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Deal Brings MLG Tournaments to EA Sports Titles in 2010–Kotaku

Tournaments sanctioned by Major League Gaming will be a multiplayer feature of certain upcoming EA Sports titles, under a deal announced today by the two parties that proposes to establish “the definitive ranking system for sports gamers in North America.”

The pact deepens the ties between MLG and EA established last year with a live tournament series called the EA Sports Challenge Series. Under thsi new development, EA Sports titles will include new multiplayer lobbies specifically for MLG-sanctioned and refereed tournaments. Players victories, defeats and other stats will then be tracked and compiled in a profile, “enabling the definitive ranking system for sports gamers in North America,” according to a joint announcement.

No specific titles were mentioned, just that the online tournaments would begin in 2010. The remainder of the announcement touted the marketing potential of the partnership.

From www.mascotstudios.com

February 1^st is the date announced by the creators, Star Vault for their upcoming full PVP MMO, Mortal Online. Originally Feb 1^st was to be the release date for the game, but they have instead decided to go into open beta until they reach gold status.

What the heck is Mortal Online?

As one gamer put it “It’s not for your casual gamer”. Mortal Online is a first-person MMORPG in an open player-controlled fantasy game world for the PC. Player versus Player (PvP), or rather Player to Player interaction plays an important part in Mortal Online as trading, learning, combat, rumors and alliances are largely dependent on communication between players.

What this means is with players in control, building their own houses, setting up guilds with their own keep and controlling the in-game economy, you are truly in the wilderness. Their claim is to move away from grinding and get you right into the thick of things where the real fun begins.

There are no levels in MO, you are free to travel the world in any way you like, limited only by the terrain, mode of conveyance or dangers in the environment. In the same way you can use any sword you like, provided you have the necessary skills to wield it.

Also you do not begin the game with a specific class, but there are presets skills and abilities you can choose from at the start. The entire world is PVP which means you can be killed anywhere so guilds and teams are important. Like most MMO’s there is a monthly fee to play.

The game has incredible graphics, but we all know that does not make a good MMO. As much as the idea of player controlled, hardcore PVP world sounds great we also know that does not always work out.

Only time will tell what will become of MO, but if you want more information check out their official page at http://www.mortalonline.com

Konami Releases Lyric-Matching Rhythm Title RhymePlayer–Finger Gaming

Rhythm genre pioneer Konami has launched the latest title in its expansive music games catalog. RhymePlayer ($1.99) challenges players to tap song lyrics in time to the beat of a background music track.

RhymePlayer’s gameplay closely resembles Konami’s iPhone dance game Dance Dance Revolution S. Scrolling lyrics appear at the bottom of the screen and approach a timing line at the top.

Once the appropriate lyric reaches the timing line, players must tap the screen to sync the words to the song.

RhymePlayer includes a selection of five officially licensed music tracks:

Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison
The Cover Girls – Show Me
Jackson 5 – ABC
Lady Gaga – Just Dance
Lifehouse – First Time

Konami has a neat concept here, but with only five songs and two difficulty levels, there isn’t much variety or replay incentive. An in-app store offering new songs would be a great addition — here’s hoping that Konami adds one in a future update.

Hellacious marketing: Dante’s Inferno is in the code–Joystiq

It seems the marketing team behind Dante’s Inferno hasn’t burnt out yet, with several ASCII art campaigns popping up in the source code for several popular websites. All direct to the same Dante’s Inferno site.

The first image (above) appeared in digg’s code, as noted by brentcsutoras, and other sites like IGN, GameSpot and Kotaku also had their source code altered to display Dante-related images. It’s one of the cuter, somewhat classier approaches to this title’s marketing, and that makes it oddly noteworthy.

If you’re wondering why there’s nothing in our source code (we’re checking now just to make sure) … we don’t let anyone touch that. We consider it to be at least third base and you really have to get to know Joystiq before it’s prepared to take the relationship to that level.

(and remember you potentially heard it here first!)

When talking to one of my friends (a Nintendo rep), he recently he told me the next Zelda game may be a collaboration with another developer–much like what they’re doing with Metroid: Other M and Team Ninja. Now I couldn’t get him to spit (or swallow) too much out, like if this was for the next Legend of Zelda or a following game. Either way it could just all be rumor or an idea they have floating around.

Still, I’m wondering what ya guys think, or who’d you like to see Nintendo team up with for a Zelda game?

-JCTM

The Lawyer-Mans Can’t Help a Gamer Out–Kotaku

Im setting $50 bucks aside for this game already. Junction Point Studios is paying hommage to one the greatest cartoon characters ever made  & showing off some of his hijinx side too in this Wii exclusive title.

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GTA Chinatown Wars brings the battle to iPhone–Joystiq

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars keeps driving around for an audience, with the excellent handheld entry in the crime sim franchise quietly releasing on iPhone last night. TouchArcade notes that in its third platform iteration, behind DS and PSP, the $10 game uses on-screen buttons similarly to Gameloft’s Gangstar and retains the DS stylus minigames.

It would seem that those who can get around the button-less interface are in for a full GTA experience that costs less than a dime bag.

The makers of the grindhouse inspired game WET go from killer babes to killer bears. “Naughty Bear” has a recipe for awesomeness.

Apparently you’ll play as a bear who doesnt get invited into a party so ya go out to get revenge. The more clever and brutal your attacks are the more ‘naughty points’ you get. You’ll be able to unlock weapons and outfits that give ya certain powers.

As far as I know the game will for sure include a multiplayer option, I just haven’t heard of any online as of right now.
When a full blown release date is known I’ll post it. Ya can also check out the Naughty Bear website… whenever they finally decide to update it.

Naughty bear reminds me a lot of another bear I really dig,”Gloomy Bear”.

This Japanese blood splattered bear carry’s a full line of different merchandise you might fancy if your into bears/morbid comedy/mayhem. You can take a look at the Official Gloomy Bear Site or shop for some rad knick knacks at the Gloomy Bear Shop.

-JCTM

How to keep your girl off of your World of Warcraft playing back–mascotstudios.com

Believe it or not there are people out there who have made their new year’s resolution to reduce their World of Warcraft playtime. It is not due to the increasing ease of game play or a lull until cataclysm, but because their wives and girlfriends have asked them to. I am here to help you guys out. You don’t have to cut down on the epics and pwning noobs. All you need is a distraction, like throwing White Castle burgers at a charging fat person.

FarmVille

It is possible your girlfriend or wife is already playing this game. In it you control your avatar and manage a virtual farm. To be honest, it’s the type of farm a six year old child would manage, because you can put reindeer next to your Jacuzzi overlooking your watermelon crop.

This game is so addictive there are cases of people (women) getting tickets due to rushing home to harvest their crops before they rot. The good thing is this game is played through facebook which is another time killer. Since you have to level up and make money this game will keep your lady very occupied. The downside is she may become too consumed in the game with the finding the baby black sheep, ugly ducklings and the like. Just a word of advice, make sure she doesn’t use real money to buy stuff in game. I mean who would spend real life money on a game right?

Bejeweled

Believe it or not Bejeweled and World of Warcraft have a history. Word was around 2008 a Bejeweled add-on was to be added as an interface download. I don’t know if that happened, anyway. Bejeweled is a great game for the ladies because it combines two things they like, jewels and trying to solve problems you don’t really have too.

The good thing about Bejeweled is you can get it on almost any media platform from PC to the Iphone. The game is simple, yet addictive and never ends. We know several truths, District 9 aliens love the sweeties, bitches love smiley faces and your lady will love Bejeweled.

Nintendo Wii

Known as the Yahoo games console, the Nintendo Wii is perfect for keeping your girl occupied while you grind away. Most gamers would rather gouge their eyes out than play games you could find online for free, but somehow thanks to smart marketing and a ton of accessories the Wii has become the Imac of the twenty-first century, everyone has one in their house, but few use it.

With the Wii you can buy a few game packages, like the sports pack and bask in the glow of your monitor as she swings away playing such riveting nail biting games like Bowling and Tennis. You can also create avatars for that SIM’s feel that you can then have interact with other created avatars, its brainless fun.

Add to that the everybody votes channel where your girl can vote on hot topics such as which New Moon star sparkles brighter in the sunlight. Along with the news, weather channel and access to old Nintendo games, this is perfect to keep your lady off your back.

Finally there is Wii fit. This is a perfect way to please and offend your girl at the same time. With Wii fit your girl can work away the pounds with an assortment of exercises, but beware. It is possible she will get in shape and realize she can do much better than you and dump your sorry ass, but then again it just gives you more World of Warcraft playing time which is all that matters.

If you take this seriously shoot yourself now

So there you have it. With these three things you can toss away your new year’s resolutions like a Christmas fruitcake. I mean you could always cut back, read, workout, have sex, get a job or do a million better things with your time, but that won’t grow your e-peen now will it?