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Sony Announces New PS3 And PSP Models

The game console reconfiguration train rolls on as Sony has announced additional reworkings of current generation hardware.  The company just can't stop tinkering with system specifications.  The new iterations include (among other things) a hard drive storage space increase for the PlayStation 3 and a built-in microphone for the PlayStation Portable.

Slated for release this November, the $500 bundle will also include a copy of the game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and a voucher to download the game Pain. The bundle is described as a "limited-edition" offer, so who knows if the 160 GB model will stick around after that. Probably, considering it's $100 more than the now-standard 80 GB version, which Sony said today is shipping out to stores.  Sony also announced a new version of PSP this morning with a few minor upgrades -- a better LCD screen with a "wider color gamut" and "anti-reflective technology," and a built-in microphone.

I was just about to bite on the currently available 80 GB PS3 model with Metal Gear Solid 4 as a pack-in bonus, but I think I can wait until November for the increased drive space and inclusion of a game I'm actually interested in playing.  As for the PSP, my first generation version lives on quite nicely, thank you. 

Plenty Of Other Games Could Be Rearmed And Powered Up

I really have to give credit to Capcom, as they've been hitting retro remakes out of the park this generation.  Bionic Commando: Rearmed is both refreshingly new and belovedly old, and of course I've gone on about Mega Man: Powered Up plenty of times before.  Something that strikes me, however, is how the company seems to have a knack for coming up with cute, punny subtitles to signify a favorite game in new clothing.  "Rearmed" is, of course, a play on hero Nathan Spencer's bionic arm, while "Powered Up" takes a cue from Mega Man's ability to increase his arsenal.  Why aren't more publishers having this kind of title fun?  Nintendo is about to unleash a Nintendo DS revamp of the Super NES classic, Kirby Super Star, with the unimaginative subtitle Ultra.  Why not something like Kirby Super Star: Second Helping or Kirby Super Star: Redigested?  Imagine the possibilities conjured up by these prospective titles:

• Sonic the Hedgehog Accelerated
• Castlevania Resurrected
• F-Zero Refueled
• Blaster Master Irradiated
• SimCity Rezoned
• Vectorman Anti-aliased
• Strider: Hooked Up
• Little Nemo Reawakened

The use of the re- prefix would grow old quickly, but I think the market could grin and bear it for two or three more solid uses.  After all, we made it through the dark days of DS-based acronyms, "64" suffixes, and a whole other glut of modifiers.  Let's have some fun with a naming gimmick for once.

Banjo-Kazooie Stop N' Swop Revived?

So, bear and bird team Banjo and Kazooie are on their way back to the video game stage with Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts for the Microsoft Xbox 360.  As if that's not enough, Rare and Microsoft are bringing the original Nintendo 64 Banjo-Kazooie adventure to the Xbox Live Arcade, and now it's been announced that preordering the new game will grant a special code to unlock the N64 original two weeks before it goes on sale to the Live Arcade masses.  Of course, after all these years of playing and replaying Banjo-Kazooie I really doubt that there's anything new for us to see in this—

The XBLA title will include something called Stop N' Swop, which rewards players' accomplishments in the new game with extra content and features in the Live arcade game.

Stop N' Swop?  Now?  After all these years of teasing?  Well, better late than never! 

Weekly Poll: OK, We'll Move

Like most of you out there, my current generation console of choice is the Nintendo Wii, although I'm still planning on picking up a Sony PlayStation 3 later in the year.  There are now enough games on that platform that I want to play that I feel justified purchasing one.  In the meantime, however, the Wii is pulling its weight just fine.  With the slow summer release period in full swing now I've been exploring some of the older Wii games that I missed the first time around.  I can't say enough nice things about Tomb Raider Anniversary.  The stellar controls really nailed the experience for me, and even though Tomb Raider games tend to look better on powerful hardware, I find myself wanting to stick with the Wii's motion controls for the next game in the series. 

Speaking of fantastic gaming experiences, Capcom's Bionic Commando: Rearmed is upon us at last.  Did you buy it?  If so, for which format?  There are three of them, you know: Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, and PC.  Knowing now that so many of you out there are Wii owners, I'm curious to see how these numbers compare.  So, the twenty of you out there who own Xbox 360s and/or PS3s, did you buy Rearmed?

See The Secret Sega Stash

Have you seen the photos of the secret stash of Sega hardware and games that the company keeps as part of its vast historical archive?  Apparently there's a room at Sega headquarters loaded with every game, every peripheral, every console, and basically every Sega thing that the company ever produced.  I'd love to spend an hour or five exploring the goodies in that room, but moreover, I find myself wondering if there are any rare or one-off items propped up next to yet another Sonic the Hedgehog 2 cartridge.  Specifically, I'd really like to know if this is the legendary secret vault that contains the one single known working Sega Neptune prototype.  Apparently the company plans to catalog everything in this room and make it available for Sega staffers to enjoy, so if it is in there, I'd imagine someone will find it (and when/if someone does, I hope he or she shares the photos with the rest of us). 

(via Kombo) 

The Godfather 2 Poised To Pull You Back In

I was surprisingly pleased with Electronic Arts's take on The Godfather, so now that a sequel is on the way I find myself wondering how the development team plans to top their previous effort.  The new game is headed for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, and PC (no Nintendo Wii version?  How will I gleefully choke the life out of my enemies?).  Executive producer Hunter Smith explains the process of deciding which aspects the world of The Godfather need some special attention.

When I think about games I focus on two things - what is the fantasy I'm after, and what is the actual game I'm playing.  What are the tools, short and long term goals, mechanics, cycles and pathways to success, to the end game that are designed and built into the fabric of a game experience.  It seems obvious, but often in our industry, we get stuck at the first section so we can market the product and then reuse old tools to try and make it a game without often thinking about how the experience needs to have both questions answered.  For me to want to play, I need t he same motivation I get from playing anything  -  whether it's Freecell, a video game, sports - what are my goals, what are my tools , and how do I win ?   When we applied this thinking to doing a sequel to The Godfather I , it helped us focus beyond the property to the essence of the world behind it, to look for that something that we thought we could turn into a compelling game.

The game is currently set for release in February 2009.  Y'know, I really need to go back to the first game and finishing clearing it out.  I left behind a few loose ends that need to be tied up (if you know what I mean).  Now, where did I leave my piano wire Wii remote?

Last Minute Conflict Steams Bionic Commando: Rearmed Fans

At last, the blessed day is here and Bionic Commando: Rearmed has hit the Microsoft Xbox Live Arcade, Sony PlayStation Network, and a few PC distribution sites.  I've been waiting all day for the game to come up for sale on my download service of choice, Valve's popular Steam, only to find out that if I wanted to stick with Steam I would be waiting quite a long time.  Apparently there's been a breakdown between publisher and distributor because Rearmed is no longer bound for Steam.  Capcom-Unity forum moderator Sven has the bad news.

Actually, I do have some bad news on the Steam front. At the last minute, we've been unable to reach mutually agreeable terms with Valve on BCR, so they won't be carrying it (unfortunately you'll have to get it elsewhere). I won't get into the details but we do continue to have a good relationship with Valve and future Capcom titles we expect to be carried on Steam.

You'll find BCR available tomorrow on Direct2Drive at 8AM PST. Other sites (like our Capcom e-store and Gamersgate.com) will come on shortly thereafter.

Within a few days (or perhaps sooner, just waiting on some package tests), you'll find it at more than a dozen other sites (including BestBuy.com, Nvidia.com, CircuitCity.com, etc.).

Desperate for my Rearmed action, I skipped across the metaphorical street to Direct2Drive.  I don't know what went down between Capcom and Valve, but it's a shame that the two couldn't see eye to eye.  Ah, the download has finished.  Hang on, Super Joe, I'm-a comin'!

Alleged Sonic Unleashed Box Art Simple And Effective

Say what you will about this alleged box art for the upcoming multiplatform Sonic Unleashed that's started floating around the Internet, but at first glance I have to say that I like it.  It's simple, yet effective.  Those of us familiar with Sonic's better days can gravitate towards the left half of the image, while those of you out there who want a grittier, darker blue blur can focus on the right half.  Then we can all meet up in the middle for bitter disappointment.  No, wait, I promised I'd stay optimistic about this one. 

(via Kombo)

New Celebrity Sports Showdown Boggles Mind

In what has to be an example of a solution in search of a problem, Electronic Arts has announced Celebrity Sports Showdown for the Nintendo Wii in which players can take on the role of nearly a dozen pop culture figures and rush them through various sporting events.  If you've ever wanted to see animated renditions of Nelly Furtado and Avril Lavigne playing a round of beach volleyball for some reason, here's your chance.

The game is expected to release this winter exclusively on the Wii, and will include 10 celebrities to choose from and 12 events to compete in.

Celebrities featured listed below:

• Fergie
• Avril Lavigne
• LeAnn Rimes
• Keith Urban
• Nelly Furtado
• Paul Pierce
• Mia Hamm
• Kristi Yamaguchi
• Reggie Bush
• Sugar Ray Leonard

Games featured listed below:

• Beach Volleyball
• Inner-Tubing
• Wild Water Canoeing
• Hurdle Derby
• Slalom Showdown
• Cliff Hangers
• Smash Badminton
• Rapid Fire Archery
• Joust Duel
• Curling
• Arena Dodgeball
• Air Racers

There has to be an audience somewhere for this title, but I'm not so sure I'd want to meet it. I know the idea behind these casual-market games is to eventually turn the casual players into core gamers, but I wish we could speed that process along to the point where empty calorie games like Showdown are no longer needed.

Mega Man 9 Achievements Revealed

Considering the multiplatform nature of the upcoming Mega Man 9, deciding which version of the game to buy can be somewhat vexing.  Should you go with the Nintendo Wii version so you can play with the classic Nintendo Entertainment System controls?  What about the Microsoft Xbox 360 version and its various Achievements? Then there's the Sony Pla— hey, wait a minute: Achievements!  Kombo has the list of Achievements that Xbox 360 players will struggle to earn.

• Jitterbug: Clear the game in 60 minutes or less (20 points)
• Invincible: Clear the game without dying (30 points)
• Almost Invincible: Clear the game without continuing (20 points)
• No Coffee Break: Clear the game without using any Energy or Mystery Tanks (10 points)
• Peacekeeper: Clear the game by defeating the fewest number of enemies possible (20 points)
• Conservationist: Clear the game by using the least amount of Weapon Energy possible (20 points)
• Gamer's Day: Clear the game 5 times in 1 day (20 points)
• Whomp Wily!: Clear the game once (5 points)
• Destroyer: Defeat your 1000th enemy (20 points)
• World Warrior: Defeat every type of enemy (5 points)
• Trusty Sidearm: Defeat the 8 Bosses with the Mega Buster (20 points)
• Blue Bomber: Defeat a Boss without getting damaged (10 points)

Anyone looking to earn all of these points needs to have serious skills, plenty of patience, and lots of free time.  Did you see the requirement for the Gamer's Day goal?  Mega Man 9 is definitely trying to capture the spirit of the original NES games, as it's been fifteen years since I've had the free time necessary to beat a Mega Man game five times in a single day.