Apocalypse, Please

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/fohyctRydEc/pal-playstation-store-no-thanks-given

Not much in the way of games this week in the PAL PlayStation Store, but those looking for more stuff to do in games they already own, they're being looked after.

There are add-ons for nine games, ranging from the usual suspects (Rock Band, Fallout 3) to Borderlands to Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 to Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2.

There is one game available, but since it's Madden Arcade, its allure for the European market won't be quite what it is in the US.

PS3 STORE

Downloadable Games
Madden NFL Arcade (£9.99/€12.99)
Lilo and Stitch: Trouble in Paradise (£3.99/€4.99) (PS1 Classic)

Demos
Comet Crash
Mushroom Wars

Game Add-Ons
Fallout 3
o Broken Steel (€7.99)
o Operation Anchorage (€7.99)
o The Pitt (€7.99)
o Point Lookout (€7.99)
o Mothership Zeta (€7.99)

Borderlands – Zombie Island (£6.29/€7.99)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 – Character and Mission Pack (£7.99/€9.99)
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 – Costume Pack (£3.19/€3.99)
Dragon Ball Raging Blast – Warriors on Earth Pack (free)
EyePet – Lucky Dip Styling Pack 6 (free)
LittleBigPlanet – Limited Edition LBP for PSP T-Shirt (£3.99/€4.99)

Rock Band
o Beautiful Thieves by AFI (£0.99/€1.49)
o End Transmission by AFI (£0.99/€1.49)
o Love Like Winter by AFI (£0.99/€1.49)
o Medicated by AFI (£0.99/€1.49)
o The Leaving Song. Pt 2 by AFI (£0.99/€1.49)
o Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles (£0.99/€1.49)

Guitar Hero 5 – Neversoft Thanks the Fans Pack (free) Rating: PEGI 12+

Videos
Uncharted 2 Eye of Indra Part 1 (Motion Comic) (free)
Uncharted 2 Eye of Indra Part 2 (Motion Comic) (£0.79/€0.99)
The Last Guardian Trailer
Battlefield Bad Company 2 Beta Anouncement
Assassin's Creed II Gameplay Vignette 1
Assassin's Creed II Gameplay Vignette 2
Assassin's Creed II Gamescom Trailer
Assassin's Creed II TGS Trailer
Gravity Crash Crash Creator's Tutorial
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time Replay Trailer
DC Universe San Diego Comic-Con 2009 Vlog
Polar Panic Story Trailer

Premium Themes
Chinese Fighting Dragons Theme (£1.19/€1.49)
Deep Space Theme (£1.19/€1.49)
Hell's Head Theme (£1.19/€1.49)
Mans Best Friend Theme (£1.19/€1.49)

PSP STORE

Downloadable Games
Breath of Fire 3 (£13.99/€17.99)
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures (£15.99/€19.99)
Obscure the Aftermath (£23.99/€29.99)
Power Stone Collection (£13.99/€17.99)
Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron (£15.99/€19.99)
Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes (£31.99/€39.99)
NBA 2K10 (£15.99/€19.99)

minis
Blast Off (£2.49/€2.99)
Dracula – Undead Awakening (£3.99/€4.99)

Videos
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Official Trailer

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/gD8V-FT2wmc/square-enix-anticipating-the-death-of-consoles

Square Enix may be notorious for looking back when developing games, but when it comes to the strategy of big business, they're looking as far forward as the human eye can see.

"In ten years' time a lot of what we call ‘console games' won't exist", Square Enix boss Yoichi "Imperial Hot" Wada told MCV in an interview.

"In the past the platform was hardware, but it has switched to the network. A time will come when the hardware isn't even needed anymore."

"With that, any kind of terminal becomes a potential platform on which games can be played – that's exponential growth in the potential of gaming. The potential size of the market is enormous."

So, while you may think FFXIII is the bees knees, Square are probably more interested about the performance of FFXIV.

Square Enix: Consoles set for extinction [MCV]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/qb76IN11KmU/red-dead-redemption-gets-a-proper-release-date

If only I'd waited another day, I could have forgone circling the entire month of April in red pen and just done a single day instead.

As you can see above, Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption - sequel to Red Dead Revolver, one of the last generation's most under-appreciated games - will be out on April 27, 2010.

At present, it's due for 360 and PS3. PC owners could keep wishing, but after Rockstar's shoddy port of GTAIV, it may be better to just pick it up on console.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/WrAIfWcHsqQ/street-fighter-ivs-new-guys-in-action

Super Street Fighter IV will introduce a whole new set of faces to the Street Fighter IV experience, some old, some not so old. Here they all are in action, including Guy, Cody & Adon.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/26SEm9sc2-Q/puzzle-quest-gets-a-sequel

Shrugging off the disappointment that was Galactrix, Australia's Infinite Interactive are now hardat work on a true sequel to the addictive, amazing Puzzle Quest.

And...there's nothing more to add at this point. It's Puzzle Quest 2, it's on the way, it's coming to at least the 360, and we'll hear more about it later. For now, soak up the above screenshot from the game, and see if you can find anything different about it.

New Puzzle Quest revealed in January GamePro! [GamePro]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/BbZ-UdSPVko/battlefield-bad-company-2-pc-beta-retreats-to-2010

According to Electronic Arts, the current PS3 beta test for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has proven so popular that the PC one needs to be pushed into next year.

"With the huge success of the PS3 Beta we decided to drastically increase the PC Beta's capacity to insure as many people as possible could participate" writes DICE's Gordon Van Dyke. "Unfortunately this meant we had to delay the Beta to very early next year giving us more planning time to make it happen and implement more optimizations."

So if you were one of those PC owners in a panic over rumours the beta had been cancelled...relax, will you?

The PC Beta Sky is Falling.... Not! [EA]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/plThMeFVD1Y/sony-boss-takes-a-swing-or-two-at-the-wii

With sales of the PS3 on the rebound, Sony are starting to get a little of their old swagger back.

Speaking with GI.biz, Sony Computer Entertainment boss Andrew House has taken a couple of shots not at his company's arch-rival, the Xbox 360, but at the Wii, a console he says is experiencing quite the "downturn".

"I think at a time when we're seeing one of the major competitors somewhat losing a sense of momentum - at least in many of the markets I've looked at - it's gratifying to see a platform that's always had a very significant share of sales go to third party publishers capture that momentum again", he says.

"The knock-on effect can only be a positive one if publishers are making up 75 per cent of the sales on a particular platform, as opposed to a much smaller share elsewhere, then that's the platform I think it's in their interests to see succeed - and I think that's the dynamic we're seeing return right now."

Asked to clarify exactly which "competitor" he was talking about, House elaborates. "From data that we're starting to see, in some of the publicly-released figures, we're seeing a significant year-on-year downturn for the Wii. I think that's just a factor of this Holiday season."

Hey, it's been a rough few years for Sony. Let him have his fun.

Andrew House - Part Two [GI.biz]

Title: Light at the Door
Author: eternalslacker
Rating: PG
Warnings: Boy kissing.
Prompt: Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yami/Seto: loss of control - "Shut up." "Make me."
Word count: 973
Summary: The Spirit of the Millenium Puzzle goes exploring while his partner's mind sleeps. He finds a new game to play.

( Kaiba's mansion was quiet. Too quiet... )

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/pinkglove.asp

Is Medline donating money to breast cancer-related charities in conjunction with a 'Pink Glove' promotion?

http://wallpapers.3yen.com/2009-11-27/white-paper-castle/

This amazing work of paper art comes from Wataru Itou, and is called ‘Castle on the Ocean’. He takes origami to a whole new level!

Download Full Size (1200×1081)

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/uXkDZj3OapQ/next-zelda-game-to-feature-flight

In an interview with Britain's The Guaridan, Zelda director Eiji Aonuma has given a none-too-subtle hint that the upcoming Wii entry in the series may feature, for the first real time in a Zelda game, flight.

"I have an eight-year-old son myself at home, and quite recently he started playing The Phantom Hourglass for DS, because when the software first hit the market he was too young" he says. "When he started playing with the boat, I told him: 'In the next Zelda, you are going to be able to ride on the train.' He answered: 'OK, Dad, first boat, and then train? Surely next time, Link is going to fly in the sky ... '"

Apparently having said that, he lets slip a big grin, before adding "I just don't know. If many people make many speculations ... some of them might be correct. Right now, I have to refrain from commenting on anything."

Now, this is Nintendo. He could just be messing with you/me. And probably is. But with Twlight Princess having some sci-fi elements to it, and with Spirit Tracks featuring trains, the sight of a Hylian dirigible wouldn't be surprising in the slightest.

Eiji Aonuma and the spirit of adventure [The Guardian]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/JhURHM9Zd6o/an-old-friend-returns-in-new-mass-effect-2-videos-screens

Happy Thanksgiving, Mass Effect fans. Here's two new trailers and four new screenshots for the upcoming Mass Effect 2. And no, there's not a turkey in sight.

Half the stuff is dedicated to changes made to the game's "adept" class mode. The other half? To the return of Tali, a character so forgettable I forget she was even in the first game til I saw this trailer.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/TGLwImBYcKE/this-lady-will-be-singing-chiptune-in-sweden

On November 26, photographer/digital artist Julie will be singing with 8-bit chiptune musician Hally in Sweden at DreamHack, the world's largest LAN-party and computer festival.

Check out Julie and Hally's collaboration.

And remember, when you go into an arcade, be sure to wear a helmet and gloves. Very important.

DreamHack - News: [Official Site via Kotaku Japan]

Hey guys I'm selling this Shounen Jump the Revolution! 11/2005 here. Comes with a poster.
Please take a look if interested, thanks!

Title: Reunion
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: G
Warnings: Reference to near-future character death. Spoilers for end of series.
Prompt: Abhorsen Trilogy: Kibeth & Mogget, banter, "Don't flatter yourself."
Word count: : 1395
Summary: Old allies meet again, decades after the fateful confrontation described in Abhorsen.
A/N: Written for springkink VIII. Beta by the erudite smillaraaq and the enthusiastic artillie .

---

( The night was full of the small, natural sounds of the wilderness ... )

Title: Falling is Like This
Author/Artist: threewalls
Rating: R
Warnings: consent issues/dubcon, drunkenness
Prompt: Final Fantasy XII, Balthier/Fran: Adventuring together – "We are sky pirates!"
Word count: ~4050
Summary: This is the first time Balthier and Fran don't have sex.

( Would you share a drink with me? To celebrate? )

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/LjswYk6fSyw/resident-evil-clergy-critics-wait-what

The U.K. clergy members quoted as criticizing Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles for glamorizing violence and promoting the occult say their remarks have been misrepresented by the source originally reporting them.

The comments, by the Rt. Revs Mark Bryant, Brian Smith and John Goddard, apparently first appeared in a news release sent out in the past week, written and reported by a freelance journalist. I couldn't find a copy of this release. MCVUK, whom we cited yesterday, only reported Capcom's reaction to the comments; MCVUK did not originally report the clergy's remarks.

Anyway, the Rt. Rev. Smith said his remarks were taken out of context and made out to be more authoritative than they were. "I made it clear that I was not qualified to make a comment," Smith told TVG. "I suggested that the researcher should contact someone in one of the dioceses in London where I understood she was working."

Rt. Rev. Bryant added that his comments had been misrepresented. "I know enough not to go offering outright condemnation of things about which I know comparatively little," he said.

So, OK, sounds like these guys were played to type for purposes of someone's attention-grabbing news release. Sounds plausible. My original point still stands: Why did Capcom even bother to respond? Either these guys, or the people using them, are pikers looking to stir up a fight. Best to just let that dog lie.

Priests Misrepresented In Resident Evil PR Stunt News [Total Video Games]

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/OqbpV4XFy_k/win-a-limited-edition-tekken-6-wireless-fight-stick-bundle

Just in time for the holidays, and a great reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving, we've got a neat giveaway for you.

We'll be giving away five sets of limited edition Tekken 6 fight sticks. That's three for the Playstation 3 and two for the Xbox 360. Here's the details for the contest.

To enter all you have to do is send in a work-safe photo of yourself dressed as a Tekken 6 character along with a haiku of why you like the Namco fighter.

The contest, which is open to North American readers, will run through Dec. 14. With the winners announced on Dec. 18 Just submit your photo and haiku here in comments. Make sure to say if you are entering for the PS3 or Xbox 360 controller in your comment.

The Limited Edition Bundle includes the Tekken 6 game, a limited edition Hori wireless fight stick and a collectible art book.

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/pMdYD2KpfgM/turkey-day

To: Luke
From: Crecente

I know the concept of roasting a mostly-flightless, absurdly fat bird and eating it to celebrate the survival of a winter in a strange land, is a foreign concept to just about anyone who isn't from North America.

But that's how we roll. And man is it fun to do. Not only do you get to eat all sorts of food with abandon, the entire day is centered around that eating. Imagine, no guilt, no work to do, just food to cook and eat and eat and eat.

So great.

Oh, and there are things to talk about being grateful for. For me it's my family, my life and my job. What about you?

What you missed:
The Xbox 360 Buyer's Guide
The PlayStation 3 Buyer's Guide
Prove You're Metal, Win a Kick-Ass Shirt
Sound Blaster Arena Surround Gaming Headset Review: Who's That Sneaking Up On Me?

http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/0egkc_tydMM/pokemon-sales-super-effective-against-zombies-in-japan

After being kicked around by Bayonetta and a pair of soccer sims from Sega and Konami, Nintendo's Pokemon double team of Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver return to the top of Japan's video game charts.

This week's tally from sales tracker Media Create pushes the newest Pokemon games past the 3 million mark. Its Nintendo DS compatriot, Tomodachi Collection, continues to sell almost as well. It grabs the number two spot with another 49,000 copies sold. Don't be surprised to see the Mii collecting game push 2 million by spring of next year.

A trio of games scored top ten debuts this week, including Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, which sold just a little poorer than Namco Bandai's newest Wii drumming game Taiko no Tatsujin Wii Dodoon to 2 Yome! but better than Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games for the Nintendo DS.

For the rest of Japan's bestselling games in handy list format, read on.

01. Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver (DS) - 55,000 / 3,036,000
02. Tomodachi Collection (DS) - 49,000 / 1,689,000
03. Wii Fit Plus (Wii) - 43,000 / 946,000
04. Inazuma Eleven 2: Fire/Blizzard (DS) - 29,000 / 635,000
05. Taiko no Tatsujin Wii Dodoon to 2 Yome! (Wii) - 28,000 / NEW
06. Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox 360) - 28,000 / NEW
07. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2010 (PS3) - 24,000 / 291,000
08. J-League Pro Soccer Club o Tsukurou! 6: Pride of J (PSP) - 24,000 / 109,000
09. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (DS) - 23,000 / NEW
10. Dragon Ball Raging Blast (PS3) - 17,000 / 75,000

11. Dorabase 2: Nettou Urutorasu Tajiamu (DS)
12. Armored Core Portable: Silent Line (PSP)
13. Wii Sports Resort (Wii)
14. Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time (PS3)
15. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii)
16. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (Wii)
17. Persona 3 Portable (PSP)
18. Metal Fight Beyblade: Gachinko Stadium (Wii)
19. Hikari no 4 Senshi: Final Fantasy Gaiden (DS)
20. Tamagotchi no Narikiri Channeru (DS)
21. Bayonetta (PS3)
22. Dragon Quest IX (DS)
23. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (the Best) (PSP)
24. Mega Man Battle Network: Operating Shooting Star (DS)
25. Tekken 6 (PS3)
26. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
27. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
28. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Bargain Edition) (PS3)
29. Infamous (PS3)
30. Hexyz Force (PSP)