I have little reason to think anyone is actually reading this since most of the regular readers are probably still busy with L.A. Noire. But for those that are stealing a few minutes of work time to catch up on your gaming news, I’ve got a few sweet bits for you:
Speaking of LA Noire, this game is HOT! Hotter than CJ’s coffee? Probably not, but still hot enough to overheat your console. The problem isn’t widespread, but for some reason the game is causing many consoles to overheat during regular process. I’ve seen at least one report from a user that said he couldn’t even get through the introduction; many others are reporting freeze ups after 10-60 minutes of play time. It seems the recent 3.61 firmware update from Sony was initially blamed for the overheating, but that was incorrect. The problem has occurred on old and new versions of the PS3 and XBox 360. Rockstar has released details about a workaround that involves deleting your game data, but not your save data. If you’re having the problem, check what Rockstar has to say. Hopefully a permanent solution will be available soon. They better get it fixed before their first DLC, the “Nicholson Electroplating” arson case, releases on June 21st. Releasing DLC for broken game is a surefire to lose money and fans.
We’ve yet to see an official roster for the upcoming Street Fighter x Tekken from Capcom, but a partial list is slowly being compiled from screenshots and teasers. The two most recent reveals are Cammy and Sagat. The one-eyed kickboxer was recently exposed in a snapshot that captured part of the character select screen. The other “confirmed” characters for now are Chun Li, Guile, Ken, and Ryu from Street Fighter, and Abel, Bob, Kazuya, King, Marduk, and Nina from the Tekken franchise.
This is a good time for fans of fighting games, as there have also been a few details released about Soul Calibur V. The next game in the popular franchise is set 17 years after the previous title. In addition to the main character, Patroklos (son of Sophitia), there will be at least 25 other fighters. The online mode is getting a major overhaul, though none of the changes have been specified.
Do you like action figures and cartoons from the 1980s? Of course you do, you’re reading Big Shiny Robot! According to Jasper Koning of Ronimo Games, they’re making Awesomenauts just for you: “If MOBA [multiplayer online battle arena] games and classic animated series were to have a baby, this would be it!” If you’ve got 16 bit nostalgia and want to check out some 2D battle platforming as a jet pack monkey, keep your eyes on E3 for more information on this upcoming game for PSN and XBLA.
Sefton Hill of Rocksteady recently mentioned that the planned game time on Batman: Arkham City is around 40 hours. According to Hill, “It takes over 25 hours to complete the main stories in Batman: Arkham City. To keep players engaged for this length of time, not only do the characters and the story need to progress, but the core mechanics of the game they are playing need to change and adapt as well.” Apparently the main story will run about 25 hours with “around 15 hours of story that’s off the main path.” Forty hours of Batman seems about 200 hours too little, but I’ll take what I can get.
The latest in Sony’s PSN nightmare turned out not to be as bad as first thought, but still bad enough for some seriously negative PR and further headaches for the company and its users. There was apparently an exploit with the url that allowed people to change the passwords of other accounts on the website. Despite the early reports, this was not an actual hack. A flaw in the program isn’t really any better for users, but at least it wasn’t further malicious behavior from criminals. Sony is still suggesting that users log on through their PS3 and change passwords as soon as possible. Internet password changes will be available once again when they restore the site (which may have already happened by now).
If you’ve already changed your password and have been back to playing online games, your biggest question about the topic now is probably the same as mine. When is the PlayStation Store back online? In a recent memo to publishing partners, Sony has announced a plan to have the digital marketplace back online by May 24th, assuming it’s ready from a technical perspective. But you won’t see a content update of the entire month’s catalog all at once. Instead, the planned content for April 26th will be up immediately, with another update on the 27th including the content originally scheduled for May 3rd. Sony will continue to update twice a week until they are back on schedule. Releases that are already big on 360, such as the Honest Hearts DLC may be jumped ahead. Any schedule changes will be handled on a “case by case basis.” It is assumed that the “Welcome Back” package will be available as soon as the service is relaunched. That’s assuming you aren’t one of the “very small percentage” of users who have cancelled their account since service was resumed over the weekend.
Platinum Games’ upcoming multiplayer brawler, Anarchy Reigns, was recently delayed. This doesn’t look like the bad kind of delay though. The game was set for fall 2011, but was pushed into first quarter 2012. The delay isn’t overly long, and comes far enough in advance, that it’s probably not of the “hurry up and polish the turd” variety. It looks like they just aren’t on schedule. Delays like this are common and seem to be a byproduct of the information age, where the public is in on many long range plans that are subject to change.
For a game coming sooner, rather than later, id and Bethesda’s Rage is on many minds as the next big FPS. To encourage preorder sales they are offering an upgrade to the Anarchy Edition at no charge for those ordering the game before release. What does that commitment get you? Just better versions of the basics really: melee weapon, shotgun, armor, and an additional vehicle. It may not be glamorous, but if you’re buying it anyway, get a little something extra for yourself.
Have you been playing the LEGO games? You’re missing out if you haven’t. I’ve made no secret about being an adult fan of this “kids” series. Which means I’m now looking beyond the recent release of LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean and on towards “late 2011” when TT Games and Warner Bros. Interactive release the next chapter, LEGO HarryPotter Years 5-7. The first LEGO Harry Potter was one of my favorites in the series so I’m definitely excited for the follow up. And the release window makes it sounds like a perfect Christmas gift.
If you enjoy the Dragon Age series from Bioware, you’ll love (Senior Director of Creative Development, BioWare Edmonton & Montreal) Alistair McNally’s recent tweet: “I’m looking for exceptional environment artists to join me at #BioWare Edmonton, Canada to work on #DragonAge3 #gamejobs #jobs #3D #artists.” [Emphasis added by me.] A third game in the series was obvious, but now it’s confirmed.
I’ll end this weeks Quick Hits update with a new toy/tool you can get, beginning on May 26th. You’ll need to sign a new two year voice and data deal with Verizon (starting around $70) to pick up the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play for $200. This is what Sony announced in February as the “PlayStation Phone.” The device runs the Android 2.3 software and will come preloaded with seven games: Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, Crash Bandicoot, Madden NFL 11, The Sims 3, Star Battalion, and Tetris. Over 50 games will be available for download at launch, with plenty more to follow. With a PSP style interface under the sliding screen and a touch screen, this is clearly going to be the best “gaming phone” on the market. But it also has plenty of other benefits, including a 5mp camera and a VGA camera. You’ll also be able to turn it into a mobile hotspot supporting up to five other wireless devices. Looks good, except the Verizon part….
