There's been quite a bit of mystery and confusion regarding Halo 3 lately, which is almost exactly what was happening at this time last year. It's enough to make one nostalgic. Bungie spokesman Luke Smith recently waded in to try to clear up some of what's in store for the game and its still-thriving community.
First, the list of achievements you saw here recently is on the money, though Smith isn't talking about all of them. What he will say is that they're part of Title Update 2, which is due before the end of the month. TU2 will also include some under-the-hood stuff, a separate military rating in each playlist and a new type of ban. According to Smith it's a "spike on the banhammer [that] will soon drip wet with the blood of jerks and the innards of sinners." Sounds delightful.
The whole point of Guitar Hero Aerosmith is to give you a taste of what it would be like to be part of the seminal classic rock band. So would would a taste of a taste of Aerosmith be (besides bitter with a hint of copper)? That's right: A demo for the game, now available on Xbox Live, including "Sweet Emotion," "Dream On," "Walk this Way" and others.
Also on XBL is the demo for NBA Live 09, the taste of which we can't even begin to contemplate.
Beginning this Thursday, junior rockers that prefer PS3 can rip their Rock Bandtracks right to their system in preparation for Rock Band 2. But, much like Ziggy Stardust, the Sept. 11 patch will be hiding a secret under all the glam: The addition of Guitar Hero III Les Paul controller support. If you've managed to hold out this long from getting a second RB guitar, your patience has finally been rewarded.
You'll also be happy to hear that Harmonix is hammering out a fix for the busted PAX Pack, which will also be included with the export patch. Now, if you'll excuse us, we've got to go update the Instrument Matrix. ... Again.
What's the problem with not having demos for WiiWare games like Groovin' Blocks (Empty Clip Studios, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)? It forces you, the consumer, to make your purchasing decision based on a game's name (which, let us remind you, is "Groovin' Blocks") or on a short gameplay clip like the one after the jump, which you should watch only if your Monday morning is just a bit too exciting and you need to slow things down a bit.
Armed with both of these tools, we assume you'll come to the same purchasing decision of the rest of the planet.
Well, of course it's Spore. Let's not even waste too much time examining the whys and wherefores, the biggest release is the 27-years-in-development existence simulator. Naturally.
But even if you don't feel compelled to reenact the entirety of a civilization, there are other, less taxing diversions ... like, say, TNA Impact! or ... two different hockey games.
Got any exciting plans for this coming Thursday? Perhaps you've got front row tickets for a Black Eyed Peas concert. Maybe you're meeting your biological father for the first time in your life, a result of him faking his death to escape a hefty mob debt while you were a toddler. Perhaps you've enrolled in Afro-Cuban disco step funk classes at your local community college. Maybe you simply plan on tending to your piñata garden, reclining in the swaying shade of the monkeynut trees. All those sound great -- which is why it gives us a heavy heart to inform you that none of those things, not your estranged progenitor, your community college, your precious piñatas, or Will.i.am, will exist on Thursday.
The Large Hadron Collider, a sixteen-mile long, seven story tall ring of death which straddles the border of Germany and Switzerland, will see to that. We're not exactly sure what it does, but we are fairly certain of a few things -- for instance, we know that despite its colossal size, it runs almost entirely on car batteries and hubris. We also know that it's the world's biggest particle collider, and that trying to shoot one particle into another from miles away is pretty difficult. Oh, also, we know that during its inaugural run this Wednesday, it's going to create a sustainable black hole that's going to devour mankind, the Milky Way galaxy, and Will.i.am.
Sure, the eight-thousand physicists that have worked on the project have assured mankind that the odds of that last event occuring are approximately one-in-a-thrillion -- but of course they would say that. We know the truth, and have already begun selling our automobiles, gaming systems, and houses to afford a sturdy craft that will carry us far from the gravity well's sinister reach. Unfortunately, we're pretty certain we bought a 1974 Gremlin wrapped in duct tape with a jumbo-size roman candle tucked into the tailpipe. We'll let you know how it works out for us.
Have any burning PS3/PSP questions? Good, because that's where our weekly Saturday columns come in. Ask PS3 Fanboy will answer all your PS3 questions. Guess what Ask PSP Fanboy is all about? Every week we'll answer your most burning questions, and our community has responded pretty well. Let us know if you need anything answered!
N+ [PSP] "Without a doubt the best version of N+ available. With content already available for download from the community, we're eager to see more players jump online and share their creations. Do not let this title go unnoticed, PSP fans."
Here in the States, Qore subscribers will be able to fling mud across the startled faces of both friends and enemies alike in the Motorstorm: Pacific Rift demo which is due out this week for those who purchased the fourth installment of Sony's online gaming mag. Unfortunately, Qore number four isn't available on the PSN in other territories -- however, a recent news brief from unofficial PlayStation blog Three Speech hints that Europeans will receive the demo soon -- albeit in a fairlyunconventional manner.
Three Speech reports that random European PS3 owners will be receiving vouchers this coming Thursday via email which will allow them to download the Pacific Rift demo on PSN. We're not entirely sure why Sony decided upon this "Golden Ticket" approach for the demo's release -- sure, the hype built from all the exclusivity will likely pay off, but will all the disappointment felt by the unchosen really be worth it?
Have you fired many a condescending moan at the lead characters of most chart-topping blockbusters over the past few years, commenting on how the protagonist of your homebrew first-person shooter, Hellkiller, is so much more original and marketable? Perhaps it's time you put your unsung character design skills to work -- we suggest entering a contest recently posted by LittleBigPlanetcreator Media Molecule to create a clever outfit for the game's texturized heroes, Sackboy and Sackgirl.
One winner from America, Japan and Europe will be chosen from the entries, and the winning designs will be posted as free DLC for the title "in the near future". Applicants, who must be 13 years or older to enter, simply need to draw a costume over a Sackboy template on the LittleBigPlanet site, and email it to Media Molecule. They don't mention this in the rules, but we imagine equipping the mascot-worthy protagonist with intricately drawn reproductive organs is grounds for immediate disqualification.
We know that most of you had some fairly important decisions to make this morning -- for instance, the mind-plaguing decision between coffee or tea, or the equally perplexing choice of cereal or pancakes. Perhaps you spent an hour in front of your dresser, trying to decide between boxers or briefs -- or, for our Alaskan friends, which color long johns best suited your mood. However, a select few of you will be making an even more complex decision today, likely in the next few hours: High Elves or Greenskins?
This race-rolling dilemma will be cordially presented to you by Mythic's Warhammer Online -- the open beta for which launched earlier this morning. Members of the previous stages of the closed beta and those who have pre-ordered the title at "select retail partners" can now download the client and let loose the dogs of WAR (though we've heard a number of complaints from frenzied pre-orderers who have had trouble accessing the beta). Fear not, unwashed masses -- your Age of Reckoning will begin in a little over a week.
After a long dry spell for major PC games this summer, we are looking forward to playing a lot of cool titles in the next three months. In the meantime let's look on the first week of September and see what we can come up with for news, downloads and our exclusive features: Exclusive features
The track, which concludes the six-song EP, is available to stream and download for free on Pitchfork. If you're a fan of the artists involved (or a staunch supporter of Mario's polka-dotted companion), it's definitely worth a listen. Even if you aren't, it'd be nice to give your ears a break from the High School Musical soundtrack you've been listening to for the past hour. That's right -- we know.
First and foremost, Bridges promised that some headway had been made on the Firefly title, and regretted putting it on the backburner to focus on their recently acquired vamp-slaying IP -- though he's anxious to resume work on it "as soon as possible." He then goes on to explain one of the more confusing elements of the online Buffy game -- apparently, the title's 2D rendition will launch first, giving players a chance to dip their toes in the waters of the Hellmouth before the more complex 3D version launches. He also hopes to have a public beta for the title into our hands "by the end of the year."
Not only is it peculiar that all three bans happen to emerge at the same time, but GP points out that none of the ratings boards of the three nations mentioned have made any announcements on the matter -- even more notably, neither has EA. Also, as one eagle-eyed GP reader pointed out, it's impossible under German law to ban a product before its release. Further negating the German ban, Videogaming247 reports that the title is apparently still going through the ratings gauntlet of Germany's censorship board, the USK.
Regardless of whether this is a misguided publicity stunt, an unfortunate miscommunication, or proof that Andrew Green has mysterious psychic abilities, we certainly hope EA clears up the confusion with a quickness.
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