And now news has come out that she was ruled out for inclusion in Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing. “She was going to ride on the back of Ryo’s bike,” executive producer Steve Lycett allegedly said in a Sonic Stadium forum post, “but there was the small issue of where does she go when the Forklift appears.”

Because, while having the martial arts student on a quest for vengeance in the mascot racing game is a perfectly sensible move, it would simply have been silly for his friend to disappear when his motorcycle was replaced by a forklift in the middle of a race.

In an earlier post, Lycett mentioned that Saturn mascot Segata Sanshiro was also considered for inclusion, but rejected. We would suggest that if Segata didn’t work in this game, Sumo Digital should start over, and keep trying until it arrives at a game design that includes Segata Sanshiro.

Of course, it should be noted that Lycett also coyly downplayed rumors of Banjo and Kazooie’s inclusion in the Xbox 360 version of the game, so anything he says should be met with a measure of skepticism.

[Via Kombo]

Rumor: Shenmue’s Nozomi cut from Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After the ESRB rating for Game Arts’ Thexder Neo listed it as a PSP and PS3 game, Square Enix released the downloadable shooter remake on PSP only, leaving PS3 retro fans vexed and un-Thex’d. However, a post on Square Enix’s Facebook page reveals that the transforming spaceship/robot will make an appearance on PS3 after all.

“With PS3 graphic THEXDER NEO becomes more THEXDER,” Square Enix PR staffer Akira Kokushoh said, suggesting that the new version isn’t just a direct port of the PSP title. The game will be out sometime in 2010 — possibly on the early side, since Kokushoh indicated that the game is almost complete.

[Via Gamerbytes]

Thexder Neo transforming into a PS3 game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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According to Eurogamer’s summary, the expansion will star a new player character with a new origin story, new areas and enemies, for about 15 hours of new content. The expansion will also raise the level cap. Eurogamer speculates that EA will announce this expansion sometime in January, though we can’t fathom how that information would be extrapolated from a retailer’s erroneously hasty listing.

[Via Big Download]

Rumor: Dragon Age expansion ‘Awakening’ in March originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The official Two Worlds II site has added a handful of screens and something called “moveshots” — three-second clips featuring some of the game’s characters in idle poses. Do idle animation clips get you hyped up for the third-person sequel to a less-than-stellar role-playing title?

Mind you, if the latest batch of screens represents developer Reality Pump’s way of showcasing its state-of-the-art, horrific medieval clown technology, then a hearty “job well done.” Look at them in the shot above, they’re the stuff of nightmares! More screens and those “moveshot” things are available on the game’s official site.

Two Worlds II site updates with new screens, ‘moveshots’ originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite the similar game setting, the theme song to Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is not just the theme to MGS3 with the words “Snake Eater” replaced with “Peace Walker.” Maybe then if we listen to the newly-announced soundtrack enough, we’ll stop hearing “I’m still in a dream, peace walkerrrrrrrr” in our heads every time we see a reference to the upcoming PSP spinoff game.

The Peace Walker soundtrack disc will be released on Konami Japan’s Konamistyle site on March 17, one day before the game releases, for ¥2,940 (roughly $30). For ¥4,515, you can buy the soundtrack and receive the “Heaven’s Divide” single, the actual vocal theme, on a separate disc. While “Heaven’s Divide” is featured on the soundtrack disc, the single includes “Koi no Yokushiryoku,” Paz Ortega Andrade’s theme, as well. Plus it’s another thing with the Metal Gear Solid logo on it, which is bound to excite a certain segment of the audience.

[Via Nobuooo, GameSetWatch]

Peace Walker soundtrack releasing alongside game in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Okay, okay, everyone, settle down. Listen, we know there’s been a lot of unrest in this, our first ever “How to Get Into the Top 20 Globally in World 1 Stage 1 for PixelJunk Shooter” class. You’ve been here for three weeks now without ever actually talking Shooter strategies and your whispers are starting to become deafening. “Why does Mr. McElroy take such long naps?” we hear you ask, or, “Why did I have to play $3,000 for this?”

On this, our graduation day, we have two messages for you. 1. Watch the video after the break and do exactly that. And 2. The magic was inside you the whole time. Now, if a few of you would just stand on your desks and say, “Oh captain, my captain,” we’ll be on our way.

… Nobody? Fine.

[Via Twitter]

Continue reading Playing PixelJunk Shooter Like A Pro 101

Playing PixelJunk Shooter Like A Pro 101 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The free update adds a viewer for the loading screen images, hard drive install feature and the infrastructure to download the DLC. As for the paid content, one pack adds stages for the “Block Defense” minigame (basically tower defense), and the other adds downloadable character models, many of which can be downloaded for free from the website. In the case of 3D Dot Game Heroes, the idea of extra content is a lot more exciting than the content itself.

[Via Siliconera]

3D Dot Game Heroes DLC available in January originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prinny 2: Dawn of the Great Pantsu War will reportedly launch for the PSP on March 25, 2010 in Japan, according to Dengeki Online (via Siliconera). Sure, Nippon Ichi Software might not exactly want us to know that it’s making a sequel to this year’s Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?, but that doesn’t stop the company from releasing a mess of screenshots and a release date to gamers across the Pacific, along with with the game’s full title.

As if the first game’s premise of securing cakes for Etna wasn’t ridiculous enough, the second game tasks you with recovering underpants for her (thus the title). To combat the various adorable enemies along the way (just look at that penguin!), the developer has added new moves as well as a “baby mode” for novices. We’ve added a handful of screenshots to our gallery below, but you can peep a metric ton more right here.

Prinny 2 named ‘Dawn of the Great Pantsu War,’ coming to Japan on March 25 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Have your peripherals gotten dirty, like, just plain filthy? Well, don’t touch them! You could catch something. Instead, consider buying clean ones during Amazon’s peripheral sale. Controllers, adapters, wires, and even Microsoft Points cards are included, with discounts ranging from 10-25 percent off regular prices. The sale doesn’t appear to have a clear end date, so you could have any number of days to take advantage.

In a separate promotion, Amazon is offering a $20 credit toward a future video game purchase (made by March 31) when spending at least $80 on select software. This promotion ends January 2, and the credit will be applied directly to your account after the items ship. Only one credit per household. Void where prohibited. Don’t stare directly into the sun. Always tip your waitress.

Amazon deals: peripheral sale; $20 credit for $80 purchase originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Though it’s certainly not the sleekest handheld device we’ve ever seen — in fact, it might be in the running for the unsleekest device ever created — the latest project from a modder, nicknamed Techknott, boasts some pretty impressive capabilities. Basically, the handheld sends control signals to a PS3, which transmits video signals back to the device, allowing for nomadic sessions of Modern Warfare 2 (or any other PS3 game), as seen in the video after the jump.

According to the modder’s post on BenHeck.com, the device will soon be available for purchase. It certainly looks neat, but we’re not sure the clunky controls will help you set any Spec Ops world records. Seriously, this guy’s time on The Pit is garbage.

Continue reading Wireless PS3 visual transmitter allows for Modern Warfare 2 on the go

Wireless PS3 visual transmitter allows for Modern Warfare 2 on the go originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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