Sony has announced a new list of $29.99 PS3 Greatest Hits and it does not disappoint:

• Infamous
• Killzone 2
• Little Big Planet – Game of The Year Edition
• God of War Collection (GOW 1&2 remastered)
• Resident Evil 5
• Dead Space
• Resistance 2
• Soul Calibur 4
• UFC Undisputed 2009

These are all good games and some of them are relatively new. Once again, your ninja-like discipline/unavoidable poverty have saved you from paying $60 for a couple kick-ass titles.

Capcom today unleashed add-on content for Resident Evil 5 by the name of Lost in Nightmares onto Xbox Live and tomorrow onto the PlayStation Network.

Here’s what’s up for grabs, in terms of story.

B.S.A.A. agents, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine have tracked down the location of Umbrella founder Ozwell E. Spencer’s mansion. Previously only told through cut scenes in Resident Evil 5, players now can experience the events that lead up to Jill’s "death".

What’s more, when you download the episode, you’ll get yourself Excella Gionne and Barry Burton to use in the  game’s Mercenaries Reunion mode.

Capcom also confirmed the games’ second batch of DLC, “Desperate Escape” for release March 3 on both platforms.

And finally, if you can hold out, Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition releases March 9 and comes with the game and every piece of digital content released to date.

Arriving this morning on Microsoft’s “Games On Demand” Xbox Live marketplace were popular titles Resident Evil 5 and Beautiful Katamari for digital download.

Resident Evil 5 clocks in at a huge 7 GB and $29.99 while Beautiful Katamari is priced at a more appropriate $19.99 and 2 GB of space.

A new Resident Evil sku, by the name of Resident Evil: Gold Edition arrives next month and is priced at $49.99, so, it might be wise, if you’re getting the new one, to hold out.

Has anyone bought a game from the Games on Demand marketplace? I like the idea of all digital, but the price points aren’t attractive enough for me. But if a new release were to be available in download form on day-one, well, that might change things. Especially on snowy days in New England!

In Capcom’s upcoming Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition will be a MERCENARIES REUNION mode where you’ll get the chance to bring Rebecca and Barry from early Resident Evil games back to life and employ their able-bodies in your savage attempt at dismantling the power of the grotesquely infected.

Both characters are from Gamecube-era Resident Evil games. Barry Burton from REmake and Rebecca Chambers from Resident Evil Zero. There’s a bit of trivia for your Thursday afternoon.

In the video we get a glimpse at what the short-haired, machine gun wielding, Rebecca is capable of. The noise Rebecca makes me laugh. Is that weird?

Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition arrives for PS3 and Xbox 360 March 9.

To some companies, a Gold edition of a title might mean some extra features, and a slightly altered box art, but to Capcom, makers of Resident Evil 5, the word means a heck of a lot more.

The upcoming Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition, when it ships in March, will come with a bunch of new content, but what’ll stand out the most is the jaw-dropping sexiness and total gold-proliferation of its box art.

Have a look.

So gold..

Source: Kotaku

Capcom today announced two different ways to enjoy Chris Redfield and Resident Evil 5 in 2010; either through my magic of the Internet, or in a plain old retail box.

That pistol is SO huge

That’s right, beginning in 2010, gamers can purchase (for a to-be named price) downloadable content for the game, which includes new outfits, two new episodes, and a new "THE MERCENARIES REUNION" mode, featuring 8 new playable characters and weapon load outs.

But if you feel downloading all that would put too much stress on your fingers, Capcom is also releasing all the DLC and the game itself by the name of Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition at retail, in a box, like you like it.

The Gold Edition will run you $49.99 and on PS3 will come on one Blu-Ray disc and 1 DVD and download token for Xbox 360 fans.

The downloadable content hits first, in February, and the Gold Edition lands in March. We’ll make sure to keep our beady little eyes on this developing story as it…develops.

Source: Unity Blog

Capcom today announced that a motion-controlled “Alternate” version of Resident Evil 5 will come to North America and Europe as paid downloadable content.

That’s right, Capcom, who made the decision based on a poll which ran for the past few weeks, will not package the “Resident Evil 5: Alternate Edition” in its own retail box, rather they’ll sell it on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network digitally.

So hold on to your precious Resident Evil 5 discs, because come “Spring 2010″ you’ll need it to slay your enemies in an all new motion-controlled manner.

Sony, at the Tokyo Game Show this week in the Land of the Rising Sun, showed off Resident Evil 5 on PS3 using the new Motion Controller to head-hunt the infected in-game.

The motion controller, still not officially named, was announced at E3 2009 in June, and will be used in the “Resident Evil 5: Director’s Cut” when it releases in spring of 2010 but we’ve got in-game footage of it today!

What do you think about Resident Evil 5 using motion control? Will you buy into it?

via Kotaku

Intel, Capcom and the Game Agency are giving birth to an application which will allow us to indulge our love of Resident Evil. In order to promote the PC release of Resident Evil 5 on September 15, have released a photo application on Facebook which allows people to upload their photos and turn themselves into a Majini. You can add gruesome wounds, worms and cuts if that’s what you want and can even photo shop group photos for the fun of it. Intel is also sponsoring a Majini Makeover Contest. People who submit their photos to a public Facebook gallery have the chance to win a new gaming computer, copies of the game, Resident Evil Collectibles and five i7 processors from Intel! There will be several contests to promote the game, so be on the lookout. Check out the Majini Makeover and don’t forget to comment below with your thoughts on the widget.

Capcom announced their lineup for GamesCom ’09 in Cologne, Germany on August 19^th “" 23^rd. Capcom promises that there will be something for everyone, and proves it with their all star lineup: Dark Void, Monster Hunter Tri, Moto GP 09/10, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars, Lost Planet 2, and Resident Evil 5!

Capcom will place a lot of focus on their upcoming third-person shooter, Dark Void. For GamesCom, Capcom will promoting the game’s characteristic jet pack experience with the Dark Void Body Flying Machine, a machine which will allow people to blast off from a vertical airstream at 180km/h. This will serve as a thrilling treat for those who want to experience the action first hand. And in another push to advertise the game, they have branded 200 taxis with the Dark Void logo, so that you may ride around the city in style. Those lucky enough to play the game at the booth will also receive a limited edition Dark Void gift!

Monster Hunter Tri, the latest addition to the Monster Hunter series, will be available as an English demo for the Nintendo Wii. This will allow fans to learn more about the new features and environments of the game. This game promises to expand upon the Monster Hunter experience since it will allow co-op hunting and team play which allow you to explore the fantasy world in depth. This is going to please many American fans who have been watching the game perform well overseas in Japan.

Fans of fighting games need not fear since Capcom will be unveiling their next fighting game for the Nintendo Wii: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars. Fans of Street Fighter will be pleased very pleased with the result. Fan favorites like Ryu and Chun-Li will be available to duke it out against Tatsunoko stars Ken the Eagle, Casshan, and many others with a unique arsenal of moves and combos which will be sure to light up the screens of any Gamer’s television. However, they won’t just have to rely on Ultimate All Stars to satisfy their need for fighting. Spyborgs, the upcoming beat-em-up brawler for Wii promises a two-player, co-op experience as fighters fight their way through hordes of enemies and go up against challenging, but awesome boss battles.

Among the game series being taken in new directions is MotoGP 09/10, a game racing fans will NOT want to miss. The game promises to reward racing style and skill, instead of just focusing on who can cross the finish line first. Gamers in attendance will be allowed to play the demo and get a glimpse of the new challenges this game has established to see who has what it takes to be the best racer.

Lost Planet 2 also makes its worldwide debut at GamesCom on the PS3. The next installment offers gamers a new series of challenges which center on battles erupting on a global scale. In order to defeat the giant Akrid, players will be forced to rely on skill and team work in order to survive the range of harsh terrains. Co-op will allow up to four players to fight their way through the planet as a team. However, the coup de grace for lovers of survival horror will be Capcom’s partnership with Intel to produce Resident Evil 5 for the PC. Intel will be showing off the game in Hall 9.1, 61A.

Anyone lucky enough to be in attendance should definitely check out Capcom’s presentations. Their main booth is situated in Hall 6.1, corridor A, No. 31.

For More Information on Spyborgs, Lost Planet 2, or Dark Void, check out our coverage from Comic Con!

Having trouble discerning whether or not you’re playing a video game or watching a movie?‚  Credit that to motion capture actors like Reuben Langdon, an actor whose most recent work in video games has him bending himself into Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 5.‚  “Power Ranger acting,” Langdon calls the motion capture acting of previous generations.‚  “These days there is less of that because more details have been added to the face and with aid of facial capture you can act more with your face and not just your body. Personally I still think you have to take it up a few notches more than regular film and TV stuff but not quite Power Ranger level.”

Video game technology is always progressing therefore the actors behind the rolls of our favorite characters have to grow and adapt to the volatile video game world.‚  What unites MoCap (Motion Capture) actors like Reuben Langdon with any other actor is their commitment to the role.‚  Like any screen or television actor, they have to inhabit the skin of the characters they’re playing.‚  “For RE5 and many of the games we (Just Cause Productions) have done with Capcom we do a process which is called Video Storyboarding where we pretty much make a mini low budget movie of what the final product is going to be,” Langdon continues, “For RE5 we actually got into wardrobe and shot all the Video Storyboards on a Green Screen. It is great because for the actors it’s a full on dress rehearsal, allowing them to really get a grab of the character. For the Director and Producers it’s a chance for them to go through the whole thing and see what will work and won’t.”

Motion capture technology isn’t perfect.‚  If you’ve played any video games with camera focus on the face of a character, you’re lucky to believe they are actually talking.‚  Most of the time it looks like two noodles bumping into each other until the camera angle changes.‚  Langdon doesn’t doubt that this type of acting will improve dramatically in the future.‚  “I think as computer power gets higher so will the capture technology and the need to capture more details. Now, especially with games, you can capture everything that is needed.”

Langdon isn’t a newbie to the scene either.‚  His work as Dante in Devil May Cry made Dante as iconic as the game itself.‚  Much like a cartoon voice actor, Langdon can play completely different parts without the audience knowing.‚  “Dante is of course way over the top and the world he is in allows for some crazy things to happen. Not to say that Chris’ world is not over the top and crazy, just that with Chris everything was more grounded and subtle. I tried to keep it as real as possible with Chris where everything around him was crazy. With Dante, most of the time he was the crazy goof ball just going around enjoying his crazy world. Does that make sense?”

Before you crack open another blockbuster hit, take a moment and imagine the amount of time an effort the actors put into modeling the character(s) that you’re playing with.‚  When asked what his favorite video game is, Reuben said, “Street Fighter 4 rocks! Not just because I’m Ken Master either…though he is my favorite character.”‚  Maybe he’s plugging his next role.

Reuben Langdon, along with motion capture acting, is working on a movie called Avatar, with James Cameron.‚  He also has a small cameo in a new Michael Cera movie called, “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.”

Sumthing Else Music Works, and mega-publisher Capcom came together earlier this year and announced a slew of Capcom video game original soundtracks to be released at a to be revealed date.‚  Last week the music purveyor released an original Street Fighter IV soundtrack‚  and today the horrific tunes from the zombified Resident Evil 5 were made availabe to the world.

The soundtrack has 3 discs and a total of 86 songs!‚  The price (at press time) was not available.

Lead Composer Kota Suzuki spoke to the difficulty of creating the perfect horror-based soundtrack:

“As the look of the game has changed from the previous series, I spent many hours trying to figure out how to approach it with music. We tend to relate horror with darkness, but this time the game takes place in Africa with a blazing hot sun.” I contemplated on how I could stir the player’s emotion by music embodying two opposite elements? After much trial and error, the director came up with a key phrase ‘panic horror.’ And from there, I put my focus on panic-stricken music for the players. In fact, I did often get panicky while playing this game myself. I wonder what your experiences will be?”

Look for the Resident Evil 5 soundtrack today on physical disc at retail, and on the web on the Sumthing Else digital music store, and iTunes.

Re 5 on Sumthing Digital

Resident Evil 5, the brutal, blood rending, hell bent survivor horror title is all about co-op, but tomorrow when Capcom unleashes the long awaited and highly criticized “Versus” mode, weapon sights everywhere will pull a 180 and aim at each other.

The Versus mode will be available for download tomorrow on the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live for $4.99 or 400 MS Points respectively and will contain two distinct game-play modes.

In Slayer’s Rule gamers will be challenged to kill as many Majini’s as possible and rack up the most possible points.‚  Conversely, in Survivor’s Rule players must hunt each other across the wonderfully beautiful environments of Resident Evil 5.

The fifth iteration of the Resident Evil franchise does a lot.‚  It’s got fan favorite Chris taking the reigns and guiding himself and a female colleague, Sheva, through all the twists and turns that gamers have grown accustomed too.‚  Guns?‚  Check.‚  Action?‚  Check.‚  Women?‚  Check.‚  Unbelievable monsters?‚  Check.‚  A convoluted story that unfolds through six chapters and inevitably concludes exactly where you expected it too?‚  Check.

It’s still a fun game to play.‚  Whether you’re playing through the game by yourself or with a friend, it’s still fun.‚  A few things have changed however.‚  Firstly, the fact that you have a partner apparently revolutionizes the way you play Resident Evil.‚  If you remember Resident Evil 0, where you play through the game as the medic from the original Resident Evil, Rebecca, and her ex convict friend Billy, who fight their way through a train, then you’ve played computer co-operative Resident Evil.

As if Capcom thought their first attempt at co-op was a failure, or wasn’t as fun as they would have liked, they brought it back (Leon Kennedy RE4, solo).‚  Now, considering this is a next-gen video game, the A.I. of Sheva throughout the game is better, and I emphasize better, than any computer controlled character to ever be featured in a Resident Evil game.‚  It’s not perfect.‚  She still has a tendency to stand in the wrong place at the wrong time, or just expel all of her ammo without even taking into consideration that she might need to save it.‚  She may have a knack for finding herself trapped in situations that you are not in, and that you, being the human player, must then turn around and fight your way through hordes of enemies just to progress further in the game. ‚ I guess that’s the game trying to imitate the experience of playing with another player but if you’ve even got one friend who’s played Resident Evil before, it will be easier.

By lacking the ability to replicate A.I. that you can feel safe with, the combat becomes more of a, “HELP ME!” tap B to save, affair.‚  It’s much harder to manage two inventories, to delegate who opens what, due to the fact that the combat is so intense, opening the inventory mid battle can become more of a hindrance than a benefit. ‚ The inventory system is accessed through tapping Y, but it doesn’t pause the game. If your partner runs out of ammo in a town where your mission is to outlast a horde of the infected, good luck getting out alive.

The weapons are well polished and easy to use.‚  Weapons like the proximity mine add some variety to the combat.‚  Upgrading is a must but with the ability to continually purchase newer handguns even though I’ve been upgrading another one teases me.

Besides having to baby-sit when you’re playing by yourself, RE5 does have some redeeming qualities.‚  The graphics are polished, everything from Chris’ uncomfortably muscular body to the facial expressions of the boss as he talks his plan (Wesker from Resident Evil), all look pretty fluid and realistic.‚  The game play itself, the aiming and shooting, the melee combat, the knife, is all fun.‚  In RE5, the melee combat system gets an overhaul.‚  Now each character has options for how they wish to pummel their enemy.

However, Chris and Sheva can’t just pummel any enemy.‚  New monsters like the Executioner, a monster wielding a bladed sledgehammer spice up the combat.‚  The return of the Licker was a nice inclusion.‚  The Licker seems like a close relative to another new monster, the Reaper, who has an irritating way of one hit killing both Chris and Sheva whenever they’re near.‚  It’s best to just run past them, and get away.‚  Otherwise, get used to having about seven total bullets for most of the game.‚  But, you should already know that you can’t kill all of them.

Quick-time events are strewn throughout the cut scenes to keep the player involved.‚  It’s a good way to maintain attention.‚  But wait, shouldn’t my attention always be towards the game because it’s completely entertaining and interesting?‚  Shouldn’t I be able to play through the game and understand the story completely, understand why there are mutated Africans attacking my character and his friends?

You’d think they might have taken that into consideration, you know, the story and the dialogue.‚  However, from the first mission it is clear that the developers didn’t want to distract gamers with a story.‚  Forget empathy, forget even sympathy, here is some formulaic dialogue.‚  A character I used to think was a pretty good protagonist, Chris, becomes a variable to an equation.‚  Instead of having him do what any rational person would do and assess the situation he’s throwing himself into (mutations, rival, love, safety, just to name a few), he blindly runs through hordes of mutated things for another Resident Evil character, Jill.‚  You see, they were partners.‚  And partners never ditch each other, right?‚  Yeah.‚  Totally.‚  Real people never do that.‚  So he instead runs through the game spitting phrases like, “Let’s do this together,” and “we’re partners, together until the end.”‚  The entire time I was playing, I expected that at the end Chris and Jill would fall in love or something, or Chris and Sheva.‚  Instead, he says almost absolutely nothing after he saves her and just stares at her.‚  I don’t know how that comes across to you, but to me that is creepy and cheap, they could have developed their story more.‚  Not only is that formulaic but by the end, Chris hasn’t changed at all.

The approach to the story is boring and I had to wake up a friend of mine who dozed off listening to Chris make his way through the game twice.‚  The only character worth anything is Wesker, the villain.‚  The actor playing his voice put a little effort into it.‚  The dialogue I can’t fault him for, considering it’s just a rehash of every other game about fighting super powerful bad guys who mutate into monsters.‚  When is the archetypal villain who is out for global domination going to lose its appeal?

While the primary story involves a friend in search of a friend (yay!), the setting is created by the development of a new virus.‚  This virus infects people and mutates them.‚  Instead of zombies, because that’s apparently not scary enough, Chris and Sheva have to fight aggressive Africans whose faces mutate when they try and eat you but otherwise are mostly black and have weapons like flaming crossbows.‚  Some of the scenes were over-the-top, like the motorcycle battle.‚  Yeah, that’s cool.‚  But, I’ve played Gears of War before; I’ve fought that battle before.‚  I want some horror, some survival.

The boss fights range from aim and shoot to an endurance contest.‚  Turret battles with various monsters are too easy.‚  And, the fact that they are extremely mutated does two things.‚  Firstly, it makes the battle more epic.‚  The size and the grotesqueness of the creatures attempt to intimidate the player. ‚ Secondly, it changes the genre of the game.‚  If you wanted survival horror you’re looking in the wrong place.

Previous Resident Evil games used zombies and the psychological connection that the characters themselves could turn if bitten as an important part of the game.‚  Not only did numerous protagonists throughout the franchise have to pump bullets into zombies, but those zombies could be and/or are their friends.‚  Instead, by the absurd amount of tentacles and blood and teeth, RE5 has the opposite affect.‚  The gamer is detached from the idea that they are to be afraid of the monsters and instead are reimbursed with confidence (weapons and ammo and combat).‚  You can look at this as the shift from Survival Horror to Action Adventure.

Aside from that, the Mercenaries mini game is still fresh.‚  With the ability to play it with a friend and a larger selection of characters I had more fun playing it than anything else.‚  The online aspect is good, and I’m hopeful that they allow downloadable characters (Barry Burton please), as well as stages.‚  But, if you’re a fan of Resident Evil, especially Resident Evil 4, you won’t find much of it in this package; just the game play and the universe.

In case you forgot, Resident Evil 5, the latest iteration in the famed series launched Friday.‚  March 13^th happened to be the second Friday the 13^th in two months.‚  Eerie, I know, but nevertheless, Capcom announced some extravagant figures today continuing to sing Resident Evil’s praises.

Resident Evil 5, a title marred by criticism but complete with stunning visuals and epic game-play, has shipped 4 million units globally to gamers, Capcom announced today.‚  The word shipped is different than sold, in that they are merely out there, waiting on shelves.‚  Furthermore, the demo was downloaded a staggering 4 million times.

What is the culmination of Capcom’s great development and marketing efforts?‚  The largest first shipment of any title for the series to date.

Capcom, as you may know employs the “Single Contents Multiple Usage” strategy in which their games are spread into many markets, cell phone games, publications, movies, and glorious merchandise we all love so much.

The three Resident Evil films have amassed more than 300 million in sales to date, and the CG movie, “Degeneration” has sold over 1.5 million copies, not too shabby at all.

Resident Evil 5 has received solid review ratings from a diverse spread of establishments so it would not be crazy to see sales figures climb closer and closer to the number shipped.

Resident Evil 5, the latest in the survivor horror franchise from Capcom is set to release one week from tomorrow, Friday the 13^th.‚  As if Friday the 13^th wasn’t cursed enough, February contained a Friday the 13^th as well, thus, through the properties of horror, it can be expected that next Friday will be the most dreadful day of the year.‚  Maybe that reasoning is a little off so here are some screens from Resident Evil 5′s “The Mercenaries” unlockable mini-game to hold you over for another week.

As is tradition with the Resident Evil series, upon completion of the single player campaign, a bonus game-play experience is unlocked in the form of a harrowing, frantic scramble to survive.‚  Enemies spawn continuously, ammo is scarce and the clock is ticking, on the round and on your life.‚  Combat areas will be modified levels from the story, built especially to provide the greatest challenge.

Next Friday will be a huge day for Capcom and gamers everywhere.‚  To coincide with the games release, Capcom in association with the Red Cross is sponsoring an all-day blood drive where donors can score free, limited RE5 goodies.‚  On the hardware front, Microsoft has a limited edition red Xbox 360 Elite bundled with a copy of the game, red controller, and a bunch of other goods, available for the die-hard fan.

Reports of a “series reboot” according to 1UP.com explain how RE5 will be the last of its kind, and while the next installment may have brand new mechanics, RE5 is nothing to scoff at.‚  Capcom has been brewing the perfect Resident Evil recipe for years and this latest iteration looks to be no different.

Awesomely awesome screens of the unlockable “The Mercenaries” mode in the gallery!

In the Resident Evil series blood is spilled, splattered, and caked in the most grotesque of ways.‚  The oxygen carrying intravenous liquid that keeps us all alive is more frequently blotched all over the ground than safely and securely within our skin in the horror franchise.‚  Screens from the newest iteration, Resident Evil 5 prove to be along the same lines.‚  Scoped in headshots with the powerful sniper rifle yield cranial explosions that send the warm red liquid flying in all directions, and without thinking, the next shot is lined up and taken.

All this blood lost seems to have finally hit Resident Evil developer and publisher Capcom, and is hosting a Blood drive next Friday the 13th to coincide with the games release.

In partnership with the American Red Cross, Capcom is inviting gamers picking up Resident Evil 5 to give back to the community in the form of pints of their precious blood.‚  In addition to helping a noble cause, fans will have the chance to get exclusive limited-edition Resident Evil 5 Blood Drive collectibles and of course free, sugar rich snacks.

Capcom will have a number of kiosks on-hand showcasing RE5 for fans to indulge in before or after going under the needle, and everyone who gives blood will receive hand-numbered stylized posters, bumper stickers, buttons and the chance to win a copy of the game as well as the exclusive limited edition console.

Giving blood is truly a noble cause, and if Resident Evil 5 freebies are what it takes for you to get there, so be it, the blood is greatly appreciated under any circumstances.

The blood drive will be held Friday March 13^th 2009 from 11AM-5PM at the World of Wonder Gallery in Los Angeles CA.

Schedule an appointment here, and information regarding blood donation eligibility can be found here.

Resident Evil 5 will launch March 13^th on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Resident Evil 5 official site.

Machete Death in Africa

Does it matter that Vincent Merken and I cut down a crazed, diseased, machete-wielding black man in an African shantytown?

We did it in the Resident Evil 5 demo, playing co-op on Xbox Live; I from the U.S., he from Belgium. Vincent played a hulking bruiser of a white guy, while I played a small, lithe woman who could pass for what‚  Southern Africans call ‘coloured’-a person of mixed race.‚  Together, we hacked at our enemy with our huge knives until he melted into a mass of brown bubbles.

Does it matter why we did this? Or how our characters looked when it happened? Or how we responded to doing it? Would it matter if the man had tentacles sprouting from his face? And why’d we use knives, anyhow?

Answering these questions requires an outlook as cosmopolitan as the game itself, which portrays the outbreak of a contagion that transforms humans into monsters in the small, fictional, sub-Saharan nation of Kijuju. Resident Evil 5 depicts people of many different races, being careful to render them and their surroundings as realistically as possible, while maintaining an atmosphere of sci-fi horror. Both gaming and mainstream media have begun a debate over whether the game’s depiction of black Africans makes use of racist stereotypes.

The debate matters because of the game’s stature. Capcom’s Resident Evil series belongs to the canon of gaming. Its games have sold more than 34 million copies and won wide critical acclaim. Resident Evil 5, the twentieth game in the line, has raised its already high profile with its move to Africa. Imagine‚  one of the innumerable and wildly popular World War II shooters suddenly changing its setting to Vietnam, circa 1969. Very few games feature the Vietnam war, for the same reason that few games feature Africa’s problems with disease, poverty, violence, and exploitation: both subjects evoke shame. Players accept this reasoning on Vietnam; they seem to have more difficulty with Africa.

Also controversial, though less charged, is Resident Evil 5′s control scheme, which remains virtually the same as the one featured in the first game in the series, 1996′s Resident Evil. The hype around the game has placed it under assault from all sides, from both gaming and cultural perspectives. Responding to these issues means placing that murderous moment shared by Vincent and me into context-in both game and real-world terms.

Resident Evil 5 will take a beating. Players will attack the game without mercy, and so will the media. Vincent and I will play the game to death, testing its limits, while critics will decry the game’s handling of its African setting. Both approaches are perfectly justified, because both rely on a certain kind of cosmopolitanism.

There are two senses of ‘cosmopolitan’. One refers to a person who acclimates easily to foreign situations; the other to a morality that ignores cultural boundaries. The first concerns Resident Evil 5′s gameplay, the second concerns the way it portrays black Africans.‚  Understanding this game requires‚  both viewpoints. For this reason, I came calling on Vincent.

Who is Vincent Merken?

Let me tell you about Vincent Merken.

In the vast library of Resident Evil esoterica available on the Internet there is an extraordinary document known formally as “Resident Evil-Plot Guide” and colloquially as “The Resident Evil Thesis”. We’re talking over 115,000 words of Resident Evil plot analysis. Begun by Dan ‘President Evil’ Birlew and overtaken by Thomas Wilde, the text covers the series up to the 2007 port of Resident Evil 4 for the Wii, but just one section concerns us here: an examination of wild theories called “The Weirdest of the Lot”. Birlew and Wilde debunk a rumor that you can unlock Street Fighter’s Akuma as a playable character in Resident Evil 2:

According to Electronic Gaming Monthly, if you beat the game in under an hour and a half, using *only* the handgun and knife, Akuma would become playable. Vincent Merken did it, for he is ninja, and it didn’t work.

Yes; contemplate that passage for a moment, and it will reveal to you the Meaning of Merken and of Resident Evil. From the start, the series has won fans for its flexible gameplay. You can play Resident Evil games in myriad ways-using only the weakest weapons or rushing through the game as quickly as possible. Vincent belongs to a community of players who have pushed this play to extremes. Ripping through Resident Evil 2 at that speed with such limited firepower is downright amazing. This kind of achievement requires both mad dexterity and long study of the game’s mechanics.

Capcom continues to tease us with horrific yet imaginative screens from their latest endeavor, and today’s batch is no exception.‚  These five brand new Resident Evil 5 images depict a range of artistic creativity from the decrepit slobbering canine to the terrifying behemoth of what looks like a sewn together ogre.

I suppose these artistic creations are to be expected in the horror genre of video games, but still, every time I lay my eyes on a newly devised beast, I tremble in anticipation of meeting them in the game.

The first illustration of the parasitically-controlled human is most frightening to me.‚  If viewed from the bottom up, things look normal and in place at first.‚  Sandals, I get that, it’s warm in Kijuju, have to let the toes breathe, makes sense.‚  Next I see the typical blue jeans; again, the familiarity is soothing.‚  And oh, a nice striped shirt, this isn’t sounding so bad after all.‚  And then I see it, the scorpion-like tail projected out of where a head should be.‚  Clearly we have entered the Resident Evil universe.

Fans of the Resident Evil series will be pleased to know Ozwell E. Spencer, President of Umbrella Corporation will make a complete appearance in Resident Evil 5.‚  Anyone who says Spencer died in the aftermath surrounding the destruction of Raccoon City is blatantly wrong.‚  This ominous screen of Spencer calmly resting in a wheelchair wearing bathrobe and slippers, hands together, plugged into some health monitoring system is proof he is very much alive.

When I first played the RE5 demo I was instantly put off by what I thought was a garbled mess of a control mechanic.‚  However, I have since revisited the two level demo and have only praise and incredible anticipation for the title.‚  I still do not understand why I must walk up to an enemy, draw my knife, execute my melee attack and be on my way.‚  Nevertheless, the incredible graphics and scenes of sheer terror will undoubtedly draw me and millions of others to the full title come March.

With every release of never before seen screens, my eagerness to blow their heads off increases exponentially.‚  I respect the combatants Capcom has created but I know I’ll have a blast blowing them to bits!

Today, the Resident Evil 5 demo is available to all Xbox Live members, whether they be Gold or Silver. Playstation 3 owners will still have to wait until next week to experience the demo, but there’s nothing holding them back from reading about our hands-on impressions of the demo before they get their own mitts on it.

The demo is broken up into two levels, Public Assembly and Shanty Town. No context is given as to why you are in either location, or how the events that unfold came together, which is good for those who were hoping to avoid spoilers. Yes, there are a few cutscenes that show off the graphical prowess of this slick looking title, but without the proper context they are all flash and little story.

Capcom didn’t screw around either, letting you get used to the controls or the way that your enemies react to you, instead throwing you into the middle of two areas full of baddies who are armed and want to harm you. I’ve heard a lot of complaints about the controls since the demo released, but it’s tough to sympathize too much; there are four different control types, and you can adjust the speed at which you aim. The demo defaults to normal, so moving it to fast or fastest like I did may be best for those who are used to making split-second headshot movements.

Yes, you still feel like a tank since you can’t move while shooting, but the enemies are designed to attack you in a way that will keep you from noticing this for very long. They may run at you quickly, but will slow down in order to melee attack you with a bottle or shovel, or whatever it is they have armed themselves with. That’s your time to set your shot and take out their head in one satisfying press of the right trigger button.

The controls do take some getting used to though, just like every other Resident Evil title that isn’t on the Wii. In control style Type D, the default for the demo, reloading is performed by holding down the left bumper and hitting A, which feels awkward at first. By the time I finished the demo though, it was a fluid motion that you got used to.

Taking out the knife does make things a bit awkward for a time though, as you press the left trigger to wield that before pressing the right trigger to swing it; it’s just a matter of remembering what button combinations perform a specific task, nothing repetition can’t fix. The preference would of course be for controls that feel intuitive right off of the bat, but they are not setup in a way that anyone interested in playing Resident Evil cannot quickly adapt to.

There’s the worry that Capcom has replaced the survival horror element entirely with a more action-oriented approach, but that’s another area where the complaints need to tone down a bit, just based off of the demo anyways. The areas you were in were brightly lit, but you were sorely outnumbered, low on ammunition and health, and fighting mini boss enemies in tight corridors and enclosed spaces; that’s a different kind of dread that Capcom is trying to make you feel. Whether it’s as effective as the old style is something that needs to be figured out over the course of the full game, not the short demo.

One thing that does work is the co-op mode. Sheva, when controlled by the AI, is intelligent. She doesn’t just sit around and let you take out the enemies, and she is there to heal you, free you from the clutches of an enemy, or give you ammunition when you are low on it. You need to keep her alive as well, so be a good teammate and return the favors. If you don’t want to deal with the AI, you have the option to play co-op both offline or online as well.

It looks like this game is shaping up to be another great entry in the series, but time will tell if it’s as good as its predecessor. Those are some big shoes to fill, which is why Capcom has changed some parts of the game so drastically (the setting, adding co-op, etc.). This is definitely a demo you are going to want to check out though; just remember to play with the controls a bit, because they take some getting used to.

360 fans, today’s a day to cheer for your console, as Capcom and Microsoft released the demo for Resident Evil 5 exclusively for Gold Live members today. Though it will be available on the Playstation Network and for everyone else next week, getting it early sure beats waiting any longer for it-and I say this as someone who is looking at the download progress bar on their own television at this moment.

On that note, we will have hands-on impressions of the demo hear at Blast Games this week. The hope is to get you information on both the solo play as well as the co-op, which can be played with someone else over Xbox Live, and to tell you how well it holds up. I’m just hoping the controls are tight enough that I won’t miss my zombie headshots via the Wii Remote, or I’ll be even more upset Capcom didn’t port this over to the Wii using the RE4 engine.

Resident Evil 5 releases for both Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3 in March. Download the demo today if you can, and tell us what you think of the series progression from true survival horror to action-oriented shooter.

From Capcom:

“Resident Evil 5″ Demo Available Exclusively on Xbox LIVE Today

Xbox 360 is inviting members of Xbox LIVE to be among the first to get hands on with an exclusive, playable demo of the upcoming “Resident Evil 5,” available one week before anywhere else, starting today for Xbox LIVE Gold members.* The launch means that millions of Xbox LIVE members around the globe will get access to this special sneak peek before any other platform.

In preparation for the eagerly awaited arrival on Xbox 360, March 13th 2009, Resident Evil fans will be challenged to be the first to find the secret at www.Xbox.com/RE5, then head to www.residentevil.com/Kijuju to crack the code starting at the end of January.

As part of the demo launched today, fans will be able to get hands-on with new “Resident Evil 5″ features including three new levels of single- and two player co-op play (limited to Gold members), characters, weapons and environments. In this latest installment of the renowned survivor-horror franchise, returning “Resident Evil” hero Chris Redfield is joined by new partner Sheva Alomar to take on the frightening effects of the latest bioterrorist attack in the depths of Africa.

LOS ANGELES — Microsoft’s E3 2008 press conference was all about the games this year. Sure, they talked about the new 360 interface they have in the works, but there was no talk about price cuts or a wireless motion sensor or any of the topics that the Wall Street Journal had leaked ahead of time. Instead, Microsoft senior Vice President Don Mattrick spend his time talking about what games the XBox has in store for us. Here are their big four games they have slated for release.

Fallout 3:

Fallout 3 is an action/adventure role-playing game that takes place in post-apocayptic Washington, DC in the year 2277. The Enclave, the last remnant of the US government, controls the robots that patrol the wasteland and are the enemy that are meant to be destroyed. The game allows you to play in either first person or third person.

“On my wrist is the Pip Boy 3000,” said Todd Howard, Game Director from Bethesda Game Studios who demoed the game. The Pit Boy monitors the stats of the main character, controls its skills and do other various things.

“I happen to have the Bloody Vesper, which lets people die in ridiculously violent ways. I also have various weapons, so that I can kill people in ridiculously violent ways, and I also have radio, so that I can pick up broadcast that are happening out in the wasteland,” he said of the Pit Boy.

“This is where the content might be inappropriate for some audiences,” said Howard as he disembodied one of the radioactive humans in the game.

Fallout 3 contains over 100 hours game play. Its world is so massive that a player can go to the Washington Monument and take the elevator to its top floor.

“I think it’s the marching band music [from the radio] that really nails it,” said Howard.

Fallout 3 will be released in the fall of this year, and will feature substantial material downloadable exclusively for Microsoft in the XBox Marketplace.

Resident Evil 5:

Resident Evil 5 represents the first time a Resident Evil game has appeared on a Microsoft system.

Chris Redfield, the game’s main character, is in Kijuju, Tunisia to investigate the causes of some terrorist activity. He has joined a new organization called the BSAA based in Africa. His partner is a woman named Sheva.

The game features a multiplayer online cooperative system that is new to the series. The cooperative system allows players to complete missions that they would not have been able to alone.

Resident Evil 5 will be available in a simultaneous worldwide release on March 13, 2009.

“Please hold on just a little bit longer, and we’ll have it to you very shortly,” said game producer Jun Takeuchi.

Fable 2:

“Fable 2 is finished” is how Peter Molyneux, the founder of Lionhead Studios, introduced the game to the E3 audience.

Fable 2 takes place years after the first game. The player gets a choice to play as either a boy or girl, and is the story about how each player chooses to progress in their journey to become a hero.

The game seems to be just an update of 2004′s prequel, but Fable 2 offers an interesting multiplayer capability. Around the world are orbs which, when you press a button, is actually a different player in their own single player game. When the button is pressed, the other player has the ability to join that world to create a multiplayer experience.

Fable 2 will be released in October of this year.

Gears of War 2:

Most of the Gears of War 2 presentation was gameplay, but design director Cliff Bleszinski had several other goodies up his sleeve about the highly anticipated game.

“We are quickly building to the point where we have the most anticipated title, this holiday season, on any platform,” he said.

The Locust are back, and it is the job of Marcus and his affiliates to try to destroy them.

Returning weapons are the fan favorite flamethrower and chainsaw.

Bleszinski introduced the new “Forge” mode for Gears 2. “Forge” mode is a five player cooperative multiplayer mode where the team takes on wave after wave of increasingly difficult Locusts.

Gears of War 2 will release worldwide on November 7, exclusively for the XBox 360.