DCEmu Homebrew Emulation & Theme Park News
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by Published on September 20th, 2006 20:14
News from Lik Sang
Back in 1998, Konami released an Action/Adventure on PlayStation that was bound to establish the new "Stealth-Game" genre, as well as create a videogame character legend: Solid Snake. Metal Gear Solid offered an unique blend of engaging tactical action and a storyline steeped in a rich cinematic feel. As Snake, you found yourself facing the task to eliminate rogue members of the squad Foxhound and defeat a mech-size military fighting machine, Metal Gear Rex. The first remake hit the GameCube in 2004, with MGS: The Twin Snakes, which sported new game mechanics, cut scenes and replay options. Now, Konami invites you to revisit the original story once more, but it's not quite a game, you see. "Bande dessinée" means "comic strip" in French. To be able to re-examining the Shadow Moses incident for a third time, the developers around Hideo Kojima chose an interactive, animated Digital Graphic Novel format. Based on comics from IDW Publishing, written by Kris Oprisko and with artwork by acclaimed artist Ashley Wood, MGS Bande Dessinée is in short a fantastic digital comic that comes alive on your PSP with layered animations, score and sound effects.
Features and Exploring Modes
Since it's not exactly a game, what is it then? One could call it a visual interactive experience, that lets you re-examine the original storyline to the extent of finding out every little bit of background info and related events in the process. It's great for hardcore Metal Gear Solid fans, while for others interested it provides a great story told in a very unique and stylish way to say the least. There are three different modes, the VR Simulation mode, the Mental Search mode and the Memory Building Simulation mode. Running about two hours long, the VR Simulation mode offers a sort of cinematic telling in animated strip form. Illustrator Ashley Wood's images work incredibly well in this setup, and this artist sure knows the MGS universe well: he's drawn the official comic book for years. Whenever you like, you can switch to Mental Search mode and are then able to scan each page carefully to find over 300 points of interest (people, places, items etc.) from the Metal Gear Solid series.
More details at Lik Sang ...by Published on September 20th, 2006 20:11
Content going on Xbox Live Marketplace today includes a trailer for Half-Life 2: Episode Two, another for Tenchu Senran and a Tokyo Game Show picture pack.
You'll also be able to get your hands on a couple of Battle for Middle-Earth II map packs - the first, Aragorn's Journey, will be free between today and 29th September, while the second, Northern Badlands, will set you back 350 Microsoft points.
Today's update will also add Xbox Live Vision camera support to Spades, Hearts, Backgammon and Bankshot Billiards on Xbox Live Arcade.
Meanwhile, Japanese Xbox 360 owners will be able to download the Dead or Alive X2 E3 trailer, a Project Sylpheed trailer and a playable demo of Tenchu Senran.
That's all according to Xbox Live's Major Nelson, who also reveals that a five-minute cut of the Tokyo Game Show briefing delivered earlier will make it onto Live Marketplace later today.
Microsoft's planning to release a lot of content between now and 29th September to mark the passage of Tokyo Game Show and X06.
And in Europe, Xbox Live Gold access will be available to everyone for free between now and 8am GMT on 30th September. ...by Published on September 20th, 2006 20:10
Microsoft has said that Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom will be released in Q2 2007 on Xbox 360.
Developed by Blueside under series director Henry Lee, the latest Kingdom Under Fire title is described as "a truly next-generation Action-RPG" - a bit of a departure from its traditional action-strategy mould.
The game's previously been described as closer to Capcom's Devil May Cry than its predecessors. It's known to offer randomly generated dungeons above and below the ground.
Specific Xbox Live details have yet to be revealed, but Microsoft says you'll be able to play alone or recruit up to four team members.
Previously we've heard how the line between single-play and online is more or less gone.
"For instance, as you advance through the game in single-player, other players will enter online, and all of a sudden you will be in multiplayer," said Sangyoun Lee, president of Phantagram, which is publishing the game in Korea. ...by Published on September 20th, 2006 20:07
Perhaps those rumors of Microsoft re-jiggering their Zune pricetag after catching wind of the iPod price drop are true after all. Zune team member David Caulton has come out with a word on his Zune blog stating that "Zune won't be undercut on price by iPod," in response to a commenter who stated they'd heard the Zune was going to be pricier than the iPod. It's not exactly explicit, but we're not quite sure how much more strongly he could hint at a $249-or-less Zune price without ripping his NDA to shreds. In fact, David's straight-up statement might be its biggest detractor -- we'd be surprised someone with full-on insider info could actually manage to get out a word like this without a few men in black suites taking him down. ...by Published on September 20th, 2006 20:06
Most of the Apple fan base is busy chatting about the latest iPod releases, the possibility of laptop spec bumps, and the when-the-hell-is-it-coming-already iPhone, but not all is well and good in Macland, as certain folks have been experiencing all sorts of problems with the just-released iTunes 7. Issues range from broken podcasts to unrecognized hardware to crappy-sounding audio, and although some of the bugs have seen successfully troubleshooting from crafty consumers, everyone is still waiting on word from Cupertino as to how it's going to address the multitude of problems. Well for those of you who've been forced to listen to your old transistor radio for the last few days, AppleInsider has some potentially good news, claiming that people with "ties to Apple" say that the company is well aware of the many glitches (as well as the public outcry) and are "toiling feverishly" on an update -- as in, both Mac and Windows users can expect version 7.0.x ASAP. We bring you this news not only to buoy your spirits in these times of despair, but also as a heads up to certain individuals in the programming community; after all, since QTFairUse struck back so quickly at iTunes 7, don't think that Steve and friends aren't spending at least some of their time trying to break that annoying little piracy-enabling patch for good. ...by Published on September 20th, 2006 20:04
A batch of new shots has surfaced of Mistwalker's Blue Dragon, the game that Microsoft hopes will be the killer app to help it crack the tough Japanese market where 360 barely outsells GameCube.
Along with Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon is one of two 360-exclusive RPGs being produced by legendary Final Fantasy creator, Hironobu Sakaguchi. It is expected that his attachment to the game will stimulate sales in an otherwise disinterested country.
"I believe that Japan will always love PlayStation over Xbox 360 and it will be very hard to change that," said Hees Kyung, Global Product Manager of the game talking to our colleagues at OXM.co.uk. "But Blue Dragon will undoubtedly be the killer app Xbox 360 needs to succeed in Japan. We also believe it will be very successful all across Asia."
Tellingly, Microsoft will bundle the game with the Core version of the Xbox 360 when it hits Japanese shelves on December 7.
The official website is launching in two days, so make sure to check it out when it appears for more information on this important game for the Xbox 360.
Screens Here ...by Published on September 20th, 2006 20:03
In an interview with Kotaku.com, Shane Kim, the corporate VP of Microsoft Game Studios, has spoken about 1080p support on Xbox 360 in the wake of news that a software update in the autumn for the console will introduce the output - without the need for an HDMI cable.
The software update for the console will add the ability to display both games and films at this lofty resolution. Kim explained that "if it is running at 720p we will up-res it to 1080p, if it it's already 1080p then we can display it in 1080p." In what's surely a snipe at PS3 and Sony, he added, "this is a great example of our console's ability and the great advantage of being a software company."
For those of you scratching your heads as to how a software update can fill in for the lack of an HDMI output, join the queue. Kim went on to explain Microsoft has "the ability to output either through VGA or component", and said "We have no HDMI announcement now."
"We do have the capability to deliver the software and, if needed, the hardware," he added. ...by Published on September 20th, 2006 20:02
We know what you're thinking: "the film sucked, the games all suck, why should I be interested in this!?" Well, good job you asked, because as you can tell from these screens things look like they have moved on drammatically from the days of N64's fog-ridden dog.
Giving you the city of Metropolis to bound around, the game opens things up and departs from the turgid film, offering up more interesting villains than a bald Kevin Spacey.
Having seen what open-ended superhero gameplay can offer in Activision's Spider-Man 2, we hold some hope for Superman Returns.
The game was originally due to launch alongside the movie release but was nowhere near ready in time. Now it's pencilled in to launch alongside the DVD this November. All things going well, of course...
Screens Here ...by Published on September 20th, 2006 19:59
Xbox Live Marketplace has set out to breathe new life into classic games of yore, and this week's potential arrival of Dig Dug cements this mantra.
We say potential because our friends over at OXM.co.uk report that a Dig Dug page appeared briefly on xbox.com only to be mysteriously yanked off shortly after. The following information was posted for its short spell on the internet, giving an insight into the Live version of the retro classic:
"The classic arcade action title Dig Dug is now available for play on your Xbox 360 through Xbox Live Marketplace. Experience the fast-paced action of this quarter-cruncher from 1982 as you take control of Dig Dug himself and vanquish Pookas and Fygars. Using your trusty pump, inflate your enemies until they pop, or squash them under rocks. Don't hesitate, or you could get squashed yourself. Drive your high score up by taking out enemies further underground, or making more difficult kills.
Dig! Propel Dig Dug through underground tunnels as he hunts down monsters. The more dirt you move, the more points you get. Watch out for treacherous rocks and use them to your advantage.
Fight! Just because your enemies start in tunnels doesn't mean they have to stay there. Watch out for them sneaking up on you and make them pay!
Collect! Drop more than two rocks and look for icons to start appearing in the center of the map! Collect these items, including the ship from the Xbox Live Arcade game Galaga, to drive your score higher."
The game remains temporarily missing in action, although clearly its Marketplace release is imminent so keep checking back to satisfy your retro-driller cravings. ...by Published on September 20th, 2006 19:57
Via CVG
The Guardian reports that the publicity spiralling from Chris Tarrant's alleged affairs has spurred a surge in sales for both the DS Lite and Professor Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? which the permatanned Who Wants to Be... presenter advertises.
One particular advert depicted Tarrant forgetting his wedding anniversary and getting kicked out by his wife, only to use the game to improve his memory skills. Obviously this particular scenario rang true for countless husbands across the nation, resulting in mass Brain Training to avoid similar marital situations.
The Guardian quoted a source saying that Nintendo is fully aware of the situation and 'very relaxed' about Tarrant's private life, with a spokeswoman confirming there are no plans to axe the million pound campaign.
Meanwhile, rumours of a potential sequel 'Professor Tarrant's Brain Training: How to Avoid Getting Caught' are believed to be unfounded. ...- Search DCEmu
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