Earlier this morning, we reported that the release date for Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 had been moved up by a week, allowing us all to enjoy our neon explosions that much sooner. At first, we figured this could only be good news for gamers, but then we started digging around, and we noticed a few potential problems with these sudden scheduling changes. Getting games sooner may be nice for players, but is it possible that these releases could be damaging to publishers and developers? We have a few observations, after the jump. Continue Reading

Bizarre Creations let out the news this morning that Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 will be releasing a week earlier than anticipated. Originally scheduled for August 6th, the frantic neon shoot-em-up will now become available next week, on July 30th. We’re quite eager to play the full version of this game, based on the fun we had with it during E3 last week. It’s excellent that we’ll now get to do so a full week earlier than we expected, but we’ve also realized that, along with Double D Dodgeball, this is the second Xbox Live Arcade title to see an early release in as many weeks. Continue Reading

When it was revealed just prior to E3 that Castlevania Judgment would be a 3D fighting game, the news was met with equal parts disdain and disbelief. How could classic 2D platforming possibly translate to 3D fighting? How could Konami — master of platformers, shooters and music games — even create a competent fighter? You’re kidding, right?

They weren’t kidding — but the other two questions still stand, because even though I got considerable hands-on time with the title, I still don’t quite know whether Castlevania Judgment has what it takes to succeed. Continue Reading

Solid community-created game content, when done right, is every publisher’s fantasy. Game companies hope and pray for the day when talented fans of their games take the time to explore the development tools and put together competent, high-quality additions to the original product. It’s a win-win for everyone: Assuming the user’s content takes off, the original publisher sees increased interest and sales for their game, the add-on creator gains attention, fame, a major résumé bullet-point, and a potential paycheck, and the end-users get added value to their favorite game (typically for free). Continue Reading

GameCyte gets all buddy-buddy with Far Cry 2’s narrative designer. Who knew an free-roaming FPS could tell such tales? Continue Reading

Following a half-hour play session of Left 4 Dead that ended entirely too soon for my tastes, I sat down with Valve Software’s Erik Johnson for a friendly chat. There, in a secluded portion of Valve’s E3 2008 booth, Erik let us in on the process behind the upcoming survival-horror-FPS, and how Valve was able to build a better zombie based on their experiences with Team Fortress 2. Erik also let us in on a few upcoming tidbits regarding the future of TF2, including hints as to upcoming animated shorts and planned content. TF2 fans, you won’t want to miss this one. Continue Reading

Kaz Hirai reminded us about it last month, but SCEA President Jack Tretton confirmed it this morning, at Sony’s 2008 E3 Press Briefing: TV shows and movies are now available for purchase and rental via the PlayStation Store. Speaking to an eager crowd about upcoming features of the PlayStation Network, Tretton revealed that the new video service was ready to go, and was joined by Eric Lempel, who walked onlookers through the browsing and purchasing interface. Both men then revealed that the demonstrated features would go live this evening, becoming available for immediate use.

What a coincidence! It’s this evening right now. Continue Reading

Nintendo’s new Wii MotionPlus was not the only peripheral revealed at this year’s E3. During the Nintendo Press Briefing on Tuesday morning, Nintendo’s Katsuya Eguchi appeared on video to tell the whole, wild world about Animal Crossing: City Folk. The long-expected Wii incarnation of Nintendo’s anthropomorphic virtual life series, Animal Crossing: City Folk will include a wide number of expected features, including the ability to send messages to other consoles’ towns. What’s more, Eguchi unveiled a brand-new peripheral which will see its first use through City Folk: the Wii Speak, a TV-mounted microphone which will allow voice chat between Animal Crossing denizens (and, one assumes, players of future Wii games). Continue Reading

Every E3 press conference finishes off with a big, knock-em-dead final announcement, intended to leave the crowd cheering and come away remembering your company fondly. Nintendo had a couple of interesting announcements this year at their press briefing, but their ace-in-the-hole wasn’t an unannounced title — instead, Shigeru Miyamoto made an appearance to give the crowd an extended list of details about Wii Music. Miyamoto, accompanied by fellow Nintendo executives, took Wiimotes in hand to show off a handful of the 50 promised instruments to be included in the new music game, scheduled for release this holiday season. Continue Reading

While Microsoft’s E3 2008 press conference revealed a veritable stockpile of bird dung exciting titles for core gamers and a few key partnerships that may make the Xbox 360 your media center of choice, vice president of Xbox LIVE John Schappert took time out to explain how Microsoft plans to enhance the social experience available on the Xbox 360 — by cribbing royally from their competitors.

Not that we’re complaining, mind you — the new “Xbox Experience” looks and sounds awesome. Continue Reading