New beta of the PlayStation 2 emulator for Windows and Linux.

Changelog:

* Reverted a Scratchpad change which stopped Tekken 4 working in 275.
* Fixed the corrupt block in the corner of the psychonauts videos

Plus previous fixes:

* FF7 Dirge Of Cerberus crash fixed.
* Couple of Vif stall fixes (chessmasters goes 1 screen further, woo!!) brings a tiny speedboost for Guitar Hero too.
* VU Skip reverted to the old version to fix those games which had black screen problems when using it ...

via GameGuru

After the launch of Singstar Bollywood, Sony Computer Entertainment has brought yet another party game to India. Sony’s Buzz quiz game was so popular the world over, and now it is here in the country in the form of Buzz!: The Maha Quiz. Making it very special is the fact that the game has been made to cater to the local audience and has been developed in collaboration with quizmaster Derek O’ Brien. It is available as of now only for the PlayStation 2 console.

This party game has over 5,000 questions on trivia ranging from celebrities to nature to history to sports. There are some questions relating to music as well, making this even more of a fun party game. Basically, the game promises to recreate the TV game show experience right in your room!

Set in a well-designed virtual studio, you will be surrounded by all the hype with the comically cheesy Buzz as the game show host and his curvaceous assistant Rose.

The best part is that up to 8 people can play the game. Moreover, Buzz!: The Maha Quiz comes with 4 buzzers, making it even more realistic.

Buzz!: The Maha Quiz was launched in style in a swanky lounge/club in Mumbai in the presence of cricketer Srishant, actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, flim critic Rajeev Masandand Mr.Radhakrishnan, well known as a NeoSports anchor. Certainly it was a star-studded affair, and all four of them who seemed to have been well picked from varied fields, competed against each other on stage, playfully edging each other on.

Yes, a real life Mr.Buzz was present at the event, who seemed to live up to his comic and cheesy nature as well.

Mr.Atindriya Bose- Country Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment said, “Buzz enjoys a tremendous fan following across the globe because of three key elements - accessibility, character and sociability. It’s the live-in-your-living-room game show experience that everyone can enjoy, thanks to the Buzz! Buzzers. The cheeky personality of Buzz guides the tone of the game and related communications, setting it apart from bland competitors. Rose with her vixen-like appearance and appeal, also adds glamour to the game. After the success of Singstar Bollywood, it is only natural that we bring in Indian game contents in such a popular franchise as Buzz!: The Maha Quiz.”

The newly launched Buzz: The Maha Quiz which is based on the original Buzz! Game includes 3 new rounds together with the old favorites. Expect the final round of the game to be very competitive. Buzz!: The Maha Quizz also gives you many characters to choose from.

A very interesting feature is that you will actually be able to get yourself on to the big screen only if you have an EyeToy USB camera!



Here are the new features seen in Buzz!: The Maha Quiz
# Slick TV-style presentation and a studio at-its-most technically advanced
# Fully-implemented 5-8 playermode
# 12 different territory SKU’s
# 5000 + brand new general knowledge questions, covering TV, movies, music, sports, science, nature and more
# New pictures, videos and music
# All-new round types g) “Mystery Games”
# Track your stats in the Hall of Fame
# 16 contestants to choose from
# plug in an EyeToy USB Camera and get yourself on the big screen
# fine-tune the Buzz! experience with 3 difficulty levels and 3 game lengths
# Classic Buzz! game modes: Single Player and Multiplayer, plus Teamplay, Quiz Master and Quickfire Modes.

Buzz!: The Maha Quiz is available for the Sony PlayStation 2 console for a price of Rs.1,499 in India. It comes with 4 buzzers for a fun multiplayer experience.

Word is that Buzz!: The Maha Quiz will be launched for Sony PS3 consoles sometime in late 2008. ...

via Nintendic

Forget the talk of which secret characters will be making an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, because surely this revelation is more significant: SEGA’s Alex Kidd will be appearing in the upcoming SEGA Superstar Tennis, his first videogaming outing for over 17 years.

The news comes plucked from the latest issue of Game Informer magazine and the beady eyes of Seganerds. The article writes:

In addition to featuring Sega’s top roster of talent like Sonic, Dr. Eggman, and Aiai, the game will include some of the company’s cooler, albeit bearly-forgotten characters. We’re happy to see Space Channel 5’s Ulala, Jet Set Radio’s Beat and Sega’s defunct mascot Alex Kidd from Alex Kidd in Miracle World back in action.

Alex Kidd, with his ape-like ears and bright red attire was SEGA’s primary mascot between 1986 and 1990, when the firm dropped him in favour of Sonic the Hedgehog.

SEGA Superstar Tennis will be released for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS this March. ...

via GamersHell

Sega has released the first trailer and nine new screenshots from Sega Bass Fishing, the next installment of its fishing series now developed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii and due to ship early this year. The game features 20 different types of lures, time-of-day and season selection, 15 beautifully designed lake environments and four types of fresh water bass. ...

via IGN

If you and your PlayStation 2 were hoping to tear up some farmland with your UFO, THQ has bad news for you: Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed has been cancelled.

IGN discovered the cancellation during an e-mail session with a THQ representative but has been unable to obtain a comment from the company.

Set before the events of Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon -- a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 installment of the franchise that ships in March -- Big Willy Unleashed is still coming to the Wii and PSP. Basically, aliens are back to conquer the planet and it's up to you to make sure the beasts succeed. ...

via IGN

Baroque, a role-playing game on the way for the Wii and PlayStation 2 from Japanese developer Sting, has been pushed back a month, according to the game's publisher, Atlus.



Here's what Atlus had to say when they announced the game back in December:

"You awaken to find the world in ruin, your heart beset with unexplained guilt. A cataclysm has destroyed the cities and empires of men and disfigured the spirit of humanity. In this nightmare, it falls to you to descend a mysterious tower in search of absolution. Battle merciless foes through treacherous dungeons, scour for new items to aid you in your travels, and unlock the secrets of a devastated land. You will find death in the depths, yet learn that death is not the end of the story; in the twisted world of Baroque, it is only the beginning."


Dark stuff, that.

Atlus has also released new details about the Wii version of Baroque:

- 16:9 widescreen support
- Progressive scan support
- "Subtle" motion control integration for power attacks
- "Intuitive" controls using Wii Remote and nunchuk
- Classic Controller support for traditional play

Here are some of the items and weapons that will be available in the game, with descriptions by Atlus, followed by our thoughts in italics:

Angelic Rifle - A uniquely shaped rifle that can annihilate any meta-being with one shot. However, its specialized ammunition is very limited.

Sword - A melee weapon to attack the enemy. There are swords that will possess enhanced attributes and added effects.

Coat - Protective gear to resist attacks. There are some coats that will have other effects besides just raising defense.

Torturer - Item that causes a variety of area effects depending on the type of Torturer. They can be combined with others to enhance their effects.

Parasite - It can grant a variety of effects by fusing it with the protagonist or equipment. You can also fuse a parasite with another parasite.

Wings - Imitation wings that provide the protagonist with special abilities

Flesh - Eat this to restore HP. Rotten flesh will cause stomachaches.

Heart - Eat this to restore VT. Rotten hearts will cause stomachaches.

Bone - Bite on it to restore HP or VT or throw it at the enemy to deal damage. Because they are small in size, the protagonist can hold quite a few of these

Fluid - Liquid that gives an instantaneous effect by injecting it into the protagonist. Most of them can heal status ailments and raise stats.

Box - An item is usually in the box and it can be obtained by opening it successfully. If the box explodes while opening it, the item is destroyed and you will take damage.

Brand - Special statuses can be obtained by using brands. It cannot be removed unless an Unbrand Brand is used.

Disk - Item that activates by stepping on it. It can be set anywhere. The effect varies depending on if it is placed face up or face down.

Idea Sephirah - The purified, crystallized form of one's true self. Information about the being prior to its crystallization can be gleaned if the crystal is formed from a living specimen

Baroque is set in a near future in which the world has been destroyed by a cataclysmic "Blaze" that has shifted the laws of nature and given rise to twisted "Meta-Beings." In order to stay sane, the population clings to delusions, called Baroques.

Crystallized selves, weaponized bones, torture devices and rotten flesh? Count us in. ...

via Gaming Bits

SEGA of America released several new screenshots today from the upcoming Iron Man game (Spring '08).

From SEGA: "Iron Man is based on Marvel Studios' highly-anticipated Iron Man feature film starring Academy Award® Nominees Robert Downey Jr. and Terrence Howard, and directed by Jon Favreau. This project, the first feature film to be produced independently by Marvel Entertainment, will blast into theaters May 2, 2008. The Iron Man game is set for release Spring 2008."

See the screenshots release today below. Watch a previously released trailer video here as well as previously released screenshots here.













...

New version of the Nintendo DS emulator for Windows.

Changelog:

• Fixed a bug in CPU Speed Mode.
• Fixed a bug in Bind Textures.
• Fixed a bug in Use Temp File for compressed file.
• Fixed a bug in Fog Effect.
...and other small fixup.

Audio PlugIn 1.0.0.9:
• Fixed a bug in Load State capabilities.

DirectInput PlugIn 1.0.0.4:
• Fixed a bug in choosing buttons. ...

New version of the Nintendo DS emulator for Windows.

Changelog:

• Fixed a bug in CPU Speed Mode.
• Fixed a bug in Bind Textures.
• Fixed a bug in Use Temp File for compressed file.
• Fixed a bug in Fog Effect.
...and other small fixup.

Audio PlugIn 1.0.0.9:
• Fixed a bug in Load State capabilities.

DirectInput PlugIn 1.0.0.4:
• Fixed a bug in choosing buttons. ...