Hoecs Games

What began as a rumour last month now seems to have escalated into full-blown fact; several sites, and sources, are reporting that Ziff Davis have sold the 1UP network to competitors Hearst.

Hearst - who own UGO, many of the nation’s biggest newspapers along with ownership stakes in ESPN and the History Channel - will however only be taking ownership of the network’s online presence.

According to sources at GameSetWatch, this means long-running print magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly won’t be along for the ride (though What They Play, run by former 1UP man John Davison, say further details will be disclosed tomorrow). This will be the last month the magazine is published, bringing to an end nearly two decades of independent, influential games editorial.

If this pans out - as seems likely - RIP, games magazines.

Ziff Davis Gets Out Of The Game: Sells 1UP Digital Net To Hearst; Shutters EGM Mag [socialmedian, reprinted from paidcontent.org]
Magweasel Extra: EGM Reportedly Closing, Sorrow Ensues [GameSetWatch]

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/ In this latest Skate 2 developer diary-style video featurette, online producer Brian Lindley reveals new online multiplayer modes for the game before storming off set and ultimately killing a guy with eldritch energies.

Brian does a fine job of detailing Skate 2’s new online features despite being obviously uncomfortable in his role of straight man to Cuz, who comes off as so annoying that he’s almost enough to make me not want to buy the game. The ability to create your own spaces and share them online with other users is definitely nifty, as is the mini-game that rewards the most hideous falls - the only one I can ever see myself winning. I just wish I hadn’t spent the entire video muttering “shut up, shut up, shut up” under my breath while rocking back and forth in my chair like a patient in a psychiatric ward.

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Eidos has just launched Battlestations.net, the community-focused website for their upcoming follow-up to Battlestations: Midway, Battlestations: Pacific, and they’re celebrating by bombarding fans with new screens and trailers.

The Battlestations.net website will play host to new screenshots, movies, developer blogs, podcasts, and just about everything Battlestations: Pacific you can imagine. Fans will be able to chat with other fans about the series, offer the developers their helpful input, and even participate in Eidos-hosted Battlestations: Midway competitions in order to polish their skills for the sequel, due out this spring.

While I’m not a big fan of Battlestations’ particular brand of strategy, I have friends who swear the first game was the best thing since World War II. Not going to argue, as they’re a bit off-balance, and armed. Check out the latest screens and the new trailer below.

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Battlestations.net Weighs Anchor

Battlestations: PacificTM community-focused website launches today

Tuesday 6th January/… Eidos Interactive, creator of some of the world’s leading video game properties, today announced the launch of a new community-focused destination site for Battlestations: Pacific™.

Sequel to 2007’s critically acclaimed Battlestations: Midway™, Battlestations: Pacific™ picks up where its predecessor left off. Pitching players into the might of World War II’s Pacific conflict, the game delivers intense, action-packed combat and strategic warfare on an extraordinary scale and features two distinctly different single-player campaigns. A historically accurate US Campaign puts players in command of the US fleet through The Battle of Midway to Okinawa as they try to secure peace in the Pacific. Or play as the Japanese and take control of the Imperial Japanese fleet with the unique chance to fight at Pearl Harbor before attempting to change the course of history and take full control of the Pacific Ocean. Players can also take the battle online with an enhanced multiplayer, offering five new and innovative co-op and team-based modes.

“Battlestations offers a blend of action and strategy unlike any other videogame on the market and as such has a dedicated and committed community of fans,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager of Eidos Game Studios. “The launch of Battlestations.net as a destination site for both information and discussion on the game comes as a direct result of listening and interacting with our communities.”

Launched today, the new Battlestations.net site offers a feature-rich destination for information, entertainment and discussion on this anticipated sequel. News, screens and movies on the game will be accompanied by in-depth developer blogs, podcasts, exclusive website competitions and Eidos-hosted Battlestations: Midway™ multiplayer sessions, allowing fans of the game a chance to brush up on their skills before the launch of Battlestations: Pacific™.

Those interested in enlisting can join the discussions at www.battlestations.net.

Battlestations: Pacific™ is set for release on Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows® in spring 2009.

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A lot of you seem to be big on the HP Firebird 803. Maybe for its looks, maybe for its hardware, maybe for its price tag, who knows. Whatever, let’s take a look at its guts!

Amazing the difference an external power supply makes to the size of things, no?

galleryPost(’hpfirebird’, 4, ”); Gallery: Check Out the HP Firebird 803’s Liquid-cooled Innards [Gizmodo]

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Dragon Quest IX is coming. Japan shall quake upon its release. While we wait out these last few months before it’s out, then, let’s take a look at about a gazillion new screenshots!

Oh, and some new details as well. The game’s main character starts off as an angel. And that tanned girl? She’s tanned because she’s a ditsy bimbo. Like a Dragon Quest valley girl.

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Been a while since we heard from WET. Probably because it was being published by Sierra, and then left in limbo after the whole Activision-killed-Sierra thing. It’s still due for release this year, though. Apparently.

At least, developers A2M are still working on it, and have released a bunch of new screenshots for the game. Looks awful dry to us. Guffaw guffaw.
galleryPost(’wet09′, 4, ”); [via Shacknews]

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In quite possibly the most bizarre clip of 2009, the cast from Metal Gear Solid 4 improvises a scene in which they’re “suffering from delusions of being the characters they portray in the game.”

Voice actors David “Solid Snake” Hayter, Jennifer “Naomi Hunter” Hale, Paul “Colonel Roy Campbell” Eiding, Christopher “Otacon” Randolph, and Quinton “Raiden” Flynn do an off the cuff, fifteen minute session for Sadie’s Gaming Infection, one that really must be seen to be believed.

Like most improv, it can be painfully awkward at times, surprisingly hilarious in others. There’s lots of “Snake? Snake! SNAAAAAAAKE!!!” and “I love puppies” and even more general weirdness. Watch. Or Listen. Then try to figure it out.

Thanks, RazielPrime1!

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Paul Robertson can do no wrong. As evidenced by his latest work, this commercial for Syke, an energy drink that may or may not be real. Way marketing is these days, its hard to tell.

[via Offworld]

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Electronic Arts (of Japan!) wants to get its mitts on that naughty, forbidden flesh-flirting gameplay previously explored in games like Doki Doki Majo Shinpan, expanding the “Touch! Generation” with some “Touch Yourself! Generation” tactics.

The game is Hachi Koi, a romantic adventure sim that requires the wooing, and occasional touching, of girls who are totally of age. Eight ladies of varying interests, cup sizes and body types will be yours to give “good touches” to and interact with, ultimately resulting in everlasting love. And yes, EA is publishing it.

As you can see in the clip above (via Tiny Cartridge), the rubdowns in Hachi Koi stress that your stylus be on its best behavior. You have until Spring 2009 to become an expert in Kanji.

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What? One more Bonus Round plug?! You betcha! The fifth and final (and I mean it this time) segment features me, Giant Bomb’s Ryan Davis and Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter talking about our consoles of the year, the PlayStation 3 in 2009 and maybe one more other item of interest that escapes me right now. See you next year, Geoff Keighley!

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