Persona 3 FES is confirmed

Right now, if you go to Atlus' website and check the countdown timer, you will see that it has been replaced with the regular rotating Flash banner. But if you wait a while you will see that one of the banners is for Persona 3 FES, and that it's coming on the spring of 2008. Which is, like, really soon. (Someone said April 22.)

Alternatively, you can go straight to the official Persona 3 homepage and you will find out that it has been altered to suit this new development.

Good news for those who always wanted to date Aigis--or those who are just into android chicks in general.

The suggested price is $30, although I'm still not sure whether it's just the FES disc or if it comes with the original game (plus extra goodies). I'm hoping it's the latter.

Persona 3 FES announcement soon?

Out of sheer boredom I decided to visit Atlus' official website just now. I was greeted by this:

What could that countdown timer be counting down for, I wondered. Actually no I didn't; I had a good idea what it might mean. I Googled "persona 3 FES announcement" and I found this entry from Siliconera and immediately suspicions = confirmed. Looks like Atlus decided to listen to its customers and are finally bringing Persona 3 FES to the US (also, a couple of voice actors pretty much confirmed it anyway). In case you didn't know, FES is basically an expansion for their hit RPG Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3. Additional content includes extra story and the ability to date that other android chick (although I heard you don't really get anything if you do).

I wonder if they're going to do anything about that penis chariot though. Jack Thompson's gonna have a field day with that.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith? Not sure if want.

I just found out that a new Guitar Hero game is being built solely around Aerosmith. Maybe it's just me, but playing only Aerosmith songs in GH doesn't sound very appealing. What's wrong with the current GH formula which attracts a wider market? Aerosmith has a couple of good songs, sure (I like "Walk This Way") but not enough, in my opinion anyway, to make a full GH-sized game.

Furthermore, I'm no Aerosmith expert but what are they gonna use for challenging songs? All of the songs I've heard from them sound like they're easier to play (on GH anyway) than, say, "Heart-Shaped Box".

Oh, and yes, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" will be in the roster.

If Neversoft/Activision are starting a new "Guitar Hero: [insert band here]", then I am eagerly waiting for GH: Queen or GH: Dragonforce. Not necessarily because I like DragonForce, but if ever that happens the entire game is automatically in delicious hard mode.

Meanwhile, I'm still wondering why Guitar Hero still hasn't incorporated timing windows a la Guitar Freaks (where you are given a score based on how well-timed your hits are). I believe this kind of feature should be mandatory for rhythm/music games, since it actually measures how in-rhythm with the music the person playing is, and it adds a whole new layer of skill.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is scheduled for release this June. Also, "Dream On" by Aerosmith is free DLC on the XBLM and PSN on February 16-18.

EDIT: It also has songs chosen by Aerosmith. Not sure how that affects the attractiveness of this game.

'Hot Coffee' settlement: Get up to $35 free

Remember GTA:SA's 'hot coffee' mod and the lawsuit that followed? Rockstar and Take Two are ready to provide compensation for those 'outraged' by the sex in the game, because it was rated M and not AO and consumers were not given enough warning of the adult-only content. Details are on the site, but you can get up to $35.00 if you have the store receipt. If you have neither original disc or purchase details, you can still get $5.00. Take this number and multiply it by the number of people living in America (offer is US only btw)...yeah, that's about how much TT and Rockstar are going to lose at least.

I can't get over how dumb this whole thing is. You're getting compensation for being 'outraged' by hot coffee even though wasn't available right at the start and you had to go out of your way and apply some mods before you got to see any of it--which means you already probably knew what was coming and you wanted to see it anyway. Why would you be offended? This whole thing is stupid. Mass Effect had a better sex scene and it was rated M and JACK THOMPSON THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY. Hot Coffee didn't even have any nudity.

Anyway, this is dumb and don't cash in on this, please. At the very least, use the cash you get for your GTAIV preorder.

THIS is how you advertise your vidya game

Nothing smaller than ENORMOUSLY GIGANTIC? Check.
Blue-haired underaged-looking schoolgirl? Check.
In school uniform? Check.
:3 face? Check.
Her name is Kona-chan? Check.

Actually 4/5 of those can apply only to the Lucky Star PS2 game which, by the way, is delayed until January 24. :( Oh well, at least there will be a giant Konata reminding people to buy the game until then!

This building, the Media Land building, which always has game-related ads posted all over it. Last spring it featured Gyakuten Saiban 4 (Apollo Justice), summer it was Crisis Core, and now it's Lucky Star. I wish they did this kind of thing everywhere in the world.

(Source: Akiba-ch)

NiGHTS Into Dreams coming to the PS2

NiGHTS, the supposedly awesome Saturn game that I never got to play because I didn't own a Saturn, is finally coming to the PS2, according to that scan. I know absolutely nothing about this game, but I've read all the positive things people have said about it in the past, and I'm definitely looking forward to this release. So should you, I guess, especially if you haven't played it, because people who did play it really seem to love it. Since this was originally from the Saturn it raises one important question--is it a port? A remake? No one knows for certain right know, but we do know that it will have updated graphics at least, as well as widescreen support.

Thank you Sega for deciding to release this on the PS2 and making it available for us unfortunate people who never had a Sega Saturn, instead of including it as an unlockable in the Wii sequel. Now please make some good Sonic games already :(

Sega Superstars Tennis new images

Why do most of these images feature Dr. Robotnik? Where's my Ulala? (She is there though I just need more.)

Though it's nice to see him take a break from hurting teh animals and enjoy a friendly game of tennis every once in a while. D:










These images are from the 360 version btw.

Manhunt 2 execution videos compilation

If you wanted to see the execution sequences in Manhunt 2 but you don't have the skills (not that this game requires THAT much skill...but anyway) or are just too lazy to play it, someone who calls himself "rubix99" has a present for you. The above video shows the many, many creative ways to kill enemies that Manhunt 2 provides the player (there's quite many). This video will probably make you flinch at least once. So, do not view this if you think blood is icky, if you can't stomach watching someone getting stabbed in the eyes, are eating, or just don't like violence in general.

For those who do...enjoy.

By the way, this was taken from the leaked PS2 version. Am I gonna get in trouble for this? :O

Full Rock Band track list

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/830/830709p1.html

The last few tracks to complete the entire Rock Band track list has finally been announced, and I can finally write a post about it. The list consists of:

1960s
Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter"

1970s
Aerosmith "Train Kept a Rollin'"*
The Who "Won't Get Fooled Again"
Boston "Foreplay/Long Time"
Mountain "Mississippi Queen" (cover)
The Police "Next to You"
David Bowie "Suffragette City"
Black Sabbath "Paranoid" (cover)
Blue Oyster Cult "Don't Fear the Reaper"
The Ramones "Blitzkrieg Bop"
Deep Purple "Highway Star"
KISS "Detroit Rock City"
Molly Hatchet "Flirtin' With Disaster"
The Outlaws "Green Grass & High Tides" (cover)
Sweet "Ballroom Blitz" (cover)

1980s
Rush "Tom Sawyer"*
Bon Jovi "Wanted Dead or Alive"
The Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go"
Faith No More "Epic"
R.E.M. "Orange Crush"
Pixies "Wave of Mutilation"
Iron Maiden "Run to the Hills" (cover)

1990s
Foo Fighters "Learn to Fly"
Metallica "Enter Sandman"
Nirvana "In Bloom"
Stone Temple Pilots "Vasoline"
Weezer "Say It Ain't So"
Smashing Pumpkins "Cherub Rock"
Radiohead "Creep"
Beastie Boys "Sabotage"
Hole "Celebrity Skin"
Garbage "I Think I'm Paranoid"
Soundgarden "Black Hole Sun"

2000s
The Hives "Main Offender"
Queens of the Stone Age "Go With the Flow"
The Strokes "Reptilia" Jet "Are You Gonna Be My Girl"
OK Go "Here It Goes Again"
Nine Inch Nails "The Hand That Feeds"
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Maps"
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Dani California"
Coheed & Cambria "Welcome Home"
Fallout Boy "Dead on Arrival"
The Killers "When You Were Young"
New Pornographers "Electric Version"

Those are the default songs. The rest are unlockable/downloadable:

Unlockable Tracks
Bang Camaro "Pleasure (Pleasure)"
Twelve more yet to be revealed

Announced DLC
the entire Who's Album "Who's Next," Metallica - One"
18 songs by The Grateful Dead

Woohoo, Aerosmith! Woohoo, Garbage! Woohoo, OK Go! What the fuck, Fallout Boy?!

Sega announces Sega Superstars Tennis

Just when you thought Mario and Sonic at the Olympics is the crossover sports game to end all crossover sports games (were there even any before this?), Sega announces Sega Superstars Tennis, "a game that brings together some of the most treasured and well known characters from the SEGA universe" for...tennis. Each character will have their own unique abilities, which should make for some pretty interesting matches. There will be over 15 Sega characters in the game, including Sonic the Hedgehog, AiAi (Super Monkeyball), Ulala (Space Channel 5) and Amigo (Samba De Amigo).

Ulala of Space Channel 5.

I'm sold.

Also, the game is being developed by Sumo Digital, and will be released for PS3, PS2, 360, Wii, and DS. Wait...no PSP?

Haha oh wow, Manhunt 2 re-rejected

The British Board of Film Classification, or BBFC, has once again rejected Manhunt 2, despite revisions made to decrease the goriness of the game, stating that they "do not consider that these [revisions] go far enough to address our concerns about the original version," and that the game still is "visceral" and "casually sadistic". Furthermore, the revisions did nothing about the game's "bleakness and callousness of tone".

Uh...what the hell is "bleakness and callousness of tone" supposed to mean? Are they requiring Rockstar to fill Manhunt 2 with rainbows and happiness? Since when did "bleakness" merit censorship? "The game's too dark and dreary, it's not good even for adults" hurrrrr.

The game's edited heavily enough that it actually doesn't look so violent anymore with the removal of the 'execution scenes', which comprise most of the game's violence apart from the generic beating up of enemies. I.e., it isn't much more violent than, say, MGS3, which featured real-time breaking and slitting of necks thanks to CQC. And it got past the board of censors somehow. At this rate Manhunt 2 will be so heavily edited that the entire game will be nothing but GTA with spiffier graphics and no cars. The way things are going it seems like BBFC has something against Rockstar games. Lets just hope someone in there realizes what they're doing is foolish and immature, not to mention condescending to adults. What kind of maturity level do they think an uncut version of Manhunt 2 require anyway?

Lucky Star also gets a PS2 game

Remember the upcoming Haruhi game for PS2? Don't you think a Lucky Star game should, by logic, be made too? Well, logic triumphs once more! This November, expect the release of the Lucky Star game (no alternate title has been given yet). There isn't much details on the gameplay, but it looks like your typical point-and-click/minigames kind of game.

The game will also most likely be a Japan release only, but since when did that stop importers?

Yep, looks like one of those kinds of games.

Who is that on the left?

There she is again. I wonder if she is related to your character.

Kagamin singing? ;_;

Speed Racer coming in theaters...and consoles

The upcoming Wachowski Bros. presentation and adaptation of the 80s cartoon, Speed Racer, is not even finished with production yet, but a tie-in game is already in the works. According to Joel Silver, the film's producer, the game is a "natural extension" of the movie, which both he and the directors believe is a key component of the movie's experience. Hmm...why does this sound so familiar *coughEntertheMatrixcough*

Coming out in 2008 on three platforms (Wii, DS, PS2 - sorry Xbots :( ) the game will feature, of course, racing, but not as much Gran Turismo as it is Motor Raid or Burnout -- yes, you will be destroying your enemies, possibly with lots of style since this is a Wachowski presentation.

Well, I've always wanted to press those buttons on Speed's wheel since the first time I saw them. I guess I'm finally getting the chance.





ALSO: RACER X

It Looks Like Manhunt 2 Will Come Out After All

Manhunt 2, the sequel to the deliciously violent exploitation-video game Manhunt, will finally see the light of day. The game will be released simultaneously on three platforms -- the PS2, Wii, and PSP -- on October 31, 2007. It was originally slated for release last July, but acclaimed lawyer and cockfag Jack Thompson had his panties up in a bunch, declaring the game too violent and PROMISING to prevent the sales of Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV. To make the story short, Mr. Thompson ultimately failed, and MH2 was given an AO (Adults-only) rating by the ESRB. So eat shit, Thompson.

Good thing, too, for Manhunt 2 has a bunch of cool new features and an all-new story. We no longer follow the previous installment's protagonist, Johnny Cash, nor is it another tale of Death Row prisoners being sent out to kill people in the most glorious of ways to make a snuff film. Instead, it will be a tale of a controversial research that was shut down, but the scientists decide to continue on their own anyway. One of the scientists, Daniel Lamb, volunteers to be a guinea pig for the experiment, with adverse psychological effects. Along the way something goes wrong, and Daniel has to escape the facility, mental disorder and all. This is where the fun begins.

The game still employs the "Execution" feature, and still has three levels of gruesome. However, this time around firearms can also be used for executions, as well as some environmental objects like live wires and toilet bowls. There's also a new Simon Says-esque feature: when hiding in shadows, and an enemy comes near, the player must press the combination of buttons shown in the screen in order to keep Daniel's breathing calm and remain undetected. And last, but definitely not least, there are multiple endings, depending on how the game is played.

But wait, there's more. The game no longer has an AO rating; instead, it is now rated M - for mature gamers. This means a wider audience for the game (not like the kids at home won't be playing it themselves anyway), and more insult to Jack Thompson. Ha! However, this also means some parts that are deemed extra violent will be cut. :( But fear not, an uncut version is likely to be released.

Happy killing!

Haruhi on PS2

Good news for you Haruhi worshippers (i.e. losers). A Haruhi game will be released for the PlayStation 2, called Suzumiya Haruhi no tomadoi ("The Confusion of Haruhi Suzumiya"). The objective seems to be to create a SOS-dan RPG under Haruhi's orders (as Kyon-kun, who else?). The game is developed by Banpresto (Super Robot Wars quality? Let's hope) and game art is, fortunately, handled by Kyoto Animation themselves.

I'm not sure what the gameplay will look like exactly, for all we have is this obscure magazine scan. But it looks like it will involve both oldschool-RPG mechanics (an Earthbound-esque battle system can be seen in that screen in the middle of the image) and swords and magic and shit, as well as your typical Japanese text adventure found usually in dating sims and hentai games.

I was really hoping for a dancing game though. Even if it's just Hare Hare Yukai over and over again I would play it for 70 hours. But this sounds ok too.

Oh, and there seems to be a freebie that comes with the game, a posable Haruhi figure (in battle outfit?)