Capcom revives a few more killer franchises. 

I remember as a kid playing Commando at the local Pizza Hut.  The controls were stiff and the bullets were tiny.  I don't think I ever made it past the first stage.  Then MERCS came along to the arcade just across the street, and it seemed like insane destruction and top down blasting action for me and two other Rambo-wannabes until we ran out of quarters.  Capcom has been on a trend of reviving their nearly forgotten gems to the delight of former arcade junkies, with the latest offering of Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 for XBLA and PSN.  Outside of the more cartoonish gleam, the latest footage shows a game that sticks surprisingly close to its roots, with a variety of scrolling, destructible environments for up to three players, both online and off.  The action is quick and furious, while the weapons are insane and highly destructive.  It's already looking better than the upcoming pretender to the throne, Assault Heroes 2, though both pale next to what else Capcom has up its sleeve.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix has been a long time in coming, but hey it takes a long time to draw all those frames at 1080p.  They must be close to release now, however, because coming with Commando 3 will be an online beta of SSF2THDR (on XBLA at least).  Yeah, it's only going to be Ken and Ryu, but outside of seeing how high Chun-li still kicks, they were going to be your first picks anyway.  This is a series that kicks in even more nostalgia, but these new visuals are a lot better than I remember, while the rebalanced mode should end cries of cheap among friends.  Maybe it'll even stop the droppers online.

MADD wants GTA IV labeled AO because of the drunk driving, but is perfectly fine with the rest of the content.

Apologies for yet another Grand Theft Auto IV article, but it seems to be generating all the headlines this week.

There's been a lot of talk from the mainstream media about GTAIV, most of it of the informed quality one would expect.  It's easily ignored, seeing as there are only so many hours in the day and there are things that matter to deal with, but MADD went above and beyond the call of duty to get a response.  This is copied and pasted from their media page-

"Each year nearly 13,500 people die in drunk driving crashes and another half a million are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes. This is why MADD is extremely disappointed by the decision of the manufacturers of the game Grand Theft Auto IV to include a game module where players can drive drunk. Drunk driving is not a game and it is not a joke. Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime and it is also 100 percent preventable. MADD is calling on the Entertainment Software Ratings Board to reclassify Grand Theft Auto IV as an Adults Only game, a step up from the current rating of Mature and for the manufacturer to consider a stop in distribution – if not out of responsibility to society then out of respect for the millions of victims/survivors of drunk driving."

(more…)

The biggest game ever - or, the not-nearly-perfect perfect experience.

So Grand Theft Auto IV has officially arrived on the Xbox 360 and PS3 with all of the appropriate accoutrements. Namely, breathless news reports mentioning sex with hookers, cop killing, and the general decline and fall of western civilization. There are also the obligatory stories citing midnight madness in far-flung places like England and Australia, where evidently a couple of poor saps got beaten up for their copies of the game. Not that this ever happens in any other scenario. Ever.

What all of these fail to really discuss is the content of a game that's a cultural touchstone, giving players extraordinary freedom in an ugly, hateful environment where everyone is out to screw everyone else and grift is a way of life and death. 

In the midst of the enthusiast media falling all over itself awarding perfect 10s across the board and unprecedented sales that may even stave off EA's hostile takeover of Take-Two, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that most of us are just getting started in the mean streets of Liberty City.

Few people are bigger GTA fanboys than yours truly, having played and thoroughly enjoyed each and every title in the series since the groundbreaking GTA III. While I am enjoying so much of what the latest, next-generation version has to offer, I have been unpleasantly surprised by a few things that really should never have happened.

First of all, let's be clear - it is IMPOSSIBLE to read text messages, phone records, or anything else on your cell phone. Now, I haven't gotten very far, and I know that your cell gets upgraded as you move forward, but still. This is ridiculous. I've got a 40-inch hi-def TV, and I have to get about 3 feet away and squint just to read the incredibly small text. It's not just me and my old-man eyes, either. I've spoken with half a dozen other people who have the same complaint. How could this have been the final game design for such a crucial driver of missions and relationships?

Secondly, the map at the lower left of the screen is also incredibly small. Not only is it somewhat out of scale with what's going on on-screen (meaning you miss turns and key intersections all the time until you learn to compensate…which usually is a result of a failed mission or two), but terribly important icon markers for Pay-n-Sprays, safe houses, and other spots are indistinguishable from each other.

I have no problem saying I love GTA IV, and it is a spectacular visual feast. Driving and walking around the city is an exercise in wonder. I just can't believe that these huge problems made their way to the final game (and I can't possibly imagine how someone with an SDTV could even think about playing without losing their minds). 

The Red Ring of Death that is.  

I knew this day would come. All those stories from unfortunate souls whose lives were ripped apart. Shattered by the unavoidable reality that their console refused to work. I am talking about the dreaded Red Ring of Death. Hi. I am Chris and I've become a victim of a faulty Xbox 360. Of all days to die on me… why NOW?!? Why before I even had a chance to sit back and enjoy GTA4 like so many others are doing at this very moment. What does my 360 have against me embracing this awesome gem Rockstar has lovingly  put together?!? *sobs*

I don't want to fork out anymore cash right now. Think of what I can do with all that green. Food. Clothes. E3 Expenses. Buying another unit is the LAST thing I need to be thinking about. Naturally I started looking at some quick fixes documented online. Some suggested that I take apart the unit and rework the circuitry. Pass. Others hinted at a few taps on its side when powering on. Yeah, a lot of good that would do I'll bet. Then I saw something really out of left field: using a towel.

You heard me… a good 'ol fashioned towel. I know, you're thinking: "what's that supposed to do… keep it warm?"

Well, laugh that up but I figured that I had nothing to lose. I headed into my bedroom and yanked a towel from my hamper. Upon returning to the living room, I am thinking as I wrap the 360: "This is retarded… a towel can't possibly make this problem go away."  I power the 360 back on, sitting back and hoping that my wish would be granted.

(The 360 starts to hum followed by that low, humble power melody that routinely plays when the system comes on.)

The system worked. O_o

I thought "OMG… this silly technique actually friggin' works…." My fiance smirked… (heh, I am sure she was thrilled to know that I wasn't about to blow $400.00 on another unit). Crazy huh? I'd be lying if I said that I actually expected this to work again (and who knows for how much longer… I mean, does the towel need to stay on there now. That would suck if it does). In any case, at least I could get a few hours playing GTA4. You can read more about this unorthodox method at Endgadget.

UPDATE: The damn thing is on the fritz AGAIN. STUPID TOWEL METHOD IS TEH FAIL. >:( 

This blog article should be recognized as the sole opinion of the editor and does not necessarily reflect GotNext's official position on the subject.

Backbone's Producer discusses how the game stacks up so far. 

No, I am not here to announce an official launch date, though I imagine it's gotta be before summer's end with Evo 08 fast approaching. Actually this post exists only to get a few of you over to the latest blog presented by the talented David Sirlin diligently working on Super SF2 Turbo HD Remix. (Jeez, that's quite a mouthful to say in casual conversation.) In his latest update, Sirlin provides a solid summary of the cast's current list of changes and minor modifications (where applicable). Overall, I have to say that I am really impressed with how the game is turning out and the art direction has shown a lot of promise. (Cammy's new look though, eh - not loving that so much).

Now if only this digital gem would be released already. I am getting antsy. Click over here for the whole scoop.