PlayStation 3 price cut with non Blu-Ray version?

Speculation that Sony will cut the price of their flagship console the PlayStation 3 by removing the Blu-Ray player are appearing all over the Internet.

They have been reported to be cutting $100 off the price by removing the high- capacity Blu-Ray players. That doesn't make much sense to me as this would limit the games and video output from the device. I know a lot of people who bought a PlayStation 3 specifically for the Blu-Ray function.

Sony refused to comment.

Play PSP Dynasty Warriors - Strikeforce game before it's launch in London

The award winning TokyoToys store in London is hosting a DYNASTY WARRIORS extravaganza in April and everybody's welcome.

KOEI today announced that the renowned Japanese Toy store TokyoToys will be hosting a DYNASTY WARRIORS themed day on April 18, 2009 in their London Store.

On the 18th April, KOEI and TokyoToys will join forces to offer the public a glimpse of one of the big videogame releases of 2009. DYNASTY WARRIORS: Strikeforce will be playable in store weeks before the game is available to buy. For a sneak peak at this Japanese gaming phenomenon and a chance for the best players to win prizes visit TokyoToys on Saturday the 18th. The DYNASTY WARRIORS series has already picked up the NEO award for the most popular gaming series and now’s your chance to see why this multi-million selling series is loved by so many worldwide.

With the KOEI team on hand to share some expert tips and award winning DYNASTY WARRIORS Cosplayers bringing some style and drama to proceedings it’s set to be a spectacular day that fans of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture will not want to miss.

Named best retailer in the 2008 Neo awards, TokyoToys is located in the Trocadero in London’s Piccadilly Circus and is renowned for stocking an incredible range of Japanese collectibles. From video game figurines to themed clothing and trading cards to cosplay accessories, TokyoToys is packed full of rare and wonderful items from Japan.

About DYNASTY WARRIORS: Strikeforce

The multi-million selling DYNASTY WARRIORS series has long been renowned for pitting a lone warrior against an army of thousands. Now for the first time up to four players can team up to create a strikeforce of legendary warriors and head into battle against cunning enemies and massive bosses.

End of level bosses await intrepid heroes with a multitude of guises and deadly attacks whilst the enemies spread throughout each level now possess much greater levels of intelligence and more powerful attacks. So now more than ever it’s imperative that players work together as a team and find ways to overcome the challenges and obstacles that stand between them and victory. Only through co-ordinated attacks can the team conquer the massive fortresses and huge beasts that populate each deadly level.

Unleashing your character’s FURY transformation now bestows the player with a range of attacks and abilities for more powerful and spectacular looking than a standard Musou attack. For the first time ever players can take to the skies and face off against their foes in spectacular aerial combat. By cleverly utilizing the numerous new powers ups and abilities players can benefit from a tantalizing variety of new moves and attacks including the ability to fly, lightning fast speed and greater healing powers.

With a multitude of ways to improve your character’s ability, specialise in particular areas, buy items in the towns and share items among friends, DYNASTY WARRIORS: Strikeforce gives players the opportunity to shape their character in whatever way they so desire. For the first time ever in a Warriors game the player can now select a secondary weapon for any character before they go into battle. Truly formidable combinations of legendary warrior and mighty weapons are now a reality.

Dungeon Party - free PC online game

Cyanide Studios and Focus Home Interactive are pleased to offer an exciting new video of Dungeon Party - giving you a complete glimpse at what is waiting for you in this crazy game where fun is king! This video will show you some of the available character customization options, along with the highly charged atmosphere that's omnipresent inside the game's dungeons, where teams of heroes are fighting to capture the Chest.

Dungeon Party is a free PC online game developed by Cyanide and based on team play. Plunge into a wild heroic-fantasy universe and play against each other in teams of heroes across dungeons filled with deadly traps and monsters to try and collect the treasures they hold. In Dungeon Party you can create and customize your character with different costumes and objects. A holiday-making sorcerer, a thief straight out of a night club, or a gothic hangman…all styles are possible! Each player can equip his character with different objects and weapons before the battle against opponent teams starts.

You'll have to develop your character through the matches and carefully choose which spells and skills could help the best your team. In order to spice up the game, deadly traps and hunted creatures are scattered throughout the dungeons. These creatures won't make any difference between the teams and protect their treasures with a lot of zeal. Kill monsters will give you more experience points which allow you to buy faster new spells. Bosses and mini-bosses will be harder to beat but will also give you a greater amount of points and, most of all, will help you to seduce the Chest.

Peggle - Nights video game available now on Mac OS X

Second Installment of Casual Cult Classic Now Available for Macintosh

PopCap Games, the leading developer and publisher of casual games, today announced that Peggle Nights, the second installment in the immensely popular Peggle series, is now available for the Apple Macintosh computers.
Peggle Nights carries a retail price of US$19.95 and is available now for download at www.popcap.com.

Peggle Nights and the original Peggle have been downloaded more than 45 million times and have garnered numerous critical accolades and “game of the year” awards. PopCap also announced the imminent arrival of the second free bonus level pack for Peggle Nights, sporting a “Spring” theme.

Peggle Nights features 60 all-new Adventure mode levels and 60 new Challenge mode hurdles, along with a new “Peggle Master” power-up, new kinds of style shots, achievements, and other special bonuses. The game takes players into the “dream worlds” of each of the eleven Peggle Masters, providing five beautifully rendered and themed levels for each character’s secret dreams and aspirations. Peggle Nights supports downloadable expansion packs, and early next month PopCap will release a free 10-level “Spring” themed bonus level pack, the second free expansion pack to be released for the game.

Midnight Club - Los Angeles Free Downloadable Content Coming March 12

Free South Central Map Expansion and South Central Premium Upgrade feature unique new vehicles, amazing new races and more

Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software announce that downloadable content for Midnight Club: Los Angeles will arrive on March 12 for both the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. This downloadable content offers more streets to race in with the free South Central Map Expansion which expands Midnight Club: Los Angeles by one third, adding four new neighborhoods to make up the iconic district of South Central.

The South Central Premium Upgrade is the total South Central experience for Midnight Club: Los Angeles delivering nine new vehicles, 26 new races, 12 new battle maps, 10 new delivery missions, over 100 new red light races, new vinyl packs, new parts, new music and more - all for the cost of $9.99.

The free South Central Map Expansion will ensure that every racer with either Xbox 360 or PLAYSTATION 3 copies of the game can race online against players that have the South Central Premium Upgrade.

More car packs are coming soon.

The South Central Map Expansion features:

• Map expansion by one third
• Four new neighborhoods
• Price: FREE for both Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3

South Central Premium Upgrade features:

• Nine new vehicles:
Luxury: 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG “Black”
SUV: 2008 Range Rover Supercharged, 2008 Range Rover Sport Super Charged
Lowrider: 1955 Chevy Bel Air, 1963 Buick Riviera, 1964 Chevy Impala, 1965 Chevy Malibu
Muscle: 1970 Chevy Chevelle, 1966 Pontiac GTO
• 26 new races
• 12 new battle maps
• 10 new delivery missions
• 100+ new red light races
• New rims
• New body kits for each new car
• New vinyl pre-sets
• Hydraulics/Airbags unlocked on all new cars
• New music
• Price: $9.99 for PLAYSTATION 3 and 800 MS points for Xbox 360

The South Central Map Expansion and South Central Premium Upgrade for Midnight Club: Los Angeles for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 are rated T for Teen. For more information, please visit www.rockstargames.com/midnightclubLA.

Nintendo plea for help to stop pirates

Nintendo Calls Out Brazil, China, Korea, Mexico, Paraguay and Spain

Nintendo has outlined a list of countries around the globe that remain leaders in denying adequate and effective protection of video game products. In its annual comments to the U.S. Trade Representative under the "Special 301" process, Nintendo has singled out countries where piracy is rampant and has asked the United States to take further steps to combat it.

Nintendo reports that piracy of its most popular products, the Nintendo DS™ and Wii™ systems, has increased during the year. Nintendo attributes this increase to the availability of circumvention devices, such as "game copiers" and "mod chips." These devices skirt the product security embedded in Nintendo's famous products and enable the play of illegal Nintendo software.

"It is important for parents to note that if users of circumvention devices are children, they may be exposed to unsuitable content downloaded from the Internet and played on their Nintendo systems," said Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America's senior director of anti-piracy.

Below is a summary of Nintendo's filing:

PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: China continues to be the hub of production for counterfeit Nintendo video game products. The number of online shopping sites in China selling infringing Nintendo products is increasing, and help is needed by the government to curtail the growth of these illegal marketplaces. These products are sold both inside China and to the world, including our key market in the United States. Chinese customs officials must stop shipments of game copiers and other infringing products out of China, and China should work in the coming year to eliminate barriers to its enforcement laws.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Internet piracy in Korea continues to increase, as does the availability of devices that get around product security and allow for the play of illegal Nintendo software. A massive customs raid of 10 premises that resulted in the seizure of more than 75,000 game copiers at the beginning of 2009 is a positive sign the government is serious about enforcement. Nintendo is pleased with Korea's consistent customs seizures, and courts are now starting to hold distributors of circumvention devices, such as game copiers, accountable. The Korea-U.S. free trade agreement is important to all intellectual property rights holders.

BRAZIL: Federal anti-piracy actions are not reducing piracy in Brazil, and local enforcement efforts are weak. Efforts to prosecute for piracy are virtually nonexistent. Customs and border control agents failed to seize a single shipment of Nintendo video game products in Brazil in 2008. Internet piracy is increasing with no legal infrastructure in place to respond to the threat it poses to rights holders. High tariffs and taxes also constitute market barriers for legitimate video game products.

MEXICO: Anti-piracy actions by the Mexican government in 2008 were wholly inadequate. The Mexican government must recognize the seriousness of the piracy problem and start using existing enforcement tools. Mexico's participation in negotiating the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is encouraging, but enforcement efforts need to move forward now. The willingness of Mexican customs and Mexican postal service workers to be trained by trademark owners was a positive sign in 2008.

SPAIN: The availability of game-copying devices in Spain is alarming. Internet sites offering game-copying devices and illegal Nintendo software are widespread and must be addressed. Nintendo asks that the Spanish government implement laws protecting the creative copyright industry and enact laws against Internet piracy. Nintendo considers education a priority in its fight against piracy in the European Union. Customs authorities play an important role in enforcing intellectual property rights, and Nintendo is seeing positive signs in this area. Nintendo is pleased about recent steps taken by the Spanish National Police against distributors of game copiers.

PARAGUAY: Corruption continues to hamper anti-piracy efforts. Nintendo's anti-piracy actions in Paraguay show that illegal goods are imported and also locally produced. Border controls are key to decreasing piracy, and the revised criminal code will increase penalties against those distributing circumvention devices in Paraguay.

Star Ocean - The last Hope video game on Xbox 360

Earth has been rendered uninhabitable by World War III, and now humanity must turn to the stars in search of a new home.

Explore the galaxy on your quest, make allies and enemies among the alien races you encounter, and uncover an evil so great it threatens all creation.

Real-time battles, spectacular visuals, and a universe of adventure and danger await in the great STAR OCEAN.

Visit the official game site here...

Dead to Rights - Retribution video game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3

Volatile Games announce development of Dead to Rights : Retribution, a reimagining of the gritty crime drama franchise for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, published by NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.

Set in the neo-noir, morally corrupt and nightmarish world of Grant City, Dead to Rights : Retribution thrusts the player into the epicentre of an intensely dark, dangerous and tragic narrative as vice-cop Jack Slate. Along with vicious sidekick Shadow, Jack must fight to expose the shadowy underworld figures exerting their evil grip over the crumbling metropolis.

Introducing an innovative new hybrid combat system, Volatile Games has unified third person shooting, hand-to-hand fighting and AI dog, Shadow, into a visceral, intense and seamless gameplay experience. Experience Jack’s full combat potential: use your sidearm to pick off the enemy at a distance, take cover and blind fire, take human shields, steal enemies’ weapons with special disarms or unleash his deadly takedowns.

All the while, the immersive gameplay and storyline combined with beautifully imagined backdrops and scenarios pulls the player into Jack’s world as he investigates the threats facing the once great city. Jack will encounter a variety of ruthless gangs, each with their own fighting style, and all looking to destroy him and Grant City.

Jack’s special bond with his canine companion, Shadow, makes the duo a formidable team in combat situations. Players will take control of both Jack and Shadow at various points throughout the game to cover potential threats from the enemy.

“Dead to Rights®: Retribution is a fresh look at the franchise, with a ground-up design for the game mechanics, world, characters and narrative,” explains Imre Jele, Project Director for Volatile Games. “We’ve reimagined Dead to Rights for both fans of the franchise and a brand new audience alike.”

“We’re excited to be working with Volatile Games on Dead to Rights®: Retribution,” says Todd Thorson, Director of Marketing and PR for NAMCO BANDAI Games America. “As one of our key franchises we’re confident that Volatiles Games’ combination of innovative design and powerful technology will make a great game that fans and newcomers alike will love.”

Dead to Rights : Retribution will launch for Xbox360 and PlayStation 3 in 2009.

Katamari Damacy - Korogashi Puzzle game heads for Nintendo DSiWare

Namco Bandai is getting on the DSi download train over in Japan, converting its popular roll-'em-up game Katamari into a cut down DLC.

Korogashi Puzzle Katamari Damacy involves stacking, rather than rolling, as all manner of celestial objects fall from the heavens before the King of Cosmos. Astute pocket gamers will notice a distinct similarity to Tetris in the game style.

Watch the video...

Full post on PocketGamer here...

Left 4 Dead Xbox 360 gets patched - Full list of changes - matching PC patch released earlier

From today Xbox 360 gamers will be prompted to download a title update when they log on to Left 4 Dead.

The list of fixes on the Xbox 360 is almost identical to the PC version to balance the Versus mode, making playing while Infected more enjoyable.
Full list of changes...

The full list of changes is as follows:

General
- Fixed Survivors being able to climb surfaces marked for versus infected only.
- Fixed a class of SurvivorBot bugs dealing with rescuing downed players.
- Players can no longer grab ladders while flying through the air after a Tank punch.
- Shooting near a car with an alarm that has already fired the alarm will no longer make chirping noises.
- Fixed mini-gun physics exploit.
- Fixed propane tanks (and other physics objects) causing players to fall through elevators.
- Fixed rare achievement bug issues.
- Fixed several map exploits.
Versus Changes
- Added HUD elements to show status of other infected players.
- Fixed instance where a Survivor changing to the infected team would be attacked by infected bots.
- Normalized special infected melee damage.
- Fixed exploit where infected players could run away and teleport back to gain health.
- Players can only change teams once per map.
- Players can’t change teams while other players are still loading.
- Tank spawns at the same % through the map for both teams in versus mode.
- Made the Tank and Witch spawn directly on the escape route.
- Increased chance of getting the Tank or Witch.
- Fixed team swap issue.
Hunter
- Easier to pounce a Survivor who is meleeing.
- Increased Minimum damage a Hunter pounce does.
Smoker
- Fixed Smoker tongue tolerance.
- Smoker now has to be killed or the tongue destroyed for the tongue to break.
- Survivor’s cannot bash someone off the tongue until the Survivor being pulled is paralyzed or hanging
- Tongue attacks that fail to paralyze or hang a Survivor will use the shorter ability delay timer.
- Fixed cases where the ability timer was not using the correct time.
- Fixed case where you could point at a Survivor but not register a tongue hit
- Fixed Smoker tongue not targeting and landing properly through PZ ghosts.
- Smoker tongue does damage every second while dragging paralyzed Survivors.
Tank
- Bashable objects now appear with a red glow.
- Tanks hitting a car with an alarm disables the alarm permanently.
- Tank frustration timer is only reset by hitting Survivors with rocks or fists.
- Reduced autoshotgun damage against Tanks.
Witch
- Witch spawns at the same % through the map for both teams.
- Avoids spawning within a certain % of the tank.
- Fixed an exploit where the Witch could be woken up and tricked into attacking Survivors.