via Eurogamer


Grand Theft Auto IV art director Aaron Garbut has shed some light on how a GTA game comes together behind the scenes, revealing that the process is actually very organic rather than carefully planned.

"There are essentially two routes you can go down in making a game: you can do a load of pre-production upfront and plan it all out in advance or you can just dive in and be a bit more organic," Garbut told Eurogamer, as you can see in part two of our exclusive interview.

And while you might imagine that the former is necessary on something as vast and all-encompassing as GTA IV, apparently you're wrong.

"The first option is the safest, it lets everyone know where they are from day one, it lets everyone know what needs done and it's the easiest to organise. But I think it tends to lead to fairly lifeless, soulless games, particularly when the games are more open like ours," Garbut told Eurogamer.

"We are a lot more organic, this is a conscious choice and it does lead to more difficulties along the way, it's harder on the team and it's trickier to keep track of but it leads to better games.

"It works because the core team know each other well and have worked together for a long time, we trust each other and know what to expect. Our whole ethos is to try things out, play with them, find what works best and move in that direction."

Elsewhere in the interview, we find out how Rockstar goes about making up fictional brands like Cluckin' Bell.

For the most part it's as you would expect - a well-organised design department - but occasionally it does come down to round-robin emails seeking inspiration. "Every so often an email will be sent out looking for ideas for businesses or slogans, which always ends up degenerating into pictures of cats and diarrhoea for some reason," said Garbut. "But ideas come from all those places."

All part of the massive development effort that goes into a GTA game. As Garbut put it, "It's all a big scary tangled web. But it works." See how well it works when the game comes out on 29th April, and check out part two of our interview for more. ...

via Eurogamer


Infinity Ward has revealed that the Variety Map Pack for Call of Duty 4 on PS3 will be available worldwide this Thursday

It's a week earlier than expected, and sees the double experience weekend move foward to begin this Friday.

The Variety Map Pack will cost USD 9.99 (GBP 5 - assuming it isn't altered for our region), which is a little cheaper than the Xbox 360 version at 800 Microsoft Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60).

Inside the bundle are four maps: Broadcast, Killhouse, Creek and Chinatown. We liked the latter two when we got to grips with it recently. ...

via Eurogamer


We Love Golf developer Camelot has said that it is working on RPG ideas and hasn't ruled out a Golden Sun game for DS.

"It would be great, wouldn't it!" Hiroyuki and Shugo Takahashi told Eurogamer when we played golf with them recently.

"We want to play that game too, just as much as you. We love Golden Sun!

"We are working on a lot of different things - a lot of different design documents and so on, including some different RPG ideas. Don't worry, we're thinking about RPG stuff!"

However, for the moment shipping the European version of We Love Golf, featuring online play, is the focus, and as Camelot is a single-team developer it's very much a case of "we'll see what happens".

But for those who remember the two GBA Golden Sun games - random-battlers with interesting upgrade systems built around magical creatures called Djinn - the brothers have some reassuring words:

"Camelot is an RPG maker. We don't think that we'll ever quit making RPGs."

Good then. They're also much better at We Love Golf than we are, so check out our We Love Golf interview for more on how that game's shaping up, including some photographs of the Takahashis punishing Eurogamer's Rob Fahey for not replacing divots. ...

via Eurogamer


Mario Kart has held onto the top spot in the UK All Formats Chart for a second week running.

Its ghost was chased eagerly by the legs of Mario & Sonic at the Olympics at two, and the shiny tyres of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue at three.

Sporty pair Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 and SEGA Superstars Tennis followed at four and five respectively, with shooters Rainbow Six Vegas 2 and Call of Duty 4 next in line.

Fresh entry UEFA Euro 2008 managed to take eight - probably feeling the sales-glut from England not qualifying for the competition.

Dr. Kawashima climbed back into the charts with Brain Training at nine, while Guitar Hero III and its frustrating final set-list rounded off the pile at 10.

New entries of note were Time Crisis 4 and its PS3 light-gun at 24, plus another forgettable Sims 2 expansion to do with kitchens and bathrooms at 20.

Big movers were Rayman Raving Rabbids up from 32 to 22, while Dark Sector fell from 13 to 26 and Viking: Battle for Asgard tumbled from 16 to 29.

Those fired from the list by the stubby finger of Sir Alan "Charts" Sugar were Bully: Scholarship Edition and MX vs. ATV Untamed.

Here's that UK all-formats top 40 chart in full:

1. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
2. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii, DS)
3. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)
4. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PC, DS, PSP)
5. SEGA Superstars Tennis (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS)
6. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (Xbox 360, PS3)
7. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS)
8. UEFA Euro 2008 Xbox 360, PC, PS3, PS2, PSP)
9. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)
10. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, DS)
11. Wii Play (Wii)
12. Carnival: Funfair Games (Wii)
13. Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Xbox 360, PS3)
14. Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS)
15. Game Party (Wii)
16. FIFA 08 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
17. Imagine: Babies (DS)
18. Cooking Mama 2 (Wii, DS)
19. More Brain Training From Dr Kawashima (DS)
20. The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bathroom Interior Design Stuff (PC)
21. Ben 10: Protector of Earth (Wii, PS2, PSP, DS)
22. Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (Wii)
23. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, DS, PSP)
24. Time Crisis 4 (PS3)
25. Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)
26. Dark Sector (Xbox 360, PS3)
27. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
28. Mario Kart DS (DS)
29. Viking: Battle for Asgard (PS3, Xbox 360)
30. Football Manager 2008 (PC, Xbox 360)
31. Army of Two (Xbox 360, PS3)
32. Ratatouille (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2, DS, PSP, GBA)
33. The Simpsons Game (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
34. WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2008 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS, PSP)
35. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS)
36. 42 All-Time Classics (DS)
37. The House of the Dead II & III Return (Wii)
38. Imagine: Fashion Designer (DS)
39. Professor Kageyama's Maths Training (DS)
40. CRASH of the Titans (Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS, GBA)

...

via IGN


Square Enix has made available one more piece of download content for the Japanese version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, its WiiWare launch title. Owners of the 1,500 WiiPoint title can now download a 300 WiiPoint dungeon pack that includes 11 dungeons. Clear all these dungeons and you'll get weapon shops, parks, pubs, and other buildings in return.

In addition to this download, Square Enix also shared a preview of some upcoming content. Players will soon be able to download a couple of pieces of 100 WiiPoint clothing, including a bikini for Chime, the attendant who guides you on your building activities. A future 100 WiiPoint download will add a new dungeon along with the ability to change your adventurers' names. A bit more pricey at 200 WiiPoints is the Library building, which can teach your warriors new skills. Finally, there's the the Infinite Tower, a difficult dungeon that can be replayed over and over again. It will sell for 300 WiiPoints.

Exact dates for these other downloads have not been announced. ...

via Eurogamer


Sierra Online will be dishing out Lost Cities as your Live Arcade treat tomorrow.

It costs 800 Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60) and is a an exploration card game designed by German puzzle legend Reiner Knizia.

There is a 60-card pack, and the idea is to mount a profitable expedition to one or more of five lost cities: the Himalayas, the Brazilian Rain Forest, the Desert Sands, the Ancient Volcanoes and Neptune's Realm.

Up-to three of you can traipse around in the Live Arcade version, and Wikipedia thinks each game lasts about 30 minutes.

As always, there will be 12 Achievements totalling 200 Gamerscore points up for grabs.

Look out for our thoughts on Lost Cities very soon.

Pop over to our Lost Cities gallery to see what it looks like. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Konami has now issued a new start date for the European Metal Gear Online beta after revealing yesterday it had suspended the test.

That new date is this Saturday - well, April 25 PDT, which is 8am on April 26 here - although the company says that this "may change due to unforeseen circumstances".

Yesterday Konami slammed the brakes on the beta. According to the company, the massive interest in the beta and subsequent massive global traffic following the green light for the test had meant it'd been unable to run the service to the level it expected.

"As a temporary measure, we will be deferring the European public beta test and start it once we stabilize our server. We would like to apologize for all inconveniences as well as confusion caused", a new statement on the official MGO website reads.

The beta will now close on May 11, rather than the original May 5. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Sony could be taking on 360's Video Marketplace with its own film download service for PS3 as soon as this summer.

That's according to the LA Times, quoting anonymous "studio executives familiar with the plan".

Sony is apparently currently in licensing talks, with plans to beam TV programmes and movies to PS3 units via PSN.

The report comes after Sony marketing boss, Peter Dille, spoke of the incoming video service on the PlayStation Blog. "Many of you have been hearing rumblings about a video service that will allow you to download full-length TV shows and movies via PlayStation Network for North America."

He continued: "While I don't have any new announcements here for the PlayStation Nation, it's already been confirmed that we'll be offering a video service for PS3 in a way that separates the service from others you've seen or used. Ultimately the goal of the PlayStation Network service will be to break through the overwhelming clutter of digital media to give you the TV, movies and gaming content you want."

While Dille promised "more on this very soon", Sony UK refuses to comment on the LA Times report.

We say get those broadband connections ready for a video-fuelled battering real soon. ...

via Games Industry


Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that it will expand its closed beta of the PlayStation 3's social networking feature Home.

The beta is scheduled to take place this summer and, under the expansion, Sony has said it will be inviting more people to take part and over a longer period originally planned. The company plans to launch an open beta of the virtual world and social hub later in the Autumn.

"We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today," said Kazuo Hirai, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment.

"Our overarching objective is to provide users with new gaming experiences that are available only on PlayStation Home. Spending more time on the development and on the Closed Beta testing reaffirms our commitment to bringing a quality service, maintaining the PlayStation tradition," he added. ...