Now, before you read this I suggest you go down below and watch that video because if you read this beforehand nothing will make sense. Grasshopper Manufacture’s Diabolical Pitch looks like it is going to be a baseball and fighting hybrid of some sort where players will use the Kinect and act as if they were a baseball pitcher, but rather than throwing strikes at a batter you are going to be throwing strikes to creatures faces.
The trailer shows two player co-op as well as special finishing moves of some kind. Now only problem is that once you finish playing the game you may need to go ice your shoulder just like a real baseball pitcher would after playing a game!
A healthy modding community is something that only the PC market can tout. Any large release that has an openly modifiable code is usually given mods of some kind either to help out the graphics, add in more gameplay modes or put a players own twist on the game. It seems that Valve has been paying attention to modders because they have teamed up with the creators of the “Gun Game” mod and created Arsenal mode for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
In the Gun Game mod, players will get one gun and gain access to stronger weapons as they gain kills (exactly like Black Ops). The Arsenal modes will be called Arms Race and Demolition and contain many things from the Gun Game mod, but they unfortunately have not been detailed at this pint.
It seems that it is a good thing that Japan was given the release for Dark Souls a few weeks ahead of the rest of the world. While gamers in the West will have to wait until October 4th to play the spiritual sequel to Demon’s Souls, Japanese gamers received the game today and unfortunately there are a few problems with the title, including a number of freezing issues.
From Software has suspended any online play at the moment and asked players to play offline while they work on the issue. Dark Souls has a rather interesting online mechanic where players can see others’ ghosts and blood stains from where they died. While the issue is being fixed for Japan, hopefully the problem will be addressed in the Western release as well. The only thing is that Japan only received a PlayStation 3 release of the title while Westerners will get both a PS3 and 360 version. Let us hope that both versions are patched and ready by October 4th.
Kinectimals was one of the more successful Kinect launch titles, as it not only appealed to young children but also adults who loved small fluffy animals. Microsoft is hoping to capitalize on this fact by releasing Kinectimals Now With Bears on October 11th and they have chose to partner with one of the most iconic bear makers, Build-A-Bear.
Four collectible bears will be available, but the only way that they can be unlocked is to purchase an $18 doll from a Build-A-Bear Workshop to then scan into your Xbox 360 game with the Kinect. This can be a double purchase for parents, as not only do they give their children a new stuffed animal to cuddle but also can play with their teddy bear on the game as well. Though it may be a pain to their wallets.
Star Fox 64 3D was released earlier this month and was widely accepted as being a great representation of what the game was back in the day. However it may have been a bit true to past games, because it still didn’t have an online mode despite a multiplayer section basically begging for it. It seems that Nintendo chose not to include multiplayer for some rather ridiculous reasons.
Speaking with the Official Nintendo Magazine Nintendo representative Yusuke Amano revealed Nintendo’s reasoning which has to be pretty horrible sounding, basically admitting to releasing a rushed title so that they could show off “the appeal of the Nintendo 3DS as quickly as possible.” Read the full explanation below.
“Just making multiplayer parts of existing games playable online isn’t enough to create a satisfying experience for users. The popular online games work in lots of things, so they play well online – and if we wanted to satisfy everyone who bought the game, the costs required for including online support would be vast.
For this project what we needed to do was use Star Fox to provide users with a game that shows the appeal of Nintendo 3DS as quickly as possible. We put a lot of effort into the graphics, and if we had included online support then we couldn’t have reached this level in the time allowed.”
So Nintendo has decided that they should release the game as quickly as possible, despite not including a mode which would have delighted many gamers and truly extend the life of the title. Sure Nintendo may wish that everyone and their friends had a 3DS, but local multiplayer may as well have made playing against other people a non-existant thing.
It seems like Microsoft has grown rather fond of their season pass now that they have released Gears of War 3. Another Xbox 360 exclusive, Forza Motorsport 4 will also be sporting such a pass which will provide a one time purchase for upcoming DLC that year. Turn 10 studios announced today that the season pass will cost $29.99 which will provide access to all six DLC packages that will be released for the title in the next year.
The cost is 33% less than what one would pay if they bought all packages separately, plus you will receive the American Muscle car pack as a bonus on launch day. The packages have not been detailed but they will most likely many any car lover rev their engine in excitement. The DLC will is set to be released between November 2011 and April 2012 so perhaps should start deciding whether or not this season pass is for you.
It seems that Sony has decided to step into the ring with its own timed exclusive support now. Sony and EA have arranged to have any Battlefield 3 DLC arrive on the PlayStation 3 before any other console similar to what Microsoft and Activision have worked out for Call of Duty DLC. However unlike Microsoft’s exclusivity, the Battlefield 3 expansions will only be exclusive to the PS3 for a week instead of a month.
This promotion will start with the “Back to Karkand” DLC that will launch later this year and include four maps from Battlefield 2. Of course if you buy your copy during the game’s first release period then you will have access to this DLC for free regardless.
Blizzard has been teasing a possible Diablo release on consoles for a very long time and today is no different it seems. Blizzard may not be ready for an announcement of any kind, nor are they willing to confirm anything it seems but game director Jay Wilson has had a bit of experience with Diablo 3 using a console controller.
Speaking with PC Gamer, Wilson revealed that the company has been holding experiments because the team seems to “feel that the controls and the style of the game lend itself to a console.” Things seem to have done well because the tests have been successful. “With some of our early experiments in putting a direct control scheme into the game via a 360-like analogue controller, I’ve been ‘Oh this feels even better, with direct control…'”
Of course there is still no confirmation, and in fact Blizzard may not even have gamepad support or anything similar to that when Diablo 3 is released on PC admits Wilson. Even if it is accepted at some point he says that “initially with release I don’t think we’ll be ready.”
Yesterday XSEED began teasing their Twitter followers about a new project that they were working on and would be releasing in the near future. Once the hints began piling up, many people began making relatively accurate guesses it seems because XSEED has revealed that they are working on bringing Vanillaware’s RPG Grand Knights History to the PlayStation Portable in North America.
Grand Knights History is a turn-based RPG from the makers of Odin Sphere and contains hand drawn colorful graphics. Players will enter the world of Listia where three lands are battling against one another. The lands of Union, Avalon and Logres have long been at odds and you will take the role of a captain that must pick a side and fight for what you wish to.
When Grand Knights History is released it will be on both UMD and PSN download this Winter. European gamers will also be getting the title, except rather than XSEED publishing the title there it will be handled by Rising Star Games.
Hey peeps! The Poid Pipper is getting down and dirty with the latest Xbox Live newsbeat. Let’s take a look at the spotlights for Sept. 20 – Oct. 3.
Gears of War 3
Partnering with the U.S. Air Force for the release of Gears of War 3, Microsoft announced that Sept. 20 – Sept. 26 is “Golden Wings Week”. By playing any match online for this limited duration may result in unlocking the Golden Lancer or Golden Hammerburst weapon for online play. I want a golden weapon…
FIFA 12
I am not normally a fan of soccer games, but FIFA 11 was incredible. So the anticipation for FIFA 12’s release on Sept. 27 is building up. The developers changed to a “Player Impact Engine” that ensures each action to have real-world physicality. Beyond the physics, the online play will make for an interesting twist. Being able to develop your own team franchise by buying, selling, and trading players online opens the door wide open for possibilities.
Now that the spotlights burned your retinas, here are the new releases for the Xbox Box Live Arcade:
Game
Release Date
Microsoft Points
Burnout Crash (Electronic Arts)
September 21
800
Rotastic (Focus Home Interactive)
September 21
800
Mercury Hg (Ignition)
September 28
400
MLB Bobblehead Baseball Battle (Konami)
September 28
800
And for Game Add-Ons:
Game Add-On
Release Date
Microsoft Points
Fallout: New Vegas Lonesome Road (Bethesda Softworks)
September 20
800
Dance Central songs (Harmonix)
The Pussycat Dolls ft. Busta Rhymes, “Don’t Cha”
Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson and D.O.E., “The Way I Are”
Rupee, “Tempted to Touch”
September 20
240 (each)
Cannot forget the DEALS of the WEEK!
Game
Duration
Microsoft Points
Gyromancer (Square Enix)
September 20 – September 26
600 (50% off)
Portal: Still Alive (Microsoft Studios)
September 20 – September 26
600 (50% off)
Bejeweled Blitz LIVE (PopCap Games, Inc.)
September 20 – September 26
200 (50% off)
Ilomilo (Microsoft Studios)
September 20 – September 26
400 (50% off)
That’s all for Vol. 37. This is The Poid Pipper bidding you all adieu!
