Kinect gets a dedicated demo location in Montreal
I spotted the green, yellow and purple Kinect rings from a distance while walking around in Montreal's Complexe Les Ailes today. At first I thought I came across one of those mall-type Microsoft stores, like the ones they have in Arizona and California. When I got closer (and through a large crowd of onlookers) I found that what at first looked like a mall boutique was actually an installation solely dedicated to showing off Kinect to the public.
Inside they had several televisions in dedicated spaces, each with an Xbox 360 and a Kinect attached. They had many of all of the launch games there, and people were lining up to play. The walls were decorated with avatars and each station was manned by a staffer in a Kinect shirt. Strangely, it was mostly middle-aged men that seemed most interested in the new motion-sensing device for the Xbox 360. A few younger girls were playing Dance Central, but the rest of the stations were manned by guys that didn't really look the type.
The installation didn't seem to be selling Kinects or systems, but they did have plenty of literature on hand.
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Kick Ass PSN game getting ‘new and improved’ update
WHA Entertainment's PlayStation Network-exclusive Kick Ass game is getting some improvements, and thank goodness… I sure didn't like it all that much.
But Kick Ass New and Improved looks to add new features to the game, including new missions and enemies. The new mission, "Frank's Night Club," will have you fighting new enemies, which is a welcome addition — there were maybe four of them in the original game! Also added to the mix will be a new fight against Red Mist, where you'll be able to use new moves like a double hit spin attack and a toss attack team-based move.
WHA is also promising updated AI, sound improvements, and "improved trophies," whatever that means.
If you've already purchased Kick Ass, you'll get the upgrade to Kick Ass New and Improved for free on November 9. Everyone else can buy it for .99.
Dynasty Warriors Online enters open beta
Dynasty Warriors Online, the MMO spin on Koei's popular hack n' slash franchise, has entered open beta with an incentive for any warriors who have a lot of time on their hands. Aeria Games is offering ,000 worth of prizes to their most dedicate beta testers, so you better keep your clicking finger well lubricated.
The grand prize is an Alienware M17x notebook computer. That's ridiculous!
If you want to go hitting things online, you can download the game right here. I've given the closed beta a go, but haven't had time to really get into it yet. Hopefully I'll see some of you there this week!
Killzone 3: Helghast Edition announced, makes me spunk it up
Now this is a collector's edition I can get behind! Sony has revealed the Killzone 3: Helghast Edition, packed with all sorts of stuff that any fan of orange-eyed space fascists will love.
The centerpiece is the rather nifty Helghast helmet replica which opens up to reveal an art book, a Super Voucher and a copy of the game. You also get a 6.5" action figure of a semi-cloaked Helghast marksman, which comes fully articulated and will not be sold at retail.
The Super Voucher contains yet more fun, with codes to download the game's soundtrack, a Dynamic Theme, the Retro Map Pack with two Killzone 2 maps and Double XP with full access to all weapons and abilities for the first 24 hours of multiplayer. Download codes will be available separately if you pre-order the standard edition at either GameStop, Best Buy or Amazon.
Yeah, the inside of my pants are basically wallpapered with jizz.
Is this the PlayStation Phone?
After what seems like an eternity of speculation regarding its development, Engadget has posted photos of what they claim is a genuine PlayStation Phone. This handheld features a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, and 1 GB of ROM, and it has a screen in the neighborhood of four inches.
As you can see, the underlay buttons are consistent with that of the PSP. But instead of an analog nub, we have what appears to be a touchpad in the center of the device. Engadget is reporting that this particular unit is still in the prototyping phase and has some bugs in it.
The PlayStation Phone [Engadget]
Hot Shots Shorties is something that Sony trademarked
You could go just about anywhere with that name. To me it sounds like just one of a collection of urban-made upskirt videos. But it's probably a videogame, and it's probably something from Clap Hanz, the folks that make one of my favorite games ever, Hot Shots Golf.
The sharp minds at Siliconera note that minigame collection Minna no Sukkiri came out in Japan last year for the PSP, so this could be the name for the western port.
If they do release the game here, some of the original intent will be lost on US audiences. The title stars hosts from Japanese television morning show Sukkiri, which almost no one here will recognize. The twelve minigames should still be fun, though.
I'd expect to hear a title announcement soon.
App Store now boasts over 300,000 games
The iPhone is often looked down upon by ignorant gamers, disregarded as a legitimate gaming platform. Try telling that to the developers who have helped the App Store attain over 300,000 titles!
In just two years, the iPhone, iPod and iPad have amassed that rather incredible number. I absolutely admit that at least 50% of those "games" are probably fart simulators, but there are also some incredibly accomplished titles such as Mega Jump, N.O.V.A, Chaos Rings, GodVille and loads of others. Not to mention the fact that most of them are pretty damn cheap, with some excellent games starting at .99 and sometimes even free.
Like it or not, the iPhone has become a bit of a gaming triumph. They're not the kind of games you may like to play, and they may not all be "hardcore" shooting games, but Apple is starting to become a serious contender in this industry, and we'd all do well to keep an eye on it.
App Store now home to 300,000 titles [GI.biz]
