Official Video Game News

[Jagi]

Lets keep it in 1-4 threads, even i'm guilty of spreading it too far

so lets say a Official major news free for all (this one), a ps3 thread, a 360 and a wii thread


starting it off with


PlayStation 3 Passes 1M Goal in Japan
Folklore, Ninja Gaiden Sigma helping push things along.
By Patrick Klepek, 07/18/2007
Even though E3 showed Sony has plenty up their sleeves, PlayStation 3 continues to struggle across all territories. Nevertheless, some good news came their way today, as Gamasutra reports that Enterbrain tracking numbers are showing the machine has crossed the one million mark in Japan, with 1.01 million machines sold as of July 15th.

Comparatively, Wii has sold 2.9 million and Xbox 360 420,705 in the same time period. With only a few days until the NPD Group releases the sales numbers for June, we'll have a more complete picture of where PS3 is at worldwide before the recently introduced price cut -- or, rather, the reintroduction of the $499 SKU -- went into effect in North America.


http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161399

___
80GB PS3 Doesn't Have Emotion Engine
Backwards compatibility via software only.
By Patrick Klepek, 07/09/2007
As predicted, Sony Computer Entertainment America has followed the steps taken in Europe to start reducing PlayStation 3 costs by removing parts. Consequently, when the newly announced 80GB SKU arrives with MotorStorm in August, it will come without the Emotion Engine that allowed PS One and PlayStation 2 games to run natively. Instead, PS3 now achieves backwards compatibility via software emulation.

"The 80GB model uses a software solution for backwards compatibility, similar to that currently found in the PAL," said a company spokesperson. "We are putting more of our resources behind creating new content for PS3 users (more than 120 titles are coming this fiscal year) that can take full advantage of PS3 hardware and PSN."

And what about further updates to software emulation? Sony's playing coy right now. "More details to come when we release the 80GB in August..." they said.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3160917

 

[Jagi]

Rockstar presents Wii Table Tennis
Publisher's ping-pong sim headed to Nintendo's motion-sensing console this fall.

Table Tennis on the Wii will take advantage of the console's motion-sensing controls. As with the original, players will square off in a duel of power and finesse in a number of different arenas. The well-received 360 version of the game featured strikingly realistic ball physics, and used the same RAGE game engine that will be featured in Grand Theft Auto IV. Today's announcement did not mention whether or not Table Tennis on the Wii would also use the RAGE engine.

http://www.gametab.com/news/975513/

 

[ArsenalCannon357]

Microsoft Corp. today announced that Don Mattrick, a former president at Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), will lead the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB), which includes overseeing the Xbox and Games for Windows businesses. Peter Moore, who currently serves as corporate vice president of IEB, has decided to move his family back to the Bay Area for personal reasons and has secured another opportunity in the video games industry.

Mattrick will take over as the senior vice president of IEB at Microsoft, effective July 30. Mattrick was the founder of Distinctive Software Inc., which operated as a private company from 1982 until its merger with EA in 1991. Mattrick held various senior positions within EA, most recently as president of Worldwide Studios, until his resignation in February 2006. In February 2007, Mattrick began working with the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft as an external advisor.

http://n4g.com/industrynews/News-52651.aspx

 

[Jagi]

2chan Explains Why Japan Hates Xbox 360

It's a fact: Microsoft Japan is having a rough time. Sales of the Xbox 360 are consistently low. There are the occasion bright spots in which games like Blue Dragon or THE iDOLM@STER move a few extra machines. But, all and all, it's not enough really. In an E307 interview with Famitsu, former Xbox honcho Peter Moore said, "Why doesn't the Xbox 360 sell in Japan? I want to ask you." Well! Japanese internet forum 2channel weighed in with its opinion.

Keep in mind: 2chan posters should NOT be taken as a representation of all of Japan. There are something like 120 million people in Japan. They come in all shapes and sizes and do not, I repeat, do not all have the same opinion. What's more, some of the 2chan commenters are down right stupid. If only I could ban a big chunk of them! Still, their opinion is interesting and should shed some light on something — at least what some people over at 2chan think of the Xbox 360.

Hit the jump for comments. I didn't translate them all, and actually tried to stay away from the more moronic, flame baiting ones.

"MS doesn't have any 'sense.'"

"The Xbox 360 is expensive, big and noisy."

"Japan already has Nintendo and Sony. Don't need to buy the Xbox."

"The core audience is for foreigners in their thirties. In Japan, there are many female and children gamers. That's the reason."

"If there's an RPG that equals FF or DQ it should do well, right?"

"HD (lol)
do! do! do! (lol)"

"I don't even know what games it has. Weren't the TV commercials unsatisfying?"

"Foreigners are satisfied only with killing. Japanese are not that stupid."

"Japan is 'moe' and erotic games."

"Microsoft doesn't any original games for Japanese. Nintendo has Mario, etc. Sony has Hot Shots Golf. Microsoft????"

"Instead of saying the Xbox is bad, it's important to note that Sony and Nintendo are too established. There isn't much room for them to enter."

"It's because the advertising strategy of Microsoft Japan is dumb."

"Even though I want to buy an Xbox 360 more than the PS3, I am going to hold off until the console breakdowns decrease."

"Put out more demos."

"For me, it ended at do! do! do!" (do! do! do! was Microsoft's Japan TV campaign with pop group Tokio.)

"Overseas Ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwoBxjchWUM
Japanese Ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GKEsPzYFWA
That's not very good."

"Because it sounds as loud as a microwave oven?"

"Its image is Western games and boob volleyball. With that, how are you supposed to buy it?"

"Since the console is not region free, it's hard to think of the Xbox 360's true enjoyment. If your English is okay, it's actually pretty interesting."

"It stinks like the Sega Saturn stinks."

"I got it! Sell it packaged with Vista!!"

http://kotaku.com/gaming/import-multi_tap/2chan-explains-why-japan-hates-xbox-360-280004.php

 

[trekei]

ahh official bashing thread , how nice
Number 4 of that list though makes a lot of sense.

 

[Jagi]

ahh official bashing thread , how nice
Number 4 of that list though makes a lot of sense.

not at all


thats why i said to start an xbox thread with all xbox news a sony one etc etc

and this one would be more of a general..

hoping that a true xbox fan will start the xbox thread and a true sony fan starts the ps3 one.. i'll most likely start the wii one.. that way we are not flooding the board with game info

but if its news its not bashing

i would have posted moore's move to EA but its already been posted 5 times


____

 

[Jagi]

Megatron Gets His Voice Back, Speaks




[flash]http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=22448[/flash]



In all fairness to Michael Bay, OK, the Transformers didn't suck. Was actually pretty awesome. One thing that stood out, though, was Megatron. Prime got to keep his old, 80s self, so why did Megatron have to get all changed up? Maybe this is why. Guess we're twenty years on, and even the voice of the mighty Megatron has to get a little older and a little croakier. Still. Niggles aside, it is nice to hear that voice again. Like the return of an old friend. A gigantic, old, murderous, robotic friend.

 

[MiltOBeezy]

Microsoft Corp. today announced that Don Mattrick, a former president at Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), will lead the Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB), which includes overseeing the Xbox and Games for Windows businesses. Peter Moore, who currently serves as corporate vice president of IEB, has decided to move his family back to the Bay Area for personal reasons and has secured another opportunity in the video games industry.

Mattrick will take over as the senior vice president of IEB at Microsoft, effective July 30. Mattrick was the founder of Distinctive Software Inc., which operated as a private company from 1982 until its merger with EA in 1991. Mattrick held various senior positions within EA, most recently as president of Worldwide Studios, until his resignation in February 2006. In February 2007, Mattrick began working with the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft as an external advisor.

http://n4g.com/industrynews/News-52651.aspx

What game is that in your quote? Fear? That shit looks crazy

 

[Jagi]

Get Your Voice in Grand Theft Auto IV
Got something to complain about? Call Rockstar!
By Andrew Hayward, 07/19/2007
Licensed soundtracks got a real kick in the rear from the last generation of Grand Theft Auto games, but to many, the real highlight of those blockbusters' audio offerings were the fictional talk radio stations. With their wacky hosts, hilarious commercials, and agitated callers, the talk radio programming added another coat of real-world polish to those massive entries.

Want to have a hand in the next (potentially) great GTA radio station? Rockstar Games has launched the official website for the presumably ultra-conservative WKTT (We Know the Truth) Talk Radio, one of the stations to be featured in the forthcoming Grand Theft Auto IV. According to the website, "It's time for you to do your part in the war on terror -- by calling a radio station and ranting at the top of your lungs about how awful peaceful people are and how we should kill everyone."

Those hoping to get their voices into the game can call 212-360-2368 and leave a voicemail response to one of the following queries:

* What's wrong with your health?
* What's wrong with the world?
* What's wrong with America?
* What's wrong with you?

Check out the official instructions before placing your call, and be sure to read the promotion terms and conditions before committing the irrevocable rights to your voice to Rockstar.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161410

___

Radio Station Website
http://www.wkttradio.com/

 

[Jagi]

Rockstar Bullies 360, Wii
Scholarship Edition to let next-gen gamers enroll in Bullworth Academy starting this winter.
By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot
Posted Jul 19, 2007 3:11 pm PT

Last year, Take-Two Interactive went to court to ensure that its boarding school action-adventure game Bully could be sold in US stores. While the game was a PlayStation 2 exclusive at the time, it appears the multiplatform editions of it were merely held back a year.

Take-Two today announced that Bully will be making its way to the Xbox 360 and the Wii, as Bully: Scholarship Edition is set for release this winter. Developed by Rockstar Games, the Scholarship Edition will introduce new content to the original release of Bully, though Take-Two did not say how much new content or what it would consist of.

Earlier this week, Take-Two also confirmed that it would be bringing the formerly exclusive Xbox 360 game Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis to the Wii. Take-Two was similarly tight-lipped about the changes that will be made to that game, mentioning only that it would take advantage of the motion-sensing Wii Remote.

Bully: Scholarship Edition marks the third Rockstar-developed game to be announced for the Wii, with the first--Manhunt 2--currently in limbo after being rated AO for Adults Only.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6175369.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6175369


___

 

[Jagi]

while i dislike the OXM magazine for their terrible layout and biased articles and they are known to exagerate (sp?) it's very rare that they are off the mark in many of the things they say






MGS4 on Xbox 360 'a few months' after PS3, says OXM Rumor Mole

A reliable tipster has whispered in X3F's ear that the Rumor Mole section in the latest issue of OXM claims a "bankable source" confirmed that Metal Gear Solid 4 would be coming to the Xbox 360 "a few months" after the PS3 version. Of course, there have been dozens of rumors insisting this will be the case, but the "Official Xbox Magazine" carries some weight.

Last week, Konami executive Kazumi Kitaue said, "Since Metal Gear Solid was born for the PlayStation, we would like to keep it a PlayStation game. But we might have to take some steps," igniting renewed speculation that the title would, in fact, be coming to Microsoft's console. Obviously, an announcement wasn't made at E3 last week ... perhaps TGS07?

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/19/mgs4-on-xbox-360-a-few-months-after-ps3-says-oxm-rumor-mole/

 

[Jagi]

They Thirst For Blood
Midway Get Class Action Suits Up The Wahzoo

The world has gone lawsuit mad. That, or it's class action week at Kotaku Tower. Lawyers' first drinks (basic spirits and house beers only) are free. Gamasutra bring word that Midway, who "forgot" to tell shareholders they were slowly sinking down the financial can, have been hit with a ton of class action suits. At least four, actually. They also accuse execs, including CEO David Zucker, of insider trading. This one doesn't have happy ending written all over it. If anything was written on it, it would include the words "shady", "angry", "mob" and probably "gallows".



http://kotaku.com/gaming/they-thirs...t-class-action-suits-up-the-wahzoo-280566.php
_____



July 19, 2007

Midway Hit With Rash Of Class Action Lawsuits

Midway Hit With Rash Of Class Action Lawsuits Law firm Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Kessler has issued a statement giving notice of a class action lawsuit on behalf of all common stock purchasers of Midway Games (Stranglehold, Mortal Kombat series), and asking other possible complainants to join.

The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, charges Midway and some of its officers and directors with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and concerns Midway's alleged misrepresentation of and failure to disclose that it was "grossly underperforming because it was experiencing operational difficulties."

Further, according to the complaint, Midway's struggles would force it to engage in a $17 million restructuring, and require it to secure debt financing. The complaint alleges that these issues render Midway's previous financial and operational statements "lacking in any reasonable basis when made."

As a result of operational disclosures made by Midway between December 16, 2005 and May 24, 2006, the company's shares plummeted from $23.25 per share to $7.39 on May 25th -- cumulatively, a 67 percent value loss.

A barrage of similar, apparently linked class action suits have recently been filed by firms including Federman & Sherwood, Brower Piven, and Brian M. Felgoise, P.C.

Further details of the suit filed by Vianale & Vianale charge Midway execs with failure to disclose that they were disposing of their own shares based on insider info that Sumner Redstone -- a prominent investor whose large purchases of Midway stock were driving the market price for shares in the company upward -- intended to cease all further investment in Midway. The complaint also includes allegations of insider trading patterns against Midway president and CEO David Zucker.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=14745

 

[Jagi]

Peter Moore unloads on Sony one last time before leaving Microsoft for EA

In the typical pimp fashion that we've all come to expect from him, Peter Moore couldn't help but volley on last criticism Sony's way, while getting things ready for his new home at Electronic Arts. During an interview with MCV, Moore killed two birds with one stone with but a few statements. First up was Sony:

“They need to find a way to get to $399 and then see what happens. I’m not sure the 80GB model is going to have a profound effect. I’m also not sure what they’re going to do with all that extra space. I was expecting an announcement of a full video download service, but it just isn’t there.”

Don't think for an instant that Moore has forgotten about that seemingly unstoppable money-maker of a box from the other guys:

Nintendo deserves more respect. Maybe they’re still a bit weak on third parties – their record has never been great in that area – but they’re doing something about that and looking to address it.

I would be lying, if I said that I'm not amused by Peter Moore's tenacity, but I wonder how the suits at EA feel about one of their newly appointed employees jeering a company they make quite a few games for? Never mind, it's Peter Moore we're talking about here. We wouldn't accept less from a guy like him.

http://www.destructoid.com/peter-mo...e-before-leaving-microsoft-for-ea-35879.phtml
__________________


http://www.mcvuk.com/news/27823/Moore-offers-parting-shot-on-PS3

 

[Jagi]

Some Japanese guy's tribute to great breasts in video games

[flash]http://www.youtube.com/v/8p6uy_mUBuA[/flash]

It's true that the majority of gamers are male, as are many of people who design, program, and market them. Thus, it is no secret that the giant sausage party that is the video game industry would go on to produce fantastic and shameless displays of bouncing realistic breasts as soon as the technology was available. It's a hilariously evident cliche in the virtual cinematography of many offending games -- the camera will not pan away until all tits in the room have come to a full stop!

This weekend we bring you a compilation of great moments in mammary movements, spanning across a variety of video games both new and old, all likely found in some drawer in your room somewhere. Test your knowledge of these polygonal racks by trying to name all the games in this video as you watch them wiggle away to the music. Remember when Cinemax was exactly like this in the 80's at any given moment of the day?

Want more? Hit the archives for the top 10 breasts in video games. Thanks for the tissue, Keener!



Top Ten Boobs in Video Games

http://www.destructoid.com/another-boob-list-geek-lotion-stock-refilled-29978.phtml

 

[Jagi]

World of Warcraft 'WoWs' 9 mln

World of Warcraft global subscriber numbers are shooting past ridiculous and closing in on ludicrous.
ImageWoW developer Blizzard confirmed today that its insanely popular MMORPG has reached the inevitable 9 million-subscriber mark.

The game just passed the 8 million mark in January. WoW debuted in November, 2004 and has quickly exploded in several territories.

As of January, China had the most WoW players, topping second-place North America. In China, many gamers play WoW at Internet cafes, gaining access to accounts by purchasing CD keys as opposed to monthly paid subscriptions.

Blizzard recently teamed up with China’s The9 to release the impending expansion The Burning Crusade in the region. The developer expects this release to cause a spike of new and returning players in China. The Burning Crusade launched in the US in January and sold 3.5 million units in its first month.

WoW is in seven different languages and is available in North America, China, Europe, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Blizzard co-founder and president Mike Morhaime said in a statement, “…We plan to continue updating the game with exciting new content for them to enjoy for many years to come."


http://www.next-gen.biz/images/stories/Companies/Vivendi/wow south park.jpg

 

[Jagi]

WHo remembers Karate Champ?


http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/13385

 

[Jagi]

CARTOON NETWORK MMOG DEBUTS @SDCC
Press Release

Cartoon Network’s first massively multi-player online game (MMOG), Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, has its debut at Comic-Con 2007 in San Diego, beginning Wednesday, July 25. Scheduled for a summer 2008 release, the game will have playable demos at Cartoon Network’s booth on the Comic-Con show floor. In addition, a panel of FusionFall creators will provide an in-depth look at the game at Comic-Con on Thursday, July 26 at 5:00 p.m. (PT) in Room 3 of the San Diego Convention Center.

FusionFall is an MMOG set in a re-imagined Cartoon Network universe. As a kid in this world, players will team up with other players and Cartoon Network characters to defend it from an alien invasion of epic proportions. The game is a mix of all the action of a 3-D console platform game and all the customization, character development and open-ended world exploration of an MMORPG (massively multi-player online role-playing game). In addition, small, super-deformed versions of Cartoon Network characters are collected along the way and travel with players, providing powers and abilities to assist during missions.

“We’re thrilled to present a first look at FusionFall at this year’s Comic-Con,” said Paul Condolora, senior vice president and general manager of Cartoon Network New Media. “Our current offering of online games continues to be the main driver of Cartoon Network New Media’s success, and we’ve surpassed 2 billion game plays annually for the past three years. FusionFall fulfills our goal of increasing the range of game play we offer, and we expect it to significantly expand our audience.”

“One of the things we’re most excited about in FusionFall is the game play,” said Chris Waldron, executive producer of FusionFall. “With our audience and Cartoon Network characters, we knew we wanted to create a new kind of MMOG and develop a game that takes all the great action of popular console games and merges it with all the elements of MMORPGs that are so enticing to players.”

The development of FusionFall is a first for the industry. Created through a partnership with leading Korean MMOG developer, Grigon Entertainment, the game brings Cartoon Network’s beloved characters and sensibility to the fast-growing online gaming realm with an “East-meets-West” creative approach. Grigon Entertainment is best known for successfully developing and launching several online games in Asia, including Seal Online, a light-hearted role-playing game (RPG) that took the online gaming world by surprise.

In addition to the playable demo and panel at Comic-Con, new information can be found at www.fusionfall.com, beginning Wednesday, July 25. News updates, images and game-play footage will be available and users will be able to sign up for the official newsletter and a chance to beta test the game.


http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=122319

 

[ThaBurgerPimp]

RE: Cartoon Network MMO..wonder if youll be able to play as Boondocks characters

 

[Jagi]

EA Sports Sponsors Iran

July 24, 2007 - EA Sports is teaming up with Iran to play a little football. Erm, soccer. Whatever.

IRFO - Iranian FIFA League to be held from 9th to 11th of August as a LAN party in two game nets in Iranian capital city of Tehran.

This will be the biggest FIFA eSport event in Iran after WCG Iran competitions. About 80 FIFA players have registered in the first day of registration and 500 players are expecting to be registered before the deadline.

The winner of IRFO League 07 will be awarded with 4,000,000 IR Tomans, a copy of UEFA Champions League 2006/2007 and 2 months of Internet access account.

IRFO League is the one and only eSport competition which has been supported by EA Sports in Iran. There are also some other sponsors like Pars Online Telecom, XFX Iran - Sazgar Argham and Fifatainment Ltd. to this league.

IRFO League Preseason took place last spring in Tehran and helped with the main league's ranking system. All 80 participated players in pre-season got their ranking level for this league.

--

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/807/807629p1.html





________



On another note, while reading gameinformer

check out and be on the look out (no time soon)

for "Dark Siders" a game based on the Four Hoursemen with War as the lead character but with a futuristic take


"Prototype" looks like the sci-fi/war version of assasins creed gameplay wise

 

[Jagi]

July 24, 2007

Janco: EA To Announce Major Cost Reductions, IP Acquisitions

Janco: EA To Announce Major Cost Reductions, IP Acquisitions Ahead of Electronic Arts' fiscal 2008 Q1 results expected on August 1st, Mike Hickey of analyst group Janco Partners has predicted that Q2 will see the publisher execute a "quantifiable cost reduction plan," as well as look more strongly at acquiring IP rather than producing it internally, with Take Two noted as a recommended target.

Q1 Performance

Hickey expects the publisher will report Q1 results in line with its guidance and continue to maintain its fiscal 08 goals, with strong performance of Harry Potter, Command and Conquer 3, and titles from its Sims franchise.

"While we believe their operating prospects look exceptional deeper into the current console cycle, they have suffered in the near term from poor product quality, escalating operating costs, and a misaligned resource allocation focus," said Hickey, adding that fiscal '09 might change that with a lineup of potential big earners including Spore, Sims 3, Rock Band 2, Warhammer Online and a slate of casual content for Wii, DS and online. The titles are in addition to perennial hits like Madden.

Cost Reductions In Store

Though he stops short of predicting downsizing and layoffs for the publisher, Hickey says the new management team recently put in place will announce "a quantifiable cost reduction plan after their fiscal Q208 period, a time period sufficient for the completion of their recently announced organizational re-alignment, while insuring their developer force remains focused on holiday ship objectives."

Hickey sees the move as having, in conjunction with the aforementioned lineup, "a material impact on their fiscal ’09 earnings power relative to the Street’s expectations."

Take Two An Attractive Target?

He also notes that he expects EA to "look beyond the organic creation of new IP by acquiring IP, considering their enormous cash position and the proven difficulties of creating new IP internally" -- adding "we continue to believe [EA] would benefit from acquiring Take-Two Interactive."

A Casual Glut

On the casual game front, Hickey says it will be "very hard for the company to distinguish themselves in this market" with so many developers turning to the Wii with broadly-marketed titles.

"By CY08 we believe the casual game channel will become cluttered with games," says Hickey, "most of which will not be good and will likely force retail game prices lower for the Wii," which, he adds, can have "profoundly negative impact on a game’s potential economics."

"The land slide of planned casual games," he continues, "will also create havoc on retail shelves," but he notes that EA "will benefit at retail by winning shelf space from smaller publishers/developers," an important playing field with "relatively bulky" Rock Band on its way this holiday.

A Shortage Of Rock

Finally, on Rock Band itself, while Hickey himself sees the game as "one of the most exciting games shown at E3," he notes EA "will only share in a portion of the games revenues and distribution margins are on the low end."

"We believe the game will prove difficult to distribute and consumer demand will likely outpace supply as we expect initial sales expectations from management to prove conservative," said Hickey. "Regardless of any sales expectations from management, we expect initial shipments of the game to be negatively impacted by retailers’ reluctance to devote material shelf space for the bulky game. Potential supply shortages will likely not be immediately fixable as we do not believe there is much flex in the manufacturing unit output."
POSTED: 02.47PM PST, 07/24/07 - Brandon Boyer

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=14815

 

[ThaBurgerPimp]

more gameplay footage from Army of Two(PS3/XB360)
[FLASH]http://www.youtube.com/v/VHKzZM3GFww[/FLASH]

Dark Sector(PS3/XB360)
[FLASH]http://www.youtube.com/v/mnlyDtMkiyw[/FLASH]

Hellgate:London(PC)
[FLASH]http://www.youtube.com/v/oM5ucClrubw[/FLASH]

 

[Jagi]

Rumor: 'Heroes' Game Revealing at Comic-Con
Will Ubisoft bring Hiro & co. to a console near you?
By Andrew Hayward, 07/25/2007
If the prospect of a game based on The Office doesn't get your blood flowing, maybe this one will. Variety is reporting that Ubisoft is close to a deal with NBC Universal to create a game based on the popular NBC superhero drama, Heroes. According to the article, Variety believes that the game will be announced at the San Diego Comic-Con, which begins tomorrow at the San Diego Convention Center.

Heroes debuted last fall to sharp ratings and critical acclaim, becoming NBC's most popular scripted series of the 2006-07 season with an average of 14.3 million viewers per episode. As this is still purely speculation, there's no word yet on platforms, release timetables, or whether the ensemble cast will reprise their roles in the game. Should anything come out during Comic-Con this weekend, we'll be sure to bring it to you.


http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161505

 

[Jagi]

Activision Steals Third-Party Crown from EA
Guitar Hero, licensed content primarily responsible for a record-breaking half year.
By Mark Whiting, 07/25/2007
How many copies of Guitar Hero does it take exactly to steal the crown of top dog third-party development away from Electronic Arts?

Enough, apparently. For the first time in more than a decade EA has been forced to concede the number one spot on the independent publishers sales listing to someone else. In this case, the winner is Activision, a company sitting pretty after a record-breaking half-year of video game sales.

Buoyed up by exceptional Guitar Hero numbers Activision's total revenues for January-June clocked in at a cool $397.8 million. EA by way of comparison was just shy with $365.7 million in sales.

The secret to Activision's recent success can be largely attributed to a few key strategic decisions over at head office. First up, the company has been getting increasingly serious about diversifying its portfolio away from the single-trick pony of the Tony Hawk franchise and has been on the warpath lately, acquiring studios left and right.

Earlier in the year, many critics scratched their heads in surprise after Activision purchased the rights to Guitar Hero for the kingly sum of $100 million. June, however, finds that investment paying off like triple sevens, so much so the company's CFO Thomas Tippl now claims Guitar Hero is on its way to becoming "the fastest Activision brand in the company's history to hit $1 billion in sales." This year alone, the company is predicting Guitar Hero sales will clear $360 million, roughly one fifth of its total estimated revenues of $1.8 billion.

RedOctane is only one of nine studio acquisitions Activision has made over the last 5 years. Since 2002, the company has doubled in size from 1,118 to 2,140 employees, and now boasts satellite companies in Ireland and Canada.

Another good call for Activision has been the unglamorous but undeniably lucrative decision to focus heavily on licensed content -- games like Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and recently Transformers. While a large number of these titles have stunk up the place come review time, their popular appeal and recognized brand names sell like hotcakes and have driven Activision's share price up 54% over the last year alone.

"It's hard to know how much momentum will carry over into next year", says John G. Taylor, managing director of Arcadia Investments Corp. "What specific properties will be the growth drivers next year to allow them to hold share?"

Speaking to the LA times, Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision, said "We've never been better positioned as a company to take advantage of the growth in the video game industry. For 17 years, I've focused on becoming the No. 1 video game company, and we're getting a lot closer to achievig that objective."

EA has been quick to point out they have not yet begun to fight the battle of 2007. Many analysts believe Activision's current moment in the sun is only a brief flicker generated by an uncharacteristic lull in EA's annual lineup. Still to come in this year are the real heavy hitters: FIFA '08, SKATE, Medal of Honor: Airborne and (of course) Madden NFL 08... all due out in the bottom half. These titles will compete head-on with very similar offerings from Activision: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Tony Hawk, and, of course, the great Rock Band vs Guitar Hero battle of the bands, all due out before 2007 comes to a close.

One thing's for sure: the last half of the year will be very interesting. Whose games will reign supreme after the dust settles? Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161503

 

[Jagi]

EA Signs Massive In-Game Ad Deal

Microsoft-owned in-game ad firm Massive Inc. has inked a deal with Electronic Arts that will bring dynamic ads to five high-profile titles.
Madden NFL 08 (Xbox 360, PC), NASCAR 08 (Xbox 360), NHL 08 (Xbox 360), Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Xbox 360, PC) and Skate (Xbox 360) will all go live in the Massive Network this year.

Microsoft bought Massive Inc. in 2006 in a bid to get in on the big growth expected in the advertising medium.

Massive Network delivers ads via broadband that can be changed in real-time. A billboard in a game may have an ad for Coca-Cola one day and the same billboard could be promoting the release of a new movie.

EA senior director of in-game advertising Shelby Cox said in a statement, “EA is committed to providing both great entertainment experiences for gamers and effective advertising solutions for brands and marketers.”

Massive CEO Cory Van Arsdale added, “The addition of EA’s leading titles to our network represents a tremendous opportunity for brands targeting the youth demographic and sends a clear message that in-game advertising has arrived as a compelling medium for marketers.”

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6565&Itemid=2

 

[Jagi]

GameFly expanding to Austin, Texas

by Alexander Sliwinski Jul 25th 2007 4:25PM
Filed under: Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business

A very observant reader noticed while searching job listing website Monster.com that GameFly, the online game rental service, is looking for a manager in the Austin, Texas area. The job description clearly states: "We are the leading subscription based video game rental company headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. We will be opening a satellite Distribution Center in Austin and we have an outstanding opportunity for an OPERATIONS MANAGER." The listing looks completely legit and we're happy to see GameFly continuing to open distribution centers -- anything to cut down turnaround time is a good thing. We've contacted GameFly for confirmation.

This would mean the rental service will have two distribution centers beyond their original California location. They just recently opened and expanded service at their East Coast branch located in Pittsburgh. For many on the East Coast, they've seen their turnaround time go from two weeks to around one week. Sadly, GameFly's growth has caused Xbox 360 and Wii game availability to appear in short supply and there was a recent $1 increase (although Netflix recently did a $1 decrease, so for subscribers of both it balanced out). We're guessing the tech-friendly city of Austin's distribution center will service the middle of the country. Don't expect the distribution center to open for a couple months though, they're obviously still staffing the place.


http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/25/gamefly-expanding-to-austin-texas/


__________

if anyone wants to join gamefly use this link please so i can earn some rewards

http://friends.GameFly.com/r/23b808848c4f102a919d

 

[Jagi]

Another Day, Another Microserf, Another Bet on Sony Hardware
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 12:15 AM
By N'Gai Croal

Just when I thought that I was out, they pull me back in.

--Michael Corleone, "The Godfather: Part III"

What is it with Microsoft employees and their zeal for wagering with the staff of Level Up? After Sony's gang-who-couldn't-shoot-straight handling of its talking points surrounding the price cut for Playstation 3 in the North American market, and the introduction of a PS3 value pack in Europe, a friend--Xbox director of technical strategy and attack blogger Andre "Ozymandias" Vrignaud ("the Sean Hannity of the Xbox division's blog army," as we affectionately dubbed him last year)--tapped out this post and emailed us the link. In it, he wrote:

The old 60 GB SKU is being cleared out for $499 as quickly as possible - as you might recall, this was the supposed "price cut" that Sony announced. In reality, once supplies are gone in the next couple of months it'll be gone forever. However, that doesn't leave Sony in a good place. A single, $599 SKU would be untenable; if they don't move significant hardware this holiday they'll basically be dead for this generation.

My prediction is that you're going to see the creation of a new, low-end SKU this holiday. It'll likely remove integrated WiFi, memory card reader, and most controversially, all backward compatibility. (Remember, there's still some back-compat hardware in even the new "software only" back compat SKUs; removing the remaining CPU is a significant cost savings.) You'll see a new WiFi dongle made available. And finally, this low-end SKU will likely come with a smaller 40 GB hard drive. The low-end price will be set at $399, with the higher-end 80 GB SKU dropping to $499.

So there you go - nothing magic about the current value SKU. It's just a classic retail technique of clearing the channel for new SKUs. Now we just need to wait a few months for the announcement - it'll have to be before Thanksgiving, so I'd expect October.

We pinged him back with our prediction for the remainder of 2007 after store shelves had been cleared of the 60 gigabyte PS3: one SKU, $499. Not long thereafter, Vrignaud placed a call to Level Up HQ, challenging us to a wager on the subject of Sony's pricing plans for this holiday. We initially demurred, but Vrignaud persisted, and we acquiesced; this time, we won't even be able to blame intoxicants, seeing as we accepted during business hours.

The bet is as follows: Vrignaud says that Sony will start selling a $399 PS3 by Black Friday 2007, the official start of the holiday season. We say no. Vrignaud expressed interest in our dreads--no doubt hoping to bestow them upon a particular colleague as a token of his devotion to the Xbox cause--but we declined, preferring to keep our flowing locks safely out of harm's way. Instead, we agreed that the loser would buy the winner a steak dinner at a restaurant of the winner's choosing. We're partial to Gotham steakhouse in our hometown of Vancouver, Canada; it's pricey, but their steaks are the best we've ever had, bar none. And with Microsoft about to unleash the "Greatest Holiday Lineup in Videogame History," Vrignaud should have absolutely no trouble picking up the tab.





http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/leve...r-microserf-another-bet-on-sony-hardware.aspx

 

[freaky_1]

Re: Official Bash XBOX 360, Promote PS3 Thread

Another Day, Another Microserf, Another Bet on Sony Hardware
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 12:15 AM
By N'Gai Croal

Just when I thought that I was out, they pull me back in.

--Michael Corleone, "The Godfather: Part III"

What is it with Microsoft employees and their zeal for wagering with the staff of Level Up? After Sony's gang-who-couldn't-shoot-straight handling of its talking points surrounding the price cut for Playstation 3 in the North American market, and the introduction of a PS3 value pack in Europe, a friend--Xbox director of technical strategy and attack blogger Andre "Ozymandias" Vrignaud ("the Sean Hannity of the Xbox division's blog army," as we affectionately dubbed him last year)--tapped out this post and emailed us the link. In it, he wrote:

The old 60 GB SKU is being cleared out for $499 as quickly as possible - as you might recall, this was the supposed "price cut" that Sony announced. In reality, once supplies are gone in the next couple of months it'll be gone forever. However, that doesn't leave Sony in a good place. A single, $599 SKU would be untenable; if they don't move significant hardware this holiday they'll basically be dead for this generation.

My prediction is that you're going to see the creation of a new, low-end SKU this holiday. It'll likely remove integrated WiFi, memory card reader, and most controversially, all backward compatibility. (Remember, there's still some back-compat hardware in even the new "software only" back compat SKUs; removing the remaining CPU is a significant cost savings.) You'll see a new WiFi dongle made available. And finally, this low-end SKU will likely come with a smaller 40 GB hard drive. The low-end price will be set at $399, with the higher-end 80 GB SKU dropping to $499.

So there you go - nothing magic about the current value SKU. It's just a classic retail technique of clearing the channel for new SKUs. Now we just need to wait a few months for the announcement - it'll have to be before Thanksgiving, so I'd expect October.

We pinged him back with our prediction for the remainder of 2007 after store shelves had been cleared of the 60 gigabyte PS3: one SKU, $499. Not long thereafter, Vrignaud placed a call to Level Up HQ, challenging us to a wager on the subject of Sony's pricing plans for this holiday. We initially demurred, but Vrignaud persisted, and we acquiesced; this time, we won't even be able to blame intoxicants, seeing as we accepted during business hours.

The bet is as follows: Vrignaud says that Sony will start selling a $399 PS3 by Black Friday 2007, the official start of the holiday season. We say no. Vrignaud expressed interest in our dreads--no doubt hoping to bestow them upon a particular colleague as a token of his devotion to the Xbox cause--but we declined, preferring to keep our flowing locks safely out of harm's way. Instead, we agreed that the loser would buy the winner a steak dinner at a restaurant of the winner's choosing. We're partial to Gotham steakhouse in our hometown of Vancouver, Canada; it's pricey, but their steaks are the best we've ever had, bar none. And with Microsoft about to unleash the "Greatest Holiday Lineup in Videogame History," Vrignaud should have absolutely no trouble picking up the tab.





http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/leve...r-microserf-another-bet-on-sony-hardware.aspx

great article [/sarcasm]

 

[cooliojones]

Bump all that, ya'll seen the new Contra?

[flash]http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=21589[/flash]

Click below to see our brand new look!

www.mynewhustle.com​

 

[Jagi]

Ultimate NES Mash Up Starring Mega Man And That Kung Fu Dude




[flash]http://www.youtube.com/v/w3mpbx0wFks[/flash]


Take one half Kung Fu, add one half Mega Man, mix liberally with guest appearances from Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter II, Spelunker (!!!), Fantasy Zone, Urban Champion, hell even Spy vs. Spy for Christ's sake, ice it with an "Okusenman" soundtrack, sprinkle light non-gaming nerd references and you've got a YouTube micro-hit. It obviously makes no sense, but it's kind of above that, don't you think?

 

[LennyNero1972]

Army of two looks better than I expected except for the choppy framerates and Dark Sector looks absolutely brutal. Sometimes I do get concerned that the level of violence in games is getting out of hand. It seems like most action games are beginning to follow the Gears of War/Resident Evil 4 over the shoulder camera perspective.

 

[Jagi]

Kids Use Sledgehammer to Steal Video Game

MILWAUKEE - All it took was one smash of a sledgehammer and two young thieves were in.

Target surveillance cameras caught two boys breaking into one of its stores, located at 8501 W. Brown Deer Road, with a sledgehammer.

Police think the boys are as young as 11-years old.

"Where are they getting a sledgehammer at 11-years old?" Target shopper Layshon Davis wondered.

The video shows the boys going right for the electronics department, specifically the video games. One boy tries breaking the glass case where the video games are kept. After several tries, they break the case with the sledgehammer; steal one video game and leave.

Police say the boys didn't steal anything else.

Now customers are left shaking their heads.

"It's not worth it. Not worth it at all," Cindy Gruenwald, another Target shopper, said.

Police are still looking for the suspects. If you have any information call Milwaukee police at 414.935.7360

"Honest to God, I think it's pretty sad," Davis added.

Target released this statement: "At Target, the safety of our guests and team members is our top priority. We take this situation very seriously and will continue to partner with local law enforcement."



http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/8686272.html







shame they didnt mention the game they stole

 

[Jagi]

Marvel showdown rages on 360, PS3
EA Chicago bringing original fighting franchise featuring superheroes and villains to next-gen consoles in 2008.
By Tom Magrino, GameSpot
Posted Jul 27, 2007 10:25 am PT

Despite diversifying its offerings over the years, the heart of Comic-Con International: San Diego remains comics and the superheroes (and villains) that define them. In honor of this year's Comic-Con (which wraps up this weekend), EA announced today it would be bringing an as-yet-unnamed original fighting game featuring the Marvel license to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2008.

No stranger to the fighting genre, Marvel's superheroes have been featured in several 2D and 3D fighting games, including the Marvel vs. Capcom series and EA's own Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects. Never ones to shy away from a dustup, EA's Chicago studio will develop Marvel's latest fighting game. EA Chicago's most recent credits include the hip-hop rhythmic brawler Def Jam: Icon and the sweat-glistened boxing sim Fight Night Round 3.

Details on the game were not specified, but EA Chicago's effervescent general manager and vice president Kudo Tsunoda did say that the game would feature "a great all-star lineup of Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains with incredible powers that are authentic to the fiction, huge environments, and a living world that keeps the gameplay fresh; every battle will be unique, every battle will be like a first edition."



3 different links to same story

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6175742.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6175742

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6592&Itemid=2

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161589

 

[Jagi]

Jaffe, Campbell leave Sony to create Eat, Sleep, Play

Famed (and mouthy) game developer/director David Jaffe said earlier this week that he would announce some big personal news on his blog today. He has, and it turns out that Jaffe has left Sony to create a new studio called Eat, Sleep, Play.

Jaffe, the co-creator and director of major titles like God of War and Twisted Metal, joins Scott Campbell, founder of Icognito Entertainment (makers of the upcoming Warhawk for PS3) to create this new Utah-based company, which has signed a deal with SCEA to create products for Sony's PlayStation line. These two have worked together before on the PlayStation Network's Calling All Cars. The first title from this new company is coming in 2008.

For now, the company is developing Twisted Metal: Head On for the PlayStation 2, which is scheduled for a winter release. This game will feature the never released Twisted Metal: Black Part II as well as a documentary on the series.

Jaffe blogs about his last day at Sony after 14 years of service. He also mentions that even though his new company is based in Utah, he plans to stay in San Diego. He's glad to still be working with Sony:

"Again, we are working with Sony and that just feels great. We met with some other interested parties but at the end of the day, Sony is our home, our family, and we're really thrilled and honored they wanted to work with us and continue the relationship we've spent almost 15 years cultivating. So in many ways, it's like very little has changed, other than the pay cut," he said.


Good luck, David and Scott. We're looking forward to what Eat, Sleep, Play will bring us.


____

if this company starts to expand beyond the initial sony line up it has in the works we could probably start to see "God of War" type original games not ports to the 360

 

[Jagi]

ere's the next-gen at?
18 comments by Gameboi on 07.28.2007

Maybe this shouldn't be such a big surprise, considering that just about every household seems to have a PlayStation 2 lurking in their entertainment center. The fact that you can still find a lot of outstanding games to play on it (for next to nothing) surely makes the console attractive to the average consumer. But to all, it still serves as a sobering reminder that having the latest and greatest console on the market doesn't matter to everyone. According to these damning numbers from Nielson's GamePlay Metrics service, it seems that it doesn't matter to most people.

With the recent launch of the service, its first batch of data for us to comb through makes this point becomes painfully clear. For the month of June, the PS2 accounted for a whopping 42.3% of total console usage. Did you catch that? We're not talking about the PS3, Xbox 360, or the Wii -- a console dating back to the year 2000 is what still seems to be the hot item. And here we thought the Wii was the one to watch out for. I'd show you the dreary percentages of the "big three," but it would be a waste of time. Yes, they are that bad.

Just when we started to believe that the next-gen consoles were hitting their stride, along comes Nielson to slap us back to reality. Does this serve to further the argument that videogames are outpricing what most people are willing to pay for them, or is it "still too early" to call?

http://www.destructoid.com/ps2-is-s...nd-right-where-s-the-next-gen-at--36778.phtml

 

[Jagi]

Konami considering Metal Gear collection for US

Posted Jul 29th 2007 12:00AM by Andrew Yoon

The Metal Gear collection is a hot item for hardcore Metal Gear fans. It includes nearly every game ever created in the Metal Gear franchise: the original Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and the PSP Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops. In addition, documentary DVDs will also be included. In Japan, the package ran a very affordable 6250 yen -- about the same cost of one modern retail game.

So, will this collection make its way over to the States? At Comic Con, Kotaku's Michael McWhertor spoke to Konami's marketing VP, Anthony Kraus about the issue. He confirmed that Konami was "considering" the package, but they had to talk to retailers about interest in such a collection. If the collection comes to America, it might not be the exact same collection. It will, however, be "very similar."



http://www.pspfanboy.com/2007/07/29/konami-considering-metal-gear-collection-for-us/