Crustacean alert! Incoming crabs to the Nintendo
DS!

post from Gaming Nexus on 26 January 2012 11:07:00 PM. © Gaming Nexus

by: Sean Cahill
NEWS - The hermit crabs are coming! Sure, yelling out something like that probably won't inspire much fear into anyone, but in this case, it's a good thing. Xia Xia the game is heading to the Nintendo DS in March. Exploration is the name of the game as you roam throughout the world to check out plenty of levels with rewards galore. Certainly a game that seems to be a mix of fun and education, most any game that gets the "E" stamp nowadays on the DS seems to be heading that direction, which certainly isn't a bad thing.

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Why Tomb Raider reboot won't be on Wii U

post from Destructoid on 26 January 2012 11:05:53 PM. © Destructoid

Crystal Dynamics' Tomb Raider reboot is coming later this year, as is the Wii U. But they won't be coming together, says community manager Meagan Marie. Even though Nintendo finally has a system with enough power for HD graphics, Crystal Dynamics plans to stick to their original plan of bringing the reboot to the PS3 and Xbox 360.

"When we started developing the game we made a conscious decision that it was all about building the game for a platform and making sure the game was specific to that platform," Marie writes in a FAQ on the reboot.

"Given that we’ve been working on the game quite a while before Wii U was announced I think it would not be right to try and port it across. If we started building a game for the Wii U we would build it very differently and we would build it with unique functionality."

Maybe we'll see something else with Lara in it later on for the Wii U. Would you want that? Or would you rather they just do a straight across port with no use of the Wii U's touch and motion-sensing functionality?

Tomb Raider Reboot Won't Be Coming To Wii U [G4TV]

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Man up! Pac-Man and Mega Man in Street Fighter X
Tekken

post from Destructoid on 26 January 2012 11:05:53 PM. © Destructoid

Man up! Pac-Man and Mega Man in Street Fighter X Tekken screenshot

video details and more

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Previously hinted at company mascots Pac-Man and Mega Man have been confirmed as PS3/PSV exclusive characters for Street Fighter X Tekken, joining Cole from inFamous, and Sony Japan mascots Toro and Kuro. Unless the 360 version of the game gets an all star group like The Prince of all Cosmos, Linn Kurasawa, Alan Wake, and Ilo and Milo as its own exclusive characters, then there is no way it's going to be able to compete (at least not for my money). Seeing as the game is coming out really soon, chances are slim that the 360 versions getting any exclusives at all. Microsoft has got to be feeling pretty hosed right about now!

Another group who's already reportedly feeling hosed over this development is the Mega Man fan community. A lot of them are already saying that fact that Capcom is choosing Bad Box Art Mega Man over all the other Mega Mans in the history of Mega Mans for this coveted position on SFxT's roster is a slap in the face, especially seeing as his in-game story closely matches the mythology of the Mega Man Legends universe.

As a 35 year old man and a Mega Man fan since 1988, I can say that I don't feel that way at all. Not only do I think that Bad Box Art Mega Man fits with this particular game much better than any other incarnation of the character, I also see this move as brilliant form of self-mockery on Capcom's part. Read the rest of the post for an explination of the logic on that.

First Images of Pac-Man, Cover Art Mega Man Added to SFxT Site [Shoryuken]

Pac-Man and Mega Man are clearly meant to represent Namco and Capcom and their efforts to come together to create Street Fighter X Tekken. Pac-Man, riding a giant version of Tekken's Mokujin, represents Namco's current philosophy towards working to simulataniously appeal to fans of their classic arcade days (with titles like Galaga Legions and Pac-Man Championship Edition DX) and fans of their more modern offerings (like Tekken and Katamari) at the same time.

Bad Box Art Mega Man does something else entirely. The character is old and out of shape. His costume has clearly taken a beating over the years. It shows multiple signs of damage (just look at that messed up helmet!). This is a man who has been through a lot. He's seen better days. That's not going to stop him though.

Despite being a bit long in the tooth, he's still clearly trying to win over the beauty-and-youth obsessed Western market, just as he did on the box of the original Mega Man when it was first released in the United States. Man, he's not going to have an easy time of that, is he? Not with that face. Not with those clothes.

He has all the makings of a failure; a fat, funny looking goofball desperately trying to look cool in the eyes of American teenagers, and failing hard at that goal. Yet, there is a fire in his eyes that makes him a charmer. He's got the spirit and the determination that only comes from having true passion for your work. He may be making an ass of himself, but he's a genuine ass, and that's to be repsected. How could he not be genuine? Nobody looks, acts, and dresses like that because they think it's going to help them get ahead in life. If you look like Bad Box Art Mega Man, it's because you want to look that way for you.

In short, Bad Box Art Mega man is legit. People may make fun of him for not being as cool and sexy as Western super heroes and Japanese anime characters, but he isn't going to let that stop him from giving it everything he's got in his efforts to win both our hearts, and the Street Fighter X Tekken tournament.

If that's not the best representation of modern day Capcom, I don't know what is. Kudos to Capcom for making such a unexpected and interesting creative decision by using this version of Mega Man to represent them in what may be one of their biggest games of 2012. They could have gone the safe, predictable route and just included the standard "Mege Man" in this game, the one who is proven to be a crowd pleaser, the one who has already appeared in multiple crossover titles. Instead, they went ahead and did something that not only has me wanting to shake their hands, but play the crap out of their game. Mega Man and Poison are definitely going to be my mains.

Great job, Capcom. You've made at least one Mega Man fan very happy this day.

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The LoadDown -- 01/26/2012

post from Gaming After 40 on 26 January 2012 10:20:00 PM. © Gaming After 40

January is traditionally a quiet time for retail videogames, the holiday rush being out of the way with everyone back to work or school. But there are still new games turning up online...

WiiWare -- One new game this week: Newton vs. The Horde, a physics-based action/puzzle game where two scientists must fend off attacking enemies by flinging things around with the Wii cursor.

DSiWare -- Two new E-rated games this week... it appears that Nintendo's handheld focus is shifting more and more to the 3DS, and skewing a little younger on the older platform. Lola's Alphabet Train is an alphabet learning game for 3-7 year olds; it's got a cute panda host, and the exercises seem solid. Flipper 2: Flush the Goldfish owes some inspiration to Earthworm Jim, and despite the name it has nothing do with TV's Flipper the dolphin.

3DS eShop -- One new 3DS-exclusive game, along with the DSiWare titles -- Mutant Mudds, a retro-style platformer with parallax 3D backrounds and pleasant chiptune music. There's also a free downloadable demo of retail 3DS title, Mario & Sonic at the 2012 Olympic Games.

XBox Live Arcade -- Two new, inexpensive, indie-style downloadable games this week, a pleasant break from the recent trend towards more substantial $15 XBLA games. Quarrel is a family word game with strategic territory-claiming elements, and Puddle is a tilt-based fluid-physics puzzler.

PS3 on PSN -- One new game this week: Scarygirl, the platformer based on the popular toys and graphic novels. I got a closer look at the XBLA version that came out last week, and while the art style is nicely preserved in the backgrounds, the camera is pulled back farther than I'd like -- we don't really get to see the terrific character designs that make Scarygirl special. Also, my update last week was inaccurate -- I missed AMY, the survival horror game with an interesting young protagonist but a collection of terrible reviews since its release; and Zack Zero, an old-school platformer with decidedly current-gen graphics.

PSOne Classics -- Nothing new here this week.

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Location trailer for The Secret World sets the
spooky

post from Destructoid on 26 January 2012 10:06:34 PM. © Destructoid

Location trailer for The Secret World sets the spooky screenshot

I've found over the years that lots of MMORPGs release with a good artistic style while at the same time missing out on offering an engrossing atmosphere. Funcom's The Secret World is one that definitely takes an interesting approach, a mixture of modern styling with otherworldly Gothic horror.

A new trailer has been released that is all about the atmosphere. Featuring a location in the game referred to as "Blue Mountain," it shows the dark and dreary landmarks of the area, such as broken-down refineries, with mood-setting shadows and fog like something straight out of a Silent Hill. There is also some somber narration that sets up the basic lore for the area.

It's one thing to make a trailer -- even if it is seemingly comprised of in-game footage -- and another thing entirely to have that same sense in the game itself, especially with one that has tons of others running around with you. Hopefully, the dedication to atmosphere as portrayed in the video is tied deeply enough to the game to really make something special.

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Wipe Your Backside With Moby-Dick

post from The Escapist : Latest News on 26 January 2012 09:15:00 PM. © The Escapist : Latest News

Someone is selling a ... 'unique' copy of Melville's Moby-Dick on eBay.

View Article

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Devolver Digital wants to publish more indie
games

post from Destructoid on 26 January 2012 09:07:28 PM. © Destructoid

Devolver Digital wants to publish more indie games screenshot

I really dug the premise of the Serious Sam Indie Series. Presumably, that initiative was successful, because Devolver Digital wants to hear independent developers pitch games at GDC 2012.

Apparently, hopefuls will have as much time as it takes the Devolver Digital bus to circle San Francisco's Moscone Center. The "three best game prototypes, demos or pitches" will get funds to complete the project and a publishing deal. This would sound like a joke coming from any other company.

They're "also interested in forming new relationships with talented developers to create similar games for an as-yet-announced new IP," akin to the way the Serious Sam Series was handled. Interested parties can send an email to pitchfork [at] devolverdigital [dot] com to set up a meeting (details).

And here's the obligatory Fork Parker quote: "The only thing I love more than money is working with talented indie developers to make their sweet ass games even sweeter. Attractive twenty-something ladies and lobster nachos are pretty high on the list too."

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Square Enix comes to GOG.com

by: Russell Archey
NEWS - Two legendary classic games have been added to the GOG.com catalog from Square Enix, with more coming soon. Fans can now enjoy Hitman: Codename 47 and the original Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition on GOG.com, a digital distributor offering DRM-free software. Deus Ex: GotY Edition is available for $9.99 while Hitman: Codename 47 is available for only $5.99.

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Vacation Quest: Australia Walkthrough (PC)

post from Gamezebo: Casual Game Reviews, Previews, Cheats, Tips, Forums, Free Games, and More on 26 January 2012 08:39:19 PM. © Gamezebo: Casual Game Reviews, Previews, Cheats, Tips, Forums, Free Games, and More

In Vacation Quest: Australia, the sequel to Vacation Quest: The Hawaiian Islands, it's time for a new vacation adventure down under. Locate over 2,200 hidden objects in 28 beautiful scenes. Enjoy seven different mini games from word searches to find the difference puzzles to increase your score. Gamezebo?s walkthrough will provide you with step by step instructions with detailed images, tips, information, and hints on how to play your best game.

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The Witcher 2 headed to Xbox 360 in April

The Witcher 2 headed to Xbox 360 in April screenshot

It's reassuring to hear that the Xbox 360 version of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is skipping past the crowded March release schedule in favor of an April 19th launch in North America.

If you missed out on the original game for any number of reasons, this is increasingly sounding like a worthwhile option given the extras packed in. That said, one look at the attached screenshots and you'll see that the gap in visual fidelity between PC and consoles is wide and only getting wider.

But graphics don't matter to you that much, right?