Microsoft has decided to bring along some Black Friday fare for us to enjoy this week. Every day, a new item will be on sale, in addition to the regular Deal of the Week.* Keep checking the dashboard for the updates. Also, they are planning on some huge sales on Friday. Here is a list of the items announced so far. More deals will be added, so be sure to check every day.
Xbox Live Arcade
Madden NFL Arcade (400 Microsoft Points)
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition (400 MSP)
‘Splosion Man (160 MSP)
Trials HD (400 MSP)
Portal: Still Alive (400 MSP)
Xbox Originals
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (400 MSP)
Halo: Combat Evolved (400 MSP)
Zune movies
300 (380 MSP)
Cats and Dogs 2: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (720 MSP)
Clash of the Titans (720 MSP)
Sex and the City 2 (720 MSP)
Retail sales (Nov. 26-–29)
Fable 3 ($39.99 or less at participating retailers)
Halo: Reach ($39.99 or less at participating retailers)
*The deal of the week is Hasbro Family Game Night Titles.
Red Dead Redemption is releasing a disc based version of the Undead Nightmare pack. To celebrate, they are throwing a double XP party. Through the four days of the Thanksgiving Weekend, from 12:01AM Eastern this Thursday November 25th and going until 11:59 PM Eastern on Sunday November 28th, all online multiplayer activity will earn double the XP points. How exciting is that? Eat a turkey; kill a zombie turkey. Eat a turkey; kill a zombie bear. Eat a turkey; kill a zombie deer. Eat some pie; kill something or other…
Have you played the DLC pack yet? What do you think of it?
Now that we know Hyperdimension Neptunia will be heading to North American shores it is time to let out that breath you were holding in. Also it is time to take a sampling of some English translated screenshots of the game. NIS America has decided to show off a handful of English screenshots that they have ready for the game itself. There is also an in-depth detailing of the battle system which I will go over below.
The battle system is unique inside of Hyperdimension Neptunia, for it allows a customizable approach to battle. This is because players will be able to choose which skills they want to add to the various face buttons such as X, O, and triangle and then string together these various attacks into combination. But what this also means is that if the player happens to put together a four attack combination that combines certain skills together, it will create something known as a Skill Link that will do extra damage, more combination attacks and restore AP.
To quote from Ryan Phillips a little more in depth:
In other words, if you create a combo as X, X, O, O, with the final O using “Skill Link,” you will begin a new combo with O as the first command. Then, you can chain your second combo like, say O, X, X, X, with the final X using “Skill Link,” or another ability. One such ability is “Transform,” a mechanic allowing you to access a CPU’s HDD form (or Console Patron Unit’s Hard Drive Divinity form) at the end of a combo chain so the goddess characters can transform into their true forms for extra power and much… tighter… clothing. It comes in real handy against that boss who would otherwise own you, or those lonely nights on the couch. Hah!
There is also a different combo attack that will allow you to switch an active party member out with a character that is in reserve so that they will continue to attack afterwords, effectively switching out party members in mid battle. The more you level up the better your characters will be obviously with new abilities and attacks to be unlocked and provides an overall streamlined experience that fans will enjoy.
Beyond the battle system a little of the world we will be exploring was explained as well. Some we already knew, such as the fact that Neptune will meet Noire, Vert, and Blanc in the world of Gamindustri and that these girls will transform into Black/Green/White Heart when they turn into their goddess character forms. The various characters relate to different companies in the real world, with some more obvious than others in the end. We also hear about the main enemy known as Arfoire that is set on destroying Gamindustri.
Sounds like a lot of fun and I can’t wait to play it myself, you can read the full blog post over on Playstation Blog, and we are hoping to hear of a set release date sometime in the near future.
Of course that headline was obvious news, it is like saying a cat likes fish or a shark will eat you. Either way, Splatterhouse debuts tomorrow everywhere and is looking to bring back Rick and an insane amount of meaningless gore for your pleasure. I haven’t seen any advertisement from the title oddly enough outside of the internet, but I hope this sells as this property needs to be revived once and for all.
Even if you dislike the new game, it does come with the first three versions son the disc that is sure to revive some nostalgia of many of you retro folks out there. You can check out the new trailer below and then Splatterhouse itself when it hit shelves this week for the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Have you been following The Last Story hoping for a Western release date? Well you still will be waiting because unfortunately that isn’t what this news post is about. Instead we have some trailers that we have seen in the past. But one nice little addition is the fact that someone took the time to put some subtitles to go along with the Japanese dialogue.
Great news for those who do not know how to read or understand the Japanese story trailer. There is also a new gameplay oriented video that was recently released. I can’t wait for a Western release date, at least hope that there is one, because The Last Story definitely is looking like a great RPG to fill in the Wii’s barebone list of in-depth RPGs that don’t begin with the world Tales.
Remember a while back we told you about the two new colors that leaked out black Friday ads out of Sears? Well Nintendo is just now ready to announce that these colors are officially launching in the U.S. for Black Friday and will be available “while supplies last”. The orange (which I mistook as red) and green DSi systems will both come bundled with Mario Party and join the line along with the other releases such as the new Red DSi XL and Wii which were launched in support of Mario’s 25 anniversary.
For those who are obsessive about having a better color for their DSi or just have not upgraded yet, this price-point is a perfect excuse and you even get Mario Party as a free bonus. I am a bit curious if any more colors will be launching before the 3DS debuts next year, like maybe a matte DSi XL, but I guess we will just have to wait and see what Nintendo has next for consumers out there.For more information about Nintendo DSi, visit http://www.nintendodsi.com.
Now over the time period that you have played on Call of Duty: Black Ops online, how many people have you seen with a swastika painted on the side of their gun? Or if they didn’t have that, how many did you see with their emblem designed as a swastika or some resemblance of one? Well I know personally that I could count at least fifty different people I saw using this type of emblem. Sure it may be a sign of good luck in other cultures around the world and have no negative implications but the different pictures that I have seen people make using the emblem creator have nothing to do with good luck.
As much as people are willing to defend the right to free speech, the majority of the world sees this symbol as a sign of the Nazi regime and it may cause discomfort for some, which is exactly why Microsoft has banned users from using said symbol.
Stephen Tolouse, one of the police bosses that monitors Xbox Live, has defended Microsoft’s right to ban those who have this symbol on his blog post, which you can read bits of below.
“It’s not political correctness, it’s fundamental respect. If you think the swastika symbol should be re-evaluated by societies all over the earth, I think that’s great.
“Your Xbox LIVE profile or in game logo, which doesn’t have the context to explain your goal, is not the right place to do that. And by the way, that doesn’t just go for the swastika, it applies to many other symbols as well that my team does indeed take action on when we see it.”
“Let’s be clear: no educated human on the planet looks at the swastika symbol on a video game service in ‘the year we make contact’ and says ‘Oh, that symbol has nothing at all in any way to do with global genocide of an entire race and, even if it did, one should totally and reasonably ignore that because it’s a symbol that was stolen or coop-ted from religions.’
“Indeed, my twitter stream was filled with people stating that Xbox LIVE should equally ban the star of David, the Christian cross, and yes I am not kidding, the infinity symbol because under various niche interpretations of those symbols, they are as evil as the swastika symbol and I should apply ethical relativism to all symbols on Xbox LIVE to respect all viewpoints because of the United States First Amendment.”
“Yes we can have the discussion in other venues about the double meaning of various terms, something my team does every day. But for many topics, its kind of a no-brainer.”
I mean I am all for freedom of speech, but I have seen many different symbols people have used on their profile, from borderline obscene to simply ridiculous. Of the at least fifty different uses of the swastika I have seen on Black Ops, zero of them had any implication that they meant anything else, and over half of them looked exactly like the Nazi Swastika.
Are you a fan of a strapping young lad named Arc? Then I have some news for you. Arc the lad 2 and Arc Arena are coming to the Playstation Network. These games were only available in the United States stashed in an Arc the Lad collection. Not by itself. Well have no fear. The Lad is back in his Ps1 form. Coming as two seperate games or in a bundle. Arc the Lad 2 will be priced $5.99 US. The bundle will be $8.99 US. No word on what Arc Arena will be priced by it self. All this is expected November 23rd. Those who missed out before will be able to play as the Lad once again.
Now Walmart is practically open every single day of the year and most of the stores are already open a full 24 hours so it won’t seem like too much of a surprise that they are open early on Black Friday, especially considering they never close. However unlike the other stores, they will not be having any special sale on Thanksgiving day, instead they are bringing out one sale immediately after. This deal starts at 12:01 on Black Friday, a minute after midnight.
Nintendo Wii White, Red, and Black Console Bundles w/ $50 Gift Card $199.99
Now then again, what if you actually want a little bit of sleep, or aren’t able to fit that deal into your already full timeclock? Well don’t worry because they have even more doorbusters from 5AM until 11AM.
Nintendo DS Lite (Pink, Red, and Purple Colors Available) $89
Nintendo Wii Limited Edition Red Console w/ Additional Black Wii Remote, Wii Sports, Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Epic Mickey $249
PlayStation 3 160GB Console w/ Uncharted 2 and Medal of Honor $299
Xbox 360 4GB Console w/ Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Mass Effect 2 $199
So if you can’t make it to either deal, then there is no need to fret because Walmart does have deals that are going on all day both on Black Friday and on Saturday. Though there is a limited quantity of these items so I wouldn’t wait to long or you may not find much left. But again we see the small print that says Many more, so never know what else may be on sale until you go.
Band Hero Bundle for Xbox 360, Ps3, and Wii $75
$7 Game Titles
ATV Quad Kings for Nintendo Wii
ATV Thunder Ridge Riders and Monster Trucks Mayhem for Nintendo DS
Bakugan for PS2
Balloon Pop for Nintendo Wii
Brunswick Pro Bowling for PS2
Chicken Blaster for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS
Disney’s Sing It for PS2
Geon Cube for Nintendo Wii
Guitar Hero 2 for PS2
Imagine Ballet Star for Nintendo DS
Monster Trux Offroad for Nintendo Wii
Our Mini Games 26 for Nintendo DS
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection for PS2
Planet 51: The Game for Nintendo DS
Saint for Nintendo Wii
Tomb Raider Underworld for Xbox 360
And More; Over 60 Titles. . .
$10 Game Titles
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare GOTY Edition for PS3
Disney’s UP for Nintendo Wii
God of War Collection for PS3
inFamous for PS3
Killzone 2 for PS3
Little League World Series Double Play for Nintendo Wii
Phineas and Ferb for Nintendo DS
Prototype for Xbox 360
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction for PS3
Red Steel 2 for Nintendo Wii
SpongeBob SquarePants Featuring NickToons: Globs of Doom for Nintendo Wii
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for Xbox 360
Tetris Evolution for Xbox 360
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for Xbox 360
Now Toys R Us may have been the store that many of us grew up with. We went to the different stores as children looking in anticipation for what we can ask for for the holidays. Well now that we are older, or may have kids of our own in some cases, we are looking more towards gaming. Thankfully Toys R Us hasn’t forgotten to put plenty of video game sales out alongside of the toys that younger kids may enjoy.They are running deals all the way from Thanksgiving day on Thursday until Saturday of this week.
These deals are doorbusters and that means that supplies are limited, but then again the time that you will be shopping can be anywhere from 10PM Thanksgiving night until 1PM on Friday. Meaning that you can be shopping overnight within your Toys R Us.
All Gaming T-Shirts Buy 1, Get 1 FREE $12.99-16.99
Xbox 360 4GB or 250GB Console w/ $50 Toys R Us Gift Card $199.99 and $299.99
Buy One, Get One FOR $5
Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2011 w/ Top Shot Elite for Nintendo Wii
Fable III for Xbox 360
Goldeneye for Nintendo Wii
Halo Reach for Xbox 360
Madden NFL 11 for Xbox 360, Ps3, and Wii
Medal of Honor for Xbox 360 and PS3
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit for Xbox 360, Ps3, and Wii
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions for Xbox 360, Ps3, and Wii
The Sims 3 for Xbox 360, Ps3, and Wii
$9.99 Game Titles
How To Train Your Dragon for Nintendo DS
MySims Party for Nintendo Wii
Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief for Nintendo DS
Scooby Doo! First Frights for Nintendo Wii
SimCity for Nintendo DS
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions for Nintendo DS
Spongebob Truth or Square for Nintendo DS
Spore Hero Arena for Nintendo DS
The Sims 2 Pets for Nintendo DS
Transformers: War for Cybertron Autobots for Nintendo DS
$14.99 Game Titles
Battle of Giants Dinosaur Strike for Nintendo Wii
Cabela’s Monster Buck Hunter w/ Top Shot Peripheral for Nintendo Wii
How To Train Your Dragon for Nintendo Wii
iCarly 2: iJoin the Click! for Nintendo Wii
inFamous for PS3
Kung Zhu for Nintendo DS
Megamind: The Blue Defender for Nintendo DS
Monster Jam 3: Path of Destruction for Nintendo DS
Scribblenauts for Nintendo DS
Shrek Forever After for Nintendo Wii
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune for PS3
Zhu Zhu Pets 2: Wild Bunch for Nintendo DS
Now these deals are from 5AM until 1PM on Black Friday. Which means that these deals can become active while you are still shopping from the night before. Though if you were already at the doors at 10PM Thanksgiving day and your still there at 5AM then you really have some amazing shopping endurance.
Guitar Hero Warriors of Rock $59.99
Limited Edition Nintendo DSi Holiday Bundle w/ Mario Party (Green & Red colors available) and FREE DS Essential Kit $149.99
Gaming Accessories
12-in-1 Everyday Starter Kit for DS Lite $14.99
All Video Game System Chargers $11.99-35.99
Folio Starter Kit for DSi $14.99
LEGO Play and Build Remote $23.99
Nerf Starter Kit for DSi $14.99
PlayStation Dual Shock 3 Blue Controller $32.99
Power A Pro EX Controller $11.99
Power A Pro Pack Mini Controllers $29.99
Power A Pro Wireless Elite Controller $26.99
Starter Kit for DSi XL $14.99
Xbox 360 Black Controller $29.99
Now these deals go all the way from 10PM Thanksgiving day, until 10PM on Saturday night. These deals are basically in effect for a full 48 hours, so no worries if you happen to show up a bit late unless they end up selling out.
Gaming Accessories
9-in-1 Crown Pack Deluxe for DSi $9.99
15-in-1 Player’s Kit Plus for Nintendo Wii $24.99
16 Game Card Cases for Nintendo DS $3.99
SpongeBob 10th Anniversary Expressions Kit for Nintendo DS $4.99
Star Wars Light-Up Lightsabers Dueling Pack for Nintendo Wii $19.99
