VGTribune

A game that defies genre. Would you consider that to be a compliment? In many cases, I would. Not  being able to define a game means that it successfully combined the best traits of several genres and avoided the pitfalls in each of them. However, it’s not too often we see anything other than the usual combinations, such as action-RPG, stealth-action, or even the occasional platform-RPG. Henry Hatsworth is definitely one of those games that combines genre… but it does it defy those genres? Read more after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »

So you thought it was just going to end with the announcement of two upcoming Professor Layton games at E3? Right? Well, isn’t that cute… but’s it’s wrong!!

It seems that Manga Entertainment is releasing Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva on DVD and Blu-Ray in the UK on October 4th. The film will be released in a few ways. A disc-only DVD, and a disc only Blu-Ray editions. There will also be a phantasmagorical collector’s edition which comes in both a DVD, and Blu-Ray formats, and features gorgeous packaging and even includes an art book full of storyboards.

If you’re in the US, it’s easy to order from Amazon UK. I’m pretty sure region free DVD players exist as well for cheap.

[Amazon.uk]

The highly anticipated Rock Band 3 is now available for Pre-Order from retailers. The game will ship Worldwide Oct 26th for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii and DS.

Rock Band 3 will be compatible with all Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band peripherals, as well as most Guitar Hero and third-party instrument and microphone controllers. Mad Catz is the official peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band 3 game controllers.

The standalone game is  priced at:

Xbox 360 – $59.99

Playstation 3 – $59.99

Wii – $59.99

DS – $29.99

GameStop Pre-order* Opportunity:
GameStop shoppers who reserve Rock Band 3 for PlayStation 3 system or Xbox 360 in advance receive three downloadable Rock Band songs at launch:

• Burning Down the House by Talking Heads
• My Own Summer by Deftones
• Blue Monday by New Order

Amazon Pre-order* Opportunity:
Amazon shoppers who reserve Rock Band 3 for PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360 and Wii in advance will receive access to an exclusive in-game guitar. Additionally, for a limited time only, PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360 owners who pre-order Rock Band 3 in advance on Amazon will receive $10 off a future videogame purchase.

Wal-Mart Pre-order* Opportunity:
Walmart.com shoppers who reserve Rock Band 3 for PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360 and Wii in advance will receive a $10 eGift card for a limited time.

Okamiden's Collector's Edition will hopefully ignite interest in the DS game.

Okami was a game that never got enough attention in my opinion. Hopefully, this swell collector’s edition changes that for the DS cousin.

The set includes a beautiful box, paw headphones, a plush Amaterasu keyring, soundtrack, a DVD, story book and less noticeably, the game itself.

Read the rest of this entry »

After years of asking for a proper discussion board to express their Poképinions, posters on the popular anonymous image board 4chan finally saw their wishes granted today.

At approximately 12:37 this morning, 4chan founder Christopher “moot” Poole posted a welcome message on the new discussion board, /vp/, alerting posters to the fact that they “GOTTA CATCH ‘EM ALL” followed by the green text response “POKÉMON”. Naturally, the response to the post was immediate and from there, the discussion board has already grown to become one of the most popular sections of the website. The creation of a Pokémon exclusive board however, should not have come as much of a surprise. Earlier in the year, “moot” created a topic on the video game section of the website, /v/, in which he asked if there was really a desire for one and fans of both the games and the website have been asking for a Pokéboard since 4chan’s inception.

The following quotes are from the first anonymous posters on the new 4chan board /vp/: Read the rest of this entry »

The future of LEVEL-5’s acclaimed series of riddles, puzzles, and mysteries will be arriving this fall on the Nintendo DS. Previously the game was expected to release on the 20th of September but the game will now be available a week earlier, treating newcomers and experienced players alike to a mesmerizing mix of time travel and puzzle-solving fun.

Professor Layton and the Unwound Future places the professor and his trusted apprentice at the center of a spellbinding adventure after they receive a strange letter sent from 10 years in the future. Players must wind their way through more than 165 mind-bending puzzles as they decipher clues and strive to unlock a time-twisting mystery that threatens to plunge London into chaos. Featuring richly rendered graphics and an engaging storyline.

Are you guys excited you can have some Layton fun 8 days earlier than previously expected!? I know I am.

Price: $34.99

Release Date: July 11, 2010

Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.

Publisher: Nintendo

This review was based on a review copy of Dragon Quest IX provided by Nintendo.

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is the latest installment in the highly successful Dragon Quest franchise. However, the series, which is a huge hit in Japan, has never really taken off here in America. However Nintendo, much in the same vein of Monster Hunter Tri’s release earlier this year on Wii, wants to replicate the series’  success in Japan here in America. So, for many American gamers, this will be their very first Dragon Quest game. Is the title a fresh and engaging Japanese RPG or does it fail to resonate with American gamers?

Simply put, Dragon Quest IX is the best role-playing game on Nintendo DS, or any handheld platform for that matter, since Square-Enix’s 2008 title The World Ends with You. Read the rest of this entry »

When asked if Nintendo would consider making games for other mobile platforms such as the iPhone, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata answered unfavorably to the idea.

We think Nintendo is a company whose value is recognized by the way that we combine great software experiences with particular hardware capabilities that only we can offer. Therefore, my feeling is that offering our IP on other devices would have an adverse impact on the overall value of our company and at the same time I think that it’s not something that would add value to Nintendo.

That sounds very similar to Apple’s strategy with Mac OS. That’s an uncannily similar symmetry.

On Friday, Reggie Fils-Aime appeared on the talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to say that the 3DS would not be released until next year, amongst a few other things and as he did so the collective hearts of gamers sank slightly because we want this beast now. Now apparently though he is “mistaken”.

According to Kotaku

Says who? According to sources close to company’s Japanese headquarters, the Nintendo of America exec made an error when he stated that the Nintendo 3DS would be out next year. Good thing he didn’t do that on nation-wide television!

Now I don’t know about you but I am fed up of all this nonsense surrounding the release date. If Nintendo don’t know then can they stop trying to tease us please. All I want is some solid news before my birthday (Aug 5th) and it to be out by October at the latest so Nintendo please listen. Are you fed up with this constant data switching or want it out around a set time? Please tell us in the comments.

Sometimes, I wonder why parents give these children webcams and computers with internet access.