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Valve Teases 'Team Fortress 2' Update On Consoles

Posted 8/14/08 9:02 am EST by in DLC, PS3, valve, Xbox 360


Do you ever get jealous at the amount of free updates Valve delivers for "Team Fortress 2" on the PC? You might be a console gamer.

Few people would blame you. "Team Fortress 2" has yet to receive a content update -- free or otherwise -- from Valve. But that doesn't mean they aren't thinking about it.

In response to the recent reveal of new maps, modes and character tweaks for "Team Fortress 2," I asked the studio if console owners could look forward to this, as well.

Valve's answer to MTV Multiplayer is open to interpretation. "[There is] nothing to announce -- yet," said Valve vice president of marketing Doug Lombardi.

It looks like Lombardi cryptically placed the "yet" there for a reason. If Valve updates "Team Fortress 2" on the consoles, will you jump back in?

Are You Happy With 'MGS4' DLC?

Posted 8/12/08 6:36 pm EST by in DLC, metal gear solid


Solid Snake's last journey arrived two months ago, and besides concluding an epic storyline, there were promises of ambitious online multiplayer and downloadable content.

Has Kojima Productions delivered?

"Metal Gear Solid 4" came loaded with hooks for additional music and "Integral" podcasts for Snake's iPod, more camouflage options and the inevitable upgrades and purchasable expansions for "Metal Gear Online."

Kojima Productions appears to have delivered on nearly all fronts -- five pieces of music, seven camouflage picks (both free) and an $11.99 "Gene Expansion" for "MGO" -- but something's still missing... where are the new podcasts?!

Read More...

BioWare 'Looking At' More 'Mass Effect' DLC

Posted 8/6/08 3:43 pm EST by in DLC, mass effect, PC, Xbox 360


'Mass Effect'The first "Mass Effect" may not be over yet.

BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk may have primarily talked to me about "Dragon Age" at this past E3. But he told me we could also chat a little about his studio's sci-fi role-playing game of last year, "Mass Effect." Really? So how about confirming some new downloadable content?

He certainly came close to doing that:

Multiplayer: What can we talk about regarding "Mass Effect"?

Greg Zeschuk, Co-Founder of BioWare: Well we said it was a trilogy so there's some stuff happening. We're also looking at some other post-release content. We're working away. BioWare's pretty busy these days.

Multiplayer: We got our first DLC for the 360. People can expect there may be some more more coming?

Zeschuk: We're talking about that. You know how we are. We're always very circumspect until we can go "Aha! There it is!" With everything we build now, we want to have this long-term relationship with the customer and always have something for them to try. So we're definitely looking at that for "Mass Effect."

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Related Posts:
BioWare: Why We Are Making ‘Mass Effect’ As A Trilogy
BioWare: How We Can Improve The Side Quests For ‘Mass Effect 2?
‘Mass Effect’ DLC Requires A Spaceship, A Couple Of Hours Of Player Progress

More Wheelies, Less Crashing -- How Motorcycles Work In 'Burnout Paradise'

Posted 7/31/08 7:00 pm EST by in Burnout, DLC, Racing Games


Motorcycles In 'Burnout Paradise'

At an Electronic Arts event in New York yesterday I got my first chance to ride a motorcycle in "Burnout Paradise." What I sampled is the hit racing game's second major free update, formerly called Davis, but now called Burnout Bikes. It's slated for release in the next couple of months.

But how in the world do motorcycles work in the T-rated crash-heavy realm of "Burnout"?

First of all, don't expect motorcycles to be smashed to bits. Read More...

EA: Next Year's Non-Music Games Will Feature DLC-Enabled Soundtracks

Posted 7/9/08 3:02 pm EST by in DLC, madden, Music


EAYear after year EA's chief music executive Steve Schnur has told me, in interviews, that video game soundtracks for games like "Madden" will someday be update-able via downloaded music.

The idea is that gamers shouldn't be stuck listening to the same EA-made soundtrack every day, week and month that they play their favorite EA sports, racing and action games. But year after year that hasn't happened to games like "Madden" yet. (It has been happening for games such as "Rock Band," which expands its soundtrack every week.)

When I interviewed Schnur yesterday about the soundtrack for "Madden NFL 09" he finally named a timeframe. "You're going to see it in 2009," he said. He said that by "Madden '10" gamers can expect some of the "broader-based" EA games (not just any music titles) to be able to "continually recommend" new music that can be downloaded to enhance a soundtrack.

Given EA's ability to break new music that users wouldn't already own and be able to import via any custom soundtracks feature, this could certainly be a new way to promote new songs to year-long players of "Madden" and other games.

Would gamers pay for the songs? Would the songs be playable across multiple games -- and even into rhythm games like "Rock Band"? And is this kind of DLC more or less appealing than downloadable weapons, map packs and other micro-transaction material?

Sounds like we'll find out more in 2009.

Rhythm Game Track Finder Update: Who's On First?

Posted 7/7/08 5:28 pm EST by in DLC, guitar hero, MTV Rhythm Game Trackfinder, rock band, Track Finder Updates


There have been a lot of rumors flying around this week about the track listing for "Rock Band 2," however, since there haven't been any tracks on the disc confirmed yet, none of those tracks were added to the Rhythm Game Track Finder. I think there's a pretty good chance E3 is going to bring some updates for not only "RB2," but a host of other rhythm games that are in the works.

However, "Rock Band 2" did receive a bit of an update, courtesy of the 16 downloadable tracks that were announced for "Rock Band." Out of those 16 tracks, 12 of them were by one of the greatest rock bands of all time, The Who. "Pinball Wizard" may be missing, but other classics like "My Generation," "Behind Blue Eyes," and "Baba O'Riley" are all available for download.

"Rock Band" wasn't the only game to receive an update this week, "Guitar Hero 3" also released two additional, free tracks for download. "I Am Murloc" was released by Level 70 Elite Tauren Chieftain to coincide with the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational last week, and in honor of the 4th of July holiday you can download the "Top Gun Theme."

The full list of updates is below:

Guitar Hero III (Xbox 360, PS3) 2 Songs (Steve Stevens' "Top Gun Anthem," and Level 70 Elite Tauren Chieftain's "I Am Murloc")
Rock Band (Xbox 360, PS3) 16 Songs (Rush's "Closer To The Heart," and "Working Man (Vault Edition)" Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Snow ((Hey Oh))," and "Tell Me Baby" The Who's "Amazing Journey," "Baba O'Riley," "Behind Blue Eyes," "Eminence Front," "Going Mobile," "Leaving Here," "My Generation (Live at Leeds)," "Real Good Looking Boy," "Sea & Sand," "Summertime Blues (Live at Leeds)," "Who Are You," and "Young Man Blues (Live at Leeds)")
Rock Band 2 (Xbox 360, PS3) 16 Songs (See above)

As always, go to trackfinder.mtv.com, for all this and more — it’s the definitive search engine for all your music gaming needs.

Rhythm Game Track Finder Update: More Games On The Horizon

Posted 5/19/08 2:56 pm EST by in DLC, MTV Rhythm Game Trackfinder, PS3, rock band, Track Finder Updates, Xbox 360


Last week was a big week for Rhythm Games. Konami announced four new titles (three DDRs, and "Rock Revolution"), all of which will make their way into the Rhythm Game Track Finder, but not just yet. While it may have been a big week for game announcements, only the games themselves were announced. The tracks were not, so we don't have anything to add just yet. Keep checking the Track Finder for the latest updates as soon as the songs are announced.

We did update two games with the downloadable content that was released last week. "Rock Band" and "Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore" both saw pay-for-play content available on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Check out the full list of tracks below.

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore (PS3, Xbox 360) 21 Songs Added
Rock Band (PS3, Xbox 360) 6 Songs Added (Blur's "Beetlebum," Die Toten Hosen's "Hier Kommt Alex," H-BlockX's "Countdown To Insanity," Juli's "Perfekte Welle," Pleymo's "New Wave," Tokio Hotel's "Monsoon," Muse's "Hysteria," Oasis' "Rock N Roll Star," and Les Wampas'"Manu Chao")

As always, go to trackfinder.mtv.com, for all this and more — it’s the definitive search engine for all your music gaming needs.

'Samba de Amigo''s Wii Controls Keep Improving, But What About That Rumored DLC?

Posted 5/16/08 3:03 pm EST by in DLC, Wii


Samba de Amigo"Samba de Amigo," like most music games, lives and dies by its controls.

Sega helped pioneer music peripherals with "Samba" on Dreamcast, and now it's coming to Wii this summer.

I first touched the Wii version at a Nintendo event in April and was a little disappointed. Wiimote in one hand, nunchuck in the other, "Samba" did not feel very precise. Getting the game to recognize its lower set of icons was a frustrating task.

But I've always been under the impression the nuances of Wii controls are much like the frame rates of games on the other consoles: the real improvements come as development ends. Thankfully, that definitely appears to be happening here.

At Sega's media event this week in San Francisco, I went hands-on with a newer build of "Samba"-- this time with two Wiimotes in hand -- and came away much more impressed. Whether that's because two Wiimotes are more accurate or the folks at Gearbox are fine-tuning their motion controls, I can't say for sure, but I can say it feels far better. You don't have to overcompensate as much anymore.

Unfortunately, Sega was mum on the possibilities of "Samba" featuring downloadable songs. The Dreamcast version was one of the first games to feature downloadable content on a console (even if the music was already on the disc), and the Wii version's box art revealed there are most certainly plans in the works.

But they won't say how it's going to work just yet. I'm hoping the eight years since the original "Samba," however, have taught Sega to avoid that strategy again.

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Have a hot tip? Is there a topic that Multiplayer should be covering and isn't? Maybe you know what Sega's up to. Drop me an e-mail.

Which WiiWare Games Are You Buying Today?

Posted 5/12/08 1:09 pm EST by in DLC, nintendo, Wii, WiiWare


LostWindsNintendo of America launched their WiiWare service this morning, with six games coming along for the ride -- "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As a King," "Pop," "Defend Your Castle," "LostWinds," "V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack" and "TV Show King."

I already have "LostWinds" downloading.

How about you?

Nintendo's launch doesn't include my second most wanted WiiWare game -- the spectacularly stylized "World of Goo" -- but "LostWinds" and "Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King" aren't bad for headliners.

Then again, I only really anticipate picking up "LostWinds," unless word-of-mouth tells me otherwise. Tell us about your WiiWare buying (and playing) experiences in the comments.

Value Assessment: 'Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1' (Downloadable Content vs. Retail)

Posted 5/5/08 5:47 pm EST by in DLC, Music Games, rock band


Rock BandHarmonix and MTV Games announced today that "Rock Band" owners on PlayStation 2 and Wii will have a way to access downloadable content -- it's just coming bundled on a disc.

"Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1" arrives on July 15 at an MSRP of $29.99, and features tracks from David Bowie ("Moonage Daydream"), Oasis ("Live Forever), Weezer ("Buddy Holly"), Boston ("More Than A Feeling)" and others. In total, 20 tracks.

Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gamers have been gobbling up downloadable tracks left and right -- 10 million as of last week -- but the introduction of "Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1" introduces an altogether new value structure to the downloadable content.

Are PS2 and Wii consumers getting enough for their money?

Individual songs are $2 a pop on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, which means purchasing each song in the newly announced packs individually would cost $40.

The PS2 and Wii owners -- who don't have the option to download the songs on their consoles -- are enjoying about $10 in savings, paying roughly $1.50 per song. Unlike everyone else, they don't get to choose every song they're paying for, but the cost of manufacturing and shipping a boxed product doesn't appear to have been passed onto the retail consumer.

In terms of sheer value, the numbers speak for themselves: Wii and PS2 owners are still saving $10, unless it turns out they don't want six or more of these songs Harmonix picked out.

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