Busy Gamer News: June 2007 Archives

Xbox 360 Round-up - Halo 3 Beta custom matches, more downloads

Some clever hackers found a way to break into the Halo 3 custom match interface during the beta. It's a fairly complex trick that requires more work than it might be worth for most gamers - and will probably get patched any minute now by Bungie to remove it. So if you just want to see some of the unlocked content, watch this video:

There were also some noteworthy late-breaking Xbox Live Marketplace content downloads added this week:

Hour of Victory demo (free)
Call of Duty 3 Bravo Map Pack ($10) - includes five multiplayer maps, three that are new
New Dead Rising outfits (free), themes ($1.88 each) and picture packs ($0.63 each)
Catan skin ($1.88) and pictures ($1.25)
Lost Planet themes ($1.88 each) and picture packs ($0.63 each)
NBA Live 08 theme ($1.88)
Need for Speed: ProStreet video (free)

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 1, 2007 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wii Virtual Console - Zelda II, more

The Wii Virtual Console hit 100 titles this week with the addition of:

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES) - $5
Dead Moon (TurboGrafx) - $6
Milon's Secret Castle (NES) - $5
ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (Genesis) - $8

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 4, 2007 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rumor Patrol - Resident Evil 4 for Wii censored?

Reports indicate the Wii version of Resident Evil 4 - at least as it was released in Japan - includes less blood and guts than the GameCube and PS2 releases and a simplified enemy damage model that eliminates headshot kills and limb removal. Now, you can chalk some of this up to game balance; it's likely that the new damage model compensates for the Wii-mote control, which can deliver faster and more accurate aiming. But it doesn't explain the lack of gore, particularly in a market that's not known for being particularly puritanical. Don't count on the North American release - due out June 19 - being much different...

Want a taste? Take a look at this video, particularly the last scene:

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 5, 2007 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Xbox Live Marketplace - Pac-Man Championship Edition, more

Pac-Man Championship Edition is an update to the arcade classic that adds new mazes, timed game modes, soundtracks and high-def widescreen graphics. The game features an evolving maze so the pathways change around you to increase difficulty. The $10 Xbox Live Arcade download was designed for the Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship, so it's also great for tournaments. Other new downloads include:

Burnout Paradise video
Small Arms expansion content with new characters, levels and PDA levels ($3.13) and a picture pack ($1.25)
More Bullet Witch features and unlocks ($0.25 each)
A graffiti art theme ($1.88)

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 6, 2007 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Try These Games - GRAW 2, Shadowrun

If you're eager for some cutting edge shooters, there are a couple hot new demos to download. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for the PC offers multiplayer action with new classes, maps and game modes. The demo is 1GB, so get downloading. Shadowrun for the Xbox 360 lets you try both single and multiplayer modes on a single map - but there's no PC love yet. It's 1.1GB so, well, you know. If you were hoping for something nifty for the PlayStation 3 this week, there are just a few new videos. Highlights include trailers for Heavenly Sword, Stranglehold and the Transformers movie...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 7, 2007 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Let Your Voice Be Heard - Suggest Rock Band songs

If you want to have a voice in which songs are selected for Rock Band, the Guitar Hero spinoff where you play drums, vocals or one of two guitars, you can suggest your favorite four tracks at the official Web site. It's an open ended text field, not a dropdown list, so put anything you want - even ludicrous or obscure suggestions like that Box in a Box song or the theme song from Red vs. Blue. Actually, both of those might be pretty fun...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 8, 2007 9:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rumor Patrol - Xbox 360 price drop in September?

The latest Xbox 360 rumor is actually pretty obvious, so it's difficult to tell if it's based on informed speculation or an authentic leak from the Redmond campus. Reports suggest the console will drop $100 in price (so imagine $200 for the core, $300 for the full and under $400 for the Elite) to coincide with the Halo 3 launch in late September. Truth be told, now that Microsoft is apparently making a profit on the console (typically sold at a loss, at least in the early part of the lifecycle), it would be missing a huge opportunity to crush Sony under its heel, at least for a little while. So - for those Halo fans who've resisted the 360 until now - you can almost bet it'll happen, if not on launch day then certainly before the holidays...

UPDATE: Microsoft is now avidly denying that a 360 price cut is imminent, but they are (as you'd expect) non-specific about future pricing plans. Truth be told, they'd be very stupid not to cut the console price if it would help move some heavily marked up Halo 3 Legendary Editions and eat away at Sony's chance at catching up its installed base this generation. And even stupider still if they telegraphed that move too early, eroding already stagnant summer adoption.

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 8, 2007 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wii Virtual Console - Sonic 2, Lode Runner, Golden Axe II

This week, Wii Virtual Console offers these nifty new additions:

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis) - $8
Lode Runner (NES) - $5
Golden Axe II (Genesis) - $8

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 11, 2007 2:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

News Flash - Soul Calibur IV in 2008

Soul Calibur IV is coming to both PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2008. Here's your first taste (alas, no in-game footage - just a straight up teaser):

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 12, 2007 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Xbox 360 Round-up - Gears of War, Prince of Persia, more

The big news on Xbox 360 this week is the Gears of War update, due out early Thursday morning. The patch closes some multiplayer exploits, improves control of the Roadie Run maneuver and adds eight achievements for Annex mode and the "pay now, free later" Hidden Fronts Multiplayer Map Pack. Other new downloadable content includes:

Prince of Persia Classic upgraded with HD graphics ($10)
Overlord, Shadowrun and Tenchu Z demos (free)
A Shadowrun machinima marketing video called 1-800-MAGIC from the makers of Red vs. Blue (free)
Catan Generals Expansion Pack 1 ($2.50), which adds historical personalities to defeat including Joan of Arc, Hannibal and Tokugawa
Monster Madness multiplayer levels ($2.50 each)
Video for Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (free)
Surf's Up picture pack ($1.50)

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 13, 2007 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PlayStation Network - Go! Puzzle

After skipping a week, the PlayStation Network now has Go! Puzzle for the PS3, with a free demo starter pack and then puzzle packs that are $3 each or $6 for three. If you're in a downloading mood, there's also a new trailer for Hot Rod, the movie...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 14, 2007 7:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dated - Half-Life 2: Episode 2

Valve announced it will release Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the multiplayer Team Fortress 2 and the puzzle game Portal on October 9. This apparently includes the retail release of Half-Life 2: The Orange Box (which includes all of the above, plus the original Half-Life 2 and Episode One) on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, as well as via Steam...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 15, 2007 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wii Virtual Console - Bloody Wolf, Golf

This week's new Wii Virtual Console downloads include old school sports and a classic shooter:

Bloody Wolf (TurboGrafx) - $6
NES Open Tournament Golf (NES) - $5
World Sports Competition (TurboGrafx) - $6

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 18, 2007 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Steamed - Geometry Wars, Sam & Max and more

Thanks to Valve's Steam service, PC gaming fans now have an alternative to MSN's Vista-only release of Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved and the previously GameTap-only Sam & Max point-and-click adventure series. Best of all, Geometry Wars is only $2.50 through Thursday, June 21 (after that, $4). The Sam & Max episodes 1-6 are available individually ($9) or in 3-packs ($20). Another bonus for Steam users: If you have RACE – The WTCC Game, the Catherham Expansion pack is free until Friday, when it'll run you $5 as an add-on or $25 with the main game...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 19, 2007 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Achievement Watch - Halo 3

The list of achievements for Halo 3 has been revealed, and they offer a few (minor spoiler) insights into the game. First, unlike many 360 games, you don't need to play through the single-player campaign at all skill levels to get the mad points. All game completion achievements below your difficulty level are awarded when you beat the game, so completing all nine missions on Legendary nets you 655 points (including points earned along the way). Another 90 points are for finding hidden skulls that appear on your second campaign. Additional points are earned by advancing in ranked multiplayer matches, pulling off cool kills like a two-fer laser shot and playing a mysterious "Campaign meta-game" that we'll no doubt hear more about soon enough...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 20, 2007 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PlayStation 3 Round-up - New and future games

Sony announced it would end the PlayStation 3 game drought soon with some 380 titles delivered before April 2008, but quickly revised the number to around 150 for the U.S. market. This includes 40 or so downloadable games and expansion packs, meaning only about 100 are destined for retail. If you're looking for some PS3 love right now, hit up the PlayStation Store for some new downloads:

MotorStorm time attack mode, complete with shareable ghosts and leaderboards (free)
CoolBoarders and Hot Shots Golf 2 for PS3 and PSP ($6 each)

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 21, 2007 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Xbox 360 Round-up - Design an Arcade game, get Marketplace crap

Doritos Xbox Live Arcade Game Design/Marketing Contest

If you've ever envisioned yourself as a game designer, here's your lucky break. You can try your hand at designing an Xbox Live Arcade title without having to touch that oogy XNA Game Studio development kit or program yucky code. The catch? It has to involve Doritos. As the marketing folks at Frito-Lay put it, "Use our iconic shape, bold flavors or simply our intense experience. How you use that inspiration is entirely up to you." We're predicting a lot of Hexic knockoffs with chips. Still game? Submit your game idea and if you're one of five finalists, you'll get valuable prizes (like a limited edition 360 Elite and home entertainment system complete with gaming chair) and the chance to realize your game design -- and become a god among marketing tools. The rest of us will try the game betas this fall, vote for our fave and then wait for the winner to be finished, released, and ignored.

If you just want to download some stuff now, Microsoft's got you covered there too:

Band of Bugs turn-based strategy game ($10), plus theme ($1.88) and picture packs ($0.63 each)
Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars Ground Zero map (free), plus Map Pack 1 ($6.25) and a promo video to sell you on Map Pack 1 (free)
Lost Planet multiplayer map pack #3 ($5)
Another Alien Hominid HD PDA Pack ($1.88) and some picture packs ($1.25)
Demos for Surf's Up and Project Sylpheed (free)
Videos for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction and FlatOut UC Carnage (free)
More anime themes ($1.88 each) and picture packs ($1 each)
Transformers movie marketing videos (free)
Hell Holes TV show episode (free)

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 22, 2007 5:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wii Virtual Console - Street Fighter II, F-Zero X and more

This week's new Wii Virtual Console downloads include some titles you might recognize:

China Warrior (TurboGrafx) - $6
F-Zero X (N64) - $10
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting (SNES) - $8

The addition of Street Fighter II puts the Virtual Console and Xbox Live Arcade into direct competition, though the Xbox 360 version was upgraded with enhanced graphics and an online "Quarters" mode - so there's arguably no contest, unless you don't have a 360...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 25, 2007 3:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

First Impressions - Ratatouille

I picked up Ratatouille for Xbox 360 since our 4-year-old is dying to see the movie, it contained a $7.50 movie ticket voucher, and the previews and achievements list made it sound reasonably fun. I typically love exploration games, and one with cooking mini-games sounded like it would be worth trying.

The game features large worlds to explore, good voice acting and some fun tricks to master. It's also unnecessarily complex and linear. A few notes after a couple hours of play:

This game is not for the very little ones. Comic violence aside (there is a lady with a large gun and a gas mask shooting at poor Remy pretty early on), it's just too hard. Learning to master a well-timed double-tap followed by another button press while maneuvering the thumbstick and then maintaing a balance point is tricky for adults. It's not the entry-level platformer it should be. There really needs to be a younger kid mode that favors basic exploration and not so much emphasis on fine motor skills.
The game is somewhat glitchy and lets you get stuck, at least temporarily, in walls, behind logs, in truck seats, etc. An awful experience for a game that encourages exploration, especially when targeted at young kids.
Many missions required to advance are timed and/or require significant trial and error to figure out. The "escape the lady with the gun" mission took me about 10 tries. Another where I chased a phantom chef became confusing when he disappeared up a wall where I couldn't see him or his trail.
The nose detector, which is supposed to direct Remy to his next task, only works under certain circumstances. More often than not, Remy sniffs and nothing happens.
Back-tracking is not allowed. Missed a few coins or just want to explore the first level further? Too bad. You can play mini-games and missions that have been previously unlocked, however, and presumably beating the game will permit you to revisit past levels. Fortunately, my son will probably not make it past the first tutorial level this year, so this may not be an issue. And there's probably a cheat that will permit level selection, although THQ wants you to buy Mattel's Ratatouille tie-in toys to get them! No doubt they'll all be posted online within the week, so save your money.
Cooking is the theme, but so far there isn't much that is based in reality. Chili peppers that explode to remove crates in your way? Too cartoony, particularly for a Pixar cartoon.

The Wii and PS3 versions, which make use of the systems' motion-based gesture capabilities, might be slightly better but probably not enough so for a 4-year-old to master. Based on the short snippet I've played, this is an OK game that should have been better - and might have set a higher standard for licensed Pixar titles with only a little more thought and effort...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 26, 2007 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

The Buzz - PSP v3.5 boosts CPU performance, hacked

The newly released PlayStation Portable v3.5 firmware update boosts CPU performance to its upper limit (333 MHz), which will result in better looking games starting with the forthcoming God of War: Chains of Olympus. It's also been reported that the firmware (along with all previous versions) accepts a hacked save file for Lumines that permits homebrew files to be loaded. Sales of the already popular game have skyrocketed - even though the hack is in its infancy and smart shoppers know that the next firmware patch will close the loophole and be required to play the final shipping version of God of War. Enjoy it while you can:

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 27, 2007 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Xbox Live Marketplace - Carcassonne, free GTA IV stuff and more

This week on Xbox Live Marketplace, the new Xbox Live Arcade game is Carcassonne, based on the popular board game, for $10. There's also new Grand Theft Auto IV content including a second trailer, theme and picture pack -- and they're all free. Wow, marketing content you don't have to pay for... what is the world coming to?! You know, I was on the fence about the collector's edition for this game, but now I might just spring for it. A little good will goes a long way.

Other new downloads include:

A F.E.A.R. update that includes two new multiplayer modes (Control and Conquer All) with updates that allow you to play with existing maps, as well as other game tweaks including a HUD fade option and blood spatter on enemy uniforms (free)
Mad Tracks Encore expansion pack, which adds nine races and six mini-games ($4.38), plus a new theme ($1.88) and picture pack ($1.25)
Lumines Live! Booster Pack 2 with 20 new challenge mode skins ($7.50), plus a new club mix ($4.38), theme ($1.88), and picture packs ($1.25 each)
Soltrio Solitaire game pack that adds Golf, Bristol and eight more game types ($1.88)
New costumes for Rumble Roses XX ($1 each)
Videos for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (the game), Conan, Overlord , The Bigs and another episode of the Shadowrun machinima 1-800-MAGIC (free)
A Penny Arcade picture pack ($2.50)
Themes promoting UFC ($1.88 each)
A pirate flag picture pack ($1)

Ubisoft had another add-on pack for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas, but had to pull it due to technical difficulties. Watch for the return of the $10 Player's Pack Black Edition, which includes two new maps, a remix and the classic Presidio from RS3...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 28, 2007 4:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Act Fast!- Free Wii Web Browser jumps to $5 on Sunday

If you have a Wii and haven't downloaded the free Opera Browser yet, you need to get it before Sunday, July 1. After tomorrow, the browser will cost $5...

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 29, 2007 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PlayStation Network - Resistance update, Super Stardust HD and more

The PlayStation Network has an overdue free update for Resistance: Fall of Man that adds support for international competition. There's also a multiplayer map pack for $8, but it only has two maps. Hey, did we mention you can play people in Europe and Japan now?! There's also a new game called Super Stardust HD ($8) that has good buzz (despite its strong resemblance to Geometry Wars), the second Grand Theft Auto IV trailer (on time this time!), and a Dynasty Warriors: Gundam demo.

Finally, if you haven't bought a PS3 yet and you're on the fence, Sony is going to offer five free Blu-Ray movies if you purchase one (or any Blu-Ray player) between July 1 and September 30. (What do you bet the inevitable PS3 price cut is announced Oct. 1!) The catch is that you can only pick titles from a pre-approved list that includes: Babel, Black Rain, Blazing Saddles, Chicken Little, The Corpse Bride, The Devil's Rejects, The Guardian, Hart's War, Invincible, The Italian Job, Kiss of the Dragon, The Last Waltz, The Omen [2006], Pearl Harbor, The Phantom of the Opera, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Species, Stealth, Stir of Echoes, The Transporter 2, and Underworld: Evolution. Details on exactly how the promotion works are scheduled to be posted to the official Blu-Ray promotion marketing site in the next few days...

UPDATE: It turns out you can't choose any five Blu-Ray movies, you have to pick one from each of five categories (PDF) - probably divided by studio, so each helps carry the load of this promotion.

Posted by Gamewatcher on June 29, 2007 5:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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June 2007 Archives

June 1, 2007

Xbox 360 Round-up - Halo 3 Beta custom matches, more downloads

June 4, 2007

Wii Virtual Console - Zelda II, more

June 5, 2007

Rumor Patrol - Resident Evil 4 for Wii censored?

June 6, 2007

Xbox Live Marketplace - Pac-Man Championship Edition, more

June 7, 2007

Try These Games - GRAW 2, Shadowrun

June 8, 2007

Let Your Voice Be Heard - Suggest Rock Band songs

Rumor Patrol - Xbox 360 price drop in September?

June 11, 2007

Wii Virtual Console - Sonic 2, Lode Runner, Golden Axe II

June 12, 2007

News Flash - Soul Calibur IV in 2008

June 13, 2007

Xbox 360 Round-up - Gears of War, Prince of Persia, more

June 14, 2007

PlayStation Network - Go! Puzzle

June 15, 2007

Dated - Half-Life 2: Episode 2

June 18, 2007

Wii Virtual Console - Bloody Wolf, Golf

June 19, 2007

Steamed - Geometry Wars, Sam & Max and more

June 20, 2007

Achievement Watch - Halo 3

June 21, 2007

PlayStation 3 Round-up - New and future games

June 22, 2007

Xbox 360 Round-up - Design an Arcade game, get Marketplace crap

June 25, 2007

Wii Virtual Console - Street Fighter II, F-Zero X and more

June 26, 2007

First Impressions - Ratatouille

June 27, 2007

The Buzz - PSP v3.5 boosts CPU performance, hacked

June 28, 2007

Xbox Live Marketplace - Carcassonne, free GTA IV stuff and more

June 29, 2007

Act Fast!- Free Wii Web Browser jumps to $5 on Sunday

PlayStation Network - Resistance update, Super Stardust HD and more

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About June 2007