Upgrade Makes PS2 Games Better On PS3

2007-05-24T20:27:00.000+01:00

At last, an answer to that pesky imaging problem when older PlayStation 2 games are popped into a PS3.

Sony has released a free download that enhances the imaging quality of older games and even movies. It also allows users to watch stored video and more through the Internet via the PlayStation Portable.

According to a report from KomoTV.com, "The software will also work to adjust the image quality of movies so they will look much better on the PS3, which is equipped to deliver higher image quality through next-generation Blu-ray disc technology.

Up to now, people could use the PlayStation Portable to watch content stored in their PS3 through a wireless local area network.

With the upgrade, users will be able to use PlayStation Portables to check out music, photos and video stored in their PS3 machines at home, while on the go, even from abroad, wherever there's an Internet connection. But they won't be able to play PS3 games on their portable console."

This sounds like a very important upgrade for the PS3 in a particular. The ability to play older games on the machine was a draw for gamers waiting for bigger and better PS3 titles to arrive. But, with the imaging issues, some of the fun was sucked right out of the proposition.

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Shrek The Third Game Hits The Streets

2007-05-14T23:28:00.000+01:00

Activision has released its Shrek the Third video game for fans to enjoy, just days before the huge theatrical release of the third in the series.

The game puts the fate of Far Far Away land into gamers' hands as they take on the role of one of the movie's main characters. Featuring the all-star cast of Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, Puss-in-Boots and even Artie and Sleeping Beauty, the game takes players on a quest to stop the ever-evil Prince Charming.

Call me a big kid if you will, but this movie and its memorabilia really has my attention. Perhaps it's because of my 7-year-old, or maybe it's just Antonio's voice, either way, I'll be there this weekend to see the third installment. It's also possible, the game will make it's way home, too.

The game is available on multiple platforms, ranging from the Nintendo DS and the Game Boy Advance. It's also out for the Xbox 360, the Wii, the PS2 and more. Prices vary depending on the gaming system involved. It starts at $19.99 for the PC version and works its way up to the standard $49.99 fee for the next gen systems.

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Xbox 360 Stagnates In Japan

2007-05-12T15:16:00.000+01:00

It might be one of the best-selling consoles on this side of the globe, but the Japanese have had different opinions since day one. It seems those opinions are holding strong.

According to Punch Jump, the Xbox 360 is still hanging out in the No. 6 position in Japan, falling behind most other gaming machines, handhelds, too, in the country.

Average sales for the console on a weekly basis there fall in between 2,000 and 3,000. Software ranking is also sluggish, but that makes sense with the console's popularity or lack thereof.

Still, there's a silver lining in the cloud. Amazon Japan's video game division has Forza Motorsport 2 and another 360 title on its Top 20 list.

Will they be enough to get the console some attention?

Probably not enough. With the Wii and the PlayStation 3 both trouncing the 360 on weekly sales, a pull out of the figures seems unlikely.

Still, it's doubtful Microsoft ever bet the farm on winning Japanese gamers over.

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Spore Delay Not Shocking

2007-05-10T12:44:00.000+01:00

News that Electronic Arts' and Will Wright's Spore would be delayed broke yesterday to the surprise of probably no one. This game has already earned worldwide interest because of its maker, but its release has never been nailed down despite years of buzz.

In fact, Spore might be the most popular title that ever wasn't.

Considering the build up for the game, I understand the hesitance to release it before it's "perfect." Wright has a reputation to maintain, after all. As the father of The Sims, any creation he makes is expected to rock the gaming world.

Still, all the delays are starting to make me wonder if Spore isn't just a great big mess.

Guess we'll have to wait until 2008 to find out now.

Once released, the game is expected to be a "god" type title where players create their own worlds from the spore up. It's already won numerous accolades and has a following that includes celebrities.

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StarCraft MMO Coming?

2007-05-08T17:21:00.000+01:00

As the May 19 date for a Blizzard Entertainment event in South Korea approaches, speculation is running high about what the company's newest installment in the StarCraft series will be.

According to CVG, a new MMO will be revealed, following in the footsteps of the company's incredible success with World of Warcraft.

"Well placed US sources have revealed to us that the StarCraft MMO will be unveiled at an upcoming Blizzard event on May 19 in South Korea - the epicentre of the sci-fi RTS series' rabid fandom," CVG says.

With millions and millions of subscribers to WoW found all over the globe, there's no doubt this company is a master at creating an MMO. A science fiction entry that has the mass appeal of WoW and the popularity of StarCraft would be hard to beat.

Still the science fiction MMO arena already has some pretty big names that aren't doing as great as one might expect. EVE is considered on of the best MMOs out there by fans, but its subscription base is miniscule compared to WoW and Sony's Star Wars Galaxies is continuing to flounder along.

But, with Blizzard behind the wheel of a StarCraft-based game, anything could be possible. It will be interesting to watch this develop, if it does.

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Forza 2 Races In A Few Weeks

2007-05-07T12:26:00.000+01:00

There's only a short few weeks left to go before Forza Motorsport 2 speeds on to the Xbox 360. To say there's been a lot of buzz leading up to this release is an understatment.

The highly anticipated game is the subject of many interviews, specs layouts and even has its own Wikipedia entry. It's available for preorder in a number of locations. Amazon.com is offering a 9 percent discount on the $59.99 sticker price from Turn 10 and Microsoft Game Studios. Amazon also is offering a Nissan Fairlady Z for download to those who preorder.

The updated version of Forza runs at 60 frames per second, allows for a 360 degree view of a car with networked screens and features cars that can be fully customizable. The title supports split-screen and system link and can be played by up to eight people via Xbox Live.

Racing enthusiasts wanting to learn more about the title will find there's no shortage of information out. TeamXbox has a great rundown on the cars of Forza 2, complete will full driving specs.

CVG has a prerelease interview with Dan Greenawalt, the game's director, on its site. Greenawalt took the time to answer questions about the title in general, its features and the new decal system, among other things.

The game releases May 29 for the Xbox 360. It's later than many of us thought it would be last year, but the wait sounds like it will be well worth it.

That day's already marked on the calendar in my house. It's a must have.

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Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection Giveaway

2007-05-05T23:05:00.000+01:00

Courtesy of The EPN and Namco Bandai, the Igniq.com tradition of giving continues.

This time around we have a $20 gift card to GameStop or EB Games courtesy of the two to give away in honor of the recent launch of Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection for download on the PlayStation Network. The card roughly covers the cost of the download.

The Tekken 5 download is a big one. It took us quite some time to get through it, but it was worth it. The game looks great and is a fun play.

To get in on the gift card giveaway, answer this question correctly: What anniversary did the Tekken franchise recently celebrate?

E-mail answers to sherri@igniq.com. Eligible contestants must live in North America and must answer the question correctly. The deadline is May 19. The winner will be drawn shortly thereafter.

Now, in regard to our .hack://g.u. giveaway, the brand new copy goes out to Krista Edlen in Florida, who was among those who correctly placed the world of Norrath with the MMORPG EverQuest. Congratulations Krista! Your game will be mailed out this week!

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Spider-Man 3 Game Springs Into Action

2007-05-05T22:55:00.000+01:00

Spider-Man fans who can't get enough of the blockbuster hit in the theaters can bring the action home thanks to Activision's latest release.

The official Spider-Man 3 Game has made it was to stores. The game is based on the movie and allows players to "experience for the first time Spider-Man's mysterious black-suited persona, as well as heroic red suit while battling villains in a massive New York City playground teeming with activity," says Activision's media release.

The game features scenes from the movie and enables players to choose between the film plot or new storylines as they fight crime and explore the city. The title boasts more than 20 miles of subterranean environment.

Spider-Man 3 is out for a host of gaming devices, from the three next-gens, to handhelds like the Game Boy Advance. It ranges in price from $59.99 to $29.99, depending on platform of play. It's rated E10+.

Sounds like a great way to bring the action home.

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Second Life Security Reminders Issued

2007-05-05T22:40:00.000+01:00

A recent reminder for Second Life players to make wise choices in creating and protecting their passwords has some wondering if the game is experiencing a problem with hackers, spamers or glitches.

MMORPG.qj reported that Daniel Linden, Linden Lab's community affairs director, has suggested that residents of Second Life consider May "Strong Password Month." It seems Linden went on to strongly encourage people to change their passwords right away.

It does sound like a security breach or a suspected one prompted this, but in the gaming world, password security is always a concern. It can't hurt to play it safe.

In other Second Life news, Linden Labs is getting ready to test an age verification tool that will help ensure residents are 18 or older. Beta testing is set to begin soon and will require residents to input some form of ID to help esnure the population follows the age restriction requirements.

Boy, I wish that rule extended to MMORPGs like EQ and Vanguard!

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Tron Coming To Xbox Live

2007-05-03T12:35:00.000+01:00

Disney Interactive Studios is celebrating the 25th anniversay of "Tron" the movie with a with a re-release of the classic games on Xbox Live Arcade. Both Tron the game and Discs of Tron will be out this summer.

"The 'Tron' film has captured the imaginations of video game players and film fans for generations with its ground-breaking visuals and action-filled story," said Craig Relyea, vice president of marketing, Disney Interactive Studios, in a media release. "The classic arcade games Tron and Discs of Tron are returning this summer through Xbox LIVE Arcade with new features and options for the film's 25th anniversary."

The games include the original versions and also newly enhanced ones, as well. The updated versions include enhanced graphics and audio. There will be four online modes.

There's no word on when exactly these will arrive on Xbox Live, but they will certainly deliver one heck of a blast from the past when they do.

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Saints Row Gets Platinum Hits Status

2007-05-02T20:58:00.000+01:00

Just nine months after its official release, THQ's Saints Row has been named an Xbox 360 Platinum Hits title.

Players of the game take on the role of a 3rd Street Saints gang member. Living under threat from rival gangs and corrupt officials, the mission is to conquer Stilwater a district at a time.

The title allows players to customize their character and vehicles. The open-world genre title can support up to 12 players on Xbox Live.

As a Platinum Hits title, Saints Row will retail for $29.99. Considering it's only nine months after its initial release, I can't quite figure out if this is actually good news for the title or not, but at least it's good for gamers that want to check it out for less of an investment.

The folks at THQ don't sound too upset though.

"Achieving Platinum Hits status in just nine months is a tribute to Volition's talented development team, and we look forward to leveraging their proprietary open-world engine to continue pushing the genre forward," said Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ, in a media release.

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DS Gets Voice Recognition

2007-05-01T13:20:00.000+01:00

AGI and Sega have a quirky little program coming out for the Nitnendo DS that will have gamers talking – literally.

Kokoro Scan is voice recognition software that is designed to gauge a person's mood. The program can tell if users are happy, sad, stressed and so on. It can even be used to scan the voices of others in the area.

The software comes with a few games, including Kokoro Age, which will have players trying to control their moods while talking. Mini-games are also included.

It doesn't sound like much right now, but if Kokoro Scan follows the typical Nintendo pattern, there will be much more there than meets the eye. Quirky + Nintendo tends to equal addictive!

Wii Sports anyone?

Nods to Kotaku

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Xbox 360 Elite Scoring On Presales

2007-04-28T22:46:00.000+01:00

If the presales for the Xbox 360 Elite are any indication, Microsoft might have a serious seller on its hands. Although its name sake is only the second bestselling next-gen console, this bigger and better version is kicking up some real interest.

Punch Jump is reporting the Elite, which features a 120GB hard drive and HDMI, has sold out on preorders via Amazon.com.

The preorders have put the Elite in the "No. 5 position in the best-selling products for Amazon's Computer & Video Games division on Thursday."

While that's not necessarily the No. 1 spot, it does look as if the Elite is garnering some serious attention. With the PS3 still floundering and the upcoming release of Halo 3 drawing closer (we all hope), the Elite might bring only good things to Microsoft.

The new console releases April 29.

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Blizzard Working On Next-Gen MMORPG

2007-04-27T23:21:00.000+01:00

Blizzard is cooking something up for next-gen console fans who happen to love MMORPGs.

The company responsible for World of Warcraft and Diablo currently has three positions open that specifically point to a next-gen MMORPG being on the way.

“Blizzard Entertainment is looking for an individual to lead an engine-programming team focused on next-generation massively multiplayer online games,” reads one of the three ads on the Blizzard site.

There’s no indication as to whether this would be a remake of an older Blizzard game, such as WoW or Diablo, or a completely new creation. There’s some speculation that it might be a Diablo remake. Since Blizzard execs have said a WoW versions for next-gen consoles would be incredibly difficult, the Diablo guess does sound like a good one.

Still, a completely different game by these skilled creators wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

There’s no indication based on the job postings which next-gen consoles Blizzard is looking at. Whatever it ends up being promises to be good.

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LoTR Online Delayed In Some Areas

2007-04-26T13:04:00.000+01:00

Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar has made its way to the North American market, but it looks like the MMORPG won't be arriving down under until sometime in May.

According to ITWire, the delay hasn't been explained by Atari, Codemasters or Turbine as of yet. On the upside, they are extending pre-order keys to automatically set to May 10, which means those who purchased in advance won't be out of any time on their grace period.

The beta version of LOTR Online was a little chunky, as beta versions are supposed to be. Still, the idea behind the title is more than intriguing and the use of mythos made it fun even with some bugs.

As ITWire is saying, "hopefully this is a delay in order to make sure the game is right from the start and not just ‘shipping down under' delays.'"

I'm thinking that's not the case because of the US launch, but who knows, maybe they are fixing some things before releasing in another market.

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Wii Creator Honored By Time Magazine

2007-04-25T23:15:00.000+01:00

Anyone who thinks video games don't make a difference in the world should check out Time magazine's voting for the 100 Most Influential People list.

Right there in black and white, online and everything, is Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto – the creator of Super Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda and most recently the Wii. Granted, he hasn't made it yet, but the mere inclusion on the voting is a fairly big deal.

Time has his pros listed as those creations and his cons being: "His perfectionist tendencies often result in games being significantly delayed and, despite the Wii's gameplay innovation, its graphics are far behind the competition."

While I have to agree with the graphics part of the Wii being somewhat of a con, the perfectionism is exactly what makes Miyamoto so "influential." His games are trendsetters that cut across generational lines. Heck, I grew up playing Donkey Kong and Mario, and now my daughter's generation is enjoying the same brand of game play.

The Wii itself, poor graphics and all, is defining more casual game play in a way I can't remember a console ever having done before. With players ranging from small children to retirees in nursing homes, the Wii is absolutely influential.

What Miyamoto has managed to do is create something that appeals to entire families from the youngest member to the oldest, with a style of play that everyone can understand. In essence, he's given people of all ages a common ground to come together and enjoy a little bit of fun.

I personally think that's pretty darn influential.

Check out Time's listing here.

Nods to Gizmo Cafe.

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E3 Is A Shadow Of Its Former Self

2007-04-24T23:26:00.000+01:00

When it came to video game conventions, the E3 used to be considered the Mack Daddy. Somewhat akin to Cannes for the movie industry, this elaborate showcase is now a shadow of its former self.

It was decided last year to shrink the event.

“Over the years, it has become clear that we need a more intimate program, including higher quality, more personal dialogue with the worldwide media, developers, retailers and other key industry audiences,” said Doug Lowenstein, ESA president at the time.

1UP has a full listing of this year's E3 exhibitors – all 33 of them. Last year's convention had more than 400, with all the pomp and circumstance of the Academy Awards.

Notables at this year's event, which has been moved to July from May, include Activision, Atari, Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Capcom, Take-Two, Sony Online Entertainment and Vivendi Games. 1UP has a full listing, which is missing big names like NVIDIA and Blizzard along with the usual round up of indie creators, as 1UP points out.

I understand the idea behind the leaner, meaner conference. There's nothing wrong with getting back to the basics. But, still, it won't seem the same watching the action unfold without all the pomp, circumstance and unique moments.

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Sony Drops PSP Price In Europe

2007-04-23T22:15:00.000+01:00

North Americans won't be the only ones enjoying more affordable PlayStation Portables. Sony has announced that a price drop is on the way for Europe, too.

According to Gamasutra, the price drop will be on par with the $30 drop Sony recently announced for North America. That means the price of the core bundle will fall from €199.99/£149.99 ($271) to €169.99/£129.99 ($230).

It also sounds like gamers will be able to pick up some great titles for less, too. The Platinum titles will drop from £19.99 to £14.99 ($40 to $30). Upcoming titles in this range include Tekken: Dark Resurrection, Killzon: Liberation and Ridge Racer 2.

“PSP is unique and is constantly evolving. It offers the widest palette of mobile entertainment, from gaming to video, music, photos and internet,” SCE UK managing director Ray Maguire has been quoted as saying. “But now the exciting possibility of connecting remotely to PS3 makes PSP more relevant than ever. So what better time to offer a brand new price point, and the launch of five new Platinum titles?”

It sounds like Sony has a winning idea here. But, will it be enough to knock Nintendo out of the lead spot?

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Ms. Pac-Man Makes Her iPod Debut

2007-04-22T22:42:00.000+01:00

Apple's still relatively new at offering games for on-the-go players, but it appears as if the company is on the right track. The titles for the iPod aren't ground breaking, but they are fairly well rounded.

The latest addition to the lineup is a blast from the past, but the emphasis is on "blast," especially for those of us who grew up playing the title in arcades and burger joints. Ms. Pac-Man officially brings the number of games for the iPod up to a small, but respectable dozen.

In fact, to sweeten the game playing deal, iTunes is offering all 12 games in a package for $59.99. Ms. Pac-Man herself can be purchased for a cool $4.99, which isn't bad considering. The more "manly" version of the game is also available for iPod play.

Right now the games on the site range from card offerings, such as Texas Hold'em and Royal Solitaire, to puzzle creations such as Suduko and Tetris.

While there is certainly room for improvement as far as iPod games are concerned, the lineup so far isn't half bad. Considering this format is about as portable as it gets and music can be played at the same time, it's not a bad deal at all.

Someday, hopefully, the roster will be almost as impressive as iTunes television library.

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Nintendo Still Tops In Sales

2007-04-20T12:36:00.000+01:00

With Sony's slickness and Microsoft's early start, few expected Nintendo to actually come out on top in the next-gen battle, but once again, the Wii has taken on all comers. The DS, too, is leading in sales.

According to Game Daily, March was a very good month for the game maker. "Despite widespread shortages for both systems, more than half a million buyers snapped up the portable Nintendo DS, and Wii was once again the top-selling new home video game console... Wii remains the fastest-selling new console in more than a decade, based on NPD sell-through information over the first five months of availability. So far this year, Nintendo has sold more video game systems than all other manufacturers combined."

"The message delivered by both Wii and Nintendo DS is the same one," said Reggie Fils-Aime, president, Nintendo of America has been quoted as saying. "Innovation is compelling both current gamers and new gamers to experience a new way to play. Nintendo is bringing gaming back to the masses."

While shortages of the Wii will likely remain, production has increased.
Although it was the underdog, Nintendo is clearly proving different can be quite good.

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Pogo Bounces Deeper Into Europe

2007-04-19T12:59:00.000+01:00

Electronic Arts has expanded its popular casual gaming platform, Pogo.com, in the UK and will also launch a German-language service in Europe.

Fans of mind-numbing, but wonderful, games can log on to the UK site here and the German site here to check out the single and multiplayer games EA has up. The free offerings range from puzzle and word games to casino and board.

Vice president and general manager of Pogo, Karen Schulman said in a media release,
“We are ecstatic to bring the Pogo experience and community to Europe. Whether you speak French, German or English, enjoying and relaxing with games is something that we universally share. Pogo players have created an incredibly tight knit community. We are excited to see Pogo grow past the borders of North America.”

In the U.S., Pogo.com draws in about 11 million gamers a month. The UK site sees about 3.2 million monthly since its launch.

It might not be Vanguard, City of Villains, or even EverQuest, but even I have to admit, Pogo is a fun distraction from everyday life and less casual gaming. I have to warn though, Word Whomp is addictive.

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Xbox 360 Mod No. 2 Looks Even Sweeter

2007-04-18T12:58:00.000+01:00

A while back we reported about the unusual Xbox 360 mod that gaming guru Ben
Heckendorn had managed to create. Looking sweet in an aluminum laptop case, the fully functional design was certainly a wower.

It seems Heckendorn wasn't satisfied with that version. He's been at it again. This time the laptop 360 is looking pretty in black and green with, as Heckendorn writes on his site, "60% less aluminum!”

Xbox 360 Elite, bah! Heckendorn's model might top it!

The fully functional 360 mod No. 2 seems to work in much the same way as the first, as in it is a working 360, with a keyboard built in. Honestly, it looks a whole lot more user friendly for those who like to take their 360s on the go than the actual Microsoft design.

To learn more about its creation, visit Heckendorn's site.

Engadget has a lot of photos of the new model up, as well, along with some comments from Heckendorn.

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Gaming News With Lady Mainframe Back

2007-04-18T12:50:00.000+01:00

She's been on hiatus since the holidays last year, but Lady Mainframe is now back with a vengeance. She's brought lots of gaming news with her.

Not satisfied to deliver the news in video format on a weekly basis, the Lady is now striving to give fans information a bit faster. To achieve this, a new gaming news blog has been created to make sure Lady Mainframe stays on top of it all.

The new site, named Gnews for short, adds to the video collection already created by Binary Picture Show.

As always, the site remains on Igniq.com's friends list. Check out Binary's latest creation here.

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Original TV Coming To Xbox Live

2007-04-17T12:41:00.000+01:00

Microsoft has announced plans to bring the Xbox Live network to the next level. Like the folks over at CBS, Microsoft wants to have some original content to offer gamers to view over its online platform.

To achieve this, the company has rolled out a content for would be television producers to create a pilot for the network. The winner gets $100,000 budget and a chance to win a six-episode commitment for Xbox Live.

"Not only can aspiring TV producers from across the globe try their hands at creating new TV shows, but because of Xbox Live Marketplace, they can now win a chance to have more than 6 million people worldwide see their work," Bill Nielsen, senior director of Xbox Live at Microsoft, has been quoted as saying. "This is an incredible opportunity for us to participate in the festival, and we are thrilled to be able to bring community-created TV content to the Xbox community for the first time."

Entries will be accepted until June 29. The rules can be found here.

According to Punch Jump, Xbox Live is currently the No. 1 platform for distribution of television and movies.

This news is very interesting for online TV fans and want-to-be producers alike. More original content on the net to join the likes of CBS's shows, such as "InTurn," come of the cartoon series online and so on is a very good indication of what the future holds for viewer. It just keeps getting better.

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Sony Considering PS3 Elite

2007-04-16T17:48:00.000+01:00

While it's not carved in stone, a Sony spokesperson has confirmed rumors that the company is toying with the idea of creating a bigger, better version of the PlayStation 3.

The news comes on the heels of Sony's FCC application for an 80GB PS3, and following many rumors that this announcement would be forthcoming.

The spokesperson, Satoshi Fukuoka, has been quoted as saying the notion is "in line with our strategy as we had planned to choose models based on consumer needs."

The creation of an 80GB version and the dropping of the 20GB model all make sense in light of Microsoft's recent Elite announcements. Keeping up with the competition while working to develop better games for the PS3 could mean the difference between success or failure for the next-gen console.

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