Homefront ships 2.4 million units and sells about
1 million units world wide since launch

by: Charles Husemann
NEWS - It looks like THQ is keeping up the PR machine for Homefront as the company announced today that they've shipped 2.4 million copies of the game to stores with 1 million of those actually leaving the stores in the hands of hopefully happy customers.  That's a pretty nice jump since the game launched and should help the folks at Kaos sleep a little easier.

I still think they need to sell another 500,000-700,000 copies to make Homefront 2 a slam dunk.  1 million copies sold should be enough for THQ to at least fund the opening stages of a sequel and will hopefully allow Kaos the time to create a complete game that takes more than four to five hours to complete.


Read The Full Article:
http://www.gamingnexus.com/FullNews/Homefront-ships-24-million-units-and-sells-ab
out-1-million-units-world-wide-since-launch/Item21999.aspx

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Nintendo 3DS raw materials cost $101, says firm

UBM TechInsights VP of technical intelligence David Carey told Eurogamer that the $250 Nintendo 3DS that you're going to pick up this weekend cost about $100 to make. This is what they gathered from their preliminary estimate, mind you. Carey says that this is about $15 more than what it cost to build the DSi at launch. It's really hard to look at it this way, but it seems like you could say that $15 more in cost could have added 3D capabilities to the DSi. Man, that makes the $250 I've already dropped sting a bit.

We know there's a bit more to the 3DS than that, though. Gamespot reminds us that we now get that lovely 3.53-inch 3D-enabled top screen and that not-so-lovely 3.02-inch touch-panel bottom screen. For processing, a PICA200 GPU spits out a healthy 200Mhz for better-than-DS graphics. When you consider the accessories you get (dock, AR cards, stylus) and the other built-in goodies (three cameras, a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, analog control nub, memory slot and 2GB card) $250 doesn't sound as bad.

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Games industry to celebrate Japan in hour-long
special

On April 3rd, a very special collaboration between game developers and games journalists will be released. "Gamers Heart Japan" will feature interviews with figures such as Tim Schafer, Alex Rigopulos and Peter Molyneux as they discuss the impact the Japanese have had on our favorite past-time and how they'll continue to shape it in the future. They'll be joined by personalities from press organizations including Electric Playground, G4 and a little site called Destructoid.

Of course, the larger point is to raise awareness as to how important Japan really is to us as gamers. Gamers Heart Japan has an official website where the special will be released. Visitors to the site will also be able to donate to the Red Cross relief effort.

In a way, Japan came to our rescue after the videogame crash of '83 and helped to salvage a form of entertainment discarded as a fad. We at Destructoid are proud to try and help return the favor in any small way we can. Please go and visit Gamers Heart Japan and enjoy the show they're putting together. Then, please give what you can to help our friends in the East. Thanks.

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Chazkenger and Yamatonokokoro

Chazkenger and Yamatonokokoro is another Japanese point and click type adventure game by Clonish. In this game, you try to find items and solve puzzles to figure out the game. Good luck and have fun!Play This Game

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/escapegames24/~3/aQUbZfRq-hc/chazkenger-and-yamato
nokokoro.html

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Review: Power A's Nintendo 3DS launch accessories

There's no doubt that the launch of the Nintendo 3DS is one of the biggest gaming events of the year. Of course, accessory makers like Power A are jumping on it right out of the gate, flooding the market with add-ons to "amplify your experience," as the company says.

Power A sent over a a batch of its launch accessories -- officially licensed by Nintendo -- for me to get a look at, and with my North American 3DS in hand, I decided to check 'em out.

"Clean and Protect Kit" - MSRP of $9.99

The most basic of the kits sent to me, the "Clean and Protect" kit is a pretty decent starter package for its price.

After opening your 3DS, you'll realize that the one stylus Nintendo has already slid into the handheld's holder is probably not going to be enough. Over the past week I've already thought I had lost my stylus a dozen times, mostly because I'm scatterbrained. If you're like me, you're going to need spares, and Power A has thrown three in this package. They're identical in nearly every way to the one packed with the system, with one difference -- they say "CHINA" on them instead of "Nintendo."

Also included are games cases. While the cases that ship with the games are fine, they're kind of bulky. If you want to just carry around a few at a time, these little plastic cases that come in this kit seem ideal. They look a lot like similar cases you might have seen for DS games -- one is tri-fold and holds six carts, and there are two others that hold a single game a piece. I've spent years throwing unprotected DS game carts into bags and pockets, and I've never had a problem. But if you're concerned some lint might erase your Pilotwings Resort data or something, these will do the trick.

The screen protectors that come in this pack are easy to slide on, and are cut to fit the 3DS screens. For the handheld's bottom screen, the protector fits right on, sitting on snuggly. I didn't even notice it was on there once applied. On the top, the screen sits flush with the unit; there's no indent, so once I applied the protector, it was immediately obvious it was there. I couldn't not notice it, so I immediately took it off. The protector itself didn't alter the on-screen image, even in 3D, but I'm personally not so concerned with screen protection that I was willing to deal with constantly noticing it sitting there.

You'll also find a lint-free cloth included in the package, and well.. yeah. It's a lint free cloth. It has some 3DS logo markings on it, but it's in every way a lint-free cloth as you'd expect.

"Mini Elite Transporter Case" - $16.99

If you're looking for something to protect the 3DS from the harsh world, you might want a case, and the blue "Mini Elite Transporter" case seems as good as any.

The velcro flap on the front of the case pulls up to reveal a pocket which Power A says will hold up to 12 3DS games. Since I don't have 12, I'll have to take their word for it; I could imagine you may be able to shove more than 12 in there if you're feeling adventurous, though. Note that this is really just a pocket that you'd toss your games into; there are no individual game compartments.

Zippered open, the inside of the case reveals a soft pocket that you can slide your 3DS unit into, as well as holders for additional styluses and pens. (By "pens" I mean the writing utensils, which you're going to need to write down girls' and guys' numbers you get when they see you carrying around a Nintendo 3DS case.)

"Elite Transporter Case" - $24.99

Here's the big boss of Power A's cases, about three times the size of the "Mini."

Instead of a Velcro flap, you'll find a zipper pocket which Power A says will hold 40 3DS games. Again, I don't have 40 3DS games, but I don't know if I want to take Power A's word for it on this one -- it looks too small for 40 games. Since I can't test it, I guess I will have to take their word for it. I can confirm it will fit at least 10, with plenty of room to spare, though.

The entire case zippers open to reveal pockets and straps for all of your goods, each marked with a little image of what Power A wants you to put in it. Just like the "Mini," there are straps for styluses and pens. A larger flap is marked with a 3DS and a car charger, but oddly, it's just a single pocket. While it's possible to fit a car charger and the unit into this single area, it seems to go against every organizational bone in my body to throw them in there together. It would have been nice if they were separated by something so you could keep things tidy.

"Expedition Case" - $14.99

This is probably my least favorite of the batch, the outside of the case being a gummy rubber material. It's got a weird Transformer-like design on it in black, blue, grey, and white; there's nothing understated about this case at all. It looks like something the Pink Ranger would carry her tampons around in.

The soft inside is accessed by unzipping the case, which will reveal six little pockets for 3DS games, as well as a strap for two additional styluses. The 3DS itself just sits in the opposite end of the case; a simple soft flap separating it from the rest of the accessories.

The "Expedition Case" looks like it could take a beating, but there's something about it that feels "cheap" when held in your hands. It makes sense, considering it's the least expensive of the batch, but not by a large enough margin for me to be able to recommend it.

"Explorer Starter Kit" - $29.99

So here's the big guns, a massive kit with "everything you need to get started." Except for games. And the system. But you get where I'm going with this…

This kit comes packed with two styluses, one cleaning cloth, and two screen protectors. These are these same peripherals that came in "Clean and Protect" kit. Nothing new to report here.

The case it comes with is completely different than any of Power A's other offerings, a black hardshell case (although on the box it's gray) featuring the Nintendo 3DS logo. You unzip it and you'll find a little net holder for your 3DS. Presumably this is where you'd also keep other things like a pair of headphones or a car charger. There's not much room in there, so don't count on it. There is, however, tiny pockets for three of your 3DS games.

The kit also comes with a car charger which works as advertised. Considering the battery life of the 3DS, this is going to come in handy on long car trips. My only issue is that the cord is a bit on the short side. It'll be fine if you're sitting in the front seat, but it just barely reaches the back. Of course, this varies depending on what kind of vehicle you have (you may have an outlet in the back, for example), so this might be a non-issue.

You're also getting a pair of earbuds here, too. I was completely prepared to tell you that they were average in sound quality, and that audiophiles need not apply. But I can't even go that far. Right out of the box, these headphones didn't work at all. One earbud had no sound coming out of it, the other the sound was so faint you could barely make it out. Power A offers a two-year warranty out of the box, but it's probably not worth the follow up, honestly.

"Core Starter Kit" - $19.99

The cheaper of the two starter kits: you're still getting two styluses, a cleaning cloth, and two screen protectors. Also included are two plastic tri-fold games cases, the same that came in that "Clean and Protect" kit; you're looking at holding a total of 12 games between both cases.

The case that comes with this thing is a bit of an odd one. It's more like a wallet than a case, with a Velcro strap -- with an attached piece of plastic that says "Nintendo 3DS" on it -- that holds it shut. There's a tiny compartment that you can slide your 3DS into, along with three slots for 3DS games. Odd thing about this case is that it doesn't close completely, the strap just sort of holding everything together like a taco. It'll certainly keep everything in place and offer some protection, but it's a little unsettling to see part of the 3DS still exposed when it's "shut."

This kit also comes with a pair of earbuds, and I didn't expect much after my experience with those that came with the "Explorer Starter Kit." I was right not to. Both ear buds worked this time around, but even with the 3DS volume cranked up, the sound was muffled and barely audible. Either my hearing is going downhill in my old age or Power A has an earbud problem on its hands.

---

Despite it's $30 price tag (and the fact that the earbuds didn't work), I really like what they're' offering with the "Explorer Starter Kit." If you just some extra styluses, check the "Clean and Protect" kit, and get a few extras while you're at at it. I wasn't a huge fan of the screen protectors, but maybe you're not as picky as I am with how it'll look covering your screen.

Power A's 3DS launch accessories are a mixed bag of quality and usefulness. Even with varying needs, it's hard to suggest one of Power A's packages over another. But Power A's offerings are mostly solid, so if you need something on launch day, you'll certainly find something to suit your needs.

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Amazon has great bonus credit 3DS deals

Can't see the video? Click here

While this isn't as good as getting a great pack-in game, it kind of comes close. First off, pre-order a Nintendo 3DS at Amazon and get a $25 credit toward a 3DS game. Any game order will get you a $10 credit for another 3DS launch game. Your initial order of a 3DS and a launch game or two could get you enough money to get another game for free. Nice! Note that on both deals you'll see credit applied a couple of days after your pre-order ships.

Poking around we found that if you've already placed a pre-order, you're good for this deal. It's Automatic. Those with existing pre-orders at Amazon will need to do nothing. So let your body rock. 

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Ubisoft is hiring help: Assassin's Creed
encyclopedia

 Ubisoft sent me a heads-up on this job this morning. As you may know, they're working on an Assassin's Creed encyclopedia. That's a huge undertaking and they're needing some help. This is a real gig that many of you could be a good candidate for.

The job requirements are simple: You need to know about the Assassin's Creed universe, be organized, and have sharp English skills. They say they'd love for you to be in the Montreal area, but that's not required, and that they're open to remote work. They're even open to beginners. In other words, many people reading this would fit all the above listed criteria. 

In order to narrow things down they're requesting a writing sample. You can find the full details after the jump.

This sounds like a great gig and a potential foot in the door. You should go for it.

Submissions and CVs have to be sent to volt@ubisoft.com.

Here's what they're looking for:

Document formatting: Times New Roman, size: 10, single spaced. These are encyclopaedia entries and there must be an objective style to the writing. Structure your information appropriately. (No purple prose.)

Choose 2 of the below examples as your writing test.

1 entry: Main character of your choice, across all media (games, books, etc). Ex: Desmond, Ezio, Daniel Cross, etc.

1 entry: Major secondary character of your choice. Ex: Lucy, Malik, Robert de Sable, Maria Thorpe, etc.

1 entry: The Animus, technical details and information, bleed effect, etc. Ex: The Abstergo machine, the Assassins' machine, etc.

1 entry: An overview major historical event (can be selected from the entire timeline of the IP, across all media).

Note: You could also do a comparison of the "real" historical event versus the "game version" of the historical event for bonus points.

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Rob Fulop on how Night Trap eventually led to
Petz

Gamasutra has published an interview between Replay author Tristan Donovan and game designer Rob Fulop, which details a strange link between one of the Sega CD's more ridiculous titles, Night Trap, and a later project Fulop worked on, Petz.

"[Night Trap] was becoming very controversial because we had shown imagery of girls being dragged off by monsters and there was a big political scandal around Night Trap," begins Fulop. "To me personally, it was kind of silly. It was also deeply embarrassing, because friends of mine, my parents and my girlfriend, didn't really get games."

"I decided that the next game I made was going to be so cute and so adorable that no one could ever, ever, ever say that -- it was, like, sarcastic -- what's the cutest thing I could make? What's the most, you know, sissy game that I could come out with?"

Naturally, he went straight to the source, to see what kids were going to want for Christmas. "So we go into Macy's, talk to Santa, and actually he goes, 'It's still the same, the most popular thing that kids ask for every year is a puppy. For the last 50 years.' So the two just came together. It was make a puppy. That was really how the idea came out."

Next time someone casually mentions either of these games, you'll have a bit of trivia to whip out.

The Replay Interviews: Rob Fulop [Gamasutra]

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New Dawn of War II: The Last Stand wargear
detailed

Relic has finally revealed the new wargear that the upcoming 3.14 patch for the Dawn of War II series will provide to its The Last Stand mode! Every character will get two new achievements which each unlock a new wargear item.

Eldar casters will get better armor and a two-handed stave that reduces abilities' energy costs, Space Marine Captains will mostly do more damage, the Imperial Guard Lord General and Chaos Sorcerer will be a bit more durable in melee, the Hive Tyrant will be better at spamming its poison cloud thing, and the Ork Mekboy gets some chance-on-hit gear that makes him drop mines when attacked or teleports enemies away.

Jordan and I finally beat wave 20 of the new map using two bombing-run-spamming Lord Generals and a buffed Ravener Hive Tyrant build, so these changes will be welcomed to try out new tactics. If you own Dawn of War II and never tried the awesome The Last Stand mode, with or without friends, you really should give it a try.

New Last Stand Wargear Preview [Dawn of War 2 Community site]

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Live Show: Backlog plays more TimeShift right now

We made some great progress playing TimeShift yesterday. Why, I think I may have kept the number of deaths down to a comfortable two dozen over the two hour show. And now that there are other enemies who can slow down time, I expect many more deaths are coming. If this difficulty is "casual," I'm terrified to think how poorly I'd perform on a harder setting.

I also have almost no clue what's going on in the plot. I gathered some research data from a computer to help some sort of resistance force who I assume is fighting a dictatorial regime led by a guy that I'm chasing back through time. That's about all I've figured out. 

Come and help me figure it out as I play more TimeShift live for your enjoyment on Backlog. Hop on over and join in on the fun with the folks in chat right now on Destructoid's Justin.tv channel!

Watch live video from Destructoid on Justin.tv Can't see the video? Click here

Can't see the video? Click here

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