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    Rumor: DSi-only games coming this fall

    August 31, 2009 - 11:00pm

    Some DSi-enhanced games are out or on the way soon, mostly from Ubisoft. But nothing yet, aside from DSiWare, that requires the latest version of Nintendo's handheld, despite an announcement at GDC that such games would be on the way.According to a "retail source" who spoke to Kotaku, the first DSi-exclusive games will be out sometime this fall, which seems rather abrupt, since those games would have to be announced and then released in just a couple of months. Kotaku says that both the cases and the actual cartridges for DSi games will be white, to distinguish them from normal DS software.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Check out more of Muramasa's lovely gameplay in this new trailer

    August 31, 2009 - 11:00pm

    Muramasa: The Demon Blade's US release is so anticipated around Joystiq HQ, our staff can constantly be spotted exchanging fist-pumps whenever it's mentioned. Today, a new gameplay trailer has found its way online, showcasing more of the game's beautiful action. Hopefully, when it hits stores Stateside on September 8, it will live up to our lofty expectations. If not, the only arm movement we'll be making is when we throw elbows during our daily "abuse the intern" training exercises.Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Rumor: Rock Band 2 will import LEGO Rock Band tracks

    August 31, 2009 - 10:00pm


    Wired's GameLife cites a "highly-placed source close to Harmonix" as informing the site that Rock Band 2 owners will be able to rip tracks from the LEGO Rock Band game disc, just as they were able to do with songs from the original Rock Band. The source also notes that a "small fee" will probably be involved -- again, just as with Rock Band to Rock Band 2 song importing. ($5, in case you forgot.)

    Along with this rumored feature, the site has posted a list of upcoming DLC, including 10 tracks from Queen and three from The Raconteurs due in October. Three songs from The White Stripes are listed for November release. Undisclosed material from Attack! Attack! and The Duke Spirit appears as undated Rock Band Network content.When contacted for comment, Harmonix told Joystiq, "While we don't comment on rumors or speculation with regards to our upcoming downloadable content, we can promise that the Rock Band platform is poised to remain the unchallenged best value and source of music for rhythm games."This supposed "leak" is very conveniently timed, given that Guitar Hero 5 releases tomorrow. Doncha' think?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    This Week on the Nintendo Channel: A director and his boy and his blob

    August 31, 2009 - 10:00pm

    This week, WayForward's Sean Velasco offers Nintendo Channel viewers a look at the delightful-looking A Boy and His Blob, describing the colorful sidescrolling adventure as "a sincere game in a cynical time." We suppose that the level of interest the game inspires could be related to your own cynicism. In short, if the look of this game does nothing for you, you're either too cynical or you've spent too much time playing the NES game.FInd the video, as well as the list of DS demos and other new videos, after the break.[Via GoNintendo]

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    Ubisoft talks online in new TMNT: Smash Up dev diary

    August 31, 2009 - 9:00pm

    In the latest dev diary for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash Up, the publishing team at Ubisoft discusses the importance of an online mode and what gamers can expect from its new "brawler." We say "brawler" because -- according to the video -- there is a major distinction between a standard fighting title and TMNT: Smash Up.In Smash Up, up to four players can square off, "brawling" in massive free-for-all matches. If the Smash Bros-style of fighting is too hot for you to handle, players can also square off in two-on-two, or (standard fighting game) one-on-one matches. Developed by Game Arts -- a team made up of a slew of former Team Ninja veterans -- TMNT: Smash Up appears to be in good hands. Hands which you can then use to punch your opponent in the face with.
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    Sony and Nintendo increasing effort in fight against piracy

    August 31, 2009 - 8:59pm


    Though Nintendo already has a pretty solid system in place for combating piracy -- the persistent threat that Reggie Fils-Aime will crush any software buccaneers between his mighty jaws -- the company recently increased its piracy-preventing ranks. Neil Boyd was recently appointed European anti-piracy counsel for the company. Boyd, along with a pair of Nintendo's legal advisors, will "take action against criminals who are making money out of the infringement of games developers' copyright," according to Nintendo anti-piracy director Jodi Daugherty.

    Sony's also increasing its piracy prevention efforts, albeit through more technological means. The PSP Go will contain a non-removable internal battery, which keeps would-be hackers from implementing the popular, homebrew-enabled Pandora battery. Also, we hear the PSP Go's boot-up screen displays a pouty, doe-eyed Jack Tretton that's said to strike crippling pangs of guilt into anyone who tries to conduct dubious dealings on the handheld. Consider PSPiracy beaten, friends.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Metroid Prime Trilogy 'damn'-ed by silly censorship

    August 31, 2009 - 8:00pm


    Remember that scene in Legend of Zelda where Link eats Ganondorf's heart to silence the demons haunting the young Hylian about his brutal childhood? No, of course not, that was censored. What about the scene in Pikmin portraying the plant society as being built around fascist ideals and Olimar becoming their goose-stepping overlord? No, 'cause the was censored too. Both of these instances make sense when compared to the removal of the word "damn" from the Metroid Prime Trilogy.

    In the video after the break, which appears to be authentic, an innocent "damn" found in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was altered to a "no." We'll be gosh darned if that ain't the most golly gee willikers silly-faced thing we'd ever done seen. We're following up with Nintendo and Retro Studios to find out the reason for the change.

    [Via Go Nintendo]

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    Dead Space: Extraction guest stars in recent episode of True Blood

    August 31, 2009 - 7:00pm


    HBO's True Blood houses an all-star cast, one of which consistently tops the sales charts throughout the gaming world -- of course, we're referring to the Nintendo Wii. The home console has made multiple appearances in the show, from the main character showcasing his golf skills to its most recent cameo -- showing off the upcoming shooter, Dead Space: Extraction.In last night's week's season 2 episode, "New World In My View," Hoyt Fortenberry's aggressive mother waggles her way through a slew of Extraction enemies. While the game won't hit store shelves until September 29, the popular adult drama looks like as good a place as any to get the game's marketing machine rolling. Check out the clip after the break. Warning: The language is NSFW.[Via Video Games Blogger]

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    Sakura Note trailer elicits tears of nostalgia

    August 31, 2009 - 6:00pm

    The trailer for Audio Inc.'s new DS game Sakura Note leans heavily on the "nostalgia" angle, showing images of Japanese kids on summer vacation, running around town to the sounds of cicadas and a somber Nobuo Uematsu piece. Even the gameplay description, which refers to "simple action buttons," is a callback to the Famicom era.The in-game footage, with its combination of lush, hand-drawn backgrounds and pixelated sprites, makes us nostalgic -- for Audio's last game, Contact. This is the first real look we've had at the new game, and we're glad to see it's as lovely as the artwork.As for the gameplay itself, it features segments in which you control a cat or a dog, and includes some mechanic involving collecting a boss's tears.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    EA's Hilleman expects console growth to be iterative

    August 31, 2009 - 5:59pm


    From the dudes being shot in line to the comically large taxis, everybody loves the excitement of a new console launch. But Rich Hilleman, the chief creative officer of EA, says you shouldn't expect similar events in the immediate future. Speaking at the Hot Chips conference in Stanford (via VentureBeat), Hilleman predicted that the current economic climate would better foster smaller updates to existing gaming systems, especially in the face of growth in digital distribution. "I expected we'll see a PlayStation 3.5 before we see a PlayStation 4 and an Xbox 560 before we see an Xbox 720," he said. "The biggest shift is how fast packaged goods games are changing and going away." Hilleman also added that gaming's future has more to do with Korea than Japan. Isn't it nice that EA and Blizzard can agree on something?
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