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.”

When first showing the Modern Warfare 2 teaser trailer (shown below), there was an underwater snippet shown, which left many questioning if there was going to be an underwater level of some kind playable in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

However, in a recent interview with GameTrailers TV, Infinity Ward cleared those questions right up. “It’s mostly… the opening to a level,” Infinity Ward’s CCO Vince Zampella told GameTrailers TV. “There’s not any underwater combat or anything… That’s how the CO’s generally infiltrate.”

Note: To view the box-art click the link below (after video).

The box art for the highly anticipated title, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction, was released yesterday, as well as the information that will be located on the back of the retail box.

The back of the box reads:

You are a fugitive, ruthlessly hunted by the very government you used to serve. Your only choice is to improvise to survive. Experience original gameplay based on improvisation in which your environment is your top weapon. Always on your toes, you need to react on the fly to any changing situations and use the environment and the crowds around you to create diversions and deter your enemies.

As a fugitive, quick thinking and adaptation are essential to turn the situation to your advantage. A gameplay experience delivering 100% adrenaline includes close combat and shooting sequences. To survive, build an underground network of allies who will help you obtain high-tech gadgets and stay one step ahead of your pursuers as you struggle to unmask the forces that frame you.

[Box-art and Details via Game-Debate]

A video showcasing the un-boxing of Modern Warfare 2′s Prestige Edition was posted to the internet yesterday.

This is the most expensive edition of Modern Warfare 2 and comes packed with the Harden Edition of the game, an exclusive art book, and a fohawk head to put your pair of working night vision goggles on. Yes, you heard right, working night vision goggles.

Anyway,  this collector’s bundle seems to be one of the most ambitious bundles ever published. However, without a price point, who knows if this bundle is worth the price? All I know is, it would take a ridiculous price point to get me away from buying a pair of working night vision goggles with my video game.

The sequel to the film adaptation of Hitman is in production, according to a new report by movie site IESB.

Writer Kyle Ward, also attached to the Kane & Lynch adaptation, is handling the script for Hitman 2. Producers Adrian Askarieh, Daniel Alter and Chuck Gordon will return to work on the project.

The original Hitman movie, released in 2007, starred Deadwood veteran Timothy Olyphant in the role as Agent 45 himself. Despite dismal reviews, the film eventually raked in $99.9 million at the box office.

Midway Newcastle may be on the verge of closing its doors, but that hasn’t stopped it from announcing its development on its newest IP, Necessary Force. However, its announcement isn’t a lost cause, the studio hopes that it can end its seek for a buyer with it.

Develop even had the chance of meeting up with studio head Craig Duncan to talk about the game, which after three months of work is playable, and says the team is not giving up just yet.

“The idea of a detective who sets his own rules is the sort of story that’s been around in movies for a while, but we don’t think anyone’s managed to capture the essence of those choices and consequences in games,” said Duncan. “That unprecedented level of open world influence and troubled morality is something we’re really keen to explore.”

“It’s really important that people know that this is a team that wants to stick together – sometimes when you look at buying a studio you can worry that the real talent, the people, will just flee the ship, leaving you with some IP, kit and an empty building; the pieces of the puzzle that aren’t really worth anything,” he added.

“But everyone here as worked together for at least two years, with the original core team still together after about ten years. We’ve been through the ups and downs and all want to stay working together.”

“Despite all that’s been going on, we’ve only had three people leave this year – it just goes to show that everyone wants to stay together, how galvanized they are as a team. They don’t know if they’re going to have a job in a month’s time, but they’re still putting in a huge amount of effort now; staying until nine in the evening working on this – and that’s because they’re all so motivated by the great project we’re working on.”

Updated: Beside the reports that it was shown on 360, we have learned that it was show on the PC.

Original: The PlayStation 3 has some of the most beautiful games on its system, one of these just happen to be Killzone 2. Now, when this game was announced, back at E3 ’05, it was one of the most hyped, and most discussed titles because of its visual representation.

Four years later, over 2 million copies sold, Killzone 2 has lived up to its hype, to add, its visuals were dead on to what was shown at E3 ’05. But, during this years E3, Bethesda Software’s Brink was shown behind closed door and everyone that witness it was blown away by the way it looked. Most importantly, because it was running on 360. Why? Because it had the same graphical quality as Killzone 2.

Anyway, Bethesda Software is a very incredible company with some very unique development tricks up its sleeve. One trick they used to achieve this level of quality, was the way they used their textures.

[Bethesda Software Brings Killzone 2 Quality For Xbox360 With Brink. via HipHopGamerShow]

Whatever you do, don’t get your hopes up. Yes, this the next Def Jam, but, sadly, it’s not fighting game. It’s a casual Hip Hop Karaoke game, go figure. Anyway, the game is being developed by new company called 4mm Games –  made up of former Rockstar execs/talent - via a partnership with Def Jam Interactive and it’s entitled Def Jam Rapstar.

4mm Games and Def Jam Interactive have a great story to share in terms of their unique partnership and more importantly their vision for Def Jam Rapstar to foster an interactive environment that speaks to the popular urban and hip hop communities which span a wide range of demographics. Wait, that’s casual talk!

The partnership and upcoming portfolio of titles, starting with Def Jam Rapstar, stems from both companies desire to create authentic, and culturally relevant urban-rooted entertainment across multiple genres/platforms. More info will be revealed at this years E3.

When the makers of the Grand Theft Auto series announced that they were doing  a following up to ’04 western shooter Red Dead Revolver, we strapped on our riding boots and pumped bullets into our six-shooters.

Okay, that actually didn’t happen. But, if you watch the trailer below, you may be inclined to do something cowboy-like.

“The team at San Diego have massively exceeded our expectations with the sheer depth of experiences in Red Dead Redemption,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games.

“The seamless combination of breathtaking beauty and intense action, all woven together with strong plotlines in a massive vibrant, rural environment is mind-blowing. We think this game helps to push the limits of what an open-world gaming experience can be.”

In reports earlier today, it was reported that the open-world sci-fi title Borderlands had gone fully cel-shaded, which is what you’ve seen in  something like the Naruto video games, graphically. However, when Kotaku contacted Gearbox president Randy Pitchford on the matter he had this to say.

“No, Borderlands is not cel-shaded — it’s a gritty and serious world after all,” Pitchford told Kotaku via email. “But since the game was first unveiled we have made big advancements with the art direction and the technology to support the art and have produced some pretty impressive, even shocking results.”

He also confirmed that the game’s official website will “soon” be updated with new content showing off some of the ” big advancements with the art direction and the technology” he was taking about.

“Finally, there’s always E3 in a few months where attendees can see the game live,” said Pitchford. “I know some folks have figured out that we’ve done something big to Borderlands even if no one is quite sure what we’ve done yet and I know I’m still being a bit cryptic on that.”

Along with addressing most of the problems players had with the title, and four more multiplayer maps – which aren’t planned to release simultaneously. Gears of War 2′s newest updated experience ‘Snowblind’ features new achievements for the title. The achievements add up to a total of 250 achievement points. The update will of course be free.

The achievements are as follows:

Rookie Gear (10)
Seasoned Gear (20)
Battle-Tested Gear (30)
Battle-Hardened Gear (50)
Veteran Gear (75)
Never Eat Red Snow (20)
Icy Dead People (25)
Frigid Body Dynamics (5)
The Weather Outside Is Lethal (15)

Editors Note: This is just an investigation in the the ‘Killzone 2 Sales Stay Strong’ article.

“I don’t know!?!?” That’s the answer I got when I asked my Best Buy retailer, where’s the Killzone 2 units? So, I’m going to take this question under investigation, and you won’t believe what I found out about the Killzone 2 sales being ‘strong’ statement.

Okay, the other day I went to my local Best Buy to buy a AV cord for my camera and the first thing I saw when I entered the store was a retail shelve for Killzone 2, which I took a picture of. And in the picture you’ll notice that there’s no Killzone 2 titles on the shelve, so that lead me to ask the question, where’s Killzone 2?

And because Sony isn’t candid about revealing the games sales actual scores, I took it into investigation. And I found out that they’re all out of the product, they aren’t hiding them. So it looks like the games sales really are ‘strong’, all over.

I know, just because it all sold out in one store doesn’t mean it the same with all store. Yes, we know that it just that, but soon the same will be happening at your store.

At the DICE ’09 conference, John Riccitiello told the attendees at the conference that the current recession has been ‘a blessing in disguise [so that] we can clear away junk’. Stating that the overall goal from this is that the developers can ‘stop sending pointless product to retail stores’. ‘Junk is hard to compete with,’ said Riccitiello. He felt that developers should shift their focus on quality and away from quantity.

‘We did get fat in too many places. It seemed like anyone who could draw a guy with a gun with a crayon could get funded. At least for EA, we got a little too fat, and a little too reliant on where things were,’ he continues. ‘I’m not pro-recession but to quote Rahm Emanuel: never waste a crisis.’

This is a great wake up call for developers atleast they can wake up before it  became too late.

At the New York Comic-Con event, Activision showed some new gameplay videos of the upcoming X-Men Origins Wolverine video game, but sadly, they we weren’t allowed to release the video because we needed permission to post it. However, one bold youtuber that attend the press conference, showcasing the game, wasn’t scared to get there hands wet, or in this case bloody, and for that we thank them. Anyway, here are the videos that were demonstration at the conference.

Jigsaw’s, the guy that we just love to hate, will finally be getting a release date after some, foolish, talk that the game would never see the light of day.

Konami today revealed that it has come to the table with a deal with, Lions Gate Entertainment is to continue the work of  Brash Entertainment, after the the studio closed it’s doors late last year. The deal would entail the movie game so that it will release around the the same time with Saw 6, which is Fall 09.

Here’s a quick question. Are you guys into the Saw franchise? If so, are you looking forward to the game? And we all know that ”The Sicko can’t be let down. Let’s play a game.”

In 2007, we had the chance to play one of the best western video games in along time, but it wasn’t a remediable experience because of the games many tempering uses. Hopefully, this time it will be a bit different because UbiSoft is looking to change that with the next installment into the series, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood.

Today, UbiSoft announced  Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, the game will be a prequel to the wild west shooter Call of Juarez, which, sadly, was met by some very so-so reviews when released.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood transports players from a ravaged Civil War-era Georgia to the Aztec ruins of Mexico. In the wildest West ever depicted, players can embody both McCall brothers in an intense Wild West storyline full of greed, lust and lawlessness that takes place during a legendary period of American history.

“Call of Juarez was well received by gamers and critics,” said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. “We’re confident this new collaboration with Techland will bring an even bigger and better adventure to fans of shooters and the lawless Wild West.”

Announced in 2005, we are still to receive an official release date for WarDevil, but what does its developers over at Digi-Guys have to planned for the title this year. After all, throughout last year there have been many tid bits on the game, including the recently announced in-game add-on WarDevil Chronicles.

Even many said website proclaimed that it was ‘one of the most anticipated games’ on the PlayStation 3, so what are they planning for this year?

Anway, when being interviewed by GameCyte, UTV, who owns Digi-Guys (the developer), revealed that we might finally see WarDevil in ’09. The site follows it up with word from Digi-Guys themselves, stating that they will release new material this year, though a specific release date was eluded.

However, the studio has launched a mini-site for the game, offering new teaser content. You will have to make do with that until more information on the game shows up. But, hopefully, we will see this game in the household of PlayStation fanboys/owners by the end of the year.

[Digi-Guys: PS3’s Long-Awaited WarDevil ‘Progressing to Plan’ — This Year, Parent Company UTV Suggests Same via GameCyte]

As gamers, we are always looking for new batteries for our controllers so we here at GamerCenterOnline have decided to team up with Energizer and Pandora Radio to help fulfill that need in the form of a contest.

In this contest you’ll have the chance to win a pack of Advanced Lithium batteries from Energizer with free Rock Band DLC – that comes with every pack if you redeem the code in the package.

Now, as a company Energizer is trying to address all the needs of our high-tech personal gadgets by creating Advanced Lithium batteries that last longer and weighs less, both on the environment and in sizes.

And to celebrate the launch of Advanced Lithium batteries, Energizer has joined forces with the popular internet radio site, Pandora, which is expanding its offerings by creating a brand new message board – powered by Energizer.

Anyway, to enter this contest all you’re going to need to do is contact us here at contact [at] gamercenteronline.net telling us how Energizer has fulfilled one of your many household gaming or entertainment needs. Along with your Name and Address with the message being named Energizer/Pandora Radio Contest. Or you can leave a comment, in the comment box, telling us your story on the site, but keep in mind if you e-mail us with your story, your changes may go up.

End Date: 1/05/2009

Prize:  Advanced Lithium batteries with free RockBand  DLC.

When you first lay eye’s on the trailer you will notice that lighting is just amazing, as the camera slowly comes up and you see Marcus holing one Locust in his left hand while walking and the way the shadows interact with the light makes for one great beginning. Then you start hearing a voice that kind of reminds you of something from BioShock saying “I have a rondevu with death” makes the game look even more amazing. Then right after that when you see Dom laying down on the left side concord sleeping you notice all the shadow that interact with Dom’s face right when he get’s up.

I really don’t need to say much more but this word should cover it “AMAZING” .

But, there was something missing in the trailer, yet they didn’t put it in there, the trailers was missing some Lucost on chainsaw action. Other then that everything in the trailer was done to the best of Epic’s ability from the voicing to the light Epic did a great job.

A very interesting listing has popped up on the official Entertainment Software Rating Board website. According to the listing, Rachet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty will be rated E10+, the game was an open secret which was revealed by PS3Fanboy . There was many signs which pointed to the game of being a PSN download, but yet it’s still unclear whether this will just an add-on to Ratchet & Clank Future or if it’s a game by it’s self.

On the PlayStation Network you will be happy to see Episode 2 as it hits the PLAYSTATION Network today. In this month Episode here is what you can expect to see.

• Resistance 2 – The big cover story for this issue is Insomniac’s upcoming PS3-exclusive FPS. Bonus! You get to see host Veronica Belmont don a mo-cap suit just for this game.
• Silent Hill: Homecoming – A look at Konami’s upcoming horror game.
• Madden Twenty Year Retrospective
• Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm – Exclusive first playable demo.

Qore is set at the lovely price $2.99 per each episode,$24.99 for a year subscription.But Remember if your waiting patiently for the SOCOM Confrontation beta you will need to Hold On to Issue 1. We will tell you when there ready with the beta.

In the crazy out of control of 2048, a young Mantel soldier finds himself between what is right and what is wrong……

First, I will like to say what was Free Radical thinking when they where making this game, I mean Free Radical had a nice idea going for them here but, the game just cannot cut it. As you may already know the game takes place in the Boa Region of South America and the worlds biggest PMC, Mantel, has an army of enhanced specialized warriors who use a specialized supplement called, Nectar. And they are sent out to take out the dangerous group of rebels called The Promise Hand. In the game you happen to play as a young Mantel soldier named, Shane Carpenter, and and you soon find out that your mission is not what it appears to be, that’s where the game takes an unexpected turn. Now, Carpenter is now one of the rebels and he finds himself against some of his friends has he try’s to take out Mantel.

As I have said before "The game has a lot of promise" but, I quote from the people at IGN, "hackneyed and feeble amalgamation of concepts that the true impact or commentary that could’ve been presented in the title is immediately lost." I picked this because it’s a true, in the game UbiSoft pictures the Mantel soldiers as over hyped blood lust killers who kill because they have the lust of killing. This can be a problem because it’s hard to make a link between a blood lusted killers who are always jack up over the hype of killing. Lucky for you our friend Shane has a heart and these emotions of blood lust makes it much easier for you to make a connection with him as a person. But, sometimes you feel that he is a punk because he always talking like if he’s scared of something that’s where the game start to fall.

In every video game there somethings that makes it stand out, unfortunate for you the AI isn’t it. When playing the game we face some very serious issues with the AI, like if you are in the middle of battle (Only when you are on the side of the Promise Hand) you find yourself reviving your troops more then you should or you die because our troop decide they want to shoot you. Sometimes I think luck is never on your side in this because like your partners the enemies aren’t much smarter turning this game into a task to beat.

Great things come out of every game lucky for you the games co-op play with a mix of online play and offline play is it. This provides a smooth and relatively enjoyable experience for you and the players around. We aren’t saying that the games co-op mode doesn’t have any problems, like respawning system in the game no-one notices your wounded icon when your wounded unless someone tells you there wounded, other then that it a good co-op player.

The games visuals may look strong but, they are one of the weakest elements in the game for a Next-Gen game this game has some fair looking character models but, other then that the backgrounds can use some work. Mainly because they are bland and lacking or needing more. This is what kind of scares me because one more thing we noted was the flames in the game they are very poor, as if they didn’t spend time on this game at all.

Closing Statement:

I wish there was alot more I can say about this game but, I don’t think there alot of things featured in this game to make up for all it’s mistakes. If the game had a stronger Single player and Multi player this would be one of the best games on the Playstation 3. I’m giving this game a 5 out of 10, sorry guys hope you don’t hate me for this. Free Radical could of done much better with this game instead of pushing the PlayStation 3 they hit it breaking it and breaking my heart.

2K Games has revealed a new screenshot for there upcoming game Mafia II. The screenshot takes place in "DELUCA’S RESTAURANT" where Vito is hiding out in a warehouse trying to take his unsuspecting enemies. Mafia II is being developed by 2K Czech for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 set from a release on October 31, 2009.

Today, on the UbiSoft Haze forums one of the Dev where asked a question and one of those questions where “Will Haze have a mandatory install?” the dev responded by saying “You will need to go through a minimal install (about 4 Gigs) but not the whole game.”

The game revolves around Mantel Industries, a corporation that has bio-medical expertise. Who developed supplement that enables soldiers to fight smarter called Nectar, but it has an effect which makes soldiers no longer cognizant of the real battlefield environment around them.

[HAZE to have 4GB install via Ubisoft ]

Developer Eden Games has confirmed in a video interview with French website UGame.tv that Test Drive Unlimited 2 is indeed in development. The first game was developed by Eden Games as well and was released in september 2006 on Xbox 360 and PC. Playstation 2 and PSP versions were released a short time later. Now development on the sequel has been confirmed by Eden Games president David Nadal. No specific details on the game where mentioned, nor where platforms.

Source

This week in the box office the teen horror remake Prom Night , took first place in the box office. Taking out the competition with an amazing $22.7 million ticket sold. Personally i’m not in shock that Prom Night sold that much tickets, the plot was really something that people wanted to go see and most teens are most teens going crazy for this movie.

O yeah, Street Kings sold $12 million, Smart People $4.2 million, 21 sold $11 million, Superhero Movie sold $3.1 million and Drillbit Taylor came in last with $2.1 million. Theres the ticket are the ticket sales from Box Office Mojo :

Today, Eidos announced that starting on April 17, 2008 gamers will be able to download four new multiplayer maps Kane & Lynch. You can download the DLC for the price of zero dollars, or free.

"Eidos will be announcing on Tuesday April 8, the upcoming release of four new downloadable maps for the Fragile Alliance multiplayer mode in Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. The maps will be downloadable for FREE on April 17, from Xbox LIVE and from the PLAYSTATION Network for the PS3. The new maps will be released in one downloadable pack entitled ‘The Dope Bag’, with each of the four maps featuring its own unique scenario."

Source