This is just rumor mind you, but it seems that Sony's Europe division has got into a tiff with Ninja Theory, the studio behind Heavenly Sword. According to the rumor, SCEE not only deprived Nariko of a dramatic comeback, but they've also got the studio's feathers quite ruffled. More in the full article.

*UPDATE* Ninja Theory has given a quick reply to the circulating rumors.

We just got word that Ninja Theory is currently conducting FGDs or focused group discussions as part of development strategy for the Heavenly Sword sequel. One tipster has leaked some information regarding their meetings. Know the full details after the jump!

There are video game awards, and then there are video game awards. This particular video game awards feature is probably of the latter, but with a lot of good-natured irreverence thrown into the mix. While it would have been easier for us to just make an article about our favorite games (and we did), we felt that the gaming year of 2007 had a lot to offer, and thus we're giving credit (and blame) where it's due.

Check out the winners in the full article.

Originally posted on January 21, 2008 at 1:14 PM.

Ninja Theory's Heavenly Sword is a PlayStation 3 exclusive that has gotten significant coverage over the past months. The latest news on the game is that the developers have decided to make the game even better by releasing patch 1.10. This patch adds a feature that you might be interested in.

Interested? Good. Check out the full article by clicking on the "read more" link below.

Us writers over here at QJ.NET dedicate ourselves to playing every game we could get our hands on - and we've had our share of ups and downs, likes and dislikes, loves and hates. We've played them to death, and now, we present to you our predictions for the most coveted title in this industry - Game of the Year.

Check out our choices at the full article.

Growing up cuddling NES and SNES consoles instead of teddy bears meant that becoming a video game journalist was a must for us. Besides, writing for established video game news sources has its own fringe benefits: you get paid to play the latest video games, you get first dibs on the latest technologies related to the industry, and you get the opportunity to rub elbows with the industry geniuses.

The only downside to this setup is you sometimes forget you have a life outside work. Here at QJ.NET for example, it's normal for guys not on duty to linger around and toy with the video games and other related gadgets we have lying around the game room. Take this weekend for instance, a couple of editors with nothing to do decided to just hang around and tinker with the gadgets within reach, which happens to be the PlayStation 3 and the Headplay Personal Cinema System.

The full review awaits after the jump!

In an interview during the Tokyo Game Show, Phil Harrison talks about a couple of things about the PlayStation 3. Some of the more notable things he discussed were about Heavenly Sword's relatively short gameplay time and Lair's SIXAXIS controls.

On Heavenly Sword's short gameplay time, Harrison expresses how the story has been well told and well produced. People enjoy the experience and the quality so "we shouldn't criticize a game for being a story, which has an arc with a beginning, a middle, and an end."

He also clarifies that Lair's decision to require the SIXAXIS controls weren't mandated by Sony. He explains:

We've always said all along that the use of the SIXAXIS is something that should be decided by the developer in tune with their creative vision for the game, so it's not something we would mandate.

Watch the rest of the video to hear Harrison's take on the PlayStation Home, Blu-ray, and other PS3 games like Eye of Judgment.

Buy: [Heavenly Sword]
Buy: [Lair]

Aside from the PlayStation 3 gaming community, it looks like another group's very happy with the way Ninja Theory's Heavenly Sword is turning out. Middleware company Havok is apparently all praises for the title, which used the company's physics Software Development Kit (SDK), and animation system. Given the way Havok CEO David O’Meara phrased his company's official remark, it looks like they're happy about the same stuff we're enjoying for the game:

Heavenly Sword is a fantastic game on a number of fronts. An emotionally rendering storyline, a beautiful heroine, a wide range of villains, epic scale destruction, in a beautiful environment, with the realism of Hollywood visuals offers the player an incredible gaming experience, especially on PlayStation 3.

In light of O’Meara's statement, Ninja Theory itself appears to approve of the devkit they used to create Heavenly Sword. As Mike Ball, Ninja Theory's CTO, had to say:

Havok Complete allowed us to enhance game-play in Heavenly Sword by enabling us to create characters that responded to a complex physical world, with a rich set of physical interactions. The characters respond in a convincing way to physical forces they experience, such as getting back up in a realistic manner when they have fallen down or negotiating obstacles they encounter.

In case you missed it, Heavenly Sword for the PlayStation 3's has been out since September 12. The UK's also picking up the game as part of a PS3 60GB starter pack, although we'll be going off-topic if we detail that bit of info. Keep in touch in case we hear of any updates for the game.

The wait is finally over for those still waiting for news on the new PlayStation 3 bundle. MCV reports that Heavenly Sword is indeed included in the pack - with two other popular titles, Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm.

The new bundle includes the 60GB PS3, a couple of SIXAXIS controllers, and three titles mentioned above. According to the reports, this three bestselling-title bundle is available exclusively from HMV and retails at 424.99 GBP (or roughly US$ 855). Browsing through HMV's official site, we found that there are more PS3 bundles - with an assortment of add-ons. Buyers can choose between getting Blu-ray movies Casino Royale and Black Hawk Down and an extra choice of getting Formula 1 Championship Edition.

Plenty of choices, eh? Well, check out HMV's PS3 bundles if you're setting yourself up for an early holiday present.

Anyone who's already beaten the recent hack-and-slash fantasy action game by Ninja Theory, Heavenly Sword, might already have stumbled onto this little Easter egg left by the developers when playing Kai's mission in the third chapter. It seems as if an infamous God of War has carelessly left his signature weapons and armor hanging in the armory just for the taking. Curiouser and curiouser indeed.

Of course, knowing that both Heavenly Sword and God of War were both published by Sony, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that little cameos like these can be slipped into the two similarly themed games. Coincidentally, this may be a deliberate move by the developers to give fans a little glimpse of what Kratos (or at least his equipment) might look on the PS3 some time in the near future. Still, it's nice to know that even the people who put a lot of time giving gamers hours and hours of fun in front of our consoles have a sense of humor.

Another noted insertion into the game was noted by Dubbedinenglish, a poster on the PlayStation forums. He also noted a reference when Kai was getting the password from the commander, saying: "Or shall I hit you in your weak spot for massive damage?" (a reference to the combo notes in God of War) Time will only tell if Sony finally decides to release a next generation version to the fabled God of War series.

It was a big pity though that Kai opted to pick up the Heavenly Sword instead. Who knows how different Nariko (and the game) would have turned out if she started swinging the Blades of Chaos at her opponents.