Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Driving

Developer Load Inc. has a thing for bite-sized vehicles, having already released the diminutive XBLA racer Mad Tracks, and while that failed to inspire much interest from the gaming press there’s something to be said for a company that sticks with its passion. Now the studio is working on a second toy car-based project called Things on Wheels, which will be published by SouthPeak Games over Xbox Live Arcade and the PC this summer.

Details are light, though SouthPeak notes that the game will feature “non-linear track design,” as players race radio-controlled cars from room to room in an “expansive virtual house.” It all sounds interesting, though honestly, when it comes to games based around toys, these sorts of announcements just remind us how much we want a sequel to Toy Commander.

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Filed under: Culture, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360

With its April 29 debut only three agonizing months away, it’s time for Take-Two and Rockstar to up their marketing for Grand Theft Auto IV. Citizens of New York City may stumble across wanted posters (pictured above at Lorimer and Grand in Brooklyn) asking for tips in capturing Niko Bellic (GTA IVs protagonist). If you’ve seen the guy — or just want a special jpeg from Rockstar — send an email to tips[at]libertycitypolice[dawt]com. If anyone stumbles across or can scan a cleaner image of the viral ad we’ll be sure to post it.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

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Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

Despite Silicon Knights being in the middle of a major lawsuit, the company still needs to make finish games and do business. The Too Human developer is planning to add 80 employees to its studio thanks in part to a Canadian initiative called the Niagara Interactive Media Generator (nGen), which seeks to “nurture a new generation of interactive entertainment companies.”

The Welland Tribune reports nGen is a partnership that includes Brock University, Niagara College, regional and city governments, Niagara Economic Development Corp. and the Niagara Enterprise Agency. The Ministry of Culture will provide $245,000 to nGen’s two-year $560,000 budget. Hopefully Silicon Knights will put those kids to work fast and finally get Too Human out the door sometime in ‘08.

[Via GameDaily]

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

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Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Online

According to X3F, who heard it from Megatonik, who saw it on ScoreHero, who cribbed it from scans on GameFaqs, OXM like totally printed all the Rock Band DLC for March in its new issue. We’ve confirmed the tracks are revealed in an advertisement for Xbox Live that was placed by Microsoft. There’s no mention of prices, but if March releases follow the general trend, it should be 440 MS points ($5.50) for a pack and 160 MS point ($2) for a single song.

Week of March 4: Thrash Pack

• Blinded By Fear - At The Gates
• Thrasher - Evile
• Shadow World - Haunted

Week of March 11:

• Shooting Star - Bad Company *Cover*
• Simple Man - Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Message In A Bottle - Police

Week of March 18: Nine Inch Nails Pack

• March Of The Pigs
• The Collector
• The Perfect Drug
  

Week of Mar. 25: Metal Pack

• Wrathchild - Ironmaiden *Cover*
• Supernaut - Black Sabbath *Cover*
• Fuel - Metallica

That’s great … now about February?

[Via X3F]

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

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Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Online

Microsoft Europe’s Xbox community manager Graeme Boyd dropped a “wee” note on his blog this morning to let everyone know that only Xbox Live Silver members can download the Beautiful Katamari demo (released in Europe, Australia and New Zealand just yesterday). Yep, you paying folk will have to wait.

Boyd assures us that the situation will soon be resolved (maybe it already is), meaning, Gold members will get the exclusive access they’ve been promised, and Silver members will be back on the outside looking in. But, for the moment, all you freeloaders should revel in this brief episode of trading places.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

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Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360

We’re sure you all have fond memories of the Old Spice Experience Challenge, which tasked gamers with earning enough gamerscore points to qualify for Fusion Frenzy 2, which was comparable to sprinting to the top of a steep hill to pick up your complimentary knife wound. Now, the challenge has returned, and while you’re still getting prizes for points, it’s with a very different structure.

This time, you’re not just competing with yourself, you’re competing with your friends, and the more of them you can get in on a competition, the better prizes will be up for grabs. You’ll fight against all of them for a set period of time and the top earner gets the goods, which range from a $20 Best Buy gift card to an Xbox 360 HD DVD Player. Like last time though, prizes are limited, so you’ll probably want to get your friends together soon if you want a showdown for the best swag.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

Popularity: 3% [?]

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Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure

With an investor coup and plummeting stock to worry about, investing in sequels to already average properties would seem to be one of the last things on the mind of Eidos parent SCi Entertainment. The game world, however, seldom subscribes to our own brand of logic, as Eidos has announced plans to revisit one of its non-entities in Avalanche Studios’ Just Cause, a decidedly tepid - and altogether brief - stunt-focused action game that managed to parachute below most players’ collective radar in 2006.

Set for release later this year for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, the game will once again cast players in the role of vigilante Rico Rodriguez, this time taking him out of the Caribbean and into the fictional island country of Panau in South East Asia. Of course, more over-the-top action and stunts are promised, though if Eidos was unable to make players care about the franchise the first time around, we doubt that “the same but more of it” is enough of a tag line to make anyone but the most ardent action fans blink in the game’s general direction.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

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Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sports

Are you Ready 2 Rumble? “No,” says EA’s newly announced boxing game, Facebreaker. “But I do feature real-time facial deformation and a lighthearted approach to pugilistic pummeling! So really, I’m more like a Fight Night cel-out.” According to the folks at 1UP, Facebreaker is being developed by EA Canada for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. Says EA’s Peter Moore: “Arcade boxing takes me back to my roots in this industry, and this game signals our shift to adding more approachable fun to our product lineup.”

Those approaching the fun will find an inevitably “colorful” cast of playable caricatures to choose from, including “Latin lover” Romeo and “an oversized Russian demolitions expert” called Molotov. If you’d prefer to have your own face broken, you can either integrate a personal photo via Game Face technology or simply wear your Tingle costume when buying the game from the store.

More Facebreaker details can be found in the March 2008 issue of EGM.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

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The Warhawk team is working on the new 1.3 patch for Warhawk and they’re holding a contest. Participants can create custom paint and original insignias of which 50 insignias and 20 paint schemes will be featured in the updated patch. Winners will also receive a limited edition Warhawk statue as a prize.

Head on over to the PlayStation Blog for the rules on what you can and can’t submit. One thing you can’t submit is a penis. You could, however, submit a hot dog wearing a construction hat that is standing in front of two round shaped streets signs. What’s a hot dog wearing a construction hat doing in front of two street signs? Mr. Hot Dog is a construction worker and he’s trying to set up two new street signs to keep the hot dog children safe in the neighborhood he is working on. See, it’s totally innocent and not perverted at all … Alright, so who’s making the Destructoid theme?

Also, to all you Warhawk fans out there, be sure to catch Wednesday Night Warcawks. It’s like Friday Night Fights, but just for all you PS3 and Warhawk owners. Pay attention to bhive01, Y0j1mb0, shipero, Hitogoroshi C-Blogs for info on how to particapate. 

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With Super Smash Bros. Brawl coming out in Japan tomorrow, it’s likely anyone reading this is feeling one of three emotions. The first would be utter jealousy and contempt for the Japanese gaming public, the second would be indifferencedue to not knowing or caring about Nintendo games in general, and the third is totally annoyance with all the Brawl related news currently sprawled over this and every other gaming blog on the interent.

This editorial is mostly for those in the second and third camps, those who don’t know about Brawl or actively feel "player hate" towards the current joy-drenched insanity that Brawl’s impending release has induced in it’s fan base. The haters out there should know there is more to Smash Bros. craze than "putting a bunch of Nintendo characters together in an fun fighting game = $$$". This information isn’t intended to convert anyone to the cult of Brawl, but will hopefully increase tolerance towards oppressed Brawl news addicts everywhere. 

Hit the jump for five secrets to Smash Bros.‘ soul stealing success.

Pic via Pedro Blandino’s C-blog. 

 

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