I know what you’re thinking… there’s so many zombie games that incorporate ice cream and humor. I know, right! Wait… no, that’s not what I was thinking. Sure, the zombie genre is “on fire” right now, but when Crawl Space Games went about combining awesome art, incredible humor, addictive gameplay and mixes genres of Scoops, Zombies versus Plants and throws in some of the most awkward sounding, but helpful upgrades – I want a real life cardboard helmet that looks like that, serious – and you’ve got a game that will hold my interest:

Plants vs Zombies meets Scoops in Zombies Ala Mode for Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, and Android devices. Play as a young hard working zombie trying to make a living in the ice cream business. Fill ice cream orders while dodging obstacles and try not to get fired. With three game modes, 50 levels, OpenFeint achievements, leaderboards, and lots of upgrades in career mode, you will enjoy hours of zombie goodness.

Already on sale for the Apple iPhone for $2.99 with the Android and Apple iPad versions upcoming, Crawl Space Games delivers yet again – check out Knife Toss, one of my faves for my Apple iPhone also by Crawl Space Games.

[ Links: Crawl Space Games, Zombies Ala Mode, Knife Toss ]

The 2010 Tokyo Game Show, set to happen on September 16-19th, with the last two days typically set aside for public perusual and the first two days set aside for business-only announcements and closed to the public, will bear witness to Gamania showing off eight new titles. Never heard of Gamania? Time to up your game then.

Gamania Digital Entertainment announces that it will showcase their latest research and development (R&D) expansion and much anticipated second generation product lines at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2010. Among nearly 150 participating global companies, Gamania will have significant presence with one of the top ten largest booths, alongside other headline names such as Microsoft, Sony, and Square Enix. During the 2010 Tokyo Game Show, Gamania will be showing eight distinctive in-house products, while also exhibiting other works of entertainment, such as animation, web games, and mobile titles, heralding in Gamania’s “Universe of Fun”.

Gamania is behind certain games that will invariably come out in the US, like the popular cartoon show Hero 108 for the Apple iPhone and Facebook games, but while Gamania is huge in Hong Kong, they are lesser known in the US. Games like Reign of Assassins, based on the upcoming Chinese movie of the same name, infuse art and gameplay that translates well to us gamers and Core Blaze, based on the Unreal 3 Engine both look enticing to my western eyes. And that’s just a few of their offerings.

In simpler terms, let’s just hope that the games end up in European and North American markets soon enough too.

[ Links: TGS 2010, Gamania ]

True story. One time while destroying a friend in Madden 2010 and on the final play of the game, my fingers slipped off of the analog stick on my Sony PlayStation 3 controller. I still won by 35 points but I wanted something to avoid my fingers slipping on the controller analog nubs.

The TD Freek gives football gamers improved comfort and maneuverability in titles like Madden NFL 11 and NCAA football by extending the joystick and providing more leverage and control. It also features a premium grip that resembles the external skin of a football. The result is greater precision and a higher winning percentage.

KontrolFreek makes high-quality video game console controller accessories that give players at all levels the competitive edge. Using the latest in ergonomic science, engineering, and materials, the company’s Xbox 360 and PlayStation accessories are acclaimed by both critics and consumers alike.

Typically on sale for $19.99, currently on special for for $9.99. No more finger slipping excuses; even if you’re winning.

[ Links: KontrolFreek TD Freek ]

A company, creatively named PS Jailbreak, has come out with what’s called the first USB based jailbreak/hack to allow for the Sony PlayStation 3 “fat” and slim models.

PS Jailbreak is a USB plug and play solution that installs in seconds, keeping your valid warranty seal in tact.

Easy to use installer and GUI takes you step-by-step.

Compatible with all production models “fat” and slim PS3. Supports all regions: USA, JAP, PAL and KOREA

PS Jailbreak disables forced software updates and will never brick your console.

Supports all games (it does not allow backups of Blu-Ray movies, DVD movies, or past consoles games)

Backup games to your internal hard drive or external hard drive through USB and boot directly off GUI. Eliminating the need for expensive Blu-Ray burners and costly blank media.

Play backups off your hard drives 2X as fast as off the Blu-Ray drive. This eliminates lags and glitches to provide you with smoother game play.

Open up your console to a new generation of homebrew applications. Load homebrew apps/games off any USB hard drive/flash drive.

Fully updateable with new features/updates by connecting PS Jailbreak to any computers USB port.

I remember products like this being shown about for the Japanese PlayStation 2, which never came out if I remember correctly. This USB based hack, which promises to work with all existing games, will allow for downloading, backup and installing games to the hard drive. Which reminds me, aren’t Blu-Ray disks about 25GB or so each? That means barely 12 games for a 320GB hard drive.

Better hope they come out with a terabyte drive for laptops very soon. Retails for ouch $125.

Last thought… where is there a homebrew community for the PS3? There are some serious holes in the logic around this device; but it warrants for more research. You know this will get blocked by an upcoming Sony PS3 firmware update. Still interesting though…

[ Links: PS Jailbreak ]

The people behind the Ghostbusters: The Videogame and the upcoming Marvel titles, Thor and Captain America games, as well as the upcoming Def Jam Rapstar have released a full-featured foundation engine that is cross-platform compatible and allows for rapid development of video games:

Terminal Reality announced today an incredible listing of upcoming titles that are using the powerful and versatile Infernal Engine to bring them to life. Games as different as Def Jam Rapstar, Disney’s family-pleasing Guilty Party, and Wipeout: The Game are just some of the titles using the Infernal Engine’s unique, cross-platform technology to deliver their various experiences. The complete line-up of notable titles includes (in order of release date):

• Wipeout: The Game (Wii) – currently available
• Disney’s Guilty Party (Wii) – August 26, 2010
• Def Jam Rapstar (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii) – October 5, 2010
• The Force Unleashed II (Wii) – October 26, 2010
• The Grinder (Xbox360, PS3) – October 2011
• Thor (Wii, PSP) – May 2011
• Captain America (Wii, PSP) – TBA 2011

In addition, Terminal Reality, the development studio – best known for their work on the hit title, Ghostbusters: The Videogame – is currently putting finishing touches on the groundbreaking Def Jam Rapstar, due out October 5. Def Jam Rapstar is all about Hip-Hop and the music that makes it great. Aspiring emcees spit bars with the best in the history of Rap, both past and present, as they try to prove that no one else can fade them on the mic. The game features custom, proprietary voice recognition technology that keeps tabs on lyrical accuracy, because you can’t respect a fraud.

Can’t wait to see some office mates pull out Wu-Tang’s “C.R.E.A.M.” in the upcoming Def Jam Rapstar in October 5th.

[ Links: Terminal Reality, Infernal Engine ]

Official word is that this is a “long ways” off, so there’s no date announced as of yet. Destined to come out on the current generation of videogame systems – so far the Sony PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360 have been confirmed. I will express concern as to how uneven the mostly non-projectile but combo heavy Tekken fighters will fare against the projectile heavy and somewhat combo heavy Street Fighter warriors will be. Ultimately, I finally get to see who’d win between Akuma (Gouki) versus Heihachi Mishami.

Can’t wait.

[ Links: Street Fighter X Tekken Debut Video ]

I know what you’re thinking. Didn’t Nintendo just release a DS variant just a scant few months ago? Ignore that Nintendo DS XL. You want the Nintendo 3DS. It has a widescreen 3.5″ screen up top that gives you the sense of 3D without the need for expensive and cumbersome glasses like you do with the current 3D movies and HDTV televisions. On the (outside) hood of the Nintendo 3DS, there are a pair of 0.3 megapixel I know, low, but it’s a only a video game system that allows for 3D picture taking.

Shown just yesterday at the E3, the following is known:

Size (when closed): Approximately 5.3 inches wide, 2.9 inches long, 0.8 inches tall
Weight: Approximately 8 ounces
Top Screen: 3.53-inch widescreen LCD display, enabling 3D view without the need for special glasses; with 800×240 pixel resolution (400 pixels are allocated for each eye to enable 3D viewing)
Touch Screen: 3.02-inch LCD with 320×240 pixel resolution with a touch screen
Cameras: One inner camera and two outer cameras with 640×480 (0.3 Mega) pixel resolution
Game Controls: Touch screen, embedded microphone, A/B/X/Y face buttons, + Control Pad, L/R buttons, Start and Select buttons, “Slide Pad” that allows 360-degree analog input, one inner camera, two outer cameras, motion sensor and a gyro sensor
Input/Output: A port that accepts both Nintendo 3DS game cards and game cards for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems, an SD memory card slot, an AC adapter connector, a charging cradle terminal and a stereo headphone output jack.

No details on pricing yet, but consider this a serious DOWANT.

[ Links: Nintendo ]

Microsoft held their E3 keynote in Los Angeles yesterday morning, and as expected the primary focus was the company’s “Kinect” motion-sensing camera. Though the company also announced they were expanding the Xbox360 video lineup by adding a significant amount of sports content through a deal with ESPN, including not only ESPN shows – but also some live sporting events in HD (NBA, MLB, college football and college basketball). Said events include some interactivity during events with other Xbox 360 owners (polls, trivia, etc.), and both voice and gesture remote control via Kinect, which goes on sale in November at $150.

Microsoft also introduced a slimmer version of the Xbox 360 with integrated 802.11N. There’s no confirmation yet of a lingering rumor concerning Hulu integration.

Link to the original article…

Seems like loose lips have outed Microsoft’s pending E3 announcement of Project Natal finally getting a true name. That name? Kinect.

Ars spotted the story before USA Today yanked it, and managed to grab a few choice Kinect game details. Like Kinectimals (some sort of virtual big-cat training sim), Kinect Sports (Microsoft’s multi-activity answer to Wii Sports), Joyride (a kart-style racing game), Kinect Adventures (a river-raft sim), and Dance Central (presumably just what it sounds like). LucasArts and Disney are also planning Kinect titles, presumably to be announced during tomorrow press show.

Arstechnica grabbed the story while it was still up on USA Today’s site, now removed didn’t list the price point for Kinect though.

Read more over at Arstechnica.

[ Link: Microsoft XBOX 360, PC World, Arstechnica ]

Despite making many attempts to secure and lockdown the Sony PSP platform, Sony has been outpaced by the homebrew scene consistently. Copy protection, stronger DRM, applications that wouldn’t run on anything but the absolute newest firmware, Sony has tried it all, and has been beaten to the punch.

The newest games out use a new decryption method that Sony thought would stop piracy. The guys over at OCModshop prove Sony wrong.

These new games utilize a new decryption method, and cannot be patched using Eboot Exchange 2.8. Some of the new games that cannot be patched by EE are:

• Iron Man 2
• Prince of Persia – Forgotten Sands
• Metal Gear Solid – Peace Walker
• FullMetal Alchemist
• What Have I Done To Deserve This, My Lord?
• Hexyz Force

Of course there are methods to manually patch your games (UMDGen 4.0, etc), but these are rather complicated, especially when compared to the ease of Eboot Exchange. Another method to patch recent games is with the use of ISO Tool 1.51. Not only will it patch 6.20 games to work on the recent custom firmwares, but it does it right on the PSP – no PC required!

The instructions are simple enough to follow. Take that Sony!

[ Links: OCModshop ]

Love Rock Band? Got a competitive spirit? Love winning stuff? MTV and Harrah’s Entertainment got the hookup.

We’re guessing you haven’t heard about the sweepstakes. So, listen up. This totally rocks.

For our loyal Rock Band friends who can’t get out to a qualifying location in the next several weeks, enter NOW for your shot at a trip to compete in the BIG EVENT in Atlantic City from June 30-July 4, 2010 with up to three of your fellow band members. Sorry, no roadies allowed.

Oh, did we forget to mention that you’ll be flying round trip in private jet?

Uh-huh, that’s right, we said PRIVATE JET.

To really blow your mind, you and your buddies will also win tix to the Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band concert at Caesars Atlantic City on July 3, 2010.

Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for up to the minute news.

[ Links: Harrahs, MTV Games, 2nd Annual Rock Band Competition ]

Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that PlayStation Move motion controller for PlayStation 3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system will launch worldwide this fall, offering a motion-based, high-definition gaming experience unlike anything on the market.

Concurrently with its launch, SCE will also release PlayStation Move sub-controller to be used along with the motion controller for intuitive navigation of in-game characters and objects. The PlayStation Move platform, including the motion controller, sub-controller and PlayStation Eye camera, together with a strong lineup of software titles, will deliver an innovative and highly immersive experience on the PS3 system.

The claim that the experience is “unlike anything on the market”… um, Nintendo Wii controllers?

The combination of the PS3 system and PlayStation Eye camera detects the precise movement, angle, and absolute position in 3D space of PlayStation Move motion controller, allowing users to intuitively play the game as if they themselves are within the game. PlayStation Move motion controller delivers unmatched accuracy through its advanced motion sensors, including a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis accelerometer, and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor, as well as a color-changing sphere that is tracked by PlayStation Eye camera. Through PlayStation Move system, both fast and subtle motion can be detected, whether the user is swinging a tennis racket, or painting with a brush. With PlayStation Move motion controller, users can provide direct input through action buttons and an analog trigger, while receiving physical feedback from rumble functionality and visual feedback from the sphere’s ability to display a variety of different colors. Furthermore, PlayStation Eye camera can capture the player’s voice or image, enabling augmented reality experiences.

The newly announced PlayStation Move sub-controller is a one-handed controller, developed to further expand the game play options that PlayStation Move games can offer. PlayStation Move sub-controller features a sleek curved design that pairs with the motion controller and comes with an analog stick and directional buttons that allow users to easily control the game when moving characters or choosing a direction. Like all other Wireless Controllers for the PS3 system, it comes with a built in lithium-ion rechargeable battery as well as Bluetooth technology, enabling the controller to transfer the input information wirelessly to the PS3 system without a cable. PlayStation Move motion controller and sub-controller will further broaden the gaming experience on the PS3 system for all genres, from games that use one motion controller to games that use both controllers.

All combined with a game + PlayStation Move controllers should cost less than $100 USD.