Monday blues are inevitable

I've come to the office today feeling different from what I had expected to feel... in my case, it meant there wasn't any sign of Dai 3 Ji Super Robot Wars Alpha in sight anywhere. I've went to my favourite shop in IOI Mall, Puchong, to have a look as the guy promised he will get a few copies of the game and save one for me. But the Friday night that I left work early, I went there and SRW Alpha 3 has yet to make an appearance in the Malaysian market, or so it seemed.

Anyway, I got myself some other games instead, though they were not new: Spider-Man 2 and Killzone. A new game that I bought was Garou: Mark Of The Wolves, which is known to some of you as the Fatal Fury series. Since Garou (translated as hungry wolf) is one of the newer games to be released here, I could do a review on it and see how the Fatal Fury series have evolved - it's either a good or bad thing. The protagonist this time around isn't Terry Bogard anymore (though he might make an appearance in the form of a hidden character) but Rock Howard, Geese Howard's son. The storyline behind this one-on-one fighting game seemed to have an interesting twist to it, so I'll keep you posted on it as soon as I'm done with my day job and the fresh-new deadlines I need to meet! Sigh!

Precious, my preciousss...

It's quite unnerving when you know that a favourite game of yours is out in stores and selling like hot cakes, and yet you're the last one to get it because you're working overtime for the past few days. And by the time you left work, the shops have all closed because it was already 10.00pm. Anyway, Dai 3 Ji Super Robot Wars Alpha should be in stores in Malaysia as it has already been officially launched in Japan on 14th of July, though I have yet to see the game here myself. The thought of SRW Alpha 3 sitting pretty on a shelf waiting to be picked up can make one go crazy; I know I'm going nuts just thinking about it. And next month, there will be many more games to coming out soon, especially Capcom's upcoming first-person-shooter game Darkwatch. Oh, by the way, The King Of Fighters NeoWave is also another game that is already out since July 21. KOF fans might want to scour shelves of nearby retailers and get this game for some 3-on-3 team fighting fun.

Want some more PS2 candy to drool over? Here is a list of some other most anticipated games that yours truly is waiting with bated breath for!


Cover scans available:


Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (Out Now!)


Black (February'06)


Burnout Revenge (Out Now!)


Castlevania: Curse Of Darkness (Out Now!)


Chronicles Of Narnia (Out Now!)


Darkwatch (Out Now!)


Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi (Out Now!)


DragonQuest VIII: Journey Of The Cursed King (Out Now!)


Fatal Frame 3 (Out Now!)


Kingdom Hearts II (March'06)


King Kong (Out Now!)


Magna Carta: Tears Of Blood (Out Now!)


Makai Kingdom (Out Now!)


Megaman X Collection (Out Now!)


Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (Q1 2006)


Need For Speed: Most Wanted (Out Now!)


Okami (April'06)


Prince Of Persia: The Two Thrones (Out Now!)


Radiata Stories (Out Now!)


Resident Evil 4 (Out Now!)


Shadow Hearts: From The New World (Q1 2006)


Shadow Of The Colossus (Out Now!)


Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 (Out Now!)


Sniper Elite (Out Now!)


Soul Calibur 3 (Out Now!)


Steambot Chronicles (Q2 2006)


The Godfather (Q1 2006)


The Matrix: Path Of Neo (Out Now!)


Tomb Raider: Legends (2006)


Ultimate Spider-Man (Out Now!)


Cover scans not available:



Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (2006)

Dark Cloud 3 (2006)

Dirge Of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII (2006)

Dragon Force (2006)

Final Fantasy XII (Q2 2006)

Rogue Galaxy (2006)

Rule Of Rose (January'06)

Starcraft: Ghost (Q1 2006)

Street Fighter Alpha Anthology (Q3 2006)

Tourist Trophy (Q2 2006)

That's it for now, though there might be some additional games to the list of my most wanted when there's a game or two that catches my fancy.

NEWS: Anyone Up For Some Hot Coffee, Fresh From San Andreas?

ESRB assigns "Adults Only 18+" (AO) rating for current version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas due to unauthorised third party 'Hot Coffee' modification

Rockstar Games to cease manufacture of current version of title and offer a downloadable patch to prevent modification of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for PC

Company lowers third quarter and fiscal year guidance to reflect the expected negative impact on the title's retail performance


New York, NY, July 20, 2005 – Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) announced today that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has changed the rating of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on all platforms from 'Mature 17+' (M) to 'Adults Only 18+' (AO) because of the so-called 'hot coffee mod', an unauthorizsd third party modification that alters the retail version of the game. Take-Two cooperated fully with the ESRB's investigation.

Rockstar Games has ceased manufacturing of the current version of the title and will begin working on a version of the game with enhanced security to prevent the 'hot coffee' modifications. This version will retain the original ESRB M-rating and is expected to be available during the Company's fourth fiscal quarter. Rockstar Games will be providing AO labels for retailers who wish to continue to sell the current version of the title.

As a result of the re-rating of the game, Take-Two is lowering guidance for the third fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2005 to $160 to $170 million in net sales and a net loss per share of $(0.40) to $(0.45) to provide reserves for the value of the title's current North American retail inventory. Accordingly, guidance for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2005 is also being lowered to $1.26 to $1.31 billion in net sales and $1.05 to $1.12 in diluted earnings per share.

"Take-Two and Rockstar Games have always worked to keep mature-themed video game content out of the hands of children and we will continue to work closely with the ESRB and community leaders to improve and better promote a reliable rating system to help consumers make informed choices about which video games are appropriate for each individual," said Paul Eibeler, Take-Two's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The ESRB's decision to re-rate a game based on an unauthorised third party modification presents a new challenge for parents, the interactive entertainment industry and anyone who distributes or consumes digital content. Rockstar Games is pleased that the investigation is now settled and they look forward to returning their focus to making innovative and groundbreaking video games for a mature audience."

The scenes depicted in the 'hot coffee' modification are not playable in the retail version of the game unless the user downloads and /or installs unauthorized software that alters the content of the original retail version of the title, representing a violation of Take-Two and Rockstar's end user license agreement (EULA) and intellectual property rights. "We are deeply concerned that the publicity surrounding these unauthorised modifications has caused the game to be misrepresented to the public and has detracted from the creative merits of this award winning product," said Mr. Eibeler. Take-Two is exploring its legal options as it relates to companies that profited from creating and distributing tools for altering the content of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Rockstar Games will be making available shortly a downloadable software patch to render Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for PC impervious to the "hot coffee" modification. Rockstar encourages parent groups and political leaders to assist with distribution of the patch to prevent the content of the modification from spreading further.

Sakura, Sakura, where art thou Sakura?

Cover scan of PlayStation 2's Sakura Taisen V: Saraba Itoshiki Hito Yo

Getting caught up in the adrenaline that was E3 proved to be a good and bad thing for me. Good because of the awesome line-up of upcoming games to see and write about; bad because I totally forgot about one of Japan's most anticipated game title that has just been released: Sakura Taisen V! I remembered some sites have listed the release date as tentatively as Q3, but I chanced upon Sega's official Sakura website (www.sakura-taisen.com) and it's confirmed that this month will see the latest Sakura Taisen instalment between the 16th or 17th in Japan. As for Malaysia, I can only hope for a delay of 7 to 10 days (if we're lucky enough!) before it reaches here. The full title of the game is called Sakura Taisen V: Saraba Itoshiki Hito Yo,
and I'm planning on getting this game soon to see what's the fuss about it and how much it has evolved since my very first memorable and fun experience playing Sakura Taisen: Atsuki ChiShio Ni on the Sega Saturn :)

Time to get even in Revenge

Take your destructive nature to the roads once again in Criterion Software's latest Burnout outing, Burnout Revenge. Being the fourth game in the award-winning battle-racing series, Revenge follows the tradition of the latest Burnout series: lush graphic details, exhilirating speed and the feeling of uncontrollable tendency to want to wreck your opponents' car by slamming, shunting and grinding them - all thanks to Criterion's RenderWare. Watch sparks (and cars) fly in virtual realism and sadistic satisfaction, but Revenge takes you on for more than just winning by being the first at the finish line.

Burnout Revenge speaks for itself in its title: revenge. Being bullied by your opponents? Grab them by the ball-bearings and take that specific road bully of yours out in style, whether by normal / signature takedowns or by slamming the unfortunate fellow smack-dab into oncoming traffic. If you can't bring him / her to the traffic, then bring the traffic to them! Revenge ups the ante this time around by allowing players to 'guide' other vehicles on the road onto your opponents' path, sending that poor soul into a show of spectacular lights, debris and spare parts! And that's just part of the fun in Revenge, folks!

Burnout 3: Takedown was an amazing game, and Criterion will be bringing the Revenge up a notch than its predecessor in terms of gameplay, and I hope that means retaining that excellent control responsiveness of Burnout 3 in Revenge. In the meantime, these new screenshots will be your diet staple for the moment until you get to binge out on the retail release of Burnout Revenge. Enjoy!



Ahh, what beautiful scene, depicting peace and serenity...


...but it's not just about admiring pretty pictures only, as you can see the carnage from another view in Burnout Revenge


Revenge's the name, slamming's the game. Detailed cars, locations, destuctions...


...and not forgeting the fireworks from one of your lovely works of pure chaos art as the cars ripped apart in the wake of your road rampage


You can see for miles up ahead of you to plan ahead, but you're better off concentrating on scheming your next rival's annihilation in one of the many ways Burnout Revenge allows you


Call me sadistic, but what a pretty sight... unless that's you totally totalling your own car


Think you got the best of your rivals and can get away with it?


Think again; the AI in Burnout Revenge does not forget, nor does it forgives...

NEWS: Crazy Frog Leaps To PlayStation

Britsoft Coup As Leading Independent UK Publisher Signs Worldwide Agreement For Crazy Frog PC and PlayStation 2 Game; Christmas Number One Assured

Digital Jesters has won the battle fought between rival games industry superpowers to win the race to sign Wallaroo Licensing Company's Crazy Frog icon. The firm has exclusive worldwide interactive entertainment rights across all formats, and will publish the first Crazy Frog computer and video game this November on PC and PS2.

Following its debut as a ring tone and mobile mascot, the Crazy Frog (also known as The Annoying Thing) has been a mainstream phenomenon, with its "Axel F" single occupying four weeks as the UK's best-selling single this year. Subsequent singles are in the pipeline, and an album is due this summer – so whether you love or loathe the grinning, virtual bike-riding amphibian, there's little chance of escaping him this year.

Digital Jesters has negotiated an exclusive deal which will see it develop and publish the first Crazy Frog video game worldwide, for release across on various platforms. November will see the Crazy Frog and his chums thrown headfirst into an arcade racing game.

"This is the deal everyone wanted," enthuses Leo Zullo, marketing director and co-founder, Digital Jesters. "Given the competition, we're obviously proud to have secured this deal, which will offer Digital Jesters exciting opportunities from Christmas onwards. We're working with Wallaroo to develop our own intellectual property within the Crazy Frog universe, capitalising on the colossal success of the ubiquitous character. We've continually hinted that big things were just around the corner at Digital Jesters, and they don't get much bigger than this."

"Out of everyone we were discussing the deal with, only Digital Jesters showed the passion, excitement and enthusiasm we demand from our partners to do what is necessary to evolve this special character," adds Stefan Heinemann, director, Wallaroo Licensing Company. "Digital Jesters moved quickly and with great fervour. We're confident Digital Jesters will ensure Crazy Frog dominate the games charts this Christmas."

Crazy Frog Racer will hit the shelves in Europe in November 2005, priced at a one off cost of £19.99 (€29.99 or RM136.43). Rest of the world will follow in Quarter 1 2006.

To be part of the Crazy Frog Racer Club, you can join for free at www.crazyfroggame.com

Robot wars on the horizon!

Cover scan of PlayStation 2's Dai 3 Ji Super Robot Wars Alpha

What a great way to start the month of July! No news is good news, they say, but to hear about a new Super Robot Wars game coming out somewhere around this month is surely music to the ears. Well, mine anyway. Dai 3 Ji Super Robot Wars Alpha is the latest instalment of the hugely popular SRW franchise, where robots across multiple platforms - games & anime - meet to battle it out with the bad guys who have joined forces to provide resistance to the heroic intentions of the good guys.

Expect robots from animes such as Getter Robo, Evangelion and Mazinger Z to games like Virtual On to grace the third outing of SRW. Gameplay-wise, it's a strategy game and players as well as the AI will battle it out on a turn-based combat environment. The beauty of SRW has to be the engagement fight, where the animation of the attacks between the good and evil side are incredibly amazing.

More on Dai 3 Ji Super Robot Wars Alpha soon. In the meantime, do check out Banpresto's official SRW website at http://www.suparobo.jp

Let's hope you can read Japanese though! :)


Update: Looks like Banpresto's already have a release date for Japan. Expect to see Dai 3 Ji Super Robot Wars Alpha around the 14th of July 2005... and subsequently my review and personal notes if there's any major changes made to the latest SRW instalment!