What a seriously slow week. Nothing truly major to report, but some nice screens from a few upcoming titles.
I never quite know what to make of Suda51. It would be easy to write Shadows of the Damned off as just another zombie shooter, but do so at your own risk. This is the guy that made killer7, No More Heroes, Flower, etc. The game has been given a release date of June 7, 2011. You can figure out why your girlfriend has demons bursting out of her skin then. In the meantime, where can I get my hands on an anthropomorphic shape-shifting skull gun named Johnson?
I mentioned on Tuesday that Deus Ex: Human Revolution has a release date of August 23rd, but I’ve gotten some more information to add to that date. First, there will be an “Augmented” edition available at release for an extra $10. This edition will include a bonus DVD (making of special, soundtrack, motion comic, trailer, and storyboard) as well as a 40 page art book. There are also two preorder bonuses possible, The Explosive Mission Pack (GameStop) and the Tactical Enhancement Pack (“participating retailers”). The Explosive pack includes a new mission, special grenade launcher, M-28 remote detonator, and an automatic unlocking device. The Tactical version will get you an exclusive double barrel shotgun, silenced sniper rifle, damage weapon upgrade, reload speed upgrade, and 10,000 extra credits.
I noticed Wednesday night that there is yet another firmware update for the PS3 required. Turns out 3.60 is primarily for PlayStation Plus subscribers and adds cloud saving. Members can now go to their Save Data Utility option, highlight the save, press triangle, choose “copy” then “online storage” and the game will be loaded to the cloud server. Each member can store up to 150 MB of save data and load them up anytime, anywhere (assuming you’re signed in) using the same method in reverse. This is great news in the case of a hardware failure or if you like to take your games to a friend’s house. If your membership expires they’ll still save the data for six months, but you’ll have to renew before you can access it. You’ll have to wait 24 hours after the upload to pick up any copy-protected saves. The update also includes an option for all users to set a shut off timer for their idle controllers to preserve battery life. Why hasn’t this been there all the time?
If you’ve been eagerly anticipating DISSIDIA 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy for PSP on March 22nd, you can actually get started a week early. Next week, exclusively on PSN, you’ll be able to download DISSIDIA duodecim prologus Final Fantasy for $2.99. The prologue focuses on Lightning’s (FFXIII‘s main protagonist) adventures and will enhance the player’s experience of the PSP title. The prologue will have both story and arcade mode where you can unlock items that will carry over to the full PSP game. Plus, simply by buying prologus, you’ll gain FFVII‘s Aerith as an assist character. I am now so confused by the repeated typing of an insane title that I can’t even decide if this is a good thing or not.
The lead villain for Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception has been revealed. And it’s a woman. Odd choice for the series but I’m definitely excited to see what comes of it. I can’t even fathom what the final boss battle is going to be like if you’re fighting a woman that looks oddly like Helen Mirren. You can get more info and check out the GDC trailer over at the PlayStation Blog.
Does anyone remember Ape Escape? If you’ve been wanting more ape catching fun, it’s high time you invest in the Move. Released in December in Japan, Playstation Move Ape Escape is on its way to North America this summer through Playstation Network. The game does have multiplayer modes, but it’s unclear if this will be local or online.
I mentioned in a recent edition of VGQH that Volition had officially announced Saints Row: The Third. Details are starting to release and they’ve recently told Game Informer that the underwhelming competitive multiplayer component of the second game has been cut. In its place will be drop-in/out co-op play. This is brilliance in my opinion. The Saints Row series has always been naturally compared to GTA, and for good reason. But it’s way more over the top with a crazy, action, arcade experience to it – making it less serious than Rockstar’s franchise, but just as much fun in its own way. Considering I’ve been a loving fan of all things co-op since the original Contra, this is a fantastic change. Now I just have to find someone whose life is as empty as mine to play along with me.
I’ve been trying to follow along with the soap opera that has been LG v Sony and I thought for a moment last night that it was over. Then my wife finished reading the article to me (don’t ask, it just happens sometimes) and I realized it’s only the beginning. Via reversal of a decision in Dutch court yesterday, the 300,000 PS3 consoles that were being held up in Europe have been released. Additionally, LG has been order to pay approximately $180,000 (USD) in court fees. But it’s not over yet. Sony has yet to drop its case of LG’s cell phone patent infringement, so they’re continuing to press back claiming Sony infringed some blu-ray patent. LG’s case is claiming $150 million plus in lost revenue over the infringement and may lead to a similar blockage of US imports as well. I’ll still try to keep this up to date as things change, but it’s starting to give me a headache. When two companies make more money than some US states, do they really need to fight over an extra billion or two?
Somehow I’m actually going to leave it at that. I really should reorganize these bits so the legal brief doesn’t cap it off but I’m feeling pessimistic today and now you are too. Ha.