Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Call of Duty 4 Variety Map Pack Coming to PLAYSTATION Network On April 24th

Infinity Ward has confirmed today that the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Variety Map Pack will be hitting the North American PlayStation Store on April 24, 2008. Europe will be receiving it a week later on May 1, 2008.

Details for the Double XP event on the PlayStation Network were also released by Robert Bowling. "Double XP weekend for North America from 12:01 AM PDT on Friday, April 25 to 11:59 PM PDT on Sunday, April 27. North American players will be able to play the new maps against members of the Infinity Ward team on Friday, April 25 from 5 PM to 8 PM PDT." A European Double XP weekend will also take place.

[PS3 Variety Map Pack Double XP Weekend Extravaganza] [GamingBits]

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue on PlayStation Network at 12AM EST

Yes folks, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will be racing to the PlayStation Network tonight at 12:00 AM Eastern time. The game will cost the same $39.99 that it does in retail stores (so if you want the box, go to the store). The game comes with 70 cars, a drift mode, interior dash view, and online racing with up to 16 players. It may be a demo, but it is a damn good one.

[Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Available Tonight on PLAYSTATION Store] [Kombo]

Update 12:00 AM: It Should now be live.

PlayStation Network: Get With the Community

Okay, so we have a "super sexy super awesome super chocolaty fudge coated mega" PlayStation Store redesign now. Once those slow images are fixed, it will be almost perfect (besides the lack of a text scroll through functionality, or at least a way to see the titles without having to hover over the images, maybe it is just me).

Head over to Xbox Live for a second (yes, we are comparing), and you'll see plenty of community content from the likes of GameTrailers TV, Major League Gaming, and more. Every night, when an episode of GameTrailers TV airs, it will soon go live on Xbox Live and available for download. How great would that be for the PlayStation Network as well? Not just GameTrailers TV, but other things such as G4 Community Content, bring in fan site community content (maybe onAXIS will do) as well. As long as it is from the community, it will help create an even bigger one.

Feel free to share your comments.

Unreal Tournament III 2D Mod Is Mario With Guns


What 2D Game do we know and love that features an Italian plumber that involves finding the flag at the end? We all know what I'm talking about. A new modification for Unreal Tournament III makes the game just that, a 2D version of it. Take a look at the video above, and hit the link for the mod download.

[Game Type - UT2D]

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Features First 135 Episode Story, God of War Bosses, DLC

A new preview from IGN at Namco Editors' Day 2008 revealed that Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm will feature a primary story mode loosely covering the events of the first 135 episodes of the anime. The story mode will feature bosses as well. The boss seen in the demo by IGN was Gaara, a huge sand beast. They describe the battle as a battle "similar to God of War". We may be looking at an epic game for the PlayStation 3.

Regarding online play, unfortunately it will not be incorporated. "Unfortunately, we don't have any individual online matchmaking modes for the game, but we will be planning downloadable content that will hopefully compensate for the lack of that feature. We'll make sure we have something interesting for the downloadable content, don't worry." We won't worry one bit.

[Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Preview]

Namco Editors' Day 08: Afro Samurai Gameplay Footage


Today must be the day of new gameplay footage and videos because thats all we seem to be getting. Today at the Namco Editors' Day 2008, they showed off Afro Samurai for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game has a great music track as you can see by the trailer, and it really gives me a Huey-Boondocks feel. Enjoy!

The Wheelman: New Trailer


Midway Games has released a new trailer for their upcoming Vin Diesel title, The Wheelman, today. The new trailer shows some car crashing, and some shooting towards the end. The graphics really look impressive, especially the damage on the car. Enjoy!

NCAA 09: Debut Trailers


Electronic Arts has debuted NCAA 09 with the first two trailers. The trailers show some gameplay along with a bit of the online demonstration and such. This year may be the year Electronic Arts makes a sports game right on the PlayStation 3, and this one is looking good.

New Monster Madness Trailer Looks Incredibly Fun


This new trailer SouthPeak has released for Monster Madness: Grave Danger makes the game look incredibly fun. I've never played the original on the Xbox 360, so I don't know how it was the first time around, but what I'm watching above looks like something I can play with a few people. Where is the phone? "Oh hey Danny, want to play Monster Madness?"

Grand Theft Auto IV: 5 Minute Mandatory Install and SIXAXIS Controls

According to Skip, a NeoGAF Member and a 1UP Editor, the PlayStation 3 version of Grand Theft Auto IV will have a five-minute mandatory install and will feature optional SIXAXIS controls as well. The SIXAXIS controls include flying, car driving, and such. He also stated that their really is no difference between the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, but the Rockstar employee said that they "think" the PlayStation 3 version looks slightly better.

[NeoGAF] [Image]

Realtime Worlds Seriously Considering APB for the PlayStation 3

Crackdown developer, Realtime Worlds, has already announced their upcoming Grand Theft Auto-like MMO, APB (All Points Bulletin) for the PC and Xbox 360. However, Studio Manager Colin MacDonald said they are seriously considering the PlayStation 3 for the game as well.

"Yes, we'll be looking seriously at [APB on PS3], but that doesn't mean it's going ahead, and it doesn't mean it's not going ahead."
Go on Realtime Worlds, you know you want to.

[Realtime Worlds coy on APB for the PS3]

Metal Gear Solid 4: Three New (Small) Screenshots


Here we have three small new screenshots of Konami's upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PlayStation 3. The screens do not show much, but it does seem to show that many (or all) of the surrounding buildings are accessible in the game.

[3 new Metal Gear Solid 4 Screenshots]

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Site Launches, New Screenshots

The Official Website for Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm for the PlayStation 3 has launched today. The site requires a password to get in, however. Don't worry, we have you covered. The password is Tiger-Tiger-Dragon. The new site shows us what we've seen already until you look at the screenshots (like the one to the left), there are a lot of new, amazing ones we have not seen. Yes, that is a screenshot.

[NARUTO: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM]

The Official PlayStation Magazine Insider Whispers for May 2008

The latest issue of The Official PlayStation Magazine UK has released today, featuring that Grand Theft Auto IV review (10/10 baby). Lets look at the smaller things now, the 'Insider Whispers'.

- Bite-sized episodic gaming will be hitting the PlayStation Store “before the end of the year”. I guess that means Rat Race.
- Heavenly Sword 2 will feature a male lead and will take place ten years after the original (as long as Kai is still involved and we are still able to play ‘twing-twang’).
- In-Game XMB should be arriving in the summer.
- Ready at Dawn, the now expert PSP developer, is now working on a PlayStation 3 title.
- “The bizarre Linger In Shadows, complete with flying dogs and deadly black smoke, will be a PSN download”

I'd much want in-game XMB before summer, but I guess they are doing what they can.

[Heavenly Sword 2, XMB and more rumours from the Official Magazine]

Official PlayStation Magazine UK Reviews Grand Theft Auto IV 10/10

Yes, as if it wasn't obvious, Grand Theft Auto IV has received another perfect score, this one coming from the Official PlayStation Magazine UK. The review contained new information in which of course we have for you here.

  • Leave Niko standing there and he'll scratch his balls.
  • Groups include the Irish hoodlums, the depressed ex-cons and a paranoid lesbian coke dealer.
  • One car is called the Corquette.
  • Two of the girlfriends are called Carmen and Katie.
  • While dating Press Circle to try your luck or X to say goodnight.
  • You can hijack a van transporter carrying a convict.
  • Press L1 to order order a dog about.
  • Hidden Packages and Stunt Jumps are back.
  • Your Mobile phone starts out with a standard pay as you go model but you can upgrade to fancier models with more features.
  • The vibrate function in the PS3 version can be felt when the mobile phone rings.
  • You have Frank McReary and Patrick "Packie" McReary and now there is Gerry McReary he is an ex IRA member.
  • You can call 911 on your mobile phone to get the police to check the crime database.
  • One of the missions is called "Three Leaf Clover".
  • The phone also lets you jump back into failed missions just by clicking 'Yes'.
  • After killing one of Niko's bosses you can ring his number and you hear an answer machine message from his grieving wife.
  • You can unlock your friends uniques perks by finding out what they like to eat and drink.
  • A new location is called the Pink Triangle Gentlemen's Club.
We also have scans for you to view, which you can download here or you can view hosted scans here.

[GTAGaming]

Metal Gear Online Beta Now Available for Download

For those of you who pre-ordered Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and received your Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2 DVDs, then grab your Metal Gear Online beta code and head to the PlayStation Store. All you need to do is redeem the code and download. You can download the game now, but it will not be playable until April 21, 2008, sadly. Only a few more days.

[MGO Beta AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD]

Siren: New Translation Announced for PlayStation 3


Famitsu, you always have to spoil the surprises. Remember that countdown from yesterday we were suspecting to be a new Siren? Well today Famitsu today revealed Siren: New Translation for PlayStation 3, so we are pretty damn sure of it now. Siren: Translation is a remake of the first Siren game, and is currently 90% complete. The game is releasing in Japan on July 24, 2008 with a demo coming to the Japanese PlayStation Store eon April 24, 2008. Now what about a US release?

[Famitsu: Siren - New Translation announced]