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God of War Winners!

Loyal Gamesmen-ites will recall our recent promotion, wherein customers who pre-ordered the epic God of War III earned a chance to win a PSPgo! console. Well, the contest was run and won, and we now have photos of our lucky winners up on facebook. Click on over to check them out.

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Marvel vs Capcom 3 and More from Captivate 2010!

Woohoo! Marvel vs Capcom 3 is confirmed! Capcom held a their annual Captivate press event in Hawaii over the weekend, and with the embargoes now lifted, the internet is ablaze with all the goodness to come from it. Mainly, Marvel vs Capcom 3 is coming! More on that in a moment.

Other announcements from the event?
- Dead Rising 2 co-op confirmed (seeing as it wasn't blazingly obvious from numerous earlier leaks, and all...)
- Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes is making it's way to the west
- As is Okami-Den, DS sequel to the critically-acclaimed Zelda-esque PS2/ Wii game that certain Gamesmen staff rate as even better than Twilight Princess
- Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 was announced for XBLA and PSN, now with jumping!

Due for release around about this time next year, Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds is coming to PS3 and 360, updating the visuals into 3D, while retaining the series' classic 2D gameplay. Check out the announcement trailer with the reveal for the first 6 characters and the new visual style.

Capcom are saying to expect around 30 characters in the final roster, so plenty more to be revealed. Who do you want to see make the cut? Let us know in the comments after the link!

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Ubisoft Going Green - No More Manuals

Starting with Shaun White Skateboarding on PS3 and Xbox 360 later this year, game publishing powerhouse Ubisoft will be phasing out the inclusion paper manuals with their games, replacing them with in-game digital versions.

Ubisoft bigwig Laurent Detoc has been quoted as saying:

"Eco-friendly initiatives are important to the global community and introducing in-game digital manuals on Xbox 360 and PS3 is just the latest example of Ubisoft's ongoing commitment to being a more environmentally conscious company"

Good for them. In this day and age, any game worth it's salt will include tutorials giving all you need to know about the game, so really, who even reads the manual at all anymore?

Thoughts? Opinions? Click the "read more" link to comment

[update: Press release added after the link]

SYDNEY – April 21, 2010 – Today Ubisoft announced an environmental initiative to eliminate paper game manuals, replacing them with an in-game digital manual for all titles on PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The program, the first initiative of its kind in the video game industry, launches worldwide with Shaun White Skateboarding.

Ubisoft’s digital game manuals will provide multiple benefits for the player and the environment. Including the game manual directly in the game will offer the player easier and more intuitive access to game information, as well as allow Ubisoft to provide gamers with a more robust manual. Ubisoft internal data shows that producing one ton of paper used in Ubisoft’s game manuals consumes an average of two tons of wood from 13 trees, with a net energy of 28 million BTU’s (equivalent to average heating and energy for one home/year), greenhouse gases equivalent of over 6,000 lbs of CO2, and wastewater of almost 15,000 gallons.

“It’s pretty cool that Ubisoft is making a conscious effort to go green with its new video game packaging,” commented Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White. “I’m excited for my new skateboarding game to come out and stoked that it will be the very first Ubisoft game to be part of their green packaging initiatives.”

“Ubisoft is often recognised for making great games, but it’s a special privilege to be the industry leader at saving trees,” said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America. “Eco-friendly initiatives are important to the global community and introducing in-game digital manuals on Xbox 360 and PS3 is just the latest example of Ubisoft’s ongoing commitment to being a more environmentally conscious company.”

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DSI Price Drop

Great news! The Nintendo DSi has just shed fifty bucks from it's Recommended Retail Price! Now coming in at a very reasonable $249.95, The Gamesmen are going that one step further, dropping it to $248 AND swinging you two free games to go with! Click here for the deets.

Oh, and, of course, we'd be remiss if we didn't take the chance to plug the brand new DSi XL. All the features you love from the DSi, but with a 40% larger screen. Check them out here.

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UFC 2010 Demo Detailed

THQ have announced through their UFC Undisputed blog that a demo for the highly anticipated (to put it mildly) 2010 edition of last year's breakout game series. Featuring 4 fighters to test drive, the team hope to have it up on XBL and PSN before the end of the month. Keen? Let us know in the comments section, and get further details after the link


Here's the particulars of the demo, ripped straight from the blog post

The demo will feature the following 4 Light Heavyweight Fighters:

* Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
* Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida
* Rashad "Sugar" Evans
* Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

In this demo, you'll be able to jump right into Exhibition Mode or challenge your friends offline with Tournament Mode. More details on these modes coming soon.

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Game Announcements - New Spidey, Conduit 2

A couple game announcements have come through in the last 24 hours that are quite worthy of note - Conduit 2 and Spider-Man Sahttered Dimensions. The first sees a sequel to the slightly-overlooked-at-retail-but-damn-fun-to-play Wii shooter, the Conduit, with a boatload of improvements and generally turning the volume up to 11 (see the press release after the link).

The second is hopefully the Spider-Man game that fans have been waiting for since finishing the second movie game back in '04, with the Webhead skittering through four alternate dimensions based on existing comic series. Trailer and speculation after the link!


Comic fans will be aware that every super hero worth a sack of beans has multiple versions of themselves flitting about alternate universes and continuities. Spider-Man, being worth at the very least two sacks of beans, is , of course among these ranks. Shattered Dimensions storyline will weave it's way through the worlds four of these incarnations, offering a different wallcrawler, and thus, different gameplay in each. The trailer below unveils the "Amazing" (the standard, original) and "Noir" worlds, with the other two to be revealed later.

More Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Info

And just what could those other two dimensions be? Well, the Marvel Universe has many and varied takes, including the 1602 (as in the year), Ultimate, MAX (with llloads of cussing and blood. don't bet on this one making it in), movie continuity, Heroes Reborn and more. However, the world's we'd guess will make it in there would have to be the futuristic 2099 continuity, a) because of the gameplay switch-up future Spidey would provide, b) Marvel are currently trying to revive this continuity in print, and c) there's already rumours floating around. The fourth universe? We'd pretty much put money on the Marvel Zombies world. Played out as it's getting, the current zombie craze ain't showing any signs of letting up soon. Good excuse to cash in

And here's that Conduit 2 press release:

Thursday 1st April 2010 – SEGA® Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. are excited to announce Conduit™ 2, the new collaboration with High Voltage Software, Inc., developer of the award-winning Wii shooter, The Conduit. Conduit 2 will be released exclusively for the Wii™ system from Nintendo® in late 2010.
Building upon the success of the original, Conduit 2 takes players to the far reaches of the world to stop an alien invasion which can be fought in single-player, online multi-player battles, and all-new off and online co-op modes. Armed with advanced and powerful weapons, players can expect massive action in large, multi-tiered levels featuring dynamic environments, cinematic battles, giant adversaries, and deep customisation features.
Conduit 2 introduces Team Invasion Mode, the new co-op mode where players will be able to battle side-by-side with up to four friends on the same screen. Additionally Team Invasion Mode can be played online. Conduit 2 also features a new and more expansive 12-player online competitive multiplayer mode with larger and more intricate indoor and outdoor battlefields. Conduit 2 supports Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, Wii Speak™ and offers increased multiplayer security.
“The Conduit 2 will set a new bar for online multiplayer games on the Wii with great new gameplay modes and improved security. On top of that Conduit 2 features a fantastic new single player adventure that will blow the minds of fans of the original game,” said Gary Knight, European Marketing Director at SEGA Europe.

“The support for the original has been amazing,” said Eric Nofsinger, Chief Creative Officer at High Voltage Software. “The fans have always been a major factor in our development process and their continued enthusiasm has helped make Conduit 2 even better.”

Conduit 2 is set to release in late 2010 exclusively for Wii. For more information on the game please visit the SEGA website at www.conduit2game.com. For more information and assets please visit www.sega-press.com.

Also players are invited to enter the Conduit 2 Get Your Head In the Game Sweepstakes. Winners will appear in Conduit 2. For details go to www.conduit2game.com/sweeps

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The Gamesmen's Easter Trading Hours

...will be:

Penshurst Easter Trading Hours

Fri 2 April Closed
Sat 3 April 9.00am - 5.30pm
Sun 4 April Closed
Mon 5 April 10.00am - 4.00pm

Penrith Easter Trading Hours

Fri 2 April Closed
Sat 3 April 9.00am - 5.00pm
Sun 4 April Closed
Mon 5 April 10.00am - 4.00pm

Wollongong Easter Trading Hours

Fri 2 April Closed
Sat 3 April 10.00am - 4.00pm
Sun 4 April Closed
Mon 5 April 10.00am - 4.00pm

Come visit!

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Next DS Announced Featuring Portable 3D Tech!

In a surprise announcement last night, Nintendo have given the first details on their next handheld, the Nintendo 3DS, and it will display in 3D without the use of special glasses! While many details are still sketchy, details confirmed are that it will be backwards compatible with current DS and DSi software, it's coming sometime in the next Japanese financial year (April 2010 to March 2011), and a full unveiling is planned for this year's E3 show in June. Speculation follows after the link, where you can also leave comments.

Ah, speculation, it's just as fun as the news itself, if not more, ennit?

First, going from the info given about backwards compatibility, you can probably assume there will be a camera or cameras on there, since DSi is mentioned. With nothing being said about Gameboy Advance games, one would assume that slot will be absent, so you'll probably be waving goodbye to your Guitar Hero and similar attachments with the new machine. While the announcement is vague enough to leave the possibility of an earlier launch, being that a full unveiling is planned for June, we ain't getting our grubby mitts on it before then.

The generally reliable (they were first to break the news of the DSi) Japanese Nikkei news service are following up with reports that the 3DS will have some sort of 3D joystick, force feedback, and improved wireless communication and better battery life. Nintendo are yet to confirm these details.

Earlier in the year, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata was quoted in a Japanese interview that a DS successor would need to have "highly detailed graphics, and it will be necessary to have a sensor with the ability to read the movements of people playing."

The Gamesmen would like to offer informed speculation that at some point the system may or may not receive software titles featuring Mario, Link and one or more of the Pokeymans at some point within it's life cycle.

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Red Dead Redemption Gets A New Cover & Special Edition!

Third time's the shot! Red Dead Redemption's been through it's fair share of cover art revisions in the last couple months, but one would assume that this latest (seen at left) will be sticking around, with the game's May 21st release date rapidly approaching. Rockstar have just announced a Limited Edition for the game, too. Details after the link.

Aside from a well-deserved feeling of smug superiority those who score the Limited Edition will net the following bonuses:

- Originally scored soundtrack
- The exclusive War Horse - faster and increased damage resistance
- The Deadly Assassin outfit - regenerates Dead Eye targeting twice as fast
- The Golden Guns weapon pack - helps unlock more side missions

While not spelled out specifically in the materials we received, it's a pretty safe bet that the in game content (ie, the horse, costume and weapons - no, your extra $10 does not score you real-life vesions of these) will require an internet connection and be activated via a code and download.

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Have Your Say - Commenting Now Available On The Gamesmen News!

That's right, we're now trialing comments on our news stories! Go ahead and weigh in with your opinion, we're keen to hear from you!

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Neat! The Gamesmen Uncovers A Motherload of Atari Lynx Gear!

Regular visitors to The Gamesmen's stores will know that we've got a bit of a soft spot for a bit of retro gaming and are always keeping an eye out for ways to share that passion with our customers. Well, ladies and gents, we've recently stumbled on a stash that's got us more than a little excited - Atari Lynxs AND brand new games! Click the link for more.


Originally released in 1989, the Lynx may have been steamrolled at the time by Nintendo's tiny powerhouse, the Gameboy, but it's impossible to deny the significance of this early colour-screened portable in gaming's evolution. And, hey, there were still plenty of incredible games on it, like Ms Pac-Man, California Games and Paperboy.

We have a few of these bad boys available, and they're in incredible condition. Like "collector-grade, in the box, sitting in a warehouse for almost twenty years" condition. And the games? In their original plastic shrinkwrap. It's exciting just to find these things playable after so long, but to find them in this good a condition is beyond cool.

We've got the machines, link cables and wall chargers (these things gobble six AAs at a time, otherwise) and a selection of some of the best games up online already, with more to come. Check out what's there now, and keep posted for round 2 to go up shortly. Any titles listed as currently out of stock will be re-stocked shortly, and those with further enquiries are welcome and encouraged to call or e-mail us for anything you need to know

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Rugby League 3 Out Now! Check Out Our Launch Night Pictures!

You read it right, folks! NRL Rugby League 3 has arrived early! Penshurst customers can collect theirs right now, Wollongong and Penrith customers yours will be available for pickup within the next couple hours, and mail orders are being packed as this is being typed! So make haste, footy fans, and get yourself to your local Gamesmen outlet ASAP (observing all relevant speed limits, red lights and stopping for any Nanas crossing the road, of course) and get amongst it!

Stuck and work and can't sneak out? Then why not torture yourself further by clicking over to our Facebook page where you can see people playing the game already at The Gamesmen's special launch night last night? A great night with some great guests for the launch of a great game. Thanks to all for coming!

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Deus Ex: The Human Revolution Unveiled

A trailer for the third Deus Ex game has emerged from GDC 09. No gameplay, but it sets the tone. Looks like someone on the team's been watching Ghost in the Shell 2. Nothing wrong with that at all. Take a look.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution at IGN.com

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PS3's Move Motion Controller Detailed

Fresh from the the 2010 Game Developers Conference, Sony have further taken the wraps off their upcoming motion controller, now known as the Move. Used in conjunction with the existing PlayStation Eye camera, this Wii-mote/ nunchuk-like device is promising to deliver a new level of accuracy in motion control input.

While previous tech demos had given some indication of what the device is capable of, GDC had it being demonstrated on games such as SOCOM 4, an original brawling game and a collection of casual sports games, as well as an announcement that pretty much every man and his dog is making games for the device. Read the press release after the break.

From late 2010, the new PlayStation Move motion controller and sub-controller will deliver a whole new entertainment experience on PS3.

At the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) announced that the PlayStation Move motion controller for PlayStation 3 launches worldwide in late 2010.

The PlayStation Move motion controller offers a motion-based, High Definition gaming experience unlike anything on the market. At the same time, SCE will also release the PlayStation Move sub-controller to be used along with the motion controller for intuitive navigation of in-game characters and objects.

The PlayStation Move platform, including the motion controller, sub-controller and PlayStation Eye camera, together with a strong line-up of software titles, will deliver an innovative and highly immersive experience on the PS3 system.

The combination of the PS3 system and PlayStation Eye camera detects the precise movement, angle and absolute position in 3D space of the PlayStation Move motion controller, allowing users to intuitively play a game as if they themselves are within the game.

The PlayStation Move motion controller delivers unmatched accuracy through its advanced motion sensors, including a three axis gyroscope, a three axis accelerometer and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor, as well as a colour-changing sphere that is tracked by the PlayStation Eye camera.

With PlayStation Move, both fast and subtle motion can be detected, whether the user is swinging a tennis racket or painting with a brush. With the PlayStation Move motion controller, users can provide direct input through action buttons and an analog trigger, while receiving physical feedback from vibration functionality and visual feedback from the sphere’s ability to display a variety of different colours. Furthermore, the PlayStation Eye camera can capture the player’s voice or image, enabling Augmented Reality experiences.

The newly announced PlayStation Move sub-controller is controlled with one hand, and has been developed to further expand the gameplay options that PlayStation Move games can offer. The PlayStation Move sub-controller features a sleek curved design that pairs with the motion controller and comes with an analog stick and directional buttons that allow users to easily control a game when moving characters or choosing a direction.

Like all other Wireless Controllers for the PS3 system, the motion controller comes with a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery as well as Bluetooth® technology, enabling the controller to transfer information to the PS3 system wirelessly.

The introduction of the PlayStation Move motion controller has been well received within the industry and 36 third party developers and publishers have already decided to support the PlayStation Move platform. Up until April 2011, SCE Worldwide Studios is planning to release more than 20 games that are either dedicated to or supported by the PlayStation Move platform.

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