Details on what this program gives is still up in the air. Below is an excerpt from the e-mail that Kotaku received:

“This is an exclusive pilot rewards program. That means that the people who get in get stuff. Cool stuff. You want cool stuff, right? Sure you do, we all want stuff. Especially cool stuff. Well, you’ve only got until October 21, 2009 to let us know you want cool stuff, because after that, the doors close and someone else gets the cool stuff.

So, you click the button below and register to let us know you want in and pretty soon we’ll let you know if you got in or not – and not everyone will (that’s why it’s called exclusive).

This offer is for a select few – you can’t send it to anyone else (why would you send something this awesome to someone else, are you nuts?). If you make the cut, you can pass or opt-out whenever you want.

But then you’ll never know how it ended.”

Brad’s Take: Well, the rumor is more than likely true if Kotaku is citing that sources trusted to them are being sent this e-mail.

Question is: Who else is getting these e-mails? And how do they qualify?

If Microsoft sees success in this program, a full launch by Summer 2010 seems very plausible and it’s something that Sony better pay attention to if it happens.

Share/Save

Currently, the DS runs at a speed of 37mhz to 67 mhz. With the new Tegra, rumored calculations have it 600mhz, greatly increasing the processing speed and power of the hardware.

Brad’s Take: Well, if this does happen, kiss backwards compatiability goodbye for the current DS hardware.

That said, it will be interesting if Nintendo bites on such tech heavy hardware. A more powerful portable system that is capable of possible Gamecube graphics sounds very nice to me.

Share/Save

However, a French Gaming site by the name of JV247 posted some leaked photos of two characters that have never even been seen in Street Fighter IV: T. Hawk, the proud Mexican wrestler with an affinity for denim, and Juri.

Brad’s Take: The pics themselves seem very legit and beilevable, so I’m waiting for this announcement tomorrow. However, my question is this: Is this DLC or is this a full retail product?

Hopefully Capcom has the foresight to not charge an arm and a leg for the same game with just a few new characters, but then again this is Capcom we are talking about here…how decided to sell costumes for certain fighters for $5 a pop.

(Update) Capcom announced this morning that Super Street Fighter IV is confirmed as a disc based released Spring 2010. Featuring 8 new characters, including mentioned T. Hawk and Juri, the game will also feature slight tweaks into the fighting engine, which Capcom says warrants a disc based purchase, which they say will be at a lower price.

Share/Save

Brad’s Take: Advertisements have been running on this game for about a month or two, but it doesn’t exactly “feel” like Alpha Protocol is being released. Not hearing much about gameplay, story or anything other features in any other sites, it’s very possible that this rumor is true.

Especially since this is a busy season where less involving games are actually being released and are very popular. The last RPG that got any sort of great buzz and sales during the Holiday season was Mass Effect, and that was based solely on pedigree.

Expect a formal announcement that the game has delayed until next year by the end of the week.

Share/Save

As the title suggests, there has been a heavy amount of talk that Electronic Arts is being eyed by Microsoft as a possible takeover or acquisitional purchase. Reasons are cited that sales for the multi-billion dollar company for their landmark Madden NFL series has been disappointing in its 2010 edition and other games in their lineup haven’t sold as well as they’d hope, including Sims 3 and with sales on The Beatles: Rock Band not picking up as hot as analysts were saying they were.

Many sites, including 1Up, Joystiq, Reuters and IGN have tried to get comments from both companies, which lead to “no comment” and “we don’t discuss rumor and speculation.” Both companies stock jumped after the rumor was discussed, with EA gaining a 5% increase in stock.

Brad’s Take: First, Microsoft purchased Rare Entertainment away from Nintendo for an enormous sum of cash. Now, Microsoft is seemingly “pulling a Madden” by taking one of the premier third party publishers and giving itself all the rights to all of its properties, giving the ‘Soft a huge advantage and library of games that only they have access to…including the venerable Madden franchise.

Yet, I read this and think that if this is going to happen how this could be a bad thing for gamers. The NFL license exclusive Madden exclusive to one console? That’s a very painful reality that Microsoft could leverage to their advantage. On top of that, the EA Partners program would be operated under Microsoft, which means either it will be shuttered or be forced to deal exclusively with Microsoft.

There could also be one small tidbit that we may be ignoring out of all of this: Does this possibly mean that Microsoft will go the Sega route in the next generation of consoles and bow out of the console war? Microsoft lost billions on the 360 and its recoup their costs now and while Natal is coming out offering new experiences, it’s not exactly gamer focused.

This is all speculation for now…but damn.

Share/Save

Shortly after it was discovered, Best Buy changed the listing.

Brad’s Take: Although it is a decent deal to get a completely new game free with the price of the system, it still doesn’t help that the system itself is still way overpriced. So, you’re only getting overcharged $50 for the game? Yay?

Why not just give a $50 credit to the PSN store instead? Let the consumer decide what they want to download, especially since you need to give them some reason to upgrade (or downgrade, according to what your point of view is).

Share/Save

A source close to Destructoid claims that Sony will announce an AppStore for the PSPGo that will allow users to download games or applications from Sony that are under 100MB. Only a scant amount of games have this requirement (Super Stardust Portable and Everyday Shooter).

Brad’s Take: Yeah…if this is true, they are trying to be an iPhone.

And we all know my feelings about the PSPGo. I guess this is the best way to go if they want to be the next iPhone in this bout. But, really, do they need to go this route? Is this system supposed to be a gaming device and nothing more?

Share/Save

The video was actually from a early release of Qore, Sony’s subscription based downloadable video magazine for the PS3.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObElhJIcOKE&feature=player_embedded

The leaked video announces a few games previously rumored, but then shows the actual PSP Go! unit. Of course, this is a big reveal announcement, so no answers were given on the fact of how you’ll get to play those UMD games you have on your PSP.

Another ominous rumor posting about from this weekend was another factory picture of the PS3 Slim. What makes this picture more interesting and believable is the fact that one the picture is the box for the PSP Go!, which is quite similar to the box of the PS3 Slim that was rumored, shot down, then given a shot in the arm when Sony started sending out cease and desist letters to websites carrying the photos.

It also seems more credible since the photos of the PSP Go! looks exactly like the one that is on the videos for the PSP Go!

Brad’s Take: First off…what a foul-up by Sony for shooting their load too early on the PSP Go!. Yes, everyone knew this was going to happen anyway, but you couldn’t hold off for 3 more days?

Anyway, I suggest you watch the video to see what the PSP Go! looks like because it actually looks pretty slick. The small slide screen with the nice interface definitely screams playability and portability that the PSP simply never aspired to. Personally, I love the look and would love to get my hands on it.

Of course, the video doesn’t really answer many of the key questions. What happens to your UMD games if you want to play them on your Go!? How much does it cost? Is there or is there not a rental service?

John Koller specifically says on the video that this is not replacing the PSP-3000, which could very well mean that they have no intentions of making every game downloadable anytime soon, so it looks like the PSP Go! exists, but there are still numerous questions to be answered.

As for the photos of the PS3 Slim and PSP Go!, these still could be made up and false. But, with the fact that the photo on the box has the actual PSP Go! unit on the box, these PS3 Slim and PSP Go! photos seem more and more credible every day.

Bryan Take: I see where Brad could get upset but as a company, they probably don’t want to bring it to the public yet because of competition. If Nintendo and Microsoft knew about this before the handheld came out, it could be a way for them to use some of their ideas.

I can see both sides of the story on this one:

1. The public wanted to know about a new PSP and Sony said ‘F-Off’ which was totally rude
2. Sony doesn’t want to give anything away until the release date it set
3. Companies like to keep these kinds of secretes for bigger ‘wow’ ending.
4. The end users are like the children who can’t wait for their Christmas present.

When it’s announced at E3, we will finally know what is true and what is not. As a consumer myself, we need to just wait.

Share/Save

Brad’s Take: I definitely can see some similarities with this game and Team ICO’s previous work, but I still find it kind of dubious. Look at their previous two games. Sure, they look similar, but they have distinct differences. And, honestly, the game looks like its still a PS2 game.

My thoughts are this is some very well made machinima.

Share/Save

The page now loads up flash which then turns to stormy clouds, an open field setting with a forest to the left and farm land to the right.In the very center of this storm is a clock, counting down and the time I see at this moment is 53 hours, 5 minutes and 20 seconds.

The page does nothing more but show this count down. You will notice however the number ‘5′ or ‘S’ flash in front of your screen when you hear some thunder. Also, the bottom right corner of that website, you will notice a logo and if you click on it, the link takes you to the kojima website managed by Konami. This group has brought you such games as Zone the Enders, Lunar Knights and of course, Metal Gear Solid Series.

As much as the site isn’t really informational, this will keep those who are interested in the Konami to see what their new project may be.  I highly doubt this site has anything to do with Metal Gear Solid 4 for the 360 so we need to stop dreaming about that happening.

Share/Save