Rock Band finally hits Europe

After months of waiting Rock Band is finally getting its European release.  Of course there are new Eurocentric bonus songs.  But clearly the only one that matters is the Muse song, which, according Jeff Gerstman on the Giant Bombcast will come here as DLC!  Praise everything holy, Muse is finally going to be in Rock Band.  On a note less important to me, but very import to my vast European reader base (?), it’s going to be damn expensive and the instruments don’t come with the game and it’s coming for 360 first.  I would say to <cough> boycott it, but it’s so damn fun that you really shouldn’t.

Microsoft looks into make the “X-mote”

Not to be out done and to continue their weird, futile battle for the “casual” market, Microsoft is apparently working with Rare to make a new motion controller, called the “Newton.”  This is coming from the guy who called Bungie leaving Microsoft so everyone is cautious of calling bullshit this time around.  Also, why wouldn’t they try to do this?  Microsoft wants that mom demographic more than I want Muse in Rock Band (last mention of that, I promise).  But really, if you’re going to make a Wiimote knock off, don’t make it look exactly like the Wiimote.

Mythos

This game has suddenly been everywhere.  I’ve been keeping an eye on it since I heard the phrase, “free MMO from the guys who left Blizzard.”  I would be more cautious after the lack luster Hellgate, but this one is going to be free, and honestly, it looks like way more fun.  Think Diablo meets WoW, but more free.  Their site now has a spot to sign up for a beta key, which I recommend everyone do.  Hopefully those go out soon and I will see you in there.  (Check out the interview in the 1up Show for more info.)

CoD4 map pack

This marks the first time I’ve payed for a map pack, and I don’t feel bad about it at all.  The 4 map Variety Pack is completely worth the 800 MS points.  Nice big multilevel maps are a blast.  Only one is a remake of an old CoD2 map.  The only problem with them at this point is there is no Halo 3 style “only play the new maps” hopper.  Sucks for anyone downloading it now and trying to see how the new maps play.  Definite recommendation for this one.

Lost Odyssey (Disc 3) [Possible spoilers]

This disc did something very interesting.  You’re party isn’t all together for the majority of it.  This is a great plot device to keep the story from getting stale.  You play a little bit with one group and then at a cliffhanger moment it switches to another.  You’re always left wondering what happened and keep playing to find out.  It was a very nice change of pace.  Now I’m at the “giant open world, go do side quests” section of the game, this part might take a bit longer.

RIP GFW/CGW Magazine

Oh, I mean, congratulations on moving to online only!  The spin filled 1up article sends you to the much more realistic post by Jeff Green.  27 years is a damn long time, and I’m sure the readers will miss it a lot.  But on the brighter side, all four editors are staying on at 1up and will be writing online from now on so we can all enjoy it.  The podcast is also still going to be around, which is probably the most important part for me, being a selfish bastard.

Rainbow 6, Vegas 2

It sounds like a sports score with the proper pauses.  Anyway, it’s fun.  Picked up a Xbox Live Vision cam when I got it so I could make my character look like a retarded fetus version of myself.  It’s exactly what it sounds like, more Vegas.  Not a bad thing, but they probably could have done a lot more.  Terrorist hunting is still a blast, and so is using an exploit in the first level to pump up my assault stat (thank you, Griffin).  Any game with a fun coop mode is a welcome addition to my collection.

Question of the Week

Do I preorder the special edition of GTA4?  I’m sure I could find a use for a good duffle bag and lock box.  Less urgent, do I get the special edition of Fallout 3?

This week’s Defeated is brought to you by: Formal wear.  It can be as bad ass as you want it to be. (Silly Major Nelson, stick to being a mouthpiece.)