It’s commonplace lately to come across an article, an op-ed, or an asinine comment from a political figure demonizing the video game industry. Often, the secondary and unspoken accusation here is that the creators of M-Rated games are somehow predatory. As if these developers are intentionally–and with great malice–trying their damnedest to get decidedly adult content into the hands of youngsters. Anyone and everyone involved with, interested in, or employed by the Video Game industry, please join me at camera three for an over-the-top eye roll.

“Oh brother” is right, Ms. Lemon.

Apparently someone at the FTC was tired of this nonsense too–that’s the Federal Trade Commision, their word carries a bit of weight, I hear. You probably already know that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a non-profit, self-regulatory body supported by the gaming industry, especially the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). What you will be pleased to find out is this: in a recent, independent FTC survey utilizing undercover (and underage) shoppers, found that in 87% percent of attempted M-rated purchases were prevented. According to a press release from the ESA, that number “exceeds every other entertainment format, including sales of music with parental-advisory labels, R-rated movie tickets, and R-rated and unrated DVDs.”

The video game industry has not only outperformed other entertainment media in compliance by a sizable margin, but that number has been at a steady high since 2010. Numbers are great and all, but information is often so much more pleasing in brightly-colored bar-graph format. Cue the charts!

Comparison of compliance levels across entertainment media.

Oh and what’s this? It looks like the more video-game oriented a business is, the better they have been about restricting M-rated sales.

Walmart, I’m disappointed in you. But that’s nothing new, I guess.

Okay, you’ve heard the numbers, you’ve seen the charts. Now, I’m talking to you, news media, angry op-ed writing folks, and luddite politicians: Lay off the gaming industry, unless you’re prepared to put every other entertainment medium through the ringer first.

I’d so much rather be John Leguizamo than Bob Hoskins.

OK, I know that sounds incredibly random, but bear with me and forgive me the old school reference. But for those of you with knowledge of the history of video games – and movies based on said industry’s properties – beyond what came out in the last month, you know what I’m talking about.

Yes, 1993 was when a movie studio rolled out a (film just doesn’t seem the right word for it, so let’s call it a …) flick called Super Mario Bros. It starred Hoskins (fighting a role slump since he took the world by storm in 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit) as video gaming’s most famous and beloved plumber, Mario. Leguizamo was cast as Mario’s brother, Luigi: A character who is often overshadowed and overlooked by fans of his more popular sibling.

But those in the know realize that just because you don’t down mushrooms with abandon, save princesses who can’t seem to go a day without being kidnapped and enjoy jumping on the heads of other living creatures doesn’t mean you can’t be a hero in your own right.

And Leguizamo is way cooler than Hoskins any day of the week. Which brings me to Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, the new 3DS game from Nintendo that (finally!) shines a light on a character who deserves much more love than he gets from the gaming public.

Now, it’s been a very long 12 years since we last saw Luigi in his own game, back when there was this ancient piece of technology called a GameCube. That game, Luigi’s Mansion, cast the scared green-clad plumber as a quasi-Ghostbuster who must eke out a living fighting the paranormal beasties that go bump in the night. It was a fun, entertaining romp and the fact it took a dozen years to get a sequel is a tad disappointing. Still, at least it’s finally here and it has certainly been worth the wait.

Dark Moon sees you having to rid houses (five this time, as opposed to the massive mansion of the original game) of ghosts, using your trusty phantom-sucking vacuum, aptly named the Poltergust 5000. Basically, that’s the entire story right there. If you’re expecting anything stronger than the plot of that crappy 1993 movie, I mean flick, sorry to disappoint. That said, this game is 100 times more entertaining and 1,000 times funnier than that flick ever was.

The game’s heart lies in its timid hero, who jumps with fright constantly, hums along with the background score (kudos to the designers for that touch) to try to steady his nerves and tentatively explores the darkened rooms of the mansions with his flashlight and vacuum at the ready. It’s the fact that Luigi is vulnerable and yet still overcomes his fears to do the job required that makes him much more heroic to me than Mario ever has. And there is plenty to fear in these five haunted houses. You poke items within rooms in order to find spooks, mini-bosses, treasures and sometimes just cool little interactions. You’ll also find collectible coins that you can spend on upgrades for your equipment. And when you do find a phantom (or more than one), you fire up the old Poltergust and enter a tug-of-war-esque mini game in order to trap said nasties for disposal.

Now, you might think that this basic exploration, puzzle solving and mini game capture sequences make for a rather shallow experience. You’d be wrong. Dark Moon keeps things moving along and entertaining thanks to its comedic approach, the little interactions that often inspire laughs and the jolts of fright that the appearance of a spectre prompt. Even the ghost-capturing mini game is kept interesting by introducing more than one spirit to trap and attacks by the fighting phantoms that Luigi has to dodge in order to succeed.

The 3D screen makes the game sparkle visually (continuing the tradition of the best looking and playing titles for Nintendo consoles and handhelds are the ones made by the parent company) and kids and adults alike will enjoy both the little frights Dark Moon elicits as well as its pick-up-and-play approach.

Now, the game does check in with about a dozen hours of content – a little bit slight, considering the sometimes annoying amount of backtracking you have to do – but it’s a relatively minor complaint for a title that does so many things right.

Of note: The game does allow for co-op or head-to-head play for up to four gamers either through local, downloadable sharing or Internet-based multiplayer modes.

Overall, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon is one example of a game where a hero who sucks is a good thing. Now, if only we could do something about those video game movies …

Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon is rated E for everyone.

Wayne Chamberlain has covered the gaming industry since 2003. Follow him on Twitter @ChamberlainW. He is also co-host of the Star Wars Book Report podcast, available on iTunes.

When you make an adventure game that becomes a bit of a surprise hit, taking home more than a few game of the year awards for 2013, what should Telltale do next? Well, make a second season, of course. Which is in development. In the meantime, the next best thing is to port the hell out of it and get it on every device possible. Having already released on PC, iOS, PS3, 360, and probably a few lesser known areas, what’s left for Telltale’s The Walking Dead Season One. I suppose there’s Android if that hasn’t already happened. There’s also PlayStation Vita. It will be coming to Sony’s handheld, sometime in 2013. No word yet on a specific date, whether it will be a full release or episodic, retail or download only, or whether it will have a cross buy to give people like me a Vita version for free, having already bought it on PS3. It seems like an obvious port, but I have to wonder about the target market. How many people own a Vita that haven’t already played this one? Is it just another shot at a platinum for trophy hunters / whores?

On a similar note, Limbo is also coming to PS Vita. The game was a hit on XBLA back in 2010 and came to PSN in 2011. Now it’s planned for Vita sometime in 2013. I have all the same questions for this one as I do for The Walking Dead? Who wants to play this but hasn’t?

Plenty of add-on information has been revealed for Borderlands 2. The sixth playable character has been revealed as Krieg. He’s a “psycho” class, an escaped lab experiment with a buzz axe. He’s coming in May for $10. The long-awaited level cap increase is scheduled for April 2nd, upping your players max level to 61 for $5 (or free with Season Pass). This will also include the Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, essentially adding a whole new playthrough. Also, the fourth expansion campaign was teased at PAX East, showing Tiny Tina playing a board game, Bunkers & Badasses, in the Sanctuary with the Vault Hunters. This is purportedly the largest add-on to date and is coming in June.

If you’re a developer that’s cozy with Sony and releasing a new game today, what’s the best way to promote your new characters? The answer should be obvious, as it clearly was to Ken Levine. LittleBigPlanet is getting the BioShock Infinite Costume Pack in today’s store update for $5.99. This isn’t the first time Irrational has released Sack versions of their iconic characters. The original BioShock‘s Big Daddy and Little Sister are being joined by Booker DeWitt, Elizabeth, Songbird, Handyman, and Armored Patriot. Why do evil creatures all look so cute when they’re made from burlap?

Also coming to Littlebigplanet Vita is the Marvel Arcade Pack. This won’t come with any of the Marvel costumes, though they are still available separately. You will play as the featured heroes even if you don’t have the separate costume content. The add-on includes three new game modes: Hero Rush, Avengers: Ultimate Escape, and S.H.I.E.L.D. – Interceptor. Hero Rush sounds a bit like Jetpack Joyride with Sackvengers. Avengers: Ultimate Escape is a puzzle mode with a maze that changes depending on the character you choose. S.H.I.E.L.D. – Interceptor gives you a Quinjet and the weapons to gun your way through waves Chitauri invaders. The add-on will, of course, come with a plethora of stickers and other objects for use in your own LBP adventures. This one launches with next week’s store update for $4.99.

We reported last month that the long-running weekly DLC releases for Harmonix’s Rock Band would be coming to a close. At an event the night before PAX East opened, Harmonix revealed the final DLC for the game. A single song will be coming with the final update on April 2nd, Don McLean’s American Pie. The song, inspired by the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper in a single plane crash is a notable one to end this long story of over 4,000 songs in 275 consecutive weeks. It is, after all, about “the day the music died.” While I no longer plug in my plastic instruments on a weekly basis, my wife and I still tend to bust down a Tangled Shamrock jam session occasionally. I think I’ll be picking this up for old time’s sake and to say thank you to Harmonix for the ridiculous number of hours and dollars I’ve spent on my fake band. Well, that and I love the song. Plus I have to see if I can sing Weird Al’s Star Wars version about Anakin Skywalker.

I haven’t been too vocal about my distaste for the “new” PSN Store on PlayStation 3, but suffice to say that I hate it. Since converting the access to the store into an app that takes far too long to load (not to mention loading the individual pieces of it once you’re there) I try to avoid using it as much as possible. For a portal to spending money, that’s probably not the goal Sony had in mind. Thankfully, they released a web version of the store shortly after that allows me to browse and make purchases from a PC. This means I only have to load the clunky app to access my download list instead of wasting time navigating it. An even better improvement will be coming in May that finally catches up on a feature XBox 360 has offered for years. You’ll actually be able to select items to download from the PC store as well, ideally meaning you’ll never even have to launch that broken app. The groundwork for this addition is included in the recent v4.40 firmware patch and the v1.04 update for the store. It should be noted that this is only specified in the patch notes for the EU; I’m imposing my own hopes that it will apply to the US as well.

Much like pirate’s booty, there apparently are never enough special editions to go around. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag has no less than four versions already announced. The Uplay exclusive Black Chest Edition seems to be the gold standard, including a diorama of Captain Edward on the Jackdaw’s bow (almost two feet tall), steelbook case, artbook, official soundtrack, two lithographs, two canvas prints, all existing unlockable in-game content (single player missions, skins, and weapons), collector’s box, parchment world map and an original Black Flag replica. The next level down will be the Buccaneer Edition, expected to be a GameStop exclusive. This includes an Edward Kenway figurine, artbook, official soundtrack, two lithographs, in-game content, and a collector’s box. For those who like a little extra stuff but don’t need dioramas and figurines and aren’t looking to spend a lot of money, there’s the Skull Edition (steelbook case, artbook, lithographs, the soundtrack and DLC). The Special Edition looks to be the standard preorder version as it comes with just the downloadable content. Prices have not been announced on any of these bundles but I’m willing to venture a few guesses. For current-gen versions it should be the obvious $60. Probably upping to $70 for Skull Edition, $120 for Buccaneer, and somewhere in the $150-200 range for the Black Chest. All versions are set for release on October 30th, but you should get your order in soon if you want a fancy version.

The latest casualty of falling profits in the gaming industry appears to be Yoichi Wada, CEO of Square Enix. Wada joined Square in April 2000, becoming CEO with the Enix merger in 2003. Wada will be stepping down due to the company’s recent financial numbers (revenue will be approximately $175 million below expectation). Yosuke Matsuda, currently the Representative Director, will take over the CEO’s duty temporarily until a permanent replacement is named at the shareholders meeting in June.

It looks like the PlayStation 4 will have no lack of first-person shooters. In addition to the already announced Killzone title, GDC has revealed two more FPS for the next-gen console. Zombie Studios is bringing the free-to-play multiplayer action with Blacklight: Retribution and Lukewarm Media is bringing Primal Carnage: Genesis on Unreal Engine 4. Primal Carnage has dinosaurs. Lots and lots of dinosaurs. It will also blend open world and linear gameplay. No release dates were announced obviously, as we still don’t have a date on the PS4.

Dust off that box full of old video game cartridges and get ready for a trip back to your childhood. The RetroN 5 is about to be your new best friend. This console will play all your old NES, SNES, GBA, Sega, and Famicon games. It will also probably play your Game Boy Color and Game Boy games in the Game Boy Advanced slot. It has two ports for your old school controllers (you’ll use SNES or NES for your Game Boy) but it also comes with 2 wireless bluetooth controllers should you want to use those. Along with playing your old games Hyperkin has made it so they will upscale to 720p without that weird blurry look. You’ll also have the option to render the sound at a higher quality and remap buttons on the wireless controllers. The RetroN 5 comes with HDMI and old style AV ports in case you feel like hooking it up to your old TV. Pricing and a release date haven’t been announced yet but it seems they will be aiming for under $100 and July 2013. So get busy searching through the boxes in your basement or perusing stores trying to find those games you love.

via Slashdot

Welcome to the first Strider-bot’s Game for Tots column, where I will be looking at titles for young players from a parent’s perspective and that of a life-long gamer who is still a kid at heart when it comes to virtual adventures.

There hasn’t been much of a reason to pop a game into a Wii U since its launch, but if you have kids, Lego City Undercover is one must-have title.

You play as Chase McCain, a full-on Hollywood-esque hero cop who is tasked with taking down Rex Fury, a master criminal from our main character’s past.

The goal is as simple as tracking down Fury and putting him back in the slammer. It’s a basic plot, no more complex than anything that most of us adults who grew up in the 1980s will recall with cheese-gilded fondness. In fact, there’s a whole lot of Hunter and Die Hard in McCain … I mean, Bruce Willis’ character is named McClane for pete’s sake.

Giving kids a full-on action game in which they can play as a cop in an open world environment is something sure to grab their attention. The basic pick-up-and-play controls are another way to ease youngsters into the Lego City, as is the sense of humour on display thanks to a crackling script and some strong vocal performances. British actor Joseph May, a veteran of several video game franchises, clearly has fun giving McCain a voice.

The action basically amounts to a series of missions involving some puzzle solving, typical run-and-jump platforming gameplay and some combat, as well as copious amounts of ‘borrowing’ civilian vehicles whenever you need a ride in the course of your duties.

It’s very much like other Lego titles. Basic combat, cool vehicles, sometimes frustrating platforming level design and collecting Lego bricks and studs to use to unlock and buy extra perks and cheats.

The design team has built in some cool action movie chase scene clichés that will have parents who either watch (or pick up and play when the console is free) chuckling in appreciation of such gimmicky effects as bullet time cutaways and cinematic shenanigans. Kids will just think it’s cool (well, at least until that point comes when they’re tired of the rinse-and-repeat gameplay that mars most Lego titles).

While there are some who will say this is a PG kids version of a Grand Theft Auto game, a kind of gateway drug to more violent and serious open world crime titles, I say relax and take it easy. You can’t change the nature of kids and their desire to play more harder edged titles as they age – the same way you can’t change their desire to do other adult things during their teenage years.

But let’s face it, that’s an adult’s fear and as a parent of two teens, I get it. I do. But stop worrying about what they may encounter and focus on the here and now and the fact that this is a game where your kids get to fight on the side of right and use a little might at the same time. The fact they have to go undercover to do it doesn’t change McCain’s focus on bringing Fury to ultimate justice.

Know that Lego City Undercover is a fantastic tale about a cop chasing down a bad guy, utilizing awesome vehicles, and it’s a blast, to boot.

* Wayne Chamberlain has covered the gaming industry since 2003. Follow him on Twitter @ChamberlainW. He is also co-host of the Star Wars Book Report podcast, available on iTunes.

“Transistor invites players to wield an extraordinary weapon of unknown origin as they explore a stunning futuristic city.” What the hell is Transistor? That’s the newly revealed game coming from Supergiant, the developers behind 2011’s hit game, Bastion. According to the Supergiant blog, “We’re designing our next game to seamlessly integrate thoughtful strategic planning into a fast-paced action experience, complete with our studio’s signature melding of responsive gameplay and rich atmospheric storytelling.” The game is scheduled for 2014, but no platforms have yet been announced. Is that because they haven’t decided, or because it’s coming to an unannounced console ?

NetherRealm and Warner Bros. Interactive has revealed yet another character for the roster of Injustice: Gods Among Us. Really, if we’re talking gods, it’s only fair that we get Captain Marvel (Shazam) and his archenemy, Black Adam. He may not be the most well known of villains, but he’s been a personal favorite of mine. I would expect him and Shazam to be fairly analogous for play styles and move sets, but it’s nice to have them both. The April 16th release date is rapidly approaching.

Speaking of which, a Season Pass program has been announced for the game as well. At least four DLC fighters are planned, but you can get them for the price of three with the pass ($12). They’ll also throw a set of Flashpoint skins from 2011’s event.

Stainless Games’ Kickstarter campaign to fund Carmageddon: Reincarnation has ended successfully. The campaign’s goal was to earn $400,000, which they exceeded by over 50%, generating pledges for $625,000. Les Edgar, founder of Bullfrog Productions, has also committed $3.5 million to the game’s creation. Clearly no release date is currently in the cards for the revival of the famed franchise, but plans are to release (likely as a downloadable) for next-gen consoles (which for the moment only means PS4 as Microsoft still has not announced their next console).

I don’t get the idea of teasing a tease, but that’s the world we live in. SEGA has revealed a teaser image indicating they’ll be making an announcement on Thursday next week for a new game coming to PS3 and Vita. I have no idea what it is, but it looks like it will involve grass and possibly fairy dust.

Quantic Dream has a tendency to release awesome, if unusual, games like Indigo Prophecy, Heavy Rain, and the upcoming Beyond: Two Souls (which looks awesome, but we won’t actually know until October). This may be related to the idea that they don’t release many and they constantly try to push the level of realism and immersion. Which is why it’s good to hear that they’re already working on a PS4 title. Although I do have some trepidation about it. According to CEO Guillaume de Fondaumière, “For us, a new console is another reason to try and innovate,” said Fondaumière. “What is certain is that whatever we’re working on on PS4 is not going to resemble what we’re doing on PS3… We’re going to try and reinvent ourselves.” Reinventing yourself is good, especially with a large step forward in technology. But when you’re hitting such success, could a reinvention actually be to your detriment? I trust David Cage to push the technology and the emotional impact of his stories, so I’m hoping this reinvention won’t stray too far from what’s already made them a success.

In the wake of Lara Croft’s successful reboot, Square Enix has trademarked Lara Croft: Reflections. No word yet on what this is, but it looks like they intend to capitalize on Crystal Dynamics’ rejuvenation of the franchise. Could this be our first clue about the new movie? Are they planning a tablet game? Perhaps a new comic book series? I’m kind of hoping for a downloadable that would highlight the coolest parts of the classic games in the new engine and system. But that’s probably the least likely.

That’s it for this week. Sound off in the comments. What you hoping to see from Lara Croft: Revelations? Who do you hope to see as Injustice‘s four DLC characters? Are you excited about Carmageddon‘s renaissance?

Paramount has released a new video of their upcoming Star Trek The Video Game.
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The game’s featured enemy will be the Gorn, an iconic lizard race that has become a fan favorite despite having little to no screen time since an episode of the original series, Arena. The new version definitely looks better.

Classic Gorn:

Modern Gorn:

Release is set for April 23, 2013 (PS3, 360, PC) to tie in with J.J. Abrams’ sophomore entry into the film series, Star Trek Into Darkness. Preorders are available now and will include additional weapons and uniforms. GameStop preorders will also include “an exclusive KRE-O mini-build of the U.S.S. Enterprise and a collectible poster.”

Amid rumors that EA is set to reveal Battlefield 4 at GDC next week, we have received some sideways confirmation of that happening via a “leaked” promotional image. The image isn’t going to spoil much for you, it’s just a well-armed man running through the rain with military ordnance and a cityscape behind him. The city probably suggests that there will be a return of urban warfare, but I would bank on that until the official reveal. Coincidentally, EA’s Vine is also looping a short clip suggesting we “Prepare 4 Battle” and the date of 3/27 – all but confirming the announcement next week.

Retro fans have something to look forward to on PSN and XBLA “soon.” Despite carrying the Dungeons & Dragons name, Tower of Doom and Shadow Over Mystara aren’t actually RPGs. In classic 1990s fashion, they’re sidescrolling beat-em-ups with RPG archetypes. For those of us that grew up in arcades 20 years ago, games just don’t get much better. No word yet on price or a solid release date, but I’m expecting somewhere around $6/piece or $10 for the double pack and releasing before month’s end.

That’s not the only piece of Capcom’s back catalog you can expect to see re-released soon. Strider, the action platformer that hit arcades in late 1980s (and consoles in the early 1990s), looks to soon have a revival on PC, PSN, and XBLA. Unfortunately, there are basically no details since this comes from a reliable leak rather than an official announcement. Capcom reportedly has plans to announce two new releases at PAX East this week. This may be one of them.

Despite lackluster sales and a poor critical showing, Disney has one last trick up its sleeve for Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. The original console release was developed by Junction Point, who has since shut their doors. The announcement didn’t mention who will be developing the Vita port. A release date was also not included, but it was slated for later this year.

Current CEO of Electronic Arts, John Riccitiello, has announced his plans to step down on March 30th. Larry Probst will stand as the Executive Chairman while the board looks for a permanent replacement. Riccitiello has been in the CEO role since 2007. Details behind this “mutually agreed… transition” haven’t been forthcoming, and I wouldn’t expect much either. EA has done well under Riccitiello’s leadership, though they have suffered economic losses along with the rest of the world. The resignation announcement also included a note indicating “revenues and earnings per share for the current quarter will be at the low end of, or slightly below previously issued guidance.” Which sound like they’re operating near budget forecasts, if not as well as they hoped. In this industry, right now, that’s not bad.

You may have already heard about Microsoft’s XBox Entertainment Awards, which will allow fans to vote on the best in television, film, and games over the past year. It’s new, but it’s nothing groundbreaking. What makes this newsworthy is that the voting website was only up for a short time before being taken down to resolve technical issues: visibly posting the email addresses for over 3,000 users and allowing visitors to edit or delete votes already cast. Yeah, good job on that one Microsoft.

That takes care of our early edition. Check back on Friday for more gaming goodness from the rest of the week.

As fans of the video game Portal know, creativity is a necessity to succeed in the popular puzzle-solving title. And while ingenuity in Portal is rewarded with saving your own skin, a company in the U.K. is offering a unique prize for those who display some creativity of their own.

Print Express is holding a contest in which you can win a full-scale replica Portal gun.

To enter, you will have to submit a piece of original artwork based on the game. It can be a drawing, painting or a cool design, so long as it’s related to Portal. Be inspired by a favourite scene, character or just the game’s unique world.

The winner will have their artwork professionally printed and sent to them along with their brand new Aperture Labs Portal device.

Prizes for runners-up include a miniature Portal device, sentry turrets, core plush toys, Valve lanyards and more.

To enter, simply post your work on your blog

Post your artwork on your blog, on sites such as Flickr or Behance, or email it to competitions@printexpress.co.uk. Be sure to include your mailing address.

The entry deadline is April 30. Winners will be announced May 3.

For more on the contest, visit http://www.printexpress.co.uk/blog/2013/03/05/love-portal-win-a-replica-portal-gun-more.

Overkill Software has announced Payday 2 for release this summer on PSN and XBLA. The sequel to the acclaimed Payday: The Heist returns the player to the roles of Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chain as they head to Washington, D.C. for an “epic crime spree.” Featuring single-player and four-player co-op, the sequel will also have randomly generated dynamic events, insuring fresh takes on multiple playthroughs. The first game received high praise and the sequel should be an event release for fans.

The second episode of the “Tyranny of King Washington” DLC for Assassin’s Creed III is releasing next week. Called “The Betrayal,” this episode adds a new animal spirit to Connor’s arsenal, the eagle. The new Eagle Flight power lets Connor travel long distances in a blink (as in you just aim the power and it works like Blink from Dishonored). This chapter is releasing on March 19th for $10, or free with the season pass.

It’s been a long time, but older gamers may remember a classic called Road Rash. It sounds a little simplistic in the modern age, but a game about racing motorcycles and beating competitors off their bikes was actually a big hit at the time. The 1991 original game was a SEGA Genesis title and the only featured weapon was a club. Later iterations added chains, bottles, and other tools of mayhem. The most recent release was a port of Road Rash: Jail Break on Gameboy Advanced in 2003, but the original creator, Dan Geisler, hadn’t been involved since 1993’s Road Rash 3: Tour de Force. Geisler recently resurfaced on Reddit where he expressed an interest in renewing the series via Kickstarter “if there is enough interest.” An actual sequel or reboot may not be possible through that avenue, as EA currently holds the IP. With enough Kickstarter money, Geisler may be able to convince EA of the validity of his project. More likely we’ll see a “spiritual successor” without the name. Regardless, count me in.

The upcoming Disney Infinity has been delayed into August. Oddly, the delay doesn’t come from the developer, or even the publisher, but from requests by retailers. The title is an obvious competitor to the successful Skylanders franchise and will likely do very well with Disney’s juggernaut media machine and well-known IPs. According to John Pleasants, Co-President of Disney Interactive, “The date became an issue in terms of them [retailers] asking, ‘is there a better opportunity here?’” Retailers explain that the August window is a time when game consumers are more actively buying content, leading them to believe they’ll get better sales on the game and its figurine expansions. I might contend that consumers spend their money when good titles are released and good titles come in waves, but they make more money than me so they’re clearly more intelligent. I might also contend that cloning an Activision game is a pretty lame move by Disney, especially while they are in the midst of cancelling Star Wars 1313 and Star Wars: First Assault.

The survival horror genre seems to be reviving slowly, though not necessarily in the ways you would expect. When the indie-developed Lone Survivor released on PC in March 2012 it received great critical acclaim. But you still may not have heard of it. It’s now set for greater exposure with a cross-buy release on PS3 and Vita in July. The unnamed hero is working his way through a “psychological-survivor-adventure” in a city filled with diseased monsters. A system of “meaningful” choices will determine your ending, including the newly added “yellow” ending. This looks intriguing and I’m anxious to hear more about it before its summertime release.

If you’re a fan of Bethesda classics like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, you may want to check out their updated web store. There’s some pretty cool stuff, like Vault 101 sneakers, a sick Dragonborn statue (for a sick price as well), and even a Mark of the outsider (Dishonored) pendant. The obvious item missing though is the complete set of New Vegas snowglobes or DC Wasteland bobbleheads. Which I’m actually kind of glad to see. The whole set probably wouldn’t be cheap and I don’t think I could stop myself from buying it.

The Phantom Pain is still fooling no one by pretending to be anything other than Metal Gear Solid V. Unfortunately Konami and Kojima still want to maintain the farce. That hasn’t stopped them from sharing more information though. According to “Joakim Mogren” of Moby Dick Studios, the game will be running on Kojima’s new FOX engine. At about the same time this was revealed, Kojima announced that he is expanding their presentation at GDC in a few weeks. Expect more details about the engine and Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes, and likely an end to this silly prank when they do the full reveal.

You may remember that Ubisoft picked up THQ Montreal in the fire sale resulting from the developers financial collapse. At the time there was all sorts of speculation about Patrice Desilets‘ return to the company where he helped create the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Of course, at the time, neither Ubisoft nor Desilets had anything to public to say about their relationship. Happily, Ubisoft has now announced that he plans to stay with the company. His first expected task with the company is to finish 1666, a game he was already working on but which we know very little about. Personally, I see this as good news.

But that’s not the only phoenix rising from the ashes of THQ. Volition was snatched up by Deep Silver in the auction and it was only a matter of time before we saw the return of their biggest franchise with Saints’ Row IV, which has just been announced for release on August 20, 2013. Look for this iteration to top the third game in every way, including super heroes and a dubstep gun.

Fans of pinball certainly already know about The Pinball Arcade which realistically recreates classic tables in digital format on PS3 and Vita (as opposed to Zen Pinball, which makes unrealistic “video game” versions). Fans of that franchise should be very excited for Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s debut in the game next week. Table Pack 10 will be coming a week later and bringing classics like Gottlieb’s Genie and Bally’s Attack from Mars. As if that’s not enough, FarSight Studios has also announced that this gem will be making its way to PS4. They haven’t mentioned timing, whether it’s launch window or later, but I’d expect this very soon after the console’s retail release, if not day of.

That looks to be it for this week. Come back Tuesday for all the news from the weekend. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go see what’s so great about this Dishonored thing everyone’s been talking about for months.