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It’s still early, but Valve’s bargain-of-the-year bundleThe Orange Boxlooks like it could overtake two of the highest rated games ever on Metacritic:Halo 3andBioShock. The Xbox 360 version ofThe Orange Box(containing of the full versions ofHalf-Life 2 and Episodes One and Two, Team Fortress 2, andPortal)is currently ranked with a metascore of98 out of 100 on Metacritic, toppingHalo 3’s94 andBioShock’s96. The only game currently toppingThe Orange Boxon Metacritic isThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,coming in at a 99 out of 100....

While Japan and Europe have already received an official 40GB $400 PS3 announcement, Sony has said nothing to confirm that this console is coming to US customers. We’ve been hearing a date ofNovember 2, but we have heard nothing official yet. The release seems like a given, so you have to wonder why they haven’t announced it yet. Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter believes that SCEA wants to clear out some of the 60GB stock still sitting on shelves before announcing this cheaper 40GB model....

After what has felt like an eternity of waiting, I have finally gotten my hands onKirby’s Epic Yarnduring PAX Prime. Both myself and the esteemed Jonathan Holmes took on the roles of Kirby and Prince Fluff for some co-op patchwork antics. So, here’s the burning question — has Nintendo just been stringing us along? The answer, from what I have played, is no.Kirby’s Epic Yarnis an absolute delight. It’s not a challenging game (losing points rather than dying is the penalty for getting hit by enemies) but it’s a game that just makes you grin from ear to ear....

If you felt that your game library lacked the whiny melodrama that only PETA can provide, you’re able to fear no longer, forSuper Chick Sistershas you covered. The premise is an absolute winner — you play as one of two chicks, each a rip-off of either Mario or Luigi, on a quest to rescue Pamela Anderson from the evil clutches of Colonel Sanders. It’s up to you to bring KFC to justice and see to it that the corporation’s evil treatment of chickens, something on par with the world’s greatest genocides, is exposed to the masses....

Remember the Phantom console? It was supposed a PC-ish game system that would use broadband internet to beam games directly to the console, doing away with discs and retail distribution. It was announced back in 2003, but nothing ever came of it. After teasing for many years, Phantom has kind of re-invented itself. Now, in partnership withGameStreamer, Phantom Entertainment has launchedan online PC game store. Gamers can either buy a game outright, or try before you buy....

Earlier this year when Seven45 Studios revealedPower Gig: Rise of the Six String, it introduced a new concept to the world — a music videogame that would put a real instrument into the hands of players. How? Well, by giving them a real guitar, of course. That’sPower Gig‘s hook, its unique guitar peripheral that they’re simply calling the “Six String.” But it’s unfair to call it a “controller” because that’s not exactly what it is — the six string is an actual, playable electric guitar....

Last year, I played a game calledPit Crew Panic!from Hudson. It was a very weird and funky game, and I believed at the time that it would be the weirdest game Hudson would ever make. Turns out I was wrong in that assumption. EnterHelp Wanted, a game that involves taking on extremely odd jobs in order to earn money so they can buy items from the Home Shopping Network that will help them destroy a meteorite that threatens the planet....

At a recent press event in New York, I saw a demo ofThe Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, the follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2007 medieval fantasy RPG from Polish studio CD Projekt. Knowing that the original game had its idiosyncrasies, which is typical of Eastern European-developed videogames, I asked the PR rep, Tom Ohle, if the development team made any concessions to the Western market in order to try and give the sequel a wider appeal....

You know what the PSP needs? That’s right, evenmoreFirmware! It’s only been a few weeks since the last intrusive update, so let’s have another. This time around, it’s v6.00, and as usual, it doesn’t add very much of interest at all. Here is what Sony’s Eric Lempelsays we can expectfrom the new Firmware: People who are not Sony make the update sound slightly more interesting with news that you can also sort downloadable games into folders, which is doubtless being set up in time for the arrival of PSP Minis and the PSP’s push as a key digital platform....

Yesterday, Sony reported that PSPgo sales were “in line with expectations,” but refused to give any figures. There might be a reason for that, if UK retailer ShopTois to be believed. According to the skeptical seller, the expensive PSPgo isn’t shifting much at all. “PSPgo has seen a slow start for ShopTo and we have kept stock quite tight in consideration,” explains the seller. “We remained at the RRP for PSPgo so that we can achieve the maximum margin considering that there will be no further software sales for this format for us as an e-tailer....

If you’re a gamer and you aren’t even slightly interested by what we’ve seen ofHeavy Rainso far, I have to admit that I’d have a hard time understanding why not. Even if you’re more of the FPS type, just a glance at this game tells you it’s going to be something very different. Hell, even Hideo Kojima was fascinated with it. According to a recent inteview withKikizo, lead designer David Cage says that he met with Kojima to discussHeavy Rain:...

If you’ve seenQuantum Theoryyou know it looks a lot likeGears of War. It’s a third-person shooter with a cover system, big burly men and heavy armor. But if you’ve playedQuantum Theorythen you know that they’re at least attempting to do something different.Tecmo Koei boss Yoshiki Sugiyama would really like to stress that now. “If gamers assume they know what awaits them, if they assume Quantum Theory is going to be just another shooter, they’re going to be surprised,” said Sugiyama inan interview with CVG....

Red Dead Redemption‘s single-player open world Western experience promises to be one of Rockstar’s biggest efforts yet. But it hasn’t forgotten about multiplayer modes, which found some popularity amongGrand Theft Auto IVplayers. You wanna playcowboys with your buddies? Rockstar’s going to let you do it. In this latest trailer, Rockstar gives some insight into what to expect, including a new way to start matches — a Mexican standoff. The last man standing gets the upper hand, able to run to the area’s best sniper location....