3D HDTV launches Tomorrow June 9, 2010

Sony has announced today that they will activate the 3D capabilities of the PS3 tomorrow to coinside with the release of the 3D capable Bravia equipped HDTVs.  4 PS3 games including the PSN hit Pain will be freely upgraded to support 3D.

If you already have a 3D capable HDTV and a PS3, make sure that you have a 3D capable HDMI cable, and 3D glasses compatable with your HDTV.

Sony announced yesterday the very first 3D Blu-Ray will be “Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs”.  All 3D BDs will have a premium over 2D discs, although what that premium is has not been announced, however 3D BD discs will also support 2D playback.

So you’re going to have to spend thousands of dollars on a new TV, glasses, and a cable, just to watch a more expensive version of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” in 3D.

iPhone 4 Announced June 7, 2010

It’s got a higher resolution screen (960×640), high definition video recording, OS4’s multitasking, tilt controls for gaming, and video call support.

In short, it is probably the greatest phone ever concieved of by mankind (again).  It’s coming June 24th, 2010.  Preorders will start June 15th.  The Phone will cost $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model.  Prices of the iPhone 3GS will drop to compensate for the new model until they sell out.

iPhone OS 4.0 will also be released free of charge to users of iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS phones.

Metal Gear Solid Rising Will Be Cross-Platform June 6, 2010

Since it seems like nobody but me does their homework when it comes to gaming journalism, a lot of the upcoming E3 coverage has brought up the big announcement of last year’s Microsoft E3 showing, Metal Gear Solid Rising, by Konami.

Because this game was announced at Microsoft’s E3 event, and not announced at Sony’s a lot of game journalists (if they can call themselves that) are speculating that Metal Gear Solid Rising will be Xbox 360 exclusive.  It won’t.

Shortly after the E3 announcement last year, Konami’s E3 podcast run by Kojima Productions confirmed that Metal Gear Rising will see a release on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.  Feel free to subscribe to the Kojima Productions Report on iTunes, and download Kojima Productions Report E3 Session 003 (5:15) for the confirmation.

I know this isn’t timely news by any means (I mean, I heard this announcement over a year before I started this site) but I felt it was important to clear this up.

Metal Gear Solid Rising will be released “when it’s done” for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Remedy Teases Alan Wake with a Live Action Trailer June 5, 2010

In a very strange move, Remedy has released a teaser for Alan Wake on their YouTube Channel.  However, oddly enough, this comes almost a month after Alan Wake has been released.  It’s purpose is unknown, and it is quite facinating to watch.

This tease so close to E3 tells me that likely the rest of this is going to come out when E3 launches.  This could be to promote the first DLC release, which is coming in July, or this could be to tease a new live action series.  Regardless, give it a look for yourself and make your own conjectures.

Infamous 2 Announced June 4, 2010

Infamous was spring 2009’s suprise PS3 hit. Described of as a realistic yet stylized super hero story set in a persistant open world enviroment. I gave this game a look based on it’s phenominal reviews, played the demo and hated it. Then I decided to give the full version a spin and loved it tremendously. It’s ending left much open to debate and many wondered if Cole would see another game.

Game Informer has announced Infamous 2 is in production. Details are likely going to be scarce until that issue hits the shelves.

Infamous 2 is expected to have an E3 showing this year. More details will probably be revealed then. The first Infamous was exclusive to the PS3, and this is expected to follow that trend.

Valve Teases Suprise At E3 June 2, 2010

Valve and Aperture Science have cryptically confirmed they CANCELLED the Portal 2 E3 Presentation to instead give a completely unnamed *suprise* and will only say whatever it is, will be during their E3 presentation. This likely will tie into the Portal ARG expected to resurface at E3 this year.

I’m hoping it’s cake. Portal 2 is expected for Xbox 360 and PC this holiday season.

There are Codes in Beatles: Rock Band Manuals, Why? May 30, 2010

I picked up a copy of Beatles: Rock Band today, bit belated I admit, but I noticed something when going through the packaging.  After discarding all the leaflets about the newly re-re-remastered CD albums of The Beatles looking for the Code for the Avatar T-Shirt, I noticed a string of numbers on the back of the game manual.  What purpose this string of numbers serves eludes me.  The code is too short to be a Xbox Live download code (those are 25-key) and they didn’t fit the required pattern.

Currently, you cannot import your copy of Beatles: Rock Band to any other Rock Band game, could this string of numbers be a loophole just in case they change their mind later on?

Mark Hamill Will Return to Voice The Joker in Arkham Asylum 2 May 27, 2010

Mark Hamill, known as the voice of The Joker since 1993, and who voiced The Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum, had officially retired (or so I thought) the character’s voice after the conclusion of that game.  Now it’s been announced that he will return one last time to do the voice of The Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum 2!

This is suprising to me.  I know The Joker was incredibly important to the plotline of the first game, and Hamill did an amazing performance as expected (Hamill’s Joker ALWAYS has been amazing, if you don’t believe me, watch the uncut version of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker), but Hamill had announced after the game’s release that he was retiring the character, because he felt he couldn’t outdo the performance he had previously done.

When you watch the Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 teaser trailer, you’ll notice that The Joker is on resperators and machines, unable to speak (or laugh) without coughing and wheezing.  I theorized at the time that they designed him this way because Hamill wasn’t returning.  I guess Mark changed his mind.  Should be another fantastic performance.

Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 has no release date or officially announced platforms.  The first game was released for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.

Day One Purchases of Halo Reach Grant Recon Armor Helmet May 26, 2010

There is no greater holy grail for Halo 3 fans than the coveted Recon Armor.  Originally only avalible to Bungie and rare canadates, with the release of ODST, Recon armor became unlockable to people who could complete seven unbearably difficult achievements, and unlocked it in their bungie.net profiles.

Well, I cannot for the life of me get four players together who have copies of Halo 3 or ODST for any length of time, so achieving Recon in Halo 3 has been slow and probably impossible.  Well, looks like it’s not going to be a problem in Halo Reach.

Bungie has announced that owners of Halo Reach on release day will recieve unlock codes for an exclusive Recon Helmet to use in Reach.  As far as I can tell, this will be a day-one preorder incentive regardless of which version of the game you buy.

Halo Reach Coming September 14th! May 24, 2010

Now that the Halo Reach multiplayer beta has ended (I didn’t consider it anything special, I’d play Reach for the single player), Bungie announced today that the full version of the game will be released September 14th, 2010 in the US and Europe, September 15th in Japan.

There are going to be three editions of the game, as mentioned earlier.

Halo Reach will be exclusive to the Xbox 360.