VIDEO: Resident Evil 4/Code Veronica HD trailer!

Here is the new trailer for the HD revamps of RE4 and Code Veronica which will be coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360:



I'm not really interested in playing RE4 yet again, but a revamp of Code Veronica could be really wicked!

COOL: Nintendo fan site "idrawnintendo"

I was just directed to this neat fanart blog called idrawnintendo by a gent named Zac Gorman.

He's created several really fun and cool Nintendo-related drawings that will totally appeal to the older Nintendo fans. Here's a great example:

Here is another fun one:

Please check out the rest of his blog! I think you all may really enjoy it!
(Thanks for the tip @eliza_evans!)

FUNNY: NMA takes on video game ruling

Ok, who doesn't love these flat out insane videos that NMA cranks out about current news? I really think they are doing these just for kicks, but who cares! I love 'em!

Anyway, here is their spin on this week's court ruling that video games are protected by the 1st Amendment:

VIDEO: Ace Combat: Assault Horizon gameplay footage!

Here's 10 minutes of gameplay footage from the upcoming Ace Combat title:



This looks *SICK*. Arcade style dog fighting... October can't come fast enough. I'e not read or heard - but I do hope this has some sort of online mode. Seems like it would hit all the same spots WarHawk does.

Wii Dragon Quest collection to include DQX footage!

According to Kotaku:

This DQ compilation has more than spiffy box art. It also includes Dragon Quest X bonus footage.

As a recent convert to the DQ series, I can't wait to see what is in store with Dragon Quest X. I'm also hoping that somehow we will be lucky enough to get this compilation here in the States...

JUST IN: Video Games are protected by the 1st Amendment!

Hey gang - Look, I'm sorry, I really never expected to have a reason to talk about anything relating to politics here. But this is rather large news. From my inbox:

Just moments ago, the Supreme Court in a 7 to 2 decision, has decided that, like music, books and movies, video games are First Amendment protected speech in the case Brown v. EMA. So many people took action signing the gamer petition and directly filing briefs with the Court.

The decision has been a long time coming, and we're so pleased by today's news. We're sure this isn't the end of the fight. One decision doesn't mean that we won't see elected officials attempted to test these new parameters. You better believe the ECA will continue to fight for the rights of the entertainment consumers and we hope you'll stand with us and add your voice.

But today, we can hold our heads up a little higher knowing that we won this fight. We'll be following up later in greater detail once we've read the complete decision.

Happy gaming,

The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA)

As soon as I have more I will share, but this is pretty big news.

UPDATE: Kotaku has a great breakdown of the details.

INTRODUCING: The Pixelated Palace Seal of Approval

So after my last post, I figured I would reach out to a good pal of mine and beg for a few minutes of his graphics design talent to whip up a proper Seal of Approval.

So, with a BIG thanks to da4 - here it is:

I look forward to using this in the future!

REVIEW: Custom Nintendo 3DS case by whataboutki

So earlier in the month, I was alerted to these nifty custom (and hand made!) Nintendo 3DS cases made by a gent in New Zealand by the handle of whataboutki. He's set up a little shop on Etsy (here is a link to his shop - go look!!!).

As soon as I set eyes on one that was fashioned after a NES control pad, I knew that I needed to quickly part with my $20usd plus $5usd for shipping for it.

So, after placing my order and waiting patiently (coming from half way around the world, I could NOT complain), my 3DS case arrived today.

And let me tell you, I really couldn't be happier. It's simple, it's unique, and best of all - it went towards a worthy cause. As I came to understand after i placed my order, whataboutki was making and selling these cases as a means to bring in some income after the major earthquake in Christchurch, NZ caused him some hardship.

I'm really impressed with the fine stitching, not to mention the quality of the design on the actual cloth. There's even a pouch for your AR cards in the case! And of course, whataboutki has *many* super nerdy designs in his shop - you'd be hard pressed to run into someone else with the exact same case.

Overall, this case is easily on par with, and in many ways surpasses any commercial 3DS case on the market today. It's not the sort of item you should expect to arrive overnight, but I feel it's well worth the wait to stand out among the crowd. Please visit whataboutki's Etsy shop, and if you find something that tickles your fancy - BUY IT!

This is the first product to officially get the Pixelated Palace Seal of Approval:

It's a 10/10 - 5 stars - A+ - however you like your ratings, this is the best of the best. Do not hesitate to buy one!

UPDATE: It's been brought to my attention that whataboutki's girlfriend has a large part in making these cases as well. Fantastic work, the both of you! I know my friends will be super jealous!

RUMOR: Sony to drop PS3 price?

Found this over at The Register:

Sony is expected to drop the price of the PlayStation 3 this August, keeping the console within affordable reach of its rivals.

Industry experts and publishers have come forth with predictions that the price drop will bring the PS3 down to £200 and will probably be announced at Gamescom in August, MCV reports.

This is an interesting move - and if true, it should put the PS3 within reach of far more gamers. I am all for it!

HOT: LA Noire coming to PC!

Hot off the presses from Rockstar - LA Noire will come to the PC this fall! Here's the scoop:

PC gaming aficionados, we hear you. And today, we are very happy to announce that L.A. Noire will be arriving on the PC platform this fall.

Developed by Rockstar Leeds and built to run on a wide range of PCs, L.A. Noire's robust feature customization includes keyboard remapping and gamepad functionality to both optimize and customize performance and user experience. Along with increased fidelity and improved graphical enhancements, the PC version will also feature 3D support for an even greater sense of interaction and immersion within a painstakingly detailed 1940s Los Angeles.

RUMOR: EA to aquire PopCap

TechCrunch has the story:

Possible logic behind the deal: Electronic Arts has some successful franchises that cater to casual users (including The Sims), but many of its successful properties appeal to the hardcore crowd. This is problematic on mobile, where iOS’s top grossing apps are dominated by Angry Birds, Zynga, Pocket Gems, and other casual games. PopCap could help with that — their arsenal of games includes Bejeweled and Plants vs Zombies, each of which is a powerhouse in mobile and casual gaming.

It's rumored that EA is looking to spend over $1 billion on this deal. If the casual gaming market continues to grow, I would be shocked if this didn't pay off in the long run.

Is there any area of gaming that EA *doesn't* have it's fingers in?

AWESOME: Dragon Quest X a possible Wii U title?

Kotaku is running an interesting story right now - It seems SquareEnix is pondering releasing Dragon Quest X on both the Wii and Wii U:

Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada answered questions about the game at an investors' meeting today in Tokyo.

When asked if Dragon Quest X will be released on the Wii U, Wada reportedly replied, "We are thinking that we must release the game for both the Wii and Wii U. We're currently at the point of looking at how we can make it a Wii U launch title."

A move like this would ensure the Wii U sells like crazy in Japan from the get go (and if it's anything like Dragon Quest IX, it'll keep rpg fans busy for some time).

OFFICIAL: Star Fox 64 3D to hit retail 9/11/2011

According to Eurogamer:

The 3DS remake of Nintendo's classic Star Fox 64 barrel rolls into UK stores on 9th September.

That's two days before US gamers get it, but a couple of months after its 17th July Japan date.

I wonder why there's such a lag time between the Japanese release and the NA/EU release. My first reaction was that it may be due to localization, but it's a port of StarFox 64 which i figure already has localized scripts - so who knows. At least this gives me plenty of time to get through Zelda: OoT 3D.

VIDEO: Uncharted: Golden Abyss trailer!

Here's a fresh trailer for the upcoming PS Vita game, Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

Let's have a look!

Zelda: OoT 3D and other things

So Zelda: OoT 3D has been released at last - and I think it was worth the wait. I picked up my copy Sunday morning as my local Target opened (more on this later), and have been making my way through the early stages of the game. While the core game itself should hold no surprises for anyone who's played it in the past, the graphical and audio overhauls made to this title are very impressive (here is a link with some pictures comparing the original release to the 3DS release. pretty sweet, eh?)

The touch screen makes dealing with your inventory a snap (not to mention the persistent map - VERY handy). Basically this may be an old title, but if you own a 3DS this is a must-have.

Zelda: OoT 3D brings with it a small discussion about video game street dates. Prior to 6/19/2011, my local target had the game on the shelf with a price tag. When I saw this I thought to myself "my what good luck!", however I was denied the sale and the copies were pulled and set aside for the 19th.

However - I find it awful curious that my Target had a small handful of copies (5-7 if i remember correctly) prior to the Sunday release, but when it came to open on 6/19/2011 - they only had a single copy on the shelf. At the end of the day I got my copy, but I really feel bad for anyone who got to the store after me looking for a copy. It seems pretty clear to me that Target was willing to break the street date for it's employees, thus giving them first crack at the stock.

Oh well... onto the next Temple!

OFFICIAL: Wii U will not play DVD/BluRay

Direct from Nintendo - The Wii U will not support playback of DVD or BluRay disks.

Wii U does not have DVD or Blu-ray playback capabilities.

The reason for that is that we feel that enough people already have devices that are capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray, such that it didn't warrant the cost involved to build that functionality into the Wii U console because of the patents related to those technologies.

Makes perfect sense to me. Nintendo has always been out to create a game machine, not a home video player. Why bother with the added expense of licensing DVD and BluRay technologies when everyone should already have a device to do just that already?

VIDEO: Pokemon crossed with Street Fighter

As the video's title says - "This is how Pokemon should be". Let's take a look:

Wii U will not use friend codes!

Oh this is fantastic news - MTV has the story:

Blunt was on hand at E3, demonstrating "Ghost Recon Online" for the Wii U. The game is definitely focused on the multiplayer experience, so I asked him why he thought the Wii U would be a good fit, since Nintendo consoles traditionally aren't very online capable.

There's a few things on that. The first is the ability for individuals to make accounts. Rather than a machine having an account, each individual user has an account."

So I asked him, "Equivilent to a gamertag on Xbox Live?" "Yeah, exactly," he said.

He continued, saying that friend codes are no longer required for adding friends:

"Also the ability to easily find friends. Rather than using friend codes, which we've had in the past, we're able to connect players in a much easier way, which allows us to have a community that's playing together in the game."

This is fantastic news!

VIDEO: Forza Motorsports 4 E3 2011 trailer

Oh hell yes! My 2nd favorite "CarPG" is back this October!

FACEPALM: Sony may never know what hackers stole

Wow, great timing. Everyone is hyped and distracted by E3, and Sony lets this slip ... Kotaku has the full story, but here's the important bit:

"We do know that the information was accessed," Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai said in an recent BBC interview. "We don't know what part of the accounts were taken from our servers." The hackers might have stolen first names or just the last four digits of telephone numbers.

"It could be the entire account information," Hirai added. "We just don't know."

That's not all Sony doesn't know. Hirai said that the intruders were "very good" at covering their tracks on their way out of Sony's servers.

Ugh.

VIDEO: Dark Souls E3 2011 trailer

Hadn't heard of this game till now - but here's the E3 trailer for the upcoming RPG, Dark Souls:

VIDEO: Mario Party 9 E3 2011 trailer

Oh good, it looks like Mario APrty 9 (unlike 8) will actually have a proper 16:9 mode!

VIDEO: Animal Crossing (3DS) E3 2011 trailer

Here's the E3 trailer for the latest entry in the Animal Crossing series for the 3DS.

Dear Nintendo - If this title doesn't leverage the 3DS' online capabilities, there will be many angry fans. That said... I think my wife suddenly needs a 3DS.

VIDEO: Armored Core V E3 2011 trailer!

Here's the E3 trailer for the upcoming Armored Core V. Who doesn't enjoy some crazy Mech action?



Too bad we're not seeing any gameplay here, but I do hope this has some sweet online modes. I'll be watching this one very closely!

VIDEO: Awesomenauts E3 2011 trailer

Ok, with a name like Awesomenauts, how could I NOT share this with you all?



This looks like an attempt to cater to my nostalgia for 80s video games and cartoons... and I wish to know more!

VIDEO: Zelda Wii U Tech Demo

To be crystal clear - this is only a tech demo. Nintendo has not as of yet announced a Zelda title for the Wii U. This video clip is only to demonstrate how powerful the Wii U is and it's potential with a Zelda title.

Let's have a look!

VIDEO: Super Mario (3DS) E3 2011 trailer!

This cannot come out soon enough!



I love it - looks like a hybrid of old school and new school Mario. Graphically it looks to me to be on par with Super Mario Galaxy - which i think is amazing!

VIDEO: Hitman: Absolution E3 2011 trailer

Agent 47 returns!

VIDEO: Sonic Generations E3 2011 Trailer

Here's the latest trailer for Sonic Generations. I'm trying to avoid getting sucked into the so-called "Sonic Cycle", but let's have a look anyway:



Please please don't suck...

VIDEO: Killer Freaks from Outer Space debut trailer!

Here's the debut trailer for the Wii U exclusive title form Ubisoft, Killer Freaks from Outer Space:



I'm assuming this is not in-game footage.

VIDEO: Street Fighter X Tekken E3 2011 Trailer

Here's the latest Street Fighter X Tekken trailer from E3!

E3 2011: Nintendo Press Conference Digest

So let's get the big news out of the way - What was known as "Project Cafe" is officially the Wii U. Nintendo has created a high definition, online enabled home console with yet another innovation in terms of how the player controls the system. The Wii U uses an almost tablet style controller with a 16:9 high def touch screen square in the middle (surrounded by classic style controls). As was rumored, Wii U is fully backwards compatible with all existing Wii software and peripherals (Wiimotes, Wii Balance Board, etc).

Now aside from the very pleasing HD graphics, the Wii U will actually allow you to play games via the Wii U tablet controller - thus allowing you to enjoy your gaming anywhere in your home with or without a TV. The example Nintendo gave of one person wanting to game while the other wants to watch a baseball game really hit home for me in particular. As anyone with a significant other can attest, sometimes you just gotta let them watch American Idol - but with the Wii U there will be no reason to fall back on a portable gaming system to get your gaming fix. I mean seriously - you're at home, why should you "settle" for a portable system?

The tech and graphical demos that were shown were impressive for such early code. To the casual outsider, this first pass may not look any more impressive than any current PS3 or 360 game, but one must remember that the developers are just now learning to code for this system. As time goes on I expect the Wii U to easily surpass the 360 and the PS3 graphically (it's also rumored that the Wii U has 1.5gigs of RAM on board, compared to the 512 in the 360 and PS3 - so that's a clear edge). The Wii U will hit retail in 2012.

In any case, let's talk about the rest of Nintendo's press event!

To kick things off, Nintendo presented a Legend of Zelda retrospective to celebrate the game's 25th Anniversary. Clips of every Zelda title were shown (except those terrible CDi games thank goodness...) leading up to some new footage of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Wii. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary, Nintendo announced there would be Zelda titles for each platform, starting off with Link's Awakening DX being immediately available for purchase on the 3DS eShop. We were then reminded (as if we needed to be!) that Zelda: OoT 3D would hit retail next week for the 3DS. Nintendo also announced a free DSiWare version of Zelda: Four Swords to be released in September. Skyward Sword is set for release This holiday season, and a gold Wiimote will be available alongside Skyward Sword.

Nintendo also announced that there would be 25th Anniversary symphonic concerts in each reagon to celebrate. The final bit of Zelda news was that the OoT soundtrack would be given as a gift to Club Nintendo members who register their purchase early.

At this point, Nintendo shifted into 3DS mode, giving us a montage of titles along with short descriptions. For the most part, the 3DS titles were nothing surprising, except one - Luigi's Mansion 2! Mario Kart, Super Mario, Kid Icarus and Star Fox were also shown in detail.

Mario Kart will hit retail this Holiday season, while Star Fox 64 3D is set for release in September. Nintendo got a bit vague with the release dates for Super Mario and Kid Icarus (end of/later this year).

Nintendo went on to announced Ace Combat 3D, Tetris, Resident Evil Revelations, and Driver Renegade for the 3DS, along with reminding us about Cave Story 3D and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D.

Demos for 3DS software will be coming to the eShop (horray!)

Nintendo then shifted gears, and focused on Wii U and it's software. It was announced that a Super Smash Bros title was in the works for both Wii U and the 3DS, and that both titles would somehow work together. New Super Mario Bros. Mii was also demonstrated (Think New Super Mario Bros Wii, with the ability to use your Mii as characters).

Some other titles shown and mentioned include:

- Lego City Stories
- Darksiders 2
- Batman: Arkham City
- Ghost Recon Online
- Assassin's Creed
- EA Sports titles
- Aliens: Colonial Marines(!!!!!!!!)
- Tekken(!!!!)
- Ninja Gaiden 3(!!!!!!!)

...and this is "just the first pass"

Anyone else on nerd overdrive yet?!

HOLY CRAP: Battlefeild 3 E3 trailer

My jaw dropped when i saw this:



MW3 is going to have some stiff competition!

VIDEO: Sly Cooper is back! Sly Cooper: Theives in Time E3 trailer!

After a long break, Sly Cooper is back and headed to the PS3. Here's the trailer:

HURRY UP AND TAKE MY MONEY: StarHawk E3 trailer

Day 1 purchase for me - no doubt about that. I really loved WarHawk and cannot wait to sink many hours into StarHawk.

VIDEO: Bioshock Infinite E3 trailer!

Here's that impressive BioShock Infinite trailer from last night:



honestly, I wish they hadn't bothered with the BioShock name for this game - it seems so radically different than the prior titles.

VIDEO: Final Fantast XIII-2 E3 trailer

I really had a great time with Final Fantasy 13, so here's hoping SquareEnix has resolved the fan nitpicks for 13-2 to deliver us another amazing game:

VIDEO: Street fighter III Third Strike Online trailer!

Here's the E3 trailer for the upcoming Street Fighter III Third Strike remake:



Yes please!!!

VIDEO: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 gameplay footage

Here's that great MW3 footage from yesterday:

VIDEO: Dead Island E3 2011 trailer

Whoa, intense! This game just keeps looking better with each trailer that comes out.

HURRY UP AND TAKE MY MONEY: Ace Combat: Assault Horizon E3 Trailer

Looks like someone got a little Modern Warfare in my Ace Combat... Bring it on!!!!

E3 2011: Sony Press Conference Digest

Ok, in the interest of full disclosure, I was not thrilled with Sony's E3 press event being held at the same time as my beloved Bruins were playing Game 3 of the Stanley Cup. But thanks to modern technology, I was able to watch the live internet stream while cheering for the Bruins.

Right off the bat it's worth mentioning Sony Computer Entertainment's Jack Tretton got up in front of everyone at E3 and personally apologized for the PSN outage. Here's what he had to say to gamers like you and I:

To PS3 players, Tretton said, "You are the lifeblood of the company. Without you there is no PlayStation. And I want to apologize personally and on behalf of the company for any anxiety we've caused.

"I know we've taken you away from what you really enjoy doing," said Tretton. "It's you who cause us to be humble and amazed at the amount of support you give to the PlayStation brand."

Moving on from that, there werent many surprised in terms of games from Sony, but the biggest news was the official naming of the NGP - It's PSVita as was rumored not so long ago. While the name hasn't really settled with me yet, the $249 price tag has. Way to go Sony - seriously. This is going to result in an impressive generation of handheld gaming with both major players priced at $249 for wifi only devices. Honestly I am not interested in the 3G PSVita as AT&T already gets enough out of my paycheck every month as it is. I was convinced this system wouldn't retail for less than $399, and I am happy to eat crow.

The other big hardware announcement was a PlayStation branded 24inch 3DTV that is said to make the entry into 3D quite a bit more affordable. I look forward to seeing the retail price for this unit, as I'm in the market for a bedroom HDTV. Sony also announced matching active shutter glasses for this set (and for any 3dTV that supports those style of glasses), again said to have a good price point to make it easy to get into 3D.

Sony announced a new God of War collection - God of War Origins - which are PS3 ports of the PSP GOW games. This is most welcome - more Kratos is ALWAYS a good thing. Sony also mentioned the US release of the Ico/Shadow of the Colossus HD pack - both collections will hit retail in September. ("Hurry up and take my money!")

The people behind EVE Online announced it's shooter title Dust 514 would be a PS3 exclusive and somehow tie into the existing MMO game. To be blunt, this game didn't seem to bring anything new to the table based on the footage we saw, but I will keep my eye on this to see what is in store.

Irrational Games then hit the stage to show off a gameplay trailer for Bioshock Infinite and to announce a Bioshock title was coming to the PSVita. It was also announced that the original Bioshock would be included on the Bioshock Infinite disk for PS3.

Was it me or did it seem like the PSVita was getting party/cross game chat? I do hope that if this is the case we also get this long-overdue functionality on the PS3.

(Up next - Nintendo!)

VIDEO: Halo 4 teaser

And here's the Halo 4 teaser!

E3 2011: Microsoft Press Conference Digest

Wow, Microsoft really seemed to have something for everyone at their E3 press event!

To kick things off, we were treated to some in-depth live gameplay of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. This looked rather good, and if you've played any recent COD title you know what to expect, but that submarine level they played looked flat out CRAZY! I know this is a redundant statement, but I am really excited for MW3.

Next up, Microsoft showed us the first ever gameplay footage from the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot. Tomb Raider lost my interest many years ago, so I was very pleased with the direction the new Tomb Raider is taking. Clearly there's been some influence by the Uncharted series, as well as less focus on Lara Croft as a sex symbol.

From this point, Microsoft was sharing with us the future of Kinect with lots of "core" titles with interesting Kinect support. First up was Mass Effect 3, which allows you to speak your dialog choices instead of inputting them via the control pad. Then we got a look at the upcoming Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (Gears of Recon anyone?) - which seems to have had quite a bit work done since last year. After seeing GR:FS in action, it's become a must-have for me. It was announced at this point that all future Tom Clancy games will have Kinect support in some way.

Next, Microsoft shared with us whats to come with the Xbox 360's system software and additional apps. The 360 UI is getting a slight overhaul that really reminds me of Windows Mobile 7. Microsoft also informed us that YouTube and Bing search would be coming to the 360. I'm very excited for this YouTube support as it will provide me with easy means to view YouTube on my TV. I'm not so excited for Bing, as I can't imagine a situation where I'll need to do an internet search on my 360, but hey, whatever!

UFC events will also be coming to Xbox Live. I am unsure if this will be live current events or a back catalog of on-demand events, but it should be rather fun for the UFC/MMA fans out there.

From here Microsoft announced that the rest of the titles shown were Xbox 360 exclusives. They kicked this part off with an on-stage demo of Gears of War 3 co-op.... with Ice-T on hand! Body Count is reuniting and has done some music for Gears of War 3. CryTek then hit the stage and showed off a new title called Ryse. This will be a title to keep your eyes on for sure. Then a most welcome title was show - Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary - the long rumored High Def revamp of the original Halo. They've redone the entire game and added Xbox Live support for multiplayer AND co-op! While this is a 10 year old title, I won't be shocked when it sells like crazy in November. My guess is it will be an XBLA title.

Next, Forza 4 was demonstrated, with Kinect support. Turn 10 really impresses me with how quickly they produce quality work. Forza 4 will be a must-have for me. A new Fable title was then show - Fable: The Journey. It's an on-rails first person adventure game that uses Kinect.

After all this - out of nowhere it was announced that the indie darling of the PC gaming world, Mincraft, was coming to the 360 with Kinect support. I have a feeling Mincraft is about to go mainstream in a big way! Next up was Kinect Disneyland Adventures, which has a very detailed rendition of the amusement park and a VERY Disney art style.

At last, we got a good look at the Kinect Star Wars title. As a Star Wars fanboy my interest in piqued, and I look forward to trying this game in person.

The next few titles were very family friendly - Once Upon a Monster (Seasame Street Kinect title), Kinect Fun Labs (which is live *now*), Kinect Sports Season 2, and Harmonix's bgi game this year, Dance Central 2.

However... the very last title Microsoft showed off may have been the biggest...

Halo 4!

We were only shown a quick teaser and no actual gameplay, but I know this has many of you beyond excited. I hope 383 is up to the task, this is one of the biggest names on Xbox and the fans will not settle for anything less than awesome.

So there you have it, my digest of Microsoft's press conference. Up next is Sony and Nintendo!

OOPS: Microsoft's US E3 site outs Halo 4, Halo HD

According to VG247:

Big oops. Xbox US’s E3 site just outed Halo 4, as well as a ton of other titles.

Dance Central 2, Halo: Combat Evolved HD and more are listed.

It's E3 week!

Excited yet?! I know I am.

Please do not be surprised at an influx of posts regarding the latest news from E3. We've got Microsoft and Sony press conferences today (and the 3DS eShop update tonight), and Nintendo's press conference tomorrow.

It's like video game christmas!

WOOT: PlayStation Welcome Back package available now!

Sony just sent out this update:

Today, we’re excited to launch the Welcome Back program to thank you for your loyalty, and below, we’ve got what you need in order to get access to the included content. So, here’s a list of questions about the program. If you don’t see your question below, mention it in the comments and we’ll do our best to provide an answer. Thanks again for your patience and understanding as we restored the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services – your support has meant a lot to us and is greatly appreciated.

What are YOU planning to grab?!

VIDEO: NeverDead E3 2011 trailer

Wow, this one sort of came out of nowhere - but here's the E3 trailer from Konami's upcoming 3rd person action/horror title NeverDead:



Looks to me like Konami is taking a hint from Western developers. I also really appreciate an English language trailer with Japanese subtitles (for once!). Nice work Konami, I can't wait to see more.

VIDEO: XCOM E3 2011 trailer!

Wow, lots of fresh videos to share this morning! Here's the E3 trailer for the upcoming revamp of XCOM. Let's take a look:



I have a feeling this will be the sort of title that people will either love, or hate based on if they've played the originals or not. I must say, the trailer certainly has caught my attention!

VIDEO: Ico/Shadow of the Colossus HD trailer!

Here's the Japanese trailer for the HD revamps of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus:



If you've missed out on these titles on the PS2, this will be a great opportunity to experience these amazing games. I am looking forward to a US release date!

VIDEO: Tomb Raider "Turning Point" Trailer

Hot off the presses, here is the new trailer for the upcoming Tomb Raider reboot. Let's have a look:



I'm sad at the lack of any proper gameplay footage, but the entire mood of the trailer makes me think there's been some heavy influence from the likes of Uncharted.
I hope we learn more at E3!

VIDEO: Alice: Madness Returns Launch Trailer!

I've been waiting to see more about this title! Let's have a look:



The original game was rather twisted, and I loved it. Alice: Madness Returns hits June 14th.

VIDEO: Duke Nukem Forever Launch Trailer!

Here's the latest trailer for this month's Duke Nukem Forever (kinda feels weird to be typing that, eh?)

Anyway, let's have a look:



Fingers are crossed this isn't just a rad looking trailer, and this game actually ends up being solid.

PlayStation Store is back, but with a catch...

At last! Er wait... no Welcome Back package yet? They need to "test" content? This makes no sense. Here's the word from Sony:

The PlayStation Store is back online and thank you everyone for your patience. You will notice a huge lineup of new downloadable games, demos, add-on content, themes, avatars and videos. Also, PlayStation Plus has been updated with new full game trials, free games and DLC, free avatars and even more discounts.

You may have noticed that the content promised as part of the Welcome Back offer is not yet live. It is currently in the final stages of testing and will be available to download soon; we’ll be sure to let you know when.

VIDEO: Seg'a Aliens: Colonial Marines - FIRST TRAILER!

At last! Our first look at the upcoming Aliens: Colonial Marines from Sega:



Oh yeah, that's the ticket. I am a huge Alien fanboy, and have been waiting for any news of this game. This teaser really nails the look and feel of Aliens, and I have very high hopes for this title. The fact that Gearbox is involved with this leads me to think we're going to be in for one hell of a treat.

Here's Sega's press release:

SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA of America, Inc. today announced that the highly-anticipated first-person shooter, Aliens: Colonial Marines™, will be launching in spring 2012 on PC, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. In partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and developed by critically acclaimed studio Gearbox Software, Aliens: Colonial Marines will bring new levels of bone-chilling suspense and adrenaline-filled action to the renowned franchise. The game pits players against the universe’s ultimate alien killing machines, the Xenomorphs, in claustrophobic environments guaranteed to produce blood curdling thrills that the movie is renowned for. A first look of the game is presented in the South Hall at SEGA’s booth #2023, at this week’s E3 in Los Angeles.

“To Gearbox Software and its peers throughout the industry, ALIENS is one of the most influential science fiction properties of all time,” said Randy Pitchford, President of Gearbox Software. “Aliens: Colonial Marines, designed as an interactive successor to the landmark films from Twentieth Century Fox, is a dream project about which our studio is deeply committed and passionate.”

“Aliens: Colonial Marines will be THE definitive ALIENS gaming experience,” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA of America. “Gearbox Software are doing a brilliant job translating the thrill and horror that ALIENS stands for into an action-packed shooter experience with co-operative gameplay at its core.”

Gary Rosenfeld, Senior Vice President of New Media for Fox Consumer Products added, “It’s no easy task to take on one of the most influential films of all-time, but SEGA and Gearbox are not going to disappoint. This game will be a must-have for fans of the ALIENS franchise and gamers around the globe.”

Aliens: Colonial Marines begins with an ostensibly abandoned ship, the U.S.S. Sulaco, recovered in orbit around LV-426. Players lead a group of highly trained United States Colonial Marines as they board the deserted craft to uncover the fate of the crew. They will have to fight to survive unspeakable horrors and their own anxieties as they chase down the truth behind a galaxy-spanning deception that places humanity at the mercy of the most murderous and deadly species in the universe. Aliens: Colonial Marines features authentic environments, such as the surface of LV-426 and Hadley’s Hope, weapons inspired by the film series and is designed to provide an exhilarating and engaging new chapter in the Aliens universe.

Aliens: Colonial Marines will be available spring 2012 on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. The game is also on display in the South Hall at SEGA’s booth #2032, at this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

ALERT: PSN Maintenance today

Direct from Sony's Blog:

Starting soon, the PlayStation Network will be inaccessible for several hours for maintenance. The server maintenance performed at this time represents a crucial step in the full restoration for PSN, including the PlayStation Store.

During this maintenance period, users will be unable to sign in to PSN, though those that are already logged in should be able to remain online.

Resumption of full PlayStation Network service is still on track for this week in most regions.

Thank you once again for your patience as we work to return PSN to the highest level of service.

I've got my fingers crossed the PlayStation Store will return as a result of this.

WOOT: Carmageddon: Reincarnation

Well it's official - Carmageddon will return! Here's what Kotaku has to say:

Vintage car combat series Carmageddon is making a comeback, with original developers Stainless Games having quietly re-acquired the rights to its old property.

The new game is called Carmageddon: Reincarnation, and will be a downloadable title due sometime next year. No platforms or any more tangible information are available than that.

No platforms were announced, but I'd guess this will be an XBLA/PSN title. Can't wait!!!

VIDEO: Forza 4 Kinect head tracking demo!

Here's a quick video with a demonstration of how the head tracking in Forza 4 will work with Kinect:



This is really cool - but not "run out and spend $150 on Kinect" cool in my opinion. It will be interesting to see what Kinect has to offer for the hard core gamers at E3 this year.