On Gear Live: Samsung S95C: The OLED TV You Can’t Afford (to Ignore!)

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Metal Slug 3D

The Magic Box has managed to grab some screen shots and character artwork from the latest entry in the Metal Slug series for the PS2. Playmore is moving the game to a 3D world, in an over-the-shoulder third person perspective. The screens show off some new environments, but for the most part the game doesn’t look a whole lot different than the previews shown in 2004. Metal Slug is scheduled for a June release in Japan, with no US date known at this time. Franchises that have moved from 2D to 3D have been somewhat of a mixed bag, so gamers should hope that the game translates more like Metroid Prime than the horribly bad C: The Contra Adventure.


Read More | The Magic Box


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The Game Over column at CNN is reporting on analyst predictions of a Sony price drop. Most of the current rumors point to a price drop announcement at E3, but Game Over quotes one analyst as predicting a price drop earlier than E3, to allow the focus of the game expo to be squarely on the PS3. Overall consensus appears to be a price drop from $149 to $129.

This could theoretically force Microsoft to drop the price of the Xbox to match, however, when the Xbox 360 launched, the Xbox technically received a price increase. Since non-bundled Xboxes are no longer available in market, the only real option was the Xbox Forza bundle for $179.99. With Forza available separately for $19.99, the effective price of an open market Xbox is $159.99, ten dollars higher than the core unit. The Xbox has definitely been pushed to the background with the release of the Xbox 360, so a price match is hardly definite.

Ahead of the analyst predictions of a price drop come an interesting thread on the Cheap Ass Gamer forums, where Gamestop stores have been reported as receiving new signage advertising a PS2 price drop, but without any markings indicating what the final price drop will be.

Read More | Game Over at CNN


Monkey Ball Adventure

4 Color Rebellion has scored some exclusive screenshots from the upcoming Super Monkey Ball Adventure. This game will be a departure from the previous games in the series, leaving behind the strict level structure and moving to more of a platform adventure design. Hopefully Traveller’s Tales can keep true to the feel of the older games in the series. Monkey Ball Adventure will be appearing on PSP, PS2, and Gamecube this summer.

Read More | 4 Color Rebellion


Latest Gear Live Videos

XboxWith it’s faster and more powerful sibling taking all the glory, the original Xbox is starting to feel a bit neglected.  With an established base of millions of units, Microsoft has all but shunned the original system and seems to be focusing solely on the Xbox 360.  Sony, by way of contrast, has just this month stopped producing the original PlayStation console that was released over a decade ago (December 1994).  Rumors from earlier this year indicated that once the existing stock of Xbox systems was depleted, there would be no more. 

Particularly upset by Microsoft’s unvoiced neglect is Adam Roberts, the Executive VP of Vivendi Europe.  Quoted as saying that the Xbox “probably needs help at the moment”, he laments the loss of retailer support for the console.  Roberts believes that Microsoft needs to do whatever is necessary to reaffirm the trust and loyalty of the retail segment.  Once again, Sony is pointed to as having a clear concept of the life-cycle of the PS2 and that it’s far from over.  In fact, God of War 2 will be released not on the PS3, but on the PS2. 

Of course, it should be noted that it’s difficult to release a game for a non-existent platform, and when an aging platform is the only one in your arsenal, you have no choice but to support it if you want to maintain market share.  Considering the delayed launch of the PlayStation 3, by supporting the PS2, Sony is doing what is required.  Microsoft, plagued by hardware shortages, may be doing exactly what is necessary to firm up their grasp on the market prior to the PS3’s release.


Read More | IGN


For those of you who don’t know, God of War is one of the most incredible games on the PS2, and Sony has announced that a sequel is on the way.  Here is a look at some God of War II footage from the GDC.


24 The Game GiveawayOkay guys, it’s been a while since our last Playfeed giveaway, so we figured we would get another one going. This time, we are giving away a copy of 24: The Game for the PlayStation 2. This one is a third-person adventure set between seasons two and three of 24. If you want it, head on over to the forums and let us know what your favorite Playfeed article of all time is (and why), and you are entered to win (provided that you are a US resident!) We will give this one two weeks, at which time we will pick a random winner. Good luck!


Super Monkey Ball Adventure

This should come as good news to many - the next version of Super Monkey Ball will be making it’s way to Gamecube, PS2, and PSP in about three months time. The new title, named Super Monkey Ball Adventure, happens to be the first narrative-driven Super Monkey Ball game, providing a true adventure game. Of course, the classic puzzle game is back, as are the popular party games. SEGA is promising With 5 new worlds, a host of new Monkey Ball characters, new Ball abilities, brand new party games, and PSP-exclusive content.

As for the adventure mode, here are the details: On Jungle Island, our hero, Aiai, meets Princess Deedee of Monkitropolis and Prince Abeabe of Kongri-la, star-crossed lovers whose marriage is hampered by a feud that exists between their respective kingdoms. The Monkey Ball world could be torn apart unless Aiai can reconcile the feuding Monkey Kingdoms by traveling to all five Monkey realms, helping people and defeating the evil Naysayers in an effort to spread joy and remove prejudice and fear.

We look forward to seeing what SEGA has in store for us come June 2006. For now, you can check out six more images after the jump.

Click to continue reading Super Monkey Ball Adventure Screenshots


Black BFGLooks like someone uncovered the hidden code that you can use to unlock the BFG in BLACK right from the get-go. Here is the text from the hidden page on EA’s site:

Need some extra fire-power? Or do you just want to leave your mark with a few hundred bullet holes per minute?

Use the code below to unlock the BFG right from the start, and go in all guns blazing.

5SQQ-STHA-ZFFV-7XEV

Don’t forget to lock and load.


Read More | EA


Next Generation recently posted an article with software and hardware sales numbers - and the DS is kicking ass on the software side of things. DS English Training though…? On the hardware side of things, it looks like the PSP is at the top - while the Xbox 360 and Xbox are suffering.

Here are the lists:

Software:

DS English Training (Nintendo, DS): 72,290 (424,214)
Train Your Brain 2 (Nintendo, DS): 70,407 (1,213,603)
Animal Crossing: Wild World (Nintendo, DS): 57,335 (1,850,063)
Siren 2 (SCE, PS2): 49,780
Otona no DS Training (Nintendo, DS): 32,082 (1,520,843)
Machigae Museum (Namco, DS): 21,132
Tourist Trophy (SCE, PS2): 20,433 (80,087)
Monster Hunter Portable (Capcom, PSP): 20,126 (4,67,180)
Shin Onimusha (Capcom, PS2): 19,916 (295,721)
Mario Kart DS (Nintendo, DS): 18,304 (1,098,472)

Hardware:

PSP: 24,977 (310,253)
PS2: 23,383 (217,840)
DS: 10223 (351,802)
GBA: 5405 (52,337)
GBMicro: 2934 (32,588)
GC: 2025 (30,577)
Xbox360: 1288 (22,657)
GBA: 150 (1478)
Xbox: 84 (671)


Read More | Next Generation


Description The Wall Street Journal has put together a great article featured in this weekend’s paper. The article’s subtitle is as follows:

Videogames are reshaping the entertainment business. But the moguls who make them are still largely unknowns. Our look at how the game is played.

The article looks at everyone from “The Game Gurus” like Shigeru Miyamoto to “Hardware Heavies” like Ken Kutaragi to “Entertainers” like Peter Jackson to “Team Players” like Tony Hawk. I’d highly recommend checking out the article - you have to been a subscriber to see it online. Otherwise, run out and grab a copy of this weekend’s paper starting tomorrow. Oh, you may learn about news issues outside of the video game world as well!


Read More | WSJ.com


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