onAXIS Closed Till Sunday Night, Once More

Alright guys, something just sort of happened. My kid brother, on a vacation with his dad in the Poconos, kind of just got bit in the ass by a dog. This is not even a joke, as funny as it may sound. It's happened to him once before (I guess dogs just like his ass). This time, however, he needs stitches, and he wants me to go up there and hang-out with him this weekend, and if I say no, then what kind of brother am I? So I'm heading up there in about an hour or so, and I won't be back till Sunday night. Once we open the new site (soon, I promise), we won't have to halt the posting of news and such when these things happen. The site will resume news on Sunday night, for now, use the comments as a forum to post your own news. Damn, I need a wireless broadband laptop or something.

By the way, I'm not sure if there is a computer up there or not, I'm assuming no. If anything, I'll update you when I get there. If there is no update, that means no computer.

Update 4/20/08 8:27PM: If you haven't noticed by now, I'm back. My brother's ass is fine as well, so no need to worry about that. Thanks for your concerns.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Interview with GamesRadar

A new interview GamesRadar had with Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm game director, Hiroshi Matsuyama, reveals some more on the title. Lets get to it.

The camera in the game moves according to the real time animation so that the character is always on the screen. The buttons are the same as the other Ultimate Ninja games, meaning Circle is attack, X is jump, Square is to throw long-range attacks, and triangle for Chakra.

Naruto's special move in the game is the Clone Jutsu, but you will be able to unlock and customize other types of moves.You will be able to summon Sasuke and Sakura to the field to help you out in the game.

Basically everybody within the lineup in the anime (including bosses), will be planned in the game, up to episode 135. Meaning a lot of boss fights.

Once again he reconfirms there will be no online at this time, but there will be downloadable content for the game.

[Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Interview]

This Is Vegas: Seven New Screenshots

Midway Games has released seven new screenshots of their upcoming open-world action title, This Is Vegas. The game is an open world, lifestyle action experience, where players will live out their Vegas fantasies by fighting, gambling, racing and partying their way through the most fast-paced and wildest city in the world. Enjoy the new screenshots!

Quake Wars: Large Installation, Bad Graphics, and More

Sigh. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars will be coming out on May 27, 2008 for consoles with two separate companies working on the console port.

Nerve Software, developing the Xbox 360 version of the game, made sure the game features smooth graphics along with a robust achievement system and great gameplay. It will also feature an Offline Campaign Mode and Training Mode exclusive to the Xbox 360.

Underground Development, developers of the PlayStation 3 version, on the other hand, "was focusing in on other things like ... making the game look as good as it could on the PS3" and "creating systems that do what Xbox Live [already] does like matchmaking [and] server migration." Unfortunately, the "near complete" PlayStation 3 port will feature a 4.1GB mandatory installation and severely bad graphics. It is assumed to be one of the worst PlayStation 3 games (graphic wise).

I pretty much think this has got to be some kind of joke. I'm sick and tired of developers gimping the PlayStation 3. The PlayStation 3 version should not need an installation and should not look worse. It is such an advanced system, and should be able to handle more than what the Xbox 360 can, or at least up to par. It's really getting annoying. There goes a game off my "To-Buy" list.

[Enemy Territory: Quake Wars Hands-On] [JoyStiq]

Midway Reveals Blitz: The League 2

At Midway's press event yesterday, they announced Blitz: The League 2 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The consoles aren't really confirmed, but thats what the game is likely to come to. They released this concept art showing the game logo and a sentence at the bottom right saying "Season Begins Fall 2008". Expect that as a release.

[Midway Announces Blitz: The League 2]

Siren: New Translation Famitsu Online Preview

Well, the official website is live, the first trailer has been released, and now the first preview of Siren: New Translation as well. According to the preview, the action in the game has increased greatly. The game's story is comprised of 12 episodes, as if it were some television drama. Thats really all we can understand from the Google translation. Expect to see a demo on the Japanese PlayStation Store April 24, 2008. Head to the link for more screens.

[Famitsu Preview & Screens]

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm: Hitoshi Matsuyama Interview

At Namco Bandai Editors' Day 2008, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm game director Hitoshi Matsuyama explains why the game for the PlayStation 3 will be it's own anime genre. The game will feature a Battle Mode and Mission Mode. The core concept of the Battle Mode is one on one fighting, no online mode however. They are going to include downloadable content though. The Mission Mode (single-player) reenacts episodes 1-135. It will probably be open world (our thoughts). He also mentions the game will be released in the United States first, before any other country.The game is going to release in October 2008 and a demo should arrive in the Summer.

[Thanks andersonk2!]

Our DualShock 3 Arrives Today

Sony Computer Entertainment was generous enough to toss us a DualShock 3 remote along with a DualShock 2. We have no idea why they would send a DualShock 2 along with the 3, however. Possibly for comparison?

Either way, expect to see some impressions up soon. I can already feel my hands shaking.

Microsoft Slams PlayStation 3 Grand Theft Auto IV 5-Minute Install Time

A new e-mail from the Microsoft PR group has slammed the PlayStation 3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV for the five-minute install time.

With the OXM review hitting streets today, and your own preview impressions which are looking great, hopefully you’ll all be a bit wiser as to the ins and outs of Grand Theft Auto IV now.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the chatter from the 1UP GTA IV Preview on the PS3 install time….just a few thoughts on what you could do in this time if you were actually playing the 360 version from the moment you insert the disc….

· Steal your first dozen or so cars and test out the improved vehicle handling?

· Check out the cool features on your mobile phone?

· Rack up a 5 Star Wanted Rating?

· Have a blast of your first MP game on Xbox LIVE?

· Ditch the tracksuit chic and buy some new clothes?

· Unlock your first GTA IV Achievement and boost your Gamerscore?

….Or just start downloading a film from Xbox LIVE Video Store to watch later – check out the latest batch of arrivals this weekend!

You know, as much as I'd hate to admit, I agree with Microsoft on this one. You could be doing all these things in them five minutes. Only thing is, I don't mind the install time, I mind the space token up on my hard-drive. It must suck for 40GB owners.

[Microsoft slams GTA IV PS3 install time in PR mail]

SCEE Holding Press Event on May 6, 2008

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will be holding an invite-only media event in London on Tuesday, May 6th 2008. We have no idea where the event will be taking place, but a source did say that "many of your questions will be answered at that event, so keep an eye on the games press the following day."

SCEE will be releasing a number of press releases after the event, and the event itself can be streamed live from the Virtual Press Office. Could we be seeing PlayStation Home, Eight Days, and The Getaway finally?

[NeoGAF] [VG247]

Universal Officially Blu: Announces Plans

Universal Pictures has announced today that they are going Blu with the rest of the group. They announced their Blu-Ray plans including the best show on TV, Heroes, which will be releasing on Blu-Ray in August. Season 1 and 2 will be arriving, but Season 2 is yet to be complete.

In July, Universal will be releasing Hellboy II: The Golden Army, The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Mamma Mia, and The Mummy series on Blu-Ray. They will also be throwing out hits such as Land of the Dead, End of Days, Knocked Up, American Gangster, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Miami Vice, and U-571.

It's going to be a great year to go Blu.

[Universal Details Plans For Blu-ray]

Siren: New Translation: First Trailer

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Studios has released the first trailer of Siren: New Translation today. The new trailer shows off some creepy scenes, and ends with the release date of July 24, 2008. There will be a demo on the PlayStation Store on April 24, however. Enjoy!

Hideo Kojima Unhappy With Metal Gear Solid 4

The latest issue of UK Gaming Magazine, EDGE, contains an interview the Metal Gear series creator, Hideo Kojima. In the interview, he shows us his disappointment with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

"Game-wise, it's pretty close to the original vision: you sneak into the battlefield and can choose whether to do a stealth game or interfere with the battle more directly. But the graphic, side things like motion-blending and the size of the map, totally was not accomplished to my original vision - to my satisfaction."

From what we've seen so far, the graphics are amazing. But you know Kojima, he wants to be a perfectionist.

"When we first showed the game engine at TGS, the staff were really proud and happy. PS3 was a dream machine, y'know, and we were going to work on this and that - and we had so many ideas. But when we actually started developing the game, we realized there were a lot of restrictions and so it turned out how you see it today. The original vision was to go ten steps further, the reality was just one step, which isn't to say we didn't progress."

Seems he wanted to do more than what the PlayStation 3 can handle.

"I remember saying three years ago that we wanted to create something revolutionary, but in reality we couldn't really do that because of the CPU. We're using the Cell engine to its limit., actually. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing the PS3 machine, it's just that we weren't really aware of what the full-spec PS3 offered - we were creating something we couldn't entirely see."

Metal Gear Solid 4 is not revolutionary, straight from Kojima. Personally, he is a bit overreacting, the game looks great from what I've seen.

[Kojima Disappointed With Metal Gear Solid 4]

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Confirmed by Midway

Midway Games today confirmed the rumored "Mortal Kombat 8" to be Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. It is a crossover game between the characters of Mortal Kombat and the characters of DC Comics. All we have now is a promotional image. We will update you when more arrives.

[Mortal Kombat 8 is Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe]

Update: Thanks to GamesRadar, they have the first trailer of the game. Pretty weird if you ask me.