So as if you needed more reason to get Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, some more mighty metal has been unleased. While .38 Special pisses me off, their inclusion is more than made up for by the Scorpions. 

In an interview with Next-Gen.biz, Peter Moore and Xbox Product Manager David Huffer, acknowledge that Nintendo has a great marketing strategy in place and that they may follow suit leading analysts to predict a possible Xbox 360 price cut this fall.

"If we don't make that move, make it early and expand our demographic, we will wind up in the same place as with Xbox 1, a solid business with 25 million people. What I need is a solid business with 90 million people,'' said Moore.

"We are well aware that the sweet spot of the market is really 199 bucks,'' said Hufford. At $250 he labeled the Wii a "strong value proposition, adding, “When mom walks into the store and sees she can get a console with a game for $250, she sees it as a $300 value. They've done a good job.''

Going to be an interesting Holiday to say the least. Read the Next-Gen story HERE

Kotaku is reporting that the long-rumored PSP redesign is about to be revealed and has gone so far as to list a few of the new gadget's features. It should be noted that Sony has not officially announced ANY of this as fact. Though E3 is just a month away…

Features may include: 

- New LED screen that takes up less space internally resulting in a slimmer unit.

- Faster UMD which results in faster loads, gameplay, etc.

- 8GB internal flash memory

- Revamped button configuration 

- Improved battery life up to 4x 

- Possibility of built-in camera

- Price is expected to be under $170

Question is, is it too late? Will anyone care? There will be a slew of awesome games out this fall so lets see if the PSP can make up some ground with this redesign. 

Since there are no other good games coming out this year*, I'm pleased to provide everyone with the wonderful news that Assassin's Creed will be hitting in the fall for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. November-ish to be semi-precise.

Taking place in 1191 during the Third Crusade you play a member of the Hashashin, a secret group of Muslim assassins from which the word "assassin" is derived, bent on taking out the "impious". Sounds somewhat familiar.

One thing that's been bugging me though. I seem to recall some manner of info, leaked or otherwise, mentioning that the game is actually taking place in some dudes mind - IN THE FUTURE - not the ancient past. Perhaps it's some sort of Michael J. Fox-esque adventure to change events in present/future by altering the past? Does anyone else remember hearing this? Or is it widely known and I'm just slow? Game looks wild either way.

*(Kiiii-hiiiiding!)

RELEASE ME!:

SAN FRANCISCO - June 7, 2007 - Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced the worldwide launch for the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed Assassin's Creed™ will be November 2007.

The Assassin's Creed franchise will make its debut on the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC. Assassin's Creed is being developed by an all-star team from Ubisoft's world-class Montreal studio. As a testament to its pre-launch following and buzz, the latest Assassin's Creed gameplay trailer, released on May 23, exceeded more than 1.3 million downloads via GameTrailers.com in less than a week.

"Assassin's Creed is going to be a huge launch for Ubisoft this year along with the added prestige of being the start of this exciting new franchise that is bringing something completely new to the market," said Tony Key, vice president of marketing, Ubisoft. "We're confident that Assassin's Creed will exceed expectations as a 'must-have' title this holiday season and will achieve both critical and commercial success."

The game is set in 1191 AD, when the Third Crusade was tearing the Holy Land apart. Shrouded in secrecy and feared for their ruthlessness, the Assassins intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict. Players will assume the role of the main character, Altair, and will have the power to throw their immediate environment into chaos and truly experience the art of a master assassin.

In 2006, Assassin's Creed received the Game Critics Award: Best of E3 2006 for "Best Action-Adventure Game" and swept the "Best PS3 Game" category across numerous video game Web sites.*

Assassin's Creed will be available in North America at the MSRP of $59.99 with the Limited Edition priced at $69.99 - ESRB rating is pending. For more information, please visit www.assassinscreed.com.

I never once played Myst. It's a shameful, nerdy secret but now, as I return from a near-month long, self-inflicted hiatus, the time has come for me to let the world know the truth…

It looked nice, sure. Especially for 1993. But it didn't seem like you really did anything in the game. Besides my parents were too cheap to buy me a PC after I made them buy me an Amiga that sat largely unused (aside from Lords of the Rising Sun and Dungeon Master. And maybe Loom. And all the Sierra games. OK I actually used it quite a bit.) 3 years earlier.

However, there must be something to it since they've millions of copies of the game over many, many platforms. Which brings us to yesterday's announcement that Myst will be coming to the Nintendo DS with a new coat of paint and all-new content (The Rime Age).

I'm now officially interested in Myst, 14 years later, maybe, but interested nonetheless. 

Release the Press!:

Myst is an immersive experience that draws you in and won't let you go. You enter a unique setting, venturing alone to varied times and places, the worlds that compose Myst. There are no instructions, and you encounter no living beings but soon realize your actions may help individuals who are somehow trapped in a parallel dimension.

You don't so much play Myst, as experience it. Of course you must solve a multitude of puzzles, mazes, and problems, but Myst's principal attractions are its environment and the underlying intrafamily drama that unfolds as you explore.

Unlike most adventure games, Myst offers no inventory, no death, and no dialogue. Although puzzles don't seem to have much direct connection to the game, they share a commonality. They take on many forms but follow a consistent thread. Some puzzles are very challenging, even obtuse, creating an odd paradox: many buy Myst, but few complete it. It is immensely popular, but most nonadventurers quit in frustration. Fortunately, Myst's popularity has spawned several online sites for hints, walk-throughs, and even saved games .

The nonlinear gameplay of Myst lets players go anywhere at any time. Unlike other adventure games, Myst has no inventory, and players never die. Incredibly detailed, Myst offers more depth than any other CD-ROM game to date.

Features:
All source code has been re-written specifically for Nintendo DS performance and gameplay.
A complete all NEW Age, the RIME AGE, to explore and uncover mysteries on DS
NEW sounds, effects, and video clips added throughout. All newly created graphic sets for the added RIME AGE specifically done for the DS
Newly re-mastered Video and audio
Save Multiple games for various players.

Activision let slip a handful of tracks from their upcoming PS2 expansion pack. 30 songs are expected and it's unknown whether or not the 360 will get these as a download if at all. But one imagines they will if not an entirely new batch of songs. Ratt n' Roll, son!

• "I Wanna Rock" (by Twisted Sister)
• "I Ran" (by Flock of Seagulls)
• "Round and Round" (as made famous by Ratt) 
• "I Want Candy" (as made famous by Bow Wow Wow) 
• "Metal Health" (as made famous by Quiet Riot) 
• "Holy Diver" (as made famous by Dio) 
• "Heat of the Moment" (as made famous by Asia)

Microsoft today unveiled a HUGE update for their free-wheelin' crime-busting adventure game, Crackdown. And when we say HUGE we mean John Holmes-ian in size.

Just a few highlights include:

- New Vehicles (Buggy, Race Car, Tank)

- New Weapons (Missile Launchers, Prox Mines, Cloaking Device, Mini-Gun, HARPOON GUN - you can nail dudes to walls!) 

- Easier Orb Hunting - as you look for the last 20-50% of agility and hidden orbs respectively their audio ping range increases

- New Ground Strike/Slam maneuver 

- Create an agency vehicle or one of the new Peacekeeper vehicles any time, any place

- “Super Agent Agility” to jump ridiculous distances, swim faster than a torpedo and sprint faster than a speeding bullet (almost)

- “Super Agent Strength” to toss a truck with deadly accuracy further than ever dreamt.  Boot enemies into the stratosphere!

The entire list can be found HERE

Press Release es aqui!

REDMOND, WA—May 10, 2007—Thought Pacific City was well on its way to becoming a wholesome, law-abiding community? Think again, Agent.

Microsoft Game Studios and Realtime Worlds today announced that there is still more crime to be purged and new ways to purge it with the release of both free and premium downloadable content for the critically acclaimed Xbox 360™ open-world action title Crackdown. The content will be available for download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace on May 10.

With more than 900,000 units of Crackdown sold-through in only two months, Microsoft Game Studios and Realtime Worlds are extending the game’s unparalleled experience, offering gamers several exciting new features, including vehicles, weapons, game modes and seven highly explosive, new Achievements. In addition, Agents will have free access to improved mission time trials, an option to repopulate gangs and kingpins after they have beaten the game, a vehicle impound garage, and the long-awaited Keys to the City: a comprehensive cheat mode including new “super agent” abilities and the option to create ramps, vehicles and explosives anywhere in Pacific City, at any point in the game.

In addition, for 800 Microsoft Points, Agents can also access the full Crackdown armory, which includes three unique vehicles, four new devastating weapons, co-op game types, an Agent “cloaking device” and an added dynamic street-racing mode.

The new and improved street-racing mode brings several white-knuckle races to the streets…and everywhere in between. Agents can win by any means necessary, via speed or sabotage.

Vehicle selection is imperative to an Agent’s success, and the premium vehicle additions will help gamers dominate their foes. The Agency Buggy, fitted with a turret for the new, ultimate fast-firing projectile chain gun, is the vehicle of choice in rough and tumble off-road races. The low-profile battering ram of the Agency Armored Vehicle is strong enough to knock vehicles out of the way and protect Agents from an onslaught of gunfire, and is fitted with an independently aiming rocket turret. The Agency Racecar is the high-speed vehicle of choice on the long stretches of city pavement.

In addition to a flocking rocket launcher (the MSK Lobber) and the all-powerful MZ360 Mini-Gun, the premium content will feature both proximity mines and the HRX Harpoon gun capable of stopping crime in its path by nailing criminals to nearby cars and walls.

In addition, if a player who has yet to purchase the PDLC content enters into a co-op game with a partner who has, that player will be able to preview the new content for the duration of that game.

For gamers interested in dashboard content, one new Crackdown theme will be available for 150 Microsoft Points, as well as four exciting new picture packs at varying prices.

And finally, on May 16, owners of the specially marked packages of Crackdown will be able to access the long-awaited Halo® 3 multiplayer beta from the in-game menu.

So whether it’s through the free or premium content, Crackdown gamers on Xbox LIVE are bracing themselves to hit the streets of Pacific City once again. Now, get out there, Agent, and kick crime where it hurts.

So no sooner has Spider-Mania devoured us with its dripping mandibles thrice over this past weekend (the movie really really sucks by the way. like really. If you loved Spider-Man 1 and 2 as I did, don't see 3. It will break your heart.), Activision announces Spider-Man: Friend or Foe for release this fall.

Particulars are scarce, as in, they don't exist. But Activision has set up a site with a screenshot slideshow featuring a big-headed Green Goblin. Yay.

Maybe this was the game they meant to make instead of the movie game which also kind of stinks? Probably not. I'm thinking more along the lines of some sort of RPG/card-based RTS battle/shooter/pet-sim hybrid. Who knows. It's bound to be thrilling though!

SWING on over to the teaser site HERE

The phrase "better late than never" is sometimes appropriate when we are talking dinner dates, rent checks and your girlfriend's period. But a sequel to a 1980 Atari 2600 game, Adventure, 27 years later is just rude. And pricey apparently as it will cost you $50.

To be fair, it's cool that somebody took the time to put this together, the game does come with plenty of collectible goodies, it's a limited edition and the only people that will desire such a purchase likely wipe their butt with hundred-dollar bills. Like me.

But if you must go without, take heart; The game still looks like crapola (you play as…a square!) and there is no way it can fun.

But by all means, check it out HERE

It's good to see a beloved franchise return to us that has not yet been milked into oblivion. Now if they would just make a new Jumping Flash…You gotta believe!

FOSTER CITY, Calif., April 30 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) announced today the North American release of PaRappa The Rapper(TM), an iconic character-based music and hip-hop game, available in July 2007 for PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable). Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, in association with legendary multimedia musician Masaya Matsuura and famed New York artist Rodney Greenblat, the PaRappa The Rapper franchise debuted 10 years ago on the original PlayStation(R) and is widely credited with establishing the music and rhythm game genre that continues to thrive today. PaRappa The Rapper for the PSP system mobilizes PaRappa's hip-hop adventures and builds on the success of this iconic franchise.

Featuring all the characters, levels and songs from the original, PaRappa The Rapper increases the franchise's social appeal by offering a host of new PSP exclusive features, including the ability for up to four PSP systems to go head-to-head in ad-hoc battles; wirelessly share a demo level through Game Share; and use the PSP Infrastructure Mode to download eight additional playable remixes for players to rap along to.

"Bringing PaRappa The Rapper to PSP allows true PlayStation fans to re-connect with this timeless classic," said John Koller, Senior Marketing Manager, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "This also introduces the beloved PaRappa and his cast of colorful friends to a new generation of fans and potential hip-hop stars on the move."

PaRappa The Rapper for the PSP system stays true to its stylish flattened animation technique and gameplay, combining fun and vibrant characters with hip music and a humorous storyline. Masaya Matsuura's infectious music and lyrics accompany PaRappa as he attempts to rap his way into the heart of his dreamy love interest, Sunny Funny, through various musical adventures. Using a rhythm, timing and coordination-based gameplay mechanic, players will bob their heads along with PaRappa and a cast of vibrant characters as they master its addictive gameplay. Players will first have to harmoniously press a designated controller button to help PaRappa mimic the actions and lyrics of the Masters. As the player's skill level progresses, they will be able to break free into a one-of-a-kind freestyle session, giving them the freedom to create a new experience with each play.