While Allison today was pleased to announce that the LB Shrek the Third game guide is complete, I however, am pleased to announce (take that!) that the LB Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End walkthrough and game guide (PS2, Wii) is complete.

This guide contains a comprehensive walkthrough of every level of the game, explains all Sub-Missions including the locations of all Crab Pendants, gives a Pirate Dice tutorial, and breaks down the Challenge Mode, Dueling, and the Treasure Cove.

If you're looking for Pirates 3 help of any kind, you will find it in this guide.

Please note, the free version of the guide contains everything you need to get through the game, including many of the sub-missions. However, it does not include Crab Pendant locations, the Pirate Dice tutorial, a few tough sub-missions, and the section on the game's Extras.

Support quality guides. Support Lunabean.

For our complete guide, please purchase one of the following:

LB Pirates 3: At World's End Game Guide:
Download now - $5.95 | More info

Get the LunaPass: All Lunabean Guides for only $14.95!

Monday - June 4, 2007

Over the weekend I was reading through some of our archived Lunabean News. I came upon a piece from February of 2005 titled Dirty Harry coming to consoles.

At the time, that was indeed the plan. Clint Eastwood's own production co., Malpaso, and Warner Bros., along with developer, The Collective, were making a Dirty Harry game due for launch in 2007.

However, upon further investigation, it seems that The Collective abrubtly cancelled the game. WB is still planning on making the game, but with a different developer (rumored to be WB's Monolith Productions).

So, where's my Dirty Harry game? The trailer, based on what The Collective had completed, looks awesome. A head in a vice? You betcha! That's some bad ass '70s violence right there...the type of violence we grew up on. Not this fancy pants shiny blood and gore splattered across the screen 21st century type violence. Nope, that's not for me. Give me gritty dirty violence and an anti-hero that really knows how to scare the pants off of criminals with the original BFG, the .44 Magnum.

If I hear anything new about the game, I'll be sure to pass it along.

Happy June, everyone! Here's a list of video games that we'll be checking out this month. Four of them will almost certainly become Lunabean Walkthroughs and Strategy Guides (Call of Juarez, Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Harry Potter: OotP, and Transformers: The Game). The fate of the others has yet to be determined.

Please note, because we haven't played any of them yet, they are arranged by release date.

June 5

Call of Juarez

Official Call of Juarez Site
Xbox 360 and PC

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Official Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary Site
PS2


Continue list: Eight more titles below the fold

Continue reading "LB Top Ten: Games to be released in June '07"

Nintendo today has released four new virtual console games for the Wii, touting Zelda II - The Adventure of Link as its 100th game in the Wii Shop Channel.

The other three games released today are:

• Milon's Secret Castle (NES, 1 player, E for Everyone)
• ToeJam & Earl in Panic on Funkotron (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, E for Everyone)
• Dead Moon (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, E for Everyone)

You can read up on all of these games by reading the press release

Continue reading "'Zelda II' hits Wii virtual console"

OMG! GTA 4 delayed? So surmises Wedbush analyst, Michael Pacther:

We believe that it is possible that the company will choose to 'throw in the towel' on [its 2007 financial year] by shifting the release date for Grand Theft Auto IV by a few weeks, increasing the losses incurred this year and improving the company's prospects for FY:08. (Source

Now, I'm not a huge fan of Michael Pachter, nor video game analysts in general, but he has been right a few times and it's an interesting suggestion that he makes...that Take-Two would move the release back to show good '08 fiscal results for the year, and that they would want to get a bit of separation from Halo 3.

I wonder how Sony feels about this knowing that this game will be a big driver of PS3 sales (yes, I know it's also on the X360).

Read Gamespot's piece on the speculation.

Tuesday - June 5, 2007

I have yet to have any problems with my Xbox 360, however, many unlucky gamers have had their stomachs drop when they've seen that red ring of light flash on their 360s, telling them that the console is not happy.

I bring this up because longtime Lunabeaner, Mindy, today posted her experience with a red ring of death.

One interesting nugget of knowledge that came out of this is that if you are experiencing the red ring of death, you should try plugging your Xbox 360 directly into a wall outlet. You see, sometimes a powerstrip or surge protector does not give it enough power and it needs a mainline source of juice.

If that doesn't work, you can always try wrapping your Xbox 360 in blankets.

Just thought I'd point out a good article detailing the current climate in the video game industry and how Nintendo is kicking rear end in both the console and hand held market. If I were teaching a class on the video game biz, this would be required reading.

Wii will rock you - Fortune Magazine article

Too funny.

At the Pac-Man World Championships in New York today, Microsoft announced Pac-Man Championship Edition, a brand spankin' new Pac-Man title, with brand spankin' new Pac-Man mazes, to be made available exclusively on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360 tomorrow.

Is it the equivalent of new Gears of War maps being released? Not for most of us, but it's still pretty cool.



View the new mazes (via Joystiq)

Read Microsoft's press release for more details

Continue reading "First new 'Pac-Man' mazes in 26 years coming tomorrow"

I've been a harsh critic of the PS3, but I am starting to warm up to the system as I dream of my future HD lifestyle. That being said, one of the major critiques levied against the PS3 has been the lack of games.

Well, leave it up to a promotional piece for the Playstation Network to actually show off some games. And, could you believe it, some of them actually look appealing! Is my cold heart melting? Is there a country song somewhere in that line? Just watch the video and see if you feel any warm fuzzies.

Hat tip to joystiq

Wednesday - June 6, 2007

Wii outsells PS3 by 5 to 1 margin in Japan

Wednesday - June 6, 2007

Okay, it's not an REM song, but it does have to do with sleep. Crush, a new puzzle game out for the PSP has piqued my interest. I hadn't heard about the game until I stumbled upon it today, via a review at gamespot.

Described as a revolutionary puzzle/platformer with Tim Burton and Danny Elfman influences, it sounds like it will exude that same awe that I felt when I first flipped from 3D to 2D in Super Paper Mario.

I'm not sure if we'll do a walkthrough for the game or not, but I definitely would like to play it.

Read the review
Official Crush site

Plundr coming to the DS

I love this concept. You may find me roaming the streets of Portland, looking for ships to raid and islands to plunder. Of course, I will have to watch out for the real Shanghai tunnels in Old Town. Very freaky.

more

Thursday - June 7, 2007

then don't go to GameStop

In all honesty, it's not surprising, but it does feel dirty. GameStop managers don't even get cash or job incentives, instead they get to spend their Marlboro miles Sony points at the Sony/Gamestop rewards site.

If you're truly looking for some unbiased advice, then post away on our forums. We don't get any points for promoting one system over another...just the satisfaction of helping a fellow gamer.

The LEGO Group today announced the first LEGO massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) due out during the 4th quarter of 2008. No word yet if this will be a PC only title.

Obviously happy with the success of the LEGO Star Wars games, LEGO Universe enters a whole new genre where you create your character and interact with others in a LEGO world.

The possibilities are endless and I'm having fun just thinking about them now...the police station, the space station, the hospital, the Bionicles coming and ruining everything with their futuristic skills.

I sure hope some LEGO pirates and LEGO medieval (you know, the knights and such) make it into the world. Oh, I am so going to be a knight.

Continue reading "'LEGO Universe' announced"

We have begun work on the LB Tomb Raider: Anniversary Walkthrough and Strategy Guide. It is our goal to walk you through each of the game's levels AND provide you to the location of all relics, artifacts, and secrets.

The guide is moving fairly quickly thus far. I'd expect to have the rough draft complete by mid-week next week.

If, by chance, you are farther in the game than the reach of our guide, please feel free to post your questions on the Tomb Raider: Anniversary Help Thread on our message boards. Enjoy!

LB Game Guide: LB Tomb Raider: Anniversary Walkthrough and Strategy Guide



As an end note, it looks like Xbox 360 gamers will soon get their hands on this Lara Croft remake...and it looks like it will be downloadable.

More on Tomb Raider: Anniversary for the X360 via Kotaku.

According to Gamespot, Assassin's Creed is set to hit the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in November of this year! Booya! Can't wait.

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA...the games division) today announced that it will lay off employees at its Foster City, CA facility. Sony went on to say that the layoffs, rumored to be from 50 to 100 jobs, had nothing to do with the poor performance of the PS3.

Believe what you want.

read

Friday - June 8, 2007

What kind of whacky game is the Mario factory developing?



More from the official Super Smash Bros. Brawl site

You know, I've actually been to Juarez. My grandparents, who lived in El Paso, TX, took me across the border when I was 7 or 8. I vaguely remember a curio shop of sorts where I bought a leather wallet with an Aztec calendar on it. God I loved that wallet.

What does that have to do with anything? Well, nothing really, except that I'm happy to say that I've begun work on the LB Call of Juarez Walkthrough and Game Guide for the Xbox 360.

So far, I'm enjoying it quite a bit, but I'm a sucker for Wild West entertainment. After all, Back to the Future 3 was my favorite of the trilogy (Allison keeps saying I shouldn't tell people that).

I'll end this circuitous post by saying that if you need Call of Jaurez help, then you can check in on the LB Call of Juarez Walkthrough and Game Guide or visit the Call of Juarez help thread on the LB Nation Forums

Monday - June 11, 2007

Just a few minutes ago, at the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC 07), Steve Jobs announced that Electronic Arts (EA) is fully committed to developing games for the Mac. You can look forward to Command and Conquer 3, Battlefield 2142, Need for Speed: Carbon, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Madden, and Tiger Woods '08.

After that announcement came footage of a new iD Software engine, iD Tech 5 which will be on display at E3 on a Mac, PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. There will also be another Mac announcement from iD at E3.

Looks like the Mac is finally getting some gaming respect now that they run on Intel chips and they're selling really well.

If you want to keep up with all of the WWDC news, you can check out the live-blogging at Engadget.

The Church of England is upset with Sony regarding its PS3 game, Resistance Fall of Man due to a battle fought inside Manchester Cathedral. If you haven't already seen this story on CNN seventeen times, then you can catch up on it via the BBC.

A few quick points. One, the game came out last November. Way to catch up, Church of England.

Two, the game is a work of fiction based around an alternate outcome of WWII. Work of fiction. Let's all remember that. Would the same ire be coming from the Church if the same battle was described in a book?

Three, it is not a "sick" game because of the coincidence that Manchester has had a recent spat of shootings. Again, the game is based just after WWII.

Four, the hypocrisy of a religion with a violent history, participants in many wars and many deaths, founded by a violent monarch...well, it's just kind of the pot calling the kettle black. Except in this case, the game isn't real and nobody died.

I just think it's all very silly. Another case of bringing more attention to the thing that you wanted to stop in the first place. That is, by being WATBs about the whole thing, the Church of England is going to end up helping to sell more copies of the game and look like out-of-touch fools in so doing.

P.S. - Actually, I think this is all a very sneaky ploy to get more people to visit the new visitors center which includes a restaurant in the basement of the cathedral where you can touch a 15th C. hanging bridge, or spend your money in the gift shop on "moochandise". Classy.

Official PlayStation blog

Finally, talking directly to their community without having to go through fake blogs (flogs) or bad marketing decisions.

Is it Monday again? Indeed it is. Here are the three VC games released today for the Wii.

• Lode Runner® (NES®, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points)
• Sonic the Hedgehog™ 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 800 Wii Points)
• Golden Axe™ II (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older – Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points)

Read the press release

Continue reading "Virtual Console Monday"

Tuesday - June 12, 2007

New energy bar aimed (pun intended) at gamers

Our Tomb Raider: Anniversary Walkthrough and Strategy Guide sure has seen some activity over the past few days. Apparently you all are playing the game and many of you are in need of help (or, at least, a nudge in the right direction).

Well, if we aren't here to nudge, then we don't have much of a purpose, do we?

With that being said, the walkthrough is pretty much on track. I expect to finish up Greece today and complete a couple of chapters in Egypt. It's looking like the rough draft will be complete by Thursday...giving me the weekend and early next week to take some screenshots, find some missing secrets (Relics and Artifacts), and finalize the guide.

As usual, you can check in on the guide as I go through this process.

LB Game Guide: Tomb Raider: Anniversary Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

Square-Enix CEO, Yoichi Wada, in a Financial Times interview, stated that the next-gen machines (PS3 and Xbox 360) are mismatched to today's gamer and that handhelds are what is really driving the market.

"There is a new breed of gamers in the market – we have to make games for all kinds of people,” said Mr Wada, in an interview with the FT. “In the old days, we could just focus on the PlayStation or the GameBoy, but the environment has changed completely." (Source)

He goes on to say that there are too many hurdles to clear with the next-gens, namely that to get everything out of a game you need an HDTV, broadband, and a "deep knowledge of gaming."

Another reason he's saying this is because for the first time ever, the latest Dragon Quest game is being developed exclusively for the DS (previously they were made for the PS2). In other words, Square designs games for the current best selling system, whatever it is at the time, in order to appeal to the widest gaming public possible. Not a bad strategy.

Financial Times
Hat tip to GameDaily

Wednesday - June 13, 2007

I Love Bees, the alternate reality game (ARG) which served as a viral marketing campaign for Halo 2 had me and Allison running around Portland waiting for pay phones to ring. Very fun and very cool.

Today, it seems another ARG may be in the works; this one for Halo 3. According to Joystiq some sort of artificial intelligence calling itself, Adjutant Reflex, has infiltrated the Bungie forums and has been posting mysterious messages.

I'm currently sorting through all of the various information that is out there and will update you if I hear and/or discover anything.

Hat tip to Joystiq

Joystiq today has a good preview of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. After reading the article, I'm very excited for the game.

Whether it's the fact that it's the first CoD to not be set in WWII, the amazing graphics, the variety in gameplay, or a twist on the classic campaign mode, this game seems to have it all.
Read

The trailer from a while back is below.

Okay, okay. So maybe Sony didn't read my piece written in January titled, How to save the PS3. But maybe they did?!?

I jest of course, however, I bring it up because of this USA Today article which details Sony's plans to make a line of TVs for Wal-Mart and Target.

Near the end of that article is a bulleted list of other plans and information regarding Sony TVs. Among interesting tidbits such as a focus on 1080p and making 50" TVs the defacto size for HD, there is this:

Sony will bundle more too. Rather than try to sell individual products, the company will look to sell bundles or packaged solutions at different customer segments. Recently, for instance, some Japanese engineers visited a U.S. fraternity house to check out how technology was being used. Expect to see things like televisions bundled with PlayStation 3s.

.

Now, compare that with my suggestion of "The Ultimate Bundle" from my article. I'm the one who came up with the LCD TV and PS3 bundle, dammit! I even threw in surround sound for fun.

Sony, I have you by the balls. Either send me a 46" Bravia (email me and I'll send you my address) or I'll go public with you stealing my idea. If anything happens to me I have a copy of my original post in a safe deposit box in Virginia.

Oh, wait. I said you could freely have my idea. Damn. (Note to self. Don't give Sony free ideas.)

The Wii crosses the 8 million mark worldwide, which is just 2 million shy of the X360. Meanwhile, the PS3 is crawling to the 3.5 million mark, as the Nintendo DS is zooming toward 45 million.

Check out the VG charts

Thursday - June 14, 2007

In the wee hours of the early morning, Epic released an update for Gears of War that includes eight new Achievements for the "Annex" gametype and the "Hidden Fronts" Multiplayer Map Pack. These Achievements (listed after the break) can tack an additional 250 points to your Gamerscore.

The "Annex" gametype is a free add-on to Gears of War that allows gamers to play a "King of the Hill"-esque multiplayer game. The "Hidden Fronts" Multiplayer Map Pack is your typical (and awesome) pack of four multiplayer maps that will cost you 800 MS points, but will be made free on September 3rd.

According to Major Nelson, from whom I gathered this info, the update will also, "help squash multiplayer exploits and provide general housekeeping." This, of course, is a nice way of saying the update will fix some bugs.

Read Epic's press release for complete list of Achievements

LB Gears of War Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

Continue reading "New 'Gears of War' achievements available now"

Update: We now have a complete 'The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass' Walkthrough and Strategy Guide. Please enjoy!

We'll have to wait a few more months before these puppies slip onto North American airwaves. However, pretend for a moment you live in Japan and are watching TV:



One more Zelda: PH commercial

Continue reading "'Zelda: Phantom Hourglass' trailers...for Japan"

I'm getting close to finishing the LB Call of Juarez Walkthrough and Game Guide.

Yesterday, I finished up Chapter XIV of the guide and today will hopefully get to the end. After that, I have to go back through and search for Wanted Posters and figured while I was at it, I'd take some screenshots.

Until it's complete, you can check in on the progress of this growing guide/walkthrough/tutorial by visiting the LB Call of Juarez Walkthrough and Game Guide. Enjoy!

Friday - June 15, 2007

Shares of GameStop (GME) are spiking higher today, up $1.97 or 5.2%. Although there is no news which is directly causing the spike, I surmise that it's due to analysts' expectations of strong May video game sales, strong sales of Nintendo products, and news that GME is looking to expand in Europe.

They used to say as General Motors goes, so goes the American economy. Well, I think you could say, as GameStop goes, so goes the video game industry. It's the canary in the coalmine, the barometer, the thermometer, the sphygmomanometer, the nurse taking the pulse of the game industry. Ahh, that was fun.

UPDATE 1 - Am I right, or am I right? (those are the only choices you get) CNN Money

An American Medical Association (AMA) panel has recommended that video game addiction be classified as a mental disorder.

"After nearly a year of studying the issue, an AMA committee concluded, in a 10-page report, that excessive video game playing leads to what it describes as "social dysfunction/disruption".

In the same report, the AMA panel also suggests video game playing be limited to less than two hours a day..."(Source)

Hmm. Less than 2 hours per day. What if it's your job? I am so screwed.

Wednesday - June 20, 2007

Great, now I have Two Live Crew's "Banned in the U.S.A." running through my head.

Why, you may ask? Because Manhunt 2 (PS2, Wii) has been banned in the UK by the British Board of Film Classification; the first game in 10 years to be banned, and has been given an Adult Only (AO) rating in the US.

The reasoning for the banning in the UK? "[U]nremitting bleakness and callousness of tone in an overall game context which constantly encourages visceral killing with exceptionally little alleviation or distancing".

Hmm, sounds like a lot of games. The original Manhunt really pushed some boundaries and by all accounts Manhunt 2 is sick and twisted, but to censor the game is quite stunning.

Meanwhile, stateside, the AO rating means that major retailers, like Wal-Mart, Circuit City and Best Buy won't carry it. I just got off the phone with my local EB/Gamestop and the manager there said that they would, "probably not carry it." If it's not in any stores, it's effectively banned.

Take-Two, the publisher of the game, has the right to appeal. We'll let you know if anything comes of it.

Hey you gamers out there who are reluctant to join Xbox Live, make a Mii Parade, or go Home because you still have dial-up and dagnabit you're not going to pay more than $10 for DSL, well, do I have some good news for you.

AT&T is offering $10/month DSL.

There are some restrictions. First, you must live in one of the 22 states where AT&T operates. You must have AT&T phone service. You must be a new subscriber. And, you must commit to a one year contract. The DSL promises speeds of 768 Kbps, not great, but good enough to get you gaming!

Now, if only my FiOS would go on sale.

Well, now, I'm happier than a tick on a fat dog; more giddy than a cowboy driving his cattle home; smoother than a well traveled saddle? Huh?

Oh, don't mind me. I'm just crazy because I've been working so hard on finishing the LB Call of Juarez Walkthrough and Game Guide. And, I'm pleased to report that it's done (send out the word via cable-gram!).

The instantly downloadable, ad-free, PDF guide contains a detailed walkthrough of all 15 story mode episodes, a walkthrough of all 3 extra missions, multiplayer tips and modes, and the locations of all 40 Wanted Posters!

The online version only contains the walkthrough and the multiplayer tips.

Of course, you can get the Call of Juarez Walkthrough and Game Guide, and over 150 other Lunabean Guides, instantly, for only $14.95 by joining the LunaPass!

If you have a LunaPass, you can download it now.

For our complete guide, please purchase one of the following:

Thursday - June 21, 2007

Sony boss, Howard Stringer, yesterday announced that the PS3 will have 937,000 games by March 2008. Okay, he really didn't say that. What he did say is that the PS3 will have 380 new games by March 2008: 200 packaged retail games and 180 Playstation Network games.

I used hyperbole to make a point. You see, Sony has been under fire lately because of their lack of any must-have titles. Now, they come out and say that they'll have 200 new retail games. It's a little overwhelming. 200 may as well be 937,000.

Sony is using the spitball approach, hoping that one or two of these 200 games will stick. What us gamers need to be hearing about is 10 great titles that are coming out, not 200 anonymous titles.

Granted, Mr. Stringer was talking to investors, who could really care less about AAA titles and just want to hear the numbers.

Nonetheless, this is a step in the right direction for the PS3. Of course, while Sony is pumping out games, so to are Nintendo and Microsoft.

I was never a big Sonic fan, sticking more to the tried and true Italian plumbers than the SEGA hedgehog.

I am, however, a big fan of BioWare (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights) and it is for this reason that I'm very excited to see what will come of SEGA and BioWare's Sonic RPG.

Read more...

Did somebody say papercraft of my favorite Zelda characters, Gorons? I believe they did.

Thanks to Wonderland Blog for pointing out this collection of Nintendo papercraft.

Highlights include the pictured Goron, Red Pikmin (meeww, meeww, meeww...that's them dying), Yoshi, Mario, Luigi, and the list goes on.

Time to get some scissors and glue out!

Creepy torch-wielding villagers beware! I'm about to annihilate you once again, this time, on the Wii.

I just got back from Game Crazy where I purchased Resident Evil 4 for the Wii. We'll be writing a Wii walktrhough for the game starting...now...however, in the meantime, if you need help with the game, please check out the LB Resident Evil 4 Walkthrough and Strategy Guide for the PS2.

Friday - June 22, 2007

Dennis McCauley, a writer for GamePolitics and the Philadelphia Inquirer, has a good column over at Joystiq which summarizes the AO rating and banning of Manhunt 2.

On another note, I talked to the manager at a Game Crazy who said that they wouldn't carry the AO rated title. That means that no major retailer and Gamestop and Game Crazy won't sell it, effectively banning it in the US.

I'm sure Rockstar will edit the content to make it an "M". Or, wouldn't this be interesting, retool the game for the next-gens and make it digital download only via Xbox Live, the PSN, and the Wii Shop.

Read column

Saturday - June 23, 2007

We are oh so pleased to announced the completion of the LB Tomb Raider Anniversary Walkthrough and Strategy Guide for the PS2, PC and Xbox 360. And, when we say completion, we mean 100% completion.

Written and edited by Lunabean's professional guide writers, the TR Anniversary Game Guide will walk you through each of the game's levels, providing you with the direction and strategy necessary to make it through to the end (including making it past those nasty Greek Centaurs!).

What's more, the downloadable Tomb Raider Anniversary Game Guide includes ALL Artifacts, ALL Relics, ALL Secrets, a walkthrough of the Croft Manor bonus level, and anything else you need to achieve 100% completion.

For our complete guide, please purchase one of the following:

If you have a LunaPass, you can download the complete guide here:
downloadable Tomb Raider Anniversary Game Guide

Don't have a LunaPass yet? Sign up today and access the Tomb Raider Anniversary Walkthrough and Strategy Guide, along with every other guide in our catalog, for one low price. (Did we mention personalized game help?)
Sign up for the LunaPass!

Free version (pure walkthrough, no "extras") also available online here:
LB Tomb Raider Anniversary Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

Monday - June 25, 2007

CNet article

You'd never think that little 'ol Nintendo, maker of video games, would ever top Sony, maker of all things electronics, in market capitalization. But, that's exactly what happened, albeit briefly, on the Tokyo Stock exchange.

Wow.

TV ALERT. I saw a preview yesterday for a segment on tonight's NBC Nightly News regarding video game addiction. Can't wait to see how they report on it. Nothing is on the site yet, but I'd imagine the Daily Nightly will be updated shortly.

We'll be sure to DVR it, so we can analyze and deconstruct.

It's quick, it's in Japanese, and it's full of Chibi goodness.

Tuesday - June 26, 2007

Almost two years ago, Vivendi Universal announced plans for a game based on Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne character.

Today, Sierra Games, a division of Vivendi Games, has announced, "Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy," due out on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in Summer of '08 (after delays, probably Holiday '08).

I. Am. So. Excited!

Read the press release

Continue reading "It's about time: Bourne video game announced"

Manhunt 2 was effectively banned in the US last week when the ESRB assigned the dreaded 'AO' (Adult Only) rating to the game. The 'AO' designation means most retailers (ranging from Wal-Mart to Gamestop) will not carry the title, while Nintendo and Sony will not allow versions of the game to be released for its consoles.

Because of this, Take-Two has pulled plans to ship Manhunt 2 next month. The assumption is they will tame the game down a bit and re-release it with an 'M'-rating this holiday season. This was, perhaps, a brilliant way to delay a game while building hype around it, virtually guaranteeing more copies of the violent and gruesome game being sold.

Seth Schiesel of The New York Times has written a piece regarding this 'AO' rating, and notes that Manhunt 2, which Schiesel has played, is much tamer than the horror flicks that are currently making millions at the box office.

Read more "Manhunt 2" more tame than "R"-rated films

Continue reading "NYT: 'Manhunt 2' more tame than 'R'-rated films"

Wednesday - June 27, 2007

Lunabean's comprehensive Resident Evil 4 (Wii) Walkthrough and Strategy Guide is a step-by-step walkthrough in which you will find tips, hints, tricks, and strategies to make the process of getting through this scary and challenging game a little less stressful.

It even includes a walkthrough for the five "Separate Ways" bonus missions unlocked upon completion of the game and a detailed explanation of game basics and all other Extras unlocked.

1Up has the goods on Justin Lowe, your average hardcore gamer who happens to have received eleven bum Xbox 360s.



It's a hard to believe story, but 1Up seems to support the idea that his problems are for real. Still, the evidence to support the story comes in the form of a ticket from Microsoft proving problems with the eleven systems. Isn't it possible that Justin and his electrician father are playing a role in breaking the 360s?

Who knows. It's unbelievable, but anything is possible...and I can't imagine why he'd want to break 11 Xbox 360s.

Nintendo has announced its plans for WiiWare, "a game-creation service that will allow developers large and small to create new downloadable video game content for sale by Nintendo through the Wii Shop Channel."

To date, Nintendo has only offered older games, via its Virtual Console service...games like Super Mario Kart or Tecmo Super Bowl. With this announcement, they've entered the realm of Xbox Live and its Xbox Live Arcade: new games developed exclusively for download.

I'm excited to see what kind of innovative games will pop up and what the pricing structure will be.

Read the press release

Continue reading "Nintendo announces WiiWare plans"

We are beginning work on the LB Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Walkthrough and Strategy Guide for the Wii, PS2, PS2 , PC and Xbox 360 versions of the game.

Per usual, you can check in on our growing guide as it's being written. Enjoy!

LB Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Game Guide.



Update: For those who need HP: OOTP help beyond the current scope of the walkthrough, please post your questions in our Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Help Thread in our forums.

Thursday - June 28, 2007

The sun is out and it's hot. Your pasty white skin and mole eyes can't stand the rays without SPF 55 and polarized Ray-Bans. Why even risk going outside? I think your dermatologist would agree.

I suggest you do some gaming. What's that, you say? You don't have $50 to spend on Shrek the Third. Huh? Come again? You think that paying $60 for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is just silly?

We here at Lunabean HQ agree. That's why we've put together a list of the Top Ten Affordable Video Games. All of the games recommended are under $30, are fairly recent, are backwards compatible with the next-gens, and are a ton of fun.

Not only will this list relieve you of your summer gaming doldrums, it also prevents skin cancer!

So, without further adieu, here is Lunabean's Top 10 Affordable Video Games.

TEN: Kameo: Elements of Power (Xbox 360)

• $25.99 at Amazon
• Kameo Walkthrough
• This Xbox 360 launch game, created by the revered developer, Rare, is fun and challenging. The hook in this game is the ability to change forms to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. It offers a good deal of gameplay and good replay value.

NINE: Tecmo Super Bowl (Wii)

• $5 download via Wii Virtual Console
• Okay, I'll admit it. This is a selfish choice. I just love this game and could play it for hours days on end. The simplicity of choosing from 8 plays, the inanity of launching 70+ yard passes, and the ridiculous stats of certain players (Barry Sanders and Jerry Rice...I'm looking in your direction) makes this game, well, magical. If you played this game as a kid, in college, or are simply interested in what football games were like pre-Madden, then this is $5 well spent.

The rest of the list after the break

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The most recent trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV has hit the interwebs. In addition to the fantastic trailer, we've included a handy countdown clock for you to obsessively check every 34 seconds.

Bookmark this page so you know exactly when G-day arrives (that's Grand Theft Auto IV day..shut up...I tried!).

Friday - June 29, 2007

If you have yet to download the Opera web browser for your Wii, then now is the time. Starting tomorrow, you'll have to pay for it.

Don't worry, though, it's only 500 Wii Points or $5, so if you miss out on the grace period it's not that big a loss.

To download the browser, turn on your Wii and visit the Wii shop. You can download it from there.

DFC Intelligence, a market research firm, has today issued their 800 page report on the video game industry. While this is something that one has to pay for, whenever they do one of these massive reports, they always include a nice summary.

If you're a video game market wonk like myself, then you may get some enjoyment out of reading the entire summary. However, if you only have a passing interest in all of this, then here are some select quotes:

The one thing we do continue to argue is that no system is likely to have the market share dominance of the first two PlayStation systems. The video game market is simply becoming diversified in multiple respects. Consumers are increasingly willing to buy multiple systems for multiple purposes. This means arguing who will be first or second is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

In terms of long-term strategy it is worth comparing Microsoft and Sony. Microsoft has shown an even greater willingness to lose money to try and build long-term market share. The Xbox 360 was the system that could benefit most from the PS3's slow, late start. One of the biggest events (or non-event) over the past year is that the Xbox 360 did little to solidify its lead.

In an interview with DFC Intelligence this week, Sony Computer Entertainment America president Jack Tretton said trying to compare Sony to Nintendo is like trying to compare Sony to Nike. In other words, these are two very different companies, with very different products and very different strategies.

While I agree with all of these points, it's pretty easy to talk about what's already happened. The hard part is predicting what's next. That's why you should stick with us, the people who called the Wii a winner over a year ago and said that the PS3 was going to be in third.

My piece from July 5, 2006, talking about my May 2006 prediction

Read the DFC summary report

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