Buy this if you have Half Life 2! Fun as hell.
Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.Saturday, October 2, 2010
Garry's Mod Released for Mac, 50% Discount For a Week
Posted: userComment.createdDate by DarkGryphon
Club Nintendo Reward Review: Mario Nintendo DS Game Rack
Previous Club Nintendo Reward Review: Silver Nintendo DS Game Card Case With Stylus
The Mario Nintendo DS Game Rack is one of the more costly Club Nintendo Rewards. This game rack can hold up to eight Nintendo DS games and features the Mario Hat Club Nintendo logo on each end.
Overview
Name- Mario Nintendo DS Game Rack
Cost- 600 Club Nintendo Coins
Official Description-
Shaped like a Mario™ hat, this “Game-End” organizes your Nintendo DS games. Fits eight Nintendo DS game packages™. Assembly required. (Nintendo DS games not included.)
• Fits eight Nintendo DS game packages
• Assembly required
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 6 x 4 inches; 7.6 ounces
Usefulness- 5 out of 10
While the Mario Nintendo DS Game Rack certainly looks cool, I just don’t find it that useful. My main issue with this reward is that if someone has enough coins to get it they probably already have far more than eight Nintendo DS games. With that said it could still be used to keep a gamers current rotation of portable games organized in a stylish way.
As A Collectable- 8 out of 10
Not only does this item have the official Club Nintendo logo, it IS the Club Nintendo logo. A piece like this can really stand out in a collection. Mario collectors will also want to grab these since the Club Nintendo logo is Mario’s hat. I think this is one item that will increase in value over the years due to its awesomeness.
Overall Value- 6 out of 10
The cost of the Mario Nintendo DS Game Rack is 600 Club Nintendo Coins. This is a bit steep and places it just below the cost of the highest end rewards. This makes the choice to get this item even harder.
If Club Members want to save up 200 more coins they can get the Game & Watch games, or the Hanafuda Cards. On the other end of the spectrum Club Members could get a few smaller rewards for a similar cost to this one. Overall this is a very cool reward and it’s a very difficult choice to make at this price range.
Final Score-
Want to keep up with my latest Club Nintendo Rewards Reviews? http://twitter.com/KingNintendoFan or Like Me on Facebook.
Life-sized Replica Halo Energy Sword at Amazon
Ever dream of possesing a life-sized replica of the ultimate Halo melee weapon? Dream no more…buy it at Amazon.
Only this sword isn’t made of energy – it’s made of Steel and only $49.99.
Here’s the Amazon description:
Here it is Folks; at last the HALO Covenant Titanium Color ENERGY SWORD Type-1. Now you can own not only just the video game but part of the video game and the weapon to defeat the bad guys. This Titanium Color Energy Sword is a close quarter’s melee weapon use in Halo. Folks, this sword is one of the most unique and awesome weapon which you will ever own. It is favored by Sangheili and it’s more dangerous than its ceremonial nature implies. This life-size weapon carries an almost exact handle which is used to keep the sword in the video game, Halo. Folks, now instead of paying high price for something which is cheap, now you only get this life-size sword for only $49.99 and its well built. Item also includes a wooden wall plaque. Specifications: Overall Length: 27? Blade Length: 19.25?, Each side Fatory Sharpen Handle Width: 7? Handle Material: ABS Plastic, Gray Blade Material: 440 Heat Treated Titanium Color Stainless Steel Item Includes: Wall Display Plaque.
Excited? Well don’t get too excited. Last thing we need is one amped off-kilter gamer to get carried away and use it for nefarious purposes. They are many in the media that would love another opportunity to attack our hobby.
For responsible and stable fans only. Keep it classy.
For the listing, click here.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Microsoft Reiterates its Support for PC Gaming
You couldn't be blamed for thinking that Microsoft has focused more on the Xbox 360 side of its gaming operations that it has on the PC side. Despite having launched the Games for Windows and GfW Live initiatives several years ago, it's been Valve's Steam service that has gained a tremendous amount of ground in the past few years. Microsoft Game Studios general manager Dave Luehmann has said that Microsoft needs "to step up" in becoming a leader in the PC space.
"There's been a fair bit of criticism aimed at Microsoft that we were spending a lot of our focus on console, and we need to be putting resources behind PC as well," Luehmann told MCV. "Other companies should look to Microsoft for leadership, but I'm not sure they do. It is our job to lead the way on PC. And in some ways we are doing that and in other ways we are not. So we need to step up."
Microsoft does have three big games coming down the pipe for PC, which is more than can be said for what it has released on PC in recent years. "We are putting some real investment and big IPs behind the Windows platform. We've spoken of the first three, Fable III, Age of Empires Online and Microsoft Flight. However we are not going to stop there."
He didn't go on to detail what else Microsoft is working on, as you would expect. Hopefully there are more substantial games on the way besides those three, and we won't have to go through another Microsoft-published PC-game drought.
Luehmann suggested, "I think it is the responsibility of first parties to push the business models in to new directions. We will test some ideas -- some will work and some won't."
Besides the three games we know are coming, what would you like to see from Microsoft on PC? Corporate VP Phil Spencer recently proclaimed that Microsoft would like to increase the rate of Halo releases, so perhaps a PC release of a Halo game -- only Halo and Halo 2 have seen a release on PC -- could be something we'll see down the line.
What games would you like to see Microsoft release on PC?
Little Big Planet 2 Delayed. Has a New January Release Date
Sorry Sackboy fans, Little Big Planet 2 will be delayed. Currently, developer media Molecule has given a firm release date of January 18, 2011 for North America.
Official Statement from Media Molecule:
LittleBigPlanet 2 is a crazy dream, a dream to allow players to make whatever kind of game they want, but also to play though a great adventure of drama and excitement, power-ups, and cinematics. But like all of the most ambitious ideas, it can be a considerable challenge to turn these dreams in fun games. We’ve all been working like powered-up space ninjas and we’re almost there, but because we love what we’ve made, and we love our little sack-friends, and most of all we love all our fans out there, we couldn’t let you all get together until we knew we were giving you the best experience imaginable. Which is why we’ve taken the hard decision to delay the worldwide release of LittleBigPlanet 2, originally slated for later this year to January 2011.
We know this will come as disappointing news for all you LittleBigPlanet fans, and believe us, we are disappointed too. We are a tight-knit team and we take enormous pride in our work, so to raise the bar we’ve set with the original LittleBigPlanet, a game that has been so embraced by all, we’ve agreed to allow ourselves a bit more time to deliver the experience that our great fans and community deserve. We are truly sorry, but hope you understand that we have to build the best possible game, as it is the foundation of our community.
On the upside, we are going to find a way to give more of you a taste of LBP2 prior to launch, so stay tuned.
Thanks for your continued love and support, it won’t be long – we promise.
Lots of love from all at Mm
I’m sure the game will do well with all the hype surrounding and taking into account the success of the first one. Only thing is I’m sure they’ll be many unhappy about not having the game for Christmas.
To see videos displaying LBP 2 ‘s versatility click here.
Enslaved demo out on Xbox 360
Namco Bandai is spreading the word that the Xbox 360 demo of Ninja Theory’s Enslaved: Odyssey to the West has arrived on Xbox Live today.
The sampling includes the opening chapter of the full game and has Monkey escaping from a slave ship. After a healthy dose of jumping on pipes, players will also meet sidekick Trip. Catch the demo trailer above for a few new sights of what to expect later in the game as well.
The PlayStation 3 demo was made available to all via PSN earlier in the week.
The adventurer itself slips to retail early next month; October 5 in North America and 8th in Europe.
Pac-Man Graces Limited Edition Moleskine Notebooks
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man, notebook maker Moleskine will release a series of limited-edition pads emblazoned with the retrogaming icon.
Moleskine revealed the handsome new notepads to a variety of hip design blogs Friday. A four-pack of colorful Volant notebooks, large individual notebooks and a handsome bundle collecting the entire line are expected to ship some time in October.
Pac-Man, developed by Namco Bandai’s Toru Iwatani in 1979, is one of the most enduring characters in videogames. The arcade game was a smash hit that inspired a pop song, a Saturday morning cartoon and tons of merchandise.
Image courtesy Moleskine
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Medal of Honor PC Open Beta Launches October 4
PC gamers will have a chance to get in on Medal of Honor in open beta form before its release, albeit briefly. EA announced today that the beta will launch on October 4, and then close October 7. Interested PC gamers can sign up at the official site. The beta will include two maps and two game modes. The Kunar Base map consists of an area control mode, while the Shahikot Mountains map is objective-based team multiplayer. Both modes support 12-player teams for a total of 24 players.
This new beta test is said to have been tweaked from the earlier closed beta. DICE made fixes to the weapons pick-up system, hit detection, and made support actions more rare. The unlock tree was also expanded and balanced, and the press release promises a "major graphics overhaul."
EA took the opportunity to address the recent military controversy in the press release. "We hope that by offering the Multiplayer Open Beta, we can clear up any misunderstanding about the patriotism and respect that are the foundation of this game," said Frank Gibeau, president of EA Games. "The Medal of Honor franchise has always shown extraordinary reverence for American and Allied soldiers -- this game is no exception."
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Dead Space 2 invite-only multiplayer beta is a go
While the studio was tightlipped about it while chatting to us at the recent reveal event, it turns out Dead Space 2 is indeed holding a multiplayer beta. And it looks to be exclusive to PlayStation 3 owners.
Handpicked users have begun receiving invites to the testing, which is already on-going, though the criteria is somewhat vague right now; users are being chosen ‘based on their experience with multiplayer shooters’, those who’ve been accepted are reporting.
The invites are being sent out via email, in which multiplayer producer Scott Probst explains: “We have just launched a small beta which will help us polish the game, and we have selected you to help us achieve that goal! We are still several months away from the game’s release, and there is still plenty of work to be done prior to shipping the game.”
The game itself is out in January; in North America on Jan. 25 2011, Europe on Jan. 28.
Video: Dead Rising 2 Producer Explains It All
Executive producer Rob Barrett of Blue Castle Games runs through the basics of Dead Rising 2 in a Wired.com video shot at Microsoft’s X10 event earlier this year.
The sequel to 2006’s zombie-slaying sandbox comes out September 28 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
If you’ve got even a sliver of curiosity about Dead Rising 2 give the game’s $5 prologue a shot. Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, available only to Xbox 360 users, is a demo that sets up protagonist Chuck Green’s dilemma and gives players an excellent preview of all the weapon crafting, missions and visceral zombie slaying they’ll experience in the full game.
Capcom plans a second batch of DLC called Dead Rising 2: Case West. The expansion will mark the return of photographer Frank West, the lead character of the first Dead Rising game.
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British Retailer Lists Prince of Persia HD Trilogy with 3D Support
Today British retailer Shopto has seemingly confirmed the exitence of the Prince of Persia HD trilogy for PS3 and it comes with 3D support. The Trilogy will include Sands of Time, Warrior Within, and The Two Thrones.
The listing gives a firm release date of November 26 and gives great detail about all included games. This is really of little surprise since many have speculated a Prince of Persia HD trilogy was in the works. What may be surprising to some is that the game has 3D suppport.
To see the listing click here
Prince of Persia Spin-off Was Set in Modern Times, Canceled by Ubisoft
Prior to releasing the 2008 Prince of Persia reboot and way before this year's Forgotten Sands, Ubisoft was apparently working on a modern-day take on its classic franchise. In a recent interview, a former art director at the company discussed his involvement with the long-canceled project, as well as revealing a scrapped Assassin's Creed game for the Xbox and PlayStation 2.
"After [the Assassin's Creed cancellation, Ubisoft] wanted a spin-off for Prince of Persia," ex-Ubisoft employee Jonathan Jacques-Bellet?te told CVG. "We had some awesome ideas with that too... in contemporary time."
"[Development on Prince of Persia 2008] had already started at that point," he explained. "But they wanted really something completely out of the left field. And back then I was known as one of the ones... 'oh this guy can get some pretty cool, weird ideas'."
Just how weird did it get? Jacques-Bellet?te, now working on Deus Ex: Human Revolution at Eidos Montreal, provided a brief synopsis: "So I had this little team, and [our PoP] was actually in the contemporary world. Think a bit Day After Tomorrow, but replace the snow with sand and everything. It was really wicked. But it got cancelled, and then we did all the Far Crys."
Sound like something you'd play? Or do you think Ubisoft made the right call by dumping the project?
Codemasters: F1 2011 already in the works
Racing expert Codemasters is already working on a follow-up to this year’s F1 2010, lead designer Stephen Hood has revealed.
While the development is still in its early phases, Hood’s revealed in a chat with Eurogamer that he and senior producer Paul Jeal are already working up the feature list. This at the expense of content add-ons, though; “DLC we’re not planning to do with this one, because Paul and I have already started on ’11 now.”
“There are some other exciting things that we want to play around with,” Hood added of the sequel.
But what of F1 2012? “Certainly for 2011, that deal’s done and dusted. I think the 2012 deal isn’t a million miles away, it’s not signed yet, but I guess it depends on the sales, review scores, that type of thing.”
F1 2010 is released this week; yesterday in North America, tomorrow in Europe.
Giant Robot Mag Packs Free Indie Game Return of the Quack
Videogame magazines aimed at the enthusiast crowd have been bundling game demos with their print editions for years. But now long-running pop-culture magazine Giant Robot will be giving away an entire indie game with the purchase of their publication.
Erik Nakamura, publisher of Giant Robot, announced Monday that Issue 67 of his magazine would come with a new game called Return of the Quack. The game is a collaboration between artist Matt Furie, game designer Chevy Ray Johnston and chip musicians Nullsleep. Those who buy the magazine will get the whole three-level game on a disc. (If you want to try before you buy, take a whack at the online demo of Return of the Quack.)
This isn’t the first time Giant Robot has gotten into indie games. Giant Robot retail stores and galleries have hosted several art exhibitions that present collaborations between indie artists and game designers. Giant Robot No. 67, which features cover art by Furie, is on newsstands now.
Image courtesy Giant Robot
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Dead Rising 2 trailer asks: “What would Chuck do?”
Over four minutes of footage from Dead Rising 2 is up for grabs in the commentary video above, under the inquisitive “What would Chuck do?” title. Best watch it for an answer.
The game’s out in Europe today, North America next Tuesday.
For all the latest video content, visit our Trailers & Videos section.
Medal of Honor gets public PC beta
The PC version of Medal of Honor is in for an open PC beta early next month.
EA’s announced that the open-to-all shooting will commence early next month, on October 4th. Two maps and two modes — Kunar Base in Sector Control and Shahikot Mountains in Combat Mission mode (both 12 vs. 12) — will be available, though only for a very limited time; the beta ends on the 7th.
EA Games Label president Frank Gibeau hopes the quickie will “clear up any misunderstanding about the patriotism and respect that are the foundation of this game. The Medal of Honor franchise has always shown extraordinary reverence for American and Allied soldiers — this game is no exception.”
Access can be gained via: medalofhonor.com/pcopenbeta
The game itself is out shortly thereafter; October 12th in North America, 15th in Europe.
El Shaddai Producer Offers Glimpse Behind the Curtain
In a recent interview with Inside Games, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron producer Masato Kimura offered some background information on the mysterious forthcoming action game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. A few remarkable quotes:
"Right now there are 120 people developing this game. We began three years ago, although at the start it was only me, the director [Sawaki Takeyasu] and representatives of the company. Our core members have been involved in games such as Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, and Okami. From there our staff gradually increased until we were able to arrange the structure we have now."
When asked for more details on the game's mechanics: "[El Shaddai] has four pillars. First of all there's the 3D combat, then there's the 2D action. These are the only two components we could show at the Tokyo Game Show, but we're also preparing the 2D combat and the 3D action. Balance is distributed among these four pillars of the game. I believe we can do this due to the varied development experience of the people we've gathered."
On the "mysterious sensation" of the game's music: "That was written for us by composer Masato Koda who has worked on Monster Hunter and Devil May Cry."
Development may have begun three years ago, but we'll have to wait until early 2011 to see how well this high-profile team balanced those gameplay pillars. The organizers of the Tokyo Game Show were certainly impressed by the two pillars on display last week, as they awarded El Shaddai with a "Future Game of Show" Award.
Realtime Worlds Artist Founds Two New Companies
In the wake of the Crackdown developer's closure, former Realtime Worlds employee Jimmy O'Ready has a plan for the future. As a matter of fact, he has two; the APB lead character designer just founded a pair of new companies in the Dundee, Scotland area.
O'Ready, who worked on APB's impressive character customization system, is taking on contract work with his new start-ups, Montynero Characters and Montynero Concept Art. He hopes to attract business from game developers across all regions and genres.
The ex-Realtime Worlds artist explained to Gamesindustry.biz, "Art customization systems or character design are things I've enjoyed orchestrating at Realtime Worlds and Electronic Arts, on SSX and APB, and prior to 3D and management I worked on the concept side for years. Montynero is positioned to provide the highest quality of characters, concepts, and expertise for all game types, anywhere."
As for O'Ready's take on APB and the sudden implosion of Realtime Worlds, he called the studio's failure "a shock," though he admitted that, "delays in a couple of crucial areas meant APB simply missed its moment."
Dead Space 2 PS3 Beta Quietly Kicks Off
Electronic Arts recently revealed full details on the new humans vs. necromorphs multiplayer in Dead Space 2, and now some gamers are also getting an early chance to try the multiplayer out themselves. An exclusive PlayStation 3 closed multiplayer beta has kicked off, but don't be surprised if you missed the call for invites.
In an unusual turn, a call for sign-ups quietly went out on Dead Space 2 developer Louis Gascoigne's Twitter page yesterday, but he didn't even specify exactly what the sign-ups were for. "Do you play on PSN? If so send me your email addy if you want a special offer in a few hours," Gascoigne's tweet read. Those who sent in their emails indeed got on a list to potentially receive a Dead Space 2 beta invite, with invites already having been sent out to a select few.
If you didn't get an invite yet (or, more likely, completely missed out on sending in your email in the first place), you might still get another chance. Gascoigne later tweeted that he'll "see if I get any codes tomorrow," which is to say, today.
Dead Space 2 is set for release on January 25.
A minute and a half of NFS: Hot Pursuit
Another quick round of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit gameplay from EA today. Some of the more chilly locations on show in this one; no one’s slowing down though, not even a little bit.
The Criterion racer’s out in just under two months now; North America on November 16, and Europe on the 18th.
For all the latest video content, visit our Trailers & Videos section.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Bastion Shows How Cool It Would Be To Have Someone Narrate Your Life
When I see Bastion, the first thing I think of is, "How cool would it be if Ron Perlman narrated my life?" Sure, it would ultimately be uninteresting to anyone else listening ("He woke up. He prepared a sandwich. He boarded the train and read the new issue of Secret Avengers during his commute."), but just the idea of having a gravelly voice describe my ongoing actions seems pretty neat. From playing about 10 minutes of Bastion, among the neat little things featured in this action-RPG-town-building game made from a whopping five people (Supergiant Games), it's easily the narration that stands out.
Bastion, similar to Limbo of all things, doesn't even have a traditional introduction. You don't hit "start" and watch a cut-scene for a few minutes -- you're immediately in control of "the kid" as he's lying in bed. But then you get up, and the Narrator that's been talking starts describing your own actions. As you explore and see how the world is created in front of you, the Narrator states as much. The Narrator points out your first weapon moments before you see it, and reflects on how you grab some loot which you can use later to enhance your arsenal. He even speaks of your victory against your first opponent. It's a pretty neat, and distinct, use of such a storytelling device.
Which is its main goal: to deliver story critical information without breaking into lengthy cut-scenes with long winded exposition ("In the days of yore within the valley of the shadow thus came the Calamity" type of stuff). Creative director Greg Kasavin points out that it's not play-by-play commentary -- the Narrator doesn't speak every time you hit an enemy or open a door. He provides context and information when needed; when you first encounter the Squirts, the Narrator points out how they're creatures that likely came from the mines below after "the Calamity" (a mysterious event that makes the world the way it is -- all floaty and scattered). The Narrator tutors gently without outright saying, "press this button to evade." Note that the footage above is straight from Bastion's beginning, and the Narrator is a bit more verbose as he delivers both exposition and information about basic gameplay mechanics. He will still be around to explain important story elements later on, but he won't be quite as talkative (in fact, you actually meet him later on as well).
But what is he actually narrating? A pretty action-heavy action-RPG. There's a bit of Diablo, to be obvious, in that you move a single character around an isometric perspective to fight baddies. But it's not just about simply going up to monsters and hitting things for money. Kasavin notes that the team is going for the pure responsiveness and feel of an SNES-era game, such as how the kid can quickly roll-and-evade, or block-and-counter. Boss battles against giant thugs aren't about just parking in front and spamming the attack button -- they're about moving around the stage and alternating between swinging, shooting, blocking, and countering. Bastion feels simple enough for repetitive button-mashing, but players who use skill with the kid's multiple weapons (which, to date, include hammers, crossbows, rifles, and revolvers) and abilities should be able to appreciate the game as well.
In addition to focusing on fighting fools and taking their money, Bastion messes around with that gameplay formula and even the very environment you fight on. You might find yourself on a small floating barge while shooting at towers from afar. As you'll notice in the above footage, the actual real estate the kid walks on gets generated in front of him. Don't mistake this for random dungeon generation -- the world is hand-crafted, but it's presented in that distinct "construction before your eyes" method. But just as easily, that very same ground can be smashed away by strong foes, giving you another thing to worry about when moving around during a hectic battle. Or, you might find yourself panicking and running while the ground conversely falls apart -- which certainly happens once the kid picks up a "core" at the end of a dungeon. 
Click the image above to check out all Bastion screens.
Which leads to the Bastion itself: a fledgling town (screenshot above) that resembles the one in Actraiser. The kid collects cores from different parts of the post-Calamity world, and each core restores another aspect of the Bastion. Create a weapon shop, and you can then go change and enhance your weapons at the Bastion. Construct a distillery, and you have a new source of potions and powers. I only see the basic foundation of the Bastion, and a few ideas for how it gets built up over time, but it already looks pretty neat in being a town hub that you actually help start and develop over time.
Supergiant Games is aiming to have Bastion out by next summer on the major consoles (I played it on a PC, but as you can see from the video, it's gamepad-friendly), so there's quite a lot left to finish and play. Kasavin comments that some sort of co-op mode is being prototyped; the most he can say is that the second player isn't going to be the same kid with a palette swap. Besides that, there are more areas to paint-and-create in Bastion's distinct style, more weapons and enemies to tune, and more narration to be recorded. Until then, I'm just going to keep imagining how cool it would be to have a smooth gravelly voice narrating my daily life.
Statistics Show Halo: Reach Players Are Insatiable
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Halo: Reach saw an abnormally high amount of gameplay time in its first week on the market, according to statistics released today by game tracking app Raptr.
The average total playtime among players during the game's first week was over 23 hours, with over 30% of users playing over 30 hours. The average gameplay session during the period was a staggering 2.63 hours, with an average of 6.19 hours playtime during the game's launch day.
In terms of game completion, 37.35% of players have completed the single-player campaign on at least Normal difficulty, with 22.29% completing Heroic and 11.87% on Legendary.
Again, we should point out that these statistics are only for the game's first week on shelves. By comparison, here are the lifetime statistics Raptr has logged for the previous two Halo games:
Halo 3 ODST
Normal - 40.75%
Heroic - 25.77%
Legendary - 20.19%
Halo 3
Normal - 43.21%
Heroic - 29.25%
Legendary - 24.55%
1UP can exclusively reveal that the average Achievement Score during this period was 250 out of a possible 1,000. The five rarest achievements were as follows: Make It Rain - Purchase an item from the Armory that requires the rank of Lt. Colonel. 0.13% An Honor Serving - Reach the rank of Captain in the UNSC. 0.68% A Monument to All Your Sins - Complete each Campaign Mission on Legendary - alone. 5.46% Tank Beats Everything - Finish the 9th mission on Legendary with the Scorpion intact. 10.92% Gods Must Be Strong - Complete the Campaign on Legendary difficulty. 11.87%
More stats are available at Raptr's blog post. Are there any stats not covered here that you would be interested in seeing? Let us know in the comments!
Have the Full 3DS Hardware Specifications Been Revealed?
An unknown source has revealed to IGN the full hardware specifications of the upcoming Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo has not yet released this information, although with a statement coming on September 29th, it won’t be long before we find out.
The 3DS will allegedly feature “two 266MHz ARM11 CPUs, along with a 133MHz GPU, 4MBs of dedicated VRAM, 64MBs of RAM, and 1.5GBs of flash storage.” The ARM11 CPU is used in the Zune HD as well as the older iPhone models.
DMP’s PICA200 is providing the graphics for the machine, although we had known that already. According to IGN, “Numerous developers working on software for the platform have likened its graphical capabilities to current-generation consoles like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, albeit on smaller, lower-resolution screens.”
Sounds impressive, to say the least.
Microsoft thinks Blu-ray’s days are numbered
According to Microsoft, it’s only a matter of time before Blu-ray discs go the way of the dodo, if the dodo was a popular high-definition movie and game format. When asked whether their commitment to the DVD format, which holds 8GB in a single disc compared to Blu-ray’s boggling 50GB capacity, was holding their console back, Xbox UK head honcho Stephen McGill was quick to gaze into his crystal ball. Presumably the same crystal ball that said HD DVD was gonna be huge.
“Blu-ray is going to be passed by as a format,” said McGill in an interview with Xbox Achievements. “People have moved through from DVDs to digital downloads and digital streaming, so we offer full HD 1080p Blu-ray quality streaming instantly, no download, no delay. So, who needs Blu-ray?”
Though it’s true that digital downloads are on the rise, I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in Microsoft’s statement that the days of Blu-ray are numbered. Claims that excluding a high definition drive from the Xbox 360 was a “smart decision” as it kept the price nice and cheap for the money-strapped masses might be true, but that’s more hindsight than foresight on Microsoft’s part. It may not have come standard, but they backed a format and that format went down in flames, making their slight against Blu-ray sound more like pouting than prophecy. Blu-ray may never reach the mainstream status of VHS and DVD, but there will always be a demand for disc-based product. Even after they’re beaming content right into our cerebral cortexes, I’m still gonna want something I can tear the plastic off of with my powerful bionic hands.
Blockbuster Officially Files for Bankruptcy Protection in U.S.
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It has been a long time coming, and today the move analysts have predicted was made official. Blockbuster stores have filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S., reports BBC News. The filing doesn't include Blockbuster stores in other countries, like the U.K., Canada, Denmark, Italy, and Mexico. Here in the states, it will allow the company to reduce its debts from almost $1 billion to a relatively small $100 million. The company has also secured a loan of $125 million to stay open during the restructuring, so its U.S. stores and distribution centers will remain in business.
Blockbuster has struggled to deal with competition from Netflix, and company chief Jim Keyes called this move the "optimal path" for the rental service to "meet the evolving preferences of our customers." The company plans to push deeper into kiosk, mail, and digital rental services, after competition in those areas has edged it out of the market.
EDIT - This story has been updated to reflect the difference between "bankruptcy" and "bankruptcy protection."
Monday, September 27, 2010
Capcom: Case Zero is "Most Dynamic Sales Weapon in Our Arsenal"
Capcom recently revealed that Dead Rising 2: Case Zero -- an intriguing new strategy of pre-DLC for a game yet to be released -- has sold over 500,000 copies since its release. Another way to look at that is over 500,000 people have paid Capcom money to engage in what is essentially a very elaborate advertisement for Dead Rising 2, and judging by how pleased Capcom is with these results, this is a tactic we're probably going to see a lot more of in the future.
"It's the most dynamic sales weapon we have ever had in our arsenal, giving us the equivalent exposure of a multi-million pound TV campaign," said Capcom UK product manager Karl Reader to MCV. "We foresee other publishers will follow suit."
Case Zero acts as a prologue to Dead Rising 2, with a second downloadable game -- Case West -- coming later to act as an epilogue. So on top of a new marketing strategy, Reader also says this could be the start of a new way of game development. "With increasing development budgets and increased risk, several smaller projects is only sensible," he said. "What we are seeing is a precursor to episodic gaming with Capcom at the helm."
And one more bonus that pre-DLC has over traditional advertising, according to Reader, is it gives the publisher concrete metrics to see how many people are actually being exposed. "It serves as a barometer for us as a publisher, allowing us to gauge demand for the title and adjust our marketing plans for Dead Rising 2 accordingly," Reader said.
Dead Rising 2 is set for release on Tuesday, so we'll soon find out just how well this marketing stragety actually worked.
Disgaea 4 Headed to PS3 in Japan
Disgaea fans, I know you’ve been waiting for this. Well, the wait is finally over, because Disgaea 4 will be heading to PlayStation 3 in 2011…in Japan. Don’t worry, though; it’s certain to appear in North American markets soon after. Nippon Ichi Software made the announcement and stated that they were very serious about this project, and further details will be revealed at this year’s Tokyo Game Show, which is set to take place this weekend.
Though the game will retain its lighthearted appeal and over-the-top design, a few new features will be introduced in this entry in the series. For starters, gamers will be able to invade other players’ worlds through network implementation. That’s pretty cool, and it just spells awesome disaster (which is a lot better than bad disaster in case you’re wondering). Additionally, the game’s graphics will see a slight improvement. Worry not, traditional skeptics. This is still a 2D game, but sprite resolution will be better, which means more detail and possibly better animation.
Disgaea 4 will continue the tradition of bringing quirky and comical elements to the tactical RPG genre. Just watch the trailer below and see for yourself. NIS has promised that the game will feature “stupidity to the max”, which should make diehards very happy campers.
Set for launch in Japan on February 24, 2011, Disgaea 4 will likely make its way to North American PlayStation 3 consoles some time after that.
Article from Gamersyndrome.com
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Good Old Games ‘Death’ Was Publicity Stunt, New Website Incoming
Contrary to an unpopular hoax, the purveyors of Good Old Games said Wednesday that their site was not going under.
Good Old Games is an online videogame retailer that specializes in selling downloadable versions of PC gaming classics free of copy protection.
Fans were shocked and disappointed on Sunday when the Good Old Games website appeared to have been shut down for “business and technical reasons.”
But the temporary closure and suggestive messaging was all a ruse. Today, representatives from Good Old Games confirmed that the “shutdown” was a marketing stunt.
Good Old Games managing director Guillaume Rambourg and co-founder Marcin Iwinski offered a profoundly weird mea culpa to those who felt burnt by the sudden, fake closure of their website. In a video, both men, clad in monk’s robes, bowed penitently repeating the mantra, “We have sinned. Forgive us.”
The Good Old Games website will relaunch at 8 a.m. Eastern time Thursday with a “vastly enhanced” website.
Image courtesy Good Old Games
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EA Sports Head Unconvinced by 3D
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Companies like Sony and Nvidia have been making a case for 3D gaming for some time now, but EA Sports president Peter Moore isn't quite sold on the tech as of yet. Speaking with CVG, the former Microsoft executive remained unconvinced that a potential tradeoff in visual fidelity for the sake of 3D is worth it to gamers.
"I've seen a couple of our games running in 3D [behind closed doors]," Moore confessed. "There are some cool moments, but there is a cost for my development teams to do it. There is a tax on the hardware -- you know, you need two cameras. There is a framerate issue."
"I don't think gamers want to sacrifice a smooth framerate," he added. "In other words, games that are current running at 60fps going down to 30 just for 3D."
The EA Sports exec continued, "The other thing is, you've got to be able to play the game. You play FIFA from a top-down perspective. You play Madden from a top-down perspective. The higher the camera is, the less the impact of 3D happens to be."
Moore might not sound too enthused at the moment, but that doesn't mean we'll never see an EA Sports title in 3D. The company plans to keep a close watch on 3D technology -- Nintendo's 3DS in particular, which Moore called a "very different experience."
Rumor: HD Prince of Persia collection also in 3D
Ubisoft’s rumored PlayStation 3-bound remastered Prince of Persia trilogy may also offer 3D support, retailer ShopTo’s listing for the collection suggests; discovered by VideoGamer, the listing refers to the release as “Prince of Persia Trilogy HD (3D).”
The collection is said to include Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones.
The game’s listed for a November 26 release, the same date fellow UK retailer Zavvi has attached to the publisher’s other rumored remastered release; the Splinter Cell trilogy. Zavvi’s POP listing comes with a quite different date though: March 2011.
Here’s hoping for a speedy formal announcement to clear things up.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
It's Not Everyday I Get My First Quantum Translocator
Did you play Portal? Of course you did, and you loved it. You know, all those warp tunnels and junk. OK, maybe you didn't and that's just fine too. Nevertheless, the quirky puzzles and darling, yet eerie, story of My First Quantum Translocator is not to be missed by the likes of any gamer.
It turns out once you complete the "test" you are to be euthanized. You, being the cunning, quick-witted chap that you are, escape the attempt at your demise. But this is only the beginning. Far worse obstacles lay in your path, can you make it out alive?
Fear not, for you are not alone. There is another who has made it through this deadly obstacle course and she has hacked the messaging system so as to give you hints and guidance amongst the perils.
Most of the puzzles in this game are average, but there are a couple that will really make your mind bend. Just keep at it, the ending(s) are well worth trying. Hell, if you're sick of trying and just can't get into the swing of things, you are allowed to skip the level all together, but I don't recommend it. Use your brain and have fun.
My First Quantum Translocator (Flash/Browser)
Medal of Honor gameplay goes on a raid
To follow up on the earlier news of a 4-day open PC beta that’ll be kicking off early next month, find the fifth ‘MOH experience’ clip for EA shooter Medal of Honor above. It introduces the “Rush” look-a-like “Objective Raid” gamemode.
Two new screenshots await in the gallery as well.
The game’s out next month; October 12th in North America, 15th in Europe.
For all the latest video content, visit our Trailers & Videos section.
Little Big Planet 2 Delayed to January, 2011
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Little Big Planet 2 was set for release on November 16, but as it turns out, when it comes to developing a wildly ambitious title that'll allow players to build any kind of game they want, things don't necessarily go according to plan. This morning, developer Media Molecule confirmed Little Big Planet 2 has been delayed, and will now instead release in January next year.
"We've all been working like powered-up space ninjas and we're almost there, but because we love what we've made, and we love our little sack-friends, and most of all we love all our fans out there, we couldn't let you all get together until we knew we were giving you the best experience imaginable," explained an apologetic post on Media Molecule's website. "We are a tight-knit team and we take enormous pride in our work, so to raise the bar we've set with the original Little Big Planet, a game that has been so embraced by all, we've agreed to allow ourselves a bit more time to deliver the experience that our great fans and community deserve."
The delay only amounts to a little over two more months of waiting at most, so really, it's not that bad, is it? Plus, the post also promises that Media Molecule is "going to find a way to give more of you a taste of LBP2 prior to launch, so stay tuned." Previously, Media Molecule was only sending beta invites to "users who've been really active in Little Big Planet," but perhaps the restrictions will be relaxed a little leading into the (new) final couple months before the release.
"Wii Remote Plus" Coming in November?
Posted: 2 hours ago by crispy4001
They've never pushed any attachment like they have Motion +. Just counting Sports Resort roughly a 1/4 of the Wii install base already has one. You can't buy a new Wii these days without getting a M+ with it. Tons of 3rd party games had bundled SKU's with it. Any colored controller (other than white) currently comes with one.
It wouldn't be a strech to say that by the end of the generation, the install base having M+ may surpass the total PS3's, if not the 360's. Especially if they make this new controller, if it exists, the de facto Wiimote. Also, like Majora's Mask with the expansion pack, those interested in Skyward Sword will pick one a M+ for a certainty if they don't already have it. It'll probably be a 'killer app' for many.
Compare all that to the uphill battle that Move and Kinect face as more expensive perheperials without any powerhouse selling franchises requiring them, let alone supporting them.
Halo: Reach last week’s #3 Xbox Live title
While breaking records left and right since its release last Tuesday, it’ll take more than a week for Bungie’s latest to climb its way to the top on its home turf; Halo: Reach debuted at #3 on Xbox Live’s weekly activity list, XBL’s director of programming Larry Hryb scribbles on his blog, right after Modern Warfare 2 and 2007 predecessor Halo 3.
The list’s top 5 is now consisted solely of Halo and Call of Duty titles.
Catch the top 20 below.
Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles
1 Modern Warfare 2
2 Halo 3
3 Halo: Reach
4 Call of Duty: WaW
5 Call of Duty 4
6 Mafia II Playable Demo
7 GTA IV
8 Red Dead Redemption
9 Gears of War 2
10 FIFA 10
11 Halo 3: ODST
12 Battlefield Bad Co. 2
13 Madden NFL 11
14 DEAD RISING 2: CASE ZERO
15 Left 4 Dead 2
16 Forza Motorsport 3
17 Monday Night Combat
18 Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2 – DEMO
19 Trials HD
20 FIFA Soccer 11 Demo
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