MMO Clerks

Terry Taulbee, a 50-year-old Cincinnati resident, stands convicted of assaulting his 6-year-old son following a confrontation over videogames, reports GamePolitics.
Reports vary a bit from there however. Some sources have Taulbee turning on his son after losing to the boy in a game, while others have Taulbee assaulting his son after witnessing the 6-year-old failing to perform well enough in the unnamed title.
As for the assault itself, “Taulbee is accused of hitting the boy on his lower back and buttocks,
leaving a large red hand mark,” the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Correction: Previously, this post contained a misspelling of the word “Cincinnati.” It has since been amended. We apologize for any confusion.
Image courtesy Ohio Municipal Court
Father Beats 6-Year-Old Over Poor Video Game Play [GamePolitics]

Original post by Earnest Cavalli

Given the long tradition of downloadable add-ons for the main Halo series, it should come as no surprise that Microsoft has revealed an upcoming DLC pack for strategy spin-off Halo Wars.
Dubbed "Strategic Options," the add-on includes three new gameplay types. "Keepaway" is your standard Capture the Flag gametype, "Reinforcement" pits you against an enemy army while forced to use an ever-changing set of units and "Tug of War" tasks you with building up a huge army faster than your foe, before using said army to assault your opponent.
Additionally, the DLC includes four new achievements, for a total of 100 gamerpoints:

“One and Done” (30 points):  Score the winning point in a game of Keepaway against Legendary A.I.’s
“Pull Hard, Pull Deep” (20 points):  Win and never trail in a Tug of War game
“Freak on a Streak” (20 points):  Gain at least 15 population from a single wave in a Reinforcement game
“Living Loving [...]

Original post by Earnest Cavalli

Alongside a cinematic preview of Killzone 2’s first downloadable add-on, Sony has finally issued a price for the upcoming DLC, according to a post on Sony’s PlayStation.Blog.
When it hits the PlayStation Network Store on April 30, Killzone 2 fans will be able to download the add-on for $6. In case you missed our previous coverage, the “Steel & Titanium” pack includes two new multiplayer maps.
Given the history of DLC on consoles, I expected the pack to run at least $10. $3 seems like a pretty reasonable entry fee given the scope and aesthetics of the maps — especially considering that Killzone 2 was sold almost entirely on the strength of its visual appeal.
Killzone 2 DLC price and trailer [PlayStation.Blog]
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Killzone 2 DLC Arrives This Month

Original post by Earnest Cavalli

Gomibako, the puzzle-game-in-a-trash-can that delighted the people who were actually able to find it at Tokyo Game Show, is coming to the U.S. under the title Trash Panic.
Sony will release the downloadable puzzle game later this spring on PlayStation 3. As we saw at TGS, it’s Tetris with trash — big, oddly-shaped pieces of garbage lower into a can, and you have to organize them properly without letting it overfill. Sometimes you get a piece of flaming garbage that you can use to burn anything that’s combustible. Sometimes there’s a piece of trash that’s not trash, and you have to place it in carefully so it can be recovered. The realistic physics make it a very different sort of falling-stuff puzzle experience.
Image courtesy Sony

Original post by Chris Kohler

Muramasa: The Demon Blade, the stunningly animated sidescrolling action game from Odin Sphere developer Vanillaware, is coming to the U.S. thanks to a new publishing agreement just announced by Ignition Entertainment.
Scheduled for release exclusively on the Nintendo Wii in September of 2009, the game tells an almost cliché ninja story, but counterbalances that with the prettiest, most stylized graphics the Wii can produce.
“Ignition Entertainment is immensely proud for the
opportunity to bring Muramasa: The Demon Blade to the legions of North American
gamers yearning for top-quality, original action games on Wii,” said Ignition Entertainment’s
Shane Bettenhausen in the official announcement.
“The talented developers at Vanillaware have crafted an absolutely
stunning adventure through feudal Japan that balances subtle, sophisticated
artistry with razor-sharp, addictive gameplay.”
Image courtesy Ignition Entertainment
See Also:

Muramasa: The Demon Blade Coming to America
Top 11 Most Anticipated Games of 2009
Steven Kent, the Wii Bubble, and Nintendo’s Drinking Problem …

Original post by Earnest Cavalli

It’s hard to write about Sony’s upcoming superhero videogame inFamous without mentioning Microsoft’s 2007 sleeper hit Crackdown. The two games feel awfully similar.

The comparison is intended as a compliment. Crackdown’s blend of Grand Theft Auto-style city sandbox gameplay and superpowers was an addictive combination. What’s more fun than simply driving through a teeming metropolis? Leaping and climbing through it. Scrabbling to the top of skyscrapers, then jumping from building to building. Forget jacking cars — how about throwing them around like Frisbees?
InFamous, scheduled for release next month on PlayStation 3, has the potential to be much more than just a tide-me-over title  for gamers waiting for the inevitable Crackdown 2. It could surpass the competition and be the best game yet in the superhero open-world genre. (Especially since there aren’t very many of them that aren’t crappy, movie-licensed games.)
I played four missions from inFamous, and had a great [...]

Original post by Chris Kohler

A version of Electronic Arts’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 will be bundled with the Wii MotionPlus add-on when it ships on June 15, EA said Tuesday.
The version of the golf game that is packed with Nintendo’s new controller will cost $60, with the regular version of the game priced at $50, EA said. The bundle is a “limited-time offer.”
In Europe, both Tiger Woods and Grand Slam Tennis will be bundled with MotionPlus, which increases the sensitivity of the Wii remote’s motion controls.
This is good news for MotionPlus. If Nintendo is allowing third parties to bundle the add-on in with their games for only an additional $10 cost, it greatly increases the likelihood that third parties will create games that are built around the controller.
On July 26, Nintendo will release Wii Sports Resort, a $50 game that will be bundled with Wii Motion Plus.
Image courtesy Electronic Arts

Original post by Chris Kohler

Good news for fans of Jack Black, umlauts and Tim Schafer: The heavy metal-centric action title Brütal Legend is now scheduled to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 13.
For those who have missed all the gushing excitement over Brütal
Legend so far, it stars Black as a roadie named Eddie sent to a world inspired by the Frank Frazetta-esque album covers of the past few decades. As usual the world is ruled by evil forces and only our protagonist can set things right using his battle axe, guitar and hot rod.
The big draw for most gamers though, seems to be Brütal
Legend creator Tim Schafer. A short list of Schafer’s credits include The Secret of Monkey Island, Psychonauts and Grim Fandango, so Brütal
Legend has quite a pedigree to live up to.
Image courtesy Electronic Arts
See Also:

Eyes On: Jack Black Destroys Demons With Power of Rock in Brutal …
4 New Brutal Legend [...]

Original post by Earnest Cavalli

Square Enix’s acquisition of Eidos is almost complete. Eidos said that the takeover has now been officially approved by the courts, and will go into effect on Wednesday, April 22.
At 5 p.m. London time today, Eidos shares will no longer be traded on the London Stock Exchange. At 6 p.m., all shareholders will receive 32 pence for each share.
[via Gamasutra]

Original post by Chris Kohler

Atari has unveiled the first in-game footage from the Wii version of its upcoming Ghostbusters: The Video Game, perfectly demonstrating the title’s decidedly cartoony aesthetics in action.
I was a bit concerned when the game’s less-than-realistic style was revealed, but having watched this footage I’m actually a bit impressed. It may not capture the style of the beloved Ghostbusters cartoon or the realism of a live-action film, but blending these stylized characters with the voices of Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and the rest of the cast works out pretty nicely.
Plus, that Ghostbusters theme music makes everything instantly better.
See Also:

5 New Screens From Ghostbusters Wii
Video: Ghostbusters Rule 2 Trailer
Sony Says Ghostbusters Games in June
Retired Rick Moranis Won’t Do Ghostbusters Game

Original post by Earnest Cavalli