Kotaku

Chocolate Rein Gets The Cliffster Back On-Message Re: PC Gaming

MR: We want all these people buying laptops and reasonably priced PCs, to at least be able to be exposed to gaming. They can go out later and upgrade to something better, but let's at least give them a baseline experience."

Wait, Final Fantasy WiiWare Costs $15?

To be honest that was a totally different division that made that announcement, so I have no idea what's going on with that... I'm in a tough position because when I am making Dead or Alive, for instance, all the Ninja Gaiden fans say quit messing around with Dead or Alive and make a sequel to Ninja Gaiden. When I'm making a new Ninja Gaiden, all the Dead or Alive fans are like, "You have to quit that and start making Dead or Alive. And that's tough enough as it is, but I also get letters all the time for the past 10 years from Tecmo Bowl fans saying, "When are you going to resurrect that franchise?" So it's tough being in my position.

In case you missed it previously, Ready At Dawn confirmed to us a little while ago that yes, contrary to earlier reports, Okami on Wii would be running in full 16:9, a move that'll have a lot of people who already own it on PS2 considering a re-purchase. Here's footage of what must be the final build of the game running and, well, there's not much more to say. It's one of the most beautiful games ever created, only now it's looking more beautiful.

The Other Crecente

To: Ash and Crecente (Drew)
From: Crecente (Brian)
Re: Barely Talked to the Family Today, Feel like a Jerk

So Flynn has officially given up the ghost for weekends. He'll be posting a goodbye missive tomorrow, but don't be sad, he's not leaving just shifting over to cover more events for us in San Francisco and write during the week.

In the meantime, as I struggle to (sigh) find a suitable Weekend Editor, we'll have different people running the show over weekends. First up? My older brother, Drew. Little known facts among all but the hardcore: Drew was actually one of the first people to help out around Kotaku back in the day when it was just me. He wrote occasional posts, including wrap-ups for upcoming games.

Anyway, it's been years since he's written anything Kotaku related, so be gentle.

What you missed:
SCi Kills 14 Projects, Cutting 25 Percent of Staff
Microsoft Erases Gamer's Memories
It's Shocking, We're Pissed, Wii Fit Sorta Works
Street Fighter IV, Visual Impressions
Street Fighter IV Impressions: SF2 Edition
The Phil Harrison Letters
Warhawk Gets Monster Bubble Shields

Street Fighter IV Impressions From The Street Fighter III Perspective

Two days prior to my hands-on experience with Street Fighter IV, we held an impromptu Street Fighter III: Third Strike tournament at the offices of Massive Black. My Elena versus Crecente's Ryu wasn't so much a contest as it was a total bloodletting. (Ultimately, though, the Massive Black guys made the three Kotaku editors look like scrubs.) In Crecente's defense, he was more transfixed with Street Fighter II Champion Edition and largely ended his love affair there. I, on the other hand, latched on to every arcade release, through Super Street Fighter II, Street Fighter Alphas I-III and all three iterations of Street Fighter III. Hell, I was even pretty competitive in Super Gem Fighter: Mini Mix for a while there.

But the entry in the series that Street Fighter IV is largely modeled after, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, was the one that I actually spent the least amount of time with.

Rocketmen To Rid Live Arcade, PlayStation Network Of Evil

Well, it's going to try. Capcom is bringing Rocketmen: Axis of Evil, based on the WizKids property of the same name, to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network next week, resulting in, I assume, either the removal of evil or a severe tilting of the titular axis. Announced early last year, the top down shooter from A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Games ticks off all the right features—multiple classes, online multiplayer, character customization, HD graphics. We've yet to go hands-on with it, but if you feel like taking a shot for the respectable price of ten bucks, Rocketmen hits XBLA on Wednesday, March 5, arriving on PSN the day after.

Call Of Duty 4 Is A Bit Patchy

Need an excuse to give to the wife in order to negotiate some Call of Duty 4 playtime this weekend? "But, honey, there's a new patch on Xbox Live! I have to test out the new sniper scope accuracy changes for my clan match on Monday!" That'll totally work, trust me. Or wow her with the new Kill Cams, including ones for grenades and M203 rounds, which you know she'll just love. The full list, including new quick mute options, network speed improvements and new spawn points, is detailed at Infinity Ward's official Call of Duty 4 blog.

For those who aren't interested in reading about things being patched, maybe Will "George 'Gob' Bluth II" Arnett's tale of Call of Duty 4 obsession will keep you entertained. Well? Are you not entertained?!

Call of Duty 4 Xbox 360 Patch is OUT - Here's what's changed! [FourZeroTwo]

Warhawk's upcoming booster pack, Operation Broken Mirror, will feature an armored personnel carrier which can serve as a mobile spawning point and weapon producer and also create the "mother of all bubble shields," the game's producer, Dylan Jobe told me in a recent interview.

"You can roll this around a map and it's like this clean blank canvas for combat," he said. "When it's driving around it works as a mobile forward spawn point and when you spawn into it you get additional equipment."

Jobe said the APC will also be able to deploy a piece of equipment that is "like the mother of all bubble shields" and is a couple of hundred feet wide.

Capcom has a brand spanking new version of Street Fighter IV's arcade cabinet on test in Tokyo, one that confirms the return of Street Fighter's Sagat and Street Fighter II's Balrog. Shaky-cam videos of both new characters are up on YouTube, with Capcom's official blog confirming that three new stages have also been added to the latest SF IV build.

Balrog and Sagat [YouTube]

THQ Creative Director Rants On Piracy, Death Of Iron Lore

The Grateful Dead Exhumed On Rock Band Next Week

Pop out the patchouli, dust off the tie dye and spark up the finest herb for next week's Rock Band downloadable content. Beginning next Tuesday, virtual musicians can jam to the first batch of Grateful Dead tunes as six of the planned eighteen tracks hit Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. The half-dozen low-key rockers, all original recordings will arrive for $1.99 or 160 Microsoft Points and include:

• "China Cat Sunflower" from Aoxomoxoa
• "Casey Jones" from Workingman's Dead
• "Sugar Magnolia" from American Beauty
• "Truckin" from American Beauty
• "Franklin's Tower" from Blues for Allah
• "I Need A Miracle" from Shakedown Street

Deadheads can secure the whole lot of Rock Band bonus tracks for $9.99 (800 Microsoft Points). Now about Who's Next...

Today Show Gets Around To Its "Old People Like Wii" Story

NBC's news and entertainment program Today has decided to get around to airing its late take on the Old People Like Playing Wii phenomenon that swept the nation at the end of 2006. In its "Forever Young" segment, which features old folks who are capable of jogging and smiling, it reveals that the aged quite enjoy virtual bowling between bouts of not being visited by their grandchildren. Hey old people! Stop snatching up all the Wiis! Some of us still haven't played Super Mario Galaxy thanks to your Wii Sports obsession!

I'm actually quite surprised that folks confined to retirement homes and elder care facilities aren't finding the orderly-killing simulation in Manhunt 2 more appealing than Wii bowling. Oh God, I'm so horribly depressed.

It's no secret that we're big fans of almost-former Sony Worldwide Studios head Phil Harrison. In fact, he, J Allard, Peter Moore and Reggie make up our video game exec dream team, a crusading force that we imagine takes to the streets at night to bludgeon criminals to death with their no-nonsense quotes and fierce scowls.

When we heard that Harrison was going the way of Moore and Allard, fleeing from his job to parts unknown, we were genuinely concerned. So concerned, in fact, that Luke made up a missing person flyer and like clockwork Harrison was spotted... by Harrison.

Sony Says God Of War "Coming Soon" To PlayStation 3

When SCEA released God of War II last year, the game's instruction manual teased the soon to be released PSP entry, God of War: Chains of Olympus. Now it's the PSP's turn to toy with your emotions, as the manual for the on-the-go Kratos quest fires back with a tease of the PlayStation 3 chapter. IGN has photographic evidence of the PS3 sequel teaser ad which opts not to put a release window on the thing, merely announcing that it's "coming soon."

Considering rumors are pointing to a 2009 ship date for God of War III and Sony has a habit of showing these games a year (or more) in advance, we'd say that if you want a Kratos fix in 2008, it's probably going to be on UMD.

God of War III Ad [IGN]

Dojo Dump: A Show Of Hands

Let me start by saying that my love of Street Fighter 2 Championship Edition comes not from the perspective of an aficionado, or someone paid to study each nuanced piece of minutia that comes out about a game as it makes its way from concept to arcade.

My experience with Street Fighter 2 CE was born entirely in my time first hanging out at arcades and then running one in the 90s in Maryland. I loved the game so much that my time spent playing it is what likely lead to me being fired from the job. I slathered more attention on our big-screen SF2 box than I did every other machine in the place, combined. I regularly replaced the cherry switches and springs on a weekly basis.

But I couldn't have told you who the game's producer was, what sort of lore was buried in the creating of such an indelible franchise or how they came about with the idea of the characters in the game.

That being said, read on.

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

Well, you know what I won't be playing this weekend? Grand Theft Auto IV. But I will be playing some Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a game I've never completed, just for laughs. Of course, there will be hot tears of pain streaming down my cheeks while I mow down pedestrians to the musical stylings of A Flock Of Seagulls, but there may be a giggle or chortle at some point.

I've also been meaning to catch up on some of the titles that walked away with Independent Game Festival awards, plus proper time with the Xbox Live Arcade version of N+. Let us all know what your gaming plans are this weekend!