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Free Need for Speed: Shift DLC Detailed And Dated

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:19:00 -0800

Need for Speed: Shift fans are in for quite a treat in a few weeks as Electronic Arts will be releasing the first batch of downloadable content for their acclaimed racing title, and best of all, it’s free.

The DLC release introduces an entirely new multiplayer mode called Team Racing, which will pit two teams of six players against each other in a Circus Maximus-style racing battle to the death! (Note: that might be an exaggeration on my part) Also included in the DLC pack will be five new smokin' hot rides:

1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 427
1967 Shelby GT-500
1969 Dodge Charger R/T
1971 Dodge Challenger R/T
1998 Toyota Supra Mark IV

All of this Shift goodness will available on Dec. 1 for Xbox 360 and Dec. 10 for PlayStation 3.

Fresh Ink Online: Batman, Punisher, Spider-Man

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:50:00 -0800

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Fresh Ink Online host Blair Butler gears up for Thanksgiving with reviews of Invincible, Punisher, Irredeemable, Nola, and Phonogram The Singles Club. But is it Amazing Spider-Man or Batman and Brother Power the Geek that nabs the coveted Pick of the Week title? Watch and find out!

And tune in next week for a Turkey Day guest host spot by ultimate fighter and ultimate comic lover Nate “Rock” Quarry! Woo-hoo!!!

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Resident Evil 2 Now Available For Download On PlayStation Store

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:48:00 -0800

In case you weren’t aware, Valve’s zombie-fest Left 4 Dead 2 went on sale on Tuesday. But what you may not know is that it wasn’t the only zombie game released this week. As PlayStation 3 users can tell you, Capcom’s classic Resident Evil 2 is now available for download from the PlayStation Store for just $5.99.

Anyone out there picked up the game yet? If so, how does it hold up? Anyone playing the game for the first time?

Source: Capcom-Unity

Darksiders Hellbooks Video -- Book 1: The Horseman's Road

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:13:00 -0800

You might think that just because you play as War, one of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, in THQ’s upcoming Darksiders, you’ll be able to wreak apocalyptic havoc without any assistance from anyone. Well, you’d be wrong. The first of four installments in the new Darksiders Hellbook video series has arrived, and in Book 1: The Horseman’s Road, you’ll be introduced to a demon merchant named Vulgrim, who will bestow upon you Wrath Powers to make your trip through the end of the world as destructive, exhilarating and downright fun as possible.

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The more I see of this game, the more I want to get my hands on it, and this latest video has done nothing to quell my eagerness. Thanks a lot, THQ.

Infinity Ward Didn't Provide Enough Warning To Players Before "No Russian"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:04:00 -0800

(SPOILER WARNING: This feature contains explicit details about the plot for Modern Warfare 2)

You're greeted by the screen above when starting a new campaign in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. It's designed to give a heads up about the much-discussed "No Russian" mission.

"Some players may find one of the missions disturbing or offensive. Would you like to have the option to skip this mission? (You will not be penalized in terms of Achievements or game completion.)."

There are two ways to respond. "Yes, ask me later" or "No, I will not be offended." For now, let's set aside the obvious problem that unless you've been closely following the game's development, you don't even know what you're agreeing to not be offended by. But Infinity Ward wants to make sure you're confident about that decision, so they ask it a second time.

"If you answer yes you will never be asked about skipping levels again. (The skip level option will be available in the pause menu.)"

Neither warning provides any context for what constitutes "disturbing" and "offensive" in the typically realism-slanted Call of Duty universe. There is no reference made to an opportunity to mow down hundreds of innocent virtual citizens during a simulated terrorist assault on a Russian airport. When I stood in line at GameStop to pick up my copy of Modern Warfare 2, not only did I wonder how many parents actually read those screens for their kids not old enough to pick up Modern Warfare 2 themselves, but if any would've changed their minds after visiting the ESRB's website.

See, the ESRB's description of Modern Warfare 2's content is a little more explicit:

"The most intense depiction of violence occurs during a "No Russian" mission where players take on the role of an undercover Ranger: Several civilians are gunned down at an airport as players are given a choice to participate in the killings (e.g., players can shoot a wounded civilian that is crawling on the ground), or walk by and observe without opening fire. In either case, civilians scream and emit pools of blood as they are shot to death."

Certainly, it's not just parents who should have been made aware of the mission's content. There very well could have been plenty of independent adults who said "hey, this isn't for me" as "No Russian" started. It's not a commentary on whether "No Russian" was properly executed, if it's an issue that it's nearly impossible to finish the mission without actually firing a shot from your own gun, or if games should even be touching this kind of material (the "it's just a game" argument).

Rather, it was irresponsible not to provide an opportunity to discover what the definition of "disturbing" and "offensive" was before actually having to experience the content, or practice blind self-censorship and preemptively stop yourself from viewing the content entirely. Games have put us in compromising situations before, but prior to Modern Warfare 2, no other game has attempted to comment on the experience of being a modern day terrorist. In a post-9/11 world, that's precarious, life-altering territory.

I applaud Infinity Ward for including the mission. Whatever you think of it, it's powerful. But Infinity Ward always knew the intention of "No Russian." The game's own writer admitted its purpose.

"People have really strong reactions to the airport scene and it's been fascinating because we all wanted to make it something that would be upsetting, disturbing, but also something people relate to," said writer Jesse Stern to GamePro.com. "There's something instantly identifiable about it when it happens, when you're in that situation and the level begins. Ultimately, our intention was to put you as close as possible to atrocity. As for the effect it has on you, that's not for us to determine. Hopefully, it does have an emotional impact and it seems to have riled up a lot of people in interesting ways."

It's impossible to say if more or less people would have agreed to play "No Russian" if Infinity Ward had been upfront

Even Stern used the word "disturbing," as the game did. Given the evidence, it seems Infinity Ward wanted more people to experience "No Russian" than not. It's impossible to say if more or less people would have agreed to play the mission if Infinity Ward had been upfront about its content, but the reason it's impossible to know is because Infinity Ward never provided the opportunity to become properly informed.

The argument that players could have hopped online and found scenes from "No Russian" isn't valid because the sequence's leak was never sanctioned from the parties involved in the development of Modern Warfare 2. At no point did Infinity Ward or publisher Activision come forward when footage appeared and give people some context.

It's not like Modern Warfare 2's story was a well-kept secret, either. Earlier this year, a much-hyped trailer for the game quickly blew one of the plot's pivotal turns, as the invasion becomes personal and Modern Warfare 2's Washington D.C. becomes a prequel to Fallout 3 as World War III unfolds on the homefront. If consumers were allowed to know about the decimation of our nation's most honored landmarks, why not a heads up about becoming a willing member of a terrorist outfit?

"No Russian" is an important step forward for games as a medium. Rock Paper Shotgun's Kieron Gillen argues Infinity Ward blew what should have been an amazing opportunity. He might have a point. But whether it's done well or not, more people should been made aware of what they were in for.

Optional spoilers next time, please.

Have something to share? Have a news tip? E-mail me. You can also follow me on Twitter.

Music DLC Round-Up -- Week Of Nov. 16

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:50:00 -0800

It's time once again for our weekly round-up of downloadable content for all of your favorite music games. This week was a big one for Fab Four fans as the "Complete the Album Pack" for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band hit The Beatles: Rock Band. KISS lovers also felt the downloadable track love this week, thanks to a three-track pack for Guitar Hero 5. Rock Band players looking to fill out their AFI collection can now do so via a hefty pack as well, while Lips users croon some sultry tunes from Colbie Callait.

KISS Track Pack

“Modern Day Delilah”
“I Was Made for Loving You”
“Lick It Up"

Price: $5.49/440 Microsoft Points/550 Wii Points for the pack, or $1.99/160 MSP/200 WP per track

Click through to see new tracks for Rock Band, The Beatles: Rock Band, Rock Band Unplugged, DJ Hero, SingStar and Lips.

Pack

AFI Pack 01

"Love Like Winter"
"Medicate”
"The Leaving Song, Pt. II"
"Beautiful Thieves”
"End Transmission"

Tracks

The Bangles – “Walk Like An Egyptian”
Them Crooked Vultures – “New Fang”

Price: $8.49/680 MSP for pack, or $1.99/160 MSP/200 WP per track

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band: Complete the Album Pack

“Fixing A Hole”
“She’s Leaving Home”
“Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!”
“Within You Without You”
“When I’m Sixty-Four”
“Lovely Rita”
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)”
“A Day In The Life”

Price: $13.49/1080 MSP for pack, or $1.99/160 MSP/200 WP per track

Dead Kennedys – “California Über Alles”
Sleater-Kinney – “You’re No Rock ‘n’ Roll Fun”

Price: $1.99 per track

No new releases

No new releases

Colbie Caillat Song Pack

“Fallin’ For You”
“The Little Things”
“Realize”

Price: 440 MSP for pack, or 160 MSP per track

Around The Net 11.20.09

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:30:00 -0800

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Dago-BAM! Today we have accidental boomerang calamities, lightning-fast cup stacking, sad dating videos and extraterrestrial themed tourism campaigns from a galaxy far, far away.

Find the direct video links from Around the Net onAttack of the Show after the jump.

Break.com: Boomerang Girl

YouTube: Cup Stacking Oh My Gosh

YouTube: More Video Dating

The Tonight Show: Conan Palin

YouTube: Extreme Dagobah

Law Firm Mulls Class Action Suit Over Modded Xboxes

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:28:00 -0800

You know all those Xbox Live users who were banned from the network recently for, apparently, connecting modified 360s to Live? Law firm Abington IP is considering filing a class action lawsuit against Microsoft on behalf of interested/eligible ban-ees.

Abington's website is looking for you if you:

"Are an Xbox Live subscriber, had your modified Xbox console banned from Xbox Live, were not refunded a prorated sum for the time left on your subscription or have experienced other problems as a result of being banned, and would like to participate in a class action against Microsoft"

The site also compares the mass-bannination to Microsoft using the "most indiscriminate 'weapons' in its arsenal in an effort to combat piracy," resulting in "a great deal of collateral damage."

I spoke to an attorney at Abington to get a little more info on the potential lawsuit, and he wasn't offering anything on-the-record about the action, so it looks like we're going to have to wait a bit to see how things shape up.

I've heard from a few TheFeed readers who purchased used Xboxes that they didn't know were modded, and subsequently had their Live accounts banned, but, so far, I haven't seen a whole lot of evidence of people saying they've been banned for no reason. But that doesn't mean they're not out there.

If I were the head of Microsoft, I wouldn't ban anyone unless I absolutely had to. Money talks, after all, and if you're paying for Gold service, I'd want to keep your dough flowing in, but hey, I'm just some jerk posting on a blog as opposed to the head of a big company, so what do I know?

But if I bought some music and some movies on Live, and then I was banned for something not having to do with movies or music, I'd probably want "my" property back.

How about you? Know anyone who's been banned from Live for any reason? What do you think about this potential lawsuit?

Star Trek Online Deep Space Combat Trailer

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:58:00 -0800

As if surviving in the cold, unforgiving vastness of space wasn’t hard enough, now you have to worry about a bunch of jerks photon torpedoing your ship into glowing bits? Well, I guess that’s the price you pay for living in some cool sci-fi future. Check out this new combat trailer for Star Trek Online to find out some of the ways you’ll be dealing spacey death next year.

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Before Serious Sam HD Launches, Watch This New Trailer

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:52:00 -0800

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It's been too long since Croteam dropped a new Serious Sam game. A proper third entry in the "oh my god there are 900 enemies at once" series is in the works, but before moving forward, Croteam went back to the original and came back with Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter, a remake being released on the PC on November 24. It'll also make an appearance through Xbox Live Arcade sometime next month, but a concrete date hasn't been announced.

Lick Up This Trailer For The New Guitar Hero 5 KISS Track Pack

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:17:00 -0800

Guitar Hero 5 fans can now rock their painted faces off to some brand new tracks from rock legends, KISS. The new track pack includes three tracks (“Modern Day Delilah,” “I Was Made for Loving You,” and “Lick It Up"), and will set you back $1.99/160 Microsoft Points/200 Wii Points per track, or $5.49/440 MSP/550 WP for the pack.

While you wait for the black and white paint to dry on your hands, go ahead and check out the new trailer for the track pack to see what kinds of rock-foolery await you:

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Left 4 Dead 2 Dark Carnival Achievement Walkthrough Video

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:12:00 -0800

If you're looking for a guide to get through Dark Carnival in Left 4 Dead 2, X-Play's Abbie Heppe is ready to take your hand and guide you through the darkness and zombies. Abbie's guide shows you how to earn six achievements on the level for 120G too: Bonus!

Check out the video below: Oh, and of course this is nothing but SPOILERS.

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Madden NFL Arcade "Game Changers" Video

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:53:00 -0800

I've been playing Madden games since John Madden's Vibrating Table Football: 1974, and I love the series, so I was curious about the upcoming downloadable title Madden NFL Arcade. Cautiously curious, actually, because the last thing I thought I wanted from a football game was more "arcade-like" action... but now I'm not sure. Check out the "Game Changers" trailer below:

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Usually, I turn up my sports-sim purist nose at any in-game silliness, but after watching this video, I'm confronting the fact that I might have been wrong for all these years. The game comes out next week on he PSN and Live, so I'm gonna get it, try it, and perhaps have my mind changed for all time.

The Sims 3 Takes On The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:42:00 -0800

I'm currently in line to see The Twilight Saga: New Moon for the third time. But maybe you're not so lucky. Too bad for you, loser. Anyway, if you can't tear yourself away from your computer long enough to see the greatest movie event in history (and yes, that includes Citizen Kane), please enjoy the trailer, re-enacted using The Sims 3.

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Resident Evil 5 Downloadable Content Not Planned For PC Version "At This Point"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:37:00 -0800

Remember the slate of downloadable content for Resident Evil 5 I wrote about yesterday? In the announcement, Capcom seemed to pretend there wasn't a PC version of Resident Evil 5. That's because the company hasn't scheduled the content to be released for the PC version.

"No plans for PC at this point," said a Capcom spokesperson to me this morning.

Capcom has been a surprisingly strong supporter of the PC platform and digital distribution in the past few years, traditionally releasing PC versions of its high-profile games a few months after the console versions. This year, it happened with both Resident Evil 5 and Street Fighter IV.

If you want the extra content, such as two new single-player episodes, you'll need a console.

Have something to share? Have a news tip? E-mail me. You can also follow me on Twitter.

Sony Finally Launches The PlayStation 2...In Brazil

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:33:00 -0800

It might be nine years late, but Sony has finally gotten around to releasing the PlayStation 2…in Brazil…for around $465. Not only is that almost five times the cost of a new PS2 here in the United States, but, as Edge Online reports, the games will cost between $55 and $66.

While I couldn’t be happier for all those Brazilian gamers who will now get the chance to experience some of the greatest games ever made for the first time, that price tag will clearly put the console beyond the reach of many potential purchasers. On the plus side, Brazil’s already thriving piracy business is about to have a fantastic holiday season.

Source: Edge Online

Capcom Revealing Super Street Fighter IV Character Soon...Who Is He/She/It?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:14:00 -0800

In addition to bringing back fan favorites from Super Street Fighter II Turbo, Capcom is padding the lineup to Super Street Fighter IV. According to Capcom's Japanese blog for the game (via Andriasang), another character unveil for the sequel update is coming, though Capcom's obviously keeping quiet on the specifics.

Capcom teased an image with Chun-Li, which you'll see to the right. There doesn't seem to be a clue about who the character is, unless that dark half-circle's meant to suggest...something. They've got me stumped.

Let the guessing begin.

At least it's not a countdown this time.

Source: Andriasang

Rock Band Releasing 1,000th Song: It’s Kelly Clarkson!?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:46:00 -0800

MTV and Harmonix have been touting the insane-in-the-membrane number of downloadable tracks for their Rock Band games since the launch of Rock Band in 1974, and next week, a milestone will be reached: One-thousand songs will be available for the game. The historic thousandth game is <insert drumroll here>… Kelly Clarkson’s “Miss Independent!”

…Wait, what? Since Rock Band tracks are generally released in groups, this week’s DLC includes the 1,000th song, but there isn’t a specific title given the honor, so we’ve arbitrarily bestowed the 1,000th Song Award to Clarkson’s track. Sure, "Miss Independent" is really a Lego Rock Band track, but since the DLC can be played across games, it counts.

If you prefer, the 1000th song could just as easily be one of the live Tom Petty tracks in the Tom Petty live track pack, a P!nk track or the Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed"-- but Kelly Clarkson's is our choice, and we're sticking to it.

You'll be able to download all the below tracks on Tuesday for the 360 and Thursday for the PS3:

Go-Go’s – “Our Lips Are Sealed”
Kelly Clarkson – “Miss Independent”
P!nk – “Who Knew”
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “A Thing About You (live)”
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “American Girl (live)”
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Even the Losers (live)”
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Here Comes My Girl (live)” +
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Mary Jane’s Last Dance (live)”
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Refugee (live)”

Ubisoft Not Publishing No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise (Aka No More Heroes HD)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:21:00 -0800

Grasshopper Manufacture made gamers who missed out on the first No More Heroes (or don't own a Wii) happy with the announcement of an upgraded, visually-tweaked No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The original game is going under the high-definition knife and will be released in its native territory in February. There's some bad news, though. Ubisoft confirmed to me it will not be publishing No More Heroes on Xbox 360 and PS3 in the US.

"Ubisoft will not be publishing either of these versions," a company spokesperson told me.

The company did not provide any reasons why they're passing. But just because Ubisoft is passing on the revamped No More Heroes, doesn't mean the HD-enabled versions of Travis Touchdown's first adventure won't show up here, but another publisher will have to step up.

Ubisoft is still behind the franchise, however, as the company will be publishing the sequel on Wii over here. No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle is scheduled for a January release.

Have something to share? Have a news tip? E-mail me. You can also follow me on Twitter.

BioShock 2 Multiplayer Video: "He's A Killer!"

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:57:00 -0800

If you thought the underwater, anti-utopian nightmare that is Rapture was a dangerous and deadly place to live in during the events of BioShock, then wait until you see what went down in the lead up to the city’s collapse in BioShock 2’s multiplayer mode. Just ask the poor sap who gets smashed into frozen pieces in this gameplay video...if you can find his ear that is.

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