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Two years after the release of Grand Theft Auto IV, PS3 users are getting a bit of closure.
Sony and Rockstar Games have announced that Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City will soon be coming to frothing PlayStation 3 gamers everywhere. The last two chapters will come on one disc, or you can download them individually from the PlayStation Network. Those episodes are titled, "The Lost And Damned" and "The Ballad of Gay Tony." Expect plenty of cars, weapons and music included in each.
Expect Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City to be screeching into stores on March 30, 2010. It will retail for $39.99. The downloads will be available the same day in the PlayStation Store for $19.99 a pop.
Paul McCartney is ready to rock your living room. Of course, don't start making Bundt cake; the former Beatle isn't out making personal appearances. Still, this news is the closest you'll get to your own concert. Harmonix and MTV Games just announced that three tracks from McCartney's latest live album will be coming to Rock Band.
The tracks can be downloaded from the Rock Band Music Store and LEGO Rock Band Music Store. They will be available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and the Wii. The three songs are live versions of "Band on the Run," "Jet" and "Sing the Changes."
Each of the songs are being lifted from McCartney's Good Evening New York City. The release is available in two formats: a three-disc standard edition (two CDs and one DVD) and a four-disc deluxe version (two CDs and two DVDs).
Xbox and Wii Rock Band users can download the New York City Pack 01 starting January 5. Single tracks are $1.99 for the Xbox and $2 for the Wii. Xbox users can get all three for $5.49.
There's no word on any prices for PS3 users, who have to keep frothing until the songs are available on January 7.
Got a monkey clawing at your back for more sports games? 2K is feeding your need to be a major leaguer with The BIGS 2.
Obviously, it's not a really inventive title; it's a sequel. It also takes all the boredom and sweatiness (you know it's true) out of the real game of baseball. This one features bigger and better gameplay, making things so lifelike that you'll want to start spitting. Other fun features include a "Season Mode," "Homerun Pinball" and the very cool "Become a Legend Mode" -- because this time it's not just in your own mind!
The BIGS 2 is out now for the PS3, Wii, 360, PSP, PS2. Look for Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers on the cover. -- Rachel Cericola
This week is E3 and gamers everywhere are frothing at the mouth. To kick off the fanfare, Nintendo announced a few products to designate where you will blow what's left of your life savings. Here's a rundown on what's going on with Wii:
Wii MotionPlus: We've been talking about it forever and now it's finally coming -- in 5 days! Hooray? It's basically a little doohickey that adds more motion to your gameplay and more revenue to Nintendo's bottom line. Expect plenty of compatible games to follow over the next few weeks.
Wii Sports Resort: It's like all of those other grouped Wii games, except with the fun and excitement of resort-themed activities. Shuffleboard, anyone? It also launches on June 8 for $20. Bundle it with the MotionPlus for a mere $50.
Wii Fit Plus: Maybe this time you'll actually lose some weight. The latest incarnation adds plenty of new routines and the ability to choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts. It comes with the Balance Board, but you can also buy the software separately. No word on pricing, but both packages will be available this fall.
New Super Mario Bros./Super Mario Galaxy 2: This franchise is still a huge moneymaker for Nintendo, and they've got two new games to prove it. We're guessing that New Super Mario Bros. will be out in time for holiday shopping because the other one ain't hitting until 2010.
Metroid: Other M: The trailer for the latest in the franchise is floating around. Enjoy because this one won't hit until 2010 as well.
Wii Vitality Sensor: Last, but certainly not least, this is the latest in "firsts" for Nintendo. The Vitality Sensor monitors a user's pulse and other signals being transmitted by your body. What does it do with that info? Well, it could send it all to aliens for all we know. That would make as much sense as this add-on.
Of course, there are plenty of DS and DSi items coming as well. Check out Nintendo's official announcement for more info. -- Rachel Cericola
Sure you still love Tony Hawk for the skateboarding legend that he is. His games? Probably not so much. The market is getting flooded with shooters, sports stars and ways to drop weight. Well, Activision wants to give Hawk's gaming franchise a boost with RIDE, a game that will include a motion-sensing skateboard.
The new device promises an almost completely hands-free gaming experience. (You have to turn it on, right?) Hawk himself says it's the closest thing to actual skateboarding without the possibility of losing a tooth -- although we're guessing someone will.
There's no release date or price yet, but Tony Hawk: RIDE should be available in time to score some of your holiday shopping dollars. It will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii.
MTV has a trailer for the game. If you can hang in with all of the showboating, you'll get a glimpse of the controller at the end of the clip. -- Rachel Cericola
If your band isn't on Rock Band, you must be really lame... because now the game is rockin' the REO Speedwagon.
Harmonix and MTV Games just announced (via IGN) that they will be adding 18 new tracks for Wii Rock Band users. Now those 18 aren't just the super sounds of REO; they will be throwing in some Styx to feed that crappy '70s/'80s classic rock addiction.
Actually, I could see myself rocking out to "Too Much Time on My Hands." If you can't, they are adding other track as well from All That Remains, The Clash, Devo, Hautewerk, The Ramones, and System of a Down. All of the tracks are available for $2 each (200 Wii Points) at the Rock Band Music Store.
However, they are really highlighting Styx and REO, probably because the two groups have paired up for "Can't Stop Rockin'," a crap-o-riffic collaboration that will kick off their upcoming Can't Stop Rockin' tour, which starts May 13. -- Rachel Cericola
Just when your Wii was starting to collect dust, Nintendo adds something to make it seem semi-relevant again.
Gizmodo says that the long-awaited and almost-forgotten Wii MotionPlus will make its big debut on June 8.
That's fine and dandy, but you might be staring at that peripheral for a few weeks; the game that it's designed for (Wii Sports Resort) won't be out until July 26. That will cost you another $50, but it comes with one MotionPlus add-on.
Don't worry too much about that summer sunlight; other publishers are expected to release games as well. -- Rachel Cericola
Aside from 15 years in the making, the "new" Guns N' Roses album came and went with little fanfare. Harmonix and MTV Games are hoping music lovers will be a bit more pumped up about the album's Rock Band edition.
According to Reuters, Chinese Democracy premiered at number 3 on the Billboard charts in November 2008. The track "Shackler's Revenge" is available as a download now, with the entire album coming to the Rock Band Music Store on April 14.
One frightening tidbit: The above image is not from the game.
Something else you might want to know: If you have a Wii, you'll need to buy tracks individually; Xbox 360 and PS3 users can purchase tracks or the entire album. -- Rachel Cericola
There are plenty of ways to stream your Netflix account. The Wii, however, ain't one of them -- at least not yet.
Joystiq is showing off a survey asking consumers whether or not they'd be interested in that type of offering. If they have Netflix and the Wii, the answer is both obvious and drool-inducing.
If the match-up does happen, you'll need a "Netflix Instant Streaming Disc," which sounds like someone's attempt at added revenue. We bought into the Wii Fit though, and sitting on our asses to watch movies sounds like a much better investment.
Of course, it's just a survey at this point, and we're not even sure who was doing the asking. Get excited at your own risk. -- Rachel Cericola
Embarrassed to trade in that copy of Shaq Fu? Now you don't need to leave the house to get rid of your old video games.
Amazon just announced a new video game trade-in program. The goal is to go head-to-head with GameStop, who saw a stock drop shortly after the announcement.
GameStop is predicting (via CNET) that the program will fail miserably. Maybe so, Danny Boy (that's GameStop CEO Dan DeMatteo to you and me). Still, it doesn't seem like it will cause much of a dent in the almighty Amazon.
If you're interested, all you need is 10 bucks' worth of games that are in good shape. Register them on Amazon, and print your mailing label and packing slip. The shipping is free. Once they get the games, you'll get some sweet Amazon store credit.
For the first two weeks, if you make a trade, the e-tailer will also offer 10 percent off any future game purchase. -- Rachel Cericola
It seems you can drive their car and play their music, as well. The Beatles just announced that they will have their own version of Rock Band coming this fall.
The Beatles: Rock Band will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. It will work with current Rock Band instruments. However, psycho fans can upgrade to have gear that looks like what the band used to play, all for a mere $100.
For now, there's no word on how many or what songs will be included with the game. I'm guessing there will be endless opportunities for download revenue with this one, though.
It's sort of funny that this will be the band's first entry into the digital world. They are still working on that whole iTunes thing.
Rock Band: The Beatles will be available for $60, starting September 9. -- Rachel Cericola
The Rock Band set list is starting to look like the Bonnaroo lineup.
Well, you won't catch Stevie Ray Vaughn at any upcoming festivals, since he passed in 1990. However, you can make like the guitar hero when you are playing Rock Band.
Harmonix and MTV Games just announced that they are adding the debut album from the late guitarist, as well as his backup band, Double Trouble. You don't have to buy a new disc; the album will be available for download from the Rock Band Music Store.
Texas Flood sold more than 500,000 in its first year of release. I wonder how well it will do for gaming downloads. All 10 tracks will be available for $1.99 each, or $15.99 for the whole album.
In case you aren't into classic rock, you can spend your gaming cash downloading "New" from No Doubt. "New" actually isn't new at all; it's from the band's 2000 album Return to Saturn.
Xbox LIVE users can start downloading on Tuesday, March 3; PlayStation users will get the goods two days later.