But with that, here’s the new format of how we are going to write about what happened throughout the day. Today’s post will cover Monday, July 6 and Tuesday, July 7:

BAD ECONOMY = MORE USED GAME SALES!

The Nielsen Marketing Research firm has reported that not only are gamers spending more time playing games in this terrible economy, they are actually buying more used games as well. The former doesn’t really come as a surprise to most people: lay-offs and unemployment only means more time in front of the couch to play games.

But to further the use of game sales and rentals? That’s just baffling, especially considering used games are only, at best 3 – 5% cheaper than the used game. Are we really at a time of extreme penny pinching? Or are gamers really utilizing more cost effective ways of getting their games?

I can tell you from personal experience that I’ve been doing a ton more gaming rentals than gaming purchasing, with GameFly and passes to Hollywood Video being the main way of grab the newest games.

BULLET TO HEAD = CRITICAL HIT!!! = 80 HP = GAIN 50 EXP!

In an interview with Develop, Cliff Bleszenski of Epic Games (you know, the Dane Cook looking guy who develops Gears of War) says that the key to the shooters survival may just be the RPG. He mentions, albeit briefly, that after a conversation with Harvey “Deus Ex” Smith that both men agreed that it may be essential for shooters to develop an RPG like system. He then soon after flushed any kind of consideration that Gears of War would have such features.

With the popularity of Fallout 3, some might see this as a true statement. However, Fallout 3 isn’t exciting first person shooter fans…it’s exciting RPG fans. Same has always been true of the Deus Ex series. But while I’m hoping something like Borderlands at least turns the first person shooter into something more than just “shoot one guy, shoot another guy, repeat,” I’m not holding my breath on a deep narrative FPS with major RPG elements that everyone will love.

RUMORED MGS4/KILLZONE 2 BUNDLE AVAILABLE NOW

So, in the beginning of the week, reports started coming out that a new PS3 bundle was shipping in order to liquidate all of their stock of PS3’s in order to make room for another PS3 sku: the highly rumored PS3 Slim that is said to come out next month. Well, starting today, Best Buy is selling those bundles for $400.

So, basically, you’re getting a $30 game (MGS4 with its recent “Greatest Hits” drop) and a $60 game (Killzone 2) and the 80GB for $310…so it’s like a price drop…right?

I can’t complain about this bundle though: it’s a great deal for anyone who wants a good PS3 system and two of its best games. But, then again, the Slim looks great itself and while it still a rumor…it seems more and more likely.

SQUARE ENIX SWALLOWS LARA WHOLE…YEAH, I KNOW, YOU WISH IT WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND

When EIDOS was sold to Square Enix last month, many asked whether this would mean another name change for the Square Enix brand. Unfortunately, the thoughts of Square Enidos or Squenidos is not coming to fruition. Square Enix reported today that EIDOS will be come Square Enix Europe, dashing any possibilities of any new type of crazy rebranding.

But on a serious note, it was also stated that a number of EIDOS team members will not make the conversion. It’s always sad to see something like this happen, but then again Square was really only interested in the brands that EIDOS had, since almost none of their games have been performing quite well. The sad reality of the business we love: you don’t make quality, you don’t keep jobs.

CONFUSING AS SHIT, BUT PRETTY AS HELL

And finally, I received a copy of BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger on the 360 and so far, it’s a highly enjoyable, if completely nonsensical game. I’m hoping to have a full review up by Friday, but this will definitely be talked about on the podcast, so stay tuned.

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Game Informer reports that Arkham Asylum, the gritty beat-em-up with stealth sections based on the Batman mythos, will be delayed until the Holidays. Of course, when reached for comment, Eidos had none to give.

Brad’s Take: As much as we don’t need ANOTHER HOLIDAY GAME in the fourth quarter, Arkham Asylum has the means to sell big to make a splash during that time.

Also take into consideration that Eidos was just bought by Square Enix recently, so maybe delaying the game will give Square Enix the hit game they need this winter.

Because the last few Square Enix had for the Holidays completely bombed. We are looking at you, The Last Remnant!

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