In another case of EA, Harmonix and/or MTV Games looking for consumer opinion on the next Rock Band, Joystiq has posted a pair of box art concepts for Rock Band 2 that are being focus tested via an online survey. As it did last month, when it polled potential Rock Band buyers about new pricing schemes, survey experts are asking web surfers to pick one of two styles. We happen to prefer the one above, but our arch-nemeses prefer the other.
In other RB2 news, we’ve heard from our retail buddies that Rock Band 2 is showing up in databases ’round the US with a November 2008 ship date. Thanks to BrocStoppable for the heads up on that. One other tidbit that recently crept out via reader Bryan was that the late Bo Diddley’s “Billy-Bo-Jupiter Thunderbird” guitar from Gretsch will make an appearance in the sequel.
Survey reveals Rock Band 2 concept box art [Joystiq]
Editor’s note: Rock Band 2? We haven’t got the first one yet! Why not focus on that EA/Harmonix?
I have to say, I’m surprised at how good the game looks so far. Of course the trailer was really dark, so maybe things will look different under the glare of an in-game sun. Actually, I bet it’s a night only game anyway, so win-win.
Earlier this year, Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst issued estimates for Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto IV, pegging 2008 sales for the title at 13 million copies. Not a bad take. Analyst analysers populating the post’s comments called that figure into question, with insight ranging from “Durrrr” and “dude is captain obvious” to “unbelievable” and “unrealistic”.
Yesterday I visited THQ here in New York City, to check out their upcoming lineup of games for this year’s Fall and holiday seasons. Given how heavily the publisher weighs its kid-friendly, casual and Nickelodeon-licence titles, I set my expectations low, but after getting a chance to check out a few items of interest, I feel a bit more optimistic.
“In fairness to them, you don’t turn around an oil tanker in a day”, said Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter.
A few titles stood out to me – I’m intrigued to see how Deadly Creatures turns out, as I like the creepy-crawly concept, and I thought Lock’s Quest was an unexpected surprise, looking like more of a hardcore title aimed at fans of Japanese-style RTS games. And De Blob put me just enough in mind of Katamari Damacy to pique my interest.
In case you missed it yesterday, check out my posts from the press event: Hands On With De Blob Impressions: Lock’s Quest Impressions: Viva Pinata – Pocket Paradise Impressions: Drawn To Life – SpongeBob Edition Impressions: Wall-E Impressions: Deadly Creatures
What do you think, guys? See anything you like?
Freeverse dropped us a note to let us know that they’ve released a “preview” of one their iPhone game Wingnuts Moto Racer, a heavily redacted preview.
Turns out that the developer, best known perhaps for their work on Marathon: Durandal for XBLA, is under an NDA with Apple and can’t talk about the game just yet.
There are still some tidbits to be found on the site though.
Chris “Topher” Allen, who had been a multiplayer designer on Saints Row 2 at Volition, passed away on Sunday, May 11th of natural causes. He was 35.
Mr. Allen began his game industry career as a QA tester on Summoner 2 and The Punisher, and became a designer in 2005. Prior to joining Volition, Mr. Allen was a high school English teacher in Emporia, Kansas and Ankara, Turkey. He leaves behind his wife, Lesley. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Chauncey Griffith. Mr. Allen was one of 12 grandchildren, and had many close aunts and uncles.
“Chris was truly one of those people who, after seeing them, you’d think ‘I wish I was more like that guy’ and mean it”, said Chris’ colleague, James Taylor.
Many more of his teammates at Volition contributed thoughts in his memory:
Alarmingly, American teenagers are far more educated about entertainment media and pop culture than they are about their own government. For example, 59 percent of teens can name the Three Stooges, but only 41 percent can name the three branches of the U.S. government. 94 percent of teens know that Will Smith is the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – but only 2.2 percent can name the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
At the closing keynote yesterday for the Games For Change event in New York, Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, along with interactive media scholar Dr. James Paul Gee, announced a promising new initiative – if teens are motivated to learn about media, then why not reach them through a computer game?
The project, called Our Courts, will be a game designed to teach civics and encourage teens to become involved in the democratic process. It’s being developed with input from teachers and curriculum specialists, and will be designed primarily for classroom use. Initially, the project will emphasise the court system, but will later expand to other areas of government.
“What we hope to do is pioneer a new teaching method designed to respond to the learning styles of this digital generation”, said Justice O’Connor in an address on the Our Courts website. “Students today seem to thrive on 3-dimensional, discovery-based learning. They’re much less wedded to linear presentations of information, and they prefer to explore around an issue. They seem to learn best by becoming fully engaged in an interesting issue, and they do particularly well when learning in a case study environment”.
“Digital students crave a media feedback, and they want convenience. Now, we hope to respond to each of these needs in the Our Courts online environment”.
Hit the jump for full details from Our Courts‘ mission statement:
The only gaming I’ll be doing this weekend will be in the form of low stakes blackjack and pulling some one-armed bandits, as this weekend is a Vegas weekend for yours truly. Having just visited Las Vegas for Capcom’s Captivate 08 media event last week, you might wonder why I’d be so quick to return. Well, when you don’t leave step out of the confines of the hotel for 48 hours, you don’t really see much of Vegas.
Besides, last night we had a bad gamer bender at a friend’s house. After a Haze demo, we decided to continue slumming it with the so-bad-it’s-bad Crash Time and the even worse Yaris, two impressively dreadful Xbox 360 racers. At least the Battlefield: Bad Company was fun. But I think I need a break. How about you? Gaming plans?
LucasArts may be saying publicly that its recent mass layoffs were due to development cycles, but at least one analyst says the decision may be more about film studio politics and a new connection with Electronic Arts.
Analyst Michael Pachter estimated that prior to the layoffs, LucasArts had approximately 200 employees, the balance of whom were tasked essentially with liaising between George Lucas’ intellectual properties and the only three development studios ever to build games on those properties: BioWare, Pandemic and UK-based Traveller’s Tales.
Their primary role, Pachter said, was to ensure proper treatment of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones IP, manage business relationships with the studios, and handle marketing of the properties.
