Halo 3 expansion named, Tekken 6 coming to 360, more

Yesterday, Microsoft grabbed the chance to host a press conference at Tokyo Game Show 2008 to talk about all things Xbox 360, and though TGS is an event targeted toward the Asian game crowd, there was plenty of news that will be music to everybody’s ears.
First in the line of big announcements was the news that Star Ocean: The Last Hope will be hitting store shelves in Japan on February 19, 2009 and North America on March 3, 2009, with European and Asian versions to follow later on. After a brand new trailer of Resident Evil 5 was shown, Microsoft VP John Schappert announced that Feel Plus and Q Entertainment are working on Ninety-Nine Nights 2, the sequel to 2006’s Xbox 360 exclusive action game, Ninety-Nine Nights. No further details were given

Next, Microsoft revealed that it has managed to secure another once-Sony exclusive franchise, announcing that the much-anticipated Tekken 6 will be releasing on the Xbox 360 alongside the PS3 in Fall 2009. Great news for fighting fans indeed!

Going hand in hand with the recent rumours, Microsoft announced that the New Xbox Experience will be made available for download on November 19. Check out some new screenshots of the new look below
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Moving on, Microsoft even took some time to show off the latest games in the Halo franchise, including the recently unveiled Halo 3 expansion. Halo Wars’ lead story writer Graeme Devine first demonstrated a new build of the highly-anticipated real-time strategy game, followed by the reveal of a new (non-playable) race found in the game – The Flood. Then, the second part of the Halo 3 expansion trailer was shown. Scheduled for release at retail stores in Fall 2009, Halo 3: Recon (the game’s real title) will add new campaign missions to Halo 3, the story of which precedes the events that unfold in the last game in the trilogy and does not feature Master Chief, but a new hero altogether.
Main game features:
All-new campaign content. The “Halo 3: Recon” campaign is an intriguing side story that takes place during the terrifying events leading up to the Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa in “Halo 3.” Experience the fate of Earth from the brand-new perspective of a special forces ODST (Orbital Drop Shock Trooper), adding a unique outlook and new gameplay elements to the events that unfold in the trilogy’s finale. While the feel of this new chapter will greatly resemble that of previous “Halo” experiences, “Halo 3: Recon” will require players to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before.
A new hero: Prepare to drop. Known for their courage, valor and, at times, insanity, ODSTs are among the fiercest UNSC soldiers, priding themselves on being the first unit deployed into hostile situations. While not as large or supernaturally gifted as their Spartan comrades, these “Hell Jumpers” more than compensate with their ferocious attitudes and unwavering nerve.
Expanded multiplayer collection. No “Halo” experience would be complete without groundbreaking multiplayer content,* and “Halo 3: Recon” gives fans more of what they love. With exclusive new maps and full Forge options, players will find more multiplayer content than ever before with “Halo 3: Recon.”
Ever-growing community options. Players will continue to enjoy all the great “Halo 3″ technological innovations, including Saved Films, screenshots, Campaign Scoring and four-player co-op. All of the new multiplayer maps fully support the Forge editor, offering endless gameplay customization possibilities for fans.

Last but not least, a bunch of new Arcade games were announced:


“ARKANOIDTM Live!” (TAITO). First appearing in the 1980s as a block-breaking game, the next evolution will now be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Gamers can enjoy “Arkanoid” in high -definition with beautifully choreographed background movies and background music. “Arkanoid” is loaded with 120 stages and colourful cooperative and versus modes.
“The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match” (SNK PLAYMORE). The original “dream match” comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade with new features, characters and game modes. Gamers can face their favourite “The King of Fighters” characters to determine the ultimate champion.
“Metal Slug 7” (SNK PLAYMORE). Gamers can join Marco, Tarma, Eri, Fiolina, Clark and Ralph as they prepare to take on Modern’s Forces across seven new missions. “Metal Slug 7” will also feature new weapons, colossal new bosses, new gameplay modes, and new Slugs to pilot.
“R-Type Dimensions™” (Microsoft). “R-Type Dimensions” combines the genre-defining coin-op classics “R-Type” and “R-Type II,” with a twist. For the first time ever, “R-Type Dimensions” allows multiplayer co-op play locally or over Xbox LIVE for up to two players. Gamers fight through all 14 Bydo-infested stages in the original 2-D or all-new 3-D graphics, and can swap between the two seamlessly.
“SPACE INVADERS EXTREME™” (TAITO). Gamers can experience “Space Invaders” in fully immersive sound and vivid high definition on the next-generation system, with visuals that will excite their senses.

TGS 08: First Details on Halo 3: Recon Emerge

Standalone expansion to Halo 3 includes Forge and co-op, plus a need for stealth

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By now, you've no doubt seen the full debut trailer for Halo 3: Recon. In it, we see a new hero -- an ODST Marine -- the Covenant, and the Superintendent. We were left to guess at the details, but Microsoft has gone ahead and filled us in on some of the particulars we've been wondering about.
Unlike we were assuming, Recon will be a standalone, disc-based expansion to Halo 3. The story predates Halo 3 and the Master Chief's return to Earth. We're also told that the game will feel very similar to existing Halo titles, but will "require players to employ more elements of stealth and cunning than ever before."
Multiplayer will support four-player online co-op (is this perhaps the squad element we've heard about in the past?), new maps, and "full" Forge options. It's unclear if that means Recon will support all of the Forge functionality from Halo 3 or if Bungie will be implementing new features like the ones we were hoping for back in August. We'll be keeping a close eye out for new details, should any emerge. 1UP is in Japan all week giving you the best coverage of one of the biggest gaming conventions in the world -- the Tokyo Game Show. Be sure to check out our TGS hub page for all the latest news, previews, videos, and everything else from across the ocean.

Resistance: Retribution & Resistance 2 Interoperability and Then Some

Hi everyone, my name is John Garvin, co-director of SCEA’s Bend Studio, and I wanted to give everyone a quick update on Resistance: Retribution. Chris Reese (my co-director at the studio) and I are in Tokyo this week presenting Resistance: Retribution at TGS. After our game was revealed at E3 in July, we got a lot of questions about connectivity between Resistance: Retribution an Resistance 2 on the PS3. We’re pretty excited to announce that yes, we will be providing additional game play and features if you connect R:R to R2! Here’s how it works
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Connect R:R to R2 using a USB cable. Go into the R2 options screen, and select “Infect your PSP!” That’s all it takes.
Infected mode lasts until you power down your PSP. So, what is “Infected mode ?

Infected mode provides an alternate story within our alternate history. While in prison for desertion, Grayson is recruited by Specter Lieutenant David LaSalle (from the R2 storyline) and is infected with a mutated version of the Chimeran virus … a different version of the virus that infects Nathan Hale.
While playing in “infected” mode, Grayson wears a Specter uniform and has glowing Chimeran eyes. He gets to use one of the new weapons from R2: the HE .44 Magnum, which fires explosive rounds that can be triggered remotely. He has regenerative health and no longer needs to look for health packs. He can breathe underwater, allowing him to reach hidden areas that he could not reach before. And we’ve added another whole class of Intel that are hidden throughout the levels. Collecting all of the “infected” intel will unlock another R2 weapon, the Plasma Grenades.
Another cool feature we’re including is something we call PSP Plus !

Activated from the R2 options screen, PSP Plus! allows you to play Resistance: Retribution using your Dualshock 3 wireless controller. We remove aim assist and increase the challenge level of the game. We even support the vibration function of the controller. If you’re playing at home and want to experience Resistance: Retribution in an all new way, this is it.
That’s it for this update. In the near future we’ll have some news on our multiplayer game. Stay tuned.