Netflix on PS3

After a year of streaming for Xbox Live Gold users, Netflix is coming at no extra charge to anybody with a PS3 next month. Of course, you'll have to have a Netflix account.

The streaming works via a special Netflix Blu-ray disc, and in 2010, the system will be disc-free. If you're a PS3 user and want to reserve your Netflix disc for next month, click here. And get ready, because you'll be enjoying this film soon enough:

'Bioshock 2' dated

Remember when back when Bioshock was getting all those "Game Of The Year" accolades? Seems like yesterday. So will its sequel be a worthy follow-up?

Find out on Feb. 2, 2010, when Bioshock 2 is released worldwide for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Here's a look at the game's multiplayer gameplay trailer from this year's PAX.

Review: 'The Beatles Rock Band'

Leading up to the release of The Beatles Rock Band, Dhani Harrison, one of the game's designers and son of George Harrison, talked about how the experience of the game led some testers to tears. The game was a tribute so touching, that even veterans of the music industry began to tear up. Me, the cynic, didn't buy it. I love The Beatles, but come on. It's a video game. It can't be that emotional.

And then I played it.



OK, let's get the technicals out of the way, first. There's nothing innovative as far as the basic instruments go. If you've ever played Rock Band or Guitar Hero, you'll know what to do. The harmonies are certainly a nice addition, especially if you're like me and switch between singing Paul's part and John's part in the middle of the song. Also, if you've got some friends who can really harmonize, you're set.

The game takes you through the career of The Beatles, from the Cavern Club to the Ed Sullivan Theatre to the studio and, finally, to the roof. Unlike previous Rock Band games, there's no flexibility in the game's animated sequences. There's no room for a guy with a mohawk and mustache wearing flannel to sing "Yellow Submarine." That's Ringo's job.

Every song, likeness, and animated sequence is treated with guarded reverence. As a matter of fact, the game is so peaceful and smiley that it's hard to imagine John Lennon ever frowning or any of the four of them ever having an unpleasant moment.

But aside from mild deification, the game's bias leans toward a message that The Beatles were always in favor of: love. The game isn't, "You, the rock star, sky rocket to success." This is a game where you study the various eras of The Beatles. Meanwhile, the entire experience is blanketed by love.

There are enough extras to give any Beatles fanatic an excuse to buy the game, and the achievements really push you to get the most out of the game. And, of course, there's the promise of fully downloadable albums in the future, with Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper's, and Rubber Soul already announced, so the replay value is excellent.

I mentioned that I, too, found this game emotional. It's hard to describe, really, but all throughout "Dear Prudence," a smile was inexplicably plastered on my face. As the song ended, I sighed a breath of wistfulness, as though I was there when The Beatles broke up.



It's a beautifully designed game and a wonderful experience. I'm already itching for DLC. Hopefully, they'll let us have a turn at some of those solo albums (I'm looking at you, Ram).

PS3 Slim announced

Holding out for a PS3 until it took off some of that weight? Well it looks like it's time for the obligatory Wesley Willis quote from the PS3: "I'm sorry that I got fat, I will slim down."

To be precise, it will slim down in September, when the PS3 Slim replaces its chunkier predecessor on the market. Better still, it's slicing the price by $100, now with a price tag of $299. It still doesn't play PS2 games, which is a bummer.

Unfortunately, uploading photos isn't working at the moment, but here's a gallery of photos of the PS3 Slim, courtesy of Joystiq (which includes the console compared to other consoles). In the meantime, here's a video of the unboxing.

The price cut is great news for people who have been holding out for their PS3. However, does Sony really think that people who have a broken PS2 really want to go out and spend $100 on a PS2 just to play their old games? This blogger thinks it's only a matter of time before Sony realizes that people don't want both systems, and ultimately, with backwards compatibility, they could make more sales with this thing.

Oh, and did we mention it's slim?

'Castle Crashers' coming to PS3

If you haven't played the Xbox 360 beat-em-up of 2008 Castle Crashers yet, you have very few excuses. One excuse, the "I only have a PS3" excuse, has been eliminated.



Behemoth, the developers behind the game have announced that the game will be coming to the PS3. That's all the news on it for the moment, but stay tuned. And while you're waiting, steal a friend's Xbox for a weekend and play Castle Crashers.

New this week: Lost & Damned Street Fighters edition

It's finally here: February's equivalent to Christmas. No, not Valentine's Day. Nobody cares about that. I mean the week where they finally release one of the only games that I'll spend a substantial chunk of my paycheck on.

Street Fighter IV, 360/PS3 (02/17) - I'm not sure how many hours in my lifetime I've spent playing any game with the Street Fighter moniker attached. The number is probably embarrassing. Honestly, Capcom needs to stop taking my money, though. They keep producing excellent work. With Mega Man 9 already in the can and with Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil 5 and Bionic Commando all coming out soon, where's all this money supposed to be coming from? Street Fighter IV looks like an excellent addition to the franchise and I am nothing short of excited to get my hands on it. Here's the trailer, but please excuse the terribly written dialogue.



Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned, XBLA (02/17) - This is the first of two Xbox 360 exclusive expansions for GTAIV. You play a biker in a gang and you get more music and achievements. This is excellent news for those who rushed in to finish that game after it initially came out.

HSM karaoke game announced, 4-year-old girls still screaming

That's right, Disney Interactive Studios announced yesterday that they just love money. Therefore, they're going to release Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year, a game with a title that's far too short.

DSI:HSM3:SY, which looks suspiciously like HTML code, will feature songs from all three High School Musical movies. Sing solo! Sing with friends!

The game will release February 17 for the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and Wii consoles. There's no word about whether or not this game is going to be compatible with the Lips, Rock Band or Guitar Hero: World Tour microphones.

But take heed. If you're over the age of 13 and are playing this game on the Xbox 360, all of your friends on the system can see how many achievements you've gotten while playing the game. So ask yourself: how brave are you?

What to Buy Your Kids for the Holidays - PS3

As with the Xbox 360, take note that many of the games are violent. Also, if there's a game that catches your eye on this list but the person you're buying for only has a 360, check and see if it's available for that system. There's a lot of crossover between the two. Also, if your person has a PS3, double check the 360 list for game ideas (just in case).

Just like before, here's a guide to what to get your friend or family member who owns a PS3.

* = also available on Xbox 360

THE BASICS - The various nonsense you absolutely need if you have a PS3.

LittleBigPlanet
The person's favorite movies on Blu-ray

THE ADVENTURER - Some great adventure games for the PS3.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
BioShock*
The Orange Box*
Prince of Persia*
Mirror's Edge*
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed*

THE MUSICIAN - Music games.

Rock Band 2*

THE TRIGGER HAPPY - For those who dig violence.

Grand Theft Auto IV*
Resistance 2
Fallout 3*
Dead Space*
Call of Duty: World at War*

BUY THEM SOMETHING FROM THE PLAYSTATION NETWORK - If you know what you're doing, you can go in and get your person a game directly from the console.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix*
PixelJunk Monsters
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection
echochrome
Mega Man 9*

That's all I have for this one. The safest bet is probably to buy some great Blu-ray movies, but LittleBigPlanet is a definite necessity. Again, please leave a comment with any questions or additions to this list. Happy shopping and happy holidays.

Games of 2009: Multi-Platform (Part 2)

Because you can't fit 'em all in one post, here are more games coming in 2009. All of these don't have definite dates (but will probably turn up sometime next year).

- Bionic Commando, PC + PS3 + 360 (TBD) - A remake of the Bionic Commando game from 1988. This one looks much more interesting and fun.

- Brutal Legend, PS3 + 360 (TBD) - A hugely unique platformer starring Jack Black and Lemmy from Motorhead. Here's a violent trailer, but the important thing is to remember how extremely metal it is to be violent.

- Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams, PC + PS3 + 360 (TBD) - The sequel to the critically acclaimed (and totally awesome) game. Here's a fantastic teaser trailer.

- I Am Alive, PC + PS3 + 360 (TBD) - A game with a trailer that legitimately gives me the creeps. I Am Alive takes place in the home of my college, Chicago. A large-scale disaster destroys the city and this Ubisoft game focuses solely on survival. Here's the teaser.

- Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion, all platforms except PC and PSP (TBD) - A sequel to the mediocre Marvel Ultimate Alliance game. But this time, the heroes' powers merge! What?!

- Tekken 6, PS3 + 360 (TBD) - Another Tekken game, more fighting. Always wonderful.

- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (TBD) - Coming in the autumn of 2009, this is the yearly installment of calls of duty.

- Terminator Salvation, all platforms except PSP (TBD) - The surprisingly interesting looking game to coincide with the film

- Guitar Hero: Metallica, all non-handheld devices except PC (TBD) - Guitar Hero with Metallica. Probably the hardest game in the series.

Games of 2009: Multi-Platform (Part 1)

There are a lot of multi-platform games coming out in 2009. Here's a look at a few notables (SPOILER: it's primarily sequels).

- 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, PS3 + 360 (1/19/09) - But of course. The man needs his own game. We can only pray, for Fiddy's sake, that Kanye West doesn't release a game on the same weekend.

- Skate 2, PS3 + 360 (1/23/09) - The sequel to the Skate game that is slowly usurping the Tony Hawk's long gilded throne.

- Afro Samurai, PS3 + 360 (1/29/09) - An adaptation of the extremely cool Cartoon Network anime baby of The RZA and Samuel L. Jackson. Here's the link to the very violent, very good trailer.

- The Godfather II, PC + PS3 + 360 (2/12/09) - A sequel to The Godfather game and an adaptation of The Godfather II film.

- Street Fighter IV, PS3 + 360 (2/19/09) - The long-awaited next chapter in the Street Fighter series. And it looks amazing. That said, here's an extremely unfaithful looking trailer.

- Damnation, PC + PS3 + 360 (2/24/09) - A great looking first-person shooter.

- WWE: Legends of Wrestlemania, PS3 + 360 (March 09) - Another Legends of Wrestling game (featuring Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin on the cover). How is it different? Well it must be - they're actually making another one!

- Splatterhouse, PS3 + 360 (4/30/09) - A remake of the TurboGrafyx 16 horror beat-em-up. Looks surprisingly violent!

- Batman: Arkham Asylum, PC + PS3 + 360 (5/31/09) - A surprisingly good looking Batman game. It looks darker than before and a little more faithful to The Caped Crusader. It totes the pen of Paul Dini (who did Batman: The Animated Series), the voice work of Kevin Conroy for Batman (also from The Animated Series) and Mark Hamill as The Joker (you know - that Mark Hamill).

- Ghostbusters, all platforms (June 2009) - A sequel to the Ghostbusters movies starring the original Ghostbusters themselves. The Wii version is more cartoony and the PS3/360 versions will be more faithful to the actual actors appearances.

Games of 2009: PS3

Here are the games exclusive to the PlayStation 3 coming in 2009.

- Killzone 2 (2/27/09) - The sequel to the Sony's first big competitor to Halo. Here's the trailer, complete with violence that isn't appropriate for children.

- DC Universe Online (TBA) - A DC-based MMORPG - complete with a living Batman. With Jim Lee heading up the art for the game, it should be a faithful-looking adventure. It would've been nice to have seen the Marvel Universe MMORPG just to level the playing field, but alas, with MMORPGs come the heartache of dozens of broken promises that come along with them.

- God of War III (TBA) - Kratos returns, looking awesome as usual, to fight gods and kill minions. Violent, excellent.

- Gran Turismo 5 (TBA) - The sequel to the classic racing game of olde.

- Heavy Rain (TBA) - Not to be confused with Chubby Rain, Heavy Rain is a horror/thriller game coming to the PS3.

- inFamous (TBA) - Brought to you by the team from the Sly Cooper series. It seems like the gameplay is a cross between a regular platformer and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. However, the game looks like it has slightly more potential in terms of plotline.

- L.A. Noire (TBA) - Another game from Rockstar. This time, however, it's set in the 1940s in a perfectly recreated version of L.A. (of that time). The game will deal with postwar America themes like jazz, drugs and gangsters. Sounds interesting. Although there is some question about how long it will remain "exclusive," it still looks very cool.

- MAG: Massive Action Game (TBA) - An MMO of sorts, where up to 256 players can take the battlefield and start shooting like mad.

- Red Dead Revolver 2 (TBA) - The sequel to an excellent Rockstar Western game.

- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (TBA) - The sequel to the critically acclaimed Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. The world premiere of the game's footage is happening tonight on Spike TV's Video Game Awards (tonight at 9 p.m. ET).

- White Knight Chronicles (TBA) - It's an RPG...and it looks pretty incredible, actually.

Quincying and You

Hey everybody, thanks for your patience. Finals were a bit hectic this year, so I apologize for the delay. I'll start pumping out more so I can make up for the severe lack of posts in the last two weeks.

You know, over Thanksgiving break, I had the pleasure of getting to play a few video games with my old pal, Griffin McElroy. Here's a picture of us last August.


Griffin used to write here at BTVG, but has since moved up to the major leagues of video game journalism along with his brother (and also former BTVG blogger) Justin at Joystiq. His writing is informative and far too funny. Am I envious? Completely. His latest stroke of genius, however, is almost too much to handle.

It's hard to capture the true essence of Quincying. It reveals the true, sad nature of the gaming world. It adds a certain paprika to the everyday gamer insult. It is all parts wonderful, terrible and hilarious. It utilizes the creepy and strange world of PlayStation Home. Most importantly, it utilizes "the guns" as a greeting. Exquisite.

Please, educate yourself and delve into the vast and exotic world of Quincying. My only regret is that I can't be there to begin Quincying alongside my brothers in arms.

The Alex Ross "MK vs. DC" Collector's Cover Art

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is coming out this November. I'm honestly not thrilled about the crossover thing. Granted, I really loved Kurt Busiek's incredible JLA/Avengers crossover miniseries, but there's something a bit bizarre about the DC guys going against the Mortal Kombat guys.

Anyway, so for the "Kollector's Edition" (ugh), they've decided to commission one of the most universally renowned artists in comic history for the cover - Alex Ross. Aside from doing great cover art for comics by the dozens, Ross is the artist for two of my favorite graphic novels: Kingdom Come and Marvels. If you haven't read them, do. It's great stuff. Anyway, here's a look at a video thanks to the guys at Joystiq.



Take a look at the full cover.


Wow. I don't know, maybe Alex Ross missed his calling. Perhaps he can provide the cover art for the next Mega Man game or, perhaps, Punch-Out!! Perhaps he can come up with a painting for a revamp of Burger Time, and then, after seeing the painting, game developers will rush for the rights to revamp Burger Time.

After all, the man did do a beautiful portrait of The Ambiguously Gay Duo.

2K Sports Announces "NHL 2K9" Zamboni Games (Really)

So what's new in NHL 2K9? You don't care? Well I'll tell you anyway!

- There are (friendly) Zamboni competition games!
- A revamped fighting engine!
- Custom Stanley Cup celebrations!
- Use the Wiimote as a hockey stick!
- User friendly controls!
- Six-on-six online capability!
- What? SPECIAL GUESTS THE HUNTINGTON BLIZZARD!

Wait? I made the last one up? Darn. NHL 2K9 releases September 9 for all major platforms. You can play a free demo now on the Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network.

Next Game from ICO Team Imminent?

The creators of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus have been hard at work since their last gorgeous masterpiece. But on what? Perhaps we'll find out soon.

In an interview with videogaming247, Sony wordwide studio head Shuhei Yoshida confirmed that there will be an announcement regarding the team's PS3 game "soon." When asked if it would be revealed at the Tokyo Game Show, Yoshida replied that he couldn't tell.

I'll be curious to see what they come up with. Perhaps of Colossus themed new rendition of everybody's favorite PlayStation game?

EA Casts Lumos on New Harry Potter Game Cover

Well, we're over halfway through 2008, and although the Harry Potter book series is through and done with, there's still two more films left. You know what that means? That's right - two more mediocre and/or awful video games based on the movies! There's no big news on the game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but there is some box art available for viewing. Check it.


Does it meet the confringo expectations? I assume not. It's pretty much the cover for every other film and game, except this time Harry is slightly older and perhaps even more intense than before (if that's possible). Look out behind you, Harry! It's Alan Rickman! It's true - there's an evil worse than He Who Must Not Be Named himself.

The game is set to be released this November.

Mega Man Back in 8 Bit!

I like that the gaming industry is starting to wise up and realize that they need to go back to square one. There's a reason why people still play the original Mario games and Mega Man games. But instead of just going back to the original format, Capcom are taking it a step further. They're going back to the bare bones of graphics: 8-bit!

Mega Man 9 will be released for WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade, and the PlayStation Network. There are over a dozen new levels and 50 new enemies to battle. What's more, the character designs are being directed by Keiji Inafune, the original character designer of Mega Man. Oh, and did I mention the announcement of the first ever female boss? Authentic, new, and awesome. Can't wait.

"Who's Next" Not Being Released for Rock Band, Evan Disappointed

I love Who's Next. It's my favorite album by The Who. Upon initially hearing the news of the album being included as downloadable content for Rock Band, I was giddy (you can read my giddiness in action here).

But they couldn't get all of the master tracks, so they're releasing a greatest hits compilation instead. OK, fine. Whatever. If that's what they have to do, that's OK. But we were so close! I don't necessarily want their biggest hits or Townshend's favorites or anything like that - I want to be able to play my favorite album in its entirety in video game format. I'm a record collector and there's a lot to be said about an entire album from front to back. This album is a classic. It's much better than The Cars by The Cars or Doolittle by Pixies. I just wanted for it to happen so I could sing "The Song is Over" while my friends played the drums at my side. Is that so much to ask? And that's the end of my whining rant. Here's what is being released, including a few tracks from Who's Next.

“Amazing Journey”
“Baba O'Riley”
“Behind Blue Eyes”
“Eminence Front”
“Going Mobile”
“Leaving Here”
“My Generation” (LIVE)
“Real Good Looking Boy”
“Sea & Sand”
“Summertime Blues” (LIVE)
“Who Are You”
“Young Man Blues” (LIVE)

Each track will cost $2 individually or $19 for the entire thing. I'll probably get most of them, but I'm still disappointed. You can read a lengthy love poem from me to Who's Next at my other blog.

Tomb Raider Portal

Oh that zany Lara Croft. Always getting into new tomb-related shenanigans. Well, it looks like she has another adventure on the horizon.

Eidos Interactive just launched "Tomb Raider Portal", a website for Croft fans to find the latest in Tomb Raider news and art. Above is a photo of the upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld. The game will be out in November 2008 for every platform (except the PSP). The game is the first to be designed specifically for the next-gen consoles, so the adventure should be more interesting than the last (especially because it involves Norse mythology, finally).

Check out the website for behind the scenes news, screenshots, and even a new exclusive Tomb Raider podcast. Sounds good, right?

The B-Team Wrestling Company Video Game Update

TNA iMPACT!, or the wrestling company that hired 75% of your favorite WCW wrestlers from your middle school years, has confirmed a new feature for their upcoming video game. Downloadable wrestlers will be available depending on the system. Likely, this feature won't be available on the Wii or the PS2.

I wonder what wrestlers will be downloadable. Bill Goldberg? Jimmy Snuka? Scott Hall? Ooh, maybe "Macho Man" Randy Savage (or Bonesaw)!

Become a Street Fightin' Man...in February

What? A Rolling Stones reference this early in the day? I guess I'm feeling sassy.

As of now Street Fighter IV is set to be released on February 3 of next year. However, you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. They even included the cool teaser art that I included above (thanks Amazon). The price is the standard $59.99 and the page I've linked to is for the 360 version, but the PS3 version is also available.

If you hadn't noticed, I'm pretty excited about this game. Maybe I'll even pre-order it (eventually...I do have plenty of time, after all).

Guitar Hero: Metallica Coming to PS3, Xbox 360, Wii in 2009

I was severely disappointed to hear about the production of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. There are a lot of bands that rock a lot harder than Steven Tyler and the gang. They could have made Guitar Hero: Led Zeppelin or Guitar Hero: Bo Diddley for that matter (may he rest in peace).

Let me be clear: I love music. It's not a surprise by any means, but it's the truth. I may not be a metal head of any kind (in any sense of the term), but I'm legitimately pleased about the release of Guitar Hero: Metallica for the PS3, Wii, and 360 in the first quarter of 2009.

I've never been a huge Metallica fan. I mean, I'm happy that they're playing Bonnaroo this year (a festival I've attended twice, never to return again). They're also easily the best modern metal band. I suppose I prefer Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin on the whole, but Metallica took what those groups did and manipulated it into what metal is today. Metallica's songs are fast, heavy, and powerful, which is perfect for a title like Guitar Hero. Also, at this point in time, the franchise will have not only guitars, but also drums and vocals (as mentioned before).

So what does everybody think? Are you more likely to buy Aerosmith or Metallica?

New Resident Evil 5 Trailer

Here's a new trailer for Resident Evil 5, which is set to release in 2009 sometime on the PS3 and 360. It's bloody and violent and all that nonsense, so don't watch it unless you're 18 or older (and don't say I didn't warn you).

That's right - it's going to be in Africa. What's more, it takes place near a series of active volcanoes. Awesome.

Street Fighter to Hit PS3, 360, and PC (and not the Wii)

A new video game store opened in Chicago that exclusively sells retro video games. In the store, they have a SNES set up where you can play Street Fighter II. My roommate and I played it - I chose E. Honda and he chose Ryu. Now if Tyler would've let loose a solid Hadouken, I would've been pretty easily defeated. However, I managed to pin him into a corner with my hundred-hand slap. Thus, I won. That's why I'm excited about the release of Street Fighter IV.

Street Fighter IV will be released for the PS3, 360, and PC (and not the Wii). No release date has been set, but I'm pretty excited about the game. Here are some facts about it that I found from our friend, Wikipedia (who quoted other sources which I looked at and confirmed, so don't judge me).

1 - The game's story arc takes place between Street Fighter II and Street Fighter III.
2 - This game includes all of the original characters from Street Fighter II, as well as Akuma, Dan, and Fei Long.
3 - There are three confirmed new characters. Crimson Viper is some strange spy character from the States, El Fuerte is a luchador from Mexico, and Abel is a French martial artist.
4 - I'm excited.

Guitar Hero to Jump the Shark

I won't ramble on too much, but Guitar Hero IV, set to be released later this year, will include more instruments, including a drum kit and vocals according to Activision CEO Bobby Kotick (in an interview with Conde Nast Porfolio magazine). Hmm...this all seems so familiar. Perhaps it's because my copy of Rock Band does exactly the same thing.

Has Guitar Hero lost its way? I talked to my roommate Glenn about his appreciation for Rock Band vs. Guitar Hero. He likes both games. We play Rock Band from time to time, but only when we can get the other to play it. It's harder to get into it by yourself. It's definitely not a game that's very much fun when you're playing it alone. Enter Guitar Hero, a game that's fun both when you're alone and with your friends. Glenn prefers Guitar Hero because you can play it solo without feeling like a fool.

Guitar Hero IV doesn't need to be Rock Band II in order to succeed. It just needs to be itself again. People still bought Guitar Hero III in the face of the much-cooler Rock Band and people will still buy Guitar Hero IV. They just need to keep improving their song choice, graphics, and maybe add a couple of motifs in there that players aren't used to. So, people of Activision, get it together. Don't be Rock Band. It's like every sitcom mom ever said to any sitcom son or daughter - just be yourself.

"Bioshock" heading to PS3

There aren't many details, but it has been confirmed that Bioshock is heading to the PS3.

For those of you who don't know, Bioshock is easily one of the greatest games of last year. It's eerie, it's strange, and boy is it fun. It's like an underwater adventure of killing and zombies and strange little girls who you can either save or kill. OK, so you should probably just play it. It's wonderful.

Guitar Hero of War

It's time to rock out to the tune of Poseidon's help in your bloody quest.

PlayStation Underground members received an e-mail saying that on June 5, a God of War for Guitar Hero III will be released exclusively for the PS3. There's no word as to which song it'll be. That's cool and everything, but where's the Parappa the Rappa song pack?

SEGA Announces Four Upcoming (Violent) Video Games

Today, SEGA announced they have four new games in development. There isn't a lot of information known, but let's look at what we have already.

The first game is called Madworld. This game looks INCREDIBLY violent and is basically a cross between No More Heroes and Frank Miller's Sin City. The game is completely in black and white, other than the bloodshed. But here's the rub - it comes out for the Wii. It's always nice to hear about an incredibly violent addition to the Wii's repertoire. Here's a trailer, but be cautioned that it's extremely violent.

The next game is a Nintendo DS game called Infinite Line. The game is described to be one of the most complex RPG titles the DS has seen. In the game, you can control multiple spaceships at one time. The game also offers over 200 characters to select. I don't know, maybe this game is going to end up giving me the 'too much space on my iPod' problem where I can't decide what to listen to.

The third game is called Bayonetta. The game is directed by the creator of Devil May Cry, which shows great promise. The teaser trailer is below, but again, it's quite violent.

The last game has no name or title or concept or anything - it only has a name behind it. It's being created by Shinji Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil.

So that covers most of the major platforms while still sprinkling in some pretty awesome concepts and names. Can't wait to check out some of these beauties.

New "Ghostbusters: The Video Game" Screenshots!

Get him, Winston! Yes! New "Ghostbusters: The Video Game" screenshots here! I'm having a fit!

Microsoft: Don't Buy GTAIV for the PS3

When Grand Theft Auto IV is released, it's heading out for the 360 and the PS3. Apparently, the PS3 version has a 5-minute install time before you can initially play the game. How do I know that? Microsoft told me so.

In an e-mail to users, the Xbox Team points out that in the time you could take to install the game, you could have all ready boosted a dozen cars on the Xbox. That's cold as ice, Microsoft. Let's keep it clean, shall we?

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

So far, the confirmed line-up includes Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Batman, and Superman. The game will probably play along the lines of a better version of Marvel vs. Capcom. There are no fatalities this time around - I doubt DC Comics was cool with the idea of The Martian Manhunter having his heart ripped out (in other news, I just had Plastic Man-related nerdy fits).

Anybody else looking forward to Kano vs. Hal Jordan? Oooooh boy this is going to be fun. It's coming out this fall for the PS3 and 360.

The Fab Four Debut a Song on "Rock Band!"

That's right - Mick, Vince, Nikki and Tommy are releasing a brand new song exclusively on Rock Band. Mötley Crüe, baby!

If you were wondering, I really don't care much for them. Really, the only hair metal band song that I ever really, legitimately got into was "Photograph" by Def Leppard. "Saints of Los Angeles" released yesterday on the Xbox Live Arcade and will release tomorrow on the PLAYSTATIONStore. The song will join the likes of "Simple Man" by Skynyrd, "Message in a Bottle" by The Police, and "Call Me" by Blondie. "Saints of Los Angeles" marks the first song to be debuted on Rock Band.

I'd make a "Kickstart My Heart" pun, but it's way too early for that.

Iron Man: PS3 and 360 Exclusive Suits

That's the PS3 version.


And that's the 360 version.

And I'm still excited.

Nyko Rocks Out...with peripherals...so I guess they don't really rock out at all...

In November, Nyko released some peripherals for the Wii, the Perfect Shot and Net Connect. The former is a hollow gun that will tote your Wiimote (see the Wii Zapper) while the latter is a peripheral that allows Wii users to connect to the Internet with an ethernet cable (no wireless, no problem). Well, those suckers are at it again with the Frontman guitar. Not unlike the wireless guitar they released for the PS2 editions of Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II, the new controller is compatible for the PS3 versions of Rock Band and Guitar Hero III. There's even a little switch that flips between Rock Band mode and GHIII mode, so your PS3 won't get confused. Aww.

I'm no expert with Nyko. They make some handy little devices that make gaming life a little easier - like the Net Connect or the Wii Charge Station - but this controller will cost you $59.99. If you only have one game or the other, I wouldn't waste my money, but this controller could come in handy if you have each game and need a second guitar.

But do these things work better? Do they increase your rocking potential? Just wondering.

Here's to you, Nyko - picking up the slack for inconviences across the gaming world.

Best Buy: Uh...You Guys Want Some Cheap Video Games?

Skip the shower, slap on the deodorant, and throw on the black t-shirt, because it's time to run to Best Buy. Don't worry about how you smell, just go!

Or you could just go to the Best Buy web site. I hope you didn't stop reading, because I could've saved you some time and gas. Oops.

Anyhow, Best Buy is having a buy one, get one half off sale on select Xbox 360 and PS3 games. Needless to say, they're all terrible. In addition to Frontlines: Fuel of War for the 360, here's the list.

Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3
Burnout Paradise
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
Devil May Cry 4
Turok
Assassin’s Creed
Frontlines: Fuel of War

God, this is worse than Backyard Wrestling. What a bottom of the barrel sale. Sale ends on April 4, but I don't know if any of these are worth price + half price + shipping and handling.

(P.S. to the moms and dads unfamiliar with the titles above, they are all wonderful games for your pixelated-blood thirsty children.)

Wyclef and Paul Simon Make a Commercial...er...Music Video for Sony

So it's a music video that brings together Wyclef Jean, Paul Simon, the PSP, the PS3, and Burnout Paradise. It looks like somebody wants some free swag from Sony. At least the song isn't all that bad.

It seems, though, like the song is full of social consciousness, and to utilize this song as an outlet for video game publicity is somewhat cheap. Agreement? Disagreement?

Sonic Unleashed(?)

Looks a lot like the original Sonic platforms for the Genesis, right?


So there isn't an official announcement, but there has been a slew of rumors over the weekend. Sonic Unleashed is possibly making it to Xbox 360, PS3, and the Wii. From the sound of it, no official announcement will be made until E3 or May. It looks like a cross between a next-gen Sonic the Hedgehog and a follow-up to Sonic and the Secret Rings. Either way, it looks intriguing.

SEGA's Take on Iron Man

Say it with me, everybody.

I AM IRON MAN.

Anybody else giddy?

Metal Gear Solid Movie? Solid.

And now, the world has even more of a reason to look forward to Metal Gear Solid 4. Following the release of the game, Columbia Pictures is seeking to put the Metal Gear Solid movie into production.

The script will be written by Kurt Wimmer, who penned the movie Equilibrium. The story, however, branches from Hideo Kojima, who wrote the stories for every other Metal Gear Solid game, which takes us all the way back to Metal Gear in 1987 (a game that is as old as I am).

There aren't a lot of details at the moment, but as they emerge, I'll hit you with them.

Let's hope that it's as good as Super Mario Bros.: The Movie.

Oh, and happy Ides of March. Alas! Caesar est mortuus!