The Console Wars: 07.10.2005 | Xbox 360, Playstation 3 PS3, Revolution

Saturday, July 16, 2005

When Is A 100GB Blu-ray Disc Not A 100GB Blu-ray Disc?

Image Souce: trustedreviews.com

When Is A 100GB Blu-ray Disc Not A 100GB Blu-ray Disc?

"The key with technology is to be first, right? Wrong. As neatly summed up by Benny in his “Benchmarking Blues” editorial last week, too many companies push technology out the door before it is ready for market consumption. From a News Editor perspective, too many companies also brag about a breakthrough before they have properly nailed it down.

We’ve seen it time and time again with hard drive announcements and memory speeds. “xxxGB/MHz Achieved” with the final line “available in the year 200x”. My question(s): Is it an achievement if it is mostly theoretical and is the company that then brings it to market first - but whom announced it second - really a silver medallist? It’s like those readers who like to type First Post!!!!!!! on a comments page. Well yes you are, but did you have anything tangible to say?

So, looong drop intro apart (I had to get that off my chest), Blu-ray disc manufacturers seem to be doing the same thing proclaiming 50GB/75GB/100GB discs, then slamming in a "but..." Cue Sharp and its proclamation about a 100GB Blu-ray dual layer disc."

¶ D.Vader // 7/16/2005 08:14:00 PM // PermaLink //

Sega's new arcade board based on Xbox 360?

"Reports from Japan say Microsoft's next-generation home console provides the tech for the House of the Dead 4 machine.

Recently, Sega staged a beta test in Tokyo for House of the Dead 4, the forthcoming light-gun shooter that uses the company's new "Lindbergh" arcade board. At the time, rumors began to circulate that the new board--which displays games in a 16:9 widescreen format--was based on the Xbox 360.

Today, new information emerged from arcade distributors in Japan that the Lindbergh does indeed use the 360's architecture. If true, it will mark the second time that a Microsoft home console has provided the basis for a Sega arcade machine. Sega's previous Chihiro board was based on the current-generation Xbox.

A 360-based Lindbergh would also mean that the next wave of Sega arcade games could easily be ported to Microsoft's next-generation console. If series such as Virtua Fighter also appear on the Lindbergh, it may help build up the 360's library with games of proven popularity in Japan. According to a recent survey, interest in the console remains low in the country, despite Microsoft's having hired some of Japan's most famous game designers for platform-exclusive projects.

That said, Sega has not disclosed any details or specifications on the Lindbergh yet. The only thing official is that House of the Dead 4 is currently slated to hit Japanese arcades in December."

¶ D.Vader // 7/16/2005 12:50:00 PM // PermaLink //

Army has next-gen in its battle plans

Image Source: riseofasoldier.com

Army has next-gen in its battle plans

"This October, Ubisoft will unveil both an Xbox and a PlayStation 2 version -- to be called "America's Army: Rise Of A Soldier" -- with subsequent games expected to be developed, including cell phone and next-gen versions for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, according to Col. Wardynski.

The MSRP of the games hasn't yet been determined but they won't be free. Critics have questioned whether the Army will profit from the agreement with Ubisoft, and Col. Wardynski cites the National Defense Authorization Act of 2005 in which the Armed Services are authorized to "recoup the cost of their trademarking activities," he explains. "We are hoping that the royalties from Ubisoft will offset the cost of our marketing efforts, the cost of patenting, and all the legal fees."

Wardynski describes the 10-year license with Ubisoft as one in which the Army retains full control over the marketing, public relations and content of the game.

"Ubisoft will have to make sure that the Army's values are present and we will review all games for their accuracy," says Wardynski.

In fact, maintaining accuracy and making certain "America's Army" doesn't trivialize the Army's role has been a priority from day one of development.

"To pump up the gameplay, the developers frequently wanted to include action that just wasn't appropriate for a game that depends on realism," explains Lt. Col. Juntiff. "It was my job to say that, no, the Army doesn't do it that way."" [more]

Related Links:
Ubisoft
America's Army: Rise of a Soldier

¶ D.Vader // 7/16/2005 10:31:00 AM // PermaLink //

Friday, July 15, 2005

The Godfather delayed [Sorry Xbox 360]

Image Source: boomtown.net

The Godfather delayed

"EA's version of the Godfather saga will miss a 2005 launch and won't arrive alongside Xbox 360.

The game was originally planned for release during the lucrative pre-Christmas rush. However EA has announced that the game has shifted to the first quarter of 2006. While many gamers remain somewhat cool on the Godfather game, the market certainly isn't, and EA shares fell on the announcement.

EA has said that it had never publicly committed itself to an Xbox 360 version of the game released this year, but it was expected to be one of the high-profile titles released around the time of the launch of the Microsoft console."

Related Links:
EA - The Godfather
IGN: The Godfather

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 07:21:00 PM // PermaLink //

Pure Pwnage Videos - 400,000 noobs pwned

Image Source: purepwnage.com

"400,000 noobs pwned, Taking noobs to school since 2004"

"Pure Pwnage (pronounced "Pure Ownage") is an internet video series by ROFLMAO Productions featuring a Canadian named Jeremy who is a pro gamer and his roommate (and brother) Kyle. The show is essentially a comical satire of the "gamer's life". Settings for the show include Toronto and occasionally Calgary. Jeremy reveals to the viewers throughout the series what it is like to be a pro gamer. He claims to have so-called "Über Micro" which he shows to fellow gamers as a way of communication.

The show is filmed by a film school student soon to graduate, but their site says they may go into full time production after graduation."(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 06:34:00 PM // PermaLink //

Xbox 360 will be the highlight of X05

"A secret location will play host to the 'full experience of the Xbox 360.'

Microsoft has announced that their European trade event, X05, will take place in a secret location on October 4 and 5.

MS is promising attendees will be able to 'fully experience' the Xbox 360 at the event, so it just may be the first official unveiling of the final Xbox 360 system. Surprises will surely be in store for the press as MS enjoys dropping bombs at the X0 event like unveiling Xbox Live and the acquisition of Rare at X02.

Microsoft has said they will reveal more details in the coming weeks (like the secret location, or it's going to be an awfully small party) and we'll have them for you."

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 06:29:00 PM // PermaLink //

Nintendo Revolution "Deepthroat" Dropping Hints?

"We received a pretty vague email about the Nintendo Revolution from someone who doesn't give any specific details, but comes across like he might have some new info and wants everyone to guess what it is (apart from us, it was sent to a number of major sites who haven't published it yet).:

Revolutionary Factor
Its Really All Too Simple.

The rumors about Nintendo's newly announced console are being passed around these days like the common 'One Dollar Bill'. Not to say this is a bad thing, however, just how far does the speculation go before turning people away? Hold the phone. Speculation never does that. Why is this 'Revolution' different?
The mock-ups have become dull, and redundant. What is left of the non-discredited rumors, however educated of a guess they were, has left the watcher to think for themselves as to what the mystery is. Nintendo has yet to bring anything forward since the late E3, setting aside the few details of already confirmed specs.
A relatively new photo has sparked my personal interest as to what is ahead for 'us' to discover. We, as a whole, are waiting for any lick of information to drop from the tight grasp of the Big N's bound hands. There is only one question left to ask. Why aren't we thinking "outside the box", when it comes to our speculations?
For those of you who didn't quite catch on, the before mentioned photo was that of a poster that simply stated, "Revolution begins March 2006. Think outside the box.". The stale ideas of touch screens, gyroscopic abilities, and dual-controllers have gone on far enough. What are we going to see in this system that will make us all say "wow", in a lovely state of awe.
With a seemingly endless ammount of information at our fingertips, ala the internet, how can we have reached our peek of creativity? Has Nintendo officially stumped the obscure minds of its loyal customers? Well, maybe it hasn't. The hype certainly hasn't died down, however, the speculation is in a checkmate position. Nintendo can choose to cut us off, or we can flip the playing table, and turn this into a 'whole different game'.
I guess i can't order a full attack on established reasoning without giving fuel. So I have found one thought that has been gnawing at the back of my mind. Why does the Revolution have a "Docking Station" exclusively for Gamecube controllers and memory cards? Can these not simply just be built into the system itself? Well there is a logical explination, as that could be considered a size issue. It still raises the question as to why they would call it a "Docking Station", that is, unless it was meant to 'move around'.
Ok, that is going a little TOO far outside of this miracle box. It's like saying Nintendo is going to throw a flip-up screen and battery somewhere into the already miniscule machine. That's more than way out there, close to an impossibility, but it's a start. The focus, in general, is on the controller. While the controller is important, it more than likely compliments the features not yet 'revealed'. Though i don't know how much longer those features can be restrained.
Just because an 'official picture' has been released, doesn't mean there isn't something left to discover inside the box that is "outside the box". If the controller were the revolutionary item in question, Sony and Microsoft would adapt quickly enough to essentially take away its selling point. The secrecy of what this system holds in store for us, can not only be with the controller, but in the device that is only 3 DVD cases in size. An item so small holds something 'so big', but what?

It's not new.
It is really all too simple.
Find me.
It's all about the 'Game'.

~Your Deepthroat~"

I thought this desevered the entire reprint.

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 06:19:00 PM // PermaLink //

Astro A-Go-Go: Designing The Look of the Xbox 360

Image Source: gamasutra.com

Astro A-Go-Go: Designing The Look of the Xbox 360

Gamasutra has an interview with the Xbox 360 design team. This article goes to great lengths discussing the designed of the Xbox 360 as well as delves into Astro Studios and studio president Brett Lovelady inspirations.

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 05:31:00 PM // PermaLink //

Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey Featured on Xbox 360 Site

Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey Featured on North American Xbox 360 Site

"Microsoft recently updated the North American-flavored version of its Xbox 360 site with wallpapers inspired from both Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, the two Mistwalker RPGs currently in development for Microsoft's next-generation console. As of yet, an official announcement concerning the two titles' futures in North America has not yet been made, and these two updates do not pose as such an announcement. Aside, acknowledgement of these two titles on the North American site does give more momentum to the idea of their localization, which has seemed likely from the get-go.

As of yet, neither title has been given a Japanese release date. RPGamer will report when these details, as well as any other details come to light."

Related Links:
Xbox 360 Website
IGN Lost Oddessy
IGN Blue Dragon

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 05:26:00 PM // PermaLink //

Question of the Week Responses: "First Mover" Advantage?

Image Source: gamasutra.com (Illustration by Erin Mehlos)

Question of the Week Responses: "First Mover" Advantage?

"The latest Question of the Week asked of our game professional audience: “Is the 'first mover' advantage an important factor in launching a next-generation console? What factors could potentially outweigh it?”

While most respondents agreed that there is a definite advantage to being first-to-market, the consensus was that there were many factors to be considered in exploiting that advantage, from having powerful hardware available, through having a solid library of quality games, to a marketing blitz to quickly capture marketshare - first isn't definitively best." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 12:51:00 PM // PermaLink //

The Death Of Gaming

Image Source: tmalliance.com

The Death Of Gaming

"Fore note: This article is written by a hardcore gamer, and the target group that this article is meant for is the heavy casual to hardcore gamer. This article is for those that own a decent computer, a current generation gaming console with a library exceeding 15 games, and has a DVD player or decent multimedia center. If you do not fall into this group then some of these statements may not be true to you. However I do feel that your course of actions should be the same as I advise for the hardcore gamer, though you may have less of a reason to agree with me (Mainly in the “Less Focus On Games” section). " [much more]

This is a one-post blog that seems like a laudry list for why the video game marketplace is moving in the wrong direction. It's quite a long read, can't say I agree with him too much, but it's interesting nonetheless. Its very drawn out it contains a summary and a conclusion!

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 11:36:00 AM // PermaLink //

Xbox 360 Launch Date Revealed?

"RUMOR: Unconfirmed reports of the system's release date have hit the net.

A rumor has recently come to light on the launch of the Xbox 360 console, with unconfirmed reports citing a release of November 4th, 2005. Please remember that these reports are still completely unconfirmed.

While still very far from official, it still might be likely as early leaks on the Xbox 360 have occurred before. However, it is recommended that you keep a grain of salt very handy for this rumor.

With the release of the highly anticipated Xbox 360 happening this holiday season, be sure to stick with us for continued coverage on the system."

Related Links:
Xbox 360 Launch Date: November 4 2005

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 08:57:00 AM // PermaLink //

Microsoft and Marvel team up for Xbox 360 MMO

"Mr. Magee, don't make me angry! You wouldn't like me when I'm angry!

Microsoft and Marvel today announced that they have signed a licensing agreement, which will lead to a collaborative massively multiplayer online game starring Marvel's superhero cast. The announcement was made at Comic-Con International, the world's largest comic book convention.

The license was acquired for developing games on the upcoming and highly anticipated Xbox 360, which is exciting news for Marvel fans, considering the sheer power of the system.

Other than that it is going to be an MMO, there aren't many details available. Microsoft's Peter Moore is hyped about the deal: 'Marvel has created some of the most iconic and exciting characters and stories in the past century. We're thrilled to bring this universe to interactive entertainment.'

No possible release dates have been set, but Microsoft is expected to reveal more over the next couple of months"

Press Release: Microsoft and Marvel Sign Worldwide Licensing Agreement for Massively Multiplayer Online Game

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 07:07:00 AM // PermaLink //

Near-field Recording: Beyond Blu-Ray

Image Source: cdrinfo.com

Near-field Recording: Beyond Blu-Ray

"Philips researchers have made significant progress in developing a new storage technology called near-field optical recording. The technology boosts capacity to 150 gigabytes stored on two layers of an optical media, not very different from today's DVDs.

The Near-field optical recording terminology refers to the extremely short distance between the read/write head and the disc surface. The roughly 25-nm gap is directly comparable to the distance between the head and the disk surface in hard-disk assemblies.

As in the case of Blu-Ray, the fundumental for achieving large storage capacities is to increase the data density recorded on the medium. But the data density of an optical recording medium depends on the focused laser beam spot size, which is limited by diffraction. The beam spot size can be reduced by using a shorter wavelength laser or a larger Numerical Aperture (NA) objective lens. In the case of CD media, we are talking about a 780nm laser and 0.45 NA (0.7GB), for DVD we have 650nm and 0.6 NA (4.7GB) and for the Blu-Ray there will be a "blue" 405nm laser, 0.85 NA (25GB).

Philips' approach for high density recording under the near field recording concept uses a 405 nm laser beam, focused by a pair of special lenses that offer a NA of 1.5-20! Through this, the capacity of a DVD medium can reach 150GB or more, on two layers.

The challenge for Philips engineers was the development of a high NA lens system combined with a low-hovering recording head.

The answer is to use a blue laser to write and read data through a "solid immersion lens" (SIL). This type of optics is already used in microscopes and in lithography equipment for semiconductor production. The SIL uses the different refractive index of glass and air to achieve a high numerical aperture. The SIL optical head is composed of a hemisphere which is made from high refractive index glass and high NA focusing objective lens."

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 07:00:00 AM // PermaLink //

P2P becomes a cash cow for PC gamers

"Video game players will now be able to legally download PC games and earn cash back for sharing them through a closed peer-to-peer network, thanks to a new deal between Wurld Media and Trymedia.

The owner of the P2P site Peer Impact said it has opened its doors to the PC gaming provider in a contract that makes more than 1,000 titles available to Wurld Media subscribers. The two companies are currently in beta testing. Officials said Peer Impact is expected to have games available for download in the coming weeks.

Members earn cash back if they help redistribute games purchased through the network, representatives with Wurld Media said. Members simply leave their computers on, and if another Peer Impact member buys a game from that computer, the P2P said it will reimburse that member with credit towards future purchases." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/15/2005 06:14:00 AM // PermaLink //

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Electronic Arts developing next-gen console game in Japan

Image Source: ea.com

Electronic Arts developing next-gen console game in Japan

"EA's David Gardner outlines corporate plans to expand in Japanese game market by developing locally.

According to the latest issue of Famitsu magazine, Electronic Arts is planning to increase its market share in Japan by developing games targeting the country's gamers. The magazine features an interview with EA's David Hardner, senior vice president of international publishing. Gardner currently oversees EA's European and Asian publishing operations, which account for more than half of the company's $3.1 billion annual revenue.

In the interview, Gardner revealed that his company will employ two major strategies to expand its market share in the Japanese gaming industry. The first step will be to narrow down the number of games the company imports to Japan, selecting games most suited toward the taste of local consumers."

¶ D.Vader // 7/14/2005 10:13:00 PM // PermaLink //

EA Reluctant To Support Revolution?

"In an interview with Famitsu, EA mention the Revolution will not be their main focus next-generation...

Talking to Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu, EA Vice-President David Gardner recently said that the Xbox 360 and PS3 would be the consoles getting the main force of EA's support next-generation.

What exactly this means for the Revolution is at this stage unknown, with a possible continued trend of EA just giving Nintendo ports of releases from other platforms speculated. Certainly, EA will be supporting the Revolution to a degree, but at this point exactly how much is now unclear."

¶ D.Vader // 7/14/2005 08:12:00 PM // PermaLink //

Analyst sees growth, but not from next-gen consoles

"With 84 million current-gen consoles in US and Euro markets, Wedbush
report says publishers would be "insane" to heavy-up on next-gen development.

In Wedbush Morgan Securities' exhaustive annual report on the state of the gaming industry released last week, analysts Michael Pachter and Edward Woo poked holes in some commonly held beliefs about the industry's short-term future...and forecasted a period of steady, controlled annual sales growth of 10 to 12 percent in the coming years.

The idea of such stable growth seems to run counterintuitive to a gaming industry on the verge of a new generation of consoles, but Pachter and Woo believe the current generation of systems still has life left in it."

¶ D.Vader // 7/14/2005 03:11:00 PM // PermaLink //

Revolution Controller & Interface Concepts

Image Source: 4colorrebellion.com

More Revolution Controller [& Interface] Concepts

"In case some of you missed it, I have made a Revolution Controller Mock-Up page to catalogue all of the crazy controller ideas that are out there. The link is located at the very bottom of the sidebar. Many have been added since the last time I mentioned it, so I thought Id give you all a heads up.

Revolution Controller Mock-Ups

Tim Shundo sent me this great drawing of his idea of the Revolution controller, along with these cool Revolution interface ideas. Very sleek and elegant. This interface would certainly go well with the clean look of the system.

Rev Interface 01
Rev Interface 02
Rev Interface 03"

Very nice fan renditions.

¶ D.Vader // 7/14/2005 03:01:00 PM // PermaLink //

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Move over Revolution, here comes the Generation NEX!

Image Source: playmessiah.com

Move over Revolution, here comes the Generation NEX!

By: Richard Allen

Standing only 1.5 inches tall, when released, the Generation NEX will be the first 2.4GHz wireless controller based console on the market. Now that is quite a feat for an 8-bit system that really shows it's age around these younger hipper systems. The company that brings this to you started with humble beginings in 2004 manufacturing game accessories for classic consoles. Items are tested, prototyped and marketed here in the USA, but most of the manufacturing takes place in Asia. Beyond wireless controllers, this system sports some major improvements over the old box some of us grew up with. For one a rumble feature is available on any of the NES classic games. Also for those importers out there the cartridge slot is dual port with support for NES and FamiCom.

Features:
Slim Sexy Design
Built in 2.4GHz Wireless Support
New Rumble Support
Dual Cartridge Slots NES/FamiCom
Stereo and Dual Mono
Includes One Wired Controller
AV & AC Accessories
Operation Manual
Platform: NES (Nintendo Entertainment System®) & FamiCom™
Category: Console / Wireless
Product: M1983

“With the release of Generation NEX, we want the core gamer to know that we have not forgotten our roots. Classic gaming is where it all began and with Generation NEX the classics will live on. All gamers will love playing their favorite retro games on the Generation NEX and enjoy them with a new passion.”

Brad Strahle, Messiah’s Entertainment, Inc. President

Generation NEX will be released in September of 2005 with a suggested retail price of $59.99.

Related Links:
Messiah Entertainment, Inc.

¶ D.Vader // 7/13/2005 05:04:00 PM // PermaLink //

Rambus believes PS3 will drive faster memory

"Memory technology developer Rambus hopes the widely-anticipated graphics performance of the upcoming PlayStation 3 (PS3) games console will push PC makers to adopt the company's technology, Rambus CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Harold Hughes said in an interview last week.

The PS3 will go on sale next year and is widely expected to set a new standard in gaming graphics. The PS3's ability to render realistic images will raise peoples' expectations of their PCs, and vendors will have to respond by boosting PC graphics performance, Hughes predicted.

"That's where the next generation of PCs will go," he said.

New processors by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices will help deliver this performance but memory will need to match the faster processors and that's where Rambus comes in with its XDR technology, said Hughes.

XDR will be used with the PS3's very powerful Cell processor, which has 8 cores, and which will perform about 35 times faster than the processor in today's PlayStation 2s, console maker Sony Computer Entertainment hopes. The Cell uses 256M bytes of Rambus' XDR DRAM (dynamic RAM) running at 3.2GHz, according to the company." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/13/2005 02:31:00 PM // PermaLink //

LaserMAME - Arcade Emulator w/ Lasers!

Image Source: games.lasers.org

LaserMAME - Arcade Emulator w/ Lasers!

By: Richard Allen

"A unique blending of art, technology, and classic gaming lore, LaserMAME™ is a groundbreaking new way to play classic vector arcade games at a larger-than-life size. Utilizing the latest in high-tech laser projection, modern PC computing power, and some of the most well-known games of their time, Lasers.org pushes the envelope of complexity in laser graphics to new heights, creating a large-scale, dynamic, and one-on-one interaction with the players and audience. By replacing the traditional vector-monitor with a laser projector, games can be projected to any size, on literally any surface, using the mesmerizing sparkle of laser light as the drawing medium."

What is old is new again. It never amazes me how people can take some older technology and refit it for a modern audience. This company takes old arcade games and plays them on a huge projection screen. Be sure to check out the pics and videos.

¶ D.Vader // 7/13/2005 02:02:00 PM // PermaLink //

Xbox 360 GPU to be manufactured by TSMC

"Our knowledgeable friends confirmed that only the CPU for next generation Xbox 360 console will be developed by IBM in its Fishkill factory. This facility will not play with a GPU design as it's not ready for good yields on a 90 nanometre process.

But now we have confirmation that Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC), will take care of R500 production for the Vole. This decision was easy as TSMC is in a much better position with its 90 nanometre yields and production and as we said many times before Microsoft needs millions of those chips as soon as possible.

Imagine that all ATI and Nvidia graphic chips are now manufactured at TSMC and at the same time Microsoft will manufacture its chips at the same factory as well. Only Playstation 3 GPUs will be produced at a different Japanese factory.

Microsoft will keep TSMC busy and will definitely drive its business as those consoles are high volume jobs, at least for those kinds of chips, but it cannot be compared with low-end product orders, as TSMC will pump out millions or MX4000, Geforce 5200, 6200 or Radeon 9250 or X300 based cards. This is where the money is, not with the SLI and Crossfire chaps.

If the Vole wants to get enough chips to market in October and November, it should be going into final production as we write"

This seems to contridict the earlier story saying IBM would be manufacturing these GPUs. Perhaps this plant is one of IBM's manufacturing partners.

¶ D.Vader // 7/13/2005 12:39:00 PM // PermaLink //

PlayStation 3 Captures Early Lead for Mindshare

"Although it's a bit early, it seems that Japanese consumers are already writing off Xbox 360 and throwing their support behind the PS3. A recent survey shows almost no interest or purchase intent for 360, while 60 percent picked PS3. Nintendo didn't fare too well either. More inside...

Microsoft's Xbox 360 may have the first-mover advantage by shipping months in advance of Sony's PlayStation 3, but if you take the results of a recent survey at face value the next-gen Xbox is already falling behind in the console wars, in Japan at least.

Online market researcher Info Plant, via marketing data service C-News, has just released the results of a survey to gauge interest in the upcoming next-generation video game consoles that will begin hitting the market starting this holiday season with the Xbox 360. 1,000 Internet users between the ages of 10 and 59 were questioned about their expectations and purchase intent for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Revolution. The participants were equally split into four age groups and each group was also divided equally for gender." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/13/2005 11:19:00 AM // PermaLink //

Nintendo Revolution Beta Kit Revealed!

By: Richard Allen

This is a Console Wars exclusive. An unnamed source at an unnamed development house emailed this image of the Revolution Beta Development Kit. Stay tuned for more info!

¶ D.Vader // 7/13/2005 11:12:00 AM // PermaLink //

New Revolution Controller Theory

Image Source: aussie-nintendo.com

New Revolution Controller Theory

"Previous mock-ups have included outrageous information such as gyroscopes and advanced recognition sensors. Others have been more mysterious, but all have included costly components that are definitely out of Nintendo's budget.

But this latest mock-up comes personally as a surprise. So far, none of the previous ones have tied in with Nintendo's comments. One of the last few mock-ups contained the idea of a split controller. One that is able to be separated at the handles. This latest image expands on that idea.

During the immediate post-E3 weeks, Nintendo America's VP, Reginald Fils-Aime gave a few hints at what Nintendo could have up their sleeves with this revolutionary controller. The most prominant hint was that it would have to be functional with the previous Nintendo systems' games, which all utilised very different controllers. Of course, the typical gamer in us all says, 'Why? All games would be playable with the GameCube's controller.' While the GCN's controller can be connected, it seems Nintendo could be headed with plans that allow a different method of classic play."

¶ D.Vader // 7/13/2005 10:12:00 AM // PermaLink //

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Next-Gen Hardware: A Bizarre Reflection

Image Source: bizarreonline.net

Next-Gen Hardware: A Bizarre Reflection

"The Bizarre Creations technical director, Walter, gives us his opinion on the upcoming console releases.

Put your thinking caps on and get ready for a crash course in advanced programming practices - as well as the new techniques necessary for utilising a new generation of hardware.

Walter, Technical DirectorIts platform transition time again - that period that keeps game development fresh and exciting! We have all the rules & limitations we're accustomed to working with changed as the new generation of game's consoles hit the scene. As I'm sure you're aware, the two big players this time around are Microsoft's Xbox 360, and Sony's PlayStation 3. The 360 will see a 2005 release date, whilst the PS3 is rumoured to be available in Spring 2006 (although typically these dates will change).

"Software development is like a gas, it quickly expands to fill the available space". The question is: how much 'space' do these new machines give us? How different will they be to each other, and to previous generations?

This next generation of consoles crosses several important thresholds. This is the 3rd 'mainstream' generation of console 3d hardware, but what should be possible visually this time round will be backed up with more in the way of processing and believability behind the scenes. Less of what's there will be facades; the styles of game to which photorealism can be applied will be expanded (pending spiralling production costs).

Whilst the Microsoft & Sony marketing machines are keen to point out the superiorities of their individual consoles, it's worth pointing out their similarities. Both get 90% of their claimed processing power from their Graphics Processing Unit. Both use GPU's based on the same base direct-x9, shader 3.0 functionality, but somewhat extended in ATI's case. This is much more similarity than existed between the Xbox and PS2, as both are patterned around the common DX, shader 3 feature-set (the GameCube was somewhere in between the two). Whatever their differences, this will make cross-platform graphical content development easier." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 04:54:00 PM // PermaLink //

IBM preparing to build ATI R500 for Xbox 360

"ATI won't be making R500 chips for Microsoft's Xbox 360. ATI's job was to design those chips and to give the designs back to Microsoft to get them produced.

ATI would have had to help Microsoft with tape outs and with design tweaking, as those guys at ATI designed the R500 Xbox 360 GPU. But developers are now getting the "Real" hardware still based on G5 MACs but this time with real R500 graphic cards inside. This means that R500 chip is taped out and that it is working but we don’t know whether this is the final chip that Microsoft plans to ship at later date.

Microsoft plans to ship hundreds of thousands if not even millions of Xbox 360 consoles world wide from October, so it has to have at least that many R500 chips to power those consoles.

We heard few times that Microsoft will get both R500 and CPUs from IBM’s Fishkill factory in New York. We cannot confirm this at this date but it sounds very likely to us.

It’s interesting to note that ATI might work with the people who were not so successful in bringing Nvidia’s NV30 chip, as this chip was made at IBM’s Fishkill Fab. We should not blame IBM’s factory as it was Nvidia’s fault mostly - but still we find Microsoft's choice of Fab quite interesting.

We think the Vole knows what its doing as it really wants half of the console market. It has a nasty competitor called Sony and its Playstation 3 as you probably know by now.

We already wrote that Nvidia and Sony will get RSX GPUs from Sony's Nagasaki Fab2 facility as well as at OTSS. You can check for more details here."

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 03:46:00 PM // PermaLink //

Real Life Halo

By: Richard Allen

This is mostly off topic :P but humorous all the same. Mix 1 part camcorder, 1 part construction paper and 3 parts boredom. Click the link below, Quicktime is required.

Link: Real Life Halo

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 03:22:00 PM // PermaLink //

More Tid Bits on the Revolution Controller (No Mockups)

REVOLUTION UNBUTTONED

"Nintendo President dribbles more info on the Revolution's controller

"Compared to Sony and Microsoft's splurge of next-gen news, info on Nintendo's Revolution console has been more dripping faucet than exploding toilet. Currently though, all indications point toward the controller as being the "revolutionary" aspect of the company's mystery machine.

Saturo Iwata, Nintendo's President, has tossed a few more tantalising morsels in the direction of ravenous fans. In a recent article by the Guardian newspaper, Nintendo's head honcho is quoted as saying: "There are too many buttons and sticks on controllers for novice players, which is likely to discourage them from ever playing games at all". He continues: "We want the Revolution's controller to be relevant to everybody and we really want people to feel like they want to touch and play with it."

Nintendo has made no secret of its belief that modern games are becoming too complicated to appeal to the masses and its ideology of simplification and accessibility has already provided the drive behind the creation of the DS, as well as games like the gyroscopically-enhanced Wario Ware: Twisted and - the widely derided - Kirby's Air Ride.

It makes sense then that the company would at least experiment with a less cluttered input device for its next-gen console. Obviously though, chucking out buttons and sticks that have steadily become the norm over generations of gaming is likely to make long-time fans froth in exasperation. If this is the case however, it's looking increasing likely that the Nintendo "revolution" is about finding entirely new ways for you to interact with your favourite games.

Interestingly, many of the images of mysterious mockups that have found there way onto the internet in recent weeks seem to reflect Iwata's comments - maybe these designs aren't quite so outlandish as they first seemed.

With Nintendo promising firmer details on the Revolution by the end of the year, it's looking like there's still plenty more time for drip-fed info nuggets and frustrated speculation before all is finally revealed.""

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 11:21:00 AM // PermaLink //

No Love for XBox 360 in Japan

Image Source: kikizo.com

No Love for XBox 360 in Japan

"Recent poll shows low interest in Microsoft's console.

Elsewhere we can write in agonizing detail about the extreme conservatism in Japanese gamers' tastes and how the Japanese games market is in dire need of resuscitation, but for now I would like to point out that a poll conducted by a Japanese news service among 1,000 gamers found that only two percent of respondents picked the Xbox 360 as their most-wanted Next Gen console. The leader, by an order of magnitide, was PS3, with a fan base of sixty percent.

It's not such a big surprise that Japanese gamers are not psyched about the Xbox 360, even after its redesigned prettification and despite some high-profile defections (Itagaki, Mizuguchi, and Sakaguchi just to name a few). Japanese consumers never really got into the Xbox: about 460,000 units have sold in Japan since launch. To put that number in perspective, think about this: the PS2 sold twice that...in the first two days.

The reason Japanese gamers find the PS3 more appealing is partly the massive brand recognition Sony has, of course; but it's also probably got a lot to do with the sheer numbers of sequels, franchises, and re-makes that Sony has at its power to command. Read the survey data: eighty percent want well-known franchises; 71.2 want RPGs. You're looking at another long string of repetitive Square Enix titles, my friend. As much as we might complain about lack of innovative game titles in the West, Japan has it even worse. Some of the quirkiest, most fascinating games ever made come from Japanese game studios, but they wither under the unending domination of Dragon Quest. A new console launch is not going to change that trend any time soon. Too bad."

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 11:06:00 AM // PermaLink //

Third party developer talks Revolution controller

"Some guy that claims he’s a third party developer for Nintendo products is also claiming that he’s seen the Revolution controller. So far we’re not doing well for the legitimacy of this rumor. This guy has started up a blog with some information about the controller (which would obviously break his Non-disclosure agreement, if he has one in the first place) and how he justifies this by stating: “It’s about time Nintendo gave it’s fans a reason to be excited, to be exhilarated, and to believe again.” Although I can’t quite seem to remember when Nintendo became a religion.

He claims that the controller will feature:
-Wifi Connectivity
-Hot and Cold feedback regions (get blown up, it gets hot)
-Tactile feedback regions (apparently areas of the controller can “push” against your hand)
-The Gamecube controller port will be used to charge the controller"

YAWN! I am nearly to the point where I don't care.

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 10:25:00 AM // PermaLink //

Bizarre create online tournaments for PGR3 Xbox 360

Bizarre create online tournaments for PGR3

"Bizarre Creations has announced plans for massive online tournaments for Project Gotham Racing 3.

Bizarre Creations has announced that their Xbox 360 game, Project Gotham Racing 3, will feature a huge online tournament system. The large scale competitions are something that will be available to all Xbox Live subscribers and several competitions will be run each month. Posted as part of the Bizarre Creations Studio Update 05 they said:

"In the main tournaments, tens of thousands of players can qualify to the knockout stage each month. Thousands will make it through to the second round. Hundreds will get through to the third round. Eventually there will only be twelve left. There will also be a big mix of tournaments, ranging from events where tens of thousands can qualify, down to elite events where only the top 32 best qualifiers get through to the knockout stage."

The Bizarre site also discusses how Live users will be able to see the action thanks to Gotham TV.

"The grand finals will be given prime time viewing on Gotham TV - you can support your favourite racer, or watch in the hope that your arch rival is taken down. There can be only one winner though, and that personwill be known as the ultimate Gotham Hero. Who knows, there might be prizes on offer?""

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 08:43:00 AM // PermaLink //

Interview with David Kirk: NVIDIA, RSX and the future

Image Source: nvnews.net

Interview: NVIDIA, RSX and the future

"RSX and the PlayStation 3

For those that don't know, if you've been living under a rock for the last few months, the graphics processor in the PlayStation 3 is NVIDIA-designed and is called RSX. How does it compare next to the 7800?

"The two products share the same heritage, the same technology. But RSX is faster," said Kirk.

But for how much longer, we wonder? With the PlayStation 3 not due until March 2006, won't the next generation of PC graphics be here by then? "At the time consoles are announced, they are so far beyond what people are used to, it's unimaginable," David comments. "At the time they're shipped, there's a narrower window until the next PC architecture." In other words, RSX looks incredible now, but when it launches, there'll be a smaller time until PC looks better.

"However, what consoles have is a huge price advantage." And 'huge' is the appropriate word: pricing is still to be announed by Sony, but Playstation 3 could debut at £399 - the price of a 7800GTX board, yet offering so much more.

Whilst their relationship with Microsoft has become publicly tenuous, what about NVIDIA's relationship with their new console partner?

"So far our relationship with Sony has been great. We have a much closer relationship and share a much broader vision for the future of computing and graphics.

"When we came together a few years ago, we found a vision and experience that we shared. It sounds cliched, but Japanese companies are often trying to create a vision and make the technology follow that, not the other way round. We believed in that."

"Our commonality with Sony has led to a number of product areas that go beyond PlayStation 3. The business deal is structured so that both companies benefit. It's a really good realtionship."

So I put it to David that there might be more to come from Sony and NVIDIA: "The deal goes beyond PS3. The future is looking good."

What does this mean exactly? Until we get some concrete details, it could in theory translate to NVIDIA-powered graphics in just about any suitable device that Sony make: Sony VAIO desktop and notebook computers would be an obvious opportunity; another distinct possibility is NVIDIA GoForce wireless media processors (WMP) inside future SonyEricsson mobile phones.

A rank outsider would be NVIDIA Inside for a future replacement for the PSP, but we should stress that this is all pure speculation. What we do know is that NVIDIA design kick-ass graphics chips and Sony make some of the most desirable consumer electronics available. Put those two together and you have quite a potent combination - we look forward to seeing what they come up with." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 08:12:00 AM // PermaLink //

Heavenly new screenshots (Heavenly Sword For PS3)

Image Source: eurogamer.net

Heavenly new screenshots

"Ninja Theory (the developer formerly known as Just Add Monsters) has released some spanky new screenshots for PS3 kung fu fighter Heavenly Sword. You can find them here.

They've also updated the Ninja Theory website with some developer diaries and a pic of the team alongside Sony mac daddy Ken Kutaragi, who dropped in for tea and cakes and a look at the game recently."

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 07:44:00 AM // PermaLink //

ATI Technologies rally sparks takeover rumours

"A mini-rally in ATI Technologies Inc. shares has sparked speculation the computer graphics chip maker could be a takeover candidate. In a research report, Andrew Lee, an analyst with TD Securities, said the potential suitors include Broadcom Corp., Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Intel Corp. and Texas Instruments Inc. Mr. Lee said takeover rumours surfaced last month after ATI issued its third-quarter results and provided "weak" fourth-quarter guidance.

ATI shares climbed $1.08 to $15.77 yesterday in Toronto, closing the week up 8.6%. The stock touched a 52-week low of $13.90 on July 7.

Bob McWhirter, a portfolio manager with Selective Asset Management in Toronto, said ATI could be an intriguing takeover target because there are concerns the company has failed to launch a new high-end, high-margin chip in time for the back-to-school and holiday sales seasons.

Since the graphics industry is extremely cyclical, ATI's value could suffer a short-term decline -- providing an opportunity for suitors to move before ATI can rebound in the next product cycle. "I'm suggesting that if someone does buy them, it may be an opportune time," Mr. McWhirter said. "ATI is down on their luck at the moment but they could come roaring back."

Jonathan Hykawy, a research analyst with Fraser Mackenzie Ltd. in Toronto, said takeover rumours are nothing new for ATI."

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 07:38:00 AM // PermaLink //

House of the Dead 4 Screens & 360-based Chihiro 2?

Image Source: spong.com

Rumourgasm: New images of House of the Dead 4 show 360-based Chihiro 2?

"Okay, first up we have a batch of screenshots from House of the Dead 4, the looming lightgun shooter from Sega. Nice aren't they? SPOnG was amongst the first non-Sega staffers to witness this game in action. If you care to read our impressions of this (and new Sonic, Afterburner and Virtua Fighter 5) click here.

Back to the point, according to gossip breaking in Japan on Sunday, these grabs are taken from a new arcade board, known as Chihiro 2 or Chihiro 360, depending on what you read and where. And yes, you guessed it, the system allegedly used Xbox 360 innards to power the coin-op zombie blaster. Potentially sexy stuff, we're sure you'll agree.

No confirmation of anything yet and it's unlikely we'll get anything for a while too. Perhaps this news will form part of Microsoft and/or Sega's big announcements this July. Stay tuned for updates as they break."

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 07:35:00 AM // PermaLink //

Xbox 360 Mass Production to Begin in August

Xbox 360 mass production to begin in August

"Production lines are to be set to full steam this August as the Xbox 360 finally hits mass-production levels, it was revealed over the weekend. Exactly when Microsoft would begin full scale manufacturing of its new baby has long been something of a bone of contention, with regular stories warning of shortages blighting early PR work.

The Taiwan Economics News reports that two companies, Foxlink International and Ji-Haw Industrial will begin delivering components to Microsoft assembly lines en-masse next month, with seperate reports claiming that debugging units are already rolling off lines in preparation for upcoming Xbox 360 showings.

No official word from Microsoft right now, though we're working on something rather special in relation to Xbox 360 production that we hope to knock your socks off with in the coming months."

¶ D.Vader // 7/12/2005 07:29:00 AM // PermaLink //

Monday, July 11, 2005

Doomed: How Id Lost its Crown

"Maybe I’m crazy, but I recall levels in the original Doom where you were downright encouraged to trick the A.I. into fighting itself. Yes, it was a primitive A.I., but I recall being impressed by it. Hell, even the famed Reaperbot for the original Quake is still 10 times more entertaining than fighting drones in Doom 3.

I guess what it all boils down to is the fact that the gameplay is just too simplified for the graphics. It’s hard to stomach having to shoot a zombie in the head the same number of times as in the body (six rounds from a pistol, thanks for asking) to dispatch it, when you can shoot a light fixture and watch how realistically light dances around the room.

And don’t try justifying it with 'well, the zombies obviously aren’t powered by brains, because there’s some zombies without heads,' because you can still kill them by shooting them in the jaw six times. I’m sure they’d also die if I shot them in the foot six times, but honestly, I’m just too bored with the game to even try." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/11/2005 01:49:00 PM // PermaLink //

Trimersion The latest in Gaming Fashion Headgear

Image Source: trimersion.com

Trimersion The latest in Gaming Fashion Headgear

By: Richard Allen

No this is not the latest Nintendo Revolution contoller mock up. This is something the wizards at 3001AD have dreamed up. Evidently this works with any PC game that uses the mouse to look. PS2 and Xbox support is a bit scant. Less then a dozen or so games for each system seem to work. Has anyone actually asked for this? I mean do any gamers actually need any more grief about being geeky? My girlfriend thought that TeamSpeak was dorky.