Namco Bandai's ridiculously cross-branded Soul Calibur IV has cut a deep swath into retail shelves worldwide, shipping not one million units but two since its July 29 debut.

Still, and not to make an example out of you, Namco, but really all of this chest puffery over units shipped is a bit overblown. It's like bragging about how many pencils you threw at the ceiling, rather than what's really important, namely how many stuck. Then again, we imagine it's difficult to look up and count while you're ducking under the desk from falling profits.

If you had asked us what Ozzy Osbourne had in common with Bret Michaels just yesterday, we would have only been able to come up with "relentlessly unwatchable reality shows." But today we learn that both are members of the proud fraternity of artists featured in Guitar Hero games that aren't really known for playing guitar. G4 reported today that Ozzy would appear in Guitar Hero: World Tour, as would his tracks "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley."

Arguably, Ozzy makes for a more logical addition now that the game includes singing as well as shredding. But we're still happy to hear that he'll be bringing actual guitar hero Zakk Wylde along for digitization.

[Via ScoreHero]

Xbox World 360 magazine brings forth details of EA's forthcoming Godfather 2 game – helpfully extracted by sister-publication CVG – describing the sequel as "Scarface meets Total War." To further contextualize that pairing, the game is dropping some of that GTA-clone vibe in favor of the far less popular "sandbox game with RPG, RTS and erm, board game elements"-vibe.

If the game isn't content straddling just one game type, why should locales be any different? Following the plot of its cinematic namesake, Godfather 2 jet-sets from Miami to Havana to New York City. Want more numbers? The game packs six character classes – "bruiser, demolitions expert, arsonist, medic, safe cracker and engineer" – and each character can have one of twelve different "personalities." Here's some simple back-of-the-box math for y'all: six character classes times twelve personalities equals an amazing 72 playable characters (except not really).

Other features include "Don's View" (that's where the RTS magic comes in) and a perks system (thanks, board games!). No word on multiplayer, but EA's just getting this hype machine started before the game's ought-nine release. Give 'em time.

With Brett Favre booked for a one-way ticket out of retirement and into New York (as a Jet!), Madden NFL 09 will look decidedly vintage when it releases next week with Favre on the cover ... as a Packer. Some may attribute the gaffe to evidence of the "Madden Curse" at work (c'mon, it can do better than that!), but EA Sports boss Peter Moore assures, "There's a plan."

While IGN has already confirmed there will be no second printing -- Favre will remain a Packer on the surface of Madden 09, at least -- a Crispy Gamer interview with Moore and marketing director David Tinson published last week addressed the possibility of Favre switching teams; to which Moore offered his vague assurance. "It will ship with what you've seen. Yes. And then we'll have a plan if he's not [a Packer]," Tinson added. Day-one roster update confirmed!

Update: EA will indeed release a day-one update placing Favre on the Jets (and reflecting any other relevant roster changes), reports MTV Multiplayer. But that's not all: "We do not plan to re-issue packaging, but WILL offer a free downloadable cover in the coming days on easports.com featuring Brett Favre in a Jets uniform. Fans can print this new cover out and insert it into the case of Madden NFL 09," a company spokesperson revealed to MTV. See, EA did have a plan! ... But if you're not feelin' it, why not make your own cover?

[Image credit: FirstCuts]

If you're already an annual subscriber to the PlayStation Network's Qore "magazine" then you're undoubtedly already content with your purchase, having scored Calling All Cars, a beta invite to SOCOM: Confrontation (beta forthcoming), some interstitial advertising and, of course, two issues of interactive-y content. If you've been waiting to drop your virtual bucks on an annual subscription, today's installment should probably be on your radar because, as you undoubtedly remember, that subscription grants one access to the Resistance 2 beta program in September.

Here's the bad news: That access to the SOCOM beta you've been waiting for ... well, it won't start until September 8th (incidentally a full week after it kicks off for those who pre-ordered). The Resistance 2 beta: also September (and also after those pesky pre-order folks). So what we're trying to say here is this: your September is probably going to be pretty busy playing multiplayer PlayStation 3 shooters that aren't out yet. For more details on this month's episode of Qore, hit up that Source link or watch the trailer after the break.

Right, so there's good news and bad news about the SOCOM: Confrontation beta details released today. It's still pretty early in the morning, let's go good news first. The good news is that, if you pre-order the game at GameStop, not only will you get an invite to the beta of the game that kicks off Sept. 1, you'll also receive codes that you can give to two friends so you can all play together until it wraps up on Sept. 30.

The bad news? Those who'll get entry by having purchased the June issue of Qore won't be able to join in the fun until Sept. 8, which is sure to be a bitter pill if you bought the digi-mag just for the beta invite rather than the peerlessly charming Veronica Belmont.

[Via The Real SOCOM Blog]

We're so mad at ourselves for in some small way perpetuating the sphere of influence of Kim Kardashian, who, as Joel McHale correctly points out, is famous for having a big ass and a sex tape. But news is slow this morning, OK? It was either this or another cake shaped like the Companion Cube.

That said, here's EA Sports chief Peter Moore beating up on Kim Kardashian in Facebreaker, a fight you can re-enact at home with just a few free minutes and a semi-truck full of self-loathing. Who wins this historic clash of titans? All we can say for sure is not us, dear reader. Not us.

You may not be old enough to remember it, but a decade ago when it was first released, Driver felt like a revelation. A game where cars were used for more than racing each other and roadblasting? Unheard of! But there it was, all new and fresh and full of promise, and you'll get to experience the feeling once again on Aug. 14 when the PlayStation title arrives on PSN.

Sadly, you'll also get to experience the "honey why is the controller in the TV?"-level frustration that's been a series hallmark. Here's hoping the game's still good enough to hold up.

Although it's probably wrong to call Frank Caliendo a "John Madden impersonator," because he does a billion great impressions ranging from President Bush to William Shatner, he's definitely best known for his spot-on send up of the white-haired football legend. Both Caliendo and Jay Mohr are joining the voice cast of Midway's upcoming footballer, Blitz: The League II.

Caliendo will play three different characters, the prison warden, the offensive line coordinator and the color commentator, and Mohr will be playing The Agent, which will probably be similar to the role he played in Jerry Maguire. Midway probably wants to avoid a lawsuit with NBC, the NFL, and Madden himself, so it's doubtful Caliendo will be speaking as The Coach when we get blitzed this Fall... but here's hoping.

They laughed at you. They laughed so hard and long that you can still hear it echoing off of your Battlestar Galactica posters. They chortled as you tried to get the angle of your PlayStation Eye just right, chuckled as you slid the cards into their Topps-brand folder. And they absolutely howled as you bought pack after pack of Eye of Judgment boosters.

But that's all about to change. You've heard about a tournament that's starting on August 14, a tournament for EoJ players just like you from all over the globe, all vying for supremacy. Now you'll be the one laughing -- laughing all the way to the bank! ... Well, not to the bank so much as an EoJ card with your likeness and a chance to duel Yusuke Watanabe from Japan Studio. But still ... you'll totally be laughing.

A lot has changed since Heavy Rain's initial E3 2006 showing. A handful of new screenshots have emerged (via Spilzonen, Ripten) that show the game has moved from the center of the Uncanny Valley to somewhere on the outskirts. If this is the same woman from before, she definitely looks less bony, her eyes not popping out of their respective sockets like before.

To maintain our rain pun quota, we offer you this: There has been a drought of Heavy Rain information for quite some time; we hope this drizzle of screenshots is followed by a downpour of details soon.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

"We have a lot to learn from their success too, they did some very innovative things to keep people going and their experience-rewards system was something that we paid a lot of attention to." Is that any way to talk about your main Xbox Live competitor? Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Bungie's Lead AI Programmer, Damian Isla, had quite a few nice things to say about Infinity Ward's ridiculously successful shooter, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Isla joins a chorus of reviewers in praising the game's single-player campaign for its tight pacing and scripting, praising the developers for doing "a hell of a job with their set pieces, of scripting certain moments that they were really sure the player was going to actually see and experience first hand." Though Isla notes that Halo 3's gameplay is heavily dependent on simulation (meaning in-game physics and reactions, not reality), it still "has a lot to learn" from Call of Duty 4's tunnel of fun approach.

With Infinity Ward's next project rumored to be a sci-fi shooter, it seems the studios might soon be trading places outside of the Xbox Live rankings.

Details about the next Medal of Honor have allegedly been leaked in a recent survey sent out by EA, according to French site JeuxVideo (translation). The document supposedly refers to the game as "Medal of Honor: Operation Anaconda," which is named for the large-scale military initiative undertaken in the Shahi-Kot Valley and Arma Mountains in March 2002 (finally outside of the WWII comfort zone, are we?). Unlike Call of Duty 4, apparently this version of "modern combat" will focus on historical events, including the Battle of Takur Ghar.

The survey suggests players will engage in a variety of scenarios, including front-line and sniper missions, and a "drone attack." Another tidbit claims the game will feature 60 customizable weapons. While still unconfirmed, the entire report is definitely plausible. But would it be enough to make Medal of Honor relevant again? To stay competitive, EA just might have to look to the stars.

Surprising approximately no one, the final prices for the various releases of the multiplayer-only SOCOM: Confrontation have been announced. Tearing a page (and pricing sheet) straight out of the Warhawk playbook, Confrontation is being offered in both digital and Blu-ray variants, with the latter being offered in both stand alone and bundle versions.

Pricing for both the PlayStation Network download and the retail stand alone version is $39.99 while the retail bundle version – which includes the (rather attractive) PS3 Bluetooth headset along with "exclusive Behind the Scenes videos" – will be $20 more, at $59.99. No prices yet for the rest of the world, but Sony is aiming for a worldwide release of October 14th. Our magic eight-ball says we'll "most likely" hear a price before then.

Your attention has probably already turned to the Fall and the imminent arrival of Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero: World Tour. But we've always believed that one should make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other is gold. Actually, that's a song the Girl Scouts sing, but we think the logic still holds true. So we won't be forgetting about old friend Guitar Hero III, which will be getting a brand new track pack tomorrow.

You can expect Flyleaf's "Tina," "Carcinogen Crush" by AFI and a remix of Marilyn Manson's "Putting Holes In Happiness" by Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. There's no price attached, but 500 points seems to be the standard for this sort of thing.