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February 28, 2009
Microsoft has confirmed the long-running rumour that they are to release a brand new red Xbox 360 to coincide with the release of Resident Evil 5 on March 13th.
The console will be available as part of a limited edition bundle that features a red console, wireless controller, a huge 120GB hard drive, black headset, a copy of Resident Evil 5 and an exclusive Xbox 360 dashboard theme (redeemable online via an Xbox Live download).
The official RRP of the bundle is still under wraps, although UK retailers GAME have the bundle listed for pre-order at £229.99. Microsoft have also hinted that the bundle will only be available from ‘select retailers’. No further information has been made public at this time.
In related news, Capcom producer Jun Takeuchi has announced that the RE5 demo has been downloaded in excess of four million times since its release on Xbox Live in January. It was released on the PlayStation Network store in early February.
One thing still eluding the title, however, is widespread critical acclaim. Websites, blogs and forums all over the web have pointed out flaws in the game’s control system, as well as concerns over the AI and level design. This level of scrutiny isn’t helped by the fact that the game’s predecessor, Resident Evil 4, was one of the most successful games of the last generation and has also achieved significant success on Nintendo’s current generation Wii console.
February 27, 2009
After a successful trial last December, Microsoft has announced that it is to re-launch its Xbox Live Arcade ‘deal of the week’. The first title to receive the discount treatment is Jonathan Blow’s hugely successful 2D platformer, Braid. The critically acclaimed title will be available for just 800 Microsoft points (a 33% discount!), until Sunday March 1st.
With a Metacritic rating of 93%, Braid was one of the most critically acclaimed games of 2008. Praise was received from all corners of print and online media, from game publications to tabloid newspapers. Braid also helped Xbox Live Arcade reach its most successful month to date in August last year.
Subsequent Xbox Live deals of the week will launch every Monday, and will cover a variety of formats, such as arcade games, game add-ons and Xbox originals. Some of the first games to receive discounts include Ninja Gaiden 2, Project Gotham Racing 4, and Xbox classic, Fable.
Deal of the week discounts are available to Gold subscribers only, and will, where permitted, be available to members in all territories. Xbox community honcho Major Nelson (www.majornelson.com) is to update his blog each Monday with details of the latest deal and its regional availability.
February 27, 2009
Online game specialists Ninja Kiwi have announced that their flagship free-to-play title, Bloons, is coming to the iPhone and iPod Touch, courtesy of Scottish developer Digital Goldfish.
Bloons is a massively addictive 2D flash game, where you play a monkey who is tasked with throwing a limited number of darts in order to pop balloons scattered about increasingly challenging levels. As well as spawning a number of sequels, Bloons’ huge player community have created over three million user-generated levels, making it one of the most popular free-to-play flash games in the world.
Due for release in just a couple of months, Bloons is sure to be a huge hit with the App-store crowd. Ninja Kiwi MD Chris Harris had this to say:
“For a long time, we’ve been thinking about bringing Bloons to other platforms because it’s such a good fit. We’re really excited now to be working with Digital Goldfish to finally make this happen. And from what we’ve seen, the game translates to iPhone every bit as well as we’d hoped.”
Ninja Kiwi’s other high-profile credits include Boombot, a simple but addictive flash game where the aim is to use simple explosions to get your character to the exit of each level.
February 24, 2009
The LEGO Group have announced that the highly anticipated casual MMO based on the LEGO universe (aptly named, LEGO Universe), will now not be released until at least 2010 and possibly 2011.
Despite this setback, the LEGO Group has insisted that the game’s developer, NetDevil, is committed to the title, and that the delay is a business-oriented strategy to prevent LEGO Universe from taking the focus away from other projects. Though they are not mentioned by name, the unknown projects are not related to other LEGO computer games, as Business Development Director Mark Hansen openly states:
“The reason is, we have a luxury right now; the business is going good. We have products launching that are not digital, the physical products, with them going so well we don’t want to take focus away from them”.
Hansen would not commit to a release date, nor would he confirm that the title was due for a 2009 or 2010 launch. He did, however, state:
“LEGO Universe is something LEGO is very committed to. The NetDevil relationship is very, very strong. We are holding exactly to the plan we had when we started game development. NetDevil might now even create more content and alignment with the products we have on the shelf.”
As well as LEGO Universe, NetDevil also currently has another high profile title in development, a revamp of their acclaimed Jumpgate IP, Jumpgate: Evolution. It was not mentioned whether the imminent launch of this title’s beta phase was affecting development of LEGO Universe.
February 23, 2009
Accomplished Software developer Lizard Interactive has announced that its free-to-play gaming portal, NeoFun (www.neofun.com), is to receive an overhaul to improve its visual appeal and strengthen its community features. Since its official launch last October, NeoFun has looked to become a premier destination for casual online gamers, and sees this improvement as a way to attract a more dedicated user base.
This particular improvement project is the second phase in Lizard Interactive’s long-term plan for NeoFun, the first of which was to introduce a strong line up of free online games to the site. These included the MMOs Sho Online, Cronous and Land of Magic.
On the community features side, the developer is keeping quiet, so far only announcing that the new website will include ‘mini blogs’, and that “NeoFun will be the ultimate playground for gamers which will satisfy all the needs of what gamers ever hoped for”.
With so many free online gaming portals now available, the market is becoming increasingly crowded. Top tier developers are also getting in on the act: veteran developers SEGA have just launched their casual game site, www.playsega.com, and Jagex Ltd, developers of the massive MMORPG RuneScape, are approaching the second year of their free-to-play java games portal, www.FunOrb.com.
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