A few days ago, Major Nelson gave us word of a new tool that Xbox owners could use to regain licenses for their downloaded content such as Arcade games and add-ons. The Microsoft DRM has been a point of considerable debate, as users can only use their content on one registered console without being connected to the Internet. This was exacerbated by the fact that the Xbox 360 has a less-than-exemplary hardware reliability and so many users who had to get their consoles replaced (including myself) found the content that we had paid for crippled due to the games not being played on the console with which they were originally downloaded. Until this new DRM management tool was released, Xbox users had no way of transferring their licenses. Have I lost you?

Hit the jump for more details on what is possibly the most inept remedy I’ve ever seen.
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EA Redwood, refusing to be content with the idea that a head shot can stop your attacker cold, has released new game play footage demonstrating death by total dismemberment. That’s right; only total dismemberment can keep these aliens at bay. Hit the jump to find out more information and impressions from the footage.
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Valve has finally provided a release date for Left 4 Dead as well as shared some interesting information about the AI systems at work in their upcoming zombie-shooter title.

In an interview with Left 4 Dead project lead Mike Booth, Booth discusses the game’s “AI Director.” The AI Director monitors what each player is doing and makes sure that there are plenty of high and low points in the action to prevent an unstoppable army of zombies. The game will also procedurally place zombies to help create the high and low points of action rather than randomly or manually placing the zombies on the map. There are a few points in the video where this feature becomes evident when a zombie rushes up behind the player to cause pain and suffering.

Turtle Rock has also released a series of videos showing the game play in action and highlighting some seriously hectic moments in game play. I’ve embedded all of the videos below after the jump.

I don’t know how you guys feel about this game, but I’m ready for some zombie killing fun. How do you guys feel about this game, and will you guys be joining me on release date? I can’t fight zombie hoards alone.

Left 4 Dead will be released November 4th for the Xbox 360 and PC platforms. Turtle Rock hasn’t revealed any PS3 details as of yet.

[via GameTrailers]

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Being the huge fans of the Guitar Hero series that most of us here at MEGATONik are, we’ve managed to stumble, and I do mean stumble, across the complete track listing for Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. I was pretty leary about picking this edition up because I thought it would be nothing but songs done by Aerosmith, but I’m glad to report that only about 63% of the 41 songs listed below are.
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Let me begin this review of one of this past week’s new Xbox Live Arcade releases with a quick disclaimer. Sea Life Safari, developed by WildTangent Game Studios, is less of a game and more of an experience. The game pits you as an underseas photographer bent on shooting animals with film instead of bullets to provide research material for a crotchety old professor, who then rates your photographs based on different criteria. These three major criteria are as follows: whether or not the animal is in the middle of the picture, the relative size of the animal in the picture (I guess he doesn’t like negative space) and whether or not the animal is doing its special movement, which can be elicited by heaving a glowstick or flare at the animal by hitting the B button. The professor then ranks these pictures on a basis of zero to three stars (three being the best) which are then needed to move on to the next level. This type of system seems natural for the type of game that it is, and the professor’s continual dissidence with you will have you hunting for three star photos for quite a while.

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According to Variety, Live Free or Die Hard director, Len Wisemen, will be directing the upcoming Gears of War film by New Line studios.

Chris Morgan, writer of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, has also been added to the film’s roster. Morgan will be creating a new script for Gears of War, replacing the draft that Stuart Beattie, known for producing such films as Pirates of the Caribbean and the upcoming G.I. Joe adaptation, originally wrote.

Epic Game’s boss, Mark Rein, seems assured that the film will be a great success. He commented:

“It’s like with our games, you can have it right or have it right now. We want to get it right. There’s no timetable for us. We just want to make as good a movie as we can, and we think (Wiseman’s) the guy who will do it.”

The Gears of War movie will be releasing in the summer of 2010, also according to Variety.

It’s something that I’ve been somewhat ashamed of for the last 10 years, but I’m a huge Sonic the Hedgehog fan. After all, Sonic 2 was the first game I ever owned and it single-handedly launched my illustrious video game playing career. While the last several Sonic games have… well, sucked, I’ve always held out a little bit of hope that maybe, just maybe, the next one will turn out right and recapture the magic of the original trilogy (quadrilogy? I don’t know if Sonic & Knuckles counts). Well, that spark of hope was reignited last month when Sonic Unleashed was officially announced and I have to say, things seem to be shaping up pretty well so far. Not only does the sense of speed seem to be fully in-tact, but the music fits in more with the original Genesis scores than the more recent ska/rock songs that have run rampant in the 3D Sonic titles.

Anyway, this video adds to my hope that Sonic Team has finally gotten their act together. Sonic speeds through the levels with fancy blurs and speed lines, plus the ability to wall jump is a welcome addition to the franchise. I mean, c’mon Sonic, Mario’s been doing that shit for years already!

[Via IGN]

Over at Softpedia, there are rumblings that Microsoft could announce the release of a new 360 model as well as a price cut for current models at E3 in July. Microsoft is likely hurting as the PS3 sold more units in May than the 360 (about 208,700 and 186,600, respectively according to the NPD) and this trend is expected to be the case in June, too .

Part of the reason for Sony’s success as of late is the recent run of PS3-exclusive titles on the system (MGS4, we’re looking at you) according to EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich:

This is likely due to the exclusivity factor as exclusive releases on Sony’s platforms have historically shown to be a better hardware driver than that of multi-platform releases. On average, PS3 exclusive games sell 45% more, throughout their lifetime, than multi-platform titles available on the PS3. Exclusive titles for the other two systems, the Wii and Xbox 360, only boast a small increase in lifetime sales over multi-platform titles.

With E3 less than a month out, we’ll know soon enough whether this holds any water or not.

[Via Evil Avatar]

Activision is (probably) working on a superhero title (that’s not Spider-Man) called Powers & Titans (that has nothing to do with the above picture of the Watchmen) that’s all about working with teams. “Super teams.” The title will be available for the 360, PS3, and Wii, and will offer gamers the chance to work with friends to complete multiplayer missions. Although the game is mainly focusing on multiplayer aspects, and working with a team, there will be a single player campaign. Players will be able to create their own character and use them for battle, very much similar to City of Heroes.

As all of the leaks today, this isn’t definite. Still, Powers & Titans sounds like a solid idea.

Intellisponse has poured some new potential info out about Microsoft debuting the SBG Channel on their Xbox Live online service. The channel will feature several game shows. According to Kotaku’s report, the channel could introduce Microsoft’s version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

The SBG Channel is described as focusing itself on “programmatic, highly concurrent social interactive games.” The channel will be featuring the game show Jeopardy, as well as many “Reality TV, Puzzles, and Sports,” programs in its lineup. Microsoft also would like to use the SBG Channel to have live events with virtual and real world prizes up for grabs.

Next up on the leak list is Microsoft’s karaoke game, titled Lips (NOT pictured above). This music title will contain 30 songs, and two wireless microphones. The biggest news about this game though, is the ability to allow users to use their own downloaded tracks.

Lips will allow gamers to rip songs from their CD or iPod, and use them to sing along with in-game. Lyrics are also uploaded to each song, while the vocals on ripped tracks will automatically be lowered.

The game will score its players based on pitch, rhythm, and tune. It’s also noted that the mics are motion sensored, and will be used for giving out bonus points for players who dance along (I see this as shaking your mic like an idiot) while singing.

Again, take this all with a grain of salt as this has not been confirmed yet.

On Sunday, the good old members of Xbox 360 Fanboy and NeoGAF ’s forums found a login-protected website for the marketing and research company Illtellisponse. The website featured a security hole that allowed the forum members to dig in. The members were able to get into the site and take a look around at some top-secret documents, revealing a VERY large amount of new information on Microsoft and Activision products.

Do remember: Intellisponse is a marketing and research company, so it is possible that some, most, or all of the leaked bits are just concepts. There has been no confirmation on any of these leaks just yet.

The first leak of the bunch reveals a feature that Microsoft may be using to counter Nintendo’s Miis. Microsoft simply calls them “avatars.” They are cute, user friendly, and probably replacing Xbox Live gamer pictures. They are fully customizable, as gamers can change any article of clothing and other items, as shown in the above picture provided by Kotaku.

More leaks on the way.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipe of Darkness is the first installment of what developer Hothead Games promises to be a four-part series surrounding the world of the popular webcomic, Penny Arcade. The creators of Penny Arcade, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, took a major risk in jumping their strip from relative cult success to mainstream Xbox Live Arcade media. Has the risk payed off for us gamers? Hit the jump to find out!

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When Aces of the Galaxy, an Xbox Live Arcade game developed by Artech Studios and published by Sierra Online, touted itself to be a “non-stop, old-school arcade thrill ride,” I was somewhat skeptical. How many times have we heard awesome descriptions just to discover the game is worth less than the surprise my dog leaves in tightly-coiled piles in my [neighbor's] yard? Does this game live up to the picture the description paints, or will this be just another mediocre Xbox Live Arcade title? Hit the jump to find out!

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I haven’t really paid much attention to Dark Void since it was announced last year, but the new concept art and screenshots have excited my interest. It looks like a cool, somewhat unique sci-fi shooter (a genre which I don’t think we’ll ever get tired of), and the fact that you can fly (with the assistance of a jet pack) instantly makes this game seem much more intriguing than just what the detailed looking robots and generic environments did. Dark Void’s “adrenaline-fuelled blend of aerial and on-foot combat” and promise to “[take] 3D action to a whole new level” is what sets it apart. While every shooter these days has something to make it stand out from all the others, this sounds like it could actually be pretty awesome if executed well.

It also claims to have a “mysterious thought-provoking storyline based on conspiracy theory and strange phenomenon,” which could end up being interesting - with the exception of the unbelievably generic main character, a “regular pilot turned unlikely superhero in a wild ride to save humanity.” That’s a direct quote from the fact sheet, but it would fit right in almost any recent game press release.

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