PSP and Me: Gaming Love Gone Too Far

(Please forgive the formatting, blogspot doesn't do a very good job of that.)

PSP and I have always been close, but after Metal Gear Solid was made available as a download 2 weeks ago, our relationship changed. 

It used to be that we would do whatever a guy and their favorite gaming system would do together. Each morning we'd have breakfast and I'd feed her Honey Smacks, her favorite cereal. 

Sometimes we'd take baths together. Not in the Boggs/Andy Dufresne sense, but in a "two friends who need to get clean and like to conserve water" kind of way. She really liked it when I'd read about upcoming titles I could download to her from the PlayStation store. 

But two weeks ago, after what I now call "MGSGate", our relationship took a different turn. I was looking at her in a way that made my wife a little uncomfortable. We started spending a lot more time together. We'd even go on picnics with a bottle of wine and I'd read strategy guides to her. You could cut the tension with a knife.

Then one night, things got out of control. Maybe it was the Natty Light, maybe it was the candles, or maybe it was Michael Jackson's Bad (which was playing in the background), but suddenly we started to reveal feelings that both of us had kept hidden until that day.  

Our forbidden love was doomed from the start, but it all came crashing down the night my wife came home early from her needle point party to find us in bed together. It was a horrible site, UMD drives were scattered everywhere.

Things are different now. Without the PSP around I'm stuck with that loud obnoxious chatterbox Xbox 360, fat ass PS3, and cute but way too young for me Wii.  

I miss my sleek, sexy friend. But I heard that her sister might be in town this October. Don't let my wife know. 

Capcom says FU to 360 and heads straight to PSN

Looks like CAPCOM is taking the initiative that SONY is overlooking right now, with PSX games on the PSN Store. A list has surfaced of titles that are going to be available next week and in the next few weeks. Finally, some kick ass stuff to put onto the PSP so it just doesn't sit there collecting so much dust. Peep the list below!

CAPCOM CLASSICS COLLECTION: REMIXED

Hey PlayStation fans, I’m Ryan, Capcom’s newest Bearer of Good News. Today, I’m here to bring you word of our upcoming PlayStation classics, a library of classic games being brought to you on the PlayStation Network. We’ve sorted through our archives and hand-selected the games that rocked the industry. All of these upcoming classics will be released over the PSN, and will be playable on your PSP.

Coming up first is Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed, available tomorrow. The game is a collection of arcade classics from gaming’s glorious past. Pay homage to the best of the arcades, like Final Fight, Bionic Commando, Street Fighter, and Magic Sword. Prove your old-school dominance with twenty full arcade titles. Check out the full list of included games here.

Later this summer, look forward to Fate/Unlimited Codes. Capcom’s fighting game masters have brought one of Japan’s most popular animes exclusively to the PSN, ready for the new PSPgo. High-flying combos and fast-paced versus action show off the game’s gorgeous 3D graphics, and it’s a fighting-game experience you can’t get anywhere else.

Next, keep your eyes out for more gems from Capcom, being brought directly to the PSN. Check out the full list below, including PSone and UMD Legacy titles, and come back often for more info on individual release timing.

• Capcom Classics Collection Remixed (UMD Legacy)

• Mega Man Powered Up (UMD Legacy)

• Dino Crisis (PlayStation Legacy)

• Power Stone Collection (UMD Legacy)

• Mega Man Maverick Hunter X (UMD Legacy)

• Resident Evil 2 (PlayStation Legacy)

• Darkstalkers (UMD Legacy)

• Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max (UMD Legacy)

• Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PlayStation Legacy)

• Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded (UMD Legacy)

Maloof Money Cup Pack for EA's Skate 2 Is Coming

The largest-pursed event in professional skateboarding is coming to Skate 2. Some screens have surfaced showing off its newest DLC pack, the Maloof Money Cup pack. You will be able to compete against the pro's online and offline on both the 360 and the PS3. Sounds like a good idea to me, but has Skate passed its prime? Well we will see when the pack hits sometime next week. Until then check out some of the screens and read the press release below.

"Skate 2 has been embraced by the gaming and skateboarding community across the globe, making it the perfect stage for the Maloof Money Cup's videogame debut," said Joe Maloof, President of Maloof Companies. "Now players everywhere can experience the world's greatest skateboarding championship and revel in the high-stakes excitement of the competition for themselves."

The Maloof Money Cup Pack hits next week for a mere 240 Microsoft Points, or $3.00 PSN.

Red Faction Guerilla DLC coming in August

According to a recent post on Kotaku, Red Faction Guerilla (the love child of Total Recall and Mercenaries) is getting some DLC in August. 

Selling for 800MS Points ($10), the first of three upcoming DLC packs is Demons of the Badlands, a new single-player story arc that takes gamers outside the boundaries of the main game. There are no details so far on the other two packs.

I love Red Faction Guerilla but with all the games I've been playing, I'm only about a quarter way through it. Looks like I'm going to have to wrap up my single player campaign pretty quick.  

PSN Game of the Week - The Punisher: No Mercy

Press Release: The Punisher is set to unleash his vengeance on PlayStation®Network!  ZEN Studios announced today that The Punisher: No Mercy, inspired by Marvel Comics’ rich Punisher comic book history, is confirmed to be released on July 2, 2009 and will be available exclusively through PlayStation®Store for $9.99.

“Our team has been working long hours to deliver a first-person shooter experience that will live up to the Punisher name,” said Zsolt Kigyossy, managing director for ZEN Studios.  “With awesome characters, a customizable system, and fast-paced multiplayer action, No Mercy is breaking ground in the digital space.  For comic and shooter fans alike, this is a must-have game for the summer.”

Powered by Unreal Engine 3, The Punisher: No Mercy was designed with fast-paced online multiplayer FPS action in mind. The game allows players to choose from an eclectic mix of Punisher allies and villains.  Battle arenas span from shipyards rife with contraband to the “birthplace” of the Punisher’s archenemy, Jigsaw, and up to eight players can blast away at each other in a variety of solo and team-based missions. 

In addition to exceptional online play, The Punisher: No Mercy also offers a single-player story mode featuring exclusive artwork from acclaimed Marvel artist Mike Deodato.

Developed by ZEN Studios, The Punisher: No Mercy is rated “M” by the ESRB for a true Punisher experience.  To learn more about The Punisher: No Mercy, please visit www.punishernomercy.com.

XBLA Games of the Week: Worms 2 Armageddon, King of Fighters 98 Ultimate Match

The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match comes to Xbox LIVE® Arcade! The KOF '98 fighting game has fascinated game fans all over the world, and now it's powered up and ready to be on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Additional characters have been added from the King of Fighters universe, and new battle systems and moves have been implemented. Extend the fight to opponents all over the world. Face off against others to prove who is the real King of Fighters. Use Practice Mode to learn, Challenge Mode to improve your skills, then go to battle to show what you've got!

The best of arcade fighting action: The Japanese arcade game comes to full life on Xbox LIVE Arcade, featuring the best of 3-on-3 2-D fighting action. More characters: Ultimate Match includes more characters than the original King of Fighters '98, incorporating some of gamers' favorite characters from previous King of Fighters games. Ten years on from Worms™ Armageddon and the turn-based mayhem and destruction continues! Worms™ 2: Armageddon is the most fully-featured digital version of the game ever. With four player online and offline multiplayer, voice support, a raft of new weapons (including the return of some iconic weapons from the past), all-new high-definition landscape themes, new play modes, hats, skins, speech-banks, loads of other customization and to top it all off, a highly-involving single player experience with tutorials, deathmatches, races, fort games, and puzzles. It's a package as high on fun as it is destruction! Extensive single-player content: Play through three tutorials, three firing ranges, a thirty-mission campaign, plus five secret unlockable missions. Online and offline multiplayer: Battle it out in four different ranked game types and extensive leaderboards. Massively increased customization: Choose from new hats, skins, speechbanks, gravestones, victory dances, and much more. Retro-themed landscape artwork: The high-definition artwork is based on the most loved Worms game ever made. Return of iconic weaponry: You've got more than 40 weapons out of the box, including the return of fire weapons and the beloved Holy Hand Grenade.

Nintendo Downloads for June 29

WiiWare

Water Warfare^™
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Cartoon Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points^™
Description: Water Warfare is a comical first-person shooter that uses water guns to battle and soak opponents. A map with a particular theme – Playground, Beach, Plaza or Nature Park – is generated automatically when the game begins, so you can think up new strategies each time you engage. Game modes include Single Player Missions, CPU Match and 2-Player Split Screen. On top of that, players with broadband Internet access can use Nintendo^® Wi-Fi Connection to battle with up to eight players from around the world, or participate in Ranking Mode.

Reel Fishing^® Challenge
Publisher: Natsume, Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Reel Fishing Challenge offers a fun and challenging experience for novice fishers and master anglers alike. Put your skills to the test and discover new types of fish in the challenging mission mode, or relax and enjoy the game at your own pace in free play mode. No matter which mode you play, the game’s beautiful graphics and natural setting bring the fishing experience to life. Choose from a variety of lures to attract and hook the game’s numerous fish. Each fish looks and moves like the real thing – it’s the closest you can get to real-life fishing without putting on your waders.

Silver Star Reversi
Publisher: Agetec, Inc.
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Silver Star Reversi has two modes: 1-Player mode allows you to play a match against the computer opponent, and 2-Player mode allows you to play against another person. In 1-Player mode, you can choose from five different computer opponents, turn the background music on or off, adjust sound effects and access in-game help features. During each match, you can also redo your last move, save the game at any point, or resign from the game. After a match has ended, you can review each move and resume the match from any point you choose.

Virtual Console^™

Fantasy Zone^™ II: The Tears of Opa-Opa
Original platform: SEGA MASTER SYSTEM
Publisher: SEGA
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Ten years have elapsed since Opa-Opa restored peace to the Fantasy Zone. Now history is repeating itself, and the planets that make up the Fantasy Zone once again find themselves attacked by the mastermind of the Nenon planet forces. This mastermind is secretly constructing a huge fortress in the Fantasy Zone and aims to put an end to their ambitious plans. Just as he did 10 years ago, Opa-Opa must do battle to save the Fantasy Zone.

Nintendo DSiWare^™

SUDOKU MASTER
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points^™
Description: SUDOKU MASTER offers 150 unique puzzles that beginners and experts alike will enjoy. A handful of tutorials will help you learn the rules and controls as you go, and handy features like Write Mode and Temp Numbers make Sudoku pleasantly user-friendly. Feeling confident? Then try your hand at Title Mode to work your way up from Rookie to Sudoku Master. All puzzles were created by Sudoku veteran NIKOLI Co., Ltd., and tips from Sudoku godfather Maki Kaji are offered between games.

The DLC week in review

Another busy week for downloadable games and content. Here are the links to everything you need to know on the DLC front from June 21st to today. 

- Last week's downloadable Nintendo and Xbox 360 games. 

- Castle Crashers hits 1 million served.

- Former EGM subscribers receive a crappy magazine as a substitute

- Jimmy Fallon uses games to make fun of celebs

- TRINE is coming to PSN, check out the trailer

- OXM subscribers get something extra in their next issue

- Check out the GamePro Arcade reviews for Neves Plus!, Rocket Riot, Sam & Max Save the World, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, Final Fantasy VII, and Bomberman Ultra.

Left 4 Dead Premium Theme? WTF Where Is Mine?

Yeah, you read correctly. Left 4 Dead Premium Theme is to be given away in the next issue of Official Xbox Magazine UK, which Valve themselves personally created. No word as of yet if the theme will be made available to all of if this is an exclusive, but the one time I would effin pay for a theme its not available. WTF Valve, I thought you were all about every consumer, not the exclusive ones.

Oh well, at least you can look at the pretty picture over and over again until we find out if and when its coming our way. But since its with OXM UK I doubt we will get it. But check below for OXM issue number and theme included so you can backlog if you need to.

OXM July 2009 - Resident Evil 5 Premium Theme

OXM May 2009 - Lost Planet Premium Theme
**Unfortunately no pic was available**

TRINE looks to cast one hell of a spell on PSN

We all know E3 is long gone and now we must sit and wait for the games to come pouring in. But what about the games you didn't hear much about? What happens to them when they hit store shelves or in this case are released as downloads? That is what the press is here for to keep you in the loop when we hear about great titles. One title in particular is TRINE for the PC and PSN.

Trine is a physics-based action game where three characters allow clever solutions to challenges created by hazardous puzzles and threatening enemies. The gameplay is based on fully interactive physics - each character's different abilities and tactics can be used to invent new ways to overcome obstacles and save the kingdom!

As usual PSN has great quality not quantity and TRINE is a great example. With gorgeous visuals and a unique gameplay twist, TRINE is sure to give you some jaw dropping moments as well as some easy control mechanics.

Check out TRINE's website for more details and possibly a PC demo coming soon. If you can't wait that long check out the video below.

PSPgo To Feature More Than Just Downloadable Games

Apparently, the PSPgo is going to be having a little bit more to download to it than games. According to Kotaku who did an interview with CNET, Sony's Al De Leon has stated the following.

One thing we did announce at E3 was a significant reduction in the price of development tools for PSP. The goal with that is to enable all sorts of developers to be able to develop content for the PSP. It will be mostly games, but there's certainly an opportunity to look at some non-gaming applications.

Sounds like a good idea to me, especially since apple app store is doing very well and is easy to use. Lets hope they take a page from their downloadable book.

Jimmy Fallon using games to make fun of celebs

Last night gamer Jimmy Fallon came up with some creative new video games. Interesting how they're all Xbox 360 titles. Are you trying to tell us something about your console preference Jimbo?

Cave Story Is Coming, So Get Ready Kiddo's!

During E3 Nintendo showed off some video's on Cave Story and we all got excited. Now here is the video that many of you kids didn't get to see due to the fact E3 has closed its doors to the public. I know i am rubbing it in but it feels so good to do so, anyway, here is the video.



- Provided by Kotaku

Have you received your EGM substitute yet?

About a week ago, there was a post on Kotaku letting former subscribers of EGM know that they'd be receiving Maxim in place of the shut down gaming magazine. Yesterday I received my first copy.

I was a big fan of EGM and still follow Dan Shu's work on Bitmob so I was disappointed when the magazine went the way of Lindsay Lohan's sanity. When I saw the Kotaku post I was pleased to see that I'd at least be getting something in return for a subscription I already paid for. I used to get Maxim a long time ago and enjoyed it, so I felt it was a decent trade. Until I started to read it. 

 

Maxim sucks. Granted, I'm no longer in their targeted 16-35 year old single male demographic, but what I read last night was poorly written, uninteresting, and condescending. As a blog writer I understand that most people like their information in quick, short bursts, but lets not insult your readers intelligence with puff pieces on Jesse James, lame jokes, and articles that can be read in 60 seconds. 

What happened to you Maxim? You've changed man, you've changed. And not for the better. 

Time To Eat Some Gravity With Gravity Core

Gravity Core begins with an unknown force that has taken control of the fledgling mining colony in the Mars/Jupiter asteroid belt. Earth’s military cruisers are unable to navigate the confines of the asteroids. As the only mining pilot on the outside, that just leaves you! 

Sounds like a winning plot to me, but what makes this such a unique title is that it has incorporated into its control scheme the 360 game pad. Because we all know using a keyboard for this game would be a son of a bitch to control. 

So why should you spend the $11.99 for this title, well check out the demo here and find out for yourself. So get to it skippy and start playing some Gravity Core, I already am.

You can read the press release below.

GRAVITY CORE – UPDATE (v1.51)

One man development outfit Suisoft is pleased to announce release of an update to Gravity Core. This release fixes a few minor issues found since v1.50:

* XBOX 360 wireless gamepads will have default controls set up automatically (previously only wired controllers).

* DirectX (software mode) refresh rate issue on some older laptop video drivers.

* Work to reinstate compatibility with Windows 9x.

Version 1.50 incorporated many significant improvements:

Control Scheme

Many players suggested a ‘dual stick’ approach instead of the classic Asteroids style controls. A completely new control scheme is now available, where movement can be directly mapped to one thumb stick and aiming onto the other.

A ‘dual stick’ controller is required to take advantage of the new control method, for example the Microsoft XBOX 360 Controller for Windows.

The new controls make the game much easier to play, particularly for beginners and players used to console games and console controllers.

Difficulty Levels

The Campaign and Player vs Player modes now have difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Hardcore and Insane. The Hardcore difficulty is approximately the same as v1.02.

Difficulty levels affect damage received, enemy fire rates, fuel consumption and availability, number of ships.

The visual effects on explosions, shots and glow effects have been improved, making the game much more spectacular. You can see some new screenshots here:
http://www.suisoft.co.uk/gravitycore/index.htm#screenshots

Numerous tweaks have also been made to make gameplay more balanced and forgiving. For example, it is much harder to crash into fuel and the ground (on Easy/Normal).

The full game is only 11.99 USD or 5.99 GBP. With millions of procedurally generated levels and unscripted, dynamic, free roaming enemies there’s plenty of replay value for the low price.

GAME FEATURES:

• 50+ Levels of intense fighting and daring rescues.
• Take on dynamic, free-roaming adversaries. No battle is ever the same.
• Tear up enemies with plasma, cannon shells, gattling guns, missiles and devastating frag bombs.
• Campaign decisions affect resistance encountered.
• Randomly generated campaigns offer practically infinite replay value.
• Fight side by side in co-operative play.
• Blow each to bits in Player vs Player.

Monkeys Are Coming To XBLA...Well Sorta

Telltale Games design director Dave Grossman has said Tales of Monkey Island may appear on Xbox Live Arcade after release on PC and WiiWare, which launch this summer. So why should you be excited? Because its fucking MONKEY ISLAND! Honestly, I have never played this game myself but from what I hear its one of the Top 5 Adventure games you must play. That's a pretty convincing list to be put on, so expect good things if this comes true.

Tales of Monkey Island takes place during a heated battle with his nemesis, the evil pirate LeChuck, Guybrush unwittingly unleashes an insidious pox that rapidly spreads across the Caribbean, turning pirates into zombie-like monsters. The Voodoo Lady sends Guybrush in search of a legendary sea sponge to stem the epidemic, but this seemingly straightforward quest has surprises around every corner.

Seems to me that adventure games would fair well on XBLA especially one thats as popular as this. So look forward to hearing more about this in the coming months and get your parrot ready!

Castle Crashers hits 1 million served

Less than 10 months after its Summer of Arcade release, Castle Crashers has gone McDonald's with its developer, The Behemoth, putting a "1 Million Gamers Served" sign up on their blog.

Not only is CC the fast growing game in XBLA history, its also a marriage saver. Don't believe me, read the blog yourself. 

I loved Castle Crashers, as my review I wrote last summer on GPArcade will attest. The Behemoth deserves every kudo they get. Not only did they make a great game, but they proved that arcade titles can be just as good (if not better) than disc titles, and that they deserve recognition too. Congrats!

Fallout 3's Point Lookout is live

For those of you who can't get enough of Fallout 3, today is your lucky day. Point Lookout, the fourth batch of DLC for Bethesda's wasteland traveling thriller is live right now. 

Buy a ticket and hop onboard the Duchess Gambit, as Tobar the Ferryman takes you to the strange seaside town of Point Lookout. What secrets does the dilapidated boardwalk hold? Who lives in the sprawling mansion? Why is the Punga Fruit so important? And what horrors lie in the depths of the murky swamp?

I have no idea yet. That's just what it says on the download screen on XBLA.

At the moment, Point Lookout is a Xbox 360 exclusive and sells for 800Ms Points ($10). Look for it on the PS3 later this year.  

XBLA Games of the Week: Fatal Fury: Garou-Mark of the Wolves and Droplitz

A Neo-Geo and Dreamcast fighting game hits XBLA this week. XBLA and PS3 owners also get Droplitz, but I was able to find a press release for it, so check out the official site for it here. 

THROW SOME FISTS OF FURY IN “GAROU-MARK OF THE WOLVES” ON XBOX LIVE® ARCADE

Battle it out in “Fatal Fury: Garou-Mark of the Wolves” on Xbox LIVE Arcade this Wednesday, June 24. This classic Japanese arcade fighter game is the latest release in the “Fatal Fury” series and its coming straight to Xbox LIVE Arcade, your premier destination for quality, action-packed downloadable games.

Hit the streets of Southtown and fight for the tournament win with legendary tactics like “Just Defense,” “T.O.P.” and “Braking.” Train your skills and choose from a variety of characters to maximize your street fighting credit on Xbox LIVE.

Published and developed by SNK Playmore Corp., “Fatal Fury: Garou-Mark of the Wolves” will be available for 800 Microsoft Points worldwide. The game is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.  For more details, please visit: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/g/garoumofwxbla/

Nintendo Downloads for June 22

Plenty of games available for download for Nintendo fanboys this week. Five new titles, including THREE WiiWare games, are out right now. 

WiiWare

Drill Sergeant Mindstrong
Publisher: XSEED Games
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) – Mild Language, Mild Violence
Price: 800 Wii Points^™
Description: Line up and get ready to use your mind. Drill Sergeant Mindstrong is a party game that allows up to four people to play at once. Players become boot-camp trainees under the tough Drill Sergeant Mindstrong, going through mind-boggling, mind-training games. The rules are simple, but concentration and quick thinking are key. Become the top boot of your class and earn promotions based on your efforts. This game is best played with friends and family.

NEVES Plus^™
Publisher: YUKES Company of America
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 600 Wii Points
Description: Try your hand at the newest puzzle craze to come out of Japan, NEVES Plus! Enhanced for WiiWare, NEVES Plus not only retains all the simple, mind-bending tangram-based game play from the original Nintendo DS^™ version, but also includes new multiplayer modes wrapped up in an Egyptian theme. This time, you and up to three others can work together to move, rotate and flip the seven Lucky stones into each of the 500-plus silhouette puzzles. You can also challenge one another in new multiplayer modes such as Versus, Speed, Lucky Number and Party Mode. Whether you play every mode by yourself or with friends, NEVES Plus is set to charm you with harder-than-they-look silhouette puzzles.

Family Mini Golf
Publisher: Aksys Games
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points
Description: Daddy, Mommy, Sarah and Billy are back for some mini-golf action. Play through multiple golf courses that contain obstacles ranging from bumpers to speed ramps to fans and more. Up to eight players can play together using a single Wii Remote^™ controller. You can download new courses to expand your fun-filled mini-golf experience, creating even more complex and difficult challenges to overcome. Can you conquer all the courses and become the mini-golf champion?

Nintendo DSiWare

Art Style: BOXLIFE^™
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points^™
Description: Climb the corporate ladder in the world of BOXLIFE using your wits and… paper? Use the Nintendo DSi^™ stylus to cut and then manipulate the paper into a box shape. Be careful—if you’re not efficient with your cuts, you’ll waste paper and be penalized. R&D mode teaches you new patterns and challenges you to complete various ranks, while FACTORY mode gives you the chance to earn money by making as many boxes as possible from an endless sheet of paper. Success in each mode brings its own reward: Clear ranks to earn a promotion, change your character’s appearance, and use your earnings to acquire new items for your character’s miniature garden. With this game’s stylish graphics and catchy sounds, thinking inside the box isn’t such a bad thing.

Virtual Console

SimEarth^™: The Living Planet
Original platform: TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) – Violent References
Price: 800 Wii Points
Description: An entire planet becomes your laboratory in this large-scale simulation game. Players help foster new life and promote its evolution into life forms of higher intelligence. Guide civilization along the path of evolution until it can achieve Exodus, the ultimate goal of settling on another planet. The basic challenge of the game is to maintain a comfortable environment for the life forms by adjusting atmospheric and geological parameters. Small organisms called Prokaryote and Trichordate will grow and evolve into a multitude of life forms. Making a drastic change is a recipe for disaster. The key to success is making small adjustments and watching how the life forms react. SimEarth also includes planets with environments different from Earth, such as Mars and Venus. Try your hand at terraforming these planets with harsh conditions and creating a world where life can thrive.

Fat Princess delayed, losing weight as you read this

Fat Princess was originally slated to hit in June. But according to a recent PlayStation Store update, it looks like its been pushed back to later this summer. So all of you looking forward to stuffing mountains of cake down a fat princesses mouth will have to wait, or you can pay someone to fulfill this sick fantasy of yours until the game comes out.

In case you're out of this cake eating loop, check out what Fat princess is here and click here to see a brief trailer. 

WiiWare Ripping Off Ikaruga?

We all know Ikaruga is one of the hardest and most craziest shooters to come out of Japan. Well it looks like the folks over at Exkee enjoy this title as much as the rest of us do because their new game Colorz resembles it in a major aspect. In order to defeat enemies you have to swap color palletes to the exact color of the enemy, you might also have to mix together to defeat them as well. Well, Exkee have released some new screens for you to enjoy and hopefully they will have a date for this WiiWare title soon since it looks promising with its 3 player multiplayer.

Keep tabs on this by following their Twitter and YouTube page.

First AO rated game to be downloadable?

Nudity, dying children, and horrific violence seem to be the premise for Eden's upcoming Myst-style game. The game's director told MTV Multiplayer that this is a game based on Lars Von Trier's controversial movie Antichrist, will be download only and hopes to present a sort of personalized nightmare take on Myst. In case your out of the loop on Antichrist, it stars William Defoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Opening with the death of a child and some rather hardcore genital mutilation, its safe to say this will be a challenge to make a game out of.

It seems to me that we are starting to get into that blend of "well since we know Wal-Mart won't sell this we can just use STEAM or XBLA to put out our content". Its good to see someone is trying to push the limits of content since we all are not 12 yrs old. I'm glad that a game might come out thats strictly 18+ or even 21+ for that matter. Hopefully we will hear more about this title as it progresses. Until then you can read the full interview from MTV Multiplayer here.

WiiWare Just Got A Little More Colorful

This week is another shitty release that pretty much can be summed up with four words - little boys, rainbows and jumping. If that didn't sound weird enough for you, read my full review over at GamePro Arcade and get the full scoop. Included below is a snipit of what the review has to offer.

With the success of Bubble Bobble Plus! on WiiWare, Taito thought that they would try their hand in revitalizing another series from way back in the day as well. Now if you are unfamiliar with Rainbow Island, its very similar to Bubble Bobble. While Square may have released the redone WiiWare bundle, Taito did the original arcade shooter with the two lovable dinos, Bub and Bob. They were cursed as human boys into being in those bodies, and after completing the quest in that bubble-blowing arcade adventure they went back to being human boys. This is where Rainbow Islands come into play. The boys have been forced to climb a Technicolor tower while defeating enemies with bright, magic rainbows instead of burping up bouncing bubbles. Taito wants to rejuvenate the series with its new title Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure, but does it live up to its counterpart?

Click the here to read the full written review.

New Fallout 3 DLC Street Date Broken..

Yes you heard correct. The fine folks over at Gamestop screwed the pooch on this one and have been selling a retail packaged version of the new Fallout 3 DLC, Point Lookout. This downloadable content is not due to hit Xbox LIVE until next Tuesday. And if you happen to be one of the many people to pick this up, the code is live and people are already playing it. In fact 3 of my personal friends are playing as this blog is being typed, so guess I should be making my way to Gamestop in the AM.

You can also conveniently get it from the online store, Usually Ships In 24 Hours - Gamestop.com

***UPDATE*** Looks as if Bethesda caught onto this and stopped allowing those of us who managed to pick this card up today access to it. So will now have to wait until Tuesday. Now was this a clever marketing ploy to get us to rush and get it or was it truly a Gamestop fuck up? You decide!

Regain your manhood with a free PC game, courtesy of Klondike

In a rather unusual ad campaign combining the world of gaming with the world of vanilla ice cream coated in chocolate, Klondike (yes, that Klondike) has teamed up with Story Worldwide to create a free PC game. 

Called The Adventures of Khaki Pants Pete, gamers can go online for some point and click adventures that toe the line between misogynist behavior and I-sure-hope-my-wife-doesn't-see-this comedy. 

I especially enjoyed the press release which states I have to help Pete "regain his manhood". So his wife swiped his balls Lorena Bobbit-style? I'm not sure I'm up for that kind of fun, even if some free tasty ice cream is thrown in. 

Feel free to check out your Klondike sponsored man cave right here. 

Today's Press Release: I come bearing news of a new online game from Klondike and digital partner Story Worldwide (www.StoryWorldwide.com ). Just announced today, "The Adventures of Khaki Pants Pete" is part of Klondike's new "What Would You Do For A Klondike Bar NOW ?" campaign.

 

So take a load off.  Settle into the Man Cave.  Yeah, that's right the Man Cave (www.klondikemancave.com ) .  Wood paneling, leather couches, a mini fridge (stocked with Klondike Bars, of course) and an old-school arcade video game.  Meet The Adventures of Khaki Pants Pete.   Based on 1980s-style video games where pixilated characters face a series of challenges, The Adventures of Khaki Pants Pete takes place at Pete's family's new home in the suburbs.  Pete has moved to the suburbs, married and had kids-and  subsequently lost "his Man Card. Now he wants it back." The player's challenge? To help Khaki Pants Pete "regain his Manhood," naturally. Players are invited to test his endurance (and dedication) by sending him through a series of ridiculously awkward obstacles (to interact with the hot babysitter or not?).

 

The game can be accessed through the video console in Klondike's "Man Cave," found atwww.KlondikeBar.com , as well as by going directly to www.klondikemancave.com or visiting the Klondike Bar Facebook fan page ( www.facebook.com/klondike ) .

Telltale lets the downloadable games fly with 3 new titles

I freely admit that there are some things that are specifically marketed to kids that I really enjoy - cartoons, popsicles, cigarettes, and just about every game from Telltale are just of few of those things. 

Earlier today Telltale Games announced three new PC and XBLA downloadable games, 2 of which you can get right now. Sam&Max released yesterday, the third episode of Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures released Tuesday, and Tales of Monkey Island will be coming out next month. Sweet! 

Today's Press Release: On Tuesday we released Muzzled!, the third episode of Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures – please alert your readers! The episode is available for PC from www.telltalegames.com/store/muzzled for $8.95 individually, or $34.95 as part of the four episode Wallace & Gromit bundle. 

I also wanted to let you know that Sam & Max Save the World, the award-winning first season of Sam & Max adventures, is now available on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 1600Microsoft points (hey, that’s less than 300 points per episode!) A picture pack and premium theme featuring characters and locations from the series are also available in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

 

Telltale’s next episodic game series will be Tales of Monkey Island, which will premiere on July 7.