The 1984 Namco arcade classic Tower of Druaga received its own anime series last year in Japan, and now the first twelve episodes arrive on DVD this week in the US. A pretty esoteric game in the West, Druaga may be best known for cameos in other Namco games, such as Baten Kaitos, Ridge Racer, Soul Calibur, and the Tales series. The actual original Druaga did not make it out of Japan until Namco Museum 3 for PS1.

Brought to our shores by Funimation, the anime series takes place 60 years after the first video game’s timeline. Arcade star Gilgamesh is now an “elderly king” according to Wikipedia. His priestess pal Ki appears as a ghost. The show’s full title is The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of URUK. Funimation says you can find it at your local Best Buy or fye.

I only bring this up because it gets me that much closer to a Mappy anime.

GAME> The Beatles: Rock Band (2009)
SYSTEM> Sony PlayStation3
SOURCE> Email from GameStop, October 2009

Sssh! This code was a GameStop exclusive! Don’t tell anybody!

Well, after seeing their Xbox 360 breathern enjoy the fruits of Netflix Instant Streaming, PS3 owners are starting to see the joys of watching Netflix via their own consoles.  Everything you have seen on the Xbox 360 service is available here, albeit in a very plain interface, but Netflix works as advertised, and very quickly.  Hit the jump for a quick look at the new service along with its all of its ups and downs.  We also have screen captures of the complete interface, with the exception of adding a movie to your queue.

The first thing you need to realize is that Netflix does not happen as easy as it does on the Xbox 360.  You need a physical disc in order to use the interface.  If you have not gone about requesting an Instant Streaming disc from Netflix, you are up the creek without a paddle if you wanted to use the service tonight.  Discs do ship out fairly quickly, and if you live in the Los Angeles basin area, you will get a disc next day after requesting one.  Even after you get your disc, there is a verification process, and linking your account to the console.  For those that already have Xbox 360 streaming enabled, you will have to link your account to your PS3, but it will not affect the link to your 360 in any way.  You can stream to both devices without any issue, just not at the same time.

Selecting the Netflix icon under the Video section of the X-Media bar will get you to the abovementioned verification process, and once you have finished, you will be presented with your queue.  Verification by the way, happened rather quickly, in under 45 seconds for me.  Netflix does say it could take up to three minutes, so times may vary.  Also, I have a feeling the process might take longer this evening as a lot of people get on the site to setup their accounts.

The interface is very plain, with your queue sitting on a very plain white background.  The moves are stacked in a row horizontally, and you just use the left stick or d-pad to move either left or right through the queue.  Moving around the queue is quick and responsive, and the box art showed up rather quickly, an issue I have right now with the Xbox 360 version of Netflix.  You cannot hold down a direction to auto-scroll through the queue.  The queue will only move one position to the right or left, regardless of holding it down, requiring more use of the controller or remote to navigate the queue.  Pressing up on the queue takes you to the selection screen, where you can move between your queue, recently watched movies, and then each queue by category, each holding 100 movies.  You can add movies it looks like, through the queue, but I did not see anything I wanted to be associated with me in the movie selections.

One you select the movie, it loads up rather quickly.  Maybe a hair faster than the 360 version of the interface.  However, it seems like skipping around in the movie takes far longer to buffer and start playback again.  On the 360 side of the fence, you can jump around quite a bit before you see any heavy loading by Netlfix.

The Netflix service is far more functional than I expected, with most of the features being present and accounted for at the time of launch.  There is no party watching service, as is to be expected, since that feature part of the Xbox Live Dashboard.  it is also very drab and dull, leading to a bored experience while going through the queues.  These things can be looked past right now, but the bigger issue is that the whole application just seems twice removed from the X-Media bar.  The lack of any real integration shows, and it really brings the product down a notch.  Again, this is something that will be fixed according to Netflix and Sony in the future, but it just seems like they rushed this to get it out before Christmas, instead of releasing a final product.

As it stands, Netflix Instant Streaming on the Playstation 3 is an enjoyable, although drap experience.  One would want more, but the pure functionality of the application is enough on its own merits.  And just knowing I have 12,000+ movies at my fingertips, instead of having to pay ridiculously inflated prices on the marketplace makes this an instant win product.  Netflix Instant Streaming easily gets a 4.5 out of 5 Aeropausonauts from me.  Fixing up the little nagging issues and controls will get Sony and Netflix the 5 Aeropausonaut rating that  it really deserves.

For those of you that have Rock Band Unplugged on the PSP will have two new tracks to add to their library.  The first is “Excuse Me Mr.” from No Doubt and “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” by the Dropkick Murphys.

All tracks are 160 Microsoft points, 200 Wii points or $1.99 on PS3.  The three White Strips tracks can be had in a package on the PS3 and 360 for $5.49 and 440 Microsoft points depending on platform.

THE WHITE STRIPES MAKE THEIR ROCK BAND DEBUT

Also, tracks from No Doubt and Dropkick Murphys for Rock Band Unplugged!

Cambridge, Mass. – Nov. 6, 2009 – Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that a three pack of tracks from The White Stripes and singles from The Damned and Kasabian will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system and Wii™. Tracks from No Doubt and Dropkick Murphys will be available for download next week for Rock Band Unplugged on PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system.

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 System and Wii

Brother/sister duo The White Stripes will release a three pack of some of their most loved songs on Rock Band next week. The band, composed of Jack White (of The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs, both featured in Rock Band) and Meg White, has sold more than 12 million albums worldwide and has won five Grammy Awards, including three for Best Alternative Music Album. “The White Stripes Pack 01” will feature “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” from the 2001 album, White Blood Cells; “Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine,” from the 2003 album, Elephant; and “Icky Thump” from the 2007 album of the same name. A tour documentary titled “The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights” debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival this September and is currently making the festival rounds to rave reviews. The film, directed by Emmett Malloy, is a visual and emotional documentation of The White Stripes making their way through Canada where they played every province and territory, culminating with their 10th anniversary show in Nova Scotia. “The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights” is scheduled to be released in early 2010.

English punk rockers The Damned make their Rock Band debut next week with “Smash It Up,” and English rockers Kasabian add to their Rock Band catalog, with “Club Foot.”

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Nov. 10) and PlayStation 3 system (Nov. 12):

· The Damned – “Smash It Up (Part II)” +

· Kasabian – “Club Foot” +

· The White Stripes – “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” +

· The White Stripes – “Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine” +

· The White Stripes – “Icky Thump”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “The White Stripes Pack 01” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks on Wii. Tracks marked with a “+” are also available in the family-friendly LEGO Rock Band Music Store.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$5.49, £2.49 UK, €3.99 EU (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “The White Stripes Pack 01”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

Rock Band Unplugged Tracks for PSP®System

Rock Band Unplugged fans will enjoy the addition of No Doubt’s “Excuse Me Mr.” and Dropkick Murphy’s “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” to the 55 tracks already available via the Rock Band Unplugged in-game music store for the PSP system.

Tracks available for Rock Band Unplugged (Nov. 12):

•No Doubt – “Excuse Me Mr.” •Dropkick Murphys – “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”

Price: $1.99, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU per track on the PSP system

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

Website Links:

For more information, please visit:

Rock Band Website

The White Stripes Website

Rock Band 2 is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Wii system. Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii versions support downloadable content. Downloadable content for Wii is purchased via the in-game Rock Band Music Storeusing Wii Points™ purchased through the Wii™ Shop Channel and can be downloaded to the system memory or to an SD card for additional storage. The tracks stream directly from the SD card for seamless play.

There are now 938 tracks available to date via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/music). Rock Band continues to satisfy music fans’ and gamers’ voracious appetite for rock with more than 60 million paid downloads since its launch Nov. 20, 2007. The Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks and packs from the vast selection of offerings available to date without ever leaving the game as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band and Rock Band 2 are rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB. Music downloads are not rated by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band 2 and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com.

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Wii is a trademark of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo

After a rather lackluster release following controversy on the consoles and with the ESRB, Manhunt 2 is finally releasing on the PC in all of its AO glory.  Or is that infamy?  I am not exactly sure, depending on your feelings about Manhunt 2.  The game is currently available on Direct2Drive only for $29.95 and carries the AO rating.  Also, they are throwing in the first Manhunt as a freebie if you pre-order still.  Apparently since the game has not unlocked yet, you can still get that freebie, but I am not sure how much longer it will be available.

Do you feel that this release is a good strategy, and if it has success, do you feel it will get developers talking about the AO rating on the consoles?  I for one do not know how the game will actually play out on the PC, but I enjoyed the first Manhunt, and I like to support those that take a little risk with a title like Manhunt 2.

I am not sure about the other writers on the staff, but the more that I see of Splinter Cell: Conviction, the more I am convinced that it is going to be a huge title for 2010.  In this developer diary from Ubisoft, we get to see more of the combat abilities that Sam Fisher will use in Splinter Cell: Conviction, including pistol use and Krav Maga. 

Also, catch the reaction of the one developer when he hears Michael Ironside lay down his first voice overs for Splinter Cell: Conviction.  It is priceless.

This latest video from Cryptic Studios gives more history on the Star Trek universe as it leads up to the current history in Star Trek Online.  It looks like we have Gorn, Klingons, Starfleet and more doing battle in Cryptic’s universe.  What, no love for Orion slave girls?

The video also shows off more pre-alpha game footage that really does look good.   Star Trek Online is sill heading towards a Spring 2010 release.

We all saw the announcement a week or so ago that mentioned Netflix Instant Streaming coming to PS3 sometime in November.  Well that time seems to be tomorrow, as I just received an email from Netflix stating that my Instant Streaming disc will be arriving tomorrow (November 6th).

Anyone else receive their announcement email yet?  And are you surprised with how quickly this announcement went from press conference to reality.  I mean, it is Sony, not Apple.

Coming in a tin box package, Mass Effect 2 Special Edition will ship with a copy of Mass Effect 2, a 48-page “The Art of Mass Effect 2″, a copy of the first issue of the Mass Effect Redemption comic book and a pack-in DVD that has a “Making of” documentary and more.

More controversial will be several special weapons that you will only be able to get if you purchase the special edition of Mass Effect 2.  Currently there are no plans to put these weapons out as DLC later, so it will give those that buy the Special Edition, a leg up on those that buy the normal version of the game.  Since it is a single player game, it is not a balance killer, but I just hate it in general when a developer and/or publisher decides extra weapons should only be available to you if you spend more money on a deluxe edition of a release.

If you are interested in the Mass Effect 2 Collectors Edition, you can pick it up for $69.99 on the Xbox 360, or $59.99 on the PC.  Check the jump for a few extra details in the press release.

BioWare Announces Mass Effect 2 Collectors’ Edition

Special Edition Includes Exclusive Armor and Weapons, Comic Book, and Bonus Content

EDMONTON, Alberta, Nov 05, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Recruit your crew and fight for the lost! Leading video game developer BioWare(TM), a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that the internationally acclaimed Shooter RPG Mass Effect(TM) 2 will also be released as a Collectors’ Edition in limited quantities. Available on January 26 in North America (Jan 29 in EU) alongside the standard edition, the Collectors’ Edition of Mass Effect 2 comes in a premium, tin case andincludes the full version of the game, a 48-page hardcover “Art of Mass Effect 2″ book, Issue 1 of the Mass Effect Redemption comic book, and a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes and making-of videos. In addition, the Mass Effect 2 Collectors’ Edition will include unique in-game weapons and armor that can only be obtained by purchasing this version. With its larger-than-life hero Commander Shepard, intense shooter action, nuanced characters and a rich storyline, Mass Effect 2 is one of the most anticipated titles of 2010.

“We’re really excited to roll out this Collectors’ Edition featuring so many unique items, including special Collectors’ Edition armor and weapons and content that will surprise Mass Effect fans,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “The limited edition comic book and bonus DVD will really enhance and expand the overall Mass Effect 2 experience.”

The Mass Effect trilogy is an emotionally charged science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will once again step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding their crew of some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, space exploration and emotionally engaging character interaction, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.

Mass Effect 2 will be available on the Xbox 360(R) videogame and entertainment system and PC. The Mass Effect 2 Collectors’ Edition will retail at an MSRP of $69.99 on Xbox 360 and $59.99 on PC. Mass Effect 2 assets are available at info.ea.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/masseffect2. For more information on Mass Effect 2, go to http://masseffect.bioware.com/.

About BioWare

BioWare develops high quality console, PC and online role-playing games, focused on rich stories, unforgettable characters and vast worlds to discover. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world’s most critically acclaimed titles, including Baldur’s Gate(TM), Neverwinter Nights(TM), Star Wars(R): Knights of the Old Republic(TM), Jade Empire(TM) and Mass Effect(TM). BioWare operates in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Montreal (Quebec) and Austin (Texas). BioWare’s announced projects include the dark heroic fantasy game Dragon Age: Origins, as well as Mass Effect 2(TM), the epic sequel to Mass Effect, and the story-driven massively multiplayer online game, Star Wars(R): The Old Republic(TM). In 2008, BioWare was acquired by Electronic Arts, a leading global interactive entertainment publisher. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com; to join the millions of fans already registered on our community, go to social.bioware.com.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA(TM), EA SPORTS(TM), EA Mobile(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

BioWare, Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks owned by EA International (Studio and Publishing) Ltd. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox and Xbox 360 are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.