News
Ghostbusters dated for June '09
Tekken 6 also on the roster
Speaking in London today, publisher Atari offer further detail on their revival of Ghostbusters, the action-adventure title which the firm picked up in the wake of the Activision - VU Games merger.
Terminal Reality's impressive looking game was without a publisher for several months prior to Atari's intervention, and we today learn that the game will be released in June of 2009.
In yet more Atari-date related news, we also hear that the company will deliver Tekken 6 to Europe in the autumn of 2009.
The beat 'em up, announced at the Tokyo Game Show, will debut on the Xbox 360 and the PS3.
The Witcher named and dated on consoles
Details at last
Yet more excitement out of Atari Live this afternoon, the publisher confirming that The Witcher: Rise of the White Wolf will be heading to consoles in autumn 2009.
Details of the new console version were first spied via a leaked video interview online over the weekend, although early reports did get the name of the game somewhat wrong.
Publisher Atari confirm that the new game will launch on the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 in the 'fall' of next year.
The new Witcher title will include a new combat system and various other enhancements to the formula, which earned the game cult status when it was released on the PC.
Mizuguchi making new Wii music title
Atari at the helm
Veteran Japanese game developer Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Rez, Lumines, et al) has been enlisted by Atari to craft a brand new music game for the Wii console, the publisher tell us today.
Mizuguchi's Q Entertainment will make 'QJ' for Nintendo's disruptive lounge box, while Atari will also deliver a compilation of the studio's works, encompassing Rez HD, Lumines Live, and more.
A new rhythm-action offering is the dish of the day, and we're suitably impressed by Atari's initiative.
"We are honoured to be working with Atari and for myself, personally, the company that brought Pong, the very first video game I ever played when I was 11 years old," beams Mizuguchi himself.
"Since that day, I have been inspired in many ways to create a new type of entertaining experience. ‘Rez HD’, ‘Lumines Live!’ and ‘E4’, collectively called Q3, represent our version of music interactive entertainment and we hope it will provide the same kind of excitement to a new audience as Pong did for me many years ago. We are grateful for the support we have received from the Atari team as well as those who have supported the Atari culture."
More from Mizuguchi on this soon, we hope.
Zavvi halt game sales online
Resistance 2 among games hit
The collapse of giant UK retail chain Woolworths has hit the online operations of Zavvi - Zavvi.co.uk's games, music and films were provided by distributer EUK (owned by the administration-bound retailer).
Zavvi admit that they have suspended orders "with regret", as they cannot "fully guarantee" that orders will be fulfilled.
EUK are Zavvi's biggest supplier, and the problem has hit new Sony release Resistance 2 - EUK failing to deliver copies to a number of large UK retailers.
"We have decided to suspend taking orders for these products while we work to resolve the situation and get back to normal," reads word from Zavvi on the matter.
Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights set to return
Test Drive, too
Speaking at today's Atari Live event in London, the publisher's president Phil Harrison has revealed that Dungeons and Dragons-based RPGs Baldur's Gate and Neverwinter Nights will be making a return.
New iterations of these popular series' are being planned by the firm, but they won't be with us until 2010 at the earliest.
Harrison also revealed that Atari will create a new version of Test Drive, based in an open-world.
"You will hear more from these but not today, because we're focused on 2009," teased the former Sony exec, who also let slip that his game maker will publish Sam & Max: Season Two on the Wii and PC early next year, alongside Ready 2 Rumble: Revolution in March.
More from Atari shortly.
2010 debut for DC Universe?
Writer discusses MMO debut
Comic book writer Geoff Johns expects Sony Online's DC Universe to arrive in early 2010, although the new PC/PS3 MMO could be with us sooner than this.
The game, a collaboration between Sony Online and DC Comics, was announced at E3, and is being created at SOE Austin - home to Star Wars Galaxies.
"It launches I think in early 2010, it could be late 2009," Johns tells MTV this week.
"Everyone knows Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, but this game gets you more entrenched in the universe. You meet the Metal Men, or Doom Patrol, and everyone gets a chance to embody something different," he continued.
Johns is creating the plot for the new MMO, but won't pen all the dialogue we hear. More on this in due course, we hope.
eBay reveals Wii popularity
Stocks running low in the US
With Christmas fast-approaching, the Nintendo Wii console is apparently the most popular item being sold via online auction site eBay - that's the word from eBay themselves this week.
Apparently, users of the site are searching for the Wii more than any other product, which does of course bode well for the console this festive season, while on Black Friday - the shopping day proceeding Thanksgiving in the US - more than 3,100 systems were sold in a 24 hour period.
The average Wii price online is 349 USD, 100 USD above the system's retail price, which perhaps indicates that traditional retailers are once again being exhausted of stocks.
Apparently the PS3 and Rock Band 2 instrument packs are also selling well on the auction site. Thanks GI.biz.
360 claims sales victory
Outsells PS3 3-1 stateside
Microsoft are today claiming that the Xbox 360 outsold the PlayStation 3 by three-to-one in the US, after Microsoft's efforts ahead of the key Thanksgiving sales period.
Sales of the 360 are also said to be up some 400% in Europe, as Microsoft's marketing efforts combine with big-name releases to really give Sony and Nintendo something to think about.
"Record Black Friday sales in the U.S., coupled with our existing global install base of 25 million and an online community of more than 14 million Xbox Live members, have laid the groundwork for continued global sales momentum in 2009," beams Xbox chief Don Mattrick.
Titles like Gears of War 2, Fable 2 and Lips have been credited with the 360's strong sales.
Blizz veteran opens Gravity Bear developer
From the ashes of Flagship
A new development studio bursts into life this week, ex-Flagship Studios co-founder Phil Shenk confirming that he has started Gravity Bear.
Shenk is of course a former developer of giant game maker Blizzard, and went on to help form the now collapsed Flagship, creators of Hellgate: London.
The veteran will act as CEO of Gravity Bear, having cut his teeth on on projects like Hellgate, and the hugely successful Diablo 2.
More on this plucky start-up as we get it. Thanks Shacknews.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves official
Early details on sequel creep out
Uncharted 2 has today been officially unveiled by Naughty Dog, the developer revealing that the eagerly awaited sequel will be called 'Among Thieves'.
Details are slim, but we're offered a brief teaser trailer that sees game hero Nathan Drake wading through snow on a quest to recover some kind of artifact.
The trailer also reveals that number two will get a proper airing on December 14th, at the 2008 Video Game Awards on Spike.
Word in from GameInformer sheds further light on the sequel than the teaser, the mag revealing that the new adventure will be based on the voyages of Marco Polo.
We also hear talk of stealth gameplay being added to the mix alongside a free-climbing mode, with players set to enjoy a raft of new locations and characters all based around an entirely new story.
