While writing the first entry in today's News Blips, my holiday music playlist sputtered to a halt and spat out a smarmy insurance commercial instead. Curse you, awkward coincidence!
News Blips:
A few grinchy souls exploit the Humble Indie Bundle 4's purchasing system to rig increased odds of winning Steam's Holiday Sale raffle. This is why gamers can't have nice things — and when we do, someone always ruins it more thorougly than a drunken mall Santa crashing his car through a daycare. The promotion's official blog described how scammers purchased the bundle for a penny, then used the given Steam codes "to 'legitimize' automated Steam accounts" for boosted chances at winning Valve's giveaway — the top prize bestowing unheard-of access to every single game in the service's gigantic library. The blog stated that a $1 threshold for receiving keys is now in place.
Activation codes for Star Wars: The Old Republic apparently mind-tricked themselves out of the box for some gamers. A thread over 70 pages long on the official forums of the recently launched massively multiplayer title brims with reports from players claiming their physical copy lacked the required code necessary for activation. BioWare responded shortly thereafter instructing those affected to send in proof of purchase to support@swtor.com for a replacement code. And yes, "these aren't the codes you're looking for" joke have already encroached into deceased equine territory.
The PlayStation Vita's launch lineup contains 25 titles. The official PlayStation Blog outlined the games included in the upcoming handheld's First Edition bundle releasing on February 15, a week before the official launch date of February 22. The entirety of Sony's first-party offerings — including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Little Deviants, and Wipeout 2048 — are included in the First Edition pack along with four third-party big-hitters. Realizing the importance of hooking up the Vita to various cords, Sony also provided an accessory list for the wallet cleansers out there. Hit the break for a full lineup list ordered by date.
February 15 Game Releases
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend — Aksys
Escape Plan (PSN only) — Sony
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational — Sony
Hustle Kings (PSN only) — Sony
Little Deviants — Sony
Lumines: Electronic Symphony — Ubisoft
ModNation Racers: Road Trip — Sony
Rayman: Origins — Ubisoft
Super Stardust Delta (PSN only) — Sony
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 — Capcom
Uncharted: Golden Abyss — Sony
Wipeout 2048 — Sony
February 22 Game Releases
Army Corps of Hell — Square Enix
Asphalt Injection — Ubisoft
Ben10: Galactic Racing — D3Publisher
Dungeon Hunter Alliance — Ubisoft
Dynasty Warriors Next — Tecmo Koei
F1 2011 — Codemasters
FIFA Soccer — EA
Michael Jackson: The Experience — Ubisoft
Plants vs. Zombies (PSN only) — Sony Online Entertainment
Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen — Namco Bandai
Tales of Space: Mutant Blobs (PSN only) — Drinkbox Studios
Touch My Katamari — Namco Bandai
Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition — Sega
Launch Window Game Releases
Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention — NIS America
Gravity Rush — Sony
Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 — Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
MLB 12: The Show — Sony
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus — Tecmo Koei
Reality Fighters — Sony
Ridge Racer — Namco Bandai
Silent Hill: Book of Memories — Konami
Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted — 505 Games
Unit 13 — Sony
Accessories
4GB Memory Card — $19.99
8GB Memory Card — $29.99
16GB Memory Card — $59.99
32GB Memory Card — $99.99
Starter Kit with Memory Card — $39.99
In-Ear Headset — $19.99
Carrying Case — $19.99
Travel Pouch — $19.99
Protective Film (two-pack) — $9.99
Card Case — $5.99
Cradle — $19.99
AC Adaptor — $14.99
USB Cable — $14.99
Portable Charger (Spring 2012) — $49.99
Car Adaptor (Spring 2012) — $14.99