Earlier this week I mentioned that EA sees the future of distribution as 100% digital. This seems like a natural fit for one of the companies that spawned the $10 online pass. After all, what better way to prevent used game sales than not having a physical item to resell? Not so fast, EA. At least, not according to the Court of Justice of the European Union. The recent ruling from the EU’s equivalent of the US Supreme Court has determined that the right to distribute a copy of computer software is “exhausted” after the “first sale.” “An author of software cannot oppose the resale of his ‘used’ licenses allowing the use of his programs downloaded from the internet,” reads the ruling. Parsing the legalese, this means EU member can resell their digital licenses, regardless of whatever End User License Agreement (EULA) included. This would indicate that you could reasonably sell a PSN or XBLA game you no longer play to a friend, who could then legally download the program from Sony or Microsoft’s store. Naturally, the court did not indicate how digital distributors are supposed to accomodate those transactions. Since the US is clearly not a member of the EU, the ruling does not affect us directly. However, if digital distributors face new requirements to uphold this ruling in the EU, it may simply not make sense for them to have separate systems in North America. Barring that, could this ruling affect the worldwide digital sales strongly enough to discourage major publishers from even going that route? Couple this turn of events with the recent rumors that next-gen consoles could go digital only, and we could see come serious conflict on the horizon.
Another special edition has been announced for Hitman: Absolution. This super limited Deluxe Professional Edition comes with an exclusive big-headed Agent 47 statue that is simply way too cute for words. It will also include the standard art book, DVD, and Agency Gun-Pack DLC. Pre-ordering the package also gets you instant access to the Sniper Challenge game playable now. Unlocks in Sniper Challenge can be carried over to the full game when it releases November 20, 2012.
With Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD ($14.99) releasing to PSN and XBLA in a couple of weeks I’m starting to get a real sense of nostalgia for the older games. Remastering levels from the first two titles is truly a brilliant move. Unfortunately, for me, the pinnacle was actually the third game. That entry introduced the revert and had Darth Maul as an unlockable character. Also, the Airport level is simply supreme. That’s why I’m thrilled to report that the first DLC pack is already being planned for release a month later. For $4.99 you’ll be able to add on three levels from the third game, including the Airport, all remastered in HD. Of course, those levels were originally designed for use with the revert move, so that will be included for the new levels as well. You won’t be able to revert in other levels, but that was practically game breaking in later versions of the Warehouse level. I was iffy on whether I was buying this one, as I just wasn’t convinced I needed it. Now, I’ll be picking it up when the DLC drops. Hopefully I’ll see a PS+ discount of some sort to really encourage me.
Have you been wanting more character skins for Minecraft on XBox? Title update 1.73 is in certification at Microsoft. The update will bring a few more skins, making a new total of eight. Also on they way, “around the same time,” will be a character skins DLC pack. This pack will include over 40 additional skins, including ‘Splosion Man, Ms. ‘Splosion Man, (Burger) King, Banjo, and a Covenant grunt. There will apparently be a trial version of the skins pack available, but I don’t have any details on how that will work.
THQ’s financial troubles are no secret, and it’s been covered a few times in VGQH. Apparently the latest game cut from their roster in the restructuring of the company is Valhalla Games’ Devil’s Third. In an official statement, THQ confirmed “that the company will not be publishing Devil’s Third. All of the game’s IP rights have been returned to Itagaki-san and the Valhalla team.” The return of the IP rights means Valhalla can find a new partner and still publish the game. Itagaki mentioned that the game is almost complete, and is now entering the most expensive part of development. Previews for the game have looked great, so it’s nice to see it back on track with the option for a new publisher.
In a strange twist for the video game world, Activision has moved up (as opposed to delaying) a release date. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is now scheduled for August 24th, one week ahead of the previously announced August 31st. It’s not much, but it does mean you’ll be bashing giant robots just a little sooner.
Because you know you simply can’t get enough hadokens and mutants, Marvel vs. Capcom: Origins is slated for PSN and XBLA in September. This downloadable title will remaster two classic games, Marvel Super Heroes and Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, in full HD. Both games will have new features, including enhanced online play and dynamic challenges. Exact date is unknown, but it set for September, $14.99.
Nothing has been confirmed by Capcom, but those weird tech-heads that like dissecting program files may have found a secret campaign in Resident Evil 6. The demo for the game released earlier this week for those who bought new copies of Dragon’s Dogma. In addition to the Chris, Leon, and Jake stories we know to be in the game, program files have hinted that an Ada Wong campaign may also be included. This should be considered rumor for now, but in my experience I’d say this likely true. What exactly an Ada campaign will be is anyone’s guess. I’d expect these files to be the basic structure for planned DLC, not an actual hidden campaign.
After SEGA dropped a mysterious picture on their Facebook page on Tuesday, they’ve since confirmed it’s from an upcoming HD re-release of NiGHTS in to Dreams. The SEGA Saturn had a few real gems, and it’s nice to see them finding a home in the modern downloadable space. The new release, scheduled for fall, will have a new 3D mode and will also include the original version with no touch-ups.
It’s hard to get much more old school than Frogger. If you’ve been getting the urge to smash a few amphibians under a semi tire, look no further than Frogger: Hyper Arcade Edition. Zombie Studios is making this latest version to come to PSN and XBLA next week. The basic gist hasn’t changed, hop a frog across a busy highway and over some logs to rest in a lily pad. But it will include some additional Konami skins from other classic franchises, like Castlevania and Contra.
Speaking of old school, it’s been a long time since gamers have been able to suit up as veteran John Rambo. After the announcement last August of Rambo: The Video Game, all talk of the game has gone quiet. But don’t think it’s cancelled. Reef Entertainment has announced the game is still in development and will be playable at Gamescom next month.
Looks like that will do it for this week’s late edition. Mostly ho-hum. Sometimes we have those weeks. I apologize for the lack of pictures, my uploader seems to be on the fritz. I’ve got a few I’d like to add and will update as soon as I can get it working again. In the meantime, check back next Tuesday for more.