GOG.com Has Shut Down September 19, 2010

In a surprising move, the online game distributer Good Old Games has closed its virtual doors, and shut down its website, preventing its users from downloading the games they supposedly own.  GoG was (as far as I know) the only online distributer of DRM-free games, and heck, even I bought a copy of Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh through the service.

The shutdown was extremely abrupt, as a customer I received an email notifying me of the weekend’s sales (as usual).  I don’t think there was any way to tell the service was going to just shut down.

Their website teases that a way for the customers to redownload their games is coming, but until then, you’ll have to rely on your own local backups.

This is (in my opinion) a major blow to the legitimacy of online distributors everywhere.  If a service like them can just up and shut down, preventing their customers from obtaining the games they legally own, it really makes a good case for the fact that physical media is still the best way to buy your games.

Playstation Move Released September 18, 2010

With very little fanfare and hoopla, Sony has announced the Playstation Move is currently in stores and ready to be purchased.

The Playstation Move requires the PS EyeToy, and the Move Wand to function. Currently you can buy these bundled in stores for $99.99 US, which includes a game and a Blu-Ray of Move demos.

An analog attachment to the wand will be required for some games, similar to the Nintendo Wii’s nunchuck. That is also available for $25 US but the Dual Shock 3 can also serve the same function. A charging stand for the Move is also being sold.

Dead Rising Case West Announced September 16, 2010

Capcom announced at TGS today that new DLC for Dead Rising 2 is on the way in the form of Dead Rising Case West.

The word West sound familiar?  That’s Frank, Frank West.  Hope you remembered that name because he got the story five years ago.  Frank West was the hero of the first Dead Rising game.  He spent 72 hours in a zombie infested mall in Willimette, CO trying to break the biggest story ever.  He emerged with the scoop, but quite possibly infected with the zombie virus.  His fate was uncertain to all those who played the first game.

It looks like he and Chuck Greene (the hero of Dead Rising 2 and Dead Rising 2 Case Zero) must team up if they’re going to solve this next case.

Details are still sketchy on the DLC, but it looks like it’s going to be for the Xbox 360.

Heavy Rain Playstation Move Patch Coming September 22nd September 15, 2010

Heavy Rain was the sleeper hit of 2010, and was a really good seller for the Playstation 3 in the month of February.  It was announced just prior to E3 this year that Heavy Rain would be ported to the Playstation Move controller system through means of a patch, enabling a whole new control system for a game built entirely around the Dual Shock 3 controller.

That patch is coming next week, September 22nd, and it should be released free of charge to all owners of Heavy Rain, current and future.

It would defiantly give me a reason to dust off my copy of the game, after getting the Platinum Trophy a few days after buying the game I haven’t really had much reason to play it other than the very short Heavy Rain Chronicles Episode 1.

Halo Reach Trailer Director’s Cut September 9, 2010

The full version of the live action trailer (which is currently airing on TV) for Halo Reach has been released online today, although it won’t see a release on Xbox Live until tomorrow.

It’s a fantastic trailer, which shows backstory to Noble Team, how Kat lost her arm, and what happened to the original sixth member of the team.

The schedule for Halo Reach content on Xbox Live will go as follows:

7 September – Day 7: “Halo: Reach Premium Theme”
8 September – Day 6: “Campaign Preview”
9 September – Day 5: “50% off Avatar Warthog Prop Offer”
10 September – Day 4: “Firefight Preview”
11 September – Day 3: “Deliver Hope – Director’s Cut”
12 September – Day 2: “Multiplayer Preview”
13 September – Day 1: “Halo: Reach Collection Update (Avatar)”

There is also expected to be a free premium theme for download during the week after the game’s release. It’s not listed here, and the current premium theme costs 240 ms points, but they said it will be avalible during Invasion Week. There is also going to be a free Xbox Live Gold Weekend between the 17th and 20th of September.

Halo Waypoint Ready for Halo Reach September 8, 2010

A major update has been released for Halo Waypoint today, so major it’s requiring most users to download an entirely new version of the program, instead of a simple startup patch.

The interface looks a lot different now, with Halo Reach graphics running in the background, the level cap has been increased from 50 to 60, and unlockable content for both your avatar and your Halo Reach character is now available to obtain, as long as you have achievements in Halo Reach, which is coming out September 14th.

If you don’t have Halo Waypoint installed and you have an Xbox 360, install it right now, it’s a free program and it rewards you for all your achievements in Halo games with avatar content, exclusive videos, and waypoint awards.

iOS4.1 for iPhone 4, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS Released September 8, 2010

Apple has officially released iOS4.1, with the promised security updates and performance improvements to the last three generations of their iPhones.  Their heavily promoted Game Center feature has also been included in the new OS upgrade, but it will only work in iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and the last three generations of iPod Touch.

The update can be obtained by syncing your device in iTunes 10 and selecting the UPDATE option after the sync.

Apple Game Center only Supported in iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 September 7, 2010

In what is likely a deathblow to everyone who owns an iPhone 3G, Apple made the announcement that the iOS4.1 upgrade that is coming this week will not include the heavily touted Game Center application for owners of the iPhone 3G, instead it is only going to be compatable with iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.

The Game Center is going to be similar to Xbox Live in that it will create a unified ranking system with achievements among all iPhone games that support it.  It will also take care of multiplayer matchmaking for the games that use its toolset.

I really thought I could’ve squeezed one more generation out of my iPhone 3G, guess not.

iOS4.1 is coming for download on iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4.  Game Center, included in the OS upgrade, will only be on iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.  It will be a free download this week through iTunes.

Week of Halo Reach on Xbox Live September 7, 2010

It will be less than one week until Halo Reach is officially released into the hands of the gamer masses, and Microsoft is doing a weeklong promotion on Xbox Live to count down the days of this week.

It kicked off today with the a new Xbox 360 Dashboard Premium Theme, for 240ms points.  Kind of disappointing, I figured if they really wanted to celebrate they could’ve made it free, at least for today.  They’ve made premium themes free for a short time in the past, including when Halo 3 ODST released.

More content will be posted with each passing day of the week.  Videos, themes and other content has been promised, so keep your eyes on the countdown clock on your 360 dashboard!

Halo Reach is coming September 14th, 2010 exclusive to the Xbox 360.

PS3 Firmware 3.42 Released September 7, 2010

A new firmware for the Playstation 3 has been released, and is required for continued access on the Playstation Network.

Version 3.42 supposedly includes security fixes which invalidates the playstation modchips, which are already illegal.

Honestly I don’t trust mod chips further than I can throw a hundred pound weight so this really doesn’t affect me.