MS confirms Banjo and Piñata leaks, promises Gears of War 2 reveals News
Xbox 360 News by Tom Bramwell
As we all sit around rubbing hoof-shaped marks out of our foreheads, Microsoft has whipped open the stable doors and explained what's going on at its event in San Francisco - confirming names and details for Banjo-Kazooie and Viva Piņata sequels among other things.
Big news first: Cliff Bleszinski will be on hand in San Francisco to show off "dramatic new gameplay elements" in Gears of War 2 using a "campaign sequence from early in the game - where Marcus Fenix and COG forces engage in pulse-pounding firefights between two Derrick transports, fend off vicious Reaver fly-by attacks and rabid Brumaks" ahead of the game's November release on 360. Ellie is currently checking her pencil batteries and sharpening her dictaphone, so expect her report on all that very soon.
What's more, Too Human developer Silicon Knights has announced that the game will be out in the US on 19th August and in Europe on 29th August, giving us the chance to stab futuristic vikings in the face with inadequately researched contextual comments [very post-modern - Ed].
Microsoft has also confirmed that Viva Piņata: Trouble in Paradise is in development, and due out this September. More extensive leaked details earlier today are echoed in the official announcement: you will be able to attract, capture, protect, train and force into sexual congress more than 100 new and existing piņata species, with co-op gameplay over Xbox Live and Live Vision Camera support. Be sure to check out the screenshots.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts is also confirmed after extensive leakage. As well as platforming, you build vehicles to your own design. Expect more on that later or pore over the screenshots now.
Microsoft's press release also reveals that Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One will be released on Xbox Live Arcade next Wednesday, 21st May. Developed by Hothead Games in conjunction with adventure game legend Ron Gilbert and Penny Arcade creators Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, it's also due out on PC and Mac, but those versions aren't mentioned here.
Not to be outdone by the upstarts, of course, Microsoft also has veteran projects Fable 2 and Ninja Gaiden 2 on hand in San Francisco, where their creators will talk about new features and no doubt make all sorts of ill-judged statements about the PS3 being rubbish after goading from inconsiderate British journalists. Well, all except Tomonobu Itagaki of Team Ninja, who must have finished Ninja Gaiden 2 by now if it's out on 6th June here, which it is, so presumably he will just walk around with sunglasses and tassles keeping it real.
Look out for more (if not actual) coverage of the Microsoft San Francisco showcase event later. In the meantime, it doesn't appear to have a snappy name, so do your best in the comments.
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Comments: 1-26 of 26 in total
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DutchDemons
13/05/08 @ 15:36
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if you think BK and VP are just for kids, then you are either 14, or dead inside.
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Anthony_UK
13/05/08 @ 15:37
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I don't want Banjo, I don't want Pinata 2, I don't even want Gears of War 1.5 (well that ones a lie)
I WANT KILLER INSTINCT 3!!!!!! ** I'll even make do with KI 1, 2 or even gold on xbox live arcade at a pinch
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 13/05/08 @ 16:38
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Banjoo video:
http://gamevideos.com/video/id/18831 Not sure about it, i expected more technically, hope we see more. |
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Madafunkola
13/05/08 @ 15:41
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"it doesn't appear to have a snappy name, so do your best in the comments."
How about Microsoft Xbox 360 Spring 2008 Media Event |
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Britesparc
13/05/08 @ 15:55
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@ Arbiter
My most-wanted games for autumn/winter, in order: 1) Fable 2 2) Viva Pinata 2 3) Banjo 3 4) Fallout 3 5) Gears of War 2 So yeah, some people do care. Obviously not everyone, but quite a lot of people, I reckon. |
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kissthestick
13/05/08 @ 16:11
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alan wake for 2009 possibly
http://www.totalvideogames.com/news/No_A...
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 13/05/08 @ 17:11
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ParanoidZombie
13/05/08 @ 18:03
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No more tantalizing Ninja Gaiden 2 footage, please... Just bring the demo now!!!!
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cyber_nicco
13/05/08 @ 21:59
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Arbiter, what is your problem? I choose to believe you are not the ass-munch you appear to be here... constantly... so maybe you should just give it a rest.
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RazorObsession
14/05/08 @ 01:43
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Arbiter is a sneering PS3 bummer made of fail, and has obviously never played viva pinata.
I love my adult themed games as much as the next 20 something, GTA, CoD, Bio shock et al, but when I played viva pinata and discovered layer upon oniony layer of hidden depth, i realized it was WAAAAAAAAY too tech to be a childs game, and was really a mature gamers game masquerading for kids to get an extra market. I imagine the focus was for parents who owned a 360 to buy it for their kids, play it with them, and then end up elbowing them out of the way, making them tidy their bedrooms whilst they snuck in another cheeky 2 hour sesh. It wasn't a perfect game by any means, but then NO game is, and it was as close as you could get in my book. |
Comments: 1-26 of 26 in total
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