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| The week in Rock Band DLC: European bonus tracks come to North America |
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As if the Europeans aren't mad enough, Harmonix and MTV Games just sent us an email about next week's downloadable Rock Band content for North America. Surprise! It's all of the bonus tracks you guys are getting when the game finally ships this August! "Beetlebum" ( Blur)*
"Hier Kommt Alex (Die Toten Hosen)
"Countdown To Insanity" (H-BlockX)
"Perfekte Welle" (Juli)
"New Wave" (Pleymo)
"Monsoon" (Tokio Hotel)
"Hysteria" (Muse)
"Rock N Roll Star" (Oasis)
"Manu Chao" (Les Wampas)
Each track will be available for $1.99 (or 160 MS Points), and will hit the Xbox 360 on Tuesday, May 20, and the PlayStation 3 on Thursday May 22. Rock Band information fiend power-glove posted some videos earlier today in his community blog, and I said: " That bass chart on 'Hysteria' looks fun. Do want. Hope this hits DLC sooner rather than later in NA." So let me try this: I hope I get a pony sooner rather than later. I'll get back to you guys and let you know how that works out. (Note: That asterisk next to Blur's "Beetlebum" means it's not a master track. Bitch away, whiners.)
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| Children believe games affect their behavior |
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A study by Ofcom has found that two thirds of surveyed children aged 12-15 claim that videogames affect their behavior more than television or movies. It seems that a lot of kids believe games make them more aggressive. The survey questioned over 2000 parents and children to find out how the use of technology was changing, and found that the bedrooms of many children are turning into "multi-media centers" with Internet access, digital cameras, mobile phones and more all on tap. Bloody little wankers have it better than I ever did. It also showed that parents fail to regulate their children's online habits, trusting them to look after themselves. Lovely. While a child saying "this makes me aggressive" isn't exactly crucial scientific evidence, it's still interesting to see so many children admit it. However, one has to consider what kind of questions were asked and how the children interpreted them -- a child who fails a lot in a videogame becomes agitated and throws tantrums (having younger brothers, I know this all too well) so of course they'd find their behavior affected in that respect. I would be surprised if a child's interpretation of "do videogames make you aggressive?" was as Leland Yee's or Jack Thompson's. [MaxVest has graciously provided a link to the report. The relevant study is found on page 49.]
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| OMG IT'S HUGE! The Destructoid Cincinnati NARP event |
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NARPs started out as a way for community members of Destructoid to get together and expand on already-great friendships. They have grown and branched out over the past few months, with organized NARP groups popping up across the United States and the world. On May 31, 2008, NARPs will get a whole lot bigger.
The May 31st Cincinnati NARP is sponsored by Buffalo Wings and Rings and Budweiser with more sponsers to be announced next week. We will have games on three projectors and on five 37" LCDs. We will have a live DJ and live performances from two of our very own community members; GuitarAtomik, who won the Destructoid Theme Song Contest, and CosbyTron, who was one of the runner-ups with his original song called "Super Terrrific". Ninoog3, the facility organizer, who was another runner-up with the first ever Dtoid rap song, will also be there. The only finalist from the contest who won't be there is king3vbo, who will be too busy failing to make it out. We have contests, prizes, drink specials, and a bunch of surprises lined up.
There are over 70 Dtoiders confirmed for this NARP, which makes it the largest gathering of Dtoiders in the history of the site. We expect close to 100 confirmed by the 31st. We have six staff members confirmed and more have their finger on the button. On top of that, over 400 gamers from around the Cincinnati area have given confirmation that they will be attending, and that number is growing every day. It has gotten so big that the owner of the Buffalo Wings and Rings is putting a fence out into the parking lot to expand the venue and accommodate such a large crowd.
For details on who will be at the party, where it will be, how to RSVP and much more, hit the jump.
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| LucasArts says no Force Unleashed PS3/360 multiplayer, I practice my Force choke |
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A couple of weeks ago, X-Play got an exclusive look at the Duel Mode in the Wii version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. It seemed like a ton of fun, and I figured that while it wouldn’t be as awesome to swing around a lightsaber with two analog sticks, it’d still be plenty satisfying. Unfortunately, LucasArts has announced that the HD current-gen (yeah, I said it) versions of the game — i.e., the PS3 and 360 versions — will not have any multiplayer component. According to a LucasArts spokesman, the “reason” for the lack of a multiplayer mode on the PS3 and 360 is … because one exists in the Wii, PSP, and DS versions (it’s Wi-Fi on the handhelds, of course). Wait...WHAT? Apparently, they believe that it’s better to give no explanation at all than to try and give even a bullsh*t PR answer. Frankly, I just find that infuriating, but you be the judge: To be specific, there's no multiplayer in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, because there is on the Wii, PSP, and DS. As far as specific reasons are concerned, we don't really like to get into the reasons why we don't do things because I don't think there's really a satisfactory answer that people would really be happy with. So, there isn't multiplayer and that's kind of how it is... I’m just waiting for the next edition of Webster’s Dictionary to feature this statement as a definition of the word “lame”. Hell, I would’ve been happy if he’d said something like, “We were originally working on a PS3/360 multiplayer mode, but had to scrap those plans due to time constraints.” But as it stands, we’ve got nothing; instead, we’ll have to pick up the Wii/DS/PSP versions or forever lament the inability to recreate the Obi-Wan/Vader fight from Revenge of the Sith. [Via PSX Extreme – thanks, Jonathan!]
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| Dr. Boa’s secret project: Stealing ur ideas! |
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So a simple haiku nicely summarizes the story so far: I'm making a game.
Sharing with you how it's done.
Help me create it.
It’s great to see so much interest already brewing. One of the common questions raised -- as I comb through all the comments from my last post like Uncle Sam wire-tapping your cellphone -- is just how will you help me create the game? I’ll clarify my position. I already have a general idea of what I’m going to do. And unfortunately, due to frivolous lawsuits, I can’t just take your ideas and run with them. The reality is, most companies have a policy of NEVER reviewing outside game ideas because it’s just too easy for someone to sue and claim they came up with an idea. So what happens with all those submissions that people send to companies? They never make it past the receptionist’s waste bin. Tragic but true. So I’m not interested in you suing me and taking half my money. I’m saving that special feeling for marriage.
- Read full story
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| Videogame 'yeller' issued a summons for disorderly conduct |
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Are you a "yeller?" I sure as hell am. Any unexpected death or loss in any videogame has me yelling at my television and game consoles at the top of my lungs. I'm not Angry German Kid bad, and I realize that none of these objects can hear me, but it makes me feel better. One time, my dog bit me because I scared the sh*t out of him after yelling at a game. I suppose I had better watch the volume of my exclamations. One gamer in Denver received a visit from deputies for his. The Denver YourHub tells us that deputies responded to a domestic disturbance callat 5 a.m. on May 7. The county sheriff's office blotter says that a 39-year-old man said he heard yelling and doors being slammed and said it had been going on for months. In the apartment below him, the wife of our yeller said her husband plays video games all night, much like you and I. The problem here is that he gets upset when he loses and yells obscenities at his gaming gear. Old Yeller was issued a summons for disorderly conduct. Do you scream at the television when you lose/fail? If so, what game made you the most angry and loud? For me it was Shadow of the Colossus. Damn those tall colossi!
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| Saw videogame still in the cards, film makers drop details |
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Things have been quiet on Brash Entertainment's front regarding the previously-announced videogame adaptation of the horror film, Saw. Perhaps it's because they're actually trying to make a good game instead of selling titles based on brand recognition -- Alvin and the Chipmunks and Jumper, anyone? In an interview with horror Web site Bloody-Disgusting, the film's producer Oren Koules spills his (bad pun alert) guts on the games, which he says "the game company are not letting [them] talk too much about." According to Koules, the game takes place in the time frame of the first film, is being written by original screenwriters Leigh Whannell and James Wan, and will feature the voices of all of the original actors. Bloody-Disgusting writes: "[Producer Mark] Berg also explained to us that the game will be a walk-through where you pick up weapons along the way." Just what in the hell that really means, I have no idea; but "walking" and "weapons" are confirmed, which is a good first step for a videogame, I suppose. The original Saw was released in 2004, and sequels have been pushed out like puppies every year since. Saw V hits theaters this October, and stars Julie Benz and Tobin Bell. The Brash Entertainment videogame is set for an October 2009 release, surely to coincide with the release of Saw VI. [Via MTV Muliplayer]
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| Dennis Dyack says there is a 'strong possibility' for Eternal Darkness 2 |
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The thing about horror games is, you can usually classify them into a handful of labels. Survival horror is the most popular and most titles fall under that umbrella, but some have suggested "combat horror" as a branch of the same tree (in which the character you play is not your average helpless citizen). While I like what I'm getting when I buy a horror title, I usually know what I'm going to be doing. Eternal Darkness turned all those concepts upside down for me, and it still sits proudly as one of my personal favorites thanks to some ingenious ways of scaring the player. Imagine my excitement, then, at this comment from Dennis Dyack, head of Silicon Knights, in regards to the future of the Eternal Darkness series: "There is a chance; we love all the games we work on. We don't want to be pigeon-holed [into a genre], we want to be known for strong content...There's a strong chance we'll return to it, but there's no announcements yet."
Of course, Silicon Knights has their hands full with Too Human right now, but it's awfully pleasant to think that there might be a future with more Eternal Darkness in it. Although if they come up with something equally as hair-raising as the Sanity Meter again, I think i might have to wear a diaper to my first playthrough. [Via GWN -- Thanks, Jonathan]
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| Capcom reveals Ken and Morrigan costumes for Western We Love Golf! |
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Available in Japan since last year, Capcom's Wii exclusive title We Love Golf! is nearly ready for release in North America. Today, Capcom has revealed the two new characters -- Stephanie and Mark -- as well as their alternate costumes. Fans were given the choice to select the exclusive alternate outfits, from a list of awesome Capcom classic characters like Dead Rising's Frank West and Guy from Final Fight. But in the end, Ken from Street Fighter's red gi for Mark, and Morrigan from Darkstalker's outfit for Stephanie were chosen in the end. I was hoping we'd get "King Shriek" from Trojan, so this is a bit disappointing. Any classic or obscure Capcom characters you thinks should have made it into We Love Golf!?
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