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Thursday 24th July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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Take-Two Interactive has sent word that Electronic Arts has once again extended its buyout offer in light of the unsatisfactory number of company shares that were tendered by the previous deadline. This makes it the fifth time that EA has extended its deadline for the parent company of the studio that developed Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360, PS3).
EA further indicates that only 11,741,339 of T2's outstanding shares were tendered by the previous deadline, which accounts for roughly 15 percent of the latter company's shares by last July 18. In line with this announcement, T2 chairman Strauss Zelnick states that the company's board was committed to maintaining its stockholder value, and that they continued to recommend that their stockholders not give in to EA's offer.
"We are fully engaged in a formal process to evaluate strategic alternatives that have the potential to deliver greater value than EA's inadequate offer," Zelnick said. Take-Two CEO Ben Feder also added his own two cents regarding this matter:
In February, Take-Two's board rejected EA's offer as inadequate. Since then, the record-shattering release of Grand Theft Auto IV , the exciting announcement of a BioShock movie, and our ability to deliver financial results exceeding expectations have further demonstrated that our value-creation potential is greater than EA's offer.
According to GamesIndustry, EA's current offer is expected to expire by this August 18th. In the mean time, Take-Two also has a site that explains the details regarding their ongoing row with Electronic Arts. You can access it via the source link below, though you'll also want to visit again in case I receive any updates regarding this news.
Sources : PSPupdates & Take Two Value
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Thursday 24th July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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How many of you went to E3? Okay, by the show of hands, not too many. Thankfully, Insomniac's Ted Price brings E3 to you with this comprehensive video that chronicles everything they showed off at E3. You'll get to see how much progress has been made on the Resistance franchise since its debut as a launch title. It's interesting to see the game really start from where the first one ends, oh-so-seamlessly. Seeing the massive new enemies and environments in action will convince you (like it did me) that you should be very excited for this game.
View / Download : Resistance 2 - E3 2008 Ted Price's Presentation - SD Version - FLV - 11.5mb
Source : PS3fanboy
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Thursday 24th July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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A new download is available from the EXTRAS menu, it's a new song called Harrier and the description is as follows "A new Harrier theme composed by Norihiko Hibino for Metal Gear Solid 2: Digital Graphic Novel.". When you've downloaded the song it'll be available in Snake's IPod and you can listen to it during the main game.
It seems like the EXTRAS menu will be updated every Thursday... weather or not any of the downloads will actually be anything more than songs and camouflage patterns is yet to be seen. Then again it's only been two weeks since the game has been (officially) released. Give it time.
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Thursday 24th July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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Since last Thursday players have been fighting their way through the MGO Shop system, trying to purchase the expansion and its respective character slot. Due to the overwhelming traffic, Konami's server crashed, forcing Kojima Productions to restrict different IP addresses every hour to give everyone a chance to purchase the expansion.
Although not yet translated and posted on the North American page, an update on the Japanese page informs players that the IP restriction has been lifted. Now anyone, no matter the time of the day, will be able to purchase the expansion.
Both myself and the Jim Sensei from MGS TUS have done a check and everything seems to be running just fine. No maintenance screens, no time-outs, no random Japanese messages or log-outs. If you don't have the (awesome) expansion yet, now would definitely be the time to pick it up.
No word yet on when the Reward Shop and Survival lobby will be back up.
Link: Metal Gear Online Official Site (Japanese)
Link: MGO Shop
Source : MGS The Unoffical Site
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Thursday 24th July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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The only thing there was more of at E3 than games were complaints about E3's new, tidy, business-like format . Everyone from company execs to game developers to the working press seemed to have something unhappy to say about the show.
Coasting right there along with the complaints was a building buzz that next year's E3 was going to have to undergo some mammoth changes. Just how mammoth? According to a number of well connected sources I spoke with during the show, there's considerable thought going into opening the doors, this time officially, to the public at next year's big event.
Reached for comment earlier today, the Entertainment Software Association had this to say:
"The ESA is currently in the process of receiving feedback and will make an announcement about the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit at an appropriate time."
My ten quid? I find Leipzig's Games Convention to be the best format going for large gaming events. In the big Europe-centric show you have a number of mammoth halls showing off the best and brightest gaming has to offer to the public. You also have a hall or two dedicated solely to the press where writers and reporters can have quiet meetings and interviews with developers, producers and businesses types. The best part for a working journalist? Being able to do your interviews with the movers and shakers of the industry and then walk five minutes to get a chance to talk to the people who play those games. It's like reporting nirvana.
Come on ESA, follow suit.
Source : Kotaku
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Thursday 24th July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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Outside of the most die-hard of PS3 zealots , few people are yet to see the worth in Sony's Qore programming for the PS3. "Editorial" games content provided by the platform holder , at cost to the user? No, thanks. Perhaps sensing this apprehension, Sony will be sweetening the pot for the next episode, offering an undisclosed number of keys to the Resistance 2 beta, scheduled to kick off in September. You want in, you pony up for Qore. Simple.
Source : Kotaku
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Wednesday 23rd July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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It looks like the Resistance 2 ARG (alternate reality game) should be taken quite seriously. An email from getawarjob.com (attached, after the break) sends interested users to yet another site: America First, America Only. The site features some heavy conspiracy theories about the now-familiar "Project Abraham." Each article featured on this printing press can be enlarged, and will undoubtedly give hints to the next step of this massive ARG.
T - E - L - E - C - O - R - R - E - S - P - O - N - D - E - N - C - E
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The war department is lying to you –STOP- We have infiltrated their recruitment center and found your enlistment form –STOP- They are not drafting people to protect our borders –STOP- That is what they SHOULD be doing but instead they are gearing up to invade Europe -STOP- We have little to no data on our enemy over there but they will be knocking on our door soon enough – STOP- If we do not protect our shores we might as well surrender now –STOP-
To learn how the so-called experts are trying to save us search out Project Abraham –STOP- We must warn you that it is not a pretty sight –STOP-
Sent from the Alliance for American Autonomy AMERICA FIRST AMERICA ONLY
Sources : PS3fanboy, Project Abraham & America 1st, America Only
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Wednesday 23rd July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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The Project Abraham countdown has ended, and I haven't discovered an open beta quite yet. There are, however, new videos for your perusal, many of which are quite disturbing. Looks like the tone of Resistance 2 will be rather dark, if this viral site is any indication. One of the creepier aspects of the site is the community's ability to vote on who will get infected next. Chances are, no matter who you vote for, the results will be quite ... disastrous. (Oh, and guess who else is on the list?)
Sources : PS3fanboy & Project Abraham
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Wednesday 23rd July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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Even if this year's E3 wasn't exactly all that and a bag of chips, there will be another one. And you know what? It will be next year. That's right negative humanoids, the Electronic Software Association is plotting E3 2009. Says an ESA rep:
As we do every year, we're beginning the process of surveying exhibitors and attendees to determine potential changes to the Summit. Once this is completed and shared with the ESA's Board of Directors, we will make an announcement about the specifics of the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit, which will occur.
Maybe they'll move it back to Santa Monica again to keep everyone on their toes. Or how about New York?!
Sources : Kotaku, GameSpot & Go Nintendo
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Wednesday 23rd July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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Additional "spy" photos of the alleged PSP-3000 hardware update that I posted last night have come to my attention, again courtesy of the PSPChina.net message board. These shots show off what appears to be a working prototype of the PlayStation Portable, said to have built-in microphone support, among other alleged new functionality.
The exciting photos of the new thinner PSP ring, another look at the PS button and one more cosmetic change and available below. While you do say, chant "This is a rumor, this is a rumor."
Yes, that's that thinner ring. Again. It's thinner.
The shot of the PS button, the one that supposedly replaces the Home button on the current PSP model, looks noticeably different from what we saw previously. It looks more like the PS button on the SIXAXIS controller and is therefore, more suspect.
That would be some handy iconography stamped on the bottom of the PSP-3000. Answers the question, "What am I sticking these cables in here for?"
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Source : Kotaku
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Tuesday 22nd July, 2008 – MATTYBLOG News |
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Here's a good rumor to liven up a dreary day. Over on the PSPChina Bulletin Boards (external link), there is a claim that Sony is planning on launching a hardware upgrade for the PSP, and this claim appears to have brought along some pictures as well.
From what's been said, this "PSP-3000," as it's being called, is supposed to come with a built-in microphone (beside the volume controls in the below picture), an updated set of buttons, and some changes to the physical features of the PSP. Furthermore, the picture above shows that the Home Button of the PSP looks to have been replaced with a PlayStation Button, possibly so that it doesn't confuse owners with the Home service.
CVG reports that it's already attempted to speak with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, and they're currently giving the usual "No Comment" routine for these sorts of things, I've also emailed Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and received the the same "No Comment" answer aswell.
While it seems likely that an upgrade will happen in the future, leave it to Sony to keep us hanging until the very last moment. In the meantime, feel free to view the pictures that are available here and speculate in my comments section.
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