PC Games: New Titles and Announcements…

PC Games: New Titles and Announcements

Titles

None, for now.

Announcements

A Crysis demo will be available, how soon (though), I don’t know. A new Crysis trailer can also be found here. That’s available as a download, 6.1 MB to be exact.

Microsoft X-Box 360: New Titles and Announcements…

Microsoft X-Box 360 New Titles and Announcements

Titles

• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 – Ubisoft

Announcements

The GRAW 2 demo is available on X-Box Live. So go play it and spare me the trouble of writing a pointless summary. If you want to read what GI wrote about it, view it here.

Meager offerings here too. Nintendo still hasn’t announced anything either.

Sony Playstation 2/3 and PSP: Titles and Announcements

 

Sony Playstation 2/3 and PSP: Titles and Announcements

Titles

• Saints Row for the PS3 – THQ
• Godzilla: Unleashed for the PSP (and Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii) – Atari
  
• .hack//G.U. Volume 2: Reminisce for the Playstation 2 – Namco-Bandai
• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for the PSP (and PC and Microsoft X-Box 360) – Ubisoft
• Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters for the PSP – Insomniac
  

Nothing of interest here, move along… Seriously, though, those titles all sound lame, especially the Godzilla one. I heard that .hack// series was nothing special anyway. But since I haven’t actually played it, I am in no position to judge.

Those are some pretty weak offerings, aside from .hack//, but I don’t trust Bandai with anything… Ghost Recon won’t be available til March… So, yeah, that sucks…

 

And why oh why is Sony still releasing games on the PS2? If they want to sell the PS3, then they need to kill the PS2, like yesterday. I mean aside from Metal Gear Solid 4 and Final Fantasy XIII, the PS3 doesn’t have that much going for it. It doesn’t help that the PS2 has games coming out for it still, and the PS3 has backwards compatibility problems.

If I were in charge, I would try to kill the PS2 ASAP and focus on the PS3. Then again, I am not a business man, just a gamer with an office cleaning job. 🙂

Announcements

None, for now.

In Other News

 Stuff That Didn’t Fit…

Since I am playing catch up, I won’t go back and cover anything beyond the 30th. Sorry, but that’s the way it is. As such, there’s no Nintendo news…for now. I am sure there’ll be Nintendo news later in the day though. 😉

Moving along, there’s this GRAW 2 music video you might want to check out (curteousy of GI, again). I’d post it on youtube, but I don’t feel like messing around with media player (and in addition, my WMP and WMM are shot to Hell for some reason).

The song is Gimme Danger (originally by Iggy Pop and the Stooges), covered by Frank Black now.

That’s pretty much it. You can also check out what GI has to say about the God of War II demo.

And that’s it. Ja ne.

Sony Playstation 2/3 and PSP: Titles and Announcements

Sony Playstation 2/3 and PSP Titles and Announcements

Titles

• Heatseeker – ????

Not much to say about Heatseeker. I am sorry I am so behind, but in any case, screenshots (curteousy of Game Informer) are right here.

Announcements

Some good news for Sony fans, essentially me, cause I am like the last one left standin’ in their corner. What? I can’t help it, I wanted a Playstation ever since Final Fantasy VIII and Monkey Magic came out. I was really impressed with VIII’s artwork and graphics and Monkey Magic was my favorite childhood show! Enough about me, the news, the news!

Despite losses in the game division, Sony made some money. Oh wait, Sony boosted its profit forecast. My bad, jumped the gun on that. Now, its important to remember, that unlike Sega or Nintendo (which focuses almost exclusively on video games and consoles, for the latter), Sony is much like Microsoft. It’s doesn’t exclusively focus on games, Sony is very much about technology and entertainment (which is why the PS3 can do Blu-Ray and such).

In any case, the reason Sony boosted it profit forecast because of the sales of flat screen TVs, digital cameras, and movies. Also, don’t forget that late Spring/early Summer, the company is releasing Spiderman 3. If that’s not a mega hit (and I doubt the movie will that many negative reviews)… In any case, the profit forecast is boosted for the fiscal year through March.

 

Analysts say otherwise, you choose who to believe.

Moving along to other announcements, the Firmware 3.10 for the PSP is available. The update will allow the PSP to save memory (optional) for your broswer and a Dynamic Normalizer (Sound Settings) for automatic volume adjustment for music tracks and other audio sources.

Basically the update will allow you to view web pages with massive amounts of data and equalizes the volume of tracks that lower/higher volumes. You know, like you have one those shoddy mp3s, where the sound is all low and you turn it up, and then when you listen to another track, the volume is way too high? That’s what its doing. But you already knew that.

One can also download the PSP Killzone: Liberation demo. Again, not seeing the appeal of these war games, but if you can, more power to you. I hope I am not coming off as judgemental, but I guess I do have an opinion about everything.

Addition PSP demos will be available for Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2.

Microsoft X-Box 360: New Titles and Announcements…

I know the site is behind (about a month), but moving along…

Microsoft X-Box 360 Titles and Announcements

• 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures – Wanako Games / Sierra Online
• Alien Hominid HD – The Behemoth
• Band of Bugs – NinjaBee
  
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night – Konami
• Catan – Big Huge Games Inc.
• Eets: Chowdown – Klei Entertainment Inc.
• LUXOR 2 – MumboJumbo LLC
  
• Paperboy – Digital Eclipse / Midway
• Root Beer Tapper – Digital Eclipse / Midway
• Worms – Team 17 Software
• Blazing Angels Secret Missions – Ubisoft
  

Ah, its Paperboy! I have that game on Gensis (I still have my Genesis. Does it work? I don’t see why not, but it hasn’t been touch since 1999/2000. I could get that Castlevania game on my Playstation, but if its a bit updated (new content and such), I would grab it for the 360. Speaking of which, I am going to update my buying guides…soon.

In any case, the above list is for the X-Box Live Aracade, the first release will occur in February.

As for the Blazing Angels: Secret Mission (sequel to Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII), that is for the X-Box 360 and the PC. I don’t get the appeal of these World War II games, its almost… I don’t know, disrespectful. Like, there aren’t that many games (if any) about the Korean War or the Vietnam War, so its like a morbid popularity contest. I don’t know, I guess that’s something to rail about tomorrow.

Not really an announcement, but since we’re on the X-Box 360 subject, the 360 games sold at Buger King (to promote both Kings) increased Burger King’s quarterly profits. Amazing considering the amount of hate and ire the King draws from across the internets. Hopefully, this won’t spawn sequels. Oh, who am I kidding…

And Thus a Four Year Saga Ended…

Depending On Your Definition of Saga…

 

Yes, the infamous Squall Heartilly has returned, for good hopefully.

 

Why have I been gone so long? Well, a lot of reasons. Must of them money related, but ease your worries/complaints now. I, Squall, have found a job at BG Service Solutions. Hopeful over the next four months, I’ll be able to catch up with you guys. However, a good deal of money will be set aside for bills and expenses.

 

In any case, I do not see another long leave of absence again, unless you know, I catch a blood pathogen at work. Did I mention I am a janitor? Or how the training video at work was slightly offensive and unintentionally funny? Or how I am being forced (no viable alternative) to join the AFL-CIO?

 

Its not that I mind that last one, its just takin’ five bucks out of my checks (for the next four checks) and every little bit helps (you know).

 

In any case, the blog is back now. I’ll be adding this to the pages as well, under Cue Intro. And, thanks for your time.

X-Box 360 News…

Not Much Here

 

But for fans of Halo series, a Halo 3 development documentary, lasting seven minutes, with interviews with the artists, animators, and designers centering around the Brutes, was released on X-Box Live Marketplace on the 21st. Bungie took a look at the final product that was Halo 2 characters and contrasted that product with their original goals for the them… This time around the Brutes will be better enemies, much more refined in tactics and cooperative maneuvers.

 

Bear in mind, that nothing is finalized (its pre-alpha build). So more than likely you’ll see some things missing in the final product (much like movie trailers).

 

 

Playstation 3 News…

Remember the PSX?

 

In case the original versions of the Playstation 3 simply wasn’t enough of a media center for you, there’s another version of the PS3 in wait (I am calling it the PS3X).

 

In an interview with Sony’s Ken Kutaragi, Kutaragi planning an AV-centric PS3, much like the failed PSX. This AV-centric PS3 would feature Blu-Ray support presumably and offer TV recording.

 

“However, the AV PS3, according to Kutaragi, would be a standard AV component sized box, with a more powerful power supply, twice the memory, and 2xHDMI outputs to split the sound and video outputs.”

– Game Informer, Kutaragi Promises Audio/Video Focused Playstation 3

 

Its almost scary to think of the responses to this. In any case, I can’t imagine the price tag of this console. However, some idiot part of me thinks it could actually be cheaper than the PS3. I don’t know why, but I think aside from the Blu-Ray tech, everything else in the PS3X would be cheep, as in cheap.

 

Yeah, I think all this blogging has made me go bonkers.

 

In any event, Sony announced an exclusive…Major League Baseball 7: The Show for the Playstation 3, Playstation 2, and Playstation Portable, set for release during the Spring of 2007.

 

I don’t think I’ll bother with details, I loathe sports and I loathe baseball (mostly because of the Yankees and the Mets, sorry y’all). But some quotes from the article are:

 

• MLB is the only first-party video game officially licensed by Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP), Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).
  
• The Road to The Show mode will enable players to play solely as a custom-created rookie on both offense and defense while attempting to rise through the ranks and make a starting lineup in the big leagues.
• Adding to its already large online feature set, the MLB franchise will now include Online League Play, which gives gamers the ability to set up leagues with up to 30 teams, complete statistical tracking, point benefits and full customization, while the My Sliders feature allows users to create their own perfect game settings and upload them to the MLB 07 The Show server for others to try out.
• Returning key features for the MLB franchise include the popular Career and Season Modes, Career Spotlight and Exhibition Mode. In addition, MLB 07 The Show provides fans with the features they expect in a baseball sim, such as advanced batting and base running controls, interactive hot and cold zones, player-scaled strike zones, release point pitching and the three-man commentary of Rex Huddler, Matt Vasgerian and Dave Campbell.
• Along with all the key franchise features, returning gameplay modes for PlayStation 2 include Rivalry Mode, which allows fans to set-up, track and maintain heated rivalries, King of the Diamond Mode, the playground duel where a pitcher and batter from opposing teams will square off head-to-head, Franchise mode, where players take control of the entire team, the Home Run Derby and EyeToy functionality.
• MLB 07 The Show for the PSP system continues to be a fan favorite with its core features and ability to play anytime, anywhere, on the go. Plus, sports fanatics can utilize the PSP system’s online news service to get the latest MLB news feeds online or save them to the Memory Stick Duo and review them offline at their convenience

Ugh, I think…I may have threw up a little bit. Whatever though, as long as people have their fun, right?

Also, patience is a virtue. I hope so, for Sony’s sake.

Nintendo Wii News…

One Step Forward, One Step Back

 

Earlier this week, the Wii managed to launch its forecast channel in North America, on December 19th, earlier than expected. Users were able to download the channel through a free system update, which could then provide updated weather reports and forecasts, after filling in the proper information. Also, the Wii’s virtual console was updated with three classics; Military Madness, Tennis, and Space Harrier II.

 

Unfortunately for North American Wii owners, Wii Play won’t be available until February of 2007. Wii Play, a game, was slated to be sold along side WarioWare: Smooth Moves on January 15th.

 

However, the game was mysteriously pushed back to February, according to the information available on Nintendo’s official press site. Wii Play contains nine mini-games and comes with a Wiimote (perhaps the reason for the no show).