New Games

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• New console patch for Dead Island bumps the level cap
• Flawed report paints grim picture for handheld gaming
• Sony confirms Jak and Daxter collection for PlayStation 3
• The DTOID Show: Max's Drunken Saints Row Rampage
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review - Coming Soon
• BioWare drops some more Mass Effect 3 co-op details
• The DTOID Show: XCOM Delayed, 3D Zelda & Mario, and CRIME
• Ass Creed Rev trailer: Nobody's business but the Turks
• Japanese Idol Group 'Idoling' in the next PSP Yakuza game
• The Simpsons Arcade likely coming to consoles
• Fight "nefurrious" Darktoons early in Rayman Origins demo
• Counterpoint: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
• The Last Story might come to Europe on February 24th
• Three Game of Thrones tie-ins due in 2012
• Review: Nitronic Rush
• Saints Row: The Third: 1 million community characters
• Super Mario 3D Land sells a metric buttload in Japan
• Exclusive: New Dustforce gameplay trailer and track

New console patch for Dead Island bumps the level cap Posted: 09 Nov 2011 03:00 PM PST Techland has issued a patch for the console versions of Dead Island which should be live by the time you read this post. If it's a level cap, someone's inevitably going to want it raised; players can now progress up to level 60, assuming the desire to raise stats flows through their veins. Some of the other highlights include quest/reward fixes, improved network stability and performance in co-op play, instant item pick-ups, no more weapon crates lacking rewards, additional blueprints for weapon mods, and more. Sounds like quite a bit of welcome improvements. New patch for consoles [Dead Island Blog via Joystiq] Gameplay improvements Level cap raised to 60 New blueprints for weapon mods added Infected damage reduced Infected no longer interrupt player attacks A series of improvements to subsequent playthroughs implemented: quest XP rewards adjusted; XP rewards for challenges adjusted; in subsequent playthroughs XP is awarded for all quests completed in co-op Purna’s ammo carrying capacity increased by 50% Character state from a save game can now be loaded when using the Start from Chapter option New balancing option added: enemy levels can now be adjusted independently for each co-op player Players respawn with more health Picklock skill level required to open a lock is now clearly indicated Improved rewards in weapon crates All weapon crates now contain rewards Kick ability balanced, now requires stamina Items can now be picked up instantly; this is reflected in adjusted animations Fixes and interface improvements Fix: players are no longer left without a weapon after dropping the equipped item and healing with a medkit. Fix: equipped items no longer swap mysteriously after drinking an energy drink Tweak: healing with medkits from inventory works better, makes smarter choices of medkits Fix: loot from dead enemies is now always identical for all co-op players Fix: Purna no longer finishes her Fury with fists equipped Fix: map tracking after death Fix: zone info in the quarantine zone (City of Moresby) Tweak: respawn point selection is now smarter General Improved stability and network performance in co-op Quest and reward fixes implemented

Flawed report paints grim picture for handheld gaming Posted: 09 Nov 2011 02:30 PM PST A report came out today comparing the revenue of handheld gaming devices to that of mobile devices. Done by mobile analytics firm Flurry, the study finds that a great shift has taken place over the past three years. Between 2009 and 2011 (with the last two months of this year being projected based on data from previous years) mobile game sales have gone from 19% to 58%. Nintendo DS game sales have dropped from 70% to 36% while those of the PSP have gone from 11% to 6%.  Android and iOS market shares have also skyrocketed, going from about 20% in 2009 to almost 60% this year with sales of mobile games jumping from $500 million of $2.7 billion total portable gaming sales to $1.9 billion of $3.3 billion in the last three years. Adversely, Nintendo's stock is down, although Flurry fails to mention Sony's handheld at all other than to include it in the three year percentage chart, and ignores sales for 3DS games. While it is nice to see that mobile gaming is doing well, this report feels unbalanced. I understand that Flurry is a mobile analytics firm and so will want to sing the praises of mobile devices, but there are ways to do it without tipping the scales (and how much do they need to be tipped, really). Although Android and iOS devices are relativity similar, they aren't identical and I wonder why they felt the need to make them a single category while keeping handheld devices separate. The firm has also completely ignored the 3DS. Granted the 3DS is new, and its sales may not make a huge difference, totally ignoring it makes me less willing to take this report seriously. It would, at the least, give a more balanced view of where mobile devices stand when compared to handheld gaming devices.  I'm not saying that mobile gaming is small or should be ignored, it is doing well and revenue is clearly up but the report has a pretty obvious slant. Reports like this are interesting, and do have some important information in them, but it would be nice if they would present all the facts rather than picking and choosing to suit their needs. Is it Game Over for Nintendo DS and Sony PSP? [Flurry Blog via Shacknews]

Sony confirms Jak and Daxter collection for PlayStation 3 Posted: 09 Nov 2011 02:00 PM PST We can't get enough of last generation's games, it seems. Up next to receive a high-def collection is the beloved Jak and Daxter series. Following prior rumors about such a retail package, and Siliconera's finding of a USK rating for Jak & Daxter Trilogy Edition, Sony has given a confirmation to Game Informer. "We can confirm the Jak and Daxter Collection is coming and will have more news to share shortly," a spokesperson responded. Everyone has that one series which somehow slipped them by, and for me, that'd be Jak and Daxter. I've ordered Chad to scream like a schoolgirl in my absence. Jak And Daxter Collection Confirmed [Game Informer]

The DTOID Show: Max's Drunken Saints Row Rampage Posted: 09 Nov 2011 01:30 PM PST I'm guessing some of you might've caught the MashTactics livestream of Saints Row The Third in which they gave away stuff and probably did some things. I was supposed to be in attendance with my giant purple dildo, but we had to do Skyrim-related things.  If you're still in the market for some Saints Row The Third mayhem, you might like this video. Our producer Zac Minor and I stayed late at the office the other night and caused a little ruckus in the city of Steelport. Also, I got pretty drunk because I had to do a shot every time my wanted level went up. (Don't drink and do whatever the hell I'm doing in this video.)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review - Coming Soon Posted: 09 Nov 2011 01:00 PM PST Thursday, November 10, 8:01 Eastern.  Is Bethesda's hotly anticipated RPG everything gamers have hoped for an more? Is it a case of Dovahkiin or Doo-Doo Skin? Dragonborn or Drag Queen Porn? Skyrim or ... or ... A Fly's Jism? Or something like that.  Who knows? Well, I know, but I'm not telling. At least not until tomorrow morning.  Now if you'll excuse me, some of the Jarl's men came passing through and they left this bounty. There's some dragon asshole on a mountain that I've got to kill. See you later! Edit: As well as our official written review, The Destructoid Show will have its own assessment for your viewing pleasure. GET THE HYPE in the following video ...

BioWare drops some more Mass Effect 3 co-op details Posted: 09 Nov 2011 12:30 PM PST For those genuinely enthusiastic to play Mass Effect 3 cooperatively -- or anyone hoping to find further reasons to care about it -- BioWare has publicized more details about the mode, by way of an interview with itself. Not all of the information is new per se, but there are a few items of interest. Local co-op "is definitely on the table as something we might add," says producer Jesse Houston. Kinect support is out for multiplayer, as is friendly fire (hooray!) -- though the latter could potentially be introduced "later as some sort of modifier to the game, but not at release." And in case you're worried about any of this stuff going away due to server-related costs, worry not. BioWare has a plan in place. "We won’t be taking the servers down until we realize that there aren’t enough players playing to warrant keeping them up and when we do take them down, we will make sure there are options so the players who are playing don’t feel abandoned." New Mass Effect 3 co-op details [Eurogamer]

The DTOID Show: XCOM Delayed, 3D Zelda & Mario, and CRIME Posted: 09 Nov 2011 11:30 AM PST Hello! Tara and I are back with another episode of The Destructoid Show. The studio is still infested with possums and potato bugs, so we're recording in the office again. Today's news includes the delay of XCOM, Jim's review of Super Mario 3D Land, and the possibility of a new 2D Zelda game for the 3DS or... Something? Since it wouldn't be this week without Modern Warfare 3 news, we've got a funny story about a dumb man who wanted a copy so badly that he is now a CRIMINAL. Also, we pick the winner of our Modern Warfare 3 and Xbox 360 limerick contest giveaway.

Ass Creed Rev trailer: Nobody's business but the Turks Posted: 09 Nov 2011 10:30 AM PST Assassins Creed Revelations, in part, takes place in Constantinople 58 years after the city fell to Turkish invaders in 1453. The above trailer for the forthcoming title is narrated by Suleiman the Magnificent, nine years prior to his taking control of the Ottoman Empire. He details the vibrant city that Ubisoft have recreated, showcasing its unique beauty, wealth, and intermingling of cultures. The Prince also speaks of the city's troubles and sets the scene for Ezio's arrival in the city. Having just conquered Europe's largest and most wealthy city a half century earlier, there is no shortage of conflict for the Ottomans. The a city now inhabited by a diverse population from two continents and a variety of political backgrounds -- including the looming threat of a Byzantine rebellion. It's an incredibly intriguing setting and I hope that Revelations manages to be at least half as interesting and well executed as that video when it hits shelves next Tuesday.

Japanese Idol Group 'Idoling' in the next PSP Yakuza game Posted: 09 Nov 2011 10:00 AM PST We know that a couple of months ago, Sega's Yakuza studio announced two new games in the franchise. One of those being Yakuza 5 which is in early development, and is something the studio aren't willing to talk much about right now. The other is the upcoming sequel to the PSP spin-off series Black Panther, namely Black Panther 2: Fighting Demon Chapter. It doesn't come out until Summer 2012, but that doesn't stop Yakuza producer and director Toshihiro Nagoshi from strutting his stuff and getting the party started, starting with the now customary revelation of the cabaret idols for the game. From left to right we have Ms. Yurika Tachibana, Ms. Mai Endo, and Ms. Erika Tonooka. These girls are actually three members of "Idoling!!!" -- a massive Idol group run by Japanese TV station Fuji TV. Check out all its members here, and see if Nagoshi made the right choice in these three. Speaking of Nagoshi, he wasn't there just to pose with the girls, but was able to quickly answer a couple of questions about the game. Asked whether the Cabaret section has expanded since previous entries, he replied that, "the girls now look cuter than before, and by incorporating them into [in game] events, there is a smoother flow in [plot] development." Next he was asked how the drama element of the game was coming along. Although Nagoshi said he received comments in past that the drama in his games was considerably long, he chuckled when revealing that wouldn't really change in this game. "Though the city will be the same Soutenbori from Yakuza 2, this is overwhelmingly prettier depiction than the PS2 version, showing the progression technology has made six years since that game, although there will be new hardware out soon," he stated with a wry smile.  He was then queried about the battle system where an ally can now fight with you, though Nagoshi states that it varies depending on the scenarios and which ally is with you at the time. Furthermore, an additional feature is present where curious onlookers may help you, but conversely may also turn against you. There's also some fun to be had with forming alliances with certain characters. He says that they are trying to produce a type of game "where you break down walls, and every time you break one down, more and more enemies are thrown in your path." He also argues that their battle system is one that will be very fluid, whilst requiring precision and accuracy, and give a sense of satisfaction when connecting with enemies. Finally he was asked how the development progress is going, where after briefly mentioning wondering what tracks to choose for its soundtrack, his overall answer was "smoothly." For more pictures of the girls, and their pixelated counterparts, check out the gallery on the Dengeki site. Apart from that, I'll leave you with Idoling's latest single for you to cringe over. Or drool over. Whatever takes your fancy. Black Panther 2: Fighting Demon Chapter shows off the Idol Group: Idoling!!! [Dengeki]

The Simpsons Arcade likely coming to consoles Posted: 09 Nov 2011 09:30 AM PST The Simpsons arcade game is considered by many to be a true beat 'em up classic, and while most of that is due to blind nostalgia, it's still a neat little button masher. Sadly, it's never come to consoles, but the Australian Classification Board has let slip a rating that heavily points toward a release. It lacks system or release information, but the sudden appearance of the rating, as well as the named developer, is solid evidence.  Backbone Entertainment -- known mostly for its digital SEGA ports -- is handling development while Konami will publish. Presumably it will be for both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, but Konami is remaining tight lipped.  Pretty cool news for brawler fans. I'll be glad to give it another go, even if it is a little crusty these days. Rumor: The Simpsons Arcade might be coming to XBLA [XBLA Fans]

Fight "nefurrious" Darktoons early in Rayman Origins demo Posted: 09 Nov 2011 08:30 AM PST Rayman: Origins is out in a week and in case you've not been sold on it by the gorgeous visuals and the return to the franchise's roots, Ubisoft have put out a demo which you can pick up right now on Xbox LIVE and PSN. They haven't skimped on the content either. The demo contains three levels from the Jungle, Food and Ocean worlds and players who collect all nine Electoons scattered around the demo will unlock a new costume for the brain-addled protagonist. This is the first time I've been excited about a Rayman game in years and it really does look like a return to form. The full game will be released on November 15 in North America on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. If you've already taken the demo out for a spin, what did you think?

Counterpoint: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Posted: 09 Nov 2011 08:00 AM PST Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is fantastic. If you own a PlayStation 3, I highly recommend you purchase it right this second if you haven't already. Seriously. Just get up, leave this column for a minute -- don't worry, I'll be here when you get back, everything's gonna be okay -- and go buy the damn game. Got it? Great. Because I want to be very clear on this: I think Uncharted 3 is awesome. I think it's a must-buy. I think it's a necessary product to have in one's gaming shelf. I just don't think that, as a game, it's all that it could've been. Uncharted 3's story will set it apart from the previous entries in the series with a darker, more focused tone on Drake's weaknesses, flaws, and the recurring theme of -- yes -- deception. It will engage you and bring you to the verge or beyond of tears with some truly heartwarming and deep, meaningful moments. But with my own run of Drake's tale now complete, I have a slightly disappointing statement to make: I didn't have that much fun doing all of these things. Chad wrote in his Uncharted 3 review that the game was “an even bigger thrill ride than the previous games combined.” And I would agree. But sometimes, you want to get off the roller coaster and take a walk through the hall of mirrors. That's what ultimately bothers me about Uncharted 3: It's so intent on making gigantic splash pages of action and thrill that what so charmed me about the series in the first place -- the intensely charismatic cast and larger-than-life exploration, with some heavy emphasis on puzzle solving -- all take a dive. Despite having finished the game a mere three days ago as of this writing, there are hardly any scenes I can recall being genuinely surprised or enthused about, as the most exciting have been beaten over my head so much from commercials I know them moment by moment. The moments that stick in my mind as “that was so cool!” just aren't there. By contrast, I could name nearly a dozen moments of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves without difficulty that bring an instant smile upon reminiscence: The giant knife puzzle, the train wreck in snow, the train chase in a jungle, the jeep chase, the tank shootout, the first glimpse of Shangri-La, carrying a wounded man on your shoulder, the initial heist and betrayal, the introduction of one of gaming's most well-rounded female characters, Chloe. That was Uncharted 2; unique, exciting, and memorable. In contrast, Uncharted 3 feels to me entirely too familiar, too old hat. I know, I just criticized a game where you fall out the back of a cargo plane and drift through the desert for being unoriginal, but what I'm talking about here aren't the individual pieces -- which are beautiful and quite awesome -- I'm talking about how Naughty Dog has strung them together. The thought of “What if something cool happens next?” can't be enough to make me go from Point A to Point B. I need to enjoy the product as a game, and therefore want to succeed and enjoy all it has to offer as a narrative device. Minor spoiler ahead. Early on in the game, Nathan's crew breaks up into two teams. One searches for half of an amulet in Syria, the other in France. The plan is to regroup later, once both teams have completed their objectives. Something goes wrong in France, and so that team concludes that logically, something has probably gone wrong in Syria. They travel post-haste to rescue the other team and after about 15 minutes of wandering through a castle, find their partners alive, healthy, and in no need of rescue. Team A complains to Team B about not having been able to contact them for 24 hours, to which one member responds that her cell phone is broken, while the other member only uses prepaid minutes. It was funny as a joke, but the more I thought about, the more contrived and forced this felt. Because let's face it: really? You're going to go on a globe-trotting adventure halfway around the world from your friends who need to coordinate with you, and you can't spend $20 on a phone card? Or you can't take it in to get repaired? For shit's sake, my phone was freaking out three months after I bought it and I got a new one on the same day I brought it in. Not to mention the only fact I as a player am experiencing Syria is to rescue some a-holes who couldn't be bothered to tell me this before they left, and now don't need rescue at all. End spoiler. I can see through the game, and instead of being swept up in the current of strong storytelling, I can't let it go. My mind won't let me for the longest time. When it finally does, it's no longer in any sort of mood to be wooed by Nolan North's sexy voice. Because now it's found a new thing to fixate upon: combat. I'm not an awful gamer. I prize story and art direction above gameplay sometimes, but I'm truly not terrible. Hence I found myself somewhat mystified at the incredible spike in difficultly so many of the shootouts exemplify. In the same level that I've “rescued” my teammates, I face down four+ baddies with rocket launchers. There's only about two positions that offer cover, neither of which completely shields from all sides. The checkpoint starts with rockets already trained on me, and so every time I die, I must scramble for cover immediately, hoping to God that this time, this time will be the time I can snipe quick enough to take out these one-shot kill machines. Later in the game things will become even more ridiculous, as one particular fight sends me up against what at first appears to be a room of three to five bad guys, only to have snipers, grenade launchers, and armored shotgun wielding juggernauts advance on me in seemingly endless waves, each one of them all too happy to toss grenades behind me as I duck for cover. While Drake's moves in hand-to- hand combat are now more robust, it's become practically impossible to quickly disengage from a fight to take cover, and the exact same sequence of moves plays out against so many of the enemies. My brain knows it's playing a game, and a frustrating one at that. It doesn't give two shits about the story anymore. Instead, it screams and curses, rattling my eardrums; “Why the #$%* does it take three grenades to kill someone wearing armor??” The final straw comes as the close of each location plays out virtually the same: stuff begins to collapse or otherwise start Drake on a foot race, the camera pulling back to let the player look on in awe as the set literally crumbles. It's as far away from the spirit of an adventuring explorer as it could be; instead of slowly exploring, searching for lost treasures or the best route through an area, the game is literally forcing you several times to move as fast as possible on a narrow track without branching off at all. It was surprising to me, just how much of a departure Uncharted 3 was from the other two entries. The story is darker and some characters more complex, but at the cost of less screen time for the majority of the cast, who become less like people and much more like obvious plot devices to get Drake from Point A to Point B. The pacing is more thrill-a-minute, but virtually gone are the moments of high suspense and deep pause to reflect upon overwhelming scale and beauty. And lastly, the gameplay is more engaging, but so goddamned difficult and out of place when placed in context of in what should be a game about an explorer and treasure hunter. Uncharted 3 is great. It really is. I love the characters, locations, and overall plot. But in my humble opinion, there's some truly out of place and out of touch gameplay that gets in the way of that. And that's sadly not very “Uncharted”; it's just unfortunate.

The Last Story might come to Europe on February 24th Posted: 09 Nov 2011 07:30 AM PST We already knew The Last Story was coming to the EU sometime during 2012, but now there is a release date floating around! According to rumors, the game will arrive in Europe on February 24. For all those unaware, The Last Story is one of the three games that Project Rainfall is trying to get Nintendo of America to publish in the United States. The game may also get a name change. The same rumor suggests it is to be called The Last World in Europe, which is one letter away from being confused with a movie focusing on cloned dinosaurs. Nintendo of Europe hasn't reacted to these rumors yet and its American counterpart hasn't said anything about those infamous three games in quite some time. Even when asked about them after Reggie himself took over Nintendo's Twitter account there has been no official comment on their status. Rumour: The Last Story renamed The Last World for the release in Europe on February 24 (WiiItalia)

Three Game of Thrones tie-ins due in 2012 Posted: 09 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PST While fans of George R R Martin's epic fantasy saga, A Song of Ice and Fire, are used to putting up with the author's "it will be done when it's done" attitude, elsewhere in the franchise it's a lot more prolific. Hot on the heels of Cyanide's less than stellar A Game of Thrones: Genesis, the developer is working on an RPG for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Apparently the lucky buggers over at Cyanide have been getting sneak peaks at the second season of HBO's adaptation so that they will run parallel. On top of this, Bigpoint, the developer behind Battlestar Galactica Online are working on a free to play MMO set in Martin's universe, as well as a casual game for social network platforms. None of them have release dates, but are due in 2012. Incest, murder and warfare? Sounds like a perfect fit for Facebook. I'm a fairly big fan of both the books and the HBO series, but the pedigree of the developers working on these projects does not inspire me with confidence. Genesis was a definite miss, which leads me to worry about this RPG Cyanide are working on. The f2p market has quickly become saturated and social games rarely hold my interest for more than ten minutes. So none of these are initially all that interesting, but I'd love nothing more than to be proved wrong. In the mean time I'd rather just play the Westeros total conversion mod for Total War: Medieval II. Three more Game of Thrones tie-ins... [Eurogamer]

Review: Nitronic Rush Posted: 09 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PST It’s hard not to be wary of something given away for free in the age of Horse Armor DLC. Nitronic Rush is neither Korean nor a free-to-play MMORPG, so I let my guard down this time -- good thing too! Nitronic Rush is a passion project by a handful of DigiPen students, who have created a racing game more innovative than anything the major league studios have delivered this year. Its Tron-like visuals, Daft Punk influenced soundtrack, and chaotic tracks merge together to make a unique, memorable racing game. This game won DigiPen's 2011 Game of the Year award for good reason, as it turns out. Nitronic Rush (PC) Developer: Team Nitronic Publisher: Team Nitronic Released: November 11, 2011 MSRP: Free! One of the most difficult things in game development is having a good sense of quality control. Nitronic Rush has perhaps too good of a sense for this. Its opening seven Story Levels are so well designed that it’s shocking that the game was made by amateurs. Then you unlock five "Old Levels,” that were scrapped because the team didn’t think they were good enough, and discover they are awesome too. Even Nitronic Rush’s scraps are worthwhile! None of this would matter if the controls and general design of the game wasn’t so innovative. Nitronic Rush is as much about survival as it is about racing. That description may make it sound like the Stuntman series, but the game ends up playing more like a mash-up of TrackMania and Burnout. You speed your way down neon-lit, futuristic race tracks, as you survive buzz blades, long chasms, and a track that forces the player to change his center of gravity. Nitronic Rush is made to be played with an Xbox controller. The weight of the cars and physics of the game don’t feel perfect, but anyone who has played a Ridge Racer or similar arcade racer will be able to adjust. Along with a Motorstorm-esque boost that will kill you when overused, your car is equiped with wings that help you glide across gaps, a jump for elevated platforms, and the ability to move to a horizontally- or vertically-positioned surface by moving the right-analog stick in the correct direction. While the Story Mode is a pretty easy introduction to the game’s mechanics, the five levels in Hardcore mode reach Trials HD levels of challenge. Flipping your car to a track above you and then rotating (mid-air) back down is pretty damn difficult. In fact, I wasn’t able to beat the game because one section was so insanely hard that I eventually had to give up. It’s hard to say if it is the game’s fault or mine, until more players get their hands on it and we see what is possible. Though the game has no mulitplayer or traditional race mode, it does have leaderboards and the ability to download ghosts runs of other players to compete against. Along with the normal tracks, there are eight challenge tracks and two maps for tallying up a high score with the trick system. Unfortunately, the trick system is the worst aspect of Nitronic Rush. Since the physics aren’t fully realized, flipping your car and landing it feels awkward. Making a mode where this is all that you do just highlights the game's flaws. The Challenge maps take different obstacles from the main campaign and expand on their difficulty. One called track, called “Car Wash”, challenges the player to drive down a tunnel made of grinders and buzzsaws. Another has you flying your car through an asteroid field. Some of these levels are even harder than Hardcore mode, so you might want to skip these tracks until you've beaten that. These challenges can be beaten fairly quickly, but it’s a nice addition. There are retail games, made my large teams over the course of years, that have have been released this year that can’t compare to the vision and originality of Nitronic Rush. Though the game lacks polish and could greatly benefit from more maps and modes, it’s a thrilling experience while it lasts. The visuals, music, and fast, chaotic gameplay compliment each other well. All these elements come together to make for a refreshing racing game. Every couple years a couple students from a game development school remind us why these places exist. Not since the original Portal has a group of students made such a unique, well-made and fun game. With a Valve and extra revenue behind them, there is no telling what this team can pull off. Nitronic Rush is free. If you like a unique, challenging racing game, there is absolutely no reason you shouldn’t download it. In due time, development studios, publishers, and gamers alike will be keeping an eye on these young gun developers.

Saints Row: The Third: 1 million community characters Posted: 09 Nov 2011 05:30 AM PST There is only one week until gamers make a return trip to the mean streets of Stilwater in Saint's Row: The Third, but another milestone has just been met. The Initiation Station demo, that was released about a week ago, allowed players to create their optimal thug. According to Volition, the Initiation Station created characters have now hit the 1 million mark. Kevin Kraff, Vice President of Global Branding at THQ said, "The characters we’ve seen are mostly ridiculous, often hilarious, and always over-the-top. And now there are a million of them...With the crazed creativity we’ve seen in only one week, we can’t wait to see what’s to come. One million is just the beginning.” Some of the other statistics that Volition has shared are quite interesting as well. Apparently, the most popular skin tones, aside from the traditional ones, tended to be green, red and silver. Along with 24 characters created with the title of "God" and representing a variety of religious backgrounds. I guess only in Stilwater can you find Christian "God" teaming up with silver-skinned Lao Tzu or a red and metallic Bhudda to take on a luchador street gang for control of Steel Port.

Super Mario 3D Land sells a metric buttload in Japan Posted: 09 Nov 2011 05:00 AM PST Super Mario 3D Land has debuted at number one in the Japanese charts, and to say it is performing well is putting it lightly. In fact, we're looking at the best 3D Mario debut in history, despite 3DS' documented run of bad publicity. Mario's the fixer, guys. He makes everything better. With a strong opening act of 343,492 sales, 3D Land is looking set to join the best selling Mario games of all time, and will give the 3DS that kick in the junk it's needed all year. In fact, 3DS sales sit at 145,271 this week, proving that the dwarfish plumber is still a man with whom you don't f*ck.  Good news for Nintendo this week, and thanks to our tipster Fernando, who had this to say: So... are you guys going to say that Nintendo is doomed like you always do, or do you guys have the balls to write the real story and explain your readers that the system is permorming way better than the DS in the same amount of time? Yep! We literally predict Nintendo's death every day, so I better not hit "publish" on this post!

Exclusive: New Dustforce gameplay trailer and track Posted: 09 Nov 2011 04:30 AM PST After leaving the 3rd annual indiePub independent game developer competition $100,000 richer, the developers at Hitbox Team have been hard at work on turning their early dusty prototype into a sweeping and flowing reality. Not much has been seen of the new Dustforce, but Hitbox Team has decided to give the Destructoid community the first look at a brand new level, some new moves for your characters and some fantastic music to set the tone for some janitorial free-running. It also brings to life the true hidden danger of leaves on woodland creatures, both big and small. Those poor leaf-riddled bears! On top of that trailer, the generous folks over at Hitbox Team have given us another fantastic piece of work to share with the community. Terence Lee, Hitbox Team audio engineer and composer, has just finished another interesting track that really shows the broad range of his skills as a musician. I really enjoy fast paced platforming games and this is definitely one that gamers need to keep their eye on. With its smooth flowing animations, interesting hard-edged art style and the retro-infused score, Dustforce really stands out of the crowd.

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