BlackSite: Area 51: Xeno Featurette

Get an inside look at the aliens in the game in this new BlackSite: Area 51 Xeno Featurette from IGN.

[Via IGN]

IGN: Rock Band Song Selection Interview

IGN has just done an interview with Eric Brosius. They interviewed him to find out what went (and still goes) into the process of licensing songs for Rock Band, so they shot some questions at him. They start:

IGN: Firstly, what can you tell us about your day-to-day work on the game?

Eric Brosius: I'm the audio lead for RockBand and my team's (the audio dept) jobs include: song selection, managing the song licensing process, coordinating with the record labels & studios to get the actual audio tracks, prepping the audio tracks for the game (some editing, mixing & mastering), authoring the songs (which includes transcribing the parts and turning them into the notes you see in game, adding animation, camera & lighting cues, etc.), difficulty tuning and other audio-related stuff like sound fx, etc.

Read the full interview at the link below.

[Read: Rock Band Interview]

PLAYSTATION 3 Outsells Wii & Xbox 360 In Europe

Here are the hardware totals for the week ending 10/14/07. The PS3 outsold both the 360 and the Wii.

Weekly Total

• DS 158,975 17,282,952
• PS3 77,827 1,697,638
• Wii 75,033 3,523,800
• PSP 62,027 8,535,003
• PS2 53,843 43,151,763
• 360 42,244 3,754,596
• GBA 2,495 19,534,242

Hit the link to see the breakdown by region.

[Via VGChartz]

Assassin's Creed: Last Video by Jade Raymond

"Here of exclusiveness presentation in last the video of Assassin' S Creed by Raymond Jade, producer on the title of Ubisoft" - Babelfish English Translation.

[Via Jeux France]

Unreal Tournament III: Deathmatch Destruction & Killing Spree Demo Gameplay

Lock and load! The brutal combat of Unreal Tournament is here! Well, almost, but when it is, get ready to kick some ass.


Rack up the kills with a little help from your friends!

[Via GameTrailers]

Surfer Girl: Seven Exclusive Things

Surfer Girl is at it again, this time, she is posting seven exclusive things that we didn't know. And here they are:

1) Ready At Dawn is working on a PS3 title. (Daxter PSP & God of War PSP)
2) The forthcoming The Incredible Hulk game will the jolly green dude in environments that actually exist in the real world.
3) Gun 2 is currently on hold indefinitely and may likely have been canceled.
4) Darkwatch 2 is currently in development at High Moon Studios for Xbox 360 and PS3.
5) The Getaway (PS3) is due for release in Q4 2008.
6) Can you say NFL Head Coach 09 for Xbox 360 and PS3 without getting excited? I'm fairly sure you cannot.
7) Silicon Knights' game for Sega (previously known as The Box) is now going by the recently-trademarked name The Crucible: Evil Within (most popular choice from that survey from last December).

If these are true, then we can expect a great Ready at Dawn title, as both their PSP titles I know of are great and coming out great.

[Via Surfer Girl]

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground: Exclusive Locations Vignette

Brand new locations set the stage for the ultimate skating experience in Tony Hawk's Proving Ground. Enjoy.

[Via GameTrailers]

Quake Wars: GameStop TV Spot

A GDF soldier gets the drop on a Strogg with a little outside help in this new video for Enemy Territory: Quake Wars.

[Via GameTrailers]

PlayStation Schwag: Win It At The PlayStation Blog

Over at the official Playstation blog, SCEA is running a little trivia contest to giveaway and collection of Playstation schwag. The schwag seems to contain a PlayStation ballcap, a beanie, a notebook, a pen, a luggage tag, a jacket or shirt, a wallety looking thing and perhaps a huge gold belt buckle, or maybe I'm making that last one up.

The questions are:

1. What was the date of the launch of the first PlayStation in the U.S.?
2. What PlayStation launch title 'shot fireworks' into the industry?
3. On what date were plans for PlayStation 3 first shared?
4. Name one team that is playing in the NHL FaceOff section of the U R Not E commercial?
5. What was the name of the first PlayStation title from these developers?

a. Naughty Dog
b. Insomniac
c. Eidetic

6. What is the full name of the female member of Interpol in Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus?
7. What game is this character from?
8. How many power cells and precursor orbs were there to collect in Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy?
9. According to the famed PS9 commercial, PS9's electronic spores do what?
10. What is the weight difference between the original PSP and the recently announced PSP-2000?

Hop on over to their site to read the rules and how to enter.

[Via PS.Blog]

Brütal Legend: Debut Trailer

GameVideos.com is hosting the debut trailer of Tim Schafer's metal game, Brütal Legend. Enjoy.

PLAYSTATION Network: Rat Race Episodes Coming

Super-Ego Games are working on a series of episodic titles coming out for the PLAYSTATION Network about the beloved movie, Rat Race. Greg Easley writes:

Rat Race is a PS3-exclusive comedy/adventure game – yeah, another one of those! – that will be available as individual episodes on PSN beginning this winter. Rat Race has been written and voiced by some really funny people with credits on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, My Name Is Earl, Saturday Night Live, South Park, Flight of the Conchords, Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, Comedy Central, and so on. Our team includes some of the best stand-up comics in New York City, where half of our studio is based (the other half is in San Francisco).

Rat Race is set in an office - an extremely dysfunctional one. The company is called BiggCo, and the people who work there make the Enron guys look like Nobel Prize laureates. Your job is simply to make it through the day as bombs go off all around you. As the clock ticks toward quitting time, you’ll encounter a rogues gallery including: Joy Chung, an impossible, and impossibly hot, PR exec; Chip Bratsby III, a pompous jerk whose career focus is getting you fired; and Dr. Ron Durfman, a research scientist who may or may not be intimate with his lab monkey.

Our goal is to give you the feeling of “playing” inside an episode of your favorite TV show. Sometimes we describe Rat Race as an interactive sitcom, but that doesn’t do it justice. There’s more to the experience than funny dialogue. Along the way you’ll sneak, sprint, solve puzzles, eavesdrop, steal, and even “neutralize” that lab monkey.

Sounds good Greg, I will be sure to get the first episode upon it's release.

[Via PS.Blog]

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus Now Gold, Dated for North America

Released last month in Japan, the English version of Kojima Productions' revamped Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus (PSP) has gone gold and will makes its way to retail on November 13 in North America.

An update to last year's Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, the Plus version will include additional multiplayer maps like an updated Metal Gear REX hangar from the PlayStation original Metal Gear Solid and more playable characters like Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty's (PS2) Raiden or the older mustachioed Snake from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3).

The single player mode will also receive expansions in the form of a Shooting Range, Training Mode, and Infinity Mission--requiring players to go through progressively more difficult challenges. Kojima Productions announced Portable Ops Plus this summer at Sony's PlayStation Premier 2007 event in Japan, but hadn't revealed specific plans for a North American release until now.

[Via ShackNews]

Play Magazine Reviews: The Eye of Judgment & More

The review scores for the latest issue of PLAY Magazine is in, and we have a few PLAYSTATION 3 & PSP reviews. View the scores below.

PLAYSTATION 3

• Bladestorm - 4.5
• Clive Barker's Jericho - 8
• Conan - 7.5
• Eye of Judgement - 9.5
• Guitar Hero III - 9
  
• Need For Speed ProStreet - 6
• Sega Rally Revo - 8.5
• The Simpsons Game - 7.5

PSP

• Final Fantasy Tactics: War of Lions - 9
• Silent Hill Origins - 8.5
• SWAT: Target Liberty - 6.5

[Via GT Forums]

Unreal Tournament III Beta Files Reveal Features

User HelloMe over at the GameTrailers forums was "bored" today and decided to open up some configuration files for the Unreal Tournament III beta. Here is what he found:

[DLC UTUIDataProvider_CommunityMenuItem]
;bRemoveOnPC=1
;bRemoveOn360=0
;bRemoveOnPS3=1

;[EpicContent UTUIDataProvider_CommunityMenuItem]
;bRemoveOnPC=0
;bRemoveOn360=1
;bRemoveOnPS3=0

;[MyContent UTUIDataProvider_CommunityMenuItem]
;bRemoveOnPC=0
;bRemoveOn360=1
;bRemoveOnPS3=0


[Friends UTUIDataProvider_CommunityMenuItem]
bRemoveOnPC=0
bRemoveOn360=0
bRemoveOnPS3=0

[Messages UTUIDataProvider_CommunityMenuItem]
bRemoveOnPC=0
bRemoveOn360=0
bRemoveOnPS3=0

[Leaderboards UTUIDataProvider_CommunityMenuItem]
bRemoveOnPC=0
bRemoveOn360=1
bRemoveOnPS3=1

[DemoPlayback UTUIDataProvider_CommunityMenuItem]
bRemoveOnPC=0
bRemoveOn360=1
bRemoveOnPS3=1

[Achievements UTUIDataProvider_CommunityMenuItem]
bRemoveOnPC=1
bRemoveOn360=0
bRemoveOnPS3=1

[InstallPS3 UTUIDataProvider_SettingsMenuItem]
bRemoveOnPC=1
bRemoveOn360=1
bRemoveOnPS3=0

;[SplitScreen_Common UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
;OptionSet=Common
;DataStoreMarkup=
;bRemoveOnPC=1
;bRemoveOn360=1

;[RecordDemo_Common UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
;OptionSet=Common
;DataStoreMarkup=
;bRemoveOn360=1
;OptionType=UTOT_CollectionCheckBox

;[SplitScreen_DM UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
;OptionSet=DM
;DataStoreMarkup=
;bRemoveOnPC=1
;bRemoveOn360=1

[ControllerVibration UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
OptionSet=Input
DataStoreMarkup=
bRemoveOnPS3=1
bRemoveOnPC=1

[MouseSmoothing UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
OptionSet=Input
+OptionSet=MidGameMenu
DataStoreMarkup=
bRemoveOn360=1
OptionType=UTOT_CollectionCheckBox
bKeyboardOrMouseOption=1

[MouseSensitivityGame UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
OptionSet=Input
+OptionSet=MidGameMenu
DataStoreMarkup=
OptionType=UTOT_Slider
RangeData=(MinValue=1.0,MaxValue=20.0,bIntRange=1,NudgeValue=1.0,CurrentValue=5.0)
bRemoveOn360=1
bKeyboardOrMouseOption=1

;[DodgeDoubleClickTime UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
;OptionSet=Input
;DataStoreMarkup=
;OptionType=UTOT_Slider
;RangeData=(MinValue=20,MaxValue=60,bIntRange=1,NudgeValue=5,CurrentValue=25)
;bRemoveOn360=1
;bRemoveOnPS3=1

[TiltSensing UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
OptionSet=Input
DataStoreMarkup=
bRemoveOnPC=1
bRemoveOn360=1

[ClanTag UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
OptionSet=Network
DataStoreMarkup=
OptionType=UTOT_EditBox
EditboxMaxLength=10
bRemoveOnPS3=1

;[SplitScreen_Client UTUIDataProvider_MenuOption]
;OptionSet=Client
;DataStoreMarkup=
;bRemoveOnPC=1
;bRemoveOn360=1

He broke it down into his own meaning from his code translation, which makes sense pretty much. The features for each system, not final of course:

Xbox 360 Version

• Downloadable Content
• Friends
• Messages
• Achievements
• Rumble Support
• Clan Tag?
  

PC Version

• "Epic Content"
• My Content
• Friends
• Messages
• Leaderboards
• Demo Playback
• Record Demo?
• Mouse Support
• Dodging
• Clan Tag
  

PLAYSTATION 3 Version:

• "Epic content"
• My content
• Friends
• Messages
• Install
• Splitscreen Instant Action
• Splitscreen Online
• Record Demo?
• Mouse support
• Tilt support

Like I said, there are probably features missing for every console as of now, so expect more than you see.

[Via GameTrailers Forums]

Capcom: Fortelling Their Plot

On the official Capcom BBS, Sven made yet another post telling of their announcing future:

"You saw one announcement today at Gamespot.

You will see another announcement at the countdown timer on Wednesday.

You'll see a slew of other announcements/updates after the media embargo lifts on Thursday/Friday or so."

So, tomorrow, we get to see another big announcement, and Thursday and Friday we get to see even more.

[Via Capcom BBS]

Assassin's Creed: PLAYSTATION 3 Skin

Starting November 1, 2007, GameStop is offering a new Assassin's Creed PLAYSTATION 3 skin for your console. You just put it on and you can say "I have Assassin's Creed on the PLAYSTATION 3". Sure, you don't own the game, but technically your sayings are true.

[Buy: Assassin's Creed PS3 Skin]

Assassin's Creed: Animations Interview HD

The Project Manager for the game's animation discusses bringing the world of Assassin's Creed to life.

[Via GameTrailers]

Need for Speed ProStreet: Customization Featurette HD

Learn all there is to know about customizing the ultimate racing machine of your dreams.

[Via GameTrailers]

PSW UK : Killzone 2 Co-Op and Home Intergration

The latest issue of PSW UK has an exclusive on KILLZONE 2 2 net play, and states it will definitely have an online co-op mode.

As for other multiplayer options, HOME is going to be utilised as well as KILLZONE.com, bringing in advanced clan features, for example you will be able to meet up with your comrades in home to check out your rankings, talk tactics. It also says to expects online leaderboards, and user created content (editing best kill footage, and creating camouflage) possibly create clan tattoos.

[Via GameCovered]

Pro Evolution PLAYSTATION 3 Limited by Time Constraints

Pro Evolution Soccer creator Shingo 'Seabass' Takatsuka has told CVG that so far he's only explored the tip of the iceberg regards the possibilities for the series on PS3.

"Well I'm satisfied in that in the time frame we had, we were able to finish the code and release it on time, but that's only really within that time frame", he told us in a recent interview when talking about the debut of PES on PS3 with the 2008 edition.

"When I look at the capacity of what the PS3 can do, I feel very strongly that there's loads of things that I wanted to do, but I couldn't do them in this version."

Speaking generally about the future of Pro Evo, Seabass explained he wants to change the mentality of the development team to be renewed and changed to focus on all next-gen platforms.

"We've already started operations on this", he said.

[Via CVG]

Conan: Preview Video

Unleash the fury of the barbaric Conan in this next-gen game based on Robert E. Howard's original vision. Enjoy.

[Via GameTrailers]

Call of Duty 4: PC vs. Consoles Interview

Is the PC version different than the console versions? Find out in our interview with the head of Infinity Ward. Enjoy the comparison.

[Via GameTrailers]

Guital Hero III: Three New Videos

The Metal will live on, and Tenacious D is here to celebrate it, in the video above. Canadian band Priestess brings their hard rocking beats to Guitar Hero III in the first video below! The Scorpions classic gets its playtime with the newest edition of Guitar Hero in the second video below.





[Via GameTrailers]

Bethesda: Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition Released

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition has just been released to stores today by Bethesda Softworks. Included in this Game of the Year Edition box is every Oblivion expansion released.

Oblivion features a powerful combination of free-form gameplay, unprecedented graphics, cutting edge AI, character voices by acting legends Patrick Stewart, Sean Bean, Terrance Stamp, and Lynda Carter, and an award-winning soundtrack. Gamers can choose to unravel Oblivion's epic narrative at their own pace or explore the vast world in search of their own unique challenges.

If your a big Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion fan, then stop by your local game store today and pick it up. Tell us how it is.

Sony Talks PLAYSTATION 3 Update

A Sony executive has left PS3 fans all a-quiver after promising to release a firmware update "soon" that will improve the console’s support for Blu-ray Disc interactivity features.

Don Eklund, VP of advanced technologies at Sony, reportedly made the promise at the recent HDTV DisplaySearch conference in California. Unfortunately, he didn’t say anything more specific about the release, leaving PS3 buffs to speculate about what new interactive features Sony might introduce to the console.

The Blu-ray Disc Association has already mandated that all Blu-ray players launched after 31 October must feature picture-in-picture video playback, so Sony could be prepping things to make sure any PS3s sold after that date are compliant.

Any Sony update will follow hot on the heels of an interactivity features update for HD DVDs, announced recently by Universal. Its release consisted mainly of online shopping features, such as merchandise or trailer downloads, and a function allowing users to share their favourite movie clips with friends directly from their player.

[Via RegHardware]

PLAYSTATION 3 Sales Jump 178 Percent

PLAYSTATION 3 hardware sales jumped 178 per cent last week with the introduction of two new SKUs, helping the system record its third highest week since launch in the UK.

Data supplied to GamesIndustry.biz reveals that although Sony's console enjoyed a considerable sales boost, Nintendo's DS was still the best-selling hardware system in the UK, followed by the Wii and then the PS3, with the Xbox 360 behind its home console rival.

Two new PS3 models were introduced to market last Wednesday. A 40GB model with less functions has gone on sale for GBP 299, and the 60GB model has been reduced to GBP 349, bundled with two free first-party games.

PS3 software has also enjoyed a resurgence, with Resistance: Fall of Man climbing the all-formats charts from 22 to eight, Heavenly Sword re-entering the top 40 at number 14, MotorStorm moving from 22 to 18, and Formula 1: Championship Edition also back in the official charts at number 24.

[Via GamesIndustry]

Need for Speed ProStreet's Speed Challenge Video

As you've probably heard in this Need For Speed ProStreet video interview, Speed Challenge isn't about pushing the pedal to the floor and having your car's engine belt out noises like a banshee. It's also not about driving with more attitude than everyone else on the track. It's about maintaining your concentration in popular freeways for 20 miles at a time, all the while keeping up a steady dial on the speedometer.

One false move in Need For Speed ProStreet's Speed Challenge could mean the difference between a record speed and an outright disaster. The damage system in Need For Speed ProStreet is touted by EA as one of the most accurate in the business, so that should mean you'll be crawling at turtle pace after a bad crash. Keep it with QJ for more updates.

[Via QJ.Net]