Xbox Live's Castle of secrets?
Okay. We're not promising that Microsoft is going to release a version of the original PlayStation masterpiece Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for Xbox Live Arcade this week.
However, what we are saying is that it's the Tokyo Game Show and Microsoft is begging 360 owners to check out exclusive coverage of both TGS and the Euro-centric X06 event, via Xbox Live.And we're also saying thatMicrosoft's press release today promised two newXbox Live Arcade titles this week, including,"a never before announced major franchise" -and, seeing as how Microsoft hasa pre-TGS event this Wednesday - the day the new downloads are launched - it would sure make sense if that title were Japanese-developed. Finally,we here at GamesRadar have heard rumors that a 360 version of Konami's 2D masterwork is on the way sooner or later. So we're putting two and two together and hoping for sooner.
Then again, Microsoft's Greg Canessa, group manager of Xbox Live Arcade,speaking in the September issue of Official Xbox Magazine, said that he often tells publishers that LiveArcade is, "not a place foryour old-ass PlayStation 1[sic] games."
Ordinarily, we'd agree wholeheartedly, but in this case, we can only say to Greg: you shut your mouth. Shut your dirty, little mouth and give us Castlevania.
Halo 3 controls tweaked; is the series doomed?
This is almost not news, but we're all about inciting a good online riot. So check out Halo Community Manager Frankie's recentposton bungie.net about Halo 3's new-and-maybe-improved-but-maybe-totally-ruined-oh-how-could-they-those-bastards-those-bloody-BASTARDS controls.
We're sure it's fine, but as Frankie himself anticipates, we're equally sure there will be about a zillion people who decide that it'shopelessly brokenbefore they ever touch the new control scheme. After all, Frankie himself says he spazzed out (for about three minutes, but we're guessing that'll go overlooked). Dudes, Halo 3 is so ruined...
Nintendo to Pokemon fans: careful what you wish for
It's common for young children, gamers or not, to say innocent-yet-inane things like, "I wish I could be a mouse, just like Mickey!" Which is, of course, ludicrous because theactual life of a mouse consists mainly ofscuttlingaround inthe dark in search ofedible anything, all the whileliving in constant fear of mousetraps, predatory birds, cats, snakes, and pretty much everything else on Earth. Unless you're a lab mouse, in which case you can look forward to ingesting experimental drugs andwithstanding questionable medical procedures.
The point is, Nintendo just heralded the release of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (we'll have a review tomorrow) with a press release that opens with the phrase, "Become a Pokemon for the first time..." Which is really not that cool when one considers thata realPoke-life would find you mostly stuffed into an impossibly cramped plasticball, waiting for your trainer to call you out just long enough to kick the crap out of one of your Pokemon kindred - or to possibly get your own head bashed in - before shoving you back into that hellish ball.
Double-lame if the game decides the Pokemon you most resemble (and therefore need to play as)is friggin' Mudkip, like it did to us.
Who needs a Wii? This blind kid
Ellen Degeneres has just given away the first Wii in America. Or, at least, expressed her intent to give it away (and face it: she's got more pull than you). In fact, she's given it away to a fellowwho can't even see - but we can't think of anyone more deserving.
Check outthis video, and you'll see what we mean. This dude's real eyes have literally been surgically removed, but he can still play games by listening to the sounds (and walk, dance, play basketball, and rollerblade by using echo location, believe it or not). And anyone who works that hard to enjoy the gaming way of lifehas our respect and admiration.
Atleast, until we run into him playing Wii online (assuming Wii someday has online games) - then, it's on.
