via Kotaku


The website Killzone2.com, it turns out, isn't owned by Sony, but the websites Killzone and Killzone3 are, MTV Multiplayer reports in this look at domain name shenanigans.

Multiplayer reports that Killzone2 is actually owned by Vegard Aure of GameDiscovery.com, which also owns DevilMayCry 2 and DevilMayCry3 websites.

And apparently neither Sony nor Capcom have contacted Aure to ask about the sites... well, not yet. A call to Sony reps netted a "we're going to look into it" comment.

It raises an interesting question about official sites for video games. How often do you search out a game, by name, on the web in hopes of netting new details? Would you be annoyed if the site wasn't owned by the publisher or developer? ...

via Computer and Video Games


Valve has brushed off new rumours (again) of a PS3 version of Left 4 Dead, sparked by a rather decisive listing on a UK retailer website.

With not just a PS3 version listed, but a release date of June 5, EA down as the label and even the ability to pre-order the game right now, HMV seems pretty sure it's happening. More than an easily-missed typo-o, anyway.

A Valve rep, however, mocked the listing, saying to CVG: "Fantastic. I can't wait to see it."

Looking around, Play.com has a L4D PS3 listing too, but there's no date or pre-order on it.

So it's PC and 360 exclusive still, but PS3 owners can always hope. ...

via Eurogamer


Q Entertainment will finally release Lumines Supernova on the European PlayStation Store tomorrow.

You'll need GBP 9.99 or EUR 14.99 to buy the puzzle game, which adds Dig Down and Sequencer modes to the much-ported, proven formula.

Dig Down has players burrow through a block-filled screen, and the Sequencer lets users piece together backing tracks from a stock selection of loops.

Trophies are in, as are Skin Edit, Time Attack, Puzzle, Mission and local head-to-head modes familiar to Lumines. There's no online multiplayer yet, though.

To celebrate all this, Q Entertainment has teamed with Media Molecule to offer a special LittleBigPlanet skin.

Lumines, for those unaware, is a puzzler based around arranging 2x2 squares of same-coloured blocks falling from the top of the screen. Do so, and a vertical line sweeps along and clears them in time to the music.

Look out for our thoughts on Lumines Supernova soon. ...

via Engadget


We've already seen some Samsung rumors start to crop up in advance of Mobile World Congress, and it looks like the flood gates have now fully opened up, with a slew of new leaks and rumors of varying veracity now making their way across the internet. The most solid of those is the 16GB Samsung Omnia pictured above, which otherwise isn't too radically different from its current 8GB incarnation. That includes quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and single-band UMTS/HSDPA connectivity, along with the usual 3.2-inch WQVGA touchscreen, a five megapixel camera with built-in flash, a secondary QCIF front camera, and the trifecta of built-in Bluetooth, WiFi, and GPS.

In other pre-MWC news, the Dutch site GSM Helpdesk has reportedly confirmed that Samsung will indeed be introducing both a 12 megapixel and an 8 megapixel handset, the latter of which will supposedly be a successor to the Innov8 and run the Symbian S60 OS, while the 12 megapixel phone will apparently run Samsung's own OS. Lastly, but certainly not least, GSM Helpdesk is also reporting that Samsung will be announcing its very first Android phone within the next two weeks, which just so happens to line up nicely with MWC, although it unsurprisingly doesn't have any more details than that. ...

via Joystiq


Keeping to the promise of being exactly one week late, Capcom's playable demo for Resident Evil 5 has finally hit the PlayStation Store worldwide. While touted as being identical to the one we've seen hit Xbox Live, it's slightly bothersome to note that the PS3 version eats up double the amount of hard drive space. That's 942MB to be exact.

Regardless of footprint disparities, the demo finally allows North American and European PS3 owners to try out RE5's online and offline split-screen co-op gameplay. However, those who disdain pairing up with another person can still get their shrill kicks playing solo. ...

via Eurogamer


Microsoft has announced the third map in the upcoming Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack, which also ships as part of the Halo Wars collector's edition later this month.

The map's called Sandbox, and promises large-scale vehicular combat as well as "limitless" customisation options in Forge, thanks to its tiered, openworld layout.

You can get a sense of why that is by checking out the first screenshot of the desert map and its network of ramps. Looks more like Mario Kart than Halo.

Bungie had this to add:


Thanks Bungie.

The two other maps in the Mythic Map Pack, you may recall, are Assembly and Orbital. Assembly is a medium-sized map set in a Covenant Scarab manufacturing facility, with a base on either side.

Bungie reckons Assembly will be perfect for Slayer, CTF and Assault, and you can judge for yourself thanks to screenshots released late last year.

Orbital, meanwhile, is described as a small, asymmetrical map set in a docking station of the Quito Space Tether. One Flag and One Bomb apparently work quite well, as does Slayer.

The maps will be available for free to people who buy the Halo Wars Limited Collector's Edition, due out on 27th February, and released as downloadable content shortly afterward.

Later in the year, they will be included in Halo 3: ODST, which will also include a few other multiplayer maps. Despite the difference in product, you'll all be able to play together, because the games all "all part of the Halo 3 'title ID' family", according to Bungie. Aww! ...

via Eurogamer


Microsoft has announced the third map in the upcoming Halo 3 Mythic Map Pack, which also ships as part of the Halo Wars collector's edition later this month.

The map's called Sandbox, and promises large-scale vehicular combat as well as "limitless" customisation options in Forge, thanks to its tiered, openworld layout.

You can get a sense of why that is by checking out the first screenshot of the desert map and its network of ramps. Looks more like Mario Kart than Halo.

Bungie had this to add:


Thanks Bungie.

The two other maps in the Mythic Map Pack, you may recall, are Assembly and Orbital. Assembly is a medium-sized map set in a Covenant Scarab manufacturing facility, with a base on either side.

Bungie reckons Assembly will be perfect for Slayer, CTF and Assault, and you can judge for yourself thanks to screenshots released late last year.

Orbital, meanwhile, is described as a small, asymmetrical map set in a docking station of the Quito Space Tether. One Flag and One Bomb apparently work quite well, as does Slayer.

The maps will be available for free to people who buy the Halo Wars Limited Collector's Edition, due out on 27th February, and released as downloadable content shortly afterward.

Later in the year, they will be included in Halo 3: ODST, which will also include a few other multiplayer maps. Despite the difference in product, you'll all be able to play together, because the games all "all part of the Halo 3 'title ID' family", according to Bungie. Aww! ...

via Kotaku


PlayStation 3 owners will be getting a bit more time with Killzone 2 before release than originally anticipated, as Sony's semi-official blog ThreeSpeech announces a demo for the eagerly anticipated game dropping this week.

A demo for Killzone 2 will be hitting the PlayStation Network on Thursday, February 5th, several weeks ahead of the originally announced February 26th date, which would have placed the demo a mere day before release. In North America, this is the exclusive GameStop demo, with those not pre-ordering from the retailer still having to wait until the 26th.

The demo will feature the first two parts of the first level of the game, giving players a chance to learn the controls in advance of the title's official release.

Between this and today's Resident Evil 5 demo, PlayStation 3 owners will have a good bit less hard disk space by the end of the week.

UPDATE: Sony Computer Entertainment America contacted us to let us know that the demo would still be a GameStop exclusive in North America until the 26th of February. We've updated the article to reflect this. ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has told Eurogamer that attractive PSN game Flower will cost GBP 6.29 when released next Thursday 12th February.

Flower costs USD 9.99 across the pond, which left us expecting a slightly higher conversion, so this is pleasing. And so is snow.

Flower - developed by thatgamecompany of flOw fame - has players restore vibrant colours to the dreary dream-worlds of city flowers. To do this, petals must be steered around on the wind and clattered into other flowers, sending up more petals to join the cause.

The effect is rather pretty and quite serene, as our hands-on impressions of Flower point out. Look out for our review soon. ...