You might be wondering why Capcom decided to go with an outlandish, embarrassing caricature of the Mega Man 1 box art Mega Man as a Street Fighter X Tekken bonus character for PS3 and Vita. According to a tweet from producer Yoshinori Ono, the decision was made with input from Capcom executive emeritus Keiji Inafune.

"I consulted with Mr.Megaman (his name is Mr.I...) about it 1 year ago," Ono said. This iteration was the "result" of that consultation. A previous Mega Man game developed under Inafune's command, the cancelled Mega Man Universe, also featured "Bad Box Art Mega Man." So maybe Inafune just thinks it's really funny.

Now, as for why Mega Man and Pac-Man are Sony-exclusive characters despite not having anything to do with Sony or the PlayStation platforms ... we aren't sure who was consulted on that decision.

[Thanks, Alex!]

Street Fighter X Tekken's Mega Man has Inafune's blessing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look at that badass up there! That, ladies and gents, is a Suriname horned frog, dubbed the "Pac-Man Frog." According to Prensa Latina, scientists in the South American country of Suriname found 46 new species of animals, from insects to fish to frogs. One of those frogs was a new species of Pac-Man Frog, which are called that because their bodies are almost spherical, and their mouths are large enough to allow them to wolf down prey that almost match them in size. More »

Looks like Letho has some new tricks up his sleeve.

This Friday! Friday! Friday! Codemasters is offering the first in-game look at Dirt Showdown. Virtual drivers smash! dash! bash! and crash! for your amusement in a trailer and screenshots, giving a gander at how Codemasters is amping up the action in this offshoot of the once-sim-y racing series.

As well as a Demolition Derby mode, Dirt Showdown will pack stuntastic freestyle driving in Hoonigan mode, and full-contact racing on obstacle-strewn tracks. If you're simply looking for a quiet drive in the countryside, you'll have to look elsewhere--doubtless there's a niche German simulator to fulfill your desires.

Dirt Showdown is slated for release on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in May. Check out the first batch of screenshots here.

Well-received strategic wordplay game Quarrel has exposed a curious mandatory word filter imposed on developers by Microsoft.

As detailed by Edge, players have taken to the game's forums following its Xbox Live Arcade release earlier this week to complain of having seemingly innocuous words turned down.

Though ridiculously conservative, one can hazard a guess why Microsoft might not want the likes of "balls" and "shaft" being thrown around Xbox Live. However, the game is also refusing "help", "train", "start", "dice", "god" and various others seemingly innocent examples.

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You wait here, Mr. Falcon. I'm going to go slice dudes in half and summon dragons from my hands.

The newest version of Minecraft greets players with the sentence "You are a NIGGER," if they switch their language settings to Afrikaans, the language spoken in South Africa and Namibia. More »

Insomniac CEO Ted Price went to the YouTubes for a "face to face" with Resistance fans about his declaration that the developer is done with the franchise. There was apparently some confusion with fans that believed the series, owned by Sony, would end after Insomniac moved on.

"We believe that Resistance has reached its logical conclusion, in terms of the story we wanted to tell," Price said. "However, that doesn't mean the Resistance franchise isn't continuing. It's already in the capable hands of Nihilistic. And with Sony's shepherding we know it will continue to live on and expand."

Nihilistic is currently working on Resistance: Burning Skies for Vita, available sometime this summer. Insomniac is moving on to multiplatform co-op shooter Overstrike.

Price: Insomniac is done with Resistance, Sony isn't originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Organizational shift leads to second round of layoffs in as many months at California-based publisher; five internal studios unaffected.

The effects of THQ's decision to stop making children's games are already being felt. THQ has confirmed layoffs in the publisher's administration and publishing departments as a result of the company's new direction.

Reorganization at THQ has led to a dip in headcount.

"THQ confirms a reduction in force to the company's administration and publishing organization," reads a statement provided to GameSpot. "As recently announced, the company is exiting the kids' licensed games category, and is focusing on its core game franchises and developing its digital initiatives."

THQ did not say how many staffers were let go in the action.

THQ's five internal studios--Vigil, Volition, Relic, THQ San Diego, and THQ Montreal--were not affected by the layoffs. Further information regarding THQ's new direction will be provided at the company's third-quarter 2012 conference call on February 2.

This round of layoffs at THQ comes just one month after the publisher let 30 go from its Play label, the development unit behind the underperforming uDraw tablet peripheral.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

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"Additional layoffs strike THQ" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:35:22 -0800

It was kind of surprising that Mass Effect 3's multiplayer looked better than expected. But this trailer makes it look like must-play content. You'll see the various races of BioWare's sci-fi universe playing through skirmishes as several classes, with missions that appear to happen all over the galaxy. Does this make you more excited or less for Mass Effect 3's multiplayer? More »

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is a single-player action-RPG, but that hasn't deterred publisher Electronic Arts from locking some of the game's content behind a single-use "online pass." Folks purchasing new copies of Big Huge Game's newest title will find their codes in their boxes, but folks procuring used copies will be in a different boat.

As noted by Destructoid, the "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Online Pass" unlocks the "House of Valor" faction quest, which includes "seven additional single-player quests."

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning's online pass revealed

Warner Bros. received some flak for locking Catwoman behind an online pass in last year's single-player Batman: Arkham City. Those without a new code would be able to buy her campaign for an additional $15. EA implemented "online pass" features in Mass Effect 2 as well, locking an extra character and additional missions behind a DLC pay wall.

It's likely (but not confirmed) that the "House of Valor" faction quest will also be available for purchase separately. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning comes out for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on February 7.

If you have already pre-ordered, or were planning to pre-order, the $300 PS Vita with wi-fi and 3G support from Amazon, you're privy to some extra bonuses. The unit now ships with a crucial 8GB memory card, a free month of "DataConnect" 3G access (or 250MB, whichever comes first, a $15 value) and, as part of signing up for the DataConnect service, a free PSN game.

Right now, Amazon is the only place we've seen this specific offer. We're checking in with Sony to determine whether this offer applies to 3G/wi-fi Vitas sold elsewhere. However, it's a sticker on the box art shown on Amazon (above). That doesn't look retailer-specific.

PS Vita 3G purchases include free data, 8GB memory card at Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Underwhelming reaction and concerns of customer confusion supposedly have the Mario maker weighing its options for a rebranding before this year's E3.

 

The Wii U will hit stores this coming holiday season, but there's a chance it will be called something else by launch day. According to a report on CVG, sources close to Nintendo told the site that the company is considering rebranding the console, which was first unveiled at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo last June.

Would a Wii U by any other name smell as sweet?

Nintendo is supposedly unhappy with the initial reaction following the Wii U's announcement and is concerned that it might be inviting consumer confusion with the Wii. Such misunderstandings were one of the blamed culprits for the rocky launch of the 3DS. Some of Nintendo's marketing has since made a point to emphasize that the 3DS is not just another DS, but an entirely new system.

If the Wii U were to be renamed, it would be a sort of reversed reprisal of Nintendo's last console launch. At E3 2006, Nintendo renamed its in-development console from the Revolution to the Wii, a move that drew mixed reactions from gamers and analysts alike.

As of press time, a Nintendo representative had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment.

[ Watch Video ]

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

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"Nintendo considering new name for Wii U - Report" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:12:16 -0800

With only 27 days until the launch of PlayStation Vita, we are excited to announce two PS Vita 3G/WiFi bundles. If you were one of the lucky consumers to pre order the PS Vita First Edition Bundle, in addition to the PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi hardware, a limited edition case, a 4GB PS Vita Memory Card and Little Deviants game, we will now be including an AT&T DataConnect Pass good for one free 250MB session, and a PlayStation Network game – both provided upon 3G activation. And the best part, you still get it a week before the official launch date.

We are happy to announce today that we will be creating an extremely limited edition PlayStation Vita 3G/Wi-Fi bundle designed to reward those who brave the cold to stand in line on February 22nd (or even those who come in the few days that follow). In addition to the PS Vita hardware, we will be including an 8GB PS Vita Memory Card, an AT&T DataConnect Pass and a PlayStation Network game all for the usual MSRP of $299. This SKU is part of a promotional offer and will sell out immediately so we strongly recommend that you purchase your PS Vita early to make sure you get the extra value!

While the system is a fantastic option, the addition of 3G-network access is perfect for the gamer that wants convenience, community and connection – basically the ability to immediately socialize with your gaming community. 3G also allows you to engage in multi-player gaming, utilize GPS location-based digital gifting, stay up to date with continuous LiveArea scores and game ranking news feeds, compete for in-game achievements, engage in PS Vita to PS3 cross-platform game play, cross-game message with Party, and have access to software updates, all while on the go. You’ll also be able to login to the PS Store and download new content and add-ons for some of your favorite titles.

There are lots of exciting updates still to come as we get closer to launch, and we will be sure to keep you posted. Our goal here at PlayStation is to transform every aspect of life into an entertainment experience. We know when you get your hands on Vita you may really never stop playing!

When a commenter on the website of Legend of Grimrock asked about clickable on-screen arrow navigation for the upcoming indie dungeon crawler, developers said they had no plans to implement such a feature. When they found out why the commenter asked, they quickly changed those plans. More »

We've seen some of the Mass Effect 3 co-op multiplayer, but a new trailer shows off the combinations of races and classes available as "Special Forces." In it, we see Commander Shepard giving the space-warfare version of the St. Crispen's Day Speech, encouraging the allied alien forces to stop the invasions or die trying.

Taking part in these (seemingly doomed) battles will contribute to your Galactic Readiness as part of the Galaxy at War system. Check out the trailer below.

It looks like the House of Valor faction in Amalur's various kingdoms will be joining Catwoman in the limbo-like world of online passes. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning's House of Valor faction questline is dependent on players having an online pass that only comes with new copies of the game, as our reviews editor Richard Mitchell spotted in his retail copy of the game on Xbox 360.

According to the insert included in our copy of the game, online pass owners (read: those who purchase new copies of the game) will get access to "seven additional player quests" throughout the House of Valor faction questline. It's unclear whether the PlayStation 3 and PC versions of the game contain the same stipulation, but we've reached out to EA for clarification.

Update: 38 Studios community manager "Muse" posted the following statement to the 38 Studios forums, as pointed out in our comments section: "We wanted to post a quick clarification for something we've seen a few comments about. For what it's worth, the House of Valor content was not in the finished game/disc at one point, then removed. It isn't there and we're locking you out of it. The House of Valor was created as stand-alone content, and was always intended to be the first DLC. Instead of holding onto it and charging for it later, we opted to give it to everyone who purchases the game new, for free, on launch day. We hope that helps clarify that point, at least."

Update 2: EA issued this response to Joystiq this afternoon: "The House of Valor quest line is free bonus content available to those who purchase a new copy of Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning for the Xbox 360 and PS3 by entering the Online Pass included with the game. PC players who purchase Reckoning at one of the many digital retailers online including Origin, Steam and more, will also receive the House of Valor quest line at no cost."

Continue reading Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning locks out questline via online pass [update: 38 Studios and EA respond]

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning locks out questline via online pass [update: 38 Studios and EA respond] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You really gain muscle when you add rocket launchers to your workout routine.

I started at Ubisoft around the time that we launched the first iterations of Michael Jackson The Experience. Being a longtime fan of the King of Pop, I always hoped that I could experience the game on the road. With Michael Jackson The Experience coming to PS Vita on February 14th, my wish has been granted!

In Michael Jackson The Experience, you’ll experience the King of Pop’s chart-topping tracks as you draw shapes and tap on both of PS Vita’s multi touch pads to the beat and choreography of the Michael Jackson avatar. You’ll play through 15 HD scenes inspired by Michael Jackson’s iconic music videos and short films, including “Smooth Criminal”, “Thriller”, “Remember the Time” and many more, all with high-definition quality graphics. Master each of those performances and unlock collectibles and rewards, including alternative outfits and special effects. Michael Jackson The Experience will also have song-based leaderboards and an online Dance Battle mode, giving you a reason to to keep playing these classics over and over again.

Gamers and Michael Jackson fans can pick up Michael Jackson The Experience on February 14 in preparation for PS Vita’s launch — and just in time for the release of the First Edition Bundle. Thanks for checking out our series of PS Vita launch title posts this week on PlayStation.Blog. As you can see, we’re eager to see the platform launch!

"For the love of God, please install," advises fantasy game's lead designer, saying it solves problem of lengthy load times.

Installing Xbox 360 games to the system's hard drive to shorten load times is a standard option, but in the case of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, the designer might prefer it to be an ultimatum.

Expeditious gamers should install Reckoning, says its developer.

Speaking with OXM, Big Huge Games' Ian Frazier said, "If you have a hard drive, for the love of God, please install."

"You will have much, much smaller load screens," he added. "Please, please, for the love of all that's holy, install."

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning will be the first game released from 38 Studios, a shop founded by former Major League Baseball pitcher Curt Schilling. It is set to launch for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on February 7 in North America. The fantasy-themed role-playing game will feature a number of genre staples, from skeleton warriors and cave trolls to swords and sorcery.

For more on Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, check out GameSpot's latest preview.

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"Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning dev recommends install on Xbox 360" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:46:40 -0800

Acclaimed PC indie oddity The Binding of Isaac gets a full retail release in the UK on 16th March, courtesy of publisher Merge Games.

Dubbed the Unholy Edition, it includes a DRM-free version of the game, a free Steam gifting key, the game's soundtrack, a (distinctly horrifying) poster and a 40 page "devzine".

Check out the images below for a closer look at the rather handsome set.

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Nintendo announced a bunch of actual news over the last few days—the release window for the Wii U, the Nintendo Network, a new Mario side-scroller for the 3DS—but Next Media Animation doesn't care about any of that. More »