Next-Gen.biz Analysis: The ‘Disastrous’ Xbox 360?
Xbox-Scene :: Friday, April 20, 2007
From next-gen.biz (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5296&Itemid=2 ): [QUOTE] A financial analyst says that Microsoft needs to “own up” to the “disastrous” money-losing Xbox business. However two games analysts tell Next-Gen that the analysis is short-sighted and Microsoft unsurprisingly agrees. Multi-angle analysis of the 360 situation inside… Ehrenberg’s views aren’t anything new, but it’s a reminder that Microsoft is still in an uphill battle and it’s dumping loads of money into its ambition to become the leader of connected interactive entertainment in the living room. If anything, Ehrenberg’s criticisms and Microsoft’s spending underlines the importance of the interactive entertainment business on a variety of levels, as well as the ferocious competition endured by Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. [/QUOTE] Full Story: next-gen.biz (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5296&Itemid=2 )
Microsoft: Samsung Deal Could Improve Xbox, Zune
Xbox-Scene :: Friday, April 20, 2007
From pcmag.com (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2116107,00.asp ): [QUOTE] The patent agreement that Microsoft and Samsung Electronics signed Thursday morning will be used to enhance Microsoft’s consumer electronics hardware with Samsung’s CE knowhow, Microsoft executives said. Microsoft will gain access to Samsung patents relating to digital media and computer-related inventions, while Samsung will be privy to Microsoft patents that can be used in Samsung products like computers, set-top boxes, digital media players, camcorders, televisions, printers and home appliances. Kaefer (general manager of IP and licensing at Microsoft) pointed to Microsoft products like the Xbox gaming system, the Zune MP3 player and Windows-based PCs as those “that can stand to benefit” from the Samsung deal. Microsoft reportedly has a flash-based Zune MP3 player in the works, although the company has declined to comment. The lines are blurring between TV, video and phone and it has become increasingly difficult to be the sole enterprise researching a particular technology, Kaefer said. “One of the big subtexts of this announcement is that of device convergence. In software, there are so many patents and people are innovating the same things.” [/QUOTE] Full Story: pcmag.com (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2116107,00.asp )
April 2007 Back Compat Update
Xbox-Scene :: Friday, April 20, 2007
From majornelson.com (http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/04/19/april-07-back-compat-update.aspx ): [QUOTE] April showers have yielded us a Back Compat update The latest backwards compatibility update is now available over Xbox Live (or will be very soon.) This free update brings the complete list of original Xbox games (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/backwardcompatibilitygameslist.htm ) that you can play on your Xbox 360 to over 300. Remember, your original Xbox games will look better than ever on Xbox 360 running in 720p and 1080i with anti-aliasing. You can also play cross-platform between Xbox 360 and the original Xbox over Xbox Live. April 2007 Back Compat titles added/updated: Tenku (Japan only) ; Avatar: The Last Airbender ; Avatar: The Legend of Aang (EMEA/ANZ) ; Breakdown ; Call of Duty 2: Big Red One ; Call of Duty 3 ; Cars ; Crash Bandicoot 5: Wrath of Cortex ; Daisenryaku VII ; FIFA Soccer 2007 ; Full Spectrum Warrior ; Guilty Gear Isuka ; Innocent Tears (Japan only) ; Jet Set Radio Future ; King of Fighters 2002 ; King of Fighters: Neowave ; Mad Dash Racing (Japan only) ; Mech Assault 2 ; Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction ; Nascar 2006: Total Team Control ; NFL Fever 2004 ; Oddworld Munch’s Oddysee ; Panzer Dragoon Orta ; Petit Copter (Japan only) ; Phantom Dust ; Reservoir Dogs ; Return To Castle Wolfenstein ; Rugby League 2 ; Sengoku Warriors (Japan only) ; Sonic Riders ; Soul Calibur 2 UPDATED ; Spider-Man 2 ; Star Wars: Republic Commando ; Street Fighter Anniversary Collection ; Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 ; Tony Hawk’s Underground ; Ultra Bust a Move /ULTRA Pazzle Bobble ; Unreal Championship 2 Don’t have Xbox Live, but still want to get the update? Head over to Xbox.com to download the update (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/backwardscompatibility.htm#download ) in .ISO form. [/QUOTE]
A case against video games?
Hardware Analysis :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
With the Virginia shooting earlier this week, video games have once more come under a heavy amount of criticism. Hence we ask the question, should video games be placed under government regulation?
Nintendo Wii Control Scheme Analysis
Bonafide Reviews :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
In the past, more buttons meant more flexibility and functionality, and the Wii has a controller setup which has noticeably less buttons and control sticks than any of the last generation systems. However, the Wii is unique, in that motion now replaces the functions some of those buttons once controlled. However, some gamers are still skeptical as to whether or not motion can easily translate into an intuitive control scheme for all types of games. Let’s take a closer look as to which genres will benefit from the Wii’s innovation, and which may suffer for it.
Gran Turismo HD PS3 Review
Tweak Town :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
TTGamer have posted a review on Gran Turismo HD for the PS3. This free download for the PS3 gives gamers a sneak peak at what’s to come with GT on the PS3, but is it worth the trouble?
Playing Catch Up: Conflict 2500’s William Volk
Gamasutra Columns :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Today’s Playing Catch-Up talks to William Volk, surveying his career from 1981 strategy game Conflict 2500, through his work helping to sign Cyan’s Manhole and resurrect an almost-bankrupt Activision with Return to Zork, right through the present day.
The Euro Vision: GSC’s S.T.A.L.K.I.N.G. Horse
Gamasutra Columns :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Before S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, Eastern European development was characterised as cheap and cheerful. In the latest edition of Gamasutra’s ‘The Euro Vision’ column, Jon Jordan shatters this misconception with the story behind the region’s most artistically ambitious and expensive game to date.
Euro Charts: Dragon Ball Z dominates Italy
GamesIndustry.biz :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Regional tastes come to the fore in this week’s European charts, with Italian and German sales highlighting very different market trends.
Xbox 360 games to feature new interactive barcode
GamesIndustry.biz :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Microsoft has designed a new colour barcode which can store extra information and be read using webcams and mobile phone cameras.
No cash tournaments for European Pogo players
GamesIndustry.biz :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
As EA launches regional Pogo destinations, Euro director Jeff Zie reveals to GamesIndustry.bizthere are no current plans to offer cash prizes to players.
Profits up 71 per cent for Playlogic
GamesIndustry.biz :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Ambitious publisher and developer Playlogic has revealed gross profit of USD 1.2 million (EUR 882,931) for the year ended December 31, 2006, up 71 per cent on the previous year.
PlayStation 3 preparing to support downloadable PS1 games
GamesIndustry.biz :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
New System Update introduces the technology and paves way for PS3-compatible PS1 games to be made available – reportedly on April 26.
Take Two appoints baseball exec to board
GamesIndustry.biz :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Troubled publisher Take Two has appointed Robert A. Bowman to its board of directors.
EA Guildford to host Dare to be Digital 2007
GamesIndustry.biz :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Electronic Arts is to host the London and South East heats of student design competition Dare to be Digital 2007.
Northern Exposure developers’ conference announced
GamesIndustry.biz :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
A new conference for the UK development industry has been announced for May, with leading figures from Eidos, Revolution, Introversion and IGA Worldwide all confirmed.
Codemasters Unveils Big Three
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Next-gen racing, open warfare and a battle of the Gods coming next year.
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty First Look
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty (PS3)If the Germans had won WWII, life would be so much different, as we discovered in Codemasters’s hot new shooter.
PSX Games Playable on PS3
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Plus, PS2 peripheral support!
Calling All Cars HD Footage
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Calling All Cars! (PS3)High-definition clips of criminal antics straight from the final version.
Australian Game Charts
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
For the week ending April 15.
Top 10 Tuesday: Greatest Graphic Adventures
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
When point-and-click ruled the Earth.
Snatcher Returns
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Hideo Kojima and Suda 51 team up for Project S.
Madden 08 Screens
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
First shots of EA’s best-selling franchise.
SEGA Gets Marvel-ous
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Vice President of Marketing talks about exclusive Marvel deal.
Vince Young Interview
IGN Playstation 3 :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Talking Madden and the curse.
Microsoft’s New Bar Code Tech to Debut on Xbox 360 Discs
Team Xbox :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
High Capacity Color Barcode technology, developed within Microsoft Research, assists in identifying commercial audiovisual works such as motion pictures and video games.
New DiRT Screenshots
Team Xbox :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
We bring you ten new screenshots of DiRT, the next generation of the genre leading, 8million+ selling Colin McRae rally racing series.
Gears of War Global Tournament to Resume on April 20
Team Xbox :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Gamers aiming to participate in the Gears of War Global Xbox LIVE Tournament can lower their weapons and start training behind the scenes as technical issues have delayed the Leaderboard reset.
Command and Conquer 3 Demo Dated
Team Xbox :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Find out when the playable demo of Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars will be available on Xbox Live.
Halo Comic Book Series Update
Team Xbox :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Check out the first details of “Halo Uprising.”
Vince Young Selected for Cover of Madden NFL 08
Team Xbox :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Today, EA made the official announcement. As the first rookie quarterback to go to a NFL Pro Bowl, Vince Young has already emerged as one of the most exciting athletes in the NFL.
Beautiful Katamari Damacy Rolling Onto Xbox 360
Team Xbox :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
The latest issue of Famitsu has revealed that Namco plans to release a nextgeneration Katamari game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
SEGA to Create More Games Based on Marvel Franchises
Team Xbox :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
In addition to the previously announced Iron Man game, SEGA will create titles based on Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor, tapping into the rich worlds of these Super Heroes.
WoW Report: Addon’s
Think Gaming :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Just like any game World of Warcraft has an extensive list of user created addon’s. From ones that tell you how much items in the game are worth to ones that change the entire UI itself. I have been using a widely popular addon for the past few weeks and I have really […]
Gears of War Tournament Update
Xbox 360 Games :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Technical issues have delayed the Gears of War leaderboard re-set previously scheduled for 12:01 A.M. GMT on April 9, 2007. The tournament play has been scheduled to resume on or about 12:01 A.M. GMT on Friday, April 20, 2007, and the tournament will continue until 11:59 P.M. GMT on Sunday, May 13, 2007.
Xbox 360 titles given next-gen barcodes
Xbox-Scene :: Thursday, April 19, 2007
From mcvuk.com (http://www.mcvuk.com/news/26654/360-titles-given-next-gen-barcodes ): [QUOTE] Microsoft is to introduce a new barcode onto Xbox 360 games this year, which can hold double the amount of data than the commonplace black and white stripes. Microsoft engineering director Gavin Jancke, who developed the new High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB), said the aim was not to replace the current barcode system, reports the BBC. “It’s more of a ‘partner’ barcode,” he said. “The UPC barcodes will always be there. Ours is more of a niche barcode where you want to put a lot of information in a small space.” Because the barcode can be read by mobile phone cameras, Microsoft claims that it can be used to go online. [/QUOTE] Full Story: mcvuk.com (http://www.mcvuk.com/news/26654/360-titles-given-next-gen-barcodes )
