First up, we've got Shrek-N-Roll which looks to be a simple puzzle adventure game where for 800 Microsoft points, you'll roll Shrek characters through various mazes and mayhem. But the lack of any online support other than leaderboards makes us raise our brow in disgust. The other XBLA game Screwjumper! will also cost 800 Microsoft points and is all about free-falling, destruction, alien-killing and explosive fun. Screwjumper! also includes Xbox Live functionality (take that Shrek!) and has the distinguished honor of being the 100th Arcade game to release to the XBLA. Sound the trumpets and bring out the cake! We love cake.
Shrek-N-Roll and Screwjumper! advance to XBLA
First up, we've got Shrek-N-Roll which looks to be a simple puzzle adventure game where for 800 Microsoft points, you'll roll Shrek characters through various mazes and mayhem. But the lack of any online support other than leaderboards makes us raise our brow in disgust. The other XBLA game Screwjumper! will also cost 800 Microsoft points and is all about free-falling, destruction, alien-killing and explosive fun. Screwjumper! also includes Xbox Live functionality (take that Shrek!) and has the distinguished honor of being the 100th Arcade game to release to the XBLA. Sound the trumpets and bring out the cake! We love cake.
Weighted Companion cube toy revealed, adorable
We considered abandoning our papercraft Weighted Companion Cube many times during its creation. Those tiny corners are hard. Now that we have absolute concrete proof of an official Weighted Companion Cube plushie, our papercraft buddy is but a distant memory, half complete in some squalid corner. Sorry little guy, but the plush Weighted Companion Cube is adorable and infinitely more huggable. Could there possibly be a better holiday gift for the gamer on your list? We submit that there could not.
There are still a few questions that remain however. Among those are price, release date, and whether we choose the large plushie or the dangling rear-view mirror plushies. Oh, who are we kidding ... we're getting a dozen of each.
[Via Joystiq]
Take-Two says GTAIV will make its scheduled release
Following last week's somewhat clouded remarks about another Grand Theft Auto IV delay, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick clarified his statement about the game's release date.
"I wasn't intending to be newsworthy" Zelnick told Gamespot, "when asked about the release date, I confirmed the previous release date we'd given, which is our second fiscal quarter. That's to say sometime between the beginning of February and the end of April". So, his earlier statement was mistaken, so he took the initiative of clearing up the GTAIV release date rumors confirming that Take-Two is sticking to their original plans of having the game out by the end of April. Now you can sleep so much better GTAIV fanboys, a delay isn't in sight and Spring is just a few months away. Oh joy!
[Via Joystiq]
"I wasn't intending to be newsworthy" Zelnick told Gamespot, "when asked about the release date, I confirmed the previous release date we'd given, which is our second fiscal quarter. That's to say sometime between the beginning of February and the end of April". So, his earlier statement was mistaken, so he took the initiative of clearing up the GTAIV release date rumors confirming that Take-Two is sticking to their original plans of having the game out by the end of April. Now you can sleep so much better GTAIV fanboys, a delay isn't in sight and Spring is just a few months away. Oh joy!
[Via Joystiq]
Timmy, Timmy! A South Park bonus in Rock Band
Rock Band purchasers will be in for a South Park treat when unlocking the game's bonus tracks, because Timmy is in the house.
IGN got the scoop on a special South Park bonus track that'll be included in Rock Band entitled "Timmy & The Lords of the Underworld". And yes, it's the same song that was featured in the fourth season's "Timmy 2000" episode. A preview of the song is embedded above for your convenience and we hope you can hear and appreciate Timmy and the band's vocal range. Sweet, sweet harmony ... Tim-my, Tim-my, Tim-my!
Video: Mass Effect launch trailer and more lovin'
We're on a mission to build erroneous amounts of Mass Effect hype before the game launches (like it needs it) and we think the brand-spanking new launch trailer would help accomplish our goal. So, that's exactly what we've embedded above, the new Mass Effect launch trailer in all its epic glory. Watch, get caught up in the moment and try and convince yourself that it's just a game, because we're in love and can't shake it. Oh, and if for some reason you're not impressed, take a look after the break. Maybe an even more intense and sexual Mass Effect love scene will put you over the edge. You dirty dog you.
Continue reading Video: Mass Effect launch trailer and more lovin'
Rumor: A Microsoft firing and a first party title canceled
Talking on his podcast, Shane says he has insider info on an unconfirmed rumor that "a big Microsoft first-party title that has been in the works for a very long time that people are very excited for, sounds like it's being canceled. And a Microsoft executive who's pretty high up, who's been a voice for the company, sounds like he's on the way out". Shane says that he believes the news to be 97% true and has an inkling that Microsoft will be making the announcements sometime this week.
So, if the rumor is true, what game and which Microsoft exec will be getting the boot? We figured the obvious target to be Rare's "where the heck have you gone, we haven't heard from you for a long, long while" Banjo-Kazooie 3, but today Rare confirmed that the game is still in development. So, no dice there. Rumor? Truth? Who knows, but feel free to speculate all you want ... now.
[Thanks, THA1icarus]
Rumor: 360 DivX support to be a Fall feature
During a recent earnings report presentation, DivX CEO Kevin Hell might have revealed a bit too much regarding DivX support on the Xbox 360.
JP Morgan analyst Paul Coster asked Hell about DivX support that was added to Microsoft's Media Extender and if that foreshadowed a release to the Xbox 360. Hell's response was an enthusiastic "Yes!" followed by a semi-awkward, backpedaling clarification that went something like ... "that, uh, we're in discussions with Microsoft on that at this point in time, so I can't go into any great detail on that. Um that is not a certified, that is not a certified or licensed product at this time."
His response may not sound like confirmation of DivX headed to the 360, but simply reading the quote doesn't paint the whole picture. According to those who attended the conference, it was how he answered the question thta was most revealing. Hell was very enthusiastic at first when he answered "Yes!" and then he quickly tried to backpedal and change the subject. Was it a slip of the tongue or a simple misunderstanding? No one is certain, but we wouldn't be surprised to see DivX support added to the 360 this December.
[Thanks, Evan Walsh]
JP Morgan analyst Paul Coster asked Hell about DivX support that was added to Microsoft's Media Extender and if that foreshadowed a release to the Xbox 360. Hell's response was an enthusiastic "Yes!" followed by a semi-awkward, backpedaling clarification that went something like ... "that, uh, we're in discussions with Microsoft on that at this point in time, so I can't go into any great detail on that. Um that is not a certified, that is not a certified or licensed product at this time."
His response may not sound like confirmation of DivX headed to the 360, but simply reading the quote doesn't paint the whole picture. According to those who attended the conference, it was how he answered the question thta was most revealing. Hell was very enthusiastic at first when he answered "Yes!" and then he quickly tried to backpedal and change the subject. Was it a slip of the tongue or a simple misunderstanding? No one is certain, but we wouldn't be surprised to see DivX support added to the 360 this December.
[Thanks, Evan Walsh]
Kmart breaks Mass Effect street date
[Thanks, NukeAssault]
BioShock's new (and secret) achievement
[Thanks, xenocidic]
McFarlane Steel Spartan exclusive to GameStop
Continuing his iron grip on the Halo 3 action figure market, Toddy McFarlane (we call him Toddy, because we're tight) announced a new GameStop exclusive Steel CQB Spartan action figure. The Steel CQB figure (viewable in the gallery below) will be released alongside Series 1 sometime March 2008 and like we said, it'll only be available at GameStop stores.
Another factoid we found interesting was that the figure will come with removable shoulder pads, chest plate and helmet all of which will be interchangeable with other Halo 3 figures. It's an interesting concept and something we haven't heard about, but we know we'll be buying all the variants to build a figure to look like our multiplayer Spartan. Kind of like a Build-A-Spartan Workshop ... or not.
[Thanks, TMD]
Another factoid we found interesting was that the figure will come with removable shoulder pads, chest plate and helmet all of which will be interchangeable with other Halo 3 figures. It's an interesting concept and something we haven't heard about, but we know we'll be buying all the variants to build a figure to look like our multiplayer Spartan. Kind of like a Build-A-Spartan Workshop ... or not.
[Thanks, TMD]
Halo 3 bugs, DLC and matchmaking updates
A new Halo 3 matchmaking "hopper" update will be rolling out sometime in the next few days with changes a plenty. The most notable being Lone Wolves getting a swords gametype, oddball frequency being reduced and games increasing to six players. Also, Team Slayer will be getting Guardian and Valhalla maps, Social Doubles has been removed and a new eight player max social Rocket Race has been added (X3F Live memories ...)
Other than matchmaking changes, Bungie says they're looking into the Halo 3 melee problems, screenshot uploads being slow and armor permutation unlock bugs, all of which are hella' annoying. Bungie also officially revealed the new Bungie.net Heatmaps feature and says they consider it to be in the "beta" stage and will tweak it accordingly. Finally, we've been promised more concrete and less code-namage Halo 3 DLC details in the weeks ahead, so keep your ears perked up for that. Bungie has spoken, get your Weekly Update fix after the jump.
Mass Effect trailer highlights tough choices
Help choose Call of Duty 4 artwork for free theme
The Club tutorial talks speed, precision, style
It will be interesting to see how The Club fares against the more story-driven shooters on the market.
OXM online relaunches Monday
After being saddled with a dastardly "under construction" message over a year, the Official Xbox Magazine website is finally set to launch on Monday, November 12. The website will come with all the features you've come to expect from similar sites, including blogs, web-only content, contests, and info on upcoming issues of the magazine and what to expect on the demo discs. It's been a long time coming; here's hoping the folks at OXM can turn the website into a worthwhile resource. This reminds us though, what happened to OXM Digital, the content that was planned for XBLM? Perhaps we should look into that.
Anywho, the information was revealed by OXM's Dan Amrich in a cipher he posted on the Xbox.com forums. You can find said post and the following brouhaha by clicking the "read" link below.
[Via nukoda]