via Eurogamer


Alone in the Dark has not been delayed until September, according to Atari.

A spokesperson for the publisher claimed Games for Windows magazine was spouting a rumour, so presumably everything is on track for PC and 360 versions to appear in March.

Atari recently launched the official site for the game, which has some viral marketing based around Central Park and the scary things that lurk within it.

Interestingly it appears to be based around real-life occurrences like the you-must-know-about-it insect invasion of 1888, where nine different families of spider were taken from a single tree and a meaty five pounds of caterpillars taken from another.

Less interestingly Atari added PS2 and Wii versions of its survival-horror game to its schedule last November. As with the PS3 offering, no dates have been mentioned. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Bungie (the most typed word on our keyboards in 2007) has dropped fresh hints on what we can expect in the next Halo 3 map pack.

The first map pack, which includes Standoff, Rat's Nest and Foundry, is out now for the rather pricey 800 Microsoft Points (£6.80), though you probably bought it anyway.

As for the next slice of DLC, Bungie says it'll reveal the new maps "once they are ready for the general public to see," and that ultimately "it's up to Microsoft how that information is disseminated."

One level though, codenamed "Moon Base Alpha", looks likely to be included in the second pack. It's definitely being worked on, says Bungie, and "It's received some new lighting and different switches to enable and disable access to various parts of the map.

"We're still playing it pretty often," says Bungie's website man. "It is a brutal map to play on, that may appeal to fans of Elongation, but is absolutely NOT a remake."

When asked if there'll be any maps with more water, Bungie gives an assertive "Absolutely." Excellent, because we can't stop staring at Halo 3's pretty liquid.

Read the whole community update on the official Bungie website. ...

via Joystiq


Apparently fighting giant alien bugs on a snowy world isn't just a man's job anymore. Famitsu reports that the PS3 version of Lost Planet will allow gamers to play as Luka, the leader of the Snow Pirates from the original game.

Additionally, the PS3 version will also include Joe, Mega Man, and Dead Rising's Frank West, who were originally playable in the PC version. Hey, remember when Lost Planet was a 360-exclusive? So that lasted a while, huh? ...

via Computer and Video Games


We already know how amazingly flexible the editing tools in Littlebigplanet are, yet we're amazed every time we see something new made with them.

In this first video, Sony shows off how easy it is to make a unique object (in this case, a tree) using the tool in the game, and talks about the potential for you do make so much with very little effort.

He then goes on to show the interface that will be used to share your created levels with the rest of the world via PSN.

And in this video the game's audio designer, who obviously specialises in sound, not level design, creates an entire stage in a clich� Mexican theme.

He uses items like lava pits and giant hats as obstacles, and builds structures with simple blocks, even forming pivots and seesaws with simple shapes. Genius.

September, as the release is now set, cannot come soon enough. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Two new Team Fortress 2 maps that are being created by Valve may not be released for Xbox 360 and PS3.

ShackNews reports it's received word from the developer that the maps are "undecided" for the consoles.

But they will, of course, definitely release on Team Fortress 2 on PC.

One of the new maps remains a mystery, however the other is a remake of Badlands, which players of Team Fortress Classic will be familiar with.

Valve additionally expects to ship other TF2 content before the two maps arrive, which includes new achievements and a "significant gameplay tweak" for the Medic class.

"It's a large scale modification to the core of the game," Valve's Robin Walker has said of the new class content. "It'll debut in a limited fashion through the Medic first, but it'll be affecting all classes eventually."

Both new Team Fortress 2 maps are expected within the next couple of months. ...

via Joystiq


If you saw our new release list this week, then you know that a torrent of mediocrity is forcing us to do things we don't want to do. First it was an American Idol take-off, which every media outlet from Semi Fan Bi-Monthly to Bi Fan Semi-Monthly has done before us. Now ... the hordes have forced us to post the above, semi-Pac-Man-related video just so this post has some entertainment value, and we couldn't be more sorry.

Pac-Attack (Super NES, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): Though Pac-Man itself is a classic, we can't understand games that think the character identity of a soulless, yellow pizza is strong enough so that it can be transported to other games. In this case, it's a puzzler, both literally and figuratively.

Riot Zone (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): From the intro of this side-scrolling beat 'em up: "The Bossman's still in the DragonZone! Whear's that warrant you promised?!" We assume your purchasing decision is now clear. ...

via Engadget


Splendid news on the Canadian front -- it seems as if that proposed tax on digital recorders and storage devices (you know, like Apple's iPod for instance) will actually not come to pass. According to Judge Karen Sharlow, the board "had no legal authority to certify a tariff on digital audio recorders or on the memory permanently embedded in digital audio recorders." The ruling enables all music lovin' Canucks to breath a sigh of relief, as it makes tacking on fees ranging from C$5 ($4.95) to C$75 ($74) in order to "compensate the recording industry for music that was copied" illegal . From here, a decision still needs to be made to clarify the legality (or illegality) of copying music from discs to DAPs, but at least we're seeing a touch of levelheadedness in the music biz, regardless. ...

via Eurogamer


The inevitable sequel to Resistance: Fall of Man has finally been unveiled.

It's the cover story on the February issue of US magazine Game Informer. The game will feature boasts co-operative play for up to eight players, plus enormous 60-player battles over PSN.

On top of this are two full campaigns (one may be a co-operative endeavour) set in what could be New York, if the Brooklyn Bridge-alike on the cover is anything to go by. We'll call it Earth for now.

There is no clarification as to whether Manchester Cathedral will return for a cameo.

Resistance was developed by Ratchet & Clank brainbox Insomniac Games and launched alongside the PS3 in the US and Europe.

Unfortunately it failed to command top-end scores; the game was chastised for its generic environments and enemies and a disappointing range of weaponry from a usually abundant creative talent. "Just a bit limp," reckons Tom.

Pop your head into our Resistance: Fall of Man gamepage for our US and European reviews of the game. ...

via Games Industry


The online presence of UK specialist retailer Game has opened the voting for this year's People's Choice Award.

Game.co.uk has listed 43 titles for members of the public to choose from, including big-sellers such as FIFA 08, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and More Brain Training with Dr Kawashima, and some cult favourites like Okami and Super Paper Mario.

Voting for the award is open now and closes at 11:30pm on Thursday January 17, with the winner announcement expected on the web site on Friday January 18.

Other awards being contested include Best Publisher and Best Developer, which have already been won by Nintendo and Bungie respectively, with Best Console, Best Value for Money and Game of the Year yet to be announced.

The full People's Choice shortlist is as follows:

Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
Final Fantasy XII (various)
Resident Evil 4 – Wii Edition (Wii)
Tiger Woods 08 (various)
Football Manager 2008 (various)
Mass Effect (360)
Assassin's Creed (various)
Need for Speed: ProStreet (various)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (various)
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3)
God of War II (PS2)
Tomb Raider: Anniversary (various)
Forza Motorsport 2 (360)
Project Gotham Racing 4 (360)
The Darkness (various)
John Woo Presents Stranglehold (various)
Virtua Tennis 3 (various)
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree (Wii)
Rainbow Six Vegas (various)
Guitar Hero III (various)
Pokemon Diamond / Pearl (DS)
Singstar PS3 (PS3)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (various)
FIFA 08 (various)
Super Paper Mario (Wii)
Mario Vs Sonic at the Olympics (Wii)
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (various)
Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions (PSP)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)
Half-Life 2: The Orange Box (various)
Metroid Prime III: Corruption (Wii)
Okami (PS2)
The Simpsons Game (various)
Skate (various)
More Brain Training By Dr. Kawashima (DS)
WWE SmackDown Vs Raw 2008 (various)
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (various)
Crysis (PC)
Cooking Mama (various)
Wario Ware: Smooth Moves (Wii)
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (PC)
Halo 3 (360)
Bioshock (360) ...