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Bethesda Confirms That Skyrim Will Fit On One Xbox 360 Disc

Dave Oshry — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 04:25:13 +0000

This weekend, we sent our features editor Stephiroth Gutowski over to the Bethesda booth at PAX Prime to do a few things. Play RAGE, play Skyrim and get some questions answered. One of those questions that has been on the mind of many of our console gaming readers is, “Just how many Xbox 360 discs will it take to hold all of Skyrim?!”

Well, luckily, that answer is ONE.

There will be no disc swapping involved in the latest iteration of Bethesda’s flagship RPG franchise. This comes as a bit of a surprise seeing as Skyrim is such a large game, however Bethesda seems to have gotten it done. Kudos.

This confirmation came from Skyrim’s Art director Matt Carofano. Steph even double checked asking Matt, “Really? One Disc? on 360?!”

“Yes”, he said – Before running off to another interview. Sadly, he could not confirm or even speculate on the install sizes for Xbox 360 or PS3.

So there you have it. All of the all the majesty and grandeur of Skyrim, on one Xbox 360 disc. Nice.

Stay tuned for more of Steph’s adventures at PAX and for more on Skyrim be sure to check out our epic hands-on preview.

"I'm In Your Penny Arcade Expo - Getting Your Questionz Answered"

Nintendo Announces PAX Lineup

Justin Berube — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:52:23 +0000

Nintendo has announced their lineup of games that will be playable at PAX. The playable games include the following:

Nintendo 3DS
• Super Mario 3D Land
• Mario Kart 7
• Kid Icarus: Uprising
• Star Fox 64 3D
• The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D
• Pokédex 3D
• Shinobi™ by SEGA®
• Sonic Generations by SEGA

Wii
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
• Kirby’s Return to Dream Land
• Rhythm Heaven™ (name not final)
• Fortune Street

Nintendo DS
• Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2
• Kirby Mass Attack

PAX will take place from August 26, 2011 to August 28, 2011 at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle. Nintendo has also promised giveaways (I’m jealous) to those that visit their booth which will be booth number 462, level 4.

Want to stay up to date on the latest Nintendo news, information, editorials, and more? Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook. Be sure to let me know what you think about Nintendo’s PAX lineup!

Twisted Metal Delayed Till Early 2012

Jorge Bocanegra — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:00:17 +0000

Ok, let’s get the bad news out of the way first: Twisted Metal will be missing its previously-intended October 4th launch date. Fans who’ve been desperately waiting for the return of Sweet Tooth and friends will sadly have to wait longer–until early 2012– for the series’ big return on Playstation 3. David Jaffe stopped by the Official Playstation Blog to break the news, stating the following to back up this decision by Eat Sleep Play:

“Anyway – it sucks bad when games miss their announced launch dates. We’re gamers too and we know how annoying it is. It’s disappointing and frustrating and it really takes the wind out of your sails if you’re a fan that has been looking forward to playing a title for a long time. Thing is, you gotta trust me when I tell you that – with this extra time for tuning and polish – the game is going to be so much better than it already is. And if you played Twisted Metal and liked it at E3 or Comic-Con, or if you get to play it (and you enjoy it) at one of the August shows, just imagine how much more fun the final game will be with some extra time, polish, and love.”

Sounds reasonable to me! This is the series’ big comeback, so extra development time won’t hurt at all, especially when it’ll help enhance the overall game, ensuring fans get what they deserve. There’s quite a few heavy-hitters coming this year anyway–including some Playstation 3 exclusives like Uncharted 3– so releasing Twisted Metal early next year will definitely help its chances of getting more exposure. Now, onto the good news.

Gamescom and PAX Prime are both quickly approaching and Eat Sleep Play plan on making Twisted Metal have really strong showings at both events. Both events– running from August 17th-21st and August 26th-28th, respectively– will play host to a brand new level, titled “Thrills and Spills Amusement Park”. Jaffe goes on to describe it as being ” filled with the over the top destruction, strategic level choices, and twisted humor that fans of the series have come to love and expect.” A new multiplayer mode will also be available for attendees at both shows: ‘Team Hunted’. Details on that mode will be revealed at said events.

Lastly, apart from Sweet Tooth masks being given away to fans at both events, a new story trailer will be revealed, focusing on Dollface. Seems like there’s a lot in store for Twisted’ fans in this month alone! And, yeah, it does suck that we’ll have to wait till next year for the game’s release but hey, I’ll leave you all with this quote from a legend in the industry (which Jaffe also posted on the Blog):

‘A late game is only late until it ships. A bad game is bad until the end of time.’- Shigeru Miyamoto

Source: Official Playstation Blog

Microsoft to Hold “Halo Fest” Event at PAX Prime – May Reveal New Game Details

Matthew Sims — Tue, 03 May 2011 18:01:26 +0000

Microsoft, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Halo, is holding a blow-out event at PAX Prime known as “Halo Fest”. The event, which promises to be the largest and most expensive Halo event ever, is scheduled with tournaments, exclusive panels, and awesome prizes.

The event is most likely a huge publicity plug for the HD-remake of Halo: Combat Evolved that is currently being developed by Saber Interactive. Of course we can’t rule out the possibility that Microsoft may have some more announcements concerning the future of the Halo franchise.

Here’s the full description of the event:

“This event commemorates ten incredible years of Halo, looking back at the amazing stories that forged a diverse community and redefined gaming for two entire console generations. Join us August 26th-28th, at the Washington State Convention Center, and see why the last ten years of Halo were just the beginning.”

Also here is the schedule:

WHERE: PAX Prime
Seattle, WA
Washington State Convention Center
Annex 3rd Floor

WHEN: Day Time
Friday, August 26 10am-6pm
Saturday, August 27 10am-midnight
Sunday, August 28 10am-6pm

The best news is that the event is open to anyone who has a PAX Prime badge. Be sure to check it out, you can bet Ripten will be there. Thanks to VG247 for the details!

PAX East Mortal Kombat Session Brings Back Memories, Provokes Deep Thought

Chad Lakkis — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:55:26 +0000

As the first day of the Penny Arcade Expo East kicked off, Dave Oshry and I began to scour the floors in search for some hands on gaming fuel.

One of our first appointments was with Warner Bros. Interactive, and having grown up playing Mortal Kombat in the arcades, it was nice to get some joystick action via the arcade fitted units made available on the show floor.

We hunkered in for some 1v1 action, and while I had narrowed my character selection process down to either Sub Zero or Scorpion, I quickly learned of Dave’s affectionate bond with Johnny Cage. “I always play as Johnny Cage” he said. Well, alright then. I can’t stand Johnny Cage so the idea of freezing him over and over again was appealing, and with that I selected Sub Zero.

The first match ended with a Johnny Cage victory – courtesy of some low blow button mashing, but after getting my kombat wits in order I made quick work of him in the rematch. Neither of us were able to pull off a finishing move, though we both tried desperately only to throw a half-assed barely landing jab.

Disappointed with our Fatality wiffs, the two of us began to toss around a few “what ifs,” with the biggest one being “what if the game had Fatality Failure animations.” The idea would be that as you failed the fatality you would maybe freeze half your own leg instead and hobble around like an idiot or drop down for a split to punch your opponent in the groin only to pull a hamstring. Of course you would only see these if you messed up (like us).

In closing, Mortal Kombat brought back lots of good arcade memories and I am really looking forward to the full release of the game this April. The End.

3DS To Be Playable At PAX East

Justin Berube — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:36:44 +0000

Nintendo has just announced that the 3DS will be playable at PAX East 2011. PAX East will be held between March 11 – 13 in Boston, MA. The following 3DS games and applications will be playable at the show:

Mii Maker
AR Games
Steel Diver
Kid Icarus: Uprising
Pilotwings Resort
nintendogs + cats
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
DEAD OR ALIVE Dimensions
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

Additionally Nintendo fans attending PAX East 2011 will be able to try out Pokémon Black and White for the Nintendo DS and Mario Sports Mix for the Wii.

Want to stay up to date on the latest Nintendo news, reviews, previews, editorials, and more? Follow me on Twitter @KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook. Be sure to tell me what you think about this awesome news!

Music Returns To PAX East 2011

Matthew Sims — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:56:41 +0000

Last year was a phenomenal year for the fledgling PAX East. It managed to capture the feel of the PAX out in Seattle and transplant it out in Boston. Last year’s event was highlighted by spectacular musical acts, and this year will be no different. The acts range from hip-hop to orchestral and allow you to rock out with your limited edition Dungeons and Dragons figurines out.

The featured acts are below:

Jonathan Coulton
MC Frontalot
Metroid Metal
Paul and Storm
The Protomen
The Video Game Orchestra

“The first year reception to the music artists was phenomenal. We had packed crowds and had to turn a lot of people away at the door,” said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade. “As long as we keep seeing that kind of passion and excitement we’re going to keep bringing the concerts back every year.”

For the uninitiated, PAX and PAX East are meccas for all things geek; video games, tabletop games, and cosplay are not only welcome, but encouraged. The annual PAX East will take place at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on March 11 through March 13.

Will Duke Nukem Forever Get AO Rating? (Hands on Impressions and Screens)

Dave Oshry — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:48:00 +0000

Like many other gamers, yesterday I got hands on with Duke Nukem Forever. A game which I’ve been waiting for, for over a damn decade. Was the wait worth it? Well my first impression is, oh hell yes.

My second impression? This game ain’t for kids and may very well deserve an AO rating by the ESRB. Not that I mind, I’m just saying it might be harder for your little brother to get his hands on Duke than he hoped ;-)

We were herded into a small room within the Duke booth at PAX and shown a trailer which I can only describe as pure awesome. Apparently Duke disappeared, but the alien menace didn’t. Yet, when they came back for our women . . . Duke wasn’t having that shit. He’s back and badder than ever . . . Duke Nukem Forever has more tits, ass and foul language than any other game I’ve ever played . . . and it’s about damn time. But it’s all in fun, there is an equal amount of humor as there is cleavage, and I don’t think I’ve grinned so damn hard while playing a game demo in a long time. Best part of the trailer? Duke looks up at a giant naked three breasted alien beast and says, “Hell, I’d still hit it.” Priceless.

After that it was time for the hands-on demo . . . let’s get into it.

Duke Nukem Forever starts off where Duke Nukem 3D left off. After taking a piss (hold RT to piss) and checking out the gameplan … It’s time for Duke to grab a hold of a devastator and take on the final boss from Duke Nukem 3D all over again. Come Get Some!!

He's Back Baby

: Hold RT to Piss!!

You Can Draw on The Whiteboard!!

You can dick around (pun intended) quite a bit in the locker room. Take a piss, use the shower, drink from a water fountain, draw on the whiteboard, and then finally it’s time to Get Some!! Up an elevator with a devastator and onto the field . . . this big bad motherfucker is looking a lot better than he did when I fought him years ago in Duke 3D.

Devastate Me

Duke 1 - Cycloid - 0

: It’s Good!!

After thoroughly devastating the giant cycloid, the game pans out to see Duke actually playing the game from his own swanky bachelor pad . . . while he’s being blown by two chicks. Make no mistake, that’s what they were doing, and loving it.

How Was it Duke?

Seriously, How Was The Game?

After they’re done, one of them asks you, “So how was the game Duke, was it any good?” To which you reply “Yeah, but after 12 fucking years . . . it better be” Classic.

After that lovely scene you’re thrown right into level 15, and given your own sweet monster truck, which handles pretty well.

Shortly after some driving and turning various aliens into road kill, you pop out of the truck and head forth with only a pistol.

"Damn, Those Alien Bastards Are Gonna Pay For Shooting Up My Ride"

So, out you go into a very Borderlands-esque setting, to kick some ass and chew . . . well you know the rest. Good news, all the classic Duke 3d weapons are back. The same shotgun, ripper, RPG, shrinking gun, and devastator were all spotted. I also picked up a sweet railgun with a scope. The gunplay felt good and bloody and surprisingly very Duke 3D-like (I’m not sure how they managed that) Also to note, Duke has an EGO meter instead of a health bar and the max ammo you can carry in any gun is 69 (giggidy)

Scoped and Dropped

I was grinning like a fucking schoolboy the entire demo. Half at how damn good the game played, and half at how damn unfiltered the whole experience felt. They aren’t holding anything back. Nothing is bleeped out, nothing is censored. This is the 21st century Duke baby, tits, ass, booze and all. “Fuck yeah”, I said to myself … it’s about time.

After it was all said and done (and I picked up my sweet Duke t-shirt and atomic belt buckle) I was talking it over with some other gamers and journos and we all seemed to draw the same comclusion. This game might be too much for an M rating. This fucker might actually warrant an AO (Adults Only kiddies) … joining the ranks of Manhunt 2 and the uncensored version of Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s got all the violence and profanity an AO game deserves, plus all the uncensored tits and ass a sleazy fucker like me could ever want. It’s pure bliss, but it’s not for kids. Let’s se what the ESRB classifies as an AO game.

Contains content that is considered unsuitable for people under 18 years of age, and cannot be bought by anyone below that age. These may include adult video games that shows sex and graphic nudity, extreme violence and blood and gore. As of 2010^[update], there have been twenty-three products which have received and kept the rating. The AO rating is the subject of ongoing, heated controversy due to the extreme restrictions it places on game sales. Games from major publishers that receive an AO rating are often ‘toned down’ in order to gain the lesser rating of M such as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Manhunt 2. Both Sony Computer Entertainment and Nintendo have publicly said that they do not allow AO-rated games on their systems, Microsoft however has not stated whether they allow AO-rated games on their systems.

Does Duke Nukem Forever deserve an AO rating? I think so, but I wasn’t sure . . . so after PAX I headed out on the town to think it over . . . Duke style.

Come Get Some.

AO or not, you can be damn sure I’ll be picking up a copy of Duke Nukem Forever when it drops sometime in 2011.

2K and Gearbox Confirm Duke Nukem Forever’s Return

Sam Naylor — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:29:08 +0000

Duke Nukem Forever has been embedded into the world of gaming for a long time now, with the huge delays and cancellations it has suffered- but 2K and Gearbox have revealed at PAX that they’ll be the ones to finally get the game onto the store shelves. The game will hit on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in 2011.

The reveal is happening right now, and the live stream of the event can be found below. Unless it’s delayed or canceled.

Update: Ripten was hands on with DNF at PAX!! Expect a preview . . . when it’s done.

Resistance 3 2011 Release Confirmed. “More To Come” but not at PAX

Garrett Hartman — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:57:05 +0000

The highly anticipated PlayStation 3 Sci-fi shooter Resistance 3 is confirmed as a 2011 release. After posting a no-show at E3 earlier this summer, many fans and industry experts were left scratching their heads. Last week at Gamescom the sequel was officially announced along with an exciting live action trailer.

Today, in response to fan inquiry, developer Insomniac announced ”Resistance 3 is a 2011 release” via twitter. The tweet continued to say there is “more to come” but it will not be unveiled at PAX.

For many fans, this news can not come soon enough.

Enjoy the trailer:

Super Stardust Devs Announcing New Game at PAX

Demi Adejuyigbe — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:44:25 +0000

While I haven’t yet been able to make my way to the west coast for the annual Penny Arcade Expo, I hear it’s quite the shindig for anyone that loves rubbing elbows with the developers that make our industry great. It’s only going to get more exciting this year as Housemarque, the developers behind Super Stardust and the upcoming Dead Nation, are announcing a new game for PSN and XBLA at the expo this year.

Their latest game, Dead Nation, isn’t even out yet, but they’re already hard at work on a new game that they plan to announce in early September. Unfortunately, they haven’t given us any hints as to what it is, so your guess is as good as mine. I’m excited to see what they do announce, as I’ve gotten more play time out of Super Stardust HD than any other PSN title. Are you gonna be in attendance at PAX? What do you hope they announce? Sound off in le comments!

Castle Crashers Finally Coming To PSN

Dave Oshry — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:20:02 +0000

The wait is finally over … almost!! The Behemoth has announced pricing for the PSN, and promises the game will be available … soon!!

But that’s not all, they will also be bringing Castle Crashers to PAX Prime in a whole new way … arcade style!! Yes, old school four player standing in front of a booth Ninja Turtles arcade style beat em up action!! Here’s a mockup of what they are talking about:

Looks like I know where I’ll be hanging out during PAX!!

Anyhoo, here’s the rest of what The Behemoth had to say.

So let’s talk Castle Crashers. For people on a continent whose last name is “America,” the price will be as close as we can get it to $15. Maybe $14.99. Maybe $15.01. Somewhere right around there. The long and the short of it- Castle Crashers is coming to planet earth like a speeding train ready to fly off the tracks and crash into a village. That village is your PS3.

Meanwhile, we are also getting ready to attend the Penny-Arcade Expo on September 3-5th, in Seattle: Booth #3102. We’re bringing with us our latest build from BattleBlock Theater, awesome merchandise for all of your consumption needs, and a never before seen 4-player Castle Crashers arcade cabinet, just for PAX. Say what? Did we just say arcade cabinet? Wait a second am I talking to myself? What is going on?

As for a release date, sources very close to The Behemoth have told us, “Really, really soon.”

Keep up to date with all things Behemoth at their Dev Blog.

Ken Levine’s PAX Panel

Roly Reyes — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:32:32 +0000

And here I thought the best of what I was going to get from PAX had passed. Ken Levine, the man largely credited for the success of last year’s BioShock hosted a panel about adolescent nerdery, Hollywood screenwriting exploits, and finding himself as a game designer.

PAX 08 Ken Levine Keynote

Definitely my favorite panel of them all, and it’s not entirely because of my irrational love for the mind of Ken Levine. Having been born in an entirely different generation than Ken, I can still relate to many of his stories. Specifically the whole piece about growing up a total nerd and striving to find a tribe of like-minded individuals.

Source: GameVideos

PAX 08: Day One Notes

Justin Arnold — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:51:32 +0000

PAX has begun, and with it has stirred the communal gamer vibe that continues to make it the gamer event of the year. The Washington Convention Center is crawling with gamers of every stripe and every developer worth a toss has shown up to show off.

The gaming press was allowed early entry into the exhibition hall and we quickly devolved into a heaving pack of sibilant monkeys as we ran from booth to booth. With so much to look at, we were afflicted, if momentarily, by a communal form of ADD.

But all that glimmers is not gold, and some offerings were better than others. In fact, some exhibitors seemed intent on showing up to fail. However, there was enough genius offerings to keep even the most jaded of gamers stamped with a permanent smile.

Fallout 3 was on display, and without a doubt Bethesda is taking home the gold with the best PAX booth for this year. They are taking a chance, letting anyone and everyone play Fallout 3 before its street date but from what I played, I think they’ll be fine.

Gears of War 2 was on site, and from what I saw it looked to be 2v2 combat – though they were still setting up, ignoring my pleas to play the game. I believe at one point someone threw a rock at me. Though what he was doing with a rock in his pocket is beyond me.

One game that I very much wanted to play, but a line had formed and my time grew short, was “Demigod.” Watching the game play, you control a hulking behemoth lending its aid to its chosen people, those who worship you – much like the way I am worshiped by the French. I watched one fellow stomp across a generic map, stomping on milling enemies and I was reminded of going one-on-one with my Warcraft III hero against another in a LAN. While the publisher has said there are many demigods to choose from, the only one that I saw was the fellow that looked like a walking castle – not that I am complaining, because he does indeed look as cool as he should. After all, he is a demigod.

More to report on Sunday afternoon, hopefully I will not be assailed by cosplay kiddies. Again.

PAX Coming to Boston 2010, I’m Here Now

Chad Lakkis — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:11:45 +0000

While Wade, John, and Justin are enjoying PAX in Seattle, I am stuck happy to be in Boston this weekend for a wedding.

The good even better news is that, according to Joystiq, the Penny Arcade Expo will be making its way to Boston in 2010. This marks the first time in the shows five year stint that it will be held on east coast.

Source: Joystiq

Gears of War 2 to be Playable at PAX

Rangebar Merani — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:13:19 +0000

According to the official Gears of War website, the Microsoft booth will be hosting 5V5 Gears of War 2 multiplayer matches during this weekend’s Penny Arcade Expo.

Along with the playable matches, there will also be an on-stage demo of the “Sinkhole” level from Gears 2 and both Gears writer Joshua Ortega and Gears artist Pete Hayes will be making an appearance at PAX for a quick Q&A session and autograph signing.

Now this kind of pisses me off because I’m not going to PAX, but I did go to E3 last month, and Microsoft didn’t have Gears 2 playable. That’s not fair at all.

You can check out all the days and times for the Gears of War 2 showcase at PAX at the official Gears of War website.

Source: Gears of War

New Jumpgate Evolution Trailer

John Kershaw — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:45:01 +0000

If, like me, you are looking forward to the brand new space-based, real-time-combat-using, better-than-WoW, totally-awesome new MMO from Codemasters that is Jumpgate Evolution, then you may feel your pants tightening with the following trailer.

Nations At War is the first trailer for the game developed by NetDevil to really show its scale. With dozens of ship types and several beautifully crafted space scenes, this trailer not only gives us what we want, but is also a clear indication of what the end result will be.

If you would like to find out more about Jumpgate Evolution (and you know you want to) then have a read of our initial impressions, or our interview with the game’s producer, Hermann Peterscheck. Also, make sure to keep your eyes out for our hands-on with the game at this years PAX in a couple of weeks.

Jumpgate Evolution is currently in closed beta and is expected to release in Spring ’09. You can sign up for the open beta at the official website.

Via: IGN