2 Cents Gaming

It Seems IGN has some information about Rock Band 2.

Good news is you WILL be able to use your old DLC from Rock Band 1 in Rock Band 2, so that will calm alot of nerves on that front.

Now really, anyone who thought there would not be a Rock Band 2, considering who the publisher is, was fooling themselves.  However, I think this will be a good thing, as it seems they will be adding new features such as ONLINE band world tour (thank god) and possibly new peripherals?  One thing of note was the statement saying a guitarist and singer can be one in the same now, so no more creating 2 characters to do what you were possibly only doing yourself.

Just yesterday, Friday the 27th of June, Bill Gates announced his leave from Microsoft Corp in what must have been the largest display of emotion this generation of programmers will ever display.

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Looks like Blizzard knows how to keep a tight lip on things. At this weekends Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, They announced Diablo 3, along with unveiling three trailers for the game. Lots of cool info can be gleaned from the gameplay trailer, one of the cooler ones being you can now pick your gender for your class.

And now I will show you all the 3 trailers, courtesy of Game Videos.

In… look, this is one of those stories you never actually think you’ll write. Even high profile, actually paid journalists (cough cough) don’t think you’ll ever get to see something like book burning happening again, and yet here we are.

Admittedly, not state mandated, but Gamepolitics has a report from the Daily Press, in which a Rev. Richard Patrick blames absolutely every single form of violent entertainment for affecting, it says here, 90% of his congergation.

But as we all know, 87% of all statistics are made up, including this one.

Anyway, Rev. Patrick is quoted as saying:

We are considering having something similar to a rally where parents and children can bring CDs and video games that they consider are destructive to the mind set of our youth and have a burning… 

 Young people are being influenced by what they see and what they hear. They are being influenced by television … television and videos are telling young people a vision but something that’s not reality…

[Violent media] has a tremendous influence on young people and violence. That’s basically all they see. Most of them try to emulate what they see, when in reality, the people they see don’t even live in those communities. Some of the rappers they see on TV portraying crime don’t live in the urban areas — they live in the suburbs somewhere. It’s all a facade.

Actually advocating burning of media forms because you and your flock are too bloody cowardly to take responsability for your own actions? Oh yes, Rev, well done - you’re a right model of what a citizen should be, aren’t you? And Rev, while I’m poking you in the chest with the imaginary indignant finger of justice, where’s your proof.

I never thought that someone would recommend anything like this ever again in History, not after the actions Hitler and his regime undertook in the late 30s and early 40s. Seems people really don’t pay attention.

(Yes, I know, Godwin, but the point stands).

John Mayer, who’s apparently some sort of rock star (I don’t really listen to much I don’t already know, musicwise) who, well, doesn’t really see the point of the newly emerging rythm based video games. You know, the hugely popular ones. Said the… wait, he’s a pop star? Ok, fair enough 1UP, pop star it is. Anyway, he said:

I don’t ever want to be the kind of guy who rails against whatever progress has taken place. But Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it.

And having done both, there’s nothing like really playing guitar. I mean, what would you rather drive, a Ferrari or one of those amusement-park cars on a track?

Which goes to show even them fancy international types can completely miss the point of things. It’s not to get more out of it, John, it’s to have fun. Lemme put it another way. Would you rather sit down and read a nice, juicy textbook or the biology of flowers, or just look at the bloody things.

Tis more fun to just have the fun than to study to have the fun, as it were. And Mayer here isn’t the first to make exactly the same misguided statement, with plenty of other rock stars coming out since the release of the plastic guitar.

The question this raises, is, of course, bloody hell why? You already have the perfect delivery system for new content for a game - which would make it easy to include new clothing and instruments as well as music, dev boys. So why on earth would you need to release a sequel?

Regardless, that is the latest rumour floating around, as atested to by Eurogamer. Apparently, some sources say November as a release date. If that’s true, of course, it’ll most likely piss off the Europeans, who just had the first one released over there.

Anyway, regardless of this being a terrible and unnecessary idea, we’ll have to wait and see if it’s true.

Filiming, and the fanboy rumor mill, has already begun on the sequel to Transformers. The sequel now has an official title, according to a release by Hasbro. Get ready for Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

A bit on the cheesy side, but eh. Also of note, in the Hasbro release it states a dead character will make a “dramatic comeback to settle a score”. Popular speculation suggests it’s Megatron, who was killed in the first film, and that the new subtitle also refers to him. Makes sense.

Hasbro release can be read here.

Ok, this has been a Jack heavy couple of days, with an astounding three posts about the same subject, I admit, but this latest one is just goddamn hillarious. Not only is he as good as disbarred, not only has his case against the Florida Bar (where he had alleged that the Florida Bar were “unconstitutionally barred him from representing himself before that body” after the Bar told him that, well, he couldn’t submit anymore documents because he was bathist crazy. Only in a nice way) has fallen apart at the same time, but now our Mr. Thompson has the Florida Bar right where he wants them.

Yup, Jack is going to win, again. At least, that’s the way he sees it.

See, the case was covered in the Daily Business Review, according to Gamepolitics. And because the case was covered there, it’s helped Jacko immensley. In an email which was addressed to Gamepolitics and others (improbably titled, of all things, SWEET!):

Because of the [DBR] article, which contains my entire Objections filing, I am now getting phone calls from highly respected people who are proving to me the criminal conduct of The Florida Bar… We are meeting with law enforcement officials about that. 
 
This is all wonderful.  Light is now being shone in some very dark places, and the Daily Business Review has assisted in that wonderfully.
 
I am now going to win this fight, by the grace of God and because of the First Amendment, most particularly the right to freedom of the press.  Certain Florida Bar officials need to hire criminal defense lawyers today.  The investigations are already underway.  And if you think I’m kidding, then you don’t know Jack.

Yes, Jackies got them right where he wants them.

Just like he did Take 2 when he was going to help EA take them over. Which, if I remember correctly, EA refused the help saying, again in a very nice and political way, that they wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole.

Just like he did when he tried to get Bully banned. Which went on to sell rather well, even in Florida.

Just like he did when he wanted to question the President of the United States in relation to his disbarrment trial.

Just like when he wanted to have famously gay Attorney Norm Kent as a purveyor of smut, a move which backfired when Jackie submitted hardcore gay pornography through the court system.

Just like when he was going to shut down every single gaming journalist site, along with Penny Arcade, because they didn’t like him. They were all still there when I took a look this morning.

Jack sees victory where there is none, and always has. It’s a very optimistic trait to have, really, but once which will eventually, as everything else has, turned around and bit him in the ass.

On another note, Thompsons accusation that Gamepolitics had received classified court documents from Judge Dava Tunis was apparently submitted as a legal court document. Which, you know, are signed, right under the part which says “I make this under penalty of perjury,” is yet another little move that will come and bite him in the ass, as it just wasn’t true. That’s not stopping him from claiming it is, while at the same time going after the person who provided Gamepolitics with the documents - one Eunice Sigler. How’s he doing that?

By demanding to see her official loyalty oath. Because that worked so well last time.

One of Gamepolitics readers, Nevexst, managed to attend yesterdays disciplinary hearing, and provided the site with a laymans blow by blow of the events.

I was able to tag along with an actual attorney, so we drove to the courthouse, went up to the courtroom, waited outside until 2pm. Baliff opened the door and I held it open. Sadly, I even held it open for the beast himself.

So the judge came in. Judge Tunis seems like a real nice lady.

Thompson wanted to make known that he had a objection in writing. He was able to submit it to the record, but the judge said he couldn’t read it aloud. That really pissed him off, I think. He also passed around copies of the objection to various reporters and a member of the legal community known as “Mr. Mim”. He also claimed that “Mr. Mim” was not supposed to be there. So he dropped the objection into his lap and went back to his side of the court. The judge was NOT pleased.

Eventually, he made comments about the judge not being a judge(This is relating to the Loyalty Oath stuff), said the hearing was moot, and WALKED OUT.

“The court acknowledges that Mr. Thompson has voluntarily left the proceedings”

Then the Florida Bar presented it’s evidence. Lalalala, bunch of legal crap.

The Bar recommends that Thompson’s punishment should be: “Enhanced disbarment, with a reapplyment wait of 10 years”

After more legalese, the court was ajorned.

Mr Mim threw away his copy of the objection. A friend of mine who happened to be attending reached to get it at the same time a State Attorney was. We ended up getting a copy of it because the State Attorney was a nice guy.

And we went home.

End of story

Of course, I was reminded of a couple of things reading the story on Gamepolitics. One is that Mr. Thompson has not yet actually been disbarred, but it is more or less a sure thing. I would tell you to put money on it, if in fact you were of the betting persuasion.

Secondly, Thompson had previously claimed he was going to entirely boycott the trial, but he seemed oddly present.

Thirdly, he claimed he had a huge “surprise” for yesterday which was going to shake things up. The only thing he had was his objection which, regardless, he wasn’t able to read, and even if he had, it wouldn’t have made a bit of difference.

So, what we have here is yet another example of the complete incompetence of John Bruce Thompson, soon to be former attorney.

In todays disciplinary hearing of Jack Thompson, the Florida Bar asked for enhanced disbarrment of the famous anti-videogame crusader, which means that he would not only be disbarred, but disallowed from re-applying to be a lawyer for 10 years. Ten long, lovely, years, where we wouldn’t have to put up with his “I’m an attorney and you’re not” crap.

Sounds heavenly, doesn’t it? Well, to us, not to Jackie, who, of course, didn’t like the news one bit, and walked out of the courtroom, claiming that Judge Dava Tunis did not have the authority to try him or to hear his case, again citing the “loyalty oath” which he’s been pursuing for so long. You know, the one which means nothing.

Hit the jump for JT’s long and rambling letter of objection, courtesy of Kotaku.

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Capcom released artwork yesterday of the main protagonists of Resident Evil 5, one with, of course, Chris Redfield, and the second being the mystery partner featured in the latest trailer to come out for the game.  Still no new details of who, exactly she is, but we’re sure there’ll be more details forthcoming sooner or later.

Hit the jump for both of the full pics.

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As we noted yesterday, Tomonobu Itagaki left Tecmo after deciding that he hadn’t been paid what he had been promised, and levelled a lawsuit at them.

Today, Kotaku has the response from the company on the matter (translated from the Japanese press release, in fact)

Our company getting sued by this employee is huge problem… the reasons for making this lawsuit public are self-centered. What’s more, this employee is filing this suit for himself and making it seem like he alone is responsible for the development of the game titles the rest of the Team Ninja staff had poured its heart into.

Team NINJA is currently working on a line-up of new titles. All of Team NINJA is starting to work together on interesting new game titles.

Itagaki has always been one to be the center of attention, as it seems to just be his personality type. Just take a look at any photo he’s in, and his decorated leather jacket and constantly present sunglasses should attest to that.

Either way, this could shape up to be an interesting battle between the outspoken developer and his former company. Either that, or it’ll fizzle out completely.

IGN has the news that Sony has ceased development on internal titles, 8 Days and The Getaway, citing the fact that they need to properly re-distribute their resources and budget on the “incredibly strong list of exclusive first party titles coming up both this year and in the near future” in order to focus on those, rather than, as is ininuated, two piles of crap.

8 Days I know nothing about, and will not miss it. The first The Getaway was a decent GTA knock-off game, with decent story and well-written and acted dialogue, but a bit rough around the edges. The second one ditched the good story and kept the rough edges, so who knows if this one would have been like.

Over at 1UP, they’re reporting on comments made by a couple of Lucasarts employees, that may, just perhaps, hint at the idea that the old Lucasarts classic point and click games might, maybe, slightly perhaps being considered by someone at a “higher pay grade” than him.

*cough*

What it all boils down to is that, for 10 years, there’s been a terrible derth of really good adventure games. Sure, there still are point and click games coming out, but most of them are filled with terrible voice acting, decent storylines, and an almost depressing, sombre attitude about them - each one stinking of desperation to get back to the hey day of the classic genre.

Then Telltale comes out with the new Sam and Max games, which are good, funny, popular, and coming out on more than just the PC (with the recently announced Wii versions, and a possibility of a Live Arcade release with the popular release of the Penny Arcade game). And suddenly, there’s a good adventure game, and interest in the genre resurges.

So, what better time for Lucasarts to re-release their classic catalogue of Adventure games, and maybe, for the love of god, put down the bloody lightsaber and start working on some new ones.

Of course, the two sources 1UP have quoted don’t give much hope of a solid announcement on this subject. They’re hopeful that such things could happen, but, unfortunately, they don’t make the calls.

Still, direct please from me to Lucasarts - do eeeeeet.

I’m sorry, but if you’re actually offended that Funcom reduced the size of female characters breasts - by accident, it turns out - then you really need to get out more. And I’m a confirmed live-in-front-of-the-computer gaming geek telling you that.

Eurogamer has the news that Funcom, in a recent patch to their new (and awesome) MMOG, Age of Conan, accidently slipped in a body morphing bug which caused the female PCs breasts to reduce in size dramatically. We’re talking breast reduction surgery dramatically here. So, bit of a mess up, but Funcom are working on getting it fixed.

What’s interesting about this is the furor surrounding the event - with some suggesting that it’s a way to water down the content of the game. These people are, in essence, nutjobs.

Erling Ellingsen was quoted as saying:

The amount of attention this accidental breast reduction has received is very surprising to us. I’ve had mainstream media calling me about this, and the forum has been glowing with some very interesting conspiracy theories

I can tell you, however, that this is nothing but a body morphing bug that is being fixed now. So your breasts should be back to normal as soon as possible. Never thought I would say those words, really. Interesting business, this

So don’t worry, troglodytes! Your 3D ladies will have their jubbly bits back up to the bouncy proportions you lust after quite soon.