You may of noticed on all sites bar the DS site that the horrid iframes are now history and that the news looks a whole lot nicer with yellow icons that match the forum, all the sites are now PHP sites which means we can easily update links with just one change of a file. We have 4 new sites to be announced this week for our network so keep your eyes peeled
It’s a week and change before E3 and rumors are already flying. The scheduled outage of Xbox Live on Tuesday is leading some people to guess that Microsoft is finally releasing the update that allows people to download marketplace content in the background. This makes sense, seeing as MS providing loads of E3-related content on Xbox Live during the event.
Along with the improved downloading, another rumored feature is the ability to send voice and text messages to people during games. Isn’t this already there on dashboard?
According to our resident racing game expert, developer SimBin's GTR on PC was the finest and most realistic realisation of the motor sport on the platform ever. Rejoice then, ye hardcore racing game fans with an Xbox 360 nestled under the telly, because THQ and SimBin are wheeling GTR onto Microsoft's next-gen console. Vroom, vroom...
GTR is roaring off the 360 start grid courtesy of a multi-title deal thing struck between THQ and SimBin. Not a whole lot has been said about the next-gen GTR yet, but we've been told to expect a game that "sets new standards for racing realism on console". GTR features all the cars, drivers and tracks from two full FIA GT Championships and is directed by professional racing driver and former FIA GT Team Owner, Henrik Roos.
Said Roos about GTR on 360: "SimBin has built a reputation for delivering cutting edge technology, unmatched atmosphere and white-knuckle realism in our racing games. With GTR for Xbox 360 we're developing a title that is not only a truly authentic racing game, but also a challenging, realistic and entertaining game that will be easy to learn but tough to master. In other words - do it for real!"
Ubisoft's set to publish From Software's Xbox 360 RPG Enchant Arm in Europe and the US this summer, the publisher's announced.
It'll be called Enchanted Arms here - a bit of a change from its rather untypable Japanese moniker "[eM] -eNCHANT arM-".
For those who haven't been keeping up, Enchanted Arms is a turn-based RPG in which the player adopts the mantle of an enchanter-in-training, controlling more than 75 creatures over the course of his quest.
Ubisoft's promising more than "50 hours" of gameplay, and the game includes a full hour of anime-style cut-scenes too.
And of course it's worth noting that it's yet another game from Ubisoft's infamous leaked release schedule - denied at the time, but looking increasingly genuine.
Also on the schedule were a new Brothers In Arms game (two in fact - so far Ubi's announced one), some new Tom Clancy games (with a new Rainbow Six already announced), and Naruto for Xbox 360, which Ubisoft unveiled just recently. Rayman 4 also appeared on the list.
Indeed, it's looking more like Ubisoft denied the schedule because of the games it couldn't confirm - like a new Lumines for PSP and PS2, which we now know that Buena Vista will be handling.
A new version of connect360 has been released, this is a tool to stream music and images from Mac OSX to an Xbox 360 console.
Changelog
- Now updates iTunes play counts and play dates (optionally)
- Adds option to show only checked songs
- Adds option to toggle system sleep when connect360 is active
- Fixes sorting of multi-disc albums
- Fixes a content refresh bug (v2.1)
- Improved service shutdown code (v2.1)
US politicians have gained a new champion in their battle against the sale of violent videogames to minors, as New York Attorney General and Governor hopeful Eliot Spitzer voices his support of governmental regulations.
Spitzer asserts that political intervention, in addition to educational reform, is a necessary measure to protect children from negative or harmful media influences, stating: "Parents and schools need the government's help in curbing irresponsible behaviour by corporations that market harmful products to our kids."
Advocating a "uniform ratings system" that would be maintained and controlled by the government, Spitzer also supported recent legislative efforts introduced by California, Michigan, Illinois and, most recently, Oklahoma, although he admits the failure of almost all of those efforts on constitutional grounds and hopes to change that for his state.
He went on to largely dismiss the current ESRB self regulatory system, labelling it as ineffective and largely ignored, despite evidence to the contrary submitted by several industry trade bodies.
"The Entertainment Software Rating Board does have a rating system that warns consumers of content unsuitable for children, but it's often ignored," Spitzer stated. "Laws protecting underage kids from harmful products are nothing new - laws preventing kids from buying cigarettes serve as just one example. But currently, nothing under New York State law prohibits a fourteen-year old from walking into a video store and buying a game labelled Adult Only."
The industry was quick to return fire on the comments, Video Software Dealers Association president Bo Anderson issuing a statement which maintains that Spitzer's comments are based on a misunderstanding of the effectiveness of current ESRB ratings, commenting: "the latest findings of the Federal Trade Commission on the ability of minors to purchase Mature-rated video games shows a substantial increase in self-regulation, particularly by major retailers."
The VSDA provided figures showing a 362 per cent increase in the enforcement of store policies restricting the sale of M-rated games since the original FTC shopping survey in 2000, almost doubling between 2003 and the most recent study. The turn-down rate in national retail chains where the vast majority of games are purchased is currently 65 per cent, and much effort is going into improving that figure on a daily basis.
"The best outcome for parents and their kids would be for Attorney General Spitzer to add his name to the effort to remind parents about the game ratings system and assist and empower them in making informed choices for their children," Anderson concluded.
Adding comment to the debate, ESA president Doug Lowenstein, who remains actively involved in supporting industry self-regulation and opposes the various stringent legislative proposals introduced in recent months, stated: "A uniform rating system is a good idea in principle. But there are practical problems involved with applying the same standards to fundamentally different media that make realization of this ideal immensely challenging. By imposing a 'one size fits all' formula on these widely divergent entertainment mediums, a universal ratings system could actually create confusion, not simplicity."
New edition of the World famous DVD Mag from Famitsu:
Famitsu Wave DVD is Famitsu’s monthly magazine coming as a printed high gloss magazine and a fully featured DVD. Famitsu Wave DVD Includes the latest trailers, exclusive videos, reviews, how-to’s and fun stuff. Covers all videogame systems.
Learning from failure is a hallmark of the technology business. Nick Baker, a 37-year-old system architect at Microsoft, knows that well. A British transplant at the software giant's Silicon Valley campus, he went from failed project to failed project in his career. He worked on such dogs as Apple Computer's defunct video card business, 3DO's failed game consoles, a chip startup that screwed up a deal with Nintendo, the never successful WebTV and Microsoft's canceled Ultimate TV satellite TV recorder. But Baker finally has a hot seller with the Xbox 360, Microsoft's video game console launched worldwide last holiday season."
Codemasters has announced that it will be releasing Overlord, developed by the Dutch company which was responsible for the Age of Wonders strategy games, for the PC and Xbox 360 in 2007.
The action-adventure game, based within what is claimed to be a "seriously warped fantasy world", puts players in charge of a figure who has inherited the legacy of the previous, evil Overlord. Players can decide how evil a route they want to take in becoming the new Overlord, helped by Minions--gremlin-like creatures who will carry out every instruction they are given.
Barry Jafrato, senior VP of brand for Codemasters, said: "Overlord comes loaded with innovative and compelling game mechanics wrapped in a scenario that's played out with plenty of black humour. We're delighted to be working with Triumph on the title, bringing something fresh and original to next-generation gamers."
The DCEmu Homebrew Network tonight adds a new site to the Homebrew scenes we cover and the new site is of the Handheld Console the Gizmondo, which you may or may not know is a 400mhz console but didnt do very well commercially despite some great features.
Well recently the Homebrew scene for the Gizmondo has flourished and already they have Snes,Nes,GBA and many more emulators and games.
EA has stormed back into the top of the charts this week with next-gen sales of FIFA World Cup Germany 2006, Miss Croft stepping down to enjoy the footie after three weeks at the top.
As anticipation for the World Cup increases, managerial wannabes are setting their sights on virtual victory, driving Sega's Football Manager 2006 up four places from seven to three in the all formats chart.
DS owners are still taking care of their furry friends, as Animal Crossing: Wild World maintains a healthy chart position, dropping just one place into fourth, while Vivendi's slightly soggy Ice Age 2: The Meltdown drips down from second to fifth this week.
Crime is still paying dividends for EA, with The Godfather slipping just one place into sixth, followed closely by a strong debut for NCsoft's latest MMO expansion, Guild Wars Factions, in at number seven.
At the lower end of the top ten, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion enjoys a small boost this week, up two places from ten to eight, FIFA Street 2 concedes five places to nestle in at nine, and Relentless Software live up to their name as Buzz: The Big Quiz refuses to leave the top ten, clinging on in tenth place.
Three new entries this week make it into the top forty, but only just. Rogue Trooper marches in at thirty-eight for Eidos, followed by two new DS titles, Tetris DS and Trauma Center: Under the Knife to complete the lower ranks of the all-formats chart run.
It's going to be slim pickings on new releases this week, as the industry awaits a slew of new announcements and next-gen titles to be shown at the E3 expo. That said, Nintendo ought to do well with DS title Metroid Prime: Hunters, and Ubisoft are hoping to recreate the phenomenal console success of Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, as the game hits stores on PC at the end of the week.
Activision and Infinity Ward plan to release nine new multiplayer maps for the Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty 2 over Xbox Live in the coming months.
The first four of the nine maps will be made available this spring - so soon then - with the remaining five to hit in July. The initial release will be split into two packs. What's called the Bonus Map Pack is a freebie containing maps Vossenack and Wallendar, Germany, while the Skirmish Map Pack, which contains maps Kalach, Russia and Beaumont-Hague, France, will be sold for 400 Microsoft Points through Marketplace.
The five maps to be released in July are being stuffed into one pack called the Invasion Pack, which will sell for 900 Microsoft Points. The maps included in this pack will be - Antoville, France (Crossroads), St. Louet, France (Newvillers), Amaye sur Seulles, France (Normandy), Alam Halfa, Egypt (Decoytown), Rostov, Russia (Harbor).
Playable versions of the first four multiplayer maps releasing in spring will be present at next week's E3 in playable form.
It would seem Wired Magazine is obsessed with the topic of sex in videogames. Why this is the case is anyone’s guess? SPOnG suspects that it is because it is mainly written by elderly American liberals (read: hippies) who previously - somewhat mistakenly - thought that sex was the path to all human liberation.
Anyways, in the wake of last year's ridiculous Grand Theft Auto/Hot Coffee debacle, and what with E3 being sex-free this year (well, scantily-clad booth-babe free at least) we thought it was time to give a bit of our fractured, ADD-addled attention to the subject of sex and how it is handled by videogame designers and marketers. Sex, as any male human with a pulse will tell you, is something that we think of a lot. So it makes sense that some games will incorporate it in one way or another: some potentially good, some cringeworthily bad.
Wired spoke to Brenda Brathwaite, lead designer on Playboy: The Mansion, and a vociferous campaigner for sex in videogames. Brathwaite leads the sex task force at the International Game Developers Association (yes, there is such a group!) and gives talks at numerous conferences. Many refer to her simply as 'The Sex in Games Lady'. Braithwaite has just penned a book, simply titled ‘Sex in Video Games’ (out later this year) and is set to chair the first Sex in Games Conference in June.
Without further ado, here is an edited extract of the most interesting bits from the Wired interview:
<blockquote>Wired News: So what's it like to be the sex in games lady?
Brenda Brathwaite: I am the sex in games lady -- how'd that happen? I'm very passionate about it, I love it, and it's also very weird. Somebody has got to speak about adult content.... It's a real industry and I'm ever aware that saying something tasteless could immediately send it 10 years back.
I believe it's not fair to be forced to have a Disneyesque palette for your games. If somebody said to an artist you couldn't have any nudes in a museum, you have to take them all down because kids might see them, then artists would be in an uproar. If that happened to the movie industry? Actors would walk. Everybody would. But when that specter is raised in games it doesn't make the news.
It's also kind of personal -- things happen that you'd never expect. I regularly get people coming up to me who have a particular fetish and want to know where they can find a game for it. I never expected that people would tell me about their sex experiences. But when we moved -- I have an overwhelming amount of research material, porno games, etc. -- the movers assumed it was my husband's. When they found out it was mine, the look on their faces was worth everything.
WN: Why have a Sex in Videogames Conference?
Brathwaite: Because it's never happened. This is the stuff I sit in my office and wonder about. Every one of the panels was put together because I'd like an answer. One is on the moral issues we face in these type of games -- and the ethics when people can be anything they want. It's also an opportunity for people interested in networking, and for people interested in investing, hoping to meet with developers. There's so much as an industry that we need to discuss in depth.
WN: How does the industry respond to you?
Brathwaite: I'm out there saying that games aren't just for kids, they're for the average 29-year-old male -- and he has a healthy sex drive. So far it's all been supportive. People might be thinking, "What's she doing?" But they haven't said it.
There are many companies and individuals working on adult content and afraid of being blackballed. Yet we're seeing more mature themes integrated into regular games. People don't have to like sexual content, and not every game should line up and have it. But don't tell me or any other developer we can't have it. It's about censorship.
WN: Do you have any games that you'd like to mention?
Brathwaite: Second Life is just the granddaddy of them all. It's really incredibly supportive of all the cultures that have arisen in it. Everything from people hooking up and going on dates, to Furrys, BDSM, emergent family structures, emergent sex businesses -- if you can think of it, it's there. LoveChess: Age of Egypt (NSFW) changes the way you think about chess strategy. When you take a square, basically, the pieces mate. You end up thinking, "How do I engineer that without losing the game?" Naughty America is a massively multiplayer online erotic game that will be really cool to see (when it's released).
WN: What do you see for the future of sex in video games?
Brathwaite: Probably in the not-too-distant future there will be games that could improve peoples' sex lives, therapy for couples. Sex is completely normal and natural. Humans have sex drive and interest and it's not an abnormal thing.</blockquote>
With its comfortable, over-the-ear design and snazzy hi-tech look, Communicator Headset for XB360 is the ideal companion for Xbox L!ve. Communicator Headset works with any Xbox 360 game with voice chat. With a microphone positioned near your mouth and an earpiece for crystal-clear sound, you can bark out your orders or taunt your opponents as you play.
Xbox L!ve’s online gamers’ community is a great way to make new friends and keep in touch with your old ones. You can talk to anyone who’s currently online, regardless of whether you’re playing the same game. In fact, you don’t need to be playing at all – with Communicator Headset and your Xbox L!ve account, you can log on and simply chat.
But it’s in the games that Communicator Headset really comes into its own. Taunt your opponents and discuss strategies with your team-mates during the game, and get ready for your next blast in the lobbies. All Xbox 360 games which feature multiplayer online gaming are compatible with Communicator Headset, so you’ve no shortage of titillating titles. So if you want to keep in touch with gamers from all over the world as you batter them in a beat-‘em-up, drive ‘em crazy in a driving game or blow ’em to bits in that first-person shooter, Communicator Headset is the ideal choice.
Features
• Comfortable, stylish design
• Crystal clear sound
• Mic positioned near mouth – no need to shout…
• Works with WiFi connection
Communicator Headset for Xbox 360 is in the shops now, and costs £9.99 (UK) or $14.99 (USA).
There is a new ‘Automatic’ installation option that will run T360 in the task notification area (system tray); this makes configuration super-easy and mitigates the network permissions issues some users encountered.
Both 2 and 6 channel (5.1) AC3 is supported and the AV sync issue affecting NTSC content has been fixed. Note that due to reliability issues Forward/Backward Skip are disabled while streaming AC3 soundtracks.
In addition to regular playback of XviD and DivX, Transcode 360 supports DVD ISO and VIDEO_TS folder streaming with subtitles; determining the best combination of soundtrack/subtitles appropriate to you based on your locale.
Well, we can't say we were particularly overcome with shock and surprise when this one reached our ears, but Vivendi has officially announced that it's bringing Monolith's acclaimed PC first-person shooter F.E.A.R. to Xbox 360 - and it's going to happen this autumn.
The news is likely to cause delirious paroxysms of joy to 360 owners who've been twitching for more quality shooter action since hanging up controllers on Far Cry Instincts Predator. What's more, in anticipation of F.E.A.R.'s official Xbox 360 unveiling, we've got the very first screenshot for you to go slack-jawed and dribbly over during the extruciating wait.
In F.E.A.R., players strap on the combat boots of a member of a classified strike team attempting to discover what the hell is going on in a multi-billion dollar aerospace compound where, among other things, a crack Special Forces unit has been brutally annihilated. Action is delivered in spades, with a hefty dose of horror added that'll make your underpants fly off in fright.
There's not much more to add, other than to say that the game's set for the full royal treatment at this year's E3, kicking off next week - and we'll be on-hand to give you the full low-down on the title.
Electronic Arts today announced its next generation of game titles for the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) taking place in Los Angeles May 10-12, 2006. EA's line up of EA SPORTSTM and EATM branded games for the Xbox 360TM video game system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, Nintendo WiiTM, Nintendo DSTM, PC and mobile phones will be showcased in EA's booth #1000 in the South Hall. With a renewed focus on original and wholly-owned intellectual property EA will unveil an array of titles and the technology that drives gameplay innovation.
Shown exclusively behind closed doors, EA is presenting its recently announced next generation console action title out of EA Montréal, ARMY OF TWOTM; Will Wright's original PC work in progress, SporeTM; and the newest PC iteration in the acclaimed Command & ConquerTM series, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium WarsTM.
The EA SPORTS line up will go behind closed doors in the EA SPORTS Lab highlighting the technology that fuels the gameplay innovations for the '07 lineup. Madden NFL 07 will be playable on the PlayStation 3 console, Xbox 360, PSP system, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii.
EA is leading the industry with a new generation of games on a new generation of platforms, said Paul Lee President of EA Studios. We're pushing the technology to provide more innovation in our EA branded games and authentic athletic performance in our EA SPORTS games. We're also leading the resurgence of PC gaming with groundbreaking titles like Battlefield 2142, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, Crytek Studio's Crysis and of course Will Wright's new game, SPORE.
EA is demonstrating a ground-breaking level of quality and innovation at E3 this year, said Frank Gibeau, EA Executive Vice President and General Manger of North American Publishing. Games like ARMY OF TWO and NBA LIVE 07 are going to unleash the power of new consoles like PlayStation3 and Xbox 360. Madden NFL 07 makes great use of the new controller on Nintendo's Wii system.
E3 is a showcase for EA's portfolio of globally recognized entertainment, said Executive Vice President and General Manager of International Publishing, Gerhard Florin. Titles like FIFA Football, Lord of the Rings: The Battle For Middle-earth II and the Battlefield franchise are among the most popular games in the world.
EA SPORTS branded E3 line-up
Along with playable demos that showcase deep new offerings of Madden NFL 07, EA will feature tech demonstrations of NBA LIVE, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR and FIFA Football behind closed doors in the EA SPORTS Lab. These demos will illustrate the new tools and development philosophy that drives gameplay and feature innovation in EA SPORTS games on next generation consoles. Highlighting the EA SPORTS Lab will be never-before-seen technology that delivers authentic athletic performance— the athletic movements, awareness, look and emotional intensity that bring characters to life in EA SPORTS games. The Lab will also feature a demonstration of ESPN content integrated in upcoming EA SPORTS games, including ESPN ticker and ESPN SportsCenter Radio updates.
Madden NFL 07 - With the exclusive video game license of the NFL and its players, Madden NFL 07 continues to be the #1 football franchise in history with more than 51 million copies sold. In its 17th installment, you control the running game like never before. For the first time ever, step up as the lead blocker to create a hole, and then take control of the tailback and smash through, overpower, or slash away from would-be tacklers as you fight for every yard. Innovative rushing controls give you a game-breaking ground attack featuring all-new jukes, cutbacks, and the distinct running styles of your favorite backs. Developed by EA Tiburon, Madden NFL 07 will launch in August on the Xbox 360, Xbox® videogame system from Microsoft, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo GameCubeTM, PSP system, PC, Nintendo DS and Game Boy® Advance. Madden NFL 07 is also in development on the PlayStation 3 console and Nintendo Wii.
NASCAR® 07* (Working title) - Take risks, be rewarded, and become a champion with NASCAR® 07* on the PSP system. With all-new Adrenaline Moments, use your skill and instinct during the most intense situations and control the outcome by avoiding disastrous wrecks and flying debris. Maintain your focus on dangerous conditions ahead with the new RaceBreaker feature, which guides you through every treacherous moment of the race. With all-new speed blurring, realistic spark and smoke effects, and camera shakes, get your adrenaline pumping and experience the all-out drama and intensity of 190-mph racing with NASCAR 07.
EA Branded E3 Lineup
The EA game line up is as diverse as the audience games reach today. Gamers will have all-new experiences on award-winning franchises or discover completely new franchises; EA titles will demonstrate that next generation has arrived on the console, PC and handheld devices.
ARMY OF TWOTM - You're not alone soldier, not anymore. At E3, EA unveils details of the action title that has been kept top secret for the past year. Developed at EA's boutique production house in Montréal, Canada, the new, original game will redefine strategic TWO man cooperative play when it launches on the PlayStation 3 console and Xbox 360 in 2007. ARMY OF TWO will throw gamers into hot spots ripped from current day headlines where they will utilise unique TWO man strategies and tactics while seamlessly transitioning between playing with intelligent Partner AI (PAI) and a live player. When one man is not enough, it will take an army of two to fight through war, political turmoil and a conspiracy so vast it threatens the entire world.
Battlefield 2142TM - The year is 2142, and the dawn of a new Ice age has thrown the world into a panic. The soil not covered by ice can only feed a fraction of the Earth's population. The math is simple and brutal: Some will live, most will die. In Battlefield 2142, players choose to fight for one of two military superpowers in an epic battle for survival. Armed with a devastating arsenal of hi-tech weaponry, including assault rifles, cloaking devices, EMP grenades and sentry guns, players can level the playing field against massive Battle Walkers that control the ground and futuristic aircraft that rule the skies. Massive online* battles for up to 64 players drop gamers on the front lines as part of a formal squad, or behind the scenes in Commander Mode to direct the strategic assaults of their team-mates. Battlefield 2142 also introduces an all-new game type for the first time in franchise history: Titan mode, which challenges gamers to control the battlefield and destroy their opponent's Titan - a massive flying warship - while defending their own. Battlefield 2142 is developed by Digital Illusions/DICE Sweden and is slated to ship for PC in Winter 2006.
SPORE – SPORE takes players on an epic journey from the origin and evolution of life through the development of civilization and eventually into the outer reaches of space. Create a creature, then control every dimension of its evolution from pond scum to galactic god. Experience multiple styles of gameplay as your creature advances through different stages of development. Fight for survival in the wild, develop a sprawling metropolis, trade and war against rival civilizations and explore the outer reaches of the galaxy. Every aspect of the universe from creatures to vehicles, buildings to plants, are created by the player and automatically shared with other players, providing a limitless number of worlds to explore and play. Create, control and explore your universe with SPORE. SPORE is under development for the PC by legendary game designer, Will Wright.
CrysisTM – Crysis is all-new first person shooter from Crytek, the award-winning developers of the critically-acclaimed hit Far Cry. Powered by the revolutionary CryEngineTM2, Crysis delivers next-generation PC technology, graphics and gameplay. Set in 2019 after a colossal asteroid crashes to Earth, Crysis begins amidst a tense military standoff between the North Korean and United States governments for control of the impact zone. Amid rising tensions, the asteroid suddenly bursts open revealing a massive alien ship, which begins freezing vast portions of the island and altering the global weather system. The invasion of Earth has begun. Crysis features an epic three-act story of alien invasion where players are able to customise their armor and weapons in real time to confront an ever-changing enemy and a harsh, dynamic environment. Advanced enemy AI employs realistic military tactics, forcing gamers to actively outsmart their opponents rather than simply reacting to them. Crysis is slated to ship for the PC in Winter 2006.
Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium WarsTM – The genre defining Command & Conquer series is back! The epic struggle between the Global Defense Initiative (GDI) and The Brotherhood of NOD continues...and the third Tiberium WarTM is about to begin. Welcome back, Commander. Command & Conquer, the groundbreaking series that put the Real-time Strategy (RTS) genre on the map, is returning in full force with Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars. This highly-anticipated next chapter takes the popular series back to its roots in the Tiberium universe and features the fast, fluid gameplay that Command & Conquer is known for and a gripping story that will redefine storytelling in RTS games. Experience a revolution in RTS gaming with a breakthrough single player campaign that rewards you for your gameplay style. Add layers of strategy to your gaming experience by building mobile bases, wielding the power of terrifying Ion Storms on the battlefield, or customising your armies by combining units. Battle it out online with native voice-over IP, integrated clan support, and new spectator modes that let you play RTS games like a sport. Windows PC, 2007.
The Lord of the RingsTM, The Battle for Middle-earthTM II for the Xbox 360 – Now command the epic battles of Middle-earth from your living room couch! Take control of huge armies and venture into the heart of Middle-earth to live the battles seen in the blockbuster New Line Cinema films and classic J.R.R. Tolkien literary fiction—all in spectacular high-definition. The game boasts a new, intuitive console-specific control scheme that allows novice players to enjoy the game's signature Real-time Strategy gameplay while giving expert players the flexibility needed to engage in a deeply complex strategy experience. Directly control hundreds of units in an attempt to defeat enemy armies, conquer new lands, and seal the fate of Middle-earth. As the first game in The Lord of the RingsTM series to be playable over Xbox LIVETM*, add to the intensity of the experience and challenge friends online* to engage in action-packed real-time battles. Summer 2006.
SUPERMAN RETURNSTM: THE VIDEOGAME challenges players to master Superman's unrivaled powers to save Metropolis. Based on 60 years of DC Comics and the upcoming motion picture, SUPERMAN RETURNSTM: THE VIDEOGAME creates the ultimate open-world super hero experience. As the Man of SteelTM, you'll hone your unworldly super powers such as Flight, X-Ray Vision and Freeze Breath to fight villains that only SupermanTM can defeat. SUPERMAN RETURNS: THE VIDEOGAME will be available on Xbox 360, the Playstation 2 console, Xbox, the PSP system, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance.
Def Jam® Fight For NYTM: The Takeover – Experience the ultimate hip hop fighting game anywhere you go. Master over 180 new fighting moves and 50 new dirty moves in order to win fights and rise among the ranks of your crew. Create your own fighter and battle through over 40 of the hottest artists and celebrities in Hip Hop including Busta Rhymes, Ludacris, Method Man, Redman, Snoop Dogg, and Xzibit. With a new story, new moves, new venues, and head to head wireless gameplay, Def Jam Fight For NY: The Takeover is the summer's must have title for the PSP system.
EA MOBILE E3 GAME LINE UP
EA Mobile is the leader in wireless entertainment with a slate of games that demonstrate a commitment to quality, innovation and value. The dynamic roster offers something for every mobile phone user – puzzle, sports and cutting-edge action. At E3, EA will debut of Orcs & ElvesTM, id Software's first original intellectual property since Quake®, created exclusively for mobile phones by Fountainhead Entertainment. The line up also boasts an impressive slate of EA SPORTS games including 2006 FIFA World CupTM, EA SPORTSTM Fight Night Round 3, Madden NFL 07, NBA LIVE 07, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 07 and an enhanced version of the popular puzzle game Tetris®.
We’ve long suspected that Microsoft’s development team is working on bringing a PSP-killing handheld Xbox into the world – so much so that the new issue of T3 magazine (on sale today) has an exclusive picture of what we think it’ll look like.
Rumours suggest the handheld will have a webcam and 5-inch touchscreen - that’s half an inch more than the PSP’s panel. And it will certainly be multitalented, as much at ease with movies, music and photos as it is with games. Heck, it needs to be in order to make people want it: in the words of Microsoft’s games bigwig, Peter Moore, “it can’t just be our version of the iPod.”
Games bible Edge – T3’s sister publication – recently quizzed Moore about the project. Xbox main man J Allard, normally not given to shunning the public eye, hasn’t been seen for months – surely this is because he’s working on the handheld?
Moore responded with a chuckling “no comment” – hardly the outright “no” that might have been expected, suggesting that Allard may indeed be overseeing the early development of a new portable console.
SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced their title lineup to be featured at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2006. SEGA will feature a broad variety of titles developed for next-generation consoles including the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. In addition, SEGA continues its strong support of PC, current consoles and handheld platforms including the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, and the PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) system. SEGA's booth will be located in South Hall, #946, Los Angeles Convention Center.
SEGA will feature several key titles in its E3 2006 lineup. Sonic celebrates his 15th anniversary by blazing his way onto the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles with his first adventure set in the human world in Sonic the Hedgehog. Featuring interactive 3D environments and a large cast of returning and new characters, get ready for the reinvention of Sonic The Hedgehog, in his most intense, high velocity escapade to date. Full Auto 2: Battlelines is the next generation of combat-racing, exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3. Players must use explosive weapons, high-speed vehicles and skillful demolition of the environment to defeat their opponents and claim the city in high-tempo single-player and multiplayer modes. Virtua Tennis 3 is the return of the Virtua Tennis series with enhanced photo-realistic graphics and advanced player animations that perfectly match the behavior and mannerisms of individual professional athletes. The game will also feature a brand new host of popular mini-games characteristic of the franchise. Medieval II: Total War is the latest game in the award-winning and critically acclaimed Total War series. Medieval II: Total War is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2005's Strategy Game of the Year – Rome: Total War. Coming to the PC, Medieval II is a visually stunning game that spans four and half centuries of the most turbulent and bloody era of Western history, encompassing the golden age of chivalry, the Crusades, the proliferation of gunpowder, the rise of professional armies, the Renaissance and the discovery of America.
"SEGA's mission is to be a premier publisher of a diverse array of great games for the next-generation systems," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "Our 2006 E3 line-up is but a glimpse of the great products in store from SEGA."
SEGA continues to fully support handheld and current-generation users with quality titles including Sonic Rivals (PSP), Yakuza (PS2), and Phantasy Star Universe (PS2, PC, Xbox 360).
SEGA's lineup of entertainment games to be featured at E3 includes, but is not limited to, the titles listed below. SEGA continues its Road to E3 new title announcements up to the first day of E3. For screenshots and artwork visit the official SEGA E3 Web Site at: www.sega.com/e3.
Chromehounds (Xbox 360) - Release: Summer 2006
Chromehounds brings squad-based multiplayer mech combat exclusively to the Xbox 360 for the first time ever. The war of the future has begun with three superpower nations fighting for world domination. Commanding fully customizable giant metal war machines called "Hounds", players must manage their tower of heavy artillery through giant war zones while engaging in cooperative squad-based tactics, and fighting intense battles against other real-time players via Xbox Live.
The Club (Working title, PS3, 360) - Release: Summer 2007
The Club is a loosely organized and highly illegal underground entity. The Club is a meeting ground for those seeking the ultimate in vicarious thrills, and those who want to watch them. Players have been entered into the arena and must fight for survival against the odds. Set in a variety of unusual and evocative locations scattered across the globe, players will yield high-powered weaponry in a bid to earn their escape. The first task is to survive, but players must kill according to specific rules - quickly, relentlessly and with style. Kill or be killed, stand still and it's death!
Full Auto 2: Battlelines (PS3) - Release: November 2006
Full Auto 2: Battlelines is the next generation of combat-racing, exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3. The sequel to the award-winning Full Auto, Full Auto 2: Battlelines puts high-speed vehicles outfitted with weapons and armor into fully realized and fully destructible urban street environments. Strategically use destruction to win races as well as leave massive devastation in your wake. Players can destroy the environment to dynamically change track conditions to block competitors, open new paths, or crush opponents with falling debris caused by well-timed missiles. Full Auto 2: Battlelines also introduces a new Arena Mode featuring team play and six different levels, each specifically designed for a unique type of multiplayer car combat.
Medieval II: Total War (PC) - Release: November 2006
Medieval II: Total War is the latest game in the award-winning and critically acclaimed Total War series. A follow-up to 2005's Strategy Game of the Year – Rome: Total War – Medieval II: Total War is a visually stunning game that spans four and half centuries of the most turbulent and bloody era of Western history, encompassing the golden age of chivalry, the Crusades, the proliferation of gunpowder, the rise of professional armies, the Renaissance and the discovery of America.
Phantasy Star Universe (PS2, Xbox 360, PC) – Release: Fall 2006
Phantasy Star Universe gives players the best of both worlds by offering the depth of single player adventure and the thrill of online cooperative gameplay. Played offline, Phantasy Star Universe joins real-time action gameplay with rich character customization and an enormous solar system to create a fast paced and emotionally engaging RPG experience. Played online, the title gives players an opportunity to travel with a squad of other adventurers, enter urban sprawls teeming with hundreds of players, and build their avatars into powerful warriors. A rich and exciting universe awaits!
SEGA RALLY REVO (PS3, Xbox 360) – Release: Spring 2007
With revolutionary dynamically deformable terrain, proprietary next-generation graphics, bone-jarringly realistic physics, and competitive bumper-to-bumper racing, SEGA RALLY REVO will set a new benchmark in its genre with a high-tempo driving experience that's every racing fan's driving fantasy.
Sonic Rivals (PSP) – Release: Fall 2006
Sonic Rivals is a head-to-head competition between Sonic and his top rivals, where the gloves are off and winner takes all! Built from the ground-up, the engine allows gamers to rip through tracks in some high-spirited single player and wireless multiplayer action against friends as Sonic returns in a whole new racing-platformer with classic 2D gameplay in true 3D environments for gamers on the go.
Sonic The Hedgehog (PS3, Xbox 360) – Release: Fall 2006
Sonic celebrates his 15th anniversary by blazing his way onto the next-generation consoles, with his first adventure set in the human world! Featuring interactive 3D environments and a large cast of returning and new characters, get ready for the reinvention of Sonic The Hedgehog, in his most intense, high velocity escapade to date!
Super Monkey Ball Adventure (PS2, GC, PSP) – Release: July 2006
Join AiAi and friends in a new game to bring harmony to the Monkey Ball Universe kingdoms in Super Monkey Ball Adventure. This is the first Super Monkey Ball title that offers a narrative-driven adventure in a dynamic world in which puzzles and quests are spread throughout. Classic Super Monkey Ball gameplay is bolstered by a chant system that grants new abilities to the Monkey Ball in addition to brand new multiplayer Party Games and puzzle levels built into the story line.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz (Wii) – Release: Fall 2006
AiAi and all his friends have rolled their way onto Nintendo's new console, with a wide range of new puzzle levels and numerous exciting Party Games specifically designed to exploit the innovative Wii controller. For the first time in the Super Monkey Ball universe players will be able to jump using an upward flick motion with the Wii Controller. In addition, scores of Party Games – such as Whack-a-Mole or ring toss – have been creatively designed to take advantage of the Nintendo Wii controller.
Virtua Tennis 3 (PS3) – Release: Spring 2007
With Virtua Tennis 3, the series returns with enhanced photo-realistic graphics and advanced player animations that perfectly match the behavior and mannerisms of individual professional players. Next-generation systems allow gamers to see the most detailed expressions on the faces of their selected players as they battle to win heated tournaments around the world. In addition to the popular mini-games from previous titles used to sharpen players' skills, there will be a whole host of brand new mini-games to keep players in top form.
World Pool Championship 2007 (PS2, PSP) – Release: September 2006
In World Pool Championship 2007, gamers will experience the most complete and authentic billiards game by either creating their own pool player or playing as one of the world's top pros in 20 officially licensed pool tournaments including the Mosconi Cup, World Cup, and U.S. Open. In Golden Cue mode, players test their versatility by challenging other pro-players to games of eight and nine-ball, and other cuesports within the same tournament. Pool sharks can also show their true skills in the World Trickshot Championship, where players can pull off their favorite crowd-pleasers from a vast selection of trickshots.
Yakuza (PS2) – Release: September 2006
In a society where respect and honor holds great importance, there is an even higher regard for these traits within one organization most feared by all: the Yakuza. Step into the shoes of the Yakuza and experience the underside of Tokyo, where the city streets and illicit haunts of the city's nightlife district are authentically re-created; cinematic CG movies tell a gripping story, and memorable characters deliver a rich adventure full of beautiful but deadly fighting.
Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR), one of the world's most recognized brands, today announced the complete line-up of video games the Company will showcase during Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the video game industry's largest trade show and exhibition in Los Angeles, May 10-12. The Company's titles range in genres and are from some of the world's best-known franchises including Dragon Ball Z®, Test Drive® Unlimited, Alone in the Dark, and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®. The Company is charging forward with a robust line-up of next-generation console and handheld games with a focus on innovative and compelling gameplay.
"As the Atari brand has withstood the test of time, so does the appeal of many of our games and franchises," said Atari, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Bruno Bonnell. "We continue to reach and surpass milestones, such as the ten- millionth mark of Dragon Ball Z game sales, and redefining genres we originated, such as Alone in the Dark's horror survival and Test Drive Unlimited's Massively Open Online Racing (M.O.O.R.TM). Atari continues to move forward and seek out groundbreaking, imaginative and entertaining properties like the underground based, street smart HOT PXL. Evident as part of our E3 line-up, these and other games are all part of the Company's evolution and continued focus on gameplay."
Following is the list of Atari's products that will be showcased at E3 this year. The Atari booth is located at Petree Hall #4003:
Alone in the Dark (Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows platform)
The original Alone in the Dark is the video game that launched horror survival gaming and set the standard within the genre. The next-generation of Alone in the Dark returns with a heart-stopping survival experience realized through the use of state-of-the-art real-time physics and unprecedented environmental interaction. Delivering an exhilarating action-orientated experience within a highly detailed, open environment, Alone in the Dark is set to take the lead for innovation and excellence within the genre. Alone in the Dark is in development by Eden Games, the second largest game development studio in France and a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA.
Arthur and the Minimoys (PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) system, Nintendo DSTM, Game Boy® Advance and Windows)
Directly inspired by world famous film director and writer Luc Besson's upcoming animated film of the same name, the Arthur and the Minimoys* game will follow the film's storyline and feature eye-popping graphics and technical innovations. The game allows players to relive the fantastic adventure of young Arthur and his two pals, princess Selenia and her brother Betameche, in their mission to save the Minimoys' world from destruction. Set to time with The Weinstein Company theatrical release of the movie in North America, Arthur and the Minimoys game is currently in development by Lyon-and Paris-based Etranges Libellules, creator of several successful animated games, including Asterix XXL and Kirikou. The Nintendo DS game is being developed by Dreamon, and the Nintendo Game Boy Advance version by Mystic.
BattleZone (PSP system)
BattleZone is the modern update to the 1980 classic arcade game. Set in futuristic international military environments, BattleZone puts players in control of highly maneuverable hover tanks, challenging them in close combat scenarios against their rivals with relentless onslaughts of quick, action- oriented battles. BattleZone for the PSP system is being developed by Paradigm Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames Entertainment SA.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®: TacticsTM (PSP system)
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®: TacticsTM is the first time the highly-coveted D&D® license has ever graced a next-generation portable system. D&D®: Tactics* authentically utilizes the D&D 3.5 rule-set created by Wizards of the Coast and allows players to take a party of six adventurers into a wide variety of dangerous environments to experience deep and exciting turn-based action. In development by Kuju Entertainment, D&D: Tactics will take full advantage of the PSP system's wireless capability and offer gamers a multiplayer mode.
Dragon Ball Z®: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (PlayStation®2 and Nintendo Wii)
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is the sequel to Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi, the top-selling DBZ game of 2005. Combining action, fighting and light role-playing game (RPG) elements, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 will send players into a rich story mode that spans the entire Dragon Ball®, DBZ, and Dragon Ball GT® series. The game takes the acrobatic and intense 3D flying and fighting dynamic made popular in last year's hit to a whole new level with over 100 playable characters, 15 vast and vibrant 3D destructible environments, and nine different game modes, including intense single and multiplayer battles. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is being developed by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. / Spike.
HOT PXL (PSP system)
HOT PXL*, the ingenious and hip new title, brings fast and furious bite-size gaming to the masses. HOT PXL comprises more than 200 deviously crafted mini-games based on a unique and original story premise that draws inspiration from street culture and the digital lifestyle -- whether it's blasting through an old-school style video game, busting tricks on a skateboard or a BMX, stage-diving at a concert, or just trying to cross a busy digital street. The game's web site, www.hotpxl.com, will serve as an integral part of the experience and the community. HOT PXL is being developed by zSlide.
Neverwinter NightsTM 2 (Windows)
Neverwinter NightsTM 2 is the sequel to the best-selling and genre-defining role-playing game (RPG) set in the popular Dungeons & Dragons® Forgotten RealmsTM universe created by Wizards of the Coast. The game's story picks up years after a war waged between Luskan and Neverwinter. The peace that was restored is at risk as tension mounts between the mighty city-states. Unnoticed, a greater danger stalks the City of Skilled Hands. Unbeknownst to the denizens of the North, deep in the Mere of Dead Men, dark forces from across the Realms have been rallied under the banner of a legendary evil. If left unchallenged, all of the North is doomed to fall under its power. Even in this darkest hour, hope remains. A mysterious relic is borne to Neverwinter in the hands of a lone hero so that its secrets may be unlocked -- secrets that carry the fate of all the North. So begins an epic tale of shattered alliances, noble acts and dark deeds to be told across the Realms for generations to come. Neverwinter Nights 2, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, will include a new and improved robust toolset that allows for the ultimate adventure creation and for the story of Neverwinter to continue.
Super DBZ® (PlayStation®2)
Super DBZ® is a new highly intense DBZ® fighting experience unlike any other Dragon Ball Z game. Featuring an all-new and more complex DBZ fighting system with unique fighting combos for all 18 characters, Super DBZ promises fans and gamers explosive on-screen environmental damage. Super DBZ is in development by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. / Crafts & Meister, and including the creators of the acclaimed Street Fighter II arcade game.
Test Drive® Unlimited (Xbox 360 and Windows)
Packed with the world's most luxurious vehicles, more than one thousand miles of open Hawaiian roads, a challenging single player game and a host of online options, Test Drive Unlimited is M.O.O.R.TM: Massively Open Online Racing - the ultimate online automotive gaming experience. The action in Test Drive Unlimited takes place on the open roads spanning the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Boasting huge online content, racers around the world can challenge others to join them in the virtual paradise of the game's persistent online racing world. Players will engage in online challenges, and build communities by creating or joining exclusive members clubs to talk, trade cars, and race with other like-minded and similarly-skilled drivers in one of the most comprehensive online racing experiences to date. Test Drive Unlimited is in development by Eden Games.
Anyone who has always wanted to put Darth Vader's head on Yoda's body and serve up some 720p Jedi justice - and we know you're out there - will be pleased to hear that Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is officially heading to the Xbox 360.
This news comes as part of info on a new campaign to re-paint the world's shops in Star Wars hue in the autumn, with a new DVD release initiative (involving the digitally restored and re-mastered versions of the first three Star Wars movies being packaged with the original theatrical release versions) running alongside the launch of the Lego Star Wars sequel.
In case you haven't been paying attention, the Lego Star Wars sequel takes us back to the care-free days of the original Star Wars trilogy, when Luke was a strapping young lad and Obi-Wan Kenobi was popping down the post office to collect his Jedi pension. The release of Lego Star Wars II on Xbox 360 marks the first ever next-gen Star Wars game; but somehow we get the feeling there's many more to come.
Just how good will those Lego bricks look in HD glory?
THQ's joined the growing list of publishers to announce its line-up for E3 - and there's a lot to consider in virtually every category.
Of the next-gen systems, Xbox 360 is best represented - with Saints Row, MotoGP '06 and GTR lining up exclusively, while a hatful of multiformat titles touch on Microsoft's new turf, including Frontlines: Fuel of War (also PS3/PC), The Sopranos (also PS2), WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 (also PS3/PS2/PSP).
THQ's PC line-up is also quite strong. Apart from the aforementioned Frontlines, there's Supreme Commander, Company of Heroes, Titan Quest and Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War - Dark Crusade.
Elsewhere, we'll have a chance to see Destroy All Humans! 2 (PS2/Xbox), Juiced: Eliminator (PSP), and a variety of other titles including Monster House (PS2/Cube/GBA/DS), Avatar: The Last Airbender (all formats except PS3/X360) and THQ's Bratz, Alex Rider, Barnyard, (Pixar) Cars and SpongeBob SquarePants game, several of which will be appearing on Nintendo Wii as well as all the usual formats.
I know this isnt news or really even psp related.
But I think a lot of people are missing out on just how great #dcemu chat really is
Its really simple to find us here on irc too.
You can either get an irc client and join us on Efnet at #dcemu
or use our java irc client which is here http://psp-news.dcemu.co.uk/irc/irc.htm
So come and join us, chat, or just shoot the breeze, you'll find us here 24/7
Those in the UK will have known that we have had 2 red hot days of Sun which has kicked off my Hay Fever plus by 9pm at night has wiped me out (i usually go to sleep at 2.30am) and so we maybe behind a little on News, but have no fear within a few hours we will be back up to speed
Just in case people were wondering why the news wasnt as fast as it normally is
A new episode of the GamesIndustry.biz Podcast has been released today, featuring news and analysis of the week's top headlines, Nintendo UK boss David Yarnton discussing the Wii, and a look at what's coming up next week at E3.
The podcast can be listened to on your PC or on any portable music player.
You can get the podcast either using our RSS feed - which will automatically update you when we post new episodes - or by directly downloading the MP3 file. iTunes users can subscribe from within iTunes by selecting the "Subscribe to Podcast..." option under the "Advanced" menu, and pasting in our RSS address: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/podcast/gipodcast.xml
Divineo UK have posted several new items for the Xbox 360:
GAME 360 FACE
Get your Game Face on! Personalize your Xbox 360 with the GameFace customizable faceplate and skin kit. This two piece faceplate houses personalized templates placed between a high-grade clear polycarbonate front plate and a stylized base plate. Download the easy to use design software at www.nyko.com and instantly create faceplates using your favorite game characters, images, photos, patterns and more. Print the final creations on the 15 blank templates using any home printer or try one of the 6 pre-printed designs also included in the kit. The templates fit snugly between the faceplate pieces and snap into place on the front of the Xbox 360. With the GameFace 360, you get everything you need to make up to 16 custom faceplates right away all from the comfort of home.
*RED* 360 FacePlate
An entry price Xbox 360 Metallic Face Plate. RED color!
*WHITE* 360 FacePlate
An entry price Xbox 360 Face Plate. Pearl white color!
*BLACK* 360 FacePlate
An entry price Xbox 360 Face Plate. Black color!
*BLUE* 360 FacePlate
An entry price Xbox 360 Face Plate. Blue color!
XCM 360 Deluxe Chrome Plate
A limited edition DELUXE CHROME color of Xbox 360 faceplate by XCM. Includes the eject button and the DVD bezel.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 made its South Park debut last night. In one scene (seen here), Stan, Kyle, Butters, and Kenny are all using wired controllers. What up with that?
Could this be a hint? Is Microsoft planning a major Xbox 360 announcement at E3? A revelation that would trump anything that Nintendo or Sony could whip out? A new Xbox 360 model with four — yes, four! — USB ports?
Consider this ... what if Microsoft has already played out wireless? Heck, for that matter, what if the next-gen forerunner has already played out the entire HD era (notice the standard def hookup)? Is the next turn for Microsoft ... the retro era? A mess of tangled wires ... a pile of dusty cartridges ... 2D-pixelated Halo? C'mon, admit it, that would better than any of this Wiimote propaganda or those fourth dimension rumors we've been hearing from the other guys.
One of the few limitations of the Xbox 360 is that it is unable to store and play movies and music from the built-in Hard Drive. Digital media files must be streamed from a Windows Media Center PC via an Ethernet cable, but many movie and music file formats are incompatible with the console, and need to be converted in order to playback successfully.
Xploder 360 Media Center is a complete single point PC-based media store for all your movie and music files allowing seamless streaming to your Xbox 360.
Xploder Media Center provides you with the ability to stream your own downloaded or compressed movies, including DivX, Xvid, MPEG and WMV, for playback in High Definition on Xbox 360*.
Once connected to the PC, on-screen navigation allows you to view your entire digital movie collection via the TV. Simply select the movie you wish to view and Xploder takes care of the rest - converting incompatible files and streaming them to the TV in real-time. Xploder also provides access to the fast-forward and rewind functions on the Xbox console.
Xploder Media Center also enables users to import music CDs to MP3 via an 'iTunes style' interface, including an online database for Artist, Track and Album names. Scroll through your complete digital music collection via the TV, select your favourite tracks and sit back, Xploder will stream the music from PC to Xbox 360 for playback via surround sound on your TV or AV system.
Complete with a three metre Ethernet cable and crossover adaptor, Xploder Media Center is also compatible with your 360 - PC wireless connection.
Here's mine (one per console):
Red Steel (Wii)
Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
Lego Star Wars II (DS)
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Gamecube)
I'm also looking forward to:
Sadness (Wii)
Super Smash Bros (Wii)
Numerous Virtual Console (Wii)
Tales of Tempest (DS)(nearly made it into most wanted)
I attended an engineering speech by Nick Baker, the director of Xbox Console Design Architecture. He's one of the top chip architects on the Xbox 360's chips. Most of the chat was deep in the woods. But one of his comments was startling. He said that Microsoft had now sold 3.3 million consoles worldwide. Microsoft PR confirmed that number to me just now.
What's interesting is that Microsoft said in its earnings statement that it had shipped 1.75 million consoles by March 31. Because of its rough start in manufacturing, it took 4.5 months to reach that number. The original goal had been 3 million units in the first 90 days, but the manufacturing glitches scotched that goal. Now it looks like Microsoft is making up for lost time.
Microsoft's goal is 4.5 million to 5.5 million units by June 30.
2K Sports continues to test their bugged-out games the way Shaq shoots free throws, which is to say poorly. Reader Trevor complains:
I loaded up NBA 2K6 for the 360 earlier this week and it prompted me for a forced update. After the update I played a game and the crib points (rewards for in game acheivements to buy in game stuff) were totally messed up. For example, I got one rebound and got the 10 rebound reward, I scored 10 points and I got the 100 point reward, made 2 free throws and I got the 15 free throw award etc.....
Obviously the patch screwed up the stat recording by a factor of 10. Dozens of people have been complaining on the 2k forums The question is why wasn't this caught. It's blatently obvious in the first 10 seconds of playing the game. No testing what so ever.
A road trip to the forums finds plenty of complaints and no answers. How many fouls does 2K get before people just stop buying their products?
Well a massively busy week or so is coming with E3 around the corner, please feel free to submit as much news as possible
Message to Coders
I do have a request for fans of Homebrew worldwide and from different languages, ive noticed on several none english forums that there are new games, demos etc but translation software is pretty much useless so any coders who would like more exposure then please post in our Submit News Forum and we will move it to the site where the news is applicable.
Also to all coders on any platform please use the forums to upload your releases, those free uploaders like Rapidshare and Megaupload etc are rubbish plus you get feedback with your release.
We are the only Network of sites where Coders can post news directly once we make them Coder Rank, we will mirror your release but we are here to be used as promotion for your release
DCEMU LOGO Needed
The New DCEmu Network site at http://www.dcemu.co.uk will be getting a redesign very soon but for now its in need of a new logo for the site.
The name for the site is
DCEmu - The Home of Homebrew
Size of logo isnt too much of a worry but the actual size in kb does need to be fairly low (under 80kb)
if anyones bored then please have a go
DCEmu T-Shirt Design
Theres been some discussion for a long while about having a DCEmu T-Shirt and i suppose a T-Shirt with the same logo as the main site would be a great idea. so if any of you are bored again please have a go.
DCEmu Podcast/Magazine Site
Theres been discussion in IRC about a Podcast site for DCEmu, who is up for it ?, if theres a demand then we will sort out a sub domain for you and get the idea going. Let Me know.
Got an Idea for a Site or Need Hosting
With the Vbulletin Forum we use we have near on 50,000 members at this time and the forum can be used as a news feed for any site, the site doesnt have to be Homebrew related as long as its not illegal :P, i personally would like to see say a Harry Potter dcemu site or sites on consoles/pc/laptops etc etc.
Interesting ideas are always welcome.
Ok thats all for my rant, back to less boring stuff now
SNK's E3 booth will include four new titles when the show launches next week. The games will all be released in Q3 2006 and will span the Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. Metal Slug Anthology will be SNK's first Wii game, King of Fighters 2006 is an all-new PS2 3D fighter, while handheld titles SNK vs Capcom Card Fighters DS and Metal Slug complete the line-up.
King of Fighters 2006 is a PS2 exclusive at the show, and will be a 3D fighter based on the long-running series. It is set to feature characters from The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact as well as hidden characters. SNK also promises that The King of Fighters anime series will be included as a free gift with the game at retail.
Metal Slug Anthology will be released on both the Wii and the PSP and will combine six Metal Slug titles from the arcade version in addition to as-yet unnamed bonus content. The games confirmed for the package include Metal Slug , Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug X, Metal Slug 3, Metal Slug 4, and Metal Slug 5.
SNK vs Capcom Card Fighters DS is the first new game in the card battling series since 2000, and will feature characters from both SNK and Capcom games. Finally, Metal Slug is a port of the classic arcade 2D action game that will launch on the Game Boy Advance.
Majesco's E3 line-up has been revealed ahead of next week's show, and showcases an exclusive focus on handheld platforms. The 2006 show includes four new titles previewed across Sony PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS.
Guilty Gear Judgement will launch on the PSP and combines two games into one package. The arcade fighting game Guilty Gear X2 #Reload will be accompanied by a brand new side scrolling game.
On the Nintendo DS, MechAssault: Phantom War will be a third-person shooter based on the Xbox series and will offer 20 types of vehicles, including Mechs, Tanks, Turret and BattleArmor. Monster Bomber is an arcade game where you fling different coloured balls on the Touch Screen to hit rapidly descending, multi-coloured monsters on the top screen.
Cooking Mama, which is the third DS game in the line-up, is a more novel title. It features 76 different recipes, and you use the touch screen to chop, slice, pan fry, knead, grate, mash and peel ingredients. You can then share your recipes and saved games wirelessly with other DS owners.
At booth #324 in the South Hall of the Entertainment Electronic Expo (E3), 2K will be featuring autograph sessions with Adam West, who plays himself as the Mayor of Quahog in the Family Guy video game and TV show, and Marc Silvestri with Paul Jenkins, the famed comic book artist and writer who are also the talents behind the cult-comic hit, The Darkness. In addition, 2K will be hosting a competitive prize-based multi-player tournament with Prey, a groundbreaking first person shooter that raises the bar and turns the genre upside-down.
Autograph Sessions:
Wednesday, May 11th
Time: 1-2:30, 3:30-4pm, 4:30pm-5pm
Who: Marc Silvestri and Paul Jenkins are the co-creators of the comic book The Darkness, as well as contributors to the upcoming, gritty, action/adventure game for next generation consoles that is based on the comic.
Thursday, May 12th
Time: 2-3pm, 3:30pm-4pm
Who: Adam West, the voice of Mayor of Quahog in the cult cartoon the Family Guy, will reprise his role in the upcoming humorous action/adventure video game based on this popular cartoon.
Multi-Player Prey Tournament:
Come take part in an 8-player head-to-head PC tournament with Prey, the upcoming PC/Xbox 360 FPS game from 2K, developed by Human Head Studios and produced by 3D Realms.
When:
Wednesday: Signup and Qualifying throughout the day (first come, first served)
Thursday: Semi-finals begin at 9:30am
Friday: Finals at 11am and Championship Game at 3pm
The Grand prize is a VoodooPC HEXX gaming PC customized for Prey, with premium prizes from AMD, Creative and Logitech. In addition, attendees who play Prey at the 2K booth receive a free Prey customized Func Original sUrface1030 mousing surface (while supplies last), courtesy of ATI and 2K.
Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, today announces that the first ever glimpse of the upcoming downloadable content package for the Xbox 360 version of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™ will be unveiled exclusively at the Dodge booth at this year’s E3! Not only will gamers get their first viewing of this upcoming content package, but a trip to the Dodge booth will offer a chance to play it first-hand! Check below for a quick rundown of the details, time and location of this world exclusive unveiling. More official news and details regarding the downloadable content package for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™ for the Xbox 360 will be available soon.
DODGE BOOTH LOCATION AND TIMES:
The Dodge booth at E3 is located in the West Lobby, Booth number F5. The times that the upcoming DLC will be showcased and or playable are as follows:
Building on the success of 2005's top-selling World Series of Poker® video game, Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) announced today that it will debut an all-new title, World Series of Poker®: Tournament of Champions, at the E3 Expo on May 10. The game takes high-stakes poker action to new heights with twice as many top pros, access to extensive poker tools that will help players improve their game, and DigiMaskTM Technology that actually maps a player's face into the game.
Additionally, Activision and Microsoft will launch the "Play with the Big Boys Sweepstakes," giving consumers the chance to win a trip to the World Series of Poker event in Las Vegas, Nevada and the opportunity to play for the Grand Prize -- a seat at the $10,000 Main Event.
To enter the sweepstakes, U.S. residents 21 years and older can log on to www.xboxpokersweeps.com between May 10 and June 16. Additionally, attendees at the E3 Expo, which is being held at the L.A. Convention Center from May 10-12, can enter at the World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions kiosk in the Activision booth, located in the South Hall, #1200.
Six prize winners will be randomly selected to receive a three-day/two night trip to the 2006 World Series of Poker event in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they will have the opportunity to compete in a virtual game of No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em in Activision's World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions game on Xbox® 360 for the Grand Prize -- a seat at the $10,000 Main Event. Contest and sweepstakes participants can view the official rules at www.xboxpokersweeps.com.
World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions features an immersive storyline that casts players as a newly turned poker pro building his career under the tutelage of Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, learning strategies and tips directly from one of the world's foremost poker pros. Gamers advance their career by competing against top pros in the premiere Circuit Events in hopes of qualifying for the winner-take-all, invitation-only Tournament of Champions, which is held at the Rio Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The game will be available this fall for the Xbox® 360, as well as other platforms.
"This is the most authentic and realistic World Series of Poker video game to ever hit the shelves," said Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker and vice present of Sports & Entertainment Marketing for Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET). "Activision has again innovated for the benefit of poker players, our media partners, and, most importantly, World Series of Poker fans around the world."
Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATVI) today confirmed that the company is currently in development on three launch titles for both the PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system and WiiTM (formerly code named Revolution) platforms. The company has been working closely with both Sony Computer Entertainment America and Nintendo on the development of "Call of Duty® 3" and "Marvel: Ultimate Alliance," which will be released on both next-generation systems, as well as on the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Activision also is developing two completely different games based on the Tony Hawk franchise -- "Tony Hawk's Project 8TM" for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and "Tony Hawk's Downhill JamTM" for the Nintendo's new Wii system. In fiscal 2007, the company will release 10 games for the three next-generation platforms, including the titles listed above, as well as "X-Men: The Official Game" for the Xbox 360.
Additionally, at the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Activision will unveil a sneak peak from its highly anticipated "Spider-Man 3TM" video game that demonstrates the in-game model of the renowned Super Hero and the power of next-generation technology. Activision's Windows PC lineup is led by id Software's "Enemy TerritoryTM: QUAKE Wars," the highly-anticipated online team-based first-person action game.
These announcements underscore Activision's commitment to being a leader on all of the next-generation gaming systems. The company established an early leadership position on the Xbox 360 and, according to the NPD Group, has the #1 Xbox 360 game with "Call of Duty® 2." Activision's next-generation slate is anchored by well-established, recognizable brands that the company owns or controls.
Activision also announced its game lineup for the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo, taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 10-12, 2006. The company's slate showcases games for both next-and current-generation consoles and Windows PC platforms.
"Activision will showcase a diverse and well-rounded game slate at this year's E3 convention," said Mike Griffith, President and CEO, Activision Publishing, Inc. "We expect that our well-established brands and multi-platform development strategy should continue to provide us with an advantage in the new console era. The next-generation console systems feature significant visual and audio enhancements that will continue making video games more accessible to audiences worldwide."
Next-Generation Launch Titles:
Activision's PlayStation 3 system launch lineup will take advantage of the hardware's multi-core processing to deliver smoother, faster gaming experiences that will closely resemble feature film quality values. The company's launch games for Nintendo's Wii system will fully utilize the Wii's revolutionary freehand-style controller by offering more immersive gameplay.
"Call of Duty 3," the follow-up to the #1 next-generation game, delivers the intensity of being closer than ever to the fury of combat during the battle for the Liberation of Paris, the most harrowing campaign of WWII, known as The Normandy Breakout. Through a seamless narrative, "Call of Duty 3" delivers the rush of unrelenting battle and breathtaking action of the Allied offensive that changed the fate of the world. (PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii, Xbox, PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
"Marvel: Ultimate Alliance" is an all-new action/RPG that features over 140 Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains and the largest roster of comic book characters ever seen in a video game. Players get to create their Super Hero team from over 20 playable characters, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Blade and Captain America, and through their actions determine the fate of both planet Earth and the Marvel Universe, which is revealed in one of several epilogues. (PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PSPTM (PlayStation® Portable) system, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Windows PC; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Designed and built exclusively for Nintendo's next-generation and handheld systems, "Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam" delivers a totally innovative and unique skateboard experience focused on head-to-head racing. The game allows players to feel the breakneck speed of downhill competition as they tear up the world's steepest terrains while performing tricks and outmaneuvering opponents in such locations as San Francisco, Machu Picchu and Hong Kong. Taking on the role of Tony Hawk or one of nine characters, players compete in time-based challenges in one of three gameplay modes, including race, trick and slalom. (Wii, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Reengineered from the ground up for the PlayStation 3 system and Microsoft's Xbox 360, "Tony Hawk's Project 8" immerses players in the definitive skateboarding experience using ultra-realistic graphics, enhanced physics and extremely responsive controls that simulate the feeling of skating with every trick and bail. The game challenges players to experience the intensity and pressure of skating against some of the world's top pros in true to life competitions as they aim to become the #1 skater. (PlayStation 3 system, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PSP system; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Powerhouse E3 Lineup:
Set to redefine online action gaming, id Software's "Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars" is the ultimate team- and objective-based multiplayer experience. Developed by Splash Damage and executive produced by id Software, the first person strategic action game is set within the epic "QUAKE®" universe in the year 2065 and pits the Allied troops of the Global Defense Force (GDF) against a new Axis of Evil -- the barbaric and technologically advanced Strogg. Built on id Software's new MegaTextureTM rendering technology and featuring strategic team play, persistent character promotions and the universe's most powerful weapons and vehicles, "Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars" transports players to the frontlines of an epic new war for Earth. (Windows PC; not yet rated by the ESRB)
Building on "The MoviesTM'" critically acclaimed gameplay, "The Movies: Stunts & EffectsTM Expansion Pack" ups the ante on movie production with the addition of stuntmen, death-defying stunts and new stunt double characters; a new particle effects engine that lets players enhance their scenes with incredible visual effects, including fireball explosions, shattering glass, smoke and steam; an all-new "Freecam Mode" that allows players to adjust the camera location, angle, field of view and path to create truly unique movies; and the addition of new miniature sets that let players create dramatic sweeping angles. (Windows PC; summer; Rated "T" (Teen -- Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Tobacco Violence) by the ESRB)
Based on DreamWorks Animation's upcoming film, "Over the HedgeTM" takes players on an all-new adventure beyond the movie as they assume the roles of RJ the raccoon, Verne the turtle, Hammy the squirrel and Stella the skunk and turn a suburban neighborhood loaded with dangerous obstacles and traps into their personal playground. (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and the PC have been rated E10+; Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS have been rated E by the ESRB; available on North American retail shelves May 9)
"X-Men: The Official Game" catapults players into an original storyline that serves as a prelude to Twentieth Century Fox and Marvel Studios' upcoming film, "X-Men: The Last Stand," and allows them to command the distinct powers of Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Iceman as they face off against formidable enemies, battle through massive environments and embark on an epic quest to save mutant-kind. (Rated "T" (Teen -- violence) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube and PC by the ESRB; Rated "E-10+" (Everyone 10 and older -- fantasy violence) for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance) by the ESRB; available on North American retail shelves May 16)
Building on last year's #1 poker title and the #1 brand in poker, "World Series of Poker®: Tournament of Champions" takes a story-based approach, putting players on the Pro Circuit as a new pro and protege of Chris "Jesus" Ferguson. Players test their skills at the premier Circuit Events in hopes of qualifying for the winner-take-all, invitation-only Tournament of Champions at the Rio Resort in Las Vegas. Along the way, they face-off against more top pros than ever before, including Joseph Hachem, the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion, and Jennifer Tilly, the Academy Award-nominated actress and World Series of Poker bracelet holder, among others in hopes of bringing home the Tournament of Champions trophy. (Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PC, PSP system; fall; not yet rated by the ESRB)
New Online Content:
Further expanding the experience of the #1 title for the Xbox 360, Activision will release four all new "Call of Duty 2" Xbox 360 multiplayer maps at E3 that unleash a blistering barrage of battle for gamers. The four maps will be available via Xbox Live® online game network. The Bonus Pack features two maps set in Germany and will be released for free, while the Skirmish Pack contains two additional maps set in Russia and France and will be sold for 400 Microsoft PointsTM through Xbox Live® Marketplace.
Video taped comments from Activision's CEO, Robert Kotick, concerning E3, the PlayStation 3 system, Nintendo Wii and the future of digital entertainment, are available at www.thenewsmarket.com/activision. Media can preview and request broadcast-standard video digitally or by tape at no cost from this site.
Vivendi Games ("VG") today announced its product line-up for the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Among the company's highly anticipated titles to be shown during E3 is Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft®: The Burning CrusadeTM, the expansion pack to the world's most popular massively multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG). Sierra Entertainment will also highlight exciting new titles, including ScarfaceTM The World Is Yours, which will be shown in a theatre that recreates the infamous mansion balcony shoot-out from the iconic film starring Al Pacino; EragonTM, based on the best-selling novel and upcoming feature film from 20th Century Fox, Eragon. Fox and Vivendi Games will be previewing exclusive footage from the movie and presenting the game in the Eragon Theater. Sierra will also debut F.E.A.R. TM 360, the critically acclaimed 2005 PC title being released on Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, as well as several other exciting Sierra titles.
"Vivendi Games has emerged as a leader in top quality interactive entertainment with the number one position in the MMORPG market, and leading positions in PC and console. We are thrilled to present a spectacular E3 roster of original properties and entertainment licenses, which reflect the creativity and innovation that are cornerstones of our work," said Bruce Hack, CEO of Vivendi Games.
Other major E3 releases from Sierra Entertainment include TimeshiftTM for Xbox 360, PC titles World in ConflictTM, CaesarTM IV, and F.E.A.R. Extraction Point, the expansion pack to F.E.A.R., and PSPTM (PlayStation® Portable) system titles 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition and Miami ViceTM The Game. VG's new Sierra Online division will highlight FreeStyleTM Street Basketball, currently one of the most popular games in Korea, and Vivendi Games Mobile will showcase new mobile titles.
Listed below is additional information for the titles on display at Vivendi Games' E3 booth #1224, located in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (Expansion Pack)
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade takes up where World of Warcraft left off, with the races of the Horde and the Alliance continuing to rebuild their lives among the shattered lands of Azeroth. Amid the fragile peace that exists between the factions come rumors that the Burning Legion's age-old war against Azeroth – the so-called Burning Crusade – has been rekindled and threatens to consume the world in another firestorm of war and strife. Additional news, including details on the highly anticipated beta-test and expected release dates for each region, will be announced in the coming months.
Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
Scarface: The World Is Yours
Scarface: The World Is Yours is an open-world action game that puts players in the epic role of Tony Montana. Featuring an unprecedented all-star Hollywood cast and an original script penned by renowned writer David McKenna, the creator of American History X and Blow, Scarface: The World Is Yours will bring Tony Montana to life in an authentic Scarface experience. Developed by Radical Entertainment. Expected Release: Autumn 2006; Platform: PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PC
Eragon
Based on the worldwide literary phenomenon and the 2006 20th Century Fox film starring Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons, Academy Award nominee John Malkovich, Djimon Hounsou, Robert Carlyle, Ed Speleers and Sienna Guillory, Eragon immerses the player in a magical world of dragon riders, destiny and adventure. Gamers will engage in intense battles with an unparalleled combo and magic-based combat system. Developed by Stormfront Studios and Amaze Entertainment. Expected Release: Autumn 2006; Platforms: PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360, Xbox, NGC, GBA, DS, PC
World in Conflict
World in Conflict represents the next-generation of strategy games, with completely destructible 3D battlefields, aggressive team-based multiplayer action and a focus on fast, hard-hitting battles. The game presents a chillingly authentic Cold War scenario created by noted author and Cold War authority Larry Bond. Developed by Massive Entertainment. Expected Release: Spring 2007; Platform: PC
F.E.A.R. 360
The best shooter of 2005 comes to the Xbox 360 with brand new single player and multiplayer content. F.E.A.R. is a paranormal action thriller presented entirely in first person. It is an unprecedented adrenaline rush of close quarters combat seamlessly melded with the spine-tingling, shocking intensity of the unknown. Developed by Day One Studios. Expected Release: Q4 2006; Platform: Xbox 360
F.E.A.R. Extraction Point (Expansion Pack)
In the expansion pack for the critically acclaimed F.E.A.R. Extraction Point kicks off where the original title ended – with a bang. The First Encounter Assault Recon Team (F.E.A.R.) returns to battle the now free Alma and her deadly minions across a desolated city. Developed by TimeGate Studios. Expected Release: Oct. 2006; Platform: PC
Timeshift
Timeshift is a futuristic FPS that is all about controlling time. Using the Quantum Suit, players have the ability to slow, stop and reverse the flow of time for short periods to solve problems and take out enemies while remaining completely unaffected. Developed by Sabre Interactive. Expected Release: September 2006; Platform: Xbox 360, PC
Caesar IV
Caesar IV advances, refines and updates the city-building gameplay pioneered by the Caesar franchise, while remaining true to its predecessor's proud legacy. In Caesar IV, players take on the role of an aspiring provincial governor. Developed by Tilted Mill. Expected Release: Sept 2006; Platform: PC
50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition
The gritty urban action game starring multi-platinum recording artist 50 Cent is now portable. 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition is the ultimate fusion of music, gaming and video entertainment, offering more than a boxed-set of 50 Cent music, an exclusive G Unit documentary, 15 music videos and all new action-packed gameplay. Developed by High Voltage Software. Expected Release: August 2006; Platform: PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) system
Miami Vice The Game
Inspired by the upcoming summer film from Universal Pictures, Miami Vice The Game puts players deep undercover as narcotics officers Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs in the decadent world of present-day Miami. Developed by Rebellion Studios. Expected Release: July 2006; Platform: Platform: PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) system
Sierra Online
FreeStyle Street Basketball
Freestyle is a fast-paced online basketball game where players meet on virtual courts to challenge each other in a dynamic pick-up game environment, featuring cutting-edge music, fashions and gravity defying basketball moves. Developed by JC Entertainment Corp. Expected Release will be announced.
Vivendi Games Mobile
Vivendi Games Mobile builds off of the company's current base of popular games sold by 70 mobile network operators across 40 countries, including the hugely successful Crash Bandicoot® franchise which has generated more than 1.5 million downloads to date.
Mobile games exhibited on the show floor include:
After Dark®: Flying ToasterTM: Expected Release: Q2 2006
Navy ChallengeTM: Expected Release: Q2 2006
Black Hawk Down®: Team Sabre: Expected Release: Q3 2006
Xbox 360 owners will be able to play and watch many of the games being shown off at E3 this week, with Microsoft and its third-party partners planning to make available several videos and demos from the show over Xbox Live.
The company plans to involve gamers around the world in its plans for the Los Angeles expo, by putting several of the playable demos and high definition gameplay videos which will be seen on the show floor up for download.
Among the titles which will be featured are a playable demo of Capcom's Lost Planet and a high definition video trailer of Epic's eagerly anticipated third person action title, Gears of War.
GamesIndustry.biz has also learned that there will be a demo of From Software's Sega-published mech action title Chromehounds on Xbox Live this week, as well as a playable - and likely to be multiplayer - demo of Atari's Test Drive Unlimited, featuring no fewer than 40 miles of road from the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
Other games from which content will be featured on Xbox Live this week include THQ's MotoGP '06, Tecmo's Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2, Sega's next-gen Sonic the Hedgehog, Ubisoft's Splinter Cell: Double Agent, and Microsoft's British-developed titles Viva Pinata (developed by Rare) and Crackdown (developed by Grand Theft Auto creator Dave Jones' Real Time Worlds studio).
It's pretty much an open secret at this year's E3 that Microsoft uber developer Bungie will unveil Halo 3 to an eagerly salivating world, with the smart money now going on a video debut at Microsoft's conference on Tuesday, with the possibility of any playable demo action now distinctly receding.
Or is it? It seems Bungie may have more funky treats in store according to the latest word on the developer's web site.
Spurting info like hot chilli sauce, Bungie's very own Frankie says "As for our next project it continues apace. Lots of progress in every department, from UI to Animation to Engineering and of course, all the way back to audio. There are things to see in every department, some rough and ready and some astonishingly smooth, polished and even playable."
Note that 'even playable' pay off. Could we possibly see something at E3 this very week? Frankie doesn't exactly say, but there are hints that Bungie is desperate to unburden on something.
Frankie continues, "It's really making progress in an exciting and fascinating way. And I can't wait to share that with you properly. The level of secrecy is every bit as oppressive and confining for us as it is for you. Much, much bigger update next week. See you then."
The dirt flies in Dean Takahashi's follow-up tome chronicling the efforts of software giant Microsoft to build on its success with the Xbox. The Xbox 360 Uncloaked: The Real Story Behind Microsoft's Next-Generation Video Game Console goes on sale today, and apart from it being an encyclopedic timeline of the building out and launching of the Xbox 360, there's a fair amount cheeky story telling, much of it confirming previous speculation, and much of it introducing previously unspoken anecdotes.
Takahashi is a staff writer at the San Jose Mercury News, with prior stints at Red Herring and The Wall Street Journal.
Most prominent among the speculation confirmed is the telling of Robbie Bach tasking J Allard with creating a gaming handheld to compliment the Xbox 360 home console. While the handheld initiative was later scuttled, Takahashi makes clear the steps Microsoft took toward portable gaming were real.
Takahashi writes: Microsoft needed a game machine that was small. Bach assigned J Allard to take on this “next big thing.” Doing so would make a huge statement that Microsoft was going to ship this iPod killer and that it would do it with the same precision planning that it had done with the Xbox 360. Allard would run the platform, handling the hardware, software, and services for the handheld. Bryan Lee, meanwhile, would become the chief financial officer for the entire Entertainment and Devices Group and run the handheld's business side. Peter Moore would take charge of the Xbox 360 and Windows games businesses, effectively replacing Bach in his old job.
Another anecdote concerns Allard losing a bet with Newsweek game and tech writer N'Gai Croal wherein J would have to wear a deadlocks wig for the entire month of May, 2006 (including on stage during the Microsoft press briefing at E3) based around J's disbelief that Sony could sell 10 million PSPs as quickly as it sold that number of PlayStation 2s--which it did, handily.
Buena Vista Games (BVG) today pulled the wraps off its lineup for this week's Entertainment Electronic Expo, calling it the "largest and most diverse" collection of games the Disney interactive entertainment division has ever shown at E3.
While many of the titles have been recently announced and promoted by the developer (four new puzzle games, the Desperate Housewives game), there are still a few surprises. The biggest title on the list, Turok, was confirmed to be underway a year ago, but hasn't been heard from since September, and even then it wasn't known what platforms would host the game. Now BVG has confirmed the story-driven first-person shooter is in development for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and set for a 2007 release.
The PS3 and Xbox 360 aren't the only next-gen consoles receiving attention from BVG. The publisher is also prepping a pair of games that will have versions appear on the Nintendo Wii as well. Disney's Meet the Robinsons and Disney's Chicken Little: Ace in Action will both appear on the Wii in addition to other current consoles. The full list of the company's announced lineup for the show follows below.
Game--Systems--Release Date
Turok--Xbox 360, PlayStation 3--2007
Lumines Plus--PlayStation 2--Fall 2006
Disney’s Meet The Robinsons--Wii, PS2, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance--2007
Disney’s Chicken Little: Ace in Action--Wii, PS2,DS--Fall 2006
Disney’s Kim Possible: What’s the Switch?--PS2--Fall 2006
Desperate Housewives: The Game--PC--Fall 2006
Spectrobes--DS--TBA
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest--PSP, DS, GBA--June 27, 2006
Lumines II--PSP--Fall 2006
Every Extend Extra--PSP--Fall 2006
Meteos: Disney Edition--DS--Fall 2006
Disney’s American Dragon: Jake Long, Attack of the Dark Dragon--DS--TBA
Disney’s Kim Possible: Global Gemini--DS--TBA
Hannah Montana--DS--TBA
That’s So Raven: Psychic on the Scene--DS--TBA
Disney’s The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure--DS--TBA
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Tipton Trouble--DS--TBA
The Cheetah Girls--GBA--TBA
Phil of the Future--GBA--TBA
W.I.T.C.H.--GBA--TBA
Buena Vista Games also has a pair of games being published by other companies and showcased in their booths. Cars, based on the Pixar film of the same name, will be shown in THQ's booth while Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow will be published by Bethesda Softworks
Microsoft has officially revealed connectivity details about the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on. The accessory will connect via a USB cable, utilizing the Xbox 360's high definition video output and digital surround sound support. Microsoft did not reveal a price, instead opting for the ole' marketing spiel: "With HD DVD, it is now becoming evident that the entire ecosystem ... is more economical than Blu-ray." Ecosystem? Word?
According to a new AP-AOL Games poll, 40 percent of American adults play games on a computer or a console. Men, younger adults and minorities were most likely to play those games.
Among those who describe themselves as gamers, 45 percent play over the Internet. And more than a third of online gamers spent more than $200 last year on gaming, compared with nearly a quarter of those who don't play games online.
Online gamers also spent more time playing those games.
Forty-two percent of online gamers said they spent at least four hours playing games during an average week, compared with 26 percent of those who don't play online. About one in six online gamers play more than 10 hours a week.
The survey results come as Sony Corp., Nintendo Co. and Microsoft Corp. prepare to push their new consoles this week at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. All three are hoping to make broad online features such as multiplayer games, video conferencing and downloadable content a core element of the video game experience.
Casual games like board or card games were the most popular, followed by strategy games, action sports, adventure, first-person shooters and simulations, the poll found. Casual, strategy and role-playing games were most popular among online gamers.
Author Dean Takahashi has claimed in his new book, The Xbox 360 Uncloaked, that half of Microsoft's Xbox 360 hardware team has moved onto a portable hardware project - designed to compete with Nintendo's DS and Sony's PSP - since the launch of the next gen machine.
Takahashi claims the team was split in two following the launch, leaving the other half to work solely on reduced production costs of Xbox 360.
According to the writer, the portable is planned to be released halfway into Xbox 360's lifespan, a strategy to assuage the crippling costs of moving through hardware cycles. Sony, obviously, has employed a similar approach with PS2 and PSP.
A Microsoft gaming handheld has been long-rumoured, the latest occurrence adding fuel to this particular fire being the release of a movie for the company's Origami project. A promotional video for the handheld PC showed Halo 2 running on its screen.
The Wall Street Journal, that bastion of strong gaming journalism, has a detailed look at the business behind the 360 and the PS3. Essentially, they’re saying that Sony is gambling that Blu-Ray and its attendant coolness will propel the console and the media into the stratosphere. The make or break point, however, is E3.
“Clearly, Sony is playing catch-up at this point,” says P.J. McNealy, an analyst at American Technology Research. But he says that Sony could bridge that gap, and this week is “a significant waypoint to see if Sony has its act together on the PlayStation 3.”
Microsoft has shipped 3.3 million consoles—all of them to a Best Buy in Juneau, Alaska, apparently—and is banking on this hearty lead to knock PS3 down a peg or two. Will it happen? Probably not, but the HD DVD adapter will definitely have some effect on that media’s penetration into the home. We shall see, friends.
In his morning research report, Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities backs up our own conjecture that Sony's PS3 controller (dubbed "dual shake" by bloggers) is going to make Microsoft's life difficult.
He writes, "The Xbox 360 controller is a conventional controller with no motion sensors built in. Ultimately, we think that many developers will opt to make games for the PS3 and the Wii, and will not make the same game for the Xbox 360, giving Sony and Nintendo a content advantage over Microsoft."
We agree that Microsoft's reaction to this announcement is critically important. Will the company be able to speak to this issue at all today?
features
• 9.2" (23.3cm) Digital LCD provides pin sharp picture quality
• Integarated Stereo Speakers with 3D SRS Surround Sound
• Remote Control operates Monitor and selects Xbox 360™ functions
• On Screen Display provides easy access to Monitor menus
• Two Stereo Earphone Outputs
Our first query to Chris Satchell was to step outside of his competitive structure and simply provide thoughts on the briefing, purely as a gamer. ''I’d have to say that I came away a little disappointed.'', claimed Satchell. ''We really didn’t see anything that was innovative – it was the same experiences we’ve seen before.''
When asked to comment on the briefing from a competitive standpoint, Shane Kim elaborated, ''I’ve said this before, but there was nothing from Sony’s briefing that would make us change anything regarding our plans. We are very confident in our approach, especially now. We have a much better online story and much better content. Finally, we feel that our superior price point provides us an advantage.''
Two areas where Sony demonstrated forward thinking was in the EyeToy card demonstration and the 6-axis controller, but we still question how mainstream these will become. Does Microsoft feel in pressure in being the only next-generation system to not feature a motion-sensing controller?
''We actually had a very similar product on the market for the PC – the (Sidewinder) Freestyle Pro.'', Kim recollected. ''It was a great controller for a very specific set of games, but wasn’t accepted as an overall controller. We considered the technology when developing the Xbox 360, but felt it wasn’t the way to go.''
Satchell mentioned, ''I view Sony’s motion-sensing controller more as an attempt to address what Nintendo is doing with the Wii. While I thought the EyeToy demo was cool, I do question if the masses will play a game that way.''
As for Sony’s online focus, Microsoft appeared confused. ''They talked a lot about building an online community, which is something we’ve already established very well on Xbox Live. Surprisingly, they didn’t mention anything about their online gameplay structure.''
When asked if they were surprised that Sony was now adopting many of the same principles that Microsoft has touched on in previous E3’s, such as giving the game creators the power to realize their visions, Kim stated, ''I think we found that Sony was touting much of the leadership thinking that we’ve previously shown.''
So what can we expect from Microsoft’s own E3 press briefing tomorrow (Today)?
''I’d say you can expect a lot of leadership to be demonstrated tomorrow.”, proclaimed Kim. ''We are in a good position with our first-party lineup, not to mention the stellar support from our third-party partners.''
At this point, Microsoft has no announcements regarding a price drop on the Xbox 360 to combat the PS3 launch, nor did they mention eliminating the Xbox 360 Core package.
The Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system has created a global phenomenon with its record-breaking performance and fervent consumer response. Now, Microsoft Corp. hits the turbo button for gamers, announcing the next wave of games and accessories for Xbox 360 and new world-class Xbox Live® entertainment experiences.
At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft, announced that gamers can expect more than 160 high-definition games by the end of 2006 for the Xbox 360 platform. In addition, Moore unveiled several new Microsoft Game Studios titles in development for Xbox 360 including “Alan Wake,” “Fable® 2,” “Forza Motorsport™ 2” and the next installment in the critically acclaimed “Halo®” franchise, “Halo 3.”
Xbox 360 continues to evolve and feed the imagination of gamers everywhere. This week at E3, the following Microsoft Game Studios exclusives will showcase the breath and depth of Microsoft’s next-generation lineup:
“Alan Wake” (Remedy Entertainment Inc.). “Alan Wake” is a psychological action thriller. Cited as one of the best titles of E3 2005, “Alan Wake” introduces a deeply engaging and suspenseful storyline in a free-roaming open world that invites players to unravel the riveting plot and experience intense combat that combines the use of light with more conventional weapons. “Alan Wake” will be released on Windows Vista™ and Xbox 360. Timing is not yet announced.
“Blue Dragon” (Mistwalker/Artoon Co. Ltd.). From famed game producer Hironobu Sakaguchi comes “Blue Dragon,” a unique, epic role-playing game (RPG) that centers on a young boy named Shu and several of his friends who must harness the power of their phantom shadows in their fight against an eminent evil. “Blue Dragon” will launch later this year in Japan.
“Crackdown” (Real Time Worlds). Dave Jones, creator of “Grand Theft Auto,” brings his brand of unprecedented, open-ended gameplay to the next-generation with “Crackdown™.” “Crackdown” sets players loose in a free-form, persistent playground where a citywide fight against crime requires a new kind of hero who evolves into a bigger, stronger, faster, more efficient weapon of justice through continued gameplay. “Crackdown” will launch in 2006. Timing is not yet announced.
“Fable 2” (Lionhead Studios). “Fable 2” is the highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling “Fable.” Set 500 years after the original game, “Fable 2” will offer even more choices and features, while building on the core gameplay theme of “Fable” where every choice continually defines who you become, allowing you to truly live the life you choose. Timing is not yet announced.
“Forza Motorsport 2” (Turn 10). “Forza Motorsport 2” roars into the next generation with more than 300 customizable cars and 60 frames per second of head-turning, high-definition gameplay that creates the most stunningly realistic racing simulation ever experienced. Timing is holiday 2006.
“Gears of War” (Epic Games Inc.). “Gears of War” thrusts gamers into humankind’s epic battle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet. Blending the best of tactical action games with the best of survival horror titles, “Gears of War” features cinematic, beautifully rendered interactive environments with high-definition visuals. “Gears of War” will launch on Emergence Day 2006.
“Halo 3” (Bungie Studios). The epic saga continues with “Halo 3,” the hugely anticipated sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed “Halo 2.” In this third chapter of the “Halo” trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. Timing is 2007.
“Mass Effect” (BioWare Corp.). “Mass Effect” is an RPG trilogy developed by BioWare, set in a massive, living universe waiting for exploration and discovery. Gamers travel to distant, uncharted worlds — and uncover the past to save the future — in a richly detailed story where players’ actions, sometimes morally challenging, will determine the fate of civilization. Timing is not yet announced.
“Shadowrun” (FASA Studio). Bringing the Microsoft vision of “Live Anywhere” to life, “Shadowrun™” is the first cross-platform game for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista. “Shadowrun” is a multiplayer, first-person shooter that propels team-based combat into a new dimension with a revolutionary blend of modern weaponry and ancient magic. “Shadowrun” will be available at the launch of Windows Vista.
“Too Human” (Silicon Knights). “Too Human” is the first installment in a fast-paced action trilogy, where players assume the role of Baldur, a cybernetic god charged with defending mankind from an onslaught of monstrous war machines. In “Too Human,” players are treated to a nonstop barrage of action powered by the seamless integration of melee and ranged firearms combat and fueled by breathtaking visuals. “Too Human” will launch in holiday 2006.
“Viva Piñata” (Rare Ltd.). “Viva Piñata” is a window to a fantastical world full of wild-roaming Piñata animals. Players customize their world to attract Piñatas, handle relationships among the more than 60 species, and protect their Piñatas from the dangers that threaten to break them open. “Viva Piñata” will launch in holiday 2006.
Gamers can also expect to see amazing second- and third-party Xbox 360 titles at E3 this year:
“Ninety-Nine Nights” (Q Entertainment Ltd./Phantagram Co. Ltd.). “Ninety-Nine Nights” is a fantasy action game that invites gamers to experience an immersive and emotional story though the eyes of both good and evil, while fighting among hundreds of fellow soldiers through an epic adventure. “Ninety-Nine Nights,” exclusive to Xbox 360, will launch in summer 2006 in the U.S.
“Lost Planet” (Capcom Entertainment Inc.). Keiji Inafune, the creator of “Mega Man” and “Onimusha,” brings to life a riveting sci-fi action shooter with intense cinematic gameplay set within the merciless frozen tundra of a hostile planet. “Lost Planet,” an Xbox 360 exclusive, features online multiplayer gameplay via Xbox Live and will launch in the first quarter of 2007.
“Saints Row” (THQ). An Xbox 360 exclusive, “Saints Row” is an explosive, third-person action/driving hybrid developed by Volition Inc. and is the only game in its genre that offers players unrivalled character customization options and a multiplayer experience through Xbox Live. This title will launch in fall 2006.
“Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2” (Tecmo Inc.). Get wet with Team Ninja’s newest graphical masterpiece, the Xbox 360 exclusive “Dead or Alive®: Xtreme 2.” All the favorite DOA girls are back and ready to battle it out in the tropical waters of Zach’s Island on their high-performance personal watercraft, compete in assorted and alluring activities, sunbathe on white sand beaches, and go all-in at Zach’s Casino. This title will launch during the 2006 holiday season.
“Prey” (2K Games). An Xbox 360 console exclusive, “Prey” is a groundbreaking first-person shooter that raises the bar and turns the genre upside-down with awesome new gameplay features and next-generation graphics. This title will be available in July 2006.
“Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent” (Ubisoft). Sam Fisher makes his next-generation debut on the Xbox 360 with “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent™.” The best-selling “Splinter Cell®” franchise takes an entirely new direction, allowing gamers to play as a double agent for the first time ever in the saga’s history. The game launches in September 2006.
“Madden NFL 07” (EA Sports). With the exclusive video game license of the NFL and PLAYERS INC., “Madden NFL 07” continues to be the No. 1 football franchise in history with more than 51 million copies sold. In its 17th installment, gamers can control the running game like never before. For the first time ever, they can step up as the lead blocker to create a hole, and then take control of the tailback and smash through, overpower or slash away from would-be tacklers as they fight for every yard. Innovative rushing controls give players a game-breaking ground attack featuring all-new jukes, cutbacks and the distinct running styles of their favorite backs. Developed by EA-Tiburon, Madden NFL 07 will launch in August on the Xbox 360 and Xbox® systems.
“Sonic The Hedgehog™” (SEGA®. Sonic is re-born for the next generation! Sonic blazes his way onto Xbox 360, melding top-tier animation production values with next-generation art, physics and game design to create the most intense, high-velocity Sonic adventure yet. Featuring real-time interactive 3-D environments, a large cast of new and returning characters, and a blistering sense of speed, get ready for the reinvention of Sonic The Hedgehog. Timing is not yet announced.
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live, surpassing 3 million connected members, continues its commanding leadership position in the online unified gaming and entertainment space. Since launch, nearly 60 percent of Xbox 360 owners have joined the Xbox Live community. In addition, over 90 percent of connected members are downloading content from Xbox Live Marketplace, driving more than 18 million downloads in the first six months.
Xbox Live Arcade provides quick fun experiences for gamers of all interests, skill levels and budgets. This mainstream favorite provides the most sought-after downloadable games in high definition supported by integrated friends list, achievements, leaderboards, and voice and video communication.
In addition, Microsoft today announced a power-packed lineup for Xbox Live Arcade titles, from nostalgic favorites to original, innovative gaming experiences. Over 50 titles will be available through Xbox Live Arcade by end of year, including the following:
NAMCO. NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. is bringing legendary coin-op favorites “Pac-Man,” “Galaga,” “Dig Dug” and “Rally-X,” all complete with Xbox Live features such as leaderboards and achievements.
Konami. Konami revives classic franchises including “Frogger,” “Contra” and “Super Contra,” “Track & Field,” “Time Pilot,” and “Scramble,” each offering updated graphics and Xbox Live support.
Midway. Midway Games Inc. brings a new suite of classic arcade titles to Xbox Live Arcade, including “Defender®,” “Paperboy®,” “Root Beer Tapper™” and “Ultimate Mortal Kombat® 3,” complete with graphical upgrades and multiplayer play over Xbox Live.
“Sonic The Hedgehog™ High Speed” (SEGA®. Microsoft and Sega join forces to bring some of the best console classics to Xbox Live Arcade including “Sonic The Hedgehog High Speed.” Everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog makes his high-speed debut in high definition with full leaderboard and achievement support.
“Lumines Live!” (Q Entertainment). A fresh new installment to the original puzzle action hit titles series, “Lumines Live!” will debut exclusively on Xbox Live Arcade. featuring frenetic puzzle action married with video, music and themes from today’s hottest pop culture icons. What’s more, “Lumines Live!” features full multiplayer play over Xbox Live, an exclusive Duel mode and an all-new Puzzle mode, downloadable puzzles, and music and skins from Xbox Live Marketplace, including the hit Madonna single, “Sorry.”
Indie Game Lineup. For the first time in history, Microsoft has opened the world of video game consoles to independent game developers. Some of the world’s most creative independent game talents are developing games for Xbox Live Arcade, including PopCap Games (the creators of award-winning games such as “Zuma&rdquo, which brings its first action shooter title, “Heavy Weapon,” to the platform. Additional Xbox Live Arcade titles featured at E3 include “Cloning Clyde” (Wahoo Studios/NinjaBee), “RoboBlitz,” (Naked Sky Entertainment Inc.) and “Mutant Storm Empire” (PomPom).
Xbox 360 Accessories: More Ways to Play
The suite of Xbox 360 accessories continues to expand to give gamers more ways to experience their favorite games and movies and to stay connected with friends. Microsoft announced new, cross-platform accessories that will enable gamers to take the thrill of wireless gaming one step further on the Xbox 360 console and Windows®-based PC, while providing additional details on other new accessories coming to the Xbox 360 system this holiday:
The Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel uses the latest wireless and force feedback technology to bring new realism to racing games such as “Project Gotham Racing® 3” and “Forza Motorsport 2.” From drifting to power sliding, feel the intensity of every turn.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Headset integrates seamlessly with the Xbox 360 console to provide wireless voice chat, stylish ergonomic design and superior voice quality to chat over the Xbox Live network.
The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player, available this holiday, delivers a superior digital audio and visual experience to consumers, enabling them to enjoy blockbuster movies in stunning high definition through their Xbox 360 system. It includes the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows connects existing and future Xbox 360 wireless accessories to the PC, allowing gamers to enjoy the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Wireless Headset and Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel on a second platform.
The Xbox Live Vision video camera will allow gamers with Xbox Live Gold to customize their gamer picture, send photo messages, and video chat with friends and family over Xbox Live. Featured titles include “Pinball FX” (Zen), “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Vegas” (Ubisoft), “TotemBall” (Freeverse) and “World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions” (Activision). Xbox Live Vision launches in North America and Europe on Sept. 19 and the rest of the world on Feb. 10, 2007.
Xbox 360 Memory Unit (256MB). With four times more capacity than the original, gamers can easily store and transfer even more Xbox 360 saved games, Xbox Live profiles, full Xbox Live Arcade titles and other entertainment content downloaded from Xbox Live Marketplace.
— Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates today staked the claim that the Xbox 360™ system will have a 10 million-unit head start by the time the competition enters the market and more than 160 games by the end of the year. Gates went on to outline the company’s bold new vision to connect millions of Xbox 360 gamers with hundreds of millions of Microsoft® Windows®-based PC and mobile gamers from around the world through the Xbox Live® online entertainment network. Gates made the announcements at a press conference to open the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the largest annual confab for the interactive entertainment industry.
Dubbed “Live Anywhere,” the initiative puts gamers at the center of a ubiquitous always-on world where their digital identities, games, friends and digital entertainment are always accessible through the familiar Xbox Live interface, regardless of location or device. The plan also clears the way for groundbreaking cross-platform gameplay scenarios, with participants using Windows-based PCs, mobile phones and Xbox 360 consoles to play together simultaneously.
Currently more than 3 million console gamers are connected to the Xbox Live community via their Xbox® and Xbox 360 consoles and Microsoft expects that number to double to 6 million by this time next year. In addition, more than 25 million casual gamers are currently playing games on MSN® Messenger and MSN Games. Envisioning a forward look to more closely align these powerful communities, Gates outlined next steps to bring the Live Anywhere vision to fruition:
Xbox Live experiences come to Windows-based PCs. Gamers will have the ability to jack into the vibrant Xbox Live world from their Windows-based PCs early next year to play games with friends. Answering the call of millions of Windows gamers for a world that is always on, the Xbox Live experience on Windows will give gamers a consistent online game experience in which they have one identity, one friends list, one set of achievements and voice communications across all games on the network. These experiences will debut on Windows with the Windows Vista™ operating system and “Shadowrun™” this winter.
Microsoft’s mobile offering. Spanning Windows Mobile®, Java and BREW-based handsets, the world-class mobile games service will give gamers on-the-go access to cross-platform gaming communities at any time, from any location. By this time next year, users will be able to send messages, access friends lists, download the best of mobile game content, and sample, purchase and play favorites such as “Bejeweled,” “Zuma” and “Hexic®” as part of the integrated gaming world.
“By opening the Xbox Live entertainment network to the entire universe of Windows and mobile gamers, we’re creating unparalleled gameplay opportunities that will drive incredible growth of the online community,” said Gates. “Our vision is to deliver consistent, compelling experiences that make it easy for consumers to jump in and play, from any device at any time. It’s a vision that only Microsoft can deliver.”
Gates, making his first appearance at E3, joined Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division, on stage to announce a barrage of new game titles coming to the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista platforms.
Microsoft announced that it will have 160 Xbox 360 titles by end of 2006. The stunningly smooth high-definition graphics and sophisticated level of gameplay in these titles are proof positive that the development community is hitting its stride with the console’s powerful hardware and programming tools.
Gates and Moore dazzled the crowd with an initial look at “Halo® 3,” the hugely anticipated sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed “Halo” franchise. Enthusiasm for “Halo 3” has been building since its predecessor, “Halo 2” — launched by Microsoft Game Studios in 2004 — rewrote history books by becoming the biggest launch in U.S. entertainment retail history, with $125 million in sales and 2.4 million copies sold in the first 24 hours. In this third chapter of the “Halo” trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax.
Microsoft Game Studios also showcased exclusive Xbox 360 titles “Gears of War” (Epic Games Inc.), “Fable® 2” (Lionhead Studios) and “Forza Motorsport™ 2” (Turn 10). Ubisoft’s next-generation version of “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent™” will also debut on Xbox 360. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios showed “Alan Wake” (Remedy Entertainment Inc.) and “Shadowrun™” (FASA Studio), both slated for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista. Bringing the Microsoft vision of Live Anywhere to life, “Shadowrun” is the first cross-platform Xbox 360 and Windows Vista-based game featuring team-based combat that ushers gamers into a new dimension with a revolutionary blend of modern weaponry and ancient magic.
For Windows gamers, the consumer launch of Windows Vista in January 2007 will continue the momentum and excitement for the Windows platform. With Windows Vista, Microsoft will introduce the DirectX® 10 API, showcasing astonishing new graphics as well as enhanced performance, better hardware integration and new ways for developers to make the most of the Windows game platform. Microsoft highlighted several games from major publishers that will support Windows Vista and DirectX 10 technologies: “Crysis” (Electronic Arts Inc.), “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” (Funcom) and “Flight Simulator X” (Microsoft Game Studios).
In addition to these blockbuster titles on Xbox 360 and Windows Vista, several new games are coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Gamers of all ages and levels of experience are flocking to these quick, fun (and often nostalgic), downloadable titles that take advantage of the unique high-definition and Xbox Live capabilities that only Xbox 360 can deliver. Microsoft and its partners announced a significant expansion of the Xbox Live Arcade catalog, adding classic favorites such as “Pac-Man,” “Galaga,” “Dig Dug” and “Rally-X” from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.; “Frogger,” “Track & Field,” and “Contra” and “Super Contra” from Konami; “Defender®,” “Paperboy®,” “Root Beer Tapper™” and “Ultimate Mortal Kombat® 3” from Midway Games Inc.; “Sonic the Hedgehog™ High Speed” from SEGA®; and new titles such as “Lumines Live” from Q Entertainment Ltd.
As part of the Live Anywhere initiative, Microsoft has announced new cross-platform accessories such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel and Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, which will enrich game experiences on Xbox 360 and Windows. The new Xbox Live Vision video camera will allow consumers to customize their gamer picture, send photo messages, and video chat with friends and family over Xbox Live.
The appetite for Xbox 360 gaming around the world continues to grow. Microsoft is excited to meet that demand in eight new countries in the coming year with launches in Brazil, Chile, the Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Poland, Slovakia and South Africa. Additional markets will continue the momentum of the largest next-generation installed base for any console after a second holiday season.
This time, Xbox® Nation won’t have to wait. Responding to the cries of millions of Xbox 360™ owners, Microsoft Corp. and Rockstar Games, the universally renowned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., have struck a groundbreaking agreement that brings “Grand Theft Auto IV” to the Xbox 360 platform on day one of its global release.
“Grand Theft Auto IV,” the next-generation console debut of the genre-defining “Grand Theft Auto” franchise, is expected to be in stores on Oct. 16, 2007, in North America and Oct. 19, 2007, in Europe.
“Few franchises have had the profound impact on our industry as ‘Grand Theft Auto,’” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “Gamers can’t wait to play “Grand Theft Auto IV” in high definition on Xbox 360, and we couldn't be more excited to have the title on our platform from day one”
Separately, Microsoft and Rockstar Games are proud to announce a strategic alliance to provide exclusive episodic content for Xbox Live®, giving the community ever-expanding gameplay experiences that simply aren’t possible on other consoles.
“Through Xbox Live, we have a unique opportunity to reach out to our audience in new ways,” said Sam Houser, executive producer and founder of Rockstar Games. “This strategic alliance allows us to craft experiences that fully leverage the on-demand distribution power and sheer size of Xbox Live.”
The agreement to distribute exclusive Rockstar Games content via Xbox Live highlights the publishing community’s growing desire to feed gamers’ insatiable appetite for downloading new high-definition experiences and playing online. Since Xbox Live launched, fans have logged nearly 1.8 billion hours playing online and have downloaded more than 18 million pieces of content in just the past six months.
We've been hearing about the camera for the Xbox 360 for so long, that we almost forgot it still hasn't been released. Well, Microsoft finally came clean about the cam, and gave it an official name at the company's E3 event today. The Xbox Live Vision camera will be available this fall, and will allow users to use their 360 for video-conferencing, video-emails and gamer picture customization. Microsoft also announced the Racing Wheel controller for driving games, and a wireless headset, which presumably will bring joy to parents everywhere. All accessories are expected to be available this fall.
At Microsoft's E3 presentation today, one of the most eagerly awaited pieces of infomation concerned the company's plans to offer an external HD DVD player for the Xbox 360. And the company delivered -- sort of. Yes, they showed off a slide with a picture of an external player designed to match the 360. And the slide did state that the player will be available "this holiday." And, yes, that slide included images of HD DVD flicks that it will presumably be able to play. But the crucial details, such as a ship date, pricing, and, perhaps most important, info on whether or not the player will support HDCP or HDMI, were nowhere to be found.
Microsoft officially unveiled Halo 3 during its E3 press conference today, and the company released a trailer for its highly-anticipated sequel on the Internet and its Xbox Live service. Halo 3 will be the first Halo game designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console, and the importance to the company was highlighted by the fact that Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and chief software architect, was on hand to help announce the game.
When the trailer was shown to the audience at the Grauman's Chinese Theater, where Microsoft held its annual games briefing, the crowd erupted. Halo 2 ended in a cliff-hanger, with the Master Chief, the hero of the Halo series, returning to Earth in the midst of a climactic battle between the Convenant, an alien coalition, and Earth's defensive forces. The Halo 3 trailer begins with a slow shot of the dusty African plains. Wreckage litters the landscape, and a woman's voice is heard. It's Cortana, the artificial intelligent construct that is Master Chief's chief ally. In brief, cryptic sentences, she talks about "being the source," and she sounds like she may have been somehow combined with Gravemind, the intelligence behind the Flood, another alien menace. As the Master Chief enters into the frame, she says in a distorted voice, "I know you. Your past. Your future."
Suddenly, Convenant Ghosts and battleships appear in the skies. The music swells, and in the distance, a huge hatch slowly opens in the ground. A bright beam of light begins to build, blinding the camera. Cortana then chimes in, "This is the way the world ends." The Bungie logo then flashes on the screen, followed by the text: "Finish the fight in 2007."
Bungie, the internal Microsoft studio that created Halo, also released the trailer onto the Internet, and a high definition version was put up on Xbox Live Marketplace, the online service available to Xbox 360 owners. To quote the accompanying text found on Xbox Live, Halo 3 is about Earth under Convenant rule: "With its defensive forces, all but obliterated, Earth has fallen to the unstoppable might of the Convenant. These alien occupiers have discovered something beneath the ancient African sands - something incredible... something Forerunner." The Forerunners are an apparently extinct alien race that built huge artificial ringworlds called Halos, and the Halo games have focused on the mystery surrounding these strange objects.
The importance of a new Halo game for the Xbox 360 cannot be underestimated. The original Halo was a launch title for the first Xbox, and was easily the biggest hit, driving sales of that system. Halo 2, which launched in 2004, became a cultural event, with thousands of gamers lining up for hours for the midnight launch. Halo 2 made entertainment history by generating $125 million in sales in one day. However, Microsoft didn't mention Halo 3 at all during last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, and fans had been left wondering when the software giant would finally drop the big news. Well, the waiting for news of Halo 3 has now come to an end. Now they'll have to wait to 2007 for the game itself.
Well, folks. This is it. Microsoft showed the actual external player and mentioned that it will be out this Fall/Holiday Season-ish. We’re predicting a November release in traditional Xbox fashion. No price point, either. At least it is pretty, and isn’t that that really all that matters?
Microsoft has announced three sexy and savvy pieces of hardware. First up, a Microsoft branded steering wheel that will be released in conjunction with Forza Motorsports 2. The actual steering wheel itself seems pretty average, but the big perk is that it is wireless.
Next up is a truly wireless headset. This features the same form factor as the modern Bluetooth cellphone headsets, unfortunately it is not Bluetooth. At least you will look classy when 12-year-old kids cuss you out for sucking at a Halo.
Lastly Microsoft will finally be releasing their Eyetoy Xbox Live Vision Camera. This camera will allow you to put your face into games and game interaction. Of course we can expect some video conferencing features being added to Xbox Live. Sex chat anyone?
There was no price points, but if it continues in the usual Microsoft peripheral fashion, then expect to pay upwards of $50 to $75. All of these accessories will be available this holiday season. .
Microsoft today heralded the next wave of "truly next generation" Xbox 360 games, in the words of Peter Moore, including Halo 3, Fable 2, Forza Motorsport 2, Shadowrun, Alan Wake - now exclusive to 360 and PC - and Grand Theft Auto IV.
The latter is due out simultaneously on PS3 and Xbox 360 next October, but 360 will also enjoy exclusive episodic Rockstar content - not necessarily GTA, but a significant strategic partnership nonetheless. Epic Games' Gears of War was also shown, played by designer Cliff Bleszinsky, and drew gasps of appreciation from the crowds.
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates also put in an appearance - to talk about the company's ambition for the convergence of Windows Vista, Xbox 360 and Windows Mobile platforms under the banner, "Live Anywhere".
Examples of Live Anywhere functionality included cross-platform game invitations, the ability to see what friends are doing on their other platforms, and things like the facility to transfer cars to someone's account in Forza Motorsport 2 - allowing them to tweak the performance on a Windows Mobile, edit decals on Windows Vista, and play on Xbox 360 depending on their whereabouts.
Furthermore, Microsoft promised a "renaissance" in PC gaming - thanks mainly to Vista, which it sees as a games-driven operating system - and demonstrated Crysis. Peter Moore said the company was making a huge commitment to the format, which "won't be the land of misfit toys" any longer. We then saw Microsoft's Scott Henson use a 360 to buzz Major Nelson with a Shadowrun invite on his PC, and the pair played against one another - Henson using the 360 pad and Nelson the PC's keyboard and mouse, with full headset support too.
Microsoft also announced a raft of new Xbox Live Arcade titles including a Lumines puzzle game with licensed Warner Bros. music, introduced peripherals including a wireless Forza steering wheel, said HD-DVD would be with 360 consumers this Christmas, and promised high-def TV content through Live Marketplace as soon as this evening - in the shape of a Gears of War making of "docu-drama", due to conclude on MTV next week.
The sighting of Halo 3 at the conference would normally be expected to win the most headlines, but in truth Microsoft's conference - lead primarily by Peter Moore - featured a lot more new information than many had anticipated. The brief Halo 3 trailer appeared at the very end, featuring a Master Chief being told "This is the end of the world", watching a giant, city-sized circular structure in a wasteland erupt in white light under the gaze of hovering spaceships, before concluding on a 2007 release date.
But there were also significant announcements in Fable 2, Forza Motorsport 2, the exclusive signing of Alan Wake - the trailer for which featured more in-game graphical content than any of the others - along with a CG trailer giving us an idea what to expect from FASA's PC and 360-exclusive Shadowrun first-person shooter and a very impressive walkthrough of the first level of Gears of War, which is due out this year exclusively on 360.
"By this holiday we'll have over 160 games to choose from," said Moore, presiding over a trailer reel a mile long featuring most of its previously announced forthcoming 360 titles. Rare also appeared to show off Viva Piñata, which sees Microsoft exploring outside its coveted 18-34 demographic with a game aimed at gamers of all ages - in which players build up a garden of piñata creatures.
Microsoft's own garden is certainly blooming - in spite of the vast scale of its competitors' software announcements, which had lead some to expect a weaker third showing.
Street Fighter 2, Contra and Lumines Live are heading to an Xbox 360 near you.
Xbox Live Arcade got a much needed shot in the arm today when Microsoft annoucned 18 new games at the Microsoft Pre E3 press briefing.
Crucially, big players such as Konami and Namco are on board which brings more modern classics to the Xbox 360 Market Place. That means a brilliant Live enabled version of Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting and Lumines Live, the new game from ex Sega genius Tetsuya Mizuguchi. Lumines Live is based on the PSP version of Lumines but will feature downloadable music videos, showing a clever new function of Market Place. Konami have confirmed a straight arcade port of the classic shooter Contra, which surely paves the way for cult classics such as Parodius.
The full list is as follows and all titles will be released by the end of May.
Cloning Clyde
Contra
Defender
Frogger
Galaga
Heavy Weapon
Lumines Live
Mutant Storm Empire
Pac Man
RoboBlitz
Scramble
Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting
Small Arms
Texas Hole 'Em
Time Pilot
Totemball
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Uno
Microsoft's expanding Xbox Live, adding MSN Messenger compatibility to Live and bringing its great Gamertag online ID system to PCs and mobile phones.
Live Anywhere is the name of the Xbox Live system that'll come pre-installed on MSs new Windows Vista operating system. Bill Gates outlined the new evolution himself, outrageously claiming that one Gamertag will work on your 360, PC and mobile phone - and suggesting that you'll have access to all your downloaded content whether you're at home or on your mobile on the train.
Gates even outlined a utopian vision of the future of gaming, saying that you could order Xbox Live content from your phone which would then be uploaded onto your 360.
You'll be able to voice chat across systems too, with 360 and PC owners able to see and 'interact' with each other online through the all-encompassing Live Anywhere system. This could replace text messaging, with the MSN link-up letting you fire off messages to anyone, anywhere, direct to their Gamertag.
Gates demoed the system using Shadowrun, showing an Xbox 360 gamer playing - then inviting a PC-buddy to fire up his copy of the game and play across the two platforms.
Microsoft and Bungie, in case you were unaware, announced Halo 3 yesterday at Microsoft's E3 press conference. At the conference, attendees were treated to a teaser trailer for the sequel, which we've uploaded here for your viewing pleasure! Halo 3 screenshots have also been released, and you can get an eyeful of those here too!
Master Chief returns to battle on Xbox 360 in 2007, Bungie revealing that the sequel picks up where Halo 2 left off: "The Master Chief is returning to Earth to finish the fight. The Covenant occupation of Earth has uncovered a massive and ancient object beneath the African sands - an object who's secrets have yet to be revealed. Earth's forces are battered and beaten. The Master Chief's AI companion Cortana is still trapped in the clutches of the Gravemind - a horrifying Flood intelligence, and a civil war is raging in the heart of the Covenant. This is how the world ends..."
It's fair to say that, if we had a space hopper in the office, we'd be giddily bouncing up and down on it in excited anticipation of Epic's Gears of War on Xbox 360. Drop-dead gorgeous looks, the promise of adrenaline-pumping action... Yep, we can't wait. Feast your eyeballs on new screenshots that have blasted out of E3.
A third-person action game with horror bits stuffed in, Gears of War follows the story of disgraced former war hero Marcus Fenix and his battle against an onslaught of merciless enemies. Along with the new screenshots, we've also got a new trailer from the game - uploaded today in fact - that you can find on the front page of the site.
With all the attention being payed to those pretty pretty pictures that the big three have been flashing at us so far this week, it's easy to forget about that other little detail in gaming: audio. Pioneer didn't forget though, and they've just announced their new HTS-GS1 5.1 surround sound speaker system for the Xbox 360 to cater to that very thing. The HTS-GS1 has 600 watts of total system power being pumped out of the receiver subwoofer, which includes the five satellite speaker connections, three digital inputs (one coaxial, two optical), an analog input, radio tuner, and control ports. There is also a separate display to monitor the system (pictured) and a Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System that mics the room and adjusts the audio for best results. The integration with the Xbox 360 not only includes its similar stylings, but a bundled remote that can manage the HTS-GS1 along with all other Xbox 360 functions like Media Center Extender. The HTS-GS1 should be priced around $500 and will be available in June.
It's hard to tell what was the main highlight of Konami's E3 conference, held earlier today in Los Angeles - there was a wide range of games on show, and arguably a little something for everyone.
For many gamers, of course, the best moment will have been when Hideo Kojima took to the stage to reveal new DS and PSP titles, plus a little bit more of Metal Gear Solid 4.
But of course, MGS isn't Konami's only classic series - let's not forget Silent Hill, which is coming to PSP for the first time. The new game, which is titled Silent Hill: Origins, sees you playing as a truck driver called Travis who finds himself lost in everyone's favourite spooky little town. It's a prequel to the original Silent Hill, so you'll get to find out all about the town's past - and you'll also meet characters from games further along in the series.
If you'd rather rock out on a dance mat than defend yourself against a vast army of faceless homicidal mutants determined to ensure that the last thing you see is their bloodied limbs crushing your pathetic skull into a sticky mess of bone, hair and mucus, great news - Dance Dance Revolution is coming to Xbox 360!
Titled DDR Universe, it'll feature exclusive songs and you'll be able to download extra tracks via the Xbox Live Marketplace. In addition, the original Xbox will get DDR Ultramix 4, which will feature 65 new songs, enhanced versions of the modes featured in previous games and multiplayer action for up to four players.
Konami also showed off previously announced and offensively titled Wii game Elebits. It's a whole new franchise, don't you know, which appears to have been inspired by the likes of Pikmin and playground games such as hide and seek. We're looking forward to seeing more of this one on the show floor.
For movie fans there's Hellboy, which is in development at Krome Studios (best known for doing the King Arthur game and the Ty the Tazmanian Tiger series). It'll appear on Xbox 360, PS3 and PSP, and is being developed with a little help from Mike Mignola, the man who created the comic book. It's out next year, most likely in conjunction with the movie sequel, which sees Hellboy and chums attempting to bring down a rebellious army of mythical creatures who want to rule the world.
Castlevania veteran Koji Igarashi was on hand to present new DS title Portrait of Ruin, which is set to take the series beyond the castle walls. It's set during World War II, and environments shown included a city, a rural landscape and a big old desert - some of which appeared to be in 3D. Along with the main character, you'll be able to control a sidekick who can help you overcome obstacles and pull off combo attacks.
Death Jr. is also coming to DS, in the form of Death Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom. There's also a new PSP game on the way, titled Death Jr.: Root of Evil. And finally, we have Brooktown High: Senior Year - a dating sim for PSP. It's down for a US release, perhaps surprisingly, but there's no word on whether it'll make it to Europe.
We'll be bringing you more on all of Konami's most exciting new titles, which may or may not include Brooktown High: Senior Year, in the next few days.
Microsoft has a new racing wheel, headset, and video camera accessories in the works for Xbox 360 racing fans that have a penchant for online chat, Xbox boss Peter Moore said today at the Microsoft press briefing.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Racing wheel extends the console's wireless controller tradition to steering wheels and offers force feedback technology to let the road fight back and add realism to racing games such as the upcoming Forza Motorsport 2. Microsoft also announced the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, a wireless headphone and microphone set that matches the styling of the Xbox 360 console.
Microsoft plans on releasing an Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver that will allow both new wireless accessories to work on Windows PCs as well as current and future wireless accessories including the wireless Xbox 360 controller.
GameSpot asked Microsoft representatives if the PC receiver accessory will allow the headset to function as a voice over IP communication device with common VOIP applications such as Skype, but Microsoft would only confirm that the headset would be compatible with Windows. However, there's still hope for VOIP users since representatives did not state that the headset would work only with Xbox Live.
The Xbox 360 video camera which first appeared in prototype form at early Xbox 360 press events will finally make its entrance later this year. The Xbox Live Vision camera will enable photo messaging and video chat for Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Subscribers will also be able to use the camera to create personalized gamer pictures. The USB camera will have a built-in microphone and will also be PC Windows compatible.
Microsoft has not announced pricing and has only revealed the release date for the camera, which will ship in North America and Europe on September 19. All other accessories will be ready in time for the "holiday" season.
Too Human is the first in the trilogy from developer Silicon Knights, where as the cybernetic god Neo, sorry we mean Baldur, players assualt war machines hell bent on the annihilation of the human race - think along the lines of The Matrix, or Terminator.
Featuring plenty of action and using the Unreal 3 engine, players can experience a "non-stop barrage of action powered by the seamless integration of melee and ranged firearms combat and fuelled by breathtaking visuals".
As well as single-player, prepare for four-player online co-operative play. So if you haven't already, check out the new batch of screenshots with haste, human scum!
To follow on from what Nintendo are calling their Next Gen console we have today changed the name of our former "The Revolution" site to Nintendo Wii News.
As you would expect it has masses of the latest news and screenshots from E3. Some great news items if you havent followed it lately.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz at E3 this week, Microsoft's games boss Peter Moore discusses his reaction to Sony and Nintendo's conferences, and Microsoft's own plans for the future of the games business.
GamesIndustry.biz: All three companies laid their cards on the table earlier this week - from your perspective, what do you make of the three conferences and the reaction to them so far?
Peter Moore: I think that we came here with a very focused view on what we needed to communicate at our press conference. I was quite frankly surprised at what Sony had to show - and I was a little surprised at the pricing announcement. We weren't quite sure about whether they were going to come clean with the pricing. Having two SKUs sounds familiar, having a global launch in November sounds familiar...
I'm trying to rationalise $500 and $600, though. I don't know what that is in pounds - they haven't announced pricing yet - but I remember the abuse we got for ��. I'm trying to rationalise whether Blu-Ray, a format that hasn't hit the market yet, can justify that pricing - and whether, when I look at their games and look at our games, I can see a $200 or $300 price differential in the quality of their games versus our games. I don't know about you, but I'm not seeing that yet.
Maybe I'm missing it, but when I see Gears of War... When I know that what you saw from Halo 3 is in-engine... Actually, blown up on the big screen, I didn't like the way it showed, because I've seen it on things like this [gestures to LCD screen] which is the way you should see it, and the game was spectacular. That was not CGI, that's in-engine work.
Then, having that little announcement of making sure that Grand Theft Auto IV debuts on our platform on day one, October 19th in Europe - when I roll all that together, and throw in this little thing called Xbox Live, and all of the opportunities that has provided for gamers to look at different ways to play, for publishers to have the opportunity to commercially transact with consumers who are totally connected. Xbox Live and Marketplace continues to be a monster phenomenon.
I add all that together, and compare it to what I'm seeing from the other guys, and I'm feeling pretty good that we're certainly in the right place. You know, having ten million units head-start - it's funny, you wrote about it at the ELSPA Summit last summer when I said that ten million was important. People kind of laughed at that and said there was no way we could do it, but we'll hit ten million way before the holiday of this year.
We think that a head-start of that magnitude is a virtuous cycle. There's a lot of goodness for publishers, there's a lot of goodness for retailers - but more importantly, we're driving Xbox Live, driving Marketplace, driving Arcade, driving fresh, downloadable content.
Providing gamers around the world - as we're dong right now, in real time - the ability to download hi-def content. We put everything you saw at the conference up on Marketplace last night, so that the guys who can't get to E3 can experience it on their hi-def TVs or whatever way they want to experience it. We're getting the numbers right now, but I can feel the heat from the servers as they handle those downloads. The Gears of War demo is being downloaded, the video of that, the trailer itself - and of course, Halo 3, the in-game video that we showed.
So I'm feeling comfortable that we're delivering what we say we're delivering. I don't think we've ever said things that we haven't delivered on, at this point. Last year was tough for us, because we took the high road; you, and everyone else, criticised us for having alpha kits running, but to me it would have been disingenuous to show videos of things that we needed to ship that year.
I haven't had a chance to go over to Sony's booth - I'm sure there's a ton of playables over there, I don't know. I want to go see Killzone, and see what it looks and feels like that.
You'll be disappointed on that front I'm afraid, there's no sign of it this year.
Yeah, well. There's a surprise.
From our point of view, we're completely focused on delivering volume and supply for retail this year - because it's going to be another tough holiday if we don't step up our volume.
Despite what Sony will tell you, they really don't know - they don't know what their yields are, they don't know what issues they're going to face in production. While I hope for the good of the industry that they hit the numbers that they say they're going to hit, it remains to be seen whether you can ramp at that level. That's a lot of units ramping; they've got to start making it very soon. Complexities of Blu-Ray, complexities of Cell technology, silicon yields and what have you... They'll figure it all out, but they know it's not easy.
You mentioned GTA IV a moment ago, but is it really a huge coup for you just to get equal treatment from Rockstar on a game? Is a simultaneous multi-platform launch really worth tattooing yourself over?
Well, here's the deal - yeah, absolutely. Many people would attribute the success of the PlayStation 2 to the success of Grand Theft Auto 3. It is our view that in the next generation, third party exclusives will become harder to find - so what people were missing, and maybe it wasn't made clear, is that day and date is important to us because when we do our research and ask PS2 owners why they're going to buy a PS3, they say it's because the only place they'll get Grand Theft Auto. That is empirical data that we've been amassing.
So when you talk about neutralising that, that's very important to us. Then we say to gamers - and this flooded my inbox during the night - the only place you can play Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV is on an Xbox 360, and they've seen Gears of War and it blows the doors down for them.
What we look at is how you switch people on a market share basis from one generation to the other - and the ability for us to be able to say that the only platform where you can play those games is Xbox 360. More importantly, what people weren't even listening or didn't pick up on the importance of, is the exclusive episodic content, from Rockstar, for the Xbox 360.
If you think online is going to be important over the next few years, exclusive content online is going to be even more important. Having someone like Rockstar, who totally believe in our vision for what episodic content will be, downloadable content, bringing you maps, levels, vehicles, things of that nature - that ability to do that is very, very cool. People missed a little bit of the importance of that bit of the announcement. Having Grand Theft Auto IV on our platform is very important.
You say you'll have exclusive content, but will Rockstar also be making exclusive content for the PS3?
You'd have to ask them that. They're not going to tell me what they're doing. I don't know, I mean, how good are they feeling about the power and strength of the PS3 online network? What development environment are they working on right now, what size of installed base?
I mean, the guys at Rockstar are very smart guys as you well know. They've never really been able to do a lot on Xbox Live and that hurts them. People like Sam Houser and Terry Donovan are the most innovative guys in our industry, as you well know, and back in the UK where a lot of this is made, there's a real desire now to get with what's going on in the future, and that's driving a connected state with consumers that are millions strong.
I'm sure Sony's going to come up with something, but the proof of the pudding is in the tasting on this thing. We're there, we're going to be at six million by next E3, our attach rate is phenomenal. It's not just that early adopter any more - by having the Silver tier in there, by removing credit cards... As of last night, we now have a thousand pieces of downloadable content on Marketplace.
When you add all of that together, you've got to be able to predict an environment that you can develop into, with a predictable installed base and a consistent interface. Then we talk to them, as we did, about Live Anywhere on top of that - which Bill went through - now we're talking about hundreds of millions if not billions. That's a market that we've got to look at. We've got to address how you take a platform, that is Live, which has been given birth to on the Xbox but which is ultimately a platform play.
This is about a connected state - this is no different from the phenomenons of things like MySpace. People want to connect, and while offline gaming will still be popular, connecting your console now is not some geeky, intimidating, first-person shooter thing. It's things like Viva Pinata, which people scoff at, and that's fine. We'll prove them wrong. The boys at Rare, as always, are going to push the envelope and see where it will split. We're broadening that demographic, getting people to feel more comfortable about connecting. That's very important to us.
Does Sony's announcement that they won't charge a subscription fee on their online service put pressure on you to follow suit on Live?
Well, on Xbox Live Silver you can do anything except play multiplayer. What Sony has actually announced is that they're pushing the emphasis to the publishers to figure out what they want to charge. They have said, "we're not going to charge you" - but if you truly believe that the publishers are going to build data centres, build user interfaces, network stacks, run bandwidth costs, egress costs, do compatibility with every provider around the world... For free?
Somebody needs to show me the business model there that's going to work. What the publishers are going to tell you is, not only are we providing Xbox Live as a platform - we built it, they know how to deliver into it, every single publisher is into it - but we've now acquired a company called Massive, and we're going to provide a turnkey solution for them to allow them to monetise their intellectual property. They're going to put hooks in the games, as long as that content is relevant - driving games will have a Coca-Cola sign in there, or product placement from Ford or GM built into the game; if it's relevant and pertinent to the game experience, we're in.
Sony... I'm not worried about them. They've got their own problems to fight here. We know where the future is - the future is connected state. It's not about hardcore games, although that will still be there. It's about all of us being able to talk, and interact, and play, and race, and drive - and monetising that, with development costs going through the roof, is going to be very important.
The pieces in the jigsaw puzzle are there, and we're not a company that's afraid of making bets.
[On the status of the Xbox 360 project now...]
We're in the second generation of the next generation. I've got 40, maybe 50 thousand dev kits flying around somewhere at this point. Developers are now moving into their second full year - and actually, for some guys, they'll be looking soon at the third year of working on the hardware. You never hear anybody say, boy, that Xbox 360 is tough to develop for!
So you add that, you add the XNA which we've started delivering, you add Live Anywhere, you add Xbox Live, you add 10 million headstart... You build on content that we've been amassing from an IP point of view, like Halo, Gears of War, Viva Pinata, Shadowrun, Too Human, Mass Effect, Fable, Forza, Project Gotham Racing - all first-party. You tie in spectacular relationships with third parties, and you bring it all together with the platform that sits above it, that can monetise it with premium downloadable content, with in-game advertising. You bring MSN into play, with 450 people around the world selling on behalf of EA, Activision, Ubisoft, all these guys - assuming we can figure out deals, obviously.
You tie all that together, and you've got the business model for the future of this industry. It's not relying on someone to go to Dixons on a Saturday morning and hopefully have ï¿䨆 in their pocket, and scan a hundred games and go, "that one" - that's too random. Absolutely too random, and then you never hear from them for another month, when they've saved up another ï¿䨆 to go and get another game.
That's not how business is conducted going forward. Business is conducted in real-time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, building a relationship with the consumer that's connected. Everybody wants to connect with the consumer, and be able to build a commercial transaction - whether that's micro-transactions for a a hundred Microsoft points, or going forward to buy ï¿䧼, ï¿䨆, ï¿䨐 games.
I prefer the ability to interact - I want everybody to connect. There's no reason, in today's world of massive broadband adoption, that you can't move towards a goal like that. I don't need your credit card any more, I don't need any money. Just give me a try - in fact, this week, Adidas in Europe is putting people up there in Gold for free.
Do you expect the HD-DVD drive you've announced for the Xbox 360 to go out to a wide audience?
I don't know. It's about choice - you want to buy a games machine, I'll give you a games machine right now for $299 that plays high-definition games and connects. You want to step up and get local storage on there, that's $399, or its ��. You want high definition movie playback, well, I'll announced a price soon, but here it is.
What I'm not telling you is that you must have high definition movie playback, and it's going to cost you between $100 and $300 dollars. I'm not forcing that upon you. We learned the same lesson with Xbox, when we put the hard drive in there. We learned a lot of lessons, most of them fiscal. Some guys like having local storage and some guys don't.
High-def will come - whether it comes next year, or the year after, or the year after, at a mass market level - but we had to make some very tough choices two years ago about what you build, on a pricing curve level, if you want to scale. We made the choice that we felt that DVD9 was still a very lively format that our developers could work with - that it was going to be too early to embed the cost of high definition movie playback in the device itself. I think that what you've seen at $500 or $600 bears that out.
The bigger problem, as well, is not this year - because, you know, they're going to sell what they can deliver. It's two years down the road when you're trying to hit ï¿��, and ultimately ï¿䨷 - can you catch up, in a cost reduction curve, at a time when your competitors are already there and are actually at a zero gross margin, in other words, the cost is balancing out the whole thing.
That's where the rubber hits the road on pricing - not in the first couple of million.
So you're pretty adamant that PS3 is overpriced at that level?
I don't know. You go ask consumers. As you know, I go tool around on the boards every now and then, and I tooled around the boards - a lot of the stuff that you do. I love going around the Brit boards because boy, those guys are very shy, and they don't tell you what they think... [laughs]
I go into Eurogamer and I look at how many comments there are already, and which threads, and that's where I get my feedback from - because it's not about me, it's about what the consumer thinks.
Put it another way then - are you happy that Sony has priced at this level?
I am very comfortable with our price point, for what it delivers, for the number of games that we have, for the quality of the games. What's got to happen is, the consumer has got to walk over to Sony's booth and say, oh yeah, those games are $300 better. I can see $300 of difference in that game right there. I'm not sure that's the case right now.
If they can see that they've got more games, or they can see that they've got a better online network, or they can see that their first-party stuff really rocks... Or that the franchises that they have are superior to Halo, or Gears of War, or Project Gotham, or Forza... Unless you can answer those questions, if you're Sony, you've obviously got some challenges. They need to answer those questions.
They're a great company. It's a great product. I'm sure they have answers - I don't know what they are.
Looking away from what's coming this Christmas, and more to what's coming in the next six months - you've got six months to get to a stated goal of ten million units by the time Sony launches in November...
That's assuming they get to market in six months.
Assuming that, yes. Let's take them at their word for now. How are you going to get from where you are now to ten million units, when your launch schedule on software doesn't really look that strong over the coming months?
You don't like Gears? You don't think Gears is....?
I think Gears looks great, but Gears is one game. One game doesn't get you to ten million units.
You don't think things like, certainly in this country, having Madden coming up there first in next-gen and hi-def for us; Splinter Cell; Saints Row.... From our point of view, even Viva Pinata, which people are going to underestimate, I think. You don't believe that that, on top of everything else we've already got in the market right now... I don't know. It's a rhetorical question. You don't believe that we can hit 10 million, so we need to reconvene over a pint in London in December when we'll look at the numbers again. I believe that we can, so it's a subjective call.
So you don't see any weakness in your release schedule over the next few months?
Where do you think we're weak?
You spent a lot of your conference this week talking about big games for 2007, when we might have expected to see more about games that are happening in 2006. 2007 is still a long way away.
Grand Theft Auto was 2007, but I talked about Forza, this year. Fable I did talk about, we didn't even give a date for Fable, but Forza - obviously, the game is phenomenal game. That game will be huge, particularly in Europe.
There are 160 games - and again, you're taking the old model of, what's available for ï¿䨆 on the shelf? You're not looking at Arcade. Arcade is unbelievable - I can't tell you how powerful Arcade is as an alternate medium for going in there and picking up packaged goods. The conversion rate of Geometry Wars, which was a lad in Liverpool in his spare time - I mean, you know the story - that thing has converted at 38 per cent.
So don't take the old model, where you have to have triple A software to make a platform. Yeah, that's important, but again, talk about the things that I laid out ten minutes ago - about the multiple things that are going to drive this business.
You and I are going to, as we often do, agree to disagree. We need to meet in London, and you can buy me a pint, or I'll buy you a pint.
And by the way, bringing eight new markets on doesn't hurt either. There is incredible demand - we're scratching the surface right now of demand in this industry, and going into places like India where there is, well, a couple of billion people. Now, certainly, only a minority of them will have them, but when you look at those countries... And we haven't even talked about China, which has its own complexities - but we'll be there.
Looking at the Live Anywhere system, that's all about interoperability between systems like the Xbox 360 and the PC. Does that mean we'll be seeing more games being launched simultaneously on those systems - things like Forza or Halo 3, maybe?
Yeah, I think... Well, I'm not going to comment about specific games, but I think that ultimately we start looking at this less as making a game for a device, and more as making a game for a platform. Shadowrun is our first attempt, and Shadowrun won't be perfect - but Shadowrun is a game which we believe will be the proving ground for the experience of cross-platform play.
Games will be important, but the community aspect is going to be really important. Scott did a great job of showing what it's about - I think productivity is going to drop, actually. When I can see what you're doing in the office on your PC, and I can invite you, and you have that game on there...
Again, we're not a hardware company. Hardware is necessary in this business, but also, ultimately, this is a platform play. Hardware, as most companies will tell you, is a pretty crappy business. It's difficult to make great margins on, it's difficult to make the money to plough back into the software. It's all about a combination - you've heard this before from us, it's hardware, software and services. We've said it, you all yawned, we'll keep saying it. Hardware, software and services - we're delivering your games, your friends, your lifestyle. Eventually, it'll all sink in. That's what it's about.
For Bill to stop what he was doing, fly down here and do this press conference twice, is because he believes in it. I can tell you a bit about Microsoft - when Bill believes in something, people generally snap to order and get it done.
He was self-deprecating yesterday, but he loves Arcade. I know exactly what he's good at, and Zuma is one of those games he's very good at. His kids, too - I mean, now you've got a different Bill Gates. Now you've got a Bill Gates who's looking at it as a guy who's raising kids, who's interacting with them in a different way through Xbox. He doesn't, he can't come across as involved as he really is. I can tell you, Bill has a real point of view on the games we put up there, a real point of view on the experience. I get emails from him, and the guy is so strategically brilliant about what needs to happen here. Live Anywhere is - you're going to accuse me of saddling up the Trojan Horse again! - but the ability to drive a platform play, rather than hardware software and services, is very important.
That's what we're good at. We're good at it. We're learning with this stuff, but as a lot of companies around the world have proven, hardware is a very difficult business to be in. You've got to be able to build up - if you're going to continue to invest in making world class software, you've got to find those margins, and those margins come out of the platform rather than the hardware.
How did the plan for Live Anywhere come about?
It's something we've been working on for a couple of years. When you look at what Live is about, it wasn't always going to be something tethered to a device - whether it was the Xbox or the Xbox 360. A lot of it came as we started to see the capabilities of Vista and DirectX 10, and the ability to get into Vista early. First of all we're getting PC games back up and running again, with Games Explorer and easy installation - again, that's Bill. Bill's saying, here are the things you need to put in, and our ability is to put some of the world's best and brightest software engineers to figure out how it works.
The overall vision that he and we have, of this thing that floats above everything, that is a connected state that we all have, is very key to the future of what I believe this business needs to be. If we're going to stay tethered to expensive hardware, and have game developers spending $20, $30, $40 million dollars on games to deliver against that hardware, and then hope to God it sells... The business model is still going to be a challenging business model for all of us.
The man who heads up Microsoft Game Studios has called Sony's PS3 online service into question, claiming that it is already way behind Xbox Live and can't match up with the new Live Anywhere system.
Speaking exclusively to CVG at E3 today, Kim told us that "Sony still has a lot to prove with its online service" if it's going to challenge the established might of Xbox Live. When we asked him what would happen if Sony's online service matched Xbox Live, Kim's doubts over the PS3's ability to match up were evident. "It's a big if," he said. "We've already gone to the next level, and I don't think Sony can do what we're doing."
But Kim pointed out that there were no plans to 'spoil' the launch of the PS3 with Halo 3 - or any other game. "If we wanted to use Halo 3 as a pawn in our strategy then yeah, we'd release it on PS3 launch date. But Halo 3 is not a pawn. It won't do anybody any good to have Halo 3 rushed out just to spoil someone else's console launch."
Kim reckons that the Halo 3 trailer - shown for the first time at Microsoft's Pre-E3 press conference yesterday and available for viewing right here - was a far stronger statement than either Sony or Nintendo managed. "It was a great way to end our briefing as opposed to the way some other people ended theirs. It was great to finally confirm that the new Halo game will be the third in the trilogy and that Master Chief will be finishing the fight in 2007."
And what about those rumours that the next Halo game would be some kind of spin-off from the trilogy? "Hopefully we've put to bed any concerns or confusion about what Bungie is doing with the Halo universe. They're very focused on Halo 3 and they're going to make it bigger and better and everything everyone expects."
Kim is also confident that the Xbox 360's line-up of games is strong enough to compete with the PS3. "Xbox 360 is going to be the only place you can play Gears of War, Forza Motorsport 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV. I really think Gears of War is shaping up to be the next big blockbuster and we have that exclusively. That's why I believe we have the very best lineup available on the next-gen consoles."
As for the PS3's pricing, Kim echoed Peter Moore's comments to us earlier today that Sony has priced it too high. "I also think we have a pricing advantage," he said.
The Metal Gear mastermind has new plans for Nintendo and Microsoft consoles.
Hideo Kojima today announced that he considered the Metal Gear Solid series to be 'made for for PlayStation platform'.
Kojima Productions will be working on Wii and Xbox 360 titles but, crucially, they won't be featuring Solid Snake. "If I was going to do a game on Wii or Xbox 360, I would do a completely different game - not Metal Gear Solid" said Kojima.
Kojima also went on to say that MGS 4 will have important online elements and will use the motion sensing properties of the Dual Shock 3 pad. Taking a swipe at pre rendered PS3 demos currently doing the rounds at E3, Kojima confirmed that the new MGS4 trailer is completely real time "one thing I want you to know is that these cinematics are done in real time on the demo kit".
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They include the 360 face plate and a screwdriver to install the case. Easy to install and totally custom design!
Microsoft may not have a brand-spanking-new console to show off at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, but that doesn't mean E3 attendees didn't flock to see what the M-machine had to show off. The Xbox 360 is almost six months old, and many of the console's "second-generation" games are gearing up for a holiday season showdown with the launches of Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3.
Microsoft was once again stationed in the rear of the South Hall, near third-party companies like Ubisoft and Blizzard. The front portion of its space was wide open, with meeting rooms and private screening rooms located in a makeshift building in the rear.
Microsoft has been fond of making untraditional gaming kiosks for its events, and this year's E3 hosted some of the most bizarre yet. The Xbox 360 was obviously the main attraction of the booth, but Microsoft's new line of PC games also took up a surprisingly sizable chunk of space. The Xbox was very scarce--THQ's Destroy All Humans! 2 and Stacked with Daniel Negreanu were among the few current-gen titles.
As for next-gen games, several were on hand to play. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, Prey, F.E.A.R., Chromehounds, Ninety-Nine Nights, Madden NFL 07, Too Human, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, and Crackdown all made appearances.
The side of the booth showcased some of the 360's hardware, including several limited-edition faceplates. Some were skinned with Microsoft's Zero Hour launch party event, while others had French house duo Daft Punk's logos all over it.
Gamers also got their first glimpse at some of the new Xbox 360 peripherals. The external HD-DVD player, which debuted at Tuesday's Microsoft pre-E3 conference, shared a display case with the deluxe remote control for the system. In a neighboring case, the wireless, force-feedback steering wheel was held aloft by wires, and next to that were an Xbox 360 controller, the wireless Ethernet adapter, the Bluetooth headset, and a wireless receiver, which makes Xbox 360 gear compatible with PCs.
An official bridge between the events of the two films, X2: X-Men United and X3: The Last Stand, X-Men: The Official Game follows main characters Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Iceman as they embark on a 28-mission journey to defeat Hydra, the Brotherhood, and a collection of other surprise villains. Features include character-specific level geometry and super-powers, voice-overs from select members of the motion picture cast, and an original narrative written by Chris Claremont and Zak Penn.
Still beaming (get it?!... *sigh*) from the critical and consumer acclaim bestowed upon Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Bethesda has announced its new project for the Xbox 360 - a real-time strategy game based on the Star Trek licence, entitled Star Trek: Legacy.
Enlisted as an Admiral (bloody hell that was a quick rise up the ranks) you must command a fleet of war ships through a series of escalating real time battles, which offer all the recognisable starships from the numerous incarnations of the television series - including the tribble infested Enterprise of the Kirk and Spock era, right the way through to the battle hardened version of Jean-Luc Picard's reign. But for the rebel in you, there is relief away from the rules and regulations of the Federation, with the chance to pilot the powerful fleets of Klingon, Romulan, and Borg races too.
Developed by Mad Doc Software, creator of Star Trek Armada II, the game is due out this September for PC and Xbox 360, but won't be the last title we see from the Star Trek universe, due to Bethesda acquiring the rights from CBS Consumer Products to publish a series of games across all gaming consoles, an agreement that has the company looking forward to the challenge ahead...
"Being able to work with the entire universe of this beloved series is an incredibly exciting opportunity for us," said Todd Vaughn, vice president of development for Bethesda Softworks. "We have some great ideas about where we want to go with this license and having the exclusive right to develop and publish Star Trek games across all platforms ensures that every Star Trek game will be a quality game worthy of its name."
The game will also boast a full multiplayer campaign, from small-scale engagements to all-out war involving multiple star systems. Matchmaking, stat tracking, and player rankings on Xbox Live are set to be included, so you can check your progression from Kirk to a Kahn (or visa versa) easily.
Though it was only a moderate success when it hit theaters in 1995, Heat has developed a devout cult following. Its deep characters, clockwork-like plot, and intense violence have earned director Michael Mann's three-hour-long crime epic many fans, more than a few of which were game developers. Indeed, the ultra-difficult bank robbery level of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was a direct homage to the film, featuring copies of the hockey-mask-and-coverall disguises worn in the beginning of Heat and recreating its violent street-shootout denouement.
Now, it appears Heat will be getting a more direct game adaptation. Today, the hybrid entertainment company Titan Productions announced that it has reached a deal with Regency Entertainment, the Hollywood production company that owns the rights to Heat, to publish a game based on the film for "next-generation consoles" in 2007.
According to Titan Productions, Mann is in talks with Gearbox to oversee the game's development. There's also a good chance that many of the movies' stars will be lending their voices and likenesses to the game. Titan claims it is in "advanced stages with representatives for Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Val Kilmer to be part of the video game sequel."
According to a statement by Titan, Heat: The Game will be a prequel or sequel to the film. If the game is a sequel, De Niro's character, Neil McCauley, will appear in flashback, perhaps in the form of training missions. If Pacino declines to get on board, it would be a sequel which would have a new detective chasing down McCauley's crew.
Though the prospect of a Heat game elicited whoops of delight inside the GameSpot E3 booth, Titan's record has been more than a little spotty. Clive Barker's Demonik, its next-gen game collaboration with Terminal Reality, was canceled in February. Little has been heard about its other movie-game crossover projects, such as Guillermo del Toro's Sundown and John Carpenter's Psychopath, since they were announced.
However, unlike other Titan projects, the Heat game has a well-respected studio on board--Gearbox Software, developer of Brothers in Arms and the PC port of Halo. "There is something about this concept that I call 'hardcore heist' that has never really been done well in a video game, yet everyone on the planet has thought about robbing a bank or something at one time or another," Gearbox Software president Randy Pitchford said in a statement. "Heat pretty much defined what hardcore heist means and it gives us a narrative mechanism to consider both sides."
Neil Thompson, head of Xbox for Northern and Eastern Europe, has dismissed claims made by author Dean Takahashi that Microsoft is currently developing a new handheld gaming system.
In his latest book, The Xbox 360 Uncloaked, Takahashi claims that half of the Xbox 360 hardware team is already hard at work on the new machine - which he says is due to be released half way through the next-gen console's lifespan.
But speaking to gadget website T3, Thompson said: "We’re not even thinking about that at the moment. Handhelds, in the way you would think about a handheld like a PSP? No."
Thompson went on to say that the company plans to focus instead on improving its foothold in the mobile gaming market, which he believes offers "a really good opportunity to capitalise on the hundreds of millions of handsets that are out there, and give people a chance to connect that with other entertainment experiences."
Tina, Hitomi, Helena, the lovely Kasumi and all their 'friends' are set to bring a ray of sunshine to Xbox 360 in Dead or Alive: Xtreme 2. The 'volleyball' part has been dropped from the name as developer Tecmo acknowledges that really, this was never about sporting prowess.
Looking hotter than ever, radiant in their next-gen glory, the girls return to Zak's Island to soak up the rays, compare bikinis and take part in a number of water sports (s******) and beach activities.
The volleyball is back in a 'retooled' format, while other distractions include personal water craft - jet-ski - races, a water slide, hip wrestling (in which you attempt to knock your opponent off a platform by bumping her with your bum!), the original's hopping game and something called 'beach flag', in which you race another girl across the sand to be the first to capture a flag - or just fall over in a heap and start giggling.
Advertisement:Come nightfall, there's the chance to let your hair down in Zak's Casino, which now features even more games. In between all this, of course, you'll be kept busy buying new outfits and gifts for your pretend girlfriend. Online versus modes complete the package.
Dead Or Alive: Xtreme 2 is due out on Xbox 360 at the end of the year.
In a clear attempt to mimic the same lack of self-control exhibited by a Las Vegas slot-machine junkie, Ubisoft has simply been unable to control the urge to release yet more Rainbow Six: Vegas screenshots. Not that we're complaining mind, they could send us another 10 billion if they all look as sumptuous as these beauties, although we might have a little trouble fitting them on the site.
To go with the new screens, Ubisoft has released fresh details about the game, including announcing the new members of Team Rainbow, namely: Logan Keller-team leader and recon expert, Michael Walter-heavy weapons and demolition guru, and Jung Park, long range and electronics specialist.
Apparently the new Special Order Location system means that Michael and Jung will offer you tactical suggestions in real time as you race to find the terrorist cell, and you can also expect to experience real-time mission briefings throughout the game.
Visually speaking, expect realistic fast roping, rappelling and window entry (ooh, er) thanks to the motion-capture expertise of a top Hollywood animation boffin, as well as the gorgeous backdrops you see before you in these screenshots, of course!
Also included is a fully customisable multiplayer option, where you get to create your own multiplayer character who will then evolve during online play, enabling you to unlock new accessories and achievements as you go.
Look for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Rainbow Six: Vegas in your local games shop this Autumn, with the PC version to follow at a later date.
A number of big name games are suspiciously absent from this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, but the absence of one of them, Namco Bandai's Frame City Killer, has been explained today.
A message from the publisher on the Japanese Namco Channel site confirms that after a series of delays, development on the game has been discontinued.
"We are sorry to say that we have decided that Frame City--the Xbox 360 game which our company had planned for a spring 2006 release--will not be released," the company said. "Our apologies to everyone who was looking forward to the game's release."
Despite the setback, Namco Bandai will continue to support Microsoft's new system. It's showing Mobile Ops: The One Year War for the Xbox 360 at its E3 booth this year, and the Frame City Killer announcement indicates further development is underway.
"Our company will continue to develop high quality software for the Xbox 360 next-gen console, from a new RPG to others," Namco Bandai said. "We ask for your understanding. We'll announce new titles and their release dates separately."
Only Resident Evil 4 has driven survival-horror forwards." So says Eden, the developer of Alone in the Dark for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. As arguably the great granddaddy of the entire survival-horror genre, Alone in the Dark hasn't really fulfilled its horrifying potential until now, but this next-gen regeneration of the classic series is already impressive enough to make us forget that Resi 5 hasn't even turned up to E3 2006.
The game takes place in New York, where a terrifying force has erupted from underneath Central Park and torn through the city. Alone in the Dark is massively ambitious - the game takes place in the whole of Central Park, as a free-roaming open environment, as you search for the paranormal power hidden somewhere under the park.
We were treated to a collection of real-time demos, showing off both the gameplay dynamics and the new technological wonders behind the scenes. The watchword for this dose of scare-tastic action is immersion, something we saw immediately as Alone in the Dark's hero, Edward Carnaby, woke up blindfolded in the first demo.
Like Half-Life, the game keeps you involved even during cutscenes, and we watched as the blindfold was removed and Atari's guide used the analogue sticks to blink and clear the character's vision.
Welcome to the 360 version of BiA: HH and the action kicks off in a small Dutch town, with our new set of heroes indulging in some boisterous and laid-back chit-chat in a local cafe. Then, predictably enough seeing as this is a war game, a bomb hits right when you're only-a-bit-expecting-it and makes everything catch fire, fall apart or blow up.
Your team soon hits the street guns and the ready and there's a pretty damn obvious realisation that this is using every 'silicon chip' within Xbox 360. Crawl on the floor and you can see the debris - lumps of brick and glass are everywhere - in way more detail than is strictly necessary.
The Dutch streets are lined by gently swaying trees, and if you're the sort of geek who examines stuff in minute detail like us, you'll notice the shadows the trees cast on the ground gently moving around as they sway. Were it not for the fact that's everything's either on fire or getting blown up and everyone's either bleeding or dead, it'd be quite beautiful and relaxing.
While we're admiring the trees a stray bazooka takes the chimney off a nearby house and it crashes down in the road amid a shower of masonry. You're able to run up to this and use it as cover, helping with your mission of taking out the German gun emplacements that are firing up at Our Boys' bombers in the sky.
We only saw this one dramatic, opening mission, but it looked bloody good and certainly not just Brothers in Arms 2 in high-res. Should be all right and it's due out before the end of the year - you can check out more BiA:HH action at our dedicated home page right here, but we'll bring you more from the BiA frontline soonest.
As hotly anticipated as Halo 3 but for ahem entirely different reasons, Team Ninja has finally unveiled the sequel to Dead Or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball.
But perhaps as sign of honesty, taking into account the main focus (or two) for the vast majority of goggle eyed punters interested in this game, they have dropped the subtitle; it's now the snappy DOA: Extreme 2.
If you don't know much about DOAX2, or are just too embarrassed to admit you do, it revolves everyone's favourite Dead or Alive girls taking a vacation from the fisticuffs and instead sees them partaking in a variety of activities on Zack's Island. Featuring a host of mini games that range from water sports (ahem) to jet-skiing time trials, playing beach volleyball is of course the mainstay of the title. Besides gawping at the girls themselves that is...
For all you collectors out there the game's extensive swimsuits and accessories list once more makes an appearance, allowing you to dress up (or down) the DOA girl of your choice, and as the evening sets you can head on over to Zack's Casino to gamble your credits away in an increased number of chance games.
The mini-games list is quite extensive and we won't bore you with them all, because not only are we starting to get slightly hot around the collar, but also because we know you're all too busy checking out the tasty screenshots to be reading this bit.
This morning, Vlad Cole and I had an opportunity to chat with Microsoft's Peter Moore, the man responsible for marketing the Xbox 360. When we last pinned him down at CES, there were still so many unanswered questions about the competition. After Sony and Nintendo's keynotes at E3, not to mention their own, the time was ripe to ask him about a portable Xbox, the Nintendo Wii complementing the Xbox 360, the Sony Dual Shake controller, and where he got that ink on his arm.
Forgive me if I interrupt you, if I hear something that I already heard at the press briefing, I might cut your answer short a little bit. Congratulations on Gears of War. Everyone is saying it looks and plays awesome. It actually appears to be head and shoulders above everything we're seeing on the show floor. Is that a conscious choice to keep it off the floor itself, so that the comparison gap doesn't pop?
No, not really. I think the idea is that the game deserves hands-on. We're trying to show it to as many people as we can up here. The team at Epic is really so conscious of the quality of what they're doing and presenting that bringing them up here, we'll get thousands of people through in the end, they churn people through pretty quickly, there was no conscious effort, no.
So where are the rest of the games that look this good?
Here? That depends on your ... you tell me. What is it that you think is missing?
There does appear to be a gap in quality between that and everything else. It's just head and shoulders above. We're wondering if there are other titles that will match that by the time they come out.
Quality of gameplay, graphics, depth, immersion? It's all subjective. I'm biased on all of them. Games like Crackdown: different visual style, different genre. But, it's coming together really well. Mass Effect. I was on some blogs last night where people are spending some time on it and are really impressed with it. Dave Perry and a few other people wrote some really strong stories about Mass Effect. That's a weird question ... I mean, which of my children do I love more?
Where's J Allard?
J was just, umm. J was doing a BMX event or something. I don't know. He's back in Redmond now.
It's just that he's been MIA since launch.
J's working hard. J runs the platform. J has his engineers. He's been working hard on Live updates and what have you. Live as a platform is something something to J.
It's just that the difference from pre-launch, where we saw him in the ourcolony video. He was the face of the Xbox 360.
Remember, you were there Tuesday right? I started off saying we had an organizational change. I run the business from the point of view what people have to do. One thing it means is a singular face. One thing we figured out was that the J/Robbie/Peter thing probably wasn't working. J's incredibly busy. J is one of smartest guys on the face of the Earth, and developing platforms is what he does. From that point of view ... I don't know. J's a very active young man and ... snowboarding season's over.
There's a rumor that he's maybe working on the Xboy, a portable Xbox.
I think J was actually on the grassy-knoll in '63 in Dallas.
Was he also responsible for hiding all those Xboxes at Area 51?
He actually hid the E.T. cartridges, that's how far back he goes.
If you're really serious about the whole games thing, don't you think portable's a part of that?
Portable's a part of everything, but there's a billion cell phones now that I don't think that in any way our industry is doing a fine job of exploiting what's possible on mobile phones. We're blind to the fact that everyone will carry one of these devices. It h as have input, it has a screen. Anything that has input, has a screen, you can play games.
What do you think of Nokia's new N-Gage push? I don't think they're blind to it.
I have to admire them for persistency. I have not walked the show floor.
Do you think that persistence can get them developer support the same way that you've said persistence in Japan will earn you developer support?
Nokia's an unbelievable company. They remind us a little bit of Microsoft: they stick to things they believe in it. They have the capital resources and software engineers to get stuff done. Maybe later on today I'll go have a look. My priorities are to go talk with three or four partners, maybe go play with the Wii, and get on a flight home.
To hammer this one more time: do you really think that the cell phone itself can compete against the likes of the DS and the PSP?
The cell phone at its current structure... as they evolve now. [Pulls phone out.] This is a smart phone from HTC. You start getting this level of functionality -- you know the deal -- you've got the same thing. You've got 16 by 9 aspect ratios, you've got pretty decent screens, I look at this and I think, "geez, you could probably get things on the capability of Genesis or the old days on this pretty well. I will never be able to play things like this. I just can't do it. I also prefer to use the soft key pad because I can go faster with the stylus. But yeah -- the Chairman said so. The Chairman says so, believe me. I haven't been at Microsoft long, but I know when the Chairman says so, things happen.
Services as ambitious as Live Anywhere have to be rolled out over a number of years. You're not going to get that all at once.
That's right.
So what are we going to see when Vista launches [in January]. Are we going to see any of it with Vista?
As Scott [Henson, director of the Xbox Advanced Technology Group] said, a lot of that -- certainly the interface that hooks into the service is already in Vista. I haven't seen ... we eat dog food (our stuff) at Microsoft. I think we've got the latest build of Vista coming up soon, and I'll see where we're at on that. It's all come together nicely.
Games is a major part of what Vista's about. It wasn't vaporware we put up there. The importance is when Bill does do something and puts his commitment to it, things happen. If I say do something maybe it'll get done.
Let's assume that it'll get done. The question is about timeframe.
You know what, I could make stuff up and say "here's the 18-month -- I'm sure there is -- rollout schedule." It'll happen. You're exactly right, it'll roll out. How it rolls out, don't know.
So you've said that the lack of rumble [in the redesigned controller] will hurt the PS3.
That's a personal thing about the way that I like to play. I like the tactile, the visceral response of the controller. Maybe that's because it's always been there for me. And I make that joke that maybe because I'm older I need the reminder that I'm hitting the wall. Don't you think that --
Well we went around the show floor and asked some people yesterday. Opinion's split. People who really care about the entire experience and who have played games where rumble is integral to the gameplay say that it's very important. For instance, the Rockstar Ping Pong title, you need rumble to know when you're about to hit the ball out of bounds.
Ok, I've played the title, but I haven't played to that level.
But a number of other people have said that's the least of Sony's worries. What do you think their key weaknesses are?
Price point is a weakness. As much as they will say that -- I think that Kutaragi overnight said it's too cheap or something like that -- I don't know. Price is going to be an issue. But the way that we as an industry need to cost reduce and bring better value to the consumer as quickly as we can... There are consumer segments that enter the market when the price hits a particular point. You've got to be able to cost-reduce your product accordingly.
They may be able to do an amazing job of incredibly bringing [the price] of that product down. I don't know.
Speaking of cost-reducing, Todd Holmdahl told Reuters in ... I believe it was September of last year that you have plans to cost-reduce the Xbox 360 every single year as part of the strategy.
Oh yeah. More than every year. It's not like, "January 1st let's take some cost out of the box." You have teams that are constantly looking at how you bring the box to a more -- you know, as componentry evolves... amortization, all of this stuff. It's complex stuff.
So people misquoted that as "price reduce."
Cost and price are two very different things.
It's feasible though.
Well of course.
So by launch window this holiday?
No, that's not what he said. He said you're going to cost-reduce the box every year.
I'm asking you though.
You're asking me to tell you I'm going to drop the price? We had a price drop on Monday when Sony announced their price. We obviously don't talk about price drops, and I can't think of any good reason right now that we would drop the price even further from the delta between what we're offering and what our competitor's are currently offering.
And when Nintendo announces a price that is lower than the Xbox 360 -- which is the expectation -- than, by that logic, you've suffered a price increase.
You could put it that way. It's a price increase if the consumer doesn't see the difference between the experiences. I would posit that the consumer right now would be hard pressed to find the price delta between an Xbox 360 and all it has to offer, as we currently stand here today, and the PlayStation 3, and what it promises to offer.
You're not often talking about Nintendo as a competitor ...
I talk about Nintendo every day. They are a competitor, but I think they're in a different space. They have spectacular first-party intellectual property that is timeless, that is built around fun, it's character-based in many instances, it's iterations of great franchises that have gone for decades, but it's primarily youth-based. They're also doing, with the Wii controller, which eventually I'll go and get my hands on, things that are innovative that, from the moment I saw them in Tokyo, I was quoted that day as saying that I loved the innovation and that has stayed with me forever, and I don't back down from that, but I think we're in different spaces as two different companies that can certainly coexist and complement each other.
My point would be that I can see exactly where the value proposition and the positioning of the Nintendo Wii; from who it's made for, what the price is, what would be attractive, to which demographic, on a global basis. I think we've made it clear about we are where we are, what you're getting for your $299 or $399, what the value proposition is, titles like Gears of War, Xbox Live Marketplace. Growing our reach on a global basis. In the middle, it's not clear to me, and maybe I need to take a breather and read this weekend what the value proposition is, potentially I read that Blu-ray is worth the $100 to $200 to $300 and I get very confused when Cell technology is a consumer value proposition. And I ask you guys, what does that do for me as a consumer?
From the game demos we've seen so far, and from the people we've asked, there seems to be a visual parity so they're not yet seeing what this processor is doing for the graphics of the games. But this isn't necessarily a fair comparison since you're now on the second wave of titles while they're just now getting used to developing for that processor. It might be years before we're able to see a difference. Maybe a year or year and a half from now, who's going to be the first to twenty million?
I'd like to think we'd be the first. Let's say we get to the 10 million [mark] ... they won't sell 20 million in the 12 months, it just doesn't happen. If we maintain our commitment to Xbox Live, which we will do, we've built up Live Anywhere, Vista that supports the platform, the content pipeline flow that I can see in 2007 / 2008 -- and in some instances now starting to see things that we're putting up past 2009 -- all of that comes into fruition of the quality levels I believe our third-party partners and my first party studios are doing, we have the price advantage. We globalize our strategy ... we bring China online eventually. Something's gone badly wrong if it's not at the Xbox 360.
So let's talk about Japan for a minute. Your continued investment in Japan is a sign that you really want to stay in the market in the long run. To an extent, you're saying, "the more we lost, the better the signal is to that market."
It's a commitment to the market that's very important, and when I looked at the Japanese markets, a lot of the metrics is how many pieces of hardware we sell to the Japanese consumer, but it's one of many metrics. Asia is a major part of our expansion profile cause online gaming is very important in Asia and we have an advantage. Japanese developers like Sakaguchi, Mizuguchi, Okamoto, all of these guys have an incredible impact outside the shores of the Japanese islands in to the Asian market. Companies like Konami, Capcom, Sega, Namco Bandai, Koie, are now, from an ecosystem point of view, looking globally. Our continued commitment to work with them in their domestic markets, whether it's Capcom with Dead Rising or Lost Planet, I don't talk enough about those two games either. I'm guilty of talking about Sakaguchi. Lost Planet demo has most of our data servers around the world on fire right now. For a game that's still a long way away ... what's happening with Lost Planet already, they're getting feedback from users already. You set up a URL to immediately get people like yourself saying, "Inafune-san, demo's great. Here are the three things I like, here are a couple things I don't like."
Why don't you build that right into the demo itself?
You could do that ... feedback? DeadRising.com. LostPlanet.com. Or Inafune@LostPlanet.com.
At GDC, you said that you run Japan as a hobby. Yesterday, you said that you run Japan directly.
Well, "hobby" is my typical irreverent way of saying that it's weird that I run Japan. But that comes from my legacy of being with Sega ... knowing the ecosystem there, knowing all the publishers, knowing the retailers, knowing the developers, and having as much of a gaijin as you can of understanding what makes the Japanese market tick.
But it's still accurate to characterize your involvement as increased now?
Yeah. The GM of Japan reports directly to me, which is the only country that doesn't report to Mitch Kock who's the head of worldwide sales and marketing. So, from that point of view ... But I'm very involved because all first party development reports to me, so we have MGSA , which is our first party people on the ground in Tokyo. And the third party reports to me. So, I'll go there twice a year and meet with our partners and third parties.
This one's a bit of a branding, marketing question: Would you ever name a product "Wii?" Why or why not? And, also at the same time talk about how Xbox 360, as a name, is a little hard-edged -- a little technical. How does that help or hinder the Xbox 360 in the marketplace?
Moore: Names that seem ridiculous at first, quickly get involved in our culture. "iPod." It's not even a pod. The idea of something that is unique and distinctive is what you brand. One of the challenges of global branding nowadays is finding a word you can protect on a global basis. And people said, "why not Revolution?" Well, I can only imagine how difficult it would have been to brand "Revolution." So now you see -- particularly in the world of technology -- you see these names that you can protect. And you see made up names. In the dot-com base it was "Avayo" ... "Lucent" ... there's a reason there's "Yahoo" and "Google." These are somewhat nonsensical names that try and give some can of a descriptor to the experience. And you can protect them on a legal basis.
So you don't see in problem with that name?
I mean, I'm saying "the Wii." You know, I'm from England, you know, we go for a wee. In England, it's more the Brits because Americans are completely petrified by bodily functions, so we can't even say, "toilet!" (Laughs). If you have to go to, it's the restroom. (More laughs). So in England, we ask where the toilets are ... here, toilet is horrific. So, there's a bit of toilet humor, bathroom humor ...
The portfolio strategy in Japan, it seems that PS3 will always have the advantage in terms of relationships there because Sony is just there and its a hits driven business. One title out of ten really sells consoles. Most people have characterized Sony's involvement there as magnitudes greater than yours. If you've got a portfolio of 100, you've got 10. If they've got 1000, you've got 500. So, just by virtue of luck, they're gonna have more hits and sell consoles in that territory. Would you agree?
No, what I would say is -- that my experience in Japan is it's three or four major franchises that thrive. And, whether that's Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Yu-gi-Oh, a Sega title ... these games would sell huge numbers. From that point of view, you're right, throw enough mud at the wall, some of it sticks. My strategy is to not to throw mud at all, but focus on bigger bets, obviously with bringing in Sakai-Sana. And you know, if you're going to do that sort of thing you will find the best in the worldm, and we were fortuitous that Sakai-san was available after leaving Square, and you place your bets accordingly. Trying to spread your bets and maybe going with a lot of mud but none of it sticks is not a smart strategy. I believe that if there's anybody I'm gonna put my bets on and ride a horse it's Sakaguchi. And I may be proven right, I may be proven wrong, it's a lot more than that as well. We haven't done a great job yet really driving the advantage of Xbox Live. We didn't do a good job with Arcade, you know, to my horror we only had one Arcade game at launch, that was Hexic. We're doing a lot now with Japanese publishers with Arcade.
Tucked away behind Sony's gigantic West Hall stand at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo is a Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning booth belonging to Mythic Entertainment. Visitors to the booth are being invited to get hands-on with the upcoming massively multiplayer online game, where they can check out one of the game's areas on live servers and play alongside members of the development team who are playing from the company's Virginia headquarters.
What none of these players have realized, though, is that one of the "green-skins" questing alongside them is being controlled by a player not armed with a mouse and keyboard, but with a wireless Xbox 360 controller. That player is in a closely guarded room to the rear of Mythic's booth.
To be clear, Mythic is not announcing an Xbox 360 version of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, but in what was purportedly a period of only six weeks, the developer has managed to get its game up and running on Microsoft's new console simply to prove that it can be done. Given the content of Bill Gates' "Live everywhere" speech at Microsoft's pre-E3 conference, it seems that Mythic's timing could hardly have been better. To quote one of Mythic's senior staffers, "What Microsoft is talking about, here is a company that's doing it."
We had an opportunity to see the PC and Xbox 360 versions of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning running alongside each other, and although the console demo lacked any kind of user interface, its widescreen, high-definition visuals were practically indistinguishable from those on the PC. Furthermore, the character on the Xbox 360 was interacting with PC players, and if it wasn't for the fact that one of the games was running on a huge TV rather than a monitor, it would be difficult to tell them apart.
Mythic says the work done optimizing Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning for the Xbox 360 made the development team realize that they could use similar techniques in the PC game. So what started out as an experiment to get an MMO game running on a console has actually resulted in some improvements for the PC version.
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning is currently scheduled for release on the PC in the fall of 2007. Whether or not the game will ever see a release on the Xbox 360 or any other console remains to be seen, but one thing is certain--it's definitely a possibility.
What a bloody busy week of newsposting, what with E3 etc but anyway heres a question that will surely get some response.
Does Piracy Hinder Consoles ?
Apart from the Dreamcast which piracy really did a number on that console, does piracy destroy a console or help it.
If you look at the big consoles of the last 10 years or so, im talking GBA, Xbox, PSone and PS2 all of them had modchips and flash carts etc and they dominated over the consoles that didnt at that time.
Yes piracy kills software sales and we do not condone it in anyway at all but for hardware sales does it actually help sales.
Thoughts on this? - (No Flaming just good discussion wanted)
Im sure you have noticed that theres some weirdness on the news on our sites and in the forums, well Martin (our server admin) is upgrading to a newer version of Vbulletin, once its all done we should have some great new features for the Network.
The news and goings on at E3 have been majorly interesting and it seems that there was one clear winner in the soon to be battle of the next gens,
Sony delivered an overpriced and reduced spec console that has 2 versions one with less features and lets be fair Joe public doesnt want to mess around with different versions of hardware, going down the Xbox 360 road on that score wasnt a wise move, as for the Xbox 360 itdidnt really grab my attention at E3 so that brings us to Nintendos funilly named Wii console, a console with many great games coming for it and the virtual console, which will massively please emulation fans. The thought of a lightsaber game/controller really grabs my attention.
US assemblyman Leyland Yee's controversial California games bill could fail under legal challenge from the ESA, as the judge issues a "strict scrutiny" ruling before considering his final judgment.
According to a report on the Bay City News website, Judge Ronald Whyte told attorneys for both parties that the proposed legislation had to be considered under a legal standard known as "strict scrutiny," which grants the broadest protection of free speech rights and could well result in another legal victory for the interactive entertainment industry.
Katherine Fallow, an atttorney for the videogames industry commented: "When strict scrutiny is applied, a law is rarely if ever upheld."
The California bill - which is publicly backed by Governer Arnold Schwarzenegger - was initially slapped with a temporary injunction that prevented its implementation into law at the start of the year. The industry trade bodies the ESA and IEMA instigated the legal challenge on grounds of constitutionality, having already established a precedent with similar failed bills in Michigan, Illinois and numerous other US states.
Whilst the final ruling on the California bill has yet to be made, the application of strict scrutiny is a damning move for the state, and is likely to throw the case in favour of the industry - which has been championing the success of its existing self-regulatory videgomaes rating system, the ESRB - once again. A final ruling on the case is expected to be announced by Judge Whyte in the near future.
Mythic Entertainment's latest MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, may - may - be smashing its way onto Microsoft's Xbox 360 as well as PC.
According to a report on GameSpot, at last week's E3 where Mythic was showcasing its PC MMO game, one of the Warhammer Online adventurers whom attendees were playing alongside was actually hidden away in the developer's booth controlling their character with a wireless Xbox 360 controller - the report going on to add that the website got to see PC and Xbox 360 versions of Warhammer Online running side-by-side at the event.
However... Apparently, Mythic's getting Age of Reckoning onto Xbox 360 is a proving-it-can-be-done exercise only, the developer not confirming it's in the pipeline for release - at this stage anyway. And the only other real slice of info on the game on 360 that the developer's let slip is that getting the title up and running on the console has actually led to improvements for the announced PC version.
So then, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning on Xbox 360, and cross-platform MMORPG action looms? Well, it certainly all seems possible, but we can only wait to see if we get an official announcement somewhere down the line.
Microsoft could have had Grand Theft Auto III on Xbox first if a third-party publishing initiative called "The Star Chamber" hadn't turned down a Rockstar proposal, author Dean Takahashi claims in his new book, The Xbox 360 Uncloaked.
In an extract published on 1UP, Takahashi reports that under J Allard's direction, The Star Chamber - a group of game managers organised to evaluate game proposals sent to Microsoft - turned down a GTA III proposal, returning it with suggestions to "beef up" the game.
Rockstar went on to create the game exclusively for PlayStation 2, and it didn't appear on Xbox until much later - by which time the GTA brand was firmly associated with PS2. Further instalments launched first on the Sony format.
Takahashi said: "It wasn't Microsoft's kind of game, since it was a gritty crime game with foul language, abusive treatment of women, and cop killing. Microsoft had a corporate image to maintain and, like Electronic Arts, it avoided that category."
That's all in the past though - and Microsoft believes that the fact it'll have Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360 on the same day it launches on PlayStation 3 could be a significant factor in the next-gen console war - as Peter Moore said on this site last week.
"When we do our research and ask PS2 owners why they're going to buy a PS3, they say it's because it's the only place they'll get Grand Theft Auto," he told us.
"So when you talk about neutralising that, that's very important to us. Then we say to gamers - and this flooded my inbox during the night - the only place you can play Halo 3 and Grand Theft Auto IV is on an Xbox 360, and they've seen Gears of War and it blows the doors down for them."
Microsoft has yet to say anything about Takahashi's comments on GTA III and Xbox.
Following confirmation that an EyeToy-style peripheral is currently in development for the Xbox 360, Microsoft has announced that GestureTek will be providing the technology behind the Xbox Live Vision camera.
Like Sony's EyeToy, the camera will let you control the action on screen using physical gestures. Examples of games which might use the technology, as suggested by GestureTek, include poker titles, snowboarding and volleyball games, music games which feature virtual instruments, and titles where the you'll have to physically dodge bullets or martial arts attacks.
"Gesture recognition and control is a logical evolution in gaming," said GestureTek CEO Bill Leconby.
"Our technology has been thrilling and entertaining users in public and private installations around the world since well before the movie Minority Report popularised the concept of gesture control. This offering opens doors to unlimited applications in the gaming experience."
"The fusion of GestureTek technology and the Xbox 360 will enhance the entertainment and gaming experience for our customers," said Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg.
"As the Xbox 360 camera offering enables a more immersive and integrated gaming experience, gesture control will further redefine entertainment."
Microsoft is arguably playing catch-up here - Sony's EyeToy first hit the shelves in July 2003. Since then, more than 5.3 million first-party EyeToy titles have been sold.
This is officially licensed controller by HORI for XBOX 360. This is the only pad featuring 2 extra turbo functions which are not available on standard Xbox 360 controller.
MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE XBOX 360 and endorsed by Team Ninja, this limited edition Xbox 360 Dead or Alive 4 Arcade Stick will give you the upper hand in all your Dead or Alive matches by giving you the freedom and flexibility of the familiar Arcade Button layout.
First off i would like to say a massive thanks to Martin64 for hosting and also being the main reason why the forums and sites run so smooth, one of the best hosts you can get.
We have now upgraded to a newer version of vbulletin with new features galore and better security.
The stats and news feeds look much better and now the latest threads have reply and view numbers for those who love statistics.
We also now have a Members World Map which shows where our members come from in any place of the world, a very cool addition
The next big news is a new feature thats coming to all Network sites and thats a feature where on each site you will see your avatar and any private messages and if you have new ones etc, a damn cool addition to the sites especially if you are a member.
its being beta tested on the PSP News Site in the right hand column at the bottom, once we get the bugs sorted then it will go live.
Now onto the new DCEmu Arcade, a new addition to the forums and network, heres the list of games at this moment in time:
Still standing strong at number one this week, EA's latest FIFA update, World Cup Germany 2006, is very pleased to see you, your wallet and make your way to the till humanoid drone, our marketing machine has infiltrated your brain, you are powerless to resist.
Sat like a bloated, rotund wench on a park bench at number two, Lara still grips firmly onto the threads of her illustrious heyday, refusing to shift or move. Meanwhile, at three, there's a sizeable kick up the arse for Championship Manager 2006, rising from the murky depths of number ten.
MULTI-FORMAT TOP 20
1 FIFA WORLD CUP GERMANY 2006
2 TOMB RAIDER: LEGEND CRYSTAL
3 CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 2006
4 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 5
5 THE GODFATHER
6 TOM CLANCY'S GHOST RECON: ADV WARFIGHTER
7 ANIMAL CROSSING: WILD WORLD
8 THE SIMS 2
9 FIFA STREET 2
10 ICE AGE 2: THE MELTDOWN
11 METROID PRIME: HUNTERS
12 THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION
13 BUZZ! THE BIG QUIZ
14 THE MATRIX: PATH OF NEO
15 THE SIMS 2: FAMILY FUN STUFF
16FOOTBALL MANAGER 2006
17 KING KONG: OFFICIAL GAME OF THE MOVIE
18 POKEMON LINK!
19 FIGHT NIGHT ROUND 3
20 MONSTER HUNTER: FREEDOM
It isn't within the realms of impossibility that that Ubisoft's PS3 title Assassin's Creed will additionally appear on Xbox 360 and PC, says a slice of gossip knocking around the internet, with at least one report even claiming that it's received confirmation on a 360 iteration straight from the horse's mouth.
Well, yep, we wouldn't exactly be blown backwards off our office chairs in surprise if Ubisoft announced a 360 version of the title - we might wobble a bit if a PC version is confirmed - but, to date, the publisher is keeping lips pretty much sealed on anything beyond PS3 for Assassin's Creed. During conversation earlier with Ubisoft about the possibility of the game appearing on other platforms, a spokesperson told us, "Assassin's Creed is confirmed for PS3 and other formats haven't been confirmed as yet." Make of that what you will.
Assassin's Creed is set in 1191 AD during the time of the Third Crusade and the war in the Holy Land. According to the plot, ruthless assassins intend to halt hostilities via suppression of the powers battling in the conflict. You play a character called Altair and wield the power to "throw their immediate environment into chaos and to shape events during this pivotal moment in history".
Microsoft's external HD-DVD drive for Xbox 360 could hit the UK for under 130 GBP, it's being speculated.
Retail sources claim to have been informed by Microsoft that the cost of the drive combined with the cost of Xbox 360 will still set consumers back less than the cost of Sony's PS3, according to a report on GamesIndustry.biz. A quick bit of maths based on top-end prices (279 GBP for the Xbox 360 premium pack and the 400 GBP, approximately, for the PS3 60Gb model) spits out the sub-130 quid figure for the HD-DVD drive that's being talked about.
It all hangs, of course, on the alleged claims being made by retail sources, and we won't know the full truth until we get an official announcement from Microsoft on the price of the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive. The drive's due out later in the year, so hopefully we shouldn't have too long to wait to discover the dent it'll make in consumer wallets.
Assuming the Xbox 360 Core pack price stays the same at around $300 US, that gives Microsoft a $200 window to play with in order to make a next-gen optical capable 360 competitive in price with Sony's Blu-ray toting PlayStation 3. Of course by this November the Xbox's price structure could change drastically, as they have stated many times their intentions to drive down price and cost. What GamesIndustry heard from a UK retail source, however, is that the 360 + HD DVD (which may or may not come bundled together) will still weigh in lighter on the wallet than the PlayStation 3 by a significant margin -- however, that margin is pending British pounds, with the Xbox and HD DVD being £339 ($640 US), and the PS3 at £399 ($750 US). So what isn't immediately taken into account here is the effective price differential in currency conversion between nations; in the US that same PlayStation 3 will debut for $499, about $250 less than it will for our British counterparts, thus making the window for pricing the drive competitively much larger in overseas markets. If you ask us, we'll vote for a US price window of $200 to $250 (depending on the going rate for an Xbox at the time of launch), but any more than that and it'll be a hard sell being that it's really only a movie add-on to gaming platform.
We're not suggesting you try this, since, in addition to voiding your warranty, you run a real chance of bricking your Xbox 360, but we just thought we'd mention it: a new firmware hack for the 360, known affectionately as "Xtreme firmware for TS-H943 Xbox 360" by its creators, can apparently mod your 360's DVD drive so that it'll work with just about anything you can put in it, including "backup" discs made for both the original Xbox and the 360. According to about seven pages of posts on an Xbox forum, the hack does indeed seem to work, but only with 360s that have a Toshiba/Samsung DVD drive, and only if you're willing to take the time to follow the instructions very carefully. We'll pass -- at least until there's a version that lets the 360's HD DVD drive output 1080p video from protected discs over component cables. Make that work, and we'll happily risk bricking our 'box.
Bungie has taken time out from a busy schedule of, you know, doing Halo 3 to answer a few questions about the trailer that was on show at E3 last week.
In a Q&A on the Bungie website, they confirmed that work on the game began immediately after Halo 2 was finished, and that this game will have a much "darker feel".
It's also been confirmed that the trailer shows the ruins of New Mombasa, and that it's Mount Kilimanjaro you can see in the background. The spartan who appears is indeed John 117.
When asked how the polygon count compares to that in Halo 2, Bungie replied that it's "Not as high as it looks. A lot of detail is achieved using a combination of lighting, textures, normals and bump-maps. We're saving our polygon budget for other things."
And don't go expecting them to start getting all new-fangled just for the sake of it, either: "Halo 3 will utilise features and technologies that Bungie thinks are cool and appropriate to our game. No more, no less." We are, however, promised "some graphical features that you haven't seen yet, that sort of blow stuff away."
This case is a FULL replacement case for the Xbox 360. They include the 360 face plate and a screwdriver to install the case. Easy to install and totally custom design!
The sales may help Microsoft's Xbox unit turn a profit by March 2007, Sherlund, the top-ranked software analyst by Institutional Investor, said today in a research note. He assumes Microsoft, the No. 2 video-game console maker, will cut prices on the Xbox in a year's time.
The Xbox may outsell the PlayStation 3 because Microsoft's device is cheaper and the games are as good as those on Sony's console, Sherlund said. Losses on the Xbox will also decline as its components become cheaper to produce. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates last week said he expects the Xbox to have a 10 million unit head start by the time the PlayStation 3 debuts in November.
Shares of Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft fell 2 cents to $23.15 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. They have fallen 11 percent this year.
I'd just like to announce my new site is up and running great on the DCemu network.
Survival Horror HQ is your ultimate stop for all your survival horror gaming needs. Check for up-to-date news on franchises such as Resident Evil and Silent Hill, as well as the newly announced horror games for the next generation.
Jeff Minter, the programmer and designer of the Atari Jaguar classic Tempest 2000, has been talking about his latest project in the June issue of Edge magazine.
Rather than being a remake of Tempest 2000 for Xbox 360, Minter has said that his next game, of which very few details are known, will recognisably be "what the creator of Tempest 2000 did next".
To achieve this he will be building on ideas from his past work and using "half a lifetime's experience of making shooters and funky graphics toys, rather than resurrecting a 25-year-old design".
Tempest 2000 was a remake of the 1980 arcade game - created by Dave Theurer and with trippy level design added by Minter - and was widely seen as the best game on Atari Jaguar.
Since then Minter has founded his own codeshop, Llamasoft, and is most recently responsible for Xbox 360's audio visualiser.
Backups can now be booted on the Xbox 360 according to Xbox-scene. The firmware was released by Commodore4Eva who previously released a functional Xbox 1 firmware. It works under the same idea as the final Xbox hack: it patches the response to the media check into the DVD drive’s firmware. So the drive responds with an all-clear without even checking the DVD. This hack works on units with the Toshiba-Samsung drive. The new firmware also lets you use the drive under Windows for easy game ripping. There are some quirks to it, but it sounds like everything you need is included. It’s unfortunate that this happened before they were able to get executable code running on the machine. Now that the bootleggers have what they want I’m afraid it might take some steam out of the homebrew movement.
Whilst the classic Sonic games (as in anything before the Saturn launched) are often heralded as being some of the best platformers ever made, since the inception of 3D as the new almost universally-standard format for all games, Sega has had a great deal of trouble getting the old blue boy back up to snuff.
For those of you who tortured yourselves playing the Sonic adventure games know, in spite of all of the horrible hunting and shooting and (for the love of God!) fishing, when you got to be Sonic you knew that someone at Sonic team still knew what the heck they where doing.
We here at SPOnG made sure to play all the way through both of the previous iterations (Sonic Heroes was just to much for most to stand) just to get those few minutes of joy dashing around like blue lighting. Skipping around on fly debris in a giant tornado, being chased by an enormous killer whale as it destroys the very ground you stand on and many more. Well, at this past weeks E3 we got a chance to give a quick run through some of Sega’s latest entry into the waning series - which looks set to sadly carry on the legacy of it's 3D predecessors.
In the run-up to E3, one of the most exciting pieces of news for the Xbox devotee was that MS was going to be doing whatever they could to bring 360 owners the "full" E3 experience. Basically what this meant was that a bunch of videos and game trailers would be made available for free download via Xbox Live.
However there have been two exceptions to this, both in the form of playable demos. One being the forthcoming, graphically stunning MotoGP 06, and the other being Capcom's rather impressive Lost Planet (especially impressive, SPOnG thinks, when you bear in mind that the game has roughly 18 more months of production to go).
The first thing you will notice upon picking this game up is that it is rather dull looking due to the locations, but still incredibly beautiful to look at. Expansive snow-covered mountainous landscapes are the order of the day, complete with a very moody, desolate fog that actually enhances the mood of the game without blatantly obscuring geometry for pop-in sake. Even at this early stage, Capcom has done a fantastic job of making it feel bitterly cold. The character models are all intricately detailed and very fluidly animated. The creatures you fight along the way range from human size flying annoyances to massive, kick-over-your house monsters.
Do you have multiple Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers and only one Play and Charge Kit? No problem. With Rechargeable Battery Packs, you can juice up additional wireless controllers with the Play and Charge Kit you already own.
The rechargeable battery can be recharged via XBox360 USB port / PC USB port.
The Xbox 360 Disc Case Stand & Cooling Fan lets you keep your Xbox 360 cool, when you're having those all-night gamer sessions! This unique stand will extend the lifecycle of you Xbox 360, by letting it operate at a cooler temperature. Xbox 360 electronics are heat-sensitive, and by keeping them cool you'll make sure your Xbox 360 has a longer life & better performance.
The hardware and software sales figures for April across the US have been released, and show the Xbox 360 as the top selling platform. The Xbox 360 shifted 295,000 units, a number 90,000 greater than the PlayStation 2, which only managed 205,000 units.
The figures are also very positive for Xbox 360 software sales, which maintained a tie ratio of 4.5, and five of the top six grossing video games were Xbox 360 titles. Placed from second to sixth are the Xbox 360 titles, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Major League Baseball 2K6, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, and Tomb Raider: Legend.
Car-loving 360 owners all over the world blew a gasket last week when Microsoft announced that Forza Motorsport 2 would be coming to the console this Christmas.
But the game's lead designer, Dan Greenawalt, has slammed suggestions that it's simply the Xbox 360's version of Sony's Gran Turismo.
Speaking to our friends over at oxm.co.uk at last week's E3, Studio RX's Dan Greenawalt said, "My goal going forward with Forza is not to be Gran Turismo's answer on Xbox 360. That's fine, but that's not my goal. My goal is to ignite car passion in the next generation of videogames players and in all-new groups."
And Greenawalt is not hugely impressed by Sony's latest GT effort. "As a Microsoft employee I'd tell you that I don't want to talk about it, but as a gamer I'd say that I want them to show me something new, something cool. They didn't do that. It looked like a PC version."
According to Greenawalt, Forza Motorsport 2 will feature more cars, more tracks, a souped-up Xbox Live mode and more options to customise, personalise and tune up your motor. And while intense realism remains the order of the day, Greenawalt emphasised his desire to get more people involved in the Forza experience.
"Simulation is of paramount importance for us. At the same time, though, we're adding more assists in Forza Motorsport so that more people can play and enjoy it. I want my dad to be able to play it because he loves cars, but he's horrible at every game I've worked on!"
With its comfortable, over-the-ear design and snazzy hi-tech look, Communicator Headset for XB360 is the ideal companion for Xbox L!ve. Communicator Headset works with any Xbox 360 game with voice chat. With a microphone positioned near your mouth and an earpiece for crystal-clear sound, you can bark out your orders or taunt your opponents as you play.
Xbox L!ve’s online gamers’ community is a great way to make new friends and keep in touch with your old ones. You can talk to anyone who’s currently online, regardless of whether you’re playing the same game. In fact, you don’t need to be playing at all – with Communicator Headset and your Xbox L!ve account, you can log on and simply chat.
But it’s in the games that Communicator Headset really comes into its own. Taunt your opponents and discuss strategies with your team-mates during the game, and get ready for your next blast in the lobbies. All Xbox 360 games which feature multiplayer online gaming are compatible with Communicator Headset, so you’ve no shortage of titillating titles. So if you want to keep in touch with gamers from all over the world as you batter them in a beat-‘em-up, drive ‘em crazy in a driving game or blow ’em to bits in that first-person shooter, Communicator Headset is the ideal choice.
At last you can kiss disposable batteries goodbye! The Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit is all you need to juice up your wireless controller, even in the midst of battle.
Play & Charge Kit with NiMH Battery is simple to use. Just fit the supplied battery pack in your wireless Xb360 controller, and connect your controller to your console with the Play & Charge cable. The rechargeable NiMH battery pack is charged while you play! A red light on the cable indicates it’s charging. When this turns green, you’re fully charged – disconnect the Play & Charge cable and return to wireless gaming.
Fully charging the NiMH battery takes up to six hours, after which it will give 30 hours of uninterrupted wireless action. Why not buy one for each hand controller so all your friends can join in the fun?
Homebrew Fans already know this but it seems the mainstream have caught on at last, heres the newspost from Gamespot:
GP32/2x Distribution Ltd has announced that the GP2X is now available in the UK. It is the successor to the GP32 handheld, which sold over 32,000 units. The console features a 240MHz processor, 64MB of RAM and 64MB of on-board NAND flash memory. It will retail for £124.99 in the UK.
The GP2X can run games, music and movies, read e-books and store photos. The distributors claim that the handheld offers "higher quality audio and video playback" than the Sony PSP and it can also be connected directly to a TV set.
There are over 500 games available for the console--most as free downloads through the official website and developers are encouraged to work with the open-source system. There are also 10 commercial games in development.
"We have been astonished by the kind messages and feedback from the early GP2X userbase. The speed at which games and software has been released is amazing. Now it is time that the UK public get to see what a powerful and flexible machine the GP2X is," explained Craig Rothwell, director of GP32/2x Distribution Ltd.
As most who visit DCEmu s Network of sites know, i have actively supported and spammed about the GP2X since before it was released in Korea last year, for homebrew fans like me its great to have consoles that embrace homebrew than try to wreck it for us, remember to visit our very own GP2X Emulation News Site where we have all the very latest news and downloads for the GP2X, back to normal service now
We saw what Sony's PlayStation 3 EyeToy can do in terms of motion technology (as well as its upgraded PS3 remote), and we know Nintendo's primary console feature is its motion-sensored remote, but what about the Xbox 360? Aaron Stanton of About.com visited the GestureTek booth in Kentia Hall at last week's E3 to learn about a new development kit to use with the Xbox 360 camera. Not only can it map your face to a character model, but with GestureTek's technology the Xbox 360 camera can accurately track a player's movement, including specific finger usage.
To further impress, GestureTek demonstrated for Stanton how the technology can emulate each Nintendo Wii game on the show floor. The technology is impressive, of course, but as Stanton points out not likely to surpass the Wii. Simply put, the GestureTek demo is just that -- a demo. And on top of that, technology for a peripheral, which can be easily ignored by developers. It'll be interesting to see if Microsoft and Sony use their respective cameras to match Nintendo's features, but if Sony's press conference is any indication (Sony just glazed over its EyeToy demo), we doubt it.
Stat crunching The NPD Group has reportedly released sales data putting Xbox 360 on top of the console pile in April in the US. According to the data released, Xbox 360 racked up sales of 295,000 units during the month, with its current main contender on the home console front, PS2, hitting the 205,000 unit mark - still pretty impressive though that, considering PS2's age.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has been bragging about Xbox Live Marketplace, saying that it's witnessed 24 million downloads since 360's launch in the US in November last year. E3 week alone saw over five million downloads from the service, with the Halo 3 trailer unsurprisingly proving the most popular slice of Marketplace content.
We've even been sent a top 10 of E3 downloads:
Halo 3 Game Trailer (Microsoft Game Studios)
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Free Playable Demo (Capcom)
Test Drive Unlimited Free Playable Demo (Atari)
MotoGP '06 Free Playable Demo (THQ)
X-Men: The Last Stand Pack (20th Century Fox)
Gears of War GameTrailer (Microsoft Game Studios)
Call of Duty 2: Skirmish Map Pack (Activision)
Spider-Man 3 Game Trailer (Activision)
Fable 2 Trailer (Microsoft Game Studios)
Uno Xbox Live Arcade Game (Microsoft Game Studios)
Following reports that a group of hackers has modified the Xbox 360 to play pirate games, Microsoft has issued an official statement warning 360 owners that any mucking about of this nature will result in a void warranty.
"The core security system has not been broken," Microsoft said, before admitting: "However, on some Xbox 360 consoles the authentication protocol between the optical disc drive and the console may be attacked via a complex software and hardware modification which could allow people to play illegally copied and modified games."
The statement went on to say that Microsoft continues to invest in ways to keep the Xbox 360 secure, and "will respond appropriately as unauthorised activity is identified."
"When a person purchases a genuine Microsoft Xbox 360 console and genuine Xbox 360 games, they receive the real product which is complete and suited for the use intended. They know its source and can expect the console and games to function properly and provide a satisfying gaming experience.
"Genuine and unmodified Microsoft Xbox products provide gamers with the reliability, security, support and dynamic gaming experience that they expect, and genuine and unmodified Microsoft Xbox 360 products are eligible for technical support."
But modified consoles, Microsoft added, "will not be eligible for technical support, and the user's warranty will be voided."
"Lastly, the protection of intellectual property rights is a high priority for Microsoft and our partners, one that significantly and positively impacts economic growth, technological innovation, and most importantly, the confidence of customers who count on the integrity and quality of their products."
To summarise, then - piracy is bad, and if you ARE naughty and it all goes wrong, you better not go running to Microsoft. Booyah.
Supports Surround Sound, Dolby digital, Pro Logic & DTS
Includes Optical Output for superior sound quality
Supports all HDTV and standard television modes
Compatible with all Xbox 360 consoles worldwide and all TV's
Description
This 5-in-1 mutl-cable for Xbox 360 allows you to connect it to any television or monitor and supports all HDTV modes, as well as the usual composite and S-video of course. Optical out is also included to provide optimal sound quality.
Supports Surround Sound, Dolby digital, Pro Logic & DTS
Includes Optical Output for superior sound quality
Supports all HDTV and standard television modes
Description
This Multi-Console Component Cable w/ Optical Output allows you to connect either Xbox, Xbox 360 or PS2 to any television and supports all HDTV modes, as well as the usual composite and S-video of course. Optical out is also included to provide optimal sound quality.
Shares of the Grapevine, Texas-based retailer, which gets healthy profits from used game sales, rose as much as 6.7 percent on the results.
GameStop said it had first-quarter net income of $11.7 million, or 15 cents per share. That beat a company per-share forecast of 4 cents to 5 cents issued in March.
In the year-earlier quarter the retailer had net income of $10.3 million, or 19 cents per share. Per-share earnings were higher a year ago because the company had fewer shares prior to its acquisition of Electronics Boutique in October.
Revenue more than doubled to $1.04 billion from $475 million a year earlier. Besides the acquisition, the company attributed the increase to strong sales of Microsoft Corp. Xbox consoles and games such as "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter" from UbiSoft and "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" from Bethesda Softworks and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.
This has been on my mind for a while and im very interested to see where a poll and observations will take us, Simple question, shold we stick to Homebrew and Emulation on the systems we cover and leave the commercial gaming (unless its damn interesting) to others like IGN etc.
Ok this could be a very interesting thread, let us know by replying
Ive started this on the PSP site but ill explain more, im starting for each site on the network a Links exchange where basically if your site covers the same scene as the site u want to swap links with then we add links to the sites on either the left or right hand columns.
Its a great way for us to get new visitors and for other sites to get noticed too, nationality of sites doesnt bother me as a lot of the best sites in the world are non english .
We wont ever link to warez sites, sites that allow iso downloading etc but decent sites that support whatever scene they are in are most welcome, all we ask is that for a link on our sites is for the same on yours in a similiar place.
The Homebrew community is about all of us working for the one goal and with that in mind its great to share the visitors.
if u submit your site then tell us what site it is and we will do the rest, (eventually but i do in the end)
The kings of Xbox modding make their debut on the Xbox 360 with the 'Xecuter 360 Connectivity Kit'. With the Xbox 360 firmware hack being released, modders across the world have searched for hardware to make the process of implementing the firmware hack less strenuous and more user friendly. Step in...Team Xecuter! Their brand new, high quality 'Xecuter 360 Connectivity Kit' features not one but two great pieces of equipment. Included in the kit is an optical disc drive adapter (ODD) so that means you will not have to have your beloved 360 hooked up to your PC, no fuss of moving all your equipment across rooms and dragging around that huge 360 power supply! As part of the ODD adapter, advanced features such as a debug mode which allows an ODD to be recognised in Windows/Linux without any special firmware - meaning you don't have to flash the xtreme0800 firmware to get Windows to recognise the drive or to rip files, one less firmware to flash and ultimately one less chance of screwing up the process! If you don't have a spare ODD lying around, and let's face it the majority of us don't then this is a really useful piece of kit. As if that wasn't enough, Team Xecuter have also bundled in a FREE SATA hard drive adapter for the Xbox 360, so now you can hook up your hard drive to your PC without opening your Xbox 360 case in conjunction with freely available software such as Xplorer 360.
Xecuter 360 Kit Features at a Glance
* Optical Disc Drive Adapter (ODD)
- Debug mode allowing an ODD to be recognized in Windows/Linux with no special software
- Status LED's
- Eject Function
* FREE Xecuter SATA HD Connection for Xbox 360
- High quality SATA HDD connection
- Effortlessly transfer files from your 360 hard drive to your PC without opening up the case!
As per usual from the Team Xecuter team, you can not only expect high quality products but also incredibly high levels of support for their product range!
The Minnesota House of Representatives has passed a new bill which proposes a USD 25 civil penalty for minors who knowingly buy or rent Mature or Adult Only ESRB-rated videogames.
Taking note of the recent failed legislative proposals in other US states, Republican representative Jeff Johnson's bill would not impose fines on retailers and merchants, but simply requires videogames outlets to clearly display ESRB ratings signs and information - which is something the majority of stores already comply with under the industry's self regulatory system.
Johnson, who is running for Attorney General, told Minnesota Public Radio: "We were trying to pass the narrowest bill possible just to try something different from a constitutional challenge standpoint," but admits that he fully expects the ESA to challenge the proposal and already foresees the potential legal obstacles in attempting to secure the bill's implementation into law.
"There are two potential constitutional problems," Johnson stated. "One is that we are using the ESRB ratings. I can see a court saying you can't use private industry to create the law, but there's no way around that because everything else anyone has tried has been unsuccessful."
Johnson's second issue is one which has overshadowed each of the videogames legislation proposals, regardless of their constitutional validity, in that "so far no court has found a strong enough link" between violent or graphic videogames and youth violence or aggressive, anti-social behaviour.
The Minnesota bill will become law on August 1st if it is signed by the Governor and withstands any legal challenge in the interim. Whilst the attempt to penalise consumers for infractions of ESRB ratings is an unusual step to take, it is at the very least a move towards working with the industry regulated videogames ratings rather than simply overruling or replacing them.
That said, the constitutional foundations and the evidentiary basis for political intervention in the sale or rental of videogames in the US remain arguably unsound and it is highly likely that another court ruling will see the bill overturned.
Last week we mentioned that the firmware of the Samsung disc drive in the Xbox 360 was hacked&mdashallowing you to play 1:1 backups of games but not run unauthorized code&mdash but that it required not only a degree from MIT to get it working, but also resources that only a mad scientist would have access to. A group by the name of Team Xecuter is getting fantastically close to making a modchip of the plug-n-play variety that would permit the drive to use both the hacked and normal firmware. There’s still some bugs to work out, namely that the firmware chip is connected to the Xbox 360 with nigh impossible to remove epoxy, thereby hindering the plug-n-play model, but this is certainly a promising development for all of you who need to backup your games because your kids throw the originals around like frisbees.
Microsoft has announced plans to start selling the Xbox 360 in India by this October, with a price point set at INR 19,990 (around EURO 340) for the Core system.
Speaking to Ciol.com, corporate global sales VP Mitch Koch described the Indian market as "vibrant", observing that there are around 1.6 million people in India who spend more than two hours per day playing games.
"We are hopeful that in the coming three to five years the gaming market in India is going to grow at a fast pace," Koch said.
"And being the first to launch this second-generation console, we are going to capture 100 per cent market share."
Microsoft has conducted a survey in the region which shows that as the employment rate rises, disposable income is increasing. "More people are inclined towards [a] digital lifestyle and find means for spending in an alternate means of entertainment, so we are expecting an enthusiastic response from the market," Koch stated.
He went on to agree that India is "a price sensitive market", explaining that Microsoft plans to run a promotional campaign in the run-up to launch. From June 9th, to celebrate the kick off of the World Cup, consumers who pre-order an Xbox 360 will receive 10 per cent off the total price.
Koch said that the Xbox 360 will initially only go on sale in India's major cities, but that it "will be available across all the cities and towns in a couple of months after launch... Through 1200 retail outlets."
TABLE TENNIS, available exclusively for the Xbox 360, is the debut next-generation title developed by Rockstar San Diego, the creative powerhouse behind the highly successful Midnight Club series. A highly polished yet visceral experience, Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis is instantly addictive. Packing the intensity of a fighting game, incredible speed and intuitive control, this true showcase title for the Xbox 360 displays physics and authentic game-play mirroring the competitive ferocity found in a professional table tennis match. The high definition era of interactive entertainment is upon us and Table Tennis is leading the charge.
When Rockstar announced their top secret new game, gamers were floored that the San Diego branch of the house that GTA built had traded in their baseball bats for ping pong paddles with Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis. Big question is, how did they do with this smaller-scale, (relatively) budget-priced title?
According to the reviews that are beginning to appear, pretty darned well. The complaints focus on the title's sparse feature set while the praise focuses on the Xbox Live integration and the tight, elegant gameplay. Seriously, read through the reviews if you have a particular affinity for the words "subtle" and "nuanced." According to the reviews, Table Tennis provides a streamlined sports sim that's short on features but full of subtle gameplay, reflected in the (next-gen) budget price of $39.99.
IGN (78/100) - "If you want a table tennis game that's strictly focused on great mechanics and addictive gameplay, but that lacks a reasonable single-player mode and is shockingly sparse, Rockstar Presents Table Tennis is your game."
GamePro (85/100) - "The best thing about the gameplay is that it's all about reflex and intuition -- accessible to all, but hard to master online competitive play. Setting up power shots, killer topspin, and hitting the corners of the table becomes easy in short amount of time. This game is an instant classic and is guaranteed to please the masses."
Eurogamer (90/100) - "It's the sign of a great sports game when you can't think of anything you'd want to change in the next version. It doesn't need another version."
With $59.99 price tags being the standard for next-generation games and the cost of the systems themselves going through the roof, penny-pinching gamers will no doubt be happy to see that what goes up can still come down. While Xbox 360 games like Rockstar's Table Tennis and Koei's Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires are being released for under $40, many of their once full-priced competitors are joining them in the low end of the system's pricing spectrum.
Electronic Arts has reduced the prices of the Xbox 360 launch titles Madden NFL 06, NBA Live 06, FIFA Soccer 06: Road to FIFA World Cup, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 at its official online store. All of those titles, as well as the more recently released Burnout Revenge, have been marked down to $39.95.
EA isn't the only company cutting costs for consumers. THQ's The Outfit is now being offered from the publisher's Web site for $39.99, and Ubisoft is selling Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie for $39.99 at its own online store.
All of these price cuts are also being mirrored on a number of retail Web sites.
Good news for anyone who's ever got mind-numbingly bored downloading from Xbox Live; the next system update will feature something called 'Active Download', which will let you download files from the Marketplace whilst playing games, watching DVDs or even building a small fort out of empty cereal boxes.
This is all according to a Microsoft Knowledge Base article, which details 'Active Download' along with several other features originally due for an update last Tuesday. Alongside the download feature - which according the Knowledge Base entry allows you to "stream music, play DVDs or CDs, play arcade titles, and play games while you download an item from the marketplace" - dashboard and DVD playback tweals are also detailed.
Apperantly you will soon have the option to boot directly to the dashboard without booting a game or DVD disc, which we're sure will please the legions of fans campaigning for the option. The ability to resume downloads is also talked of, along with some sort of update for the console's DVD playback.
The penned date for the update has obviously passed and Microsoft has since pulled the Knowledge Base article, but we think it'd be safe to assume the detailed updates will be streaming down our broadband pipes eventually. We'll let you know when Microsoft presses its big red button.
The energyzer Y cable provides convenient access to 5v power within your Xbox 360 case. 5v power that you can use to power LEDs, cathode lights, EL products, temperature displays... it can all be installed with the simple plug and play power access provided by the Energyser. Add and remove modifications in a snap, with the Energyzer.
This is for all those LOTR fans out there. Check out the Battle for Middle Earth II trailer (in HD) and see what will be hitting the Xbox 360 in the coming weeks. Gamers will be able to throw down over Xbox Live and challenge each other to battles. Hope you have that Orc-killing attitude ready.
The directorless film adaptation of Microsoft's popular video game will be executive produced by triple-Academy Award winners Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh via their WingNut Films banner. The Halo script was penned by Alex Garland (28 Days Later), who was paid $1 million by Microsoft to write a script that met Bungie's approval.
With the third installment in the game series rumored to be connected with the silver screen adaptation, could the delay of the movie affect the release of Halo 3 or are they both planned to arrive in winter 2007/2008? According to Bungie, Halo 3 and the Halo movie will not affect each other in terms of release dates.
OK this is really aimed at Coders but the GP2X people are having a coding competition where the top prize is $5000, now most likely you dont own a GP2X but that sort of prize is fantastic, submissions have to be games or applications, (most likely so they can sell afterwards)
Today whilst i was off work i managed to get my Interview site sorted and now its the newest site to join the DCEmu Network, the Interview Site has 40 interviews on of people from the Homebrew scenes and soon ill be interviewing the best of todays coders
Next up we have a rather different site for the network one that all Staff and all coders can use to post a rant or offtopic news etc (as long as its not too offensive pretty much anything goes. we shall pick the best off topic threads from the off topic forum to stick on the site.
Microsoft's director of programming for Xbox Live, better known as Major Nelson, has announced that the Xbox Live Vision camera will get a simultaneous release in Europe and the US this autumn.
The XLV camera will allow gamers to personalise their gamertag picture, send photo messages, and chat over Xbox Live. It can also be used to play Xbox Live Arcade games such as Uno and Texas Hold 'Em Poker. As previously announced, GestureTek will be providing the technology that powers the device.
According to Nelson's latest podcast, the forthcoming Xbox Live update is all set to work with the camera, so users can expect a "plug and play experience."
"The camera is launching this fourth quarter," Nelson said, adding: "We've actually given a specific date both for North America and Europe of September 19th." There was no word as to how much the camera will cost, however.
The war of words between bitter rivals Microsoft and Sony has intensified, with top Xbox Europe execs launching an astonishing attack on the Japanese firm's decision to include its next-generation DVD technology in PlayStation 3 as standard.
Speaking to Eurogamer TV in part one of an exclusive E3 interview broadcast today, Xbox UK boss Neil Thompson and Europe boss Chris Lewis both accused Sony of “forcing” its Blu-Ray DVD technology onto consumers.
“Sony are now making people pay an extra few hundred pounds for a Blu-Ray DVD drive which we don't know is going to be the standard in the next-generation DVD formats,” Thompson insisted.
“This is the company that brought out Betamax – we don't quite know where they're going to go with this,” he added, in a pointed reference to Sony's defeat in the format war against VHS.
Microsoft believes Blu-Ray's inclusion in PS3 plays right into the US firm's hands, since it is offering Xbox 360 users the option to upgrade to next-generation movie tech later this year with the release of a standalone HD-DVD drive.
“If gamers over time choose to go to HD-DVD we're going to give them the choice to do that, but we're not going to force them to buy that day one,” Thompson remarked.
“I find it concerning for consumers that they're being forced into a purchase... I don't think they need to make that decision for another two, three years maybe. Sony now have a very interesting business model I think they're going to find challenging.”
Thompson's frank views were backed by Europe boss Chris Lewis, who added: “[PS3's] is an interesting price point that in my view forces the consumer down a choice path in a way that I'm surprised to see.”
Lewis also added that the price positioning of PS3 removed any immediate pressure on Microsoft to cut the price of 360 before year-end, commenting: “We're confident that we are at the right price at the right time and will remain so, and nothing I've heard in the last two days does anything other than frankly reinforce that view.”
