BBC Ponders Another Games Industry Crash
Xbox-Scene :: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
From news.bbc.co.uk (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6523565.stm ): [QUOTE] Yes, gamers are snapping up the new generation of games consoles — Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii, and Sony’s Playstation 3 [PS3], but at huge cost to the industry. Hardware makers are losing hundreds of dollars on every console sold, and games publishers face an “increasingly difficult environment, as rising development costs and small user bases [mean] that return on investment in next generation games development is unlikely to be achieved before 2008,” according to media analysts Screen Digest. More importantly, though, the video games publishers are facing a revolution of their business model. “Development times, team sizes and complexity have been exacerbated by increasingly demanding next generation games,” says Ed Barton at Screen Digest. He predicts that “only a tiny proportion of next generation titles are likely to achieve profitability in the near future”. As it turns out, software piracy can be good for you. “We have extremely strong brands [in Asia] thanks to the pirates; they have created millions of consumers – not customers,” says Mr Florin (executive vice president at EA). The internet allows EA to tap into this market and make some money after all. The Korean gamers are spending serious money on accessories and customisations of the online game. “We now have to learn the business of running an online community,” says Mr Florin. [/QUOTE] Full Story: news.bbc.co.uk (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6523565.stm )
Earth Defense Force 2017 Xbox 360 Review
Gamepyre :: Monday, April 16, 2007
If you want to give you brain a rest from a long day EDF 2017 is the game for you. It allows you to plant you butt in front of the television and cause carnage on an enormous scale. There is even a co-op mode which enables you to defend the earth with a friend, but it seems online support was left out. There are vehicles that can be used, however the controls are horrible making you more likely to pass them up rather then use them.
Need For Speed Carbon (Playstation 3)
Driver Heaven :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Need for Speed games have always had a broad audience. Except for Porsche Unleashed which catered to a more serious and demanding crowd, all NFS games put speed and easily accessible racing before all else. The latest installments strayed from the original formula somewhat though – the influence of the movie Fast and Furious is apparent in all of them. The latest, Carbon, is no different. Illegal street racing in the middle of the night is the name of the game and it is up to you to take down various gangs by winning race after race!
The Killer NIC and Killer K1 Gaming Network Cards
Legit Reviews :: Monday, April 16, 2007
“After spending an evening of gaming with and without the Killer NIC and Killer K1 on both our Windows XP Pro and Windows Vista Ultimate test systems it was the unanimously agreed by all that the Killer NIC and Killer K1 is not worth the added $180-$250 cost. The Killer NIC and Killer K1 did reduce our pings and improved frame rates, but by less than 5%. The difference was so small that no one could correctly tell when the Killer NIC was or wasn’t installed in our ‘blind’ taste test, which was rather alarming… ”
Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse
Overclockers Club :: Monday, April 16, 2007
“The first thing I noticed when I unwrapped the mouse, was how the right and left buttons do not connect after the scroll wheel, like most mice do. If I had to guess right now, I’d say that it is that way because they don’t want the gamers’ fingers to slip off and click the opposite button by accident. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done that during really long and intense gaming sessions. The bottom of the mouse showcases the 3G infra-red sensor and the ultra-slick Teflon feet pads.”
Desert Island Games: Harmonix Music Systems’ Greg LoPiccolo
Gamasutra Columns :: Monday, April 16, 2007
For this week’s Desert Island Games, a column that looks at the top five games of some of our favorite industry personalities, we speak to Greg LoPiccolo, vice president of Product Development with Guitar Hero developers Harmonix Music Systems.
Release This: Bust-A-Move Bash!, Valhalla Knights See U.S. Stores
Gamasutra Columns :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Gamasutra’s round-up of worldwide video game releases, “Release This!”, takes a look at every game title we know to be shipping to stores this week, including the Wii puzzler Bust-A-Move Bash! and Valhalla Knights, along with an early UK release for the PS3 port of F.E.A.R.
New PS3 Network title to be unveiled at Nordic Game
GamesIndustry.biz :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Finnish developer Housemarque is to debut a new PlayStation 3 title at the Nordic Game conference, which will take place in Malmö next month.
Nintendo tops Japanese hardware charts
GamesIndustry.biz :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Nintendo machines continue to occupy the top two slots in the Japanese hardware sales charts, according to new figures from data trackers Media Create.
Blog: My SingStar Online
IGN Playstation 3 :: Monday, April 16, 2007
SingStar (PS3)The SingStar folks talk about the online portion of the karaoke title.
Rocking on with Guitar Hero
IGN Playstation 3 :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Guitar Hero III (PS3)Kai Huang, co-founder of RedOctane, looks back at the series and reveals details about GHIII.
PS3 Top 10 Games Winner Announced
IGN Playstation 3 :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Did you win? Only one way to find out.
Step into the Ring with Punch-Out!!, Now Available on Virtual Console
Nintendo News :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Bonk’s Revenge and Virtua Fighter 2 also added
Microsoft Invites You to Create an Exclusive TV Show
Team Xbox :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Xbox 360 and the New York Television Festival team up to host Xbox LIVE Originals contest, offering a chance to produce original TV programming for Xbox LIVE.
Two Games for This Week’s Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday
Team Xbox :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Microsoft announced today that not one, but two titles will launch this Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Game with Fame
Team Xbox :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Gamers will have the chance to take on the Aqua Teens in an exclusive Game with Fame event.
EA and Endemol Announce Virtual Me
Team Xbox :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Virtual Me combines cutting edge avatar creation technology from EA with popular TV formats from Endemol to give consumers a breakthrough way to meet, compete and socialize in online digital worlds.
Silver Members Get Monster Madness, New Screens
Team Xbox :: Monday, April 16, 2007
SouthPeak Games has announced that the demo of Monster Madness Battle For Suburbia will be made available to Silver Xbox Live members. New screenshots inside.
Xbox Live to host TV show by contest winners
Xbox-Scene :: Monday, April 16, 2007
From CNet News.com (http://news.com.com/2061-10802_3-6176324.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=news ): [QUOTE] If you’ve got a television series just burning a hole in your soul, Microsoft may well have the platform for it. On Monday, the technology giant announced it will give a $100,000 production budget for the creation of a six-episode TV show to the winner of its Xbox Live Originals contest. And, in conjunction with the New York Television Festival, it will present the original series on Xbox Live. Contestants have until June 29 to submit “a short comedy pilot running between five and 15 minutes long.” Then, several finalists will have their work shown on the Xbox Live Marketplace’s video-on-demand service in July, with a final winner to be selected later that month. [/QUOTE] Full Story: mews.com (http://news.com.com/2061-10802_3-6176324.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=news ) Official Site: http://www.newyorktelevisionfestival.com/2007_contests_xbox.htm (http://www.newyorktelevisionfestival.com/2007_contests_xbox.htm )
InFeCtuS Programmer v0.0.3.1 Final
Xbox-Scene :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Team InFeCtuS (http://www.infectus.biz/news.php?news=2007-04-13%2019.55.02 ) posted a new version of the programmer software for their versatile multi-platform InFeCtuS modchip (http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEZuypEFuFPSjhAMwt.php ) to allow you to read/write the Xbox360 NAND Flash. It’s a fairly cheap and easy solution for hackers that want to some research on the Xbox360 Flash: [QUOTE] Today finally online the tested version of the Infectus Programmer version 0.0.3.1. All users wanting to access the X360 nand flash feature can use this version, however it is not necessary for all others users. Please note that you will find online a new diagram of the X360 NAND Fasher, where we add one wire. Use only the rev.1.2 diagram (http://www.infectus.biz/diagrams/Xbox360_1.JPG ) to use the nand flasher. Now that the X360 development is finished, we are going to complete the PS3 nand flasher! Before the next week end, everything will finally be ready. Sorry for the delay, but we are working to give you an excellent, stable application! And it’s not easy…! ;) [/QUOTE] Official Site: www.infectus.biz (http://www.infectus.biz ) Download: here (http://www.infectus.biz/downloads.php )
RedOctane Admits to Guitar Hero II Patch Problem
Xbox-Scene :: Monday, April 16, 2007
From eurogamer.net (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=75328 ): [QUOTE] The update, released on Saturday, was supposed to help users whose copies of the game were refusing to acknowledge input from the Xplorer controller’s whammy bar. However forum threads quickly sprang up on Xbox.com and the official Guitar Hero website complaining that the patch was followed immediately by system freezes and, in some cases, the dreaded ring of death – the only answer to which is returning the console to Microsoft. RedOctane initially declined to comment, but this afternoon a spokesperson told Eurogamer: “We’re aware of the problem and we’re looking into it.” [/QUOTE] Full Story: eurogamer.net (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=75328 )
Xbox 360 – Microsoft Mugged Their Own Sales Figures?
Xbox-Scene :: Monday, April 16, 2007
From softpedia.com (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-360-Microsoft-Mugged-Their-own-Sales-Figures-51980.shtml ): [QUOTE] It’s crystal clear that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii leave Sony’s PS3 in a trail of smoke and dust more and more with every day that passes. But who’s winning when there are only two consoles to be mentioned: the Wii, or the 360? I found this article today on Gamespot saying that Microsoft might have just mugged their own sales figures. How? By stuffing the retail channel. Here’s how it goes. A company like Microsoft has a fiscal year to end. As the end of that fiscal year approaches, the company realizes that only 9 million units of their product have been shipped (sold units are something to bother their heads with later) out of the 10 million target. The company then “stuffs retailers” with the extra 1 million units and they can happily say they’ve ended their fiscal year. But all this is like a boomerang and if this is indeed Microsoft’s case, it will come back and hit them in the face. [/QUOTE] Full Story: softpedia.com (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-360-Microsoft-Mugged-Their-own-Sales-Figures-51980.shtml )
Guitar Hero II or it’s new patch possibly bricking 360’s
Xbox-Scene :: Monday, April 16, 2007
Saw this on the XBOX.com (http://forums.xbox.com/1/11717177/ShowPost.aspx#11717177 ) forums this morning, over 100 posts from gamers complaining that GHII, or it’s new patch has wrecked havoc on thier consoles, bricking some, while making other unstable. [QUOTE] I have tried all of the rest of my games, and GHII is the only one freezing! I cannot finish a song (haven’t even finished one yet), without either the screen during all weird and freezing, or the screen going completely black (xbox still on) and being frozen. … Just got it today, played it for no more then 30 minutes with a total of 4 freeze ups. The 5th one.. red circle of death. It is now dead. What a joke. I’ve played GOW for hours on end, probably the longest being 7 hours straight, play GH for 30 minutes and it kills my box. … Yeah I’d agree it obviously doesn’t happen to everyone, in fact I have a few buddies that play it non-stop without issues. However having said that, there is enough evidence on this forum alone to convince me that there is an issue with it, and maybe it only shows itself on certain models of 360, built before a certain date or something… no idea. All I know is it ran great before this game, and now… well my 360 makes a nice doorstop. … “I love my 360. It’s been a dear friend of mine ever since I bought it (on launchday). I’ve never had any problems with it. Vel, today I decided to get my hands on Guitar Hero II for the 360… Big mistake! My 360 is now officially dead.. After playing GHII for almost 4 hours, the game froze. Not a big deal I thought. I rebooted the console, and “badabing”!… the dreadful three red lights stared at my face. NOOOOOO! Now my 360 won’t even boot into the dashboard anymore. I’ve tried disconnectiong every cable, controller and the hard-drive, but to no use. It usually freezes seconds after I turn it on, and when I try again, the three red lights appear. Why did this have to happen?! I’m so angry right now, and surely wish I’d never bought that piece of crap Guitar Hero II! Be warned everyone… There has to something seriously wrong the 360 version GHII. Maybe older 360 consoles are having trouble with the guitar controller, and therefore screws up the entire console? I don’t know. [/QUOTE] Keep in mind, that 360’s, like any hardware will not last forever. Every time MS releases a dash update, we see some 360’s “die” and everyone blames the update. Every time we see a particular game get an update or new maps etc, we see more consoles “die” and everyone blames the new updates. I don’t know anyone who has had a problem with their GHII, or recent issues with their 360 after having started playing GHII. So, if you fear the Game or the update is the “culprit” of these 360 death’s consider waiting for more info to get posted. – HSD News-Source: XBOX.com (http://forums.xbox.com/1/11717177/ShowPost.aspx#11717177 ) forums
Blue Dragon with English Subs – May 22nd in Singapore
Xbox-Scene :: Monday, April 16, 2007
If you can’t wait till August 2007 for the official US release of Blue Dragon, gameaxis.com (http://www.gameaxis.com/home/?blog=1288 ) posted some interesting info: [QUOTE] Xbox 360 owners in Singapore as well as other westernized countries can soon look forward to playing Sakaguchi’s newest RPG masterpiece come May 22nd. We can all take this news as truly official, as one MS exec revealed to me that Blue Dragon have indeed gotten its release date pushed ahead of schedule. So rather than having to wait till August (as previously stated), 360 gamers can finally taste some sweet RPG love at last next month. And here’s the sweetener: MS have listened to RPG fans’ feedbacks and have stuck to Blue Dragon’s native Japanese audio, but with 100% English texts/subtitles! Way to go Microsoft! [/QUOTE] Note: it’s unknown atm if this title will be region free … so don’t pre-order yet unless you have a NTSC/J 360. Full Story: gameaxis.com (http://www.gameaxis.com/home/?blog=1288 )
PS360 Controller: PS3 Sixaxis in Xbox360 Controller Case
Xbox-Scene :: Monday, April 16, 2007
From Benjamin J Heckendorn (http://benheck.com/04-14-2007/ps360-controller/#more-267 ) (known from the Watercooled Xbox360 Laptop Mod (http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEVZAuAlpVErolVylg.php ) and other cool mods): [QUOTE] Done on consignment, it’s quite obviously PS3 Sixaxis controller guts in the [much better shaped] Xbox 360 controller shell. Check out a video of this thing in action, and read full article for more photos and details of how it was constructed. (http://media.ps3scene.com/images/ps360-controller/top.jpg ) [/QUOTE] Full Story: benheck.com (http://benheck.com/04-14-2007/ps360-controller/#more-267 )
Lite-On Delayed in Securing OEM Xbox 360 HD DVD Orders
Xbox-Scene :: Monday, April 16, 2007
From digitimes.com (http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20070414PD200.html ): [QUOTE] Microsoft originally planned to select Taiwan-based Lite-On IT as a new OEM maker for its Xbox 360 external HD DVD accessory with shipments to begin in April. However, Lite-On IT has had to delay its volume production schedule as it has not yet received product certification from Microsoft, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Toshiba currently undertakes OEM production of such HD DVD drives which are for sale mainly in the US market, the sources indicated. In order to minimize OEM costs and to prepare for the launch of the HD DVD drives in the Asia Pacific market in the spring of 2007, Microsoft planned to place OEM orders with Lite-On IT, the sources pointed out. While Lite-On IT has devoted R&D effort in order to fulfill the deal, Microsoft has very high product standards which are causing the certification process to take longer than originally expected, the sources noted. [/QUOTE] Full Story: digitimes.com (http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20070414PD200.html )
