Much hype had been generated for the newest release of the Marvel vs Capcom title. From the many preview videos available on Youtube, it’s pretty much given that the game would be visually impressive. After spending some time with it though, here’s the rest of the skinny for you guys.

Characters and Capabilities

This iteration of the dual universe mashup offers thirty six characters in the standard version (four unlockable), plus two as downloadable add-ons… or included in the Collector’s version… namely Jill Valentine and Shuma Gorath. In my opinion, these two do not encourage the spending of extra dollars to collect them. Jill is another human commando (like her partner in fiction Chris Redfield) and Shuma Gorath, while powerful in Marvel comics, looks like little more than an oceanographic oddity. Any number of characters could be more impressive; perhaps Emma Frost and Nero may have been better suited as revenue generators.

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Sony has now officially released the Xperia PLAY, the oft rumoured combo smartphone and portable gaming device. Powering all of this is the latest version of Google’s Android, 2.3 aka Gingerbread. What separates the XPLAYfrom every other smartphone is the hardware gaming keys, which of course is in the familiar Sony Playstation layout. Sony will undoubtedly bring the weight of their Playstation brand and their formidable in-house gaming development  power to provide and impressive selection of games. The XPLAY will be the first phone which will be PlayStation Certified.

The slide out gaming control includes digital D pad, two analogue touch pads, two shoulder buttons and the four PlayStation icons. XPLAY users willbe able to experience 60fps play-back 3D mobile gaming.Battery life for game play is rated at 5 hours 35 minutes.

The device will be available in both GSM/UMTS and CDMA/EV-DO flavours for the various markets.

Shipping date will be March 2011.

Confirmed Specifications:

• 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• Adreno 205 Graphics
• 4″ 854 x 480 multi-touch LCD (FWVGA)
• 5.1 megapixel camera, Auto focus, Flash
• Size: 119 x 62 x 16 mm
• Weight: 175 grams
• Phone memory: 400 MB
• Memory card support: microSD, up to 32 GB
• Memory card included: 8GB microSD
• WiFi, Bluetooth, aGPS

More pics and video after the jump. (more…)

Earlier today in Japan, Sony announced their next generation PSP portable gaming device. Currently it’s going by the code name NGP.

The specifications released so far are:

• Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU
• Quad-Core Imagination Technologies PowerVR SGX543MP4+ GPU
• 5″ Touchscreen OLED display with 960×544 resolution
• Rear mounted touchpad
• GPS and electronic compass
• Genuine analog joysticks (replacing the nubs of the current gen)
• Accelerometer
• WiFi and 3G data
• Front and read mounted cameras (more…)

Twelve years in the making, the Duke is back! Coming May 3 2011 (as in this year, LOL) in the US and May 6th internationally . It’s going to be available on the PC, PS3 and XBOX 360. For a brief history of why it took so long, check this write-up at Ars Technica.

Duke Nuken started life out as a fairly popular shareware title for the PC (DOS) and evolved into the ridiculously popular Duke Nukem 3D. 3D was one of the most fun games of the time, combining Doom type FPS action with some rudimentary 3D, allowing you to look up/down and change perspective. May the good times roll… again. Just a word of warning, this is not safe for the kiddies!

The XBOX 360 just got a makeover, and it’s quite the looker. This is the first major update to the XBOX 360 since it’s début in November 2005. The major new things here are the new, smaller, shiny black body, built-in WiFi 802.11n and 250GB (though still propriety) bundled hard drive. The new 360 is also supposed to be “whisper quiet” which will be a very welcome change from the 360 Original. Also featuring is a new power connector which will not plug into older XBOXs as the new models require significantly less power.

The new 360 goes on sale in the US today and is priced at US$299. The XBOX 360 Originals will continue to be sold while stocks last, however, they are no longer being manufactured. It is presumed that Microsoft will release a new 360 at a lower price point to fill the void which would be left by the exit of the US$199 XBOX 360 Arcade.

Pics after the jump…

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Microsoft, on Sunday evening, unveiled it’s new motion based controller to the world. Kinect, previously known as Project Natal, is now a confirmed product with a launch/sale date in November 2010; just in time for the 2010 holidays. Obviously Microsoft is taking direct aim at the Wii with this as it can be argued that much of Nintendo’s success with the Wii has been due to the motion controller  it utilises to enable new types of gameplay.

Kinect differs from the Wii in that the user does not have to physically hold any controller. The Kinect device uses two cameras to enable it to “see” in 3D whats’ in front of it. The software component is able to keep follow human motion buy keeping track of joints, eg elbows. Think Minority Report and you’re on the right track with it’s in-the-air hand swipe gestures. Video chat will also be supported with the device.

Expecting a flurry of crap party games to follow is a given. What remains to be seen is what innovative gameplay developers can deliver.

Pricing has not yet been announced. More info will be forthcoming during this week’s E3 and we’ll be keeping you updated. Video after the jump…

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