Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox

No sooner does Sony (briefly) improve the PS3 user interface with the much-talked-about version 2.4 firmware update, than some at the company feel cocky enough to start badmouthing the competition's interface. Speaking to Next-Gen, PlayStation Network Director of Operations Eric Lempel took the bait in taking a few moments to compare Sony's redesigned PlayStation Store to Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace. "I think if I look over at the competitors' UI they may have some issues just displaying content," Lempel said, "and scrolling up and down lists isn't the easiest way to find things." Tell that to McSweeny's, why don'tcha?

Lempel also pointedly pointed out that the PlayStation Store interface has "a lot of room with virtual shelf space to put a lot of things," a not-so-subtle jab at Microsoft's recently announced plan to de-list some Xbox Live Arcade games. "Depending on what type of UI you have you can accommodate a lot of titles," Lempel continued, "and specifically with our new store redesign which launched back in April we have a great ability to merchandise a wide variety of titles." That's all well and good, assuming your PS3 is currently working.

[Via X3F]

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Culture, PC, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

Folks, it's the end of an era. As of last Friday, June 27, Microsoft founder Bill Gates had officially left the company, although he's staying on as non-executive chairman. Engadget spent all day celebrating the man whose company was responsible Windows, Xbox and Flight Simulator. If you're interested, be sure to check out his top ten hits (and misses); Xbox and Xbox 360 make the list (in the hits category), while Games for Windows - Live earns a cameo in the other list.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox

Honey, your coffee just got cold. Lawyers who sued Take-Two Interactive over the hacked "Hot Coffee" sex scene in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas claim that only -- wait for it ... no, really, wait for it -- 2,676 claims were filed. GTA: San Andreas had sold approximately 12 million copies according to Take-Two when the scandal broke in mid-2005, meaning that 0.022% of consumers were actually "offended and upset."

The New York Times writes that, awkwardly, the only real winners in this whole situation are the lawyers who triumphed in the "Hot Coffee" suit against Take-Two. They are seeking $1.3 million in fees, when Take-Two may only pay out about $30,000 in claims. For our international readers, despite what you may have heard about our litigious society, it's not par for the course that lawyers walk away with more settlement cash than their clients. A hearing is scheduled today in the Federal District Court in Manhattan to conclude whether the lawyers will get their money.

Update: Changed GTA: SA sales figures to when "Hot Coffee" hit in mid-2005. Altered percentage.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360

Just because there are Spartans in it doesn't mean it's a history book. Sci-fi scribe Tobias S. Buckell has been tapped to write the sixth novel based on and in the Halo universe, Halo: The Cole Protocol, due this fall.

Buckell is no stranger to the genre, his most recent work, Ragamuffin, having received a 2007 Nebula Award nomination for Best Novel. According to Bungie, The Cole Protocol promises plenty of fan service, focusing on the whereabouts of the Spartan Gray Team and "an unexplored conflict of the Human-Covenant War where unlikely alliances are formed and shattered." Formed and shattered.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox

Always willing to entertain the question "what if," our friends at Nintendo Wii Fanboy have introduced a new column, Born for Wii. In the first edition, Panzer Dragoon Orta is re-envisioned as a Wii title. Control scheme diagrams are included, as well as a proof of concept with the PC version Panzer Dragoon played on the Wii remote. Go on, let your imagination run wild.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Nintendo GameCube, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox, Action

A hero's true worth lies in his ability to overcome the greatest of villains. Metal Gear Solid's slithery protagonist, Snake, has conquered not only the greatest of villains, but the weirdest mustache-twirlers gaming has ever seen.

Be sure to click on the above gallery and join us as we examine our favorite fearsome foes, kooky killers and big bosses.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Culture, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

Forbes, with data supplied by NPD, has released a list of the top-selling games in the US over the last 15 years. NPD only began tracking data 15 years ago, so there may be an outlier from the '80s or early '90s, but it appears the industry really ramped up this millennium, with the top games all being released after 2001.*

Holding on to the top title -- and we imagine not for very much longer -- is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas with 9.43 million units sold. Surprisingly, Guitar Hero III isn't too far behind with 8.2 million. Madden titles occupy four of the top ten spots. Find the full list after the break.

*Figuring it would be brought up, we checked with NPD about the original Pokémon Red and Blue released in 1998. Although they do have different titles, they are arguably the same game. NPD's data shows that Pokemon Red and Blue combined sold 3.1 million units.

[Via GameDaily]

Continue reading The top-selling games in the US over the last 15 years

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox

GameTrailers continues its Metal Gear Retrospective by going over the events of Metal Gear Solid 3 and what went down in the jungle with Naked Snake back in the '60s. The back end of the retrospective episode covers the events of MGS: Portable Ops., which occurred six years after MGS3. For those who didn't play, it's a good chance to fill in the back story of Naked Solid Liquid Geriatric Snake before Metal Gear Solid 4 releases next week.

If you're looking for more, don't forget to check out the other three episodes in the retrospective. You can also learn more about what it's actually like to replay the MGS series by checking out our dear Mr. Kietzmann's b[ack]log.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure

We realize that with yesterday's announcement of "Beyond Good & Evil 2," some folks may have tragically missed out on the first entry in the series. We've put together a quick list of places where those not familiar to the series can get the game and meet up with Jade, Pey'j and -- our favorite personal assistant -- Segundo.

• Steam (PC) -- $10
• GameTap (PC) -- $1 for the first month, $10 after that.
• GameFly (Xbox, PS2 and Gamecube) -- Various rental plan prices, but currently copies are subject to availability.
• GameStop -- Currently, we can only find the somewhat dodgy PS2 version available online for $8. Check your local shop and you may get very lucky.

Those who find a GameCube version can rely on the Wii's backwards compatibility to play the game, and PS3 owners can pop in the PS2 game if their systems support BC. The Xbox 360 currently does not offer backwards compatibility for the Xbox version of BG&E. We're sure there are more corners of the internet to find Jade & Co., but it appears that $10 is what you're likely to pay.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox, Action, Business

We admit that the Wii is capable of many things, arm cramps and printing money chief among them, though even we had not counted resurrection among its laundry list of features. Yet that appears to be the case, at least with regards to formerly defunct original Xbox platformer The Kore Gang (shown above), with the title having been given new life as an upcoming release from Zoink Games and SnapDragon Games for the Wii.

Originally developed by Unique Development Studios, a Swedish outfit that closed its doors in 2004, the game now carries the shorter, and all-capital name KORE. As a title that originally began life on Microsoft's freshman console, thankfully the name is not all that's being revised. Publisher Zoink notes that much work has gone into the game's design and story, which tells of a trio of characters stuffed into a mechanical suit as they protect the center of the earth from bad guys, leaving us hoping that at least one of them is Brendan Fraser.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action

Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge was one of the first real champions for Xbox Live, and has continued to hover near the top of a short list of titles that genuinely deserve sequel treatment. Some hope was given for a follow up to the aerial combat game late last year after Smith & Tinker's Jordan Weisman bought up rights to the license, along with MechWarrior and Shadowrun, though if you're like us the question that has continued to circle overhead is 'when?' The unfortunate answer, according to comments by Airtight designer and former Crimson Skies dev Jose Perez, is not anytime soon.

So what's keeping it grounded? According to Perez, we can lay some of the blame at the feet of Airtight's upcoming sci-fi shooter for Capcom, Dark Void, though he admits that "if the stars aligned, it'd be something we'd definitely be willing to explore again." Publisher Smith & Tinker's Weisman seems to hold more certainty in the franchise's future, however, stating ""I'm absolutely confident of that, because I want to play it." Trust us, we do to.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Adventure

Microsoft's Xbox Originals collection on Xbox Live continues to slowly grow, with two new titles to add to the list next week: Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse, and Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows.

Stubbs the Zombie is an under-appreciated 2005 release from Wideload Games, featuring a satirical film-noir approach to the zombie genre. Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows is, well, another Gauntlet game, this time handled by veteran Doom designer John Romero. Reviews for Gauntlet were, at best, a mixed bag, so Stubbs looks to be the cream of the crop in this Originals installment. Both titles are due for release Monday, May 19 for 1200 MSP each.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox, Galleries

If a picture's worth a thousand words, we'll spare you the copious blabber and lead your eyeballs right to the trailhead (just hop past the break to get started!). Be warned though, the path through Microsoft's Xbox 360 Spring Showcase is a long one (but thankfully smooth and well lit). Be sure to sit a few feet from the screen, rest your eyes between galleries and drink lots of water! Enjoy.

Continue reading Xbox 360 Spring Showcase screenshot roundup

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360

Y'know, just the other day we were saying to ourselves that it seemed like forever since we'd heard a new report of a Microsoft gaming power supply causing a fire. Well, we can't say that anymore, because KTHV is reporting that Little Rock Fire Department Captain Jason Weaver fingered an Xbox 360 power supply as the source of a house fire Monday.

Thankfully no one was hurt in the fire, which did $10,000 worth of damage to the house, but we're a little concerned that it was an Xbox 360 that allegedly caused the fire. Isn't the original Xbox supposed to be the one with the spark-generating, recall-spawning power supply? We thought the Xbox 360's heat problems were usually limited to inside the system (sorry, we had to go there).

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Culture, Nintendo DS, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox, Simulations, Casual

The top-selling video game of all time has just surpassed another milestone, as EA announced that The Sims, which has been released in more than 20 different languages, has now sold 100 million copies the world over since it sprang from the mind of super-developer Will Wright in 2000. The first game's expansion-laden release was followed by The Sims 2 in the fall of 2004, while the recently announced The Sims 3 will drop sometime in 2009, for the first time letting sims venture beyond their front doors and into the neighborhood.

The idea of 100 million of anything is difficult for us to wrap our brains around, so we cornered Rod Humble, the brand's studio head, to pick his noodle on The Sims, particularly with regards to the franchise's expansion-heavy history. So, with pets, night-life, and even magic tricks to pick from, what add-ons do players continue to ask for that's not yet available? Says Humble, "Right now our players are keen to playing an expansion pack that focuses on living in a big city...other ideas I've seen in the community include a rave/party pack and science fiction pack." Little green sims? We can support that.

Look for the complete interview with the EA exec on The Sims franchise, expansions, and where it goes from here later today.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360

Major Nelson informs that secret agent Sam Fisher and some robots have been discovered covertly trying to sneak onto the Xbox Originals lineup. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Metal Arms: Glitch in the System will be available for 1200 MS points ($15) a piece beginning next Monday (except in Korea and Japan).

As usual, it behooves us to mention that unless it's 3AM and you've got the hankering for an Xbox Originals game, it's probably best to take a look around the intertubes (or a favorite gaming pawnshop) for a better deal.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360

As pointed out by Joystiq expatriate Kevin Kelly, the above picture (text box excluded) was reportedly featured in a recent Yahoo! article on Xbox Live cheating. It seems a bit, erm, antiquated. That, or Yahoo! has some inside scoop on a new Xbox 360 revision that looks exactly like the original Xbox (are they calling it retro yet?). Check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Family Album: Electronic Arts
X3F Week in Review: March 28, 2008 - April 3, 2008

News
Battlestar Galactica XBLA price frak-ed on Saturday
Ubisoft reveals Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.
Alone in the Dark delayed until June
THQ makes Dawn of War II official, coming Spring 2009
Wiiitis captured, explained by MRI
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 rated by OFLC
The Force Unleashed ... unleashed on September 16
IGN says Pandemic making Batman 'for sure,' then pulls story
The four publishers behind GameStop's domination
Sonic Unleashed officially announced, slated for Holiday 2008
Sony underestimated 80GB PS3 demand
Chris O'Donnell joins Max Payne cast
Two Worlds expansion Curse of Souls hits the Marketplace
Research: Game addicts show traits of autism
UMD-nied: Echochrome PSP goes download-only in NA
Mercenaries 2 blowing up August 31
See a new trailer for Halo 3's Legendary map pack
Strong yen prompts Sony to lower production costs
Arkanoid DS headed up North American creek without a paddle
Mr. Driller Online's lag-tastic online play
Def Leppard in Guitar Hero IV confirmed
Nintendo reigns supreme in Japanese hardware and software sales
Puzzle Quest 1.5 gets name, dubbed Revenge of the Plague Lord
PSN Thursday: Gone fishin', enjoy some new store screens

Rumors & Speculation
Analyst: Wii, GTA IV, game industry all winners in '08

Culture & Community
Anti-gaming Times columnist gets 'Coopered' on Amazon

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox

It's been nearly a year and a half since the beginning of the current console war, and supporters of the Wii, PS3, and 360 are still set deep in their trenches, fighting the good fight. Gallons of fanboy blood and immeasurable amounts of bandwidth have been spilled in this epic struggle -- and according to Sandy Duncan, former VP for Xbox Europe, it's all for naught. All gaming consoles, he claims, will "die out" within the next five to ten years.

No, a console-corrupting pandemic isn't going to sweep the planet -- Duncan predicts that dedicated gaming devices will give way to digital distribution through cable and satellite set-top boxes and online gaming options (though considering his executive position with the web-based YoYo games, this could just be simple, doe-eyed optimism). This presents an interesting question: with no consoles to crusade for, what brave new enterprises will the fanboys move on to? Advertising? Public Relations? God help us -- politics?

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360

With Psychonauts and Indigo Prophecy already on Microsoft's Xbox Originals service, we're alarmed to think that we might have something in common with a gigantic corporation: A soft spot for overlooked games rich in narrative. Compounding this realization is next week's addition to the downloadable back-compat lineup, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey.

The sequel to 1999's modern adventure classic (just entitled The Longest Journey) sees new protagonist Zoe stumble across the divide between Stark, a world driven by technology, and the whimsical fantasy realm of Arcadia. Though we can't say Dreamfall is a sterling example of adventure gameplay, it does succeed admirably as an interactive novel. If superb writing and multi-faceted stories draw you in, Dreamfall is well worth the trip (also: mash past the dreadful combat sections). If the 1,200 MS Point ($15) asking price doesn't sit well with you, there are plenty of other options as well.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360

I didn't actually need to hear anything to get the story here. The interview crew were wearing shirts featuring the title question (which I really thought would show up in the picture, but just trust me), and they cornered this Spartan from the 405th Infantry Division. What does green mean to you, guy dressed like the Master Chief?

I felt very lucky to witness this convergence. Such a perfect meeting is like a lol-ar eclipse.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Filed under: Features, Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, First Person Shooters, GDC

The audio track of GDC is an under-appreciated gem of the conferenc