company has ANOTHER Xbox360/PS3 action-adventure in the works.  Fracture, the other futuristic action-fest featuring a shaved-head dude gets a demo for both HD-equipped consoles today.  The company release says you can use the "power of Terrain Deformation to create cover, solve puzzles, and revolutionize battle tactics".

Thank goodness for that!!  The Fracture demo *should* be available by the time you read this, so hop to it!

The sticky switch from console-to-computer (or vice-versa) gaming can often end with tears and heartache, but those looking to ease their pain in a very first-party sort of way can look to the awesomeness of the recent Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning solution - via a quick and easy download, those with wired/wireless Xbox 360 pads (and presumably the proper USB adapter) can now enjoy their online massacres with a familiar feel thanks to the SwitchBlade.

So sayeth Blur Orb, the creators of their game today with this optimistic message of universal compatability:

"Our aim is to immerse players into the brutal frays of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning by providing them with a hands-on alternative to the traditional keyboard and mouse control scheme," said Walt Wilson, COO at Blue Orb. "Realm vs. Realm combat is one of the many highlights of WAR, and SwitchBlade brings comfort and a rich new game play experience to the hours-long city sieges players will experience in-game."

...further word details that SwitchBlade comes pre-mapped to Microsoft's pad and its available right now!  Download for youself by navigating direct to www.switchbladegaming.com/war.

Just in case you miss it elsewhere, color the arcade fighting world a little bit shocked this evening as the latest issue of Famitsu reveals that Capcom's answer to their own (beloved) VS. series, the upcoming Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is getting a proper home console release.  Not even in the arcades just yet, Capcom's not wasting anytime in getting the anime-flavored fighter to the most popular console in the home country:  the Nintendo Wii.

OK haters, pick up your heads and give it a chance.  While its most likely the Xbox 360 (given its recent success) and the PlayStation 3 will see versions to compliment their shiny and terribly awesome looking Street Fighter IV ports, it looks like Capcom is ready to drop this thing fast, with a December 11th release date looking mighty sexy to the discriminating importer...throw in an extra character (or more) and you've got the salivatory glands working overtime.

Want more?  Of course you do, and full scanalicious images AND full-featured trailer awaits you after the jump...don't miss it!

The unexpected (to many) and fantastic success that Microsoft has been having in Japan lately seems to have no bounds, as the company has filled the big, gaping hole of non-existant Xbox 360 consoles with very real and very wanted of the buggers to fans across the Land of the Rising Sun wanting to get their Tales of Vesperia action on.  Coupled with some recent (and drastic price-cuts) and the results are staggering - with the Xbox 360 outselling BOTH the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation 3.  With 28,681 units out the door, this just creeps past our usual champion Wii at 27,057.  Sony's tears of shame can't be much of a consolation prize, as the former Home Turf champ crawls to third with just 8,050.

Will this madness ever end?  Or has Microsoft's long-ridiculed dream of somehow penetrating this foreign land finally been met with cheers of acceptance and RPG-loving nods of approval?

Big thanks to Kotaku for the translation-sensation!

Straight from the wonder that is the Capcom Unity Blog comes what may be the final nail in the coffin 'o hesitation to anyone putting off buying Mega Man 9 when its released for the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, or PS3.  The cheese is there...the love is most definitely there, and for those of you out there old enough to remember how exciting a brand-new NES cartridge could be, this would be something to cherish.  I say would be rather than will be, as most of you will never see, touch, or have the experience of blowing into one of these timeless beauties.  Says Capcom's John Diamonon:

"When we came up with the concept of a "box art" for Mega Man 9, we thought it was kinda funny, since there would be no real retail box for a dowloadable title. The premise of our marketing concept for the game was to promote this title like it was 1987, complete with cheesy art and game descriptions (read the back of the box) that had little to do with the actual game.  We then started to think, well why not? Why don't we recreate an old NES package complete with a real NES cartridge? So, here it is."

Hit the jump for even more spectacular imagery (aka the other side), and some commentary from someone who's longing for a physical release...

See that dazzling photo just above?  Although some may consider this piece of Pac-Man inspired headgear a bit odd, its all good in the rough and tumbly world of high-fashion, where even the most freakish and absurd designers make several times more money than you.  Good thing the current economic crisis isn't hitting these pioneers!

From the official AP post:  "A model displays a creation from the Spring/Summer 2009 collection from designer Giles as part of London Fashion Week, in London, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008" (link) - Seriously, what more needs saying?

Peter Moore, the spokesman for hire and current head of EA Sports recently sat down with British website Guardian.uk for a series of interviews that's sure to blow many a tried and true Sega fan's mind, and fuel the Borg-like and predatory nature of the previous videogame division under his watch, Microsoft. In these sit-downs, Moore tells of the final moments of Sega as a console contender, and confirming that the company built by Gates (via Steve Balmer) was interested in 'acquiring' Japanese videogame company Nintendo.

The suspense of it all! Keep reading for all the sordid details!

Who's the biggest bad-a$$ of them all?  From side-scroller to 3d-person, ain't nobody ever brought the pain like Duke Nukem brought it!  Funny story, Duke Nukem 3D was the game that helped make the transition from console games to PC that much smoother, and taught me that a keyboard and mouse could be something special.  Now the king-daddy of them all is hitting the Xbox Live Arcade, complete with a spattering of updates and 'upgrades' (we'll see about that), including 8-player co-op, user-clip upload/download, rewind time, and unlockable concept art gallery and more.

Ready to get some?  Well, come get it!

OK, so probably SCADS of you out there reading probably know this, but for those about to rock MTV Networks salutes you...with 20 free DLC tracks!  Or rather 20 songs of free DLC as the official blogs put it.  With the release of Rock Band 2 burning up the charts (yo, Timbaland!) and a staggering 500 different songs planned by the end of 2008 (counting RB1, RB2, and all that sweet DLC) it looks like the next hot spot will be your very own living room.  Who'd have thought?

Personally, and I know I'm gonna take massive heat for this, but wouldn't it kick all sorts of digital booty if those 20 free songs were the Monkees?  I'd be so down for that, because you know I'm a believer!

Thanks Rock Band forums!!

OK...I was down with the dogs and cowbells, but after searching the most minute crevices of my soul I just can't think of anything peppy or downright sardonic to say about the latest Wii Music trailer explosion featuring...chipmunk cheerleaders.  Well, maybe not actual chipmunk cheerleaders (how cool/freak would that be?), but chipmunk in the Alvin, Simon, and Theodore variety.  Want some way, cool, and pretty do go with that punch?  You know it!

While I may not know or understand one finger-licking thing about the crazy, yet so tempting world of online role-playing games, I do know a thing or two about a good book.  Nevertheless, it would seem that there's enough Warhammer: Age of Reckoning fans out there to have justified such a cross-over, and just in time to hop on the game's impending release (September 18th) comes the first fictionalized novel set within the game's rich, textured backstory.  Straight from the source:

"EMPIRE IN CHAOS, written by noted Games Workshop scribe Anthony Reynolds, is now available in bookstores in North America. The epic novel follows the journey of Annaliese Jager as she escapes her destroyed village only to be swept up in an epic battle to save the Empire from the marauding forces of Chaos. Joined by an injured High Elf, a grizzled Witch Hunter, and a Dwarf Ironbreaker, she will battle alongside the armies of the Empire and Dwarfs against greenskin tribes and the dreaded Chaos Raven Host. Together, this unlikely band of heroes must fight like never before to turn back the tides of darkness, or the future of the Empire is doomed."

If you're itching for more info on EMPIRE IN CHAOS, check out the official site Black Library Publishing online at blacklibrary.com!

Somewhere out there, as thousands of internet fanboys weep into their mugs of Mountain Dews and lament the 'death of the hardcore', I guess that I consider myself lucky enough to see past the fog of intolerance and (sellout that I must be) anxiously await the upcoming onslaught that will surely be Wii Music.  I'm loving these mini-bytes that Nintendo is throwing at us, because frankly, the world could always use more cowbell.

Will Ferrell lovers - Need More Cowbell!

With online leaks running like faucets, it seems that the full roster for the upcoming fighting mash-up Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe has made its way onto the intertubes, and thanks to some fancy sluething (i.e culling from various other blogs), we've got the whole kit and kaboodle right here, right now!  Here's the list, broken up by respective company:

DC Universe:
* Batman
* Superman
* Catwoman
* Green Lantern
* Shazam
* The Flash
* Deathstroke
* Wonder Woman
* The Joker
* Lex Luthor
* Darkseid

Mortal Kombat:
* Scorpion
* Sub-Zero
* Sonya
* Jax
* Shang Tsung
* Liu Kang
* Raiden
* Kitana
* Kano
* Baraka
* Shao Kahn

Although it may not be noticable at first sight, strolling through the list I was surprised to see a whopping FOUR female characters making the cut.  Needless to say, this is much higher than your typical non-anime styled fighter, and those of you who've given up on that Dream Match of Wonderwoman vs. Sonya, looks like your faith is about to be restored!

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe hits your Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles this November!

While we may have featured Sony's upcoming Bluetooth Headset on the regular site earlier this week, you haven't truly experienced the whole package (aside from actually using the thing) until you've experienced the outrageous PlayStation 3 Bluetooth Headset infomercial!  Featuring unnamed, freaky floating mannequin heads and cheese-grating metal music even your grandma could thrash to, its our best-ever look at the device that's sure to bring the foul and filthy to Sony's online service.

How we missed those buggers!

I haven't been the best PlayStation 3 owner in the world.  Yes, I own Sony's latest monster console, but no, I'm not loving it.  Oh, I'm doing the best I can, but so far none of the exclusive software (saved for Uncharted) has really wowed me.  But from the moment the upcoming and oxymoronic LittleBigPlanet graced these eyeballs, I was hooked.  The more I saw, the more I wanted to see (a good thing).  Early word has it pegged as one of - if not the - best PS3 games yet, and when a consensus reaches near 100%, you've got something worth looking for.

That said, most hype can't penetrate my insurmountable fields (i.e. cynicism), but after gazing at the adorable SackBoy mockumentary (not to be confused with Michael Moore's many films), this could be my first Day 01 purchase for be increasingly sexy waffle iron.  Good stuff, as I love British documentaries, and definitely one to watch!

When most companies fail to deliver the goods (i.e. trailers, screens) about upcoming products, its a pretty good sign that there's little confidence in the thing and Johnn Public should act accordingly.  When it's NINTENDO (emphasis on NINTENDO) acting light on the goods, then its time to start scratching those noggins.  Notoriously bad at marketing their own products (pre-Wii, naturally), the first long-awaited look at the almost secret disaster game, appropriately named Disaster: Day of Crisis finally has some footage to go along with the questions.

Say what you will about the upcoming Saint's Row sequel (and trust me, some will be saying a lot), but one could never accuse the guys and gals behind this franchise of being elitists.  Frankly, it looks like they're out to offend each and every person out there, and bless them for the effort.  Its nice to see things shaken up a bit, and what better time could they have then with a hotly contested presidential election?

Although even with the blurred video, it seems that McCain gets the better end of the stick with a character model that looks vaguely like the Arizona Senator, while Obama's render looks like he jumped out of that discraceful 50 Cent 'unmentionable' videogame.  Full co-op throughout the entire campaign?  Looks like Saint's Row 2 just blipped on my radar!

Oh I just know that I'm going to be absolutely roasted over this post.  Street Fighter games?  Check.  Action-adventure games?  Double-check.  Action/RPG + Anime games?  Absolutely hopeless, yet despite my deficiencies in the genre, I'll bravely offer up the two - count 'em two - official trailers to the upcoming Nintendo DS addition of Namco's popular and never-ending Tales franchise, Tales of Hearts.

Why two trailers, you might be asking?  Well, rather than go and muck up a good thing, it seems Namco has decided to double their profits...um, double their potential fans' happiness quota by releasing two different versions of the same game.  Not Pokemon style, mind you, but two versions of the same exact game, only one with traditional anime-style artwork and cutscenes, the other dripping with CG-laden goodness.  Which version is for you?  Find out for yourselves after the jump!

Hey all you wacky Spore fans out there!  Just a reminder that your hero Will Wright (creator of said Spore and favorite The Sims) will be on TV this evening, or more appropriately the National Geographic Channel at 10 PM for what EA calls "a deeper look at the science behind Spore and how evolutionary creature-making has been translated into a visionary new world of gaming. In How to Build a Better Being, video game pioneer and Spore mastermind Will Wright consults with top scientists on the latest DNA discoveries and investigates how creatures with antennas, wings and six legs share a common family tree with all of us."

You like how I merged that pseudo-press release blurb into the mix?  If only I could do the same with music, then I'd truly have a career worth talking about.  Wright's always a good interview, and this should make for some compelling 'non-animal mating' television!  Check out the whole program details at the official spot by clicking right HERE!

Those easily offended might as well leave right now.  Like many of you out there, I think Japanese women can be downright adorable.  Heck, all women can be downright adorable under the right circumstances, but throw in some curiously funky musical dogs and add in the suggestion that its all at your fingertips (or in this case, dual motion controls) and you've got all the makings of yet another Japanese Wii Music trailer!

I don't know what it is about these things, but even after watching it a good dozen times I can't help but have this big, stupid grin on my face.  Anyone else out there getting body shivers and thinking "Could this be the next musical Mario Paint we've been waiting for?"  Cynics be damned, I am so on board with this.