One of The Weiner’s favorite developers, 5th Cell, is apparently announcing something cool on Friday. The announcement will be an IGN exclusive for the five minutes before it hits the interwebs, but there is currently no stated time for the big reveal. 5th Cell aren’t saying any more than that the new project is “innovative, engaging and completely unique”. That rules out Drawn To Life: Monty Python Edition or Hurley’s Quest. More on this one as we get it.
Chrono Trigger Going To Have New Content After All November 10, 2008
It seems like Square is starting to understand that even their remake-happy fans aren’t going to buy a straight port of a decade-old game.
Siliconera is reporting that Chrono Trigger DS will have yet another ending, this one a DS exclusive. There will also be at least one new dungeon and a monster arena. This goes against previous information that Square wasn’t adding value to their upcoming $39.99 title.
Chrono Trigger DS will be released in the US on November 22.
Who Ya Gonna Play? Ghostbusters! October 30, 2008
Obligatory logo is obligatory.
Maybe there will be a third movie, maybe there won’t, but there will definitely be a new Ghostbusters game.
Kotaku is confirming that Atari has officially announced that they have picked up the Ghostbusters game. The game has been in limbo ever since the Blactivizzion merger, but is now on target for an early summer 2009 release. This release will coincide with the 25th anniversary of the original movie, and also with me and most of my readers feeling old.
OMG OMG OMG Beatles! October 29, 2008
Not THAT Apple.
As per Kotaku, MTV Games and Apple Corps, who holds the right to the Beatles’ catalog, are holding a press conference tomorrow to announce “an exclusive agreement to develop a global music project.”
Rock Band Beatles, anyone?
Preview: Star Wars: The Old Republic October 25, 2008
From Araan:
This week Bioware finally let out some details about the worst-kept secret in PC video games: that their secret MMORPG project is related to their hit title, Knights of the Old Republic.
Welcome to SWTOR, or “Swatter”, as we shall pronounce it.
The new game, is set 3,500 years before the rise of Darth Vader, and 300 years after your adventures as Revan in the original KOTOR. Players will be thrust into a world where the real Sith Empire has finally emerged from hiding on the fringes of the galaxy and delivered a major defeat to the Republic. While the two sides are technically at peace, it’s clear that a new war between the Republic and the Empire is in the offing.
The Galactic Republic stood for generations as a bastion of peace in a galaxy of warring star systems. Protected by its stalwart Jedi guardians, the Republic held the greatest hope for the progress of civilization and galactic unity.
Deep in unknown space, however, a mighty Sith Empire was forged, led by dark Sith Lords who dreamt of galactic domination and vengeance against their ancient Jedi enemies. After centuries of preparation, the time came for the Sith to make their return.
Bioware’s official website is sparse on details, without even an expect ship timeframe or base system requirements. All we can do at the moment is oogle at the pretty concept pictures hosted at the site.
Spore Goes From Release to Xpax in 2.3 Seconds October 12, 2008
Fastest expansion pack ever? You folks tell me. Either way, a “parts pack” called Spore Creepy and Cute has appeared on the EA Store. While the Features section of the offering is curiously blank, other sources indicate to The Weiner that this is JUST a parts pack with no new game content other than stuff to stick on your penis creatures.
Spore Creepy and Cute will cost USD 19.95 and is, at the time of this writing, ironically available only as a digital download on November 18.
Starcraft 2 To Be Split Into 3 Games; Blizzard Hires More Gnomes to Count Money October 10, 2008
According to Shacknews.com, Blizzard’s upcoming Starcraft II will be a trilogy. The first game is set to be titled “Terrans: Wings of Liberty”, the second, “Zerg: Heart of the Swarm,” and the third “Protoss: Legacy of the Void.”
The first game has the real meat, as the second and third “will be like expansion packs, but we really want them to feel like standalone products,” as per Blizzard’s Rob Pardo. Each game will have 26-30 missions, which compares favorably to the original Starcraft’s 30.
Each campaign is slated to have “RPG elements”, whatever that means in today’s gaming world. Most disturbing, each race will have units specific not just to their race, but to their game. These units will not be available for multiplayer.
Blizz says they had to split this up to get the game out on time and as a quality product. I think this is the hand of Activision. Blizzard has never seemed to mind long dev times before. I, for one, don’t like the idea of paying anywhere from $90 to $150 on a game I’ve waited years to play, but if I’m actually getting three games’ worth of content, it might be reasonable. Anyone else think Blizz is loading up lore for World of Starcraft?
Late note – Rob Pardo tells us that SC2 is on the three year “plan” (don’t hold them to this). Thus, if we see Starcraft II: Terran Pajama Party in 2009, you won’t see Protoss Pretty Ponies until at least 2011.
Squeenix Plans To Mess With Your Brain. Literally. October 7, 2008
Brain Games...are not...over!
Gamasutra is reporting that Square Enix will be announcing a brainwave-controlled game at the Tokyo Game Show this week. The game will license technology from NeuroSky called the Mindset. As per NeuroSky’s website:
The brain is comprised of many, many neurons. When transmitting information, small electric pulses are made. Over the last century of neuroscience discovery,the broad and specific regional readings of these pulses have been found to represent different categories of emotion and mental states. By reading these waves, known as EEG’s, the brain’s activity can be utilized by computers and other devices – a BCI (Brain-Computer Interface).
The NeuroSky Mindset also wants Sarah Connor and will be coming to you in some sort of entertainment format via Japan. Stay tuned. Or don’t, while you still have free will.
Ninjas v. Pirates? No, Daschunds. October 5, 2008
I believe this image from reader Milinz says it all.
Oh yeah, and it looks like we may see the KOTOR MMO this month. No big.
Fable II “CE”: Are you KIDDING me? October 4, 2008
As per Kotaku, the increasingly inaptly-named Fable II Collector’s Edition may be trimmed down even more than we thought.
Apparently now the developer’s diary and soundtrack are no longer going to be on the “bonus” DVD. No further price cuts, though. Enjoy paying $70 for a making of featurette an extra dungeon of indeterminate length, and some completely out of place (if cool) Spartan armor and energy sword. Or so they tell us this week. We’ve still got seventeen days till the North American release. I’m sure they can trim some more of that fat before then.
Playing With My Weiner 
