Articles From the Last 45 Days


Weekly Releases for June 21 - 27 (6/24/2009 9:31:41 PM) - Here is the list of all the new game releases that are coming out this week. Highlights include the cross-platform Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen as well as some exclusives like Sega's The Conduit for Nintendo Wii. Make sure to help the community add new content for these fresh titles as it becomes available! Special thanks goes out to EatsBabies for helping assemble all the titles for this list. . . .

ZeniMax Media Acquires id Software (6/24/2009 12:58:06 PM) - . . .

RockStar Announces Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the PSP (6/22/2009 11:56:08 AM) - Although Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars saw disappointing sales figures on the DS, today Rockstar has announced that the game will be released for the Sony PlayStation Portable.  The game was critically acclaimed, but that did not translate to sales on the system. This game's launch will co-incide with the release of the PSP Go! and will be available on both disc and as a digital download.  No price or specific release date was announced as of press time.  There was also no word on whether or not "taxi . . .

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Video Trailer (E3 2009) (6/20/2009 8:52:36 PM) - Could this be a Turtles game worth playing?  Well, the trailer doesn't reveal that - of course.  But I can tell you that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at least looked a bit more fun than some of its predecessors by Konami, based on what little I saw at E3.   Here's the trailer for the game...  enjoy! . . .

Rabbids Go Home Videos (Demo and Trailer - E3 2009) (6/20/2009 6:48:29 PM) - Take your shopping cart, and gather everything that you can to make a gigantic pile of stuff.  That's the main objective in Rabbids Go Home.  The Rabbids looked at the moon, said "that's close enough" and decided that the moon would be their new home, rather than going all the way home. Do we really need explinations at this point?  No?  Good.  Following the trailer of the game, you'll see a little mini game, where the Rabbid is stuck inside the Wii controller.  You can shake the Rabbid ar . . .

Academy of Champions Trailer (6/20/2009 5:43:14 PM) - When I saw the trailer for this game at Ubisoft's E3 2009 Press Conference, I had to wonder what in the heck was going on.  First off, it didn't show the game at all, it only showed some kids hanging out, and one or two kicks.  Second, while Pele was on stage there was a bunch of self-congratulation, but no real indication why this game would be important to anyone. Regardless, here's the trailer that played during this year's E3 press conference. . . .

Weekly Releases (06/14/2009 - 06/20/2009) (6/19/2009 1:38:19 AM) - Here are the releases on all systems this week (sorry for the late post): 360 Ghostbusters The Video Game Guitar Hero: Smash Hits Sam & Max: Save the World Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers Rocket Riot PS3 Guitar Hero: Smash Hits Ghostbusters The Video Game Wii Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! Eduardo the Samurai Toaster Let's Catch Space Harrier (Arcade) Ver . . .

VGS: #97, Video Games Show - 06/17/2009 (6/17/2009 11:39:18 PM) - Kraft makes his feelings on Sims players known.  It's epic.  Also we dive into the latest news and review Prototype as well.  Finally we receive one of the most concise, coherent and funny emails ever.  It is an email to aspire to :) Download the Show (VGS #97, 43.2MB) . . .

Your Shape Preview (E3 2009) (6/16/2009 3:45:43 PM) - Your Shape, a camera controlled fitness game was announcedat Ubisoft's E3 Press Conference. Your Shape will tailor a fitness program to the areas of your boy that you want to focus on, and as you work out, it'll show you how accurate your exercises are. Your Shape is a Wii exclusive, and the game does include the camera, so there are no additional accessories to buy. Here's a video preview of the game, taken from the Ubisoft E3 2009 Press Conference: . . .

Red Steel 2 Game Play Trailer / Demo (E3 2009) (6/16/2009 2:49:57 PM) - Well, there are at least a few things to like about Red Steel 2: 1.  The game ships with the Wii Motion Plus peripheral.  This is a good thing, as it's required to play the game. 2.  The game's graphical style is, I think, pretty appropriate for the Wii's capabilities. 3.  Whether or not you like this is a matter of perspective:  they're aiming for a T (for Teen) rating with Red Steel 2.  People don't bleed, and after you kill them, they blink and disappear from the ground.  . . .

"Halo 3 Killer" Daniel Petric Gets 23 Years (to Life) in Prison (6/16/2009 11:52:43 AM) - 17 year-old Daniel Petric was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison for killing his mother and injuring his father after Halo 3 was taken away from him.  The prosecution had asked for the maximum sentence in the case, but Petric avoided a life term.  The prosecution had argued that Petric showed no remorse, but according to Mark Petric, Daniel's most frequent statement was "Dad, I miss mom.  I miss mom".  Petric's defense team argued that both his age, and his obsession with Halo made him less aware . . .

Rock Band Beatles Track List Leaked (6/14/2009 11:24:22 PM) - Behold, the track list for Rock Band Beatles. There's no "Strawberry Fields Forever" , but there is "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."  The site ripten published this list today, and some folks are already complaining about this particular omission, but I think that we'll see a lot in DLC for the game.  One thing that's not clear right now is if Rock Band 2 will be compatible with Rock Band Beatles, or not.  If yo . . .

Wii Fit Plus First Look (Plus E3 2009 Video) (6/13/2009 8:48:37 PM) - You'll be sweating with your Mii when Wii Fit Plus hits the stores this Fall.  Nintendo is looking to further their dominance of the fitness game genre by personalizing the experience for everyone.  The game will be available this fall, and you'll have the option of buying just the game or buying the game with the Wii balance board. This year, Nintendo's got some pretty big competition, though.  I'm thinging that Yourself Fitness by Ubisoft could give Nintendo a run for its money. Below is a few examples from t . . .

Super Mario Galaxy 2 E3 2009 Preview (Video) (6/13/2009 7:48:37 PM) - Someone will have to let me know how this differs from the original Super Mario Galaxy, aside from the guest appearance of Yoshi.  Regardless, this game looks to recapture the fun of the original.  Coming this fall, here's the clip that they showed at E3.     . . .

Uncharted 2 Game Play Demonstration From E3 2009 (6/12/2009 2:00:37 PM) - Easily one of the most impressive demos at E3 this year was the Uncharted 2 demo from Sony's Press Conference.  The game was being displayed on a 60 foot screen, and the game still looked amazing.  As you'll see in the video below, there was a variety of scenery shown off during the demo. I had a chance to check out the game on the show floor as well.   It looks about exactly like you'd think it looks - it's a worthy successor to the original Uncharted.  . . .

Wii Motion Plus Hands-On Impressions (and Video From E3 2009) (6/12/2009 11:41:11 AM) - So, while waiting to play with the Wii Motion Plus at E3, I noticed one peculiar thing about the peripheral.  It had to be calibrated after each person used the device.  I don't know if this was just an additional precautionary step for the Wii Sports Resort demonstrations, if the games need to calibrate only after extended use, or if we'll be calibrating them all the time.  But I can tell you that the "calibration process" is pretty straightforward - you set your controller down on a flat surface for . . .

New Super Mario Bros: Wii Hands-on Impressions (and E3 2009 video) (6/12/2009 10:25:06 AM) - I had a chance to play New Super Mario Bros: Wii while at the Nintendo booth during E3. Let me tell you something, this game is going to make you smack at least one of your friends. I mean that in the best possible way, of course. Cutthroat competition is part of the charm of New Super Mario Brothers: Wii. New Super Mario Brothers: Wii uses traditional 2D side scrolling elements, and will be immediately familiar to fans of the series. You hold the Wii controller like a NES controller, and yes - it feels like an authentic NE . . .

Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story Preview (Video) (6/11/2009 8:40:38 PM) - One of the more interesting looking games for the DS to be announced at Nintendo's E3 press conference was Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Adventure. In the game, you're shrunk down and swallowed whole by Bowser, and your adventure is all about your escape from his huge belly. I do wonder what the game will play like; it looks a bit like a mix between Paper Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon... from a certain point of view. I didn't have the chance to play this one on the show floor, but am looking forward to hearing more. Have a look at the tr . . .

VGS: #96, Video Games Show - 06/10/2009 (6/11/2009 2:21:34 AM) - Rich packs in 3 reviews this week taking a look at Damnation, Infamous and Red Faction Guerrilla.  This and news means another 2 full hours of the world famous Video Games Show! The Video Games Show is a weekly broadcast out of St. Louis, MO.  The Video Games Show is on KSLU, iTunes, and All Games Radio each week, as well as here at Stage Select. . . .

Metal Gear Solid: Rising Teaser Trailer (6/10/2009 2:00:35 PM) - One suprise at the Microsoft E3 2009 Press Conference was when Hideo Kojima took the stage, and announced the Metal Gear Solid Rising was coming to the Xbox 360. The announcement was more notable for what it excluded, rather than what the announcement actyally said. First off, Metal Gear Solid Rising is NOT a Xbox exclusive. For that matter, it's not even a timed exclusive. Metal Gear Solid Rising will be available on both the 360 and the PS3 on the same date. Essentially, Microsoft was trying to trumpet the fact that they're one . . .

The Last Guardian Trailer (E3 2009 Video) (6/10/2009 1:00:08 PM) - The Last Guardian is a new game by the team that made Ico. Although no game play was shown at E3, the trailer looks stunning, and sets the mood for the game's story. Penny Arcade says there is only two ways that this game can end; either the boy dies, or te griffin dies. Hilarious, but you know, it's probably true. Check out the trailer below, captured at the Sony Press Conference: . . .

Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Preview (E3 2009) (6/10/2009 10:30:26 AM) - Some people are wondering what Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is all about. Well, maybe the following trailer will help in that regard. As for me, I was far too preoccupied with trying to understand why people were waiting over an hour to play a 5 minute slice of the game. There was a nice stylus prize for making your way through the line, but come on, at a minimum, Nintendo should have set up more than two freaking stations to play the game at E3. . . .

A Boy and His Blob Preview (6/10/2009 7:57:49 AM) - A Boy and His Blob Preview: The first thing that you'll notice about A Boy and His Blob is the adorable hand drawn artwork for the game.  A Boy and His Blob is cute through and through, and really shows off what can still be pulled off in a 2D side scrolling adventure. The art style seems to evoke Classic Whinney The Pooh, and the interactions between the boy and his blob show off both playful interactions and love. . . .

Editorial: Halo 3 ODST Is A Bad Deal; Also, E3 2009 Preview Video (6/10/2009 1:05:29 AM) - Halo 3 ODST doesn't contain any new multiplayer features, instead focusing on the single player campaign.  There is a multiplayer disc included in the set, but it's only the Halo 3 maps / modes.  There are 3 new multiplayer maps included with Halo 3 ODST, but they should see general release to Halo 3 players as well. One unexpected negative to come out of E3 2009 was Microsoft's MSRP for Halo 3 ODST - $60.  And yes, they want to get you for nearly $100 for the Special Edition (which includes a new controller).&nbs . . .

Splinter Cell: Conviction E3 2009 Game Play Preview (6/9/2009 10:30:24 AM) - Splinter Cell: Conviction is looking great this year! It's a far cry from the game we saw two years ago at E3. The graphics look fantastic, of course, but there are a few cool additional elements to the game that I think help it stand out as a better game than before. Splinter Cell: Conviction has you playing as Sam Fisher on a mission of revenge. You're going to find and kill those responsible for your daughter's death at the end of the last game. As you'll see from the game play clip below, Sam isn't taking orders any more - he' . . .

Kingdom Hearts DS Trailer and Hands-on Impressions from E3 2009 (6/9/2009 9:31:54 AM) - The newest Kingdom Hearts has a strange subtitle. The game play however isn't the least bit strange. At E3, I played through a level set in the Alladin universe, but had creatures I don't remember from the movies. The ojective of the area was to clear out al the enemies. It wasn't especially difficult, but we did notice that it wasn't the easiest to use the D pad, versus the analog controls we are used to from the PS2 versions of the game.The game is still quite charming, even on the small screen. You fight with your signature g . . .

Halo Reach Teaser Trailer (E3 2009) (6/9/2009 8:11:29 AM) - Microsoft's big unveiling at this year's E3 was Halo Reach.  Halo Reach takes place during the Fall of Reach, a major event during the Halo timeline.  Not much was revealed about the game, aside from this trailer.  The multiplayer beta for the game will be coming with the Halo ODST disc.  Check out the trailer for the game. . . .

Gran Tourismo 5 Trailer Video from E3 2009 (6/9/2009 1:00:55 AM) - During Sony's E3 2009 Press Conference, we got a look at what Polyphony Digital has been up to these past 4+ years.  Gran Tourismo 5 should see release this year, which puts its dev time at just under half of Duke Nukem Forever.  Will it be worth our wait?  Well, check out the trailer below to see for yourself! The developers for Forza MotorSport 3 laid down the law when they presented their game, by the way.  They said that there will be no racing game this year that will match them graphically.  That's . . .

Final Fantasy XIII E3 2009 Trailer (Video) (6/8/2009 11:55:13 PM) - PS3, the original home to Final Fantasy XIII, got this preview of the game during Sony's Press Conference at E3 2009.  What I'd like to know is if anyone can help me figure out what in the world is supposed to be going on with the story.  There's definitely a lot of falling, slow talking, and things that glow, so I guess that's good.  We've got an emo guy with a hat, and a few other things that are apparently pretty important to the story.   Kidding aside, this trailer does give us a good look at the game, in . . .

Crackdown 2 E3 2009 Teaser Trailer Video (6/8/2009 10:00:26 PM) - Microsoft's Press Conference had a few surprises, like this teaser trailer for Crackdown 2.  The trailer starts with the familiar sound of Agility Orbs from the first Crackdown.  The trailer seems to indicate that there will be additional acrobatic moves available in the game, and of course, one of the game's signature explosions caps off the trailer.  Looks like this one is a ways off though, 2010 at least, because there's no game play shown, and no dates given. . . .

Metroid: The Other M Preview (Video) (6/8/2009 9:38:53 PM) - I can't believe I have to wait until 2010 to play this one!  Metroid: The Other M seems to occupy a space somewhere between Super Metroid and Metroid Prime.  That is, the game is definitely 3D, but seems to only use two of those dimentions at a time.  The game is a chance for Nintendo to really start on their way down a more mature path with the Metroid series.  Metroid has always appealed to to the Western audience, and the choice of Team Ninja is an outstanding one (they are responsible for the Dead or Alive series).&nb . . .

Alan Wake Game Play Video From E3 2009 (6/8/2009 4:40:59 PM) - Microsoft's Press Conference offered us a glimpse of Alan Wake in the form of a 5+ minute game play slice.  Check out the game play below, over 5 minutes and 30 seconds of play.  In Alan Wake, you play as a writer that is trapped in his own book - his newest super natural thriller is coming to life, right before his eyes.  Light is your ally; you'll use light to vanquish enemies and to shield yourself from their onslaught.  His flashlight can be used as a weapon.  As Alan makes his way through his environment, he has . . .

E3 2009: PS3 Motion Tracking Demos (Video) (6/8/2009 6:00:53 AM) - Here are some of the motion tracking demos shown at the Sony E3 2009 Press Conference.  You'll notice that the controllers used have bright balls attached to them, and they get tracked with the camera based on the position of the balls.  I was kind of suprised to see how "primative" the demos were, given that a similar setup was shown with the EyeToy camera back in 2005 (I think).  That demo involved water being poured from one glass to another.  In these demos, you'll see sword fighting and you'l . . .

E3 2009: God of War III Preview (Game Play Footage Videos) (6/8/2009 12:21:34 AM) - Sony's Press Conference during E3 2009 offered us the first glimpse of God of War III game play.  Check out the video below to see the game being played during the press conference!  God of War III is coming along nicely, as you'll see during these four minutes of game play footage. Between killing everything in sight, and growling with every swing of your weapon, God of War fans should be pretty pleased.  While the game doesn't offer much in terms of innovation, we do see that Kratos is going to be doing a lot of . . .

E3 2009: Assassin's Creed 2 Trailer (Video) (6/7/2009 5:46:53 PM) - Sony's Press Conference during E3 2009 offered us the first glimpse of Assassin's Creed 2 game play.  Check out the video below to see the trailer from the event!  I thought it was pretty funny that you're supposed to be friends with Leonardo Di Vinci, and he's lent you his flying machine to go around town and murder people.  Makes sense, right?  No? The trailer starts out with you killing a few party goers, and does have one really sweet moment on the rooftop of this building.  You walk right up to two soldi . . .

E3 2009: Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker Trailer (Video) (6/7/2009 4:28:18 PM) - The PlayStation Portable will be home to a brand new Metal Gear Solid game.  Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker was shown during Sony's E3 2009 Press Conference Event, and here's our video coverage of that trailer.  The trailer lasted longer than we filmed, but here is the first 3:17 of the trailer.  This trailer was a little bit funny - it had about 3-4 "endings", and when filming, we didn't quite know where to stop (and of course, stopped a bit early).   . . .

E3 2009: A Ton of PSP Games Shown At Sony Press Conference (Video) (6/7/2009 2:39:22 PM) - Check out the video below, available in High Quality, which shows many of the new games that will be made available in the Fall.  The PlayStation Portable, with the launch of the PSP Go!, is seeing a bit of a revitalization, and this trailer shows just how much weight Sony is putting behind the PSP.  Some of the games shown in the trailer include a Daxter game, MotorStorm, Little Big Planet, Soul Calibur, Real Time Strategy games, Tennis, and a whole bunch more. The trailer extends over three and a half minutes.  . . .

The Babes of E3 (6/5/2009 11:31:04 PM) - We've had a fantastic experience thus far at E3. And beyond all the suits, media, and casual fans, there are those who help make the entire exhibition that much more enjoyable. We are, of course, talking about the exhibitor representatives and character actors throughout the show. These beautiful women are professional, friendly, and remind us all of just how ugly we really are. This is our dedication to all of their hard work and courteous nature! Visit our . . .

Fallout 3 Review (Xbox 360) (6/5/2009 11:41:44 AM) - Read Our Fallout 3 Review The following is an excerpt from our Fallout 3 review:  Fallout 3 is one massive game, sometimes even overwhelming to explore. There is the main quest, side quests, optional quests and, of course, DLC. All of these are spread across two cities and a simulation. If you liked The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion then you will like Fallout 3. You start off as a child wandering around Vault 101 and are joined by your father played by none other th . . .

VGS: #95, Video Games Show - 06/03/2009 E3 2009 Edition (6/4/2009 3:17:53 AM) - E3 is underway so there is no describing the amount of news we cover today.  From the big 3's press events to floor news and even a bit of news outside the LA Convention Center, get caught up on the latest info with The Video Games Show! The Video Games Show is a weekly broadcast out of St. Louis, MO.  The Video Games Show is on KSLU, iTunes, and All Games Radio each week, as well as here at Stage Select. . . .

E3 2009: Brink Preview (6/3/2009 6:07:58 PM) - At the Bethesda booth this morning, we had our first look Smash Damage's new game, Brink.  Story follows below - Brink is a gorgeous looking co-op focused FPS.  Pictures weren't allowed as the game is in pre-alpha, but even at this stage, it's looking very nice.  Splash Damage has also found a way to make control a bit easier around complex geometry.  The "smart button" acts as a bit of a springboard control, all . . .

E3 2009: Singularity Preview (6/3/2009 1:04:03 PM) - Over at the Activision booth yesterday, I had a chance to see Singularity.  Singularity is developed by Raven Software, and will be distributed by Activision.   Let's get to the heart of the matter:  Singularity is a first-person shooter where you manipulate time to progress.  It's running on Unreal Engine 3, so the visuals are what you'd expect - they're good.  It's not a F.E.A.R. clone . . .

E3 2009: Sony Announces Camera-based Motion Control at E3 Press Conference (6/2/2009 4:28:33 PM) - Sony announced that Camera-based Motion Control is coming to the PlayStation 3. It uses a controller with a bright dot on it that the EyeToy camera can see. Several impressive demos of the technology was shown. They just announced this minutes ago at the Sony E3 Press Conference. Stay tuned to Stage Select for more details as they're announced. Taken from our complete coverage of the Sony E3 2009 Press Conference Event PlayStat . . .

E3 2009: Sony Announces Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker at E3 Press Conference (6/2/2009 3:18:43 PM) - Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker was just announced minutes ago at Sony's E3 Press Conference.  Metal Gear Solid for the PSP was shown by Hideo Kojima.  It occurs in the 1970s, as a sequel to Metal Gear Solid 3, it's a true sequel according to Hideo.  Check back with this story, as it will be updated with pictures or other media items as the day progresses. StageSelect.com is at E3 all week, and we'll be bringing you all of the news to come out of the Sony E3 Press Conference, as the event happens.  Stay tuned the fi . . .

E3 2009: Sony Press Conference Live Coverage (6/2/2009 2:50:04 PM) - UPDATE:  Some of our coverage earlier in the day was abbrieviated, here's the full coverage.  We're here at the Sony Press Conference.  Unfortunately, my earlier fears about cell phone coverage have come true - I can't get a signal. I'll cover this the best way I can, however.  We'll post this story immediately following the show. Jack Tretton takes the stage, and jokes about press leaks - "Wow, I'm glad you all came!"  "We're a leader in the industry, and that inc . . .

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