Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games, developed by Sora and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. Brawl was announced at a pre-E3 2005 press conference by Nintendo president and Chief Executive Officer Satoru Iwata. Masahiro Sakurai, director of the previous two games in the series, assumed the role of director for the third installment at the request of Iwata. Game development began in October 2005 with a creative team that included collaborations with various second- and third-party Nintendo developers. The game was released on January 31, 2008 in Japan, March 9, 2008 in the United States, June 26, 2008 in Australia, and June 27, 2008 in Europe.

The number of playable characters that players can control in Brawl has grown from that of Super Smash Bros. Melee; Brawl is the first game in the series to expand past Nintendo characters and allow players control of third-party characters. Like its predecessors, the object of Brawl is to knock an opponent off the screen. It is a departure from traditional fighting games, notably in its simplified move commands and emphasis on ring outs over knockouts. It includes a more extensive single-player mode than its predecessors, known as The Subspace Emissary (SSE). This mode is a plot-driven, side-scrolling beat ‘em up featuring computer-generated cut scenes and playable characters from the game. Brawl also supports multiplayer battles with up to four combatants, and is the first game of its franchise to feature online battles via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

The game was met with positive reviews, with critics praising the game’s entertainment value, despite issues relating to Brawl’s loading times. The game’s musical score, which was composed through a collaboration among 38 renowned video game composers, was lauded for its representation of different generations in gaming history. Brawl received an aggregate review score of 94% on Metacritic and 93.3% on Game Rankings. It has sold a total of 7.47 million copies worldwide as of September 30, 2008.

Gameplay

Following its predecessors, Brawl uses a battle system unlike that of typical fighting games. Players can choose from a large selection of characters, each attempting to knock their opponents off the screen as they fight on various stages. Instead of using traditional health bars that start at 100% and lose value, Brawl characters start the game with 0% and the value rises as they take damage. As a character’s percentage increases, the character flies farther back when hit. When a character is knocked beyond a stage’s boundary and disappears from the screen, the character loses either a life or a point depending on the mode of play. Brawl includes a function which allows players to create profiles with personalized button configurations for each control method along with their chosen username.

The characters fight each other using a variety of attacks. Players execute each move by pressing a button in conjunction with a tilt of the control stick or a press of the D-pad, depending on the mode of control. In addition to basic attacks, characters have access to more powerful moves, known as smash attacks. Each character has four unique moves, which often cause effects besides damage to an opponent. Brawl introduces the ability to perform character-specific super attacks, referred to as “Final Smash” moves. Significantly more powerful than regular attacks, these moves have a wide variety of effects that range from nearly unavoidable blasts to temporary transformations. Final Smash moves may be performed upon destroying a Smash Ball, an item bearing the Smash Bros. logo.

Characters can use items ranging from projectiles to melee weapons; each has a different effect on the characters around it. Although many items have returned from previous Super Smash Bros. games, new ones have been introduced as well. Some returning items have changed appearance and function. Two varieties of items, Assist Trophies and Poké Balls, temporarily summon guest characters and Pokémon, respectively, that generally aid the summoner. They cannot be controlled by players and are usually invincible.

More Information

• Developer(s)  Sora
• Publisher(s)  Nintendo
• Designer(s)  Masahiro Sakurai
• Writer(s)  Kazushige Nojima
• Composer(s)  Takahiro Nishi, Shogo Sakai, Masaaki Iwasaki, Yutaka Iraha, Keigo Ozaki, Kentaro Ishizaka
• Series  Super Smash Bros.
• Platform(s)  Wii
• Release date(s)  JP January 31, 2008, NA March 9, 2008, AUS June 26, 2008, EU June 27, 2008,
• Genre(s)  Fighting/Action
• Mode(s)  Single-player, multiplayer, online multiplayer[6]

Links

• Official Super Smash Bros. website
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl guide at StrategyWiki

Gamers’ Choice Wii

Super Smash Bros. Brawl – Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a brawling, battling, action-packed video game that features a varied roster of characters for four-player simultaneous melees! Use your Wii Remote and Nunchuck controls to deal serious damage to your opponents and win the game! This Wii entry in the popular series features a number of new additions, including an Adventure Mode (with co-op play), a wealth of new characters and stages, and online combat for multiple players to face off against each other from anywhere!

Gamers’ Choice PS3

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots – Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a story-driven adventure game, with seasoned hero Solid Snake drafted for one final mission. Set across stages including the Middle East and South America, the now aged Snake has been asked to assassinate his old adversary, Liquid Ocelot. To do this, however, he must make his way through a series of battlefields, using his legendary stealth abilities and all-new OctoCamo suit to avoid detection and to reach his target. With series favorites such as Meryl Silverburgh, Raiden, Hal ‘Otacon’ Emmerich, Eva and Roy Campbell returning, and with all new gameplay features including a remote-controlled Metal Gear Mk. II and enhanced CQC (Close Quarters Combat) system, Metal Gear Solid 4 rounds out the Metal Gear saga with a fittingly cinematic and gripping final outing.

Gamers’ Choice Xbox 360

Fallout 3 – Vault 101 – Jewel of the Wastes. For 200 years, Vault 101 has faithfully served the surviving residents of Washington DC and its environs, now known as the Capital Wasteland. Though the global atomic war of 2077 left the US all but destroyed, the residents of Vault 101 enjoy a life free from the constant stress of the outside world. Giant Insects, Raiders, Slavers, and yes, even Super Mutants are all no match for superior Vault-Tec engineering. Yet one fateful morning, you awake to find that your father has defied the Overseer and left the comfort and security afforded by Vault 101 for reasons unknown. Leaving the only home you’ve ever known, you emerge from the Vault into the harsh Wasteland sun to search for your father, and the truth.

Gamers’ Choice DS

Chrono Trigger – When a newly developed teleportation device malfunctions at the Millennial Fair, young Crono must travel through time to rescue his misfortunate companion from an intricate web of past and present perils. The swashbuckling adventure that ensues soon unveils an evil force set to destroy the world, triggering Crono’s race against time to change the course of history and bring about a brighter future.

Remastered exclusively for Nintendo DS, the beloved RPG features a brand new dungeon, all-new dual screen presentation, wireless play mode, and touch-screen functionality.

Gamers’ Choice PSP

God of War: Chains of Olympus – As many who know the tales of the God of War know, Kratos, after being deceived into killing his wife and daughter, denounced his service to Ares. In order to seek absolution from his past sins, the Ghost of Sparta pledged himself as a champion to the Gods for the years to follow – these brutal crusades, in the name of Olympus, became legendary throughout the ancient world.

Experience Kratos’ journey during the 10 years of servitude to the Gods of Olympus. In God of War: Chains of Olympus, Kratos will venture to lands that no mortal has ever walked upon. With the world plunged in eternal darkness and the Gods rendered powerless, Kratos will ultimately be forced to choose between his own personal redemption and saving the ancient world from certain destruction. Developed from the outset as an original story, God of War: Chains of Olympus delivers highly detailed graphics, incredible animation detail and yet another adventure in the dark and brutal world of Greek mythology.

Gamers’ Choice PC

Fallout 3 – Vault 101 – Jewel of the Wastes. For 200 years, Vault 101 has faithfully served the surviving residents of Washington DC and its environs, now known as the Capital Wasteland. Though the global atomic war of 2077 left the US all but destroyed, the residents of Vault 101 enjoy a life free from the constant stress of the outside world. Giant Insects, Raiders, Slavers, and yes, even Super Mutants are all no match for superior Vault-Tec engineering. Yet one fateful morning, you awake to find that your father has defied the Overseer and left the comfort and security afforded by Vault 101 for reasons unknown. Leaving the only home you’ve ever known, you emerge from the Vault into the harsh Wasteland sun to search for your father, and the truth.

Gamers’ Choice Multiplayer

Left 4 Dead  – Setting out to do for co-op gaming what Counter-Strike did for team combat, Left 4 Dead is an ambitious survival horror game. Running on the Source engine, Left 4 Dead leaves four armed survivors of a world overrun with zombies, and they must fight their way out to escape the outbreak.

Designed for co-op play, the four players must work together to finish each stage of the game, lending each other artillery support, sharing ammo and rescuing each other when zombies are on top of them. In addition to the standard four players as humans, another four players can be amongst the masses of assaulting zombies, seeking to take down the other players. Zombie players might even find themselves become one of the four mutant “boss” zombies, who have unique powers that can be used to devastate, injure, tie up, mark and track, confuse, or even humiliate the gun-toting human survivors

Source: Gamespy

Square Enix recently set up a development studio in Los Angeles. Capcom is “actively pursuing friendly acquisitions and partnerships” with foreign outfits, and developing games like Dead Rising and Lost Planet with a more Western audience in mind. And today Namco Bandai established Surge, a new publishing label “dedicated to providing cutting-edge, genre-defining games that are targeted at satiating the appetite of western gamers.” Surge will produce games across a variety of genres and platforms.

The first game to carry the Surge label will be Afro Samurai, scheduled for release on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 January 27. Based on the animated series of the same name, Afro Samurai features the voice of Samuel L. Jackson and a hip-hop-influenced soundtrack composed by The RZA.

“I never do anything half way. My AXE controller is the closest thing you can have to being onstage in KISS. I created and designed the Gene Simmons AXE bass guitar and I can’t wait for the fans to experience it for themselves. The Gene Simmons AXE guitar is such a recognizable symbol – people have been asking for a gaming replica ever since Guitar Hero was first introduced.”

This fully equipped, axe-shaped guitar controller is a replica of the KISS bassist and vocalist’s signature bass guitar. The AXE controller is personally certified by the Rock God himself, Gene Simmons, to give players that Rock Star experience. The wireless AXE guitar controller is a three-quarter-sized replica of the original Gene Simmons AXE guitar and larger than the standard video game guitar controllers. Customized with a replicated paint finish of the original guitar, the Axe guitar controller features Gene Simmons autograph and his photo in make-up painted onto the body of the controller. Interactive Game Group Founder, Fred Chesnais commented:

“Gene Simmons is the Rock Lord and the Gene Simmons AXE bass guitar is an integral part of his signature look. Bringing this Axe controller to life was an incredible journey, and I am sure every player will enjoy it.”

The Axe Guitar is available for PS2, PS3 and Nintendo Wii, but no love for Xbox 360 players and will retail at $79.99.

Developed by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., TEKKEN 6 brings the blockbuster fighting series onto multiple platforms for the first time in the history of the TEKKEN franchise. TEKKEN sets the standard for fighting games with its stunning realism and uncompromising quality, and TEKKEN 6 promises to propel the series to greater heights with major gameplay enhancements and the largest character roster ever seen in the TEKKEN series.

Rendered in vivid High-Definition detail, TEKKEN 6 heralds the dawn of a new era as a new King of the Iron Fist Tournament opens for business, with intense gameplay modes, new features and environments that guarantee blistering fight action, lightning-paced brawls and bone-crunching punch-ups.

TEKKEN 6 sees the return of many familiar faces while also introducing a host of new characters resulting in the largest line-up the series has ever seen. Each fighter is equipped with their own deadly techniques, moves and attack combinations to make TEKKEN 6 the most challenging King of the Iron Fist Tournament yet. A character customization feature will further intensify the fighting action and multiplayer gameplay modes let players take their fighters online to compete for world domination.

Boasting an illustrious fourteen-year legacy, TEKKEN is among the most popular and well-known gaming brands in the world with the entire franchise selling more than thirty-three million units to date. TEKKEN 6 is a must-have for any fan of console arcade fighting.

Entering its beta testing phase next month, The Hunter features an incredibly realistic and visually detailed hunting environment with true to life animal behaviors.  Uniquely, the game gives players the social network tools and web interface to build an online community of hunters, all of whom experience the thrill of the hunt within a connected environment.

Players can track and hunt a huge variety of animals from small varmints to big game and is packed full of challenges, tournaments and competitions, allowing the gamer to work closely with other players to complete objectives while striving for that perfect shot and that record buck.

By using the social interface to post journal entries and images of their latest trophies, players can show their in-game hunts to their friends and the wider online community.  Thanks to its online presence, The Hunter will continually evolve with regular updates and the release of new features, including new missions, hunting gear, animals and varied hunting terrains and habitats.  Most importantly, the development team behind The Hunter is committed to maintaining an ongoing dialogue with its online community to contribute ideas and suggestions for the game to make it the most realistic hunting experience available.

Christofer Sundberg, Avalanche Founder & Creative Director said: “The Hunter offers an amazing real-life hunting experience.  Using our next-generation landscape engine we are able to recreate the ‘out in the field’ hunting experience that includes a wide range of weather, animal behavior and terrain that can be shared within the gaming community as well as across other popular social networks to extend this phenomenally rich game experience.”

As the game continually develops, Emote Games anticipates The Hunter to become a top destination for gamers and fans of hunting games.  Emote is currently in talks with a range of potential partners to gain valuable insight into the world of hunting in order to offer a full and varied hunting experience as close to the real thing as possible.
Adds Morgan O’Rahilly, CEO, Emote Games:  “We are delighted to be working with Avalanche Studios.  Emote is passionate about making this game as true to life as possible, so when it came to choosing a development partner, we wanted to ensure we were working with the best.

We are currently in discussions with hunting communities across the US to develop long-term mutual partnerships with experts and suppliers to make The Hunter the world’s best hunting game.”

The Hunter will be available on PC and web with mobile and console versions to follow.  Visit www.thehunter.com  to register to participate in the open beta program and receive free updates.

Following on from the Mad World TV advert that accompanied the first game, Microsoft have again delivered an emotive, cutting edge TV ad for Gears of War 2 with Last Day. Invoking the emotion and desperation of humanity’s last stand against overwhelming odds, the ad uses the track How It Ends, by Colorado-based band Devotchka.

To celebrate the tremendous success of the game, Microsoft are offering the original track, an exclusive remix, and the original TV spot all for the incredible value of 79p, available for download from iTunes from tomorrow, Monday 1st Dec 2008.

Stephen McGill, Head of Gaming & Entertainment, Microsoft UK, commented “Due to the incredible success of the game in the UK and the insatiable demand for all things GOW2 from fans of the franchise, we’re thrilled to be able to offer consumers the chance to enjoy the track from the new TV ad campaign How It Ends as a bona fide single release”.

Gears of War 2 is the biggest Xbox360 exclusive this Christmas and provides an epic, adrenaline-fuelled rollercoaster ride that expands upon the original game’s themes of loss, hope and survival. On its opening weekend Gears of War 2 sold over two-million copies worldwide, becoming one of the biggest videogame launches of all time.

The comments came as the group reported a 23 percent rise in net gaming revenue in the third quarter to US$66 million from US$53 million a year earlier and by 31 percent during the first nine months of the year to US$197million from US$151 million.

Total operating income in the third quarter rose 24 percent to US$68 million and was up 33 percent in the first nine months at US$203 million.

Trading during the traditionally weaker summer months of July and August was solid with total operating income in August growing above July’s level, the company said. In September, however, global economic conditions and sharp exchange rate movements resulted in lower turnover than August.

Since July total deposit levels in local currency, (ie Sterling, Euro etc) remained fairly stable. However given the appreciation of the US$ against Sterling and Euro such deposits translated into lower US$ amounts. This has adversely impacted turnover since late August. Conversely, given that most group expenses are linked to non-US$ currencies, which depreciated during the period, the effect on profit was partly mitigated.

Chief executive Gigi Levy said: “We have delivered another quarter of solid performance, which was impacted by the global economic crisis and the extreme volatility in exchange rates. Our underlying business remains as solid as ever, as demonstrated by the constant deposit size by local currency. Despite external adverse economic conditions we are confident in our business model and strategy.”

888 Holdings

IGN discovered the report, produced by Japanese investment research firm Morningstar, in the wake of the Tokyo Game Show. According to the report, a representative for Konami commented that the company was "actively looking into a release for the Xbox 360." A machine translation of the report hints that Konami may be gauging "sales of [the] Xbox 360" to make the ultimate decision.

Most will remember the game’s creator Hideo Kojima adamantly defending the PS3 exclusivity. He, on countless occasions, claimed that only the PS3 was capable of handling Metal Gear Solid 4. Of course, the series has been subject to ports following the initial release on a Sony platform before, so it’s not entirely out of the question to expect a 360 port in the future. At this stage, though, nothing official has been confirmed.

MGS4 on Xbox 360 rumors reignited by Japanese report

They were drawn to the Anaheim Convention Centre in California by their love of the virtual worlds they inhabit. Blizzcon is part video game carnival, part trade fair and part religious pilgrimage, organised by Blizzard Entertainment, which makes World of Warcraft and the real-time strategy game Starcraft.

Almost 11 million people pay £7 a month to play World of Warcraft and dedicated fans have flown in from 27 countries around the world to attend Blizzcon, where they can discuss the intricate details of Blizzard’s games with the game-makers, get the exclusive chance to play new games before general release, dress up as their favourite characters and compete against one another.

At the opening ceremony, in reality little more than a glorified press conference, the atmosphere is intense and the noise deafening. The screams reach a peak when Mike Morhaime, the Blizzard chief executive, takes the stage. He’s a gentle-looking man wearing a blazer — the crowd greets him like a rock star.

“We are on the eve of a historic event next month, and I don’t mean the presidential election,” he says. The packed hall roars in agreement. For this mob, something far more important than electing the leader of the free world is taking place in November — “Northrend will be open.”

Northrend is a new continent in World of Warcraft and forms part of the latest expansion of the game, which goes on sale next month. The release of Wrath of the Lich King will be the biggest event in computer gaming this year. Fans will queue for hours to buy a copy. Gamers expect no less than what Blizzard aims to achieve: the greatest computer game ever created.

The first World of Warcraft game was released four years ago. Today, it is the world’s biggest “massively multi-player online game”, or MMO. It has all the elements of a sci-fi fantasy world you might expect; with dragons, gnomes, orcs and such. It is a knowing homage to the likes of Lord of the Rings and Dungeons and Dragons. Players spend hours going on quests and doing battle with one another in order to build up their character into something akin to a small god. In an ever-evolving virtual world that is illustrated in rich detail and can be explored endlessly.

Paul Sams, a senior Blizzard executive, said the key to the game was its accessibility. “It’s easy to learn but hard to master,” he added.

Walking around the convention floor, there is a certain Blizzcon chic that is noticeable. The crowds are filled with loads of chubby, young, and pale men. They wear black t-shirts, a back-to-front cap, and sport an ill-advised goatee. There are endless queues for everything from nachos to the gift store. Disneyland just down the road won’t see anything like it.

Blizzcon has been growing in popularity since it began in 2005. This year the frenzy to buy tickets caused the online booking system to crash. Once the problem was fixed, the $150 (£90) tickets sold out in 15 minutes.

The longest queues are for the chance to play new games. After hours of waiting, gamers finally get their chance to play at one of the hundreds of computers screens, lined up in banks. The whole event takes place in semi-darkness; natural light is not let in, ensuring that glare does not distract the players from the digital carnage.

Others quietly play fantasy card games with each other, or take part in intense Q&A sessions with the game creators. Some honest fans admit that they main reason they have come is to get hold of the much-wanted Blizzcon goodie-bag. What makes the bag so special? It includes a polar bear mount, an extremely rare character which players can use to ride upon, like a horse or a camel, in World of Warcraft. The mount is valuable, both in the game and in real life. It is already being sold for anything up to $300 on eBay.

On one stage, hundreds gather to watch professional Warcraft and Starcraft matches. Big screens show the action while commentators describe the battle excitedly. Players are locked away from the crowd in sound-proof booths. The action is furious. The contestants tap on their keyboards and click on their mouse about eight times a second. To the outsider, it all makes very little sense.

Meanwhile, there are thousands more watching the proceedings at home, having paid about $40 to view it on pay-per-view television. Critics describe World of Warcraft as the greatest video game creation, a masterpiece in art and engineering. But its genius is that it has evolved to become a deeply social and communal experience.

“Two years ago on Father’s Day, my son gave me World of Warcraft,” says Jim York, 61, from Los Angeles, who was at Blizzcon with his 30-something adult son, who lives around about 350 miles away from him in San Francisco. “Now about twice a month, we go online and go on quests together. It’s become a father-son experience.”

Blizzcon is home for this growing online community. Almost everyone here says they have come out of a sense of belonging. People who have become friends by playing together online meet for the first time at the convention.

This includes James Taplin, 29, from Dorset, England, who met his online friend Nathan, from Birmingham, just before flying to Blizzcon last week. “It’s all about the togetherness,” said Mr Taplin. “We talk to each other for a while about our day, then we put that to one side and go kill some monsters.”

World of Warcraft fans unite for pilgrimage to Blizzcon – Times Online