Joystiq [Xbox]

Speaking to the Guardian, Craig Derrick, producer of The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition, said that the game may make the jump from XBLA and PC to another platform as well. When asked about why LucasArts chose Xbox Live Arcade as the launch platform and not Wiiware or PSN, Derrick responded, "Well, we never said we wouldn't be on Wiiware or PSN now did we?" He added, "We may have another platform announcement to make very, very soon," though he failed to elaborate any further on the matter.

Derrick also seemed to share the sentiments of some other folks involved with both the Special Edition and the upcoming Tales of Monkey Island from Telltale, saying that he'd like to see a redone version of Monkey Island 2. He noted that Monkey Island Special Edition is an "experiment to see what interest there is for these types of games and if people are interested in playing them on a console." In other words, whether or not we see another revamped LucasArts adventure game depends on how well the Monkey Island sells.

We're sure the Joystiq staff will buy at least one copy, if that helps ....

Worried about news that Capcom's Bionic Commando Rearmed was getting patched with Trophy support as well as new difficulty levels on PlayStation Network, with no mention at all of an Xbox Live Arcade patch? We feared the worst and asked Capcom to set us straight. A spokesperson told us, "Yes yes of course, same new Easier modes on both platforms." There you have it!

Eleven days ago Capcom's John Diamonon assured us that the patch (at least on PSN) "should be available real soon"; however, as of today, neither patch has appeared. We'll go ahead and assume the new release date is "really really soon."

MCV reports that Microsoft has signed a deal with Canal+ to provide on-demand programming to France via the Xbox 360. Microsoft will utilize the Canal+ on-demand service Canalplay, which offers movies and television programs, and will also offer the football (soccer) channel Foot+. According to MCV, the deal will eventually expand to include other Canal+ services and other Microsoft platforms as well.

Welcome to the magical world of Xbox video on-demand, France. Or should we say bienvenue?

It appears that Halo: Reach may be a warm-up exercise for Natal sales. Bungie Studio President Harold Ryan tells the Seattle Times that he "absolutely" thinks that Reach could use Microsoft's motion-sensing peripheral (provided both launched around the same time frame).

Let's take a look at why Project Natal + Halo makes sense:

1. The Halo name has helped sell other iffy propositions like Halo Wars.
2. The game is already called Reach, come on.
3. This answers the question: "How is MS going to get core gamers to buy/upgrade to Natal?"

However, then we must ask: "Do core gamers want to actually exercise with their Halo?" This gamer's biggie-sized core politely responds, "As long as it involves fries and a shake after."

If you're in the market for a delightfully bouncy orchestral video game soundtrack, then we've got some good news for you. Sumthing Digital will be offering the official Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts soundtrack starting tomorrow. We've sampled a few tracks and can confirm that it is most definitely delightfully bouncy and orchestral. All kidding aside, it's actually a pretty decent soundtrack, and certainly better than a lot of the other game music out there.

The soundtrack will also be available from Amazon, and can currently be pre-ordered for $13.99, nearly two bucks off the $15.98 list price. As Rare states on its website, "Nobody has an overabundance of vehicular bear music in their library right now, so this deserves a shot."

Source - Sumthing Digital
Source - Amazon

Update: Okay folks, it seems to be showing up at the discounted price now (make sure you're signed in to Xbox.com). The deal is for Gold members only.

For all of you wannabe Meteorologists out there, the problematic weather of Fable 2's Knothole Island awaits you and all of your cunning. The Lionhead community blog reveals the DLC will be discounted up until July 5. Normally 800, the DLC will receive a price cut of 30%, knocking it down to a more manageable 560.

You already know our thoughts on the add-on, so we suggest you stock up on mainland items and head to Knothole Island for some rare goodies in the Box of Secrets. And, you know, tackle a dungeon or three.

Add Knothole Island to your download queue

It's not often we're able to do this so long before a game is released -- before we've ever even seen the game on a screen other than the Joystiq Blogtop 3000s™ we're assigned -- but we can categorically name Resonance of Fate as our game of the year as of this morning. Why, you ask? Three simple words, friends: Dogs wearing jackets.

New screens of the game, coming from Japan (likely from End of Eternity, the Japanese title of RoF), look, in certain cases, a bit less than thrilling. Sure, the game's CG trailer looked like 95405000 yen, but we're talking still shots of RPG gameplay here -- not exactly life-altering stuff. That being said, well, there's a dog. And he's wearing a jacket!

An Xbox 360 version of developer Spiders' upcoming game, Mars, may be planned, but apparently there's currently no work being done on it. Destructoid spoke with Spiders CEO Jehanne Rousseau, who said that the company sorta needs a publisher to fund the project first.

Rousseau explained that the developer is currently shopping for a publisher and will give a "final answer" on an Xbox 360 version when it has a contract in hand -- or lack thereof. Bucking the trend, Spiders is developing Mars for PS3 because it's a "very complicated platform." Hopefully, the extra work will put it in the company of Naughty Dog and Sucker Punch -- and not that of the ill-fated Factor 5 and Free Radical.

[Thanks, Estee]

A visionary named Ivan Allen has broken ground in two ways: first, he has applied for a patent on an online multiplayer rock-paper-scissors game for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, and second, he has put the application on eBay. He's set up the eBay account "videogamepatentseller," so it seems likely he's planning to do this again.

Now, before you get too excited about spending $90,000 (or more, if there's a bidding war) on the rights to an online rock-paper-scissors game, notice that the auction is for a provisional patent application, and not an awarded patent. If you want to own that patent, you'll still have to file a non-provisional patent application before February of 2010 (one year after the filing of the first application). So, really, you're buying the possibility of getting a patent on the idea, maybe. The perfect Christmas gift!

[Thanks, Luis B.]

Looking for another set of plastic instruments to fill that remaining spot of unoccupied floor space in your living room? Amazon has an offer that will help speed the total domination of your life by comically undersized guitars and drums. As its Deal of the Day, the site is offering the full band set of Guitar Hero: World Tour for just $89.98, a hundred bucks off the MSRP.

The item is available on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PS2, and we doubt it'll stay in stock all day. This is one of the cheapest offers of full band kits we've seen! It's so cheap, it almost makes these music games seem affordable.

In our excitement to introduce you to the latest DLC content for Burnout Paradise, we completely overlooked one of the key rewards added to the game. Yes, we've already mentioned how gamers can get their hands on free toy versions of the Legendary Cars on Big Surf, but did you know an elusive ninth free car is available for online experts only?

Completing all of Burnout Paradise's 500 online freeburn challenges -- including everything from the original game and all new timed and freeburn challenges in the Cagney update, Bikes Pack and challenges on Big Surf Island -- nets players a diamond-branded P12. Finish it all and nab the exclusive ride, free. What better way to show off your Burnout Paradise superiority than driving around in a diamond-studded speed demon?! The race is on for our community's first official Diamond P12 owner. It shouldn't take you long, you're part of the gaming elite.

Continued →

Okay, we're going to have to step very lightly here to avoid inciting a full-on boycott/panic/riot. A subtle piece of information slipped under the radar during a mid-June IGN interview with Fight Night Round 4's producers. The tidbit came in response to a query which asked whether the game would allow face button punching controls (it doesn't) -- a query which producer Brian Hayes answered with, "there is no option for face button punching in the final version, but we are investigating providing the option via DLC."

Now, we're somewhat confused as to why the button-mapping options featured in previous Fight Night titles aren't already present in the most recent iteration of the sweetly scientific sim -- not everyone appreciates the stick-based punching control scheme. More importantly, if the folks at EA Sports are thinking about charging for this option -- and we're not saying they definitely are -- then they are high on pot.

We've contacted EA Sports to find out what the deal is.

[Via Evil Avatar]

Hey, remember when we gave away all those codes of Battlefield 1943 just after E3 and there was a bit of confusion surrounding when you could use them -- er, ya know, actually play the game? Don't worry, we were confused too, but according to June's official EA Newsletter, the long awaited online shooter from DICE will be hitting your digital store shelves on July 9th.

Interestingly, the game description no longer lists a PC version, making the delayed iteration of Battlefield 1943 that much less of a possibility -- a strange one at that, considering the franchise's PC roots. Either way, those of you that snagged codes for the game back in early June should start getting ready for battle by talking to our friends in the JPAG and setting up a game night. Talk about two tastes that taste great together.

Update: DICE producer Gordon Van Dyke said today on EA's UK forums that "We are close to confirming our dates (Xbox 360 date & PS3 date), but still need to settle a few minor things." Looks as though the release date listed in the newsletter is still unconfirmed, unfortunately. Sorry, folks -- and thanks to everyone who sent this in!

[Thanks, Iain!]

Unlike the first Mass Effect, the sequel will not allow players to restart the campaign with all the skills Shepard gained throughout his (um, her!) second adventure. Mass Effect 2 Lead Designer Preston Watamaniuk notes on the BioWare forums that the team is working hard to "offer a smooth progression into ME3 from ME2." The reasoning is that they "have to have reasonable knowledge" of where a character could end up at the end of the game.

Of course, Mass Effect 2 players can feel free to create a new character and start over. So, it appears that if you're looking to start Mass Effect 3 with a jacked-up Shepard, make sure to explore every little nook and cranny of the galaxy before going into the sequel's final mission.

[Via Kotaku]