Section: Gaming News, Features, Japanese Imports, Previews, Handhelds, PSP, Genres, 3D, Bishoujo, Sim

Tecmo will be redefining the word “handheld” with its latest announcement, Dead or Alive Paradise, which promises to bring everyone’s favorite batch of barely clothed busty babes to Sony PSP owners in Japan this coming Spring 2010.

Paradise is what you might call a stripped down (pun intended) version of the Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball (DOAX) series. DOAX is a game that revolves around the lovely ladies of the DOA series prancing around in sometimes barely-existent bikinis on a beautiful private beach doing anything but fighting.

In fact, they take their competitive spirits to the sandy shores for games of volleyball and the glistening waves for relaxing jet ski races. An integral part of the game includes wooing the various girls vacationing on the beach by buying them an assortment of gifts including skimpy swimwear. Thrown into the mix were a slew of quirky but sexy mini-games including butt bouncing and water sliding.

Paradise is based on a cell phone port of DOAX that only featured the mini-games and, of course, showcase your beloved beauties in their best buxom beach suit.

Unfortunately, Tecmo hasn’t said anything about a new installment to the DOA fighting series but, with this new game, there are sure to be a slew of fans who’d rather make love instead of war.

Site [Dead or Alive Paradise] Read [Joystiq]

Full Story ? | Written by Janine Dong for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, Exclusives, Features, Consoles, Xbox-360

This Tuesday (November 17, 2009) Microsoft unleashed a new update for it’s Xbox 360 system.

The new update includes the ability to use a bigger screen, a clearer picture and accessibility from the comfort of your living room couch.

To access all this cool stuff, you need an Xbox live membership, and of course an Xbox 360 system. All these updates are available now, and you should see it right when you log onto your profile.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Facebook:

Almost everyone in the world is on Facebook; Now you can access it from your 360 console. Update your status, leave messages for your friends, play games and upload pictures, just like you would on your computer. You can also compare your Xbox Live and Facebook friends lists to see which of your friends are on Xbox Live .

• Zune:

Listen to music and watch videos right from your 360 with instant-on HD in 1080p and 5.1 channel surround sound. You don’t even have to wait for buffering or downloading, the video or song is there as quickly as a button push. You can also share your music with up to six friends through Avatar integration and voice chat.

• Twitter:

Along with telling people what you are doing every second of the day, you can also view friend profiles, trends and conversations, and search to see if anyone is tweeting about your favorite game.

• Last.fm:

This feature allows you to listen to your own personal radio station right on your 360. You can skip, ban, or love a song is it seems fit; create your perfect mix. There are even now “gamer stations” with game related and styled music, picked just for the gaming community.

Site [Xbox] Read [Stage Select]

Full Story ? | Written by Jessica Moen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, PCs, Genres, MMO, Updates

Who says print is dead? World of Warcraft, the game that has spawned an entire subculture of fans (and millions of happy subscribers/addicts) will soon be getting its very own print publication. According to GameDaily, the new mag will be a quarterly publication, available to fans for the rather steep price (for four issues!) of $39.95 per year.

However, the production sounds pretty fantastic. There will be no ads (so this puppy will be entirely subscription-based), and yes, you can only get it if you sign up and pay up. The very first issue will feature 148 pages (massive for a gaming-oriented publication), complete with a bonus “fifth anniversary perspective about the evolution of the game, it’s future, and top tips from top guild leaders”.

If you really, really love WoW (and I realize, that speaks to many folks), this sounds like the ultimate way to stay tapped in to the community. I personally love a good, well-produced print magazine (RIP, Electronic Gaming Monthly!), so I’m all in favor of resurrecting the format, especially for specialized audiences. In fact, this model only really makes sense for a loyal, premium-paying target (otherwise, gamers get their news, reviews and commentary almost exclusively online these days).

If you’re interested, mosey on over to the magazine’s official site and check it out.

Read [GameDaily] Site [WoW Magazine]

Full Story ? | Written by Danielle Riendeau for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, Consoles, PS2, PS3

Kiddies, you may want to sit down for this one. I have some bad news.

During a chat with ArsTechnica, Sony Computer Entertainment of America’s marketing director, John Koller, the longtime question of what Sony plans to do about PlayStation 2 backwards compatibility on PlayStation 3 was asked and met with a disturbing answer:

“It’s not coming back, so let me put that on the table,” Koller says…

“It’s not as big as a purchase intent driver as you may be hearing,” he claimed. “We’ve got such a substantial lineup of titles on the PS3; most people are buying the PS3 for PS3 games. They’re buying it for PS3 games and Blu-ray movies.

“That won’t be returning.”

Sadly, I’m inclined to think Sony is meaning it this time around. The newly introduced PS3 Slim is apparently going to be the future of the PlayStation 3 according to Mr. Koller in the same interview, this means all the features the Slim has and doesn’t have are all we will be getting, probably until Sony introduces the PlayStation 4. A major bummer considering that PS2 backwards compatibility is one of the things that pushed me into purchasing the once $600 console, especially since the patch released upscaling PS2 games.

This news doesn’t mean that Sony couldn’t bring PS2 games to the PlayStation Store ala the PSOne games it currently provides but then you have to wonder, what are they waiting for?

According to the July 2009 NPD numbers, the PlayStation 2 was the lowest selling of the three Sony systems, the second time in two consecutive months the system has fallen behind (it was also last in June). If Sony was waiting for consumers sales of the PlayStation 2 to slow down before they bring back PS2 and PS3 integration, now would seem to be the time to make their move.

As for the quote about consumers buying the PS3 for PS3 games, has Sony really given said consumers a choice in the last couple of years (60GB models were discontinued in 2007)?

Alright readers, sound off in the comment section below.

Read [ArsTechnica] Also Read [1UP] Also Read [Shacknews] Also Read [JoystickRadio]

Full Story ? | Written by Kris Rosado for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, Consoles, PS2, PS3, Handhelds, PSP, Game-Companies, Developers, Publishers, Genres, 2D, 3D, Action, Adventure, Casual, FPS, Shooter, MMO, Online, Party, Puzzle, Racing, Role-Playing, Sim, Strategy, CCG & TCG, Conventions, GamesCom

There has been a serious information explosion from Sony at GamesCom 2009 today, which rivals, and perhaps even puts to shame, the E3 2009 Sony press conference. After comparing the announcements, I’m definitely feeling more excited now.

The main announcement was the confirmation of a $299 slimmer PS3 that comes packaged with a 120 GB hard drive. The new version of the system will debut September, 2009. All existing PS3 models will experience a $100 price drop and will also cost $299 starting August 19, 2009. The new PS3 slim is 2/3 the size of the original PS3, and also uses 2/3 the power of the original PS3. It also comes with system software 3.00, has the Bravia Sync feature which lets you use a remote control, comes with a vertical stand and doesn’t allow other operating systems to be installed on it.

There’s also a big expansion coming to the PlayStation Store that PS3 and PSP owners have been waiting and begging for, TV shows and movies. Content for each region’s video section will be different and specifically tailored for that region, but it’s still great to know that it’s coming in November, 2009 for both the PS3 and PSP.

Europe will also be getting some new PSP colors soon. There will be Blossom Pink and Turquoise Green PSP-3000s released. The green PSP will also be available in a LittleBigPlanet bundle, in case you’re interested.

Some other major PSP announcements concern two new additions to the PlayStation Store. The first are minis, which are games that will be under 100mb. Minis will first be made available in North America and Europe on October 1, 2009. So there’ll be more downloadable goodness for PSPgo owners, especially since Sony is promising around 50 minis by the end of 2009 and EA is commiting to Sudoku and Tetris minis. The other big announcement is that digital reader is finally on the way, and will be in the North American and European PlayStation Stores in December, 2009. Marvel Comics, iVerse Media, Image Comics and IDW Publishing are among the comic companies who have commited to making content available via the service.

Sont also released a cavalcade of information about the following forthcoming games:

• Heavy Rain (PS3)
• ModNation Racers (PS3)
• Invizimals (PS3, PSP)
• Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time (PS3)
• Eye of Judgement (PSP)
• echoshift (PS3, PSP)
• Buzz! Quiz World (PS3, PSP)
• Fat Princess (PSP)
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
• SingStar Take That (PS2, PS3)
• White Knight Chronicles (PS3)
• MAG (PS3)
• Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier (PSP)
• EyePet (PS3)
• LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
• DC Universe Online (PC, PS3)
• MotorStorm Arctic Edge (PS2, PSP)
• SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3 (PSP)
• God of War III (PS3)
• The Last Guardian (PS3)
• LocoRoco Midnight Carnival (PSP)
• PixelJunk Shooter (PS3)

And last, but not least, a bit of good news for Home fans. A version 1.3 upgrade is on its way, which will allow avatars to carry more stuff and also mark the debut of SingStar‘s community space.

Read [PlayStation.Blog Europe] Also Read [Stuff.tv] Also Read [Joystiq]

Full Story ? | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, Features, Lists, Mashups

Haven’t caught all of the Gamertell news this week?? Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles!

• Best Buy may be matching used prices on new games in some markets
  “The game retail market could be getting a little more competitive, if the photo of a recent Best Buy ad is any indication. An eagle-eyed Cheap Ass Gamer reader in Utah spotted a Best Buy advertisement proclaiming…” MORE ?
• Latest Xbox Live update features games on demand, Netflix upgrades
  ” Several much-awaited updates to Microsoft’s Xbox Live go into effect today (August 11, 2009).? The Games on Demand service allows for the purchase of full Xbox 360 games (either by credit card or with Microsoft Points) from the Xbox…” MORE ?
• Mimobot’s making a fancy Hello Kitty USB Flash drive
  “Mimobot, makers of fancy USB Flash drives, today (August 11, 2009) announced the upcoming release of a Hello Kitty themed Flash drives. The drives will be available early September 2009, pre-empting Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary on November 1,…” MORE ?
• Apple App Store gaming update for the week of August 3 to August 9, 2009
  “The Apple App Store gaming update is Gamertell’s weekly look at the previous week’s Apple App Store game releases. We cover them all – good and not so good – in their respective categories with a breakdown…” MORE ?
• PAX 2009 schedule announced
  “The independent gamers gathering, Penny Arcade Expo (aka PAX), has made it to a sixth year (which cannot be said for some corporate sponsored expos). The event will take place September 4 through 6,…” MORE ?
• Gamertell Review: Bionic Heart for PC (also Mac and Linux)
  ” Title: Bionic Heart Price: $19.99 System(s): Windows PC (also for Mac and Linux) Release Date: July 27, 2009 Publisher (Developer): Tycoon Games (Tycoon Games) ESRB Rating: N/A. Since there are some mature themes and…” MORE ?
• Expect to see Ankama at GamesCom 2009
  “Ankama, the force behind DOFUS, Wakfu and Dofus-Arena have decided to fully support GamesCom 2009 by attending the August 19-23, 2009 convention in Cologne, Germany. And when I say fully support, I mean…” MORE ?
• PlayStation Store Update: Trivia Guru’s delight! (August 9 to 15, 2009)
  ” This week’s PlayStation Store update features the game TV Show King for $9.99 for the PlayStation 3, in the style of the more popular television game shows like wheel of fortune, weakest…” MORE ?
• Sony Home Update: Criss Angel Mindfreak exclusives on Home
  “Home Theater Special items and Giveaways This week members of the Sony Home community are treated to exclusive clips from Criss Angel’s upcoming show and an exclusive limited time free item at the theater now through Aug. 12, 2009. The…” MORE ?
• Gamertell Preview: The Clique: Diss and Make Up, (aka Queen Teen: The Clique) for DS
  “When a game for girls is released, especially if it has a title that could be considered cute or an attempt to be overly feminine, it is often dismissed by the gaming masses as something…” MORE ?

Full Story ? | Written by NEWS for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, Consoles, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox-360, PCs, Windows, Handhelds, DS, PSP, iPhone & iPod Touch, Game-Companies, Developers, Publishers, Genres, 2D, 3D, Action, Adventure, Casual, Children’s, FPS, Shooter, MMO, Party, Puzzle, Racing, Role-Playing, Sports, Sim, Strategy, Conventions, GamesCom

EA is also among the major companies ready to step up and support GamesCom 2009. And the company’s going to be putting on quite a show. It is bringing 42 games across all platforms to display, including the iPhone.

There are a number of highlights to check out, from the extraordinary amount of games being displayed, to a special press conference (which you can watch online via live stream), an exclusive closed door area with special games being shown, a booth set up just for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and the demo debut of Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Let’s look at the list of games EA is bringing along, in some shape or form, in alphabetical order:

1. All Points Bulletin (PC)
2. Army of Two: The 40th Day (PS3, PSP)
3. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
4. Brütal Legend (PS3, Xbox 360)
5. Bubble Bobble Evolution (cell phone)
6. Command & Conquer 4 (PC)
7. Command & Conquer: Red Alert (cell phone)
8. Dante’s Inferno (PC, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360)
9. Dead Space Extraction (Wii)
10. Dragon Age: Origins (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
11. EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer (Wii)
12. FIFA 10 (cell phone, DS, PS2, PSP, Wii)
13. FIFA Manager 10 (PC)
14. Fight Night Round 4 (PS3, Xbox 360)
15. Game of Life (iPhone)
16. GI Joe (cell phone)
17. GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra (DS, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360)
18. Hasbro Family Game Night 2 (Wii)
19. Littlest Pet Shop: Beach Friends (DS)
20. Littlest Pet Shop: City Friends (DS)
21. Littlest Pet Shop: Country Friends (DS)
22. Mass Effect 2 (PC, Xbox 360)
23. Monopoly Classic (iPhone)
24. My Sims Agents (DS, Wii)
25. NBA Live 10 (TBA)
26. Need for Speed: Nitro (DS, Wii)
27. Need for Speed Shift (cell phone, PC, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360)
28. NHL 10 (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
29. Rage (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
30. RockBand: The Beatles (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
31. The Saboteur (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
32. SimAnimals: Africa (Wii)
33. The Sims 3 (iPhone, PC, Mac)
34. The Sims 3 World Adventures (PC, Mac)
35. Spore Hero (Wii)
36. Spore Hero Arena (DS)
37. Star Wars: The Old Republic ()
38. Tetris (iPhone)
39. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360)
40. Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online (PC)
41. Trivial Pursuit (iPhone)
42. Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (PC)

Now, bear in mind, not all of these games will be on display to the public. EA is going to have a press only business lounge set up in Hall 5.1, where special sessions will show off games not scheduled to appear at EA’s booth in Hall 6.1, like All Points Bulletin, Army of Two: The 40th Day, Command & Conquer 4, EA Sports Active: Personal Trainer, Rage, Rockband: The Beatles, The Sims 3 World Adventures, The Sabateur and Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. The exclusive demonstrations will also show off information on some games that are appearing at the main booth, like Brütal Legend, Dante’s Inferno, Dead Space Extraction, Mass Effect 2 and The Sims 3.

If you’re attending and want to see, here are key EA locations to visit:

• General EA Booth: Hall 6.1, A-71, C-70 from August 19-23, 2009.
• EA Press Conference: Palladium, Schanzenstraße 36, Gebäude 197, 51063 Cologne at 4:30pm on August 18, 2009.
• Star Wars: The Old Republic demo debut: Hall 6.1 theater, B-066, A-061.
• Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning booth: Hall 9.1, Aisle A#041 and Aisle B#040.

Read [GamesIndustry.biz] Site [EA @ GamesCom]

Full Story ? | Written by Jenni Lada for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?

Section: Gaming News, Conventions, PAX

The independent gamers gathering, Penny Arcade Expo (aka PAX), has made it to a sixth year (which cannot be said for some corporate sponsored expos). The event will take place September 4 through 6, 2009, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle, Washington.

The family-friendly gaming event admits anyone who can afford a ticket and promises, according to the press release sent today (August 12, 2009), “43 hours of content over three days, featuring a plethora of tournaments, freeplay areas,? geek movies, nerdcore concerts and panels by industry leaders on gamer lifestyle, challenges, education and careers.” Aside from the relatively low amount of adult content at the event (with the exception of the nerdcore performances), the event also embraces all types of gaming.

Tickets are $30 per day if you purchase passes prior to September 5, 2009, or $35 at the door (assuming any will be left). If you actually killed a tree to mail in a registration form, for shame. Oh, and it’s due this Saturday (August 15, 2009). Also, if you pre-register after August 15, you’ll need to pick up your fancy schmancy pass at the door.

The full PAX 2009 schedule is available as a PDF but here are a few haphazardly chronological panel or event highlights:

• PAX 2009 Keynote Ron Gilbert
• Breaking into the Game Industry the Educated Way
• Various Penny Arcade Q&As
• How can we make online gaming communities suck less?
• Post-N’Gai, Post-EGM Video Game Journalism, or Where Do We Go Now
• Working with Fans to Create Better Video Games
• Original Gangstas: Why Table-Top Gaming Still Packs Heat
• LIVE ON-STAGE DEMO – Assassins Creed II and Splinter Cell Conviction
• Psychiatry, Video Games, and Kids – The Science, The Opinions, and the Lies
• Girls and Games: The Growing Role of Women in the Game Industry
• Twitter and Beyond – New Game Communities Online
• Star Wars: The Old Republic live demonstration
• Pitch Your Game Idea (always popular)
• Sex in Videogames: A comparative Study
• “I’ve Just Been F#$%ing Fired”: How To Get Back Into the Industry On Your Own Terms Through Mobile Game Development
• Touching a New Generation: How the iPhone has Changed Portable Gaming
• Game Culture: How Gamers Impact Society & How Policy Affects Gamer Culture
• Wil Wheaton presents: THE AWESOME HOUR!!

PAX is a product of Penny Arcade webcomic strippers Jerry “Tycho” Holkins and Mike “Gabe” Krahulik.

If you go bring all of your portable gaming devices and make certain they are charged (and you have extra battery packs) since some of the events may require you wait in line for a while.

Site [PAX] Read [Gamertell] Download [PAX 2009 schedule (PDF)]

Full Story ? | Written by PJ Hruschak for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article ?