Gamertell

Rockstar’s upcoming Wii game, Manhunt, will certainly be the topic for many heated discussions when it is released early this summer. But until then you can get your sadomasochistic grove on by hitting the link and checking out the recently released pics. From what I could tell it looks like the plastic bag of death is back and ready to bring the groceries home (not funny, I know but at least I tried).

If that isn’t good enough for you, IGN has an awesome preview story about the mutiple ways that the Wii-mote can be utilized to dismember enemies. My favorite might just be the pliars which allow you to do unspeakable things to a certain part of the male anatomy. OUCH! They also detail the use of the Wii-mote as a saw using back and forth motions to detach appendages from the body. Quite gruesome indeed but definitely worth a look and a read for those with a strong stomach.

Link [Joystiq] Also [IGN]

Sure, the PSP price reduction to $169.99 is good news, but the commercial may actually work against Sony.

Why would a marketing company go ahead with a commercial that implies people around you will become truly annoying if you own its product? Sony certainly wants to promote the amazing gaming and movie watching aspects of the system, which are implied by Mr. Annoyance’s exuberant sideline enjoyment of the PSP, as well as the price drop, which gets a quick mention at the end.

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The information just keeps coming. Yet again, we are treated to some enticing tidbits of info regarding the finished product that will be Halo 3.

The first bit of info are videos that players have posted of both the Wraith and Covenet Energy Sword in action. Also of note in these videos are the high flying shenanigans of the players as the leap over buildings with a single bound and run faster than a speeding bullet. This would indicate that the rumors of being able to adjust player speed and gravity in multiplayer games is quite true.

The next bit of information comes from Xbox 360 Fanboy. They’ve gotten their hands on some scanned images of the upcoming issue of GamePro magazine and what they show is quite exciting. It looks like this game has a lot more in store for fans on September 25th when it will be released in the United States.

Link [Joystiq] Link [Xbox 360 Fanboy] Via [HaloAnyone]

This week’s three additions brings the total count to 96 games available for download through Nintendo’s Wii Shop Channel and playable only on the Wii. New Wii virtual Console (aka Virtual Arcade) games go live each Monday at 9 a.m. (Pacific Time).

Wii Points can be purchased at the Wii Shop Channel or at various retail stores at a rate of US$1 for 100 points. Retail cards are typically available in $20 (2,000 points) increments in the US.

ActRaiser (SNES, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): This action- and simulation-based game is from the earliest days of the SNES. You play as Master, a dethroned deity whose once-idyllic world has fallen under the control of the Evil One. Beginning with the Action modes, you take control of six areas to unlock the Simulation mode. There you develop the lands and help the inhabitants who, in return, will once again worship you so you can defeat Evil One once and for all.

Kid Chameleon (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Sounding like a Tron meets The Last Starfighter rip off, kids are being sucked into a video game and it’s your job as the best gamer in town to save them. You morph into various fighting meanies including Berzerker, Micromax, Maniaxe and Skycutter (whatever the heck those last three might be), all to play through 100 levels and save your friends from the pixilated prison.

J.J. & JEFF (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Detectives JJ and Jeff are hired to rescue a rich man who has been kidnapped but, as usual, something goes terribly wrong. Playing as either JJ or Jeff, you must jump and spray paint your way through each arena. a weird action game, to be sure.

Site [Wii Virtual Arcade]

Samsung has invited press to a special one-day event 2-6 p.m. on May 31, 2007, at the Samsung Experience store in Manhattan. Labeled the Samsung Pro-Gaming Clinic, this press-only event will be an opportunity for media to meet with pro gamers before they compete in the World Cyber Games US Open on June 2-3, 2007 (also at the Samsung Experience in NYC).

Samsung promises to make a few “special announcements” at the event. We’ll let you know what those announcements are as soon as we can.

Here’s the digital invite media received:

Also Read [LockerGnome]

Activision finally put a few Guitar Hero rumors to rest with a press release last week.

In the announcement, Activision states that the next Guitar Hero game by Red Octane will be available Fall 2007 for the PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

Interestingly enough, no where in the press release does it call the game ”Guitar Hero 3,” or any other name, yet sites are reporting that as the game’s actual name. I contacted Red Octane today and their PR rep simply said, “An official title is not available yet, though we’ll definitely give you the heads up when it is. “

The release also indicates that the controllers will be based on Gibson Guitar’s Les Paul and Kramer guitars.

New features and controllers will include:

• Multiplayer action battle mode
• New boss battles
• More unlockable content
• Authentic rock venues (my garage?)
• Expanded online multiplayer mode
• “Fresh" downloadable content for multiple platforms
• Wireless controller for each platform
• Exclusive Gibson guitar controllers with removable faceplates an new button color design

The initial (as in potentially partial) list of songs for the game include:

• Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)
• Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins)
• Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)
• The Metal (by Tenacious D)
• My Name is Jonas (by Weezer)
• Knights of Cydonia (by Muse)
• Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)
• School’s Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper)
• Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat)
• Cult of Personality (by Living Colour)
• Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)

Any guess as to the actual name of the game? How about Guitar Superstar, Guitar Face Melter or simply Guitar Hero III?

(Of course, I’ll let you know when I get confirmation of the game’s actual name from Red Octane.)

Read [Joystiq] Also read [IGN] Site [Guitar Hero] Site [Activision] Site [Gibson]

This past Sunday, in Essex England, twenty-four year old Adam Mapleson was on his way to work via the railway station when he witnessed two armed and masked men robbing a female security guard. Racing to the aid of the woman, (witness’ accounts state that Adam had attempted to block the thugs’ escape) he was shot at close range in the chest. He is now reported to have regained consciousness and is in stable condition at a Southend Hospital.

According to The Sun Online, “The woman guard escaped shaken but unhurt — as did a male colleague who was driving the security van in Rayleigh, Essex. The robbers - wearing scarves around their faces - fled with a security box belching red dye. Their haul is likely to be worthless.”

What likely won’t hit the airwaves (or net-waves?) as hard is the fact that Adam Mapleson was a gamer, who listens to black metal and in every picture on his Myspace Page is dressed in black. Now, far be it for me to pontificate the jurisprudence of social mores and how backwards they may be, but it just goes to show that looks or interests does not a man define. With that said, I’d like to invite Jack Thompson take a peek at a slice of this hero’s interest in gaming: Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike Source, FEAR, GTA: San Andreas, UT2004, Dawn of War and Mark of Chaos.

For all the negative media around gaming and gamers, I can’t help but notice that when the facts don’t appease the agenda, no matter how insignificant, those facts are lost. Where’s Jack Thompson now?

Read [Kotaku] Read Also [The Sun Online]

The folks over at Destructoid have allegedly unearthed information about Metal Gear Solid 4: The speculation that MSG4 will be a PS3 exclusive is not true. Destructoid claims it has received confirmation that the game will appear on both the PS3 and the Xbox 360. A firm release date has not been mentioned but MGS 4: Guns of the Patriots is expected to be available late 2008.

Exclusive content will be included in the 360 version as well as some downloadable goodies that will will give 360 owners some to gloat about.

This also comes on the heels of other major Sony first party exclusives including Devil May Cry 4 and Grand Theft Auto 4 also jumping ship on the PS3 and giving some love to 360 owners. This should become increasingly common as we see development costs rise and developers are left with the option of limiting their profits by sticking to one console or trying to expand their core audience and let everyone in on the fun.

This is especially unfortunate for the struggling PS3 which needs exclusive content for people to feel as if their respective $600 investment is worth it.

Read [Destructoid]

It seems a few fanboys did a little bit of digging with the current Halo 3 Beta’s code and turned up a few things that are not yet activated.

First we had word of the possibility of Four Player Co-Op over Xbox Live. Now it seems that deeper delving into the code has revealed some character customization that should make many fans happy.

In multi-player, players might be able to choose different classes of armor for both the Spartan and the Elite model. To make things even better it also seems that sections of the armor could be replaceable. Separate listings for helmet, shoulder, and body types appear to be selectable, which could make for some interesting armor combos.

If this is the case, this could be the answer to the character customization so many fans have been asking for. The good news is that, thanks to the recent announcement of a September 25, 2007 release date for the game, players will not be left in the dark for too much longer.

Site [7th Columnist] Via [Evil Avatar]

Soon after acquiring advertising company Adscape Media, Google filed a patent for in-game advertising. The process specified is, roughly, the same Google uses on its web site. They take players in-game choices and serves in-game ads according to those choices. Pick a yellow Hummer to drive in a race and you can expect to see an ad featuring a sponsor’s yellow truck later in the game.

From Google’s press release:

“As more and more people spend time playing video games, we think we can create opportunities for advertisers to reach their target audiences while maintaining a high quality, engaging user experience.”

In addition to the basic visual annoyance of ads - and that it often does not help reduce the retail price of a game - are potential privacy issues regarding information gathered about gamers and given to advertisers.

From Tech Guardians article:

“Publishers are becoming more like media companies,” said Justin Townsend, the chief executive of IGA, an in-game advertising company. “More games are being optimized for advertising.” But he said that privacy concerns should be paramount. “Both consumers, publishers and the advertising industry are very aware of privacy issues,” he said. “You cannot afford to be vague in these areas.”

Posted on Adscape media’s home page is this line:

“In-game advertising is an area where we believe Google could add a lot of value to users, advertisers and publishers.”

I’m not certain how it will help users but so far is sure is helping other companies. Google’s deal with Adscape is rumored to have been around $23 million and previously purchased Massive, Inc, another video game ad company, for $200 million.

I also didn’t think getting patent on in-game ads was possible if it’s already become common practice for several companies. I guess it’s simply a matter of who - or which company - files first. What’s next, patents on product placement in video games (and movies and music videos and...)

Read [Tech Guardian] via [Daily Tech] Site [Adscape Media] Also Read [Shack News] Read [Patent]