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Kombo's Comprehensive E3 2009 Index Page Every single E3 2009 related update and article posted on Kombo... conveniently organized in one location. Just for you. 
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Heavy Rain Hands-On Is it a game or a new kind of cinematic experience? Whatever it is, it's looks freaking amazing. 
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Assassin's Creed 2 Impressions The sequel to the breakout IP of this generation. Put your faith in the Creed. |
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PS3
Sonic Races into LittleBigPlanet
by Eric Jones | 11/21/09 | 1:10 PM PST
Finally, a Sonic side-scrolling game returns to consoles! Well, sort of. Sega and Media Molecule have teamed up to add Sonic and friends to the playable skins in LittleBigPlanet, revealed at the site for PlayStation Asia.
Now, you can dress up Sackboy as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Dr. Eggman, or the Were-hog. And maybe, if you squint ever so slightly, you can go back to an age where Sonic games used to be good.
Sonic Races into LittleBigPlanet
by Eric Jones | 11/21/09 | 1:10 PM PST
Finally, a Sonic side-scrolling game returns to consoles! Well, sort of. Sega and Media Molecule have teamed up to add Sonic and friends to the playable skins in LittleBigPlanet, revealed at the site for PlayStation Asia.
Now, you can dress up Sackboy as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Dr. Eggman, or the Were-hog. And maybe, if you squint ever so slightly, you can go back to an age where Sonic games used to be good.
source: PlayStation Asia
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GEN
New 2K Games Shooter Announced to Debut at VGAs...and Outed Soon After
by Eric Jones | 11/21/09 | 11:11 AM PST
The latest world premiere to be a part of the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards has been announced, and it's a new mystery game that we haven't seen before...or have we?
VGA 2009 Mystery World Premiere #1
The trailer reveals a new military-based shooter from 2K Games, set in a bombed-out Dubai, and supposedly set to appear for the first time at the VGAs. However, if you'd like to be spoiled, you can hit the jump.
New 2K Games Shooter Announced to Debut at VGAs...and Outed Soon After
by Eric Jones | 11/21/09 | 11:11 AM PST
The latest world premiere to be a part of the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards has been announced, and it's a new mystery game that we haven't seen before...or have we?
VGA 2009 Mystery World Premiere #1
The trailer reveals a new military-based shooter from 2K Games, set in a bombed-out Dubai, and supposedly set to appear for the first time at the VGAs. However, if you'd like to be spoiled, you can hit the jump.
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PS3
Final Fantasy XIII's Final Trailer Debuts Wednesday
by Kombo Staff | 11/21/09 | 5:45 AM PST
With Final Fantasy XIII's Japan release only weeks away, news has been pouring in regarding what to expect from the series' next installment. While Japanese gamers don't have to wait long to get their hands on the game, North American and European gamers will have to wait until March 9 to explore the world of Cocoon.
There is however, one more tidbit of content that is sure to come our way before year's end. In fact, you can expect to see a new trailer, the final trailer for the game on Wednesday of next week. Check Square-Enix's official site to see the countdown.
It's gonna be big.
Final Fantasy XIII's Final Trailer Debuts Wednesday
by Kombo Staff | 11/21/09 | 5:45 AM PST
With Final Fantasy XIII's Japan release only weeks away, news has been pouring in regarding what to expect from the series' next installment. While Japanese gamers don't have to wait long to get their hands on the game, North American and European gamers will have to wait until March 9 to explore the world of Cocoon.
There is however, one more tidbit of content that is sure to come our way before year's end. In fact, you can expect to see a new trailer, the final trailer for the game on Wednesday of next week. Check Square-Enix's official site to see the countdown.
It's gonna be big.
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PS3
Mass: We Pray a Dante's Inferno Marketing Stunt
by Kombo Staff | 11/20/09 | 8:22 PM PST
Last week's satirical advertisement for Mass: We Pray, which featured cross-shaped motion controllers and gameplay modes like 'baptism' and 'ring the tower bell', has turned out to be another bit of sneaky marketing for EA's upcoming Dante's Inferno.
All of the game's marketing efforts have tied into the seven deadly sins.
Back at E3, EA held a contest asking attendees to take pictures with booth-babes, which tied in with 'Lust'. EA also sent out checks to media outlets as a tie-in with 'Greed'. Apparently the Mass: We Pray advertisement ties in with 'Heresy'.
Seeing these marketing stunts fall flat, I wonder if the controversy EA is trying to raise is doing the game any good.
Mass: We Pray a Dante's Inferno Marketing Stunt
by Kombo Staff | 11/20/09 | 8:22 PM PST
Last week's satirical advertisement for Mass: We Pray, which featured cross-shaped motion controllers and gameplay modes like 'baptism' and 'ring the tower bell', has turned out to be another bit of sneaky marketing for EA's upcoming Dante's Inferno.
All of the game's marketing efforts have tied into the seven deadly sins.
Back at E3, EA held a contest asking attendees to take pictures with booth-babes, which tied in with 'Lust'. EA also sent out checks to media outlets as a tie-in with 'Greed'. Apparently the Mass: We Pray advertisement ties in with 'Heresy'.
Seeing these marketing stunts fall flat, I wonder if the controversy EA is trying to raise is doing the game any good.
source: Kotaku
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PS3
November Marks the Launch Anniversary of Many a Gaming Platform
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 4:08 PM PST
A lot of console and handheld anniversaries are being observed this year, such as the SEGA Genesis, the Dreamcast, and the Game Boy. But November seems to be the month to remember, as many a memorable platform celebrate can celebrate its launch going into the Winter holidays.
First and foremost, one cannot overlook the platforms of this very generation. Earlier this week, November 17th marked the third anniversary of the PlayStation 3's North American launch, while the Wii celebrated its own third just yesterday, November 19th. And at the start of next week, November 22nd, the Xbox 360 will also be able to celebrate, except this will be its fourth.
November Marks the Launch Anniversary of Many a Gaming Platform
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 4:08 PM PST
A lot of console and handheld anniversaries are being observed this year, such as the SEGA Genesis, the Dreamcast, and the Game Boy. But November seems to be the month to remember, as many a memorable platform celebrate can celebrate its launch going into the Winter holidays.
First and foremost, one cannot overlook the platforms of this very generation. Earlier this week, November 17th marked the third anniversary of the PlayStation 3's North American launch, while the Wii celebrated its own third just yesterday, November 19th. And at the start of next week, November 22nd, the Xbox 360 will also be able to celebrate, except this will be its fourth.
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PS3
FFXIII Gets "T" Rating Long After Nintendo Tried Marketing Original to Adults
by Kombo Staff | 11/20/09 | 3:08 PM PST
Following the announcement of a release date, The Examiner reports that Final Fantasy XIII now has a rating by the ESRB. And that rating is... T for Teen. Like you thought it would be anything else.
The reason for the rating is Violence (natch), Mild Language (yippee), and Suggestive Themes-- hello. Examiner says that "While the rating shouldn't be a shock to anyone, the use of suggestive themes could be. With the game appearing to have a heavy atmosphere of love and caring, two women who link together to form a car, are surely some other sexual like surprises, the suggestive themes are likely to be minor sequences."
On a related note, did you know that Nintendo once tried to market the original NES Final Fantasy toward adults?
FFXIII Gets "T" Rating Long After Nintendo Tried Marketing Original to Adults
by Kombo Staff | 11/20/09 | 3:08 PM PST
Following the announcement of a release date, The Examiner reports that Final Fantasy XIII now has a rating by the ESRB. And that rating is... T for Teen. Like you thought it would be anything else.
The reason for the rating is Violence (natch), Mild Language (yippee), and Suggestive Themes-- hello. Examiner says that "While the rating shouldn't be a shock to anyone, the use of suggestive themes could be. With the game appearing to have a heavy atmosphere of love and caring, two women who link together to form a car, are surely some other sexual like surprises, the suggestive themes are likely to be minor sequences."
On a related note, did you know that Nintendo once tried to market the original NES Final Fantasy toward adults?
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PS3
A Good (or at Least Fairly Decent) Look at Sony's Magical Wand
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 2:57 PM PST
Click for a larger view
While Microsoft has been quite open with Project Natal, showing it to anyone who will look and taking it on talk show after talk show following E3, Sony has been much quieter about their unnamed motion control peripheral. In most cases, there isn't even a very good look at it to be found online.
That is, until now. Sony gave those in attendance at their media and investors conference a better look at the revised form of what I'm calling the Wonder Wand. As you can see in the image above, it has at least six buttons placed upon it, including the standard four PS face buttons, a big central button between them, and the home button below.
Plus, as you can plainly see by the text, it features force feedback, a gyroscope not unlike that in the Wii MotionPlus, an accelerometer, and something called "rendition by light," which may involve that bulb on top that looks like it should be sticking out of the mouth of a clown.
A Good (or at Least Fairly Decent) Look at Sony's Magical Wand
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 2:57 PM PST
Click for a larger view
While Microsoft has been quite open with Project Natal, showing it to anyone who will look and taking it on talk show after talk show following E3, Sony has been much quieter about their unnamed motion control peripheral. In most cases, there isn't even a very good look at it to be found online.
That is, until now. Sony gave those in attendance at their media and investors conference a better look at the revised form of what I'm calling the Wonder Wand. As you can see in the image above, it has at least six buttons placed upon it, including the standard four PS face buttons, a big central button between them, and the home button below.
Plus, as you can plainly see by the text, it features force feedback, a gyroscope not unlike that in the Wii MotionPlus, an accelerometer, and something called "rendition by light," which may involve that bulb on top that looks like it should be sticking out of the mouth of a clown.
source: Siliconera
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PS3
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is the Franchise's Fastest Selling Game
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 2:07 PM PST
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, the latest outing for the dynamic duo from Sony and Insomniac Studios, unfortunately did not manage to blast its way into October's Top 10 software sales as rated by NPD. However, that doesn't mean its sales were unsatisfactory.
In the latest edition of their Full Moon Show podcast, the bad boys of Burbank revealed that A Crack in Time is nonetheless the fastest-selling game yet in the Ratchet & Clank franchise. Impressive, notes The Examiner, as the previous entries have sold over 25 million units combined worldwide.
Of course, one thing working against Ratchet & Clank would be their release date of October 27th, which means the October NPD would only have covered four days of its shelf life so far. It should be interesting to see if it can aspire to greater heights once the November rankings are revealed.
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time is the Franchise's Fastest Selling Game
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 2:07 PM PST
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time, the latest outing for the dynamic duo from Sony and Insomniac Studios, unfortunately did not manage to blast its way into October's Top 10 software sales as rated by NPD. However, that doesn't mean its sales were unsatisfactory.
In the latest edition of their Full Moon Show podcast, the bad boys of Burbank revealed that A Crack in Time is nonetheless the fastest-selling game yet in the Ratchet & Clank franchise. Impressive, notes The Examiner, as the previous entries have sold over 25 million units combined worldwide.
Of course, one thing working against Ratchet & Clank would be their release date of October 27th, which means the October NPD would only have covered four days of its shelf life so far. It should be interesting to see if it can aspire to greater heights once the November rankings are revealed.
source: The Examiner
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PS3
Mozilla Rejects Rumor of Firefox Coming to PS3
by Zach Carmichael | 11/20/09 | 1:07 PM PST
Yesterday, PlayStation Insider reported that Mozilla's popular web browser, Firefox, would soon be coming to the PlayStation 3 emerged. The credibility of this news was a bit shoddy, however, seeing as how the site has been wrong on multiple occasions. Today, Mozilla dispelled said rumor in an e-mail to PS3Center.net:
Well, there you have it. It seems the PS3's OS will not be getting Firefox -- at least not anytime soon.
Mozilla Rejects Rumor of Firefox Coming to PS3
by Zach Carmichael | 11/20/09 | 1:07 PM PST
Yesterday, PlayStation Insider reported that Mozilla's popular web browser, Firefox, would soon be coming to the PlayStation 3 emerged. The credibility of this news was a bit shoddy, however, seeing as how the site has been wrong on multiple occasions. Today, Mozilla dispelled said rumor in an e-mail to PS3Center.net:
"Nope - not sure how that rumor got started but it's been keeping us busy all day :)"
Well, there you have it. It seems the PS3's OS will not be getting Firefox -- at least not anytime soon.
source: PS3Center
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PS3
GameStop's Black Friday Video Game Deals Revealed
by Kombo Staff | 11/20/09 | 12:33 PM PST
The dreaded date of Black Friday on November 27th, 2009 draws ever closer. And while Kmart's gamer deals did little to excite, perhaps GameStop's offerings will do a little more for you.
So if you decide to venture forth out into the November cold at 6am for the named-in-poor-taste "Doorbuster" deals that run until 11am, or just any of the other deals which run all week, here is what you can expect.
GameStop's Black Friday Video Game Deals Revealed
by Kombo Staff | 11/20/09 | 12:33 PM PST
The dreaded date of Black Friday on November 27th, 2009 draws ever closer. And while Kmart's gamer deals did little to excite, perhaps GameStop's offerings will do a little more for you.
So if you decide to venture forth out into the November cold at 6am for the named-in-poor-taste "Doorbuster" deals that run until 11am, or just any of the other deals which run all week, here is what you can expect.
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PS3
Sony "Confident" It Will Sell 13 Million PlayStation 3's This Year
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 12:06 PM PST
Sony Computer Entertainment is aiming for 13 million PlayStation 3 consoles sold worldwide by the end of the fiscal year, as Executive Vice President Kaz Hirai explained to the press that he is "confident" that they can reach that goal.
Furthermore, they plan to achieve profitability with the platform by March 2011, with cost-cutting and investing in new technologies helping to pave the way, including their plans to focus on 3D gaming and movies with a firmware update.
Gamasutra notes that if Sony is able to accomplish the 13 million number by the end of their fiscal year in March 2010, it would "represent a significant gain over the company's fiscal 2008, which saw 10.1 million units sold." The company's own numbers show that they sold 4.3 million consoles combined over their first and second quarter, meaning they will have to sell over double that amount during the remaining half, which includes the holiday season.
Sony "Confident" It Will Sell 13 Million PlayStation 3's This Year
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 12:06 PM PST
Sony Computer Entertainment is aiming for 13 million PlayStation 3 consoles sold worldwide by the end of the fiscal year, as Executive Vice President Kaz Hirai explained to the press that he is "confident" that they can reach that goal.
Furthermore, they plan to achieve profitability with the platform by March 2011, with cost-cutting and investing in new technologies helping to pave the way, including their plans to focus on 3D gaming and movies with a firmware update.
Gamasutra notes that if Sony is able to accomplish the 13 million number by the end of their fiscal year in March 2010, it would "represent a significant gain over the company's fiscal 2008, which saw 10.1 million units sold." The company's own numbers show that they sold 4.3 million consoles combined over their first and second quarter, meaning they will have to sell over double that amount during the remaining half, which includes the holiday season.
source: Gamasutra
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GEN
"We Interrupt This Deathmatch to Bring You the Following Announcement..."
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 11:13 AM PST
Some of you might be familiar with the Emergency Broadcast System or its successor, the Emergency Alert System, which tend to interrupt television shows and commercials with their shrill sound tests. And on occasion, they even warn you of imminent danger, too.
That is, unless most of the time your television spends on is used playing video games, in which case you'll be halfway to Oz before you know what's going on. That's why state officials in New York are planning to send the alerts issued by the Emergency Management Office over video game networks.
"We Interrupt This Deathmatch to Bring You the Following Announcement..."
by David Oxford | 11/20/09 | 11:13 AM PST
Some of you might be familiar with the Emergency Broadcast System or its successor, the Emergency Alert System, which tend to interrupt television shows and commercials with their shrill sound tests. And on occasion, they even warn you of imminent danger, too.
That is, unless most of the time your television spends on is used playing video games, in which case you'll be halfway to Oz before you know what's going on. That's why state officials in New York are planning to send the alerts issued by the Emergency Management Office over video game networks.
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PS3
IBM Ending Cell Processor Development
by Daniel Sims | 11/20/09 | 8:47 AM PST
IBM has confirmed that it will cease development of the Cell Processor used on the PS3 among other systems. This does not equate to an end of production.
IBM has been co-developing the Cell Processor along with Sony and Toshiba. Even after the PS3's launch better models of the processor have been developed between the three. IBM's most recent and supposedly last version of the Cell Processor is the PoweXCell 8i which is currently used in the world's second fastest supercomputer. IBM will not develop the planned 32 SPE version of Cell.
The status of actual development of the Cell Processor does not equate to the status of production of current models of the processor for the PS3. No reports have been made on changes to production or production of PS3s.
Despite ending development of the Cell itself, IBM will still incorporate parts of the Cell into future designs. Apparently they will pursue a CPU/GPU hybrid route in the future.
Technically, Sony can still hire IBM to develop a new Cell Processor for the Playstation 4. Their decision in this matter could affect things like backwards compatibility with PS3 games when the next console comes around.
IBM Ending Cell Processor Development
by Daniel Sims | 11/20/09 | 8:47 AM PST
IBM has confirmed that it will cease development of the Cell Processor used on the PS3 among other systems. This does not equate to an end of production.
IBM has been co-developing the Cell Processor along with Sony and Toshiba. Even after the PS3's launch better models of the processor have been developed between the three. IBM's most recent and supposedly last version of the Cell Processor is the PoweXCell 8i which is currently used in the world's second fastest supercomputer. IBM will not develop the planned 32 SPE version of Cell.
The status of actual development of the Cell Processor does not equate to the status of production of current models of the processor for the PS3. No reports have been made on changes to production or production of PS3s.
Despite ending development of the Cell itself, IBM will still incorporate parts of the Cell into future designs. Apparently they will pursue a CPU/GPU hybrid route in the future.
Technically, Sony can still hire IBM to develop a new Cell Processor for the Playstation 4. Their decision in this matter could affect things like backwards compatibility with PS3 games when the next console comes around.
source: Playstation University
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PS3
Infinity Ward Considered Alien Warfare?!
by Kombo Staff | 11/20/09 | 8:45 AM PST
The team at Infinity Ward is made up of quite a unique and creative group of guys, and as such, I'm not surprised when I hear some of the outlandish ideas they originally had for Modern Warfare 2. From zombies and viral outbreaks to alien invasions, the development team considered a number of different possibilities when approaching the sequel.
In an interview with GamePro, Infinity Ward writer Jesse Stern describes the initial thought process that was involved in deciding what direction to take the game.
Hit the cut to see how it all began.
Infinity Ward Considered Alien Warfare?!
by Kombo Staff | 11/20/09 | 8:45 AM PST
The team at Infinity Ward is made up of quite a unique and creative group of guys, and as such, I'm not surprised when I hear some of the outlandish ideas they originally had for Modern Warfare 2. From zombies and viral outbreaks to alien invasions, the development team considered a number of different possibilities when approaching the sequel.
In an interview with GamePro, Infinity Ward writer Jesse Stern describes the initial thought process that was involved in deciding what direction to take the game.
Hit the cut to see how it all began.
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GEN
Rebuttal: Is Infinty Ward Anti-PC?
by Matt Pearce | 11/20/09 | 6:16 AM PST
A few days ago we published an article under the title "Modern Warfare 2: The Battleground for PC Gaming?" in which one of Kombo's Editorialists, Eric Frederiksen, discussed the hardcore PC gamer's opinions regarding Infinity Ward's move to do away with dedicated servers for their latest release. Like Eric, I'm a huge PC gamer. I've been playing PC games since DOS, and I don't plan on quitting. I fondly remember Quake LAN parties and dialing-up friends for Warcraft 2 matches. I'm also sad to see that games are straying from dedicated servers. In fact, the only statement of Eric's that I directly disagree with is that Infinity Ward's decision to use matchmaking in Modern Warfare 2 is "...one of the loudest shots fired from the bow of a major publisher against PC gaming." Infinity Ward isn't anti-PC, they're anti-piracy. If they were anti-PC they wouldn't have spent the time and resources to port the game to the PC. I know piracy played such a huge role in the decision, because shortly after the first Modern Warfare was released, Kotaku dug up a blog post of Robert Bowling's (creative director of Infinity Ward and a major proponent of the new matchmaking system) in which he mentions a disturbingly large number of people playing pirated versions of the game on the online multiplayer. Mr. Bowling titled this blog post "They Wonder Why People Don't Make PC Games Any More". With that said, it can't be denied that Infinity Ward did, in fact, anger a lot of their hardcore PC fans with the decision to use matchmaking in Modern Warfare 2.
Rebuttal: Is Infinty Ward Anti-PC?
by Matt Pearce | 11/20/09 | 6:16 AM PST
A few days ago we published an article under the title "Modern Warfare 2: The Battleground for PC Gaming?" in which one of Kombo's Editorialists, Eric Frederiksen, discussed the hardcore PC gamer's opinions regarding Infinity Ward's move to do away with dedicated servers for their latest release. Like Eric, I'm a huge PC gamer. I've been playing PC games since DOS, and I don't plan on quitting. I fondly remember Quake LAN parties and dialing-up friends for Warcraft 2 matches. I'm also sad to see that games are straying from dedicated servers. In fact, the only statement of Eric's that I directly disagree with is that Infinity Ward's decision to use matchmaking in Modern Warfare 2 is "...one of the loudest shots fired from the bow of a major publisher against PC gaming." Infinity Ward isn't anti-PC, they're anti-piracy. If they were anti-PC they wouldn't have spent the time and resources to port the game to the PC. I know piracy played such a huge role in the decision, because shortly after the first Modern Warfare was released, Kotaku dug up a blog post of Robert Bowling's (creative director of Infinity Ward and a major proponent of the new matchmaking system) in which he mentions a disturbingly large number of people playing pirated versions of the game on the online multiplayer. Mr. Bowling titled this blog post "They Wonder Why People Don't Make PC Games Any More". With that said, it can't be denied that Infinity Ward did, in fact, anger a lot of their hardcore PC fans with the decision to use matchmaking in Modern Warfare 2.
November 20, 2009
