via Joystiq


If you lived through the early part of the millennium and you saw a Syphon Filter game in the "Coming Soon" list on EBgames.com, your brain would be forgiven for skipping over it. "Oh no, we don't care about those games any more, let's move along," your brain might say. But you may have to revamp your policy for Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, which is apparently making the jump to PS2 from PSP.

Listen, no one's going to blame your if you don't want to get burned again. But sometimes, that's what love is: Falling off of the filter that's also a syphon, and climbing right back on. Plus, it's only $30! Listen, you've got until Sept. 4, just promise us you'll think about it. That's all we ask. ...

Via PSPSPS

Although opinions tend to be a bit divided, Blast Factor is still one of the better PSN titles currently available. For me, it seemed like a bit of cheap alternative to Xbox Live Arcade's flagship Geometry Wars, but the arrival of the multiplayer expansion did go a long way towards remedying that problem. Even so, avid Blast Factor players must be looking for a fresh challenge by now, so it’s good to hear that there’s a new expansion pack heading our way.

The expansion, entitled Advanced Research, will introduce a load of new enemies and a selection of new levels with ‘abnormal’ shapes - sounds intriguing. Basically, it's just expect a bit of fresh eye-candy and some tougher challenges to work through – could be great for co-op multiplayer though. Unfortunately there’s no indication of price or release date yet. Via PSU ...

Via PSPSPS

Downloadable content – that’s definitely something still more commonly associated with Xbox 360 titles; clearly Sony has to put its plan for a lot more content on the PlayStation Network into action and start catching up with its rival, Microsoft. Unsurprisingly, launch title MotorStorm is the first game to get Sony’s DLC debut with an update that goes a bit beyond a simple patch. From June you’ll be able to download a new content pack called Coyote Weekend.

Coyote Weekend will contain three brand spanking new groups of races, an ‘altered’ (so not new then?) version of Coyote Rage map and a load of new car configurations for the existing tracks. More excitingly, there’ll be a new vehicle to play with – we’re not sure what kind though.

Prices aren’t certain yet, but in the mean time a free download will be unlocking a Time attack mode, some gameplay tweaks and leaderboard system on the 7th June. Via Eurogamer ...

via Computer and Video Games


The word 'free' makes any deal a good deal, so when EA throws two new courses for Burnout Dominator on the 'net for you to download for free, you really can't complain.

Carnival Point is one of the new courses, available to download now directly to your PSP memory card, with Red Gate to follow on June 7. Screens of the new courses are below.

You can grab the wares through the menu screens of the game (while in range of a wireless internet connection) or take your PC browser to the official site (the UK site here, or the US one here) for a direct download there. Then you'll have to transfer the goods via USB cable.

EA leads the charge - now it's up to other publishers to give download content away for FREE, instead of charging ludicrous amounts for horse armour. Oblivion (360) fans will know what we mean. ...

Via Wii UK

A massive slew of rumours is currently circulating pertaining to Nintendo's mysterious press summit held in an abandoned castle on the top of a cliff in Transylvania. Lightning and everything.

Those rumour-mongering scamps at NeoGAF have posted up a message purportedly from a 'press insider', presumably given to them in a dark alley in some kind of swanky looking briefcase.

There's rather a lot of information, so I'll give you a condensed version - remember, these 'facts' are completely unsubstantiated for the most part so they might not be true:

Metroid Prime 3 will have downloadable extra missions, suits, weapons, and so on.

Smash Bros uses either classic controller / GC controller or a Wii remote / nunchuck combination.

Super Mario Galaxy allows you to explore the interior of giant planets - the game will also use WiiConnect24. Somehow.

A trailer reel was shown featuring ( amongst others ) Mario Kart Wii, Vision Red ( a new RPG from Nintendo ), Animal Crossing, Wii Music, Wii Health.

Finally, an epic-sounding video was shown that finishes with Link and a massive triforce 'smashing into pieces.' ( I love that bit ).

How plausible is all that then? It could be educated guesswork, as nothing sounds particularly unexpected. It's unlikely Nintendo will comment on any of it as the information they released at the press summit is currently under embargo.

It's interesting, but I'm going to wait for the official word before I get too excited.

You can never trust anyone these days.

Stay tuned for more news. ...

via Eurogamer


New Zealand-based online retailer Gameplanet Store has uncovered the next game in the SingStar PS2 series, or so it appears.

It's due for release in New Zealand on 3rd August, they say, and will draw its inspiration from the 1990s. Included are hits from MC Hammer and Seal, along with that bloody Wet Wet Wet song and New Kids On The Block to name a few.

Unfortunately Sony was unavailable to comment on its validity or when we could expect it in Europe. However, the presence of screenshots, a packshot, and a tracklist on Gameplanet seem to point to authenticity.

The full list of tracks follows, but be prepared for some alterations if it makes its way to Europe.

1. Never Ever - All Saints
2. Barbie Girl - Aqua
3. Love Shack - B-52's
4. One Week - Barenaked Ladies
5. Achy Breaky Heary - Billy Ray Cyrus
6. Horses - Daryl Braithwaite
7. Unbelievable - EMF
8. Here Comes the Hot Stepper - Ini Kamoze
9. Stay - Lisa Loeb
10. You Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
11. Bitch - Meredith Brooks
12. Movin' On Up - M People
13. Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
14. Step By Step - New Kids On The Block
15. Where The Wild Roses Grow - Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue
16. Unskinny Bop - Poison
17. Creep - Radiohead
18. Everyone Hurts - R.E.M.
19. Only To Be With You - Roachford
20. I Want You - Savage Garden
21. Kiss From A Rose - Seal
22. Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-lot
23. Wannabe - Spice Girls
24. Two Princes - Spin Doctors
25. Pump Up The Jam - Technotronic feat. Felly
26. Lovefool - Cardigans
27. Zombie - The Cranberries
28. Friday I'm In Love - The Cure
29. I Touch Myself - The Divinyls
30. Love Is All Around - Wet Wet Wet

...

Via Spong

Worms goes to Hell

29 May 2007

As of 9am tomorrow you'll be able to get your mitts on some brand new content for Worms on Xbox Live Arcade.

Up for grabs are three new landscapes, with 'Hell Landscape' and 'Jungle Landscape' setting you back 150 Microsoft Points each, and 'Space Landscape' costing you nothing at all.

Also free is a soundbank, with foreign language and classic voices available to enhance the little blighters' aural landscape. Rounding off the line-up are two desktop themes at 150 points each and packs of gamer pictures to enhance your profile at 100 points for 5 or 200 points for 12.

Team17's Martyn Brown recently delivered a keynote at Northern Exposure on the developer's success with Worms on Xbox Live. For SPOnG's coverage click here. If that's not enough wormage for one day, you can find out what SPOnG thought of its recent trip across to Team17 to preview Worms Open Warfare 2 here.

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Screens can be found here ...

via Games Industry


Splinter Cell producer Mathieu Ferland believes that Ubisoft's decision to reinvent the famed stealth series - ditching much of its light-and-shadow gameplay - will ultimately be vindicated by player reaction, despite the obvious risk.

"We've been working very closely with the fans from the beginning," Ferland told GamesIndustry.biz. "Their first reaction was, 'What's going on? Where's Sam?' And then they discovered these new possibilities, this new mechanic and they said, 'That looks awesome. I want to play it.'"

However, the producer admitted that Ubisoft could return to past values if things go wrong with Conviction, the fifth game in the series.

"It's not a one-way direction," he confirmed. "You can always go back and do different things, having Sam in a new position, or a different character to explore light-and-shadow gameplay."

Whereas past games were about avoiding detection in highly-charged situations, Conviction puts protagonist Sam Fisher on the run from the law, and forces players to mingle in crowds, overcoming enemies through confrontation and distraction rather than evasion.

It also reduces the number of complex controls players will need to master, using context-sensitive Aggression, Stealth and Interaction buttons rather than a broad range of button combinations.

"To us, it's a nice way to expand the brand," Ferland said of the overall approach, "because Ubisoft is a nice company and you can push it hard with innovation, especially in Splinter Cell, and sometimes when you want to push innovation you need to adapt your creative direction to fit the kind of gameplay you want to provide."

Ferland also said that he had been encouraged by the reaction he received from trade and press during the game's demonstration at the UbiDays showcase in Paris last week.

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction is due to appear on PC and Xbox 360 later this year. ...

via Games Industry


Shortages of the Wii are set to continue throughout 2007 according to analysts at Lazard Capital Markets, with Nintendo potentially missing key sales during the Christmas season for a second year running.

And while the company increases production of the console to 1.5 million units a month, some analysts have begun to question the long-term appeal of the Wii amongst the casual gaming audience.

"Demand still appears to exceed supply, and we believe that shortages could persist through the remainder of the year, including the key holiday period," commented Lazard's Colin Sebastian.

For some analysts, the Wii may begin to lose favour with the casual consumer, and in the face of next-generation gaming it could also look out of date as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 continue to push the envelope with graphical and technological advances.

"Its appeal is primarily to casual gamers, and there's a serious question about how long casual gamers will stay engaged with the platform," commented Van Baker, technology analyst at Gartner Inc, reports the LA Times.

"It wouldn't be surprising to see them lose interest after a relatively short amount of time," he said.

"The Wii in a couple of years is going to look like old technology with low resolution [and] slow performance. People may not be accepting of that," he added.

However, the Wii is still receiving praise from consumers themselves, with a recent poll by Frank N. Magid Associates revealing that 31 per cent of Wii owners expect to still be playing the console a year from now, compared to 21 per cent of Xbox 360 owners.

And the most recent US sales figures from NPD revealed that the console is trouncing its competitors at retail, with 360,000 units sold in April, compared to 82,000 PlayStation 3's and 174,000 Xbox 360's. ...