Games Radar has an amusing piece detailing the 25 of the things non-gamers do when presented with a videogame to annoy seasoned veteran gamers.

My favorite:

#2 Look who’s talking. If you spend most days building kitten orphanages and serving hot soup to homeless rainbows, then yes, you can tell us that gaming is “a waste of time.” If you sit on the couch instead – watching sports, voting for reality television or browsing celebrity gossip blogs – then please shut your hypocritical mouth.

I tried to think of an additional qualm to add to this list, but I think they are all there. How about the rest of you? Anyone else pick up on any annoying habits of our non-gaming brethren?

via: Games Radar

According to an article over at Joystiq, one hardcore Nintendo franchise deftly eluded being revealed at Nintendo’s puppy and air-drum filled press conference the other day. The following words were uttered by none other than Shigeru Miyamoto (or at least his translator): “We’re making Pikmin.”

This comes as surprising news, as Nintendo hasn’t even hinted at this title’s existance. Barring a translation error, we may actually have a game to look forward to in the future. No further information was revealed regarding whether the game will be on Wii or DS (either system seems perfectly suited to this sort of game). As a huge fan of the first two games in the series, I am very excited to learn more about this title.

This comes on the heels of Miyamoto’s other statement earlier in the show wherein he revealed that both the DS and Wii Zelda teams are at work on new Zelda titles for their respective platforms. This begs the question as to why Nintendo chose to completely ignore these games during the media briefing and instead allow Miyamoto to reveal them in such an unofficial manner. Is the grandmaster of videogame development overstepping his role or are the games too early in development to show in any official capacity? It is hard to tell.

via: Joystiq

The Sony conference started with the type of hyperbole we have come to expect from the company. However, whenever the games were finally brought out, there was a lot to get excited about. This was, by and large, the best press conference of the show.

To start off we were given another glimpse of Resistance 2 showcasing a truly epic battle with the largest enemy I have seen in a FPS. The game takes place in America with environs including Chicago and Idaho. The Chimera are spreading across the country. The game is large in all aspects, with 8 players able to engage in co-op and over 60 players able to face off in competitive modes. While this is mostly old news, the game was impressively epic when displayed.

The next star of the show was “Sackboy” and his game, Little Big Planet. The game was used to create a level illustrating the usual boring business part of media briefings. The ability to customize the game for this sort of purpose was quite frankly, incredible. It seems anything can be created in this game. Some highlights from this portion include the news that Sony is expanding Playstation availablility to Latin America. In addition, a PS3 Greatest Hits line is coming soon including the following games for $29.99: Resistance, Motorsotorm, Warhawk, Call Of Duty 3, Fight Night, Need for Speed: Carbon, Rainbow Six Vegas, Assassin’s Creed, Oblivion, and Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

Continued support of Playstation 2 was detailed next with many games continuing to receive release on PS2. No new titles were announced for the system, but gamers who have not made the next-gen jump will still have plenty to play, it seems. In a strange move, Sony announced a Lego Batman PS2 bundle that also includes the animated film Justice League: New Frontiers for $149 this fall.

Next up was news regarding the evolution of the Playstation Network. Ratchet and Clank Future: Quest for Booty was officially announced. It is a shorter game and will be less costly ($14.99). It seems to be a glorified expansion pack that offers some new gameplay elements. Several other downloadable titles were displayed such as Crash Commando, Pixel Junk: Eden, Ragdoll Kung Fu, a new Siren game, and an interesting title called Flower.

Sony then pimped Gran Turismo TV which allows for viewing of actual automotive races as well as other racing related videos available on a pay-per-view basis through Gran Turismo 5: Prologue. This content will be available August 1st.

Playstation Home was again on display and we were reassured that our patience will be worth it (I’m not so sure about that). One of the most interesting features were the game spaces. Who wouldn’t want to observe a bottled-up Chimera corpse while socializing with friends?

One of the bigger surprises was that Sony will have a downloadable video service available TONIGHT through the Playstation Network with new titles added every week. The pricing structure is as follows: $1.49 to $2.99 for television programs, $2.99 to $5.99 for movie rentals, and $9.99 to $14.99 for movie purchases. The best part is that the films are portable and can be watched on PS3 or PSP. The content can exist on multiple devices at the same time. It seems Sony has a lot of partners participating in this service and a VERY large number of titles were scrolled through in the demonstration. Another neat feature is that you can watch streaming previews of the movies before purchase. It supposed to take an hour or so to download movies, but you can watch the film while the latter parts of it are still downloading. There is also the potential to use the PSP video out feature to use the PSP to watch the film on any television anywhere without having to lug your PS3 around.

A new PSP bundle was also announced which includes Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, Echochrome voucher, 1GB Memory stick, and National Treasure: Book of Secrets, available in time for the holidays.

Sony’s next surprise game was for the PSP, Resistance: Retribution. It is a techinically impressive third person shooter that allows gamers to blow stuff up on the go. Video footage was also shown of Loco Roco 2, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Super Stardust Portable, Lego Batman, Patapon 2, Valkyrie Chronicles, and Buzz: Master Quiz.

DC Universe Online was displayed by Sony Online by none other than comic book superbadass Jim Lee! Despite being my favorite artist ever, he also appears to help produce videogames. In this massively multiplayer game you get to create your own hero or villain and fight alongside your favorite DC characters. For example, you might be able to help Lex Luthor kill Superman!

The next major showing was a teaser trailer for God of War III that everyone saw coming. This was followed by another trailer of the not oft shown game, Infamous. In a word, it looks…impressive. It showcased some impressive environmental navigation not unsurprisingly reminiscent of Sly Cooper. It seems there will be a lot of badass jumping from building to building as well as other feats of acrobatic prowess.

Arguably, the biggest surprise of the show came from Zipper Interactive of SOCOM fame. They are working on the uncleverly titled PS3 game, Massive Action Game (or MAG). The game was incredibly impressive. It allows 256 players to play simultaneously separated into 8-player squads led by higher ranked players. The game boasts a command structure that actually has a purpose. Faction-based campaigns will be included to encourage continued play. The game features large scale combat with squads and character growth.

Sony also announced that the 80GB Playstation 3 will now cost $399.99 giving consumers more system for their money. This was one of the bigger PS3 announcements. Overall, Sony’s press conference was impressive and did well to increase anticipation for the future of Sony’s systems.

Press Conference Viewed Via: IGN

Nintendo’s press conference is over and many a gamer probably feel a little underwhelmed at this point. Many predictable announcements were made and some surprises were delivered, but the hardcore among us might find their plates a little empty in the coming months.

The first game displayed was Shaun White Snowboarding developed by Ubisoft. The game was created with the balance board in mind and looks to take full use of it. Expect to be able “steer” your board accurately as well as tuck to gain speed and shift your weight upward to jump. Tricks seem to be performed by utilizing a Wiimote.

The next major game to be displayed was Animal Crossing: City Folk. Many of us were expecting the reveal of a Wii version of this beloved franchise and we weren’t let down. The game looks to increase the ability to communicate and share with others. In addition, players will be able to auction off items to other players or purchase items in said auctions. This will likely make it easier to find rare items. Friend codes were not mentioned, but it would be naive to think that they won’t play a role. We can only hope they won’t bog down the experience so that the welcome additions can be fully enjoyed.

One surprise with regard to Animal Crossing is the option of utilizing a “Wii Speak” microphone that is labeled as a “community microphone” which allows anyone in the room to communicate with those playing in another living room somewhere around the world. It was demonstrated as being used in a fishing contest and seems a much better alternative to strapping a headset to those milling about in your domicile.

Another casual gaming experience that was on display was Wii Sports: Resort. Wii Sports: Resort will include the new 1:1 motion sensor, Wii Motion Plus. This Wiimote attachment will also be purchasable seaparately at an unannounced price. The sports that were shown were frisbee throwing (California Games anyone?), Waterskiing, and a sword dueling game that reportedly follows the players movements exactly. The mapping on-screen for the frisbee movement was certainly impressive as a proof of concept, but it remains to be seen if such a sport will draw in as many players as more wide-appeal sports such as Tennis and Bowling. The Waterskiing game allows the player to twist the remote in order to utilize the throttle to gain speed. Other sports are set to be included and we can only assume more popular beach games such as volleyball will be included.

The only hardcore games shown were from third parties and include Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Shaun White Snowboarding, and Call of Duty: World at War.  It was not revealed as to whether The Clone Wars will utilize the Wii Motion Plus attachment. It appeared to be a one-on-one fighting game, but this was not overtly stated. Call of Duty: World at War seems to be a less impressive version of its high definition brethern and doesn’t seems worth getting too excited over. However, Shaun White Snowboarding does show promise with the balance board functionality. A new Rayman game was also shown (queue yawn).

Further details were also revealed for Wii Music. The game does not require you to follow any on-screen notes or even know if you are hitting the right keys. The gameplay seems to consist of pressing buttons or waggling to “a timing of [your] preference.” It seems that no effort will be required and that the game will be nothing more than a flail-fest and button masher. On the plus side, popular songs from Nintendo games will be included. In addition to playing as a part of an orchestra with friends, there is also a separate orchestra conducting mode.

Spore: Creatures and Pokemon: Rangers Shadows of Almin were the main focal points for the DS. However one of the biggest announcements from the show was the surprise reveal of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the Nintendo DS arriving this Winter. However, if the Grand Theft Auto games on the GBA are anything to go by, this may not be as impressive a game as we might hope. However, we should probably keep pessimism in check until further details are revealed.

Overall, Nintendo failed to show any first-party hardcore games. No Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Kid Icarus, Pikmin, or Starfox games were revealed. The only thing the “geeks and otaku” were reassured on is that the Mario and Zelda teams are hard at work. I found the press conference incredibly underwhelming, but I do very much look forward to the new iterations of Wii Sports and Animal Crossing as well as the opportunity to utilize the balance board as a snowboard.

via: IGN

The game’s story centers around Captain Rainbow starring in a television show that is receiving poor ratings. In order to combat this he goes to Mimin Island where “wishes can come true.” However, instead of finding the help he needs, he ends up helping those who live on the island. For example, you will have to help Birdo with his current predicament of being incarcerated and a character from NES Golf requires your help to get out of a funk that has hampered his game.

The game has only been announced for Japan and no release date has been revealed. As it stands, the game certainly looks interesting. The above video is a little underwhelming, but the game’s unique premise will hopefully be built into a fun game.

via:1up

Rock Band 2 is a lot closer than one might think, yet info on what the game will offer has been somewhat inconclusive. Luckily, a recent press release from Electronic Arts and Harmonix has cleared up some ambiguity while continuing to leave room for some uncertainty. Certainly, all will be revealed at next week’s E3, but for now we will attempt to divulge what we know so far.

Q: When is the game coming out?

A: Rock Band 2 will be released on Xbox 360 this September (in North America) and will arrive on the PS3, Wii, and PS2 later this year.

Will my original Rock Band instruments work with Rock Band 2?

A: Absolutely. In addition, the (improved) instruments from Rock Band 2 will also work with the original Rock Band for all of those late adopters out there.

Q: What kind of improvements have been made to the guitar?

A: The new Stratocaster will include all of the features available in the original. In addition, it will reportedly feature less noisy frets and a stronger strum. It will also be wireless (and pretty).

Q: What about the drums?

A: The new drumset will feature the same four pad plus bass pedal setup we have grown accustomed to. In addition, the pads will be quieter and include velocity sensors. It will also include a stronger bass pedal (to avoid damage from heavy footed individuals). The new drum set will also be wireless.

Q: What about the microphone?

A: We don’t have any information about this instrument, yet. However, it would not be surprising if it also ended up receiving a wireless upgrade.

Q: Will my original Rock Band downloadable songs be playable on Rock Band 2? What about the on-disk songs?

A: Yes and maybe. All of the downloadable Rock Band songs are a part of the “Rock Band” platform, that is, they aren’t meant to be specific to any one game. It has been revealed that all current downloadable songs will be fully playable in Rock Band 2 and will transfer automatically the first time you boot up the game.

As for the original on-disk songs from Rock Band being playable in the sequel, Harmonix and company have remained elusive. There were originally reports that all of these songs would also transfer to Rock Band 2. However, these reports were retracted and such a feature was then denied by Harmonix. Perhaps these reports were truly mistakes, or maybe Harmonix wants to keep this feature under wraps for now to avoid preventing continued sales of the current game up until Rock Band 2’s release.

My personal opinion is that the on-disk songs will not be transferable, as this would surely hurt sales of the original stand-alone game. Individuals could borrow a friend’s disk and upload all of the songs into Rock Band 2 without ever having to own the original. It seems unlikely that this potential revenue would be forfeited to give users the convienence of not having to switch out disks.

Q: What songs will be included in Rock Band 2?

A: Rock Band 2 will include over 80 songs on-disk. In addition to the hundred of currently downloadable songs, the following songs have been confirmed (separated by decade):

2000s
Dream Theater “Panic Attack “
System of a Down “Chop Suey”
1990s
Foo Fighters “Everlong”
The Muffs “Kids in America”
Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away”
1980s
Motörhead “Ace of Spades”
1970s
Cheap Trick “Hello There”
Elvis Costello “Pump it Up”
Journey “Anyway You Want It”
1960s
The Who “Pinball Wizard”

Other songs have been rumored, but we’ll have to wait for the official and complete set list.

Q: Will the included songs be master recordings or cover versions?

A: Surprisingly, ever single on-disk song for Rock Band 2 will be a master recording.

Q: What new offline features can we expect?

A: Several. One of the most interesting additions are the “Take on Tour Challenges.” These will allow players to play through campaigns centered on a particular instrument, artist, genre, or album. This sounds like a great addition for those in a particular music “mood” to be able to play through similar songs without having to select them individually.

Another new feature is the ability to customize set lists in the Quickplay mode. This will keep the flow of the game moving along without having to stop to pick a new song. At parties I’ve noticed that people tend to stop playing while waiting for a new song to be selected. With this feature, band members are less likely to venture off.

An additional unique feature offered by Rock Band 2 is a drum trainer that is aimed at improving the user’s musical vocabulary and ability to follow a beat.

Q: One of the things that sucks about Rock Band is the inability to change the band leader or switch instruments in the World Tour mode. It also sucks that you have to create a different character for each instrument. Have these issues been resolved?

A: Yes! Band leaders have been removed completely allowing you to add or remove any player at will. In addition, players can change what instrument they are using at any point. In addition, any character you create has the ability to use any instrument. My cleverly named characters Matt 1, Matt 2, and Matt 3 can now combine into the superstar band member known as Matt. Rejoice!

Q: Are there any other upgrades to the World Tour experience?

A: Yes. In addition to the hassle-removing upgrades listed above, it appears that the new World Tour has other additions to keep things interesting. For instance, it will now feature “hirable staff.” While the original World Tour included staff what was hired, the specific wording used by Harmonix here indicates that the player will play some, as yet undetermined, role in “hiring” staff for their band.

One more thing – the World Tour will be online.

Q: What new online features can we expect?

A: The World Tour will now be online, allowing you to play with friends who aren’t physically present or an assortment of random anonymous individuals around the world. In addition, Harmonix is set to hold contests that allow you to compete with other bands across the globe.

Your scores will also be compared with your friends and all gamers overall in real time. You will be notified whenever your scores are beaten.

Q: Will I be able to create my own songs like in Guitar Hero: World Tour?

A: Unlikely. Harmonix has stated that they want to implement this feature differently and take more time doing so. This indicates that we may not see such a feature until the inevitable Rock Band 3. However, this could also indicate that they will include a similar, but different feature that they are not yet ready to reveal. However, with the release so close (September), this seems improbable.

Q: What are the major features that make Rock Band 2 better than Guitar Hero: World Tour?

A: The major feature that sets Rock Band 2 apart is the backwards compatibility of the enormous (and growing) downloadable song library. Once Rock Band 2 is released, there will be nearly 300 songs already playable.

Q: What are the major features that make Guitar Hero: World Tour better than Rock Band 2?

A: The major feature that sets Guitar Hero: World Tour apart is the music creation tool that will be included. While the tool is limited in that it will not allow vocals, it still represents a leap forward in the music game genre by allowing users to create and distribute songs. Of course, as is common with all user-creation tools, most of the uploaded songs will be crap. It stands to reason, however, that some quality content will be available if Neversoft is able to successfully give us tools for weeding out the garbage. That said, it seems the main draw of this mode, however, will be the ability to sit in a room with friends and just “Rock Out.”

The other defining feature of Guitar Hero: World Tour is the addition of a fifth drum pad as well as a structural configuration of the pads that is more in line with an actual drum set (i.e. two of the pads are elevated).

The guitar will also have a touch sensitive neck for those who want a departure from button pressing.

Q: What will be revealed at E3?

A: We don’t know, but I can almost guarantee that we do not yet know everything there is to know about Rock Band 2. Expect some surprises.

Q: What if you haven’t answered my questions? What if this FAQ is incomplete?

If you have any questions or additional information, send them to tips@aeropause.com and we will make an attempt to update this FAQ.

The Onion has given us a quite humorous look at the inner workings of Liberty City. My favorite part?

Perhaps even more alarming, city records indicate that more than 75 percent of perpetrators in mass-murder or vehicular-manslaughter cases escape, usually by simple methods such as driving into a car-repainting facility. Criminals have even eluded pursuit by walking into their apartment and going to bed for six hours, after which the search has been called off.

I highly recommend giving the article a look.

If you’re one of the gamers that is unsatisfied with the paltry selection of upcoming Guitar Hero games such as: Guitar Hero: World Tour, Guitar Hero: On Tour, and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, you are in luck. Activision has revealed their intention to release Guitar Hero: Metallica in fiscal ‘09.

No details have been revealed as to what songs will be included or where in the release schedule the game will fall. Most bets are on the game coming after the release of the aforementioned titles. Whether the game will include usage of peripherals in addition to the guitar is also unknown.

I find myself continually annoyed at Activision’s unabashed milking with regard to this franchise. Not only are they releasing more games than anyone would ever care to buy, they are also securing exclusives that threaten to limit the song selection of more innovative and thoughtfully released franchises. While Metallica exclusivity hasn’t been announced per se, we can probably assume it will happen. With the growing popularity of the music genre, I suppose it was inevitable that a large corporation disillusioned with what gamers actually want would come along and dilute the market. It’s not like we haven’t seen it before. Kudos to Harmonix for getting out when they did.

via Gamespot

As most of you have probably heard. Nintendo, via Wii Fit, had the audacity to call a young girl “fat.” While most gamers are rushing to Nintendo’s defense, I’ve decided it would make for a healthy discussion to play the devil’s advocate on this one. In this case, as in many others, the devil would be anyone with something negative to say about our favored medium.

For the sake of those in the dark, I will make an attempt to succinctly describe the situation. A father of a 10-year-old girl raised complaints about the game Wii Fit labeling his daughter as “fat.” She is 92lbs, 4 feet 9 inches in height, and is described as “healthy.” The father finds this rather unacceptable (although he found it amusing when such descriptors were given to the adults playing the game).

I’ve seen many comments around the internet about how this should simply serve as a reality check to a young girl who may indeed be overweight and therefore motivate her to do something about it. In addition, some wonder why the father holds the game to a different standard with regard to his child rather than adults. With this in mind, one might wonder if the father has a right to be upset if the information is accurate. I would have to say he does have reason for concern.

Our society is full of images in popular media that encourage women to achieve beauty by attaining the thinnest frame possible. As young girls grow up they are constantly bombarded by this demand. It is a very real and growing problem that puts millions of young women at risk for developing an eating disorder. Not only is such a disorder verifiably deadly, it is also preventable. Many choose to simply blame individuals with this particular type of problem and chalk it up to poor decision making. This is an insensitive viewpoint that simplifies a complex problem with a myriad of attributing factors. Would these disorders really still develop without media fixated on thinness? It is hard to say, but it certainly couldn’t hurt to be a little more responsible with what we insist our children expect of their bodies.

Where does a game like Wii Fit, which promotes healthy activity and wellness, fit into the picture? Well, in Nintendo’s decision to market the game to everyone, they made the mistake of allowing a Body Mass Index to be calculated for children. Unfortunately, it is known that BMI is pretty much useless in determining a healthy weight in children due to the fact that children develop at different rates. Thankfully, Nintendo made an effort to clarify this:

Wii Fit is still capable of measuring the BMI for people aged between two and 20 but the resulting figures may not be entirely accurate for younger age groups due to varying levels of development.

It is worth mentioning that a 4’9,” 92lb, 10-year-old girl is probably not overweight. If BMI is to be trusted in this case (for the sake of argument) one finds information that conflicts with the “fat” descriptor Nintendo’s game threw at the girl. A BMI calculator indicates that she falls on the line between “healthy weight” and “at risk” while remaining far below the “overweight” descriptor.

This makes me wonder if Nintendo might have been able to choose better words to use as descriptors during the development of Wii Fit. At the very least they could have used a different set up descriptors when the individual being measured is a child. There is nothing wrong with telling someone the truth, but sometimes we have to make sure it truly is truth and even then we should consider the vulnerabilities of those to whom we tell this “truth.” Telling a child she is “fat” is not going to make her lose weight; it is going to make her lose confidence.

While having different bands available on separate titles will help each game stand out on its own, it will also force consumers to make a decision. Will we stick with one series or will we be compelled to buy into both? Is this really the direction that music games are going to begin taking? Is this good for gamers at all?

Personally, I’m not very happy about the idea of this becoming a trend. It doesn’t bode well that both publishers probably have enough money to make plenty of exclusive deals. I most certainly can see this particular exchange of cash money having a snowball effect on these games in the future.

So enjoy “Train Kept a Rollin’” on Rock Band while you can, that’s all the Steven Tyler that Harmonix is going to legally be able to give you for now.