Console Gaming, Handheld Gaming

Press Release from Chillingo Press

Dracula – Undead Awakening is an addictive top-down shooter. Players control a grizzled Hunter of the Undead who chooses weapons and abilities, and then battles legions of undead foes including zombies, ghouls, werewolves and more. An arsenal of jaw-dropping powerful weaponry can be unlocked including such as Machine Guns, Buzz-Saws and Flamethrowers. Players can even earn upgrades for their weaponry and unique new perks for their character, all while their gruesome enemies increase in number and ferocity.

The Hunter of the Undead is a tough customer but players must beware – Lord Dracula is always on the hunt and looking for prey! Gory in-game action can be seen in this action-packed gameplay trailer. The full image asset pack is available here

Dracula – Undead Awakening is available now in all territories. The WiiWare version costs just 1,000 Nintendo Wii points, while the DSiWare version is priced at 500 Nintendo DSi points.

Dracula – Undead Awakening Nintendo Channel Links
-        USA: WiiWare, DSiWare
-        Canada: WiiWare, DSiWare
-        UK: WiiWare, DSiWare
-        Australia and New Zealand: WiiWare, DSiWare
-        Belgium (French): WiiWare, DSiWare
-        Belgium (Dutch): WiiWare, DSiWare
-        Germany: WiiWare, DSiWare
-        Spain: WiiWare, DSiWare
-        France: WiiWare, DSiWare
-        Italy: WiiWare, DSiWare
-        Netherlands: WiiWare, DSiWare
-        Portugal: WiiWare, DSiWare

Dracula – Undead Awakening for WiiWare and DSiWare has been developed by Abstraction Games and is published by Chillingo.

Industry News

Last February 17 Blizzard has finally announced the close beta testing for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. More than a week after its release we find beta keys being sold on Ebay for a whopping $400. I mean come on, we’ve always waited for this to come but such amount is too much. I don’t know what’s gotten into these Ebay sellers but I’m not buying any of that crap. Besides, $400 bucks is better enjoyed with a game perfectly done and bug-free.

Console Gaming, Previews, Video

Doctor Naomi Kimishima

Those of you who’ve played Trauma Center: Second Opinion may remember this woman as Dr. Nozomi Weaver, aka Dr. Naomi Kimishima. Thing is, only her name and general appearance have remained constant over time–in Trauma Team, almost everything else about her is different.

Word has it that the good doctor has been stricken with an incurable disease. She has since given up her medical practice to focus exclusively on forensic science. Instead of working to save the living, she now solves mysteries involving the dead.

Perhaps her time spent with cadavers has turned her into a shadow of her former self.  Nevertheless, I’m tempted to believe that the original compassionate doctor is still buried within her cold, hard shell, simply disguised by layers of melancholy and despondence.  Take a look at this video to see what I mean.

As the point of Trauma Team involves saving virtual lives, do you think we’ll ever get the chance to save Dr. Kimishima’s life? I’m betting we will. She was, after all, one of the few wunderdoctors who never went under the knife back in Second Opinion. One good turn deserves another, so perhaps her acts of kindness and compassion will finally come ’round to help her out this time.

Atlus’ projected Trauma Team release date is May 18, 2010. Rest assured I’ll be keeping tabs on Dr. Kimishima’s fate after I pick the game up.

Industry News

The Return!

Start prepping up all those Pokeballs. Nintendo has quietly leaked out the release dates of the English version of the multimillion-selling Pokemon Heart Gold and SoulSilver. While these are essentially old games, the remake of Pokemon Gold and Pokemon Silver will surely be gobbled up by millions of young boys and girls. As an incentive for people purchasing these Pokemon rehashes, a pedometer-like device called The PokeWalker will be bundled with the game. Expect a riot on March 14, 2010.

Dead or Alive 5 going PS3

Ever since the release of Dead or Alive 4 on the XBox 360, there has been absolutely zero news about a sequel. But things have changed as the rumors about a fifth Dead or Alive game has started spreading like wild fire. Nothing specific yet, but the rumors points to a possible PS3 release. We’re crossing our fingers on this one!

Time to Jam!

Gamers at least in their late twenties will remember a game called NBA Jam that totally spiced up the arcade scene. Electronic Arts has confirmed that it would indeed bring back the old game to life on the Nintendo Wii. Expect new game modes and characters.

For more information about the latest in the gaming world, get a copy of Game!’s February 2010 issue out now!

Gaming Events

SM Megamall’s Megtrade Hall 2 was loaded with gamers and animé enthusiasts as Otaku Expo kicked off last January 23-24, 2010.

As expected, the place was filled with cosplayers of different animé and gaming characters.

Aside from the cosplay competition, gaming tournaments were also held. Run Up Philippines held tournament for their game Luna Online. Crafting challenge, guild relay, and newbie package redemption were some of the activities they prepared. And who could miss the gorgeous Luna Girls?

And of course, the event will not be complete without the Otaku Maid Café, where food like sushi, crepees, parfaits, and croquettes were served. The Café also served a special Luna Online-inspired dessert buffet.

Okay, enough talk. I’ll just let the pictures do the talking.

Console Gaming

Capcom has announced some of the suprises that will come with the Super Street FIghter IV. Rumor has it that a total of 10 new challengers will be added up on to their roster. 

One of the confirmed additions is T. Hawk from SF II. Also , you’ll be seeing some friends form the street brawling game Final Fight. They are Cody and Guy. Coming from Street Fighter Alpha, Adon, the Muay Thai fighter will be making its way to the new Street Fighter game. Another is Juri, a Tae Kwon Do expert is going to be introduced for the first time.

MMORPG News

Issues ago, a very detailed TeamSpeak article focused on the differences between Free-To-Play (FTP) online games and Pay-To-Play (PTP) online games. By all means, I do agree for a fact that both forms of online gaming have its pros and cons, but these days, one particular notion has caught my attention.

While it is true that dealing with FTP games would more or less net you with encountering people bearing unfavorable attitudes (as the previous TeamSpeak article has mentioned), but these days (or even before), some people playing PTP online games can be utter douches.

Look no further than with the neverending World of Warcraft. Experiences may differ between people, but I can tell you firsthand, dealing with people in PTP games are no different, albeit similar, to dealing with FTP gamers.  Familiar with the internet trolling phenomenon? It’s a staple language in WoW, as much as being a jerk towards other people is a natural occurrence. Though some people may look at saying racial profanities online as a humorous thing and not to be taken seriously at times, it is still shocking to see things like this take place.

And let’s not forget about the superiority complex found in such games. End-game content is tough business indeed, so everyone has to get the best gear possible in order to succeed. The problem, however, is how elitist certain people can be. Let’s face it, people online, on a more or less basis, don’t exactly like noobs who have either low gear or lack of experience in dealing with dungeons. If anything, there are people with high gear who look down on people with low gear just because the latter may not have been lucky, too busy, or something else. And with that kind of thinking, expect to be blacklisted, be it within the game society or within your guild.

Of course PTP has positives, that goes without question, as much as FTP has as much. But PTP games have as much negatives as FTP has. In other words, it all depends on players’ perspectives. Everything has positives and negatives.

Console Gaming, Handheld Gaming

Everyone’s favorite chore simulator not called Animal Crossing lands itself a release date. November 10 is when Natsume’s bringing out their new Harvest Moon title, and here’s what the nice people at Natsume have to say about the game’s plot:

In Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands, players rejoin all of the beloved  characters from Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness, and meet some new  faces as well! Years ago, a powerful earthquake struck the Sunshine  Islands chain, and most of the islands sank forever…or did they?  It’s up to the player to find the magical Sun Stones and raise the  sunken islands. As they do, they’ll meet new characters, harvest new  crops, and befriend animals such as ducks, monkeys, and badgers.  Players will grow their farm, care for animals, mine, fish, and  compete in festivals in their quest to restore the Sunshine Islands to  their former glory. With a little luck, they may even find true love  and start a family along the way.

“Just in time for the holidays, Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands is a  wonderful game for players of all ages. You get to meet some great new  characters, train your pets in fun minigames, and grow a huge variety  of crops. It’s the best Harvest Moon yet!” said Hiro Maekawa,  President and CEO at Natsume. “Whether someone is new to the Harvest  Moon series, or a long-time fan, Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands is a  great game with tons to offer.”

Handheld Gaming

Due to incessant public demand, NIS America has announced that they will be releasing a limited run of the previously digital-distro only PSP release, Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! through online retailer RosenQueen.

NIS PR dude (dood?) Nao Zook chimes in, “We have received lots of emails from our fans about the UMD version of Badman, and we did a poll for it. Turned out, lots of people are still interested in Badman UMD. So we decided to support their needs. (And, we really REALLY wanted to make the UMD version of Badman, too!) We’ve decided to start the preorder, and if we get 1,000 orders we will go ahead and manufacture the UMD version of Badman. We are also trying to get support from retailers. If they support us, we’ll create the UMD even if the preorder doesn’t reach 1,000.”

I never got around to getting the PSN release (I did import the original Japanese title, however), so this upcoming UMD release is great news for folks like me who held out. And of course, great news overall for the boxed-copy brigade.

Console Gaming, Industry News

And we are back, with some more bits of news for you folks out there. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

SplitFish Announces Release Date for New FragFX Controller
SplitFish Ltd., will ship the much anticipated wireless version of their critically acclaimed FPS, PC crossover controller, the DUAL SFX FRAG PRO, in time to hit stores for Activision’s® CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 release. SPLITFISH first revealed this latest addition to its line of innovative controllers for PlayStation®3 to rave reviews at E3 and GAMESCON 2009, as part of SplitFish’s brand-new Frevolution X System to be available worldwide in fall 2009. SPLITFISH will have the new WIRELESS DUAL SFX FRAG PRO and the DUAL SFX EVOLUTION both in stores by end of NOVEMBER 2009.

The DUAL SFX FRAG PRO brings all the best of the dominating FRAGFXv2 mouse gaming design in a DUAL WIRELESS COMBO. The new controller showcases a 2000dpi customized gaming mouse and FREVO “Fragchuck” and functions as a full featured wireless PS3 and PC gaming controller with programmable button configurations and adjustable mouse aiming that provides unprecedented levels of accuracy. It improves upon the tremendously popular FragFX, adding a dual wireless rechargeable system to the intuitive controller and a new “FRAG CONTROL CENTER” utility to adjust button configurations and sensitivity and save individual game configurations. The ergonomic, 2000 DPI laser mouse provides PC-like accuracy and easy PS Home navigation, while the left-hand grip provides full SixAxis motion control and a whole slew of customization functions and other special performance features. Read the full story »