Sunday, September 28, 2008
Report: New Nintendo DS Coming This Year With Camera, Music Playback
2:30PM Michael McWhertor | According to a report from Nikkei Net, Nintendo will introduce a new iteration of this Nintendo DS later this year, featuring a built-in camera and music playback. The new version of the DS is also reported to have improved wireless functions. Some versions of the report indicate the improved wireless capabilities will allow the new DS to connect to “information terminals,” expanding the machine’s non-gaming features. The Japanese version of the report mentions that pictures taken via the DS’s internal camera can be used by games, opening up new gameplay options. Nikkei Net writes that the new version is “expected to be priced below 20,000 yen.” The Nintendo DS Lite is currently priced at 16,800 yen in Japan. The new DS will launch first in Japan, with the country seeing an allocation of “several hundred thousand units” before any overseas sales. Nintendo To Debut Camera-Equipped, Music-Playing DS In Late ‘08 [Nikkei Net (subscription required) via NeoGAF] More »
‘Gang Garrison II’ — TF2’s 8-Bit Bastard Brother
11:00AM Owen Good | Remember Portal for the C64 emulator? Reader burgerk1ng has a nice find to go with it: “Gang Garrison II” by “Faucet” software — an 8-bit, fully multiplayer “de-make” for PC gamers. I am … retarded close to going out and getting a copy of Windows and Boot Camp, which would make this the most expensive free game in the history of anything. On the other hand, maybe it’s a good thing I don’t have a PC, as my expectations could only shattered. Gameplay video and links on the jump.
Amazon’s Xbox Family Meal Deal
10:00AM Owen Good | If you’re looking for an excuse to get an Xbox Core Arcade Bundle (second console perhaps? I dunno), Amazon would like to provide one: You get Lego Batman for free. Or, put another way, if you consider it a $199 purchase of Lego Batman, they throw in the console for free. It’s a big family-game promo that we antifamily, antisocial types can still take advantage of. This is in addition to a slate of other price cuts the online retailer introduced this month, including discounts on yearlong Xbox Live subs, Xbox Live points, and extra controllers. Xbox 360 Family Game of the Month [Amazon, via PunchJump] More »
MAG to Charge for Monthly/Annual Subscription?
9:00AM Owen Good | An email titled “Short Survey. Big New Game.” has gone out to PlayStation Underground, reports The BitBag, and it tips its hand to pricing plans for MAG, the working title of the combat MMO Sony announced way back at E3. The survey featured “at least 15 questions related to payment plans for the game,” says Bitbag. “Seems Sony’s plan is to charge a yearly or monthly fee, while also one time fees for content downloads. It also mentioned hosting partners being EA, Sony, and Activision.” Conveniently, no screen grabs of the survey itself exist, although Bitbag did provide some of the email. If anyone in our community’s taken this survey, or has additional info about it, let us hear it. Thanks. Sony to Charge Monthly/Yearly Fee for MMO MAG? [The Bitbag, thanks Tevin] More »
Mega Man Hat Keeps Head Warm, Awesome
8:00AM Owen Good | This guy has a really, really awesome wife. Not only did she knit him a cozy toboggan for the winter, she even accommodated his request to make it into a Mega Man helmet cap. It took two years of begging for her to finally relent. The post is from last year, and it’s not for sale, but I’m sure this lucky dude (who looks like Gordon Freeman) is both enjoying his Mega Man 9 and looking forward to breaking this out once the chill hits. Mega Man Paul [Trinknitty's Blog, via Go Nintendo] BTW: Before any of you English majors attempt to correct me on the usage of toboggan: “3 — chiefly Southern & Midland: STOCKING CAP“ More »
Are Embargoes Really Necessary?
7:30AM Maggie Greene | John Keefer has a nice piece up on Crispy Gamer regarding the issue of embargoes — are they really necessary, or do they simply encourage lazy journalism and sometimes inappropriate relationships with publishers? The issue at stake here isn’t so much embargoes, which are a symptom of the problem, as much as journalistic integrity (or lack thereof) and moving from an ‘enthusiast press’ to ‘real journalism‘: More »
Steam Hosting Mods Beginning Next Week
7:00AM Owen Good | Steam’s announced that, beginning next week, it’ll be hosting five mods that will be freely available for all who own the mod’s source game. Additionally, the mods will take advantage of Steamworks’ stat tracking and “tighter integration with the Steam community.” The five mods are Age of Chivalry, D.I.P.R.I.P., Insurgency, Synergy, and Zombie Panic. Full announcement on the jump. More »
Saturday Timewaster: Hoshi Saga 3
6:30AM Maggie Greene | Hoshi Saga 3 is a fun little puzzle game — the object is to discover the star(s) in each level through experimentation. The mechanics of each level are different, and while some are familiar, some will require a little more fiddling to get the right answer. Some levels are quite easy, though others may have you scratching your head — overall, a nice, relaxing little collection to spend some time with. 星探３ [hoshi saga 3] [nekogames via IndieGames] More »
New Xbox Experience Site Launches
6:00AM Owen Good | Check your email, you probably just got a notice from Microsoft inviting you to a site demonstrating the new Xbox Live experience. No, a release date is not specified. The site features examples of the content and features you can expect once it does arrive, presented in a simulation of the new dashboard. There are videos on avatar creation and interaction with your friends (some of which we’ve already seen), and another touting its online entertainment capabilities. Everything has the bigger-better-more company shine on it. The addition of the Inside Xbox channel looks intriguing, but few specifics beyond the teasers offered. New Xbox Experience [Xbox.com] More »
