Pachter: Wii U sales hit 55,000 in April, 20,000 below Wii

by Jessica Conditt on May 14th 2013 7:00PM

Nintendo's Wii U sold 55,000 units in April, down 19 percent from March, while the Wii sold 75,000 in April, down 16 percent from last year, Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter estimates. To compare, he says Microsoft sold 205,000 Xbox 360 units and Sony snagged 165,000 sales of the PlayStation 3 this April. By these numbers, sales of the Xbox 360 are down 13 percent and PS3 sales are down 5 percent year-over-year.

Nintendo hit 185,000 sales of its 3DS last month, a 46 percent jump in sales from the previous year, Pachter says. Sony's Vita is down 57 percent from 2012, selling just 30,000 units this April. These are of course the standard Pachter estimates, which can only mean one thing – the official numbers are on their way, via the NPD. Those figures are expected on Thursday.

As of March 31, the Wii U has sold 3.45 million units since its launch, below Nintendo's initial forecast of 5.5 million, and even January's adjustment to 4 million. Nintendo expects to have sold 9 million Wii U consoles by next fiscal year, ending March 2014, with sales spurred by the release of "key Nintendo titles."

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Report: Square Enix America CEO leaves, joins Amazon

by Jessica Conditt on May 23rd 2013 1:30PM

Square Enix America CEO Mike Fischer left the company this month and is now vice president of digital music and video for Amazon in Japan, Polygon reports. This follows news in April that Square Enix America eliminated "a number of positions" and Fischer was expected to leave in May. Those same reports said the head of marketing should be gone after E3, along with other employees in public relations.

In March, Square Enix President Yoichi Wada stepped down and the company announced widespread restructuring that it expected to cost $106 million. Square Enix posted a net loss of $134 million for fiscal year 2013, citing "weak" sales of major console games, including Sleeping Dogs, Hitman: Absolution and Tomb Raider, the last of which sold 3.4 million in its first month.

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2012's games: the movie

by JC Fletcher on Dec 18th 2012 5:00PM

In a world ... where a bunch of games came out, one man had the courage to cut a bunch of scenes from them together. This winter, the games of 2012 unite to learn the true meaning of friendship.

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Now Playing: May 20-26, 2013

by Steven Wong on May 20th 2013 6:30PM

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Gamestop Q1 sales and profits down, mobile/digital sales up

by Jordan Mallory on May 23rd 2013 7:00PM

Gamestop's financial data for the first quarter of its fiscal 2013 have arrived like a pizza with nearly 25 percent fewer toppings than the pizza you ordered during the same 13-week period last year. Also, cheesy bread sales are way up? This may not be the strongest analogy.

In non-allegorical terms, gross revenue (overall sales) and net income (post-tax profit) were both down year-over-year, at $1.865 billion and $54.6 million, respectively. As far as net income, that's a 24.69 percent decrease from the $72.5 million Gamestop reported at the end of Q1 2012.

Meanwhile, mobile device sales were up 290 percent, though this massive increase was largely due to the fact that Gamestop's mobile trade-in/sales program was just getting started during Q1 of 2012. Digital sales also increased, to the tune of 47.3 percent year-over-year, while new software sales, both physical and digital, fell 3.8 percent.

As was the case during Q1 2012, used hardware and software sales accounted for the majority of Gamestop's pre-tax profit, with new hardware and software sales making up just 29.5 percent of the quarter's overall gross.

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April NPD: Injustice: Gods Among Us reigns supreme

by Jordan Mallory on May 16th 2013 6:30PM

Another hot, fresh loaf of financial data has been pulled out of The NPD Group's analytical oven, and its buttery goodness contains sales information for the four week period between April 4 and May 7, 2013. During that time, the physical retail sector of the games industry was down 25 percent when compared with its performance over the same four weeks in 2012, pulling in a grand total of $495.2 million. It's worth noting, however, that this figure does not include the sale of PC games.

Hardware sales brought in $109.5 million, a 42 percent decrease from the $187.8 million seen last year, with the Xbox 360 once again enjoying the highest sales with 130,000 units moved. Meanwhile, the brief reprieve from year-over-year decline seen by the Accessories segment last month was short lived, as in April it by dropped 19 percent to a total of $131.4 million.

Software sales (including PC games) topped out at $267.8 million, with NetherRealm Studios' Injustice: Gods Among Us taking top honors as the best-selling game for the period, the first time a fighting game has finished in first since 2011's Mortal Kombat. Dead Island: Riptide and BioShock Infinite rounded out the podium in spots two and three respectively – meanwhile MMO/Syfy series Defiance debuted in fifth. As always, scope the full list after the break. Injustice: Gods Among Us (360, PS3, Wii U)Dead Island: Riptide (360, PS3, PC)Bioshock Infinite (360, PS3, PC)Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (360, PS3, PC, Wii U)Defiance (360, PS3, PC)Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (3DS)NBA 2k13 (360, PS3, Wii, Wii U, PSP, PC)Skylanders Giants (Wii, 360, PS3, 3DS, Wii U)Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins (3DS)MLB 13: The Show (PS3, Vita)

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Vampires Crystals Wii New Images

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Now Playing: May 13-19, 2013

by Steven Wong on May 13th 2013 11:59PM

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Nintendo wins latest round in Motiva lawsuit

by Alexander Sliwinski on May 14th 2013 9:30AM

Nintendo and an Ohio-based company called Motiva have completed their latest courtroom dance, with the Wii manufacturer coming out the winner once again in the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. The patent infringement case goes back to 2008 with Motiva claiming Nintendo's Wiimotes infringed on two patents the company held for "Human Movement Measurement System." The U.S. International Trade Commission already ruled in January 2012 in favor of Nintendo.

"Motiva's litigation was targeted at financial gains, not at encouraging adoption of Motiva's patented technology," Circuit Judge Sharon Prost wrote, as reported by Reuters. "There is simply no reasonable likelihood that, after successful litigation against Nintendo, Motiva's patented technology would have been licensed by partners who would have incorporated it."

"We are very pleased with this result. The court confirmed that Motiva's sole activity, litigation against Nintendo, did not satisfy the ITC's domestic industry requirement," said Richard Medway, Nintendo of America's deputy general counsel. "We vigorously defend patent lawsuits when we firmly believe that we have not infringed another party's patent."

The lawyer for Motiva said the company will now take the case to the district court. The judge and Medway then went under the nearest bridge and laid out some nice bedding made of the finest straw to show there were no hard feelings toward Motiva.

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Lego City Undercover WiiU New Images

These are some new images of the Nintendo WiiU game Lego City Undercover

More About: Nintendo WiiU, Lego City Undercover

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Mad Genius break-apart motion controller is for the serious Skyrim sniper

by Richard Mitchell on May 13th 2013 9:00PM

Split controller designs are nothing new. We've seen them implemented by third parties such as SplitFish and, of course, major players – Nintendo's Wii Remote and Nunchuk, and Sony's PS Move and Navigation Controller. Now, Mad Genius is looking to up the ante with its new break-apart motion controller.

Mad Genius says the controller is capable of tracking movements as minute as 1/100 of an inch. A video demonstrates the controller being used in an unmodified version of Skyrim on Xbox 360, tracking the player's body movement to make the character move in the game world. A more practical application is splitting the controller apart to aim and fire a bow in-game.

Holding the two halves like a bow and arrow, the game automatically equips and begins aiming the bow. The control is so fine, according to Mad Genius, that players will actually have to hold their breath to steady their shots, lest a tiny movement knock them off target.

The motion-tracking system will work with any game on any platform, including even outmoded platforms such as the original PlayStation (though it's not clear how you would actually connect the two together). Mad Genius is planning to launch a Kickstarter to fund the final version of the controller, which will be wireless and, presumably, a bit sleeker.

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EA puts an end to its Online Pass program

by David Hinkle on May 15th 2013 8:14PM

EA has announced it will discontinue its Online Pass program. "Yes, we're discontinuing Online Pass," EA's senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg told GamesBeat in an e-mail. "None of our new EA titles will include that feature."

Reseburg added that "many players didn't respond to the format," despite EA going on record months after instituting Online Passes, reporting it had not seen a "significant" backlash. "We've listened to the feedback and decided to do away with it moving forward."

The Online Pass, a one-time use code required for online play, was first introduced in 2010 with the intent of being exclusive to EA Sports games, though it quickly escalated from there. Online Pass revenue generated between $10-$15 million for EA in its first year alone.

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[PC, PS3] Square Enix confirms Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn for Summer launch

[PC, PS3] Square Enix confirms Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn for Summer launch

Final Fantasy XIV turned out to be a wake up call to Square Enix; the Japanese developer and publisher has been putting a lot of effort into restoring the game prior to its disappointing launch.

Today the company confirmed that the re-launched Final Fantasy XIV will be made available sometime this Summer for PC and PlayStation 3.

Additionally, they also confirmed that the game will be entering the third phase of its closed beta test this June. The third phase will allow PlayStation 3 users to jump on board and get their first taste of Final Fantasy XIV action and experience the world of Eorzea alongside PC players. It will also introduce participants to new content, including the introduction of two new city states: Ul'dah and Limsa Lominsa.

If you haven't applied for beta entry yet then head over here or here to register your interest.

You can probably expect a release date announcement at E3.

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Kylie Sing Dance Wii New Images

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How Many Multi-Platform Titles are Skipping Wii U?

While many have expressed their frustration with the lack of third-party support on Wii U, Andrew Eisen takes it a step further by listing a ton of them… 48 to be exact.

What do you think about this list? More importantly, what do you think about how Nintendo’s newest console has been treated, in terms of third-party games? Who would you say is to blame? Let us know your thoughts either in the comments or in our forums.

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[PS3, X360] Konami dates third DLC installment for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

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Thieves steal 7,000 Wiis from a warehouse in Seattle [Update]

by Jessica Conditt on Dec 18th 2012 9:30PM

In the dead of night between Saturday and Sunday, thieves stole 7,000 Wiis from a Seattle Air Cargo warehouse, Seattle PI reported.

The thieves made off with 7,000 consoles, two 53-foot trailers and a box van from the warehouse, for an estimated haul of $2 million. The King County Sheriff's Office is looking into the theft. Not to say that we're professionally trained investigators here, but we would suggest officers keep an eye on Ebay. That's what we would do, at least.

Update: The consoles were, in fact, Wii Us, an officer told Kotaku. Our source at the Seattle PI and ABC News reported that the stolen consoles were Wiis, and Kotaku was not one of our original sources. Thank you for the kind tips, lovely, wonderful commenters.

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[PS3, X360] Killer is Dead receives a third trailer; still incredibly confusing

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[Wii U] Tengami is officially headed for release on the Wii U

[Wii U] Tengami is officially headed for release on the Wii U
You might have heard of Tengami; however there's also a pretty good chance you haven't. Basically Tengami is a new game in development over at Nyamyam and was originally in development for Apple's iPad. Now the team is also bringing it out on the Wii U eShop thanks to significant fan support in a recent poll.

There's no clear date on when the Wii U version will be made available, however the studio appears to have received their Wii U dev kits this morning.

"The fact that Tengami was conceived with touch in mind makes it perfect fit for the Wii U GamePad," said Nyamyam's Phil Tossell. "We think there are some unique features the Wii U has that we can take advantage of to make the game even better."

You can catch an interview with a couple of the studio's team members over at Nintendo Life.

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[Wii U, 3DS] Shinesparkers announce 'Harmony of Heroes' arranged album

[Wii U, 3DS] Shinesparkers announce 'Harmony of Heroes' arranged album
I thoroughly enjoyed both of the Harmony of a Hunter albums that Shinesparkers released, so when I heard they were cooking up a new project I naturally became incredibly excited.

Well, they revealed over the weekend that their next project will titled Harmony of Heroes and appears to be tied to celebrating the imminent reveal for the fourth Super Smash Bros. game at E3 in under two months. You can catch the first video below.

The album is slated for release sometime in 2014, so you'll want to keep an eye on the Shinesparkers homepage. It'd also be worth checking out the recently established Facebook page and giving them a well-deserved 'like' to keep up to date.

I know I'm looking forward to seeing the fruits of their labour.

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[PC, Wii U] Shadow of the Eternals, successor to Eternal Darkness, seeks crowdfunding

[PC, Wii U] Shadow of the Eternals, successor to Eternal Darkness, seeks crowdfunding

I loved Eternal Darkness on the Nintendo Gamecube, it was one of those rare survival horror experiences that scarcely surfaces anymore. However, with the recent fall of Silicon Knights I'd thought that all hopes for a sequel had been snuffed out.

That changed over the weekend when a bunch of information was uncovered for a project title Shadow of the Eternals. It has since been confirmed (thanks for uploading the trailer, IGN) that Shadow of the Eternals is coming and it will be a spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness available for the Wii U and PC from Precursor Games.

Reportedly the creators of the original Eternal Darkness are working on the project, including the original producer Dennis Dyack. The crowdfunding is set to kick off on the 6th of May, and the team is hoping to raise $1.5 million to create the 12 episodes.

A full reveal is planned when the campaign begins.

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What to expect from tomorrow's PlayStation event

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Resident Evil Revelations – Wii U Features Trailer

Take a look at some of the Wii U features of Resident Evil Revelations, which will be available on May 21, 2013.

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What we know about the next PlayStation and Xbox

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[PC, PS3, Wii U, X360] Resident Evil: Revelations dev diary covers franchise heritage

[PC, PS3, Wii U, X360] Resident Evil: Revelations dev diary covers franchise heritage

Resident Evil was previously one of my favourite survival-horror franchises, however it recently became impossible to consider it a 'survival-horror' game anymore. This left it to compete with much better third-person action games, leaving my opinion on the franchise face down in the mud.

However, Capcom have wisely decided to bring the best Resident Evil game in recent years, Revelations, to a wider audience with a HD release on PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360 this May. To celebrate they have also released a new developer diary that looks back on the franchise's heritage.

Resident Evil 2 is still one of my favourite survival horror games, so there is still a small part of me that hopes the franchise can find its feet again. Revelations was definitely a positive step, it is simply a shame that Resident Evil 6 undid so much of its hard work.

Anyway, I could go on for hours, so keep an eye out for a Resident Evil: Revelations demo on PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360 sometime before its late May release.

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Injustice: Gods Among Us – Lobo DLC Gameplay Video

We just got a video from Warner Bros., showing some gameplay of the first DLC character for Injustice: Gods Among Us. Lobo will be available on May 7. Many have assumed this DLC would not be for the Wii U version, but nothing was said in their email to us. We currently have a follow-up email, asking the specific question: On what consoles this will be released? We will update as soon as we get our answer.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today released a gameplay video featuring Lobo, the first character that will be available as downloadable content (DLC), beginning May 7.  

Developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, Injustice: Gods Among Us introduces a new franchise in the fighting game genre and a brand new story created in collaboration between NetherRealm Studios, DC Entertainment and comic book writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti.  As the story unfolds, players will experience the power, gadgetry and unparalleled strength of some the most popular DC Comics heroes and villains, such as Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, The Joker and others, as they engage in epic battles in a world where the line between good and evil is blurred.

[PR Email]

Read our review of Injustice: Gods Among Us.

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Is an Eternal Darkness Sequel Really Coming?

UPDATE (5/6/13): More information posted in a new post!

Many people agree that one of the best games on the Nintendo GameCube was “Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem.” The game was a third-person horror adventure that also incorporated puzzle elements. The horror genre was shocked by another feature not really seen in a game since Eternal Darkness. Every character had a “sanity meter,” so in addition to watching out for your physical health, you also had to watch your mental health. If it started dropping, you began hallucinating. One of the most frustrating, yet cool, examples was when the game seem to freeze on you, stating that the entire save file had been deleted.

Fans have been clamoring for a sequel for years. Today, IGN posted a trailer for “Shadow of the Eternals,” an upcoming game that is in development. What is so special about this title? It is by the same people who brought us Eternal Darkness. This sequel, or spiritual successor, to the original has very little details right now. However, there is a website, Facebook page, Twitter profile, and YouTube channel. The website says to expect information about their “crowdfunding campaign” at 12:00 PM Eastern on May 13. Due to the lack of available information, one can only speculate if this game will hit a Nintendo console. Until then, be sure to like them, follow them, and send them a note sharing how much you would appreciate Shadow of the Eternals to be available on Wii U.

Until then, enjoy the teaser trailer below…

UPDATE (2:45 PM Eastern 5/3/2013): According to NeoGaf, there is a cached version of the Precurser Games’ (creators of “Shadow of the Eternals”) website that contained the following information. Please note this is not confirmed by Precurser Games, so until Sunday/Monday, take this with a grain of salt.

When Detective Paul Becker is called to one of the bloodiest gang massacres in Louisiana state history, only two survivors remain from a brutal conflict between two rival cults. As Becker begins his interrogations of the suspects, their combined recollections will uncover the truth about the ‘Ancients’.

Shadow of the Ancients is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Reqiuem. Featuring an ensemble cast of heroes and villains, the game will span over 2500 years of history throughout Egypt, England, Hungary, and the United States. Players will question the perception of reality as they try to balance the mechanics of combat, magick, and sanity events to progress through the adventure.

Shadow of the Ancients will take players on a memorable journey throughout time; weaving historical fact with disturbing fiction to create an experience unlike any other.

———–

How long is each episode?
Each episode will be approximately 2-4 hours of gameplay.

When do you plan to release?
Q3 2014.

What platforms will Shadow of the Ancients be on?
We will be focusing on the PC and Wii U platforms. Other platforms may be added in the future.

Why no Kickstarter Campaign?
We would love to do a Kickstarter, but currently Kickstarter is only open to companies that are in the US or UK. We hope that we can work with Kickstarter in the future to make this option a reality.

However, by integrating the community into the development of the game, we can centralize our site with our crowdfunding system to manage this properly. Upon pledging on our site, you will be granted a Forum Ribbon to our Official Development Forums, where you can share your ideas and feedback about the creation of the game. It does not matter whether you sign up for the forums before, or after pledging – our database will recognize you.

———–

Shadow of the Ancients will be an episodic series, and to complete the first episode and continue production on future episodes, we need approximately 1.1 million dollars. Any money raised beyond this will contribute to future episodes, additional characters, in-game perks, and additional platforms. The more money that we raise, the more we will deliver based on what our fans want.

———–

BOUND SUPPORTER LE ($50) includes the following: Everything from Sane Supporter; Shadow of the Ancients Season 1 (Episode 1-12, two free episodes); Access to ‘Edward’s Secret Study’.

Receive the entire first season of Shadow of the Ancients (twelve episodes). Each episode features at least one playable character, access to a variety of new play mechanics, historically accurate weapons, locations and new magick.

[Updated info via NeoGaf & GoNintendo]

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[Multi] Watch_Dogs receives a new trailer; introduces a special collector's edition

[Multi] Watch_Dogs receives a new trailer; introduces a special collector's edition
Watch_Dogs took the world by surprise at last year's E3 and ever since then everyone has been keeping a close eye on it. Although I was somewhat disappointed to see it'll be strolling down the open-world third-person action route I'm willing to give it a chance; after all Ubisoft have managed to do interesting things with that sort of game before (such as the early Assassin's Creed games).

A new trailer surfaced yesterday offering a glimpse at some more gameplay as well as a somewhat more formal introduction to the game's main character, Aiden Pearce. Additionally, a collector's edition is also confirmed at the end of the trailer.

Watch_Dogs is making its way to PC as well as all current and next generation systems (well, officially no one can say it is coming to Microsoft's new console since it doesn't actually exist in the open yet, but it'll happen).

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[PC, PS3, X360] Want a Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon sequel? The game's director does

[PC, PS3, X360] Want a Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon sequel? The game's director does

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon had one of the most bizarre conceptions in recent memory; it was announced on April Fool's Day and then surprised everyone by actually existing. It took Far Cry 3 in a completely different direction; removing us from a hostile tropical island and taking us to a hostile tropical island in the distant future of 2007 with lasers and plenty of 80's future action.

You should be playing it; luckily it is standalone if you don't feel like shelling out for Far Cry 3 (which was also an extremely enjoyable game).

Anyway, a recent interview with Michael Biehn, the star of Blood Dragon, on Major Nelson Radio has revealed that we could see the return of Sergeant Rex 'Power' Colt.

“[Creative director Dean Evans] was with me on the phone last night. He was pretty jacked up,” Biehn said. “He was going into a meeting today, to you know – I think he wants to turn it into some sort of franchise. He’s got a sequel in mind.”

I'm definitely with Evans; I'd love to see a full game built like Blood Dragon.

Thanks VG247.

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[3DS, Vita] Capcom aren't planning to bring Monster Hunter to the Vita any time soon

[3DS, Vita] Capcom aren't planning to bring Monster Hunter to the Vita any time soon

Monster Hunter is a franchise that brings a significant following, especially in Japan. So naturally many people have been wondering when Capcom's franchise would make the leap to the PlayStation Vita. Considering its success across various installments on the PlayStation Portable the move seemed inevitable, however following the release of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the 3DS and Wii U (and forthcoming release of Monster Hunter 4 on the 3DS) Capcom have announced they have no plans for Monster Hunter on the Vita at this time.

The disappointing news was first uncovered by NeoGAF (via IGN) a few days ago on the Capcom forums in a topic concerning the matter.

Inside the topic Yuri Araujo, an associate community specialist, confirmed that Capcom currently have "no plans for a PSVita Monster Hunter at the moment." Araujo instead reminds PlayStation fans that they will have the option to download Monster Hunter Freedom Unite from the PlayStation Store.

I'm not really a fan of the Monster Hunter franchise but it is definitely hard to deny that this is a blow to the Vita; especially in Japan where Monster Hunter is one of those franchises that really sell hardware.

However, it isn't all doom and gloom for Vita owners as they still have the fantastic Soul Sacrifice to look forward to.

What do you make of it? Are Capcom sticking with the 3DS purely because of sales or do you think they have some sort of deal with Nintendo at this point?

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[Multi] Patrice Désilets reportedly fired by Ubisoft after they snagged him back

During the collapse of THQ, Ubisoft expressed interest in acquiring some of THQ's properties. However, they didn't stop there and managed to snap up roughly 170 staff from THQ Montréal as the dust settled; among these 170 staff members was Patrice Désilets.

For those who don't know Patrice Désilets worked with Ubisoft to design the first two Assassin's Creed titles before departing to work on new projects. There was a lot of controversy over the acquisition of THQ Montréal staff with many wondering if Désilets would return to work for Ubisoft. In the end, he did end up joining the company but that relationship seems to have already concluded.

Kotaku received a statement from Ubisoft confirming that Désilets had departed once again.

“The acquisition of THQ Montréal in January allowed Ubisoft to welcome 170 experienced developers, including Patrice Désilets, to our existing and renowned workforce," said an Ubisoft representative.

"Unfortunately, since the acquisition, the good faith discussions between Patrice and Ubisoft aimed at aligning Patrice’s and the studio’s visions have been inconclusive. As a result, Patrice has left the studio. Our priorities remain with the teams already hard at work on projects in development. They are at the root of Ubisoft Montréal’s past and future successes.”

So, what's going on? Well, Désilets was working on a new game called 1666 during his time at THQ Montréal but Ubisoft currently refuses to comment on the fate of this project now that Désilets has left.

Speaking of which, Désilets also threw out a comment today claiming that he was fired and that the decision did not appear to be mutual.

"Contrary to any statements made earlier today, this morning I was terminated by Ubisoft. I was notified of this termination in person, handed a termination notice and was unceremoniously escorted out of the building by two guards without being able to say goodbye to my team or collect my personal belongings," said Désilets. "This was not my decision."

"Ubisoft’s actions are baseless and without merit. I intend to fight Ubisoft vigorously for my rights, for my team and for my game."

I feel like this is only the start of a struggle between Ubisoft and Désilets, but we'll have to wait and see what unfolds over the next few days.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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[Vita] Take a walk through Soul Sacrifice with game's European producer

[Vita] Take a walk through Soul Sacrifice with game's European producer

Soul Sacrifice is looking like a pretty good reason to consider picking up a PlayStation Vita; if you are still on the fence then this new video might help nudge you over the line.

Olivier Banal, European Producer on Soul Sacrifice, walks you through some of the game's features, it's worth a look.

Soul Sacrifice will be available on the Vita for on April 30th in America and May 1st in Europe.

Thanks PlayStation Access.

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[3DS] Konami reveal new 'strategy portal' for 3DS game, Castlevania: Mirror of Fate

[3DS] Konami reveal new 'strategy portal' for 3DS game, Castlevania: Mirror of Fate

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, a.k.a the game with the longest name, has been on store shelves for over a month now. If you haven't finished it and are having some trouble then Konami have some news that might make you smile.

I opened up my inbox to find an e-mail revealing the new 'strategy portal' for Konami and MercurySteam's latest 3DS title, which offers players insight into the game's maps, enemies and combos.

You can check out the guide here but it is also designed to be browsed on the 3DS internet browser. The guide was put together by the guys over at Future Press and seems surprisingly extensive considering it is available at no extra cost.

It is definitely worth a look if you're stuck in Mirror of Fate, which I regrettably been unable to check out as of yet.

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[PC] Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs roughly 6 hours long, proper horror game

[PC] Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs roughly 6 hours long, proper horror game

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is probably the game I'm looking forward to the most now that I've got Fire Emblem: Awakening but the waiting process is really killing me. Thankfully, thechineseroom sent Dan Pinchbeck (under the neam 'thechineseroom') to the Frictional Games forums to engage fans in a FAQ.

Dan was barraged with questions, but he did his very best to answer all of the most important ones and it has already revealed some new details for the game as well as generating excitement for horror fans.

He was asked whether music would still play an important role in A Machine for Pigs, which he confirmed that it would. "Music will still be absolutely central - it's a big part of who we are as a studio, and one of the things we really believe is its one of the most powerful tools for immersion in the handbook." Dan confirms that the studio is well aware of how Frictional worked their musical cues for the monster's appearance in the The Dark Descent. Puzzle gameplay will also make a return, but it is emphasised that both thechineseroom and Frictional Games hate including puzzles for the sake of having puzzles in the game. So you can expect the puzzles to be weaved into the narrative experience.

If you were worried about the sort of PC you'll need to run A Machine for Pigs then you can stop sweating; Dan also revealed that the team pegs system requirements for A Machine for Pigs will be around the same as those required for The Dark Descent. "[Frictional Games] are pretty committed to making the game as inclusive as possible." Whether or not the game will receive Oculus Rift is currently up in the air.

He avoids talking too much about the monsters and their spawning and AI mechanics, instead wishing fans luck with how they handle them. Dan revealed that the narrative will unfold in a similar manner to The Dark Descent with the aid of notes, letters, and such. He also confirms that the decision to not include an inventory was to avoid sifting through supplies; even though it made their life harder. As far as changing up the gameplay from The Dark Descent Dan offers that there are some changes here and there but doesn't go into much detail; it won't be getting easier for you. "You don't want that do you? This [isn't] Resident Evil... this is proper horror," says Dan.

I recommend flicking through the FAQ (or checking out the organised summary in this post) to find out more information from the back-and-forth with Dan Binchbeck.

Sadly, no release date was announced for Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs but you can expect it to hit Steam and should take you roughly 6 hours to complete according to Binchbeck.

Oh, if you are wondering what to expect from the horror? Dan Binchbeck offers the following: "You can expect a deep, dark and twisted story with many layers of horror, confusion, lies and madness. We want a game that isn't just scary to play, but one that gets into your head and fucks with you for nightmares to come."

The swine will rise!

Written by: Kyran Morrison

(This post was last modified: 05-05-2013 07:56 PM by LemonManX.)

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[PC, PS3, Wii U, X360] Activision practically confirm Call of Duty: Ghosts exisitence

[PC, PS3, Wii U, X360] Activision practically confirm Call of Duty: Ghosts exisitence
We know that we're building to the next big Call of Duty announcement; especially when retailers were receiving their signage notifications. Well, today we've taken another step towards final confirmation with Activision claiming that "the Ghosts are real."
The above image has appeared on a Facebook page for Call of Duty: Ghosts and on the main Call of Duty website. The Facebook page also credits Infinity Ward as contributing to the latest installment, so all that's left to do now is wait for Activision's first trailer.

Call of Duty: Ghosts has popped up in listings for PC, PlayStation 3, Wii U and Xbox 360 but we'll have to wait for confirmation on platforms from Activision.

Thanks VG247.

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Nintendo Download: May 2, 2013 – PAC-MAN, Mega Man, eShop Sales, & More!

What do you get when you combine three Wii U Virtual Console games, two Wii U eShop titles, three 3DS eShop games, one DSiWare, and a lot of eShop sales? You get the Nintendo Download for May 2, 2013!

The Virtual Console officially launched last week for Wii U, and this week, three games have been added. Many of you probably grabbed Balloon Fight at its discounted price already, but in case you missed it, it is back along with PAC-MAN and Mega Man. You can play all these titles on your TV or directly on your GamePad. Also available on the Wii U eShop are TANK! TANK! TANK! and Kung Fu Rabbit.

Moving over to the handheld side, BearShark makes the move from 3D video to a 3D game. Fans of the Nintendo Video show will be excited to now interact with this crazy world. If you are looking for something more lighthearted, you can get Gummy Bears Magical Medallion. If that is too much for you, maybe download My Riding Stables 3D – Jumping for the Team. Moving over to DSiWare, we get something entirely different with Armageddon Operation Dragon.

If that is not enough for you, there are a ton of sales going on right now on the eShops. Nintendo has discounted many of their games on the 3DS, Shin’en has their games on both 3DS and Wii U for 30% off, and all Marvel tables for Zen Pinball are half-off. If you have been waiting to download a game, now is the time, but act fast before the sales run out!

We have posted the full list of all the releases and prices below (apologies for the lack of prices, as Nintendo did not supply them this week), along with the official press release, straight from Nintendo of America. Be sure to let us know what game(s) or apps get you excited to play. Let us know in the comments below or in our forums!

Nintendo eShop on Wii U

PAC-MAN ($4.99)Mega Man (4.99)Balloon Fight (4.99)TANK! TANK! TANK! ($TBA)Kung Fu Rabbit ($TBA)

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS

BearShark ($TBD)Gummy Bears Magical Medallion ($TBD)My Riding Stables 3D – Jumping for the Team ($TBD)

DSiWare on Nintendo DSi and Nintendo 3DS eShop

Armageddon Operation Dragon (TBD Points / $TBD)

Nintendo eShop Sales

Nintendo Games (3DS eShop) – Pushmo, 3D Classics: Kirby’s Adventure, Dillon’s Rolling Western, Fluidity: Spin Cycle, and Tokyo Crash Mobs (Sale ends May 9 at 9 a.m. PT.)
Games by Shin’en (3DS & Wii U eShop) – Art of Balance TOUCH!, Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH!, Nano Assault Neo, and Nano Assault EX (All 30% off. Sale ends May 9.)Zen Pinball 2 (Wii U eShop) – All Marvel Pinball tables (50% off. Sale ends at 9 a.m. PT on May 9.)Marvel Pinball 3D (3DS eShop) – Marvel Pinball 3D game (50% off. Sale ends at 9 a.m. PT on May 9.)

——————————–

PRESS RELEASE

[PR Email from Nintendo of America]

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[Multi] Nordic Games big winner at THQ IP auction

[Multi] Nordic Games big winner at THQ IP auction

The final remnants of defunct publisher THQ were auctioned off earlier this month, and it appears that little-known publisher Nordic Games comes away as the surprise big winner as the results of that auction were revealed today. For $4.9 million, Nordic picked up the IP rights to Darksiders, Red Faction, MX vs. ATV, as well as a couple of lots with various properties that include Destroy All Humans!, Supreme Commander, Stuntman, Juiced, Full Spectrum Warrior, and more. What may be most surprising is that Crytek was unable to acquire the Darksiders franchise after announcing their intention to do so in order to allow former Vigil Games employees now working at Crytek USA to once again work on the franchise that they created.

"First and foremost we are very happy about this deal which also turns over a new leaf for the entire Nordic Games Group," said Nordic Games CEO Lars Wingefors. "In the long term, we either want to cooperate with the original creators or best possible developers in order to work on sequels or additional content for these titles. A very important point for us is not to dash into several self-financed multi-million dollar projects right away, but rather to continue our in-depth analysis of all titles and carefully selecting different financing models for developing new instalments of acquired IPs."

A Nordic representative also added, "As we still have some open points with regards to a couple of titles we will not publish a comprehensive list at this stage. However, once everything is fixed and the ink is dry (around mid-May) we will go out with a comprehensive list of titles which we have acquired in the process then."

Also of note in the auction is Borderlands developer Gearbox Software grabbing the rights to Homeworld for $1.35 million, and 505 Games picking up Drawn to Life and Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter for $300,000.

Written by: Mike Glubish

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[PS3] Thirty-five minutes of Beyond: Two Souls footage from Tribeca Film Festival

[PS3] Thirty-five minutes of Beyond: Two Souls footage from Tribeca Film Festival

You can say what you want about Heavy Rain but Quantic Dream's ambitious step towards a heavily narrative-driven style of video game was something that genuinely excited me. It was rough around the edges but still left a lasting impression on me.

So when David Cage announced that the studio were working on a new game last year, Beyond: Two Souls, I was immediately on board. Since then we've had a few announcements here and there, including the October release date. But this week at the Tribeca Film Festival we were gifted a new trailer and over thirty minutes of gameplay.

If you'd rather not have some things spoiled for you then you'd probably be better off checking out the trailer instead of the gameplay footage. But if you would much rather see it in action then feel free to hit play below; you'll see that David Cage and his team have come a long way from Heavy Rain.
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[PS3] Konami reveals Metal Gear Solid 'Legacy Collection' for June

[PS3] Konami reveals Metal Gear Solid 'Legacy Collection' for June

Metal Gear fans might find that they have quite a substantial hole in their wallets. A year and a half after releasing the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Konami has announced a bigger and better collection in the "Legacy Collection" due to hit the PlayStation 3 in North and South America this June.

The Legacy Collection includes the original Metal Gear Solid, HD versions of Metal Gear Solid 2, 3, and Peace Walker, the "Trophy Edition" of Metal Gear Solid 4, and topped off with Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions and a couple of digital graphic novels by Ashley Wood.

"We wanted to give Metal Gear Solid fans the opportunity to experience the series from beginning to end, all on one console," said Konami Digital Entertainment president Tomoyuki Tsuboi in a press release. "With the collection's multiple titles, players can truly see how Metal Gear Solid evolved into the critically acclaimed and beloved franchise it is today."

A price for the bundle has not been announced, nor is it clear if or when the bundle might hit the rest of the world.

Written by: Mike Glubish

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Now Playing: May 6-12, 2013

by Steven Wong on May 6th 2013 6:00PM

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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Get 60 Free Club Nintendo Points with TANK! TANK! TANK! (DL)

The full version of TANK! TANK! TANK! released a few months ago, but the game was recently reworked and released on the eShop today. The game is free to download, and you can add different components and levels via downloadable content (DLC). However, even if you download just the free portion, you will still get a survey in your Club Nintendo account worth 60 coins.

So, if you have not downloaded TANK! TANK! TANK! yet, do so right away, and get 60 free coins before Nintendo changes their minds. Once you download it from the Wii U eShop, head over to Club Nintendo, fill out your survey, and claim your free coins.

For those who did download TANK! TANK! TANK!, please let us know what you think. You can post your thoughts in our comments or our forums. We would love to hear what you think!

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[Multi] New Bethesda game outted?

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[3DS] New trailer for Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D showcases new 3DS footage

[3DS] New trailer for Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D showcases new 3DS footage

Donkey Kong Country Returns is barreling towards the Nintendo 3DS later this month, both on the eShop and at retail, so Nintendo has seen fit to release a new trailer showcasing plenty of 3DS footage.

The text isn't in English, but we're mostly here for the video anyway.

Nintendo also revealed a few weeks ago that the 3DS version would receive a new 'easy mode' in addition to a brand new world.

Thanks Games HQ Media.

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(This post was last modified: Yesterday 08:57 AM by LemonManX.)

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[PS4] "Always online" was apparently never really considered an option by Sony

[PS4] "Always online" was apparently never really considered an option by Sony
So, there's been a lot of controversy surrounding the possibility that Microsoft's new console could be required a constant internet connection (depending on your interpretation; personally I don't think they'll pursue it in this manner). A lot of people were quick to cast the spotlight back on Sony; who, despite never mentioning always online during their PlayStation 4 showcase, never actually denied its inclusion.

However, Gaming Everything spied an interesting statement during an interview in Game Informer claiming that Sony never considered going down that road.

“Did we consider it? No, we didn’t consider it. The main reason being that many countries don’t have robust Internet connections. It makes sense for people to have Internet connections to play online games, but for offline games there are many countries that we saw do not really have robust Internet,” Shuhei Yoshida told the magazine.

So, what do you think? Is this just Sony playing the role of a 'good guy' or do you think they genuinely never considered implementing in with the PlayStation 4? Its worth noting that patents surfaced suggesting that Sony might have been investigating its use at one point.

Or will Sony still announce some sort of incentive to be constantly connected to the internet heading into E3?

Thanks Eurogamer.

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[Wii U, 3DS] Mother 4 would be impossible according to Shigesato Itoi

[Wii U, 3DS] Mother 4 would be impossible according to Shigesato Itoi

If you were hoping that the recent confirmation that Earthbound would find its way to Western Wii U owners through the Virtual Console might give us a glimmer of hope for a fourth installment then I have some bad news for you.

Kotaku is reporting that Shigesato Itoi, creator of Earthbound/Mother, has given a rather blunt answer squashing any dreams we may have had for a Mother 4.

The creator was asked by a fan if he could make Mother 4, but unfortunately Itoi's response was a rather blunt "impossible". If you can read Japanese then you can check out the tweet in question here; this is sure to disappoint many gamers. It is especially disappointing because no reason was given to explain why it would be impossible.

We'll have to settle with getting our hands on Earthbound later this year.

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