Friday, July 11, 2008
Is This Xbox 360’s Motion Controller in Action?
11:46PM Brian Crecente | Darwin is definitely not a Microsoft product, but it’s also definitely an Xbox 360 motion controller. Motus Games’ Darwin was officially unveiled this morning on their website, the light saber-esque controller snaps in two uses a number of sensors to track where it is. It does this, according to the company, without the use of the IR receiver that the Wii uses. Motus claims it is far more accurate than the Wii Remote. The device may also work on the Playstation 3, though the developers are being deliberately vague about that. There’s still a lot more we don’t know about the device than we do know about it. According to the site, which makes no mention of working with Microsoft, the Darwin isn’t ready for sale yet bit is “currently making its way into the hands of developers and publishers” and they’re expecting it will hit stores in less than a year. The devices two units are packed with buttons. The top controller includes a power button, left, right arrows, D-pad, A button, wireless connection and battery indicator and upper and lower triggers. The bottom controller has a power button, left, right arrows, analogue controller, upper and lower triggers and wireless and batter indicator. Both include straps. The site also shows the device in action, playing with Lego Star Wars II, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008 and Harry Potter V: The Order of the Phoenix. Hit the jump to watch the device in action.
Hey, You Got Stephen Fry In My Fable 2
11:20PM Luke Plunkett | Admission: I liked Fable 1. Being a longtime Molyneux fan, I knew to filter out the bullshit, and just enjoy it for what it was. And it was an above-average RPG, one of the best to appear on the Xbox. It was far from perfect, however. The linearity was a problem. As was the voice-acting. Which was provided, it seemed, exclusively by representatives of the Cornish dairy farmers association. Thankfully, that’s a part of the sequel that’s been improved, with the voice acting “kicked up a couple of notches”, according to a report in the latest OXM. Partly due to the shift away from the rural setting of the first game, but also partly due to the fact they’re now hiring proper talent, like charming British comedian Stephen Fry. Even if he’s still just doing “oooyy, errr Ranger”, at least now it’ll be done with some dignity. Exclusive: New Fable 2 details revealed! [OXM] [Pic] More »
News
Sam Houser Still Hungry
11:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Grand Theft Auto IV was an enormous success. Really, it doesn’t get any bigger than that! So, imagine if you (yes, you) were one of the creative forces behind that title. You’d probably pack up and call it a day. Well, good thing you’re not and Rockstar’s Sam Houser is. The Rockstar honcho says that he (and gaming) are only getting started and that there’s still so much left to be done. Says Houser: What have I got left to achieve? Everything. We are only scratching at the surface of games’ potential as a creative medium. Fantastic to hear this kinda stuff from a guy like Houser. Rockstar boss: Games industry has ‘limitless’ potential [MCVUK via VG247] More »LocoRoco 2 Screens
10:30PM Brian Ashcraft |Operation Flashpoint 2 Trailer
9:30PM Luke Plunkett | Not a second of gameplay footage to be seen in this clip, which is a shame. While it doesn’t necessarily capture the look of the game – in so far as this is not what the game’s going to look like – it does, however, capture the feel of the first Flashpoint (ie death is everywhere, and it is final). More »
Tokyo Game Show 2008 Tickets Go On Sale July 17th!
9:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Even though E3 is next week, it’s never too early to talk about the Tokyo Game Show. So! For those interested in attending TGS 2008, good news: You’ll be able to buy tickets beforehand. That’s right, convenience stores across the country will be selling them via Electronic Ticket Pia for ¥1,000 (¥1,200 with tax). That’s ten bucks plus tax in U.S. money. But what does that matter? You’ll have to be in Japan if you want to buy tickets early. TGS tickets go on sale starting July 16th. 前売入場券は2008年7月16日より販売 [Famitsu] [Pic] More »
News
Activision First Tried To Buy Blizzard
8:30PM Luke Plunkett | Activision Blizzard, that’s a big company right there. And, technically, it’s a merger. But things could have been so, so different. Instead of a union, it could have been a buy-out, with Activision originally interested in straight-up purchasing the WoW creators. Says Activision boss Bobby “What, Me Worry?” Kotick: We talked about the opportunity to buy Blizzard and they were adamant that they loved the [videogame] business and were committed to it. They didn’t want to sell the business but would entertain other ideas. They were struggling on the console side and needed to diversify into other parts of the business and recognised how difficult that would be independently, which is how we ultimately settled on this structure. Ah, the structure where Blizzard execs get fat new paychecks while Activision gets a piece of WoW’s cash flow? Everybody wins! Activision tried to buy Blizzard before merging with Vivendi Games [Variety] More »
News
Your Weekly Update On Good PSP Sales, Lousy 360 Sales In Japan
7:30PM Michael McWhertor | Will nothing end the tedium of the PSP dominating Media Create hardware charts? We can’t even take satisfaction in the continuing dismal fortunes of Microsoft overseas. Truth be told, the 360 has another relatively good week, as sales in the 1,000 to 2,000 range are more common. PlayStation 3 sales return to normal, as the Metal Gear Solid 4 bump continues to wane. Here are the results of the Japanese console war from June 30 to July 6. PSP – 56,439 DS Lite – 47,455 Wii – 44,525 PlayStation 3 – 14,359 PlayStation 2 – 11,768 Xbox 360 – 4,776 Media Create Weekly Sales More »
Wii Fit Gets Sweaty Japanese Porn Homage
7:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Well! If Brain Age gets a naughty movie, then one would correctly assume that Wii Fit must get one as well. Japanese adult video maker Gekidan Carnival has just released Geki Fit, which features the tagline “Fitness Is Erotic!” Geki Fit features 115 minutes of young ladies in various stretching and yoga poses against an all-white background. While there are no Wii-motes, Wiis or Balance Boards, the movie does feature font and packaging “homages”. (Gekidan Carnival probably doesn’t want to get sued back to the stone age by Nintendo!) Hit the jump for the cover. The distasteful sweat might be NSFW. More »
