Like most journalists and professional types, sometimes we move on to bigger and better things ... or we just fade away off into the sunset. I wanted to write a unique post, just to say that I have resigned as Destructoid editor in chief and that I am moving on. I know for some of you, you came to Dtoid because of my switch and you've found a whole new site to love as your own. I hope you'll continue to show Dtoid the proper love and I wish all the success in the world to Niero and crew.

As for me, I have been hired by the Global Gaming League to be their editor in chief and with that, I will also assume an associate producer role with Epileptic Gaming. So, you know, I'm not fading away into the sunset, I'll just be somewhere else.

I want to say thank you to everyone who read Destructoid, ran Destructoid, and who have given their time and effort into making it one of the best video game sites on the Web. What Dtoid does is something truly unique, and I hope each and every one of you can see that. And I also hope that my time and effort put into the site has made your involvement that much better.

At GGL and Epileptic Gaming, I hope to bring that same edge and level of authenticity that you saw from me at Dtoid. I encourage you to check both out while still at the same time giving Dtoid the proper amount of love it absolutely deserves.

Again, I thank you all and I wish everyone the best.

Goodbye Destructoid, I will miss you.

--Robert Summa 

Surely we all make faces when we game, but rarely is that ultimate expression captured on video. Well, maybe they are, but are any as special as this one, "The Hannibal"? What would you name your gamer face?

[Thanks, Epileptic Gaming] 

Available now, NCsoft has just released a free-to-play MMO called Dungeon Runners. Though it is playable at no cost, if you'd like access to just a bit more, the company is charging $4.99 per month for the content. Here's some info on the differences:

Users can download Dungeon Runners for free via NCsoft’s online destination, PlayNC Store, and then play it for free. There is also the option for players to upgrade to a membership level which costs $4.99 per month.

The paid level adds features such as extra storage for items, log-in queue priority and most significantly, “access to the most powerful items, weapons and armor.”

Is this how all MMOs should be played: Free for general content and then pay a small fee for the premium goods? Depending on the numbers for a game like this, maybe we'll see more of this type of MMO option. 

Download the game here. 

Trying to set itself aside from being just another first-person shooter, one of the unique aspects of 2K's The Darkness are what is called The Creeping Dark. Here's a good description of this little bastard:

Creeping Dark, the snake-like appendage that slides along the ground, up the walls and through windows in The Darkness, can be used to attack Uncle Paulie’s hitmen and devour their hearts, open locked doors, and much more. 

Funny enough, just as 2K sent this to our inbox this morning, I actually have an appointment with them today to get some quality hands-on time with this upcoming title. Stay tuned to find out how that goes. 

Since the Wii obviously uses a non-standard control scheme, owners are always curious how they'll be able to control certain games. One of those of interest is the mature title Scarface. In a thankfully toned-down demonstration video, you'll now be able to see just how you can control this Cuban legend.

Why is he a legend? Hmmm, I believe this explains it all:

In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women.

Wow, can't say I saw this one coming: It seems the blame for the delay in Halo 2 for Vista being released is a little thing called "partial nudity." Talk about dedication. I guess those boys at Bungie just couldn't help themselves and had to include that highly-requested Master Chief sex scene with Cortana. *cue 70s porn music*

In an e-mail statement sent to Next-Gen, Microsoft said, “It has come to our attention that an unfortunate, obscure content error which includes partial nudity was included in our initial production of “Halo 2” for Windows Vista. As such, we have updated the initial game packaging at retailers with a label, so customers are aware before purchasing the game. Additionally, we’ve developed an online update which can be downloaded from www.halo2.com to remove the content."

Remove the content? Why in God's name would we want to remove the content? Bust out the lotion boys, it's gonna be a long night of Halo. 

[Via Next-Gen] 

[UPDATE: This picture above is to blame. Sorry, no Master Chief wang for you!

Friday morning, however, the ESRB e-mailed Next-Gen a statement that said a "photograph of an individual showing his bare backside" is accessible within Halo 2 Vista's exclusive map editor tool. Apparently, it pops up when an ".ass" error occurs

Damn. And here I thought I was gonna see some boobies.]

We're all about love here at Destructoid, so we must say that we embrace this "love" that Lionhead is trying to bring across with Fable 2. The first in what should be a series of diaries leading up to the release of Fable 2, this video in particular deals with that human emotion that many of us feel as we see a robot glide into an empty room. Enjoy! 

In case you weren't aware, Sony Online Entertainment via their studio in Taipei, Taiwan, is developing an MMO (yes, another MMO) based on the Stephen Chow movie Kung Fu Hustle. The game is a tad different, however, from other MMOs. For one, it's a fighter and two, it doesn't look like your typical online universe.

After seeing this at a recent SOE event, I can't say I was exactly thrilled by the possibilities, but I suppose if you're a fighting game fan or MMO junkie looking for a different kind of fix, this could help you out -- besides, it's free. It's worth noting that the game is only slated to come out for the PC in Asia right now, but Sony says they are looking to expand it to European and North American markets.

Here's a quick rundown of the game:

Kung Fu Hustle combines the best elements of classic fighting games from the past and adds compelling character designs, new technology and trademark humor from the movie for a new generation of gamers. Players will encounter familiar characters from the movie, such as Sin, the Sidekick, the Landlady, Beast and more.  Kung Fu Hustle features a branching story mode, where players can hone their Kung Fu skills against a host of wacky enemies as they battle their way across China. By cooperating with friends, players can learn new sets of moves to add to their martial arts arsenal.

In Versus Mode, eight players can go head to head in all out multiplayer mayhem, creating that old-school arcade feeling online. Gamers can even watch and scout potential opponents online before challenging them. While Kung Fu Hustle will be free to play, players will be able to purchase extra lives and hundreds of virtual items for a nominal fee.

Whether you blindly hate them or not, you have got to give Sony credit for at least doing all they can to constantly update the PlayStation 3 to increase its worth for not only those who shelled out $600, but for those still wondering if they should. In their latest firmware update (available tomorrow), Sony does some very delicious things in the way of HD upscaling. Check out the details from the press release:

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today availability of the latest version of the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) firmware. Version 1.80 features upscaling of PlayStation® and PlayStation 2 games, and DVD movies up to full 1080p HD resolution when viewed on a compatible HD TV set.

The capability to upscale DVDs to HD quality is a feature normally only associated with top range DVD players, and its inclusion in the latest firmware upgrade now allows PS3 owners with an existing DVD collection to dramatically enhance the viewing pleasure of their DVD collection when viewed through a compatible HD TV set1. Not only can DVD movies be enhanced to full 1080p HD quality but so too will PlayStation 2 and PlayStation games be upscaled to provide much improved gaming pleasure.

Full press release after the jump. 

Like a twist in a not-so-good mystery novel, it appears as though some developers are now taking their cross-platform games on the PlayStation 3 first and porting down to the lesser systems. It was already revealed last week that Devil May Cry 4 was being developed first on the PS3 and then being ported down to the rest, and now we have word that Ubisoft's first-person shooter Haze will get the same treatment. From GameSpot:

This morning, Ubisoft revealed that the PS3 is now the "lead platform" for Free Radical's forthcoming shooter, Haze. Originally set for a release on the Xbox 360, PC, and PS3 this spring, the game will now debut solely on the PS3 this fall.

In fact, the fact sheet provided by Ubisoft no longer lists the PC or Xbox 360 versions of the game, prompting some speculation that it may become PS3-exclusive. The UK Haze site for the game also only bears the PS3 logo, although the American Haze site still sports the Xbox 360 and PC-DVD logos at its bottom.

Hmmm, I smell a trend. Maybe that Cell development documentation Phil Harrison was talking about giving to third-party developers at GDC is starting to show its colors. Well played sir, well played. 

We all knew it was a matter of time before Sony began talk of rolling out its own video on demand service worldwide much like Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace. All the pieces are there for the PlayStation 3: large hard drive, built in wireless and ethernet connection, and an online store that can easily be updated. And of course, Sony just so happens to be one of the largest movie and music studios, so a well-rounded relationship between that division and the PS3's digitial distribution capabilities seems like a match made in capitalism heaven.

With the 80GB PS3 announced for Korea, Sony now says they are in talks to bring a VOD service to that country. From Next-Gen:

According to today’s Korea Times, Sony has announced its intentions to offer VOD services via PlayStation 3 consoles if negotiations with a number of Korean telecoms companies proceed as expected.

“Should we strike a deal with Sony, PlayStation 3 users can watch all the HanaTV programs after downloading software, without having to buy a dedicated set-top box,'' he added.

But it doesn't stop there:

The Korean move represents the first step in Sony’s plans to roll out the VOD initiative on a larger scale in the near future. SCEE president David Reeves recently confirmed that VOD services would be available for PS3 and PSP users via the PlayStation Network by the end of the year. He said that consumers would be able to access full-length movies, music and TV programmes, although he gave no indication of launch details or pricing structure.

So when do Americans get this stuff? I'd love to replace my TiVo or cable set box with just a PS3. The less cords and electronic devices cluttering my life, the better.

Reviews from the Nintendo-slanted Japanese magazine Weekly Famitsu have unveiled the potential of yet another Wii game worth playing. According to two editors, the GameCube-to-Wii classic Resident Evil 4 is a perfect 10. Here is a bit of their reasoning:

The reviewers noted that while the content is almost the same as the GameCube original, the direct Wiimote-based controls offer a plus, making the game feel like something fresh and different. One reviewer said that the game offers the feeling of being closer to the action as well as upping the tension.

Multiple reviewers agreed on two points, that the new controls are simple and easy to get into, and that even those who played the original will be able to enjoy themselves.

Is RE4 worth buying a second time just to play on the Wii? 

[Via IGN]

I'm sure some of you can see the writing on the wall, right? With the success of the Wii, DS, and services like POGO, the casual games market is set to be the largest, most highly-focused group of untapped money that video game companies will be looking to exploit -- perhaps shifting resources toward an easier way to profit and away from hardcore gaming risks. The Wii and DS fit in perfectly to this idea. Each offer simple controls, a simple interface, and games that are easy for anyone to pick up and play.

So where does that leave us, the hardcore gamer? We're the new indie music snobs. The latest public step toward this inevitability is the fact that Ubisoft has now created a separate development house specifically geared toward the casual game market on the Wii and DS. What kind of offerings will you be getting? Check it out:

The new casual games team will first be working on a new product line called “My Coach,” and will also be expanding the existing Petz line of games. The Petz games allow players to raise and play with animals and sold 3.5 million units worldwide during fiscal '06-'07, according to Ubisoft. Petz will be coming to the Nintendo Wii for the first time.

The new line of My Coach games will apparently give gamers guidance in different areas. My Word Coach is slated for Wii and DS this fall, and is being developed with the help of linguists. It’s supposed to help expand users’ vocabulary and verbal communication.

Sooner or later, we're going to be the fringe, looking from the outside, wondering how we all of a sudden became so insignificant. Of course, this is not to say we'll always have our certain set of great games, but the variety and number of titles may slowly dwindle as a result of the casual lure.

[Via Next-Gen]