Acclaim is still around?

So maybe I’m the only one who hasn’t heard of Acclaim in YEARS! I haven’t seen these guys around for a long while and figured that they were eaten up buy EA or some other company, or finally folded. But NO! they’re still around and making games. Free online games to be exact. Maybe I’m just oblivious or maybe I’ve stumbled upon something little known. I’ll update this post when I’ve played a few of the games they have to tell you what their like.

Blizzard releases Starcraft 2 Battle Report

Blizzard has released the first of what is to be a series of StarCraft 2 battle reports, narrated videos of a match from the alpha version of the game. Here, we see associate game balance designers Matt Cooper and David Kim playing a 1-on-1 as Protoss and Terran, respectively, with commentary provided by lead designer Dustin Browder and e-Sports team member Robert Simpson. The announcers are comically enthusiastic at times, especially when a particularly mobile Protoss probe manages to run circles around a marine. If that sounds like something you’d rather not hear or f you’re trying to watch this at work, a transcript is available below the video so that you can follow along. The official Joystiq Crystal Ball™ is telling us that when SC2 is released (even it doesn’t know when), the forums will light up with cries of unfair Marauder rushes.

Spike’s Video Game Awards ‘08

Yes that’s right the VGA ‘ 08 is tonight at 9:00. Game of the year: Gears 2, Fallout 3, or Fable 2. In my opinion it is tough to choose between Fallout 3 and Gears of war 2, Fable 2 in my opinion is good but not compared to these games. Anyway watch on Spike TV at 9:00.

‘Guitar Praise’ lets you ‘blast that solid Christian rock’

If you’ve been champing at the bit to play some Guitar Hero, but have found that the music contained therein just doesn’t meld with your Christian values, you may be in luck. Digital Praise, a maker of Christian computer games, has released Guitar Praise, which is basically a Christian rock version of Guitar Hero. The game replaces such Guitar Hero staples as Primus, Rage Against the Machine, and Butthole Surfers with artists including Nate Sallie, Petra, and Jonah33. As far as I can tell from the promotional video there is no other difference. The complete package retails for $100 and includes a wireless guitar and a Windows- and Mac-compatible game. So if you like to picture your deity “with like giant eagle’s wings, singing lead vocals for Lynyrd Skynyrd with like an angel band” (you know, minus the Skynyrd), then this game might be worth checking out.

Is this a joke…?

WoW Sequel Could “Kill Off Franchise”

With Wrath of the Lich King’s release to millions of devotees worldwide, role-playing game kingpin Blizzard is looking forward into the Warcraft franchise’s future for what project to pursue next. Since the original title launch four years ago and two expansion packs in the meantime, could it possibly be time for Warcraft to get the Starcraft 2 treatment? “I don’t personally think that there’s a requirement to do a sequel,” stated Paul Sams, Chief Operating Officer at Blizzard. Instead, the studio will continue improving World of Warcraft with expansions and content updates “so long as there’s a meaningful number of players that are interested in playing it.” “We think World of Warcraft is a great stand alone product and one that a lot of people are very much enjoying,” he continued. Sams and company have little reason to think differently. When a majority of players who left World of Warcraft to play Age of Conan or Warhammer are returning to the product, the game has a near monopoly on the MMO market. Blizzard understands WoW’s position and only intends on preserving its dominance. Sams stated, “As it relates to other MMOs, time will tell what we’re going to do but doing a sequel can help kill off the franchise and so I think we want people to be able to focus on this and again I think that we’re going to be able to provide compelling content that’s going to definitely feed the needs of players.”

Player already reaches new WoW level cap, we hug our families

Family. Family is a beautiful and precious thing in all its many forms. It gives a sense of love and belonging in an otherwise hostile world. The smile of your child, the eyes of your lover, the loving embrace of a parent. Family. Go and enjoy yours while you can because time takes away all things. Oh yeah, a World of Warcraft player named Nymh, on EU server Drek’thar, has hit the new level 80 cap in the expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, within a day. For those who don’t know what that means, it basically involves tapping a keyboard, staring at a monitor and rubbing your mouse around for way too long.

Now, go get some hugz.

Europe is now addicted to Wrath of the Lich King

Our World of Warcraft friends (some of whom may or may not work as professional WoW bloggers) have been prodding us incessantly to remind us that (a) Wrath of the Lich King is coming out worldwide on November 13 and (b) Europe is hours ahead of North America. Applying applicable logic, we can use (a) and (b) to deduce (c) Europeans are now exploring Northrend via the latest WoW expansion on European servers. Why should you care? If you’re a Western Hemisphere MMO addict, you might have a new reason to hate your friends across the pond, at least for a few hours. If you don’t care about MMOs at all, well, here’s a post about Far Cry 2. Check out WoW Insider for more in-depth coverage than you can shake a Death Knight at. Remember, folks, Wrath of the Lich King officially comes out midnight tonight, so make an effort to see your WoW-playing buddies this one last time.

The Lich King invades World of Warcraft

On the eve of Wrath of the Lich King’s launch, the World of Warcraft realms are facing an assault by the Arthas the Lich King himself. The dedicated people at WoW Insider are live at the Orc capital city of Orgrimmar, risking virtual life and virtual limb to keep you updated. WotLK will officially launch November 13.

Activision acquires Budcat for ‘new game in the Guitar Hero franchise’

Franchise-loving publisher powerhouse Activision Blizzard announced today that it has acquired Budcat Creations, the studio responsible for all Guitar Hero titles on the PlayStation 2 since GH3. According to the press release, Budcat is “currently in development on a new game in the Guitar Hero franchise.” Our guess is a PS2 port of the perpetually teased Guitar Hero Metallica. With the exception of one outlier (Aspyr Media, who ported GH3 to PC and Mac), Activision Blizzard has now locked in what we affectionately dub the “Guitar Hero sweatshop.” With Neversoft at the helm, Budcat is working with PS2 and Vicarious Visions will be responsible for Wii and DS versions. At the time of acquisition, Budcat was also reportedly working on the Wii’s Our House for publisher Majesco.

Wrath of the Lich King weapon turns you into a Guitar Hero

Blizzard has created a new weapon for World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King that temporarily transforms you into into Bergrisst, the rhythm guitarist of cross-medium metal group Level 80 Elite Chief Tauren, complete with a shred-tacular guitar solo. The axe, dubbed the Arcanite Ripper (based on the Arcanite Reaper), is dropped by Tenris Mirkblood in Karazhan. We’ve embedded video of the Ripper, courtesy of WoW Insider, after the break. Here’s hoping the rest of the band makes an enchanted item cameo. Wrath of the Lich King will ruin your holiday plans November 13.