Back in 2002, I first played Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil when my neighbor found a copy in the bargain bin at GameStop. We spent hours on end trying to get to the end of the game before dinnertime, and never actually did. But without a doubt, I can say that parts of the Klonoa series rank amongst my favorite games I’ve ever played- which is why it pains me to report that Klonoa’s return on the Wii may see Klonoa’s redesign. Kotaku put it best, describing it as the “poochied” version of Klonoa. Ouch. Hit the jump to see Klonoa’s purported redesign. Read more…

Konami revealed a next-gen Castlevania teaser trailer at the 2008 Tokyo Game Show. We reported on it yesterday, and now have video footage of it, so you can view it yourself.

The video features an ominous Dracula Slayer complete with glowing red eyes and a flame laden sword. It also clearly states that the game is slated for release on both the Xbox 360 and the PS3. No other information is known about the game or its format at this time, but if I had to guess, my money would be on a 3D format of some sort.

Watch it quickly, before the scary figure with the red eyes slays you. Read more…

At the Tokyo Game show today, Konami held a press event for the Castlevania franchise, announcing a new entry to the hit series for both the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Outside of a brief ten second clip showing a man wielding a lit red sword, not much else is known about the game, so it comes as no surprise that an actual release date is far from set.

Could this finally be a worthy 3-D Castlevania game? Let’s hope so, because the last one wasn’t all that.

Source: ps3.ign.com

Konami’s upcoming release of Silent Hill Homecoming has influenced the birth of a new little media widget to help you stay up to date with the game. Lucky for you, we decided to steal it and plop it on Ripten for your viewing pleasure. Just a word of warning: Silent Hill is a disturbing series, and the video I watched on this widget makes me want to beat my kids. Read more…

These instruments getting all “compatible” with each other borders on pornographic.

Harmonix, Neversoft, Konami, and Activision have all signed an agreement with Microsoft and Sony that guaranteed that all of the new peripherals coming out for the newest batch of music games would all be compatible with each other. Read more…

In an interview published today with Eurogamer, Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima (who just turned 45) stated that he is tired of people asking him about the PS3/360 hardware, and wishes people would just focus on the game. He went on to say:

“Sometimes I even feel like [Metal Gear Solid 4] should be on a PC so that people don’t ask me about hardware and platforms,”

Kojima added that in the near future he hopes that people stop asking him about formats and instead ask about their company and future projects. Read more…

Castlevania gamers rejoiced when a new installment in the popular series was announced at this year’s E3. Fans then became less enthused when they learned that instead of a traditional action-adventure title like those the series is known for, the new Castlevania is going be a fighter for the Nintendo Wii.

In a recent interview with current Castlevania series producer Koji Igarashi, Wired questioned the man on this bizarre transition, and his answers were a little worrying. Read more…

In the not too distant future, videogames have become routine.  The marketplace is controlled by commercial enterprises, publishing the same fast paced action year on year.  FPS game follows FPS game, bald space marines give birth to bald space marines, EA merges with Ubisoft.

Yes, in the not too distant future, videogames haven’t changed at all.  What’s worse? We’re none the wiser.  Feeding off of these adrenaline pumping experiences, we praise them for their apparent innovation, their direct and exciting plot, their “next-gen” graphics. We’ll feel happy with the cards we’ve been dealt, comfortable in our past time, but for all our contentment we’ll never know how it could have been. Never know how it should and would have been if we had taken notice of Solid Snake.

Our only hope to free ourselves from cookie-cutter experiences pumped out by profit driven companies, is to learn the lessons of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and build a safer future for interactive entertainment.
Read more…

We reported yesterday that Konami had filed a suit against the makes of Rock Band, claiming that Harmonix, MTV, and parent company Viacom, violated patents filed by Konami dating back to 2002 and 2003.

Today, Harmoix swung back at Konami, as a company spokesperson stated:

“Konami’s actions are extremely surprising. Unfortunately, successful products such as Rock Band can often become targets for baseless litigation … We have substantial defenses to this claim and intend to vigorously defend it.”

I smell a corporate rock off in the making! An epic battle, to be fought with plastic guitars and scaucer shaped drum kits! Extra points go to the first executive from either side that grows their hair out and adopts a “nothing but full body spandex will do” clothing policy.

Source: Game|Life

Hi, I’m Snake from the PS2. Want to play with me on your PS3? Well too bad.

First off, lets recap the situation for those that are just joining us. Yesterday we (along with many sites) reported that a user (NiTiz) of the popular N4G gaming site posted an image on their forum. The image was supposedly a snapshot of a PS3 interface screen highlighting PS2 download capability.

The user on the N4G forum went on to say that the image was sent to him from an unnamed source within Sony and that his source told him the PS2 download feature would be announced for the PS3 at this years E3. Sony then came out and denied it stating that the screen was fake and that they had no plans for such a service.

Many sites (including ours) reported the Sony was denying the PS2 download rumor, but were also quick to add that this may be another case of corporate double talk on the part of Sony. The company did this a few months ago when rumors circulated regarding a price cut. They claimed to have no plans for it only to have the price cut take effect a few days later.

So we have one side screaming fake and the other side claiming to have an inside source within company. Who is telling the truth? I could have just waited for E3 to find out, but unfortunately I am not that patient. Read more…

Anyone who is interested in the Metal Gear Online beta, isn’t a lucky European, or hasn’t yet been able to secure a download code via pre-order, should be happy to hear Konami is offering a chance to register for a code online. Move fast while you have the chance! Read more…

In a mega-post today, Konami has revealed further details about the numerous Metal Gear Solid 4 software and hardware packages—including box art for both the standard and limited editions of MGS4 and the standard edition PS3 hardware bundle. Why call it a standard edition hardware bundle? Well, because there’s going to be a not-so-standard one too. Kojima, you torture us. Read more…

Hideo Kojima may be done with Metal Gear, but he’s not done with video games. Fumiaki Tanaka, president of Konami, revealed that Kojima is in fact working on a new game concept that’s 100% Metal Gear free. Read more…

A handful of new Silent Hill 5 screens appeared on the official website today, and some of them are downright impressive while others are simply bland. Check them all out after the jump. Read more…

From an interview at CES 2008, where Kojima’s Playstation 3 offering is being demoed to a lucky few, comes the confirmed news that Metal Gear Online will be included with the purchase of the single player game, MGS4. It is, however, an online starter pack. Read more…

I gave in to my nerdish fetish and bought “YU-GI-OH: World Championship 2008.” Since I haven’t played the game for nearly a decade I decided to jump in feet first. Read more…

All of you PS3 hold-outs better be ready to pony up the cash when Metal Gear Solid 4 finally hits shelves next year, because Kojima Productions needs your support to continue working exclusively on Sony’s next-gen platform. Read more…

It’s hard to stay faithful! While this review may not be about fidelity issues, it is about the fact that Silent Hill: Origins stays true to what made the series great. It captures the whole Middle America town setting, while keeping faithful to the Point-and-Click elements which the genre is known for. Read more…

In this months issue of EGM’s Rumor Mill, Quarterman reported that Konami is developing another Metal Gear game for the PSP. Apparently it isn’t going to be a spin off such as we’ve seen from Portable Ops. The new title is said to “Hearken back to the early days”. Read more…

Amazon.com has finally started their pre-orders for the highly anticipated PS3 exclusive, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. According to the site, it will be officially released on May 31st in Europe and then one month later in North America on June 30th. Read more…