GameSpoon: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Castlevania + Patrick Stewart = EPIC! This game looks badass! It will be released on the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 in 2010...be prepared. This time, Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear) takes a hold of this series, you can expect only the best.

GameSpoon - Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption, the new upcoming game from Rockstar Games. This title looks sweet! I only hope it delivers.

Having never played the predecessor to Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Revolver (a game that received average scores; released in 2004), I honestly can't tell you what I expect from the game play. I love the prospect of an old west setting, it's a great setting for an action/adventure game based on outlaws.

Red Dead Redemption places you in the shoes of Clint Eastwood-style, former outlaw named John Martson. You are tasked with bringing law to the open world of the old frontier of the west; you can surely expect a few gunfights along the way.

The game will launch in the Fall of this year (2009) and will be available for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. This gives you plenty of time to clean out your spitoon, polish your Colt Peacemaker and saddle your ride... ye haw!

Enjoy!

GameSpoon - The King of Fighters XII

HELL YEAH!

SNK Playmore's The King of Fighters XII will be coming to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 in July - worldwide! This is fantastic news, previously there had been no word regarding a non-Japanese release of this amazing hand-drawn game.

According to Kotaku's article, the game will be reinventing itself, returning "to a core set of characters, relaunching with a new look but retaining the classic feel" (Kotaku).

"I couldn't think of a more appropriate way to commemorate The King of Fighter's 15-Year Anniversary than with a gorgeously animated, high-definition installment that updates the KOF legacy for a new generation." said Shane Bettenhausen, New Business Development Director of Ignition Entertainment. "While other fighting games have abandoned the time-consuming process of creating beautiful 2D art, KOFXII fully embraces the refined aesthetic beauty that only human hands can produce" (Kotaku).

This is fantastic news to hear, riding on the tails of the Street Fighter 4 release. Combing SF4, KOFXII and the new Tekken that's in the works - it's time to seriously consider building out a custom arcade stick from Arcade-in-a-Box.

I think I know how I'll be contributing to the global economy

JapanSpoon - why Japanese gaming commercials are better

Seriously, if in America the advertisement agencies that worked with gaming companies, made commercials with gorgeous women - like this one - video game sales would be through the roof!

I'm a Xbox guy, but for some reason after watching this commercial, I felt compelled to go out and purchase a PS3 and Ninja Gaiden Sigma. Was it the beautiful girl (Leah Dizon) who is the star of the commerical or was it the fact that there was some dude dressed up as a ninja standing in line waiting to play?! Well, if the American beer commericals have ingrained any type of sub-conscious social expectation that certain products get you laid, it was definitely the former. Ninjas are cool and all, but girls are way more fun. . .and beer is good.

GameSpoon - SF4 Character Videos

1UP.com has posted some exclusive Street Fighter 4 (console version) character videos.

SF 4 is a highly anticipated title that has a lot of potential at being one of the best fighting games around - especially for SF fans. The gamplay videos look promising, check them out and make up your own opinion; however, until you actually play the game, who knows what you'll think!

GEN vs ROSE

Street Fighter 4 Exclusive 'Gen vs. Rose' gameplay HD

DAN vs DAN

Street Fighter 4 Exclusive 'Dan vs. Dan' gameplay HD

FEI LONG vs CAMMY

Street Fighter 4 Exclusive 'Fei Long vs. Cammy' gameplay HD

GameSpoon - Tekken 6

Tekken has been my favorite fighting series since the game launched on the original Playstation in the US. The speed of the game, the variety of styles and the unique control over the characters captivated me instantly.

Since my first experience with the game, I have always done my best to keep up with the series' releases and it's hard to ignore it when trailers, such as this one, are released!

This trailer, showcased for the "Atari Live" press event, gives you a glimpse at the gameplay of Tekken 6. This will be the first title, that I'm aware of, that will not only be released for the Playstation, but will be released on a non-Sony platform as well - the Xbox 360!

It'll be interesting to see the differences between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. I wonder how this change will affect the series, will any previous versions of the game be released on the Xbox Live Arcade to help promote the release? We'll see in "Autumn of 2009"...well, time to go hibernate.

GameSpoon - Sony Playstation 3 Price Cuts

image courtesy of Gamasutra

I wouldn't say that the Playstation 3 has been a failure, when compared to the massive success of the Playstation 2, but I would say that it got off on the wrong foot. Personally, I feel that Sony made a few mistakes that cost them quite a lot when the PS3 originally launched. This allowed Microsoft to take the lead, between the two systems.

Since day one, the cost of the PS3 has always been a problem in the public eye; perception is everything. The initial lump sum for a PS3 has caused people to stray from their system. Let's consider a few things here: the PS3 is technically superior to the Xbox 360; the PS3 comes standard with a WiFi adapter built-in; the PS3 online network is free; the PS3's hard-drive can be swapped out with any HDD you wish to use. Now, compare that to the Xbox 360 - to meet the PS3s potential, you have to purchase the system, purchase the WiFi adapter, and (worst of all) purchase your annual/monthly Xbox Live subscription to be able to play others online and have access to certain content. Adding these costs together places the overall cost of the Xbox 360 equal to that of the PS3, with one major exception, every year you'll need to dish out $50 for Xbox Live...people, you've been had by Microsoft.

Regardless, perception is everything. People still view the PS3 as an "expensive" system. Sony has cut the price down, but when asked about offering a price cut during the upcoming holiday season, Sony says "no"; however, industry analysts believe this is yet another mistake...

Read about it here at Gamasutra.com

GameSpoon - The Force Unleashed DLC

Fantastic news from Kotaku...well, at least I think so! The (amazing) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will have DLC available for it soon. What will this encompass?

New Campaigns and New Characters!!

This is fantastic news. According to Kotaku, LucasArts plans to release four new characters and a campaign mode that is set in the Jedi Temple. The DLC will be available for both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

This begs the question, "when?" Answer: the coming months. I know, I know, but in the next month, LucasArts will be releasing some different content - new costumes and charater models that are fashioned after Luke Skywalker, "help me" Obi-Wan Kenobi "you're my only hope," Ki-Adi-Mundi and Kit Fisto.

Read more here and big thanks to Kotaku!