Gadgets and Video Games

We’re devoted fans of the Ars Technica mole, who has nailed big stories like the PS3 Slim and the Resident Evil 5 bundle . As a result, we feel pretty comfortable getting excited about two new Xbox 360 bundles Ars highlights today.

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Ars mole: Splinter Cell: Conviction, Final Fantasy XIII getting 250GB Xbox 360 bundles

We always assumed that Geoff Keighley’s ability to secrete world exclusives only applied video games, but his power/curse seems to extend even to magazines about video games. Keighley says he got an early look at Game Informer’s recently teased piece on Rockstar’s L.A. Noire and let slip via his Twitter feed that the game is apparently slated to arrive in September. According to legend, Keighley is often able to see pieces like this even before the electrical impulse makes its way from the “typing synapse” of the brain to the writer’s fingers.

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Keighley: L.A. Noire coming this September

We weren’t absolutely smitten with the PSP Go when it launched last October, but according to Gamervision , Sony may be hoping for a second chance at a first impression. Citing unnamed sources, Gamervision suggests that a relaunch of the handheld is “imminent” and speculates that it will include a price drop. A price drop is definitely the place to start over (if the rumor is accurate), and some Kevin Butler spots would certainly help too. As for a new campaign slogan

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Rumor: PSP Go relaunch in the works

According to a report from Develop citing inside sources, Sony has terminated half of all employees at Studio Liverpool — the team behind the WipEout franchise. In January 2009 , Sony merged Studio Liverpool (formerly Psygnosis) with Evolution Studios and last week announced plans to restructure the new team. In its report of the restructuring, GamesIndustry.biz noted redundancies “may be necessary;” however, Sony has yet to confirm how many positions were affected by the decision

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Report: Half of Studio Liverpool staff laid off

According to a report on GamerBytes , Microsoft has submitted the upcoming Xbox and PC Game Room itself to the ESRB for a rating, rather than have each title re-rated by the board. The article claims that Microsoft’s upcoming virtual arcade will sport a rating of E10+ — meaning anything with a rating of Teen and higher will be left out of the Avatar hangout. Since each game release (regardless of platform or delivery method) must be rated by the ESRB, the process of rating the Game Room itself could save Microsoft time, allow the company to reach its promised goal of “over 1,000 titles,” and halt leaks of future titles via the ESRB website . While the current crop of Game Room titles are too retro for the rating decision to matter, other classics like Street Fighter and SmashTV won’t make the cut. (Although, both are already available on Xbox.) While the Game Room’s current rating is bundled with the initial crop of 30 titles, it’s unclear if the application’s rating will ever change to accommodate more recent arcade releases

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Rumor: Xbox Game Room will not feature Teen or Mature-rated titles

According to horror film news site Bloody Disgusting , anonymous sources have revealed that Warner Bros. Pictures is currently looking to reboot its recently purchased , long dormant Mortal Kombat film franchise. “But Joystiq,” you might be asking, “why has the Mortal Kombat film franchise been long dormant?” Our dear, naive readers: This is why the Mortal Kombat film franchise has been long dormant

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Rumor: Warner Bros. working on Mortal Kombat film reboot

Mobile analytics company Flurry has released a report on what it claims to be tracking data on Apple’s latest creation, which is heavily rumored to be a tablet device . Accompanied by “a fair level of confidence,” the results were assembled by identifying approximately 50 devices, all of which “match the characteristics” of the unannounced device, and placing them geographically within Apple’s Cupertino campus. Of course, with said characteristics mired within the realm of speculation and the campus no doubt home to many in-test projects, the report is also accompanied by a fair level of skepticism

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Analytics company: games among apps being tested on rumored Apple tablet

With several canceled games previously revealed by an artist’s online portfolio, another online portfolio has now revealed what appear to be two more projects from the recently shuttered developer GRIN . The first features a very angry looking man with a magical, possibly possessed shield. Sketches in the portfolio elaborate on the game’s combat system, showing off various gameplay situations like counterattacks and dodges.

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More abandoned GRIN projects surface

A Netherlands-based Sega fansite recently posted a titillating report received from an anonymous source, who claimed Sonic Adventure would soon be running at breakneck speeds onto Xbox Live Arcade. Accompanying this report is the image seen above, which, in addition to listing the game itself, also mentions an “extend package,” which … well, which we can’t say out loud without giggling like schoolchildren. As psyched as we’d be to see the azure rodent make a not-terrible appearance on the 360, we’re going to treat this with as much apprehension as we can muster until we hear something official from Sega.

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Rumor: Sonic Adventure coming to XBLA

It seems the past few weeks of excitement, chock full of NintendoWare releases, have come to an end. Other than the launch of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney on WiiWare, this week’s offerings don’t exactly fill our hearts with unfettered joy. That being said, if you’re into variations of puzzle games, boy is it your week! Hit the break for the full release list. Gallery: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (WiiWare) Continue reading NintendoWare Weekly: Phoenix Wright, Chronos Twins DX NintendoWare Weekly: Phoenix Wright, Chronos Twins DX originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST.

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NintendoWare Weekly: Phoenix Wright, Chronos Twins DX