Welcome to the Black List, our regular retrospective on the week that was.

On Monday, we woke up from a four day bender to discover that someone had posted our latest podcast on the site.

On Tuesday, we were stunned to discover that Nintendo may have yet another Mario game in the works.

On Wednesday we wondered if the failure of the PSP Go had implications for digital distribution in general.

On Thursday we reported that the Zune Video Marketplace would soon launch in Australia.

On Friday we recoiled in horror as the monstrous new DLC for Borderlands shambled into view.

Thanks for reading.

Erin Marcon

Editor

Recent editions of The Black List

17.10.09 l 09.10.09 l 02.10.09 l 25.09.09 l 18.09.09 I 11.09.09

"Sewn back together wrong!"

2K and Gearbox have announced the first of several planned DLC expansion packs for Borderlands. The Zombie Island of Dr Ned, containing new enemies, quests and equipment is due before the end of the year.

Arriving on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 today, Borderlands features the remarkable art style adopted by Gearbox midway through the development process. Prior to the switch, Borderlands was burdened with a realistic but utterly unremarkable aesthetic. With similarly themed titles such as Fallout 3 and Rage already in the public consciousness, the bold design of Borderlands offers a point of distinction.

Though ostensibly a first person shooter, Borderlands incorporates elements traditionally associated with the role playing genre. Character building and customisation are major focuses, as are procedurally generated weapons and collectables. The game supports four players in online co-op, with two player split-screen also an option for console gamers. We’ll be taking a close look at this one on a forthcoming podcast.

Console owners may be enjoying their head-star but PC gamers won’t have to wait long for their fix of Borderlands. It’s due on Friday 30 October.

"Half Past Dead better be on there."

Australian gamers will soon be able to rent high definition movies via their Xbox 360 consoles. As reported by The Age, 100+ films will be available to stream or download from the new Zune Video Marketplace following the November update to Xbox Live.

This announcement is long overdue. A similar service has been available to Xbox 360 gamers in the United States for almost 12 months. Meanwhile, Australians have been paying top dollar for an inferior product. It’s a good thing I’m not bitter.

The initial selection, which is certain to grow in the months ahead, will include titles such as Watchman and The Silence of the Lambs. No word yet on Steven Seagal’s Half Past Dead. Depending on the vintage of the film and the availability of a high definition version, rental will cost between 240 and 420 Microsoft Points.

The aforementioned November update will also enable users to access and update their Facebook and Twitter accounts via the Xbox 360 dashboard.

These aren't the twisted and arthritic hands of a true gamer.

The PSP Go has endured an inauspicious debut, according to a report published in The Sydney Morning Herald. Sony Computer Entertainment Australia confirmed that the revamped handheld sold slightly more than 1000 units during its opening week. By way of comparison, Current reported that the similarly revamped Nintendo DSi moved 30,000 units in its first 10 days on sale.

This is a truly calamitous result for those among us eagerly anticipating the triumph of digital distribution. Unlike its predecessors, the latest model PSP does not include a UMD drive. It is, in fact, the first mainstream dedicated handheld gaming device to rely entirely on downloadable content. What does the relative failure of the unit mean for the future of digital distribution?

The PSP Go is priced at $450, some $70 more than the PSP 3000, a device that boasts virtually the same features, including the capacity to download games from the PlayStation Network. The only significant benefits of the newer model are the increased storage capacity and more compact design. Essentially, Sony is offering a marginally superior product (even this is debatable) at a significantly higher price. Realistically, the PSP Go shouldn’t be regarded as a meaningful test for digital distribution.