On this week’s episode of Podtoid, we manage to squeeze in two pretty interesting discussions regarding the recent demise of theCalifornia Videogame Lawand theMercenaries 3Dsave slot controversy. Those discussions are sandwiched between more movie ideas for Willem Dafoe, cowboy bears, an argument about transgenders in beat ’em ups, and a lengthy analysis on the concept of hipsters.
If I’ve learned anything from almost a year workin’ this gig, it’s this: an episode of Podtoid without unexplained delay simplyain’t Podtoid. We had some terribly sexy plans for a Tokyo Game Show Wraptoid, but Niero was taken hostage by a league of small Japanese schoolgirls and held for ransom in Tokyo’s sprawlingsubterraneanHalf-Lifetheme park. He’ll be back next week along with Ron “Comes In Leather” Workman for Podtoid Anniversary Supreme Chips and Salsa Spectacular....
I’ve been critical of the Virtual Console for a while, but one thing that can calm my tortured soul is the announcement of more N64 titles on the ethereal game service. In a rare move, Nintendo hasmade such an announcementover a week before release — promisingPokémon Snapto US Wii owners on December 10th. Pokémon Snapis a mixture of on-rails shooting and happy photography, charging you with the mission of taking pictures of the cute Japanese demons....
Along withtheir Wii accessories, Power A also showed me what they got cooking for the PS3. Out of everything they showed me during E3, I liked the Power A Pro Elite Wireless Controller the most. The control features rumble, SIXAXIS and textured grips that feel good in the hands. The entire thing feels a hell of a lot better than the standard controller especially in terms of the trigger buttons. The wireless version will go for $49....
What is it with Japanese publishers being nice to the UK for a change? First came the blessed multi-region treat that wasLost Odyssey, now Koei is offering a free Japanese art book to those whopre-orderDynasty Warriors 6through GAME. I can’t help thinking that Japan is lulling Europe into a false sense of security. I’m not a fan of GAME by any stretch of the imagination (any game store that would pullManhuntin the wake of a sensationalist news report is a traitor to its own) but I would recommend this particular pre-order to any BritishDWfans....
When we first heard thatTrackManiaseries (check out theseries history here) was coming to the DS, I thoughtisn’t that a PC game?And how would that work on the DS? It all started to come together when Atlus began sending outvideos of game play.Wow, this looks good! And the track editor looks pretty slick! Yeah, we talk to ourselves often. Now that we have review copy, we’ve been plugging away at races, earning medals, sometimes accidentally driving off the side of a track, screaming at the screens, oh… and designing ridiculous courses....
What’s taking Microsoft so long to pump out that fabled social networkingdashboard updatefor the Xbox 360? We still don’t know, but based on what Microsoft is saying, it could hopefully be here in the near future. MTV Multiplayerlearned that a public beta for the update will be happening “middle-towards-end of October,” according to Xbox entertainment manager Jennifer Puzio-Brookes at an Open House event in NYC. The site was given a presentation of the Facebook functionality, which now contains one-hundred percent less Felicia Day and is an actual, working thing now....
Every week, sort of, features editor Anthony Burch discusses games and gamer culture in his “Rev Rant” video series. you’re able to watch the previous rantshere. This week’s rant is a sort-of answer tomy previous videoabout harmonizing difficulty with accessibility. Last time around, I said I couldn’t think of any games that combined the sense of desperation one experiences inThe VoidorDemon’s Soulswith the accessibility of any other mainstream game (player-instigated metagames like permadeath runs not withstanding)....
World War II just isn’t cool anymore. Thanks to market saturation and the immense popularity of Activision’sÂModern Warfare titles, there was no way that Electronic Arts could have gotten away with putting out another run-of-the-mill title where you pick up a Springfield and shoot Nazis in the face. So it is thatÂMedal of Honor has, perhaps somewhat shamelessly, followed in the footsteps ofÂModern WarfareÂand dragged itself, kicking and screaming, into the present day....
Let’s not beat about the bush:Revenge of the Fallenis a typically rushed licensed game intended to coincide with an awful movie that shamelessly rapes your fondest childhood memories. It does the very bare minimum to be considered competent and very little else. It’s been crafted solely to sucker money out of impressionable kids, and it’s going to make millions of dollars. It’s a licensed movie game and it doesn’t try to be anything more....
Despite the fact that it sold by the bucketload to ignorant pedants who — bless ’em — didn’t know any better,Rock Bandon the Wii simply wasn’t very good, by all accounts. Without access to the full online features, many fans were left feeling unimpressed with the Wii version’s inability to deliver fresh downloadable content compared to the highly robust choice on offer with the PS3 and Xbox 360. Apparently, Harmonix knows this and has “promised” thatRock Band 2on the Wii will be a “more competitive” experience....
If you like your lead vocalists to have nicknames like “Lips,” then this is the week for you. Three tracks from legendary metal band Anvil will hit the Rock Band Music Store, making what also joins them — songs by Dinosaur Jr., The Guess Who, and Tenacious D — look less brutal in the process. Anvil – “666”Anvil – “Metal on Metal”Anvil – “This is Thirteen” Dinosaur Jr. – “Pick Me Up”Dinosaur Jr....
Famitsuhas just posted the news that Sega has announcedNiGHTS: Into Dreamsis getting aPS2 re-release. The Saturn classic will undergo some light graphic improvements and may add a few more new features before its release in Japan (set for February 21st, 2008). Should you be able to read Japanese, I’ve attached the pics of theFamitsupages for your scrutiny. All I can say is, if this doesn’t come to the US, I may go to Sega and attempt to kill some people....
