Joystick Division

Atari Sends Dragon Ball Franchise Back to Namco Bandai

2009-07-02 18:09:39

Goku and the gang had a good run at Atari, but they're now back in the hands of their original Japanese master, Namco Bandai. The five-year publishing rights deal struck between the two companies will begin immediately starting 2010, excluding three games that Namco Bandai will be handling this year. They include:

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast for the Xbox 360 and PS3
Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans for the DS
Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Picollo for the Wii

Just another big blow the classic publisher has faced recently. Anyone want to bet on who's going to die first, Dragon Ball games or Atari? Here at JoystickDivision HQ, our money is on Atari.

Nintendo Buys British TV Show, Can't Advertise Products On-Air

2009-07-02 12:41:51

Nintendo has entered into a deal with UK's channel five to sponsor a new TV show called "Britain's Best Brain". From the title of the show, everyone is expecting this to be a platform for them to promote their line of "Brain Age" games for the DS. That'd be great...if it wasn't for one minor snag:

Product placements are illegal during a TV broadcast in Britain.
*comment clarification: commercials are different*

For those of you in the UK, I hope you look forward to the show and improving your "memory, co-ordination, numeracy, recognition, and risk"! The show is due to premiere in October, so do your part by praying Nintendo's marketing dept. can come up with a way to sneak product placements into the show (it may be the only entertainment gamers get from it).

It Cannot Be Killed

2009-07-02 12:01:44

Despite the fact that it totally sucks, the Resident Evil movie franchise will not die. Horror movie site Shock Till You Drop is reporting that Sony will inflict a fourth Resident Evil movie on us in September of 2010:

Late last year, Paul W.S. Anderson revealed he was indeed writing another film. Capcom was getting involved. Everyone, as he said, was "excited." Well, we've just learned from a studio insider that Sony is looking to get Resident Evil: Afterlife into theaters by September 17, 2010. That's according to an internal memo circulating through the offices there.

Look, I liked the first one just fine. The second one... well, I'd rather not talk about that. And the third? Couldn't be bothered. Dear everyone involved in this project: Please stop. We know you like money. But you're America's volume dealers in shitty video game movie adaptations.

Micro-Review: Ghostbusters [Wii]

2009-07-02 09:49:31

Because I don't have enough on my plate, I've been squeezing in some time with the various versions of Ghostbusters when I'm not playing one of the summer's open-world games. Most of that time has been with the 360 version, but I've also been checking out the Wii game, which sticks pretty close to the same script and level design, albeit with cartoonier graphics. I've heard some people complain that the Wii game is a poor shadow of the console game, but frankly I don't see it. What the Wii game lacks it makes up for with exclusive features. Only the Wii version features two-player split-screen co-op, and wrangling ghosts with the Wii Remote is as fun as you'd expect. While capturing ghosts feels simpler on the Wii, it also feels more tactile - you must swing the remote around to slam the ghost around the room, which is a blast. However, the process as a whole is more automated than in the 360/PS3 version, so skilled gamers will blow through the Wii game a lot more quickly.

I'll have my full impressions of the 360 version soon, and much of what I say about that version will apply to this one as well. If you like Ghostbusters and you only own a Wii, I think you'll be pretty happy with this version of the game. It may look like a cartoon, but the game's script (which is its main selling point) is intact, and bustin' ghost will make you feel good. What more do you need?

Seriously... Grease?

2009-07-01 12:52:27

Is there anyone in the world who actually wants to play a Grease video game? I doubt it, but apparently Paramount and 505 Games think so. There's not much info on the game, other than that it will be a party game and have a lot of music-based activities, obviously.

I can think of few movies that would make less interesting games. Maybe Into The Wild - you go into the wilderness, eat poison and die. Nope, that's still more interesting.

Open-World Superhero Smackdown 2009: Game Talk Edition

2009-07-01 10:07:02

Man, OWSS09 is simply killing me. Infamous is done (review here), Prototype is about 80% complete, and Red Faction is about halfway in the bag. Of course, I brought this all upon myself, although a dead Xbox certainly hasn't helped the speed of this project. But while we're waiting, what's your take on these games? I suspect few of you are playing all three at the same time, because you're all much smarter than me, but I know many of you are playing one or two of them. So what's your take? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments secion.

Aspiring UK DJs Devastated Over DJ Hero Price Gouging

2009-07-01 09:41:33

While I'm not one to complain about the ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS PRICES OF MUSIC/RHYTHM GAMES, I am a man of fairness. And unlike Activision, I believe in equal opportunity when it comes to access to video games (yes, even the worst games deserve a chance to be hated by everyone). In the case of DJ Hero, the newest peripheral-infested game from everyone's favorite massively profitable publisher, where you live may affect how much you pay.

Those living in the UK will have to shell out an extra $57 over those living in the US. The official retail price for the UK at release will be 108 GBP or $177 compared to the US release price of $120 or 73 GBP.

The unequal treatment of young virtual British DJs has not been taken lightly here at Joystick Division HQ. We are currently rallying our European brothers for a protest later on in the week.

Full Access to Last.fm on Xbox Live is Gonna Cost You

2009-07-01 08:53:30

The wheels are beginning to turn for Microsoft's attempt to transform the 360 and Xbox Live into more than a place for 12-year-olds to vent their frustrations in FPS games. One of their many deals with top online multimedia and social networking platforms is with Last.fm, one of the most popular streaming music sites. While few details have been said about the actual access you'll receive on your console from Last.fm, pricing details have been unearthed, showing who gets what with different Xbox Live memberships.

Details:

Silver Member - 3-month trial, limited to 3 hours of access per month, with video advertisements

Gold Members - Unlimited access, but with ads

Last.fm Paid Subscribers - $3/month for unlimited access, extra features (TBA), no ads

Snap Judgment: Brutal Legend

2009-06-30 11:17:26

Video Games - E3 2009 - PlayStation 3

In this column, I predict the fate of certain games based on the information available and my read on the game industry at the moment. By necessity, this column will focus on games that I think will flop or do moderately well, as anyone with a brain can predict that games like Modern Warfare 2 will be huge. Sometimes my predictions will be right. Sometimes they'll be wrong. But they'll always be an opportunity for you, the reader, to tell me that I'm a moron, a hater, or worse. Today's contestant: Brutal Legend.
]]> Continue reading "Snap Judgment: Brutal Legend" >

G4 Keeps it Classy

2009-06-30 10:52:26

Video Game - E3 2009 - X-Play

Want to know why gamers have a reputation for being immature? It's because of stuff like this G4 segment. Of course, by posting it here, I'm just playing right into their hands. You win this round, G4.