In yet another bid to restrict the purchase of M-rated games by minors, New York assemblyman, Joseph Lentol, has gotten a new piece of legislation past the New York Assembly, reported GameDaily BIZ today. The newly-passed bill will make it a felony to sell M-rated videogames to minors. Transgression of this law could result in 1-4 years of jail-time.
Lentol's A08696 bill would create an Advisory Council on Interactive Media and Youth Violence, which would be responsible for evaluating the ESRB's ratings policies. The bill is purposely vague, and would punish the sale of games depicting "depraved violence and indecent images" as class E felonies. The bill defines "depraved violence" as any representation of "rape, dismemberment, physical torture, mutilation, or evisceration of a human being." The bill also contains a provision which obliges new game consoles to come with built-in parental controls. Of course, this is redundant, as the Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3 all have parental controls in place already.
The Entertainment Merchants Association stood up in defiance of the legislation, and its proposed harsh penalties. "This bill is ill-conceived and unconstitutional," stated EMA President Bo Andersen. "The proposal to jail retailers and clerks for up to four years for selling certain video games to persons under age 17 is apparently based on misunderstandings about what retailers are doing currently. The requirement that video game consoles include parental controls ignores the fact that the new generation of consoles include them already. Finally, nine similar proposals that have been enacted around the nation in recent years have all been blocked by federal courts on First Amendment grounds. For such an ill-conceived and unconstitutional law, ignorance is no excuse."
"This bill is impermissibly vague," Andersen continued. "A8696 seeks to apply real-world standards of violence to the fictional and fanciful world of video games, an environment in which they have no meaning. As a result, retailers and clerks will not and cannot know with certainty which video games could send them to jail under A8696. It was depressing to hear members of the Assembly note the constitutional problems with the bill and then state that they were voting for it."
As stated by Anderson, there have been numerous similar bills passed across the U.S. in recent years, all of which have been shot down in federal appeals courts on constitutional grounds. This newest piece of legislation may find a comparable fate.
THE MODDED XBOX 360 console got banned last time that Microsoft updated its console firmware.
As usually happens, this ban did not last for long as hacking groups found a way around this protection and with the latest iXtreme firmware, modded Xboxes are back on-line.
The latest firmware for TS-H943 DVD drive, the iXtreme firmware 1.0 promises to defeat all current and some future Xbox Live detection attempts, and will enable pirated software to be played on the console. The media type can only be Stealth Xtreme Xbox 360 backup or Stealth Xtreme Xbox backup. It, of course, boots all of the original software for both Xbox 360 and the first console.
Hitachi drives are not supported with this release, and there is no announcement about the timeframe when that drive will get patched.
Nintendo was so successful last year that each employee generated $2.5 million, more than double what Google's employees generated. And with the Wii off to a red hot start, Nintendo is set for another fantastic year. In fact, according to Fortune, the Wii has already "won." More within...
The latest issue of Fortune magazine has a well-written cover story on "How Wii Won," detailing some of the same "Blue Ocean" philosophy we've heard dozens of times at this point, but perhaps more interestingly detailing some of the financial aspects of what's contributed to Nintendo's success.
Judging by Nintendo's last fiscal year in which the company produced $8.26 billion in revenue, Fortune points out that each of Nintendo's 3,400 employees generates a staggering $2.5 million. How does that compare with other corporate juggernauts? Microsoft's employees generated $624,000 each last year, while Google's generated $994,000 each – still less than half of Nintendo's employees. On a profit scale, Nintendo's total income was almost $1.5 billion, or $442,000 per employee, last year, compared with Microsoft's $177,000 and Google's $288,000. It's astounding no matter how you look at it.
As opposed to Sony's game division, which has been languishing with a nearly $2 billion loss in the last fiscal year, and Microsoft's game division, which has yet to become profitable, Nintendo's Wii has turned a profit on every unit sold from day one. The console is far less powerful than either the Xbox 360 or PS3, and that's made it much easier for Nintendo to make money with the machine. In fact, the chip that makes the "magic" (i.e. motion sensing) happen (ADI's three-axis accelerometer) costs just $2.50.
The article is full of effusive praise from industry leaders as well. "We looked at the capabilities of the Wii early on and saw that it was solving the most important element in the game industry - accessibility," said Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot. "Nintendo has been very open with us," he added. "They're willing to do things that are a bit crazy. They see what we want to do and help us to make it as good as possible."
"Nintendo is a pioneer," said John Schappert, COO of EA Studios. "They're zigging when others are zagging. It's another growth curve for the industry."
Even Microsoft Corporate VP Peter Moore couldn't help but praise the Wii. "Nintendo has created a unique and innovative experience," he said. "I love the experience, the price point, and Nintendo content." He was quick to add, however, that Microsoft "provides experiences that Nintendo cannot provide."
The only executive who truly questioned the Wii was Jack Tretton, the president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. "You have to give Nintendo credit for what they've accomplished," he admitted. "But if you look at the industry, any industry, it doesn't typically go backwards technologically. The controller is innovative, but the Wii is basically a repurposed GameCube. If you've built your console on an innovative controller, you have to ask yourself, Is that long term?"
Whether it's long term or not no one can really say, but it sure is paying off for Nintendo now. The company can't even keep up with demand. "We cannot simply make 1.5 times as much or two times as much," said Nintendo President Iwata. "When you're making one million a month already, getting to 1.5 million or two million is not very easy."
Nintendo’s image of Homebrewers is this: Software Pirates. Even when a lot of us are not pirates. We need to let them rethink their image of us. We need to put an end to software piracy! Sure, most flashcarts are made to play romz and if you took those devices away we would have really only three ways to play homebrew. We need to ask the companies to stop supporting piracy. So far the only one close to stopping support piracy is SuperCard as they ask to ‘Only play Freeware & Personal Backups’. That is not enough though. Nintendo will just keep building up security to prevent roms from being played. This will also prevent good wholesome Homebrew. Homebrewers should not be punished for criminal’s mistakes. Just like people are not
punished if someone around them commits a crime. Something must be done about this or homebrew could end up being a thing of the past.
It seems that Microsoft can’t catch a break these days what with Vista still failing miserably and apparently so are XBOX 360’s. Now don’t get me wrong, I own a XBOX 360 and I’ve had it for about a year with ZERO issues. There are those XBOX 360 owners that are perfectly happy (like me) and there are others who have gone through five or six units and even then all their issues are not fixed. We’ve talked about that before. And now, the Netherlands and the European Commissioner for Consumer affairs wants answers and wants them now.
I don’t know how widespread the problems mentioned in the US or other markets are but it seems the European market is having a problem with broken hard drives and scratched DVDs. The DVD scratching problem occurred briefly here in the US. Now this may be going out on a limb but could it be that Microsoft has pawned the flawed consoles off on other markets while at the same time fixing some of the issues in the US market?
There are upwards of 1,000 complaints from the Netherlands alone which is going up every day. The commissioner not only wants answers from Microsoft Europe but from other markets as well and a bulleted list of all issues and problems known in those markets.
Unfortunately for the commissioner she cannot order a forced recall on the XBOX 360 and I’m no expert on European laws or the Netherlands for that matter but surely if this is the case, something can be done besides going through broken XBOX 360 after broken XBOX 360.
The Inquirer found a mostly English interview with the commissioner which can be heard right here.
Although the summer months are generally regarded as a barren time for releases, this year there doesn't seem to be the typical drought of new titles. Of course, the games coming out may not be the juggernauts of 2007, but at least shops have something to shove on their shelves each week.
Onto this week's releases and, being the kind-hearted gentlemen that we are here at IGN, we'll let ladies go first and take a look at Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary, which is released on PC and PS2. If you haven't been following the progress of this game, it's a revamped version of the original Tomb Raider that uses the Legends engine. We thoroughly enjoyed the PS2 edition, scoring it 8.7 and saying: "Anniversary sticks to what it does best and ends up outdoing every Lara game that's been made since. Lara is back on great form, and re-imagining a ten-year-old classic has clearly been a risk worth taking."
Next up is Shadowrun on both PC and Xbox 360. There's been a lot of hoo-hah around this game because it's the first to let 360 owners and PC owners blast each other in the face over Xbox Live. Unfortunately we've yet to review either game but from what we've played on the 360 it seems like a fairly stripped-down arena-based FPS with a rudimentary single-player and some magic spells thrown in for good measure.
Talking of magic, also released this week is Meteos: Disney Magic on DS. It's an updated version of the DS block-swapping puzzling classic but with Disney characters instead of the charming dancing aliens from the original. Despite the likes of Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh making an appearance, we actually enjoyed it, scoring it an 'impressive' 8.0 and concluding that "if Disney put this version online we would have scored it higher, but we're keeping an open mind here: Meteos: Disney Magic does a really good job moving the design forward".
Also out today on DS is Wario: Master of Disguise. Unlike Wario's recent ventures into the mini-game genre with the enjoyable WarioWare series, Master of Disguise is a more traditional platformer that uses the touch screen to execute a range of special powers. Disappointingly this return to Wario's roots wasn't very enjoyable, scoring only a 'passable' 6.0 from IGN US and leaving us to complain that "the implementation of the touch screen elements are so amateurish with concepts that wouldn't have flown in the early part of the Nintendo DS system's life cycle". Oh dear.
Also out this week is Smash Court Tennis 3 on PSP - just in case you like the idea of having Maria Sharapova in your pocket. Anyway, that's it for now and we'll see you next week for a look at Forza Motorsport 2 on Xbox 360 and Pangya! Golf With Style on Wii.
Retailers both in Europe and the US have bee quietly changing their dates of when they expect to see Virtua Fighter 5, another exclusive Sony lost to Microsoft’s machine. Dates range from September to November of this year, which is a way off yet. Not so, according to SEGA.
Eurogamer had the chance to speak with SEGA, who still expect the game to ship sometime in the Summer. This is contrary to sites such as Gamestop, Play.com and GAME. It’s strange that the majority of retailers have pushed their dates back so far, but since none of them match there is little to read into at the moment.
The 360 version still lies in murky waters in terms of content though. With the PS3 version already released, many would hope that some improvements would be made. Certainly one would be which version the game is based on. In Japanese arcades, they are currently running Version C of VF5, whilst the PS3 version runs on B. It is hoped that the 360 version will use the enhancements made in C instead of running on what is now old technology. Optional analogue control and improved AI are also hoped for, along with Xbox Live multiplayer.
Hopefully SEGA will speak more publicly about the 360 version soon so as we know what we will be getting. For now though, praying will have to do.
Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced that it has shipped WarTech Senko no Ronde for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft to retail stores. Developed by G.rev Ltd., WarTech Senko no Ronde is rated "T” for Teen and has an MSRP of $59.99.
WarTech Senko no Ronde, a new take on a famous arcade game from 2004 that has already been released in Japan with great success, thrusts the player into a distant future where humanity has colonized countless new galaxies and Earth has become a planet mined for its natural resources. A violent war has erupted as nations struggle for world domination. Features include:
* Fast-paced arcade fighting – Combine an almost limitless arsenal of special moves, power-ups and attack drones to unleash the most lethal combos.
* Xbox LIVE online gaming service multiplayer – Challenge friends in head-to-head two-player or battle against the world's best players online and test your skills to improve your Xbox LIVE ranking.
* An impressive choice of Rounder Mech suits – Each of the eight Rounder Mechs features two distinct variations, as well as an unlockable in-game B.O.S.S. mode, for 24 variations in all.
* Epic boss battles – Go blow-for-blow against the other Rounder Mechs, but be prepared, because at any moment you could find yourself battling an even deadlier enemy.
It's been downsized, restructured and repackaged and in just six weeks (July 11-13) we'll be able to judge first-hand whether the new format E3 is an improvement over the loosely organised orgy of chaos and inflatable swords that has always exhilarated and exhausted game hungry show goers in equal measure. But while we're certainly curious to see the transformation from sensory-assaulting expo to an altogether more sober-sounding business summit, the reason we're jetting off to Santa Monica isn't to scrutinize the changing face of the show; it's to bask in the glorious glare of games.
The question is - what are those games going to be? While we know that the majority of major industry players - including the big three console makers - are going to be in attendance, details regarding publisher show line-ups is practically non-existent. So, based on industry rumours and whispers and in the absence of solid information we've made an educated guess at what games might put in an appearance of some description. Some are dead certs and others are outside bets, but if at least some of the titles in our speculative list turn up, we should be in for a real good show. Sorry, summit.
Activision
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
Guitar Hero III
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground
New Marvel game
Atari
Alone in the Dark
Godzilla: Unleashed
The Witcher
Capcom
Devil May Cry 4
Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles
Codemasters
Clive Barkers Jericho
Heist
Operation Flashpoint 2
Race Driver One
Rise of the Argonauts
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty
Disney Interactive
Turok
Eidos
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
Crossfire
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
New Just Cause
New Tomb Raider
Electronic Arts
Army of Two
Battlefield: Bad Company
New Black
Boogie
Burnout Paradise
Crysis
FIFA 08
Medal of Honor Airborne
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
MySims
New NBA Street
Need for Speed: Pro Street
New Road Rash
Rock Band
SKATE
New Sim City
Sims 3
Spore
The Orange Box (Half-Life 2, HL2: Episode One, HL2: Episode Two, Portal, Team Fortress 2 )
The Simpsons Game
New Tiger Woods
GSC Game World
New STALKER games - The developer has already revealed on its site that it will be at E3 showing new games based in the STALKER universe
id Software
New games - The Quake developer has 'unannounced projects' in the pipeline and we're expecting some news to emerge from the show
Konami
Hellboy
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Pro Evolution Soccer 7
Silent Hill 5
Silent Hill Origins
LucasArts
Fracture
Indiana Jones
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
Star Wars Battlefront III
Microsoft
Alan Wake
Banjo-Threeie
Blue Dragon
Halo 3
Halo Wars
Infinite Undiscovery
Lost Odyssey
Mass Effect
Project Gotham Racing 4
Project Sylpheed
Too Human
Midway Games
Blacksite: Area 51
Hour of Victory
Stranglehold
The Wheelman
UT3
New Mortal Kombat
Namco Bandai Games
Eternal Sonata
Tekken 6
New Ridge Racer
Nintendo
Disaster Day of Crisis
DK Bongo Blast
Fire Emblem: Goddess of Dawn
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Project HAMMER
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Smash Bros Brawl
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
SEGA
Alien
Condemned 2: Bloodshot
Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars
Ghost Squad
Golden Axe
Happy Tree Friends False Alarm
Iron Man
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms
Nights: Journey of Dreams
Sonic Rush Adventure
The Club
The Golden Compass
Universe at War: Earth Assault
Sony
Afrika
Eye of Judgement
Gran Turismo
Heavenly Sword
Home
Killzone 2
Lair
LocoRoco 2
LittleBigPlanet
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
SOCOM: Confrontation
The Getaway 3
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Warhawk
Wipeout
Square Enix
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy Versus XIII
The Last Remnant
Take-Two Interactive
BioShock
The Darkness
THQ
New Destroy All Humans
Frontlines: Fuel of War
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
New Saints Row
Stuntman: Ignition
WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2008
Ubisoft
Assassin's Creed
Beowulf
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
Far Cry 2
Haze
New Prince of Persia game
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Tom Clancy's EndWar
Vivendi Games
Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
Crash of the Titans
Geometry Wars: Galaxies
Scarface: The World is Yours
TimeShift
World in Conflict
This is old news that the Xbox 360 has been scratching discs and Microsoft has promised to look into the problem, but what is new news is the fact that the European Commissioner for Consumer Affairs is not happy.
Meglena Kuneva (EU Commissioner) has gave Microsoft exactly one week to respond to the problem of the 360 damaging media and to detail how the company has handled the bad DVD drive situation in the Netherlands.
Microsoft will also have to tell the European Commissioner how many complaints have been received.
If things go from bad to worse it may come about that the European Commission force a recall of the Xbox 360’s in the Netherlands.
It is all resting on how Microsoft handles this problem as they could end up in legal hot water.
Microsoft’s Bill Gates has given the strongest hint yet that the company plans to introduce a new control system for the Xbox 360 influenced by the success of the Wii, although his somewhat vague comments suggest a very different approach to Nintendo.
As detailed by technology website All Things Digital, Gates was taking part in a live conversation with Apple founder Steve Jobs, when Gates began to discuss the use of 3D online interfaces and the increasing role of the PC as a home media and communications center.
He ended his comments by saying, “And as we get natural input, that will cause a change... Software is doing vision and so, you know, imagine a game machine where you’re just going to pick up the bat and swing it or the tennis racket and swing it.”
As the similarities behind his concept and that of the Wii were pointed out, Gates responded: “No, that’s not it. You can’t pick up your tennis racket. And swing it.”
“You can’t sit there with your friends and do those natural things. That’s a 3D positional device. This is video recognition,” he added.
Although the use of the phrase “game machine” implies Xbox 360 technology, no further details were provided by Gates, although others, including Xbox’s Peter Moore, have previously hinted at Microsoft’s interest in producing a motion sensing controller for the Xbox 360.
Gates himself has been the most dismissive of Microsoft executives on the subject of the Wii, repeatedly stating his skepticism of the format and its controller and regarding it as a novelty. In May 2006, he even went as far as to state that motion sensing controllers are “something that's not mainstream for most games.”
features
Lap the Competition: With true next-generation features made possible by the power of Xbox 360, Forza Motorsport 2 burns rubber at 60 fps with 2x full-screen anti-aliasing, and high-dynamic-range lighting in crisp 720p high-definition glory.
Experience uncompromising physics: Top automotive engineers, professional race car drivers, and experienced programmers teamed up to create the most complete racing simulator experience available.
Race real-world tracks: From the all-new world famous Suzuka and Sebring tracks to the spectator-lined streets of New York, race on meticulously designed tracks with an incredible sense of speed and realism.
Collect, upgrade, and tune hundreds of cars: From sport compacts to purpose-built race cars, collect more than 300 cars from over 50 of the world’s leading manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, Nissan, VW, GM, and Lamborghini.
Create and share your masterpiece with the world: Express your inner artist in the paint and upgrade shops with near endless visual personalization.
Compete online: Take your personalized car onto Xbox LIVE® for some intense online wheel-to-wheel racing. Earn in-game credits and even complete single player career objectives while racing over Xbox LIVE.
description
Forza Motorsport™ 2, the sequel to Microsoft Game Studios' award-winning, fully-customizable driving simulator Forza Motorsport™, speeds its way onto Xbox 360™ this holiday season. Buckle up for authentic simulation physics, bone-jarring damage, and photo-realistic graphics, as well as licensed tuning and customization options.
Loaded with over 300 of the world’s hottest cars for you to collect, personalize, and race, Forza Motorsport 2 gives you the complete racing experience.
FASA Studio, the creative minds behind MechWarrior and Crimson Skies®: High Road to Revenge™, are back with Shadowrun™, the new multiplayer first-person shooter (FPS) based on the much beloved RPG franchise. Shadowrun propels team-based combat into a new dimension with a revolutionary blend of modern weaponry and ancient magic.
Up to 16 players battle for control of this new world through Windows Vista's Xbox 360-to-Windows Vista online compatibility. In Shadowrun, vie for supremacy in a constantly evolving battlefield where advanced technology and ancient magic provide an unprecedented and high-velocity tactical action experience.
features
Innovative arcade and surf feeling with players performing a variety of impressive tricks in the air and learning to surf inside a tube.
Win the championship in the single-player mode or challenge your friends in the multiplayer mode with easy pick-up-and-play game controls.
10 playable characters with their own tricks and characteristics.
Impressive water simulation and physics. Surf in a variety of locations, each with its own waves and obstacles. Train in the calm water of Shiverpool, ride your first tubes in Pen Gu Island and try to surf on the explosive waters of the volcano area.
Tons of unlockable content.
Awesome game soundtrack for carving waves featuring more than 20 licensed music tracks.
description
Surf's Up is an exciting arcade surfing and extreme sports video game. The action is set at the annual "Reggie Belafonte Big Z Memorial Surf Off," where surfers from around the world are ready to risk it all for glory. Players will experience the rush and thrills of surfing in exotic surf spots around Pen Gu Island, and can rip it up as one of 10 characters from the film, such as Cody, the young challenger from Shiverpool; Tank, the merciless champion; or Z, the surfing legend from the past. Only by mastering and understanding the waves can the player become not only the new champion, but a true surf legend.
Sega has today announced the launch of the official The Golden Compass website, where you'll find all the info you could ever want about the game based on a film, which in turn is based on a fantasy novel.
The website will be your port of call if you want the latest news, screens, character profiles, location details and more concerning The Golden Compass.
The game is scheduled for release this winter and will bring to life the story of Lyra Belacqua on her quest to rescue her imprisoned uncle and kidnapped best friend. Lyra is joined on her quest by her spirit daemon, Pan, as well as a giant and powerful armoured bear, Iorek, and the mysterious Golden Compass.
It seems that Grand Theft Auto IV may actually miss its October 16, 2007 release date on the PS3 and Xbox 360 due to a delay.
The game is set to launch on October 16, 2007. That has been the release date ever since the next-generation Grand Theft Auto was announced a few months ago for a simultaneous release on the PS3 and Xbox 360. That release date is also just a few weeks before the end of the fiscal year.
Analyst Michael Pachter believes though that Take-Two will delay the game. He stated that "We believe that it is possible that the company will choose to ’throw in the towel’ on financial year 07 by shifting the release date for Grand Theft Auto IV by a few weeks, increasing the losses incurred this year and improving the company’s prospects for financial year 08."
This would not mean too much of a delay for Grand Theft Auto IV but would probably cause it to miss its traditional October release timeframe it has been keeping with GTA 3, GTA Vice City, and GTA San Andreas on the PS2, which all launched in October.
It looks like that "big" Microsoft news from the Pac-Man championship tournament finally hit today.
Namco game designer Toru Iwatani created a new edition of Pac Man for the Xbox 360, due to hit Live tomorrow for 800 points. Pac-Man Championship Edition will feature the first new mazes for the game in 26 years.
Championship Edition will feature six modes:
The Championship Mode. This is the main game mode designed by NAMCO BANDAI Games and Iwatani specifically for the championship round of the Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship. This mode - as well as all others within the "Pac-Man Championship Edition" - features redesigned mazes with wide maze walls and a widescreen configuration to better enable high-speed game play. Timed limit of five minutes.
Challenge Mode 1 (Patience and Reward Course). This mode is an evolution of the Championship Mode. Patience mazes strategically offer fewer Power Pellets and Reward mazes provide a large number of Power Pellets - providing unique challenges and rewards for the player. Timed limit of 10 minutes.
Challenge Mode 2 (The Darkness Course). In this mode, only the area directly around Pac-Man and the Ghosts is visible and the maze walls are completely hidden. Timed limit of 10 minutes.
Extra Mode 1 (The Freeway Course). An extremely high-speed mode for advanced players, this mode features warp-speed Pac-Man and Ghosts and plenty of tunnels. Timed limit of five minutes.
Extra Mode 2 (The Manhattan Course). A mode inspired by the streets of Manhattan -- the home for the first-ever Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Championship. Timed limit of five minutes.
Extra Mode 3 (The Overall Course). A mix of all other modes resulting in extreme mazes for the most devout Pac-Man fans. Timed limit of 10 minutes.
Yes, that's really it. Pac Man, but with new mazes. I told you it wasn't that big a deal.
We have received a new batch of Blaster 360 from Team Xecuter that now comes with a special PCB called the Hitachi Fix, which like you are guessing, make the Blaster 360 now compatible also with Hitachi drives!
The Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure show brought together nearly 180 companies from over 30 different countries, but dominating the event was Amusement Services International, the main representative of Sega in the Middle East.
The company had almost 500sq.m of stand space. “The need for more space this year was more appaòent than ever, with the variety of equipment we exhibited,” said Sega’s Justin Burke. “We also displayed the largest amusement machine the industry has ever seen at this show, Outrun 2 SDX.
“This attraction, along with our exclusive, hand-picked line-up of Sega products such as HOD 4 Special, After Burner Climax, Lets Go Jungle, Too Spicy Twin and other show stoppers, had onlookers in a state of excitement, showing time and time again what ASI and Sega can do together,” he continued
Sega’s Paul Williams added: "I was very impressed by the display in Dubai. This is a growing market for us and our distributors are capitalising on that. The range of large products Sega currently has suits the Middle East market very well indeed."
Condemned 2: Bloodshot is the follow up to 2005's creepy FPS game with a mix of forensics, Condemned: Criminal Origins. Monolith Productions, the developer behind the game, and SEGA released additional character and environment artwork. See the artwork below.
"The original, Condemned, was a game which truly shocked and scared its players with its subtle details, gripping story and eerie tension throughout,” said Gary Knight, European Marketing Director, SEGA Europe. “Condemned 2: Bloodshot takes these three key elements to heightened new levels, providing a superb mature gaming experience that will constantly surprise its players and keep them gripped from start to finish.”
New to this release of Condemned is online multiplayer deathmatch. Condemned 2: Bloodshot will be released for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, which is currently estimated for a first quarter 2008 release.
Thats right Condemned Fans! IGN interviewed Monolith about Condemned: Bloodshot, heres what they asked:
IGN: Will Greg Grunberg be reprising his role as Ethan or is Heroes such a huge show now that Officer Parkman is unavailable for comment?
IGN: Dave Hasle, Producer: Actually Greg Grunberg was interested in working with us on Condemned 2: Bloodshot. We were very happy with the voice-work he performed for us and it's kind of cool to say we "knew him when." We've taken a darker turn with Ethan and wanted to find a voice that better represented that "edgy darkness."
That really sucks, Greg made Condemned a more enjoyable experince, I hope they are joking and he is indeed casted.
According to Gameinformer Nintendo US will soon lose three of their major managers. They're talking abut George Harrison, Beth Llewelyn and Perrin Kaplan.
Normally they would have gone to San Fransisco or New York to go on with their current jobs, but things seem to turn out quite different. They're probably putting things to a halt when it comes to their current career.
Remember though, this is a RUMOUR, but it sure ain't fun for Nintendo...
At the moment, the rumour is being firmly denied by Nintendo:
"In terms of the execs leaving we have not heard anything regarding that speculation - and it remains speculation," the spokesperson told GI.biz. "We are not commenting further on those rumours at this time."
Sony Corp., the world's largest maker of video-game players, has announced fresh plans to cut jobs at its PlayStation subsidiary in the U.S. to reduce costs, Bloomberg reported.
The reductions add to planned job cuts in Europe and come after the PlayStation 3 contributed to a $558 million fourth-quarter loss, the company's widest in four years. Sony's video-game unit, which has sold more than 100 million PlayStation 2 consoles, is under pressure to boost sales of the PS3, which trails sales of Nintendo Co.'s Wii and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360.
Last month, Sony said that its losses at the game unit will narrow by almost 80 percent in the year ending March 2008 and will turn profitable the following year, as the company raises sales and slashes production costs.
Also, Tokyo-based Sony in April said it may cut 160 jobs at its European game unit to reduce costs. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd. has 1,900 workers, it said.
Tomb Raider Anniversary has been met with good press for it's release on PS2 and PC. However, it's non release on the Xbox 360, which saw Tomb Raider: Legend was puzzling for quite a few gamers.
With the Xbox 360 controller working on the PC enabled game, we hoped that Tomb Raider Anniversary might see the light of day on the Xbox 360 console, and late last night, a listing on the ESRB site gave us some hope.
Well, several listings we should state. If one was to type in Tomb Raider Anniversary into the search bar, you would find the regular result of Tomb Raider Anniversary rated T for Teen and available for the PC and Playstation 2 platforms.
But it also returns back 5 more results, all of which are for the Xbox 360. Tomb Raider: Anniversary Peru, Tomb Raider: Anniversary Lost City, Tomb Raider: Anniversary Greece, Tomb Raider: Anniversary Egypt and Tomb Raider: Anniversary Croft Manor.
Our theory behind the extra listings is that Tomb Raider Anniversary will see release on the Xbox 360 as a downloadable episodic title. Eidos would not respond to our questions at time of press.
The official Shadowrun forums declare that a demo will be released, er, half an hour ago on Xbox Live Marketplace. So, 2am PDT.
There's no sign of it yet according to Internet hero Kristan Reed, and apparently there's no immediate plan for a Windows Vista version ("We haven't announced [it]").
But we do know what's going in the Xbox 360 one: the first three training chapters, bot and online multiplay, the Power Station level, Elf and Human races, four types of magic, three types of tech, and six weapons including the katana.
Specific details are all on the forum.
Shadowrun - released last Friday - is an online multiplayer game derived from the pen-and-paper RPG series of the same name. One of its headline features is the facility for PC and Xbox 360 owners to play against one another on the same servers.
Get those ghosts! Pac-Man, the 1980s arcade game sensation, now can be played on Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 home console. Blinky, Clyde and other Pac-Man hallmarks are there, but this is an updated version - made by Pac-Man's original creator, Toru Iwatani.
Iwatani designed the revamped "Championship Edition," which was unveiled at the Pac-Man World Championship in New York on Tuesday. Iwatani, who is now a video game professor at Tokyo Polytechnic University, also crowned the winner of the Microsoft-sponsored competition, Carlos Daniel Borrego from Pachuca, Mexico.
The Pac-Man makeover includes mazes that change shape as the game is played, new soundtracks and high-definition graphics, though the game retains the kitschy, arcade-inspired look. There are six new timed game modes, including the "Manhattan" mode, inspired by New York streets.
It appears the new Pac-Man marked Iwatani's last hurrah in the video game business.
"It gives me great joy to know that my final contributions in my corporate career were to crown the Xbox 360 Pac-Man World Champion and to leave the world with an amazing new 'Pac-Man' game for generations to enjoy," the game maker said in a statement.
Nostalgia-seekers can buy and download the game from the Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft points, or about $10. Enthusiasts partial to Pac-Man's red-bowed, lipsticked girlfriend will have to settle for a more traditional-looking version of the Ms. Pac-Man game, released to the Xbox Live Arcade in January.
Pro Evolution Soccer 6 (Pro Evo 2007 in states) online via Xbox Live has recently been diabolical. A recent update to the game causes players to disconnect from matches at random times, resulting in both a defeat on your record plus a higher disconnection rate. What would happen is you would be disconnected and a message would appear saying "your connection to Xbox Live has been severed". A quick search on google shows that this is a worldwide problem, and gamers, especially on Konami's official boards, are furious.
However, today I decided to play some Pro Evo 6 on PS2, as Im pretty tired myself of the horrible Live service. Surprisingly, Konami have issued an apology to Xbox 360 users... via their PS2 Pro Evo Servers. The message read something like "Konami realise that xbox 360 owners are experiencing disconnections and we are working to fix the problem. We apologise for the recent inconvenience".
Strange that Konami would issue such a statement on their PS2 Servers. Obviously Microsoft run their own servers for most live games (including Pro Evo 6) and therefore Konami might not have as much free control, but how hard would it be for them to send Xbox Live users this statement via a simple update or even a text message?
Welcome to this week's Games & Toys update, our weekly summary featuring all new product arrivals from the last seven days.
About 15 new titles have been published in Japan in this week, along with the usual number of Asian, Korean and US version releases.
The most popular console games this week have been Microsoft's RPG based FPS Shadowrun (Asia / US) and Tenchu Z for Xbox360™, followed by Bokujou Monogatari: Yasuragi no Ki / Harvest Moon Wii for Wii™ and the US version release of Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm for PlayStation2™.
Handheld highlights this week have been the Korean rhythm action game Audition Portable (Regular / Limited Edition), Sega's Crush and Square-Enix's Final Fantasy II Anniversary Edition (Japanese / Asia) for PSP™ and Capcom's Kabu Trader Shun for Nintendo DS™.
Xbox360™:
Forza Motorsport 2 US US$ 59.90
Shadowrun ASIA US$ 44.90
Shadowrun US US$ 59.90
Surf's Up US US$ 49.90
Tenchu Z ASIA US$ 44.90
Xbox 360 Hard Drive (120 GB) JPN US$ 189.90
Xbox 360 Memory Unit (512MB) JPN US$ 59.90
PlayStation3™:
Surf's Up US US$ 59.90
Nintendo Wii™:
Bokujou Monogatari: Yasuragi no Ki / Harvest Moon Wii JPN US$ 64.90
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon US US$ 49.90
My Mii Manager US$ 19.90
Nunchaku Silicon Cover (black) JPN US$ 7.90
Nunchaku Silicon Cover (blue) JPN US$ 7.90
Nunchaku Silicon Cover (white) JPN US$ 7.90
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End JPN US$ 59.90
Surf's Up US US$ 49.90
Tamagotchi: Party On! US US$ 44.90
PlayStation2™:
Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm US US$ 49.90
Hisshou Pachinko*Pachi-Slot Kouryoku Series Vol. 10 JPN US$ 59.90
Metal Slug Complete KOR US$ 54.90
Musou Orochi KOR US$ 69.90
The Magician's Academy JPN US$ 64.90
Wizardry X 2: Mugen no Gakuto (Wonder Price) JPN US$ 34.90
Nintendo DS™:
Hissatsu Kung Fu: Kanji Dragon JPN US$ 39.90
Kabu Trader Shun JPN US$ 48.90
Kazujin Taisen JPN US$ 29.90
Multi Film Lite 3+1 US$ 5.99
Ontama: Onpu-tou Hen JPN US$ 48.90
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End JPN US$ 48.90
Protect Case DS Lite (clear black) US$ 10.90
Protect Case DS Lite (clear blue) US$ 10.90
Protect Case DS Lite (clear pink) US$ 10.90
Protect Case DS Lite (clear) US$ 10.90
Surf's Up US US$ 34.90
Tank Beat US US$ 34.90
Yamakawa Shuppansha Kanshuu: Shousetsu Nihonshi DS JPN US$ 39.90
Yamakawa Shuppansha Kanshuu: Shousetsu Sekaishi DS JPN US$ 39.90
Yoshi Island DS Cushion Pouch (green) US$ 12.90
Yoshi Island DS Cushion Pouch (light blue) US$ 12.90
Sony PSP™:
Audition Portable KOR US$ 49.90
Audition Portable [Limited Edition] KOR US$ 99.90
Crush US US$ 34.90
Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai 2 JPN US$ 48.90
Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai 2 ASIA US$ 42.90
Final Fantasy II Anniversary Edition JPN US$ 39.90
Final Fantasy II Anniversary Edition ASIA US$ 34.90
Hard Rock Casino US US$ 34.90
Surf's Up US US$ 39.90
The Departed JPN US$ 14.90
Books, Magazines & Misc:
Audition Portable Poster US$ 6.99
Famitsu PS3 Minna no Golf 5 Special JPN US$ 24.90
Final Fantasy Tactics: Shishi Sensou Official Complete Guide JPN US$ 19.90
Virtua Fighter 5 National Tournament Fight New Century IV DVD JPN US$ 39.90
Toys & More:
Animal Crossing Character Phone Strap (Theater Version) JPN US$ 5.99
Busou Shinki Pre-Painted PVC Figure: MMS Type Dolphin - Waffe Dolphin JPN US$ 19.90
Busou Shinki Pre-Painted PVC Figure: MMS Type Mermaid - Ianeira JPN US$ 36.90
Busou Shinki Pre-Painted PVC Figure: MMS Type Seiren - Eukrante JPN US$ 36.90
C3xHobby 1/7 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure JPN US$ 59.90
C3xHobby 1/7 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure (Prototype Ver.) JPN US$ 59.90
Death Note Mini Plush Keychain JPN US$ 5.99
Fine Scenery Shakugan no Shana 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Shana (W/ Sword) JPN US$ 47.90
Getter Robo: 1/6 Scale Painted Extra! Story Image Figure! - Saotome Michiru (Special Color Ver.) JPN US$ 61.90
He is My Master Pre-painted PVC Figure: Sawatari Izumi (EX School Uniform Ver.) JPN US$ 17.90
He is My Master Pre-painted PVC Figure: Sawatari Mitsuki (EX School Uniform Ver.) JPN US$ 17.90
Imperial Army State Section III - Pumpkin Scissors 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure: Alice L. Malvin JPN N/A
Kasimasi Girl Meets Girl: 1/8 Scale Painted Extra! Story Image Figure! - Osaragi Hazumu JPN US$ 44.90
Mon-Sieur Bome Collection Vol.22: Fate/Stay Night - Rin Tohsaka JPN US$ 42.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion 1/12 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure: Rei Ayanami (BMX Trick Ver.) JPN US$ 39.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure: Sohryu Asuka Langley (Casual Clothes Ver.) JPN US$ 36.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion School Collection Figure: Evangelion Petit - Eva Gurashi Genesis 01 JPN US$ 4.90
New Super Mario Bros. Mini Figure Collection Vol. 2 JPN US$ 2.99
Nohohon Mickey Mouse US$ 9.90
Nohohon Winnie The Pooh US$ 9.90
One Piece Unlimited Adventure Locations Candy Toy JPN US$ 4.90
Pia Carrot G.O. Pre-painted PVC Figure: Rumi Kinoshita (Swimsuit Ver.) JPN US$ 61.90
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure - Mikuru Asahina JPN US$ 47.90
Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu Pre-painted PVC Metamo Figure: Haruhi Suzumiya (Bunny Girl Ver.) JPN N/A
The Idolm@ster Xenoglossia 1/8 Scale Pre-painted PVC Figure: Haruka Amami JPN US$ 39.90
The Mobile Police Patlabor Collection Figure JPN US$ 6.90
Sales of Nintendo hardware continue to break away from the competition in Japan, with the DS enjoying sales of well over 100,000 units a week.
Even though sales of the handheld dropped for the week ended June 3, the 123,211 units sold still leaves behind Sony's PSP, which during the same period managed 26,358 units sold.
Year-to-date sales of the DS are now almost 3.5 million, compared to just under 1 million of the PSP.
Nintendo's Wii is also setting a fair distance between itself and rival home consoles from Sony and Microsoft.
In the past week the console sold 69,748 units, a rise of 11,000, bringing the year-to-date total to over 1.6 million units.
Sony's PlayStation 3 sold 8,998 units during the same period, with year-to-date figures reaching 453,179.
Sales of Microsoft's Xbox 360 climbed marginally by under 200 units with the console managing 2,219 sales in the past week, bringing year-to-date figures to 101,944.
Despite being technically superseded by the new model, the PlayStation 2 has managed to sell more units that the PS3, with 11,814 shifted, and year-to-date figures of 369,024.
As Microsoft reveals intentions to target families with new titles and a renewed marketing push, group product manager David Hufford has said he's well aware that USD 199 is the ideal price for the family audience.
Although the company has avoided a significant price reduction of the Xbox 360 since release in late 2005, analysts and industry watchers expect a cut in time for the Christmas period.
"We are well aware that the sweet spot of the market is really 199 bucks," said Hufford, speaking to Bloomberg.
Observing Nintendo's lower price point for the Wii, he stated: "When Mom walks into the store and sees she can get a console with a game for USD 250, she sees it as a USD 300 value. They've done a good job."
It's not only price where Microsoft intends to follow its rival's lead. Targeting the family group with new titles and a renewed marketing push is another priority, as it hopes to shake off the 'hardcore' tag that held back sales of the original Xbox.
"If we don't make that move, make it early and expand our demographic, we will wind up in the same place as with Xbox 1, a solid business with 25 million people," commented Xbox boss Peter Moore.
"What I need is a solid business with 90 million people."
According to Institutional Investor's analyst Heather Bellini, Microsoft could lower the price of the Xbox 360 as soon as September. She also believes that power in numbers could key to Microsoft's seasonal success.
"If they really are going to have a good Christmas games line-up, then they just have to have the largest number of boxes out there so that they sell the largest number of games."
Square Enix has clarified that recent comments made by Shinji Hashimoto regarding Final Fantasy on Xbox 360 were referring to the company's current plans.
Japan's Nikkei BP quoted the executive producer as saying, "As for Final Fantasy on the Xbox 360, it's currently a completely blank page." Some reports interpreted this to mean that the series will never again appear on Microsoft's next-gen console.
However, a spokesperson for Square Enix told GamesIndustry.biz, "Hashimoto-san was talking about the current situation" - which would suggest his comments shouldn't be interpreted as forward-looking.
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter said he expects the next Final Fantasy to appear on PlayStation 3 exclusively - but observed that Square Enix will face a tough decision.
"The series has always been single console and given the Xbox 360 sell through in Japan, it would be hard to put the next Final Fantasy instalment on the 360 only," he told GI.biz.
"Square Enix faces a dilemma: put the next game on the 360 only and alienate Japanese fans, depart with tradition and make it multi-platform, or go with PS3 as an exclusive and deal with the backlash from the west.
"I view Square Enix as a tradition-bound company, and expect the last alternative to be chosen," Pachter concluded.
Square Enix recently announced that RPG The Last Remnant is currently in development for both PS3 and Xbox 360, and will launch simultaneously in the US and Japan.
features
Rich legacy brought to life: After a 5,000-year absence, magic has returned to the world of 2021, and global corporations battle a relentless ancient order to harness this reawakened power
Changing Magic and Tech: Dive into a universe where ancient magic co-exists with deadly weaponry and experience a revolution in FPS gaming.
Intense cross-platform multiplayer action: For the first time, Xbox 360 and Windows Vista gamers can compete as a team or as foes.
Unique strengths and weaknesses: Humans are joined by elves, dwarves, and trolls in a battle for supremacy among soaring corporate towers, warren-filled slums, and an ancient ziggurat of power.
Ultimate online (and offline) battlefield: Fight against or alongside A.I. teammates or join up with friends against all comers via System Link and Xbox LIVE.
description
FASA Studio, the creative minds behind MechWarrior and Crimson Skies®: High Road to Revenge™, are back with Shadowrun™, the new multiplayer first-person shooter (FPS) based on the much beloved RPG franchise. Shadowrun propels team-based combat into a new dimension with a revolutionary blend of modern weaponry and ancient magic.
Up to 16 players battle for control of this new world through Windows Vista's Xbox 360-to-Windows Vista online compatibility. In Shadowrun, vie for supremacy in a constantly evolving battlefield where advanced technology and ancient magic provide an unprecedented and high-velocity tactical action experience.
features
Master the new stealth kill system: Attack and kill an opponent while hanging from the ceiling, or even from beneath the floor! Sheath your weapons to help you remain hidden, or take it out to attack your enemies.
Play through more than 50 missions: Assassinate your target, pour poison into a river in enemy territory, or deliver a secret scroll, all while avoiding enemy detection.
Enlist the help of fellow ninjas: Play at home with up to four players on system link, or jump online and play co-op on Xbox LIVE®.
Experience enhanced ninja play with the Ki meter: Use the new Ki (life force) meter to avoid being detected by enemies and to move like a real ninja.
Build fully customizable characters: Use a variety of body types, facial features, tattoos, and clothing to build your own custom ninja.
description
Become the ultimate ninja assassin in Tenchu® Z. Eliminate unsuspecting guards using stealth kills or your favorite ninja weaponry, or even go straight for the big boss! Use sound, sight, and scent detection as you search out your opponents and unlock deadly new moves and weapons.
There's similar designs, and then there's Amigo's Wireless Router. The R622AG looks exactly like Microsoft's Xbox 360 no matter how you look at it. However, if you're really a fan of the design, then the fact that Aimgo's shoved in 802.11 a/b/g, four Ethernet ports and two USB ports for external hard drives/webcams/printers won't bother you one bit.
Plus, there's even music streaming to USB speakers, and Samba/FTP for file access of your attached USB drives. If they can manage to put this out for under $50 and add 802.11n support, we're sold.
PRESS RELEASE: 8th June 2007 – At long last it’s time for Xbox 360™ owners to feel the benefits of tilt sensation, something of which PS3™ owners have been privileged to since its inception. Moreover, the Nintendo Wii™ is a prime example of just how instrumental interactive controllers can be in providing a highly enjoyable gaming experience.
Talismoon is delighted to the release the second generation of its tiltBoard controller, featuring a high quality design sporting powerful features which are easier to use than even PS3’s SIXAXIS™ controller.
Talismoon’s tiltBoard sports a unique u-shaped board that puts the two tiltBoard control buttons within easy reach of gamers fingers. This gives gamers the ability to make on the fly tilt adjustments in-game, as needed.
The Tiltboard comes pre-loaded with tilTune ™ technology, which is the most user friendly firmware available for such a device. Gamers have the ability to perform the following functions, in game:
1. Adjust the tilt sensitivity: useful for getting accustomed to tilt control.
2. Adjust the 0 degree point: to allow holding the controller at the most comfortable angle
3. Invert the Y axis: to add realism to flying games
4. Turn the tilt function on and off
Everything required to enjoy the latest sensation in console gaming on Xbox 360™ comes in a convenient package and requires only seven wires to solder.
This product is currently schedule to ship during the second half of June 2007. Estimated price is $34.99. For more information on this or any of Talismoon’s other innovative products, all members of the gaming media and retail buyers are welcome to contact press@talismoon.com.
What is the Tiltboard? Here is an explanation:
The Talismoon tiltBoard 360 has a unique PCB that allows itself to be mounted on the inside of an Xbox 360 Controller. It has two buttons, both of which are easily accessible on the outside of the controller (without removing any batteries). One button is dedicated to the tiltTune technology and the other button switches between the analog stick or tilt for input to the controller and allows the user to invert the y-axis of either. A normal press of the button will flip between the analog stick and the tilt for input. A long press (greater than one second) will invert the y-axis of whatever is currently active (either the analog stick or the tilt input). Another long press will return it to it’s original state.
The tiltBoard 360 boasts several new features including tiltTune technology. The tiltTune technology found on the tiltBoard 360 allows you to adjust the sensitivty and the center point of the tiltBoard. To set the sensitivity, simply tilt your Xbox 360 controller with the tiltBoard 360 installed as far left or right as you want to go and as far up or down as you want to go. Then simply press the tiltTune button to set those current angles (both axes) as your maximum tilt. To re-center the tiltBoard 360, simply hold the controller how you feel comfortable and press the tiltTune button for one second. Your new center point is now whatever position you are currently holding your controller in.
Once you get the settings how you like with the tiltTune technology, you don’t have to worry about needing to change them again when you turn off your controller or change batteries. The tiltBoard 360 stores all of your current preferences into memory that is non- volatile, so every time you turn on your Xbox 360 controller, it will be in the same state it was when you turned it off. To restore the tiltBoard 360 to factory settings, simply hit both buttons at once.
We here at DCEmu Reviews will try to bring you a comparision of the tiltBoard and BestTilt by Team Xtender.
Via Product Reviews With so many fans dedicated to their type of games system with the most popular being the Xbox 360, Sony PS3 and the Nintendo Wii. We thought we should compare a basic summery of the new powerhouse Sony Playstation 3 and the latest Xbox 360 upgrade (as it was out a while ago).
Xbox 360 Elite
The upgrade of the popular next-gen video game console has a 120GB hard drive (much bigger than before) and HDMI output which again is missed on the first release of the 360.
The Xbox 360 Elite has an excellent selection of Top-notch games and a couple of but very important improvements over the first model, what I do not like is the Noisy DVD drive and cooling fan on the 360, no built in HD DVD drive, no built-in wireless networking and the massive power supply.
Sony PS3
This next-generation games console from Sony has great media features particularly an integrated Blu-ray player, quiet operation, no external power supply, online play is free, (UPDATE: media streaming from PCs and remote Internet access via a PSP thanks to firmware update), Wi-Fi and it may be more expensive but taking into account all the extra features it has that you have to buy separate on the Xbox 360 it then works out about the same cost.
What I do not like about the Sony PS3 is the lack of good games at the start of this consoles life, the HDMI cable is not included; no force feedback support in the controller and the Sony PS3 doesn’t upscale DVDs to hi-def resolution (UPDATE: feature was introduced in a recent firmware update).
Both Consoles Summery:
The Sony PlayStation 3 may be the most expensive, but because of its cool design and amount of features this console is perfect for people that want less clutter and more in the package from start.
The PS3 might not have all the greatest selection of games now, but give it another year and things will be very different.
The Xbox 360 Elite is not a must have upgrade for Xbox 360 current owners and its not got as many features as the PS3, but currently the 360 has the top-notch gaming and digital media features to make it the better choice out of the two next-gen consoles…but give the Sony PS3 some time and things could change a lot.
The Harvest Moon train isn’t taking a break after the releases of Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon for the PSP and Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon for the Nintendo DS. Natsume’s E3 lineup includes:
Harvest Moon 2 (DS)
Harvest Moon DS Cute (DS)
Harvest Moon Wii (Wii)
Harvest Moon: Boy and Girl (PSP)
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Special Edition (PS2)
Puzzle de Harvest Moon (DS)
Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (DS)
It was previously unknown if Natsume had any interest in bringing Shin Bokujou Monogatari: Pure Innocent Life, an extended version of Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon outside of Japan. But it looks like they made a clear decision since Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Special Edition is on their list. Harvest Moon DS Cute sounds like it is Bokujou Monogatari: Colobocle Station for Girls which was released in Japan in 2005 and it’s clear that we are going to get Harvest Moon: Tree of Peace, possibly this year.
There are lots of reasons for Harvest Moon fans to be happy with this E3 ‘07 line up and Natsume has one other notable title, River King: Wonderland. It’s probably the US title for Kawa no Nushi Tsuri DS, a fishing RPG where you use the stylus to guide a fishing line.
DCEmu via its Wii-News and Gamecube Emulation Sites are proud to present the first Dual Nintendo Wii and Nintendo Gamecube Coding Competition. This Coding Competition will hopefully ignite a mass of interest for creating homebrew and emulators on the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo Gamecube.
The Competition will start on the 6th May 2007 and Entries should be submitted on or before 7th AUGUST 2007 .
Entries for the competition must work on either Nintendo Wii or Nintendo Gamecube or both via SD Load.
All entrys must work with SD Load or with an as yet Unreleased Exploit for Nintendo Wii. Modchip Versions of any releases must have a corresponding SD Load Version.
Entries can be Emulators, Homebrew Games, Demos or Applications that work directly on the Gamecube/Nintendo Wii.
Any submissions must have sources released if theres a GPL on that sourcecode.
All submissions must have DCEmu Forums as the homepage until after the competition ends.
New releases of already released software will be allowed but there must be a good update if thats the case.
All submissions must use either of these splashscreens Here or Here.
Activision has done a smoking job of ensuring that gamers get a lot of inside looks and constant peeks at the upcoming Transformers game. Whether or not the game will live up to the same kind of expectations movie goers and gamers will have for both mediu
