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His name is actually Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, but he’s better known as “Kaka.” The Real Madrid midfielder will grace the cover of EA Sports’ forthcoming footballer — FIFA Soccer 11 — in addition to being the “center-piece of global advertising, marketing, and promotional campaigns.”

Continue reading FIFA Soccer 11 cover to feature Ricardo ‘Kaka’ Izecson dos Santos Leite

FIFA Soccer 11 cover to feature Ricardo ‘Kaka’ Izecson dos Santos Leite originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electronic Arts packing in pared-down basketball game with copies of newly rebranded hardwood simulator for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3; arcade title won’t be sold separately on XBL and PSN.

After months of rumor and speculation, Electronic Arts today confirmed that NBA Jam will surface for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360…but with a hefty catch.

The publisher today sent word that copies of NBA Elite 11($59.99) will include a redeemable code to download a stripped-down version of NBA Jam. Included in the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will be the Play Now, Classic Campaign, and Online modes. However, the Remix Tour, which serves as NBA Jam’s primary campaign mode, will remain exclusive to the Wii version.

According to an EA Sports representative speaking with ESPN, purchasing NBA Elite 11 be the only way to play NBA Jam on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

NBA Jam lighting up HD consoles.

“We’re not selling ‘Jam’ on PSN or Xbox Live,” Jordan Edelstein, vice president of marketing for EA Sports, told ESPN. “If you still want the full product, the full experience is on the Wii, but if you pick up ‘Elite,’ you’re still getting a good taste of it, especially with the inclusion of online play.”

The complete version of NBA Jam–available only on the Wii–will include the Remix Tour. This mode includes boss battles against NBA legends, such as Magic Johnson, and comprises “about 20 hours of gameplay,” according to Edelstein.

NBA Jam will arrive for the Wii on October 5, the same day that NBA Elite 11 launches for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. For more on the Wii arcade basketball game, check out GameSpot’s most recent preview. And for a look at NBA Elite 11, check out the game’s player reactions video embedded below.

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Light week at retail sees arrival of Microsoft’s slim-line $200 Arcade model, Monster Rancher DS, Disney’s Sing It: Family Hits.

The good news is that next week marks the arrival of EA Sports’ Madden NFL, better known as the traditional kick off for the holiday season and the influx of games that comes with it. The bad news is that the week before Madden’s arrival is pretty much as bare as a release schedule comes from the US gaming industry.

The 4GB Xbox 360 will be Kinect-compatible.

In fact, the biggest release of the week isn’t even software. Instead, Microsoft takes top billing with the launch of its latest hardware revision for the Xbox 360 Arcade unit. Available at the $199 price point, the system resembles the slim-line 250GB hard drive model, though with a black matte finish. However, instead of external memory, it includes 4GB of internal flash memory, as well as a wireless controller, built-in wireless connectivity, and five USB ports.

As for software, UFO Interactive will be releasing Tecmo Koei’s latest installment in the Monster Rancher series for the DS. The monster breeding and battling game features a number of classic critters from previous installments in the franchise, including Mocchi and Suezo.

Karaoke fans also have something to look forward to by way of Disney’s Sing It: Family Hits. Available for the PlayStation 3 and Wii, Family Hits offers classic Disney tunes from films such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Lion King, and Aladdin.

For further details on the week’s games, visit GameSpot’s New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later in the week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 3
4GB Xbox 360 S
Disney Sing It: Family Hits–PS3, WII–Disney Interactive
Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure–DS–Take-Two Interactive
Junior Classic Books and Fairytales–DS–Navarre Corp
Monster Rancher DS–DS–UFO Interactive
Mumbo Jumbo 6 Pack 2nd Edition–PC–MumboJumbo

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4
Commander: Conquest of the Americas–PC–Paradox Interactive
Castlevania: Harmony of Despair–X360–Konami

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EA boxing sim series returns to the ring next year for Xbox 360 and PS3 with a “grittier” take on the sport; EA Canada studio handling development.

While EA Sports’ Fight Night series of games has traditionally touted itself as a straight-faced simulation of a strategic sport, the next installment will apparently showcase the sour side of the sweet science. At its Studio Showcase today, EA announced Fight Night Champion for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and gave an indication that the series is heading in a new direction.

Pacquiao has seen better days, considering he likely can’t see much with that eye swollen shut.

While the sport of boxing is inherently rough, EA Sports’ Andrew Wilson promised a “grittier” and “darker” game with animations and player damage that “truly conveys the brutality of the sport of boxing.” The publisher released a screenshot in support of those comments, depicting a bloodied and battered Manny Pacquiao.

As far as gameplay goes, EA is promising a refined physics-based animation system and a new “Full Spectrum Punch Control” scheme. The publisher didn’t mention the game’s Online Pass-limited multiplayer features, instead focusing on a single-player mode intended to re-create the dramatic and emotional aspects of the sport.

Fight Night Champion is being developed at EA Canada by the team that put together last year’s Fight Night Round 4. It is set for release sometime next year. For more on its predecessor, check out GameSpot’s review of Fight Night Round 4.

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Did you know that EA’s Football Manager franchise is developed in Germany? Did you then know that, in German, the game is titled “Fussball Manager?” ‘Cause that just about made our whole year. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, you might be interested to know that EA Sports is bringing another release in the Fussball series out later this year on PC. The publisher announced the title recently alongside the release of a smattering of screens (that we’ve dropped into a gallery below).

The tenth entry in the FIFA Manager series promises a lowered barrier of entry for new players, as well as “considerably expanded” online functionality. EA’s Bright Future studio in Germany is heading up development of the annual franchise’s latest installment, and the game is expected to release sometime this fall. Get your, um, pencils and paper ready? We guess? Yeah! It’s Fussball time!

EA’s FIFA Manager 11 heading to PC this fall originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Jul 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ShopTo calls for Microsoft to finalize motion-sensing peripheral at lower than widely rumored price, says customers aren’t biting at current cost.

Microsoft confirmed a November 4 launch for its Kinect motion-sensing camera peripheral at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, but it didn’t nail down a price for the device. Despite the lack of official word, US retailers began taking preorders for Kinect at $150, and while Microsoft declined to make the number official, it opened up its own preorders at the same price point. Now one retailer is saying that price is too high, and preorders have suffered as a result.

ShopTo’s CEO says customers aren’t exactly clamoring for Kinect.

In an interview with Eurogamer, ShopTo CEO Igor Cipolletta told the site the number of Kinect preorders the retail chain has received is “very low.” As for the pricing, ShopTo currently offers the Kinect for €153.75 ($188), while the executive pointed out that a Wii can be had for just a little more. ShopTo’s online site is currently sold out of Nintendo’s hardware, but the Wii Sports Resort bundle ordinarily sells for €166 ($203).

“It’s too high,” Cipolletta said of the Kinect price. “We believe that with this current economy it should be around £70 ($105).”

When Kinect arrives, Microsoft expects 15 games to launch alongside the device. First-party offerings include Kinect Adventures, Kinectimals, Kinect Joy Ride, and Kinect Sports. A number of third parties are also on board, developing such titles as EA Sports Active 2, Konami’s DanceMasters, and Sega’s Sonic Freeriders. Publishers have also promised postlaunch support, such as a Star Wars game from LucasArts, Q?’s Child of Eden, and THQ’s UFC Trainer.

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