Dead Space 2 has Entered Closed Beta September 23, 2010

I just received an email from the Dead Space 2 team announcing that they’re secretly having a closed beta test of the highly anticipated multiplayer portion of their game right now on the Playstation Network.

Admission seems to be by invite only right now, and the code only works on the Playstation 3, although the game will also support Xbox 360 and PC.

Dead Space 2 will release January 25th, 2011.

Good old Games Relaunching Tomorrow September 22, 2010

Good old Games has updated their website today to add a special message and a countdown clock. This is likely teasing the site’s relaunch, and them moving it out of the beta phase. They also apologize for the abrupt shutdown and reassure all customers their content can be re-accessed tomorrow.

The clock will wind down 8am tomorrow EST. Until then enjoy the site videos they’ve posted of the last two years.

PS3 Now Supports 3D Blu-Ray Movies September 21, 2010

Firmware version 3.50 has been released to the Playstation Network tonight and the required update adds full 3D support for Blu-Ray Disc movies.

You will need the update in order to access the Playstation Network. Also note 3D playback requires a fully compliant 3D HDTV, 3D HDMI cable, IR transmitter and 3D Glasses for each viewer.

Alan Wake Episode 2 DLC will be the Last, Music Confirmed September 20, 2010

Remedy has announced officially that the next DLC episode for Alan Wake, “The Writer”, will be the final DLC for Alan Wake.

It will also feature the song “The Darkest Star” by Depeche Mode.

Alan Wake Episode 2 is coming in the Fall only from Xbox Live Marketplace for 560ms points.

Good Old Games Expected to Issue Statement Wednesday September 20, 2010

GoG.com has revealed to the press today they will issue an official statement on the status of their network on Wednesday. They also have confirmed downloads to their existing customers (still DRM-free) can be resumed on Thursday.

A lot of people on the Internet are passing this off as a publicly stunt, or as a way for them to start selling their games with DRM. We’ll find out Wednesday.

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.