Netflix is not expanding into the video game retail business, marking the end of its potential dangerous Qwikster business experiment.

Netflix chief executive officer Reed Hastings confirmed to investors that his company no longer plans to rent games, a strategy that was first announced in September as apart of the planned Qwikster business spinoff.

Qwikster is a standalone business dedicated to discs but, when customers heaped criticism on the company, Netflix hastily scrapped the plan. “We expect DVD subscribers to decline steadily every quarter, forever,” said Hastings on the DVD based business in general.

The popular role-playing game is headed to consoles after all.

Blizzard Entertainment community manager Micah Whiple confirmed via his twitter feed that Diablo III is indeed headed to consoles. However, no specific platforms were mentioned for the console version, or a release date.

“Yup,” Whipple said. “Josh Mosqueira is lead designer for the Diablo console project.”

The complicated relationship between HBO and the video rental service Netflix just got alittle more complicated.

According to The New York Times, HBO is no-longer selling its DVDs at a discount price to Netflix as of the beginning of this year, continuing the battle between the two entertainment giants.

Though this isn’t a huge financial hit for Netflix, a Netflix spokesman said, “Netflix will continue to provide HBO titles on DVD and Blu-ray to our members.” Proving that Netflix will continue to push its DVD service, besides an increased emphasis on online streaming.

It’s that time of  the year, where we grather up the most enjoyable titles of past year to generate at list of the most notable ones. Including, the most coveted award, the Game of the Year award.

With that said, these awards where decide on by a group of three “strong-mined” people, with each category being built of four nominees. However, only two title will be shown, respectively the winners and runner-ups in each questionably decided category.

Most Underrated Game of the Year
Winner – Rayman Origins
Runner-up – Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Best Indie Title of the Year
Winner – Bastion
Runner-up – Minecraft

Best Shooter
Winner – Battlefield 3
Runner-up – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Best Action-Adventure Game
Winner – Batman: Arkham City
Runner-up – Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

Best Sport Game
Winner – NBA 2K12
Runner-up – FIFA Soccer 12

Best Original Soundtrack
Winner – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Runner-up – Dark Souls

Best PC Game of the Year
Winner – The Witcher 2: Assassin’s of Kings
Runner-up – Portal 2

PSP Exclusive of the Year
Winner – Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Runner-up – Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

DS/3DS Exclusive of the Year
Winner – Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version
Runner-up – Super Mario 3D Land

Multi-Platform Game of the Year
Winner – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Runner-up – Batman: Arkham City

XBOX 360 Exclusive of the Year
Winner – Gears of War 3
Runner-up – Forza Motorsport 4

PlayStation 3 Exclusive of the Year
Winner – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Runner-up – LittleBIGPlanet 2

Nintendo Wii Exclusive of the Year
Winner – The Lengend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Runner-up – Kirby’s Return to Dreamland

Game of the Year
Winner – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Runner-up – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Miyamoto has expressed an interest in returning to development, working on “smaller projects with even younger developers.”

The man behind Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda plans to retire from his current position at Nintendo.

Legendary game creator Shigeru Miyamoto plans to stay with the company, but will take on a smaller roll in the development department. “I’m not saying that I’m going to retire from game development altogether. What I mean by retiring is, retiring from my current position,” said Miyamoto.

Miyamoto then expressed an interest in returning to development, working on “smaller projects with even younger developers.” The legendary designer even suggested he might work on projects entirely on his own, which will be the first in years.

Basically, for the last several years, Miyamoto has been able to train many younger teams and developers; one of the reasons he’s comfortable resigning from his current post. ”After all, if I’m there in my position as it is, then there’s always kind of a relationship. And the young guys are always kind of in a situation where they have to listen to my ideas. But I need some people who are growing up much more than today.”

The specification are still being formulated but, according to Develop, Nintendo engineers are working to incorporate duel tablet control for the upcoming, motion controlled console, the Nintendo Wii U.

A trusted development executive has revealed that there are numerous indications, within the Wii U code, pointing to the console being operate with two tablets. However, Nintendo had previously indicated that the Wii U could only operate with one control because of the “technical limitations.” But, it also stated that nothing was finalized at the time.

Mario Kart producer Hideki Konno has shown an interest in bringing the popular franchise to the Wii U. In a recent interview with Nintendo Power, Konno expressed that he’d love to expand the franchise onto Nintendo’s new platform.

“I can’t get into the specifics, but I do want to create a new and enjoyable Mario Kart that uses the unique functions of the Wii U,” Konno said. “Anything beyond that I have to keep secret. Please bear with me for now!” He also debunked featuring other franchises characters in the game, stating that they’ve “never seriously considered that.”

One of the final Wii titles on the horizon, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was given the release date of November 20 in North America. In addition, Nintendo revealed that it’s also set for a November 18 release in Europe.

With the current state of Nintendo’s stock and the somewhat successful launch of the Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo investors are pushing for the video game firm to develop a Mario title for the iOS.

According to Bloomberg, the rift was caused by consumers “shunning” Nintendo’s devices to play on Apple’s handheld platforms instead. However, President Satoru Iwata has stated that the company will only make titles for its own products as long as he’s in charge. But, with the recent flop of the 3DS, his business position may need to be changed.

“Smartphones are the new battlefield for the gaming industry,” added Masamitsu Ohki, a fund manager at Tokyo-based Stats Investment Management Co. “Nintendo should try to either buy its way into this platform or develop something totally new.” However, Nintendo has declined to comment to the reports.

But, Ohki isn’t alone in when it comes to stating that Nintendo should reconsider his business strategy. When The Pokemon Company announced that it was developing a title for iPhone and other handhelds running on Mountain View, it’s stock increased.

Bane made his way across the internet all thanks in part to his role in the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises movie. But, more importantly, the titian-charged supervillain will be returning to the video game scene.

In issue #5 of the Batman: Arkham City comic book series, it was revealed that Bane will be returning for Batman: Arkham City, the sequel to the greatest comic book video game of all time. Here’s the summary:

“Inside Arkham City, entrapped criminals have to find new ways to keep themselves occupied. In Bane’s case, he’s binding his time by running an extreme fighting ring. The lack of serious competition leaves him frustrated, until an otherwise lackluster opponent produces a big surprise. The result may inspire Bane to take on deadlier hobbies.”

With the original Darksiders, the development team was “searching around” trying to find the “soul” of the title. Vigil Games director Marvin Donald expresses that “[they] didn’t really know what Darksiders was until the end.” But, not with the sequel.

“This time you’re playing Death, another of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. You may remember in the first game that War was gone for a century for accidentally bringing about the apocalypse. In this game you have to restore mankind in order to rescue your brother.” Darksiders II is a game with less of a focus on Earth and more of a focus on a stylized demon underworld, the Abyssal Plane.

The director describes Death as a quicker, more “feral” character then the previous protagonist War — and it’s a trait that will carry on in multiple areas of the sequel. In the journey to rescue his brother, Death will travel across a number of twisted and varied landscapes, he’ll need to use a number of different acrobatic movements to traverse these environments. Death is very much his own man, he’s far less lumber of a character in comparison to War.

So much, that he’s a much more customizable. Because of an expanded collection of role-playing elements, which include a loot system. The game will allow you to customize your battle attributes, as well as your appearance. “We’re big RPG fans at Vigil, and we would have done this with Darksiders if we had the time and bandwidth.” But, it would have taken time to balance the experience. “That’s one of the biggest challenges ahead of us.”

In conclusion, it appears that the sequel has stepped up from the promising original, which was widely expected. But, hopefully, Vigil Games can resolve the technical problems that plagued the original title because Darksiders II seems to be its own game.

Netflix has revealed its plans to “upgrade” its overall pricing structure, for both its mail-in and streaming services. These price changes won’t take affect for existing costumers until September 1st, but the change will be immediate for all incoming costumers.

According to the company’s official blog, the change will replace the existing plans, adding a $2 surplus charge for unlimited streaming, and from now on there will no longer be an unlimited discs and streaming as a single package. The new packages are as follows:

• $7.99 for 1 DVD out at a time
• $11.99 for 2 DVDs out at a time
• $7.99 for unlimited streaming (no DVDs or Blu-rays)
• $15.98 for 1 DVD and unlimited streaming

Update – It seems that GameStop won’t be accepting trade-ins of The Mercenaries 3D because of the irremovable saves situation. According to different sources, it seems that the conduction will be a company wide policy. In addition, Gamefly won’t be pushing the title for rent.

The used game debates have generated a certain amount of heat throughout the industry, especially in the retail sector. However, throughout these disputes, commercial stores worldwide have continued business as usual.

Now, according to undisclosed sources, the Australian division of EB Games are refusing to sell Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D because of the irremovable saves situation, which makes the title “useless” for the second hand trades.

Capcom have yet to comment on the current situation. However, the publisher have revealed in a public statement that the used games market was “not a factor” in introducing the feature.

The graphical capabilities of the hardware is something that’s been “hard to explain” — even developers have struggled when explaining it. However, Shigeru Miyamoto was a little more specific in his explanation.

In an interview with Gamespot, Miyamoto said that the Wii U may not “necessarily dramatically outperform the systems that are out now.” The reason behind this decision seems to be pricing concerns, and that parents may not purchase the console after a certain price limit.

“We’re very sensitive to pricing because people have generally only a certain amount of their spending that they’ll devote to entertainment,” said Miyamoto, indicating that the touchscreen controller might be “somewhat reckless” from a pricing standpoint. But, the idea for the tablet style touch screen controller isn’t a late addition, Miyamoto added.

Here’s something. According to IBM, Nintendo’s newly unveiled console, the Nintendo Wii U,  is packing the same processing technologies found in Watson, the artificially intelligent, supercomputer that dominates at Jeopardy.

The microprocessor is a 45nm custom chip with “a lot” of embedded DRAM. The custom chip takes advantage of a silicon-on-insulator design, so it’s capable of feeding the multi-core processor “large chunks” of data making for a “smooth” entertainment experience.

During it’s press conference, Nintendo teased multiple titles, but Luigi’s Mansion being teased for 3DS was a surprise. Anyway, Nintendo said that there will be more that one mansion this time around, however no other details where given about the title.

The anticipation all comes down to this announcement. Nintendo has unveiled its next platform, the Nintendo Wii U, the successors to the acclaimed motion-based platform.

The announcement came during this morning’s press conference, along with confirmation of the innovative table-based controller, which features both thumbstricks and touchscreen aspects.

During a financial forecast meeting, Nintendo Japan confirmed its plans to release a brand new home console in 2012. The console is rumored to be more powerful than either of its competitors current consoles.

The still-unnamed system will be announced and playable at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles this June. According to Nintendo, there will also be more details available at that time.

There are reports circling that Nintendo’s next console will be debuting at E3, introducing the maker of Mario and Zelda into the high-definition console era. These reports will confirm rumors that have been swirling for months about the decline in its home console.

Furthermore, its rumored that the console will be “more powerful” than current-gen systems. Nintendo has commented on the reports stating that they don’t “comment on rumor or speculation.” But, we all know better then that.

“Mickey is an adventurous and rambunctious mouse,” said Warren Spector, creative director and vice president, Junction Point. “I want to bring his personality to the forefront, place him in a daunting world and connect his spirited character with video game players worldwide. Ultimately, each player decides for him- or herself what makes Mickey cool.”

“Mickey is an adventurous and rambunctious mouse,” said Warren Spector, creative director and vice president, Junction Point. “I want to bring his personality to the forefront, place him in a daunting world and connect his spirited character with video game players worldwide. Ultimately, each player decides for him- or herself what makes Mickey cool.”

The development of titles on the Nintendo Wii don’t normally receive the attention of “AAA” current-generation titles, such as Assassin’s Creed and Modern Warfare; development-wise. Epic Mickey, though, is something from a different painting – apparently, its being developed by a 275 person development team.

In a recent interview, lead developer Warren Spector revealed that the team working on the game consisted of 275 people — possibly the largest team ever assembled to work on a third-party Wii exclusive. This includes the plethora of companies they’ve used outsource art assets and the Junction Point Studio development team.

Throughout this console generation, Nintendo has been criticized for its focus on the casual market — something that has distance the console manufacture form its hardcore market. However, at its recent E3 press conference, the console manufacture proved to everyone that it can deliver to both its hardcore and casual markets.

That said, in an interview with Japanese business magazine Nikkei, president Satoru Iwata said that the company is working closely with developers to “expand into elaborate games targeting serious gamers” for the Nintendo 3DS.

Iwata then went on to state that most of the software of the current DS caters more for non-game players, and he believes that advances in graphics and gameplay on the new handheld will help rectify this. “These partnerships are good for both Nintendo and the software developers,” Iwata added.

[Nintendo to make 'serious' 3DS titles via GameSpot]

Kirby makes a return in Kirby’s Epic Yarn, a two-dimensional platformer in which Kirby manipulates the world with yarn. Epic Yarn features an all-new art style in which the characters, including Kirby, are drawn from yarn and thread, the backgrounds are also created from some-kind of sewn fabric — leaving room for environmental manipulation with the thread.

Besides speculation, Tetsuya Nomura, director of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, has stated that the upcoming Kingdom Hearts game for the Nintendo 3DS will not be a remake of any existing titles in the franchise. “It’s not a remake, but a completely original game,” said Nomura.

There’s no doubt that the 3DS is a capable piece of hardware. It’s a device jam-packed with many impressive current-gen technologies, including a high-resolution top screen, a motion sensor and a gyroscope. However, Nintendo didn’t stop there: they also included software installs.

According to Nikkei, a Japanese business magazine — because of the inclusions of software installs — gamers will be able to install multiple full games onto the handheld’s internal memory unit. Installed games can then be selected from a menu screen.

Nikkei notes that due to this feature, there’ll be no need to swap cartridges; when outside of the home, you won’t need to carry game cartridges with you. However, Nikkei didn’t detail the number of games that could be installed, or the process of installing these games.

[3DS Features Software Install via Andriasang]

Nintendo has revealed their highly anticipated Kid Icarus title, Kid Icarus Uprising. However, though it isn’t on Nintendo’s home console, Uprising is a title “designed specifically” for the new Nintendo 3DS; it uses the handheld platform’s features in-dept.

There’s hasn’t been any solid information given about Nintendo’s upcoming handheld device, the 3DS. And, though Nintendo hasn’t revealed anything, according to a group of developers, in order to produce the stereoscopic 3D effects needed for the device, the system must have the graphical “horsepower” of current generation consoles.

“Several developers that have experienced 3DS in its current form have reported, off the record, that it has processing capabilities that far exceed the Nintendo Wii and bring the device with abilities that are close to HD consoles such as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360,” reveals an the article on IGN.

If this is the case, it’s possible Nintendo is looking to surpass the visual power of PSP and iPad. But, on the other hard, there’s another strong rumor suggesting that Sony’s to take a significant leap forward with the next PSP.

“We can’t wait for our community to experience Call of Duty: Black Ops,” said Mark Lamia, Studio Head for Treyarch. “We have focused our entire studio on this game, with dedicated multiplayer, single-player and co-op teams creating the most intense, gripping and riveting experience possible for our fans on all fronts.”

For all their respective triumphs, the film and video game industries have always shared a rather laboured and unhappy marriage. Each Hollywood blockbuster inevitably spawns a ghastly interactive twin, rushed to meet its release with the same opportunism as any other form of merchandising and watered down to appeal to wider cinema-going audiences. More considered adaptations, such as Rare’s iconic treatment of GoldenEye 007, have demonstrated that there are exceptions to the rule – unfortunately, Iron Man 2: The Video Game just isn’t one of them.

The game’s storyline (or lack thereof) picks up where the events of the film left off. Don’t worry if you haven’t seen the movie – fans and newcomers alike will be absolutely baffled by the disjointed and poorly explained narrative. Tony Stark’s technology has once again been maliciously appropriated, this time by a nasty American industrialist who wants to meld himself with a 100-foot robot and use a weather machine to cause global storms. His actual motive for doing this is just one of many insoluble questions to consider as you travel across the globe, blowing up tanks, helicopters, Russian terrorists and a crazy Scotsman. There are no cutscenes to speak of; the glib, often cheesy dialogue between levels is delivered by cardboard cut-outs of the film’s actors that drift in and out of the foreground to indicate who is speaking. Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson reprise their roles, while other characters are impersonated with varying accuracy – Tony Stark’s voice actor is admirable, while Natasha Romanoff appears to have been voiced by a computer phonics program, so listless and robotic is her delivery.

The Wii version of the game was developed by High Voltage Software, a company that prides itself as one of the greatest technical innovators on the console. It’s sad, then, that Iron Man 2’s graphics and level design are so explicitly underdeveloped, even by the Wii’s comparatively modest technical standards. While the game’s levels are distributed across such diverse and colourful locales as California, Russia, Budapest and Malaysia, they are all universally bland, grainy and uninspired; the textures and character models are rendered with such coarse simplicity that it often feels as if you’re playing an early Gamecube title. The environments feature few destructible elements, and these are fairly contrived – destroying the occasional deliberately-placed wall doesn’t make you feel powerful when, not two minutes later, you find that you’re incapable of breaking down a hotel room door. Given the game’s minimalism, it’s astonishing that the framerate still manages to falter at times, particularly during the on-rail flying missions.

Iron Man and War Machine are both playable, and they’ve apparently been designed to provide different play styles (agility and brute force respectively). You’re also able to upgrade and customise their weapons as you earn tech points, giving them new effects and applications. While these choices are clever in theory, they are really only cosmetic in execution; most enemies hurl themselves mindlessly against you, and they’re easily dispatched regardless of which weapon you use. Neither is there any great difference between the two heroes – they’re both equally awkward to control and have comparable firepower. The Wiimote’s IR sensor makes aiming relatively easy, though it can be a little sluggish at times.

Closing Statement:

There are, unfortunately, very few redeeming qualities in Iron Man 2: The Video Game. The suit customisation options and collectible “tech trophies” hidden throughout each level provide a marginal degree of replayability, but once you’ve played through the game once (which should take only a few hours), the tedious and unrefined gameplay offers little incentive for you to return. Even the most hardcore Iron Man fans should think carefully before purchasing this – they may not find their hero well served.

Final Score: 4.5

Nintendo has delivered alot of flagship titles. However, Nintendo hasn’t been able to “captivate” its online portion with these titles — much like its competitors. When speaking on the matter, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto said that he believes that Nintendo isn’t “proactive” enough with its online portion.

“It is true, though, that Nintendo hasn’t been very proactive in developing such online activities as an MMOG,” Miyamoto told Edge. “But when it comes to our endeavors that try to take advantage of internet technology, where we can provide our customers with more fun and entertainment, then I think we can say we have been very, very proactive and well-received. And that attitude won’t be changed at all in the future.”

Miyamoto then talked about the companies online future, revealing that “[they're] desperate to realize is the core [online] business structure.”

“Do we need to demand customers pay monthly fees to enjoy online activities? Or give an online subscription that is free of charge, but then offer something extra for people that pay, so that they get some extra value? With these core business strategies, I think we are less active than we should be,” continued Miyamoto.

In a time of tension throughout, LucasArts have confirmed the resignation of president Darrell Rodriguez. Earlier speculated, LucasArts have reveal that they’re searching for Rodriguez’s replacement, and that this move will not impact the company’s development teams, nor its publishing business.

“Darrell Rodriguez has resigned and we have initiated a search for a new leader,” the company said in a statement given to IGN. “Jerry Bowerman – a member of the Lucasfilm Board of Directors and a games industry veteran – will be stepping in to lead the LucasArts executive team during this transition. Lucasfilm remains fully committed to making great games and we continue to invest in our business.”

Rodriguez was named president of LucasArts in April 2008. Prior to joining LucasArt, Rodriguez served as the COO of EA Los Angeles.

On being sent Monster Hunter Tri, I was slightly chagrined to discover just how little I knew about the franchise – it is, after all, nothing short of a national sensation in Japan, where Tri has already been declared the country’s highest-selling third-party Wii game to date. Given the title (and the enormous aquatic dragon on the cover), it seemed a fairly safe assumption that I’d be hunting monsters at some point, but the specifics eluded me. Once I’d actually immersed myself in Tri, however, I soon discovered just how much I’d been missing.

The game begins in Moga, a sunny little fishing village whose tranquility is shattered by sudden earthquakes and coastal storms. The culprit is Lagiacrus, the aforementioned aquatic dragon; he seems to have found a new home in the region, terrorising local waters and roiling up the sea. To whom do good dragon-fearing folk turn in such a crisis? Why, you of course, a freelance hunter who (despite being an apparently reputable slayer of beasties) arrives in only his underwear, carrying a cheap sword and very little else. You’ll need legendary arms and armour to defeat your foe – to forge these, you’ll need the necessary parts, and to obtain the necessary parts, you’ll have to hack them off the necessary monsters.

My initial assumption was correct – in Monster Hunter Tri, you hunt monsters. You hunt an awful lot of them, in fact, from the humblest insectoids to the mightiest stone-plated, razor-taloned, fire-breathing behemoths. It’s a simple premise that’s remarkably addictive; kill monsters, strip their carcasses for parts, bring the parts to a Smithy, forge them into stronger weapons and armor, kill stronger monsters, get stronger parts, and so on. While this might seem like just another form of grinding, it never feels laborious, due in no small part to the enormous array of armaments that can be crafted. Whether you prefer your quarry slashed, cleaved, bludgeoned, skewered or shot from afar, there’s a suitable weapon for you to brandish and an armour set to make you look hardcore while brandishing it.

You’re also saved from aimlessness by a basic quest system, which is included essentially to provide context and give a sense of purpose to each of your wilderness excursions. You’ll be contracted by “The Guild” on behalf of various townspeople to complete increasingly difficult tasks – these involve anything from fishing and gathering to killing a particular monster, or even capturing it alive. They all invariably fall into the same basic categories, but each offers a bag of goodies for your trouble while moving the narrative forward.

In spite of all these features, the offline single-player is a somewhat limited affair; once you’ve completed all the quests, there’s very little else you can do on your lonesome. Tri is, however, a game clearly designed with multiplayer in mind, as it features one of the most robust and carefully considered online components I’ve ever encountered in a Wii title. Once you select a server, you’re dropped straight into Loc Lac City, a bustling trade hub where you can meet other hunters and embark on various quests for up to four players. In lieu of narrative, there are numerous new quests on offer, new locations to explore and new epic monster encounters, all geared towards teamwork. These will provide you with rare, otherwise unobtainable components from which to forge some of the sexiest gear in the game. Don’t worry if you’ve spent a lot of time learning the ropes offline – you’re able to use the same character for both offline and online play, so your efforts aren’t wasted.

Communication with other players is understandably vital, and Capcom has gone the extra mile to include support for Wii Speak. Unfortunately, my bundle of the game did not include Wii Speak (though some apparently do); instead, I was forced to write out messages letter by letter with the D-pad, a truly barbaric act that no civilised person should ever be forced to perform. There are a series of “gestures” available to your character, but these aren’t especially helpful, and I certainly wouldn’t advise you to attempt them while you’re in any sort of real danger. You can, at the very least, ‘ping’ your location on the map if you need assistance.

In terms of presentation, the game maintains a colourful, reasonably detailed aesthetic reminiscent of Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. NPC models are kept relatively simple, while greater attention is given to your character, whose appearance you can customise upon creation. It’s nothing spectacular; you’re given a level of control comparable to World of Warcraft, selecting from preset faces, clothes, hairstyles and colours to create someone reasonably unique. Weapons and armour are again more detailed – it’s these that you’ll be showing off to other players, after all.

The environments are deceptively beautiful. As you explore them, you’re really only moving through a series of small ‘enclosures’ – you’re kept from wandering by conveniently placed boulders, inclines or ravines. Beyond these, however, you’re offered a spectacular view of the horizon, as the landmass stretches towards a vast sea and skyline. A slightly contrived illusion perhaps, but it works; the levels appear genuinely expansive, and you don’t feel nearly so confined. The lighting and environment effects are much the same, economical but pretty, and you’ll see them in play across all manner of settings: volcanoes, icy tundra, desert plains, marshland and forest. The monsters themselves are similarly diverse, although earlier creatures such as the Aptonoth and Jaggi bear a striking resemblance to dinosaurs (on my first hunting trip, I felt as if I’d been let loose on an indiscriminate killing spree through Jurassic Park).

There are, in spite of its merits, a couple of annoying faults in the game. The first is the lack of a lock-on system – regardless of the reason, it’s an appalling oversight. I very quickly lost count of the times I lashed out at a monster only to go hurtling past its shoulder, slashing stupidly at thin air as if I were concussed. Such clumsy combat is rendered all the worse by the game’s camera system, which seems determined to face away from your enemy at all times. You’ll spend most of your time manoeuvring it manually while fighting, or hammering the C button to keep it locked behind your back. The camera is also solely responsible for directing your character underwater, which makes marine combat an absolute nightmare. It’s a real shame that these issues weren’t addressed; they’re a blemish on an otherwise enjoyable experience.

Closing Statement:

There are two fundamental demands we make of a Role-Playing Game – epic boss battles and epic loot. Monster Hunter Tri doesn’t disappoint in either regard, and yet it never gets mired in the tedious number crunching that so often afflicts the genre. It’s not a perfect game by any means; there are only so many monsters to kill and items to craft, particularly if you only play offline. The game’s online replay value ultimately depends on Capcom, who have already started posting temporary “Event Quests” with the promise of further downloadable content in the future. In any case, it’s an extremely solid title that you can and will get lost in for some time to come. If, like me, you’re new to the franchise, don’t overlook this one.

Final Score: 8.6

Though Activision is going through a mist of legal trouble, Bungie, the developer behind the Halo franchise, have announced its exclusive publishing partnership with the publisher. According to the developer, in the terms of the agreement, it gives Activision the exclusive rights to publish and distribute all future Bungie titles worldwide.

The alliance will provide Bungie its first such partnership since splitting off from Microsoft in 2007, significantly broadening its global reach by providing the resources and support to develop, distribute and release games worldwide on multiple platforms and devices.

“We chose to partner with Activision on our next IP because of their global reach, multi-platform experience and marketing expertise,” said Harold Ryan, President of Bungie. “From working together over the past nine months on this agreement, it is clear that Activision supports our commitment to giving our fans the best possible gaming experiences.”

Throughout the trouble surrounding Activision, it’s clear that they’ve found their instant remedy — atleast for the moment, anyways. It also means that Bungie’s upcoming titles would be multi-platform. Most importantly, Bungie will retain in full control over the IP it creates.

In response to the events throughout Infinity Ward, analyst Mike Hickey expects Activision to “essentially” close down the developer. Stated in an investor’s note, Hickey reveals that the development of the next Modern Warfare installment would, most likely, be spread across different studios, not tied to the franchise.

“We expect Infinity Ward studio will be essentially closed after their next map pack release, with development work on Modern Warfare 3 spread between two studios not historically tied to the franchise,” Hickey said, reports Edge.

That said, yesterday, we learned that an employee group over at Infinity Ward flied suit against Activision for unpaid royalties, bonuses, stock options, and technology-related payments. Along with, punitive damages of between $75 million and $500 million as a result of Activision’s withholding of the bonuses.

“Activision believes the action is without merit,” said a rep in response to the suit. “Activision retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for MW2 and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times. We look forward to getting judicial confirmation that our position is right.”

In other words, Hickey’s statement — along with the disbandment of its work force — could already spell the future of Infinity Ward.

It’s official: Drew Brees is the Madden NFL 11 cover athlete. And, apparently, he’s ecstatic about it — besides the infamous Madden curse. Last week, Electronic Arts revealed that Super Bowl XLIV MVP, Drew Brees, will be gracing the cover of the upcoming Madden NFL installment, Madden NFL 11. In response, Brees said this:

“I think the atmosphere of a game, where you step out on the field and you hear the crowd noise, is really special,” said Brees. “Then when you throw a touchdown and run into that end zone and jump on a teammate … that interaction and that atmosphere is obviously something where you have to be there to feel.”

“But to me, being in ‘Madden’ is just another way to connect with the fans. It helps educates the fans about the plays, the players, the teams. I have a Wii, and when my son gets older, it’s going to be fun to be able to play the game together. I have a feeling he’s going to be a gamer pretty soon,” he added.

The Madden NFL 11 cover adds to the long list of Brees’ triumphs, coming five years after his career was almost ended during a game with the San Diego Chargers. However, such mishaps will certainly be on the minds of his fans, due to the so-called “Madden Curse” that has afflicted many players who have chosen to grace the cover.

A few months back, I got an e-mail from Netflix stating that in the near future they will be offering their wonderful service on the Nintendo Wii. I signed up, thinking “why not. It’s free after all”. Fast-forward to the present, and I received a disc from Netflix in one of their famous red envelopes. So I pop the sucker in, register it, and away I went.

First thing I notice is the interface. To say the least, it’s great. You simply press left, or right, on the d-pad or drag the scroll bar with the Wiimote. Up or down arrow changes the criteria. One negative is that there is no search button. I guess they left that out to make the presentation smoother.

I first tested out ‘24‘ to see how the conversion from HD was. The loading time was 19 seconds, by my count. The video quality was just on par with a DVD. My connection isn’t all that great, but Netflix Wii made it shine.

Next, I tested an old cartoon series, The Super Mario Brothers Show. The loading time was about 15 seconds. The video quality, obviously, wasn’t all that great, because the source material wasn’t that great. Lastly, I tested Beetlejuice, and the loading time was 24 seconds. Not that bad at all, for a full length movie. The video quality was DVD quality, also.

One thing users maybe disheartened about is the lack of HD support. First of all, the Wii cannot even output video in HD, secondly, for the majority of us, it won’t matter. I certainly don’t mind DVD quality video from streaming from the Wii. If I wanted to watch it in HD, I would buy an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, but then  you’ll would lose the point-and-click interface.

Overall, I can fully recommend Netflix Wii. It’s easy, it’s free, and it got me using my Netflix account a lot more than before.

Nintendo’s current success in the market is due to the fitness enthusiasts, people seeking physical “health”. However, though there have been many success stories, Lightning Fish director Simon Prytherch believes that fitness enthusiasts will “benefit more” from the newer motion control devices than Nintendo’s.

“The non-games sector will benefit more than any other sector from Natal and PlayStation Move,” Prytherch said in an interview with MCV. “These devices are suited to non-core audiences. A key feature of these devices is the ability to accurately monitor user performance.”

“We will see new ways of interacting and new genres emerging as creative minds get to grips with the technology,” he continued. It’s easy to imagine these devices having a greater effect on the body. And, with companies developing more fitness related games for these platforms, this is made even more explicit.

I recent had the chance to sit down with Pint Shot Riot’s Baby Dave to talk about their future within the gaming industry and what they think of it thus far.

GCO: I’ll like to start this interview with some general questions — if you don’t mind. How do you feel about video games this day in age?

Bady Dave, Band Member/ Band Representative: “I feel there has been such amazing developments in video games since I started playing them it’s unreal. I definitely enjoy a session in my spare time and the games are getting better and better.”

GCO: If you were on a isolated island, which console would you take with you — just for keeps, of course?

BD: “Definitely an Xbox 360, especially if it is hooked up to Xbox live!”

GCO: Do you believe that Dante’s Inferno should get a sequel?

BD: I’ve no idea I’ve not played it sorry

GCO: Now, with those question out of the way, how did you all get into the EA Games, and how has the experience been so far?

BD: “We were spotted by E.A, they approached us and it just went from there really. It has been an amazing experience so far, especially being on Fifa, which has been my favourite game series for years!”

GCO: What’s the story behind your band’s name?

BD: Rocket was texting his friend one day when he noticed that if you use predictive text, the words pint, shot and riot are typed in with the same numbers and it just seemed a perfect fit for us.

GCO: If you weren’t making music, what would do?

GD: Spend a lot more time playing Xbox for one! I’d probably teach music if I wasn’t making music full-time, I always enjoy passing on tips to people learning the bass guitar.

GCO: I know these aren’t a EA game, but are you guys planning on playing God of War III, or Final Fantasy XIII?

BD: Not for me actually, I’m not a massive RPG fan, I prefer sports or fighting games.

GCO: Are you please tell our reads how they could be more involved with your band?

BD: Sure, you can find us on www.pintshotriot.co.uk and you will find links to our Facebook and Myspace pages there too. We have some free downloads available there too so feel free to get amongst it!

GCO: That said, I’ll like to thank you for your time.

BD: No problem, thank you too! Baby Dave

[EA Music - Blog - Facebook]

Aside the legal brouhaha, former Infinity Ward bosses, Jason West and Vince Zampella, have made their ambitions for their future evident. That said, this morning, Electronic Arts revealed a deal with the pair to be the sole distributor for their newly formed studio, Respawn Entertainment — based in the same part of Los Angeles as Infinity Ward.

“Respawn Entertainment marks a fresh start for Jason and me,” said Zampella, the studio’s general manager. “For the past decade we led a great development team and poured our hearts into creating an epic game franchise….Today we hope to do it all over again–open a new studio, hire a great team, and create brand new games with a new partner, EA.”

Harmonix, the original Guitar Hero developers, were trade by Activision in 2006. However, since then, Harmonix have developed the Rock Band series, a series that has produced heavy competition for Activision in the music game genre. Now, almost four years later, Bobby Kotick, Activision CEO, says that letting go of Harmonix was a mistake.

“We had always known them as sort of somewhat a failed developer of music games. They always had really great ideas but nothing that was really commercially viable until Guitar Hero. And [we thought], it’s a good piece of software, and if we gave it to [Activision-owned Tony Hawk development studio] Neversoft, they’d knock the ball out of the park with this,” he said — according to Kotaku.

“We really didn’t even think, ‘Hey we should go to Boston, and meet these Harmonix guys and see what they’re up to.’ And, of course, if we had gone up, I think the world of Guitar Hero would have been rewritten. It would be a lot different today. And it would probably be a profitable opportunity for both of us and an opportunity where you’d have even more innovation in the category.”

“A lot of times when you get caught up in the financial details of the business, it makes you overlook what’s really important, which is who’s passionate, who’s committed, who’s inspired and where’s the next idea going to come from,” he continued.

Have you ever sucked at a game? And whatever you did, or do, you continued to suck? (Yeah, me too.) But, there’s a theory behind the madness. In a study published in The Journal of the Cerebral Cortex, it revealed that the size of your brain can actually have an affect on your gaming skills.

Scientists at the University of Illinois have studied specific parts of the Striatum, a collection of tissues deep inside your cerebral cortex, and it revealed that brain size can influence a gamers ability to “refine his or her motor skills, learn new procedures, develop useful strategies and adapt to a quickly changing environments,” or in other words, playing games.

“This is the first time that we’ve been able to take a real world task like a video game and show that the size of specific brain regions is predictive of performance and learning rates on this video game,” said Kirk Erickson, professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and the author on the study.

“Playing a game which requires very fast deployment of visual attention and motor movement could prime a strategy of speed over accuracy,” explained Nelson, “while playing a game which emphasizes a slower, more thoughtful pace could prime the opposite pattern. The main point is that different kinds of video games engage different cognitive and perceptual skills, and there are measurable differences in their effects, even in the short term.”

However, it does not work in reverse; you can’t play a bunch of video games and grow those structures in your brain — you’re stuck with the equipment you’re given from birth.

Netflix plans to continue its domination of the video streaming market with its newest partnership, introducing its steaming service onto the Wii. According to Netflix, the program is scheduled to release onto Nintendo’s platform this spring, and it will require consumers to reserve a disc in-order to participate (they also must have an account, of course).

“Our research shows that 86 percent of all U.S. Wii consoles are located in the living room,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “The Wii console is the social hub around which friends and family members gather to play games and have fun. Soon both new and longtime Wii owners will enjoy the benefits of Netflix – and a variety of informational and entertainment options – by being Netflix members and connecting their consoles to the Internet.”

The partnership between the two companies will extend the reach of Netflix, thanks in-part to the mainstream popularity of the Wii. The Netflx program will be available on the platform this spring and, to enable the streaming, consumers will need an instant-streaming disc, which is currently available at no additional cost to subscribers via the Netflix’s website.

Rebellion has a great reputation, developing a huge variety of hit games. However, as of lately, the companies quality has been lacking, with it producing such lackluster titles as Rogue Warrior. Now, Rebellion has announced that its Derby facility, who developed Rogue Warrior, will be undergoing restructuring.

“We are very excited about the expansion of our Oxford offices, the home of Aliens vs. Predator. Recruitment is ongoing both in Oxford and in Runcorn,” said Jason Kingsley, CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion.

“However, growth is sometimes painful, never more so than in the current climate and we have had to take a long hard look at how we operate our studio network. Strategically we have decided to review the need for the Derby facilities, and consultation with staff at Derby is ongoing,” he continued.

Rumors of Derby’s closure emerged this morning, but it’s unclear if the studio will close. “No-one has been made redundant by Rebellion in more than a decade, and the Derby studio is very much still open while we conduct the review. We are currently undergoing a process of consultancy with our staff to get their ideas, and establish the best possible future for the Derby studio,” stated Kingsley. The studio plans to make a detailed announcement in the coming weeks.

Nintendo fans left out of the Dark Void foray, rejoice! Because Capcom hasn’t forgotten about us. Capcom has revealed its plans for a downloadable prequel, that’s before the events of Dark Void, exclusively on DSiWare entitled Dark Void Zero. And, much like Mega Man 9, Dark Void Zero is being made with an 8-bit aesthetic in mind.

Feeding on the 8-bit nostalgia, Dark Void Zero will feature an original soundtrack, and evokes players to “blow” into the DSi microphone before playing the game – this will happen every time the player boots-up the game. Expected to release in January, Dark Void Zero will cost 500 DSi points and requires a DSi to play.

Japanese role-playing games don’t command the respect that they once had. But, why is that? BioWare, a leader in Western RPG development, believes that Japanese role-playing games don’t innovate, meaning that “lack of evolution” is the reason for the JRPG decline, in both sales and quality.

“The fall of the JRPG in large part is due to a lack of evolution, a lack of progression,” BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk told Destructoid last week. “They kept delivering the same thing over and over. They make the dressing better, they look prettier, but it’s still the same experience”.

“My favorite thing, it’s funny when you still see it, but the joke of some of the dialogue systems where it asks, ‘do you wanna do this or this,’ and you say no. ‘Do you wanna do this or this?’ No. ‘Do you wanna do this or this?’ No. Lemme think — you want me to say ‘yes.’ And that, unfortunately, really characterized the JRPG.”

“We have big debates on whether GTA is an RPG, for example”, he adds. “It’s got all the elements, it just doesn’t have the numbers. And what gamers here want is that higher depth, that higher integration of features…Mass Effect 2 is in some ways a continuation of that evolution.”

Earlier this year, the 12 year-long development soap opera that was Duke Nukem Forever’s development cycle came to an end, marked by the laying off of almost its entire development team at 3D Realm. However, today, rumors point to there being a new installment in the works, teased by the Facebook account for our catchphrase-spouting hero himself, Duke Nukem, reports GameSpot.

The account, created last week, seems to be a viral marketing campaign for Duke Nukem. Which, after posting the status “Duke Nukem doesn’t stay down for long”, released this screenshot (pictured above) – picturing a helmeted soldier shooting a rifle at a towering monster inside a sports stadium, a picturesque scene from the leaked Duke Nukem Forever footage.

Unfortunately, there’s little chance that our catchphrase-spouting protagonist will be blasting aliens anytime soon. You see, the Duke Nukem license is currently at the center of a heated legal dispute between 3D Realms parent Apogee Software, who retains ownership of the Duke Nukem IP, and Take-Two Interactive, which lays claim to Duke Nukem Forever’s publishing rights.

A month after rumors pointed at its development, Ubisoft has made it official. The French publisher announced today that in May, the same exact month that the Prince of Persia movie will be hitting theaters, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will be releasing on both consoles and handhelds.

Also, in the Press Release, the publisher revealed that The Forgotten Sands storyline will return to the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time storyline, which means it follows the original storyline. The Forgotten Sands will also feature “many of the fan-favorite elements from the original series as well as new gameplay innovations”.

That said, the release date wasn’t chosen at random. Like I stated before, the release time-frame is in directly conjunction with the upcoming movie, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time – based on the game with the same name. Can anyone smell a movie tie-in? Be that as it may, Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is expected to hit both consoles and handhelds in May 2010.

When I was growing up, never would I of though that the word billion would be used when talking about video game sales. But, nonetheless, here we are. That said, as much as I hate the management over at Activision, Activision’s Call of Duty series has ranked in a total of $3 Billion in retail sales worldwide, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack, GfK and internal Activision estimates.

“Call Of Duty has become one of the greatest entertainment franchises of all time. If you consider the number of hours our audiences are engaged in playing Call of Duty games, it is likely to be one of the most viewed of all entertainment experiences in modern history,” said Activision CEO, Bobby Kotick.

It’s obvious that Activision and Kotick have struck gold; alot of it. However, knowing Activision, we can expect more from the Call of Duty series.

One the most important selling points of the PlayStation 3 is its no additional charge for online play feature. However, reports have been surfacing about a two-layered subscription model for the PlayStation Network – much like the levels of Xbox Live, but fundamentally different.

During a presentation, emphasizing Sony’s plans to make its video game business profitable, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai confirmed the company’s plans for a “premium level” of subscription for PSN. “We will be building upon our current free [PSN] service offering with premium content and services to start the subscription model,” Hirai told the attendees.

As reassurance against PlayStation 3 owners pay-to-play fears, Hirai reassured owners that the current level of service will remain free of charge.

“SCE will further increase sales by offering users new entertainment through the combination of hardware, software, peripheral, and PlayStation Network,” Hirai said in a statement given to CVG. “Especially in the online area, we are studying the possibility of introducing a subscription model, offering premium content and services, in addition to the current free services.

Pandemic Studios were known for their excellent properties; most notability the the Star Wars: Battlefront series. However, sadly, it was revealed this morning that the studio would be closing its doors for good, something that comes as a huge surprise seeing Pandemic Studios were one of Electronic Arts’ major developers.

That said, EA has since confirmed that it did send out the order to terminate Pandemic. But, don’t worry, EA hasn’t complete gotten rid of the team. According to the publisher, the “core IP team” has been moved to their Los Angeles office, including Andrew Goldman, formerly the studio’s CEO; Josh Resnick, formerly the studios president; and Greg Borrud, vice president of product development.

“Today we informed employees at Pandemic that development on all the Pandemic franchises is being consolidated at EALA. As a result, we are eliminating roughly 200 positions at Pandemic,” said EA vice president of corporate communications, Jeff Brown. “That said, EA is very committed to the Pandemic brand, and a core team of Pandemic developers will be developing existing franchises and other projects at EALA.”

This holiday season is a huge one for video games; with games selling a number of millions within weeks or, even, a day. However, there are a good number of “underdogs” within this holiday season, who sadly have little public awareness – therefore, they’re producers of low sales. But, it seems that these two underdogs (Brutal Legend and DJ Hero) are, actually, doing very will for their first month on the market.

Released on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Brutal Legend sold over 215,000 units in the month of October, compared with DJ Hero‘s 122,300 units on the 360, PS3, Wii, and PlayStation 2 within the same month. Which is, somewhat, a surprise seeing that, one, they’re both holiday underdogs and, two, DJ Hero’s prices range from $100-$200, $200 being the games “Renegade Edition” – the highest edition.

OCTOBER US SALES:

1. Brutal Legend (360) – 150,000 units
2. Brutal Legend (PS3) – 66,000 units
3. DJ Hero (360) – 62,000 units
4. DJ Hero (PS3) – 39,000 units
5. DJ Hero (Wii) – 19,000 units
6. DJ Hero (PS2) – 3,300 units

[Thanks to GameSpot]

No Doubt is suing Activision for un-permitted use of their avatars within Band Hero, and they’re seeking damages for their avatars being turned into “virtual karaoke players”.

The band argues that it “agreed to place avatars containing their name and likeness performing three No Doubt songs”. However, the band never allowed use of their avatars beyond their three songs within the game; Band Hero allows their use in more than 60 other songs – along with that, individual band members can be “isolated into solo performances of these cover songs and placed randomly in countless variations”.

“Activision has deceived and confused the public into believing that No Doubt authorized the use of its name and likeness for the Character Manipulation Feature of Band Hero and that No Doubt approves and endorses the appearance of its members individually performing songs that are wholly inappropriate and out of character for No Doubt,” reads the complaint. We’ve contacted Activision to get its side of the story.

The very first chapter of Dragon Age Journeys, a free to play browser based game set in the Dragon Age world, entitled “The Deep Roads” is now available for download, EA announced today. In “The Deep Roads“, players will uncover a “dastardly plot that threatens to unleash a great evil that won’t stop until it destroys all living things”.

You can play Journeys here:  www.dragonagejourneys.com (we’ve been informed that it will be up and running at noon PST [3:00PM EST], sorry).

“Dragon Age Journeys sets the stage for Dragon Age: Origins,” said Mark Darrah, Executive Producer, Dragon Age: Origins. “The team has shown the Dragon Age Franchise in a bold new light and the release of this game allows a broad audience of players to discover our dark fantasy universe for the first time.”

Dragon Age Journeys is produced by a new browser-based production team at EA and an all-star team of independent development talent, with the goal of creating premium quality browser games. Dragon Age Journeys will features intense tactical combat, a compelling story and deep customization.

Electronic Arts revealed today that the Need for Speed franchises has surpassed 100 Million units sold worldwide – making the Need for Speed franchise the best-selling racing brand in the gaming history. Along with that, the publisher also revealed that the franchise has generated a total of 2.7 billion in sales.

“Few video game franchises ever reach the 100M units mark, so this is a huge honor. We have millions of fans to thank for driving us to this milestone,” said Frank Gibeau, president, EA Games Label. “With the launch of Need for Speed Shift and the upcoming release of Need for Speed Nitro, we hope to continue to deliver the most entertaining, action-packed racing experiences.”

EA also noted that if Need for Speed boxes were laid out end-to-end, it would span 173,609 football fields. With that said, in all, the Need for Speed brand brought us 15 titles for over 14 platforms, which were released in 22 languages in more than 60 countries.

Let’s skip the small talk, shall we? Epic Mickey is a tale about the ‘forgotten’ Disney stars: the rides, the characters, the lesser-known cartoons, a source close to EuroGamer reveals. When no one no longer cares about them, they’re cast into a dark void; a forgotten world of broken machines and bitter personalities.

This void is run by Oswald the Rabbit – Walt Disney‘s first creation – and Oswald’s jealousy of Mickey Mouse has tormented him for years. Now, Oswald is ready for revenge. To help him with this task, Oswald unleashes The Phantom Blot to wipe out Mickey and his cartoon world. The Blot pollutes the Disney universe with sticky black ink that makes colors run and fade, so it’s up to Mickey to restore peace and order.

This is where Mickey’s new tools – paintbrushes, erasers, thinner, pencils and other artist tools – come in. Mickey has to draw and scribble his way through levels, mending broken bridges by applying the right color paint or peering through walls after applying thinner. He can even clear rubble from his path by erasing parts of the world, which all can be down with the Wii Motion Control.

The source tells EuroGamer that Epic Mickey is a game about thinking and artwork – laterally considering your environment in order to overcome puzzles. Also that, Mickey will be getting “his first makeover in years”. “That’s why no one’s seen his face yet,” their source explains. “But he’s far more retro than you’ve seen him for years.”

During Microsoft‘s E3 ’09 keynote, they revealed the long awaited and rumored sequel, Crackdown 2. However, it isn’t until now – the Tokyo Game Show – that we’re getting to see the first pair of screenshots, and, well, they’re freaking amazing.

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Today, Nintendo confirmed that the Nintendo Wii, “the world’s most popular home video game system”, will receive a price cut. The price cut will take effect on September 27 in the United States, and, as advertised, the console will drop down to $199.99 – which is exactly $50 less then the current price of $249.99.

“Wii has reached more video game players than any game system before because it attracts everyone—both men and women, and people of all ages,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. ”Our research shows there are 50 million Americans thinking about becoming gamers, and this more affordable price point and our vast array of new software mean many of them can now make the leap and find experiences that appeal to them, whatever their tastes or level of gaming experience.”

In an interview with 1UP, Jun Takeuchi, Resident Evil 5 producer, stated that other developers are happy about Sony’s wand motion controller technology because it’s now possible for Wii games to be ported onto the PlayStation 3.

“Speaking to other developers in Japan, I’ve heard a few of them say they were delighted by the Sony motion controller because they can just port over their Wii titles to the PS3,” Takeuchi told 1UP. However, this doesn’t confirmed that Capcom’s working on a Wii-to-PS3 port, but this opens the room for a No More Heroes port on PlayStation 3.

Looks like Joe Wilson isn’t the only one shouting “you lie!” In a response to Courtney Love‘s allegations of suing the “S” out of Activision because of Kurt Cobain‘s likeliness being used in Guitar Hero 5, Activision pushed out a statement, stating that Courtney Love is lying.

“Guitar Hero secured the necessary licensing rights from the Cobain estate in a written agreement signed by Courtney Love to use Kurt Cobain’s likeness as a fully playable character in Guitar Hero(r) 5,” states Activision to Joystiq. However, in the original report, it said that Activision played a “Bully['s] part”, and that she never gave her approval for Kurt Cobain to be used in Guitar Hero 5. Anyway, it looks like someone has some explaining to do.

Like if you needed more of a reason to watch all of the information that will be coming out of the Tokyo Game Show this year. According to the Examiner, Capcom, one of the biggest game publishers and developers to date, has been teasing on it Twitter of the new titles that it will be revealing at the Tokyo Game Show this year.

“Hard at work on Tokyo Game Show plans,” said the publisher via its twitter feed. “Several new games to be announced in Japan, lots of new content for [Lost Planet 2], [Tatsunoko vs. Capcom], [and Dead Rising 2]. Exciting!” Tokyo Game Show 2009 will be held from September 24 to the 27.

Talk about something not great for kids. Brutal Legend is all about the rock, the cars, hot chicks and demonic forces. Surprisingly, that sums up the 64 kilometer world that is Brutal Legend, a giant landscape filled with essentially rock album cover art, headbangers, giant guitar swords and, inevitably, the occasional cute animal that makes a funny sound when run over.

As Eddie Riggs, or Jack Black since that’s who we’re all really playing as, except with better hair and strangely large chest and broad shoulders, it’s the player’s job to bring order back to the world of rock. How you get there, what you’re doing, who the hot chicks are and where they roam…important, but not for your eyes now.

Brutal Legend is like Ratchet and Clank, except replace the sci-fi world for a down-and-dirty, and I might say awesome looking Earth-ish landscape, Ratchet’s little wrench for a giant axe and an electrifying guitar, and Clank for the occasional hot chick. Oh, and remove the platforming for an open-world feel, and get rid of the kiddy humor for something a little less tasteful, and a lot funnier.

It could be that Ozzie makes an appearance in the demo, helping players make the car Eddie puts together in ten seconds flat into something more respectable. Add on chainguns, art, an engine so big that it blocks the view from the steering wheel…you name it, it can probably be stacked on top of whatever’s on the car already.

So far, the first 15 minutes of the game were not as funny or exciting as I’d hoped. Then again, the insane standard I have, especially when I think a game will be great, doesn’t help in the slightest. Neither does the fact that it was only the first 15 minutes and I wasn’t impressed by the dialog or action incredibly. Then again, the developer commentaries I watched were more interesting, so perhaps it’s only a slow start to a much more exciting game, which I hope and expect. I mean, there’s a list of rock legends doing voice work, Jack Black to make me laugh, and eventually a completely open world to explore and, hopefully tarnish and destroy if it hasn’t been already.

Would I say I was disappointed by the demo? Eh, no. Demos can never be perfect, regardless of who makes them, and I appreciate that. It sucks I wasn’t on the floor, clutching my sides because the GAME WAS SO FUNNY HAHA, but hey, nobody’s perfect. It’s a good warmup, to the full game, so we’ll see if it leaves us hanging, or goes all the way, this Rocktober

Donating sales in Japan, Dragon Quest IX has yet to see the bread its success, but if you had yours eye fixated on when you’ll see the game in North America, I have some very important news for you. According to the president of Square Enix, Yoichi Wada, they’ll being looking into bringing Dragon Quest overseas sometime next year.

This news comes when talking about the company’s performance in the first period of the new financial year. However, Dragon Quest has never been an overly popular franchise in North America. It looks like with all its success in Japan, Square Enix may seems to spark interest in North America.

EA CEO John Riccitiello is known for his opinions, which are often controversial, and in his latest outburst, it’s no different. During EA’s Q1 conference call, Riccitiello stated that a price cut will move more hardware, and that they’ll like to see a cut later this year.

“We think pricing will move hardware,” he said. “We anticipate price cuts at some point and we’d like to see them later in the year.” However, so far, the Xbox 360 is the only system to see major price cuts. But, Nintendo hasn’t hinted at a price drop since the sales of its consoles have been going strong, and, recently, Sony has been in the spotlight about thier comments of a price drop for the PlayStation 3. We cant help, but think the comment may have been a clue to Sony to drop the price of its console soon.

Anyway, EA is a big player in the gaming industry and are convinicing enough to change minds of a console manufacturer like Sony. However, if you don’t remember. A few months back, Activision threatened Sony about the price of the PS3, and the lack of a price cut.

It goes without saying that movie games suck. They do. If you’ve ever purchased one, you know that nine out of ten times, you regret that purchase, and the ten remaining percent you can’t decide whether it was actually worthwhile, or not. While it’s bad enough the GI Joe movie looks like it could very well be crap nobody wants to see, the game has remained a bit more mysterious. Until now.

The GI Joe game is similar to the recently released Wolverine title; players pick a character from the GI Joe universe and fight off bad guys. It’s much more linear, so everything is literally pointing you where to go, like Advent Rising, except without the openness. It is, in fact, an extremely closed game, but playing it by yourself is the reason why it would feel ridiculous.

GI Joe is meant to be played cooperatively. Or, more specifically, competitively for points. Two players are supposed to, with different characters utilizing different strengths and weaknesses, gather as many points as possible by fighting off the enemy, finding secrets, and stealing kills. This is tremendous fun, especially when your adversary can hear your roar of victory.

In my play-test, I wielded a sword and a pathetic pistol, while my opponent had a giant gun. Because I learned everything mentioned earlier while playing, I ran around shooting everything, and slashing the occasional bad guy when they came near. Only then did I realize my opponent had double the points I did, because his bigger gun was just wrecking the playing field. No fair!

The rest of the game was I playing catch up, and I did. I slashed everyone and everything, shot last-second and guys who had no health and stole kills like a 10 year old playing Halo 2. At one point, the developer told us both to push the Y button, and suddenly both our guns got a massive boost for a cooperative strike. Giant tanks started rolling in and we were dodging equally giant rounds that would look unseemly in the tight clothes our characters wore.

After all this, GI Joe is fun. By yourself…I can only imagine how lonely one must be to play a cooperative game alone, not even competing against an AI. As someone who didn’t grow up with GI Joe because Transformers was better, I didn’t get all the references, which the developer pointed out each and every time, to which I insincerely nodded “oh yes, I remember that. Fond memories!” Like a rail shooter, it’s fun in a quick-action sort of way, and like Wolverine, you can sit back and relax while tearing the guts out of, well, just about anything. Plus it’s great for kids!

Speaking exclusively to Gamesindustry.biz, Ubisoft Game Designer Michael de Plater acknowledges that the festive holiday season is a “brutal” duration to release new IPs and that many good games could fall wayside as a result.

“It’s a bit tough to launch a new IP exactly at Christmas when you’re head-to-head with blockbuster sequels. It’s interesting to see a number of big titles, like Heavy Rain, being targeted at 2010 to avoid the Christmas rush,” he explained. “And Ubisoft’s got Ruse coming out in 2010. Even God of War 3′s in 2010, that’s how brutal it is. I mean, you’ve got Assassins Creed 2, Modern Warfare 2, Mass Effect 2.”

“To me, it’s been a period of enormous change, and the last four years I would say has been the time when games have actually surpassed movies as the premium blockbuster entertainment,” he continues.

Speaking of, the summer is basically an empty season for video games. I don’t know why developers and publishers can’t just space things out because, like I said, the summer season is basically empty for video games.

Activision have unveiled the full song-list for Guitar Hero 5. The list is full of hits from artists such as Megadeth, Blink 182, and 3 Doors Down. Anyway, it’s not a terrible list for a GH game, but its contents came as no surprise. When Guitar Hero 5 ships this September, your inner rock star will be able to rock to its heart’s content with this explosive set-list, including the following tracks:

Newly Announced:

• 3 Doors Down – “Kryptonite”
• Arctic Monkeys – “Brianstorm”
• Blink-182 – “The Rock Show”
• Dire Straits – “Sultans Of Swing”
• Jimmy Eat World – “Bleed American”
• Johnny Cash – “Ring Of Fire”
• Megadeth – “Sweating Bullets”
• Mötley Crüe – “Looks That Kill”
• Muse – “Plug In Baby”
• Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
• Queen & David Bowie – “Under Pressure”
• Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”
• The Killers – “All The Pretty Faces”
• The Raconteurs – “Steady As She Goes”
• TV On The Radio – “Wolf Like Me”

Previously Announced:

• A Perfect Circle – “Judith”
• AFI – “Medicate”
• Attack! Attack! UK – “You And Me”
• Band Of Horses – “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands”
• Beastie Boys – “Gratitude”
• Beck – “Gamma Ray”
• Billy Idol – “Dancing With Myself”
• Billy Squier – “Lonely Is The Night”
• Blur – “Song 2″
• Bob Dylan – “All Along The Watchtower”
• Bon Jovi – “You Give Love A Bad Name”
• Brand New – “Sowing Season (Yeah)”
• The Bronx – “Six Days A Week”
• Bush – “Comedown”
• Children Of Bodom – “Done With Everything, Die For Nothing”
• Coldplay – “In My Place”
• Darker My Love – “Blue Day”
• Darkest Hour – “Demon(s)”
• David Bowie – “Fame”
• Deep Purple – “Woman From Tokyo (’99 Remix)”
• The Derek Trucks Band – “Younk Funk”
• The Duke Spirit – “Send A Little Love Token”
• Duran Duran – “Hungry Like The Wolf”
• Eagles Of Death Metal – “Wannabe In L.A.”
• Elliott Smith – “L.A.”
• Elton John – “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)”
• Face To Face – “Disconnected”
• Garbage – “Only Happy When It Rains”
• Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”
• Gov’t Mule – “Streamline Woman”
• Grand Funk Railroad – “We’re An American Band”
• Iggy Pop – “Lust For Life (Live)”
• Iron Maiden – “2 Minutes To Midnight”
• Jeff Beck – “Scatterbrain (Live)”
• John Mellencamp – “Hurts So Good”
• Kaiser Chiefs – “Never Miss A Beat”
• King Crimson – “21st Century Schizoid Man”
• Kings Of Leon – “Sex On Fire”
• Kiss – “Shout It Out Loud”
• Love and Rockets – “Mirror People”
• My Morning Jacket – “One Big Holiday”
• Nirvana – “Lithium (Live)”
• No Doubt – “Ex-Girlfriend”
• Peter Frampton – “Do You Feel Like We Do? (Live)”
• The Police – “So Lonely”
• Public Enemy Featuring Zakk Wylde – “Bring the Noise 20XX”
• Queens Of The Stone Age – “Make It Wit Chu”
• Rammstein – “Du Hast”
• The Rolling Stones – “Sympathy For The Devil”
• Rose Hill Drive – “Sneak Out”
• Rush – “The Spirit Of Radio (Live)”
• Santana – “No One To Depend On (Live)”
• Scars On Broadway – “They Say”
• Screaming Trees – “Nearly Lost You”
• Smashing Pumpkins – “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”
• Sonic Youth – “Incinerate”
• Spacehog – “In The Meantime”
• Sublime – “What I Got”
• Sunny Day Real Estate – “Seven”
• T. Rex – “20th Century Boy”
• The Sword – “Maiden, Mother & Crone”
• Thin Lizzy – “Jailbreak”
• Thrice – “Deadbolt”
• Tom Petty – “Runnin’ Down A Dream”
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “American Girl”
• Vampire Weekend – “A-Punk”
• Weezer – “Why Bother?”
• The White Stripes – “Blue Orchid”
• Wild Cherry – “Play That Funky Music”
• Wolfmother – “Back Round”

There is pretty much a good mix of everything featured throughout this list. I strongly suggest the game if you’re your 70′s and 80′s rocker because that seems to be what it’s most composed of. Once again, the game will ship on September 1st and it will offer downloadable tracks after its release.

As reported by so many sources stating that Gearbox maybe working on the next Halo project, which was unofficially titled Halo 4. It seems that you may scratch Gearbox off the list of developers that are making the next Halo title because on the official twitter account for Halo Waypoint, it confirmed that the developer is not involved in any upcoming Halo projects.

“For the record, Gearbox is NOT working on a Halo title for Microsoft,” the twitter feed read.

Microsoft was e-mail by IGN to confirmed this.

UbiSoft briefly mentioned in their financial report today that several of their major upcoming titles have been delayed. Yes, including Conviction.

Anyway, Splinter Cell: Conviction and Red Steel 2, both of which were slotted for holiday 09 releases, have now been pushed into early 2010. And, in other news, I Am Alive and Ghost Recon 4 were, unluckily, hit with even bigger delays, pushing them into UbiSoft’s 2010-11 fiscal year, which means a release in April of 2010 at the absolute earliest.

“We are disappointed that we have to postpone the release of several major games but we consider that this choice is the best one in the long-term interests of Ubisoft,” reads the publisher’s latest financial report.

Forever. Sadly, that’s how long THQ and Jakks Pacific have been fighting over the net rate sales associated their WWE video game series, more pacifically back in 2006 when the net rate increased. Today, that conflict has been settled, declaring THQ the winner.

“As we expected, we have prevailed in this matter,” said James M. Kennedy, THQ’s executive VP of business and legal affairs, in a statement. “We are gratified the arbitrator agreed the preferred return rate to Jakks Pacific on WWE video games will be significantly lower.”

With the net rate now set at 6 percent, THQ will pay Jakks Pacific $34 million for the period between July 1, 2006 and March 31, 2009, which is 23 million less than what it would have owed if it was settled in Jakks favor. Now, at least they can find means on something.

With the release of the sequel soon underway, there’s no doubt that there’s going to be a video game tie-in. However, with the first Iron Man video game, the story wasn’t well represented. This is what brings us to this announcement.

SEGA announced today that renowned comic book author, Matt Fraction will be creating the game’s all-new storyline, including familiar elements from both the movie and comic book universe, for Iron Man 2.

Iron Man 2, the video game, allows players to truly feel the power of Iron Man with new destructible environments, epic enemies, and innovative hand-to-hand combat moves, as well as other features from the film and comic book.

Iron Man 2 will exclusively offer fans a chance to play against enemies such as the unforgettable Crimson Dynamo, not found in the film.

“Iron Man 2 presented me with the challenge and opportunity to work with both SEGA and Marvel on creating something wholly unique- a story that exists at the cross-roads of the comic I write, the film universe which I was lucky enough to be asked to contribute to, and a wholly- immersive interactive experience like a game,” says Fraction.

“A game presents an entirely new challenge, where the audience/consumer/player engages with the world, with the big and small aspects of the place and characters. They’re a co-conspirator in the narrative. I hope it’s as exciting and challenging to play as it was to write.”

Activision are building a new studio in San Francisco. And, believe it or not, they need people to work there. So they have picked up two of Visceral Games’ senior staff member.

According to Kotaku, Activision got their hands on Glen Schofield, who was general manager at Visceral, and Michael Condrey, who was chief operating officer.

They both left today.  To go onto work at Activision’s new studio, whose name and purpose are a mystery. However, I bet we can rule out anything “family friendly”. Seeing that EA’s Visceral Games worked on such games as Dead Space and Dante’s Inferno.

[Dead Space Devs Jump Ship To Activision via Kotaku]

Tim Schafer, once again, walks us through the realm that is Brütal Legend, but this time he’s joined by Lee Petty, Art Director on Brütal Legend, and Erik Robson, Lead Designer on Brütal Legend, to give us 22 minutes of Heavy Metal.

“Holy crap!” exclaimed Schafer when announcing the title, “I have been dreaming about this day for fifteen years. And now it is finally here. We’ve gathered small clues over the years about the Age of Metal, in songs, t-shirts, and album covers. But now we have uncovered the metal mother lode, the full legend of what actually happened in that loud and heavy era, and we are the lucky ones who get to tell the tale.”

It’s a good news/bad news situation, depending on how you view it: if you pre-ordered the game for as a Christmas gift, it’s bad. If it’s one of the many games on your Christmas shopping list, and you’re short on holiday money, it’s good – but not all that good.

Yesterday, Take-Two Interactive announced that BioShock 2 won’t be releasing within the company’s fourth quarter, as previously planned. BioShock 2 has instead been pushed up to the “first half” of 2010.

“The decision to shift a release date is never an easy one, especially with a product as highly anticipated as BioShock 2,” said Take-Two CEO Ben Feder. “We felt that it was essential to invest the additional time to ensure that this title will deliver what its fans expect and deserve.”

However, the move is worst for the company’s current fiscal year, which ends on October 31, but good news for its 2010 fiscal year, said Jesse Divnich, director of analyst services at Electronic Entertainment Design & Research in Carlsbad, Calif.

“I expect them to dominate fiscal 2010,” Divnich said. “BioShock 2, Max Payne 3, Red Dead Redemption, Mafia II, additional Grand Theft Auto Downloadable Content (DLC), and the possible launch of Agent should make fiscal 2010 the year of Take-Two. As far as I am concerned, Take-Two is just moving numbers from one financial year to another.”

[Bioshock 2 delayed; Take-Two's stock takes a hit via LA Times]

This holiday season we’re going to have to dig deep into our pockets to find the money for buying video games, like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Brutal Legend, and Assassin’s Creed II. But, the developers behind Heavy Rain want their project to be really successful. And have push the game back beyond the holiday rush.

When speaking to GI.biz in a interview, Quantic Dream co-CEO Guillaume de Fondaumiere stated that the Holiday ’09 release date for Heavy Rain was “a very crowded place”. As an affect, they have pushed Heavy Rain into 2010.

“Purely from my perspective, most publishers today realise that it’s not ideal to release a new IP or a new genre just before Christmas,” he said in the interview. “It’s a very crowded place to be, and certain games need more space to live their life. Everybody at working on the project, both at Quantic and Sony, believe this is the right time.”

More info should be revealed during Gamescom in Cologne next month on its new release date.

During the latest episode of GameTrailers TV, Geoff Keighley and the team at Visceral Games revealed the first ever gameplay trailer for their upcoming title Dante’s Inferno. Now, enough talking about it, it’s time to show.

“The time is right for the world of interactive entertainment to adapt this literary masterpiece, and to re-introduce Dante to an audience that, until now, may have been unfamiliar with the remarkable details of this great work of art,” said Jonathan Knight, executive producer for Dante’s Inferno. “It’s the perfect opportunity to fuse great gameplay with great story.”

Namco Bandai has announced that its secured exclusive North American rights to publish all future Dragon Ball titles “across all major consoles and handhelds” for the next five years, beginning in January 2010.

Along with this, Namco Bandai has secured the right to initially publish three Dragon Ball titles in 2009, Dragon Ball: Raging Blast for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo exclusively for Wii, and Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans exclusively for Nintendo DS.

“We are very excited to have signed this long term agreement with Toei Animation Co., Ltd and FUNimation Entertainment, which grants Namco Bandai Games North American multi-platform rights to the testosterone-driven, action-packed world of Dragon Ball,”said Makoto Iwai, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Namco Bandai Games America Inc..

“This move reunites Namco Bandai Games with the Dragon Ball series in North America which will considerably increase our ability to develop titles that perfectly capture every nuance of what makes the Dragon Ball world exciting to the consumer.”

Grease gets summer loving from 505 Games and Paramount Digital Entertainment with the announcement that 505 Games has secured the global publishing rights for a video game based on the original high school musical. The game will be will oversee and publish for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS.

The Grease video game will allow players to sing and dance alongside Danny, Sandy, The Pink Ladies and the T-Birds. The game will take full advantage of the Nintendo Wii’s motion-sensing controls and microphone, and the DS’s touch screen to create exciting gameplay for casual and family gamers eager to experience Grease in a new medium.

“We are really excited about working with Paramount Digital Entertainment to turn this world famous film into a video game for the very first time. Working with such a well known and much loved brand is a great opportunity and we believe the collaboration further strengthens 505 Games’ entertainment portfolio,” commented Ian Howe, Managing Director 505 Games.

“Paramount Digital Entertainment is pleased to be working with 505 Games to develop Grease,” said John Kavanagh, Senior Vice President of Video Games for Paramount Digital Entertainment. “Grease is the ideal opportunity to reach a broad gaming audience who love to sing, dance and have fun with a party-style game.”

Last year, EA release some very interesting new titles; raging from parkour to mutant space creatures. The key to success? Hardly, because EA seems to think that, that was its down fall in 2008.

“I think in the spirit of your question, I think we launched too many new IPs all at once in Q3,” said EA’s Frank Gibeau in an interview with Gamasutra.

“I would have spread them out and found better windows for them. I would have had longer marketing for them. The marketing cycles were fairly short. We didn’t have enough assets to really build the fanbase, build the community, and get that long lead demand built,” he continued.

“So I probably in hindsight would have picked a couple different windows for Dead Space and Mirror’s Edge.”

In the shadow of Gibeau’s statement, yes!!! If their titles had more time to develope a stronger fan base, the sales would have seen a increase, along with, stronger interest. Just look at Valkyria Chronicles.

Movie based games normally aren’t as good as they appear, but when a developer gets that movie and game combination just right, they can amaze everyone with their final product. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is just that kind of game, but instead of some hand-me-down PG-13 character, you get a Wolverine that stays true to Wolverine. Because of this, “the kiddies” can’t take on this role of Wolverine – thanks to some very brutal decapitations – but that just sucks for them.

Following events from the film, the game tosses you in into the tattered white tank top of Weapon X in a setting all too familiar from the movie. However, X-Men Origins adds a lot of back story into it. The game centers around the time when Logan was running with his commanding officer Stryker and Sabertooth doing animalistic missions within Africa. But that isn’t all, the title also follows Lugan’s turn from the group for a better life – but we all know how that turns out. So now, he’s on a one man mission of revenge. However, for some reason, the game finds away to pop in and out of these timelines, which sometimes can get a bit tedious.

Luckily, this game isn’t much about story; it’s mostly about hacking ‘n’ slashing your way though waves and waves of enemies. Thanks to some quick reaction, combat provides enough variety in its moves to keep things up to speed and interesting, while the ability to unlock special moves and upgrade them with points earned by experience offers an rewarding sense of progress. But without some of these controls such as the game’s lunges, blocks, rolls, and special moves – handled by shoulder buttons and triggers – the controls feel sufficiently different to most other hack ‘n’ slash titles. And once you get the hang of things, you’ll soon find yourself a pro.

Another thing that’s interesting about X-Men Origins is the new health system they have finally given to Wolverine. Like before there is a heath bar, but you won’t need it because Wolverine has the ability to heal in-game. When bullets fly into Wolverine, the holes appear in his chest and they begin to bleed out. Along this, you can also see the shirt being torn off of Logan back as enemy bullets and explosions hit him.

When playing thought this game, I found that there there hasn’t been much work on the characters within the design department. There are three character types that aren’t bosses, and depending on which mission you are on, there are different character skins you will be able to fight. Don’t get me wrong, there are many special moves and attacks that you can utilise, but you can only do something for so long before you get bored of it. This is want happens with X-Men Origins. Sure, adding new character skins in the mix is a nice aspect, but there’s aren’t that many of them to keep things fresh.

Closing Statement:

There’s only so much you can ask from a movie game, but lucky, X-Men Origins is able to capture them all well. When I was playing though this game I was surprised by all the things they’ve added to give the game replay valve. I played though this game twice: the first to beat it, and the second to find all the extra collectables and ablites. There have been very few movie games that people can consider good, however I’m happy to tell you that X-Men Origins: Wolverine happens to be one of these games.

Score: B+

Today, the attained parent company of Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax Media Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of id Software, creators of world-renowned games such as DOOM, Quake, Wolfenstein, and the upcoming title, RAGE.

The acquisition by ZeniMax Media joins together two of the most respected videogame developers in the world, combining the FPS expertise of id with acclaimed RPG developer Bethesda Game Studios.

id Software will continue to operate under the direction of its founder, John Carmack. No changes will be made in the operations of id Software as development goes. However, all the principals at id have signed long-term employment contracts, assuring they will continue in their roles developing games.

“This was a unique opportunity to team with a smart, sophisticated publisher like Bethesda Softworks where the interests of the studio and the publisher will be fully aligned in the development and marketing of our titles,” said Todd Hollenshead, CEO of id Software. “In addition, we will now have financial and business resources to support the future growth of id Software, a huge advantage which will result in more and even better games for our fans.”

“This puts id Software in a wonderful position going forward,” said John Carmack, who will continue to serve in his current role as Technical Director. “We will now be able to grow and extend all of our franchises under one roof, leveraging our capabilities across multiple teams while enabling forward looking research to be done in the service of all of them. We will be bigger and stronger, as we recruit the best talent to help us build the landmark games of the future. As trite as it may be for me to say that I am extremely pleased and excited about this deal, I am.”

As it was rumored, Rockstar Games has announced that one of the highest-rated handheld games of all time, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will released for PSP this autumn.

“We’re proud to extend this truly unique handheld Grand Theft Auto experience to PSP and offer a downloadable version of Chinatown Wars for PSP GO,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “Rockstar Leeds has shown incredible talent in creating games that raise the bar in terms of depth and innovation on portables, and with Chinatown Wars we have a rich, fast-paced, and incredibly addictive entry into the series.”

“Rockstar’s work with the GTA series has been an enormous part of the success of PlayStation platforms,” added Jack Tretton, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. “We’re excited to welcome the critically acclaimed Chinatown Wars to the outstanding line-up of great games headed to the PSP platform this fall.”

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars follows the story of Huang Lee, a young Triad who travels to Liberty City after the mysterious death of his father.

Meet with some mixed emotions from Modern Warfare fanboys alike, it seems that World at War is a huge success, ranking over 11 Million copies sold since its debut in November of last year.

Just to recap, during its pre-Christmas debut, it sold more than 1.88 million units in its first month on retail shelves. Sales then went on to be very solid with an average of about 1.2 million copies each month.

FreeStyleGames studio, the developers behind the upcoming DJ Hero title, have been hinting at the possibility all of E3, but the developers over at Neversoft, known for the Guitar Hero series, haven’t put their two cents into the equation, until now.

“We’ve worked with [DJ Hero creator FreeStyleGames], talked to them about the game for a couple of years now, looked at different builds and played it,” GH director Brian Bright told Eurogamer TV. “We would love to integrate in the future.”

However, Bright went on to say that the games release dates did not allow the team to include the option in the latest major Guitar Hero installment.

“Unfortunately for Guitar Hero 5, we ship a few months before they do. [But] we’d love to explore instrument compatibility in the future; we’ll see where it goes.”

Its competitor NBA 2K10 has Kobe Bryant has its cover athlete, now, to combat that EA Sports has announced that Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard will be scoring the cover spot for NBA Live 10.

“It’s an honor to be named as the cover athlete for NBA LIVE 10,” said Howard. “This year has been a crazy ride and this is a cool way to cap it off. Of course – there is one more thing I’m on the hunt for that would complete it.”

Featuring several innovations to the core gameplay experience and online game modes, NBA LIVE 10 is bringing a renewed focus to the long-running EA Sports basketball franchise. The groundbreaking Dynamic DNA service, driven by Synergy Sports Technology, will make a return in NBA LIVE 10, with significant improvements that will allow players to connect their game to the NBA season like never before.

Even though we have to wait until next years E3 to see the next Zelda Wii project in action, Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto showed a select group of people at E3 the concept art for the newest Zelda Wii game, which is currently in production. And thanks to the guys over at Kotaku, here it is:

[nggallery id=22]

It seems that Nintendo has teamed up with the developers over at Team Ninja to produce the upcoming Metroid title, Metroid: Other M – otherwise know as Project M.

With the game Nintendo plans to ”reveal a Metroid game unlike any you’ve experienced before.”

The title is a third person title, much like the original Metroid, and its said to release in 2010.