via Computer and Video Games


We think you'll agree, the latest in Rockstar's underground street racing series is shaping up quite nicely. We've already got up close to the game and initial signs were all good. Here's a clip from our preview:

"Graphically at least, Midnight Club: LA looks even better than GTA IV. Running on the same RAGE engine that powers all of Rockstar's next-gen games, the San Diego division has managed to create a free-roaming racer of such scale that... well, we can't quite believe it took them less than a few years to develop.

Unlike the fictitious parody of Liberty City, Midnight Club's Los Angeles is an impressive recreation of the buildings and streets that we used to get drunk in every May for E3 at least - going right down to individual shops and hotels."

You can catch the rest here.


Screenshots ...

via Computer and Video Games


The Ghostbusters game, due for launch next year on just about every format except PSP, will feature a Ghosts vs Busters multiplayer mode and ghost-catching face-offs on PS2 and Wii.

The PS2 and Wii versions, handled by developer Red Fly, will likely influence the multiplayer modes on other systems. Though Terminal Reality (handling the 'big' versions) is just as likely to have its own ideas.

Ghosts vs Busters will throw two teams of players together, one trussed up with proton-packs and khaki boilersuits as the Ghostbusters team hunting down a team of slime-launching disapperating ghosties. Ghost-catching modes will, clearly, be races or contests to see who can catch-'em-all quickest.

Co-op play is, according to the UK's Official Xbox 360 Magazine, "under consideration", though there are no details and main dev Terminal Reality don't want to disrupt the game's theme of you playing as a newbie to the old Ghostbusters team. Read the full Ghostbusters feature in this month's UK OXM, issue #28, on sale now. ...

via Engadget


It's not clear how widespread the problem is, but a number of iPhone users in the UK are reporting serious reception issues on O2's network.

Our source in the UK has told us that his O2 iPhone currently has no service in the same room as other O2 phones with five bars and an unlocked iPhone on Vodafone with full service, and Apple's UK support forums are buzzing with similar reports. Users are also reporting that replacement iPhones don't exhibit the same problems, so the problem might be with the device itself -- but that would be strange, seeing as iPhones in other countries don't have the same issues.

For its part, Apple appears to be replacing units as they're brought in, and hasn't made any official statement on the matter yet -- any UK iPhone users out there care to chime in?


If you live in the UK and happen to own the iPhone, then please leave feedback on this article via comments. ...

via Engadget


While Orange seems to be holding out until the last minute to announce exactly how much its unlocked iPhone will cost, France Telecom CEO Didier Lombard has apparently dropped a few less-than-specific details on the matter in a recent interview, saying that it'll cost "over 500 euros, but well below 1,000 euros." Or, in US dollars, roughly somewhere between $740 and $1,500, but apparently closer to the former. A bit pricey to be sure, but it would certainly be cheaper than the €999 unlocked iPhone that T-Mobile is selling in Germany.

As previously announced, a locked iPhone on Orange (complete with a two-year contract) will set you back €399. Look for things to get fleshed out further when Orange gets official with its iPhone offerings on Thursday. ...

via Kotaku




AOL is giving away a 40GB Playstation 3 with a copy of Ratchet and Clank Future and a wireless Sixaxis controller to customers who sign a two-year contract for AOL Broadband Wireless Plus.

The 24-month contract also requires you to sign up for AOL Talk call plan (not sure what that is) and runs £19.99 a month. Once you stick around for 24 months you can keep your PS3 forever. The only catch, besides the ironclad two-year contract, is that you have to pay a deliver charge of £14.99 for the console, controller and game. Not a bad Christmas present, especially since it comes with Ratchet and Clank.

Judging by the price and location of the source, I suspect this is a UK only deal. ...

via Computer and Video Games


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. developer GSC Game World is currently keeping lips firmly sealed regarding specific Xbox 360 projects it has in the pipeline.

"We haven't made any Xbox 360 project announcements yet, all the news will come in later", GSC's senior PR manager Oleg Yavorsky told CVG when queried earlier today on the studio's recent announcement on it becoming a certified Xbox developer.

In addition to being behind S.T.A.L.K.E.R., GSC is also known in the PC gaming world for strategy series Cossacks and RTS-RPG hybrid Heroes of Annihilated Empires (and, going back some, shooter Codename: Outbreak).

Naturally if we were betting people we'd put money on the developer's first Xbox 360 game having S.T.A.L.K.E.R. plastered all over it.

When asked when we can expect GSC's first Xbox 360 announcement, Yavorsky replied, "No comments at this point." ...

via Eurogamer


Nintendo has launched a new Wii channel in Japan that allows people to download demos of DS games.

As promised last month, the new channel also has other content like Wii trailers and a feedback form so you can send Nintendo love-notes.

Except, for now at least, the channel is only up and running in Japan, with Nintendo UK pointing out to us today that it has "not announced plans for a European roll-out at this time".

All of which means you'll just have to gawp at screenshots on the official website until someone does.

Editupdate: Or you could watch the video Wired dug up, right here. They are so handsome. ...

via Games Industry


The BBFC has accepted there is no proven link between anti-social behaviour and violent videogames - but said more research is required to conclusively rule any connection out.

Speaking at the appeal hearing yesterday Andrew Caldecott, representing the BBFC, stated, "The board's position is that there is insufficient evidence to prove, as a fact, there is a causal connection between violent games and behavioural harm… It's a perfectly fair point, and one which we accept, but it's not by any means a complete answer to the question the [Video Appeals Committee] has to decide."

On the subject of research presented earlier by Rockstar in defence of its argument, Caldecott said: "The research certainly achieves the objective of establishing that research does not demonstrate that there is a causal link. But what it certainly does not establish is that there isn't."

He went on to observe that neither side had suggested Manhunt 2 was suitable for people aged under 18 at any point during the hearing. "For a young person, this is a disturbing game, it is a shocking game, and there issues about innocence and matters of that sort in relation to young people.

"In a Utopian society, you would have effective measures where the over-18s could play what was suitable for them without being cluttered by the fact minors will see them. But you can't make classification decisions without regard to the social prevalence [of games]."

Caldecott went on to present the BBFC's response to the argument that videogames should be judged by the same standards as films such as Saw and Hostel. He told the appeals panel, "Film is a different medium; it is simply is a different experience. There are ways in which it is perhaps more involving, because you are dealing with absolute reality, with real people, in film.

"On the other hand, many people watch horror films to some extent from the point of view of the victim, or the point of view of what's going to happen - not with this very distinctive point of view of being the person who's wielding the weapon, and is rewarded for killing in the bloodiest way possible."

Caldecott also argued that games could not be effectively compared with films because of the nature of the technology they use. "Games and technology develop incrementally… If you take the comparable argument to its extreme, you get a gradual creeping towards ever more graphic violence, but you never draw a line at any particular point.

"If you're not careful you get into a peculiar game of Grandmother's Footsteps, where everybody's shuffling forward but Grandma's never allowed to turn round and say, 'Stop'… Is there never a point at which you can say, 'This is unacceptable'?

"If there is a point, the question then becomes much more difficult: where do you draw it?"

Caldecott later suggested that videogames with violent content are more likely to be seen by children than violent films. "A videogame is inherently less likely to be strictly supervised, and that is supported by research," he said, adding that violent films are usually watched late at night.

"You don't come home from work, have your tea and watch Saw 3. Games are played at all times of the day when children are about in the house."

Turning to Manhunt 2 specifically, Caldecott focused on the nature of the game's violent content. "In this particular game, the victims are people. They are not aliens or griffins or Daleks… You see lots of human beings quite mercilessly kicking and punching other human beings as you move through the game.

"It's a frequent theme of level one, which is the only one I've actually played right through. Even when you're not killing someone yourself, you're passing someone who's getting a good beating or having an unpleasant time."

He also pointed to the weapons used in the game as a particular area for concern. "They're not magic wands or Excalibur; many of them are everyday objects."

Concluding the hearing, the chairman of the appeals panel declined Caldecott's offer of a walkthrough of Manhunt 2. He confirmed the panel had played four levels and said all its members are "quite content we really have got a grip on what this is all about".

He added, "We have taken on-board the point that playing and watching a videogame are two different things.

"This is a very important case and there is an awful lot we must consider. We will work hard at it and get you a decision as soon as possible."

The Video Appeals Committee has yet to set a date for the results of the hearing. ...

via Eurogamer


Microsoft has told us tomorrow's Live Arcade treat will be a double pack containing Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe.

This rocky offering could be yours for 400 Points (GBP 3.40 / 4.65), and takes you back to the olden days of vector graphics as you blast your little spaceship around and break up enormous asteroids as they hurtle towards you.

Deluxe is the sequel to Asteroids, and both will come HD visuals with a high-speed "throttle monkey" mode to make things a bit trickier - plus the usual Leaderboards to climb and 200 Gamerpoints to earn.

Look out for our review of Asteroids soon. ...