Recent months have seen a glut of AAA-level videogames hit stores. But no matter how many new levels and extra modes the developers include in their games, eventually all good things must end. What is a hungry gamer to do when the final level ends and the credits start to roll? How do they fill that void? That’s where our If You Like feature comes in. Each week, we select one popular videogame and select a handful of Blu-ray movies that are similar in one way or another. Sometimes, the best way to find more of the thrills you love is to pop in a good movie. This week is uncharacteristically light on new releases.
Electronic Arts has officially launched Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online, its free-to-play version of the popular golf game. Players can sign in with an EA persona and play a limited number of featured courses for free (St. Andrews and Sheshan are the two currently available), while earning XP and money for the in-game Pro Shop. Alternatively, for you fat cats out there, packages of points are also available for $10, $20, and $40 that can be spent on in-game items or rounds of golf at locked courses. The game also offers group tournaments and friend-to-friend messaging — essentially, it’s very much EA’s attempt to bring the successful Battlefield Heroes model to a new audience. In
Peter Molyneux has been talking big about his next game again, stating his belief that Fable III will boast “the greatest cast that any computer game has ever had.” Ex-Python John Cleese has been confirmed among the cast, taking up the role of the player’s butler, while Stephen Fry returns as Reaver. Jonathan Ross is also playing an as yet undefined part, having inadvertently revealed the existence of the game last year and subsequently confirming that he’s onboard through his Twitter account. Molyneux hinted that it’s not just the cast themselves that are the reason to be excited, but rather how their performances have been integrated into the game. “How we’re using these characters is
Microsoft has a special treat in store for those of us who suffered through the launch day issues that accompanied Modern Warfare 2′s “Stimulus Package” DLC. Kotaku reports that a number of Xbox Live users have received notice that, as day-one purchasers of the DLC, they’ll soon receive seven additional days of Xbox Live Gold on their accounts. According to Microsoft, the complimentary Xbox Live time is to thank players for being loyal to the service, and for making the Modern Warfare 2 map pack a day-one success. Subscribers who bought the map pack at launch should see the additional time reflected on their accounts by Saturday, May 1. Of course, seven free days amounts
An Australian “lads mag”, has been sacked after making public an email from Rockstar, developers of the Grand Theft Auto series, demanding more “favourable coverage” from the writer. Toby McCasker, who used to be deputy entertainment editor for the magazine, says that Rockstar haven’t been too keen on his coverage of upcoming Western title Red Dead Redemption, and posted an email his magazine received from Rockstar Australia on his Facebook page (which has since been removed), in which it’s alleged the publisher wrote: This is the biggest game we’ve done since GTA IV, and is already receiving Game of the Year 2010 nominations from specialists all around the world. Can you please ensure Toby’s article
Those wondering whether it’s worthwhile to pick up a copy of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa will get to see it in action soon. Electronic Arts is releasing a demo for the new title this week. The new demo will let you play as either Spain or Italy, and will offer newcomers the chance to use an optional two-button control scheme. It will also be possible to upload replays to EA Football world. The full game will feature 199 selectable countries, as well as gameplay tweaks such as the inclusion of high altitude fatigue. EA released FIFA 10 in October 2009.
Initial indications suggested that Gran Turismo 5 would include support for both the Move motion controller and stereoscopic 3D visuals later this year, but Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi has denied the PlayStation 3′s flagship racer is confirmed to support either of Sony’s big upcoming console features…at least, it isn’t confirmed yet. “We’re always attuned to new technologies,” Yamauchi said to PSM3 magazine (via CVG). “If there are display devices or peripherals that seem interesting, I’m sure we’ll work to support them.” Move support first seem confirmed when Gran Turismo 5 was listed among other “Featured Games” on Sony’s official PlayStation Move website, although GT5 has since been removed from that list. The racing game
Last month, IGN’s own Hilary Goldstein wrote about Transformers: War for Cybertron, set to release for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this June. The ambitious action romp is developed by High Moon Studios, best known for the stylized first-person shooter Darkwatch and more recently The Bourne Supremacy. And it has very little in common with any Michael Bay helmed Transformers movies, as we recently learned when publisher Activision demoed several portions of the game from a private suite in Las Vegas. In a cinematic cut-scene, Bumblebee races alongside a destroyed path directly through the middle of the Autobots’ capital city of Iacon as Decepticon drones give chase. He turns and cuts them down and then
list of the ten best selling games of 2009, with the list being largely dominated by the usual suspects — primarily, Nintendo games. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) — 4,200,000 Wii Fit w/ balance board (Wii) — 3,500,000 Wii Sports Resort w/ MotionPlus (Wii) — 2,400,000 Mario Kart Wii w/ wheel (Wii) — 2,200,000 Wii Play w/ remote (Wii) — 2,100,000 Halo 3: ODST (Xbox 360) — 2,000,000 Pokemon Platinum (DS) — 1,900,000 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3)– 1,900,000 Madden NFL 10 (Xbox 360) — 1,500,000 New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii) — 1,400,000 It’s difficult to overstate how incredible it is that Modern Warfare 2 is leading the entire
Back when Forza 3 released last year, anyone who bought a new copy of the game was treated to exclusive DLC. And if you were willing to spend a little more, you could have scored even more in-game bonuses with the limited edition of Turn-10′s racing sim. Now, just over four months later, Microsoft’s offering all these former exclusives for a price on the Xbox Live Marketplace — the proceeds from some of which will go to Save the Children’s relief efforts in Haiti. For each person who buys the “VIP Membership Car Pack” this month, Turn-10 will donate $10 (up to a max of $100,000) to Save the Children. Included for free with the
