PS3
Sonic Races into LittleBigPlanet
by Eric Jones | 11/21/09 | 1:10 PM PST

Finally, a Sonic side-scrolling game returns to consoles! Well, sort of. Sega and Media Molecule have teamed up to add Sonic and friends to the playable skins in LittleBigPlanet, revealed at the site for PlayStation Asia.

Now, you can dress up Sackboy as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Dr. Eggman, or the Were-hog. And maybe, if you squint ever so slightly, you can go back to an age where Sonic games used to be good.

GEN
New 2K Games Shooter Announced to Debut at VGAs...and Outed Soon After
by Eric Jones | 11/21/09 | 11:11 AM PST

The latest world premiere to be a part of the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards has been announced, and it's a new mystery game that we haven't seen before...or have we?


VGA 2009 Mystery World Premiere #1

The trailer reveals a new military-based shooter from 2K Games, set in a bombed-out Dubai, and supposedly set to appear for the first time at the VGAs. However, if you'd like to be spoiled, you can hit the jump.

Wii
Super Mario Kart, Pilotwings, Smash Bros. Coming to Virtual Console
by Zach Carmichael | 11/21/09 | 5:57 AM PST


Kotaku is reporting that three of the most desired games for the Wii's Virtual Console are about to make an appearance. This Monday, expect to see Super Mario Kart (SNES) on the service for 800 points. The other two titles, Super Smash Bros. and Pilotwings, will be released on the Virtual Console "sometime this holiday season." Don't take my word for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if the former of the two came out on the Monday before Christmas.

Is this beginning of a slew of most-requested games to be released on the Virtual Console? Many fans, including myself, feel that Earthbound is long overdue for an appearance. Maybe Nintendo is finally starting to pay attention to its fans.

360
Final Fantasy XIII's Final Trailer Debuts Wednesday
by Alex Osborn | 11/21/09 | 5:45 AM PST



With Final Fantasy XIII's Japan release only weeks away, news has been pouring in regarding what to expect from the series' next installment. While Japanese gamers don't have to wait long to get their hands on the game, North American and European gamers will have to wait until March 9 to explore the world of Cocoon.

There is however, one more tidbit of content that is sure to come our way before year's end. In fact, you can expect to see a new trailer, the final trailer for the game on Wednesday of next week. Check Square-Enix's official site to see the countdown.

It's gonna be big.

360
Supreme Commander 2 Moves Out in March
by Eric Jones | 11/20/09 | 9:55 PM PST

Square Enix hasn't been known for advancements in the real-time strategy genre...or Western-developed games at all for that matter. However, that will change in March 2010, which has been announced as the official release date for Supreme Commander 2, the sequel to 2007's acclaimed RTS by Gas Powered Games. Oh yeah, and there's a new making-of video too!



While we're excited to finally see the game released, I gotta wonder what Square Enix is thinking put it up against of their hugely-anticipated games, which is Finally coming out the same month.

Wii
Mass: We Pray a Dante's Inferno Marketing Stunt
by Christopher Burke | 11/20/09 | 8:22 PM PST

Last week's satirical advertisement for Mass: We Pray, which featured cross-shaped motion controllers and gameplay modes like 'baptism' and 'ring the tower bell', has turned out to be another bit of sneaky marketing for EA's upcoming Dante's Inferno.

All of the game's marketing efforts have tied into the seven deadly sins. Back at E3, EA held a contest asking attendees to take pictures with booth-babes, which tied in with 'Lust'. EA also sent out checks to media outlets as a tie-in with 'Greed'. Apparently the Mass: We Pray advertisement ties in with 'Heresy'.

Seeing these marketing stunts fall flat, I wonder if the controversy EA is trying to raise is doing the game any good.

Wii
Week-Ending Game Endings - 11.20.09 - Resident Evil 2
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 4:54 PM PST

I hope this doesn't count as spoilers.

This week, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles came out for the Wii, and I figured a good way of marking the occasion would be to post the ending of one of the games from which it draws, Resident Evil 2.

But, it occurs to me that some peoples' first experience with the story of the game might be through Darkside. So if you're such a person and don't want the RE2 sequence spoiled, then I wouldn't watch these.

On the other hand, if you know it or just don't care, go right ahead. In the case of the former, it might even be fun to compare. First up, we join Claire Redfield...



More after the cut.

Wii
My Games This Weekend - 11.20.09 - New Super Mario Bros. Wii and WWE
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 4:38 PM PST

This weekend, it's more New Super Mario Bros. Wii. The wife and I have already stepped into the dark land of World 8, and will soon make Bowser eat his own shell. So far, the game really hasn't been all that difficult, even with two of us getting in the way of one-another. Nonetheless, it's been quite a fun ride, and I can't wait to go back and start exploring for secrets, Star Coins, and such.

I'm also aiming to get WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 for the Wii underway, so keep an eye out for that review soon. In the meantime, I've got the DS version in progress, so hopefully that will show up sometime early next week.

In addition, WWE Survivor Series is this Sunday, and I'll likely have Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, aka "the best game in the series" with me. Funny that in one game, I have to ensure Bowser's survival, while in the other, he's soon going to wish he was never born. Such is life.

So, those are my games this weekend, what are yours?

PS3
November Marks the Launch Anniversary of Many a Gaming Platform
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 4:08 PM PST

A lot of console and handheld anniversaries are being observed this year, such as the SEGA Genesis, the Dreamcast, and the Game Boy. But November seems to be the month to remember, as many a memorable platform celebrate can celebrate its launch going into the Winter holidays.

First and foremost, one cannot overlook the platforms of this very generation. Earlier this week, November 17th marked the third anniversary of the PlayStation 3's North American launch, while the Wii celebrated its own third just yesterday, November 19th. And at the start of next week, November 22nd, the Xbox 360 will also be able to celebrate, except this will be its fourth.

Wii
Media: Rabbids Go Home Music Video, Songs on iTunes
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 3:53 PM PST

Ubisoft has announced that for those who enjoy the soundtrack to the recently-released comedy-adventure Rabbids Go Home, the tracks can now be purchased and downloaded from iTunes.

To give you a sampling of what you're in for, they have produced the following music video:



Personally, I think more publishers interested in selling the music from their games should consider such an approach.

360
FFXIII Gets "T" Rating Long After Nintendo Tried Marketing Original to Adults
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 3:08 PM PST

Following the announcement of a release date, The Examiner reports that Final Fantasy XIII now has a rating by the ESRB. And that rating is... T for Teen. Like you thought it would be anything else.

The reason for the rating is Violence (natch), Mild Language (yippee), and Suggestive Themes-- hello. Examiner says that "While the rating shouldn't be a shock to anyone, the use of suggestive themes could be. With the game appearing to have a heavy atmosphere of love and caring, two women who link together to form a car, are surely some other sexual like surprises, the suggestive themes are likely to be minor sequences."

On a related note, did you know that Nintendo once tried to market the original NES Final Fantasy toward adults?

PS3
A Good (or at Least Fairly Decent) Look at Sony's Magical Wand
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 2:57 PM PST


Click for a larger view

While Microsoft has been quite open with Project Natal, showing it to anyone who will look and taking it on talk show after talk show following E3, Sony has been much quieter about their unnamed motion control peripheral. In most cases, there isn't even a very good look at it to be found online.

That is, until now. Sony gave those in attendance at their media and investors conference a better look at the revised form of what I'm calling the Wonder Wand. As you can see in the image above, it has at least six buttons placed upon it, including the standard four PS face buttons, a big central button between them, and the home button below.

Plus, as you can plainly see by the text, it features force feedback, a gyroscope not unlike that in the Wii MotionPlus, an accelerometer, and something called "rendition by light," which may involve that bulb on top that looks like it should be sticking out of the mouth of a clown.

Wii
Nintendo Goes Nationwide with Holiday Mall Experience
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 2:47 PM PST

There are no doubt numerous games you would like to try out this holiday season. Of course, games aren't cheap, and in this economy, you can't just spend indiscriminately on unproven goods. Rentals are an option, but their prices these days are closer to a down-payment. And then there's piracy, but really, shame on you for even considering it.

What to do, then? Well, Nintendo is providing its own answer in the form of the Nintendo Holiday Mall Experience, which can be found starting November 23rd in 35 malls across America. There, you'll get the chance to go hands-on with hits such as Wii Sports Resort and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, or see first-hand what this whole "Wii Fit Plus" thing is really all about. Other titles on hand will be Style Savvy, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, and-- once it's launched on December 7th-- The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.

Check out the full press release after the cut for further details, plus the most important part-- where to go to find it.

360
Microsoft to Reveal More of Project Natal at Gamefest in February 2010
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 2:29 PM PST

While earlier rumors of information surrounding the release of Project Natal were dismissed a inaccurate, Microsoft has gone on to confirm that it will reveal more information to developers at its Gamefest conferences in February, which are planned for the U.S., U.K., and Japan.

For the multi-track American event, Microsoft says it will be have "two full tracks solely dedicated to disclosing never-before seen details of game development using Project Natal." One will regard designing for the peripheral, while the other discusses the device's technical aspects.

Wii
REVIEW: Play Any Other Fishing Game but Shimano Xtreme Fishing
by Ryan Olsen | 11/20/09 | 2:13 PM PST

What the Game's About
Shimano Xtreme Fishing brings the sport of fishing right to your living room. You can either be an angler the old fashion way or get more extreme by bow fishing or spear fishing. By requiring using the Wii-mote to simulate fishing movements, Shimano Xtreme Fishing feels more like an arcade fishing game than any simulation.

What's Hot
It safe to assume a lot of hopes weren't pinned on this game turning the gaming masses into fish fanatics. For a game about fishing, Shimano is as over the top as they come. There are tons of fish in the water and you can't go without getting something every cast. When you bow or spear fish, the game starts to go off into FPFS (first-person fish shooter) where you attempt to clear the lake of fish like they were radioactive or something. It's a certified guilty pleasure, but that doesn't save the game from the depths it sinks.