GAMES

The Shop Contest, it’s for breakfast now! Our call for entries for new game-themed cereals produced another raft of strong entries, including two from the same commenter, a first.

Update: I apologize for the deleted comments in the original post. This was an erroneous double post and unfortunately the only one the system let me call back was the first one, which most people had commented in. Unfortunately I can’t rescue or transfer those comments. Original post follows.

Ordinarily I don’t like to put more than one ‘Shop from the same commenter in, but arrow_six’s Bran Turismo was worthy. He later topped it with Elite Wheat Agents. I had to include both. arrow_six takes our (nonexistent) first prize for excellence.

smash_bro really thought outside the cereal box with his GameStop advertisement of great deals on used cereals – using ones the community had created. But vernon_v’s Kellogg’s vs. Capcom is my personal favorite. More than that, it’s a game that simply must happen.

Again, here are your 20 best from last week. We’ll have a new subject tomorrow.

Adam Brunsdon
ajnewman
Alan SexPants Chen
arrow_six
arrow_six
Burning
gofunaki22
Gym Master Alex
Kobun
Madpotator
mrjoeyyaya
nasserkun
Rear Admiral Meatwad
sc4ld
silferjam
smash_bro
Snufkin
tzibo
vernon_v
zekeknight

Role-playing action title Alpha Protocol goes on sale for the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 June 1, Sega announced this morning.

Obsidian Entertainment’s modern-day role-playing game has players taking on the role of spy Michael Thorton as he tried to uncover who was behind the missile attack on a passenger plane.

Gamers that pre-order Alpha Protocol through GameStop will receive the Exclusive Assault Pack, containing exclusive weapons and ammo like the UC Regulator high damage shotgun and Rittergroupen Grizzly high accuracy rifle.

I’ll be interested to see how this game compares to Mass Effect 2’s blending of action, shooter and RPG.

It looks like that entire game’s worth of removed content might be making it into Final Fantasy XIII after all. GameStop has posted the box art for the Xbox 360 version of the game and, more importantly, it has also posted the art for the back of the box. As you can see above, the box mentions that Final Fantasy XIII will support downloadable content after all, though there is no mention of what the DLC actually is. It’s worth noting that the content could be something as simple as Avatar outfits or accessories, though it would certainly make sense for Square Enix to supply its most well-known franchise with post-launch DLC.

The news comes after producer Yoshinori Kitase was rumored to have stated that no DLC had been planned for the game, though he noted it was still “possible.” Final Fantasy Union, however, notes that Kitase apparently confirmed DLC during a recent interview with the Dutch Official Playstation Magazine. The box art certainly seems to confirm that, though we’ve reached out to Square for clarification. As of this writing, GameStop has yet to post the art for the back of the PS3 version, so it’s unclear if both platforms will support said content.

[Via Final Fantasy Union]

Back of FFXIII box for 360 mentions DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The New York State Attorney General’s office announced last week that it was issuing subpoenas to 22 popular online retailers, including GameStop, as part of an investigation into how the sites may share credit card information with other companies.

A news release from the office of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo explains what is described as a practice that “deceptively link[s] unsuspecting consumers to fee-based membership programs that charge unauthorized feeds under the guise of discount offers.”

The AG’s office describes in fuller detail:

Cuomo’s investigation has found that when consumers shop online from familiar retailers, they are often presented with a discount or cash-back incentive offer as they complete their purchase. When consumers click on the discount or incentive banner, they are unknowingly directed to a membership program seller’s Web page that is separate from the online retailer’s site. The consumer is then instructed through large, colorful print and voice prompts to accept the discount or incentive. Information about joining the membership program and its ramifications, including the fact that the consumer is agreeing to transfer his or her credit or debit card account information, is buried in fine print and cluttered text. Small and recurring charges then begin to appear on consumers’ credit or debit card bills from unfamiliar companies. Because of the low dollar amount, the charges may go unnoticed for some time.

The three discount companies in question are Webloyalty, Affinion/Trilegiant and Vertrue. The AG’s office has issued subponeas to 22 “well-known merchants” that deal with them, including GameStop, FTD.com, Orbitz.com, Travelocity and more.

Cuomo’s office reports that it already got movie ticket seller Fandango to agree to change its linking practices. MSNBC reports:

The company will now warn customers if they are about to be leave the Fandango Web site. It will also warn customers when an incentive is offered for joining a membership club from a separate company. Fandango has agreed to pay $400,000 in restitution to customers.

Kotaku has reached out to GameStop for comment and will update this story if we hear back.

CUOMO INVESTIGATING 22 POPULAR ONLINE RETAILERS FOR LINKING CONSUMERS TO DISCOUNT CLUBS THAT CHARGE HIDDEN FEES [press release from New York State Attorney General's office]

We wouldn’t blame you if you’re hesitant to trust your cold, unfeeling game console with your credit card information — when that thing inevitably goes sentient, you just know its just going to go on an overpriced accessory-shopping spree. Fortunately, there’s other ways to obtain content on the Xbox Live Marketplace; for instance, a recently added GameStop listing has revealed that Borderlands‘ two DLC packs, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot, will soon be bundled together in a retail package for the 360 and PC.

The bundle, which is set to drop February 23, will be priced at $19.99, which is how much the DLC would cost if purchased separately on the Marketplace. Only, now you’re also paying sales tax, meaning you’re buying an expansion pack and paying for a few pages of a public elementary school textbook. How nice of you!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Borderlands DLC bundled in retail package originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A BBFC classification for a “Game of the Year” edition of Batman: Arkham Asylum has popped up online, causing quite a stir here at Joystiq HQ. While we all agree that Batman was “a game of the year,” the listing offers no clues as to what would be included in a GOTY package. So, allow us to activate detective mode:

First, there are the two DLC packs for the game to consider: the “Insane Night” Map Pack (free for everyone) and “Prey In The Darkness,” available on PS3 in the US and on both PS3 and Xbox 360 in Europe. Also, those who pre-ordered the original release from GameStop received access to the challenge map “Dem Bones,” while those that snagged the fancy Collector’s Edition got their own unique challenge map in “Crime Alley” — both could certainly be included in a special edition re-release. Considering all the DLC out there (but c’mon, we want more Rocksteady!), there’s a valid GOTY edition in the making here. And how about a batarang upgrade, too? (That cheap plastic one just didn’t cut it.)

We’ve turned on our ’stiq signal in the hopes of attracting Warner Bros., Eidos and Rocksteady for clarification. We’ll let you know just as soon as they show up on our rooftop.

[Thanks, C.A.]

Batman: Arkham Asylum GOTY edition outed by BBFC listing originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GameStop, Best Buy now expecting Raven Software’s time-bending shooter in June; Amazon sticks to March window.

Get the full article at GameSpot

Army of Two: The 40th Day’s Salem and Rios are no strangers to the modern world. Sure, they may have acted a bit … out of place during previous visits to EA Montreal and EA Headquarters, but that doesn’t mean they’re not fit for retail life. Take, for instance, the video above of the two trying their best to lend a hand to the fine folks at GameStop.

They might be a bit rough around the edges, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t get the most magazine upsells for the month of December (they did!) or that they aren’t capable of re-alphabetizing the used PS2 section six or seven hundred times a day (they are!). Give them a chance, folks. Under the inhuman terror mask and bullet-proof chestpadding beats the heart of a human being.

The Army of Two infiltrate GameStop originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Super Mario Bros. Wii
“You’ve just made a 28-year-old boy’s Christmas.” That’s what my friend’s wife told the GameStop employee as she was buying the store’s last copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii several weeks back. That sentiment has summed up my own holiday season, as my cohort and I have continued our nostalgic domination of the new “Mario Brothers.”

Twenty-something years ago we were both anxiously awaiting the same Christmas Morning when we would unwrap our Nintendos, and shortly thereafter our gaming lives split two very different ways. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the first and only game she has played with me for more than, um, “five minutes” (besides those late-night Rock Band parties), and its brilliance is in its ability to engage us both, on different levels, in the same level.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: James’ Picks of 2009

Best of the Rest: James’ Picks of 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final instalment of the Tiberium saga heading to PC on March 16 in North America, March 19 in Europe; online pre-order incentives include exclusive bonus mission and early access to beta program.

Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight was one of EA’s worst-kept secrets this year, after being preemptively announced via a consumer survey and EA’s own twitter feed. This time, however, news of the game’s release date has officially come from an EA press release, and real-time strategy fans who have been awaiting a sequel to 2007’s Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars won’t have to wait much longer.

Coming to a PC near you this March.

Today, EA has announced that Command & Conquer 4 will be hitting store shelves on March 16 in North America and March 19 in Europe. The publisher has also announced the first preorder incentives for the game, available to North American customers who preorder from the EA Store, GameStop, or Direct 2 Drive. Eager fans can expect to receive a copy of the game’s official soundtrack and an exclusive bonus mission, on top of which orders from Direct 2 Drive or the EA Store get early access to the upcoming beta program. GameSpot Total Access subscribers can also apply for the beta by registering here.

Command & Conquer 4 features different campaigns for the Global Defence Initiative and Brotherhood of Nod factions, with each faction playable in solo or cooperative modes. The game will also have a five-versus-five, objective-based online multiplayer mode.

For more details, check out GameSpot’s previous coverage.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot