LucasArts' big farewell to game development continues this week with the release of terraforming actioner Fracture. Is it as exciting as a terraforming motorcycle? It is not. But if you're looking for action this week, it's pretty much the best you're going to do.
If you're a sports fan though, you've got a double dribble of b-ball action with NBA Live 2009 and NBA 2K9 (thank goodness they're in the same week too, because we just used up all of the basketball lingo at our disposal). Check out the full list after the break.
Let me begin by apologizing for the hasty nature of the announcement of my being chosen as the running mate for the honorable Weekly Webcomic Wrapup. What my fine, fellow feature lacks in clarity and eloquence, he more than makes up for with sheer enthusiasm. Perhaps this is why he, with wisdom acquired during his three years of publication, chose me as his running mate -- to balance his passion with my own levelheadedness. In that respect, I am more than glad to play the Abbot to his Costello, the Brain to his Pinky, and the Linnell to his Flansburgh.
With that bit of business out of the way, I'd like to talk to you about why you should support a WWW/JHS ticket for the office of King and Queen Vice-King of the Internets. As you know, the Internets is a big place that requires a great deal of regulation from its executive officers. While the current administration has adopted a laissez-faire approach to their prestigious post, our leadership would provide a much needed repaving of the information superhighway -- for starters, all domain names will be required to end with ".fun". Not only will it simplify the Internets navigation process, but it may just bring a smile to the face of the typical, hard-hearted Internets user.
Our other major platforms include:
Stronger punitive measures against the proliferation of Rick Astley songs
Energy conservation through the deactivation of the Internets at 11 p.m. every night
Free candy for supporters
So, when Election Day rolls around, won't you consider the benefits of a Weekly Webcomic Wrapup/Japanese Hardware Sales administration? Our change will be swift, our policies fair, and our candy delicious.
Readers currently residing in the United Kingdom -- your wait is over. At long last, you'll be able to experience one of 2007's best selling, most critically acclaimed titles -- Rockstar's controversial thriller, Manhunt 2. After being turned down by the British Board of Film Classification for its "unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone," a reworked, SFEurope version of the game will be launched in the UK for the Wii, PS2 and PSP on October 31. We know, we can barely contain our excitement either.
Sure, it may lack a few of the more grisly elements included in the inappropriate North American version, but if your hands are shaking with anticipation as you read this report -- as we're sure they are -- we imagine you'll be able to overlook a few omitted acts of power drill-related violence.
Take a chance on SingStar ABBA, helping Fernando hear the drums and Chiquitita tell you what's wrong, when it releases on Dec. 2 in North America. IGN reveals the PS3 version will include 25 songs for $40, while the PS2 will have 20 tracks for $30. The track lists can be found after the break.
Having recently confirmed his involvement with God of War's assuredly violent journey to the big (albeit considerably less interactive) screen, film director Brett Ratner is all set to combine his particular track record with the games-to-movie stigma and create the internet's greatest bitchfest. Not everyone's predicting a Greek tragedy, however, with God of War's creator, David Jaffe, earnestly informing us (via video, embedded after the break) that while the adaptation "could be shit," he's nevertheless satisfied with the pedigree of the director, as well as the producer (from Batman Begins!) and the writer, who penned the screenplay for Road to Perdition.
Mind you, he also says he liked X-Men 3, so perhaps he's just pulling our leg on the whole thing. That Jaffe is a rascal, we tell you!
After yesterday's announcement of the AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack, featuring all the tracks from the Live at the Donington album, Variety got a few more details from MTV's Paul DeGooyer. Most importantly, DeGooyer said the transfer can only be done once per disc, confirming initial indication of a download code printed on the game manual and expectedly void after use. Hear that gurgle? That's the collective sound of all those Blockbuster patrons' sinking hearts.
The Track Pack disc also lacks a character creator and has no online play, although you can use the AC/DC tracks online with RB1 and RB2. Unlike Guitar Hero Aerosmith, you will not be playing as the band. The good news is that all songs will be available immediately -- no need to wade through "Whole Lotta Rosie" to play "Heatseeker."
And if you're wondering whether or not "Thunderstruck" will be making a cameo on Guitar Hero: World Tour, DeGooyer said that AC/DC are exclusive to Rock Band "for a term" but provided no information on whether or not there will be future DLC from the band. The AC/DC Track Pack will be rocking and saluting in early November.
Update 2: The "Track Pack" has been confirmed by Harmonix and MTV Games and will be available exclusively at Walmart and Sam's Club beginning in November*. The AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will be available in the U.S. on Nov. 2nd for Xbox 360, PS3 and PS2 and on Nov. 16th for Wii. The disc will retail for $39.88 for Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii and $29.88 for PS2.
The AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will also be available at most major retailers in Europe, Australia and New Zealand in early December. All tracks from the disc will be available for play in Rock Band and Rock Band 2 by entering a special export authentication code for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.
*AC/DC's forthcoming album, Black Ice, will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club on Oct. 20th for $11.88, as well as on the band's website.
(Full track listing and original post after the break!)
"We can't condone people putting up covers of music. It's really there for original content." That's the word from Guitar Hero World Tour director Brian Bright, who's well aware that his upcoming game's music creator may also double as a copyright infringer. Speaking to 1UP, Bright explained that uploaded, custom-made tunes will be monitored by Activision and indiscriminately yanked should they contain any suspiciously familiar riffs.
"If there's a licensed song and someone holds the copyright to it, we'll take it down regardless of whether or not someone complains," added Bright. We sincerely hope this gives you pause before you decide to share your unoriginal, ill-advised rendition of "Motel" California with the rest of the world.
Guitar Hero World Tour and its 86 master tracks are out on October 26th.
So maybe this week doesn't quite provide the Horn of Plenty of Sept. 22. But it's a charming little week all the same, with a new Silent Hill game (made by dirty, clumsy gaijin hands) and the return of the Harvest Moon series with Tree of Tranquility.
If you're looking for something a bit more visceral you can get totally pumped for MK vs. DC with Mortal Kombat Kollection on the PS2. Check out the full list after the break.
No time for nonsense today, dearest readers. The regularly scheduled shenanigans must be sidelined this week for a much more important cause: Warhammer Online just finished patching, and we're jonesing to play it. Don't feel neglected, friends -- you still hold a very important place in our collective heart. Just, you know, not as important as the unignorable siren call of a brand new, potentially addictive MMO.
[Update: We apologize for the dismissive and frankly unprofessional tone of the above paragraph. We feel such blatant duty shirking doesn't accurately display the level of integrity and dedication to our readers that we strive for with each post -- even when those posts are as inconsequential and nonsensical as these weekly hardware sales charts.] [Update: Inconsequential, eh? We'll have you know that just last week, we received a lovely email from a reader who said that thanks to our hardware sales feature, she's found the courage to return to her job with her father's tuna fishing operation following the untimely tuna-devourment of her husband. She's even invited us to the christening of their newest commercial fishing vessel -- how's that for inconsequential?]
[Update: Beg our pardon. We meant no disrespect to what is surely our most valued demographic -- recently widowed tuna harvesters.]
[Update: Fine, bub. You think you can do better? You can finish the post, then.]
[Update: Gladly. Hey, the Xbox 360 outsold the PS3 for the second week in a row. Looks like Microsoft finally ... developed a ... strategy to ...]
[Update: Oh, that's great. Really -- absolutely hilarious. I wasn't aware that Ray Romano had joined our staff.]
Despite having her franchise rebooted a la Batman Begins, it saddens us to see acrobatic archeologist Lara Croft give in to her old, animal-killing habits. Sure, there's a modicum of guilty pleasure to be derived from watching her kick tigers in the face, but the above shark-slaying video simply lacks ... finesse. If watching the lithe leading lady go all Richard Dreyfuss on the wonders of the deep is something you find upsetting, we'd advise you to skip to the video after the break, where she runs around Mexico sticking poles in holes.
The PS2 Lego Batman bundle is now available, which was originally announced at E3 2008. The package will retail for $150 and includes the slim PS2 console with Lego Batman and Justice League: The New Frontier DVD.
Sure, many Bothans developers lost their livesjobs, but The Force Unleashed has gone on to sell 1.5 million units worldwide in less than a week, making it the fastest-selling Star Wars game of all time. The figures are based on the first five days of sales across all platforms the game is available on. LucasArts states it shipped more than 4.3 million copies of the game globally, but the demand now requires more units to be manufactured.
Suave super spy James Bond will live and let buy on November 4th, with the release of his Q-riously named movie tie-in, Quantum of Solace. Coming from Treyarch -- with love -- to every platform ever, the 007 shooter puts you in the potentially exploding shoes of the new(ish) franchise frontman, Daniel Craig, and tasks you with saving the world, swirling martinis and bedding duplicitous dames. Indeed, with the game featuring several flashbacks to Casino Royale, it seems someone definitely understood that our demands are for Eva.
Activision has also announced that those who pre-order the game from GameStop will receive a download token, redeemable for a forthcoming multiplayer map pack. In addition to "a variety of classic modes," Quantum of Solace will grant you a view to a team kill in several modes, including "Bond Versus," "Bond Evasion," and "Golden Gun." Note that this bonus applies to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions -- this isn't the spy who loved Wii.
Alright, no more idiotic puns and references. We've got to save some for next year, you know.
Let's just say that Rock Band was on its walkabout and that's why it will finally arrive in Australian stores on November 7. Gamespot reports the game will be sold the same way as the European version, with instruments and software offered separately. The good news is that the instruments plus software will only cost $250 AUD ($208), instead of the $300-something the Europeans had to shell out.
What about Rock Band 2? Oh, let's just not talk about that. The Europeans need to get their fix before EA can worry about the land down under, right?
Conduit, Mad World and more: All our hands-on impression from Nintendo Fall Media Summit 08
Joystiq at E for All, the highlights and lowlights
Nintendo officially unveils Nintendo DSi and online store, coming Nov 1 in Japan for $180
Nintendo DSi vs. PSP-3000 vs. iPod Touch, v1.0
Joyswag: The Video Games Live Album
Listen to the Joystiq podcast (because your ears can't read)
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After yesterday's announcement of the AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack, featuring all the tracks from the Live at the Donington album, Variety got a few more details from MTV's Paul DeGooyer. Most importantly, DeGooyer said the transfer can only be done once per disc, confirming initial indication of a download code printed on the game manual and expectedly void after use. Hear that gurgle? That's the collective sound of all those Blockbuster patrons' sinking hearts.
