After a solid year for the Xbox 360 in 2007 many thought the system could never showcase the same amount of quality exclusives in a single year.
In the 2008 Microsoft Game Studios Yearbook, we've compiled a list of this year's graduating class with a detailed account of each title's current status and the stories surrounding them.
From heartbreaking cancellations, surprise feature announcements and expected sequels, the 2008 MGS Yearbook is filled with fun facts and information on your soon-to-be favorite titles. Also included in the yearbook are special joke awards given to each title that releases in 2008 that poke fun at the details most commonly argued about in the comments.
From Ninja Gaiden II to Alan Wake, the 2008 Microsoft Game Studios Yearbook will have something for everyone.
What with super-hero movies going mainstream, it's going to be more and more common to see licenses such as those being used to appeal to the main stream in other entertainment industries. Like the games industry for instance...
Now we had never heard of Marvel's Super Hero Squad before this, but it is apparently a action figure line similar to Kubricks, and Marvel now has an animated series on the way, along with the THQ-published game. Not much is known about the game at the moment, but lets face it, it's a kid's game, based on a kid's line of cheap toys, based on comics. You don't need to know any more about it.
A few days ago Game Trailers nabbed the world exclusive first look at the movie adaptation game of The Incredible Hulk and gameplay footage of the Iron Man movie adaptation game as well. Our indifference to the Hulk trailer made us completely glaze over the latest footage of Iron Man. While, so far, the game looks nice we did notice how barren the world is. We've seen very little outside of the desert environment and, even though they're pretty, we'd like to see more before we decide what to think about SEGA's upcoming movie tie-in. So X3F Army, after checking out the footage we ask you ... what do you think?
All ready for Edward Norton's "interesting" green giant film (no, not that green giant) The Incredible Hulk, SEGA just released the debut trailer for The Incredible Hulk video game. And for Hulk purists, you don't have to worry. SEGA didn't switch up anything too drastically seeing that it's one of those ever popular film based games. You'll still be playing a green Hulk, you'll still be strong, you'll still break stuff and you'll still be angry. Very Hulk-like, no? Watch the trailer, decide if you enjoy what you see and, while you're at it, garner an opinion for the film as well. Personally, we're giving both the movie and the game a "meh" and will be focusing our video game destruction appetite towards Prototype.
On Thursday Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and SEGA of America, Inc. announced that the Iron Man video game, based on the upcoming comic book adaptation due out on May 2, will feature the voice talents of film stars Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Terence Howard (Lt. Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes) and Shaun Toub (Yinsen).
Iron Man is the story of billionaire Tony Stark who, during a routine weapons test in the Middle East, is captured and forced to create the ultimate weapon for terrorists. Fearing for his life, Stark decides to create a suit or armor instead and uses it to twart the plans of the evil doers. Upon returning to his normal life Stark decides to upgrade his suit and use it to fight crime as the legendary Iron Man.
2008 seems to be the year of the aniticpated licensed game as the game based on Iron Man looks shockingly good along with our previous love for the upcoming Bourne title. The Iron Man game is set to hit stores day-and-date for pretty much any console around with the film later this year on May 2.
Also, anyone else think it would be funny if the death animation of Iron Man in the game included his chest plate red ringing?
In our effort to become your official Shane Kim news aggregator comes another tidbit from a DICE Summit interview with the Microsoft Game Studios corporate VP conducted by Stephen Totilo from the MTV Multiplayer blog. In the interview Kim confirmed longstanding suspicions that the announced Marvel MMO, Marvel Universe Online, for the Xbox 360 has been canceled. Strange as it may seem, the reasoning behind this cancellation is probably the smartest move on Microsoft's part. "If you really look at the data," Kim explained, "there's basically one [subscription based MMO] that's successful and everything else wouldn't meet our level or definition of commercial success." Of course the MMO he is referring to is Auto Assault.
Posted Nov 14th 2007 11:00AM by Dustin Burg Filed under: News
Ah ha! We think we've come across the unlucky winner of this week's canceled Microsoft gamesearch. And unlike the Price is Right, this winner doesn't get a new dishwasher, car or get to play Plinko. Instead, it's (possibly) getting canceled.
According to whispers into 1UP's ears, the rumor is true and we'll soon find out that (wait for it ...) Marvel Universe Online will be getting axed. This game collaboration between Marvel, Microsoft and Cryptic Studios has been years in the making, but hasn't been openly discussed since an interview way back in 2006. And the odd thing about this Marvel MMO is that nobody (and we mean nobody) is confirming that the game is even in development. Microsoft refuses to talk, Marvel is very hush and Cryptic Studios sidesteps questions when asked. Only time will tell, but even if Marvel Ultimate Online isn't the rumored canceled game, it should still be watching its back. There's definitely some management and development issues going on there. Or maybe they're just being super secret.
Speaking to Gamasutra, Marvel vice president of interactive media Justin Lambros intimated that he would like to see classic Marvel fighting games hit game download services like Xbox Live Arcade. Producing games like X-Men: Children of the Atom, Marvel Superheroes and massive fighting mashups like X-Men Vs. Street Fighter and Marvel Vs. Capcom, fighting fans have fond memories of the collaboration between Capcom and Marvel. When asked about the possibility of such games hitting a service like XBLA, Lambros said, "Yeah, those are among my all time favorites. I'm a huge 2D fighting fan... the Marvel Vs. Capcom stuff has a definite close place in my heart, so we definitely wanna see that stuff live on." It seems that there aren't any firm plans to bring back any specific titles, so don't get your hopes up just yet.
Posted Aug 24th 2007 12:30PM by Dustin Burg Filed under: News
Halo fans who like to dabble in some comic book reading every now and then have been eagerly anticipating the Halo: Uprising comic book series since its targeted July 18th release. And after a few delays for which we don't know the reason for Bungie and Marvel are ready to release the first of four in the Halo: Uprising comic book series. The first comic officially went on sale August 22nd and its story will fill in the gap between where Halo 2 ended and Halo 3 begins. We're sure the story and artwork are top notch, so fork over your $4 and purchase a copy whenever you visit your local comic book shop. That is, if comic book shops still exist (kidding!).
Major Nelson gave word that the Hero and Villian packs are finally available on Xbox Live Marketplace. You can buy the Hero or Villian packs individually for 500 MS Points a piece, or if you're a thrifty fanboy, can get both packs for 800 MS Points. Also available is a trailer for the packs so people can have a look at the content before they buy it. So, now that the wait is finally over, are you going to pick any of these packs up? If so, which ones, and does it have to do with the added Achievements?
Bits and pieces of info concerning the upcoming Halocomic from Marvel have been slipping through the cracks for a while now, but today we have uncovered what appears to be the cover for the first issue (click for full size). It appears that the Chief (or whichever Spartan is seen here) is wearing the Halo 3 variant of Mjolnir armor (notice the plating over the hands), so we can expect the comic series to focus on events after Halo 2. We don't know much more about the comic except that it is titled Uprising. The comic should hit newsstands in July. Anyone plan on picking it up?
After waiting around all day staring at the Xbox Live Marketplace (what a living), the new content for Marvel: Ultimate Alliance still hasn't arrived. Naturally, we're a little confused, as a trailer was released on Marketplace just to let us know that the content would arrive April 10th (i.e. yesterday). The trailer has now been pulled, and the official Marvel: Ultimate Alliance website says nothing of the content beyond the original announcement that was made last month. Of course, it's possible the content failed the certification process, in which case fans could be waiting a while to get their hands on the new heroes and villains.
Was anyone out there looking forward to this new DLC?
Update: The sheer magnitude of all the super villainy contained in this post created a time vacuum, thus shoving the post backwards in time an entire day. The evil has since been rectified and the post returned to its proper time.
TeamXbox has unearthed a few screenshots of the upcoming downloadable content (DLC as the kids call it) for Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. The screens include some shots of Venom, Magneto, the Hulk, Dr. Doom, Hawkeye, Cyclops, and Sabretooth. Not pictured, unfortunately, is Nightcrawler. The new content will be available sometime this month at several price points. The Villain pack or the Hero pack will be available for 500 points each, or you can pick the heroes and villains in a single pack for 800 points. In addition to the new heroes and villains, the DLC will come with new achievements as well.
Of course, the question is, are new characters and achievements worth 800 points?
Update: Cyclops and Hawkeye are in the shots. We missed them because we were too busy staring at the Hulk.
It looks like the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance content that was announced last month is nearing completion. The news comes from GameDaily.biz, though it seems the original article has been removed. Luckily, Evil Avatar has captured the important bits. The content pack is set to bring 8 different heroes and villains to the game, including Hawkeye, Magneto, the Incredible Hulk, Nightcrawler, Sabretooth, Doctor Doom (!), Cyclops, and Venom (!!). The Hero Pack and Villain Pack will set you back 500 points each, or you could grab all 8 in one pack for a cool 800. Individual gamer pictures will also be available for 80 points each. No release date has been confirmed.
Are you willing to drop the MS Points to breathe new life into Marvel?
Update: As awesome as Magneto is, he doesn't deserve to be listed twice. Added Nightcrawler, who richly deserves to be there.
1UP posted an optimistic preview of Marvel's upcoming Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer game for the Xbox 360. In talking with the senior producer we learn that Fantastic Four: ROTSS will incorporate a fleshed out team system that uses "fusion attacks". These fusion attacks will allow characters in the game to team up and dish out the pain. We also know that the story will be 50% original and 50% from the movie sequel. We don't learn much more than that, as we'll just have to wait to see if the game is what 2K promises it to be. Until then, we have a few screenshots to keep your belly full and nothing but optimism on our end.
