Tag Archives: April 2007

Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta Starting Soon

Halo 3 Halo fans that have been waiting patiently – mostly – for word of when the game would go into all out multiplayer beta don’t have to wait any longer. The word has come down from on high.

Bungie has stated that multiplayer beta will open for Halo 3 via Xbox Live May 16 at 5 a.m. PDT and run through June 6.

The beta will be open to those who have picked up special copies of Crackdown and those who won a spot during regional promotions. Gamers with beta access only need to log onto the Xbox Live Gold account and download the title to play the beta.
Fence sitters can still get in on the action, Frankie says.

“You can still enter the Beta by picking up a specially marked copy of Crackdown, which would ordinarily be a chore, but thankfully Crackdown is an awesome action game which might ironically distract you from the Beta I’m pimping here. Bungie is also giving out a few Friends and Family spots to valued community members, but those are few and far between, so it’s safer to assume you’re not getting in that way.”

While beta will be open to only a select few, it is still good news that shows progress is happening with the title. The highly anticipated game is expected to come out later this year.

Master Chief fans will be waiting.

Labels: bungie, halo, halo 3, microsoft, multiplayer beta

LoTR Online Delayed In Some Areas

LoTRonline
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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Labels: atari, codemasters, lord of the rings, lord of the rings online, lotr online, turbine

Sony Drops PSP Price In Europe

Sony PSP 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?

Labels: playstation portable, psp, ridge racers, sony

Xbox 360 To Double As A Chat Box

Xbox 360 gamers that want a break from hard Halo shooting action will soon be able to take some time out to talk. Microsoft is prepared to deliver an IM service to the console.

The Windows Live Messenger software package for the 360 will be delivered with the Spring Update May 7. The new feature will enable users to chat with up to six people at the same time, using the 360 in place of a computer.

The new service will work with the 360’s virtual keyboard, or gamers can plug in a USB keyboard to make it easier. Plus, Playfuls is reporting a new QWERTY text input device is coming this summer that will connect right to a controller to help with text and instant messaging.

Microsoft’s certainly doing its part to make certain the 360 offers a lot of the same perks as a computer, but I have to admit, I’m having a hard time picturing gamers being thrilled with IMs coming in as they fight it out online.

Maybe it’s just me?

Labels: im, microsoft, xbox 360, xbox live

Original TV Coming To Xbox Live

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.

Labels: cbs, microsoft, online tv, xbox 360, xbox live

Gaming News With Lady Mainframe Back

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.

Labels: binary picture show, gaming news, lady mainframe

Pogo Bounces Deeper Into Europe

Pogo 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.

Labels: casual gaming, ea, online games, pogo, pogo.com

Xbox 360 Mod No. 2 Looks Even Sweeter

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.

Labels: ben heckendorn, gaming mods, microsoft, xbox 360, xbox mod

Wii Creator Honored By Time Magazine

Nintendo Wii 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.

Labels: donkey kong, Nintendo, nintendo wii, shigeru miyamoto, Wii

EA Strives To Marry TV, Video Games

Electronic Arts has announced a rather interesting partnership with the Endemol group that would seek to marry television and video games in a hybrid creation. The Virtual Me, as its being billed, will bridge “the divide between traditional TV and videogames.”

This brand new production is being created to debut during the next “Big Brother” round.

According to the EA media release, “Virtual Me combines cutting edge avatar creation technology from EA with popular TV formats from Endemol to give consumers a breakthrough way to meet, compete and socialize in online digital worlds. Avatar creation takes a leap forward with a high performing, easy-to-use tool that creates astonishingly life-like cyber-clones, with uniquely customized appearances and identities.”

While using the Virtual Me, gamers or viewers, if you will, will be able to participate in virtual versions of hit shows, such as “Deal or No Deal,” “Fame Academy” and more.

The web site, VirtualMe.com, is expected to go live in the coming months.

Peter Bazalgette, Chief Creative Officer, Endemol, is quoted as saying, “We’re told that people are starting to spend more time online than they are watching TV. Both markets are now important and this has huge implications for content creators. Our opportunity with Electronic Arts is to develop ideas that fully embrace the way people are consuming entertainment today.”

This does sound a whole lot like the Wii Mii or even MTV’s virtual games on steroids, but with EA behind the wheel the result should be interesting to say the least.

Labels: big brother, ea, endemol, virtual me

.Hack//G.U. Vol. 1 Giveaway

Hack gu
We at Igniq.com have been blessed in the past few months with some great games to check out and giveaway. We just wrapped up our Lunar Knights contest and now we’re rolling out a new one courtesy of The EPN and Bandai Namco.

This time around we’ll be giving out a copy of .hack//G.U. Vol. 1 // Rebirth for the PlayStation 2. The brand new copy of the unusual game that has players scrambling to uncover the truth behind strange happenings in the MMO “The World,” is rated T for teen. It features advanced AI and real-time fighting.

So, without further ado, the question to win a copy of this one is: What MMO series is based in the world of Norrath?

Answers should be e-mailed directly to Igniq.com at contest@igniq.com. Eligible contestants must reside within North America. A winner will be chosen from those who answer the question correctly. The deadline to enter is April 17, 2007.

In regards to the Lunar Knight giveaway, the father of The Sims is Will Wright. Our lucky winner, Andrew Brewer, will have his copy on its way to him in Canada shortly.

Congratulations, Andrew, and good luck to everyone on the .Hack//G.U. contest!

Labels: bandai, hack//gu, lunar knights, namco, the epn

E3 Is A Shadow Of Its Former Self

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.

Labels: doug lowenstein, e3, microsoft, Nintendo, sony

Nintendo Still Tops In Sales

Nintendo Wii 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.

Labels: ds, Nintendo, nintendo ds, nintendo wii, Wii, wii production

Ms. Pac-Man Makes Her iPod Debut

ms pacman 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.

Labels: apple, ipod, itunes, ms. pac-man, pac-man

Rocking Out On The Wii, PS3

UK PlayStation 3 and Wii owners can now listen to the radio on their high tech, next-gen consoles thanks to a deal with Virgin Radio. The music will soon come to the Xbox 360, too.

“It’s great for us to achieve another new media first and be the only UK radio station available on both of these massively popular games consoles,” said James Cridland, director of digital media, is quoted as saying by el33tonline.

Virgin’s saying “if it’s got a speaker on it, we want it to be playing Virgin Radio.”
To access the service, gamers need to open their Internet browsers on the PS3 or Wii and go to virginradio.co.uk/listen. Click on the “listen now” button to access the player designed for the next-gen systems.

This sounds like a solid play to ensure the next-gen consoles become total entertainment devices. Now, to just get this in North America!

Labels: Nintendo, nintendo wii, ps3, sony, virgin radio

Sony Considering PS3 Elite

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.

Labels: PlayStation 3, ps3, ps3 elite, sony, xbox 360 elite

Sony’s Remote Patent Has Possibility

Playstation 3 There’s no word on when or even if Sony’s new “hand-held computer interactive device” will make it to the market, but the patent drawings sure make it look and sound sweet.

The device would put the power of movement in gamers’ hands very much like the older model Power Gloves from Nintendo did decades ago, but this updated version might just have a greater ability of catching on thanks to the success of the Wiimote.

The Sony controller would have the ability “to capture a user’s hand movements.” This means finger, palm and full hand movements combined. It would also offer “tactile feedback” so users would know if their actions have been completed.

While the concept isn’t a new one, it could be a real hit in the market of today where gamers have rapidly fallen in love with the Wiimote.

Although there’s no word on what Sony plans to do with the patent, it would be an awesome addition to the PS3 or even an eventual PS4. Some are billing it as a Wiimote killer, but that might be a little premature. Still, the concept is one that has found its time. And, the glove style might just be safer than the Wii strap!

Labels: nintendo wii, ps3, ps4, sony, Wii, wiimote

Blizzard Working On Next-Gen MMORPG

Blizzard Entertainment 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.

Labels: blizzard, diablo, mmorpg, next-gen console, wow

Wii Workouts At YMCAs Coming For Kids

Wii Sports (Golf)
Nintendo of America’s donation of 100 consoles and copies of Wii Sports to YMCAs across the United States is not only a brilliant stroke of marketing genius, it’s also likely to work in its more altruistic mission.

It seems the YMCAs plan to use the consoles to “keep the energy of children alive and to encourage bonding with parents,” according to a piece on el33tonline.

“Consumers all over America are telling us the Wii helps them to stay active and fit and also gives them another reason to be together as a family,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. “Wii has quickly become a part of America’s fitness plan, from bowling leagues for active seniors to kids and parents who sweat through Wii Sports pentathlons together.”

I’d have to say from personal experience, the YMCAs and Nintendo are on the right track with this one. The console has an amazing ability to bring parents, children and even grandparents together for a bit of computerized fun.

It might not be the most impressive console out there graphics wise, but it sure is a blast to play.

Labels: Nintendo, nintendo wii, Wii, wii sports, ymca

Sony To Axe 20GB PS3

Sony’s decision to discontinue the PlayStation 3 20GB version in North America doesn’t come as a huge shocker. The way it’s being spun, however, is pretty interesting.

Sony’s PR guy, Dave Karraker, has said the $499 version will go by the wayside in favor of the $599 60GB model because that more expensive model has been preferred 10 to 1 by consumers.

Here’s, the spin: That buying trend “supports the notion that consumers are willing to pay more for advanced technology in a gaming console.”

Considering the sluggish PS3 sales overall, I’m not quite sure how they managed that particular take on the situation. But, it does stand to reason that if a gamer decides to fork over $500 for a console the extra $100 to get the better drive isn’t all that much more.

At any rate, 20GB owners will still get full PlaySttion support, which will no doubt be welcomed news to those who have purchased one.

Rumors of the 80GB version persist, but no confirmation has materialized as of yet.

It will be interesting to see how well the Xbox Elite will do now, since it will be cheaper than the cheapest PS3.

Labels: PlayStation 3, ps3, sony, xbox 360, xbox elite

Xbox 360 Elite Mother’s Day Giveaway

gamer mom xbox 360
The folks over at Microsoft have a pretty good sense of humor. This Mother’s Day they’ve rolled out a contest where kids ages 13 and up can win themselves a brand new Xbox 360 Elite. They also get $100 in flowers for mom.

The idea is for kids to write an essay about their “gaming mom” that runs between 250 and 500 words. Kids are encouraged to keep the 360 and pass the flowers on to the lady who gave birth to them. Essays can be e-mailed in to xlmail@microsoft.com by May 6 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. “My Mom’s a Gamer” needs to be in the subject line along with a player’s gametag.

Here’s what they’re looking for: “We’ll be evaluating the essays for creativity and originality, appeal to Xbox.com readers, and ability to effectively show respect and admiration for his/her mother/female legal guardian.”

So, where do I see the humor?

As a “gaming mom” myself, I have to wonder how many entrants would actually think they would get away with keeping the console?

I mean, we’re talking an Elite here. Come on!

If only my oldest were 13!

On the upside, Moms that want to enter a contest themselves, can get in on our PS2 title giveaway.

Labels: microsoft, xbox 360, xbox 360 elite, xbox elite

Xbox 360 Elite Scoring On Presales

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.

Counter-Strikers Get Guest Passes On Steam

Counter-Strike: Source players who use the Steam portal can now invite their friends to checkout the online game.

Steam recently announced the extension of the guest passes for CS:S players. A similar program has been in play for a while for Day of Defeat: Source players.

Gamers who invite friends to play will be giving them three days of free action without an obligation to purchase.

The guest pass and trial run trend is one that makes a whole lot of sense not only for gaming companies, but also gamers themselves. With games costing so much money and the choices for online play so extensive, taking a test drive when possible is just smart.

I can’t tell you how many discarded games we have hanging around the house that we bought, played for five minutes and decided they weren’t worth the time. If only every Xbox 360, Wii or PS3 game came with a free trial!

Gamers interested in learning more about Steam’s Guest Pass program or any games on Steam can check them out here.

Labels: counter strike, counter strike source, online games, steam, valve

World Of Warcraft 14-Day Trial With A Twist

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade AT&T’s Blue Room offers a little bit of everything for gamers. From reviews and commentary to tips, tricks and codes, the site is fast making a name for itself. As if the site didn’t already offer enough, it’s got one heck of an exclusive 14-day World of Warcraft trial going on.

The exclusive direct download trial allows wannabe WoW players to check out the game that’s played by more than 8 million people worldwide for a full two weeks. Unlike some other exclusive trials that are restricted to one country, this one is open to gamers in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore directly through the Blue Room site.

Gamers that check out WoW and find themselves hooked as millions already have can easily transfer their trial toons to full paid accounts, too, so there’s no starting over.

Check out the trial here.

Labels: ATT, blue room, free trial, world of warcraft, wow

Wii Are Getting Resident Evil Action

Nintendo Wii fans who have been dying to see what Resident Evil action on the little console that could might be like are soon to get their chance.

Capcom has announced that Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and Resident Evil 4 will soon creep onto the Wii gaming scene. The Resident Evil 4 version for the Wii will offer the PS2 content and also incorporate Wii’s nifty motion sensing abilities. This game is expected to appear sometime this summer.

The Umbrella Chronicles is a new addition for the franchise. It will reveal some of the back story behind the Umbrella Corporation’s fall and include some locations from the original Resident Evil games. There’s no set date for this installment, but you can be I’ll be in line to check it out.

If Capcom takes advantage of the Wii’s abilities well, the Resident Evil franchise might be the one that defines the console for me. With its great storylines, creepy settings and fun combat, this particular game seems to lend itself well to the console’s unusual abilities.

While the graphics won’t likely be anything to write home out, they’ve never been the strong point of Resident Evil any way. Cool, quirky, monster blasting fun has always been the draw for this series in my mind.

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Labels: capcom, Nintendo, nintendo wii, resident evil, Wii

Noisy PS3s Reported

Reports of problems with PlayStation 3s have been few and far between, but it seems a few issues are starting to crop up.

In question are some 60GB models that seem to have been made in January and were shipped to Canada for sale. Some of the models, it seems, are having problems with overheating and making a high-pitched ruckus.

Yeoua reports that gamers have been trying to get their consoles replaced or repaired, but many are having no luck.

“EB Games wouldn’t let me exchange it for a new one, not even the day after I bought it … I then proceeded to call Sony and tell them of the situation, I sent it in to be repaired and they sent it back to me saying that nothing was wrong with it,” wrote a poster quoted in Yeoua’s article.

It seems the bad eggs of the PS3 batch have been narrowed down to those with serial numbers in the CE133190xxx and CE133212xxx batches.

It doesn’t sound like Sony has acknowledged issues with the consoles as of yet, and some gamers sound pretty hot.

“Let’s be clear here for all those new to this thread – it’s no specific game, it’s no specific hearing range issue, Sony has some bad PS3 batches out there,” wrote J-Mon in the PlayStation official forums. “Either a shipment was dropped, or mismanufactured and we ALL need to move forward with this in mind. Exchange your PS3 and get one outside the above mentioned serial range or get a replacement unit directly from SONY like I’m doing.”

Sounds like Sony has a bit of a problem on its hands, which hopefully for these gamers’ sakes will be taken care of with haste.

Labels: PlayStation 3, ps3, ps3 noise, ps3 overheating, ps3 problems, sony

PSP Price Cut Announced

Sony PSP To celebrate the second birthday of the PlayStation Portable, Sony has announced a sizeable price cut for the handheld console.

The new sticker shouldn’t cause too much shock at a cool $169.99.

Sony’s Jack Tretton has been quoted as saying, “We have seen a steady rise in the number of teens adopting PSP as their primary handheld entertainment system, and we expect the new price to accelerate that trend.”

With the new pricing, it’s possible this will accelerate the trend, but it will be hard to beat the Ninteno DS, which remains the most popular of gaming machines.

However, with the recent firmware update that gives users an online ability for six months at T-Mobile hotspots and lots of new download possibilities, the PSP is looking more attractive, even if UMDs are questionable.

Still, appealing to the teen market is perhaps the best way to knock Nintendo out of its No. 1 perch. With tons of young kids in love with the DS, Sony could easily market its PSP as the “hipper” handheld and get some serious notice.

Labels: handheld games, nintendo ds, ninteno, psp, psp lite, sony

Vanguard Beginning Player Tips

Sigil Entertainment’s Vanguard has been out for a few months now and as some players race to hit the level cap, others are taking their time enjoying the world that’s been presented them. I’m one such player. And, while I’m not a Vanguard expert by any stretch of the imagination, there is some sage advice I’ve picked up along the way from other players and a bit I’ve gleaned myself.

Starting out in the world of Vanguard can be a bit overwhelming. The world of Telon is made up of three known continents right now: Thestra, Qalia and Kojan. While this might not seem like much, Thestra can be such a pain to travel the old days of getting across West Karana in Ever Quest 1 seem like a picnic. At any rate, players start out on one of these three continents and begin their quest in the world with very little gear or money.

Getting started, players will find is pretty easy if they do a few things:

Quest: As it is with EverQuest and the other similar fantasy MMOs games, questing is the surefire way to fast experience and item upgrades. Get as many quests as possible and do them.

Stick to the roads: The roads in Vanguard aren’t “safe” by any means, but they are safer than trying to take shortcuts, no matter how appealing they might be. When possible, stick to the roads for travel from one town to the next.

Value money: Money is hard to come by, very hard. At level 27, I’ve barely broken the gold mark and since I’m not a big tradeskiller, it’s not looking like wealth will be in my future. Fortunately, upgrades for the most part come cheap right now on my server, but this will likely change as more wealth is gained and moved about the world.

Pay attention to player crafted gear: Unlike other games where player made items are generally topped by a lot of drop items, this isn’t the case in Vanguard. This isn’t to say the stuff that drops is all junk, but the fact is tradeskillers have a real niche here.

Tradeskill: I know I said I’m not a big tradeskiller, but this is the road to wealth. Players who tradeskill might not have their coffers overflowing, but they tend to do better than those who don’t. Plus, tradeskilling is a game in and of itself, which has made it a whole lot of fun for those who have the time and inclination to get into a craft. The tradeskilling set up in Vanguard is very well done and infuriating to a point, but it’s hooked many a person more than even adventuring.

Diplomacy: This offers another game in a game that I haven’t personally experimented with all that much. It’s fun, I can tell you that much and pretty complex, as well.

Soloing advice: Soloing is pretty easy for most classes to achieve and the fact is there are a ton of solo quests available. Just take care to con mobs. They’re set up on the old fashion green to red system with purple thrown in for good measure. The dots on the targeting device indicate the complexity. Solo mobs are typically two dots or less, but many a class can take on a three or four dotter with relative ease.

Have fun: This is the biggest bit of advice I can offer anyone starting out. Take your time, make friends, ask questions and explore what Telon has to offer. There’s a lot more than meets the eye.

Labels: sigil, sony, vanguard, vanguard advice, vanguard tips