GamerNode: Latest Game and Console News

Microsoft being sued over Max Memory Card

If you haven't heard, game peripheral maker Datel released a memory card for the Xbox 360 that allows use of SD cards to expand the memory capacity. Microsoft didn't take kindly to this and blocked the memory cards via a firmware update. Datel, in response, has said they intend to find a workaround for those who purchased the cards. 

Now the latest salvo to be fired in this grand soap opera comes from Datel who is suing Microsoft. "Microsoft has taken steps to render inoperable the competing Datel memory card for no visible purpose other than to have that market entirely to themselves," Datel attorney Marty Glick explained in a press release. "They accomplished their recent update by making a system change that will not recognize or allow operation of a memory card with greater capacity th...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Sky network launch success wows Xbox Europe team

The European market appears to have gained the better bargain in Microsoft's recent campaign to expand their Xbox Live service; after a rocky start, the early-November relaunch of the Sky network for European Xbox 360 systems has been successful enough for the Xbox Europe team to take notice.

Barely containing his excitement, Xbox Europe head Neil Thompson jubilantly labeled the Sky network "a phenomenal success."

Speaking at an interview conducted by website GamesIndustry.biz, Thompson marvels at the network's surging popularity with Xbox 360 users across Europe, and the team's reaction.

"We were blown away - literally - by the response we had, and we took some flak, probably fairly. We didn't scale to quite the scale we should have, and I take that criticism on board and we've learned from ...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

First Kool Aid and Oatmeal gift basket sent to MS ...

It seems Adam from Sorry Mom, Sorry God (read it, it's good) recently got the infamous Red Ring of Death on his Xbox. He decided to make art out of sending his box to Microsoft.... He is also trying to bribe them into giving him an HDMI unit.

"I cursed the heavens realizing that not only would I have to wait to play Modern Warfare 2, but Left 4 Dead would also be released next week. There was never any doubt in my mind that I would experience a Red Ring at such a time but not like this... not like this.

I was going to send it right out in anger, but during my morning commute I had another one of those ‘train ride ideas that make no sense' that Im known for. I figured since MS was paying for shipping on this thing I may as well have fun with it and suck up at the same time. This "Kool ...

• (2)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Sony VP "confident" for 13 million PS3 sales

Among a slew of much-touted fiscal strategies revolving around improving the PS3's technology and firmware, Sony Executive VP Kaz Hirai has said that he is "confident" the PS3 will climb to over 13 million units sold by March 2010, the end of Sony's fiscal year.

Hirai certainly appears to have some solid numbers backing up his statement; a total of 4.3 million units have been sold within the first and second quarter of the year, which lends some crucial momentum for the game console to remain a strong contender for the upcoming holiday season.

With the imminent launch of Final Fantasy XIII nearing the horizon, Sony will probably see increased PS3 purchases within the Japanese and worldwide market to accompany the highly-anticipated title.

Sony has also laid the groundwork for a new online med...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

GameStop Black Friday deals leaked

It appears that every retailer is getting their Black Friday advertisements leaked before the dark shopping day arrives. GameStop has become the most recent store to have its deals leaked to the masses, featuring juicy console bundle deals and reduced prices on a few big titles.

Here are some of the top deals in the advertisement:

- Xbox 360 Elite w/ LEGO Batman, Pure, & Choice of Call of Duty 4 OR Spider-Man: Web of Shadows - $299

- PlayStation 3 120GB w/ LittleBigPlanet GOTY & God of War Collection - $299

- Call of Duty: World at War (360/PS3) - $39.99

- Batman: Arkham Asylum (360/PS3) - $39.99

- Forza Motorsport 3, Left 4 Dead 2, Halo 3: ODST - $39.99 each

- Wii Sports Resort w/ Extra Wii MotionPlus - $49.99

- Metallic Blue Nintendo DSi w/ Mario vs. DK: Mini's March Again, WarioWare Snapped, Dr...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Tom Petty, Kelly Clarkson in next Rock Band DLC pa...

With the family friendly LEGO Rock Band now released and joining its non-blocky counterparts, names like Kelly Clarkson are going to be seen a lot more often on the Rock Band DLC stores. Clarkson will join Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in next week's Rock Band DLC releases in two separate track packs.

Coinciding with the release of their new live album, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will have a six-track DLC pack available next week that includes master recorded tracks from the album. The pack is titled "Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Live Anthology Pack 01."

Clarkson will have her song "Miss Independent" featured along with "Our Lips Are Sealed" by the Go-Go's and "Who Knew" from P!nk in a three-track "Girls Who Rock!" pack.

Here is the full list of tracks for next week.

"Girls Who Rock!...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

New Dragon Age DLC returns to Ostagar

Players itching to get personal payback against the darkspawn in Dragon Age: Origins will get their chance on all three platforms. BioWare has announced Return to Ostagar, the newest DLC for the game that will surface this holiday season.

The site of the darkest hour for the Grey Wardens, Ostagar is the site of a huge battle between King Cailan and the Grey Wardens against the evil darkspawn. The battle goes horribly wrong as the Grey Wardens are nearly rendered extinct and King Cailan himself is squished like a tomato.

In Return to Ostagar, players will be able to return to the darkspawn-infested fortress to take revenge upon those that slaughtered their friends. Players will also uncover secrets and seek out the arms and armor of King Cailan himself.

"We are very proud of the phenomenal lau...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Bioshock 2 Special Edition announced, screams awes...

These special editions are becoming more and more awesome, as developers create more game paraphernalia that fans just can't live without. Bioshock brought a Big Daddy figurine that was perfect for desktops all over and it looks like Bioshock 2 won't be outdone. 2K Games has detailed the special edition of Bioshock 2 and if you're serious about your Bioshock love, then this set is for you. 

For $99, you get quite a few goodies:

-Vintage posters from Rapture

-A CD with the orchestral score from the game

-A 164 page art book in the style of books from Rapture

-A vinyl 180g LP that features the soundtrack as well.

That last one makes me faint from happiness. Vinyls are the best way to listen to music and I can just geek out placing it on my record player to listen to some quiet and sinister music. ...

• (2)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Phoenix Wright set to shout "Objection!" on WiiWar...

The latest issue of Famitsu has revealed that the first three Phoenix Wright games will be coming to Nintendo's WiiWare service. Capcom then confirmed that starting with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney in January, the games will be released every other month (January, March, and May) for $10 apiece (1000 Wii Points for those who only think in fake money). The extra case added to the DS version of Ace Attorney will also be released as DLC for $1 in May.

Each game will be a direct port of its original platform release, so Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney will be a direct port of the GBA version, explaining the absence of the additional case from the port. Each game will be unchanged from their original releases and be presented in widescreen, but with the actual gameplay only in 4:3 on top of animat...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Sony launches PS2 in Brazil, commence palm to fore...

It appears that Sony had inadvertently (advertently?) overlooked a particular country during the worldwide release of one of their consoles. Thankfully, the mistake has been corrected and the fine denizens of Brazil can enjoy the latest cutting-edge games on their brand new...PS2?

Serving as either an intentional slap in the face or haughty indifference, the PS2 system appears along with a gamut of games on the Brazilian Sony Style store for an inflated $800. What the advertisement fails to list, however, are the obligatory platinum-encrusted laser discs and gem-studded controller to accompany such a price.

The icing on the cake? Plenty of PS3 games are available to buy in the store, with the console to play said games but a glimmer in many Brazilian eyes. No word yet from Sony as to when th...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Atlus clarifies dearth of game supplies

Make no mistake, Atlus has certainly made a name for itself by developing well-known titles such as the Persona and Trauma Center series. Of course, getting your hands on an Atlus game is a feat in of itself; after initial sales, the games seem to mysteriously vanish from the shelves and remain extremely hard to find. Is this some sort of nefarious scheme at creating false demand? According to Atlus, certainly not.

Responding to a comment left at the PlayStation Blog, Atlus PR & Sales Manager Aram Jabbari explains that the scarceness of Atlus games is simply market play.

"As a smaller publisher, we usually don't manufacture much surplus inventory, but we will never intentionally undersupply the market. We build to launch demand, which is most often dictated by pre-order trends, so if you...

• (1)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Halo: Reach to air on Spike TV's VGAs

Geoff Keighley of GameTrailers TV has announced that the world premiere of Halo: Reach will air on Spike TV's 2009 Video Game Awards (VGAs). Keighley made the announcement through his Twitter account. This premiere will be the first showing of Halo: Reach since the vague teaser trailer for the game back at E3 2009.

Voting for the fans' choice VGAs is now open. There are 28 total categories for people to cast their vote on, from Best Voice and Best DLC, to Best Soundtrack and Game of the Year. Spike's 2009 awards show will air live at 8pm on December 12th.

 [Twitter] 

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

PS3 firmware 3.10 to include Facebook integration

Not ready to rest on their laurels, Sony has announced that they too will be adding Facebook to their console. The update will come as part of the PS3 firmware 3.10, allowing users to log into Facebook straight from the XMB. The integration will allow users to update their status, see friends' status, upload their trophy stats, and display games they have recently purchased in the PSN Store. Developers will also be able to get in on the fun by allowing updates to be sent from games to your feed.

Other additions include an updated Photo category to make photo viewing easier, and a redesigned friends list that reduces the clutter of the previous version. The new firmware is coming soon, but no release date has been set. 

[Playstation.Blog]

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

EA shuts down Pandemic Studios

Early this morning a rumor broke out claiming that Electronic Arts had shut down Pandemic Studios, releasing approximately 200 employees in the process. That rumor was later confirmed by EA.

An internal memo from the company confirmed the layoffs, with a "core IP team" being moved to EA's Los Angeles' office. The layoffs even included Andrew Goldman, formerly the studio's CEO; Josh Resnick, formerly the studios president; and Greg Borrud, vice president of product development.

"I want to make it clear that the Pandemic brand and franchises will live on," wrote EA Games Label Senior Vice President Nick Earl in the memo. "In the months ahead, we will announce plans for new games based on Pandemic franchises. This type of change can be difficult. But the situation calls for us to act decisively...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Dev: Final Fantasy XIII will be "best selling titl...

Hot on the heels of Square Enix's announcement of US and EU launch dates for the incoming Final Fantasy XIII is a confident boast by CEO Yoichi Wada that the latest incarnation of the venerable RPG series will easily become the best-selling title yet, even trouncing the exalted Final Fantasy VII.

Speaking at the Montreal International Game Summit, Wada-san clears up any pre-existing notions of FF XIII establishing anything groundbreaking like FF VII did -- it is the thirteenth game in one of the longest-existing game franchises in history, after all.

Instead, the hopes for the game to sell well will rest with it bringing classic elements of Final Fantasy -- an engaging storyline, solid characters, and drop-dead gorgeous graphics -- to a more receptive Western audience.

"When we say that i...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Atlus to publish 3D Dot Game Heroes in North Ameri...

Atlus USA, publisher of unique and interesting games such as Demon's Souls, Odin Sphere, and the Shin Megami Tensei series announced today that the company has licensed the rights to publish From Software's 3D Dot Game Heroes in North America. The game will be released on May 11, 2010 for the PlayStation 3 at a MSRP of $39.99.

If you're unfamiliar with this little slice of re-imagined gaming nostalgia, 3D Dot Game Heroes is the perfect love letter to 8- and 16-bit action-adventure fans, and it looks and plays like a three-dimensional, yet still pixelated Legend of Zelda game -- I mean identical. From the drawn-back, overhead view, to the blippy, bleepy, adventurous tunes, to the quest "to gain the power of the six sages and the six orbs that protected the kingdom of Dotnia, which now stand...

• (2)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Super Street Fighter IV Endless and Team Battle Mo...

Capcom keeps giving us more and more reasons to get excited for Super Street Fighter IV, be it the return of the car-punching and barrel-busting bonus stages or the new and returning fighters joining the roster. Joystiq recently got their hands on a fact sheet detailing two new online modes, Team Battle and Endless. For Team Battle, teams of up to four players will compete in a round robin tournament where winner stays and teammates rotate in with each loss. You can control a team yourself or assign the slots to other players.

Endless Mode is more intriguing though. It is a one-on-one match where the winner stays and fights the next person queued in the lobby. The winner will continue to fight until beaten, when the new winner takes his place. I can see this mode being popular among serious...

• (2)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be really, really hard

If you thought that the Super Guide feature in New Super Mario Bros. Wii was a one-time thing, think again. One of the reasons The Big N instituted the feature on the new Mario title was that the game was very difficult, a tradition Miyamoto wants to continue with Mario's next Galaxy adventure. In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, Shingeru Miyamoto said that Galaxy 2 would be "really difficult." This doesn't confirm the Super Guide inclusion. ""In general, wherever and whenever appropriate, I think we will want to incorporate that kind of thing, but I cannot commit to anything specific right now."

Mario is no stranger to punishing difficulty. Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels was an extremely difficult game, which is why the U.S. received the version of Super Mario Bros 2 that ...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

This week's releases: 11/15 - 11/21

Other strong releases coming out Tuesday will be the much-anticipated HD upgrade to God of War and God of War II, God of War: Collection, for the PlayStation 3 and Assassin's Creed: Bloodline for the PSP. Gamer's who purchase Bloodline and Assassin's Creed II for the PS3 will be able to obtain special weapons for Assassin's Creed II from playing Bloodline.

Here is the full list of releases for this coming week:

DS:

Assassin's Creed II: DiscoveryDiscovery Kids: Spider QuestFoto FrenzyImagine: ArtistKamen Rider Dragon KnightLEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues Petz: Dogz Talent Show/Hamsterz Superstars Planet 51The Princess and the Frog

PC:

GyromancerLeft 4 Dead 2LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure ContinuesThe Princess and The FrogThe Sims 3: World Adventures Expansion Pack

PlayStation ...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Toys 'R' Us Black Friday deals leaked

Just three days after details from a Black Friday Best Buy flyer leaked, details are now emerging for Black Friday deals for Toys 'R' Us. GamerDeals.net is reporting the gaming deals for the store's Black Friday sale.

Without further ado, here is the list of deals that can be found at Toys 'R' Us on the most hectic shopping day of the year:

Xbox 360:- Need for Speed: Shift - $34.99 (Reg. $59.99) 5am Doorbuster- Forza 3 - $34.99 (Reg. $59.99) 5am Doorbuster- Halo 3: ODST - $34.99 (Reg. $59.99) 5am Doorbuster- Wired Guitar Hero Controller - $9.99 5am Doorbuster

PlayStation 3:- Need for Speed: Shift - $34.99 (Reg. $59.99) 5am Doorbuster

Wii:- Nerf-N-Strike bundle - $14.99 (50% off) Midnight Doorbuster- Spore Hero - $24.99 (50% off) 5am Doorbuster- Dead Space: Extraction - $24.99 (50% off) 5am Doo...

• (0)
• 
• 
• 
• 
•