News Bethesda Reveals Dishonored Pre-Order Bonuses
Ooh, the choices...
News - 2012, Week 31
Sunday5th Aug 2012
News Namco Bandai Reveal Disappointing Sales for Soulcalibur V
K.O.
Namco Bandai has revealed its first quarterly financial report, sadly showing the disappointing sales of their latest update of the Soulcalibur series. On the 30th June, Soulcalibur V's sales were reported to be standing at 1.38 million copies. Soulcalibur IV accumulated 2.3 million sales in eight months, a million more units than Soulcalibur...
Saturday4th Aug 2012
Talking Point The Trouble with Trophies
Status symbols
Love them or loathe them, Trophies have become an important part of the PlayStation experience. Introduced in mid-2008 to muted fanfare, the digital trinkets have bloated in popularity over the past four years, promoting dedicated online communities and even minor gaming celebrities. But while the rewards look certain to play a...
News Metal Gear Solid 4's Platinum Trophy Is Going to Be Tough
Set some time aside
The race to Platinum the excellent Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is going to be gruelling. Konami has revealed a partial roster of digital trinkets for the 2008 PS3 exclusive, and it includes some toughies like “Obtain all iPod tracks”. You’ll need to unlock every single one of the game's emblems to achieve that...
News You're Probably Going to Want This Gorgeous Ni No Kuni Case
Suits you, sir
If you’re not entirely sold on Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch’s uber-cool Wizard Edition, then perhaps you’ll be tempted by GameStop’s equally attractive steelbook. Simply pre-ordering the Level-5 RPG at the US mega retailer will reward you with the gorgeous box embedded to the right. Don’t fight it, you know you want...
News Darksiders II Comes Knocking in New TV Commercial
At Death's door
THQ might not have much money left in the bank, but it’s still got enough to plop a dramatisation of the apocalypse in between Coronation Street. This new Darksiders II television spot shows protagonist Death riding into oncoming traffic, while people run for their lives. We don’t know what’s wrong with them, really – the...
Friday3rd Aug 2012
Review Wizorb (PlayStation Minis)
Castin’ a spell on Arkanoid
It’s only been a few months since the internet was buzzing about the PS Mini service, because of the release of FuturLab’s fantastic title, Velocity. Well, Sony wants to keep the overlooked service on your mind with Tribute Games and Beatshapers’ latest release. Throwing the block-busting mechanics of old-school...
News Skyrim's Dawnguard DLC "Unsatisfactory" on PS3
Long wait ahead
Most developers have come to terms with the PlayStation 3’s unique architecture. Unlike at the start of the generation, it's now rare for a multiplatform title to perform significantly worse on Sony’s black box of tricks – but Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim remains a notable exception. The title launched in a...
News Fresh Rambo: The Video Game Details Draw First Blood
A war you won't believe
It might be saving a full reveal for GamesCom, but publisher Reef Entertainment is clearly too excited to stay silent about its upcoming Rambo: The Video Game. In development at Polish studio Teyon, the title is pitched as a “fixed perspective, first-person shooter”, which sounds a lot like a fancy way of saying...
News Metal Gear Solid 4 Trophies Unlock on 6th August
Historical moment
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will finally get its heavily anticipated Trophy patch on 6th August, developer Kojima Productions has announced. The update will add 36 digital trinkets to the popular espionage title, alongside the ability to fully install the game. Are any of you planning on popping the sequel back into...
News JAW Promises Munch's Oddysee Update at GamesCom
It's an odd world
It sounds like UK developer Just Add Water is gradually getting closer to plopping Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee HD onto the PlayStation Store. Last time we heard from the studio, it was making sturdy progress with the modern makeover – and now it’s teasing a GamesCom announcement pertaining to the former Xbox exclusive. A...
News GRID 2 Trailer Teases 8th August Reveal
Wheely good surprise
We’d heard rumours that a sequel to Codemasters’ massively popular GRID series was in development, but we never actually expected it to be announced this morning. Out of nowhere, the British publisher has released a short teaser trailer with the slogan “the race returns”. All will be revealed on 8th August according to...
News UK Retail Software Sales Slump to Lowest Ever Tally
Gulp
Retail software sales in the UK smashed records last week – by sinking lower than they’ve ever sunk before. MCV reports that 394,688 games were sold during the seven day period, generating just £8.4 million. It’s not entirely surprising that the figures dipped so dramatically – the games industry is essentially on holiday, and...
News Bethesda Reveals Bumper Cast for Dishonored
Trip the light fantastic
Bethesda sure knows how to splash the cash on outrageous voice talent. The publisher has announced the cast-list for upcoming PS3 adventure Dishonored, and it’s practically bulging with Hollywood talent. Rocky Horror Picture Show legend Susan Sarandon will make her video game debut as Granny Rags, a mad old lady who’s...
News There's Also a New Weapons Pack Firing into Mass Effect 3
Posh pieces
The focus may have been on Mass Effect 3’s new single-player DLC during EA’s Summer Showcase last night, but developer BioWare’s also got some fresh new weapons in the pipeline. The no-nonsense Firefight Pack will augment your intergalactic arsenal with "two powerful new weapons and five bonus weapons" for use in Shepard’s...
News Rocksmith Drops the Bass on 14th August
Slapping up a storm
Budding musicians will get the opportunity to unleash their inner Les Claypool on 14th August, when Ubisoft adds bass to its PS3 training tool, Rocksmith. The $30 expansion promises to help beginner bassists to "improve their skills like 2-finger plucking, slapping, and popping with dedicated bass technique challenges, tutorial...
Thursday2nd Aug 2012
News Sony Silent About Vita Sales in Quarterly Report
Sinking ship
Sony has checked in with its latest quarterly sales report, and it doesn’t paint a particularly positive picture for the Japanese manufacturer. Sales in the games division – which is now reported under its own heading – plunged by a concerning 14.5 per cent year-on-year, contributing to an overall loss of ¥3.5 billion. Sony...
News Wonderbook is Sony's Big Christmas Focus
Spellbinding
Sony are hoping that its exclusive Harry Potter spin-off Wonderbook: Book of Spells will cast some serious magic over the holiday season — so much so that it's been pegged internally as PlayStation 3's big Christmas seller. In an interview with MCV, Sony Computer Entertainment UK boss Fergal Gara held Wonderbook up as one of the most...
News Sleeping Dogs Does Its Best L.A. Noire Impression
Columbo's on the case
There’s more to Sleeping Dogs than shootouts and car chases. This brand new trailer shows off one of the title’s detective missions, in which protagonist Wei Shen learns that a surgeon has been murdering innocent people for body parts. Throughout the operation you’ll need to masquerade as a policeman and doctor, before...
News LittleBigPlanet Touches Vita on 19th September
So soon?
If you’re desperate to get your grubby fingertips on Sackboy’s latest pocket-sized adventure – well, you actually haven't got long to wait. Sony's announced that LittleBigPlanet Vita is set to release on 19th September in Europe and 25th September in North America. That's only a few weeks away! In addition to the somewhat surprising...
News Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Explodes onto PS3 in March
True bromance
Hours ahead of its annual Summer Showcase, EA has officially announced Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel for PlayStation 3. The Visceral Games Montreal developed sequel aims to re-imagine the occasionally juvenile franchise with a "more intense, mature, and grittier tone”. Powered by DICE’s stunning Frostbite 2 engine, the game...
News Japan's Getting Another Free PlayStation Vita Game
This one has cat things
The PlayStation Vita may be struggling to secure big software releases, but it’s certainly not lacking free-to-play games. Hot on the heels of yesterday’s Guardian Hearts Online announcement, GameArts has revealed yet another free title for the shiny new handheld. Picotto Knight is a four-player online side-scrolling...
News Way of the Samurai 4 Swipes Its Sword on 21st August
Dig out your kimono
Upcoming action title Way of the Samurai 4 is set to sneak onto the North American PlayStation Network on 21st August, publisher XSEED has announced. The quasi-historical samurai adventure will set you back $39.99, and will feature full Japanese dialogue alongside English sub-titles. The game promises plenty of customisation, an...
News New Mass Effect 3 DLC Explores the Reapers' Origins
Liara you excited?
As promised, EA has revealed the first details about Mass Effect 3’s first full DLC expansion pack. Dubbed Leviathan, the single-player add-on promises to expand upon the events of the main campaign with “gripping and emotional storytelling, compelling new characters, powerful weapons and unique upgrades”. By playing the...
News Crazy Religious Cult Kicks Off Grand Theft Auto V Marketing
Fact
Grand Theft Auto’s shady religious group the Epsilon Program has updated its official website and Twitter account, suggesting that the marketing wheels are in motion for Rockstar Games’ upcoming sequel. The Epsilon Program – an obvious satire of real-life cult Scientology – was a large source of gags in PS2 title Grand Theft Auto: San...
News Check Out the Technology Powering Assassin's Creed III
Breaking boundaries
This Assassin’s Creed III trailer doesn’t really need a rousing cinematic score and dramatic voice over to make it seem impressive. No, it does that all on its own. It’s hard not to get excited over the upcoming sequel’s dynamic weather and naval combat. Oh, and did we mention that the game's able to render 2,000 unique...
News PlayStation All-Stars Beta Battles onto PS3 This Autumn
Global gladiators
If you weren’t one of the elite PSN members lucky enough to score a beta code to SuperBot Entertainment’s upcoming mascot mash-up, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale: don’t panic. The developer has announced that it’s looking to expand the online multiplayer test soon, with more invites set to be dispatched in the coming...
News Look Out for a Mass Effect 3 Announcement Later Today
T'Soni a few hours to wait
Announcements of announcements – how do you like them? Publisher EA Games doesn’t care, as it’s promised to show something Mass Effect 3 related during its Summer Showcase event later today. What is it? We don’t know. The likeliest candidate is a new piece of single-player DLC, but we suppose anything’s...
News Trademark Teases Reality Racers for PlayStation Vita
Silly sequel
Funny but flawed augmented reality brawler, Reality Fighters, could be getting a follow-up, if a trademark discovered by Siliconera is to be believed. The website’s uncovered a Japanese registration for the title Reality Racers, which would imply that a motorised sequel to the eccentric Vita exclusive is on the horizon. If real, the...
Wednesday1st Aug 2012
News Dead Space 2 Spooks European PlayStation Plus Members
Twinkle, twinkle
While North American PlayStation Plus subscribers dive into the first two episodes of Telltale’s The Walking Dead series, European players will be offered an all expenses paid trip to the Sprawl. EA’s Dead Space 2 is this month’s primary Instant Game Collection update, replacing July's Deus Ex: Human Revolution. As well as...
News Get Your First Look at Resident Evil 6's Ada Wong in Action
Scarlet woman
Hot on the heels of this morning’s official announcement, Capcom has released the first footage of Resident Evil 6’s fourth protagonist in action. You can catch the lady in red herself, Ada Wong, strutting through a rain-soaked cemetery while spewing an internal monologue about hair conditioner and nail polish. Oh, who are we...
News Free Online RPG Guardian Hearts Online Strolling onto Vita
Pay as you go
Lumines Electronic Symphony developer Q Entertainment has announced that it's bringing its free-to-play RPG Guardian Hearts Online to Japanese PlayStation Vitas this month. The title – which is currently only available for mobile platforms – is “a sprite-based, command-driven RPG where you hire other players as your NPCs”...
News Grand Theft Auto III Re-Release Delayed on PlayStation Store
Bad news for North Americans
Yesterday was the day that North American PlayStation 3 owners should have been able to relive classic GTA title Grand Theft Auto III. We say should have been, because sadly the game failed to appear in the PlayStation Store weekly update. Sony has announced that this was due to music licensing problems. PlayStation...
News Yes, Ada Wong Will Be Playable in Resident Evil 6
Femme fatale
As if Resident Evil 6 wasn’t already packing enough content, publisher Capcom has announced that a fourth campaign starring Ada Wong will be unlocked once you complete the game. You’ll need to plough your way through all of Leon, Chris and Jake’s scenarios before unlocking the scarlet woman – an endeavour that the Japanese giant...
News Next Modern Warfare 3 Content Drop Scheduled
Elite only
We’re still struggling to wrap our collective heads around Activision’s baffling Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 DLC schedule, but at least we can confirm that the next batch of content for Elite subscribers is due out on PS3 on 16th August. The content drop includes a handful of new multiplayer goodies, including maps set on a...
Store Update 1st August 2012 (Europe)
Slow and steady
It’s another disappointing week on the European PlayStation Store, with very little to shout about. A demo for Activision’s upcoming Transformers: Fall of Cybertron leads the line, while there’s also the arrival of, er, Rock of Ages and Puddle to look forward to. Let’s-a-go... PS3 Games: Payday: The Heist Wolfpack
News Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Gets Bonus Edition
Splash wave
You’re probably going to want the Bonus Edition for SEGA’s upcoming mascot mash-up, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. The premium package for the Sumo Digital developed kart racer includes an additional stage, character, and more. It’s the new circuit that’s getting our wheels in a spin, though. The OutRun Bay Track is...
News Check Out Sound Shapes' Level Editor in Action
Wub, wub
We suppose Queasy Games founder Jonathan Mak should be a master at his own game. Still, nothing can prepare you for this video of the industry legend pulling together Deadmau5 and Beck samples to create a brand new beat in the upcoming PS3 and Vita exclusive Sound Shapes. His rapid use of the rear-touch panel is truly a sight to behold...
News Easy Mode Swoops into Dragon's Dogma
Dragon tamer
Been having a bit of trouble with Dragon's Dogma? Are those direwolves proving a little too vicious? If so, don't worry — Capcom is releasing a patch that adds in an easier difficulty setting. On 6th August — in Japan at least — a title update will drop an easy mode into the options menu. It'll be accessible at any time, so don't...
News New Far Cry 3 Trailer Introduces Amazing Armed Scotsman
"Ack no"
We’re sure Ubisoft would rather we talked about the actual features of Far Cry 3’s co-op mode in this article, but we’re much more interested in the Scottish character. The pantomime pot-shot is one of the four playable protagonists in the team-based multiplayer component, alongside a moustachioed gent who’s been taking style advice...
News Battlefield 3 Premium Has Over 1.3 Million Subscribers
Impressive numbers
We thought the late announcement of Battlefield 3 Premium would seriously hinder its commercial impact, but it seems like the service has been a huge success for EA. Speaking at a financial conference overnight, the publisher revealed that the package has “over 1.3 million subscriptions”, which is a significant improvement...
News EX Troopers Boosts into Japan on 22nd November
High octane
Capcom’s fascinating Lost Planet spin-off EX Troopers is set to glide onto Japanese store shelves on 22nd November, the publisher has announced. There are currently no plans for a Western release of the intriguing anime-inspired PS3 title, which boasts co-op multiplayer and a gorgeous cel-shaded visual style. Yeah, we're pretty bummed...
Tuesday31st Jul 2012
News Sony Launches Sizzling Summer Sale on European PSN
The weather is sweet, yeah
Actually, Bob Marley, the sun is not shining, but Sony might still have an announcement that will tickle your dancing feet. Well, assuming you’re in Europe anyway. The platform holder has announced another European PSN sale, this time designed around a summer theme. The promotion – which starts tomorrow and will run...
Store Update 31st July 2012 (North America)
Entirely expendable
There’s not a lot to shout about in this week’s North American PlayStation Store update. Ubisoft’s The Expendables 2 tie-in is the biggest new addition, launching Sony’s latest PSN Play initiative. Other arrivals include popular PS2 title War of the Monsters and Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time on PSP. An “unforeseen...
News God of War Saga Collection Slaughters Retail This Year
Kratos can't stay away
If, for whatever reason, you’ve always wanted to play a God of War title but haven’t quite got around to it yet – the God of War Saga Collection could be the perfect solution for you. Tipped by Siliconera, the retail compilation is likely to include the God of War Collection, the God of War Origins Collection a
News Lights, Camera, Party! Brings Motion Madness to PSN
Smooth moves
We’re probably in the minority, but we love a good mini-game compilation. There’s something exhilarating about hopping between a host of madcap mechanics – even if the experience can end up feeling a bit shallow as a result. Frima Studio’s upcoming PlayStation Move-powered Lights, Camera, Party! looks to embody everything...
News Analyst Predicts Challenges for Medal of Honor: Warfighter
Been there, done that
Interest in Medal of Honor: Warfighter is at an all time low. Despite the game looking decent, it feels like the market just doesn’t care – even publisher EA’s typically dominant PR cycle is half-hearted this year. As such, US analyst Doug Creutz has decided to slash the title’s projected sales estimates. He previously...
News Apparently Jay-Z Is Working on NBA 2K13
Shout it from the rooftops
Signs of a slow news day: we post the North American PlayStation Store update a day early, we spend the majority of the morning reading BBC live text updates, and we write an article about basketball just to give us something to do. Yes, folks, it’s been deader than a Dodo today. So what’s new in the world of, er,...
News Shuhei Yoshida: SOCOM Franchise Is Not Done
Just on hiatus
Given the tepid critical response to SOCOM 4 and the closure of developer Zipper Interactive, many assumed that it was game over for Sony's tactical shooter series – but Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida has adopted a “never say never” mentality to the future of the franchise. “It's not done. We never definitely...
News Tombi! Leaping onto European PlayStation Store
Pigs might fly
You can quit looking enviously at your North American peers – localisation specialist MonkeyPaw Games has announced that it is bringing Tombi! (known as Tomba! overseas) to Europe very soon. "We don't have a release date yet, but it's going to be sooner than people think,” the company told Joystiq. Patience, dear readers, is a...
News Escape Plan Goes Underground with New DLC Pack
All aboard
Escape Plan is getting a cargo-load of new content today. Developer Fun Bits Interactive has announced a new DLC pack for the macabre exclusive, which sees protagonists Lil and Laarg heading underground in search of an escape. The pack includes 21 new challenges, four fresh outfits and a handful of extra Trophies to unlock. It’ll set...
News David Cage Aims to Surprise Gamers with Beyond
Talking in riddles
Quantic Dream’s David Cage hopes to challenge our minds with the upcoming PS3 exclusive, Beyond. Chatting with EDGE Magazine, the outspoken developer explained that he is not interested in giving players “fun”, but instead hopes to offer “meaning”. Clearly, he’s got his philosophical hat on again. "My goal is to...
Monday30th Jul 2012
Review Puddle (PlayStation Vita)
Splash damage
You could never accuse Puddle of lacking ideas. The Vita version of Neko Entertainment’s award-winning fluid-based puzzler is brimming with variety, from a tense jaunt across the test tubes and pipettes of a functioning scientific laboratory, right through to an underground romp as a single droplet of deceased rat discharge...
News Bethesda Reveals Dishonored Pre-Order Bonuses
Ooh, the choices...
Looking forward to Arkane Studios' upcoming action-adventure title, Dishonored? If so, you might want to think carefully about where you place your pre-order, as publisher Bethesda has assigned a selection of exclusive bonuses to major retailers in the UK. Amazon will be dishing out a cold serving of the Acrobatic Killer...
News Malicious Resurfaces on PlayStation Vita
Rebirth
North American players may have only just gotten their anticipant mitts on the PlayStation 3 version of Malicious, but Japan is already readying itself for the Vita port. Entitled Malicious: Rebirth, the handheld version includes the full original game, in addition to a whole new chapter, two new bosses and, of course, two new cape actions...
News Sony Japan Promo Video Pushes HD Collections
Back to life
What does a pretty Japanese lady applying make-up have to do with the recently announced Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Edition? Well, yeah, we suppose there’s a metaphor in there – but either way, it’s still a strange way to kick-off a trailer designed to promote a handful of upcoming PS3 re-masters. The video includes footage of the...
News The Walking Dead: Episodes 1 & 2 Given Away to US Plus Users
Dead rising
If you managed to bite your lip through all of the hype surrounding Telltale’s ridiculously popular episodic The Walking Dead series on PlayStation 3 – well done, you’ll be able to grab the first two episodes for free as part of next month’s PlayStation Plus update. Both episodes one and two will be available at no extra cost...
News Robomodo: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD Sales Merit Full Game
Thinking big
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD is not out on PlayStation 3 just yet, but it’s already proved extremely popular on other platforms. To date the downloadable throwback has ollied onto over 120,000 hard drives, and that number’s likely to double when it finally arrives on Sony’s system. It’s a figure that developer Robomodo reckons...
News Dragon's Dogma Sells Over 1 Million Units
Decent scales
The Dragon’s Dogma brand has really taken off for Capcom – selling over 1 million units since its release in May, and propelling the Japanese publisher into profitability. The company’s profits increased by almost 300 per cent in Q2, raking in a whopping ¥1.3 billion ($17 million). It cited a “recovery trend” in the video...
News Square Enix Bringing Final Fantasy XIV to GamesCom
The latest version, of course
Try to forget that Final Fantasy XIV actually released way back in 2010 – it’s a brand new game now, remember? Square Enix has announced that the updated version of the MMORPG will headline its GamesCom offering, with on-stage gameplay demonstrations and signing sessions by producer and director Naoki Yoshida...
News Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Swots Up in the Fight Lab
Study hard
Tekken Tag Tournament 2’s training mode, Fight Lab, looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun. In this short trailer, publisher Namco Bandai introduces a wealth of interesting ideas – including rampaging chickens, giants and dancing bears dressed as ballerinas. You really couldn’t make it up, could you?
News UK Sales Charts: London 2012 Takes Podium Position
Gold medal
We predicted last week that London 2012 might finally overtake LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes on the UK sales charts – and we were spot on. The SEGA developed Olympic Games tie-in toppled TT Games’ bite-sized action adventure to take the gold medal, which it'll probably hold onto for the next couple of weeks.
News E3 Staying in Los Angeles Until 2015
Looks like another perfect day
In an announcement that will mean very little to the majority of you, the Electronic Software Association has announced that E3 will remain in Los Angeles until 2015. A sojourn to Vegas had been rumoured while the West Hall of the LA Convention Center is reconstructed into an epic new Farmer’s Field stadium – but...
