The Console Wars: 07.17.2005 | Xbox 360, Playstation 3 PS3, Revolution

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Playstation 3 Officially Launches Spring 2006

Playstation 3 Officially Launches Spring 2006

So it's 100% official now!

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 10:39:00 PM // PermaLink //

Xbox 360 Frame City Screen Shots

Image Source: watch.impress.co.jp

Xbox 360 Frame City Screen Shots

By: Richard Allen

The japanese site Game Watch (Watch Impress), has quite a few screen shots of the upcoming Xbox 360 game Frame City. So far this title is looking pretty impressive.

Link: Xbox 360 frame city

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 10:38:00 PM // PermaLink //

Tony Hawk's Wasteland news [Xbox 360]

Image Source: ign.com

Tony Hawk's Wasteland news

"Neversoft has fully unveiled the seventh game in the popular Tony Hawk's series, confirming that it's due for a release on PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, DS and GBA later this year.

According to US website IGN, Tony Hawk's American Wasteland is set in 1980s LA and sees you playing as a hick skater from the Midwest who's come to make his fortune in Hollywood.

Unsurprisingly he's violently mugged within seconds of stepping off the bus and is left with only his skateboard and a new friend, Mindy, who has pink hair because that's how alternative and dangerous she is.

As you start exploring LA and visiting areas such as Santa Monica, Downtown and Beverly Hills, you'll learn new tricks and receive some helpful lessons from the likes of a famous old skater called Iggy and one Tony Alva, who actually is a famous old skater in real life and has leant his voice and likeness to the game." [more]

Related Links:

IGN: Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Activision - Tony Hawk's American Wasteland™

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 10:26:00 PM // PermaLink //

Phantom still en route

"The much-delayed Phantom Game Service and PC hardware based Phantom Game Receiver are still in the works despite the recent silence from would-be platform holder Infinium Labs.

The first news from the company in several months has emerged over the past few weeks, with Infinium announcing that it has appointed The Mauretania Import Export Company (TMIEC), a firm specialising in developing multimedia brands for games, film and TV, to expand its content acquisition efforts.

Infinium will be working directly with TMIEC CEO Anthony Jacobson, who will be working to expand the firm's reach in the development and publishing community as the Phantom heads towards launch.

As to when that launch will be, sources close to the company have indicated that a new round of funding is being closed at the moment, with a view to bringing the console to market - finally - in early 2006.

One step on the way to that goal is the firm's recent acquisition of a trademark for the Phantom Game Service in North America, which was reported by games news website Joystiq earlier this week.

Less positive news for Infinium, however, came as the company's stock hit investment headlines this week for being linked to a scam that has seen the Securities and Exchange Commission charging three men for around $600,000 of fraudulent actions.

While Infinium Labs itself and its executives are in no way implicated in the scam, the company's name was used on faxes sent out to over a million recipients advising them to purchase Infinium stock - which promptly rose in value, netting a significant cash haul for the sender of the faxes who had previously invested in the stock."

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 10:24:00 PM // PermaLink //

Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked

"A large gap exists between the public's perception of video games and what the research actually shows. The following is an attempt to separate fact from fiction."

Items the article covers are:
1. The availability of video games has led to an epidemic of youth violence.
2. Scientific evidence links violent game play with youth aggression.
3. Children are the primary market for video games.
4. Almost no girls play computer games.
5. Because games are used to train soldiers to kill, they have the same impact on the kids who play them.
6. Video games are not a meaningful form of expression.
7. Video game play is socially isolating.
8. Video game play is desensitizing.

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 09:28:00 PM // PermaLink //

TriXie Interviews PGR 3's Chris Novak [Xbox 360]

TriXie Interviews PGR 3's Chris Novak

"Okay, this time I didn't even ask the questions … you did! Thanks to all the members of the Xbox® community who sent in questions for Chris Novak, a Design Director at Microsoft Game Studios assisting Bizarre Creations with efforts on Project Gotham Racing® 3. I met with Chris in his office here at Xbox headquarters. Although PGR™ 3 is being developed in Liverpool at Bizarre, there is a sizeable supporting team located here in Redmond. Martyn Chudley is the 'visionary,' and Chris's role is to help Martyn and Bizarre make the strongest game possible.

'The best thing I do for Martyn,' Chris said, 'is to push and help focus his design team, as I'm one step removed and can offer fresh perspective. Ideas bounce back and forth every day. I also leverage Microsoft design resources for Bizarre, evangelize their design vision to other Microsoft teams, assist with items such as vehicle dynamics, and work with teams like the Xbox Live® group on unique functionality that will benefit PGR 3. Really, I'm here to assist Bizarre with any design requests they have; they develop and build the game, I help polish and publish it. Don't ask about the frequent flyer mileage.'" [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 04:36:00 PM // PermaLink //

Kid spotted playing PS3

"A picture of a kid playing on an Xbox 360 after his step dad who works as Regulatory Compliance Manager at MS brought a test unit home is making headlines all over the net. Send us pictures of you or your neighbors' kids playing on a next-gen console and get your 15 minutes of fame."

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 04:03:00 PM // PermaLink //

Your Existing Code? Throw it Away

"Valve boss Gabe Newell is shocked at the lack of appreciation for the giant hurdles involved in next generation console development.

--For the freshest, liveliest game industry news, delivered to your in-box every weekday morning, subscribe to Next Generation Morning News. It's simple and free. Go to http://www.next-gen.biz/registration/--

"Technologically, I think every game developer should be terrified of the next generation of processors. Your existing code, you can just throw it away. It's not going to be helpful in creating next generation game titles," said Newell.

"Most of the problems of getting these systems running on these multicore processors are not solved. They are doctoral theses, not known implementation problems. So it's not even clear that over the lifespan of these next generation systems that they will be solved problems. The amount of time it takes to get a good multicore engine running, the Xbox 360 might not even be on the market any longer. That should scare the crap out of everybody."

Newell cautions "Really good engineers are going to be much more valuable and engineers who used to be valuable writing game code in the previous generation may end up becoming thorns in the side of key programmers who can write multi-core game code."

Is this different?

But learning curves for new hardware have been par for the course for the past several generations of hardware. How exactly is this different?

"Yes, it is different. It is much more difficult now to write code that will have predictable behavior. We have performance problems now in the out-of-order universe because we have programmers who can't figure out why the changes they made caused the system to behave the way it does.

"So one of the people who has a deeper understanding of the overall architecture has to come in and tinker around, more or less blind, because there aren't a lot of performance tools that give insight into what's happening in the cache memory, where a lot of this stuff goes wrong. It goes a lot worse in a multicore world, where there's a whole bunch of stuff going on in these separate [cores], can suddenly have an impact on the entire system.

"If writing in-order code [in terms of difficulty] is a one and writing out-of-order code is a four, then writing multicore code is a 10," cautions Newell. "That's going to have consequences for a lot of people in our industry. People who were marginally productive before, will now be people that you can't afford to have write engine or game code. They can't get a big enough picture of what's going on in the box so they'll be a net negative on the project."

Hardware claims

Newell is also scathing about hardware manufacturer claims regarding perormance.

"Statements about 'Oh, the PS3 is going to be twice as fast as an Xbox 360' are totally meaningless . It means nothing. It's surprising that game customers don't realize how it treats them like idiots. The assumption is that you're going to swallow that kind of system, when in fact there's no code that has been run on both of those architectures that is anything close to a realistic proxy for game performance. So to make a statement like that, I'm worried for the customers. And that we view customers as complete morons that will never catch on and that we're lying to them all the time. That's a problem because in the long run, it will have an impact on our sales."

Gabe Newell has shared his opinions and experiences with us. We'd like to hear from more developers what challenges and solutions (if any) you're facing with your next generation console projects."

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 01:14:00 PM // PermaLink //

Sega Discusses Revolution Prospects

"In recent news, several developers have questioned the level of support they intend to provide Nintendo's upcoming home console, from past titles to brand new games for the machine.

Simon Jeffery, President - Sega of America, noted some interesting prospects the company are considering for Nintendo's Revolution in a recent interview. Jeffery compared players who support Nintendo to those who lie in the Sega camp for 'the Nintendo fan, I think, is very similar to the Sega fan of old. And I think Sega and Nintendo have similar software philosophies,' said Jeffrey, 'A product like Sonic is very family-oriented. It’s all about entertainment rather than trying to be controversial or anything like that. It’s pure, good old-fashioned entertainment.'" [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 11:29:00 AM // PermaLink //

Sakaguchi's Xbox 360 games not playable at TGS?

"The Ex-Square producer casts doubt that either Blue Dragon or Lost Odyssey will be on display at the Tokyo Game Show in September.

Gamers hoping to get their hands on Hironobu Sakaguchi's Xbox 360 titles at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show will probably have to wait a bit longer. In an interview published in the latest issue of Famitsu, the legendary game designer implied neither of his two 360 role-playing games--Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey--will be playable at September event in Japan.

Sakaguchi told the magazine his projects are progressing smoothly at the current time. "The screen is starting to get developed, and we've been able decide on the orientation of its graphics, and what kind of lighting and effects we want. We're currently in the process of making tons of [additional] graphics," commented Sakaguchi. "Lost Odyssey is progressing about the same. The characters are starting to move in the game screen little by little, and we're figuring out where we want to go with its graphics."

Sakaguchi said a lot of information will be released at the end of the year, including designer Akira Tokiyama's character illustrations from both games. Neither of Sakaguchi's games is slated for a simultaneous launch with the Xbox 360. In a previous interview, he commented that one will ship within a year of 360's launch, while the other will be released within two years."

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 11:25:00 AM // PermaLink //

Xbox 360: Great looking games, but what does it do?

"You gotta love the PR hype and mud slinging that goes on during the run up to a really, really major competitive product launch. Sony and Microsoft are at loggerheads over their upcoming next-generation releases, and while we have all the tech specs (relatively) nailed and the hype about what will make each console Gods Gift to 14 Year Olds, what about the actual direction in which the two companies are pulling their franchises?

I attended an Xbox 360 briefing in my native Dublin last night and as well as seeing the pretty colours and the lovely logo plastered across the screens in front of me I had a chance to sit down - well, more stand around - with Xbox’s head honcho in the UK & Ireland Stephen McGill, and during our discussions he enlightened me as to where Microsoft thinks it's going with the Xbox 360.

First and foremost, the Xbox 360 is the centrepiece of Microsoft’s design to catch younger gamers with its media centre experience, making Microsoft the centrepiece of the living room by controlling everything from gaming to music to films." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 11:02:00 AM // PermaLink //

Unreality: Epic’s Mark Rein on the Future of Game Middleware

"Middleware, often a fast-shifting field, has been pushed even further into the average developer’s field of view, with recent developments such as EA’s purchasing of Renderware, and the advent of next-gen technologies and next-gen costs for consoles.

Few have more to say about middleware than Mark Rein, Vice President of Epic, maker of Unreal Engine, as well as the Unreal consumer software, among others. Regarding costs, Rein takes to task the estimates of many large companies. To him, if your costs are going up so significantly, you’re just not working smart." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/23/2005 10:47:00 AM // PermaLink //

Friday, July 22, 2005

Xbox 360 disassembled! Motherboard pic leaked

"xavxbox.com has what they claim are pictues of the Xbox 360 motherboard. Their site says the GPU is under the left fan, and the CPU under the right. To translate roughly from French, they also state , “Soon on the site, a tutorial for disassembling the Xbox 360…” An unknown source had sent in the pic, but given xavxbox is a hacking site, hopefully someone like Team Xecuter is hard at work"

Source: carte mère xbox360

¶ D.Vader // 7/22/2005 04:51:00 PM // PermaLink //

Atari Gets Tagged

"Vallone Calls for Boycott of Video Game Maker

New York City Council Member Peter F. Vallone, Chair of the Public Safety Committee and leader of the fight against graffiti, has called for Atari to scrap plans to release a graffiti based video game that is described as 'a groundbreaking graffiti game play system, designed to sharpen your skills as you tag with aerosol spray cans, rollers, markers, stickers and stencils.'

'From what Atari's putting out, it appears they want to make crime exciting and to teach children how to get away with breaking the law,' stated Vallone, a former prosecutor. 'I'm just glad they aren't giving out cans of spray paint with this game.'

'I think irresponsible corporations like Atari must get the message loud and clear, we don't want them supporting criminals and punks and if they do we won't support them.'

Atari has announced that they plan on releasing 'Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure' in September 2005. In this game players are encouraged to break the law by destroying property and hiding from the police. Vallone is threatening a boycott of Atari if they decide to release this irresponsible game.

'I think Atari will soon learn that they are going to be a 'Company Under Pressure,'' threatened Vallone." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/22/2005 03:44:00 PM // PermaLink //

Sony adopts Ageia's physics engine for PS3

"According to an announcement made on Thursday, Sony entered a 'strategic licensing agreement' with Ageia, and fabless chip developer that developed the 'PhysX' SDK. PhysX is a physics chip that is designed to aid the graphics processor in darwing realistic graphics on a screen. According to its developer, the device can simulate thousands of interacting fragments, which could create a greater illusion of reality. The behavior of 40,000 to 50,000 particles can be simulated per screen allowing the display of disintegrating walls, gelatinous characters, windswept hair, loose flowing clothing, or realistic display of damage in car racing games." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/22/2005 01:19:00 AM // PermaLink //

PS Meeting 2005: Actual PS3 Hardware Tech Demos

Image Source: ign.com

PS Meeting 2005: Actual PS3 Hardware Tech Demos

By: Richard Allen

IGN and Gamasutra have the goods on the PS meeting 2005. It looks like most of it is recycled E3 footage, but all of this footage does run on actual PS3 hardware. Some of the footage was even controllable. Included in IGN's videos are: the standard duck and Doc Oc face demo footage; an unnamed project by Koei; Genji by Game Republic; Unreal 2007 by Epic; Capcom's Resident Evil (Biohazard) 5; Bandai's Mobile Suit Gundam; Webzen's Endless Saga; Factor 5's Lair; and FromSoftware's Project Force. All of the demos really show off the power of the RSX's lighting ability. Note about project force, it's been reported this game runs at a full 60 fps with high-resolutions destructable environments.

According to Kutaragi, the PS3 would be pricey, but didn't confirm a price and is scheduled for a simultaneous release in the US and Japan Spring 2006.

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

Thursday, July 21, 2005

New GTA Game for the kids!

Image Source: rx-78-2.main.jp

New GTA Game for the kids!

Now the kids can enjoy all the GTA action they can handle with GTA Lego City!

¶ D.Vader // 7/21/2005 10:43:00 PM // PermaLink //

Nintendo Revolution: The Last Stand?

"I was arguing with a friend recently with regards to Nintendo's upcoming new system titled the Revolution. I explained to him that having felt shafted by my investment in the Gamecube I could no longer trust Nintendo. I reminded him that when video game magazines were feeding us tidbits of info way back in 1995 about Nintendo 64, we were overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation. Looking back, I can easily count the number of great games that came out for N64 using two hands.

Then came the Gamecube, gaming sites claimed it was the system that was going to redeem Nintendo for its lost years of providing loyal enthusiasts with the well-deserving hours of video-game gratification reminiscent of the days when Super Nintendo reigned supreme. But alas, once again as I look back, or in this case as I look at my stack of Gamecube games, I see that give or take a disappointment or two – enter super Mario sunshine and Mario Kart: Double Dash – I can easily count the number of great games that came out for Gamecube using two hands. Now, I will admit that I am certain the next instalment in the Zelda series scheduled for release this November will make up for a lot but this is my point: less than ten great games is not enough." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/21/2005 06:09:00 PM // PermaLink //

Kutaragi: Playstation 3 will be expensive

"In an AP article, Ken Kutaragi, President and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment, reiterated the high retail cost of the company's next-generation console, Playstation 3.

'It will be expensive,' Kutaragi said during a strategy event held today in Japan.

The Playstation 3 will include several costly components, including the state-of-the-art Cell CPU co-developed by IBM, Toshiba, and Sony, a custom GPU by Nvidia, and Blu-ray disc technology to read next-generation DVD formats.

...

Analysts expect the Playstation 3 to cost around $500 to manufacture, with the retail price set at around $399. The Xbox 360 is expected to cost around the same as the original Xbox, at around $299.

Next-generation games will cost $10-20 more than today's retail games. Video game retailers EB Games list PS3 and Xbox 360 games at a retail price of $59.99."

¶ D.Vader // 7/21/2005 05:32:00 PM // PermaLink //

Xbox 360 to feature parental controls

Image Source: softpedia.com

Xbox 360 to feature parental controls

"In a statement that is sure to please parental lobby groups as well as 'douchebag' lawyer Jack Thompson; Microsoft has stated that the Xbox 360 will feature a childlock ability. Parents will be able to prevent their children from playing games that are rated above a specified age limit. The kid’s ages will be entered into the console in advance and the Xbox will read the age rating on any software entered into the console.

This kind of feature feels like a knee jerk reaction designed to stem the flow of criticism levied at violent game development. However it’s very likely that the feature will not prevent articles highlighting the influencing nature of violent games on children. Parents that want kids to stay away from violent games will do anything they can to prevent them for accessing them. But some less responsible parents allow their children to play any kind of games due to lack of caring/understanding about ratings systems. Whilst this feature may be useful to the former type of parent, it will not change the habits of the latter. A much better tactic would be to provide some form of advisory slip with each Mature game sold. If the game developers paid for this there would be much less oppurtunity for attack by the anti-violent gaming mob.

No doubt this kind of feature will become standard across the industry in no time. I guess that’s one less thing for the lobby groups to complain about."

¶ D.Vader // 7/21/2005 03:58:00 PM // PermaLink //

Xbox Live: 2,000,000 stats probably NOT TRUE

Xbox Live: 2,000,000 stats probably NOT TRUE

"Microsoft mention that the Xbox Live service has 2,000,000 subscribers.

They have not exactly explain how they calculated those figures. Knowing that Xbox 360 need as much marketing hype as possible, Microsoft probably included the count to automatic updates. Hit games like Halo 2 automatically download patches while the user is logged into Xbox Live. The download happens quickly and quietly so it don’t become detectable. Microsoft has also yet to say if the 2 million user figure includes subscribers to the 2 month free subscription cards that are bundled with several games already released.

So, take the news about the 2 million subscribers with a grain of salt, because those figures could be inflated heavily as a promotional hype for the upcoming Xbox 360. "

¶ D.Vader // 7/21/2005 03:55:00 PM // PermaLink //

Dennis Redmond, "Taking Games Seriously"

"Why should self-identified progressives and activists care about videogames? After all, don't we have more important things to do -- like stopping the Terror War, organizing unions, and constructing Left parties? Aren't videogames just a frivolous luxury of First World consumers?

Not so. Adorno noted long ago that the line between progress and regress becomes blurred during periods of historical reaction. At such moments, what is truly progressive is scorned as obsolete, unrealistic, or foolishly utopian, while what is reactionary is praised as revolutionary, pragmatic, and state-of-the-art.

The videogame culture is a case in point. The Right has long castigated videogames as a mortal threat to public decency. All too many Leftists unthinkingly echo this critique, dismissing videogames as engines of militarism and xenophobia. Yet the videogame culture does not belong to military planners, Hollywood executives or elite programmers. It is a hugely diverse and dizzyingly complex field, where the burning issues of the multinational media culture, multinational ideology, the open source software revolution, US neoliberalism, EU integration, and the East Asian developmental state all converge." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/21/2005 03:52:00 PM // PermaLink //

'Grand Theft Auto' Gets 'Adults Only' Rating

"The video game industry on Wednesday changed to adults-only the rating of 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,' a best-selling title in which explicit sexual content can be unlocked with an Internet download.

The decision followed intense pressure from politicians and media watch groups.

Grand Theft Auto's producer, Rockstar Games (search), said it was now working on a new version of the game that would satisfy the original 'M' for mature rating. It said it would provide new labels to any retailer willing to continue selling the version currently on store shelves." [more]

I think the M rating would be fine if the would just not sell it to minors.

¶ D.Vader // 7/21/2005 03:10:00 PM // PermaLink //

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Flikr has Faceplates Xbox 360

Flikr has a slide show of over 50 Xbox 360 faceplates.

Link: Xbox 360 Faceplates pool slideshow on Flickr

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 05:16:00 PM // PermaLink //

DC Comics MMORPG PS3

"In addition to announcing its purchase of PC MMORPG The Matrix Online, SOE announced Friday it is in agreement with Warner Bros. to produce an MMORPG based on the vast worlds and characters of DC Comics. SOE hopes to release the new game in late 2007, and is currently targeting the PC, PlayStation 3, and PSP -- though platform plans still aren't set in stone.

'Expanding our fans' ability to participate in the DC universe through a great online game is a terrific step forward for DC Comics,' said Paul Levitz, President & Publisher of DC Comics. 'We look forward to working with our colleagues at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and the talented folks at SOE.'"

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 02:27:00 PM // PermaLink //

New PGR 3 Images [YEAH!]

Image Source: xbox365.com

New PGR 3 Images [YEAH!]

"Brings a tear to my eyes to see a baby game growing up infront of me. It's just... so beautiful. I remember the announcement of Project Gotham 3 like it was just yesterday and now it's beginning to grow up into a mature game infront of our eyes.

Behold some new images!" [more]

PGR3 so far seems to be the most impressive title for Xbox 360 at least visually. Hopefully it runs faster then 30 frames per second.

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 02:06:00 PM // PermaLink //

Rockstar Responds to the "Hot Coffee" Controversy

Penny arcade has a very humorous comic about this debacle.

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 01:40:00 PM // PermaLink //

Lucasarts reveals NextGen Indiana Jones game for 2007

By: Richard Allen

Peter Hirschman, vice-president of product development at LucasArts, spoke to @Play about the future of the Indy franchise on the big screen and at home on the next gen consoles. Some of the features discussed include the game tie ins, such as locations, scenes and characters that foreshadow events in the next Indiana Jones movie. The yet to be titled game will take advantage of the next-gen systems cutting edge power yielding extraordinary realisim and keen artificial intelligence. This game will span the globe and promises to have all the action and adventure of Indy's classic tales.

Here is an portion of the interview:

"Q: A long those lines, you've announced a new Indiana Jones games. Does that mean the game will tie in with the long-awaited new Indiana Jones film?

A: Indiana Jones. Has there ever been a better character suited to video games? I don't think so.

Indy and the Indy games are things we're really excited about internally, and it's great to see the reception the announcement's gotten here at the show. It's really gratifying, actually. Our plan for the Indy game is to be out in 2007 on next-gen consoles. The plan for the movie is to also come out in 2007, pending script approval. I wish I could give you an exclusive here, but everything you've read is true: they're waiting to find just the right script. Indy is such a special character, and his movies are held in such high regard that I think George [lucas] and Steven [Spielberg] and everyone involved only want to move forward if it's something truly worth doing. That said, they're shooting for a 2007 theatrical release.

Our game is going to be tied into the movie in the sense that we'll have locations, scenes and characters that foreshadow events in the movie. But the movie is going to be taking place chronologically in a later time frame. We're doing an Indy adventure in the classic Raiders timeframe of the late 30s. The Nazis are the bad guys, there's a race against evil to get something that has the potential to change the course of humankind. So we'll have a great tie-in to the film, but it will be a brand new unique Indy adventure. And again, that great combination of being able to go see the film, be excited and enjoy that Indy experience, and then go home and be able to play in the Indy universe, go on their adventure and shape Indy's destiny with their own hands."

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 01:35:00 PM // PermaLink //

IGN Does Not Have Xbox 360!

"World exclusive pictures of us not playing new console!

As web savvy video game nuts around the world already know, images of an Xbox 360 appeared on the web this weekend. You can read the full story here. The actual console is not supposed to be available to the public for a number of months but the family member of a Microsoft employee was able to get their hands on the system early. We decided to follow up this breaking news with world premier pictures of us not playing the Xbox 360!"

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 12:02:00 PM // PermaLink //

PS3 and Xbox 360 exclusive games

"The success of a console usually boils down to the games it has, and more importantly, exclusive games. The following list is based merely on what has been already been announced. Of course this is subject to change, and many of the titles currently only announced for the Xbox 360 could later be announced to also be coming to the PS3. This is only in terms of exclusivity between the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, meaning games also announced for the PC are not listed as cross platform. It’s also worth noting that some of the games listed as Xbox 360 exclusive are also coming out for both Xbox 1 and PS2, but again this is only in terms of exclusivity between the PS3 and 360. Feel free to discuss and post corrections through comments.

Playstation 3 exclusive games (not announced for Xbox 360):
Devil May Cry 4
Eyedentify
Fifth Phanton Saga
Final Fantasy (XII?)
Getaway 3
Gundam World
Heavenly Sword
I-8
Killing Day
Killzone 2
Metal Gear Solid 4
MotorStorm
Ni-Oh
Tekken
Vision Gran Turismo
Warhawk

Xbox 360 exclusive games (not announced for PS3):
Amped 3
APB
Battle Angel
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
Blue Dragon
Burnout Revenge
Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 3
Chrome Hounds
Dead or Alive 4
Dead or Alive Code: Cronus
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball 2
Dead Rising
Demonik
Dog Tag
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Fable 2
Final Fantasy XI
Frame City Killer
Gears of War
Godfather
Halo 3
Huxley
Kameo: Elements of Power
Lost Odyssey
Metronome
Monster Madness
Need for Speed Most Wanter
Ninety-Nine Nights
Outfit
Perfect Dark Zero
Prey
Project Gotham Racing 3
Quake 4
Saints Row
Test Drive Unlimited
Thesis
Tomb Raider: Legend
Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland
Top Spin 2"

I believe Battlefield2, Godfather and Tomb Raider Legends will be a multi-platform titles. Also this list is missing Vision Gran Turismo, Unreal Tournament 2007 for PS3. If you have any more information to add to this list please leave some comments.

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 11:44:00 AM // PermaLink //

Why the Xbox 360 Missed the Boat with the Xbox 360

"A lot of noise has been made about the graphics capabilities of the Playstation 3, the XBox 360, and the Revolution. Sony stunned much of the E3 crowd with eye candy showing off Killzone PS3, Fight Night 3, Motor Storm, and more. A quick overview of the demos lead many people thinking that the PS3 is all about amazing graphics.

ATI recently spoke up saying that the XBox 360 will have the same graphics capabilities, if not better than the PS3. This is an impressive feat. Surely Microsoft has the killer console if they have a slight edge in graphics. Right?

I really don't think so.

The PS3 will have amazing processing power under the hood. The Cell processor will be able to calculate at 2.0 TFLOPS compared to the XBox 360s 1 TFLOP. Who cares. This isn't going to effect the graphics, so who cares? Right? That's exactly what Microsoft is hoping people will be thinking and saying." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 10:42:00 AM // PermaLink //

Resident Evil 5 for PS3 & Xbox 360

By: Richard Allen

The latest issue of Famitsu magazine revealed that Capcom's Resident Evil 5 is bound for both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. At the time of printing there was no news of a Revolution version. Jun Takeuchi of Onimusha fame will be producing this installment of the hugely popular series that has inspired movies and merchandising.

Related Links:
Import Game Blog
Press Release (PNG File)

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 09:16:00 AM // PermaLink //

Xbox Live reaches 2 million gamers

"Having doubled its community in just a year, Xbox Live now has 2 million subscribers.

According to Microsoft, their Xbox Live service is growing so fast that a new member is joining every 30 seconds. In just one year Xbox Live members have doubled to 2 million.

"Reaching the two million member milestone in such a short time speaks volumes about the depth and vibrancy of the Xbox Live community," said Robbie Bach, senior vice president of the Home and Entertainment Division and chief Xbox officer at Microsoft. "This enormous growth is a true testament to the compelling content and engaging experiences enabled through Xbox Live today. The service is inspired by the creative power of the individual and fuelled by the passion of a worldwide community."

The Xbox has plenty of games coming which will only increase the number of Live subscribers. At the launch of the Xbox 360, Microsoft is expecting that there should be more than 300 multiplayer games available over the two Xbox systems. Games on the Xbox 360 to look forward to are Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3, Call of Duty 2 and Dead or Alive 4. Those not jumping onto the next-gen bandwagon need not worry as the Xbox still has plenty of Xbox live titles on offer. You can look forward to Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, Star Wars Battlefront II and Battlefield 2: Modern Combat.

Those who didn't know will be pleased to hear that your Xbox Live account can be easily transferred from the Xbox to the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 also promises variable service levels so that everyone will be able to take part in Xbox Live. A free Silver membership will give gamers access to the Xbox Live Marketplace, Gamer Profile and messaging. The premium Gold service will unlock a whole manner of features including tournaments and participation in original programs."

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 09:13:00 AM // PermaLink //

Neversoft gets out GUN

Image Source: teamxbox.com

Neversoft gets out GUN

"Neversoft has revealed the first details of GUN, currently in development for PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360 and GameCube.

It's something of a departure for the Tony Hawk developer, being a cross between an FPS and an action adventure and based around a 19th century gunslinger rather than a game about a man who is good at skateboarding.

You play a bloke called Colton White whose whole life is turned upside down after he joins his dad on a trip to meet a friend aboard a steamboat. When a fight breaks out and the friend is murdered, Pops hurriedly hands you a mysterious medallion before informing you that he's not your real dad and dying.

Next thing you know you're getting down and dirty Dodge City, where the locals are none too pleased to find you making friends with their favourite prostitute. A furious gun battle ensues and you end up on the run and on a quest to save the hooker, discover your true origins and generally become the baddest badass the Wild West has ever seen." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/20/2005 08:10:00 AM // PermaLink //

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Shadowrun on the Xbox 360?

Image Source: vgmuseum.com

Shadowrun on the Xbox 360?

"A remake of the classic RPG may be a system exclusive.

Our own RPG Vault ran a Q&A with three respected developers to gain incite into the process of creating game art. One member of the group named Theron Benson introduces himself as an animator who is currently working for FASA Studios at Microsoft Game Studios. FASA is known for MechWarrior 4 and MechCommander2 and is currently working on PC and Xbox 360 games as an internal studio at Microsoft.

The complete quote from the article is as follows: "I have worked on many projects, ranging from PC games to console, FPS to role-playing. Right now, I am animating for an Xbox 2 project called Shadowrun. It's a first-person shooter based on an old paper RPG of the same name from a couple decades ago.""

Related Links:
RPG Vault: Game Art Group Q&A

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 11:59:00 PM // PermaLink //

Precursor to Nintendo Revolution's download system?

Image Source: kazeblog.blogspot.com

Precursor to Nintendo Revolution's download system?

"Do you remember the Sega Channel? I never had a Genesis, but I believe Nintendo has done a similar thing with a hotel chain. Nintendo 64 games can be rented through the television set through an On-Demand like set-up. In fact, the movies that can also be ordered use the same setup. But what I love the most is the controller they use.

The controller has no port in the back for a rumble pak/ memory card, but it does have a patent message which states that the controlelr is patented (duh) and that if the controller is found missing, you will be charged $30 to your room."

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 06:50:00 PM // PermaLink //

Tomb Raider [& Hitman] delayed to 2006

"SCi has decided to delay the release of Eidos' Tomb Raider and Hitman games until next year.

SCi recently acquired Eidos and the decision to delay both franchises, according to an SCi spokesman is to, 'maximise their hit potential'.

It may be something of a blow to Tomb Raider fans, but given how poor the last game was perhaps a delay is welcome for polishing the game up to, hopefully, the quality of the first game in the series. "

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 06:12:00 PM // PermaLink //

We're Going the Wrong Way

He's the same…but different. But is he any better?

We're Going the Wrong Way

"I might be a sucker. But at least I'm not the sucker that's writing off a lot of great games simply because, on the surface, they don't appear to be innovative. Not every game can be an Animal Crossing or a Katamari Damacy. And really, I wouldn't want them to be. Why? Because there's still something to be said for a standard action game that actually manages to get everything right. Once game developers have absolutely mastered the existing genres, then I think we'll be ready for some more new ones.

Then again, who says that the existing genres haven't already been mastered? Sure, we could up the polygon count and make the AI smarter, pixel-shade it, and present it in 5.1 surround, but will all this technological terror really improve that tingle up my spine the first time I have one of those really great moments with a game? No, not really. But because video games are intrinsically a technologically driven form of entertainment, there is this silent agreement between publishers, manufacturers, and consumers that we're all constantly looking for bigger, better, faster. I can objectively say that Half-Life 2 looks and sounds better than the original Half-Life, but was the experience itself, at least for me, qualifiedly improved? No, not really." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 06:02:00 PM // PermaLink //

Microsoft to Announce Xbox 360 Delay in Japan?

"On July 25th, Microsoft will be hosting an event in Japan to officially unveil the console in the land of the rising sun titled 'Xbox Japan Summit 2005'. Microsoft is reportedly going to have an unveiling on an 'E3 scale' according to sources, and we've been told that we'll be seeing more from Japanese Xbox 360 developers such as Mistwalker, Q Entertainment, Square Enix, Tecmo, as well as a few surprises. There will be a number of new titles shown, and playable software.

Unfortunately, we have just learned rather rumor-worthy from an inside source that Microsoft will be dropping one bomb that no one would expect -- the Xbox 360 will not launch in Japan this year. At E3 Microsoft initially touted that they would have a worldwide launch by the end of 2005, but our sources have informed us that Japan's Xbox 360 release date could slip until Q1 2006, and most likely the system won't launch in Japan until March.

The Xbox has been a complete failure in Japan, and last year the original PlayStation outsold it. With the exclusives secured from Japanese developers for the Xbox 360, down to the design of the system, Microsoft has been doing everything in its power to change the mindset of the Japanese gamer. But if the Xbox 360 is delayed until Q1 2006, Microsoft will be releasing the system the same time rival Sony will be launching the PlayStation 3.

While we've not recieved any official confirmation from Microsoft on this news (Microsoft doesn't comment on rumors or speculation, etc.), we're betting that if this information is true, it's because either Microsoft can't produce enough consoles for a worldwide launch, or the Japanese software launch won't be strong enough for launch, or both."

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 05:35:00 PM // PermaLink //

How Do Video Games Get Rated?

Image Source: esrb.org

How Do Video Games Get Rated?

"Sen. Hillary Clinton has called for an investigation of the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas after hackers discovered a secret section of the game that depicts graphic sex acts. The game has a rating of 'M,' for mature audiences. Clinton says the game probably deserves the more restrictive 'AO,' for adults only. Where do video game ratings come from?

An industry-funded group called the Entertainment Software Rating Board. The ESRB was founded in 1994 amid chatter that the government would start to regulate game makers. Software developers aren't required by law to submit their games to the ESRB, but many retailers only sell titles that receive a rating from the board. If a company does ask for a rating, it must comply with the rules of the ESRB or face penalties, which can include cash fines and product recalls.

When submitting a game for the board's scrutiny, the developer fills out a questionnaire that describes potentially offensive material, especially sequences involving drugs, sex, or violence. The company must also supply the rating board with the scripts for any scenes with dialogue and material like song lyrics. The package sent to the ESRB will also include a videotape showing the game's basic plot and each questionable scene. Such videos can be several hours long." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 05:30:00 PM // PermaLink //

The story of a leaked console [Xbox 360]

Image Source: 360hacker.net

The story of a leaked console

"There has been much hype surrounding the Xbox 360 since before it was even unveiled. It seemed like insiders were always one step ahead of Microsoft, leaking all the pictures and info before the official announcements were made. Here we will take a chronological look at the viral publicity that has made up the Xbox 360s debut up to this date. We’ll go over all the (shockingly accurate) leaked pictures, and take a look at how the Xbox 360 has shaped up to become what it is today." [more]

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 05:21:00 PM // PermaLink //

Xbox 360 – November 4th launch mooted

Xbox 360 – November 4th launch mooted

"Four years on – a new generation set to emerge

The ever generative videogame rumour mill is slating the launch of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console for the 4th of November this year, seeing the machine get almost two months of pre-Christmas store time, if true.

The chatter stems from several news sources reporting that Microsoft posted the release date on one of its partner sites, then quickly removed the information, though not before several beady eyes, not least those at Xbox365, had taken a peek.

Of course, this isn’t the first time that Microsoft has accidentally posted sensitive information only to remove it. You might remember that in the past a job listing highlighted future plans for Xbox Live, so perhaps this latest reported slip-up has substance."

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 02:26:00 PM // PermaLink //

Sony Will Win 61% Market Share In Next Gen

Image Source: strategyanalytics.net

Sony Will Win 61% Market Share In Next Generation Consoles
PS3 and Xbox 360 Critical To Digital Home Strategies of Microsoft and Sony

'Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will sell nearly 200 million next generation games consoles by 2012, according to Strategy Analytics, the global research and consulting company. According to a report released today titled "Games Consoles For The Digital Home: Assessing The Prospects For PS3, Xbox 360 And Revolution", Microsoft's Xbox 360 will present a serious challenge to Sony's dominance of the games console market and will lead the North American and European markets until 2007. But the PlayStation 3 (PS3) will eventually pull ahead if Sony ensures that its online experience matches that of the Xbox 360, and that its Cell processor technology meets its full potential to transform gaming into a near-video quality experience.

The report describes how both the PS3 and the Xbox 360 will become cornerstones of each company's digital home strategy. Sony will use the PS3 to help establish Blu-ray Disc and the Cell processor as mass market technologies. For Microsoft the Xbox 360 could secure a leading position for the home PC as a broadband digital media server.

"The Xbox 360 represents one of Microsoft's best hopes of controlling the digital home," notes David Mercer, Principal Analyst at Strategy Analytics. "The 2005 holiday season will be a make-or-break time not only for the Xbox 360, but also for Microsoft's wider digital home strategy."

The report predicts that Sony will sell 121.8 million PS3s worldwide through 2012. Sales of Xbox 360s are expected to reach 58.8 million and of Nintendo's Revolution nearly 18 million. Cumulative retail revenues for all consoles over this period will exceed $47bn. "

Related Links:
Strategy Analytics
Analyst: 200 million next-gen consoles sold by 2012

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 02:24:00 PM // PermaLink //

Sega Arcade board not based on Xbox 360

"Sega's Lindbergh arcade board in not based on the Xbox 360 and there are no plans for House of the Dead 4 and Virtua Fighter 5 on the console.

Speaking to Eurogamer a Sega representative has said 'Lindbergh is not based on next-generation consoles,' quashing rumours that the board was based on Xbox 360 hardware. The representative has also said that there are no plans for a console version of the zombie-shooting gore fest.

'While SEGA has announced a new arcade version of House of the Dead, the company cannot confirm a next-gen console version at this time,' said the representative.

The representative also denied rumours of Virtua Fighter 5 appearing on the Xbox 360, but as with previous versions of the game, expect it to grace a home console at some point."

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 02:21:00 PM // PermaLink //

Huxley wins best online game; to hit PC / Xbox 360

Image Source: themanroom.com

Huxley wins best online game; to hit PC / Xbox 360

"Webzen's upcoming first-person shooter Huxley has nabbed 'Best Online Game' at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo from publication Hardcore Gamer Magazine. The new FPS is scheduled to drop on PC in 2006 and is also expected to drop to Microsoft's next-generation console, Xbox 360.

Huxley is a massive multiplayer online FPS powered by Epic Games' Unreal 3.0 engine. The game will support up to 5,000 players in a world divided into opposing races - Sapiens and Alternatives.

"Hardcore Gamer Magazine’s audience represents the very gamers we hope will love the fast action and intense game play we are putting into Huxley," said Nam Ju Kim, CEO, Webzen Inc. "Webzen has received much critical acclaim and positive feedback for Huxley since its debut at E3. This award is another testament to the development team’s vision of making a game that will perfectly blend the best qualities of first-person shooters with those of more traditional massively multiplayer online games."

Webzen recently established a U.S. subsidiary in Los Angeles after pioneering hot selling online RPGs in Taiwan, China, Japan, Phillipines, and Thailand. The company is set to launch an MMORPG called Sun and an online cops and robbers game called All Points Bulletin."

Related Link:
Webzen

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 02:20:00 PM // PermaLink //

Team Bondi announces PS3 game

Image Source: teambondi.com

Team Bondi announces PS3 game

"Aussie dev house fronted by ex-Team Soho director is working on L.A. Noire for Sony's next-gen console.

Eighteen months ago, Brendan McNamara, director of the PlayStation 2 game The Getaway, left his position at Team Soho in London to form his own studio in his native Australia. The former employee of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe named the new six-person studio Team Bondi and immediately announced that the company had begun work on its first project, a game for 'a next-generation Sony platform.'

Team Bondi is now 44 employees strong and has shed a bit of light on its first game. On the company's Web site, the developer reveals that the game will be called L.A. Noire, and it will be a PlayStation 3 title. Little is known about the game except that it is described as a 'detective thriller.'

Team Bondi is in an exclusive agreement with Sony to produce two more PlayStation 3 games. The PlayStation 3 is expected to make its debut in spring of 2006."

Link: Team Bondi

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 10:01:00 AM // PermaLink //

XBOX 360 Vs. PS3: An In Depth Look

"All gamers are awaiting the release of the Xbox 360 and the PS3. This article takes an in depth look at how the two systems compare.

Graphics:

Everyone has seen an Xbox and a PS2 in action and we are all waiting to see which of the two next generation consoles for the two systems will have the edge when it comes to graphics. We have all seen the screenshots of the games on the two systems but what about actual gameplay graphics. Despite the hot debate, when you look at the numbers the two systems use a different but equally effective method of delivering graphics processing power. The XBOX uses a custom ATI processor with 48 graphics pipelines and the PS2 has a custom NVIDA graphics processor with an estimated 24 pipelines. The numbers are misleading because the PS2 piplines are more powerful than the XBOX pipelines. In the end the two different graphics processors will deliver about the same amount of power, we can expect to see impressive results from both sides." [more]

The articles goes on for about 3 pages and covers topics such as: Graphics, Games, Media Types, Processing Power and Controllers.

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 09:29:00 AM // PermaLink //

Nintendo Revolution (Recap)

Image Source: ign.com

Nintendo Revolution

"Our first two installments of IGN Wired focused on how the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 will make use of their various connectivity features. The Xbox 360 appears to have its strengths in both Microsoft's mature Live online gaming component, which will feature micropayments for game add-ons and more community-friendly features like the Gamer Card, as well as the system's ability to act as a Windows Media Center Extender, allowing owners of a Windows XP Media Center Edition PC to stream video and audio content to their living rooms. The PlayStation 3's unique features lie in its ultra-fast connectivity (built-in gigabit Ethernet), its IP-based camera for use anywhere in the world, and its add-on hard drive that will ship with a version of Linux, allowing gamers to use their PlayStation 3 as not only a gaming device but an all-encompassing PC in the living room for generalized Internet access, audio and video playback and more.

While Microsoft and Sony both appear to have strong network and online functionality, Nintendo isn't allowing itself to be left behind. Many of the Nintendo Revolution's features have yet to be announced, such as its always-mysterious controller, but some of the coolest features that are known are with regards to its online capabilities."

So little news about the Revolution out there, so I thought I would post this recap.

¶ D.Vader // 7/19/2005 09:20:00 AM // PermaLink //