Crave Online's weekly gaming news returns in glorious high-definition! The goal of this feature is to update gamers on a weekly basis with the news that's important, none of the fluff. Every week there is a multitude of gaming news that hits the net. Most of it sucks ass. Who really reads gaming news to find out when the new Barbie game is getting downloadable content? I sure as hell don't, and I'm guessing you don't either. Therefore it's the job of this column to round up the best, most awesome news in the gaming industry, the stuff that makes us excited to be gamers, and condense it into one eatable, bite-size tablet of awesome. So open wide, this pill gets inserted straight up the back-end..
Nintendo DSi Hits Stores!
Launching this past Sunday, April 5th, the latest incarnation of the Nintendo DS, the DSi, is now available for all to buy. While I didn't understand the draw at first, due to the removal of the GBA slot for a camera, I now want one due to the DSiWare and the eventual ability to download a shitload of classic Nintendo games ranging all the way back to the NES. The mere thought of having games such as Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Star Fox, Super Mario Bros. 3, Turtles In Time, and many more on my DSi for traveling is orgasmic. The system retails for $169.99, so if you don't already have a DS, do yourself a favor and pick this up, and if you already do own the original DS, or the DSLite, think real hard about how cool it would be to play some classic games and decide accordingly.
Iron Fist playable in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
The latest playable character for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 has been revealed to be none other than Danny Rand, aka Iron Fist. I know a lot of comic fans cruise this site and I'm sure this news is pretty spectacular as young Danny has seen a lot of buzz lately due to his exceptionally awesome solo comic series entitled "The Immortal Iron Fist." I would even go as far to say that it's the best thing Marvel has published in years because of Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, and David Aja's 16+ part epic, with the series still firing on all cylinders under Duane Swierczynski. So get ready to throw some sweet Burning Dove Chops, some Drunken Wasp Stings, and of course the good ol' Brooklyn Headbutt when Ultimate Alliance 2 releases. Here is a trailer for Iron Fist from Marvel.com.
PS3 Firmware 2.70 Released
If you booted up your Playstation 3 this past week you were treated to a lovely surprise in the form of the latest system firmware update, version 2.70. While this all seems awesome I can't help but be pissed off and irritated at Sony's decision to leave out private voice chat with a friend, instead opting to include a "text chat" feature. Now I don't know about you, but text chatting while you're trying to play a game is extremely frustrating, not to mention sorely outdated. Microsoft included the ability to have private chats with friends while playing different games from the launch of their console, which has since been updated to have an entire party take part in a single behind-the-scenes chat. And all Sony could do to compete with that is the ability to text a friend while in-game? Really?
To further shoot themselves in the foot, Sony included a demo video on their Playstation Blog of the new "Text Chat" in action. My favorite part is at the 50 second mark when our buddy Eric Lempel, Director of Playstation Network Operations, goes completely silent to text his friend a message to join him in a game of Killzone 2. A message that could have been delivered in probably 3 seconds takes Eric roughly 4 times that amount. Not to mention he has to pause from the intense fragging to hit up the PS button menu and find his chat log. It just seems really ass-backwards and also has that feeling about it that Sony doesn't have better ideas for future updates so they're saving the one everyone wants--private voice chatting--for a later date to make up for the lack of other future improvements. Now I love my Playstation 3, but this is bad form on Sony's part.
For those interested, here is the rest of the Firmware 2.70 updates taken straight from the Playstation Blog.
Friends list on the XMB (XrossMediaBar)
· Sort your friends via their online status
· Attach larger files to the messages you send to your friends (file size will increase from 1MB to 3MB)
Video delivery service on PlayStation Store
· Video files you’ve purchased from the PlayStation Store can be backed up to an external storage device and then restored to PS3’s internal hard drive for playback – so you can clear up space on your hard drive and then restore the video anytime in the future
· Videos you’ve purchased for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system can now be transferred to PS3 for playback
Assassin' Creed 2 Teaser Trailer
A hint riddled teaser trailer for Assassin's Creed 2 has arrived online which seems to reveal the setting for the latest game in the series. Looks like we're going back to the Renaissance.
Prototype story trailer
Here is a cool trailer for Prototype showing off the characters of the game and a general idea of what the plot will be. Alex Mercer, and his sister, look a little bit emo of my tastes but the game looks like a roided out Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (as if the concept of Hulk wasn't already a 'roid freak) and that sounds awesome. The fact they make such a big deal of the city, and how it changes over the course of the game, really helps draw the player into the environment and experience. I also think this "Web of Intrigue" is a creative way of piecing together the narrative and keeping players on their toes for every twist and turn the developers throw at you.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/47586.html
Jak and Daxter returns to PS2 and PSP
This has to be an April Fool's Joke, or at least that's what I thought when the news of a new Jak and Daxter game hit the net on 4/1/09. First rule of April 1st is that you never trust anything, especially on the internet. However, it's no joke, and I couldn't be more ecstatic. It has become my mission to play this game when it releases. Although I no longer own a PS2, my PS3 isn't backwards compatible, and I never got on the PSP train. So I'm 0/3. But if I need to get a new PS2 (price did just drop to $99), or buy a PSP, then so be it. This game will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.
Taking place after the events of Jak 3, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier is an all new adventure where Daxter does indeed sport his new pants. It will combine action, adventure, platforming, and vehicles just like fans of the series expect. The only downside to this game is it isn't being developed by Naughty Dog, creators of the franchise. It is instead being handed off to High Impact games, responsible for such titles as Daxter, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, and Secret Agent Clank--all Sony PSP titles. While I would've liked Naughty Dog to helm the next phase of their classic franchise, High Impact Games has a good pedigree and I wish them luck. And if Naughty Dog is reading this--while I'm looking forward to Uncharted 2 guys, please make a Jak and Daxter title for the PS3. Please!
Resident Evil 5 Versus Mode hits Marketplace/ PSN
By the time this article hits, the Resident Evil 5 Versus mode will be on Xbox Live Marketplace and Playstation Network for $4.99, or the equivalent in Microsoft Points. Here is what Capcom says about their Versus mode:
"Versus allows up to four players to match wits in online battles across two very different game types. Slayer's Rule is a point-based game that challenges players to kill Majinis. In Survivor's Rule, players hunt the most dangerous game, each other! Players can begin the hunt as Chris, Sheva or other secret characters, and choose from either one-on-one or two-versus-two team matches for either of the two game-play styles."
While I can't really see how Resident Evil 5's game-play will lead to an addictive online shooter experience, making gamers give up on Gears of War 2 or Call of Duty, it is a nice bonus for fans of the series, as well as incentive to keep the game in their disc drives after they've completed it multiple times. Although, as my roommate has mentioned, with the inability to move while shooting how is the game not going to be a recreation of the Revolutionary War--with all combatants standing ten feet from each other firing until one remains? Would be cool if Capcom acknowledged this and included a musket...
