Amazon.com Video Games Editors' Blog http://amazon.com/o/redirect?tag=thewholeedcatalo&path=../../gp/blog/id/A10MM9OMJWEBP3/ Subscribe to Amazon.com Video Games Editors' Blog (Resyndicated)]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:21:49 GMT Feed43 Proxy/1.0 (www.feed43.com) 360 b975d7a3b8b1c824fe5b9e9fc911ef43 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=thewholeedcatalo&camp=1789&creative=9325&path=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fplog%2Fpost.html%2Fref%3Dcm_blog_pl%3F%255Fencoding%3DUTF8%26pt%3DpersonalBlog%26aid%3DPlogMyCustomersAgent%26ot%3Dcustomer%26pd%3D1149285836.62%26pid%3DPMCA10MM9OMJWEBP3at%26iid%3DA10MM9OMJWEBP3 Historically the console core gaming market has had a love affair with bashing zombies and for good reason. They are numerous, slow, and splatter on impact. Yet as fun as a session of hack and slash with the undead can be, M-rated titles are generally a hard sell on the family-centric Wii platform. So, how does Nintendo hope to get around this with the upcoming Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop? Three words: music video marketing.

Enlisting the aid of Japanese pop-punk band Gagaga SP, the video below for Chop Till You Drop shows that zombies are not all bad, or at least that we can all get along, as the boys from the band take the stage as zombies and belt out the tune "Dead Rising." Any actual violence is comically censored, game hero and zombie killer extraordinaire Frank West takes the stage with the band at one point and there is also a nod to the "Thriller" video as well. Kind of cool stuff here. I'm not sure how many games it will sell, but it is an entertaining and interesting piece of advertising evolution in the video games arena. The game releases February 24, but in the meantime check out the video.


--Hobson's Choice
In topics: Game Culture, Nintendo
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Streaming Video Service(s) Coming to the Wii in 2009

2:14 PM PST, December 29, 2008
As dominant as the Wii has been since its launch, a consistent knock on the system, as well as a soapbox for some who have called it a fad, is that it doesn't feature video functionality. Of course this isn't necessary for the Wii to succeed as a gaming device. It has done that and more. But with the Xbox 360, and to a lesser extent the PS3, attracting non-gamers with their video on-demand options, Nintendo will be offering a streaming video option in 2009. This Nintendo specific service will apparently be separate from the anime downloads that will also be available to Wii owners in Japan via Fuji Soft's 'Everyone's Theater Wii service.'

The catch to the Nintendo specific video option is that like all things Nintendo, the service will launch first in Japan and no releases information has been made available for the rest of the world. No problem. It will get to the masses eventually and it looks like it will be a VERY stripped down version of what, for example Xbox 360 owners enjoy both via download on LIVE Marketplace and via streaming video through Netflix. Nintendo is partnering with Japanese ad firm Dentsu Inc. to develop the functionality, which will feature original Nintendo programming, possibly with advertising, priced anywhere from free to a few hundred points. So, that said we are almost certainly looking at an entirely gaming centric offering here, versus diversification into movies, TV and the like that is available on the other consoles. Sorry middle America, but you might want to put down those popcorn bowls because that sounds very different from video on-demand.

It could be that Everyone's Theater Wii Service could fill this niche to some extent, but if not, is Nintendo shooting itself in the foot by not taking the leap? Not at all. A quick peek at November '08 sales confirms that the Wii continues to dominate the console gaming roost, and will almost certainly continue to do so for some time to come. The PS3 seems to be lagging in sales as the new year closes in, leaving very manageable competition from Xbox 360. Even if this functionality ends up being little more than a new and improved version of the existing Nintendo Channel, Nintendo may be fine with that. They are a gaming company and figure that they are safe sticking with what works. It would seem that they are right.

--Hobson's Choice
In topics: Game Culture, Nintendo
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Free Songs for "Guitar Hero World Tour" Available Through 12/31

11:11 AM PST, December 29, 2008
Looks like Activision is willing to serve up a few freebies to boost end of the year sales of the guitar kit version of Guitar Hero World Tour for PS3 and Xbox 360. I'm not sure when this offer started, but through 12/31 all owners of this version of the game can register to receive five free downloadable songs.

Of course there are three versions of the game, the guitar-only one that applies to the offer, the full band version and the game only version, so, don't get too excited yet. But if you happened to get your stocking stuffed with this guitar-only version, or you have had it from day one, you should definitely cash in while you can. All you will need are your serial number (it's not clear if this is from the game or the guitar), your owner ID from your game manual and this Web address. You select your five tracks from a list of the following ten:
  • Blind Melon's "No Rain"
  • Boston's "Rock and Roll Band"
  • Foreigner's "Hot Blooded"
  • The Killers' "Human"
  • Nirvana's "Silver"
  • Oasis' "The Shock of the Lightning"
  • R.E.M.'s "Supernatural Superserious"
  • Racontuers "Salute Your Solutions"
  • Rick Springfield's "Jesse's Girl"
  • Smashing Pumpkins "The Everlasting Gaze"
Free is free, so all in all not a bad deal if you are playing solo. One last thing though. According to a Destructoid posting the other day it will take 4-6 weeks for Activision to get information out to registrants on how and when to download the free tracks. So, don't burn through the tracks included with the game quite yet.

--Hobson's Choice
In topics: Play this!, Xbox, PlayStation
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Metallica Posts Trailer for "Guitar Hero: Metallica" on The Band Site

3:34 PM PST, December 19, 2008
Although the existence of Guitar Hero: Metallica was only just made official the other day, it has been no secret that the game has been under development. Activision went so far as to insert a Metallica teaser into the video section of Guitar Hero World Tour. Maybe this is why the band has taken it upon themselves to post a trailer for the upcoming game on their Website. I may be giving Metallica too much credit for what comes across as a classic Rock 'n Roll nose-thumbing tactic at the 'powers that be,' especially since Metallica pretty much is one those powers at this point, but I'll assume that credit is due. Regardless, with the gaming industry press rife with back and forth opinions that guitar-based music games have reached their peak, I'm sure that Activision is welcoming any and all the press they can get.

Although the trailer does look slick, what it really does is fire up memories of the old Metallica; the teenage, pimple-faced, head-banging, pre short hair and piercings Metallica. From the trailer's use of the band's slow to fast classic, "Master of Puppets," to visuals and verbiage that call to mind the band's even earlier thrash-fest of an album "Ride the Lightening," the game looks like it is set on tying into the 'loud-fast-rules' ethic that was the essence of what rock meant in some circles and perhaps still does in others. This may just be me talking here, but I happened to be around in the mid-80s when Metallica made the move from LA up to the Easy Bay area of Northern California. Drawing legions of Metalheads at every show, they vowed to make it even though nobody was willing to give them radio airplay. Not that long after, they got all the success they could have wanted and more, which over the years eventually led them pretty far away from those early days of high octane Speed Metal. I'm glad to see that they are getting back to those days, if only in animated form.

Click the image below to be directed to the video. Rockin' stuff and way worthy of a game:


--Hobson's Choice
In topics: Nintendo, Play this!, Xbox, PlayStation
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"Rock Band" Mic Brings Heckling to The Show in "MLB 09"

1:25 PM PST, December 19, 2008
You may not be able to smuggle a bottle of water into a Major League park these days, but according to an ESPN report players entering the world MLB '09 The Show will be able to get their Rock Band mics past security to add a little home crowd flavor to the game.Yup, what's a ball game without a few vocal knuckleheads in the crowd? As part of the franchises ongoing push for further authenticity players will be able to utilize the Rock Band mic to raz opposing players. It's early in the proverbial game, but it looks like these little bits of discouragement will be pre-recordable by players and played back as part of chants designed to sound like the whole crowd is mouthing them. The ability to toss out individual rants would be a good idea too.

Considering that at least half the fun of going to a professional baseball game is the action in the crowd, this sounds like a cool use of the mic. I wonder though if opposing teams will have a way of shutting up the crowd, beyond of course parking a few out in lot C? Also, will there will be a way to curb objectionable language during any online multiplayer options? An in-game usher would be sweet. Then again, at that point we'd also need a double-bagger tosser, beer guy, celebrity sightings, mascots, away team fans and an occasional streaker. Something tells me this would get way too complicated to pull off. Oh well, there's always next season. Scratch that suggestion for now. I'll file it away in the brainstorm folder for MLB '15 The MMO.

--Hobson's Choice
In topics: Play this!, PlayStation
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"StarCraft II" Battle Reports Whets the Appetites of the RTS Fans

10:57 AM PST, December 19, 2008
Honestly, it has been a good long while since I've played any StarCraft, but seeing as StarCraft II is on the horizon, I've been meaning to polish up my real-time strategy (RTS) chops in the hopes of not getting massacred on day one of its arrival at Battle.net. So, needless to say I wasn't terribly upset when the 2008 release date for the initial StarCraft II release was pushed (there will also be Feed43 service

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