Activision today announced that Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will officially rip it up on retail store shelves nationwide this Sunday, October 28. To help celebrate the legendary launch, over 3,000 stores across the country are expected to organize their own midnight launch events this weekend, allowing all aspiring axe-shredders to unleash their inner-rock star.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will include explosive new content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow fans worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status. Fresh downloadable content will also be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the most popular rock songs ever recorded.
“Where there is music this holiday season, there is Guitar Hero, and we’re excited to deliver Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock as the ultimate guitar-bending experience for our fans,” said Dusty Welch, head of publishing for Activision/RedOctane. “With an amazing set list, added gameplay features, online functionality, and new wireless guitars, aspiring rock stars are going to shred harder than ever before.”
Electronic Arts Inc. today revealed the unique feature set that will define Burnout Paradise– the next-generation of Burnout. With true open world freedom, seamless ‘EasyDrive’ online multiplayer, four unique single-player events, and hundreds of online Freeburn challenges, Burnout Paradise thrusts gamers into an incredibly vivid HD world that pushes the limits of the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 videogame system. The white knuckle action explodes as players pull up at any stoplight and spin their wheels to jumpstart the action.
Spectacular bone-crushing crashes and an unparalleled sense of speed will always be a hallmark of Burnout games but Burnout Paradise ups the ante with an all new game design that expands the experience into a deeper, ever more immersive driving dream. Some of the key features that set Burnout Paradise apart include:
True Open World Freedom– The entire city will be available from the outset, giving players the freedom to explore this immersive world known as Paradise City. Experience open world driving Burnout style as the action begins with you, but it doesn’t have to end.
EasyDrive Online Social Gaming – See your friends online with the EasyDrive Friends List and connect with them instantly without having to wait or exit your game. Burnout Paradise is revolutionizing the way players jump on and offline, making it as simple and quick as possible.
Single-player Events– Choose from Race, Marked Man, Road Rage, and Stunt by pulling up to the numerous stoplights in the game to initiate the event. The action isn’t forced any longer, as players have the freedom to start and even end a challenge at their leisure.
“This is the true beginning of next generation racing. On PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360, we are delivering a game that brings brilliant graphics into HD at 60 frames per second. Burnout Paradise does something that no other Burnout game has ever done – it gives the player full control on how to play the game,” said Alex Ward, Creative Director at EA Criterion. “At Criterion, we have a long history of delivering stand-out software on the PlayStation consoles. The entire team is fired up about the opportunity to carry that heritage into the PLAYSTATION 3 generation.”
Nintendo of America has confirmed to GameDaily BIZ that a DVD-enabled Wii is indeed coming to the U.S. Previous reports suggested that this may have been a Japan-only promotion. Sonic Solutions will be providing the DVD navigation software for the Wii.
Last month, we reported that Nintendo would be releasing a special DVD-enabled Wii console in Japan some time during 2007. Today, digital media software company Sonic Solutions further stirred the pot by sending out a release indicating that Nintendo has selected "Sonic CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator to bring high-quality DVD movie viewing to a future version of the company's Wii gaming console."
According to the release, Nintendo plans to launch this version of Wii some time in the latter half of 2007. What wasn't clear, however, was if this announcement had been confirmed by Nintendo, and if the DVD-enabled Wii would be released outside of Japan. That said, GameDaily BIZ has now received confirmation from Nintendo that the release in the latter half of 2007 is for North America as well.
Nintendo of America's Public Relations Manager Matt Atwood said that a price has not yet been determined, but that the DVD-enabled Wii would come at a higher price than the standard Wii console ($249) because of the "extra cost required to implement DVD playback." Keep in mind that Nintendo had originally announced the Wii with DVD playback, but later removed the feature because of cost and because most people have separate DVD players nowadays anyway.
We asked Nintendo if gamers who purchase the Wii at launch might be able to upgrade their consoles through a firmware update via the WiiConnect network, and while Atwood told us that it is a software solution, it "requires more than a firmware upgrade."
We find it curious that Nintendo is sort of splitting the market by offering one model without DVD playback and then later one with DVD functionality enabled, but Atwood asserted that that's why Nintendo is getting the word out there now, prior to launch. If DVD movie playback is so important, people can wait for the later model next year. For most consumers it'll be about the games, so they'll likely not want to wait to purchase the new system.
Consumers waiting until the second half of 2007 for the DVD-enabled Wii should know that Sonic's software "supports all standard video and audio formats offered in the DVD specification, as well as advanced functions such as anamorphic widescreen video, motion menus, and multiple video angles."
"To be involved in Nintendo's ground-breaking gaming console is extremely gratifying and a testament to the efficiency, flexibility and dependability of Sonic's technology," commented Jim Taylor, senior vice president and general manager of Sonic's Advanced Technology Group. "Game consoles represent a fresh market and platform where we can introduce a new audience of potentially millions to the quality of our brand and the power of our digital media applications."
Sony Corp, the world’s largest video-game machines maker, said its Play Station 3 can’t play software titles designed for older consoles properly, marring the company’s launch of its newest player after a shortage.
Titles including the gran turismo and final fantasy series sold for the Play Station and Play Station 2 can’t display menus properly and graphics sometimes freeze, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, the company’s gaming unit, said on its Japanese web site. Software updates to the console will be provided to fix the problems, the statement said.
The software problem is another setback for Sony, which is banking on the Play Station 3 to beat rivals from Microsoft Corp and Nintendo Co . A shortage of components for the high-definition Blu-ray DVD player in the machine caused Sony to delay sales in Europe and halve shipments to 2 million for 2006.
“Some customers will refrain from buying the Play Station,” said Yuuki Sakurai, who helps manage $5.9 billion at Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance Co in Tokyo.
There’s a chance Sony will lose its lead to Nintendo’s Wii.’ The Play Station 3’s 49,980 yen ($425) price tag is almost double that of rivals.
Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft sells a version of the Xbox 360 machine for 29,800 yen in Japan, while Nintendo Co will offer the Wii console for 25,000 yen.
Digital media software company Sonic Solutions (SNIC.O) said on Monday that video game maker Nintendo (7974.T) will use its CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator for DVD movie viewing in a future version of the Wii gaming console.
Nintendo plans to release this version of Wii in the latter half of 2007, Sonic said in a news release.
