Someone made this hilarious animated graphic that shows Mario easily climbing up a series of stacked crates of increasing size. A man then follows, but has a lot more trouble with the crates.
Ubisoft Releases List of Some of Songs in Michael Jackson Game
Ubisoft will release its Michael Jackson video game, Michael Jackson The Experience, this fall. The game allows players to step into Michael Jackson's shoes and relive some of his performances. Ubisoft says that for the Kinect version its Player Projection technology projects the player on-screen and into the game itself, where their body will be tracked so they will see their true movements and steps reproduced in the game. The game will also be available for the PlayStation 3 system with the PlayStation Move motion controller, PSP, Wii and Nintendo DS
Ubisoft released the following list of some of the Michael Jackson songs that will be available for the game.
Gala-Net, a publisher of free online games, has entered an agreement with Korean-based developer and publisher CJ Internet. As part of the agreement, Gala-Net will be offering the MMORPG Prius in the U.S. and Canada. Prius Online is a 3D emotional fantasy MMORPG. What is unique about Prius is that is uses a three character (3C) playing system. This 3C system consists of your main character, the Anima, and the Giga. The Anima is your character's companion, and the relationship you develop with her, as you try to unravel the mysteries of her forgotten past, determine her personality and strengthen your bonds. The Gigas, summoned by the Anima in times of battle, are strategic and dynamic mercenaries that fight by your side.
Prius will launch online this fall.
EA's Medal of Honor Under Fire for Letting Players be the Taliban
Electronic Arts' Medal of Honor game is under fire because it lets you play as the Taliban against the U.S. The video game will be released in October. Fox News interviews a mother, whose son died in the war, who doesn't think a game that lets someone play the opposition in a current war should be sold. The opposite argument is that it is a multiplayer game so someone has to take the other side. Take a look:
Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment have announced Batman: Arkham City as the title for its follow-up to Batman: Arkham Asylum. Arkham City will be available for the Xbox 360, Windows PC and PlayStation 3 in Fall 2011. Developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City sends players into Arkham City, the new maximum security home for Gotham City's thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. The Joker is in the teaser trailer. Take a look:
Here is the trailer for DC Universe Online, a massively multiplayer online action game featuring DC Comics characters. You will see several of them in this battletastic trailer including Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Superman. Take a look:
Award winning artist Joss Stone is set to debut as the newest Bond girl in Activision Publishing, Inc.'s James Bond 007: Blood Stone, an original Bond experience from screenwriter Bruce Feirstein. Players will experience action on land and sea while using Bond's high tech gadgets.
"James Bond 007: Blood Stone captures the cinematic intensity of a Bond film by immersing players in an intriguing conspiracy that will require them to think and act like James Bond," said David Pokress, Head of Marketing for Licensed Properties, Activision Publishing. "In addition, the game will feature a diverse array of multi-player modes and debut strategic objective-based gameplay that will allow Xbox 360, PS3™ and PC players to battle as teams of spies and mercenaries through authentic Bond locales."
2K Sports has revealed the official cover art for NBA 2K11, which features Michael Jordan on the cover. The cover features a three-panel, iconic image of Jordan. 2K Sports says the cover is a departure from previous NBA 2K titles to reflect the "significance of having the greatest player of all time grace the cover." NBA 2K11 is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available October 5, 2010. The website for the game can be found here.
“We knew as soon as we signed Jordan that we needed to do something special for the cover,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “This could possibly be the most highly anticipated cover art in the history of sports games and we think the image we came up with delivers on every front. I think fans will be pleasantly surprised at how Jordan is actually used in game, as NBA 2K11 will pay homage to ‘His Airness’ in many ways, but the cover art represented our first chance to stop and honor him along the way.”
Michael Jordan says, "It's exciting to see it all come together. I am looking forward to seeing the final product, but my kids might have to give me some lessons."
CVG reports that Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive creator Tomonobu Itagaki new project is a bloody third person action game for the Xbox 360 and PS3. The game will be called Devil's Third. A release date has not yet been announced. Here is the trailer.
2K Sports announced that basketball legend Michael Jordan will appear on the cover of NBA 2K11. NBA 2K11 is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available October 5, 2010. 2K promises continued improvements to the graphics, gameplay, signature styles and game modes in the next version.
"It's an honor to be featured on the cover of NBA 2K11," said Jordan, current majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. "I have no doubt that NBA 2K11 will be a big hit with gamers and basketball fans alike. I'm looking forward to getting back out onto the court, virtually. Let's hope they get my dunk from the foul line right."
Pixelated Pitfall Doormats Force Your Guests to Jump
If you remember the Atari game Pitfall, then these Pitfall inspired doormats will make you laugh. The pixelated croc and scorpion doormats cost $49 can be purchased from Meninos here and here. Guests attempting to enter your home will have to jump over the doormat. Take a look:
CVGreports that Rockstar Games has canceled plans to appear to the June 15th E3 Expo. Rockstar complained that they were not given enough time.
"In the end, we feel we simply don't have enough time to show as much as we would like in the time available," a spokesperson said. Rockstar was planning to show Max Payne 3 and LA Noire at the show.
There should be plenty of other exciting game announcements at E3. Rockstar will use press conferences/events to launch its future games, which are expected to include Max Payne 3 and LA Noire.
Zynga's virtual farming game called FarmVille is suddenly going to be appearing on lots of products. FarmVille is a popular social game on Facebook.
Venture Beat reports that Zynga has cut a deal with 7-Eleven. The drink and ice cream products contain codes that can be redeemed for Farm Cash, the currency used in FarmVille.
ShoppingBlog.com reports that FarmVille has also cut a deal with Green Giant. Some Green Giant products will contain the redeemable Farm Cash codes. It is interesting that a virtual farm is partnering with a company that sells actual produce.
Leaving a Koopa trapped between pipes may be a cruel and unusual punishment. An article here says the Super Mario franchise is patently offensive to the shelled community. Take a look:
Marketwatch reports that data from the NPD Group indicates that April was another bad month for video game sales. Marketwatch says "relatively weak set of releases failed to entice consumers." Sales were down 37% compared to April, 2009. NPD Group says part of the reason was the Easter holiday, but that doesn't fully explain a 37% plunge.
NPD blamed part of the weakness on a difficult comparison with 2009's April period, which included the Easter holiday, while this year's did not. It was the industry's worst year-over-year decline since July of last year.
"In April '09, consumers attributed $55 million of industry sales to Easter as a purchase occasion, which would account for about 21% of the decline from last year since Easter purchasing happened in March this year," wrote NPD analyst Anita Frazier in the report Thursday.
CVG 
Marketwatch 
