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Sarcastic Gamer loves helping sick children. It’s almost pathological with them. You can help them to help more sick kids and get yourself drunk at the same time. Sarcastic Gamer is hosting its second annual PAXtra Life Party on September 3 at the Fox Sports Grill. I’m going, and I’m hoping the Destructoid community will be representing. 

For a mere thirty bones (ALL proceeds go to Children’s Miracle Network hospitals) you’ll get access to free swag, a chance to win stuff, a limited edition shirt and — most importantly — an open bar from 9-11pm. Bring your kids, damage their livers on free booze, and then benefit from your own donation when junior’s transplant needs doing!

You can register here, so make sure you do this thing if you’re planning to go. Remember, it’s totally for a good cause, so you’d be evil not to attend! Oh, and do be sure to remember that Destructoid LIVE is at the Unicorn Theater on Saturday morning!

Crysis developer Crytek has an Xbox 360 exclusive coming out, but that doesn’t mean the studio couldn’t do a PS3 exclusive if it wanted to. Apparently the 360 was just in the right place at the right time for Codename: Kingdoms. Nothing personal. 

“We are an independent studio so we can (a) Do whatever we want and (b) [Have the freedom] to announce something else next week if we want to,” explains bossman Cervat Yerli. ”Sony is a partner that we would definitely love to work with. A [PS3 exclusive] is something we considered before – we talked about it a lot, but for reasons of portfolio or timing in the past it didn’t work out. But that doesn’t mean in the future it wouldn’t work.

“We have been talking with Microsoft for five or six years now about working together — and for some time I have said that I don’t want to work [exclusively with a] first-party. The time came around where we said maybe this IP, Kingdoms, could be very strong for a first-party platform. We asked Microsoft and they said ‘yes, that would be fantastic’.”

So far, not a huge deal is known about Codename: Kingdoms, but I like Crytek’s style (if not always its gameplay) and am expecting good things. 

Crytek: We’d make PS3 exclusive [CVG]

I have all the time in the world for Donut Games. The studio is a master of disposable, pick-up-and-play iPhone gaming, with a real grasp of what makes a successful portable game. Some of its premium games have gone free today, including the rather fun Cat Physics. 

Cat Physics is a clever puzzle game in which players get a ball from one kitty to another. Good guesswork, timing and luck are all key to getting the ball around the increasingly tricky maps. It’s a neat game that might suck up more of your time than you expect. 

Donut’s other previously premium games (as reported by Touch Arcade) are Castle Smash and Traffic Rush, a game we previously featured on FAotD.

[Got a Free App suggestion? Hitting me up on Twitter is the fastest way! Be sure to get me before 9am Central though!]

As a major fan of the Harry Potter books and films, it has always been a source of frustration that the games have never risen above just mediocre. While the open world environment of many of the past titles have been appreciated, and some of the Wii motion spell waving has been fun, nothing has ever been particularly outstanding.

So maybe it is for the best that EA and EA Bright Light Studio is going in a much different direction for the franchise with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Keeping pace with the books, Harry and co. are no longer at Hogwarts, traveling through England in a race to stop Voldemort from being the evil douche he is. It’s a much darker plot than many of the earlier books and films, and the game is no different. However, now that I’ve had time with the game, I’m a little worried that this might not be the Harry Potter game I was hoping for.

I mean, crap, it’s now a third person over the shoulder shooter. This isn’t the wizarding world we grew up with, that’s for sure.

Hit the jump for my hands-on.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PC)
Developer: EA Bright Light Studio
Publisher: Electronic Arts
To be released: November 16, 2010

If you were coming into the title as someone who did not know who Harry Potter was, what we are presented with is a Gears of War-lite, a somewhat dark title where a teenage dude is running around the English countryside shooting spells at bad wizards. Nothing too outlandish, on that news alone there would be some major interest in the title. However, fans of the franchise know that this is a very gutsy change to the franchise.

Unfortunately, as a major fan, I’m really torn. And who would play this game but a major fan? EA and Warner Bros. Have to strike a balance between good gameplay and remaining true to the nature of the franchise. From the few minutes I was given with the title, there are some things to be concerned about. As a third person, cover-based shooter, it’s a little wonky. The reticule was a little too jerky, the camera was a little too close to Harry, and aiming was a little more difficult than it should be. It’s still early, but for EA to take such a huge risk in changing the Harry Potter game franchise, they need to tighten this stuff up.

Thankfully, the spells functioned as different weapons would. Winguardium Leviosa would lift up objects as a mobile shield, Expelliarmus was a chargeable blast, and there were others that cause explosions, did generic blasts and more. One odd addition was the common usage of the cruciatus curse, which, bear with me as I nerd out, is one of the unforgivable curses and used precisely three times in the books. Yes, Harry uses the spell, but it’s not just something he would just bust out at a moment’s notice. Thankfully, I was told that the team is reconsidering the spell and how it will be implemented.

Also, the level that I was shown was also very drab and gray. Taking place in a run-down industrial site, the only sign of color was a muted red from Harry’s sweater and the spell effects he would throw out. I know that the film is going to be filmed in the same sort of environments, however when a level for the game not only plays like a level from Gears of War, but looks like a level from Gears of War, something is a little…weird.

Of course, this is all being a nitpicky fan of the franchise. The game certainly looks like a teen-rated version of Gears of War that, with a few months of polish could be a decent alternative for those who feel that franchise is too violent or inappropriate. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 1 has some promise for being such a divergent take on the franchise, but needs a lot of special attention. I’m hoping that the development team is willing to work hard in making sure this is the mature take on the Harry Potter franchise, and with Part 2 coming in the future, there is a chance that this over-the-shoulder shooter approach could be great. Keep an eye on this one, and hopefully EA can make this one surprise their fans when it launches with the movie.

Today I had a chance to check out a new level for Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. This new stage, named Lord of Unseen Strings, follows up the first level, which we saw at E3 last month.

If you haven’t heard, the thing with HoD is the ability to pan out and see the entire map in miniature. You’ll actually be able to get your classic Castlevania on with the map panned out, squinting to see yourself in tiny working form, making through the many rooms of your map. Of course, you can zoom back in to room level, but it’s pretty cool to see where you’ve come from and where you’re going all at once. This feature will make even more sense when you finally have the chance to see how the six-player multiplayer action works. Mind you, we haven’t seen how that works yet either.

In this new level we had 30 minutes to work our way through the massive map to find the boss, a Puppet Master.   Compare this to the 10-minute demo from E3. Being a Castlevania game, the level starts out with basic platforming, but then works up to puzzles where you’re trying to figure out what a certain lever does. Or worse, with trap doors and multiple openings. What’s cool is that you can push in the analog stick to change views to actually see if a door in another room opens when you switch a lever. It becomes quite crazy when there are so many rooms that finding what happened when you hit a switch becomes a sort of Where’s Waldo situation. I joked that a magnifying glass should be a preorder bonus.

They didn’t think that was funny.

In this level I saw several teases that point to everything from replay value to multiplayer possibilities. In one room a treasure chest hid behind a wall of flames. A floor switch would shut off the flames, requiring at least one other player to grant access. Several other platforming pieces pointed to areas that would only be accessible by the other playable characters. For example, Alucard lacks in the grappling hook department, so certain platforms were inaccessible to him. This design choice encourages you to go back with other characters to explore.

The Puppet Master hid in the center of the map, and it took about 18 of the 30 minutes to reach him. I was told that a well-versed player could do it in 10, but those that aren’t as great at Castlevania type games could take anywhere from 25 to the full 30 minutes to make it to the boss. Once we did encounter the boss, he fought us off while making his way to other rooms, making him that much harder to defeat. From here it was the Game Over screen, but at least it didn’t come from running out of time.

I’ll get you next time, Puppet. Next time.

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair will be released on August 4th.

If there’s one thing I love about the 3DS, it’s the giddy excitement that it seems to inspire from jaded writers and world-weary developers alike. Electronic Arts is the latest to radiate the hyperactive glee of a small child with a new toy, with COO John Schappert calling it magical. 

“The 3DS is just incredibly cool. The 3DS is magical. You put that in your hand, you look down, and all of a sudden it’s in 3D without glasses. That’s an amazing experience. I’m a huge fan,” he beams. 

“I think that device is going to sell like hot cakes. I think it’s going to do incredibly well, and in typical Nintendo fashion they have re-energized the industry, yet again. I give them nothing but credit and we are excited to be supporting that platform with Madden, FIFA, and The Sims that we announced.”

Yep, that’s pretty much the reaction we’ve come to expect. 

I have never been as excited for a handheld as much as I have for the 3DS. If this thing doesn’t fly off store shelves, I’ll shove one up my arse. 

Nintendo’s 3DS is ‘Magical’ and Will ‘Sell Like Hotcakes,’ says EA [Industry Gamers]

Activision has finally unveiled the voice actor behind the ‘Amazing’ Spider-Man in the upcoming Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, and it’s none other than Neil Patrick Harris.

The actor had previously voiced Spider-Man in 2003’s Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, and is currently a nerd icon superstar for his role in Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible, and just basically being awesome. Other voice acting for the title’s various dimensions: “Ultimate” Spider-Man will be voiced by Josh Keaton; “Noir” will be voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes; and “2099″ will be voiced by Dan Gilvezan.

Additionally, it’s been revealed that Marvel’s own Stan Lee will provide narration throughout the title, with music by Emmy winner Jim Dooley.

Not only is Shattered Dimensions looking to be a decent game, but Activision isn’t pulling any punches when it comes fan service, either.

Sony has finally nailed down the date — November 16 — for Media Molecule’s epic sequel, LittleBigPlanet 2.

Also revealed were the requisite retailer-specific pre-order items. Go with Amazon, get six Sackboy costumes — one of Ratchet, one of Clank, and four “Animal Costumes.” Go with Best Buy, get an exclusive “Alien” from Toy Story 3 costume, along with four costumes from the “Even More Animals” pack. GameStop pre-order customers get another Disney-related exclusive, a Tron: Legacy Sackboy outfit, along with that “Even More Animals” pack.

Of course, there’s also a collector’s edition, and it looks pretty damned great. Retailing for $79.99, the package will come with a copy of the game, a 7″ Sackboy plushy, “game ends” (book ends for your game boxes), and a ton of DLC (some of it exclusive to the collector’s), detailed after the jump. Click on it and go see it… now!

LittleBigPlanet 2 Updates: Official Date and Retail Goodness!!! [PlayStation Blog]

• Disney / Pixar’s Toy Story 3’s “Aliens” Sackboy Costume
• Disney’s TRON: Legacy “Clu” Sackboy Costume
• The Muppets’ “The Great Gonzo” Sackboy Costume
• PlayStation’s “Ratchet” Sackboy Costume
• PlayStation’s “Clank” Sackboy Costume
• Even More Animals’ “Crocodile” Sackboy Costume
• Even More Animals’ “Vulture” Sackboy Costume
• Even More Animals’ “Cobra” Sackboy Costume
• Even More Animals’ “Mandrill” Sackboy Costume

 Exclusive to the LittleBigPlanet 2’s Collectors Edition:

•  PlayStation’s “Jak” Sackboy Costume
• PlayStation’s “Daxter” Sackboy Costume
• 5 exclusive LBP2 PSN Avatars – Lastly, complete your PlayStation experience with a new identity on the PlayStation Network with these new avatars.

This week, Hitman 5 artwork popped up online, raising the eyebrows of excited fans. IO Interactive took the wind out of their sails, saying that the artwork (pictured above) “does not represent any new Hitman game.”

Now, according to Eurogamer’s sources, word has come that a new Hitman game is indeed int he works. Thing is, we don’t be seeing it until holiday of 2011 at the earliest. Play.com backs up the sources information, listing the unannounced title for a November 28, 2011 release date. While it seems unlikely that a retailer would have such a date set in stone so far in advance, it’s an interesting place to find Eurogamer’s rumor corroborated.

Back to that artwork: the source also indicated that while IO wrote it off, it’s “likely” related to the upcoming title.

Hitman 5 out Xmas 2011 “at the earliest” [Eurogamer]