The update includes a new batch of achievements, two brand new weapons (The sandman bat, capable of slugging players with baseballs stunning them, along with the Force-of-Nature shotgun), an energy drink item that increases your speed dramatically, along with new levels and updated ones.

Surprisingly, nothing was released on the final announcement day. Fans were expecting the next “Meet the ________” video, that have been released in the past with other updates.

Oh well. Get bonking!

EDIT: Here is the complete list of updates…

Added The Force-A-Nature, The Sandman, and Bonk!

Added 35 new Scout achievements

Added crit boosted on/off sound effects

Added new sounds for upgraded teleporters

Added new sound for a fully charged medic dying

Add bonus points section to scores

Scouts earn a bonus point for killing Medics who are actively healing a target

Added several new speech concepts, mostly hooked up to new Scout lines

Added new “Remember last weapon between lives” option to the Multiplayer Advanced dialog

Spies can now control which weapon the enemy team sees them holding. Hitting the “last disguise” key while disguised updates the disguise to show the Spy’s currently held weapon

Added several new Arena mode announcer speech events.

Added “First Blood” to Arena mode

Removed 2x item respawn times in arena

Changed backstab handling to fix facestabs

Spies disguised as enemy team can now see player IDs for enemies

New maps

Added community maps: cp_egypt, arena_watchtower, and cp_junction

Updated cp_fastlane with Arttu’s new version

Mapmaker requests

Added new input for forward speed modifier to FuncTrainTrain

Added TeleportToPathTrack input to func_tracktrain

Bugfixes

Fixed a bug where players would sometimes gib from non-gib damage kills

Fixed stat screen showing an entry for a class called “map.”

Fixed item model panels not using team skins

- Fixed obscure bug where spectators were able to carry the flag

So far the information that has been released includes the following… A new character who goes by the name of Cave Johnson. This character is said to be in his early sixties, and is the CEO of Aperture Science. The following quote is Valves description of the character…

CAVE JOHNSON (ECCENTRIC DEAD BILLIONAIRE)]
Cave Johnson is a character for a new game in the Portal series from Valve Software. Portal is a dark comedy; the role will require comic timing, with occasional dramatic moments. Age: early 60s. He is founder and CEO of a successful applied science company, a self-made billionaire who’s learned to trust his gut and doesn’t sweat the details—is a big picture thinker. He might not know how science works, but he knows how people work.

Used to getting what he wants. Extroverted, enthusiastic and opinionated. High energy: life is an adventure he’s happy to be on. A born salesman, a leader, an evangelist. People trust him, even when his plans are clearly dangerous. Speaks with a slight Southern/Western accent (natural, not too broad).

He a uses warm, homespun delivery to put people at their ease. He doesn’t accept the responsibility that comes with his power. Either he doesn’t see or chooses not to see the ramifications of his actions. Goes from sidekick to principle antagonist. Sarts to lose his grip on his humanity as the story progresses. As he isolates himself from the people around him, he loses touch with reality…VOICE OVER ONLY [sic]

Next we have some sample dialogue that will be making an appearance in the game…

Cave Johnson

Dialogue Samples

(Introducing himself over a loudspeaker to the Player)

Welcome, friend! I hope you enjoyed yer brief detention in the Relaxation Vault. Cave Johnson here, founder and CEO of Aperture Science — the best damn applied sciences company on Earth. How good is the science here? Get a load a’ this: I am dead! Now, yer probably askin’ yourself, “Cave, come on now. How is this possible? Are you some manner of Dracula? Or Frankenstein? Or dependin’ on yer cultural heritage, a Blackula or Latin Frankenstein? No sir! It’s science. As of this mornin’, yer old buddy Cave has been resurrected inside of a computer. And I never felt better!

You may also be askin’, “Cave, where am I? When can I leave? Am I in danger?” Let me answer them questions, with a question. “Who is ready for a science adventure?” Yeah! I hope the answer is you! Because the test starts in three… Two… Go!

(Cave congratulates you on your success)
Masters level testing: Completed! Hell, crushed! You. Are. A. Genius.

(Cave contemplates the afterlife)
I been thinkin. Heck, suspended as I am in this inky purgatorium, I got nothin’ to do but think. What if them engineers didn’t do me no favors pourin’ me into a computer? What if they denied me my final reward? Lemme tell ya about a fella. Lived thousands a years ago. Didn’t want nothin’ but fer folks to be a little bit nicer to each other. And in the end, he sacrificed himself to save us all. You know who I’m talking about: Hercules.

The man battled minotaurs! Medusas! Hell, he put the gods themselves in an arm bar. And for overcomin’ all them trials? He got to go to Olympus. Damn it! I battled my monsters! Where’s my Olympus? Unless… I haven’t killed all my monsters… Anyway, this next test. Whoo… Yeah… Good luck with that…

There you have it. But it sounds a bit familiar doesn’t it? According to the source, recording for the part is supposed to begin sometime in July.

SOURCE: http://www.kombo.com/article.php?artid=11223

MGS was spied by our contact on on PartnerNet, the developers-only Xbox Live network used to beta-test unreleased downloadable Xbox 360 games.

Metal Gear Solid has long been recognized as one of the greatest games of all time, basically re-writing the rules on how games work. Now approaching it’s 10 year anniversary (along with the series 20th anniversary), a re-release on a new platform may seem fitting.

So far, Metal Gear Solid has appeared on the PS1, Gamecube (Completely remade with THEN next-gen graphics) and the PC. Interesting enough, Microsoft themselves were the ones who ported MGS over to the computer, so the idea of them appearing on another one of their platforms isn’t TOO far-fetched. Metal Gear Solid 2 also made an appearance on the Xbox during a re-release of the game.

The source goes on to say that the project has been hit with a few unspecified road bumps.

I can’t imagine what problems there’d be, especially if we’re talking a port of the PC version, as opposed to something pseudo-bleem!-ified via PS emulation. Unless we really are talking the original PS version and the problem has to do with emulating Sony hardware, whether literally or legally, on Xbox 360 turf. Color me clueless either way, and treat this as hearsay until Microsoft says it all official-like.

There is an issue with space however. Metal Gear Solid required two discs, and those discs added up to weigh a hefty 1.3 Gigs. Even with the most recent upgrade in the XBLA, games can only take up 350 mb of space.

Compression has come a long way, I have MGS on my PSP (Custom Firmware of course) and during the conversion process was able to get the first disc down to about 390 mb.

What do you think? This rumor got any weight to it?

SOURCES:
http://blogs.pcworld.com/gameon/archives/007085.html
http://www.ripten.com/2008/06/09/rumour-metal-gear-solid-coming-to-xbla/

All we know at this point is that the game may get some graphical improvements, it’s due in time for the 2008 holiday season and that the port is being headed up by new BioShock creative director Jordan Thomas, a designer on the original. Check out the July issue of EGM for screens and some more info.

At this point though, I doubt anyone who is/was interested in this game doesn’t already know all the spoilers. If you have a PS3, are eager to get this, and don’t know this fabulous story… you’re one in a million.

SOURCE: http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/bioshock-officially-coming-to-ps3/

The Limited Edition comes packed with the game (of course), two making of documentaries, and the complete soundtrack… along with some sexy box art.

If you’re planning on picking up the limited edition, be forewarned. While the price of the normal game is going to be $60, the L.E. is going to set you back $85. And get this, and can only be purchase at GameStop (as far as I know, this is only in America).

You gonna get it?

Technorati Tags: Metal Gear Solid, PS3, Games, GameStop

How does NetFlix plan to pull this off? Apparently, for just $3, you can buy a special disn that will run on the console. From there, you will be able to connect and stream your movie rentals. It’s not clear how much each rental will be, nor how exactly it will work. But the idea is welcome, and if they can beat Microsoft’s prices for rentals, I say go for it. As for SONY, maybe they’ll figure their marketplace needs more stuff than just trailers and demos….

Let’s do our own survey. Would you subscribe to NetFlix and buy the $3 disc in order to stream movies to your console? If you only have to pay the monthly fee, and not for each individual movie, would there be a limit on how many you can watch a day? A week? A month? Leave a comment on your thoughts!

Many players are reporting that the exploit however doesn’t work on all Wii’s and it’s currently unclear if this can be fixed, or not. The possibilities of this exploit are also currently unknown, although the community is very confident that this exploit can be taken very far. Video of the exploit follows…

If you have a video game console and are somewhat an avid gamer, then you probably are familiar with the homebrew community. Most video game consoles are locked out, allowed on encrypted or digitally signed code to be run. Homebrew is used to describe a program or code that isn’t signed, and isn’t officially approved to be run on the console. By using a modchip or an exploit by the one above, people are able to trick their consoles into running unsigned code. Most homebrew is designed with the intent of allowing people to develop their own programs and games. However, some programs will allow you to run pirated games instead, which makes Homebrew a very big problem for developers. What will come with the Wii exploit? We have to wait to find out what people cook up!

Dear {SUBJECT NAME HERE},
We are writing to inform you that the enrichment Center will begin further testing of the portal device. You have once again been invited to take part in these fun and exciting tests. We were so thrilled with your previous results that we saw there was no other person more suitable for further testing. If you’re still feeling sour about what happened last time, pay no mind to that. It was a simple mistake, and we assure you it will not happen again. All participants in testing will receive post psychiatric rehabilitation, and delicious moist cake!

By reading this e-mail, you have already agreed to take part in these wonderful tests! Please lie down on your stomach in the party submission position a room and wait until one of our party associates arrives.

Yes, Valve has announced that it is planning to release brand-new portal content. But don’t think this will be simply a couple of new maps. Valve has stated that they are planning to add a lot more to portal, however just what they were referring to is still a mystery… Along with portal, Valve is continuously working on the next Half-Life 2 installment, Episode Three. They want to live up to everyone’s expectations and include all the features they have “promised.”

If you’re hoping to find out just what these features are, you’re going to have to wait a little bit longer. Longer as in months, not weeks. If episode two was any clue on how long it’s going to take, you could probably not expect to see episode three anytime in the near future. Looks like we’ll have another couple of years to kill before we can take the role of Gordon once again.

In the meantime, we can always play with the new Team Fortress 2 content that’s going to be coming out soon. Personally I can’t wait to hear GlaDOS’s sweet digital voice again…

How bout you? How much would you be willing to pay for the Portal sequel alone? Would you like to see it longer, shorter, or the same? Comments are always welcome!

Bungie has recently announced that it will be releasing the “Heroic Map Pack” on December 11 for 800 points ($10). The Map pack will include the following 3 maps…

1. Standoff - a symmetrical valley filled with “entrenched bases and fields of boulders” and, after about 10 minutes, enormous piles of heavily armored corpses.”

2. Rat’s Nest - “an indoor vehicle paradise”

3. Foundry - a Forge-friendly sandbox that’s ideal for shifting stairways, bridges and tunnels to your twisted heart’s delight. Build almost any kind of map you can think of.

All i can say is that I’m in! But if you’re one who doesn’t want to pay for the maps, don’t worry. They will become free in the spring of 2008, just around the time the NEXT map pack will be released.

Francisco Garcia has put together a class action lawsuit against Microsoft on the charge of consumer fraud. He claims that Microsoft illegally allowed his son to use his debit card to purchase a $50 Xbox LIVE membership. After a year, it came time for the auto-renewal, which automatically took another $50 from Francisco’s account. Sadly for poor Francisco, his account didn’t have sufficient funds, so he got slapped with a hefty $35 fine! Fransisco complained to Microsoft about the situation, and they refunded the Xbox LIVE fee. But they wouldn’t take care of the $35 overdrawn charge.

Francisco claims that because Microsoft illegally allowed a minor to use his debit card and is sueing for unspecified damages. Microsoft is taking the defense that they shouldn’t have to pay anything, seeing as how the kid lied about his age to sign up, as per Xbox LIVE TOS.

See any problems in this story? I love the fact that this kid was able to play on Xbox Live for an entire YEAR without his father, who never gave permission to do so, finding out. Just goes to show you how closely parents are watching their kids. Also, if this guy doesn’t even have $50 in his account, he really needs to take a step back & figure out just how much money he actually has… Maybe it’s time for a new job?