Edge reports that the formation of the new Scottish video game development studio Ruffian Games, which is made up primarily of ex-members of the team who worked on Crackdown for the Xbox 360, could mean that Crackdown 2 is in development.

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Capcom has released the official box art for Resident Evil 5, showing Chris Redfield and newcomer Sheva Alomar back-to-back, along with some of the mysterious Kijuju scrawls in the background.

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Kill - Zone 2 - Game - Play Blowout:

For those interested in the long - awaited [awaiting] FPS title, Killzone 2, or for simply — PS3 owners in general: there is a gigantic amount of new game - play footage, over on/at Gametrailers.com…

Check it out, over at some of these locations:

Multi - Player Mayhem: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/43370.html

Campaign Footage: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/43368.html

“Special - Delivery” Footage: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/43374.html

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Although Microsoft will drop the price of the Xbox 360 to $299 this weekend, Sony says it has no plans to follow suit with the PS3.

“This year, our strategy is not to sell more quantity for PS3 but to concentrate on profitability,” said CFO

Nobuyuki Oneda on Friday. “Our plan is not to reduce the price.”

Oneda’s remarks trail widespread confirmation that Microsoft will drop the price of the Xbox 360

by $50 this Sunday. In the last three weeks, numerous sources and retail fliers have confirmed the news, though Microsoft says it has nothing to announce.

Sony effectively slashed the price of the PS3 for the first time last year, when introducing a new 40 GB model without backwards compatibility for $399.

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World’s Most Profitable Pure-Play Online and Console Game
Publisher

Cash Tender Offer for Up to 146.5 Million of Activision Blizzard
Shares at $27.50 Per Share to Commence Within Five Business Days

Vivendi Owns 52% on a Fully Diluted Basis/54% of Outstanding
Shares of Activision Blizzard

PARIS & SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jul 10, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Vivendi (Euronext Paris: VIV) and Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced the completion of the transaction announced on December 2, 2007 to create Activision Blizzard, as the world’s most profitable pure-play online and console game publisher. Activision Blizzard was formed by combining Activision, one of the world’s leading independent publishers of interactive entertainment, and Vivendi Games, Vivendi’s interactive entertainment business, which includes Blizzard Entertainment’s(R) World of Warcraft(R), the world’s #1 subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Activision Blizzard will continue to operate as a public company traded on Nasdaq under the ticker ATVI.

Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO of Vivendi, said: “We have created the world leader in online and console games with this transaction and the combined strengths of the two businesses offer immense growth potential. I am also very confident that, with the new leadership team in place, the new entity is perfectly positioned to take advantage of these rapidly developing markets across the globe.”

Rene Penisson, Chairman of Activision Blizzard, added: “We are delighted that the merger has been completed. We are very excited about the opportunity for Activision Blizzard to create a broader entertainment software platform. We are leaders across North America and Europe and are creating a substantial footprint in the rapidly growing Asian market. We are determined to ‘think big’!”

“The completion of this transaction marks the beginning of an important new chapter in the history of interactive entertainment,” said Robert Kotick, President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard. “By combining leaders in mass-market entertainment and subscription-based online games, Activision Blizzard has leading market positions across all categories of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry. With more than 10.7 million subscribers on World of Warcraft, and with tens of millions of people playing Guitar Hero, Activision Blizzard’s games are transcending the traditional stereotypes and are more popular as a form of entertainment than ever before. We look forward to building upon our brands to create value for our shareholders, customers and consumers.”

“From the beginning, our goal has been to make the best games in the world, and this transaction strengthens our ability to do just that,” said Mike Morhaime, Blizzard Entertainment cofounder and Chief Executive Officer. “As part of Activision Blizzard we’ll have the reach and resources to share our games with an even wider audience — while maintaining the same approach as always to providing high-quality entertainment and services to our players.”

In addition to World of Warcraft, the #1 subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game, the transaction brings together some of the world’s leading interactive entertainment franchises including Guitar Hero(R), the #1 family entertainment and #1 music-based franchise; Call of Duty(R), the #1 first-person action franchise; Tony Hawk, the #1 action sports franchise; Spider-Man, the #1 Super Hero franchise; Cabela’s(R), the #1 sports hunting franchise; and two of the top-ten kids movie-based franchises, Shrek and Madagascar(TM), for calendar year 2005 through 2007 according to the NPD Group, Chart Track and The GFK Group.

The transaction was approved by Activision’s stockholders at a special stockholder meeting on July 8, 2008 and closed on July 9, 2008.

Structure and Terms of the Transaction

Under the terms of the agreement, Vivendi Games merged with a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision and shares of Vivendi Games were converted into approximately 295.3 million new shares of Activision common stock. Concurrently with the merger, Vivendi purchased approximately 62.9 million newly issued shares of Activision common stock at a price of $27.50 per share for a total of approximately $1.7 billion in cash, resulting in a total Vivendi ownership stake in Activision Blizzard of approximately 52% on a fully diluted basis and approximately 54% of shares outstanding.

In accordance with the terms of the agreement, within five business days of the closing of the transaction, Activision Blizzard will launch a $4 billion all-cash tender offer to purchase up to 146.5 million Activision Blizzard common shares at $27.50 per share. To the extent that Activision’s stockholders participate in the tender offer, the tender offer may be funded with Activision Blizzard’s available cash on hand at closing, borrowings made under credit facilities from Vivendi, and proceeds from the issuance of additional shares to Vivendi for up to $700 million. If the tender offer were fully subscribed, Vivendi would own an approximate 68% ownership stake in Activision Blizzard on a fully diluted basis.

The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive in its first year post-closing for Activision’s stockholders on a non-GAAP basis excluding equity-based compensation, one time costs related to the transaction, the impact of purchase price accounting related adjustments including amortization of intangibles, and the impact of the change in deferred net revenues and cost of sales related to online-enabled games.

Both Activision and Blizzard Entertainment’s businesses have maintained their momentum and Activision Blizzard is well positioned to exceed the financial goals set for the combined company at the time of the deal announcement.

Board & Management

The Board of Directors of Activision Blizzard consists of eleven members: six directors designated by Vivendi, two Activision management directors and three independent directors from Activision’s board of directors. Rene Penisson, a member of the Management Board of Vivendi and Chairman of Vivendi Games, will serve as Chairman of Activision Blizzard. Brian Kelly, Co-Chairman of Activision, will serve as Co-Chairman of Activision Blizzard. The three independent directors are Richard Sarnoff, Robert J. Corti and Robert Morgado. Other Activision Blizzard directors will be Robert Kotick (President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard), Bruce Hack (Vice-Chairman and Chief Corporate Officer of Activision Blizzard), Jean-Bernard Levy (Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi), Doug Morris (Member of the Management Board of Vivendi and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Universal Music Group), Philippe Capron (Member of the Management Board and Chief Financial Officer of Vivendi), and Frederic Crepin (Senior Vice President, Head of Legal Department of Vivendi).

Activision Blizzard is drawing on an accomplished group of leaders from both companies: Robert Kotick is President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Blizzard. Mike Griffith is serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Publishing, which includes the Sierra Entertainment, Sierra Online and Vivendi Games Mobile divisions in addition to the Activision business.

Bruce Hack, who served as Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi Games, is Vice-Chairman and Chief Corporate Officer of Activision Blizzard, accountable for leading the merger integration and the finance, human resources and legal functions. Blizzard Entertainment cofounder, Mike Morhaime, will continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Blizzard Entertainment. Thomas Tippl, formerly Chief Financial Officer of Activision Publishing, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of Activision Blizzard and Jean-Francois Grollemund, Chief Financial Officer of Vivendi Games, has been appointed Chief Merger Officer of Activision Blizzard.

Portfolio of Video Games and Franchises

Activision Blizzard’s portfolio includes best-selling video games such as Guitar Hero(R), Call of Duty(R), and Tony Hawk, as well as Spider-Man(TM), X-Men(TM), Shrek(R), James Bond(TM) and TRANSFORMERS(TM), leading franchises such as Crash Bandicoot(TM) and Spyro(TM) and Blizzard Entertainment’s(R) StarCraft(R), Diablo(R), and Warcraft(R) franchises including the global #1 subscription-based massively multi-player online role-playing game, World Of Warcraft(R).

About Activision Blizzard

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a worldwide pure-play online and console game publisher with leading market positions across all categories of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry.

Activision Blizzard maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Romania, Australia, Chile, India, Japan China, Taiwan and South Korea. More information about Activision Blizzard and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activisionblizzard.com.

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Midway’s newly revealed E3 game lineup is an eccelctic mix of hardcore fighters, established franchises, and “casual” titles.

In a press release fired off to GamePro today, Midway revealed its scheduled lineup for next week’s super-hyped E3 event and games expo.

The titles are a mix of franchise players, like Mortal Kombat, and new “casual” fare, including Game Party 2.

Here’s the full list, along with release dates and systems:

• Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, Fall 2008)
• Wheelman (PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, PC; Fall 2008)
• TNA iMPACT! (PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2; September 2008)
• Blitz the League II (PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360; Fall 2008)
• This is Vegas (PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360, 2009)
• Unreal Tournament 3 (Xbox 360; July 2008)
• Game Party 2 (Wii, November 2008)
• Touchmaster 2 (Nintendo DS, September 2008)
• Mechanic Master (Nintendo DS, September 2008)
• MidwayArcade.com (Online, Available Now)

And, believe it or not, the original Game Party has sold more than 1 million units to date.

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Apple frontman Steve Jobs is making big promises regarding the number of games that will soon be available for the iPhone.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs revealed Wednesday that the iPhone will feature more than 160 games when the company launches its App Store service this week.

The games will join more than 500 iPhone applications expected to hit App Store. According to the New York Times, 25% of those applicaitons will be free, and 90% will be sold for $9.99 or less. There was no word on what the average cost of a game would be, although Super Monkey Ball, one of the featured games at the Aple WWDC keynote, was listed at $9.99.

During the call with the NYT, Jobs also said Apple will give developers a generous 70% cut of app sales.

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1942: Joint Strike arrives on XBLA and PSn the week after E3, complete with new levels, enemies and a score composed by Metal Gear Solid veteran Norihiko Hibino.

Capcom’s timless World War 2 shooter 1942 got an HD makeover with Joint Strike, and today we can tell you the game hits PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade servers the week after E3.

More specifically, 1942: Joint Strike will arrive on July 23 for Xbox Live Arcade, and July 24 for PlayStation Network. The game will cost $10, according to a Capcom press release (which, coincidentally enough, is also the confirmed price of WiiWare exclusive Mega Man 9).

In addition to the HD graphical update, Backbone Entertainment created new levels, level backdrops for classic stages, and new enemies for Joint Strike. According to Capcom, the game also features a musical score composed by Metal Gear Solid contributor Norihiko Hibino.

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Super-violent football title Blitz: The League 2 will deliver bone-crunching hits on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this fall.

A new Blitz title will arrive on consoles this fall, Midway confirmed Tuesday.

Called Blitz: The League 2, the pseudo-football, super violent addition to the Blitz franchise will include a brand new “story mode.” No additional details were provided by Midway on that mode in a press release obtained by Wired.

However, we do know that Blitz: The League 2 will feature “better tackling controls, player-controlled touchdown celebrations, and a host of online multiplayer options,” according to the release.

Blitz: The League 2 is scheduled to arrive in stores this fall for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

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Written by James Pikover
Tuesday, 04 March 2008

There is no good introduction to Patapon. But it’s a game that needs none. A simple yet cunningly complex rhythm game that requires players to have quick wit, and does it better than any before it, need not receive a half-strewn history or poetic saying. Patapon is simply as its name suggests; simple, catchy, and utterly amazing.

As the mighty Patapon, a sort of deity to a race of small creatures with giant eyes for bodies, it is the sworn duty for players to lead the Patapon back to their promised land which they had long ago lost by unknown means. Using the power of drums, it is the duty of the Almighty Patapon to return the Patapon to their land, find “It” and regain their former glory.

Simple as it may sound, the odds are always stacked against the Patapon. Not only are they small of stature and always short on numbers, but they are essentially worthless without the imbued power of the players drums. They have complete and utter faith in the players decisions and do exactly as they are commanded, which says much about this tribe that stares at you through the PSP screen.

The commands are simple and training to use them is a necessity followed through well. With four different drums to collect over the course of the game, commands can be attack, defend, move forward, retreat for cover, using magical powers, and more. So long as the beat is kept, the Patapon will do as they are told.

Following the beat is key, and while it may appear to be easy at first takes lots of practice to do continuously and well. Hitting the notes perfectly requires expert timing, though the rewards for doing so are great. Should the beat be kept for ten moves straight, the Patapon enter “Fever” mode, where they become more energetic and attack with more vigor.

For the different types of Patapon, this means different things. Yaripon and Yumipon are projectile attackers, using spears and arrows, respectively. Tatepon are the brunt force, attacking with swords, axes and carrying shields, while Dekapon, huge and wielding massive clubs to pummel the opposition. Kibapon ride gallantly on noble steeds and fight with lances, and finally Megapon fire tremendous sound attacks. And there are variations of each, depending on what type of materials are used to spawn the different Patapon.

In Fever mode, attack strength practically doubles. Dekapon and Tatepon attack more often and are more likely to amass critical hits. Yaripon jump up to throw their spears farther, Yumipon shoot three arrows simultaneously instead of one, and Megapon become much more effective. Kibapon are the most effected by Fever, galloping back and forth around the battlefield and sending enemies careening back to whence they came.

Enemies come in numerous shapes and sizes. Most inviting are the Zigotons, a race similar to the Patapons, but distinguishable by their red square eye-for-body. Like the Patapon, they fight in groups, typically the same size as the largest Patapon arrangement, but they fight in waves, use buildings for protection, better armor and weaponry, and set traps for the Patapon.

Beyond the different types of Zigotons are the different forms of creatures that are meant to be hunted. Buffalo, ostrich, and giant crab-like creatures are the typical foray on the Patapon diet, but they will eat anything they kill, save for the Zigotons. Even and especially the large bosses.

These behemoths will be ten to twenty times the size of the attacking force, carry thousands of health points when for most of the game each Patapon can only inflict tens worth of damage. Each has specialty attacks that can clear the battlefield with just a few connected hits.

All along the road traveled are new obstacles to overcome, items to find and treasures to uncover. The items earned are typically weapons or armor as upgrades, but can also open up new areas to explore, battle and hunt. Equipment is dealt with prior to any outing and is familiar to typical RPG’s, except that it can only be obtained from the Zigotons after battle.

This may seem like a downside, but it fits brilliantly into the model developer Pyramid sought out to create. The level of depth in Patapon is unrivaled because it all plays through the simplest of terms. How many regular Patapon are required based on the number of helmets, since some Patapon don’t need helmets. How to properly distribute weapons when only so many are available, but different teams can use different amounts.

Using such deep strategies and tactics, however, is not necessary. Players can just as easily spend hours farming for “ka-ching”, the money of the world, to further upgrade all their Patapon. It comes at a price, for doing so takes much time and because it isn’t simply monotonous button presses that typical World of Warcraft players have grown accustomed to. Keeping the beat for hours of farming is completely different from hours of progressing, fighting actual enemies and carrying out the story.

A rather large annoyance is the inability to pause the game, with the exception of putting the PSP in standby mode. Pressing start simply asks if the mission should stop, though realistically as a rhythm game there is no solution. The option to pause it without stopping the system cold would be an improvement.

Properly playing Patapon takes practice and patience, and those short on either will ultimately reach the end of the game with incredible difficulty in defeating the final stages. This may occur because they simply paid for standard troops instead of more powerful ones, and filled their ranks completely instead of mastering the controls to progress.

The final missing piece is the lack of direction towards necessary and unnecessary steps towards progression. Several times backtracking will be necessary and it will only say in one particular spot, which is very easy to miss. For anyone without hawk eyes, time will be spent simply playing over various maps to achieve something they know nothing about, only to stumble upon it in anguish of time ill spent.

Keeping the tradition of simplicity in all parts of the game, Patapon is a visually pleasing, cute, intelligent and surprisingly addictive title. Taking a step back from the gameplay, it’s easy to marvel at the ingenuity of Patapon from every angle; artwork, music, control, presentation…very little holds it back. Even with its faults, there is no doubt that Patapon is a contender for game of the year on the PSP.

Final Verdict:
Gameplay: 10
Graphics: 9.0
Audio: 10
Last Appeal: 9.0
Overall: 9.5

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