So I finally got hold of the Metal Slug Anthology for the PS2, and I’m not really sure what to make of it. It seems like ages since I’ve played a Slug game and thoroughly enjoyed myself, and these days I’m getting a bit bored of the format, but it’s nice to have all the games on one disc. And yes, I’ll admit it, a big part of the reason for me buying it was so that I could see what 6 is like. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s all that special. Like 4 and 5 before it, there aren’t as many standout set-pieces and so it’s a game you finish with a grin on your face but a mind devoid of happy memories, because it’s very much by-the-numbers.

The slowdown didn’t help either, making the whole experience feel like some dodgy emulation botch job thingy. And a small part of me hoped that they’d keep some of the extras they had stuck on the PS2 version of Metal Slug 3 (”Fat Island” and “Storming the UFO Mothership”), but I couldn’t find either in this collection. But above all else, the reunion with the Slug games reminds me just how long it’s been since I played one of them, and how many good shoot ‘em ups and action games have come and gone since. I’m not saying that I’ve completely fallen out of love with the games, because as rubbish as 6 was I’m still looking forward to finally playing 3 on a big screen (I never bought the standalone release), and so the collection still holds some worth…I just can’t help but think that the franchise has had it’s day.

However, as coincidence would have it, the winners of our competition were announced today, so I hope that the winner of the MS Anthology doesn’t read this and get the wrong impression. Ahahahahmm.

Features and track lists announced for Project Gotham Racing 4 announced, including more run off areas, and more signs of upcoming corners.

“Weather! These cities are now raceable in clear, light rain, heavy rain, snow, overcast, light fog, heavy fog, storm, icy, and wet. In rainy conditions you’ll see puddles forming on track which dramatically change your racing line. In snow and ice these puddles freeze over, creating no-go patches of tarmac which only a fool would drive over.
New vehicles! As well as motorbikes (which drive totally differently and provide a new challenge for PGR veterans), there is also a much wider vehicle set this time around. It’s not just “life begins at 170mph” any more; this time there are slower vehicles to take to the track as well.
New Game Modes! As well as favourites like Street Race, Cat and Mouse, etc. there are also new game modes entering the fray, such as Survivor and Superstar. ”

Track list:
Macau, China
Las Vegas, USA
London, England
St Petersburg, Russia
Tokyo, Japan
New York City, USA
Shanghai, China
Quebec, Canada
Nurburgring, Germany
Michelin Test Track

More info at the Bizarre Creations site…

It certainly seems so. Having started a blog about Forza to see how popular it might be and to save clogging this one up with too many stories about racing bravado), I’ve been looking at what brings the most traffic to the blog, and what people are searching for when they visit.

So far 100% of visitors are coming for car duping, money cheat, cloning paintjobs, and variations thereof…

A little soul destroying, as I could just post with those words every day and see my traffic stay the same as when I’ve pointed to a way to create carbon fibre paintjobs, or tuning tips.

Does this mean that most gamers want to use cheats? Or want to know about them? Or is it just the people actively searching the internet are the cheaters, and most folks aren’t looking for Forza information via Google?

On the bright side, the latest update stops gifting and reselling cars with locked paintjobs (To stop duping), bans the Lotus Elan from online (temporarily…to cure the fact it’s waaaaay too fast, and fixes some scoreboard glitches…

Hurrah. And all without resetting the scoreboards, meaning my times manhandling a D Class Camaro around will still stand

The latest issue of Disposable Media is breaking circulation records, mainly due to an army of enraged, Wiimote-waving Nintendo fans.

Our interview with Dave Perry, in which he suggested of gamers:

“When a game comes out - a game like a Halo or something, something they haven’t seen before - they’ll drop everything and they’ll drop their Wii controllers when it does.”

It’s appeared all over that interweb thing, including Wired Blogs, C+VG and Next Gen.

Particular thanks to those who’ve linked to the DM website.

It’s meant we’ve had a huge take-up for this issue. It also means our bandwith is jumping up, so if you were looking to spend lots of money advertising somewhere, now’s the time to take advantage of our lack of commercial skill. (email dan.thornton at disposablemedia.co.uk)
If you’re not looking to spend advertising money, do feel free to sample some advertising or make a donation. Or just send us a virtual hug.

For possibly the first and last time my combined interest in video games and motorcycling has led me to spot something quite amusing.

So stick with me as I explain the background necessary for the pay off at the end.

Basically in motorcycle racing, there are two world championships. One, MotoGP (run by Dorna), is the two-wheeled Formula one equivalent with prototype bikes, star riders protected by PR armies, and all the associated trappings. The other, World Superbikes (run by FGSport) featuers more production based machines, more accessible riders, and a slightly more Italian way of doing things. Generally the two co-exist peacefully, in a kind of entente cordiale, although the occasional defection between the two, or occasional flaming tyre, does get exchanged.

Generally the Playstation motoGP game has been a Namco production. Meanwhile World Superbikes has only returned to gaming with SBK07 this year, produced by Italian firm Milestone…

(Still with me? Pay-off coming up)

So imagine my surprise when Capcom announced they’d be publishing a new MotoGP game, taking over from Namco, and would be using the Italian developer……..wait for it…..Milestone.

I don’t imagine the bosses of Dorna and FGSport are avid gamers, but I’m looking forward to them sitting down with their kids to play the game of their rival series and suddenly thinking “Hmmmm, I know that name from somewhere?”

The latest issue of Disposable Media is out now, and if you want more of your favourite ‘zine you can start to prepare yourselves for a move webwards: this lowly Blogger thing is just the beginning…

EDIT: That made more sense when it was on our Blogger page. You’re here now!