via Computer and Video Games


Here are some snaps of the Metal Gear Solid 4 midnight launch event that took place on Oxford Street, London.

A camo colour-wearing crowd (and some bloke with a truly epic afro) braved the hazards and hoodies of late night London to wait in line for the 12-o-clock opening, when the first copies of the game were handed over.

Well, almost the first, anyway.

No official numbers have been issued for the night, but it looked like it went pretty well.

It's expected that the flagship title will shift a fair few PS3s, with Sony smartly putting out a hardware bundle to go with the game.

And we've got our copies sitting right here, saying "play us, play us" in a quiet voice. You guys will be too busy playing to want any news today anyway, right?

Were you at a midnight opening and then went straight home (via the muggers) to play it all night? What are your first impressions? Let us know below.

In case you're still undecided, here's PSM3's review in full. And if you've forgot what the hell the story's all about, head on over to Joystiq, who's got a good little round-up of the whole series.


Photographs at Oxford Street here ...

via Eurogamer


Ninja Theory co-founder Tameem Antoniades believes we are so used to seeing poor cut-scenes that we've developed a bit of a sour taste for them.

He feels the dramatics his team conjured up for Heavenly Sword using a real-time engine were not only better at conveying emotion than CGI extravaganzas such as Beowulf, but also around 15 to 20 percent cheaper.

"I think gamers are used to poor cut-scenes. That's one of the reasons they are disliked so much," Antoniades told GamesIndustry.biz. "I do honestly believe that the best cut-scenes in Heavenly Sword surpass the best scenes in Beowulf in conveying emotion.

"I see CG as digital make-up. So as long as the performance is there to start with and the CG data reflects the original performance, then it should be easy enough for a skilled animator to reach the emotional resonance of the actor.

"If you aren't able to convey emotion, then somewhere along the line something isn't working as it should be. We did a lot of research in this area and know where the 'gotchas' are. So our next project will hopefully improve on what we learnt," he added.

Unfortunately what that project will be is still unknown, although it will certainly not be a sequel to Heavenly Sword.

It will focus on the core story-telling, cinematic and combat strengths of Ninja Theory, and will also potentially coincide with a self-created animated feature film - Heavenly Sword tested this route with a series of artistic CGI shorts.

Ubisoft recently revealed it also wanted to saunter down a similar path, as co-developing a film and game side-by-side while sharing assets will apparently be hugely beneficial to both.

Head over to GamesIndustry.biz for the full interview with Ninja Theory co-founder Tameem Antoniades, where he explains why he sees the Wii in the same toy-space as Simon Says or Buckaroo. ...

via Kotaku


Disgaea 3's due in, oh, a couple of months in the US, but you wouldn't know it from how quiet everyone's been. What, no hype left for Nippon Ichi and Disgaea? No love for Stupid Hard Levels? For switching seats with classmates? Come ooooooonnnn. Maybe this English-language trailer for the game will get you in the mood for throws, and Prinnies, and combat of a tactical nature.


...

via Kotaku


Metal Gear Solid 4 has launched pretty much everywhere. Well, everywhere save for Spain. The game hasn't yet launched there because of a transportation strike against the high price of gasoline. Konami Europe isn't able to get the game to stores. Here's the statement from Konami Europe:

Konami Digital Entertainment Spain regrets to info of possible delays, through no fault of the company, may occur in the distribution of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for PLAYSTATION 3 in the coming days.

Although the official launch globally is June 12, 2008, the product will be unavailable this week in Spain due to the transport strike.

In the continuing effort to maintain the best gaming experience for our users, Konami Digital Entertainment deeply regrets that this contingency affect the date of launch of a long-awaited title.

Will be informed shortly of the date on which the product will be available in our country.

Bummer that the launch had to be pushed back due to a transport strike. The price of gas isn't anything to be happy about, either. ...

via Kotaku




It's official, Nintendo will be selling a new silver and black DS branded with the Guitar Hero logo as part of a limited-time bundle with Guitar Hero: On Tour, the company announced today.

“This one-of-a-kind bundle makes Nintendo DS even more appealing to our ever-growing audience of players,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Like Nintendo DS itself, the Guitar Hero franchise has attracted millions of new players to the world of video games.”

The bundle, which hasn't been priced yet, will be available starting on June 22 when the game goes on sale. ...

via Computer and Video Games


With a demo for Quake Wars - which is already out - topping the list of this week's PSN update content, it doesn't give us much to shout about.

We really liked the previous PixelJunk Monsters themes, so we'll probably give these new ones a go, but other than that... well, see for yourself:

Demos

• Enemy Territory Quake Wars - FREE
• Monster Madness: Grave Danger - FREE

Packs

• Guitar Hero - Isle of Wight Track Pack - £3.99

Video

• Haze Korn Interview #1 - FREE
• Haze Korn Interview #2 - FREE

Wallpapers

• PixelJunk Monsters Bee Wallpaper - FREE

Themes

• PixelJunk Monsters Rainbow Theme - FREE

PSP content available to download via PS3 Console store
Games

• Ape Quest Full Game - £6.99

PC store
Games

• The Cryptics - £1.49
• Ape Quest Full Game - £6.99

Packs

• Ape Quest Starter Pack - FREE

Video

• Ape Quest Trailer - FREE

...

via Computer and Video Games


Microsoft has named the games that'll appear at its booth at this year's E3 in Los Angeles next month, and there aren't any surprises. Or are there?

Banjo-Kazooie, Fable 2, Gears of War 2, Halo Wars, Too Human, Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise are all set to appear at the July 15 event, but as anonymous tipsters revealed to CVG last month the company could be revealing two "top" titles that'll also be available before Christmas.

Microsoft is expected to bolster its line-up of ever-lucrative casual or "core" demographic games at the show, including a second instalment of quiz game Scene It? and perhaps even an appearance from that long rumoured motion controller. Our bets are that any announcements made at E3 will be in this area.

E3 runs from July 15 to 17. Check back next month for the goods. ...

via Eurogamer


Majesco has revealed a new game for the Wii Balance Board, alleviating fears there may be little to do on it once Wii Fit and some skiing games wear thin.

Dubbed Jillian Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009, this is another one all about being fit not fat, headed by US exercise star Jillian Michaels, unsurprisingly.

She's a tough-talking martial arts expert who headed a US game show that challenged contestants to lose as much weight as they could. One lucky contestant dropped a massive 37 per cent to win USD 250,000.

"I truly think this type of product will be instrumental in revolutionizing the fitness industry and will help combat the childhood obesity epidemic in this country," Michaels told Reuters.

Majesco is aiming for a Christmas release and has casual gamers, especially women, in its sights. The publisher also thinks this will be the first of many celebrity-endorsed fitness fads to make use of the unique Wii control options. Majesco calls this upcoming trend "exer-gaming". ...

via Games Industry


Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit for the PlayStation 3 has broken into the top spot on the Japanese software chart for the week ending June 8, according to figures from Media Create.

It was followed by Mysterious Dungeon for the Wii - another new entry - forcing Konami's Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 for the PlayStation Portable down from first to third place.

Tecmo's DS Misa Yamamura Suspense was the next new title in the chart, entering it at number five and forcing the PSP's Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G further down the chart to sixth place.

Ninja Gaiden 2 was the final new title in this week's chart, debuting in eighth place and the only Xbox 360 title to make it into the top ten.

The full top ten is as follows:
01. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (PS3)
02. Mysterious Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 3 (Wii)
03. Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 (PSP)
04. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
05. Misa Yamamura Suspense: Kyoto Murder Files (DS)
06. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP)
07. Wii Fit (Wii)
08. Ninja Gaiden 2 (Xbox 360)
09. Family Trainer (Wii)
10. DS Beautiful Letter Training (DS) ...