Thursday, February 14, 2008
Leipzig Looking More And More Likely To Move
11:30PM Luke Plunkett | The show, that is. Not the city. Rumours have been all over the place lately surrounding the future of the Leipzig Games Convention, fuelled by this piece from a German financial paper that reckons the show will be moving to Köln in 2009. It’s not the first time the show’s been rumoured to be on the move, but it’s definitely the most convincing, and is helped along today by further news that a “senior German industry source” has told videogaming247 he’s “99% sure” the show will be moving, citing the need for better air links and accommodation options as the show grows in size and importance. Games Convention zieht es nach Köln [Welt Online, via videogaming247] More »
Favourite GTA IV Random Moment
11:00PM Brian Ashcraft | It’s those random moments that make Grand Theft Auto work so well. You know, when the unexpected happens, and everything just falls into place and works. What’s random GTA IV moment has stood out for Rockstar honcho Dan Houser? He says: There are so many defining moments, but a recent one was during a police chase. A song I love came on one of the radio stations while I had two cop cars chasing me through chinatown. I was speeding along when another cop car I hadn’t seen rammed me straight on, our cars crunched together, and I was sent flying through the windshield. I ducked into cover and could still hear the song playing from my smashed-up car. Then the cops opened fire, but one of them hit a pedestrian who pulled out his gun and started shooting. The next thing I know, there was a full-scale war going on between a random gang and the cops. Within a few seconds all the cops were dead and the gang members walked away. I got hold of another car and quietly drove out of the search area to lose my wanted level. Honestly, I wasn’t *that* excited about this game, but damn, after hearing stuff like this and reading Crecente’s impressions, I say bring it. Defining Moment [CVG] More »
News
Epic (And The Cliffster) Focusing On Consoles Because PC Gaming Is “In Disarray”
10:30PM Luke Plunkett | MTV’s Stephen Totilo caught up with Cliffy B yesterday, and, you know, they talked about Portal, and Gears, and other stuff the Cliffster was or wasn’t into these days. It’s a great read, if only because it’s nice hearing from the guy again (Mark, we love you, but a man can’t survive solely on Chocolate Rein)! The best part, though, is where Clifford (pictured, above, rockin’ the Cary Elwes look) breaks the hearts of PC gamers the world over: I think people would rather make a game that sells 4.5 million copies than a million and “Gears” is at 4.5 million right now on the 360. I think the PC is just in disarray… what’s driving the PC right now is ‘Sims’-type games and ‘WoW’ and a lot of stuff that’s in a web-based interface. You just click on it and play it. That’s the direction PC is evolving into. So for me, the PC is kind of the secondary part of what we’re doing. It’s important for us, but right now making AAA games on consoles is where we’re at. You can’t blame a man for wanting to make some cash money, would you? I can’t. Those gold chains don’t buy themselves, yo. ‘Gears of War’ Creator Update [MTV] More »
Shinobi, The Skin Flick
10:00PM Brian Ashcraft | SEGA video game Shinobi? Not so risky! Shinobi the adult flick? MAXIMUM RISKY. Rule 34 aside, some unscrupulous individuals have turned SEGA’s flagship ninja series into something, well, risqué, substituting shuriken and ninjato for more embarrassing weapons. Like the most recent Shinobi game Nightshade, this Edo-era Shinobi naughty flick features a female lead — several, rather, but in various phases of indignity. The movie stars Ruka Uehara, Shizuku Tsukino, Yuka Satsuki, Shuri Himesaki and Hitomi Hasegawa (all Wiki links). After the jump, we’ve put the MAXIMUM amount box art as we possibly can! More »
News
Ubisoft/Bratz Lawsuit Is A Taste Of What’s To Come
9:30PM Luke Plunkett | Writing on Law.com, Kellie Schmitt argues that the recent Ubisoft/Bratz lawsuit, which saw the French publisher awarded $US 13 million from the makers of the slutty little plastic sluts, is a “harbinger” for the videogame industry. Citing the fact that $US 13 million is an enormous amount of money for a settlement that never went to court (normally big payouts are the result of a judge’s decision, not an out-of-court settlement), she raises the point that, because games pull in serious money, they now carry some serious legal clout. Which can be a positive for the industry, in cases like Ubisoft’s, but also a negative: Schmitt also suggests that due to the industry’s increasing maturity and growing revenues, the doors are opening for gaming’s first multi-million dollar litigation lawsuits. I’m sure Patrick Goschy will be thrilled to hear that. Is $13 Million Arbitration Award a Harbinger for Video Game Industry? [Law.com, via Blues News] More »
Warren Spector? Like Will Wright, But Cheaper
9:00PM Brian Ashcraft | What does Deus Ex creator Warren Spector think of himself? Let’s let Warren wax on: I think to succeed at this point, given the cost of making a game, and given the competition, I think that every game has to appeal to people who don’t know who Warren Spector or Will Wright or… again, I’m not putting myself in that category. I describe myself as the bargain basement Will Wright, the Wal-Mart version of Peter Molyneux. But none of us are a big enough game to sell enough copies to justify the cost. Warren Spector, gaming’s own Blue Light Special since 1990. Warren Spector Interview [Rock Paper Shotgun] [Pic] More »
Stay The Night In Res 4’s Creepy Spanish Church
8:30PM Luke Plunkett | One of Resident Evil 4’s more memorable locations was the spooky church atop that rain-soaked hill, where you have to get snappy with an exploding barrel and some angry dogs. If it’s so memorable you’d like to actually spend some time there, the good news ship is in: it’s a real hotel. Where you can stay (Brian from Giz shacked up in there last night). Well, it looks like the real church, anyways. It’s not licensed by Capcom or anything, but it is in Spain, and it does look spooky as hell. Let’s just hope you don’t have to complete some crummy rotating disc puzzle every time you want to get into your room. Zombie Hotels in Spain [Gizmodo] More »
Cell Phone Game Hooks Real, Totally Dead Fish
8:00PM Brian Ashcraft | A fishing cell phone games? Not so exciting. Real fishing? Meh. Fishing cell phone game with real fish? THRILLING. Over in Fukuoka, Japan, an IT company has joined forces with a local fish seller to develop a cell phone game that gives players a shoot at winning real fish. Dubbed Ippon Zuri (”Pole-and-Line Fishing”), the game has player cast their lines in hopes of snagging crab, sea bream and other types of fish. If a virtual fish is caught, a slot machine appears. Players have to line up three numbers. If lady luck is on the player’s side, a message is sent to the wholesaler who then delivers the actual sea creature to the winner’s door. Three games will set players back ¥1,000 yen ($US 9.25). But can you really put a price on gambling for raw fish on a cell phone? Of course not! Cellphone Fishing [Giz] More »Spore DS Screens
7:30PM Luke Plunkett |
