To be fair, Catalina has it coming. She’s the whole reason Claude’s in this position. The two of them were robbing banks and, when one attempt went wrong, she shot Claude and left him for dead so she could get away with the money. He was arrested. Fortunately for him, he never makes it to jail. As he’s being taken with other prisoners to the Liberty City jail, the convoy is attacked and he makes it out in the confusion. He then starts working his way up the underworld ladder.

If you have $4.99, there’s a good chance you can grab GTA III next week. I say good chance, because it turns out the list of devices that can run it is somewhat exclusive. If your iOS or Android device is on the list below, you’ll be fine. If not, then odds are you won’t be playing GTA III: 10 Year Anniversary Edition.

• Acer Iconia
• Asus Eee Pad Transformer
• Dell Streak 7
• HTC Rezound
• iPad and iPad 2
• iPhone 4 and 4S
• iPod Touch 4th Generation
• LG Optimus 2X
• LG Optimus Pad
• Motorola Atrix 4G
• Motorola Droid X2
• Motorola Photon 4G
• Motorola Xoom
• Samsung Galaxy R
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1
• Sony Tablet S
• T-Mobile G2X
• Toshiba Thrive

Look at it this way. The Grand Theft Auto III: 10 Year Anniversary Edition is a good way for people who couldn’t afford the awesome $150 Claude figure to celebrate the game’s anniversary. A $4.99 app is a bargain, compared to that!

Read [Rockstar Newswire]

Let’s just jump right into these offline-only Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday deals. We’ll be relying on the list form, as usual, just because it’s much easier to work with. These offers are only available from 9pm November 24, 2011 until 1pm November 25, 2011.

• If you buy any Wii ($149.99) and a Nintendo Wireless Ultra Sensor Bar with Extended Play Range ($19.99), you get a $50 gift card.
• If you buy either a DSi ($149.99) or DSi XL ($169.99) and either a Kung Zhu Game Case ($9.98) or DSi XL Luxe Case ($9.98), you get a $20 gift card.
• If you buy the Xbox 360 uDraw Game Tablet, you get a free uDraw Tablet case.
• Select video game t-shirts will be part of a three for $10 deal. As long as the shirts you get aren’t hooded sweatshirts or Skylanders t-shirts, they’re part of the deal.

There are also a few deals that will be available for a longer period of time. You can take advantage of these sales between 9pm November 24, 2011 and 10pm November 26, 2011.

• There will be a buy one, get one for $5 promotion on select games. There will be 40 to choose from, but only X-Men Destiny (Wii), Spider Man: Edge of Time (Wii) and Transformers: Dark of the Moon Stealth Force Edition are pictured.
• There will be a buy one, get one free deal on select DS and Wii games priced between $14.99 and $29.99. The ad says there will be 70 games to choose from, and offers pictures of 17 DS games and three Wii games as examples.

The offers aren’t exceptionally extraordinary and probably won’t be a motivating factor in heading to Toys R Us, but they are nice to keep in mind if you’re already there on Thanksgiving or Black Friday shopping.

Site [Toys R Us on Facebook]

Statements recently made by EA CEO John Riccitiello paint a grim picture for all things 3D.

“Frankly, we have not seen a big uptake for 3D gaming,” Riccitiello said according to Gamasutra. “We haven’t seen a big uptake for 3D televisions in the home, at least not yet. And we’re not here trying to drive the market, we’re here to react to what consumers are looking for.”

EA realizes that it needs to invest more of its time and money on its social and online initiatives.

Fewer game publishers have pushed 3D content more than Sony and Nintendo. Sony is staying dedicated to its belief that 3D gaming is something customers actually want. However, much like Riccitiello said, 3D televisions aren’t flying off the shelves. The price of a 3D TV and the need for glasses can be very prohibitive to the average consumer. That’s why Sony introduced a cheaper stand-alone 3D display at E3 2011.

Nintendo’s 3DS is also selling poorly at retail. It has lead Nintendo to drop the price to $169.99 beginning August 12. It’s unfair to blame the 3DS’ shortcomings on 3D alone, but it does prove that 3D alone is not a compelling enough reason to move hardware.

Via [Gamasutra]

Microsoft really brought a lot of good things to the table this year at E3. They announced a lot of good games including Halo 4. They announced higher functionality with the Kinect. Something that I’m excited about is that they’re applying the Kinect to games that I’d actually be interested in like Fable: The Journey, Ghost Recon: Future Warrior and Mass Effect 3. (Note that, from what was shown, it seems like the Kinect functionality for ME3 is going to be utilizing the voice functions only.)

They announced different partnerships that are going to be popping up, starting with Youtube. The Youtube partnership will hopefully lead to some rather interesting functionality rather than just playing Youtube videos.

Still, there seemed to have been something missing.

With the reveal of the PSVita and the amount of announced games for the 3DS, it’s a point of curiosity that Microsoft hasn’t made an actual run into handheld markets. Even the announcement of the Wii U, which seems to blur the line between home and portable console, opens up the question of, “Why not?” when you’re looking at Microsoft.

Sure, you could argue that the Windows phones is Microsoft’s way to actually make its incursion into the handheld market. It isn’t though. This is because the Windows phones are predominantly phones. Yes, much like many smartphones, they are gaming-capable. They just happen to have access to Xbox Live.

Still, they’re phones. They aren’t gaming-dedicated machines. So, we could use a portable Microsoft machine.

This also comes in light of the fact that Hideo Kojima has been working on things that would actually allow for transferring home console (PS3) games and save states to portable consoles (PSP and possibly PSVita) so that you can actually do your games on the go without missing a step. This Transfarring (actual name of Kojima’s creation) capability is going to be compatible with the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection first, which will be for both the PS3 and the Xbox 360.

It’s great that Microsoft has so many things going on. It’s just something to wonder about when they aren’t running for the portables as well. I’m not a Microsoft fan. If I’m a fan of anything, I’m a fan of competition and innovation within the gaming market. It doesn’t matter if it’s a handheld or home console. I’m a fan of progress and sometimes what’s needed to actually help the market progress is the introduction of a new competitor within the market. For example, when the original Xbox was released, it did well enough that it made both Sony and Nintendo think about what their next move was.

Still, it leaves the question of why Microsoft hasn’t come out with a handheld of its own yet or announced that they were even thinking about the possibility of it. Even just an announcement of them looking into the possibility of it would made a huge splash with the audience. After all, who wouldn’t want to at least think of a Xbox portable dedicated gaming device? I know I’d love to at least think about it. If the product ever came into being and was actually good, I’d gladly buy it. I just want to at least hear Microsoft say “We’re looking into it.” Again, that’s only if they are actually looking into it.

After all, E3 would’ve been the perfect time for such an announcement since it tends to be full of announcements of what’s to come within the next two or three years maximum, even though it focuses on what’s coming out within the next year.

Read [Gamertell]

The industry is still attempting to figure out just how much consumers will pay for an arcade sports title. NaturalMotion’s Backbreaker: Vengeance may have inadvertently jumped to the forefront of the debate, as it will sell for 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15). This is an HD console upgrade of NaturalMotion’s handheld Backbreaker which focused on football mini-games. One of the most popular was Tackle Alley, a game that forces the ball carrier through a narrow corridor filled with defenders and obstacles.

The portable Backbreaker achieved more than 1 million downloads on iOS and other mobile platforms. The recent press release mentioned everything but the price which, of course, called attention to the price. Somebody on the PR team probably realized it was on the steep end as far as arcade games go.

It will be interesting to see if football fans sign with this team. NaturalMotion has a similar experience available on iOS for $0.99. A new copy of the 2010 Backbreaker can be had at many stores for the same price or less. In the arcade football genre, EA’s Madden Arcade offers up full games and online play for just 800 MP. A 1200 MP price point will put Vengeance in competition with heavyweights such as Plants vs. Zombies. That one was even on sale for 600 last week, and it enjoys universal acclaim.

Vengeance does boast more game modes than its iOS forebear and is in HD. The NFL lockout is still going on, and we don’t know yet if that will impact football game sales in any way. It’s understandable if a lot of football fans aren’t as excited as they might ordinarily be.

Don’t be shocked to see Vengeance hit “Deal of the Week” pricing soon. It releases July 29,2011, on Xbox Live and will come to PSN only in Europe.

Read [Pasta Padre] Also Read [Kotaku]

There’s some good news today for people who like games made by Tim Schafer and Double Fine, as Double Fine now owns the publishing rights to Psychonauts. The PS2, Xbox and Windows PC game was originally published in North America by Majesco. This mean that Majesco got money whenever someone purchased a digital copy of the game, either for their Windows PC or Xbox 360. Thanks to this move, Double Fine will eventually be the only company getting money when someone buys Psychonauts.

This doesn’t guarantee another Psychonauts game. Double Fine created the game and was responsible for the Xbox and Windows PC versions. It’s always held the development rights. This just means a deserving developer will get money from an incredible game they created.

I’m hoping that this deal will have another side effect. Perhaps if Double Fine sees enough people purchasing Psychonauts and makes enough money from digital sales, it will realize the demand is there for a sequel. I’m sure we’d all like to see how Raz has been doing with his psychic powers. I mean, the original Psychonauts did end on a cliffhanger!

Read [Twitter: Anna Kipnis] Via [Gamasutra] Also Read [Game Informer] Site [Double Fine]

In Japan, “X” – pronounced “cross” – is sometimes used when two titans of entertainment work together on a song, an album or a movie. When Capcom and Namco announced that the two biggest franchises in fighting were finally coming together to do battle and put another “who would win” debate to bed. Capcom won the coin toss and will be releasing their game firs and they had it out for play at E3 2011

About a dozen characters were available in this preview build of Street Fighter x Tekken, including Cammy,Ryu, Sagat, Hwoarang and Kazuya. Unlike other tag fighters from both companies, SFxTekken is it’s own beast, with some new mechanics that will throw players from both sides for a bit of a loop.

First, tagging is no longer at a whim and you have to fill a bar with repeated strikes and supers in order to bring the other character back in. It doesn’t take a lot but that extra few seconds threw a wrench in the quick tag strategy I like to use. Juggle combos, a trademark of the Tekken series are in full force in the new game.

I chose my two go-tos, Ryu and Hwoarang and faced off. The game is based on a heavily modified SF4 engine, so the first thing to do was figure out exactly what survived the trip through the dimensional portal from the land of Tekken. I was actually impressed. Much of my Tekken timing was applicable here, and some of those moves had been embellished to fit in more with the Street Fighter universe. The fights are long, with my opponent and I chipping away at each other’s life bars. Neither one of us ever figured out how to pull off a super or a tag combo, but the fighting was pretty fast and furious. This isn’t a twitch game like Marvel Vs Capcom and against even a moderately skilled player a button masher is going to be in trouble. This is a new game under the hood, but at the same time, both franchises feel well represented, and people who have played one but not the other should still feel comfortable enough to jump in with their favorite character.

Since the game is at least 6 months from shipping, the slight input lag I experienced is totally forgivable and I’m sure there will be countless little tweaks to the balance and timing to put the kind of polish on it that fighting gamers demand. I was never a fan of the previous clash of the titans, Capcom vs SNK, feeling that it was far too much of the latter an not enough of the former, a series of games I was never a huge fan of. Street Fighter vs Tekken, even at this early stage was a far more satisfying experience for me, and I look forward to seeing the final product. Street Fighter x Tekken will ship for Xbox360,PS3 and PS Vita next year.

Read [Gamertell @ E3 2011]

The left hand controls the marionette, just like you would a real puppet. You tilt your hand this way and that and then pull it up to make him jump. When it comes to shooting, it’s akin to Child of Eden, where you use your hand to select targets and then pull your hand back to make them eat lead. All of this takes a lot of getting used to, and I hope your shoulders are in good shape, because even though this game is played from the seated position, waving your arms around like that gets tiresome, literally quickly.

I found the Gunstringer to be wonderfully whimsical and violent Toy Story that will definitely appeal to adults who are still children at heart.

The “Stinger left me with the same vibe that the almost-forgotten Dreamcast launch title Toy Commander gave me over a decade ago. While the game does look innocent on the surface, there’s a bit of sauce under its stuffed exterior that parents should check out before buying the title for their young children.

Parental guidance applied, this is probably the Kinect exclusive to watch out for. It’s promised to be available October 2011.

Read [Gamertell @ E3 2011]

As usual, there’s a console deal. If Target’s $60 gift card with a 160gb PS3 didn’t appeal to you, then maybe Kmart’s Xbox 360 deal will. If you buy the $199.99 4gb Xbox 360, you get a $60 gaming coupon. It’s like a gift card, and you can use it on your next Kmart video game purchase.

Then, there are the sale games. Some are $10 off, others $20 off. Most are pretty darn awesome.

• Brink (PS3, Xbox 360) – $49.99
• Bulletstorm (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99
• Call of Duty: Black Ops (PS3, Xbox 360) – $49.99
• Dead Space 2 (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99
• Dirt 3 (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99
• Fight Night Champion (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99
• Homefront (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99
• Killzone 3 (PS3) – $39.99
• L.A. Noire (PS3, Xbox 360) – $49.99
• Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99
• Mass Effect 2 (PS3) – $39.99
• Medal of Honor (PS3, Xbox 360) – $19.99
• Portal 2 (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99
• Red Faction: Armageddon (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99
• WWE All Stars (PS3, Xbox 360) – $39.99

I’m kicking myself, because I bought Mass Effect 2 (PS3) over two weeks ago for full price. Why didn’t I wait? I don’t know!

Anyways, make sure you look through Kmart’s ad, just in case there’s some older game you wanted and missed.

Site [Kmart]

The five games featured are Toy Soldiers: Cold War, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, Fruit Ninja Kinect, Bastion and From Dust. Toy Soldiers: Cold War is a follow-up to the successful strategy title from 2010. This time the setting is the ’80s and the action figures in play represent that era. You can bring friends in for co-op action and participate in mini-games including survival.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a side-scrolling 2-D adventure in a dangerous world full of environmental hazards and ravenous monsters. In addition to fighting for your life, there are puzzles to solve and power ups that unlock new parts of the map. This one is from FuelCell and Microsoft Studios.

Fruit Ninja Kinect brings the beloved mobile app to Xbox Live and amps up the motion control. These ninjas apparently really hate fruit, so much so that they earn combo points for chopping it up. Turn your arms into blades and battle army upon army of delicious fruit.

Bastion is an action-RPG that has your character picking up the pieces after The Calamity. This event shattered the world and it’s up to you to restore some semblance of order. Once you’ve beaten the main storyline, you’ll unlock New Game Plus and another journey to travel for your character.

From Dust is a God game created by Eric Chahi, best known for the game Another World, which was called Out of this World in the United States. From Dust places the responsibility for a struggling tribe in your hands. They’re seeking a lost power and you’ll have to ensure they survive the ravages of natures long enough to claim it.

Read [Major Nelson] Also Read [Warp Zoned]