GamerNode: Latest Game and Console News

Infinity Ward declined big budget for MW2

When Activision learned that Infinity Ward had commenced development of Modern Warfare 2, the publisher offered the studio a massive budget to safeguard the standards of quality that every Call of Duty game had possessed so far. The answer? Nah.

Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling steps in once more to explain the company's intentions during an interview published at Develop Online. Of note, Bowling divulges the almost extreme lengths Activision took to seeing Modern Warfare 2 succeed.

"Early on -- when we decided to make a sequel -- Activision estimated out a ridiculous budget. And we were like: 'No, we don't need that.'"

Instead, Infinity Ward chose to use a "pretty tight" budget to ensure that the game would conform to quality standards as set by Activision without the hoopl...

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This week's releases: 11/2 - 11/8

A fantasy RPG filled with blood, gore, and sex by acclaimed studio BioWare will be leading the charge to stores this week. Dragon Age: Origins is the featured title in a week where the other two top releases are rhythm-based LEGO Rock Band and Band Hero. Here is the full list of games coming out this week.

DS:

Agatha Christie: ABC MurdersBand Hero (not compatible with DSi)Barbie and the Three MusketeersCOP: The RecruitDisney's A Christmas CarolHidden Mysteries: Titanic - Secrets of the Fateful VoyageImagine: Babyz FashionJewel Quest MysteriesLEGO Rock BandNeed for Speed: NitroNi Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's CelebrationRabbids Go HomeStar Wars Battlefront: Elite SquadronStyle SavvySushi AcademyStyle SavvyWireWay

PC:

Dragon Age: OriginsFootball Manager 2010Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Si...

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Update: Alice sequel gets first teaser trailer

Update: Turns out the trailer is actually not an official release from EA or Spicy Horse. The trailer was created by Troy Morgan, an artist who has worked with Spicy Horse in the past. He created the site and trailer as an ad pitch to EA. American McGee has commented on his blog, saying, "I wanted to clear up any confusion... it was unofficial, and does not represent any of the final art direction or story elements in Alice 2."

Original article follows:

If you haven't heard, back at DICE 2009, EA announced that it was producing a sequel to American McGee's Alice, a 3D platformer that served as a sequel to the classic story that interprets the events as the dark and sinister imagination of Alice. The sequel is going to be developed by Spicy Horse, American McGee's studio, and would be releas...

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Insomniac could branch out to non-PS3 consoles

At a recent interview, Insomniac community manager James Stevenson has hinted at a possibility of seeing future game titles being released for consoles other than the PS3.

Insomniac is credited with starting successful game franchises in the past with the development of the Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet & Clank series. Most recently, the developer has bumped their efforts onto the PS3 platform with the release of the launch title Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 along with the continuation of the Ratchet & Clank saga.

While not going so far as to abandon the PS3 entirely by releasing Ratchet & Clank or Resistance titles for other consoles (the IP for both games is squarely in the hands of Sony), Stevenson does not discount the potential of developing games for the Xbox 360 and Wii con...

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Modern Warfare 2 killstreaks revealed, nuclear lau...

Having the skill and reflexes to score multiple kills in a row within a multiplayer game is cause enough for gamers to celebrate and gloat over their momentum. The original Modern Warfare took this a step further by rewarding players who scored killstreaks with unique items and weapons to employ within the game (such as the infamous helicopter and airstrike). Modern Warfare 2 promises to continue the tradition with 15 additional killstreak awards obtainable after 25 kills -- wait, did that just say nuclear?

Apparently, a lucky player at media website justin.tv managed to snag a copy of the game and record a few multiplayer matches that showcased the various killstreak awards, including the ability to call in a tactical nuclear strike on the enemy team. The potential for ultimate ownage is s...

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Uncharted 2 getting update, Halloween treats

The multiplayer mode for PlayStation 3 hit Uncharted 2 will be getting an update today set to address a number of issues. But that isn't all that's coming to the game's multiplayer this weekend.

Naughty Dog will be having a "Double Cash Weekend" for Uncharted 2, where players will earn twice as much in-game cash towards leveling their profile in multiplayer matches than normal. In addition, the Naughty Dog staff will be playing publicly over the weekend. It is believed they will be recognizable by the creepy skeletal skins shown in the image above.

[Joystiq]

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BioWare reveals Jedi Knight class for The Old Repu...

After much anticipation and with great fanfare, information on the Jedi Knight class has been made available on the official website of BioWare's impending MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic.

As the galaxy's peace keepers, Jedi Knights uphold the law and will of the Republic by safeguarding those who would fall under harm from evil. Of course, when the "negotiations" fail -- as they inevitably do -- the Jedi are able to demonstrate their considerable prowess in battle.

Having honed their bodies and minds through years of focused training and discipline, the Jedi Knights are capable of quickly dispatching their foes through the elegant finesse of lightsaber combat or a quick push through the Force.

For more information, including some sweet pics and videos of the Jedi in combat, hop on over to th...

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God of War 3 Ultimate Edition is ridiculous, aweso...

If you're a game is a high-profile release, you can expect to receive an extravagant (Insert Title Here) Edition. Not to be outdone, God of War 3 is set to compete with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for craziest box set for a video game. Dubbed the God of War 3 Ultimate Edition, the set includes a replica, high-end sculpted Pandora's Box from the game and a limited edition art book.

The set also comes with a bunch of downloadable content that will be accessed from the PSN Store with code vouchers:

- God of War Combat Arena containing an exclusive environment and seven challenges- Premium Kratos Skin - Dominus- God of War: Unearthing the Legend Franchise Documentary - a full-length movie documentary depicting the history of the God of War franchise- God of War Trilogy Soundtrack - God of War...

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EA details Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Limited Edit...

EA and DICE revealed the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Limited Edition version today, and along with it, what the package will entail. The Limited Edition version of Bad Company 2 will come with 6 multiplayer unlocks for players and if you're thinking you'll need to pay extra for the luxury, EA has your back. This version of the game will cost the same as the standrad version at release.

The unlocks are as follows:

Improved Vehicle Armor - An up-armor package is mounted on all vehicle types, decreasing the effect of both explosive and penetrating warheads, significantly improving vehicle survivability.

Supreme Vehicle Firepower - Additional weapon packages are mounted for the driver of all armored vehicles, greatly expanding the range of targets the vehicle can successfully engage and destroy.

V...

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DSi XL confirmed, slated for Q1 2010 release

Seems those rumors of a bigger DSi being released were true. Nintendo has confirmed that it will be releasing a new, bigger DSi, dubbed the DSi XL. The system looks to be about 1/3 bigger than the current iteration of the DSi and come with a fatter stylus. You know, for us gorilla-pawed gamers.

If you haven't already purchased a DSi because you feel the current design is just too small and would get lost among your other electronic devices and in your pockets, the DSi XL is perfect for you. You'll be able to snatch one up sometime in Quarter 1 of 2010.

[Joystiq]

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Team Fortress 2 haunted with Halloween special

The denizens of Valve's Team Fortress 2 appear to have gotten themselves transported to a very scare-tacular place. As the game's first Halloween-themed content pack, frightening new achievements, items and a brand new map are available to those who seek them out...if you dare!

A fresh KOTH map entitled Harvest sticks players into a haunted farmland area complete with shambling zombies and restless ghosts. These poltergeists aren't there just for parlor tricks, either; one good look at their ghoulish faces and you'll be frozen in fear, unable to move for a few seconds. What could be better than a (supposedly) fearless Heavy cowering at the sight of the wandering ghost of Zepheniah Mann?

In conjunction with the spectral hijinks of Harvest, Valve has continued the entertaining meta-game of col...

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Rare sets sights for Natal

Rare has expressed interest in developing for the upcoming Natal technology during a recent feature run by industry magazine MCV UK. What kind of game, you ask? Nothing official...but it could be along the lines of a FPS.

Promising a higher degree of interaction between gamers and their games than ever before, Natal looks to be gaining enough momentum to even oust the Wii as the premier motion-capture technology.

Throwing in their hat along with the multitude of developers seeking to work with Natal may be a critical move for Rare who wishes to garner a unique blend of existing game genres into something special that Natal can utilize.

Rare head Mark Betteridge says:

"Right now our sights are trained on Natal, which is a great opportunity to break new ground with content and gameplay. It's...

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Nolan North hints Hugh Jackman is favorite to play...

Nolan North, the voice and motion capture actor for Nathan Drake in the popular Uncharted series, has hinted heavily in a recent interview that Hugh Jackman is the front-runner to land the lead role of Drake in the upcoming Uncharted movie.

North, a favorite of fans to play the role himself, said in a telephone interview with The Official PlayStation Magazine UK, "I would love to do the movie, obviously I'd love to do it as Nathan Drake [...] but I've done film and television and I understand the reality of the business."

He was then asked who he would like to see play the role of Drake if he was not chosen.

"Jackman is who I'd like to see," North answered. "I think the producers would like to see Jackman too, because he has that tough guy exterior, but [...] there's also a lot going on behin...

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God Of War III demo included with District 9 Blu-r...

Sony has spruced up the December 29 Blu-ray release of Neill Blomkamp's film District 9 by throwing in a holiday nugget for PS3 gamers worldwide -- namely, an exclusive God of War III demo.

Contained within the disc along with the movie, the demo features a special clip that showcases GoW III's development that can be unlocked if you manage to guide Kratos through his latest escapade of button-mashing carnage.

Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing and Playstation Network, lauds the Blu-ray support of the PS3 as an incentive for PS3 gamers to uphold their systems as a capable entertainment platform:

"Blu-ray functionality has long been a differentiator that separates the PS3 from other home entertainment systems. Through this collaboration with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment we...

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3D Dot Game Heroes coming to America

If you haven't heard of 3D Dot Game Heroes yet, take a seat and open your ears. The action adventure game from developer From Software is a love letter to retro gaming and the days when 8- and 16-bit games ruled the world.  The game releases November 5 in Japan, and up until now, American gamers' only option to get it was through your favorite importer.

Well no more! The official PlayStation Twitter page has announced that the game is indeed receiving a U.S. release. "No need to import - 3D Dot Game Heroes for PS3 is DEFINITELY coming to NA! Spread the word, more to come."

No word on which publisher is localizing the title and what our release date will be, but this is one game to definitely keep an eye out for.

[PlayStation Twitter]

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First Brutal Legend DLC "Tears of the Hextadon" me...

Stage Battlers around the globe will have a couple more areas in which to vanquish their enemies come November. EA and Double Fine Productions announced today that the first DLC pack for Brutal Legend, titled "Tears of the Hextadon," will release on November 3 on Xbox Live and November 5 on PSN. The pack will run 400 MS Points on XBL and will be free on PSN until November 19.

The pack contains two new maps, Cicle of Tears and Death Fjord. Circle of Tears features "vile waters that have carved a rough-hewn circular battlefield into a forsaken land that players must circumvent to destroy their opponent." Death Fjord has players fighting on a snow mountain pass that has a "dense cluster of fans that lie below, waiting to be harvested by those brave enough to capture them without cover from ene...

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Dev: Modern Warfare 2 was hidden from Activision

Continuing the trend of endless updates about the juggernaut arrival of Modern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward Community Manager Robert Bowling has divulged the fact that Infinity Ward had chosen to veil work on the game to publisher Activision until far into the development cycle.

Speaking to Official Xbox 360 Magazine UK, Bowling credits Infinity Ward's devotion to gamers and fans alike for justifying their decision:

"We know the game we want to make, and especially with Modern Warfare 2, we didn't even show Activision the game until very much later in the development process. Because we want to stay focused, really the only opinion we care about is what our fans think."

Bowling further elaborated by explaining the lengths Infinity Ward had taken to accrue player feedback and opinions during t...

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"A Real Horror Show" on Big Red Potion

Our friends Sinan Kubba and Joe DeLia over at Big Red Potion just can't seem to get enough of the GamerNode guys. The dynamic duo have once again invited me to join them on their show, this time grabbing GN's Jason Fanelli to join in on the conversation, too. With Halloween just around the corner, this time we're talking about horror games, and how they are or are not inherently different from other types of games in the way they engage the player. We discuss all the usual suspects in the horror genre... and Animal Crossing. Yeah, Jason brought it up.

You can catch the episode on www.bigredpotion.com, and be sure to subscribe to the BRP podcast, right alongside the Versus Node podcast on iTunes.

[Big Red Potion]

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Excitebike: World Rally coming to WiiWare

(Above Image is from Excitebike NES Version)

Nintendo announced today that a new entry in the Excitebike series is coming soon. Announced via the Nintendo Week show on the Nintendo Channel, Excitebike: World Rally will be released on Nintendo WiiWare on November 9. No price has been given yet.

The game will be a 2.5D update to the original Excitebike on the NES and will offer both motion-based and classic controls, as well as feature online multiplayer via Nintendo Wi-Fi and a level creator. No word on level-sharing, but here's hoping it makes the cut. Check out the announcement trailer here.

[Kotaku]

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Modern Warfare 2 to feature third-person view

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is quickly earning the "everything, including the kitchen sink" moniker. Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling dropped that there will be a third-person mode available in Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, but only in certain playlists.

"It's not something you can toggle on and off in ANY game," said Bowling. The view can only be played in private matches, where it will be possible to toggle it on and off, or in playlists specifically designated for third-person play. Bowling said that everyone will be restricted to the third-person view in those playlists, and added, "this is just another cool way to play the game; you obviously will still have the option to play gametypes normal as well."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 releases on Nov. 10.

[Joystiq]

Additional reporting...

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