Hideo Kojima is beating around the bush today giving us a statement to think about; the upcoming release of Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker for the Playstation Portable is a test for the Metal Gear series. Peacewalker will be presenting new ideas and gameplay tricks that will keep the series fresh. Here's what he had to say.

"It's not that PSP is the main platform for the future MGS series," Kojima wrote (via Andriasang). "Peace Walker is a test to see what type of expansions are there if MGS is brought to a portable. We're not just rising vertically with development on next generation systems, but also horizontally, trying to expand gameplay."

So, it should be interesting to see how Peacewalker turns out. The big plus it seems is the four-player co-op that 1up points out. Don't forget, according to Kojima himself "Cameron's Avatar was a huge hit because of the 3D video. That can't be communicated through text and a trailer. It's something you won't understand unless you experience it for yourself in the [cinema]." So it looks like Peacewalker is meant to be the Avatar for videogames? Kojima loves to give us the workaround, doesn't he?

Via 1up

Apparently the former CEO of DICE, Fredrik Liliegrin, believes that Nintendo's cash cow (Wii) is a virus in the industry. He believe's that it's a console that just doesn't stick. According to his statistics, everyone doesn't own the Wii on its own and claims it as a toy and not as a video game entertainment focused machine. We already know that many developers and publishers have claimed their doubts and dislikes about the Wii but not of this nature.

Gaming Union: Why not?

Fredrik Liliegrin: Because the Wii, to me, I would describe it as a Virus, that doesn't stick. Everyone comes home, it's a toy, people have got to realize the Wii is a toy, not an entertainment focused product. People come home, someone, they play Wii for a bit, feel it's really cool, blah blah blah, they go out and buy one. Ask people how often they play the Wii, that are not the core game consumer that buys one because they have an Xbox 360 and a Wii or a PlayStation 3 and a Wii. The people that only own the Wii, ask that consumer how often they use their machine. They just don't use it, it was cool, but they're not gamers, so they put it away. Other than the Wii Fit phenomenon that helped a lot of people get a nice cutie voice telling that they're fat and need to go work out, they need to find other alternatives. Nintendo is smart in that way in that they realize this is not a video game machine, this is not a games game machine.  

What else could we possibly hear from industry folk these days?

Via GamingUnion

The above video debuts the gameplay of the newest Transformers title; War for Cybertron. Starting right from the beginning, this new transformers title will give fans a chance to find out what happened before the Autobots went to Earth. High Moon Studios is in charge of this one and they are promising fans we'll be in for a treat, so we can all wait and see. 

EIDOS's upcoming explosive shooter, Just Cause 2, will be getting the demo treatment next week on March 4th. The demo will feature 35 square miles of the Lautan Lama Desert, which is one of the many 400 square miles of the Panau archipelago. It's a massive demo which will also have you assassinating one of the games 50 military colonels, give you the option to devestate military bases, bio fuel chambers, government infastructures and lots more. 

"The Just Cause 2 demo is simply massive and with so much to do, the replay value is enormous,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager of Square Enix London Studios. “It’s easily one of the biggest freeroaming demos of all time and for fans of openworld games, it’s unmissable.”

You'll be able to return as Rico Rodriguez when the game releases on March 23rd for the Xbox 360, Playsation 3, and March 26th in Europe, Middle East and Australia

New downloadable content was announced for the Rock Band Music Store next Tuesday and Thursday. A Disturbed three-pack is coming your way along with the Silversun Pickups and others. Here is the full track list for you music enthusiasts. Also keep in mind that all these tracks are master recordings.

• ·         Disturbed – “Meaning of Life”
• ·         Disturbed – “The Game”
• ·         Disturbed – “Voices”
• ·         The Mother Hips – “Third Floor Story”
• ·         The Mother Hips – “White Falcon Fuzz” + *
• ·         Silversun Pickups – “Panic Switch”
• ·         Silversun Pickups – “Sort Of” +
• ·         TRUSTcompany – “Downfall” +

You can grab these tracks for $1.99 USD per track or 160 MS Points each. Remember that you can only buy individual tracks on the Wii. If you want to buy the packs all together in what is being called the "Disturbed Pack 02" then that'll cost you $5.49 or 440 MS Points. On the Wii you'll be spending $2.00 per track. The tracks will be available on Tuesday for Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii owners and next Thursday for Playstation 3 owners.

Electronic Arts announced today the release of the expansion for their popular soccer game, FIFA 10, in the form of EA Sports FIFA 10 Ultimate Team for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This popular game mode that started in FIFA 09 is available for 400 MS points on LIVE! or $4.99 on the PlayStation 3.

The long awaited schedule is here, we finally get to plan out our weekend for the upcoming PAX East 2010 event. An exciting moment this is for gamers all accross the East coast. Here are some highlights of events I'm thinking of attending....

• Journalists vs. Developers: The Ultimate Grudge Match (Friday, 2 PM)
• PAX East 2010 Keynote (Friday, 3 PM)
• Losing Should Be Fun: (Friday, Wyvern Theater, 11:30 PM)
• Friday Night Concerts! (Main Theater, 8:30 PM)
• Mega 64 Panel (Friday, 9:30 PM)

Click on the PAX logo image above to head to the official PAX East schedule...

Hopefully we didn't completely turn you around in your thinking that we have a full batch of Fable III screenshots for you. What we do have is only 2 of them, and double the fun. Peter Molyneux must be swimming in joy giving us all these little tinty bits of glimpses into Fable 3. Looks like we'll just have to wait until E3 for when we discover something new and hopefuly a gameplay treat.

Check out the screens below...

Lucasarts has sent along word that they have updated the Xbox Live Avatar marketplace with items and clothing from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. So, those of you looking to get your Star Wars freak on....enjoy!

SouthPeak Games announced today that the classic-fantasy RPG, Risen is now available exclusively for the Xbox 360. The game was developed by Pirhana Bytes and is priced at $49.99 and is also rated M for Mature.

“We are thrilled to share the deep RISEN experience with Xbox 360 gamers in North America,” said Jon Schutts, Senior Producer at Deep Silver, Inc.  “With the combination of immersive gameplay, positive reception of last fall’s Windows PC release and a newly optimized game experience on Xbox 360, we are positive that roleplaying fans will find RISEN to be a favorite among their RPG collection.”

Check out some info on the game below and expect to see GamePlasma's review of the as soon as possible.