Saturday, January 31, 2009

Ubisoft Working on CrossPlatform MusicBased Game

Joystiq has discovered a job listing that reveals Ubisoft is the latest company to join the growing list of publishers that want to develop the next big music-based video game. The description for the job says:

Ubisoft Entertainment, a global leader in the video games and entertainment software industry, is currently seeking a full-time Lead Designer. We are looking for a highly talented, motivated and experienced person to help guide the creation of an exciting new cross-platform music based game.

Will this game be another Guitar Hero, Rock Band type of game, or will Ubisoft take this popular genre to new heights? Only time will tell.


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Weekly Rock Band Downloadable Content (Week 6 2009)

Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the addition of seven new tracks to the Rock Band Music Store catalog of downloadable. Below is the press release with the announcement:
ROCK BAND® ADDS PAT BENATAR, THE PRETENDERS AND A 3-PACK FROM THIN LIZZY TO THE ROCK BAND MUSIC STORE

Cambridge, Mass. January 30, 2009 - Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the addition of seven new tracks to the Rock Band® Music Store catalog of downloadable content including a 3-pack from Irishhard rock band Thin Lizzy as well as songs from Nikko, Pat Benatar and The Pretenders.

The Thin Lizzy 3-pack features live recordings of “Boys are Back in Town,” “Jailbreak” and “Cowboy Song.” The 3-pack will become the first Thin Lizzy tracks to join the Rock Band music library, and are taken from Still Dangerous: Live At The Tower Theater Philadelphia 1977. This newly discovered live album, featuring the quintessential Lizzy lineup—Phil Lynott, lead vocals/bass; Scott Gorham, guitar; Brian Robertson, guitar; Brian Downey, drums—showcases the band at the height of its prodigious powers and will be released on Vh1 Classic Records on March 3, 2009.

Rock sensation Pat Benatar has her Rock Band debut with the popular single “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” This week’s lineup also includes “Precious” from British rock band The Pretenders, as well as “Break My Heart” and “Don’t Tell Me” from Nikko as featured in the movie Spectacular! The Pretenters’ songs “Brass in Pocket” and “Blue Christmas” were added as downloadable content last year.

Release Date:
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, February 05, 2009 (PlayStation®Store)

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

Tracks:
Pat Benatar “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”
The Pretenders “Precious”
Thin Lizzy “Boys are Back in Town (live)”
Thin Lizzy “Cowboy Song (live)”
Thin Lizzy “Jailbreak (live)”
Nikko “Break My Heart”
Nikko “Don’t Tell Me”


(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price:
$ 1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$ 5.49 (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for Thin Lizzy 3 Pack
$ .99 (80 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per Nikko tracks only


Locations:
Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360® PlayStation®Network Rock Band 2 is available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ home videogame console from Nintendo.

There are now more than 550 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers' voracious appetite for rock with more than 30 million paid downloads since its launch on November 20, 2007. The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated "T" for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.


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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Stormrise New Echelon and Sai Unit Descriptions

In The Creative Assembly’s first foray into console RTS gaming, they’ve pitted two factions against one another. There are the Echelon, a technology driven society, awaken from a long hibernation to reclaim the Earth. Then there are the Sai, those left behind by the Echelon on the surface of a horrifically storm stricken Earth to face the elements. The Sai have been the stewards of Earth’s surface since the great storms arose and are not going to give it back to the Echelon without a fight.

SEGA has released new info and screens of three more units from each side. Take a look at the new air and ground units for each army.

Echelon

Hunters

Stormrise New Echelon and Sai Unit Descriptions

Click here to view screenshot in high resolution
Raining spears from the sky, Hunters are the tactical support vehicle of choice for the Echelon. With built-in high speed fans, Hunters are a swift VTOL aircraft able to operate up high or near the deck, using a rapid firing chain gun to eliminate air and ground foes alike. For their final trick, Hunters unleash powerful rocket barrages, just right for pulverising masses of infantry.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Rocket barrage: Hunters blast ground-based enemy units with a fiery rocket barrage.
• Low hover: Hunters can drop down to hover close to the ground, allowing them to hide and shoot at ground units with greater accuracy.


Sentinels

Stormrise New Echelon and Sai Unit Descriptions

Click here to view screenshot in high resolution
The defensive shield of the Echelon, Sentinels guard important strategic points with determined vigilance. The three-man squads are equipped with side arms and deployable heavy machine guns, making them fully capable of guarding anything deemed vital to your victory.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Dig In: The Sentinels deploy their machine guns and dig in to increase their fire power and protection.

Arc Hammers

Stormrise New Echelon and Sai Unit Descriptions

Click here to view screenshot in high resolution
The iron fist of the Echelon, their appearance alone is enough to quell an uprising. Arc Hammers are surprisingly mobile thanks to their advanced hover technology. They are equipped with a powerful hyper velocity railgun and protected with the latest in advanced armour. Arc Hammers pack an additional surprise though, the ability to transform into an artillery piece and pound enemies from afar!

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Transform to artillery: The Arc Hammer can transform itself into a powerful artillery piece, locking it in place. This mode has a very long range but cannot be used to hit targets near where the Arc Hammer is emplaced.

Sai

Locusts

Stormrise New Echelon and Sai Unit Descriptions

Click here to view screenshot in high resolution
Sometimes called a rattling death trap by those that fly it, the Locusts can chew surprised enemy infantry into little pieces with the Gatling guns mounted on them. The Locusts fly around city streets, overwhelming enemies and they can also attack airborne units at high altitudes in swarms!

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Fly High: The Locusts can ascend into the sky to get a better look at the battlefield and engage airborne units.

Warriors

Stormrise New Echelon and Sai Unit Descriptions

Click here to view screenshot in high resolution
Warriors are the strong arm of the Sai. Whether hunting down dangerous beasts or protecting villages, Warriors perform their duties with ferocious aplomb. Enhanced by their exposure to Sai energy, Warriors are far larger than an average person. They grow to be about eight feet high and develop Sai energy tendrils which they project from their arms. In battle, Warriors are sent as shock troops into places where the bigger Sai units cannot go.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Electric Tentacle: The warriors use their Sai powers to envelope their tentacles in electricity which greatly increases their attack damage.

The Rage

Stormrise New Echelon and Sai Unit Descriptions

Click here to view screenshot in high resolution
Malevolence incarnate, The Rage exudes power and anger. Transformed by over exposure to Sai energy, The Rage has grown to titanic proportions, leaving it able to crush infantry with its bare hands and smash vehicles at will. Infused with a constant supply of Sai energy, The Rage can hurl itself forward rapidly, smashing into a soon-to- be-crushed victim or propelling itself into the air before landing with a thunderclap and blasting all those nearby.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
• Unstoppable Charge: The Rage hurtles forward with tremendous force smashing into and flattening their unfortunate victim.
• Rage Smash: The Rage jumps up in the air and smashes to the ground on landing, causing a powerful shockwave.



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Weekly Rock Band Downloadable Content (Week 51)

Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the release of the “Going Country” 5-song pack, which will feature songs from Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert and the Dixie Chicks. Below is the press release with the announcement:
ROCK BAND® GOES COUNTRY WITH ADDITION OF 5-PACK THAT INCLUDES BRAD PAISLEY, BROOKS & DUNN, DIXIE CHICKS AND MORE COMING TO THE DOWNLOADABLE MUSIC STORE CATALOG

Cambridge, Mass. – December 8, 2008 – Harmonix and MTV Games announced today that Rock Band® is set to give fans a taste of country music for the first time with the addition of the “Going Country” 5-pack to the Rock Band® Music Store catalog of downloadable content. The impressive lineup of renowned country artists includes Grammy Award winner Brad Paisley with “Mud on the Tires,” the honky- tonk country classic duo Brooks & Dunn with “Hillbilly Deluxe,” and all-American trio Dixie Chicks with “Sin Wagon.”

Rock Band country lovers can also look forward to Dierks Bentley’s #1 single “Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)” and Miranda Lambert’s standout single “Gunpowder & Lead.”

Each track will be available starting December 16, 2008, for the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and December 18, 2008, for PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Each individual track will be available for $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) and $8.49 (680 Microsoft Points) for the 5-pack.

Release Date:
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 (Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360)
Thursday, December 18, 2008 (PlayStation®Store)

Tracks:
Brad Paisley “Mud on the Tires”
Brooks & Dunn “Hillbilly Deluxe”
Dierks Bentley “Free & Easy (Down the Road I Go)”
Dixie Chicks “Sin Wagon”
Miranda Lambert “Gunpowder & Lead”

Price:
$1.99 (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$8.49 (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the 5-pack
(All tracks are original master recordings)

Locations: Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®Network

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change ** With the addition of these tracks there are now more than 500 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to fly off shelves and satisfy music fans and gamers' voracious appetite for rock with more than 28 million paid downloads since its launch on November 20, 2007. The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library. Rock Band and Rock Band 2 allow online play and features that expand the boundaries of music gaming. Rock Band downloadable content is playable and integrated into setlists in all game modes. In order to play downloadable content for head-to-head matches or multiplayer online, all players must own the same downloadable track. Downloadable content for Xbox 360 is available for purchase via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 using Microsoft Points and is downloaded directly to the hard drive of Xbox 360. Downloadable content for the PLAYSTATION 3 system's version of Rock Band is available for purchase on the PlayStation Store through the free PlayStation Network and is downloaded directly to PLAYSTATION 3 system's built in hard drive. Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system is now available nationwide and supports all previously downloaded content. The groundbreaking music platform that forever changed the face of music video games is committed to taking gaming to the next level with the evolution of the franchise. Rock Band 2 will be available for additional platforms later this year. Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated "T" for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.


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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Microsoft Hides Sales Figures to Community Games Devs

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, Xbox Live Community Games developers have told MTV that Microsoft is not providing sales data of Xbox Live Community Games, forcing them to rely on word-of-mouth and lists published by Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry Hryb in his Major Nelson blog. MTV contacted Microsoft and here what they had to say:

"All Community Games developers will be able to access sales and download numbers through the [XNA Creators Club] Web site by March."


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Fight Night Round 4 Ali or Tyson Trailer

Featuring a re-written gameplay engine, Fight Night Round 4 will add a variety of fighting styles and boxer differentiation to authentically emulate the greatest fighters of all time. Pressure your opponent with the brawling inside style of young Mike Tyson, bobbing and weaving to set up powerful hooks and uppercuts.

Capitalize on Muhammad Ali’s reach, hand speed and fleetness of foot to bewilder your opponent with lightning fast jabs and straights from the outside. For the first time in history, Fight Night Round 4 gives you the opportunity to pit these legendary heavyweights against one another and name a true champ.

Fight Night Round 4 Ali or Tyson Trailer





Street Fighter IV Screenshots
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Street Fighter IV Screenshots

Street Fighter IV brings the legendary fighting series back to its roots by taking the beloved fighting moves and techniques of the original Street Fighter II, and infusing them with Capcom's latest advancements in next generation technology to create a truly extraordinary experience that will re-introduce the world to the time-honored art of virtual martial arts.

Everything that made the legendary Street Fighter II a hit in the arcades, living rooms and dormitories across the globe has been brought back in Street Fighter IV. Players will be able to play their favorite classic characters, such as Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Guile, along with new characters, including Crimson Viper, Abel, El Fuerte, and Rufus. Characters and environments are rendered in stylized 3D, while the game is played in the classic Street Fighter 2D perspective with additional 3D camera flourishes.

Street Fighter IV Screenshots

Street Fighter IV Screenshots

     

Street Fighter IV Screenshots

     

Street Fighter IV Screenshots

Click here to view all screenshots



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