Secret Code for XBLA Every Extend Extra Extreme

This code for E4 will let you adjust the way your beat appears for your own tunes while playing the game. To get this new "fine tune" mode you must go to the start menu, use the left and right triggers to input "left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right" which will unlock the aforementioned Fine Adjustment menu. The tools were originally going to be included in the game but were abandoned when they were thought to be too complicated. But, the public asked and Q has amply provided.

FOX VS. Mass Effect VS. EA

Wow, it has been an amazing week. Especially for the people at FOX and EA. It all started when FOX aired a clip about Mass Effect with people who never played the game criticizing the game for its "sexual content" claiming it's pornography and that it's ruining the lives of children even though the game is rated M for Mature 17 and older. Anyway here is the clip. Watch it. It is very interesting.



Following the brutal beating of Mass Effect on FOX, EA strikes back with this:

Your headline above the televised story read: "New videogame shows full digital nudity and sex." Fact: Mass Effect does not include explicit or frontal nudity. Love scenes in non-interactive sequences include side and profile shots - a vantage frequently used in many prime-time television shows. It's also worth noting that the game requires players to develop complex relationships before characters can become intimate and players can chose to avoid the love scenes altogether.

FNC voice-over reporter says: "You'll see full digital nudity and the ability for players to engage in graphic sex."
Fact: Sex scenes in Mass Effect are not graphic. These scenes are very similar to sex sequences frequently seen on network television in prime time.

FNC reporter says: "Critics say Mass Effect is being marketed to kids and teenagers."
Fact: That is flat out false. Mass Effect and all related marketing has been reviewed by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and rated Mature - appropriate for players 17-years and older. ESRB routinely counsels retailers on requesting proof of age in selling M-rated titles and the system has been lauded by members of Congress and the Federal Trade Commission. In practical terms, the ratings work as well or better than those used for warning viewers about television content.

The resulting coverage was insulting to the men and women who spent years creating a game which is acclaimed by critics for its high creative standards. As video games continue to take audiences away from television, we expect to see more TV news stories warning parents about the corrupting influence of interactive entertainment. But this represents a new level of recklessness.

Do you watch the Fox Network? Do you watch Family Guy? Have you ever seen The OC? Do you think the sexual situations in Mass Effect are any more graphic than scenes routinely aired on those shows? Do you honestly believe that young people have more exposure to Mass Effect than to those prime time shows?

This isn't a legal threat; it's an appeal to your sense of fairness. We're asking FNC to correct the record on Mass Effect.

Sincerely,

Jeff Brown
Vice President of Communications
Electronic Arts, Inc.

After this the community is outraged. They all go over to Amazon, where the women who never played Mass Effect sells her books, and give her a 1 star rating leaving comments such as:

• "I never read the book, don't know who she is, and don't really care what she's writing about"
  

• "If she does have as much "research" as she does for her tv spots you can expect a book full of complete lies at best. Take everything she writes with a huge grain of salt or better yet save your money."

• "Trying to encourage sexual acts in a book made available to young children is unacceptable."
  

Following the spamming of amazon reviews, Amazon pulls ALL reviews of the book. Soon after Ms. Lawrence gives an apology stating:

...Ms. Lawrence said that since the controversy over her remarks erupted she had watched someone play the game for about two and a half hours. "I recognize that I misspoke," she said. "I really regret saying that, and now that I've seen the game and seen the sex scenes it's kind of a joke.

"Before the show I had asked somebody about what they had heard, and they had said it's like pornography," she added. "But it's not like pornography. I've seen episodes of 'Lost' that are more sexually explicit."

As of now FOX has not issued any apologies for the slandering of Mass Effect, while EA continues its fight.

[From Kotaku]

GTA IV Delay PS3's Fault, New Date April 29th

From GamePro:

"It's really no surprise to anybody that the PS3 was definitely a contributing factor to [the delay]," said Jeronimo Barrera, VP of product development for Rockstar, in an interview with MTV News.

He added, "That's not to say there's anything wrong with the PS3 version. It's awesome... Now, we're neck and neck" -- meaning that both versions are identical, something that presumably wasn't possible for the original fall 2007 release.

The PS3 has long been the elephant in the room with regards to multiplatform development. In August 2007, Sony confirmed to GamePro that the technical benefits of PS3 hardware often come at the cost of a steeper learning curve when coding games.

Grand Theft Auto IV, easily one of the most anticipated games of this generation, is scheduled for release on PS3 and Xbox 360 on April 29.

The "Truth" About 360 Failures

I'm sure everyone has heard the horrible tale of the Red Rings of Death. You may have heard about it, you may know someone who it has happened to, or you could be the person who has experienced it firsthand. The website 8Bit Joystick claims to have a "confidential source" who worked with the Xbox team, and gives his take on the 360 RROD and it's failure rates. You can check out the full interview here.

New Releases: Week of 1/20

Title	Platform	Genre	Release Date
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin	DS	Strategy	Jan 21, 2008
Burnout Paradise	PS3	Driving	Jan 22, 2008
Burnout Paradise	X360	Driving	Jan 22, 2008
Endless Ocean	WII	Adventure	Jan 21, 2008
Iridium Runners	PS2	Driving	Jan 22, 2008
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games	DS	Sports	Jan 22, 2008
No More Heroes	WII	Action	Jan 22, 2008
One Piece: Unlimited Adventure	WII	Action	Jan 22, 2008
Pacific Storm: Allies	PC	Strategy	Jan 21, 2008
Pirates of the Burning Sea	PC	Role-Playing	Jan 21, 2008
PixelJunk Monsters	PS3	Strategy	Jan 24, 2008
Rainbow Islands Evolution	PSP	Action	Jan 24, 2008

[From Gamespot]

Your FREE XBLA Game for LIVE Problems

From Gamerscore Blog:

Recently, Xbox.com posted a letter from Marc Whitten, General Manager of Xbox LIVE, thanking subscribers for their patience with the service. We’ve implemented several improvements to the service, to help ensure ongoing reliability and performance. As the popularity of Xbox LIVE expands, we’ll continue to closely monitor the service and make adjustments. As always, if you are having any problems, please contact your local support (1-800-4-MYXBOX in North America) so that we can assist you.

Marc announced that all Xbox LIVE members (Gold and Silver) around the world would have access to a full Xbox LIVE Arcade game to download free of charge. We’re pleased to announce that beginning next Wednesday, 2:00 a.m. PST through Sunday, 11:59 p.m. PST, Xbox LIVE members worldwide can download the full version of the recent award-winning Xbox LIVE Arcade game, Undertow.

Developed by Chair Entertainment Group, Undertow is one of the highest-rated and best looking games available on Arcade. Undertow redefines aquatic based shooters through a mix of high-definition graphics, intuitive controls and multiple modes of game play action. The game features a full story driven-single player campaign, on and offline co-op, and multiplayer for 2-16 players over Xbox LIVE for Gold subscribers. Players battle for control of the oceans as one of three selectable races, each with four unique, upgradeable units. "Undertow" is available worldwide (normally 800 Microsoft Points) and is rated E10+.

Today's PSN Update

• Turok demo (free)
  

• FIFA Street 3 demo (free)
  

• Mesmerize: Trace PlayStation Eye "game" ($1.99)
  

• Tori Emaki PlayStation Eye "game" ($1.99)
  

• Blast Factor bundle ($12.99)
  

• Motorstorm "Double Track" add-on pack ($2.99)
  

• Rock Band downloadable content ($1.99 each)
  

• Sweet's "Action" (cover)
  
• The Monkees' "Last Train to Clarksville" (cover)
  
• Blink 182's "All the Small Things"
  

• PixelJunk Monsters trailer (free)
  

• Syphon Filter: Combat Ops trailer (free)
  

• Lost Planet trailer (free)
  

• Brother In Arms: Hell's Highway trailer (free)
  

• Dynasty Warriors 6 trailer (free)
  

• Borderlands trailer (free)

[From PS3 Fanboy]

Virtua Fighter 5 Patch Released

I just got word from Sega that a title update is now available for VF5. The next time you play VF5 and you are signed into Xbox LIVE, you’ll be prompted to accept the free update. Direct from Sega, here is the what the update contains:

• Some characters will now be able to equip select costume-specific pants in alternate costumes, for example equipping Costume A pants in Costume B.
• Replays of online battles can now be saved
• Rematches in Online VS. Player Matches now possible even when the players haven't added their opponent to their friend list
• One additional item per character (appear as "Downloaded item" in Costume settings/Item edit dialog)
• Gamer pictures will now be shown in online battles
• After winning the World Tournament Final, it's now more likely that rivals you have not defeated will be playing in arcades
• When someone joins an online match, you can now see their connection quality
• Various fixes for minor bugs, including a texture bug
• Easier sorting of rankings

[From Major Nelson]

Nintendo Releases Half of '08 Schedule

The following is a partial list of Wii and Nintendo DS software for the first half of 2008. Note that details are subject to change.

Wii
Jan. 7: Kidz Sports Ice Hockey from Destineer
Jan. 8: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law from Capcom
Jan. 15: SAMURAI WARRIORS: KATANA from KOEI CORPORATION
Jan. 15: Furu Furu Park from Majesco Entertainment
Jan. 21: Endless Ocean™ from Nintendo
Jan. 22: One Piece™: Unlimited Adventure™ from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Jan. 29: Bomberman Land from Hudson
January: No More Heroes™ from Ubisoft
January: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation™: Hard Evidence from Ubisoft
Feb. 8: Kawasaki Jet Ski from Destineer
Feb. 11: Go Diego Go!: Safari Rescue from 2K Play
Feb. 12: WWII Aces from Destineer
Feb. 12: Dream Pinball 3D from SouthPeak Games
Feb. 18: MX vs. ATV Untamed from THQ
Feb. 25: Agatha Christie And Then There Were None from DreamCatcher Games
Feb. 26: Baroque from Atlus USA
Feb. 26: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors from Square Enix
Feb. 27: Kidz Sports Soccer from Destineer
Feb. 27: London Taxi: Rush Hour from Destineer
February: Garfield® Gets Real from DSI Games
February: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games
February: Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore from Konami
February: Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30™ from Ubisoft
February: BALLOON POP from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES
March 3: Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed from THQ
March 9: Super Smash Bros.® Brawl from Nintendo
March 10: Worms: A Space Oddity from THQ
March 25: Okami from Capcom
March 25: OPOONA from KOEI CORPORATION
March: MiniCopter: Adventure Flight from Aksys Games
March: Alone in the Dark from Atari
March: Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts
March: Obscure: The Aftermath from Ignition Entertainment
March: Target: Terror from Konami
March: Nitro Bike™ from Ubisoft
March: Emergency Heroes™ from Ubisoft
March: HEAVENLY GUARDIAN from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES
March: Rebel Raiders from XS Games
April 15: Castle of Shikigami III from Aksys Games
April: Pro Evolution Soccer from Konami
April: Wild Earth: African Safari from Majesco Entertainment
April: THE MONKEY KING-THE LEGEND BEGINS from UFO INTERACTIVE GAMES
April: Super Pick Ups from XS Games
May 6: Speed Racer from Warner Bros. Games
May 13: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian from Disney Interactive Studios
May: BlastWorks: Build, Trade, Destroy from Majesco Entertainment
May: King of Fighters: The Orochi Saga from SNK Playmore
May: THE DOG Island™ from Ubisoft
June 8: Wonderworld Amusement Park from Majesco Entertainment
June: Catch of the Day from Electronic Arts
June: Ford Racing Off Road from Empire Interactive
June: Cooking Mama Cook Off 2 from Majesco Entertainment
June: Rygar: The Battle of Argus from Tecmo, Inc.
June: DeBlob from THQ
June: Wall-E from THQ
Spring: Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel from Nintendo
Spring: Major League Baseball® 2K8 from 2K Sports
Spring: Don King Presents: Prizefighter from 2K Sports
Spring: Top Spin 3 from 2K Sports
Spring: Kung Fu Panda from Activision
Spring: LEGO: Indiana Jones from LucasArts
Summer: Deca Sports from Hudson
Summer: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts
Summer: Active Life™: Outdoor Challenge™ from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Q2: Wii Fit from Nintendo

Nintendo DS
Jan. 21: Advance Wars: Days of Ruin from Nintendo/Intelligent Systems
Jan. 21: Mazes of Fate DS from Graffiti Entertainment, LLC
Jan. 22: Mega Brain Boost from Majesco Entertainment
Jan. 24: Aquarium by DS from Bold Games
Jan. 24: Fantasy Aquarium by DS from Bold Games
Jan. 29: Pet Pals: Animal Doctor from Majesco Entertainment
January: N+ from Atari
January: Barnyard Blast from DSI Games
January: Command & Destroy from DSI Games
January: Miami Nights: Singles in the City™ from Ubisoft
January: Brain Challenge™ from Ubisoft
Feb. 4: Paws & Claws: Pet Resort from THQ
Feb. 5: Homie Rollerz from Destineer
Feb. 5: Nanostray 2 from Majesco Entertainment
Feb. 10 (street date): Professor Layton and the Curious Village™ from Nintendo/LEVEL-5
Feb. 12: Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney from Capcom
Feb. 12: New Zealand Story Revolution from Ignition Entertainment
Feb. 12: Dream Pinball 3D from SouthPeak Games
Feb. 19: Spitfire Heroes: Tales of the RAF from Destineer
Feb. 19: Zoo Tycoon II from THQ
Feb. 25: Bratz: Super Babyz from THQ
Feb. 26: Bubble Bobble Double Shot from Ignition Entertainment
February: My Horse and Me from Atari
February: M&M'S® Kart Racing from DSI Games
February: Garfield® Gets Real from DSI Games
February: Yamaha Supercross from DSI Games
February: Insecticide from Gamecock Media Group
February: Anno™ 1701: Dawn of Discovery from Ubisoft
February: Assassin's Creed Altair's Chronicles™ from Ubisoft
February: Petz® Wild Animals: Tigerz from Ubisoft
February: Puppy Palace™ from Ubisoft
February: Real Soccer® 2008 from Ubisoft
March 1: Project Exile from Graffiti Entertainment, LLC
March 3: Let's Ride: Friends Forever from THQ
March 4: Diary Girl from Konami
March 4: Go Pets from Konami
March 4: Disney Friends from Disney Interactive Studios
March 4: Eco-Creatures: Save the Forest from Majesco Entertainment
March 8: Plushees from Destineer
March 8: River King: Mystic Valley from Natsume Inc.
March 8: Harvest Moon DS Cute from Natsume Inc.
March 11: FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: Rings of Fate from Square Enix
March 11: Lost in Blue 3 from Konami
March 11: Pro Evolution Soccer from Konami
March 25: Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword from Tecmo, Inc.
March: Alone in the Dark from Atari
March: Drone Tactics from Atlus USA
March: Double Sequence from DSI Games
March: Ninja Reflex from Electronic Arts
March: Myst from Empire Interactive
March: Naruto™: Ninja Destiny from Tomy Corporation
March: Petz® Bunnyz™ from Ubisoft
March: Imagine™ Figure Skater from Ubisoft
March: Commando from XS Games
April 15: Teenage Zombies: Invasion of the Alien Brain Thingys from Ignition Entertainment
April: Super Dodgeball Brawlers from Aksys Games
April: Rondo of Swords from Atlus USA
April: Quick Yoga Training from Ubisoft
May 5: Crosswords DS from Nintendo
May 6: Speed Racer from Warner Bros. Games
May 8: Organize It from Summitsoft Corporation
May 13: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian from Disney Interactive Studios
May: Winx Club: Mission Enchantix from Konami
May: Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles from Aksys Games
May: Garfield® Fun Fest from DSI Games
May: 1 vs. 100 from DSI Games
June 8: Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness from Natsume Inc.
June: Shining Stars® from DSI Games
June: Catch of the Day from Electronic Arts
June: PipeMania from Empire Interactive
June: Wall-E from THQ
Spring: Sid Meier's Civilization® Revolution™ from 2K Games
Spring: Don King Presents: Prizefighter from 2K Sports
Spring: Top Spin 3 from 2K Sports
Spring: Kung Fu Panda from Activision
Spring: LEGO: Indiana Jones from LucasArts
Spring: The World Ends with You from Square Enix
Summer: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from LucasArts
Summer: Tamagotchi Connection®: Corner Shop® 3 from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Q2: Bangai-O Spirits from D3 Publisher of America
Q2: PREY THE STARS from KOEI CORPORATION
Q2: Pokemon® Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time from Nintendo
Q2: Pokemon® Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness from Nintendo

[From Kotaku]

This Week's XBLA Release

Content: Boogie Bunnies
Price: 800 Microsoft Points Availability: Not available in India, Japan or Korea (why?) Dash Text: [ESRB: E (EVERYONE)] Single Player, Xbox LIVE Multiplayer 1-2, Local Multiplayer 1-2, HD (High Definition). Help the Boogie Bunnies achieve their dream of super stardom as they try to win the ultimate dancing competition in this zany puzzle game. Match these colorful fur balls from three different sides – left, right and from the bottom. Unlock the full game now and hop into multiplayer mode with a friend! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/Live/accounts.

[From Major Nelson]

Ninja Gaiden 2 Needs Your Help With Achievements

The guys over at the Gamerscore Blog have a post up asking for the community to help Team Ninja come up with some achievements that are worth getting. No more press start and get an achievement. These achievements must have meaning and inspiration. So head on over to the Gamerscore Blog and post what you think the achievements should be. You have until January 24th, so move it!

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Officially Delayed

How come every time Nintendo releases a new character for SSBB they also release a new release date? Oh well, at least we know it is going to be good. Hopefully. From Nintendo:

Due to delays in the completion of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, we've had to change the release date of the game to Sunday, March 9th.

I deeply apologize to the people who have looked forward to playing the game for so long and ask that you hold on just a little longer. Thank you for your patience.

COD 4: MW Coming to a Mac Near You

Who says you can't game on a Mac? Here is the official press release:

Aspyr Media, Inc. announced today they will publish Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™ for Mac, a gripping modern-day action-thriller that deploys players into heart-stopping battles across the world's most treacherous hotspots. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare delivers unprecedented high-definition graphics, piercing 5.1 surround sound and a dynamic community-oriented multiplayer experience. Developed by Infinity Ward and licensed by Activision, the game is expected to be available for Mac in May 2008.

Featuring a tense storyline, filled with plot twists, the title thrusts players into battle like never before. With amazing special effects, including rim-lighting, depth of field, texture streaming and character self-shadowing, players are enlisted into one of the most photo-realistic gaming experiences imaginable.

The community-oriented Call of Duty 4 multiplayer gameplay features a robust leveling system, variety of unlockable perks, hot-join and matchmaking, as well as create a class and party capabilities to ensure that players of all skill levels can join in the fun. Additionally over 100 challenges and a host of new game environments and modes deliver unlimited possibilities. Infinity Ward has also included Kill-Cam, a fan favorite feature that they created in Call of Duty 2 which allows for spectator instant replays.

Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™ will soon be available for preorder through Aspyr's website for only $49.99. For more information, fans can also visit the official Website, http://www.callofduty.com/.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Intense Violence, Strong Language and Blood and Gore.

2K9 College Hoops CANCELED

Take-Two has announced today that College Hoops 2K9 has been canceled. Here is their official statement:

2K Sports has decided not to continue negotiations with the CLC for the license for its top-rated College Hoops franchise, which would have been released next in November 2008. We are committed to providing fans with high-quality, critically-acclaimed sports games, but given our disciplined approach to the business, we do not believe the current discussions would result in an acceptable outcome.

There are many rumors floating around that EA is trying to buy yet another license. Making them yet again the ONLY publisher allowed to publish another sports franchise. I don't know about you, but this has got to be a monopoly. If this is true, which it probably is, EA wins again. As they continue to churn out the same game every year with no competitors. They have already done it with football, and you can probably expect it with basketball.

P.S.- Yes, that's the Monopoly guy.

[From Kotaku]

No More LIVE Updates

Major Nelson announced today that he is no longer able to update the Xbox community on the status of Xbox LIVE due to a class-action lawsuit brought up against Microsoft for $5 Million. The plaintiffs in the suit claim Microsoft has breeched its contract and should have "provided adequate access and service to Xbox Live and its subscribers." Here is the official words from major himself:

"Unfortunately... a lawyer has decided to sue us, once that happens I can no longer make a comment [regarding the status of Xbox Live]. I apologize, but go talk to the lawyer."

I mean who are these people suing Microsoft? Are they stupid or something? I'm pretty sure that Microsoft has some kind of clause in that contract that claims they can't guarantee access 100% of the time. It's not like they intended for the outage, they have already apologized and they are giving a free arcade game to everyone. I mean what else can they do?

[From GamePro]

This Week's VC Update

Pac-Attack (Super NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points): Pac-Man makes a rare appearance outside of a maze environment in Pac-Attack, a fun and quirky puzzle game. This unique entry in the genre puts its own twist on established conventions and adds one of gaming's most iconic characters to the mix. The goal is simple: Keep your screen clear of falling blocks and ghosts by lining up blocks horizontally, causing them to disappear. Clearing the ghosts, though, requires the help of a hungry Pac-Man (who just happens to swing by every so often for a snack). It's up to you to get all of the ghosts lined up for him, because Pac-Man will keep eating them until he is stopped by a block or he runs out of ghosts. In addition, his range of movement on the playing field is limited to horizontal or downward--thus adding further strategy. There are three game modes to choose from: 1 Player Normal, 2 Player VS., and the challenging 1 Player Puzzle. Feel like gobbling up some ghosts?

Riot Zone (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, Rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Tobacco Reference, Violence, 800 Wii Points): Riot Zone is a side-scrolling fighting game that follows two heroes as they fight to take down an evil organization. The crime syndicate Dragon Zone has kidnapped Hawk's girlfriend and it's up to him and his partner detective, Tony, to get her back. Join them as they jump "fists first" into the grim Kowloon district. Play as Hawk or Tony and fight through all five stages in the deadly Kowloon district. Smash down the Dragon Zone goons in areas like the Harbor, Abandoned Warehouse and the Ghetto. Both characters have unique skills and attacks. Hawk is a master of karate, while Tony is a hard-hitter. That being said, both guys are massive and possess killer techniques. The hard-boiled action is enhanced by the game's realistic sound effects.

New Releases: Week of 1/13

Title	Platform	Genre			Release Date
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Hard Evidence	WII	Adventure			Jan 15, 2008
Carrier Strike Force	PC	Simulation			Jan 15, 2008
Corvette Evolution GT	DS	Driving			Jan 15, 2008
FlatOut: Head On	PSP	Driving			Jan 15, 2008
FlatOut: Head On	PC	Driving			Jan 15, 2008
Furu Furu Park	WII	Action			Jan 15, 2008
Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge	WII	Puzzle			Jan 15, 2008
Miami Nights: Singles in the City	DS	Simulation			Jan 15, 2008
Nanostray 2	DS	Action			Jan 15, 2008
Nitrobike	WII	Driving			Jan 15, 2008
Rail Simulator	PC	Simulation			Jan 16, 2008
Samurai Warriors: Katana	WII	Puzzle			Jan 15, 2008

[From Gamespot]

Today's PSN Update

• Crash Bandicoot 2 PS1 game ($5.99)

• Kane & Lynch demo (free)
  

• Super Stardust HD demo & upgrade (free; full game is $9.99)
  

• Folklore "The Alchemist Pack" add-on ($3.99)
  

• Folklore "The Origin of Belgae" add-on ($3.99)
  

• Need For Speed ProStreet "Bugatti Veyron 16.4" add-on ($2.99)
  

• Need For Speed ProStreet "McLaren F1" add-on ($2.99)
  

• Rock Band song downloads ($1.99 each)
  
• Stone Temple Pilots' "Interstate Love Song"
• The Hives' "Die, All right!"
• Iron Maiden's "Number of the Beast"
  

• Burnout Paradise "Guns 'N Roses" trailer (free)
  

• Two PAIN themes (free)
  

• First Sunday movie trailer (free)
  

• Spiderwick Chronicles movie trailer (free)

[From PS3 Fanboy]

PSP to Blu-ray Confirmed and Detailed

For the owners of the PS3 and PSP you will soon be able to take your Blu-ray movies on the go, literally. You take a Blu-ray disc and put it in your PS3 where you will have the choice to download the movie to your PS3 memory stick and take it with you on the go. Sony has said that the movie download should take about 3-5 min and will be standard def and optimized for the PSP with a size of around 1 GB. As of now it is planned on being free and hopefully available for all Blu-ray movies. As for the time frame Sony is only saying this year with no other details.

[From Gizmodo]

20 and 60 GB PS3 Discontinued (Japan)

Several months after discontinuing the 20 and 60 GB PS3 consoles in North America today Sony has announced that they are also discontinuing them in Japan. This takes the number PS3 consoles down to two. The non-backwards compatible 40GB or the expensive 80 GB version.

[From GamePro]

Rock Band Drummer Tips

Are you having trouble mastering those drums for Rock Band or even beating easy? Well Wired has posted some tips given to them by no other than the Rock Band crew that should help out anyone. Among the tips are ways to use the base pedal, how to train your hands to play, ways to keep your rhythm in the song, and which songs you should play more than others to get that technique down just right. Check it out here.

EGM Banned From Products For Bad Reviews

According to Dan Hsu (Editor-in-Chief of EGM), Midway’s Mortal Kombat development team, Sony’s sports game division, and Ubisoft have all allegedly banned EGM from further coverage of their products. The reason: Apparently, they didn’t take too kindly to EGM’s review coverage of their games. Still, Hsu maintains that EGM “won’t treat these products or companies any differently.”

If this is in fact true those 3 companies should be ashamed of themselves. Props to EGM for standing up for themselves and their beliefs. More review sites should post something similar to all the companies who blackballed them in the past for bad reviews. They SHOULD give names, not just say that it has happened to them, and maybe it will make companies think twice about ruining their reputations.

[From VGM Watch]

Burnout 3 Coming to Xbox Originals

Burnout 3: Takedown will be available on the Xbox 360 through Xbox Originals on Monday, January 14th for 1200 MS Points ($15).

[From Major Nelson]

This Week's XBLA Release

Content: Omega Five
Price: 800 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Korea or Taiwan
Dash Text: [ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes] Single Player, Local Multiplayer 2, HD (High Definition). The baddest guys around have been gathered together in order to save the beautiful planet from the clutches of invaders! Take control of characters such as a pirate, alien, or samurai and unleash aggressive action against the invading mechanical life forms using the most awesome weapons in the galaxy! Team up with another player in multiplayer for co-op action or go solo in single player and shoot for the high score with Omega Five's intense scoring system! This game requires the Xbox 360 hard drive or the 512MB Memory Unit for storage. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

Content: Tron
Price: 400 Microsoft Points
Availability: Not available in Japan or Korea
Dash Text: [ESRB: E (EVERYONE) MILD FANTASY VIOLENCE] Single Player, Xbox LIVE Multiplayer 1-2, Local Multiplayer 1-2, HD (High Definition). The arcade classic is back! Re-live the excitement of Tron – race life cycles, demolish tanks, dodge grid bugs and even square off against the MCP himself! There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/Live/accounts.

[From Major Nelson]

Microsoft Can Go Blu-Ray If YOU Want It **Update**

After recent reports of Warner Bros. dropping out of the HD-DVD race and going exclusively Blu-Ray Alber Penello (group marketing manager for Xbox hardware) was asked what Microsoft would do if HD-DVD failed. Here is his answer:

"It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider."

Everyday one side always seems to pull out a positive, today it is Blu-Ray maybe tomorrow will be HD-DVD. Personally, I like HD-DVD for it's name, price, and features, but in the end I think Blu-Ray will emerge the victor of this fight. Why? Sony has lost a war before (Betamax) and I don't think they will lose again. This war will not be won by porn (HD-DVD), it will be ultimately won by movie companies. Movie companies that are growing fewer and fewer on the HD-DVD side of things, but thankfully for Microsoft they don't have to worry about this. Like Sony who is fully committed to a side, Microsoft only has one leg over the fence which in the end will benefit them.

[From Reuters]

**Update**- Microsoft has released a clarification on it's quotes so they won't be taken out of context:

"There was a critical element of our comments missing from the story -- Microsoft currently has no plans at this time to consider Blu-ray as an option. We continue to believe that HD DVD is the best optical solution for consumers, since it's the only format today that delivers quality experiences at affordable prices."

"While the article states that Microsoft might possibly look into Blu-ray, we just want to emphasize that there are no current plans to consider Blu-ray as an option. Microsoft continues to be dedicated to the HD DVD format and we don't want the Reuters article to mislead or suggest otherwise."

[From Kotaku]

In-Game XMB Coming Soon

PS3 owners Sony hears you. You want in-game XMB, you got it--this year. The words coming from SCEA's Paul Purdy. When this year? Your guess is as good as mine.

[From Kotaku]

New Super Smash Bros. Brawl Character

A new character has been added to the ever growing list of characters in the upcoming release of Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii due out on February 10th. The new character will be Captain Omar and the 5 different colors of Pikmin at his side. This will be only one character and the Pikmin will help Captain Omar fight enemies.

[From Smash Bros. DOJO!!]

This Week's VC Update

Star Tropics™ (NES®, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone-Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): Find out just how resourceful you can be in this classic game, with its mixture of adventure and RPG elements. Step into the shoes of Mike Jones, a teenage star pitcher from Seattle who has come to the tropics to visit his famous archeologist uncle, Dr. Jones. After being told that his uncle has been abducted, Mike begins a perilous quest in order to rescue him and figure out the mysterious plot behind his disappearance. Luckily for Mike, he meets helpful villagers and finds more powerful weapons as he explores numerous locations and island-hops using his uncle's submarine. You'll never know what to expect next as the cosmic story unfolds over the course of eight action-packed chapters, ranging from Dr. Jones's lab on C-Island to an alien spacecraft. Who knew a tropical vacation could turn into a mission to save the world?

THE KING OF FIGHTERS '94 (NEOGEO, 1-2 players, Rated T for Teen-Animated Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Alcohol & Tobacco Reference, Violence, 900 Wii Points): As the first game in the long-running KING OF FIGHTERS series, THE KING OF FIGHTERS '94 brought together popular characters from other well-known franchises and pitted them against each other. Match warriors from Fatal Fury against favorites from its sister series, Art of Fighting. Or see if the casts of the Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier series better suit your fighting style. Plus, there's a set of brand new characters, exclusive to the KOF series, who are willing to join the fray. But there's a twist: Instead of the standard best-two- out-of-three-rounds fight setup, players choose one of eight teams, each made up of three teammates. To win, all members of the other team must be eliminated before your fighters are knocked out. Use the game's power gauge to inflict maximum damage and end the round with a devastating finishing move. It's a battle royal unlike anything else-a game whose inspiration is easily seen in the fighting games that followed it. Can your team be the last one standing?

Skype Coming to PSP (Slim) in Late January

Sorry early adopters of the PSP only users of the newly released version of the PSP, the PSP Slim, will have access to the Skype features. Here is the official press release:

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it would introduce Skype(TM) features to the new slim and light PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) handheld entertainment system (PSP-2000 series). More than 246 million members are registered for the use of this communications software, which enables users to communicate with other Skype users around the world over the Internet. Calls between Skype users are free of charge.

By introducing Skype on PSP, the following features and services will be
made available to PSP users (*1) (*2):

-- Free voice calls between Skype users
-- Skype contact list management (view existing contacts, add new ones)
-- Skype presence (see which friends are online and available to talk)
-- SkypeOut(TM) calls to make calls to landlines and mobile phones
anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of Skype credit)
-- Optional SkypeIn(TM) number that lets users receive calls on Skype from
landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world (requires the purchase of
Skype credit)
-- View and modify Skype settings and account details (including username
creation, SkypeOut settings, voicemail settings and call forwarding)

PSP users worldwide will be able to start using Skype features and
services through a simple system software update scheduled in late January.
After updating the PSP system software, a Skype icon will be added to the
Network category in the home menu. PSP users who do not yet have a Skype
username can register by clicking the icon and following the instructions.
PSP users who already have a Skype username can immediately sign in by
clicking the Skype icon and entering their username and password.
SCEI will deploy various measures to meet users' demand and vigorously
promote the expansion of the PSP platform as a handheld entertainment system
to enjoy a variety of interactive digital entertainment.

* For more information on Skype, please visit www.skype.com

(*1) To enjoy Skype features on PSP, users will need Memory Stick Duo(TM),
a wireless Internet connection and a Skype-compatible audio input
device.
(*2) In order to receive calls, users must be connected to the Internet
and signed in through the Skype screen on PSP.

Bully Scholorship Edition Details

The PS2 hit Bully will be coming to the Xbox 360 and Wii this March. Among the new features include four new classes (Biology, Music, Math and Geography), eight new missions, new items, more wardrobe choices, two-player minigames (offline) and new awards.

[From Kotaku]

New Releases: Week of 1/6

Title	Platform	Genre	Release Date
Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Channel	PS2	Puzzle	Jan 8, 2008
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law	PSP	Adventure	Jan 8, 2008
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law	PS2	Adventure	Jan 8, 2008
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law	WII	Adventure	Jan 8, 2008
Jackass the Game	DS	Action	Jan 8, 2008
Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom	X360	Role-Playing	Jan 8, 2008
Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge	WII	Puzzle	Jan 8, 2008
NFL Tour	PS3	Sports	Jan 8, 2008
NFL Tour	X360	Sports	Jan 8, 2008
Omega Five	X360	Action	Jan 9, 2008
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure	DS	Action	Jan 7, 2008
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity	WII	Driving	Jan 8, 2008
Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity	PS2	Driving	Jan 8, 2008
World Championship Paintball	PS2	Action	Jan 7, 2008
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: The Beginning of Destiny	PS2	Puzzle	Jan 8, 2008

[From Gamespot]

Today's PSN Update

• Guitar Hero III "Warner/Reprise" song pack ($6.25)
• Linkin Park's "No More Sorrow"
• Mastodon's "Sleeping Giant"
• The Used's "Pretty Handsome Awkward"
  

• Rock Band downloadable songs
• 30 Seconds To Mars' "Attack" ($0.99)
• 30 Seconds To Mars' "The Kill" ($0.99)
  
• All American Rejects' "Dirty Little Secret" ($0.99)
• All American Rejects' "Move Along" ($0.99)
• The Sounds' "Song With A Mission" ($0.99)
• Rush's "Limelight" ($1.99)
• The Black Crowes' "Hard To Handle" ($1.99)
• Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Gimme Three Steps" ($1.99)
  

• Need for Speed: ProStreet vehicles
• Shelby GT500 ($1.99)
• Chevrolet Corvette Z06 ($2.49)
• Lancer Evolution ($2.49)
• BMW M3 E92 ($2.49)
• Ford GT ($2.49)
• Chevrolet Camaro Concept ($2.49)
  

• NFL Tour '09 network demo (free)
  

• GT5 Japanese launch trailer (free)

[From PS3 Fanboy]

FREE XBLA Game for LIVE Outages

That's right Microsoft is giving ALL LIVE members a free XBLA game for the downtime over the past 2 weeks. No word on what game will be given, but here is the official press release:

Dear Xbox LIVE Members:

During this past holiday season you helped us break a number of Xbox LIVE records. This included our largest sign-up of new members to Xbox LIVE in our 5 year history and just yesterday you broke the record for the single biggest day of concurrent members ever on the service.

As a result of this massive increase in usage we know that some of you experienced intermittent Xbox LIVE issues over the holiday break. While the service was not completely offline at any given time, we are disappointed in our performance. I would like to take this moment to thank you each and every one of you for your patience and understanding as our team has worked around the clock to return the service to a stable state.

At the same time we would like to offer a token of our appreciation to all of you in celebration of record success for the service. And as a thank you for your loyalty during this holiday period, we will be offering all of our Xbox LIVE members around the world access to a full Xbox LIVE Arcade game that will be available to download free of charge. In the coming weeks we will be sharing the specific details of this offer with you.

Thank you again for helping make Xbox LIVE everything that it is today!

Sincerely,

Marc Whitten

General Manager, Xbox LIVE

Gamertag: Notwen

[From Major Nelson]

Wii Guitar Hero III Disk Update

Those of you who have purchased Guitar Hero III for the Wii and are unsatisfied due to your mono sound go to their support page here and click on notify me. When the replacement disks are finally released you will be notified immediately via E-mail.

Metal Gear Solid 4 Coming to 360? **Update**

Yet another rumor floating around about the PS3 exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4. This time it's Xbox Family claiming that they have a "concrete source" that has told them that MGS 4 will be a PS3 exclusive for 12 to 14 months before it will be available on the Xbox 360. According to Xbox Family this is NOT a rumor and that the game has been in production for the 360 since early 2007. When a Microsoft PR was contacted this was their answer:

"Thanks for the heads up, [name removed]. For anything that resembles any shift in strategy, or product announcement, or even news of something happening with a third party, we’re always going to stick with “we haven’t announced anything about ” Every day we see rumors, most false, but some true, and we can’t confirm/deny everything out there for any number of reasons.

Publishing rumors doesn’t rub us the wrong way. If it weren’t for sites publishing rumors, there wouldn’t be much for most sites to talk about J. There really only are a few things that will rub us the wrong way: publishing content given under NDA, getting/publishing confidential information from people who are under NDA, invading/hacking systems where confidential information is housed without permission to gather information, making false/racial/sexual/inappropriate personal attacks, deliberately publishing false/misleading information, you get the idea.

As for retailers/employees/partners intentionally leaking information, we pay rather close attention to how/when those occur. If it happens that one site happens to get regular access to confidential information, I end up getting bombarded with questions from around the company about the relationship we have with the site, with what kind of access we’re giving the site, etc. Not pleasant for my team, especially because we’re doing everything we can to help community, not limit their access in any way.

I appreciate the note. I certainly will share everything I can, and I’ll often rattle enough cages to get to an acceptable answer. In this case, there’s really nothing we can say other than the obligatory “no comment.” "

[From Xbox Family]

**Update**- Since the release of this rumor by Xbox Family, Konami's PR has responded by saying:

"For the record, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and there are no plans to develop an Xbox 360 version of the game."

This once again stomps on any rumors for the Xbox 360 version of the game, but if there were really a game in development do you think they would tell you anyway? I'm sure they will let Sony take the spotlight first and then quietly announce the Xbox 360 version of the game several months or even years later.

Wavebird Officially DEAD

From a Nintendo customer service representative:

"I haven’t heard of any plans to offer the WaveBird Wireless Controllers in stores again (I did some checking, and we are still shipping the original Nintendo GameCube Controllers to stores). If you’re unable to find the original Nintendo GameCube Controller locally, you can still order this item from us."

Very sad indeed, one of the first and arguably best wireless controllers of its time.

[From Go Nintendo]

Crysis Coming to 360?

According to the Austrian website, Gamesonly, Crysis is coming to the Xbox 360 November 20, 2008. While I wouldn't blame EA for going to the consoles with the lack of sales on the PC, it would be a surprise since Crysis developer Crytek criticized the consoles last year by saying:

"I tried to play Halo 1, I tried to play Halo 2. (laughs) I really didn't get it. It didn't get me, well I bought copies though Again, conversely the Bioshock demo got me. It's not that it's not possible, but console shooters are at the level of PC shooters 5-6 years ago."

[From Kotaku, Gamesonly, and inCrysis Forums]

Skype Coming to PSP

Sony has announced that Skype will be coming to the PSP at this year's CES. Here is the description given by Sony:

"Call friends, talk trash to fellow gamers or catch up with acquaintances via Skype for PSP System."

More details will be available at this year's CES event beginning next week.

[From Sony CES]

This Week's XBLA Release

Content: METAL SLUG 3
Price: 800 Microsoft Points Availability: All Xbox LIVE regions Dash Text: [ESRB: T (Teen) Animated Blood, Violence] Single Player, Xbox LIVE Multiplayer 2-6, Local Multiplayer 2-4, HD (High Definition). This is the 4th title of [METAL SLUG] series. It is the Action Shooting game which is popular among game fans all over the world. This game requires the Xbox 360 hard drive for storage. There are no refunds for this item. For more information, see www.xbox.com/live/accounts.

[From Major Nelson]