Posts with tag konami
Joystiq's updates the Instrument Compatibility Matrix
XBLA: Double D Dodgeball, Coffeetime Crosswords & Live Draft Tracker
First up is Coffeetime Crosswords, a crossword puzzle game with over 150 puzzles. Coffeetime Crosswords features a co-op mode for up to 2 players (local only) to work together to solve difficult puzzles. Coffeetime Crosswords is another stellar Konami release, weighs in at 42MB and is priced at 800MS points.
Double D Dodgeball from Yukes is a dodgeball game (Sup, powers of deduction?). Featuring up to 4 players locally or 8 players online, D-triple is described as a retro-style dodgeball game. The tiny 17MB download is also priced at 800MS points. Originally D-triple was scheduled to hit the XBLA on July 30, so either it was pushed forward, released by accident or something secret was supposed to release but was postponed.
Lastly is the EA Fantasy Football Live Draft Tracker, which isn't exactly an Arcade game, per se. The Tracker acts as the middle man between EA's online fantasy leagues. Using the tracker commissioners who host league drafts offline and in-person can import your fantasy league settings. Once settings are established, players can select their picks with the tool and then upload completed drafts to their online accounts on EA's Fantasy Sports website. The tracker is priced at 400MS points.
E3 XBLA release is ... Coffeetime Crosswords? [update]
Barring any surprises, it's looking like the tradition has been broken.
Update: Looks like we might be getting another XBLA game after all.
Gallery: Coffeetime Crosswords (XBLA)
Konami takes Harmonix to court over Rock Band
When the video game music genre gets too tough to compete, Konami has a master plan. They say screw trying to develop something new and innovative or even attempting to copy their competitors. Why go through all that work when you can sue?This past Wednesday in a Texas District Court, Konami filed a lawsuit against Harmonix, MTV Games and EA claiming that Rock Band infringes on three of their patents. Specifically, Konami claims that several of their patents from older titles like Guitar Freaks, Drummania, and Pop'n Music were ignored and therefore Rock Band is a franchise based on lies and deceit. What happend to the whole idea of music bringing people together?
Japan gets another shmup: Otomedius Gorgeous, or, Why we need to have another Steel Battalion
While the news that the 360 as a platform is seeing more support from Japanese developers, we do wish that that support was coming to these shores. In a move that reminds us of the good old days of large and unnecessary controllers with even more unnecessary features (hit eject or lose you game save!) the release of Otomedius Gorgeous! will be accompanied by a, ahem, Hyper Stick Pro. Otomedius Gorgeous! is a port of the partially touch-screen controlled popular Japanese arcade shoot 'em up, and to emulate the touch screen the Hyper Stick actually includes a built in touchpad just for this game.
As we said, it seems rather unlikely that this title and its crazy controller will hit western shores, but the above picture reminded us heavily of some of the best overblown controllers of our happy memories. True they are totally unnecessary for most any other game, but these things had a charm all there own, and practicality is not one of them. *Sigh* Oh well, you can still check out the hilariously awesome trailer after the break.
As we said, it seems rather unlikely that this title and its crazy controller will hit western shores, but the above picture reminded us heavily of some of the best overblown controllers of our happy memories. True they are totally unnecessary for most any other game, but these things had a charm all there own, and practicality is not one of them. *Sigh* Oh well, you can still check out the hilariously awesome trailer after the break.
PES 2009 corners into Europe this Autumn
As some of us pour one out for our fallen countrymen of Portugal, Croatia, Netherlands and Italy, we take solace in the fact that digital soccer football will return to Europe this Autumn. Konami today announced that its popular football franchise, Pro Evolution Soccer, will release its 2009 edition later this year for European consumers. Known for its realism and hardcore gamplay, PES 2009 attempts to capture videophiles with a newly revamped graphics engine and standard pitch-perfect (see what we did there?) animation. While PES 2008 was riddled with wacky bugs, the 2009 season promises to bring the series back to its roots of being the football game to beat. No release dates for other regions have been determined. If it's half as good as they claim it to be, all we can say is hurry!
XBLA in Brief: Frogger 2 and Commando 3
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Commando 3, Frogger 2 shoot and hop to XBLA
Frogger 2 adds a much needed story mode to the classic hopping adventure that tackles such hot-button issues as high gas prices, world economy and wart control. At least part of the previous sentence is not accurate.
Gallery: Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3
Rumor: Original Metal Gear Solid on XBLA?
According to Ripten, who say their source spotted "the game on a certain pre-release network", Metal Gear Solid could in fact be on the way to an XBLA release. If their source is to be believed, the game appearing on PartnerNet is almost a guarantee that it will see release at some point (though sometimes many months later, as was the case with Ikaruga.) While the Xbox isn't traditionally the home of the series, a port of the second game did find its way there, so perhaps a port of the first isn't so out of the question after all.
MGS4 takes a jab at non-HD disc formats
This is a momentous week for Playstation 3 owners. You see, Metal Gear Solid 4 comes out this week (perhaps you've heard). Metal Gear Solid 4 essentially is the game that will make the console. Apparently it's not enough just to make a good game, though. It appears that MGS4's creators feel the need to extol the benefits of the PS3 as you play. Alternately, one could argue that the game denigrates certain other consoles. Now, we're not trying to incite any flame wars here (though that's basically inevitable), and we know the video has tongue planted firmly in cheek, but it also smells ever so slightly of "inferiority complex." See the evidence after the break (note: MGS4 fans looking to avoid any spoilers should not watch). And remember kids, we're just the messengers.
Frogger 2 & Commando 3 xbox.com pages appear
While there has yet to be major news of them, both Frogger 2 and Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 now have their respective xbox.com pages online. Judging from the screens Frogger 2 doesn't look like its Dreamcast cousin, using sprites, a new kiddy art style, and possibly more puzzles. Commando 3 on the other hand is an arcade shooter with that Incredibles/TF2/BFH art style that seems to be gaining in popularity lately. While Frogger is a bit of a quantity, Commando 3 could be a pleasant surprise if it manages to differentiate itself from the myriad of other arcade shooter currently on XBLA. Release dates are of course unknown, but our best guess would be before the month is out.
Gallery: Frogger 2
Gallery: Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3
[Read, Frogger 2]
[Read, Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3]
New Silent Hill: Homecoming screens damage psyche
Gallery: Silent Hill: Homecoming (5/21/08)
Frogger 2 achievements reveal possible DC port
When Frogger 2 was revealed (courtesy of the ESRB) to be coming to XBLA, there was some speculation as to which version of the game would end up being ported over. There was the original and then the later update, the latter of which was the game with the most content and most recent release, but the Live Arcade has seen older games show up too. Now that the achievements have been revealed, we can see from their details that they definitely refer to things that the later game had, but the earlier didn't. Given that this will be a port, let's hope that the netcode is that of the PC version, because XBLA hasn't had the best of luck with the online portion of Dreamcast ports.
Achievement list after the break.
Continue reading Frogger 2 achievements reveal possible DC port
Funny endings return for Silent Hill: Homecoming
We'd be hard-pressed to disagree, as the humorous endings (spoilers ... sort of) serve as a much needed counterbalance to the disturbing, soul-shattering imagery that the series is known for. Oh, and Yamaoka's favorite entry in the series? Silent Hill 2 (ahem ... duh). Check out the full interview after the break.
Continue reading Funny endings return for Silent Hill: Homecoming
Hellboy: Science of Evil: new screens and video
Continue reading Hellboy: Science of Evil: new screens and video
