Honestly, I am still in shock that this is a Wii game. Not that I’m complaining (I

Seriously, though, that’s the (amazing) premise: Presented in beautiful black & white, players are required to “paint” the minimalist world with the bright red blood emitted from enemies. Like a twisted take on Okami, MadWorld seems to focus heavily on incorporating the game’s visuals into the actual gameplay.

After viewing the trailer, check out some gorgeous images in the below gallery and let us know what you think. Are you excited? Surprised? Like me, does the trailer give you the sudden urge to watch Hellboy and Sin City?

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The game is unnamed right now, but here’s to hoping we find out more details as the year rolls by. If I could use two Wiimotes as drumsticks … lord, the applications are endless. I have no idea if it will see an American release, but even if not, I can dash to a friend’s house and play it on his modded Wii (I would never allow such a thing in my own house, of course.)

[Via Siliconera — Thanks, Adam]

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Anascape, an East Texas gaming company, is now $21 million dollars richer after Nintendo shelled out the cash. A jury found that Nintendo infringed on Anascape’s patent while designing its Wii Classic Controller, WaveBird and GameCube controllers. The lawsuit was originally filed back in 2006.

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It’s not every day that the ninja from the Ask a Ninja podcast shows up on your Xbox 360. Imagine our very pleasant surprise then, when he popped up on Xbox Live Marketplace a few days ago promoting Ninja Gaiden II (which he calls a “flippin’ awesome game”). Find the second XBLM exclusive episode in the links below along with a truckload of Microsoft Spring Showcase coverage.

Community Stuff:

• Xbox 360 Fancast 068 — Trendsetting
  Warning: do not eat while listening
• X3F TV — Points>Life: The Beginning and the End
  Dig out Vegas for some easy achievements
• Fanswag Weekly: McFarlane Halo 3 Warthog
  This belongs on your desk
• Ask X3F: troubled Too Human edition
  Why’s everyone all down on Too Human?
  

Spring Showcase 08 (and Ask a Ninja):

• Spring Showcase no shows: Halo Wars and Alan Wake
  So where are they?
• X3F Impressions: Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts
  Because building things is fun
• X3F Impressions: Penny Arcade Adventures
  On the water-soaked something or other
• X3F Impressions: Too Human
  Somebody has to crawl those dungeons, after all
• X3F Impressions: Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise
  Prepared to suck your life away all over again
• X3F Impressions: Ninja Gaiden 2
  Gimme gimme gimme GIMME!
• Ask a Ninja promotes Ninja Gaiden 2
  I believe that you are ninja too

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During a dinner on Monday night with Microsoft’s Shane Kim and Kudo Tsunoda, we got the chance to quiz the former about Microsoft Game Studios’ rationale for abandoning Marvel Universe Online MMO. After years in development, the console-bound MMO died a slow and painful (-ly vague) death. The culprit: Kim tells us, “We don’t have a heritage in MMOs.”

Of course, previous experience isn’t a necessary ingredient in success (fun fact: World of Warcraft is Blizzard’s first MMO!) and after rattling off the forces Microsoft could marshal in its pursuit of bringing an MMO to the Xbox - financial resources, first-party console support, a robust online component, a proven developer, a stellar license - Kim agreed. “All those reasons are why we started the project.” But MUO still failed to make it to market, recalling Microsoft’s many previous attempts to successfully deliver and sustain an MMO: Asheron’s Call 2, Mythica, the console-targeted True Fantasy Online, and Vanguard (read more here). At what point will the company give up, consider its lesson learned? “I would never say we’re done,” Kim said confidently.

So why does Kim think a company with Microsoft’s significant resources continues to fail to bring an MMO to market? “It’s a hits-driven business … it’s all about quality, all about hits.” But he’s not ready to give up yet. He says Microsoft has “learned the lesson” that it takes a lot of people to create and serve an MMO (good lesson!) and that he’s reminded of how little success its had in the MMO space. In other words: MMO-icrosoft hopefuls shouldn’t fret. The corporate behemoth will undoubtedly try again. How many lessons could there possible be left to learn?

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In an interview with Eurogamer, Microsoft Game Studios VP Shane Kim says he’s “happy” the company never got into the handheld market, explaining the division has plenty on its plate with the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. He goes pretty deep into the issue, almost shutting down the idea of the Xboy entirely by expressing Microsoft is happy to let Sony and Nintendo fight it out.

Kim believes mobile is more important for MS and Windows Mobile is a really “compelling opportunity” for the company. He explains that it’s a way for the company to get into the arena without having to worry about creating more hardware. Microsoft has certainly learned that making good hardware isn’t easy and can be hazardous.

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Things that won’t surprise you

April proved to be yet another lucrative month for the ol’ gaming biz, with total industry sales reaching $1.23 billion, reports GameDaily. Software sales in particular grew to $654.7 million, an increase of 68% carried on the fine leather seats of Grand Theft Auto IV’s recently stolen convertible. Rockstar’s urban riffraff romp sold 2.85 million copies — that’s 1.85 million on Xbox 360 and 1 million on PS3 — while Nintendo’s Wii took the top spot in hardware sales. Mario Kart Wii, however, had to settle for second place.

Things that will surprise you

It was a photo finish for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but the photographers had likely packed up and left for the day by the time the steeds reached the finish line. Selling 188K and 187.1K units respectively, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were thoroughly bested by the systems that didn’t have GTA IV. We’d feel a bit silly if we were them.

- Wii: 714.2K 6.8K (0.94%)
- DS: 414.8K 283.2K (40.6%)
- PSP: 192.7K 104.3K (35.1%)
- Xbox 360: 188K 74K (28.2%)
- PS3: 187.1K 69.9K (27.2%)
- PS2: 124.4K 91.6K (42.4%)

You’ll find the top ten in software sales after the break.

Continue reading April NPD: GTA IV, Mario Kart Wii race to the top

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When asked why neither Halo Wars nor Alan Wake were at the Xbox Spring Showcase, Microsoft Game Studios general manager, Shane Kim, told us the games weren’t suited for the event (he wasn’t offering specifics). When pressed to confirm if either would make a 2008 release (like every other game on display at the event), Kim insisted that neither have had release dates announced.

Oh? Don Mattrick - Senior Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division (ie: the big boss) - sent out an internal memo back in January that seemed to indicate both titles would find loving homes in 2008. We’re going to take it as a sign that the company simply wanted to focus attention on Rare’s two new titles as opposed to discussing any potential delays to other would-be 2008 releases. We hope …

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Second only to falling on his rear in front of colossal beasts, Hellboy is best when he’s digging his demonic fist into smaller creatures. Check out these new Hellboy: Science of Evil screens for more punching goodness. Hellboy is coming June 24 on PlayStation 3, PSP and Xbox 360.
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Continue reading New monster-fied screens, videos from Hellboy: Science of Evil

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Been wondering what Namco’s classic Sega Dreamcast fighter (and, as many would say, system seller) is going to look like when it hits Xbox Live Arcade this summer? So have we! Fortunately, before we had to storm down to Namco Bandai HQ, faux plastic swords in hand, they hit us up with these shiny first screens highlighting what to expect. We’ve laid down our arms, but our anticipation level has certainly picked up.

The screens show a port that looks decidedly crisper than the original, although featuring the same poly-count for the models and backgrounds. And what’s with that “Insert Coin” stuff? Shouldn’t it be “Insert Microsoft Points?” More on this odds-on, must-download (sure to take up a good chunk of your HDD or memory unit) as it breaks.
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