‘Tis the season to empty your wallet for everyone but yourself…that is, if you still have money left over from the juggernaut that was the release schedule of this Fall and Winter. In this greatly commercialized season, it’s sometimes good to remember the original purpose to the celebration of these holidays: good people and good times. So Wii60 is promoting that everyone in its community share their fondest memories from the holidays. Any holiday is fine, from Thanksgiving, to Hannukah and it’s several spellings, to Kwanzaa, to Christmas and to New Years. If you have a good memory that helped make the holiday more than just commercialization or good food, feel free to share it on the forums or in the front page comments. Any other stories will be shared next week.

To kick start the stories off, I shall share my own. You can check it out from behind the cut.

- Chris Cesarano (Grohdinger)

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EA unveiled the entire soundtrack for ‘Burnout Paradise’ which is set for a January 22, 2008 release. Guns N’ Roses’ “Paradise City” will headline the the playlist and the rest of the tunes are listed below:

[Artist, Song]

Adam And The Ants
Stand And Deliver

Agent Blue
Snowhill

Airbourne
Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast

Alice In Chains
Would?

Army Of Me
Going Through Changes

Avril Lavigne
Girlfriend

B’z
FRICTION

Brain Failure feat. Dicky Barrett
Coming Down To Beijing

Brand New
The Archers Bows Have Broken

Bromheads Jacket
Fight Music For The Fight

Depeche Mode
Route 66 (Beatmasters Mix)
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The 3D Realms guys have announced that they’ll be unleashing upon the world a one minute Duke Nukem Forever teaser trailer. At first I expected this to have nothing but pre-rendered footage, as many teaser trailers do for games, and continue the joke that it is never coming out. However, it’s got some gameplay stuffed in there, apparently.

Even so, I still expect the game to play like Quake 4 or Prey.

You can expect to see the trailer tomorrow noon Central Time. As for the location, I’d imagine at the game’s website, or the main 3D Realms Website, but until then they released the above screenshot for all to enjoy. You can grab a larger version here.

EDIT: The trailer is out.

- Chris Cesarano (Grohdinger)

Timeshift

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC - Developer/Publisher: Saber Interactive/Sierra Entertainment
Genre: First Person Shooter - Single Player Campaign, 2-16 Multiplayer

Reviewed by Chris Cesarano (a.k.a. Grohdinger)

Introduction:

Timeshift is one of those titles that has been in development under several different studios for several years, so when it comes out you’re always unsure what to think of it. The game might be good, or it might be humdrum. Even worse, it could be absolutely terrible. While TimeShift certainly doesn’t feel like a refined title under development for several years, it at least isn’t terrible. It’s simply…ok.

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In time for the holidays, Guitar Hero 3 will be getting a track pack containing Linkin Park’s “No More Sorrow”, Mastadon’s “Sleeping Giant” and “Pretty Handsome Awkward” by The Used, all master recordings.  There are also going to be single tracks released by popular European bands Extremoduro, Trust and Die Fantastichen Vier, with songs “So Payaso”, “Antisocial” and “Ernten Was Wir Säen”, respectively.

In addition, a free track will be offered of guitarist Steve Ouimette’s version of “We Three Kings”.

Unfortunately, no specific date has been announced for the downloadable offerings.  They will be coming soon, and for the Xbox 360 Marketplace and PS3 Network.

Still no Blind Guardian or Dream Theater…

- Chris Cesarano (Grohdinger)

While Halo is switching from first person shooter to RTS in 2008, Command & Conquer is making the reverse switch (Note: I have been informed this already happened with C&C: Renegade.  My bad). Coming next Autumn to PS3, Xbox 360 and PC, EALA has announced Tiberium, a tactical first person shooter set in the sci-fi world of Command and Conquer 3.

The basic story is, in a devastated future Earth, a large, alien tower looms dormant in the wasteland that was once the Mediterranean Sea. It was thought to be a relic from the Tiberium Wars, where Tiberium is a crystal substance that has the capability to either save or annihilate civilization. The thought to be dormant tower, however, is actually quite active, and inside an alien menace prepares to wreak havoc on the denizens of Earth.

The player controls Forward Battle Commander Ricardo Vega, who, throughout the game, will command troops, heavy armor and air squadrons into battle, as well as manipulating a transforming personal weapon system, homing-missiles, capital ship bombardments and tactical ion cannon strikes. The game will also feature multiplayer, as can always be expected of a shooter these days.

Hard to know what will come of this game. Sounds like it could play like G.R.A.W., or it could simply play like Republic Commando. We can only wait and find out.

- Chris Cesarano (Grohdinger)

This weeks question is rather simple. Which of your current gaming systems is your favorite or is the one which receives all your love and attention.

#10 - What Is Your Current System Of Choice?

-Mike

Take-Two Interactive Software today announced the formation of 2K Marin, a new development studio under its 2K publishing label. Located in Novato, California, 2K Marin will develop original intellectual property, as well as co-develop products with other 2K studios around the world.

“We’re focused on continuing to bring new brands and cutting-edge gameplay to market with the creation of the 2K Marin studio,” said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. “2K Marin will build upon our success in creating and leveraging AAA franchises.”

2K Marin is the newest studio to join 2K’s outstanding group of development studios located in Asia, Europe, Australia and North America.

Feel free to comment on this news below or in our forums.

-JJ

The Wii Virtual Console enters a realm of obscurity today as a series of sci-fi/fantasy games touch down in the Shop Channel.  The first title among these is Cybernator, a game case that I’ve seen plenty in my younger years shopping at Funcoland and Software Etc. and during my time as an employee at GameStop.  It looks to be a side-scrolling sci-fi shooter of some pretty decent caliber, despite the corny name.  Joining is a Genesis game called Alien Storm, another title I’ve seen as a GameStop wage slave where you are shooting down a series of alien shape shifters.  The final game is Monster Lair for the Turbo-Grafx 16, a more comical fantasy adventure where you combat adorable little monsters.

Cybernator (SNES®, 1 player, rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): It is the near future. Resources are dwindling, and the major powers of the world are in dispute over territory. Pilot the Cybernator G5-E for the 95th brigade of the mechanized marines and throw yourself into the war. Get briefed before each mission to confirm your targets, and then do your best to clear each of the seven stages, freely using the suit’s equipped tools and four types of weaponry.

Alien Storm™ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Shape-shifting aliens have infiltrated the city, creating chaos and panic! Fortunately, a trio of heroes called the Alien Busters has agreed to wipe out the invading creatures. The members of the team wield their own special attacks, and they unload a world of hurt on the Martian menaces from the city streets to the mother ship.

Monster Lair (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1-2 players, rated E for Everyone - Mild Cartoon Violence, 800 Wii Points): Join young Adam and Laura as they embark on a fantastic adventure in this comical action/shooting game. Featuring beautiful music brought to life by the power of the CD-ROM, the game consists of 14 rounds packed with cute monster enemies. Players can either play alone as Adam (or play with a friend controlling Laura) as they battle their way through round after round. The first half of each round is the action scene, where players must avoid obstacles and pits. Use your Power Boost weapons against enemies and restore your Life Force with food as you head for the gate at the end. The second half is the exhilarating shooting scene, where players must shoot down flying enemies. Take out the boss at the end to clear the round and move to the next one.

Based on their descriptions, Cybernator and Alien Storm prove that, in the end, games haven’t changed much.  It’s still all about shooting aliens and robots.

- Chris Cesarano (Grohdinger)

Microsoft, in collaboration with Rare and Lionhead Studios, is running a contest for the newly released XNA Game Studio Express 2.0.  The contest name is “Silicon Minds”, where the central focus of the contest is Artificial Intelligence.  The goal is to create an understanding of how research, A.I. and computer learning can create some very invigorating and innovative gameplay.

The contest is actually a warm-up to the much larger “Dream-Build-Play 2008″ contest, hence the short submission period of December 20th, 2007 to January 27th, 2008.  Registration has already opened up to those interested.

Up to five finalist teams will be eligible to win an interview for a three month internship at Microsoft Research Cambridge Lab, and/or Rare or Lionhead Studios, as well as a $3,000 stipend for their projects and travel to the Game Developers Conference 2008 and an invitation to the San Francisco show, as well as a year’s subscription to the XNA Creator’s Club.

In some ways, winning a chance to have an interview seems a bit cheap, but given how many applications these companies must receive an interview is actually a pretty sweet deal.  The only problem is you only have a month to submit a project if you don’t have one made already, which can be a pretty large handicap for some folks.

You can find more information at the contest home page.

- Chris Cesarano (Grohdinger)