Advertisements  The second installment of Apostasy, the graphic novel made up of Garry's Mod-enhanced Half-Life 2 screenshots has been released. Two familiar characters make an appearance in part two as it continues the story of life in and around City 17 just before the events of the game unfold. APOSTASY - Issue #2... Issue #1 Related: Graphic Novel Illustrated with Half-Life 2 Screenshots (17 April) About Garry's Mod Discussion >> By Rob
 Although the first Black & White looked great, it polarised the community because of gameplay flaws that were considered irrelevant by some and spoiled all the fun for others. Black & White 2 will also feature stunning graphics, as you can see by taking a look at 19 new screenshots. Under the watchful eye of Peter Molyneux, Lionhead also take pains to refine the sequel's gameplay. As before, you take on the role of a deity and have to make all sorts of moral choices that have an impact on the creature you control, turning it into an either benevolent or evil character. To that end, you can now wage all-out wars, or make use of so-called Epic Miracles such as earthquakes or volcanoes that wreak havoc with devestating effect. However, you can opt for more diplomatic and peaceful means if that's more to your liking. Molyneux is working on enhancing the creatures' artificial intelligence, one of the hallmarks of Black & White, and of which traces could already be seen in the first installment. According to Molyneux, Black & White 2 will hit the shelves in fall. Related info: Black & White 2 Lionhead Studios Black & White 2, first impressions (23 May) Black & White 2 Official Trailer (29 April) Discussion >> By Chris
 Microsoft's J Allard has given an interview with TheStreet.com, and finally revealed the price of the XBox 360 - it will be "in the neighbourhood" of $300. Recent rumours also had a similar number for the Playstation 3's price.In the interview, Allard answered questions about when the new console would be released ("when it's done"), and admitted that some XBox 360 demos shown at E3 were running on emulators on Apple G5's. He also attempted to let some of the air out of Sony's tires by dismissing the impressive PS3 tech demos, saying they weren't running on real hardware: I don't worry about great visuals that they showed that weren't actually running on real hardware. It doesn't matter. Gamers don't make their purchase decisions based on movies that were shown in May for products that come out in March. They just don't. PS3 To Have Same Launch Price as Previous Playstations? (25 May) Apple Powering XBox 360 Demos at E3? (20 May) PlayStation 3 technical demos U.S. Retailers Already Taking Pre-orders for XBox 360 XBox 360 User Interface Details Discussion >> By Rob
 Sony is looking to outsource production of the PSP to possibly China or Taiwan to meet rising demand, Bloomberg news reports.Currently a sole factory near Tokyo makes the PSP console, churning out one million units per month, but Sony announced they would step up production to two million per month back in February in order to compete with Nintendo, who hold 90 percent of the handheld market. SCE chief Ken Kutaragi is quoted as saying that the company has ran out of units in the U.S., and that they are not yet ready to start selling PSP's in Europe: ``We have to somehow increase our production capacity as we're not prepared to start selling in Europe, we've run out of units in the U.S. and it's still selling well in Japan,'' Kutaragi, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., told Bloomberg News today at a games industry meeting in Tokyo. Sony PSP launches in the U.S (24 March 2005) PSP sells more than 1/2 million units in 2 days (7 April) €249 PSP to launch in Europe on 1 Sept 2005 Discussion >> By Rob
 Sources close to Nintendo have told MCV that the Nintendo Revolution will be the last next-gen console to launch in all territories, and suggested the system won't hit PAL territories until Spring 2007: “Revolution will launch towards the end of next year,” the source said. “We’re currently looking at mirroring the DS strategy, so Revolution would release in the US first in November, closely followed by Japan – then we’re looking at March 2007 for PAL territories.” Revolution I think will have really no problem standing up to [Playstation3 and XBox 360]. Q&A: Nintendo Vice President George Harrison Related: Nintendo announce Revolution Touchscreen Tech Sparks Another Revolution Rumour More Nintendo Revolution Details Before Year End Homebrew Games for Nintendo Revolution? (19 May) 20 Years of Nintendo Content with Revolution (17 May) Discussion >> By Rob
Midway have confirmed they have seven titles in development for the Xbox 360, among them John Woo's Stranglehold, which will star Chow Yun Fat. David Zucker, CEO of Midway, said in an earlier interview with TheStreet.com that the company would have games ready for the launch of the Playstation 3 - but not the launch of Xbox 360. The interview caused a stir on the web, because one of the reasons Zucker gave for missing the X360 launch was a "pretty small install base" for the console, but the main factor appears to be simple time constraints: But just because Midway won't have any next-gen games ready in time for the launch of Microsoft's sleek new console does not mean they are eschewing the platform. "Midway is fully supporting the Xbox 360 and we have games in development at all of our internal studios," a rep told GameSpot. Midway Games Midway: No Games for Launch of XBox 360 TheStreet.com: Midway Games Placing Its Bets on Quality John Woo's Stranglehold in development at Midway Games (23 May) Discussion >> By Rob
 BioWare have revealed in an interview that they have two games in development for the Xbox 360, hinting that one or both titles would likely appear after the console initially launches.BioWare didn't give many details, but did scotch rumours that one of the two confirmed 360 titles would be Dragon Age. They said they would be focusing on making Dragon Age the most ambitious PC RPG they've ever attempted, but didn't rule out an Xbox 360 version further down the line. Another point made in the interview is that Bioware will not be Xbox 360-exclusive, and they have been watching carefully as details of the PS3 and Revolution materialise: "We're actually looking at all the next-gen systems closely--they all look impressive--very interesting and powerful," beamed Muzyka. Zeschuk chimed, "We're really excited about the [Nintendo] Revolution and the ability to download and play all those old games!" BioWare.com Bioware plans 2 Xbox 360 games; one of them Jade Empire 2? The language of Bioware's Jade Empire (21 April) Discussion >> By Rob
 A PC playable demo is now available for Area 51, the sci-fi FPS that features voice-acting by David Duchovny:The U.S. Army has received a distress signal from Area 51 where a viral outbreak has just shut down the research facility and the automated quarantine procedures have locked all scientific and military personnel inside. Area 51 official site Area 51 reviews on metacritic.com Discussion >> By Rob
As Microsoft and Sony start to hype and counter-hype their next-gen consoles upon us, it's easy to become dazzled by the promise of fantastic sounding features. CNN's Money column has a good article suggesting we come back to reality and realise that some of the promises and feature details of the PS3 and X360 may never materialise, and that we need only look at the launches of the PS2 and original XBox to see a pattern of empty hype: The PlayStation 2 was going to offer AOL Instant Messaging and have characters whose facial expressions were incredibly lifelike as they progressed through the game. AIM and PS2 were never again spoken in the same sentence Sony: XBox 1.5 "today's technology" XBOX 360 / PLAYSTATION 3 COMPARISON Xbox 360 vs PS 3 Blogcast (MP3), (WMA) Discussion >> By Rob
 Now you can take the force with you wherever you go, even on those rainy days when you just don't have the muster to get things done, this Lightsaber Umbrella will be your guide and get you through every wet outing in "style".Made of a durable vinyl material which blossoms outwards to 100cm when opened, the umbrella will shield adventurous walkers from wind, rain, and sun. Two types are available for preorder: One features a shadowy Darth Vader who wields a saber and the other one shows a diamond-shaped Vader logo. Pricing is set at Y8000 in Japan or US$85 from NCS. Delivery is expected in mid-late June 2005. Related: The Parade of Unfortunate Star Wars Costumes Discussion >> By Gary
 Joystiq are reporting on an interesting new form of media coming soon to the PSP - the sound novel. Vaguely described as being comprised of music, images and text, sound novels will tell viewers "a story that's not quite movie, not quite book and most certainly not game".The first sound novel is due for the Japanese PSP by 28 of July. Called Jitsuwa Kaidan: Shin Mimi Bukoru - Chapter 1, it will use narration, text and 3D sound to tell 50 ghost stories. “Sound Novels” headed to PSP Related: Sound novels?? Discussion >> By Rob
 IGN has an interesting write up in which they discuss ideas and concepts they would like to see made into games. From Movies, Novels, TV shows and more.Although it may be hard to believe these days, there's still a good deal of stories and characters from various mediums that have yet to be plumbed by the gaming industry. No-brainers like The Matrix, Ringworld, Rendezvous with Rama, LotR and 24 have all gotten their time in the sun. And while we at IGN are all for original, non-franchise titles--reference Katamari, Psychonauts, God of War, Spore--a lot of us have places in our hearts for certain TV shows, films, and books that made us all fuzzy with joy. Doom 3 Expansion, uninspiring money grabber? Touchscreen Tech Sparks Another Revolution Rumour Discussion >> By Gary
 A three-minute video showing ingame footage of Epic Games upcoming XBox 360 title Gears of War has been leaked from E3. The game was only shown behind closed doors at the expo: The in-game footage is already looking very impressive, and apparently it’s running on an alpha kit – which represents only 30% of the power of the final Xbox 360 hardware. GearsofWar.com Epic Games XBox365.com: Gears of War Fact Sheet Gears of War "Killer-App of the XBox 360" Epic: No PC version of Gears of War in the works Discussion >> By Rob
 VGiMx are hosting MP3 files made by gamers which consist of a mix between old and new titles. If you visit their release page you will find a wealth of musical mash-ups from Donkey Kong Country, Doom, Final Fantasy 8, Castlevania 3, F-Zero, Double Dragon 3 and many more.This is going to be fun :-) Via MetaFilter Related: I'm Still Seeing Breen - HL2 Music Video (7 March) Discussion >> By Gary
 Morpheus has been killed off in the MMORPG Matrix Online; this week's live event (aptly titled "The Hunt for Morpheus") saw him getting gunned down by a mysterious assassin as he attempted to set off a series of bombs in the Matrix.A press release sent out announcing the dramatic plot twist vaguely hinted that Morpheus' death may not be permanent, though Paul Chadwick, the writer behind the storyline said in an interview that there are no plans for a resurrection. The next step in the evolving storyline is a murder-mystery as players try to uncover the identity of the assassin: Players will be encouraged to figure out not just who the assassin is, but what Morpheus was really all about. That means, in fact, that thanks to the wonders of flashback scenes, "Matrix" users haven't heard the last of Laurence Fishburne's voiceover work in the game. Gamespot: Morpheus put to sleep Kotaku: Morpheus Gets Killed Off in Matrix Online The Matrix Online Focus on the Cast of The Matrix Online (9 May) The Matrix Storyline Discussion >> By Rob
 The next iteration in the Moh franchise of ww2 shooters has gone Gold according to gamespot and is in line with its D-Day ship date for GC, PS2, and Xbox.Not to be confused with Medal of Honor Allied Assault, Medal of Honor Allied Assault: Spearhead, Medal of Honor Frontline, Medal of Honor Underground, Medal of Honor Rising Sun, or Medal of Honor Pacific Assault, Medal of Honor: European Assault features an all-new story set in the 20th century's biggest conflict. It begins in 1942, when Lieutenant William Holt, the first field agent of the CIA's precursor, the OSS, joins the fight to liberate Europe. The game's script was penned by Apocalypse Now screenwriter John Milius, and its designers consulted with famed military technical advisor Capt. Dale Dye. European Assault website Discussion >> By Gary
 Gaming Monthly, Computer Gaming World, Official Playstation Magazines and 1up.com have cast their votes for the top game showcased at E3 2005.Half Life 2 walked away (kind of) with the award for Best X-Box Game with Stubbs the Zombie, Total Overdose, Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders and Serious Sam II settling for runner up positions. Check out the full list here Via hlfallout Related: Falling Dominoes Half-Life 2 Video Doug Lombardi Interview, DoD Source development still unclear Half Life 2 In The Real World Valve showcase HDR at E3 Discussion >> By Gary
 Grand Turismo 4, having spent months at the top of the Aussie gaming charts has been ousted by the Ps2 version of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith by LucasArts.Also, Lego Star Wars is gaining ground on the no.3 and no.2 spot, it is up one place to no.4. Microsoft's Forza Motorsport is at No. 5, as Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas sticks at No. 6. The PS2 version of fellow Rockstar title Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition is in seventh place. The Parade of Unfortunate Star Wars Costumes Discussion >> By Gary
 Recently released on the Xbox, Majesco has announced the Ps2 version of Psychonauts has gone Gold and is sheduled for a June 21st release in North America.Developed by Double Fine Productions, Psychonauts has players assuming the role of psychic cadet Raz, as he tries to stop an evil scientist from abducting students from the Psychonauts boot camp. The game features 13 levels in the real world, and ten inside the minds of various enemies and opponents, and will let players earn various psychic powers such as: telekinesis, invisibility, pyrokinesis and clairvoyance. Psychonauts carries the ESRB rating of “T” for teen. Psychonauts XBox/PC Ships Psychonauts official website Double Fine - Company founded by Schafer Psychonauts PC Playable Demo Released (13 April) About Tim Schafer Discussion >> By Gary
 Will Wright's Spore will be making its way to the Xbox 360, according to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. In an interview with Jostiq, Ballmer said:We've got to be there telling the story and showing those things which are more interesting, whether it's a Spore or a Kameo, which is a different kind of game for the console world. EA designer WIll Wright, the man behind the successful Sims franchise is currently developing his Spore, in which players will guide a single-celled organism from the state of an amoeba to world-domination."One of my goals for this whole thing has been to give somebody an awe-inspiring global view of reality, almost like a drug-induced epiphany with a computer," explains Wright. Certainly the line between game and art is increasingly bein blurred by philosophically conscious games like Spore. Whether EA can pull it off is another question entirely. More soon. Will Wright's Unveiling of Spore Video Spore website Will Wright wows GDC with new Sim (11 March) Spore: Will Wright's latest project is a game about... everything. Will Wright on Wikipedia Discussion >> By Gary
 An interesting picture has been making the rounds today of a supposed Xbox 360 retail Kiosk, the very same type that is used in retail outlets to showcase consoles and give buyers a chance to play around with them.According to the kiosk picture below it will allow gamers to haul around their high capacity memory cards to download content. This is specifically beneficial to the offline gamers that may not have internet access or a friend to steal from. Midway: No Games for Launch of XBox 360 XBox 360 Will Feature Parental Controls Security Flaw in XBox Website Fixed High definition Xbox 360 videos Microsoft select partner for XBox wireless controller design Discussion >> By Gary
 This must have taken ages to set up; to illustrate the power of the physics engine in Half-Life 2, someone has positioned steel doors and other objects very carefully to create a falling dominoes effect in a Half-Life 2 map that ends with a hapless Dr. Breen getting squished.Link via Boingboing.net Related: Doug Lombardi Interview, DoD Source development still unclear Half Life 2 In The Real World Valve showcase HDR at E3 Discussion >> By Rob
 An interesting review over at netjak of the Doom 3 expansion Resurrection of Evil paints the game as nothing more than a money grabbing expansion with not only a lack of creativity but an endeavour that brings absolutely nothing to the genre.They also describe the expansion as one that does not even live up to the original game, let alone bring anything fresh or ingenious to the story or gameplay. The game doesn't exactly change much in terms of playability. The expansion contains the same movement, same firing, same cramped level designs, and same waves of monsters as the original game. There are only two notable gameplay differences. First, there is a new weapon: the Ionized Plasma Levitator, aka 'The Grabber'. Behind its complex name, the Grabber is just a copy of the Gravity Gun from Half-Life 2. I guess id figured that if Valve can steal the entire first person shooter genre from them, they can copy something minor like the concept of a grabbing gun. The Grabber has two key differences from its HL2 counterpart. First, the weapon has a limited charge, meaning you cannot just grab something and run around for as long as you like. It will release the item you hold after a few seconds then recharge itself for another use. The second is it has a use other than just grabbing inanimate objects. The Grabber, according to in-game records, was designed to manipulate ion energy for power production. What that means is you can also grab energy blasts tossed at you from various enemies, like the imps, and send them back postage due. Doom 3: Resurrection Of Evil Ships (04 April) DOOM Movie Details, Screens Discussion >> By Gary
 This is more speculation, but would be very cool if it happened; Gamersfeed have a post about a new technology from Immersion Corporation for "tactile touchscreens", that gives users the sensation that they are pushing actual buttons, and speculate if this could be used in the Nintendo Revolution:This new technology will allow for tactile cues in a touchscreen, allowing for the physical simulation of pushing a button or depressing a switch. Something like this technology may be used in the Nintendo Revolution controllers, as they are oft rumored to have touchscreen capabilities. Immersion Corporation: Tactile Touchscreen Technology Revolution a tactile touchscreen? More Nintendo Revolution Details Before Year End (21 May) Homebrew Games for Nintendo Revolution? (19 May) 20 Years of Nintendo Content with Revolution (17 May) Discussion >> By Rob
 CEO of Epic Games Mark Rein has told BeyondUnreal.com that Gears of War will be an "XBox 360 exclusive", contradicting Microsoft's J Allard, who said the game would also be coming to PC.Rein didn't rule out a PC version, but said that Epic weren't even thinking about doing that just yet, with all of their effort at the moment put into making Gears of War "the ultimate XBox360 game": Gears of War is an Xbox360 exclusive. We're developing it specifically to take advantage of the power and features of the console. All of the work on Gears between now and when we ship is toward creating the ultimate Xbox360 game. J Allard: Gears of War Coming to PC (24 May) Gears of War "Killer-App of the XBox 360" (20 May) GearsofWar.com Epic Games XBox365.com: Gears of War Fact Sheet Discussion >> By Rob
 Planet Half-Life's halflife_84 managed to score an interview with Valve's Doug Lombardi which revolves mainly around Valve's upcoming releases. Day of Defeat fans in particular might be temporarily dismayed at Lombardi suggesting DoD Source will be further delayed as they have something up their sleeves.Certainly the announcement by Valve from October 5th of last year that DoD Source was coming soon has no weight or bearing on today's development stage, it actually appears that Valve has indeed removed that announcement from their news archives... Halflife_84 : Will the new HDR allow us to have complete Night/Day cycles in a game? Half Life 2: Aftermath set for September release? Valve at E3, Lost Coast details and screenshot Valve showcase HDR at E3 Doug Lombardi, Half Life 2 Interview Half Life 2 reviewer goes panoramic Half Life 2 In The Real World Legend Counter Strike Mapper Springs Back Half-Life 2: Lost Coast - More Details Emerge Retail Valve Games to Continue Half-Life 2: The Lost Coast - New Screenshots and Movie More Half-Life 2: Aftermath/ Lost Coast Details Half-Life 2: The Lost Coast Discussion >> By Gary
CEO of Midway Games David Zucker has said in an interview that the company would have games ready for the launch of Playstation 3, but not for the XBox 360 launch. Zucker explained that time constraints and a small install base were the reason, and didn't rule out XBox 360 support further down the line: We're certainly going to have games for the launch of the PS3, but we don't have any games for the launch of the Xbox 360. Midway Games Midway Support PS3 launch but not Xbox 360 John Woo's Stranglehold in development at Midway Games (23 May) Midway Games yesterday announce Unreal Tournament 2007 (18 May) Discussion >> By Rob
 The Sun is reporting that the XBox 360 will have functions to allow parents to stop their children from playing violent games, and mandatory parental controls for XBox Live will also let them oversee what their kids play online.Microsoft said in a statement: "Xbox is the only system in the market today that provides safety and security features so parents can control what their kids play and watch. XBox360.com High definition Xbox 360 videos Microsoft select partner for XBox wireless controller design Discussion >> By Rob
 An interesting article over at bit-tech.net reports on a technology conference, where NVIDIA's CFO, Marv Burkett gave a fifteen-minute presentation in which he discussed some details about RSX, the chip behind the awesome graphics on Playstation 3, and upcoming 90 nanometre products.Although the article suggests that the powerful GPU that is to ignite the Ps3 is not yet ready, looking at Sony's schedule they expect the RSX to be ready near Christmas 2005, in time to start producing units for the expected Spring 2006 launch of the Ps3. The beauty is that once NVIDIA have bug-free silicon and the chip works as it is meant to, Sony will take complete control of production, paying NVIDIA for the technology. Once Sony take over production, NVIDIA need not worry about anything related to the production of the GPU, which means that the money they make of Playstation 3 will be free, as their work was completed before Sony took over the reins. PS3 To Have Same Launch Price as Previous Playstations? Mainichi Daily News: "new machine will be priced at less than 50,000 yen each" (17 May) PS3 E3 video roundup, More Live Forever with Playstation 5 Under $500 Pricetag on PlayStation 3? (18 May) Sony CEO Slams "XBox 1.5" Discussion >> By Gary
 Microsoft have fixed a security hole in the official XBox website; apparently the vulnerability could have allowed the harvesting of email addresses and credit card numbers:The bug, called a "cross-scripting" vulnerability, affected Microsoft's Xbox 360 site, where gamers can get a sneak peak at the upcoming console's features. According to Finjan Software, the vulnerability could let phishers harvest such things as email addresses and credit card numbers. Microsoft: XBox Games To Continue Through To 2007 (10 April) High definition Xbox 360 videos Microsoft select partner for XBox wireless controller design Discussion >> By Rob
 Popeye: Rush for Spinach for the Game Boy Advance has been given a very poor review over at gamespot. They bestow upon the game a shameful score of 4.2. The only positive thing they had to say about the Popeye adventure, that combines both a racing and platforming genre into one, was the graphics which they warned people not to be lured in by.The easiest way to describe Rush for Spinach is to say that it's a side-scrolling platformer that has been transformed into a racing game. After deciding whether to play as Popeye, Olive Oyl, Wimpy, or Bluto, you're tossed into a level that's not unlike the levels you'd find in a Mario or Sonic game. You have to work your way back and forth to locate the end of the level and deal with obstacles such as spike pits and switches along the way. The difference here is that there are also three other characters on your tail trying to do the same thing. So now, in addition to just finishing the level, you have to finish first to move on to the next one. Power-up items, such as spinach and curses, can give you a boost of speed or slow down your nearest opponent. The chicken curse is particularly amusing. It transforms one of your opponents into a chicken. There are also vehicle-type items, such as pogo sticks, cars, boats, and magical capes, that can help you move faster or bypass hazards more easily. Magic Pockets website (Developers) Discussion >> By Gary
 It wasn't so much of a surprise when Jowood and developer Phenomic finally announced Spellforce 2, given the commercial success of the first installment. Jowood has now hosted the official website along with brand-new in-game screenshots, a developer diary and a forum. The game combines role-playing with real-time strategy elements as you lead whole armies into battle or bulid bases to gather resources, but also fight in the front line with your own avatar who will learn new skills as the game progresses. Naturally, Phenomic are working on improved graphics to make Spellforce 2 much more detailed than part one but without losing the special Spellforce atmosphere. The game design will also be refined, as project manager Martin Löhlein explains in the dev diaries: Our main target was to make the game faster, more thrilling and to regard the wishes of our fans. Faster means shorter ways, improved travel possibilities and shortcuts, but also faster building and unit producing. More interesting as in more effective decisions – not only in the quests and story but also in the skill-system and the RTS-component. Our new improved skill tree puts the player on the brink of important decisions on every level. Not only that you chose your character class in the beginning, moreover you decide in which way you evolve every time you level-up. Additionally building up and fighting gets more exciting: which way are you going to develop e.g. extending the faction of your alliance by taking over the elves with their healers and archers, take the dwarves with their strong melee warriors and siege weapons or take the humans to get mounted units and gryphon-mages! The game is scheduled for a release in late 2005.Related info: Spellforce 2 Website Spellforce 1 Jowood Productions Phenomic Discussion >> By Chris
 Gamasutra are hosting a streaming video of Will Wright's speech at the Game Developer's Conference in March, at which he unveiled his new life simulation Spore.The unfinished Spore demo he displayed wowed the audience, and the video gives a much clearer view of what's so impressive about the game than just reading about it and viewing screenshots. Just one example we see is the full flexibility of the creature editor as Wright changes the shape of his creature by grabbing the spine and giving his creature a tail, which becomes its main mode of attack when he goes back into the game. View the video here. Related: Spore website Will Wright wows GDC with new Sim (11 March) Spore: Will Wright's latest project is a game about... everything. Will Wright on Wikipedia Discussion >> By Rob
 Well, that is if you download the demo of London Taxi from Data Design Interactive. The game will soon be available for download and purchase via Data Design Interactive's online store but a demo is available to show you what the game has in store.The game itself is set in London, England with landmark locations such as Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and Hyde Park and is expected to be released to PC in the weeks ahead with Playstation and Xbox formats expected by the end of August. The London Taxi game will be based on what Black cabs do best; collecting customers and taking them to famous London destinations within the time limit to get paid. There will be different routes, obstacles and busy traffic to transverse before picking up one of the many paying customers waiting for a lift. London Taxi will feature a realistic map of central London for players to race around. Related: Data Design Interactive website Discussion >> By Gary
 Over on the official The Warrior website, screenshots of the upcoming The Warriors have been posted. The Warriors is based around the 1979 film of the same name which will see players battling on the streets of New York in a street gang called (you guessed it) The Warriors. The website itself is only half finished and does not give too much away although the game is expected to be released on Xbox and Playstation 2 in Autumn of 2005. Check out the screens here. Related: Official website Discussion >> By Gary
Via the game's website and a press release, Ubisoft has announced Summit Strike, the Ghost Recon expansion for the Xbox. The expansion is due for release to the Xbox console in August 2005 and will feature 11 single-player campaign missions, 24 multiplayer maps and 24 multiplayer game modes, plus new character and enemy skins. Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest videogame publishers, announces that it will release Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 Summit Strike exclusively for Microsoft's Xbox video game system in August 2005. Blending the best features from the previous installment with the talents of Ubisoft's award-winning studio, Red Storm Entertainment, Tom Clancy. As Ghost Recon 2 Summit Strike will expand the gameplay of Tom Clancy. Ghost Recon 2 to offer players more maps, missions, and weapons. With a SRP of $29.99, this will bring an exciting new eleven mission single player campaign and expanded multiplayer content to gamers who want more game play from one of the most popular franchises on Xbox LIVE. This will keep fans happy as they wait for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 3 due out this holiday on current gen and next gen platforms. Microsoft select partner for Wireless design High definition Xbox 360 videos Microsoft's Steve Ballmer talks Xbox 360 Xbox 360 incompatible, kind of XBox 360 User Interface Details XBox360.com U.S. Retailers Already Taking Pre-orders for XBox 360 Rare XBox 360 Faceplates Appear on eBay CNN: XBox 360 Gaming to Cost $1,710 Xbox 360 shun by games developer European Xbox 360 Showcase Event Planned Discussion >> By Gary
 It struck me as an unusual choice to base a game on, but seemingly a game based on TV show ER is due for release next month. I was a bit curious as to what it will be like, but have to say the dull Sims-clone screenshots let it down a bit: In the ER computer game, the player joins the cast of the TV show as a newly hired intern and handles a steady flow of patients with health issues ranging from minor cuts and bruises to serious injuries sustained from accidents and violence. Through it all, the player will navigate goals, deal with gut-wrenching ethical dilemmas and engage in romances. With perseverance, the player will gain prestige among peers and supervisors and ascend the ranks of Chicago's County General Hospital. By Rob
 Paramount Pictures has announced it's support for the PSP's UMD format, and the first batch of movies and TV shows are headed to the handheld this August.The movies in Paramount's line-up are: Team America from the South Park creators, Coach Carter starring Samuel L. Jackson and the comedy Without a Paddle. TV shows and cartoons include South Park Volume 1, Ren and Stimpy, Spongebob Squarepants and the first volume of Chapelle's Show. South Park for PSP // PlayStation Portable Discussion >> By Rob
 Logitech has announced that it will be working with Microsoft to design peripherals for the Xbox 360, although it is unclear as to what exactly they will offering at this stage. The press release states that they have plans to manufacture officially licensed peripherals for the Xbox 360."One of the best ways for gamers to take advantage of the graphics, games and processing speed of Xbox 360 is with first-class peripherals," said Fred Swan, Logitech's director of strategic marketing for interactive entertainment. "Like our current controllers, the products for Xbox 360 will be designed to give gamers the edge they want -- and need -- to be the best." Microsoft select partner for Wireless design High definition Xbox 360 videos Microsoft's Steve Ballmer talks Xbox 360 Xbox 360 incompatible, kind of XBox 360 User Interface Details XBox360.com U.S. Retailers Already Taking Pre-orders for XBox 360 Rare XBox 360 Faceplates Appear on eBay CNN: XBox 360 Gaming to Cost $1,710 Xbox 360 shun by games developer European Xbox 360 Showcase Event Planned Discussion >> By Gary
 The NPD Group has released their latest PC software report, which includes the top selling PC games for the month of April 2005. Not many surprises here:
CNN's Six Games to Watch Discussion >> By Gary
While everyone was focused on the games and new gadgets at this year's E3, the voice talent that provide their services to the games industry were holding a protest outside, demanding additional fees if game sales hit certain milestones. Currently, the voice actors are paid with a once-off fee, but are demanding a cut of each game sold; they want additional session fees once a game hits 400,000 sales, with extra fees for every 100,000 after that. The actors have gone so far as to go on strike if their demands aren't met; the results of a poll taken by two actors guilds asking for strike authorization are due back in two weeks. Unfortunately for the actors, it doesn't look like they have much leverage in the disagreement, with one analyst saying: "In 99 percent of all games, the voice actors are irrelevant," Goodman said. "You replace one voice actor with another nonunion actor and no one will know the difference." Potential Work Stoppage For Game Voice Talent (15 April) Discussion >> By Rob
 "Father of Playstation" Ken Kutaragi has laid out the strategy Sony have for the Playstation 3 in a new interview, and it's much broader than just gaming. His first statement in the interview is that the Playstation 3 is "not a gaming machine", instead, Sony are angling the console as a media center for the home that will be able to provide powerful functions for many different forms of entertainment. He gives a clear slap to the XBox 360, a much-touted aspect of which is its ability to serve as a media hub for the home, by saying that the X360 will have increased capabilities as an all-purpose computer, but the extra power won't change the basic type of entertainment it provides; the advantage the PS3 has in this area he says is the Cell Chip's ability to create "virtual world's" inside the console, an example of which is the Ducks technical demo shown at the E3. One of the more interesting details he gives away in the interview is of an online storage area called Cell Storage, where PS3 users can upload their content to undergo an "aging process" and have the content's quality refined using the idle processes of the Cell chip. For example a user could upload a standard definition video to their storage area, and it would be upgraded gradually to high-definition. This sounds like a very clever and useful innovation for the PS3, and Kutaragi says it is something Sony definitely plan on launching. Read more over on Gamespot Related: Kotaku: Sony’s Shifts Marketing Plan engadget: Xbox 360 = Xbox 1.5? Kutaragi trashtalkin’! Gamesindustry: Kutaragi talks up PS3 as entertainment centre Ken Kutaragi on Wikipedia Discussion >> By Rob
 Wireless communication solutions supplier, RTX Telecom has announced Microsoft has made it a development partner for the design of Xbox 360's wireless controller interface which will consist of a wireless base module integrated into the Xbox 360 console connecting with up to four wireless game pads that work as user interfaces for playing games.From the press release: The wireless game pad will allow Xbox 360 users to enjoy an unmatched wireless gaming experience with the same speed and reliability as with a wired connection to the console while giving the players full mobility without the need of cables. High definition Xbox 360 videos Microsoft's Steve Ballmer talks Xbox 360 Xbox 360 incompatible, kind of XBox 360 User Interface Details XBox360.com U.S. Retailers Already Taking Pre-orders for XBox 360 Rare XBox 360 Faceplates Appear on eBay CNN: XBox 360 Gaming to Cost $1,710 Xbox 360 shun by games developer European Xbox 360 Showcase Event Planned Discussion >> By Gary
 Eurogamer have a new trailer for F.E.A.R., the new first-person shooter from Vivendi and one of CNN's six games to watch this Christmas. Developed by Monolith, the game was originally slated for release this summer, but recently had its date pushed back to the Autumn. Download the trailer here Related: whatisFEAR.com F.E.A.R. screenshots gallery Monolith F.E.A.R. Delayed Until Fall 2005 (18 April) Discussion >> By Rob
According to Japanese website Impress PC Watch, Sony have told their business partners that the Playstation 3 will cost under 40,000 yen at launch, starting speculation that the new console will have the same price as its two predecessors when they launched.The Playstation and Playstation 2 launched at a price of 39,800 yen (€293, £202, $369); if true this report contradicts the much higher launch price of under 50,000 yen (€370, £255, $465) recently reported: GameSpot: PS3 to have same launch price as PS2? Related: Mainichi Daily News: "new machine will be priced at less than 50,000 yen each" (17 May) PS3 E3 video roundup, More Live Forever with Playstation 5 Under $500 Pricetag on PlayStation 3? (18 May) Sony CEO Slams "XBox 1.5" Discussion >> By Rob
 PlanetGameCube.com reports on a rumble pak attachment added to a Nintendo DS used for playable demos at the E3; a demo of Metroid Prime Pinball featured rumbling, and a GameBoy Advance cartridge in the GBA card slot appeared to be providing it:This obviously couldn't be built into the tiny DS packs, so I had a look underneath the DS playing the game and it had a GBA cartridge plugged in as well. I figured that the GBA cartridge was the one doing the rumbling, and this was later confirmed by PGC chum Chris Kohler. Apparently Chris saw someone booting up a DS with Metroid Prime Pinball in it, and the initial selection screen said that there was a "GBA Option Pak" in the GBA cartridge slot. I'm not sure whether or not Nintendo will sell this standalone Rumble Pak for use with rumble-enabled games, but it definitely exists. Hopefully it will be a pack-in when Metroid Prime Pinball is released, because it works like a charm. All-new Zelda for the Nintendo DS Sonic Rush for Nintendo DS Age of Empires Coming to Nintendo DS (18 May) Nintendo and GameSpy Team Up for Free DS WiFi (11 May) Discussion >> By Rob
 Microsoft has posted up High-definition videos of some notable Xbox 360 games showcased at this years E3. In order to watch these files on your PC, you will need to have the minimum hardware and software requirements met: for viewing high-definition (720p) videos are: Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Media Player 9 Series, a 2.4 GHz processor or equivalent, 384 MB of RAM, a 64 MB video card, 1024x768 screen resolution, and a 16-bit sound card with attached speakers. For more information and to test your system compatibility, visit www.wmvhd.com. Microsoft's Steve Ballmer talks Xbox 360 Xbox 360 incompatible, kind of XBox 360 User Interface Details XBox360.com U.S. Retailers Already Taking Pre-orders for XBox 360 Rare XBox 360 Faceplates Appear on eBay CNN: XBox 360 Gaming to Cost $1,710 Xbox 360 shun by games developer European Xbox 360 Showcase Event Planned Discussion >> By Gary
 In conjunction with the excellent new trailer for Civilization IV, a "Civilization Anonymous" website has been launched , where Civilization junkies from all walks of life can get support for their addiction. Check out the website here, and the trailer here (featuring Sid Meier and a blurred-out George W., who tells us that the ancient Romans had a whole language back then called "Latin") Related: Firaxis Civilization Fanatics Civilization IV details revealed at E3 Civilization IV to use Gamebryo 3D Engine (10 March) Discussion >> By Rob
 A trailer has been made available for Black Element's Alpha Prime, showing off the physics engine of the PC game based around the Meqon Game Dynamics.As a mining inspector, the player is tasked with exploring an illegal asteroid mining base to investigate the disappearance of its inhabitants. However, more pressing is why the mining robots and other autonomous systems are trying to put an end to his inspecting, permanently. The story leads the player through several distinct environments - the inspector's spaceship, damaged by enemy fire from within the asteroid, technical facilities, laboratories, crew quarters, mining shafts and more. On his quest to discover the secret of the asteroid the player will fight not only the robots, but the station itself. Using the ship's radio he will talk to the navigator of a cargo vessel, one of the few people from the surrounding area to somehow remain alive. Walking down the empty halls and eerie corridors of the industrial complex the player will meet several survivors willing to help. Or so it seems..... Official website Discussion >> By Gary
 The multi-player map pack announced for Halo 2 back in March has been delayed by 7 days; the expansion will now come out on 5 July instead of 28 June.The map pack is due to be available in two versions, a $19.99 retail box, and as a $11.99 download: Does the delay of the retail pack mean a delay for the downloadable version of the Maptacular Pack? Bungie also said in an interview with a fan at E3 that there are no further maps planned, as they focus on their new, as-yet unnamed project. Related Halo 2's map pack set back Discussion >> By Rob
 After Nintendo announced its Revolution console will be backwards compatible with old Nes games, sellers of Nes clones were more or less shot in the head as far as future sales are concerned however, Messiah Entertainment are hitting back with the Generation Nex. Generation Nex is a Nes clone that stands 1.5-inch tall and is very similar in appearance to the old Nes. It comes with built-in support for wireless controllers (which are sold separately), rumble support and dual cartridge slots for NES and Famicom games. All that with a price tag of $59.99 and a September release might be more than enough to drag in some retro enthusiasts. You can pre-order the Generation Nex here. Via Jostiq Related: Nintendo Gameboy: A Retrospective More Nintendo Revolution Details Before Year End Nintendo.com: Nintendo's Compact Console Will Turn the World of Gaming on Its Side 20 Years of Nintendo Content with Revolution Images of the Nintendo Revolution Homebrew Games for Nintendo Revolution? Nintendo E3 press conference Discussion >> By Gary
 Here is an interesting article from a Nintendo gameboy fan who has seen the handheld from its earliest days to how it has helped shape the design and vision of hand-helds today.In a 3-dimensional gaming world, there's no shortage of 2-d portables and this writer sets out to pay respects to one of the pioneers of hand-held gaming and examines the heights it has reached. As videogames push their way into the third dimension, creating realism and detail in graphics is becoming more and more important. Modern games are becoming extremely life-like, with realistic speech, facial expressions, and environments. The goal seems to be creating the most realistic digital world technology allows. How, then, does a console whose graphics are utterly Âunrealistic and whose games are largely 2d, become the highest selling game console in the world? NintendoÂs Game Boy is this console, despite the obvious lack of powerful hardware. All-new Zelda for the Nintendo DS E3 takes it retro style, to the extreme Pac-Man to get Guinness World Record Tecmo Classic Arcade Announced Capcom announce Classics Collection Namco Museum 50th Anniversary Announced Discussion >> By Gary
 McGyver and Stargate star Richard Dean Anderson made a surprise appearance at E3 to showcase the upcoming Stargate game. You can see some pictures of the reclusive McGyver star at E3 over on pcgames.deVia Kotaku Related: E3 2005, Hall of Shame E3 2005 Facts E3 Insider E3Expo Gadgets at E3 E3 takes it retro style, to the extreme Discussion >> By Gary
 Gamershell has the E3 2005 movie of True Crime 2, the sequel to True Crime: Streets of L.A. released to PC in May of 2004. The file is 159.8 Mb and features one minute of cinematic and in-game footage.Download it here. Related: E3 2005, Hall of Shame E3 2005 Facts E3 Insider E3Expo Gadgets at E3 E3 takes it retro style, to the extreme Discussion >> By Gary
 According to a recent article, Square Enix' latest massively multiplayer title Front Mission Online has topped the Japanese charts this week, but outside of that success the market itself has hit its lowest point in three and a half years.Overall sales for the top 100 titles were a measly 286,614 units, down from 445,841 units in the same week last year. Market research firm, Media Create attributes this decline in sales to a lack of key new titles during the week plus a poor selection of titles in the spring sales period. although a number of hit titles, such as Nintendo's DS exclusive Nintendogs and Square Enix' Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song, sold well during Golden Week and remained high in the charts this week. Archive of 2000+ Game Manuals CNN's Six Games to Watch Discussion >> By Gary
Games Market Europe, a new European industry expo has been announced. The expo will take place on August 31st and September 1st of this year at London's Business Design Centre. Games Market Europe will have three booth sizes: 12 sqm, 24 sqm and 36 sqm with prices fixed for all three options. Trade visitor entry for Games Market Europe is free. UK and international visitor marketing commences over the next 10 days. Archive of 2000+ Game Manuals CNN's Six Games to Watch Discussion >> By Gary
 Coming fresh off E3 with the announcement of an Indiana Jones game among others, LucasArts now have their sights set on the PSP. According to reports, LucasArts will be self-publishing their first handheld game in the form of Star Wars: Battlefront II for the PSP. Savage Entertainment are currently at work developing the PSP title but as of yet no release date has been set.The PSP will even be getting a few exclusive modes, thanks to Savage, who will give players the chance to act as an Imperial sniper, a mercenary, or a Rebellion smuggler. The likes of Star Wars: Empire at War were also revealed at E3, and much is expected of LucasArts upcoming titles; the firm vowing to make better use of their more-than-potent IPs. More soon, then. The Parade of Unfortunate Star Wars Costumes E3 2005 Facts Discussion >> By Gary
If you've ever rented a game that didn't include the manual, or lost the manual from one of your own games, replacementdocs.com might earn a place in your bookmarks: "The goal of replacementdocs is to preserve and archive game documentation for years to come. They are a community of gamers who appreciate the importance of game documentation and know the frustration that comes when this documentation is not available. By Rob
 An unusual game is in the works to bring baseball to the world of online gaming; Ultimate Baseball Online by developer Netamin aims to be the first massively multiplayer online sports game "MMOSG". The game looks interesting because it includes an online baseball league where players can move up the ranks and become superstars based on their skill: Build your character, manage a team, join a quick pick-up game for some xp, or play in a league game. It’s an ambitious project and so far it seems stable and fun. Standing on the field, waiting for the ball to come to you while you talk trash to the base runner is as much fun as being up at bat. But the real appealing part of the game to me is that superstars will be built. Those who play the most will be recognized for it, taking the premise of cyber-athlete into a new direction. Sign up for Ultimate Baseball Online hereRelated: Ultimate Baseball Online - MMOG sports game in beta Netamin Discussion >> By Rob
 CNN's Money column used the overall opinion and buzz at the E3 to compile a list of six games they think will be in most demand this Christmas, barring release delays:"The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" -- Fans of the Nintendo franchise got goosebumps when the company put out a trailer for this game a year ago. Now, after having had the chance to play it, they're building shrines. The new Zelda game takes Link in new directions while retaining the charm that has made the series such a success. Nintendo has obviously been polishing this game for some time. And that loving care, along with the series' ardent fans, guarantee its success -- and give the GameCube a nice boost. Zelda.com Madden 2006 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories coming to PSP Gamespot: Nintendogs News whatisFEAR.com Civilization IV Details Discussion >> By Rob
 Spong.com have the news that an all-new Zelda game is in the works for the Nintendo DS.The game won't be a conversion of the Zelda Four Swords games for GameCube/GBA and it won't be developed by Capcom, who were behind Zelda: The Minish Cap for the GBA: The game will be 100% first-party, with an all-new story and new features. Zelda.com The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Trailer Discussion >> By Rob
 So, you've played every Star Wars game on every format and finished them, twice. You've seen every Star Wars film 27 hundred times and know the dialogue from each scene by heart? If you think the force is strong in you then think again.Check out The Parade of Unfortunate Star Wars Costumes. A gathering of true Star Wars nuts from all walks of life, in their home-made Star Wars attire. Even though you are a fan of Star Wars doesn't mean you know how to make a costume. This site shows a good deal of whacked out Star Wars costumes. The female Boba Fett is eerily hot even though you can't see her face. Some storm troopers have oddly sized crotch areas. Discussion >> By Gary
Doug Lowenstein, the head of the Entertainment Software Association that runs the E3 Expo every year, has reacted to the wave of proposals in the U.S. to ban the sale of violent/sexually explicit video games to minors, calling them "virulent attacks" on the games industry: “The industry has been under siege as never before as politicians virulently attack video games for endangering youth and making parenting more difficult. While we have defeated many of these proposals, some appear likely to be enacted, thus triggering ESA lawsuits. About the ESA Ferrago: ESA attacks 'unconstitutional' game laws U.S Game Bans Come Closer to Reality (10 May) Discussion >> By Rob
 In a recent interview with Joystick, Ballmer discusses predictions of the next Xbox success in the U.S., admits certain defeat in Japan to Sony with a question mark over Europe. He also talks about Sony's marketing campaign and actually pays tribute to their ingenuity. How are you going to define success for the Xbox 360? Xbox 360 incompatible, kind of XBox 360 User Interface Details XBox360.com U.S. Retailers Already Taking Pre-orders for XBox 360 Rare XBox 360 Faceplates Appear on eBay CNN: XBox 360 Gaming to Cost $1,710 Xbox 360 shun by games developer Discussion >> By Gary
 Eurogamer have the news that Microsoft are planning a European event to showcase the XBox and XBox 360 line-up.Called the X events, European media were given an early glimpse of the original XBox at X01 back in 2002 while at the later X02 and X03 events the media were shown previews of upcoming games for the XBox. There wasn't an X04, but X05 is planned due to the XBox 360's release: As yet, it's not known where or when X05 will be held, or whether an equivalent event will run in other territories. However, it should be noted that the X events have played host to some fairly significant announcements in the past - most notably the acquisition of UK developer Rare in 2002 - and as such, expectations for this year's event will undoubtedly run high. Xbox 360 incompatible, kind of XBox 360 User Interface Details U.S. Retailers Already Taking Pre-orders for XBox 360 Rare XBox 360 Faceplates Appear on eBay Discussion >> By Rob
 After Microsoft had confirmed the Xbox 360 will be backwards compatible with some top-selling titles, this brought about some confusion in the console world as it left question marks as to which games will indeed be Xbox 360 ready. Current Xbox games simply will not be compatible with the 360 unless they are recompiled, not a procedure your average gamer is going to have knowledge of.Spong has a good write up in which they attempt to sort out the myth from the facts. Xbox games will all theoretically be able to play on the next gen XBeast, but only if they are recompiled. Needless to say, unless you are some kind of 1337 hax0r, that's not the kind of procedure you're going to be able to carry out at home. We imagine that they are saying you'll be able to purchase the same old Xbox titles, but formatted instead to work on the 360. This explains why they said only 'top-selling' games - each title will have to be re-manufactured to run on the 360, and this will be driven by demand. XBox 360 User Interface Details XBox360.com U.S. Retailers Already Taking Pre-orders for XBox 360 Rare XBox 360 Faceplates Appear on eBay CNN: XBox 360 Gaming to Cost $1,710 Xbox 360 shun by games developer Discussion >> By Gary
 Gamespot have some snippets of detail on Namco's tenatively titled Warhammer strategy game - they acquired the license to publish games under the brand back in March:The game in its pre-alpha state already showed off a huge draw distance--we watched the battle from a highly zoomed-out view to see a huge part of the battlefield around us, then seamlessly zoomed in on the ornate armor of the chaos knights and the fluttering banner that one knight carried. Multiple Warhammer Games In Pipeline From Namco (9 March) Warhammer MMORPG Planned for 2007 by Mythic Entertainment Warhammer official site (Games Workshop) Discussion >> By Rob
 Betanews.com were shown the user interface for the XBox 360, and have a selection of screenshots and a walkthrough of its features. Split into 4 main tabs (XBox Live, Games, Media and System), and customizable with themes, the Dashboard interface looks uncluttered and features a big focus on XBox Live and the community aspects of gaming: Xbox Live users can receive messages from friends, Microsoft itself, and even game publishers - if they opt in. XBox360.com U.S. Retailers Already Taking Pre-orders for XBox 360 Rare XBox 360 Faceplates Appear on eBay CNN: XBox 360 Gaming to Cost $1,710 Xbox 360 shun by games developer Discussion >> By Rob
 In an interview on Eurogamer.com, J Allard confirmed that Gears of War, the XBox 360 title that wowed attendees at E3 will also be developed for the PC, though it doesn't appear the two versions will be released at the same time:Gears Of War is new IP as well. GearsofWar.com Epic Games XBox365.com: Gears of War Fact Sheet Gears of War "Killer-App of the XBox 360" Discussion >> By Rob
 Gamegal has posted up a list of the more over the top, shameless games promotion at some booths in E3. There intention is to expose the out of control examples of "Booth Babe" excess seen every year at the show.The list is posted annually at every E3 and so far this year has seen a reduction in Booth Babe excess according to the article. Personally I don't see that as a good thing. They're smiling on the outside, but three days of snapping Poloroids with sweaty game geeks leads these girls to swear off Guild Wars forever. E3 2005 Facts E3 Insider E3Expo Gadgets at E3 E3 takes it retro style, to the extreme Discussion >> By Gary
 Console fans and gamers alike have been drooling over the very impressive pictures that have been joyfully displayed on our monitors these last few days. E3 gave us a glimpse at the new console designs that are set to win gamers and their wallets over, and likewise, cause others to turn and run.Gamershell has a nice little video showcasing the Ps3 design plus some pics from the last few days at E3. We have added to our gallery some closeup Pics of the Playstation 3 Hardware (link); Also, added on last days, in-game pics of PS3 games on show at E3, the all in one trailer collection and the 360degree view of PS3 hardware. Sony CEO Slams "XBox 1.5" Microsoft talks up Xbox, says fuss about PlayStation 3 is 'a moment in time' Q&A with Sony's Kaz Hirai on the PS3, online gaming and the competition PS3 May Launch Outside Japan First? Under $500 Pricetag on PlayStation 3? Technical demos illustrate PlayStation 3's power Discussion >> By Gary
 A writer on ArsTechnica.com found out through some enquiries to his local retailers that pre-orders are already being taken for XBox 360, and was surprised to find that, despite the lack of an official price, release date or information on how many units would be allocated to each retailer, people were still lining up to pre-order:After personally seeing person after person laying down money for the 360 and talking to a good number of mainstream gamers who've put down money down, it's surprising how many people are looking forward to the next system and how much money they're putting down with no firm information. I've even been told in many places their preorders are filled up, and this is in Lexington Kentucky! Rare XBox 360 Faceplates Appear on eBay CNN: XBox 360 Gaming to Cost $1,710 J. Allard speaks out in Xbox 360 interview Xbox 360 shun by games developer Discussion >> By Rob
 LucasArts recently announced Via its Star Wars Empire at War website that the real time strategy game which was due for release this Autumn, is now pushed back to Spring 2006.Star Wars Empire At War lets players battle with troops across 40 ground and space locations, including: Yavin IV, Tatooine and Dragobah. The game will let players construct ground and space structures, and will let player switch from space to planetary battles. See the Star Wars Empire At War website for further information. Official website LuscasArts Discussion >> By Gary
 After separating itself from VU Games, Valve has left itself without the means for retail distribution of its upcoming titles. Come August 31st, all work VU have with Valve and Valve games will cease and unless they have another publisher in between, the only way to purchase a Valve game will be through Steam's content delivery system, leaving you without a physical copy of the game.Early reports are coming in that suggest however, Valve may still have the much anticipated Half Life 2 Expansion Aftermath ready for distribution come September. Although it isn't known who will publish the Aftermath expansion yet, we know it certainly won't be VU Games who will stop working with Valve games as of August 31st this year, as part of a legal settlement. Activision's name has been mooted to fill this void, but this is only because they published Day of Defeat, not because of any specific facts. Aftermath in September, online and in-stores, is now a given however.. which is good news for all. Valve at E3, Lost Coast details and screenshot Valve showcase HDR at E3 Doug Lombardi, Half Life 2 Interview Half Life 2 reviewer goes panoramic Half Life 2 In The Real World Legend Counter Strike Mapper Springs Back Half-Life 2: Lost Coast - More Details Emerge Retail Valve Games to Continue Half-Life 2: The Lost Coast - New Screenshots and Movie More Half-Life 2: Aftermath/ Lost Coast Details Half-Life 2: The Lost Coast Discussion >> By Gary
 Three days after this year's E3 in Los Angeles closed its gates, Gamespy reports some interesting facts on E3 itself. Being the world's largest exhibtion of interactive entertainment, more than 70,000 representatives from the game industry flocked to the three-day Expo held at the L.A. Convention Center. Of the 5,000 titles exhibited by about 400 publishers and game developers, roughly 1,000 made their debut at the show, leaving no doubt that E3 is the platform to showcase new and innovative titles.Related info: E3 Insider E3Expo Gadgets at E3 (23 May) E3 takes it retro style, to the extreme (23 May) Discussion >> By Chris
I came across this wacky and interesting article about a futurologist in the U.K. who predicts, among other things, that humans will be able to achieve immortality by the year 2050 by downloading their consciousnesses to computers. The scientist, Ian Pearson, notes that 45 years in IT is a very long time, and also predicts that by the year 2020 a conscious computer will have been created that will be used in aeroplanes - the idea being that the plane should be more afraid of crashing than the passengers. To illustrate his immortality-through-computers prediction, he refers to the advances seen with the Playstation 3: It is 35 times more powerful than previous games consoles. 'The new PlayStation is 1 per cent as powerful as a human brain,' he said. 'It is into supercomputer status compared to 10 years ago. PlayStation 5 will probably be as powerful as the human brain.' By Rob
 The AP has a round-up of the more eye-catching gadgets that were on display at the E3 including the Gizmondo handheld (due out in the U.S. in August), the "Theater Experience PSP", and the Saitek Pro Gamer Command Pad (right):Plenty of gadgets shown at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo had absolutely nothing to do with the next generation of video game consoles from Microsoft Corp., Nintendo Co. and Sony Corp. By Rob
 Limited-edition XBox 360 fascias given out at the XBox 360 launch and E3 have ended up on eBay, with some fetching over £200: The Xbox 360 will undoubtedly be the most impressive game console in the world. It was announced recently that the console will be available for Christmas 2005. But this faceplate will never be sold in a retail store. A limited number of celebrities, press, and PR people were invited to a pre-E3 Microsoft press conference announcing the system. The Killers and The Chemical Brothers preformed and at the end of the party, after the impressive presentation, Microsoft handed out exclusive, limited edition Xbox 360 faceplates to all the attendees. Only 5000 of these units were made worldwide, and each is numbered on the packaging. CNN: XBox 360 Gaming to Cost $1,710 J. Allard speaks out in Xbox 360 interview Xbox 360 shun by games developer Apple Powering XBox 360 Demos at E3? Xbox 360 Movie Collection XBox 360 PSP/iPod Compatible Discussion >> By Rob
 IGN has scored an interview with legendary Nintendo developer, Shigeru Miyamoto in which he talks about the Revolution, the future of the DS, Mario 128 and Metroid Prime 3.Miyamoto is adored by his fans and admirers like no other. IGN describe one female fan sobbing helplessly after Miyamoto agreed to have his picture taken with her. I've heard of this type of thing happening when fans meet musicians but never games developers. IGNcube: Speaking about Revolution, we have many questions. At a trade show like E3, it seems that perception is so important. You say that it's not the time to reveal Revolution in full. But with major showings from Microsoft's and Sony's next-generation consoles, do you feel that it hurts Nintendo to remain quiet? That people may incorrectly assume that Nintendo is quiet because it isn't prepared to compete with or lags behind its competition? More Nintendo Revolution Details Before Year End Nintendo.com: Nintendo's Compact Console Will Turn the World of Gaming on Its Side 20 Years of Nintendo Content with Revolution Images of the Nintendo Revolution Homebrew Games for Nintendo Revolution? Nintendo E3 press conference Discussion >> By Gary
 Yahoo! Games Domain has a first impressions of Sonic Rush for the Nintendo DS, which was part of Sega's Sonic line-up at E3 along with Shadow the Hedgehog, the Sonic Gems Collection, and Sonic for mobile phones.Returning largely to the 2D side-scrolling style of the early games in the series, Sonic Rush also makes clever use of the DS's dual-screens: When you enter a loop, you'll perform a fast 360 across both screens, and if you hit a jump pad you'll be propelled far past the touch screen and into a completely new environment. Thankfully, the best part is the game runs without a hitch, and the fact that both screens are separated doesn't hinder the gameplay at all. It's quite simply an absolute joy to play. Related: Sonic Rush on the Nintendo DS is two screens of blue Gamespot: Sonic Rush E3 2005 Hands-on Sonic Rush official site Sega: 2005: The Year Of The Hedgehog Sonic Gems Collection (PS2, GameCube) Shadow the Hedgehog (PS2, Xbox, GameCube) Discussion >> By Rob
 If you're not into all the new gadgetry or next-generation consoles and retro is your cup of Mushroom soup, then you might be into the lower level expo floor at E3, which features a mini museum of the classics.Featured is the Atari Lynx, Sega Gamegear and Atari Video Pinball to name but a few. Joystiq has posted some pics that will really make you feel old. With all the hype around the big consoles, theres one attraction that stands out. If you go to the lower level expo floor at E3 youll find some of the smaller companies. CD cleaners, accessory designers, and a mini museum of the classics. Here are some pics, courtesy of Jason C. Pac-Man to get Guinness World Record Tecmo Classic Arcade Announced Capcom announce Classics Collection Namco Museum 50th Anniversary Announced Discussion >> By Gary
 Medgadget have an interesting article in which they report on clinical trials being carried out at the Georgia State University to determine the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy in helping people who suffer from social-phobias, or to be more specific, speaking in public.For many people, the mere thought of public speaking makes their palms sweat, heart race and stomach reel. But help may be on the way in the form of virtual reality exposure therapy - computer-generated images and sound delivered through a helmet-like headset. Page Anderson, an assistant professor of psychology at Georgia State University, is beginning a clinical study later this month to determine how effective the technology is in allaying the fear and anxiety that often accompany public speaking. PS2 Used To Combat Obesity Discussion >> By Gary
 Gamespot have added 4 new gameplay footage videos of Age of Empires III from the E3, as well as a hands-on preview of the game.In their preview they say it looks like a "solid and visually attractive game", while another preview on Actiontrip.com says the gameplay will be essentially the same as AoE II: On the actual gameplay side, not too much has changed. You still move your civilization from one age to another to gain access to new structures and units. This time around you also gain experience for every second you remain in the game or when you defeat enemy units. Once you have gained enough experience, you gain points that can be spent in your home city screen. Your home city resides in the old country and initially footed the bill for your colony in the new world. By trading in the experience points you earned, you can get extra resources like food, gold or wood, more troops to fortify your army or more peasants to help build your infrastructure. You can also earn 'cards' (the name may change later) that are used to upgrade units. Official site for Age of Empires 3 Age of Empires Coming to Nintendo DS (18 May) Discussion >> By Rob
 Gamespot got a hands on look at Lionhead Studios' Black and White 2 at E3. They managed to see an entire level from the much anticipated sequel played from start to finish.In Black & White 2 (as was with the original) you play as a sky-dwelling deity who can manipulate the world using a disembodied hand. We watched as designers Peter Molyneux and Ron Millar demonstrated both alternatives in a mission, playing as a Greek civilization on a huge landmass, which was home to a warlike Norse tribe. Apparently, as part of your godlike powers in the game, you're able to listen in on the thoughts of your enemies at several points in the mission, as an indication of how you're doing in the game. After being debriefed by our advisors, we also heard a brief sound clip of the hostile Norse leader's thoughts. The belligerent leader grumbled about the presence of our Greek nation and how it should be eliminated, and later, when our population exploded, the Norse leader expressed fear and concern about "too many Greeks" on his island. Black & White 2 Official Trailer Black & White Creatures For DS Official Website Discussion >> By Gary
CNN's Money column has calculated the probable cost of fully enjoying the XBox 360 when it's launched later this year.Although Microsoft haven't announced an official price for the console, CNN go with an industry guess of $399 for their calculation and add $1000 for a new high definition television, a low $250 for a surround sound system and an estimated price of about $60 per game for a total of $1,709: Obviously, the HDTV and home theater system are luxuries, but the fact remains that the price of gaming is at a crossroads. Development costs, which have been escalating dramatically through the course of this generation of game machines, are expected to spike as new machines come on the market -- and the teams required to develop games will grow exponentially. By Rob
 Gamershell have gathered together most of the Ps3 footage at E3 and compressed it into a nice little video file for your viewing pleasure.For the lazy amongst you, as well as the non dedicated ones, we have created a single movie (XViD compressed) featuring most of the Playstation 3 Material that has been on show at E3 2005, 300MB for 28minutes runtime, enjoy. Download it here (287.05 Mb)Related: Sony CEO Slams "XBox 1.5" Microsoft talks up Xbox, says fuss about PlayStation 3 is 'a moment in time' Q&A with Sony's Kaz Hirai on the PS3, online gaming and the competition PS3 May Launch Outside Japan First? Under $500 Pricetag on PlayStation 3? Technical demos illustrate PlayStation 3's power Discussion >> By Gary
So, you've seen all the new consoles, heard the rumours, the speculation and indeed the hype. Well now here comes the battle of words. Recently, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kazuo Hirai branded the XBox 360 a combination of todays technology that wasn't future-proofed.Well now it's time for J. Allard to speak out and refute those claims. Allard is currently responsible for driving the Xbox 360 into the HD Era, according to Microsoft and is the driving force behind the development of the next-gen Xbox. Gamesindustry.biz have scored an interview with the much sought after Microsoft heavyweight in which he discusses games, the potential of the Xbox 360, what he sees happening in the years ahead and the response the Xbox 360 has received so far. It's interesting. Why have you not made those Xbox/PC titles like Call Of Duty 2, Quake 4 exclusive to Xbox 360? Xbox 360 shun by games developer Apple Powering XBox 360 Demos at E3? Xbox 360 Movie Collection XBox 360 PSP/iPod Compatible Xbox 360 confirmed as backwards compatible Xbox 360 designs that never made the cut Discussion >> By Gary
 Namco's Pac-Man is to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's number one arcade game.293,000 Pac-Man arcade machines were sold worldwide in the eight years after the game was released in 1980 - according to Namco, 1000 sales would have been considered a hit: Namco officials said video arcade games were considered a big hit if the number of arcade machines reached about 1,000. Another of the company's hit games, "Taiko no Tatsujin" (drum master), appeared in only about 4,000 arcade machines. Iwatani said he was glad about Pac Man's achievements. Namco GuinnessWorldRecords.com The History of Pac-Man Discussion >> By Rob
Movie director John Woo is making big moves into the world of gaming these days; in addition to his recently announced partnership with Clive Barker to produce Demonik, he has now announced Stranglehold, a game for next-generation consoles starring Chow Yun Fat. In the game, Fat will reprise his role as Tequila Yuen from Woo's 1992 action movie Hard Boiled: “With Stranglehold, I want to go back to my roots and do a gritty, emotional and sensational game,” Woo said. Related: Midway Games E3 2005: John Woo unloads both guns at the next-gen Lashou shentan (Hard Boiled) on the IMDb Clive Barker's Demonik Coming to Consoles, Cinemas (10 May) Discussion >> By Rob
 Following in the trend of recent classic arcade releases, Tecmo has officially announced their own Tecmo Classic Arcade for the Xbox. The pack will feature such classic Tecmo titles as Rygar, Solomons Key, Bomb Jack, Tecmo Cup. Tecmo Classics Arcade will be released sometime this Summer.From the press release: At the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Tecmo® announced the plan to bring back the original football favorite, Tecmo BowlTM, along with a slew of other classic arcade Tecmo titles in Tecmo® Classic Arcade for the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft. Launching this summer, Tecmo® Classic Arcade, will feature some of Tecmo's best old school titles including RygarTM, Solomon's KeyTM, Bomb JackTM, Tecmo CupTM, and more. With over ten different games to play in the compilation, old and new gamers alike will have some summer fun while playing some of the best arcade games from Tecmo's vault. Capcom announce Classics Collection Namco Museum 50th Anniversary Announced Discussion >> By Gary
 Ubisoft has announced the official title for Prince of Persia 3, along with an estimated time of release. Officially called Prince of Persia Kindred Blades, the new title is supposed to reflect the two different personas of the Prince that the person playing will be involved in.November 2005 is the date Ubisoft has put on this 3rd iteration of Prince of Persia. Prince of Persia Kindred Blades begins with the Prince returning to Babylon, only to find the city razed and a dark spirit attempting to overwhelm him. The game includes extensive stealth options and two separate playable characters with individual fighting styles. Prince of Persia Kindred Blades will also feature a mixture of old and new Sands of Time powers. Prince Of Persia Makes A 3rd Splash Prince of Persia 3 Preview (Xbox) Discussion >> By Gary
 Games developer Majesco has impressed a number of onlookers at E3 when it showcased some of its upcoming titles. One in particular, Jaws Unleashed for the Xbox, PS2, and PC.The game is purported to have a kind of Anti-Corporate and particularly violent theme. It's just like Ecco the Dolphin, but it's extremely violent"! That's what one of Majesco's people said to me today through a toothy grin and he's absolutely correct. Jaws is Ecco with rabies. Taking place thirty years after the original film hit theaters, the game puts you in control of a giant killer shark that is out to rip victims limb from limb. Larger animals (including those pesky humans) feature about 25 points of dissection and you can actually target which body part you want to go after, so it's possible to bite humans in half or just snack on their legs, but people aren't the only creatures that Jaws can take a bite out of. Theoretically, anything that moves can be eaten, and this includes schools of tiny fish, seals, other sharks, and even a killer whale! All you have to do (I played the Xbox version) is press A to accelerate and R to chomp on something, and it doesn't matter whether it's a bunch of little fishies or a boat. Anything is fair game. By Gary
 Independent California games developer, Factor 5 has dropped planned work with the Xbox 360 in a dramatic turn of events.Factor 5 were due to make games for Microsoft's Xbox 360, that is until Sony revealed their Ps3 specs. Now the developer team will be dedicated to Sony's next-gen console on the basis that their hardware is more powerful than that of Bill's new Xbox. I was shocked by how powerful the new consoles are," said Julian Eggebrecht, president of Factor 5. "They should really free our development." Apparently, the greater processing power of Sony's much-hyped new CPU 'the Cell', will allow Factor 5 to better simulate the real world making for more realistic games. We've no word on the nature of Factor 5's next-gen products, but the company in the past has created middleware as well as new games. We'll keep you posted on this. Sony CEO Slams "XBox 1.5" Microsoft talks up Xbox, says fuss about PlayStation 3 is 'a moment in time' Q&A with Sony's Kaz Hirai on the PS3, online gaming and the competition PS3 May Launch Outside Japan First? Under $500 Pricetag on PlayStation 3? Technical demos illustrate PlayStation 3's power Discussion >> By Gary
Archives
Sponsored links: Place a link here Igniq.com Archives
X CLOSE
April 4, 2004 June 13, 2004 June 20, 2004 July 4, 2004 July 11, 2004 July 18, 2004 July 25, 2004 August 1, 2004 August 8, 2004 August 15, 2004 August 22, 2004 August 29, 2004 September 5, 2004 September 12, 2004 September 19, 2004 September 26, 2004 October 3, 2004 October 10, 2004 October 17, 2004 October 24, 2004 October 31, 2004 November 7, 2004 November 14, 2004 November 21, 2004 November 28, 2004 December 5, 2004 December 12, 2004 December 19, 2004 December 26, 2004 January 2, 2005 January 9, 2005 January 16, 2005 January 23, 2005 January 30, 2005 February 6, 2005 February 13, 2005 February 20, 2005 February 27, 2005 March 6, 2005 March 13, 2005 March 20, 2005 March 27, 2005 April 3, 2005 April 10, 2005 April 17, 2005 April 24, 2005 May 1, 2005 May 8, 2005 May 15, 2005 May 22, 2005 May 29, 2005 June 5, 2005 June 12, 2005 June 19, 2005 June 26, 2005 July 3, 2005 July 10, 2005 July 17, 2005 July 24, 2005 July 31, 2005 August 7, 2005 August 14, 2005 August 21, 2005 August 28, 2005 September 4, 2005 September 11, 2005 September 18, 2005 September 25, 2005 October 2, 2005 October 9, 2005 October 16, 2005 October 23, 2005 October 30, 2005 November 6, 2005 November 13, 2005 November 20, 2005 November 27, 2005 December 4, 2005 December 11, 2005 December 18, 2005 December 25, 2005 January 1, 2006 January 8, 2006 January 15, 2006 January 22, 2006 January 29, 2006 February 5, 2006 February 12, 2006 February 19, 2006 February 26, 2006 March 5, 2006 March 12, 2006 March 19, 2006 March 26, 2006 April 2, 2006 April 9, 2006 April 16, 2006 April 23, 2006 April 30, 2006 May 7, 2006 May 14, 2006 May 21, 2006 May 28, 2006 June 4, 2006 June 11, 2006 June 18, 2006 June 25, 2006 July 2, 2006 July 9, 2006 July 16, 2006 July 23, 2006 July 30, 2006 August 6, 2006 August 13, 2006 August 20, 2006 August 27, 2006 September 3, 2006 September 10, 2006 September 17, 2006 September 24, 2006 October 1, 2006 October 8, 2006 October 15, 2006 October 22, 2006 October 29, 2006 November 5, 2006 November 12, 2006 November 19, 2006 November 26, 2006 December 3, 2006 December 10, 2006 December 17, 2006 December 24, 2006 December 31, 2006 January 7, 2007 January 14, 2007 January 21, 2007 January 28, 2007 February 4, 2007 February 11, 2007 February 18, 2007 February 25, 2007 March 4, 2007 March 11, 2007 March 18, 2007 March 25, 2007 April 1, 2007 April 8, 2007 April 15, 2007 April 22, 2007 April 29, 2007 May 6, 2007 May 13, 2007 May 20, 2007 October 19, 2008 October 26, 2008 November 9, 2008 November 16, 2008 November 23, 2008 November 30, 2008 December 7, 2008 December 14, 2008 December 21, 2008 January 4, 2009 January 11, 2009 January 18, 2009 January 25, 2009 February 1, 2009 February 8, 2009 |
||
