Rock Band is arriving in stores on November 20. Along with a guitar, mic, and drum kit, the $169.99 package includes 58 songs (45 licensed tracks, and 13 more that are unlockable). For months, Harmonix/MTV/EA has teased us with pieces of the track list. Today, we finally have the complete list of licensed tracks. Keep in mind that each week following the release of Rock Band, new downloadable songs will be made available. Among the DLC is the entire Who's Album "Who's Next," Metallica's "One," and eighteen songs by The Grateful Dead.
1960s
The hugely popular squad-based tactical shooter Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 ( GRAW2) is looking to draw players back into the battlefield with the release of five new co-op campaign missions.
Up to 16 players can compete over Xbox LIVE or through System Link, enjoying maps drawn from the original two Ghost Recon games for Xbox (Ghost Recon and Ghost Recon: Island Thunder) plus classic, fan favourite maps such as Railroad Bridge, Battlefield Caves and Plantation. Missions range from having to destroy a fleet of convoy vehicles to silencing artillery that is battering allied troops in a nearby village.
In addition to the five co-op maps there are nine adversarial maps available in the pack, seven of which are from previous games with two completely new environments. Here players can fight against each other in Ghost Recon’s various multiplayer modes.
All nine levels have been recreated using the pin-sharp graphics and fidelity of GRAW2 and as such will offer a blast of nostalgia to long term fans of the series while giving new players chance to investigate some classic level designs.
The pack introduces an additional 125 achievement points to play for. These tasks range from, for example, performing a grenade kill after you’ve already died to completing co-op maps without dying or re-spawning on hard difficulties.
The pack of nine maps is exceptional value and will offer players countless hours of multiplayer enjoyment over the forthcoming holiday season.
Click Here to buy Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter from amazon.com
Ubisoft and Manga Entertainment Ltd are proud to give you the chance to win the Ultimate Naruto prize where you can win everything you possibly want Naruto related - games, DVDs, merchandise and an Xbox 360 console!
There is a top prize of an Xbox 360, every Naruto DVD released in the UK, Naruto Rise of a Ninja on Xbox 360 and £100 worth of Naruto merchandise! There are dozens of runner-up prizes of games, DVD’s so you’ve got a great chance to win something.
You still can Participate in the competition just Click Here.
There are some rules for the competition so I've listed them here:
1. The competition is open to all UK residents with the exception of UbiSoft Limited (the “Promoter”) employees, their families and anyone professionally connected with the competition. The Promoter reserves the right to verify eligibility qualifications of winners.
2. Minors (ie. persons under 18 years of age) must have authorisation from their parents (or the person who exercises parental authority) to enter the competition on the terms of these rules.
3. Entry to the competition is via the webpage located at the Ultimate Naruto Competition. In order to enter, you must answer three questions correctly and the winning entries will be randomly selected for the prizes.
4. The competition will commence on 15/10/07 (the “Start Date”). All entries must be received no later than midnight on 15/11/07 (the “Closing Date”). By submitting their entry, entrants will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by these rules. Entries through agents or third parties will be invalid.
5. The prize structure is as follows:
BioWare finished with first leg of sci-fi trilogy; limited collector's edition to include art book, backstory primer, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and more.
Mass Effect is an Electronic Arts franchise now, but that isn't stopping Microsoft from pushing the Xbox 360-exclusive sci-fi role-playing game as a big part of its holiday lineup. Today Microsoft announced that not only has the game gone gold in preparation of its November 20 release date, but it will also receive a full-blown Limited Collector's Edition.
Click here to buy Mass Effect from Amazon.com
The Limited Collector's Edition of Mass Effect will include a wealth of background on the game. Foremost among the premium package's offerings is a pair of 36-page booklets, one of which offers a primer on the game's universe and timeline, and the other a collection of concept artwork. The set will also include a bonus DVD with documentaries on the making of the game, a look inside BioWare, 18 Xbox Live gamer pics, 16 dashboard themes, 10 songs from the soundtrack, and 600 concept images with commentary from the game's art directors.
On top of that, gamers who preorder either version of the game at participating US retailers will receive a bonus disc with an introductory documentary on the game, a dozen gamer pics, eight dashboard themes, three songs from the soundtrack, and various trailers.
As has become standard for limited-edition packages, Mass Effect's collector's set will be available for $69.99, a $10 premium over the regular edition's $59.99 price tag.Taking its inspiration from its 8-bit namesake released on the Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1988, Bionic Commando features Nathan Spencer, a government operative who represents the ultimate fusion of man and machine. After distinguishing himself in a fierce conflict against the Imperials, Spencer is betrayed and falsely imprisoned by the very people he unquestioningly served.
Three years later, on the day he is due to be executed for his supposed crimes, an experimental weapon detonates in Ascension City, unleashing an immensely powerful earthquake coupled with a radiation shockwave that leaves the city in ruins, wiping out its populace. Military intelligence suggests that a large terrorist search force has moved in and occupied Ascension City, but as yet their motives remain unclear. With the terrain in ruins and the terrorists in control of Ascension City’s air defences the FSA has only one option open to them – the reactivation of Nathan Spencer.
Bionic Commando harnesses the power of the latest generation of hardware to fully exploit the swing mechanic that made the original title so unique. The ruins of Ascension City and its surroundings provide an engaging environment of towering buildings, suspended roadways and monorails, deep canyons and sheer rock faces that allow gamers to traverse each area via multiple routes using swinging, rappeling, climbing and wall-walking techniques.
An expertly trained operative, Spencer is able to target and take out enemies while hanging upside down, climbing a building or even in mid-swing. At close quarters, the bionic arm packs a mean punch, while from a distance, objects such as boulders and cars can be grabbed and launched at enemies.
The development team behind Bionic Commando represents a unique and compelling collaboration of cultures and skills, consisting of an American Producer living in Japan, a Japanese Creative Advisor and highly-rated Swedish developer GRIN providing a European influence. This partnership provides a further example of Capcom’s strategy to work with the best developer talent, whilst maintaining the unique elements of creativity and approach to game design for which Capcom is renowned.
Say goodbye to Tony Hawk's games and welcome the skate. - EA's latest product.
Finally, a skateboarding franchise we can play and enjoy instead of the declining Tony Hawk series. Though both Tony Hawk and Skate are of course skateboarding games, they differ in many aspects of the game such as controls and graphics. Not to mention that, skate is a lot more fun to play both online and offline.
The first thing you will notice while playing skate is that it is actually somewhat realistic. No more doing 30 second handstands, no more “Natas Spins” (thank god), and best of all, no more 1,000,000 point combos. The second thing you will notice is that this is in no way, shape, or form a button mashers game. The thumb-sticks are the main parts of the controller used during the game. The left thumb-stick controls your body while the right thumb-stick controls the board. Although it does take some getting used too, once you get it nailed down it just makes the game a hell of a lot of fun to play.
The story starts off similar to a movie. You are shooting a skate video, and let’s just say you should have looked both ways before you crossed the street. You basically get owned by a bus, and get rushed to the hospital. The doctor says it’s going to take some major reconstructive surgery to fix you up, so now it’s time to create your character the way you want him to look. The create-a-character isn’t exactly “great”, but it beats the Tony Hawk create-a-skater by a long shot, so be thankful with what you got. Once you finally get out of the hospital, what do you do? Skate of course! You and your friend (camera man), decide to go to the skate park in the suburbs to do a rehab session of skating. This is where you are taught everything you need to know on how to play the game. All of the tutorials are in this area, and once you finish them you should be all set to go. The main objective of the story is to earn recognition by being on the cover of skate mags and taking part of the X-Games. Not too much of a storyline here, but the game makes up for it in a big way. The city of San Velona is so huge that it’s almost overwhelming.
This is why the game never gets old. Finding sick spots to skate is what it’s all about, and that is what you will spend most of your time doing when playing this game. There are four sections of the city, each having there own type of fun to them. Those sections are the Suburbs, The Res, Downtown, and Old Town. The suburbs are exactly what you think of when you think suburbs. Lots of regular houses, some cool places to skate, a good size skate park. The Res is downhill skating all the way. If you like speed, this is the place for you. Downtown is the place with the best skate spots, but is swarming with security; so be careful. Last but definitely not least is Old Town, which is great for skating mainly ledges. The missions in the game are pretty frustrating at times to say the least. I’ve caught myself about to throw my controller a few times, but that’s nothing compared to breaking my headset while playing Halo 3...but that’s a different story. Anyways, this isn’t a game you can just breeze through. It takes time, practice, skill, and sometimes a good amount of luck is involved too.The London Games Festival is a weeklong cultural and business celebration of computer and video games, reflecting their influence and importance as central to popular culture and entertainment. Created by the London Development Agency and with the full support of the industry, trade bodies (ELSPA and Tiga) and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, it will provide an exciting week of consumer and trade events in the capital. The Festival is a collection of independent events, which will run concurrently at venues throughout the city between 22 and 26 October 2007.
Video Games Live. 22nd October. Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London
Xbox is proud to sponsor this year’s Video Games Live concert, celebrating iconic game music, performed live by members of Classic FM's Philharmonia Orchestra. The show will be held at the Royal Festival Hall on London's Southbank, on the 22nd of October as the opening event to this year’s London Games Festival. Tickets can be purchased at: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/all-events/productions/video-games-live-17937
Video Games Live™ is not just a concert, but a musical, visual and interactive celebration of gaming that will enthral anyone who has ever played a video game. Whether it's the power and passion of Halo® 3, or nostalgia for the days of Pong and Space Invaders, Video Games Live™ promises to deliver an experience you will remember.
More information and footage from previous shows can be viewed at www.videogameslive.com, where there is also the opportunity to download a free track from the forthcoming Video Games Live: Greatest Hits album.
Eidos has confirmed that Tomb Raider Anniversary will be released on October 26th '07 for the XBOX 360. The game is currently only available for the PS2, and PC. The 360 version will be on retail shelves and also listed on XBOX LIVE Marketplace downloads in November.
"Anniversary has already been a great success on PS2 and PC Games for Windows and now 360 owners will get the choice of either owning a boxed copy or downloading the game straight to their 360 hard drive." said Kathryn Clements, Senior Brand Manager for Tomb Raider.
A PSP and Wii version will also be released at the end of October.
Tomb Raider Anniversary will use the same game engine as Tomb Raider Legend and was developed by Crystal Dynamics.
According to Bungie insider lukems they are currently working on new maps to be available for download. He gives you a little teaser about the ones they are currently testing.... His quote after the jump.
"Work is progressing on new maps for future downloadable content, with the design and art teams vigorously engaged in the process. More entertainingly however, the ad-hoc test team of Bungie staff is enjoying these new maps greatly. My favorites are what I have already nicknamed Jodrell Bank and Moonbase Alpha."
"I “invented” a game type on Jodrell Bank which is actually just Team Slayer with Swords and Snipers. Thanks to some unique geographical features of that map, it works great. Moonbase Alpha, on the other hand is best suited to objective games, like CTF and Assault, but it has some natural deadlocks that make Slayer interesting and Infection terrifying.
Which reminds me of one more downloadable map. The scariest map of all time. Dark, frightening and surprisingly enormous. One of the scariest things that has ever happened to me (and this in a lifetime fraught with terror) was racing away from a marauding gang of zombies in Infection atop a Mongoose, only to have one leap out of the darkness ahead and unseat me with a throaty scream. I call that level John Carpenter’s Prince of Dorkness. It’s not as catchy as Jub Jub, but it’s every bit as accurate."
Unreal Tournament 3 will be on Xbox 360 in 2008,
Epic VP Mark Rein has reassured gamers that UT3 will still be coming to the Xbox 360 in 2008, after a comment made by Epic president Mark Capps was taken out of context and implied at PS3-only release. After Rein's comment ended the inevitable flame-wars that erupted around the web, Rein went on to discuss Epic's desire to keep the PC version's system requirements down.
"The reason we put out a beta version of our demo was to get feedback on how well the game runs on older hardware." Rein said. While this doesn't exactly relate to the console versions, it is nice to be reassured that Epic is concerned with making the game as accessible as possible.
Mass Effect is a sci-fi action RPG created by BioWare, Mass Effect delivers an immersive,
story-driven experience coupled with awe-inspiring visuals, delivered exclusively to the Xbox 360™.
As one of the first human beings to step onto the galactic stage, you face a grave threat that may destroy all of civilization. Your job is complicated by the fact that no one believes that there is any threat at all. Travel across an expansive universe, exploring the uncharted corners of the galaxy, searching for pieces of the truth in order to discover how to defeat the coming destruction.
Explore uncharted worlds: Uncover a mystery that defies imagination as you travel to the far corners of the universe. Visit unexplored planets, finding side quests that unfold parallel to the main story. Discover alien life, new resources, ruined civilizations, and powerful technologies.
Fight in real-time: Mass Effect features a real-time, squad-based, tactical combat system. Enjoy intense and exciting third-person action as you face off against your enemies. Engage your foes with ranged weapons, biotic powers, science-based magic, and tech powers, all accompanied by astonishing visuals.
Customize your character: Build a stunning, photo-realistic character, expanding your skills and statistics as you progress. Utilize a deep reward system as you travel further afield and discover more about the coming invasion. Change the appearance of your characters with the additions of newly discovered weapons, equipment, and armor to make each one truly unique.
Experience the next generation: Mass Effect takes full advantage of Xbox 360 hardware, providing players with photo-realistic high definition graphics, amazingly realistic characters, branching dialogue with A.I. responses, and a massive universe to explore. As the future of gaming continues to expand online, look for premium downloads on Xbox LIVE
Xbox 360 Mass effect trailer:
Down below is a leaked photo of Microsoft’s newest but yet to be released Xbox 360 Arcade package, the photo was first published by Ars Technica. It seems certain that this Arcade package will replace the cheap but popular Xbox 360 Core package. Microsoft has told the press to expect the price tag of the Arcade to be the same as Core which would be around $279 and that Arcade would contain more features than Core.
The estimated differences between Arcade and Core package are as below:
Other than that, Arcade would be pretty much the same as Core, but this is still an estimation, Microsoft might add more changes before it launches Arcade to the market. By offering more features while maintaining the same low price point with this Arcade package, Microsoft is planning to give more reasons for people to buy an Xbox 360.
What to do if you are sharing your connection from your PC to the Xbox 360 and you got a limited or no connectivity sign on your Local Area Connection???
There is a small IP conflict on your PC that needs to be resolved,
1. Go on PC to “Start”
2. Then “Control Panel”
3. Go to “Network Connections”
4. You’ll find 2 main categories “Dial up” & “LAN or High–speed Internet”.
5. If you have more than one "Local Area Network" you must first know which of them is the connection to your Xbox 360 console, so unplug the cable that connects the PC to the console from the back of the PC and look which of them on the screen will turn to be unplugged, so that's the connection to the console, then reconnect the cable.
6. Under “Dial up” you’ll find your broadband connection, so right click on it & go to properties.
On the General tap you'll find a subtitle "this connection uses the following items" under this subtitle there are some options one of them is "Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)" double click on this one.
Another new page will pop up including a "General" and "Alternate Configuration" set all the options here to automatic.
On General "Obtain an IP address automatically" , "Obtain DNS server address automatically" , On Alternate Configuration "Automatic private IP address".
You must now set all your connections this way, I mean even the "Local Area Connection" or the Broadband connection so all would be on the same configuration with no hassle at all.
Then Restart your PC and go on the Dashboard of your Xbox 360 console to “System” area then “Network Settings” then “Restore To Factory Defaults", when it ask you to apply settings select "Test Xbox Live".
Hopefully this will work, please feed me back after all.
The Pace of online gaming never slows down with super-fast BT Total Broadband!
Sign up with BT broadband and get 3 months FREE Xbox LIVE Gold membership and 2100 Xbox LIVE Marketplace points
BT is giving Xbox gamers this great new offer to get the most out of your Xbox 360 and enjoy a more complete online gaming experience........
For award winning broadband with more inclusive features than any other broadband provider, select the BT Total Broadband package that is right for you ...
And if you've already got Broadband, why not switch to BT to qualify for this great offer!!!
To place your order go to
http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/live/xbox/broadband/btoffer.htm
and choose from 3 options
First select the BT Total Broadband Package you want .
Then place your order for BT Broadband by clicking on the Order links there.
And don't forget after you have ordered to note down your order reference and ADSL number and go to http://www.btxbox.onlinerebates.com/ to claim your free 3 months free Membership and Microsoft Points codes.
Would you like to get superfast broadband speeds of up to 20Mb on cable, plus a fantastic phone service, and also get Xbox LIVE Gold Membership free - for a year?
Sure the answer will be yes.
If so just sign up to Virgin Media Broadband and Phone packages and you'll be entilted to get this amazing offer.
It doesn't matter how skilled a gamer you are!!
If your broadband's too slow, and your ping times are too high, you're toast. Virgin Broadband's top tier service is fastest for average ping, download and upload times (official).
That's because it comes via state of the art fibre-optic cable, unlike all the other providers who send theirs down telephone wires. There are other advantages too, like being able to download as many files and patches as you want, with no caps.
Prices start at just £9 a month when you take a phone service (for up to2Mb broadband). Plus, you get Xbox LIVE Gold Membership free for a year.
Now it really is game on.
To sign up visit www.virginmedia.com/xboxlive
With virgin media enjoy:
Let’s face it; the past few years have not been kind to EA Sport’s flagship basketball franchise. The past few NBA Live titles have paled in comparison to 2K Sport’s NBA 2K games, getting trounced on the court for having weak gameplay and dismal features. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that EA Sports would go back to the drawing board, focusing on making the gameplay mechanics smooth and playable, while bringing the next-gen iterations up to speed with a good feature set. NBA Live 08 ups the ante with some features that range from pretty good to great and long overdue, as well as some excellent on-court mechanics and animations to pull you into the game. While not without a few foibles, NBA Live 08 is still the most compelling game to hit the franchise in years.
Anyone who’s played the series as of late would know that it didn’t exactly have the most fluid gameplay out there. In fact, the inside game was rubbish, the passing game made some utterly confounding mistakes, and the overall on-court experience was pretty weak. However, the team behind NBA Live 08 has attempted to address these issues as best as they can, and have been mostly successful in their efforts. As a result, NBA Live 08 plays leaps and bounds better than previous games in the series.
One element that the dev team have implemented to fix the on-court game is the new “own the paint” feature. This allows you to press the left bumper button and perform a variety of moves, like fake shots, alley oops, and so on to leave your opponents in the dust. This feature takes a bit of getting used to, as doing the wrong thing will often cost you possession of the ball. However, mastering it is extremely rewarding, and shows how the inside game has been vastly improved from last year’s iteration of the series. Additionally, the ball handling has been improved quite a bit. You can link together skill moves like combos in order to get the drop on your opponents. Do this right and you’ll clear yourself a patch to the hoop every time. However, only certain players can do this properly, and trying to do the quick strike ball handling with “less capable” players will cost you the ball.
However, while the on-court play has been updated substantially, it’s still not perfect. The game still has some nagging issues. Shots are still mishandled by the game often, with players attempting to shoot from behind the backboard, or flubbing simple lay-ups and dunks. The AI is also a bit problematic, especially on defense, leaving areas wide open and allowing a clean lane to the basket for your opponent.
Aside from those issues, there’s a lot to love in NBA Live 08. The features from last year’s game, like the All-Star Weekend and dynasty mode, have returned. However, there are some great new features as well. The FIBA World Championship opens up the team roster to international teams, allowing you to face off countries against each other or even NBA teams. The scenario mode is also a nice addition, letting you play through randomized pseudo mission-based scenarios to test your B-ball mettle, and the quick pick mode lets you choose your own dream team of ten players from any team in the game and pit them against another team.
Xbox 360 NBA Live 08 trailer:
One huge addition to the game is the online leagues, which has been something that fans have been clamoring for some time now. The leagues have persistent rankings and rankings for each player, as well as a variety of tweaks that you can do in order to cater your own preferences, matching you up with similar players.
Graphically, the game is a big step-up from NBA Live 07 as well, thanks to its framerate boost to 60 frames per second and some much improved animations. The character models are also done very well, showcasing different body types and sizes as well as accurate facial models. Soundwise, the game is also quite good, with a diverse soundtrack, accurate commentary from Albert and Kerr and solid on-court effects.
NBA Live 08 isn’t without a few problems that have lingered from last year’s game, but the whole experience is generally much improved. The on-court game plays much better than before, and the new features are great additions to the franchise. This is the next-gen NBA Live that we’ve been waiting for since the 360 launched.
Microsoft announced today their Holiday Special. Starting at the end of October you can now get Forza Motorsport 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance free when you purchase the Xobx 360 for #349.99 (US) or the Xbox 360 Elite for $449.99. So if you're planning on getting a 360 anytime soon, I'd hold off till the end of October. Even if you don't like those two games, remember you can always trade them in at your local Gamestop, or equivalent there of, for a game you do like.
“Xbox 360 is home to the most critically acclaimed next generation games according to Metacritic.coms, the leading aggregator of game reviews from more than 100 publications,” said Microsoft in a statement.
“The most-respected game reviewers have spoken and according to them, Xbox 360 has more than double the games of the Playstation 3 and Wii receiving a score of 90 or higher.”
Soccer has been dubbed “the beautiful game”. Unfortunately most soccer game offerings have been far from beautiful in their implementation. Fifa, as popular as the series has been has felt somewhat lacking to me, and in the past couple of years the series has had its nose blooded by the fast paced arcadey franchise that is Pro Evolution Soccer. Fortunately then, EA really stepped up to the mark for this year’s Fifa offering.
The new features list contains large numbers with many zeros, such as that players make 1000 decisions every second. These numbers mean little in isolation, but speak volumes in-game. The improved AI along with awesome ball physics (which are affected by factors such as wind speed, player balance, ball spin and air pressure) makes for a very realistic experience. Each iteration of Fifa has had its own nuances and Fifa 08 is no different. In fact it will take quite a bit of time with the game to really master its subtleties.
Fifa 08 has a much slower pace than many would be used to, which makes for a much more considered and tactical game. A game of to and fro, where there is a lot of passing and exploring to find a weakness in the opposition’s defense. In essence, it truly captures the feel of soccer. No longer can you subdue the opposition with wave after wave of attacks. Nor can you cross the ball magically into your striker’s feet from one side of the field to the other (this annoyed my old flatmates to no end). Instead you have to make space, shield the ball and really think about what you are doing, all while the opposition is relentlessly chasing your heels and blocking your passes. Fifa 08 also introduces a new version of the fatigue meter. This time round you cant sit with your finger jammed on the run button, as your total stamina will drop slowly over the game. You have to use short burst of speed.
Another bonus is the beefed up ball control. Passing has been very hit and miss in past iterations, usually involving pointing in the general vicinity and hoping for the best. In Fifa 08 this is much less the case, especially when you turn off passing assistance. The added control really does provide for some excellent build up play.
In my opinion Fifa 08 is quite possibly the most realistic soccer game I have played. I say this, because you have to play as you would on a real pitch. As I mentioned above, the ball physics are really impressive, and its fantastic to see defenders fight for the ball when its loose without it being magically sucked to one of the players feet like in previous versions. Lets not kid ourselves though, someone walking past your tv is not going to mistake it for a real game of soccer, but its as close as we have seen.
All this realism comes at a cost to the casual player…difficulty. Unless you are willing to put some time into the game, it is unlikely that you will be able to truly appreciate its subtle genius. It can be fairly frustrating and hard with goals few and far between. Like I said though, its fairly realistic. Unfortunately it is relatively unforgiving even on the easier setting. The steep learning curve and added difficulty may be a bit of a turn off to those not already familiar with the series.
Most of what I mentioned so far are more incremental improvements than anything new. This is where the Be A Pro mode comes in. In this mode you play as one player, rather than the entire team. This is such a good idea that it makes you wonder why it has not been done in the past. Unfortunately its not as full featured as you would hope, but it definitely makes me excited for the future. EA have also suggested that the game will eventually allow for five a side online games with each player being controlled individually. Normal multiplayer is great fun, and though I did not get time to try out the online leagues, one off matches against a real opponent are awesome. I experienced very little lag in my games, which is a definite bonus.
In closing Fifa 08 is the most enjoyable soccer game I have played. The slower pace, greater control and realistic approach really does make for a very enjoyable experience if you like your soccer. On the downside it is a lot more challenging with a steeper learning curve. However if you can push through this, you will find that you can pull off some spectacular moves that were rarely seen in the past, at least not on this level. Fifa 08 really is a beautiful simulation of the beautiful game.
A novel/comic book series that was popularized in a series of 80’s movies starring a certain “governator” in the titular role, Conan the Barbarian is experiencing a revival of sorts, at least in the video-game universe. Funcom is currently developing an MMORPG for the PC called Age of Conan. On the other side of the fence, however, THQ is publishing their own game featuring the Cimmerian hero.
Simply called Conan, the game takes a straight-forward action approach to the license, drawing heavy inspiration from games like God of War to make for some intense moments. Conan doesn’t bear much of a resemblance to the Schwarzenegger films, as it draws exclusively from the works of Robert E. Howard.
The combat feels a lot like God of War. The camera is controlled by the game, with the right thumbstick dedicated to performing rolls and dodges. You perform combos by combining quick attacks with stronger ones, block and perform reversals. Additionally, the game has an orb collection system that allows you to collect red orbs from defeated enemies to spend on upgrades and new moves. Also like in God of War, the game has some real-time sequences where you have to push a button at the right time in order to perform certain actions, like tapping the B button to pull open a heavy door and so on.
One main difference between the two is that Conan allows you to pick up and use the weapons of your fallen foes. Single-handed blades can be dual-wielded, and two-handed blades add extra power at the cost of some speed. You can throw weapons at your enemies too, adding some range to your weapon repertoire. Using the B Button, you can perform “camel punches” and grabs, letting you throw enemies into others to others as well as objects in the environment.
Xbox 360 Conan Trailer:
In terms of speed and pacing, the game does move noticeably slower than GoW. The action doesn’t feel quite as smooth as a result, and loses a bit of fluidity when it comes to performing combos and one-hit kill reversals. However, since the build was in preview form, this issue could be cleaned up before the game ships. The game wears its M-Rating on its sleeve, as the violence level is quite high, as those familiar with the license would expect. You’ll chop through hordes of enemies, spewing blood and hewing limbs and heads at every turn.
Graphically, the game looks pretty good. The character models and environments are done in the style of Frank Franzetta, renowned fantasy illustrator, resulting in a very stylized look. The lighting effects and textures boast the same quality, lending a comic book feel to the game. The sound effects sound pretty good, the score is impressive and the voice work features Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Blade: Trinity) in the title role.
Conan may seem a bit derivative, but the action is actually quite fun in a gory guilty-pleasure sort of way. Look for it to hit later this October.
The King of All Cosmos and the Prince have returned in amazing next-generation brilliance in Beautiful Katamari! The game that took the videogame world by storm is set to continue rolling with new stages, cousins, and visual style.
Play as the Prince or one of the cousins, new and old, to roll up objects in all-new stages and missions as you explore this brand new creative exploration. With this new era, the hit style of gameplay is able to present an experience only hinted at in previous versions. Seamless Katamari growing and animated presents add to the experience that has captivated hardcore and casual gamers everywhere.
Rolling in 720p: Katamari leaps into the next generation with an upgrade into the HD era with increased visual depth and seamless Katamari growth.
New soundtrack: Pick up items at your leisure to a brand new catchy soundtrack.
New Levels:New levels and objects present more craziness to conquer like keeping your cool and collecting frosty items in the Ice House!
New characters: New cousins join the fun to bring the total to over 50 playable characters, each with their own quirky animations and style.
Offline multiplayer: Share the experience with another player as you race to collect more objects than each other. Tired of battling it out? Make peace and work together in CO-OP mode to roll the same Katamari. Make sure your communication skills are working at peak efficiency!
Online multiplayer: For the first time ever, the Katamari franchise rolls into the online world. Compete with your friends to roll up everything or as many specific objects as possible. As your waiting for more online players, also take part in the lively mini-games that populate the lobby and spread the world of Katamari Damacy.
Downloadable content: The world's ever-changing as your game will continue to give you joy through downloadable content ready to give you a fresh experience every time you fire up your system.
Amazon and Toys 'R Us have both put up the Xbox 360 Arcade Console at a price of $279.99 which will replace the Xbox 360 core console. This model is expected to come with five Arcade games as well as a HDMI port. A while ago, this new SKU was found out via some leaked information so we think the specs will be the same as what they are listed as above.
The Core Edition of the Xbox 360 has been a victim of many rumors since Microsoft announced it will release different editions of its next-generation system. So far, the cheapest Xbox 360 has survived all the rumors that claimed it will be discontinued and it seems it will only be replaced by an updated model that will come with some Xbox Live Arcade games and possibly HDMI (since the next-generation A/V port has been incorporated in all other editions except the Core)
Ace Combat 6: Fires Of Liberation Achievements:
Complete the following achievements to unlock Xbox Live Gamerscore points.
Additionally there are five secret achievements, all of which are currently unknown.
All Medals (50 points):
All medals attained.
All Aircraft (30 points):
Attain purchasing ability for all aircraft.
Clear Campaign (20 points):
Clear Campaign Mode.
10 Operations (10 points):
Complete 10 operations.
All Operations (30 points):
Clear all operations.
10 Frontline Landings (10 points):
Complete 10 total frontline landings.
Aerial Defense (10 points):
Destroy 50 enemies using airborne allied support.
Ground Defense (10 points):
Destroy 50 enemies using ground force allied support.
Electronic Support System (10 points):
Destroy 100 enemies while receiving electronic support.
10 Named Aircraft (30 points):
Destroy 10 Named Aircraft.
1000 Enemies (30 points):
Destroy a total of 1000 enemies.
All Colors (10 points):
Attain purchasing ability for all aircraft special colors.
Original Aircraft (10 points):
Attain purchasing ability for original aircraft.
Allied Assault Record (20 points):
Attain complete Emmerian assault record.
Enemy Assault Record (20 points):
Attain complete Estovakian assault record.
Mission 1 (10 points):
Successfully retreat from the fallen capital Gracemeria.
Mission 2 (10 points):
Prevent the aerial bombardment of Vitoze.
Mission 3 (10 points):
Attain victory at Sipli Field.
Mission 4 (10 points):
Destroy Bartolomeo Fortress, and recapture Khesed Island.
Mission 5 (20 points):
Ensure the success of allied ground forces Anea mainland landing.
Mission 6 (10 points):
Rescue allied ground forces cornered in Silvat.
Mission 7 (10 points):
Rescue allied forces amidst Aigaion attack.
Mission 8 (10 points):
Capture the Cavallia Air Force Base, and establish an Aigaion attack point.
Mission 9 (20 points):
Destroy the heavy command cruiser Aigaion.
Mission 10 (10 points):
Capture the Ragno Fortress.
Mission 11 (10 points):
Attain victory in the Moloch Desert invasion.
All Secrets (30 points):
Unlock all hidden contents.
Battle Royale (10) (10 points):
Win 10 Battle Royale matches.
Battle Royale (30) (20 points):
Win 30 Battle Royale matches.
Battle Royale (50) (30 points):
Win 50 Battle Royale matches.
Battle Royale (100) (40 points):
Win 100 Battle Royale matches.
Team Battle (10) (10 points):
Win 10 Team Battle matches.
Team Battle (30) (20 points):
Win 30 Team Battle matches.
Team Battle (50) (30 points):
Win 50 Team Battle matches.
Team Battle (100) (40 points):
Win 100 Team Battle matches.
CO-OP Stage 1 (25 points):
Clear Stage 1 of CO-OP Battle.
CO-OP Stage 2 (35 points):
Clear Stage 2 of CO-OP Battle.
Siege Battle (10) (10 points):
Win 10 Siege Battle matches.
Siege Battle (30) (20 points):
Win 30 Siege Battle matches.
Siege Battle (50) (30 points):
Win 50 Siege Battle matches.
Siege Battle (100) (40 points):
Win 100 Siege Battle matches.
Online Kills (50) (20 points):
Shoot down 50 total other player aircraft online.
Online Kills (100) (30 points):
Shoot down 100 total other player aircraft online.
Online Kills (200) (50 points):
Shoot down 200 total other player aircraft online.
If Namco Bandai was worried about how the public would receive the newest Ace Combat after jumping from a Sony console to Microsoft's, its fears were certainly calmed by the 900,000 downloads the game's demo has already received. Namco Bandai is showed a new single-player mission at their pre-TGS event yesterday and the game's online mode is playable on the show floor. That's where we went as soon as the show opened.
We snagged the first available controller and were immediately thrown into what appeared to be a standard deathmatch. It was already in progress, so the sky was filled with jet contrails, missile trails, bullets, and of course, jets. We were fighting along a coastal city, which made for some interesting tactical choices. Many pilots (us included) tended to head straight for the city as soon as we heard an enemy pilot had missile lock on us. The buildings seemed to provide some shelter, and if nothing else it was fun to zoom between structures.
From a technical standpoint the online mode played no differently than the offline portion. The frame rate was fast and there was no noticeable lag, though that shouldn't be a surprise since we're pretty sure we were playing against the people right next to us. One way in which the game did feel different was how smart the other pilots were. The CPU might be prone to letting you get an easy shot off, but real people are much more adept at avoiding your missile lock. They're also more aggressive so you've always got to be on your toes.
The level we saw was a new single-player mission, Ragno Fortress, the 10th mission in the game. A fortress that was once yours is now under enemy control. You'll need to clear the way for ground troops to come in and retake the fortress. The level is loosely based on the Grand Canyon and the heavily fortified base is right smack in the middle of it. You have three operations to choose from and you must beat two out of three to move on to the next mission. The first objective was to defend ground forces. Another was to protect a different group by flying through the canyon and taking out enemy targets, and the third has you flying through a tunnel and blowing up some sort of underground target, not unlike Luke's run on the death star in Star Wars. After you choose the two missions to tackle you can pick from the 15 real and one fictitious aircraft in the game. As you pick your plane you can look at it from inside the hanger. The planes are incredibly detailed and they look great. After picking your craft you pick the jets for your wingmen. Our host chose the F-15 for himself and the A10-A Thunderbolt for his wingmen. Once you've got that sorted out you pick your weaponry, starting point, and it's off to the skies for combat.
This level appeared to take place just after sunrise so it was filled with intense colors. The sky was a deep blue, filled with clouds. The ground had an orange tint to it. Watching the plane go through the new high G turn we marveled at the game's great particle and lighting effects. As the squadron continued through the level looking for targets they came across a boat in the river and took out an operation on the docks with a well-placed missile. There was no time to relax, because as soon as the missile had been launched the jet flew under a bridge and pulled up just in time to avoid a giant dam. Once the canyon forces were taken out, the next objective was to cripple the base's power facility. It's a tough thing to accomplish alone, but you don't have to. As soon as you clear an objective you can call in an attack and all remaining allied forces will focus on your target. It's important to keep your friends alive or you're in for an uphill battle because there will be no one left to call. After our the allies took out the objective it was time to hit the tunnel--which turned out to be a bad idea, as the plane crashed and the demo ended.
But the demo wasn't quite over. You can now replay your mission from a variety of camera angles. Not only can you see what you were doing, but you can track your allies' moves in the replay as well. It's a neat feature that lets you learn from your mistakes.
If you've read all of our Ace Combat 6 coverage and you've played the demo, you're most likely itching to get your hands on the finished product. The good news about the two-month wait for the game, at least for non-360 owners, is you've got two more months to pick up an Xbox 360. That's the only way you'll get to play the game, as Namco Bandai still promises it's an Xbox 360 exclusive.
Xbox 360 Ace Combat 6 trailer:
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