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    First Guitar Hero: Van Halen trailer released, leaves us wanting for more

    August 9, 2009 - 6:30pm

    Though Guitar Hero spin-off games have already set a precedent for low expectations in terms of playable songs, Guitar Hero: Van Halen will be arriving at retail with only 48 songs available to play (three of which are guitar solos, mind you). We think it's fair to be disappointed, as the $60 Activision is likely charging only nets you 25 Van Halen songs to try your best and keep up with. Sure, yes, we do want to play "Panama." And yes, fine, we would be all for jumping around to "Hot for Teacher." But as this thing stands (and as the trailer dictates above) we will absolutely be rocking out with some of the "biggest hits" from "one of the most legendary bands of all time" -- it's just going to be The Beatles instead.Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Mario used in original Punch-Out without Miyamoto's permission

    August 9, 2009 - 5:30pm


    For fans of the NES' flagship pugilism sim Punch-Out!!!, the latest edition of Iwata Asks is chock-full of tidbits about the game that you probably didn't know. For instance, Nintendo Entertainment and Analysis Division's Makoto Wada reveals a long-hidden secret that makes fights against Bald Bull go much easier. Also, Glass Joe? He's got osteoporosis. Yeah, you should feel bad. Poor guy.However, the most entertaining unearthed secret is the fact that Shigeru Miyamoto never signed off on the use of Mario as the game's mustachioed referree. In Miyamoto's own words, "we didn't have an approval system when using Mario images back then and it went right past my check." The interview transcript adds that he laughed after saying this, but we imagine at least one stink-eye was shot across the table.[Via GameSetWatch]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Square Enix 'considering' Dragon Quest IX localization sometime after April

    August 9, 2009 - 4:30pm

    Having sold well over three million copies of Dragon Quest IX in Japan, isn't it the obvious choice for Square Enix to bring the hit RPG worldwide as soon as possible? Well, maaaaaaybe.In an investor Q&A session, president Yoichi Wada said that the company is "considering" releasing DQIX overseas, according to Siliconera's translation, and still deciding which regions will receive it. And when Square Enix does get around to it, the company doesn't plan to release it anywhere until after April 2010, the start of the company's next fiscal year.The Dragon Quest series, obviously, isn't as major anywhere else as it is in Japan, but Dragon Quest VIII sold around half a million copies in North America, which seems, at least ... worth the trouble.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Swag Saturday: Picross and CrossworDS (DS) [update]

    August 8, 2009 - 9:00pm


    Update: Comments have been closed and winners will be contacted tomorrow (or, ya know, pretty soon). Thanks for playing, every one! Check those inboxes and please by all means join us next week.Interested in using your Nintendo DS for a ton of puzzle solving this summer? We'll bet you are, you little puzzle solver, you! That's why we're offering up a duo of puzzle games this weekend for Swag Saturday with Picross DS and CrossworDS. We're not so much for the crossword puzzles, but we do love a good handheld puzzle game (we're looking at you, Planet Puzzle League), and so we're hoping you could suggest your favorite overlooked handheld puzzle game, dearest reader. You'll have 24 hours to tell us in the comments section after the break so get rambling, ramblers!

    • Leave a comment with your favorite overlooked handheld puzzle game. (That means it can be on DS or GameBoy or PSP or the iPhone, etc. -- any handheld!)
    • You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada, excluding Quebec. (Kisses, citizens of Québec!!)
    • Limit 1 entry per person.
    • This entry period ends at 8:01 pm ET on Sunday, August 9. We'll randomly select two winners at that time to receive: one copy of either Picross DS (ARV $11.50) or CrossworDS (ARV $19.99) (first to answer email gets to choose).

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    GameStop prices DJ Hero: Renegade Edition at $200

    August 8, 2009 - 7:00pm


    If you're looking to drop a few extra presidential flash cards in order to ensure that your DJ Hero experience is as fulfilling as possible, GameStop's got you covered -- the retailer recently priced the rhythm title's limited "Renegade Edition" at $199.99. That's a bit of a markup from the standard version's $119.99 price tag, but big enough fans of Jay-Z, Eminem, high quality turntable peripherals and collapsible stands for said controllers may be willing to part with the extra bones.
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    Guitar Hero 5 allows song imports from previous games, features playable Johnny Cash

    August 8, 2009 - 12:00pm


    We've been blown away by the effort Activision and Neversoft have put into making Guitar Hero 5 actually worth playing -- but their most recent move may be their wisest yet. A recent IGN preview of the title revealed the game will allow players to import "some" of the tracks from World Tour and Smash Hits into GH5 (and Band Hero) for a small fee. In addition, 125 of World Tour's 128 DLC tracks will automatically work in the two upcoming rhythm titles. Of all the features to borrow from Rock Band 2, the removal of bothersome disc-swapping is one of the best.For those who aren't particularly thrilled by this piece of news, try this one on for size: Johnny Cash will be a playable character in Guitar Hero 5. There's a video of the black-suited man performing "Ring of Fire" after the jump. We suggest checking it out -- but only if you like things that are completely badass.

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    Silent Hill My Little Ponies are adorable, disturbing

    August 8, 2009 - 12:30am


    When one conjures up thoughts of Silent Hill, rarely do such thoughts wander in the direction of My Little Pony. That is, unless you're clickclackcat, an enterprising eBay member who readily connected the two incredibly disparate franchises. Currently up for auction are the gruesomely darling ponies seen above, one in the likeness of Pyramid Head, and another made to resemble a member of Alchemilla Hospital's famed nursing staff.If you have eccentric tastes (or a particularly macabre little girl), feel free to place a bid.[Via Hawty McBloggy]Source - eBay: My Little Pony Silent Hill Custom: Zombie NurseSource - eBay: My Little Pony Silent Hill Custom: Pyramid HeadPermalink | Email this | Comments

    Can't buy you this new The Beatles: Rock Band trailer

    August 7, 2009 - 11:30pm

    Because it's free! Above, you'll find a trailer showing off "Ticket to Ride" in The Beatles: Rock Band. If you're wondering where all of the notes and, uh, gameplay is, The Joystiq Hall of Science[TM] saw fit to remove them so you wouldn't be distracted from those dashing fellows creating these tunes. Actually, we don't know why it's missing all of the notes and stuff, but, really, isn't our reason much better?[Thanks, Young_Nastyman!]Permalink | Email this | Comments

    How to bear arms in FFCC: The Crystal Bearers

    August 7, 2009 - 7:15pm

    The central mechanic in Square Enix's Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers is Layle's telekinetic ability to pick up objects (and people!) and toss them around. These videos from the Japanese Crystal Bearers website demonstrate that Layle can use this ability to do some pretty sophisticated stuff, thanks to the behavior of the things he picks up! For example, in the video above, picking up this archer guy makes him start firing his weapon uncontrollably, for some reason. Layle can then aim his arrows at enemies! After the break, see him using a Cactuar in much the same way. In two other videos, he grabs surfaces with his ability like he's using a mental grappling hook, and, uh, throws gold into a Malboro's mouth to make coins come out. It's a mysterious power.[Via Siliconera]

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    Shadow Tower: Hudson's beautiful Wii platformer officially revealed

    August 7, 2009 - 6:15pm

    Hudson has opened the official site for its lovely new platformer, Shadow Tower, affording us the opportunity to see more than one screen, and without the glare from a camera flash! Which is good because the game is so pretty. That is, except for the giant UI in the top-left corner. Why does this game need a big display like that? More screens at Famitsu show that it gets even bigger. We may have to wait for the trailer to figure out what's going on with that crazy display. In the meantime, we're just going to look at the rest of the screen, with all the ruins on lush green landscapes, and the giant industrial structures. Famitsu says there is currently no price or release date given for Shadow Tower.
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