Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, On the internet, Puzzle

The PlayStation Blog announced today that 20 new user-generated levels will be available in echochrome between Might 15-21, and those new levels may be replaced with even more content the following week. Despite our blended feelings on the idea that the puzzles are replaced rather than added to a mega-list, it’s still great to see how swift the promise of free extra content for the $10 Escher-iffic puzzler was fulfilled.

The additional levels will appear randomly in freeform mode if the difficulty is set to level 2 or 3 and there’s also been a Flickr page created to give some recognition to the level designers. Definitely check out the demo for the game if you haven’t tried it,

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Filed under: Culture, On the web, Polls

It’s simple, though not hand-drawn. Still, it gets the point across. We loved A Softer World’s entry in this week’s webcomic wrapup and, lo and behold, so did you. Congratulations on top honors.

Second and third place go to Super Effective and Penny Arcade, respectively. Thanks to everyone who voted, and be sure to let us know of any game-related webcomics you stumble upon this week!

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Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Online, MMO

Remember all the hoopla over virtual arms dealing in Battlefield: Bad Company? Sony On the web Entertainment’s not hearing it. In fact, it announced today that its upcoming espionage MMO FPS, The Bureau, will feature real money trading (RMT) of everything from clothing and gear to automobiles and weapons.

SOE has yet to declassify its business model for The Agency, so this could go in one of two directions. If it’s free-to-play (a la Battlefield: Heroes) the cash-for-guns program would be (slightly) easier to swallow. Since The Bureau is a PC and PS3 title, we’re laying a bet on a free model given the latter platform’s already free online gaming service and today’s announcement, which provides a means for SOE to subsidize free play with a cut of player trades. If it’s subscription-based? Someone ideal send some fire-retardant undergarments to SOE brass.

FPS players - console ones specifically - are used to earning their way to the top and into superior weapons and gear, as seen in Call of Duty 4. The idea of playing a game where they’re at an immediate disadvantage based on cash money is unlikely to sit well. At least trade works both ways; those who take the route of being skilled players - and not payers - can profit from their homegrown skills by selling stuff to noobs (and people with dead presidents lighting fires in their trousers).
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Filed under: Mac, Personal computer, On the web, RPGs, MMO

In a press release announcing Q1 2008 results (PDF File), Blizzard owner Vivendi Universal asserts that the upcoming World of Warcraft expansion Wrath of the Lich King is “anticipated to be released in the second half of 2008.” Mark your calendars, as we suspect the Christmas season is going to be a lot less productive.

While we always expected release this year, Blizzard, who has yet to make a formal announcement, is notorious for delaying games until they’ve met some in-house standard of quality. Our attention is now focused intently on Blizzard’s WWI event in Paris next month.

[Via Large Download]

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- - - _ _ _ _ This video probably dont have relation with: —————— theme music real myspace crazy lion sleep urban panic! guitar soccer mortal kombat korean scary motion picture popsicle solo dance family guy cartoon network nickelodeon disney xbox 360 gamecube preview spiderman music games sikitur superman super man hulk six flags water world john singer red vs blue smosh cody eric s…

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The Boys (Reese, Malcolm and Dewey) own Hal at a game of basketball.

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Filed under: News

Now that the onslaught of Spring Showcase information has mostly subsided (we’ve still got some hands-on impressions on the way), we have some time to reflect. There were many games on display at the Spring Showcase, which makes the absence of two of Microsoft’s premiere titles stand out. The games about which we talk are Alan Wake and Halo Wars. While Alan Wake is perhaps less anticipated (thanks to its seemingly eternal development schedule and its status as a new IP), it’s pretty strange that a high profile title like Halo Wars was absent. According to our friends at Joystiq, who spoke to Microsoft on the matter, the Spring Showcase wasn’t considered the proper venue for the two games.

It’s kind of hard to believe that an event designed around letting journalists try their collective hand at all the latest games isn’t the right venue for these games (or any game, really). We suppose it’s fair to state that Alan Wake — a survival horror game — might require more intimacy to appreciate, but Halo Wars? Perhaps Microsoft thought journos wouldn’t be able to grasp the controls in the 30-45 minutes of playtime they were granted.

Whatever the reason behind the decision to leave out two of Microsoft Games Studios’ biggest titles from the Spring Showcase, we hope we’ll see something soon. And we really hope that their absence doesn’t portend any delays.

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News, Console wars

Microsoft announced this day that they have officially sold more than 10 million Xbox 360 consoles in the United States, with over 19 million sold worldwide since the product launched in late 2006. The Xbox 360 is the first console of this generation to reach the 10 million mark in the US, a very significant fact according to Don Mattrick, the VP of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division, “History has shown us that the first company to reach ten million in console sales wins the generation battle. We’re uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry.”

The press release has a few other statistics worth noting as well. First of all, the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV helped push the number of Xbox Live members to 12 million, which Microsoft claims is double what it was a year ago (it was at 7 million last July, so that sounds about right). On the software front, Microsoft boasts more than 16 games that have sold a million duplicates or more, which the company claims is twice as many as the Wii and more than the PS3 by a margin of 16:2 (so, 8:1 in other words). MS is also trumpeting the critical praise lavished on 360 games, noting that 91 Xbox 360 titles average 80 or higher on Metacritic, whereas the Wii and PS3 have 22 and 50 respectively.

Rosy numbers indeed, though that’s to be expected from Microsoft PR. Some of the language is a little strange, like the 16:2 ratio, which sounds larger than it is. Also, “more than 16″ is a rather odd choice of words. Does that mean 17? 20? Enough PR dissection though. Such things are the pursuit of madmen. The point is that MS has sold over 10 million consoles in the US. Whether or not this milestone truly cements Microsoft’s victory remains to be seen.

[Via Major Nelson]

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News

Since its reveal at E3 2005 action-thriller fans have been clamoring for more information on Alan Wake. Developed by Remedy, the team behind Max Payne, the PR camp has been quiet on new details for the title and today is no different. Talking with Venture Beat, Microsoft’s Shane Kim dissapointingly continued Alan’s media blackout. “We haven’t announced a firm date for Alan Wake.” Kim added that Microsoft, who announced it would exclusively publish the title for Xbox 360 and PC at E3 2006, would set a release date for the title when it was ready.

With next to no new information released since 2006, is Alan Wake still on your radar?

[via Large Download]

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Via Xbox360fanboy

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Filed under: News

The first Viva Pi