You are currently viewing archives for December 2008
Big Jason Statham fan here. He's about the closest thing we've got to a 'true' action hero, and the fact he's so willing to put his body (and reputation) through such abuse for a laugh or complex scene is all it takes. That said, the mini-trailer for the upcoming Crank 2: High Voltage is about the silliest, most absurd thing that you're likely to see the rest of year, chock-full of insane and totally offensive material that's definitely NOT SAFE FOR WORK!!
In less than two minutes we're subjected to (live) open-heart surgery, foul-mouthed grannies, spanking strippers, public copulation, and one totally uncalled for 'Sodomy with a Shotgun' moment. Oh, and the main character juices his artificial heart with a pair of jumper cables through his (you guessed it) nipples. And Corey Haim. Yes, its stupid, but gloriously so and you can catch the action for yourselves right HERE!!
If 2008 was the Year of the PlayStation, then one game certainly helped bring the 'pain' to the platform - PAIN! The PlayStation Network (PSN) benefited from many advantages over its competition (see below), the most awesome being the involvement of The Hoff (i.e. David Hasselhoff) himself. There's no concrete sales numbers to match to the list so how much each title actually sold is all conjecture. Here's the Top Ten for your purchase-making decision pleasure:
01. Pain
02. High Velocity Bowling
03. Super Stardust HD
04. PixelJunk Monsters
05. flow
06. Warhawk
07. Aquatopia
08. Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection
09. High Stakes Poker Edition
10. Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty
Seeing PAIN top the list isn't much of a surprise, considering its been available the entire year, was bundled with the Metal Gear Solid 4 PS3 pack, and has seen numerous price-drops and a steady flow of updates since its release. Frankly, the only surprise would be if it WASN'T topping the list, as it becomes increasingly clear that Sony quite literally has to give these things away to make them 'hits'. Nice to see PixelJunk Monsters and Ratchet & Clank on there, though.
Big ups to 1Up.com!
Why is it so difficult to actually follow the story and subplots of the billion-dollar grossing Street Fighter franchise? It worked for Batman, Superman, Xmen, and even Spiderman. But when it comes to translating popular videogames into film, respect for the source material usually goes out the window and out come the guns, guns, guns!! Like turning Ryu and Ken (who are completely absent here) into arms-dealers in the first film to the rocket-launching (!!) Balrog in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li, it seems that we'll never get a live-action adaptation that does the most popular fighting game justice.
The sad thing is, I'm probably going to see this. Multiple times. I am part of the problem.
Those of you still clinging to your Walmart holiday gift cards and wanting (needing) a new cellphone are in luck - starting today, the world's largest retailer is now the world's largest carrier of the world's most popular and sought-after cellular device. That's a lot of stuff for one puny world, but if anyone can do it, the Apple iPhone can. Cheesy!
Reports are coming in that Walmart has now become the second major retailer (after Best Buy) to start selling the Apple 3G iPhone at two price-points: the 8GB 3G for $197, and the 16GB for $297. This brings the price to roughly $3 cheaper than competitors, and certainly not the super-sexy sounding $99 deal that was floating in our heads like pre-holiday gumdrops. Of course a two-year contract with AT&T is still required to even touch the device. The 3G models join the popular iPod Touch devices already on sale.
For the cash-conscious (i.e. cheap) fan, Gizmondo is reporting that you can indeedy pick up a $99 iPhone 3G from AT&T, just as long as you like 'em refurbished. Check out the deal for yourselves right HERE!
Looks like Nintendo wants a piece of that sweet, sweet video-on-demand pie! Although (non-competitors) Microsoft and Sony have already bet the farm on offering users of their respective consoles vast catalogs of video titles for download and streaming, this generation's most popular choice is looking to get in on the action by offering a video service of their own...sort of.
Can Nintendo possibly compete with non-competitors Microsoft and Sony's efforts? You better keep reading to find out more!
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Talk about a great Christmas and/or Holiday of your Choice present! The sequel to my all-time favorite PSP game is finally rolling into North America just in time for the holidays...Valentine's Day, that is. Fans of multi-colored squishy, rolly-polly musical blobs rejoice as LocoRoco 2 hits the PSP February 10th of next year! All-new levels and multiplayer modes should make dedicated fans such as myself happy, and considering the lack of quality PSP software being released these days, that's always a good thing.
Hit the jump for an even happier gameplay trailer!
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Chances are you've never heard of the upcoming animated film 9, an extended version of director Shane Acker's Oscar-nominated short film. Chances are also good that you probably won't see a more impressive trailer anytime soon, as this post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure stars Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, and John C. Reilly in one of the most visually dazzling things I've seen all year. Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted) are producing and Shane is taking full directorial duties in his feature debut. Check out the full trailer in both standard and high-definition over at Apple right HERE!!
9 hits theaters (appropriately) September 9th, 2009. This is one we'll be watching very closely, and definitely don't miss the trailer. BONUS - for you mobile users (and mobile users ONLY) point your portable browsers to focus.starcut.us/9 for exclusive clips and interviews with the director and producers!
It looks like even when the PlayStation 3 scores, its a looser. Reports are coming in that a new estimate has Sony's current-generation gaming/multimedia console nearly breaking even at retail, at least if the latest teardown estimates from marketing analysts iSupply can be believed. The firm estimates that since the machine was first launched in November 2006, manufacturing costs have dropped from a staggering $840 to a more reasonable (but still staggering) $448. The reason for such reductions have to do with chip consolidation and cheaper components, combined with the excision of some features altogether (goodbye backwards-compatability) have helped the company go from losing big-time to simply losing somewhat.
Selling a console at a loss initially isn't as uncommon as you might think, as the gameplan usually factors in strong software sales to help offset manufacturing costs until said cost-cutting efforts can bring all departments into glorious, financially-stable harmony. Unfortunately for Sony, it doesn't look like either game plan is working out quite as expected, with sluggish sales for nearly all of the console's biggest exclusives, resulting in the worst attach-rate ratio of all current-generation game consoles. Extrapolate what you will, but if 2008 was supposed to be the "Year of the PlayStation", the next year better bring some awfully big dividends.
No, thank YOU Business Week!
Wallace and Gromit is one of my very favorite things in the world, and it looks like my dreams of more W&G action will be answered with absolutely perfect timing on Christmas Day with the first new animated short since the 2005 film Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Aardman Studios has been through quite a bit since then, and despite releasing one so-so CG flick, its nice to see them back on their feet and hands on the clay. So says the official site about the duo's glorious return:
Wallace & Gromit have started a new bread baking business, ‘Top Bun' and converted 62 West Wallaby Street into a granary with ovens, robotic kneading arms and an old-fashioned windmill on the roof. The transformation is perfect...While they enjoy being the ‘Toast of the Town', Gromit soon realises his master's life is in jeopardy, and turns sleuth to solve the escalating murder mystery - in what quickly becomes ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death.
Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death premieres Christmas Day at 8:30pm on BBC. Us Yanks will have to wait a bit longer, but I'm fairly certain we'll be getting a little stop-motion W&G love before long! Until then, head on over to the official site and check out what you can (most content is viewable outside of Britain) and let's hope the film hits our shores soon!
When it was revealed back in early November that Rare has somehow released their platform game Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts onto the masses without the ability to actually read the game (on standard-definition) televisions, I ranted. Such a bone-headed move by everyone involved seemed diametrically opposed to the target audience, and even though I own an HDTV myself, couldn't let this blunder go. But Rare promised to patch things up, and patch things up they have.
If you're one of the few that actually picked up the game and haven't been able to make sense due to the micro-tiny text issues, a patch is finally available! If you've been putting off playing the platformer, now's the time to give it another try and see just how much sense it makes when you can actually read what's going on. This should help those (even us HDTV-types) better read the game's micro-fonts, and kudos to Rare for keeping their promise...even if they were forced into doing so. For our full impression of the game, mumble-jumble your way over to it by clicking right HERE!
Better late than never, Capcom's long-delayed and recently published Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix (or just SSF2THDR to friends) isn't just smashing faces, its smashing records! In less than a month, the fancied-up version of the original game has clocked over 250,000 copies to date - a number Capcom tells us is closing in on the all-time digital download record. Small gripes I've had with the balancing (or in some cases, unbalancing) the game is quite good, and just for the record at least three of that tally belongs to me...yes, I'm an addict.
With anticipation for the upcoming Street Fighter IV reaching fever pitch and the current title eating up the charts, its a sure bet that we'll be duking it out with the World Warriors for some time to come, if not the rest of our lives. For our official impression of the game, head on over to Popzara Press right HERE!
When they're not busy getting sued by every Tom, Dick, and Texas-based courthouse, Nintendo fires off a pretty mean lawsuit of their own. But in their recent suit against Nyko Technologies, the Japanese-based company has decided to play nice and settle things out of court. Concerned that Nyko's wireless Nunchuk accessory (Kama) looked a bit too much like their own, the agreement will have the third-party maestro redesigning the controller and thus avoiding Mario's Wrath. No word on any monetary settlements, but the gods seem to have been abated:
"We are pleased to have resolved this dispute," said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. "The Nunchuk and Wii brands are familiar to consumers worldwide, and Nintendo is dedicated to vigorous defense of those brands."
Sounds great for everyone involved - particularly Nintendo - as Nyko has worked pretty hard to help alleviate several problems Nintendo themselves have failed to capitalize on, including wireless controllers, chargers, and most importantly, designer battery slip covers. How on earth we ever lived without those, I'll never know!
If there were any doubt of Apple's intent to crack the burgeoning portable game market, today the former fruit company dispelled any lingering shards with their most lucrative grab yet. Confirming rumors that Hideo Kojima's popular Metal Gear Solid franchise would be experimenting with another platform (the most popular thought being the Xbox 360), Konami today revealed that a newer, smaller version titled Metal Gear Solid Touch would be hitting both the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch platforms in March 2009.
With eight levels available at launch (and plans to download more later), Konami's entry into the world of Apple gaming follows the trend of more traditional gaming developers (most notably Sega and Squre/Enix) pushing content onto Apple's growing platform base, which has seen digital gaming among its most popular download options via the touted Apple Apps store. Keep reading for more details on the announcement...!
Read More »Oh, the "bumbling male/superior female" stereotype...love ya! Actually, I'm not sure if there's any advertising meme I dislike more, yet practically everyone (at least those companies looking to appeal to sub-30 year old femminist hipsters) seems to be employing this social inhibitor, and in Sony's commercial - showcasing their PS3's video download features - its on full display. As with all modern PlayStation 3 commercials, it stinks to high heaven, but at least there's a good round of male bashing to be had (opposed to demonic babies and racist femmes fatales).
But again, Sony continues to confuse consumers. If one of the best (increasingly the only) reasons to pick up a PlayStation 3 is for its Blu-ray capabilities, why tout its download-only movie selection? Certainly this is something the Xbox 360 has been doing for some time, and it seems to pit one of the console's options against another. Will consumers feel compelled to rent/buy Blu-ray discs, click the download option, or ignore the whole thing until the company figures itself out? I think the answer is fairly obvious...
Fact: Music games sell best on the Nintendo Wii. Second fact: Wii ports usually come after the more traditionally 'core' gaming consoles, yet still manage to outsell their counterparts. Considering the waggle-machine's deficiencies in the downloadable content and online arenas, you'd think this wouldn't be the case, but developer Harmonix has been working hard to help alleviate these problems with the upcoming Rock Band 2 release for the Wii, coming December 18th.
The original Xbox 360 version launched November 2007, with the Wii version hitting June 2008. Rock Band 2 hit the Xbox 360 in September, so a three month delay seems much better this time around. But more than that, Harmonix is sorry. Very, very sorry...keep reading to see just how sorry they are (and what they're doing to make up for the loss of time). Fun stuff!
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Why isn't Hugh Jackman (aka Sexiest Man in the World, future Oscar host) a bigger movie star? Romantic comedies. Why should Hugh Jackman be a bigger movie star? Because, frankly, the world needs a smug action star we can all get behind. Behold, the very first trailer for Xmen Origins: Wolverine, the first spin-off from the popular Xmen films, having wisely chosen the franchise's most popular mutant and will attempt to flesh out (no pun intended) his long and convoluted backstory just a bit.
Gambit fans will be thrilled...and is that a younger Storm I see? Honestly, the film looks great and the first trailer has me really excited. Although I can't claim to be much of a comic book fan these days, I'm all for filling in the details to a character I like, just as long as it keeps me entertained. Check out the thing for yourself at the MySpace trailer park right HERE!
Even more choice trailer action from the shocking bad Spike Video Game Awards spectacle, although when Rockstar Games bring the pretentiousness, everyone sits up a little bit straighter. The first look at the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 4 DLC "Lost & Damned" episode looks EXACTLY as it should - big, loud, and filled with the hardrock silliness that people love this franchise for.
Why am I digging it so much? Because a character actually says (really): "Drink what you gotta drink, kill who you gotta kill" in the most serious tone imaginable. Brilliant! The expansion hits the Xbox 360 (sorry PS3 owners) February 17th!!
Why videogames, comicss and rappers have this strange preoccupation with 'ending' things (i.e. retirement) is beyond me, as they never keep their promise and sequels are always assured. For Sony, however, the upcoming God of War 3 on the flagging PlayStation 3 may indeed mark the end if the game doesn't help change the fortunes of their expensive game console. The first real trailer, shown at the shockingly bad Spike Video Game Awards shows off just a bit of the goods... is that a Brumak I see?
Shoddy voice-acting aside, it looks like...God of War, just prettier. I'm a fan, but I wonder just how much longer others are going to accept disgruntled and half-naked bald muscular men as their videogame heroes...where's the change we can believe in?
Its almost Christmas time and Sega's painting the town red...and only red! Even in censored-mode, the upcoming black-n-white gorefest MadWorld is looking mighty impressive, which shouldn't come as a surprise considering its from the same folks who brought you (incredibly) Okami and Viewtiful Joe. Not sure how this one is going to go over with the Wii Fit and Ponyz crowds, but I can tell you right now tha the No More Heroes bunch if gonna be all over it.
MadWorld hits the Wii next year, and lets hope without any controversy! Happy Holidays!
It looks like change is indeed a good thing, as Microsoft's much-lauded NXE (New Xbox Experience) has not only helped revitalize the three year old console, but also jump-start the Microsoft sales-machine into overtime! The company's main mouthpiece Major Nelson is touting the uptake in sales and exposure, and its good news all around. A few simple (if vague) factoids:
* movie downloads increased 49% and television shows increased 30% the week after launch
* new added friends increased by 33% after launch
* popular title UNO (with upgraded Avatar implementation) sales rose by 650% in just one day
Of course, three times as many sales is probably due to three times as many advertisements. The NXE is chock-full of clickable ads and promotions, but as its a free upgrade the actually improves the x-perience, I'll take it. For our full look at the New Xbox Experience, check out our official impression right HERE!
Its becoming blindingly apparent that music-themed games sell best on Nintendo's waggle-machine, with Wii versions of Guitar Hero and (yes) Wii Music storming the charts. But one genre that hasn't exactly been under-represented on other consoles with the likes of Microsoft's Lips and Sony's Singstar, is karaoke. Time to call in Hudson and their very Wii-ish looking Joysound. With the recent announcement of Dragon Quest X headed to the console, records being shattered around the world, and now a Japanese karaoke game on the way, I've come to accept our new Nintendo overlords.
The best part of the introduction trailer? The grandpa on the far right, looking happy just to be involved. Yes Wii Can!
We keep posting news and updates for the upcoming Dragonball live-action movie because we have a lot of Dragonball fans reading (and in some cases, writing) Popzara. Unfortunately, I think the more we keep posting, the less fans the franchise will have. Make what you will of the latest trailer for the Dragonball film, no doubt cut for the Japanese market (hence the dubbing). Honestly, its not the worst thing in the world, but then again, I'm not exactly the ideal Dragonball fan.
Is Piccolo finally getting his green-skin back? Does Bulma look like a living anime creation? Am I missing something here, Dragonball fans?
That slight rumble you just felt was the collective *thud* of Japanese gamefans dropping over the announcement that perhaps the most popular franchise in their homeland, Dragon Quest, is headed on over to the country's most popular home console with Dragon Quest X headed to the Nintendo Wii. Series creator Yuji Hori announced a host of DQ-related news at a recent press conference, including an actual release date for the upcoming Dragon Quest IX on March 28 (in Japan), as well as the bombshell that his baby would be returning to a console-based home.
No other details are known at this time (and no, that's not an official logo up above), but given the frenzy the Japanese press have for this franchise, look for a whole lot more later on. With Square-Enix still busy pushing Final Fantasy spin-offs for Nintendo's popular waggle-machine, maybe the next step is an actual Final Fantasy for the console? Paging John Lucas...
Big thanks to Kotaku for the slime-times!
I've come to accept a non-Schwarzenegger starring Terminator franchise. Maybe its the Arnold-free television serial Sarah Connor Chronicles, or maybe its that I've come to respect my favorite action star's political destiny. That said, with next year's summer spectacle (and franchise sorta-reboot) Terminator Salvation on the way, it looks like I'll have to get used to a theatrical PG-13 Terminator, too.
I'm cool with that. Christian Bale (still doing the Batman gravel voice) looks great in the first *real* theatrical trailer, and despite the feeling that I'm watching a kinder, gentler Max Max filled with Terminating motorcycles (Termicycles?) and at least one Transformer, I'm still buying my ticket when this one drops May 25th. Head on over to the official Apple site and check out the latest trailer right HERE!
For those of you out there who love crazy imports like Kung Fu Hustle and Bollywood films, the full theatrical trailer for Warner Bros Chandni Chowk to China may be the coolest thing you see today - or this year. Only the second WB-produced Bollywood film, the film stars Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone in a bizarre action-laden farce about a chef mistaken for a martial arts expert...hilarity ensues! Gordan Liu (Kill Bill) also stars in his Bollywood debut, effectively making this quite the international effort.
Even better, the film is getting a North American slate of releases (check out the schedules right HERE!), which is a good sign for the growing interest of imported entertainment. My theater is covered, so you can bet I'll be there! Check out the trailer and see if its your thing. Chandni Chowk to China opens worldwide January 16th!
Has there ever been a company so enamored with sales charts and statistical mastery as Microsoft? I should think not! While some of their bravado may come across as almost comical, some of is is well-earned and bragging-friendly. Such is the case with Epic Game's Gears of War 2, which recently passed the 3 Million Sold mark in its first month of release, a good six weeks faster than it took the original to accomplish the same feat. The Cole Train is impressed!
What's even more impressive is how well the game sold during one of the most congested and combative holiday seasons ever seen, with publishers literally filling retail shelves with so much quality product that much of it canceled each other out, proving once and for all that yes indeed, you can over-stuff a turkey. Personally, I'm thrilled for the game's success and you can catch our official impression of Gears of War 2 right HERE!
Here's my Christmas Wish - I hope in-game advertising fails. I hope all these penny-pinching, nickel-and-diming squeeze attempts by greedy developers fall flat on their faces, and perhaps then we (the consumer) will be treated with a bit more respect than we have. As the cost of the average retail game has skyrocketed ($10 over the last-generation), developers and publishers have partnered with a variety of firms to increase the exposure of in-game revenue-generating content. Can you name another mainstream industry that so willingly mocks their fanbase in such a manner?
As much as I love LittleBigPlanet, charging for additional Sackboy costumers (in this case Street Fighter) is nearly criminal, as Sony expects people to essentially pay to advertise FOR third-party companies. Shouldn't Capcom be distributing these (admittedly cool) sets to promote their own Street Fighter franchise, rather than sticking it to the fans who've been pretty damn generous over the years? Shame on Sony, shame on Capcom, and good riddance to anyone silly enough to buy into this scam, because you're only encouraging them further.
For the full set, check out the official Sony Blog for even more World Warrior exploitation.
Love Adult Swim's Robot Chicken? Love PaRappa the Rapper? Then you BETTER BELIEVE you're gonna love it that Robot Chicken gone done PaRapper in this pitch-perfect rendition of a little courtroom action! Few shows 'get' this side of the culture as well as Seth Green's little slice of stop-motion (bonus points) animation, so enjoy the violence of it all!
With EA's recently announced Nascar Kart Racing for the Wii, it seems that Nintendo may finally be getting some proper competition in the seemingly under-exploited kart-racing genre (discounting all those freebie PC versions). The game is actually looking quite good, and even if you've never thought about picking up a Nascar game...this just might change your mind. No, really.
Nascar Kart Racing hits the Wii February 10th! Vrooom!
After seeing the first trailer and this little snippet from the upcoming 70s-style blaxploitation kung-fu Black Dynamite, I now know everything I need to make the best and most informed viewing choice when this one drops early next year. When your main character spouts insta-classic lines like "Fiendish Dr. Wu, you done fu^&#$ up now!" and monologues to a severed head...I am so there. I'm so there, I've already bought the DVD and memorized this thing, all from the future...
Will Black Dynamite actually be good cinema? Not a rat's chance in Hell, and that's exactly why I'm diggin' it. Bring me more like this and I'll be a happy, happy man! WARNING - this clip is most definitely NOT SAFE FOR WORK!!
Well, what do you know! Mere seconds after we discovered what the most popular games (both free and paid) were for the iPhone and iPod Touch platforms, out comes yet another Applicious Top Ten feature, only this time for the Most Popular Apps for (surprise) Apple's double-threat of download heaven. Give months in, the company's ingenious App Store is proving quite the popular beast and bandwidth sucker, and its no surprise that the paying top spots are dominated by actual games. Here's the paying list:
01. Koi Pond ($.99)
02. Texas Hold'em ($4.99)
03. Moto Chaser ($.99)
04. Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D ($5.99)
05. Super Monkey Ball ($7.99)
06. Cro-Mag Rally ($1.99)
07. Enigmo ($1.99)
08. Pocket Guitar ($.99)
09. Recorder ($.99)
10. iBeer ($.99)
What is it with people and the fish/computer connection? Still, Koi Pond looks absolutely stunning, although its pretty clear that the real money (at least in the short-term) is with gaming for Apple's platform(s). But what about the freebie Apps? No real surprises, but keep reading to see what people are picking up without paying for them!
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If there's any doubt that Apple intends to market their increasingly popular iPhone and iPod Touch platforms as gaming devices, it might be a good time to drop the act. Both platforms are becoming quite popular with the gaming set (our own Gary Lucero is obsessed, no doubt), and that number can only continue to grow. But what's selling? Apple released a list of the Top Ten Best-Selling games for their portable powerhouses:
01. Texas Hold'em ($4.99)
02. Moto Chaser ($.99)
03. Crash Bandicoot: Nitro Kart 3D ($5.99)
04. Super Monkey Ball ($7.99)
05. Cro-Mag Rally ($1.99)
06. Enigmo ($1.99)
07. Air Hockey ($.99)
08. Bejeweled 2 ($2.99)
09. Flick Bowling ($.99)
10. Line Rider iRide ($2.99)
...as reports have stated, the more expensive titles don't seem to fair as much as the immediately more 'impulse friendly' ones. Despite the availability of games and applications on home computers for years, being able to instantly pick one up with the touch of a button is a relatively new phenomenon, so its a progression worth following. But what about the freebie software for Apple's machines? Keep reading to see what you cheap-o types (myself included) are playing right now!
Read More »For those just turning in, Sonic the Hedgehog/NiGHTS creator Yuji Naka is back in action and hard at work on his next game: Let's Tap for the Nintendo Wii. What's most interesting is that we're looking at the first game on the console where you don't actually touch the Wiimote - instead, the controller lays on a cardboard box and (you guessed it) entirely controlled via taps. Indulge yourself in this super-long Japanese trailer, full of flashing lights and colorful imagery.
Shades of Geometry Wars abound in this 5-minutes long trailer, and those prone to seizures may want fair warning. Looks great, and word on the street that its a hoot to play. The only question remains - why isn't Naka still making Sonic games?? (cynical answer: he doesn't work for Sega anymore...their loss).
...and this is from Atari Games? How Ghostbusters: The Videogame ever had trouble finding a publisher is beyond me, as the possibility of seeing the whole cast (Bill Murray, Dan Aydroyd, Harold Ramis, and even the under-appreciated Ernie Hudson) back in action should guarantee at least some interest. Well, now we've got Atari publishing, and with the new trailer our BEST EVER look at the next 'official' adventure in the franchise. Looks good - very good, actually, and the cinemas alone guarantee at least a rental.
Heck, if its any good I'll buy the thing! Loving the trailer!
Not really sure what to put here. Been busy reaquainting myself with all-things-Street Fighter in preparation for the upcoming Street Fighter IV (yes, I'm horribly biased), but there's another version of the franchise on the way. The second live-action film, The Legend of Chun Li, is slated to hit theaters around the same time the game hits home consoles. Even more pictures of Chun Li in 'action' are available online, but no worries; they're safe for work.
Oh, who am I kidding...I'll see it seven times and defend it to the ends of the earth. Yeah, I'm THAT kind of guy. For more pix of Ms. Li (or her razor-thin counterpart), check out the whole gallery over at Coming Soon!
As I'm typing this a commercial for the Xbox 360 Arcade unit (advertising the console to families) is playing in the background. Good thing Microsoft is on the job, as the potentially embarrassing boo-boo of certain memory-incapable machines has likely been avoided. Not for you current owners - they've got your money (and have a nifty upgrade program). Newer Xbox 360 Arcade units will come jam-packed with the necessary 256 internal memory ready to run the New Xbox Experience (NXE) like a charm, and maybe even Netflix streaming, too. Says the company:
"We are constantly updating the console's more than 1700 internal components. We can confirm that we are moving to internal memory for the Xbox 360 Arcade. The physical internal memory is the same size as the previous external memory units - 256MB."
Sounds pretty good to me, as I know several people who've picked up the Arcade model for the holidays. Of course, had I been there to advise, they might've opted for a slightly more expensive model instead, as without a copious amount of memory much of the download joys to the system just ain't there. Pay now...or pay later! But good job Microsoft for solving the problem quickly, unlike all those red rings...
Joys to Xbox360Fanboy!
At this year's completely useless Spike TV VGA (Video Game Awards) spectacle on December 14th many a true gamer will feel the shame and embarrassment that Spike's agonizing 'show' even alleges to represent game fans across the planet. That said, look between the cracks and you'll see a few bright spots growing within the dung, one of them being the official teaser-trailer for Naughty Dog's upcoming PS3 sequel Uncharted: Among Thieves. Last year's best game on the console, while among the most derivative things ever made, was still a blast and unlike most adventures richly deserves a follow-up.
But am I the only one who thinks its ridiculous to have Nathan Drake plowing around in the snow, sleeves rolled-up, and with no winter protection? Aah, videogame characters...slaves to fashion, where style trumps substance. At least he's not in a thong. Look for the televised debut December 14th on Spike TV. Shudder...
Put away those Amazon Kindles and those Sony Readers, because the most obvious of all software is finally ready for mass consumption - that's right folks, its a Nintendo DS e-book reader! Well, sort of, as the HarperCollins sponsered collection of over 100 classic works (with more available via download) manages to squish classic works by Shakespear and Jane Austin onto the Nintendo's itty-bitty everything machine. So says the official site:
Turn your Nintendo DS into a pocket-sized library with 100 timeless novels from some of the greatest writers in history. Enjoy the exciting escapades of the swashbuckling Long John Silver in "Treasure Island", marvel at the redoubtable skills of the most famous detective of all time in "the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", or run the course of true love with Elizabeth Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice" - the choice is yours!
With so many genre-defining apps and programs for the DS, one could make the argument that its hardly a gaming platform at this point, and more a mini-computer. Right now, 100 Classic Book Collection is set for a December 26th (Boxing Day) release for our non-American hands, but should be quite import friendly if a domestic release isn't in the cards. For more information and loads of screens, check out the official website right HERE!
With the just-released Super Street Fighter 2: HD Remix proving that some classics never die, the NEXT more eagerly-awaited foray into the world of completey redrawn sprites mixed with classic gameplay is nearly here - nearly! SNK's most substantial 2D upgrade to the King of Fighters franchise is looking good, good, good! Let's hope its got the gameplay chops (and kicks) to match the beauty of it all, and while we patiently wait for any such signs, why not indulge yourselves in a little 2D goodness?
I'm not going to crash the Popzara servers by hosting what Dengeki Online already does so well! Check out the massive gallery of character shots and screens for King of Fighters XII by navigating them for yourselves right HERE!!