Nintendo Reveals 3DS Launch Details

In short: so I was right on a few fronts: The US Nintendo 3DS will cost $249.99, come with a few built in games, an upgradable 2MB SD card and will get around 30 games within the launch window (March-June). The 3DS has three cameras, can auto-generate a pic of you into a Mii (nice) and will be able to play DS games (not in 3D) as well as downloadable GameBoy and GBA games. Street Pass” is an optional “social networking” function that allows for trading high scores and other data with nearby 3DS units.

3DS will be stores February 26 in Japan, March 27 in the US, March 25 in Europe and UK (which have a quirky “per retailer” price point structure that so far ranges from 219-249 Euros/Pounds – yikes!). The fine folks at engadget have a lot more clout than lil’ ol Mii, so here’s link to their deeper coverage. I’ll have a list of confirmed titles shortly.

Arkane Studies Releases Final Arx Fatalis Patch, Source Code

One of the best PC role-playing games of the last decade, was Arx Fatalis, Arkane Studios’ homage to the classic PC games Ultima Underworld and Ultima Underworld II. In case you’ve never played it, it’s time you finally did. It’s still around today as a downloadable game over at Steam, gog.com and Direct2Drive or you can probably track down a physical copy on ebay for either PC or original Xbox (but I don’t think it’s backward compatible on the 360, so you may want to check that out first).

Arkane has just released the final patch as well as the complete source code for the game (it’s now Vista and Windows 7 compatible), which means the mod community now has another game to take apart and improve into an even better experience. I hadn’t played the game in about a year or so, but after downloading the new patch and firing up an old save and playing for an hour or so, it’s still a solid chunk of gaming. I’m not a fan of the window mode that’s been patched in, but I’m sure there’s a quick fix for that. Anyway, yes – another great game to try if you haven’t yet – enjoy!

Sega to Release Dreamcast Collection on Xbox 360, Windows PC


Well, alright (with a minor gripe) – Sega is tapping back into its Dreamcast library and will release a collection of four classics for the system as both a retail packaged disc for the Xbox 360 and a digital download for Windows PC. The simply titled Dreamcast Collection will be available on February 25, 2011, in Europe and February 22 in North America and feature Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, Sega Bass Fishing and Space Channel 5. According to the press release, both versions will have enhanced graphics while only the 360 version will have Achievements as well as online leader board support.

“The Dreamcast console is still remembered as a pioneering console for online gaming,” commented Gary Knight, VP of Marketing at SEGA of America and SEGA Europe “We are delighted to be able to offer to our large community of dedicated fans a collection such as Dreamcast Collection for them to enjoy old favorites on this Xbox 360 and Windows PC.”

True… but none of those games in this collection were online enabled in terms of gameplay as far as I remember (he said, looking at his DC collection). That and, for the love of Knuckles… why no PS3 version?

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LBP2 Goes For Guinness World Records Next Week


Sony is certainly planning to launch Little Big Planet 2 in style. Next week down at the Sony Style Store's PlayStation Lounge here in NYC, a bunch of dedicated gamers are going to attempt to set and break a number of Guinness World Records. Hell, someone should have told yours truly this, as my own personal gaming record is 52 hours straight playing Shining Force 2 on the Sega Genesis back in the day. Granted, my old-timer butt would probably pass out after three hours and no Geritol supply, but hey – I'd go down fighting, dammit! Press release below the jump – I'll be at the event next week for a bit of coverage.

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EL Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron Gets Japanese Launch Date, New Screens

One of the more intriguing games I've had my eye on, UTV Ignition's El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, is finally getting a Japanese release for the PS3 and Xbox 360 this April with a US and European launch dates to be announced (he typed, with fingers crossed). Here's a look at some of the latest screens from the visually striking action/adventure game. I'll run a gallery later featuring a few of the beautiful (and nicely offbeat) wallpapers from the official site. I may as well stick the press release below the jump so you folks can find out what the game is all about (sorry for the cut 'n paste job – I'm tinkering away on some reviews and such, so I'm cutting back on my word count in today's posts)…

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Nintendo 3DS Pre-Order Madness Starts With Nary A Price Point In Sight (AND Your Kids WIll Go BLIND… Er, Maybe)…


I’m gathering that reports that the upcoming 3DS will carry a warning about use of its innovative 3D functionality being not recommended (or good, for that matter) for the eyesight of kids under six years old isn’t going to stop anyone from putting down a fat deposit at Gamestop and posting copies their receipts online. Of course, those pre-ordering folk aren’t six years old (and hopefully don’t have kids coming up on that age they want to introduce to that sort of eye/brain strain) and heck, trying to stop early adopters from throwing packs of money around is sort of bad for the economy (which someone should tell those AGAINST alternative fuel sources).

Still, Nintendo really needs to play offense as well as defense here as they address this potential sales-killing (or class action lawsuit bringing) issue as more of the dopier media outlets (you know, the ones that ALWAYS take the “Video games will turn your kids into mass murdering sex fiends in three seconds!” approach to this sort of news) take this negative angle and run wild with it. I say, as long as parents can read the damn box (or have a clerk point this age limit out to them) BEFORE they buy it, it’s all good. Now, about that price point… Guess we’ll see by CES (my prediction: $249.99, but perhaps with a pack-in and maybe loaded with some cool stuff)

My REAL question is this: Why the hell do we keep seeing kid’s movies arriving in theaters (then later on DVD or Blu-Ray) in 3D if kids under six shouldn’t be able to watch them at all? Granted, you can sit around playing “normal” games for hours on end with only a few issues. 3D gaming has been headache-inducing since the 90’s when there were something like two to four minute experiences along with a few other applications. I guess we’ll see what happens after the 3DS ships and more folks can afford 3D televisions and those expensive glasses.

Still, I’m crazy that way. I can see myself playing a 3D game ’til I fall off the couch from dizziness, but I just can’t imagine myself or someone else watching more than two 3D movies in a row before their butt tries to bite them for making them sit so long doing nothing…

Earth Defense Force 2017 Now Available On Xbox Live (Finally!)


I was wondering when D3Publisher was going to answer the call of the wild ones who either sold off or traded their copies, missed out on Sandlot’s superior sleeper or just want to play what all the fuss is about. Having played and beat the disc version to death and beyond a few years back, I’ll re-review the downloadable version shortly and see if it’s still as addictive as ever. in addition to the Xbox Live Games On Demand relaunch, D3 is looking to draw in fans old and new by reviving the EDF 2017 website.

Sadly, there’s no news of a PS3 port of 2017 any time soon, but I’m hoping D3 has plans to introduce western gamers to the two previous games in the series in the form of the PAL versions of the game (Monster Attack and Global Defence Force). While PSN would be the best format for some EDF fans, I’m also hoping (memo to D3: DO this for the fans!) the games are added to the Earth Defense Force Insect Armageddon Blu-Ray disc for those who don’t yet have PSN accounts. Hell, there’s more than enough space on that format to fit the localized versions, that’s for sure…

In case you haven’t played EDF before, it’s a fantastic chunk of run ‘n gun arcade action that’s surprisingly deep and incredibly long in terms of netting the game’s small amount of achievements. 53 levels, completely destructible structures in the outdoor maps, split-screen co-op (no online play, sorry!) Over 150 weapons to collect and some of the toughest difficulty spikes (in solo play particularly) you’ll ever see await those daring with twenty bucks in hand. Trust me, the experience is worth twice the price, folks…

Nippon Ichi’s Having a Little Holiday Sale…

HEY! Want some very, very cool Nippon Ichi, Gust, and other sweet NISA stuff from games to anime DVD’s, soundtracks and more? Well, just bust out that credit card or PayPal account and click that pic above. Plushies, Prinnies, Glicees and more wallet exploding goodness galore!

Some of the prices are flat out BARGAINS (Disgaea DS or My Lord, What Have I Done to Deserve This 2 PSP for $10? BOOM, I’m there!), which means you’ll go crazy with the deals here, dood! They’ve got my money already (What, you thought I get ALL my games for free?)!

Atlus Announces Radiant Historia For Nintendo DS in 2011

We absolutely love Atlus and Atlus loves us right back. Maybe not absolutely, but hey… Sure, it's a long distance relationship and we don't talk all that much, but the gifts keep coming and they're always good ones, so we're hooked. Anyway, yes, it's another DS RPG extravaganza and yup, you'll get a free soundtrack with the game. Details below the jump. Go reserve a copy and make Atlus very happy…

By the way, the game's official website isn't quite up yet, despite the link in the press release. Fear not, dear reader… Atlus is on the case!

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Disney Epic Mickey To Get Disney Epic Times Square Launch

All the game needs now is Mayor Mike Bloomberg proclaiming November 30th 2010 Disney Epic Mickey Day or something like that. This party's going to be huge, no doubt – hope the weather's nice and bright on launch day and there's some Disney Epic Coffee for those Disney Epic Tired Parental Units who've gotten their Disney Epic Kids out of bed and into the Disney Epic Spirit of things that early in the AM. Info below the jump.

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