Sega Stopping Mature Wii Games

Sega has announced that they are unlikely to publish any more Mature rated games for the Nintendo Wii.

This comes after relatively weak sales from MadWorld and House of the Dead: Overkill, as well as EA's Dead Space.

Not a horribly shocking revelation, I suppose. The Wii audience is younger than the PS3 or Xbox 360 audience, so I wouldn't expect impressive sales of "M" rated games on the Wii. Read the full story on gamasutra below:

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26667/Sega_Unlikely_To_Do_More_Mature_Wii_Titles.php

Puzzle Quest

So, I'm not a huge fan of the Nintendo DS... or any handheld gaming for that matter. But, I do love Puzzle Quest. I recently started playing Puzzle Quest: Galactrix, and I have to admit it's pretty awesome.

If you haven't checked it out (or the original Puzzle Quest), I highly suggest you do. It's a perfect blend of RPG-depth (character upgrading, stats, levels, equipment, story), and fast-paced, addictive gameplay. I'll try to get around to writing a review of it one of these days.

Either way, Galactrix recently came out on Xbox Live, so check it out that way if you're not into handhelds. I played the original on DS and enjoyed it, but loved it even more when it came out on Xbox Live. It was much easier to play on a TV screen rather than little DS... and it added in the awesome achievements and versus mode.

Here's some more Puzzle Quest Info:
Puzzle Quest DS Review http://www.just-rpg.com/default.asp?pid=2464
Puzzle Quest Xbox 360 Review http://www.just-rpg.com/default.asp?pid=2622
Puzzle Quest Galactrix Press Release http://www.just-rpg.com/default.asp?pid=3200

Oblivion DLC Sale

If you've been putting off playing Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, or any other Oblivion expansions, now is the time. Bethesda has just announced that all of the Oblivion downloadable content is available for half price on XBox Live. Well, almost all of it... the infamous Horse armor pack has actually doubled in price. HAHAHA! Worthless Horse armor...

Gamers have the next week to take advantage of this offer. I've already got it all (yes, including the horse armor), so I guess I'll pass. But I do love Oblivion.

Time for Gaming?

It's been quite a while since I've done much gaming outside of casual games and a handfull of virtual worlds for kids (Habbo Hotel, Garden Party, etc.). A variety of reasons for this, I think.

As much as I love gaming and my Xbox 360, I think I overloaded myself a bit last year. I played a ton of games, and several of them were rather long, dull and overall mediocre. At that point, gaming was starting to feel a lot more like a chore than a form of entertainment. Blue Dragon was one of those games... it's a long and plain old average game and as much as I struggled to make myself want to play it, I just couldn't. One day I'd like to go back to it, though. As you can see from my GamerTag, the last game I played was Halo 3, which I'm also not a fan of. I liked the original Halo just fine, but after that I lost interest in the series... but, what kind of gamer would I be if I didn't play one of the biggest releases of the year? I played through it and didn't particularly enjoy it, which probably didn't do much to help my burnout.

Secondly, my Xbox 360 has been having a few technical problems. I'm sure this is something I can easily fix, but I haven't gotten around to it since I've been a bit burned out anyway.

Third is work. I started a new job back in April and it's kept me somewhat busy. Fortunately, I really like the job, and since we're developing a virtual world, it conveniently allows me to fill some of my gaming needs.

Recently I started playing Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Other than a few glitches, I'm really liking the game. Of course, I may be biased because I've always been a huge Star Wars fan.... at least, a huge fan of the old stuff. The new trilogy just lacked the depth of the originals and focused waaay too much on the action and CGI and not enough of characters and story. Oh well.

I've got a rather large pile of games I've been meaning to get to and my burnout resulted in me missing on a LOT of games... Xbox games, Xbox 360 games, PS2 games, PS3 games... and a Wii game or two. Not a fan of the Wii, obviously. I doubt I'll get through all of these games anytime soon, but I might as well get started!

Two Worlds Tries to Tempt Us

SouthPeak has announced that Two Worlds Temptation is set to hit stores this fall on the PC and Xbox 360.

Temptation is an expansion to the open-ended RPG Two Worlds for the Xbox 360 and PC, taking place right after the events of the original. It features improved voice overs and animations, retooled horseback riding and a totally revamped combat system.

“Our entire development team is now putting their all into making Two Worlds: The Temptation a game that is far and away better than the original,” said Miroslaw Dymek, Chief Developer with Reality Pump explained. “We’ve taken to heart all the comments made by gamers about Two Worlds and we’re going to give them what they want with the sequel.”

Two Worlds Content Now Available

The already large game Two Worlds just got a lot bigger SouthPeak Games today announced that the first of their two downloadable content packages for Two Worlds is now available through Xbox Live.

The first content packaged is titled Tainted Blood and significantly expands the game for only 600 Microsoft Points. It features four new multiplayer maps, over 35 new quests, and over 10 hours of additional gameplay.

“This pack of downloadable content is an excellent expansion for players who love playing Two Worlds with friends, and are ready for some new and exhilarating features,” said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. “Tainted Blood not only adds to the game, but enhances it, making the overall experience even better.”

While Two Worlds was highly flawed, it was also fairly fun. Maybe it's time for me to give the game another chance...

Overlord PS3 Bound

Codemasters has just announced that their Action Adventure Overlord will be heading to the PS3 this summer with the title Overlord: Raising Hell.

Overlord was originally published on the Xbox 360, but the PS3 version will offer the complete Overlord experience with all-new content and improved visuals and sound.

In Overlord, players will assume the role of an all-powerful Overlord leading a loyal army of minions. By amassing an army of up to 50 minions, gamers can tactically battle enemies and conquer the game's five domains. Embark on a wave of tyranny in an attemtp to claim the underworld throne for yourself!

For more information on this title, see: www.codemasters.com/overlord

Two Worlds Multiplayer Updates

SouthPeak Games has just announced that they will be releasing two downloadable content expansions for Two Worlds.

Both of these packs will be available through Xbox Live and will expand the world of Antaloor with new multiplayer maps, new cooperative missions and player-versus-player challenges.

“Two Worlds has been a huge success for SouthPeak and much of its appeal has been a huge world to explore,” said Melanie Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. “Reality Pump has worked tirelessly to improve the multiplayer experience and the downloadable content is geared towards expanding upon it, offering lots of new missions and areas to explore with friends.”

The first of these expansions will be available for download in March, with the second becoming available in April. Both will cost 600 Microsoft points.

Mass Effect to PC!

BioWare has just announced that their new parent company Electronic Arts will be bringing Mass Effect to the PC in May 2008.

Mass Effect has received high scores from the media as well as many awards, including RPG of the Year from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. It is a sci-fi RPG originally available only for the Xbox 360. However, EA and Microsoft have recently come to an agreement allowing the title to come to the PC.

EA promises that the game will be optimized for the PC, with high-resolution visuals, hotkeys, customizable controls, and more!

More Mass Effect

Microsoft has announced the first bit of downloadable content for their hit Xbox 360 RPG Mass Effect.

This additional content, titled Bring Down the Sky, features an all-new world to explore complete with a new alien race known as the Batarians. Overall, Bring Down the Sky will include 90 minutes of additional gameplay and 50 more achievement points, along with an expanded storyline.

Expect Bring Down the Sky to be released on March 10 for 400 Microsoft Points (or $5).

Legendary: The Box On Consoles

Gamecock Media Group and Spark Unlimited have just announced that their upcoming game, Legendary: The Box, will be headed to the Xbox 360 and PS3 in addition to the PC when it is released this summer.

Legendary is a first person shooter filled with mythical beasts and fantasy. The game chronicles the story of Charles Deckard, an art thief who is duped into stealing Pandora’s Box. When he inadvertently opens it, he releases hordes of beasts such as werewolves and gryphons into our world. As the man who freed these monsters and the only one that can restore order, Charles finds himself in an all out war of man versus myth.

While this isn't quite an RPG, the game's fantastic tale and beautiful screenshots have grabbed my interest, so it seems worth a bit of coverage to me. Look forward to more in the future, and in the mean time, check out the official site below:

http://www.legendarythebox.com/index.html

New Fallout Goodies

Bethesda has posted some new concept art and a new team development diary for the upcoming Fallout 3. Check these goodies out and the link below:


http://fallout.bethsoft.com/eng/vault/diaries_diary3-1.09.08.html

Circle of Doom Ships

Microsoft has announced today that the wait is finally over... Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom is shipping to retailers across North America.

Circle of Doom reunites players with the memorable cast of characters and unique world from Heroes and The Crusaders, but replaces the strategy gameplay with a more action RPG experience. The game will feature familiar heroes such as Leinhart and Cleine along with three all new heroes, complete with unique abilities to use against a variety of horrifying enemies.

Gamers can embark on the journey alone or join up with friends in co-op or through Xbox Live. To further enhance the experience, downloadable content is planned for January 22nd, which inclucludes wearable add-ons.

I'm a big Kingdom Under Fire fan myself. While I haven't had the chance to experiment with this title just yet, I very much look forward to it, so watch out for coverage on Just-RPG soon.

BioShock Add-On

2K Games has announced a free BioShock Add-On expanding on their critically acclaimed title for PC and Xbox 360.

This Add-On features new plasmids, new tonics, new achievements and an improved interface. The EVE Saver Tonic has been added to the game, allowing players to spend less EVE on their Plasmids. Vending Expert reduces the cost of Vending Machine items and Machine Buster increases damage against turrets and cameras.

The new Plasmid, Sonic Boom, allows players to launch enemies and objects with a burst of force. A true wide-screen display opition is also available.

As mentioned before, this upgrade is free, so log on to Xbox Live and get it NOW!

Two Worlds Expansion Announced

ZUXXEZ Entertainment has recently announced Two Worlds: Temptation, an add-on to the massive RPG Two Worlds for Xbox 360 and PC.

The already content filled universe of Two Worlds is getting even bigger, along with improved gameplay, and answers to some key storyline questions. Besides Antaloor, several new regions will be available for exploration. The combat system will also be improved allowing for active blocking.

Other improvements include a new form of transportation and enhanced NPC interaction. Many other surprises are to be announced shortly.

Temptation is already in the works and should be released in early 2008.

While Two Worlds is ripe with flaws, it's really nice to see a developer so dedicated to their game. A recent patch was delivered to fix many of the flaws in the game, and it appears that the upcoming expansion will hold even more improvements.

For more info, see: www.2-worlds.com/temptation

Shivering Isles Disc for PS3 Ships

Bethesda Softworks has just announced that the retail disc for Shivering Isles is now shipping to stores for the PS3.

Now gamers who have yet to experience the exciting Shivering Isles expansion can finally explore the realm of Sheogorath! The expansion promises 30 hours of gameplay, expanded story, along with plenty of new quests, items and areas to explore.

A similar retail disc is already available for the Xbox 360. You can also play Shivering Isles through Oblivion - Game of the Year Edition.

Mass Effect Touches Down at Retailers

Microsoft has recently announced that their highly anticipated RPG from BioWare, Mass Effect, has arrived at retailers today!

Mass Effect is an epic sci-fi RPG from the developers of Jade Empire and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It is an Xbox 360 exclusive title that promises to blend a deep and exciting story with tactical combat.

“We set out to redefine the video game experience with ‘Mass Effect’ and create an immersive, highly interactive game that draws players into a compelling universe,” said Ray Muzyka, chief executive officer for BioWare Corp. “‘Mass Effect’ creates an emotional connection between players and the characters they encounter, and Xbox 360 provided us with the perfect platform to tell this incredible story.”

Head to your nearest gaming store and pick up Mass Effect now!

Atlus Prepares for the Xbox

Atlus has announced an exciting partnership with Microsoft to become an officially licensed 3rd party publisher for the Xbox 360.
I'm a big Xbox 360 fan, but I also like RPGs. The two don't always go well together, but with any luck the addition of Atlus as an Xbox 360 publisher will strengthen the console's Japanese RPG lineup. Along with this announcement Atlus also announced two upcoming Xbox 360 titles for 2008, including Operation Darkness and Spectral Force 3!

Operation Darkness is a strategy RPG with a strong emphasis on tactics. It takes place in an alternate World War II era where history and fantasy collide!

Spectral Forces 3 is the first in the RPG series to reach Western shores. It promises a classic fantasy story, tons of character customization, and 50 hours of gameplay in an action-packed strategy RPG experience.

Download Full Xbox Games on Live!!!

Microsoft has just announced a new Xbox Live feature that will allow gamers to download full Xbox games on thier Xbox 360 through the Xbox Live Marketplace.

This new feature is in celebration of the fifth year of Xbox Live on December 4th, 2007. When the service first launches, gamers will be able to download popula classics from the original Xbox including Halo, Psychonauts, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge and Fable.

This new service will launch with an array of blockbuster titles spanning the most popular genres from action-adventure to classic role-playing games, and Microsoft promises that the catalog of games will continue to grow. No disc will be necessary and games can be purchased through the Marketplace for only 1,200 Microsoft Points.

The original Xbox wasn't particularly impressive as far as RPGs go, so I'm not sure what to expect out of this. So far Fable is the only RPG announced for the service and that game is totally mediocre in my opinion. Hopefully the Kingdom Under Fire series goes up for download. Still, it sounds like a pretty cool feature and one that I'm sure I'll take advantage of.

Two Worlds Demo and Updates

SouthPeak has just announced that they have released a demo of Two Worlds for free on Xbox Live. Curious gamers who are yet to experience this massive, free roaming adventure are advised to check it out! The demo gives players a large chunk of the world to explore and plenty of quests to embark on.

It's a solid title, but to be fair it has plenty of flaws. In other good news, SouthPeak has announced a free title update that address many of the complaints of the players. Below are some of those issues.

Both platforms (PC and Xbox 360)
- Horse steering has been improved
- Character development curve not as steep over level 25
- HP regeneration slower for max values above 2000
- Death strike skill - executable by strike button while in sneak mode
- Critical hit skill fixed
- Damage is now allowed over 32000
- There is a cap on damage and armor at 99999
- Necromancer spells have been balanced
- Magical boosters - effect restricted to 5 boosters
- Stacking potions with different statistics - fixed
- Objects stacking - objects can't be stacked up if result has higher level requirements than current player level
- Equipment Class cap on 50
- When killing in towns - after you leave the town and go back guards will ask you to pay instead of immediately attacking you
- NPC's in towns don't resurrect
- Tweaked hi- level monster balance
- Wing Membrane ingredient added to Helllord
- Dragons strike not breakable by player hit
- Bomb traps attached to some chests and wardrobes
- Balanced number of lock picks in chests and wardrobes
- Walking under water and not dying has been fixed
- Inaccessible Cave north of Ashos has been fixed

- Multiplayer Lag issues have been improved
- Multiplayer too many skill points generated due to combat stats has been fixed
- Friendly fire disabled in RPG mode (players cannot damage each other)
- Resurrect spell on players has been disabled
- Experience points for killing players has been removed
- Disarming skill disabled against other players
- Freezing/stopping spells disabled against other players
- Multiplayer RPG quests given to all, reward splitter between players
- Team assault - main monuments 50 times stronger
- Barbarian - berserk skill in PvP reduced to 5
- Chest and wardrobe lock levels improved in multiplayer

PC specific:
- Issue of moving money between servers has been fixed
- Maps D2,E4,F4, Multiplayer Tharbakin - missing triangles or flying objects have been fixed
- Enter opens console in single player
- Horse steering - stopping horse by back key changed
- Cloning character when logging on new WarNet server is fixed
- Boosters disappearing in Arena modes
- Atmosoheric fog for multiplayer towns added
- Chat over open dialogs possible (by F11 chat dialog)
- All PVP arenas unlocked from beginning

Xbox 360 specific:
- Improved single player framerate
- Interface - repeat changes selection left stick hold added
- Game HDD cache cleaning possibility - RB + A + B during game launch
- Achievements for 5 elements is fixed
- Map interface improvements - only one open quest at the time, quests selection box better visibility, hero location on map better visibility, quest name on tooltip
- Hit info fonts larger
- “BACK – Show Instruction” text disappears
- Double saving multiplayer characters to protect character lost from power-off or hard-locks
- Interface - no controls after "server refused connection" is fixed
- Doubling gold in multiplayer is fixed
- Doubling objects in multiplayer is fixed