July 1, 2008

announcements

Soccer? Pretty Great

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 11:40 PM on July 1, 2008

To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft

So, yeah, everyday I've been playing soccer when the kid. When I was younger, I played soccer for a few years, but later, got more interested in baseball. The kid really likes soccer, and man, I'm quite enjoying it! Don't remember liking soccer this much. It's really a great game — love the passing, love it.

What you missed last night
Two New Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Characters Revealed!
Sony Files Multi-Touch Portable Patent
Microsoft: If We Launch A Game On 360 & PC Simultaneously, We Shoot Ourselves In The Foot
Too Human: "This Has To Be The Worst Game I've Played In The Last 5 Years"
Let's Dress Up Chun-Li
Rock Band 2's Guitar Is Easy On The Eye"
Too Human Hands-On: Six Hours In And Half-Way Home

industry news

Activision Boss Wants Cheaper Consoles

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 11:20 PM on July 1, 2008

Activision honcho Bobby Kotick is worried. Very worried. Video game consoles are expensive! And to buy them, you need money. Lots. As Kotick points out:

It used to be the case that we did well during slowdowns because if you couldn't afford to go to the movies or to travel to a theme park, you stayed home and played a computer game. But now I think that the hardware manufacturers are going to have to think about reducing their prices because the cost of purchasing some of this stuff is prohibitive.

I dunno, as a kid, I kinda always remember video game consoles being expensive. But hey, that's because I was like a little kid and little kids have no money. But I'm an adult now, and it's all relative, Bobby Kotick! Speaking of adults, Bobby also pointed out that the adult geared games are as important to the industry as R-rated movies. That's echoing similar things Kotick stated earlier. This leas us to believe that yes he will probably say the same thing again.

Guitar Hero firm Activision [Times Online via MCVUK]

arcade

Two New Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Characters Revealed!

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 11:00 PM on July 1, 2008

The recent location test announcement for Capcom arcade game Tatsunoko vs. Capcom hinted at new fighters. Well, impatient people, today we bring you new Tatsunoko vs. Capcom fighters! Pictured is Street Fighter III main character Alex, complete with droopy overalls and everything. Joining wrestler Alex is genius mechanic Gan-chan from Tatsunoko Production anime Yatterman. Check out the screens below.

『タツノコVS. CAPCOM』に「ヤッターマン」が参戦だ、ヤッター! [Dengeki]

industry news

Sony Files Multi-Touch Portable Patent

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 10:40 PM on July 1, 2008

Before Phil Harrison left Sony to work for Atari, he cleaned out his desk. But before that, he was inventing stuff. What kind of stuff? Futuristic stuff. A new Sony patent has surfaced for a handheld gizmo that features a touchscreen and "pressure pads" running around its edges. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, it's a "handheld device with touchscreen and digital tactile pixels" that can also be used to control the touchscreen. There's no specific mention of the PlayStation Portable, but the patent does mention potential uses in phones, gaming devices and portable media players. What's more, it does sound suspiciously like what we heard last year about the rumoured PSP2... Hit the jump for images of the patent.

Read More »

pc

Microsoft: If We Launch A Game On 360 & PC Simultaneously, We Shoot Ourselves In The Foot

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 10:20 PM on July 1, 2008

While many publishers today see the PC as a handy way to make a quick buck on the side - see Capcom for reference - not everyone thinks releasing major titles on console and PC simultaneously is a good idea. Like, Microsoft Europe don't. Indeed, Microsoft Europe's Peter Zetterberg thinks it's a terrible idea. Why? Because while many people have PCs, not so many people own 360s. Using the German market as an example, he says:

If we launch a game that is on 360 and PC simultaneously, we basically shoot ourselves in the foot by allowing the German market to choose to play the PC version - because they are more likely to buy that than spend their money on the Xbox 360.

Oh Peter.
MGS Europe: Simultaneous releases would "shoot ourselves in the foot" [GI.biz]

playstation 3

PS3 Trophies Will Make Unlocking Noises

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 10:00 PM on July 1, 2008

Xbox 360's Achievements make a noise when unlocked. Not only that, a recognisable noise. But what about PlayStation Trophies? Will they make a noise? When the Sony 2.40 Firmware FAQ went live yesterday, it was sadly noted that the PS3 Trophies would not make an in-game sound effect when achieved. Wrong! Says Sony's Jeff Rubenstein:

Actually on my way home, I got an email from Eric [Lempel, director, PlayStation Network Operations] asking me to update this post; there *will* be a sound effect when a user unlocks a trophy. You'll be hearing it soon enough. Hopefully a lot...

But what will they sound like? Ah, the suspense!

Firmware v2.40 FAQ [PlayStation.Blog via Videogamer] [Pic]

sports

First Look At FIFA 09, PS3 Gets Exclusive 'Game Mode'

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 9:30 PM on July 1, 2008

Being an EA Sports game, when we talk the latest version of FIFA, we're not talking sweeping changes. We're talking the slightest of tinkering. Especially when you consider they're closing the gap on Pro Evo's lead in the quality stakes, and as such obviously don't want to go blowing that with any radical alterations. So when EA are talking up FIFA 09 with stuff like "Custom Team Tactics" (plus other "innovations" you could swear they already introduced between FIFA's 98-08), it's only of interest to the sharpest point of the FIFA fanbase. What is interesting, however, is an improved animation system (long FIFA's chief problem), as well as talk of the PS3 version of the game scoring an exclusive "game mode" not found on the other iterations. Being PS3-only, could it be related to Home? The option of a quick kickaround in the park, jumpers for goalposts, perhaps?

Read More »

xbox 360

Too Human: 'This Has To Be The Worst Game I've Played In The Last 5 Years'

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 9:00 PM on July 1, 2008

Poor Denis Dyack. Too Human's not even out yet, and already, the knives are out. None sharper than this one: over on the Eurogamer boards, one of the site's mods - a chap who claims to be a journo - says his Too Human review NDA is "against [his] human rights". He also says "this has to be the worst game I've played in the last 5 years", citing everything from the game's animation to its supposedly repetitive combat. This follows on from a few hands-on impressions hitting yesterday that range from the wary to the downbeat to the cautiously damning. None of which are the final word. But all of which will nevertheless be taken as final gospel/reviews by the impressionable and trollish (despite the potential that one is a complete fabrication), which should make a fascinating case study in the construction of internet preconceptions for some student, somewhere.

"Interview with Silicon Knights about Too Human" [Eurogamer, via VG247]

xbox 360

How Japan's Numero Uno Xbox 360 Fanboy Spent June

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 8:30 PM on July 1, 2008

Look at your calendars! It's July. Last month was very busy for Japan's biggest Xbox 360 fanboy Jamzy. Jamzy occupied himself with video games, some lady's bellybutton and dog cake. Jamzy's list of game's he played last month includes two PSP games (Tales of Rebirth, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G), two DS games (Derby Stallion DS, Daigassou Band Brothers DX) and two Xbox 360 games (Mobile Suit Gundam Operation: Troy, Battlefield Bad Company). That's right, Jamzy doesn't play PS3 or Wii -- he's serious, haircutting business! In the picture above, Jamzy plays through Battlefield Bad Company at an EA event. After the jump, his dog has a birthday part, and Jamzy puts the animal in funny outfits. Ah, to be the underdog's dog...

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xbox 360

'Gears of War 2 More Emotionally Effecting Than BioShock'

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 8:00 PM on July 1, 2008

Gears of War has great gameplay. Beyond that, we really don't remember much about it. (Oh well, we remember that The Cliffster made it back when he had another name.) But according to voice actor Carlos Ferro, who's Dominic Santiago, the sequel packs an emotional wallop. Says Ferro:

I said it. It's going to be more emotionally effecting than Bioshock. A lot happens.

Good games don't have to do everything right, they just need to do at least one thing right (and really right). Everything else is gravy -- emotional crying scenes, included!

Gears 2: More Emotionally Affecting than Bioshock [Team Xbox via videogaming247]

industry news

British Sales Charts

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 7:30 PM on July 1, 2008

Here comes a new challenger! Ack. Sorry. Couldn't resist. But then neither could Britons, as regardless of its agonisingly late release, Super Smash Bros. kicks off its stay in the charts at #1. Battlefield Bad Company also enjoys a surprisingly strong debut, entering the charts at #2 (and #7), while going the other way - and going the other way fast - is Metal Gear Solid 4, which drops from 1st to 5th, beaten out by such titles as the two above and...Big Beach Sports.

Read More »

playstation 3

Take A Look At Sony's Official Bluetooth Headset

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 6:30 PM on July 1, 2008

On the PS2, Sony offered a headset with the purchase of SOCOM, help sweeten the deal. Seemed to work well, so no reason to go changing things, is there? So when SOCOM Confrontation is eventually released, it'll be released with this, Sony's official (and, for what it is, quite classy) bluetooth headset. Those with a yearning for the headset - but not for SOCOM's special blend of tactical squad combat - should know it's OK, you'll also be able to buy it separately. The dock's a considerate touch.

Read More »

arcade

Let's Dress Up Chun-Li

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 6:00 PM on July 1, 2008

As we previously posted, the Japanese arcade version of Street Fighter IV will feature Taito's NESYS Card System to save and track data — plus a mobile phone site, too. During arcade play, players can win and save "Battle Points" on their NESYS Card. The Battle Points are weighted, so, for example, if you defeat a player with a high ranking, you'll get more Battle Points. Besides BP, players can also earn "zeny" when winning and then take that saved zeny to the SFIV cell phone "Zeny Shop" where players can purchase outfits and different coloured costumes like Chun-Li's new threads (pictured). What's more, players are able to receive a stamp at the mobile phone contents shop (one stamp a day), and those stamps can be traded for ringtones, ring voices and mobile phone pics at the "Stamp Shop".

春麗に待望の新コスチュームが!? [Famitsu]

industry news

NPD's PC Sales Charts June 15-21

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 5:30 PM on July 1, 2008

Few, if any, surprises here. After all, the Sporepedia didn't get to a gagillion monsters entered without people picking up the tools to enter monsters, so seeing the Spore Creature Creator at the #1 spot in the PC sales charts is a given. It also means Maxis have another game to clutter these charts up with. What, The Sims aren't doing enough business for you these days?

Read More »

arcade

Street Fighter IV To Feature Data Cards, Personal Mobile Phone Site, Guilds

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 5:00 PM on July 1, 2008

Starting July 18th, Street Fighter IV will be playable in Japanese arcades. To save your arcade achievements, the game will use Taito's NESYS Card System. (Makes sense as the game runs on the Taito Type X2 arcade system board!) The NESYS Card will come in four patterns, all of which are pictured. This saved player data contains the player name that appears on-screen in versus mode. The player data can also be accessed individual cell phone SFIV player webpages, which feature stats and ranking as well as news about SFIV events. Via the mobile phone site, it's possible to create and name SFIV guilds. Players can then collect "guild points" and compete with other SFIV guilds to improve their ranking to boot!

Street Figher IV Arcade Data Cards [Famitsu]

peripherals

Rock Band 2's Guitar Is Easy On The Eye

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 4:00 PM on July 1, 2008

Rock Band's guitar - when it worked - was great. Bigger unit, better fret placement, a more "grown-up" appearance...really good stuff, and a real improvement on the early Guitar Hero controllers. Still, that doesn't mean the design can't be improved upon for the game's sequel. Above, Rock Band 2's guitar controller. The licensing agreement with Fender obviously continues, except this time the guitar's finished in a lovely faux-wood finish. Some might baulk at the tackiness, but we're not talking kitchen floors here, people, we're talking plastic guitars for a videogame. Faux wood will do just fine. Bigger pics after the jump.

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role-playing

Hands On with Dokapon Kingdom

Posted by Flynn De Marco at 3:40 PM on July 1, 2008

Don't let the name and the cute graphics fool you, Dokapon Kindom, the upcoming party RPG from Sting and Atlus, more than lives up to its subtitle "The Friendship Destroying Game". I had the pleasure of checking it out last week and testing my already somewhat tenuous relationship with my arch-enemy, GamePro's Travis Moses. It was a lot of fun and quite surpassed my expectations.

The best way to start describing Dokapon Kingdom would be to compare it to Mario Party in that they are both multiplayer games that use a board game mechanic, but the similarities stop there. Dokapon Kingdom goes a step further by adding in RPG elements, a huge map and a healthy dose of vicious competition to create something truly unique and a hell of a lot of fun. Up to four players can play locally (there is no online play) and no worries if you only have one controller as the game can be played with the "pass the controller" method.

Read More »

pc

Hands On with Grimm

Posted by Flynn De Marco at 3:20 PM on July 1, 2008

American McGee's Grimm has been somewhat of a mystery to me since it was announced. The concept sounded good, I mean anything based on Grimm's fairy tales always catches my interest. I had been anxious to see exactly what it was going to be like and today I got my chance. It was certainly different than what I expected it might be and way more as well.

As you may have heard, Grimm is going to be an episodic game, with new episodes appearing every week. Episodes will be free for the first 24 hours and from there you can either purchase them individually from GameTap.com/grimm or get them free via a gold GameTap subscription. Each episode will take on a different fairy tale (some well know and some not so well known) with the first being "The Boy Learns What Fear Is," and others to follow including "Red Riding Hood" and "The Girl Without Hands."

Read More »

xbox 360

Infinite Undiscovery Box Art Clues In DLC

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 3:00 PM on July 1, 2008

That right there is the box art for upcoming tri-Ace developed, Square Enix published Xbox 360 game Infinite Undiscovery. While Square Enix never said that the single player game would have online play (hence the no "Xbox LIVE" box decal), the game's box art does have a "LIVE" logo on it (no "Xbox" though). Hrm, does that mean this offline game could very well feature online DLC? The Japanese Infinite Undiscovery site states "Xbox Live: DLC" under the "Spec" tab. So, sure seems like it.

INFINITE UNDISCOVERY Box Art [Square Enix Members via Siliconera]

wii

Another Year, Another Cooking Mama

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 2:30 PM on July 1, 2008

A mantra that should cause the clucking of tongues and the rolling of eyes! But no. This isn't some skateboarding series. It's no annually-updated football franchise. It's Cooking Mama! So it's with delight that we learn Majesco will be releasing a new Cooking Mama title this year, and an all-new one to boot. Called Cooking Mama World Kitchen, it's for the Wii, and aside from an entirely appropriate (and welcome) graphical upgrade, we're promised new minigame opportunities ("if you flip a burger too high, you can control Mama as she rushes in to save the day by catching it in her apron") and better motion control implementation. It should be out this holidays. Presser and NSFW screen after the jump.

Read More »

arcade

First Details About Sega's New Arcade Racer

Posted by Brian Ashcraft at 2:00 PM on July 1, 2008

After its recent location test, details about SEGA's new arcade racer R-Tuned: Ultimate Street Racing have hit. Before the race starts, players select their car and its neon lights. There are unlimited super boosts -- be careful as using it causes the steering wheel to shake and possibly lose control. Players can win money that's used to buy new cars. Racing locales include New York, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Hong Kong. All this wrapped in the same cabinet AMPlus is using for SEGA Race TV. Kind wish the cabinet's bottom was neon lit!

Hummer Game Looks Cool, Too [Sega Nerds Forums via Sega Nerds]

wii

 ·  Mega Man 9: WiiWare ONLY - False alarm. Please, go ahead and disregard this morning's post regarding Mega Man 9 being available for the PSN and XBLA. Capcom have since removed those listings from their E3 lineup (calling it "a mistake"), and have confirmed the game will only be appearing on the Wii.

playstation 3

Sony Have 'No Plans' For PS2 Downloads On PSN

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 1:40 PM on July 1, 2008

Downloading PS2 games on the PS3? Sounds great in theory, but it's "news" to Sony. Responding to rumours kicked off by a suspicious-looking "screengrab" (Fantavision? Really?), Sony's Patrick Seybold has said "At this point, we haven't made any announcements, and there are no plans for PS2 downloadable titles on PS3". The no announcements part, that's normal PR talk. The "no plans" bit goes a bit further, however, perhaps even suggesting they really have no plans for such a service! Perhaps (it's a merry dance we dance with PR responses). Kinda hope they do though, if only to see people in forums convince other people in forums that The Bouncer would be a good game to catch up on.

Sony: 'No plans for PS2 downloadable titles on PS3' [GamePro]

editorial

Druids, Paladins & Shamans, Oh My: Why Hybrid Classes Don't Work

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 1:30 PM on July 1, 2008

sha_wow.jpgI should preface this by saying the idea behind a hybrid class is fantastic. I'm the sort of player that can't stand being pigeon-holed. I like flexibility. To be stuck in the same role for months, even years, in a massively multiplayer online game sounds like torture - the sort you'd endure if someone were to swap your butt with your gonads and force you to sit the same way you always have.

Ouch? You better believe it.

No one likes being sidelined, underpowered or having their class poorly understood by their peers, but these are the issues hybrids have had to endure since the dawn of massively multiplayer games. Is there a solution to the hybrid problem, or should players of classes like the Druid, Paladin and Shaman face the fact that they will never be balanced?

Read More »

real world

Ridiculous Price Of Games In Australia Gets Mainstream Attention

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 1:00 PM on July 1, 2008

cashinpocket.jpgI often use the example of Activision doubling the price of Call of Duty 4 on Steam to illustrate how dire the "price of games" situation has become in Australia, but Andrew Ramadge of News.com.au has uncovered a better one:

... Gamers who visit the Steam and Electronic Arts websites are charged up to five times more to download popular titles like Medal Of Honour: Airborne -- which Australians can buy and download for $99.95, while users in the US pay just $21.15 ($US19.95).
But you guys already know how crazy the situation is. Thank [insert deity here] for importing, right?

Yes, we can import, but that doesn't mean everyone else should have to cough up the cash. And why should we be forced to look overseas in the first place? That just doesn't make sense to me.

It's unlikely prices will come down anytime soon - the publishers would vomit at the lost profits - so buying games will continue to be an online affair for us (minus Steam, of course).

The article also notes how the ACCC is powerless to do anything and, unsurprisingly, that none of the publishers were willing to talk about the problem.

Aussies paying five times more for software [News.com.au]

industry news

Treyarch Offers Apologies To Gearbox Software

Posted by Michael McWhertor at 12:40 PM on July 1, 2008

Just when we thought we were set for a good developer versus developer war of words, we find out that Treyarch has taken the high road, apologising for remarks made about Gearbox Software and its Brothers In Arms series. You may remember that earlier we quoted Activision producer Noah Heller had a few unkind words for Hell's Highway, especially in comparison to Call of Duty: World At War.

Read More »

xbox 360

Want A Cheap Halo Edition Xbox 360? How Does $265 Sound?

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 12:30 PM on July 1, 2008

halo3_xbox_left.jpgUpdate: The product page has been taken down; it looks like someone at Dick Smith may have made a boo-boo. EcoGamer recommends you give your local store a ring to see if it is willing to sell the console at the reduced price.

Madness. Utter, utter madness. Anthony at EcoGamer sends word that Dick Smith Electronics is currently selling its stock of Halo Edition 360s for the stupid price of $264.50. These are Pro units, with a good chance of having the cooler Falcon chipset.

This news comes hot on the cheap-arse heels of Big W's discount Xbox 360 Arcades. I don't know if it's the retailers or Microsoft that's flipped their lids, but someone has clearly gone nuts with the "on-sale" stickers.

If you don't already own a 360, you might want to grab one. I doubt you'll see prices like this again soon.

Halo Xbox 360 $US 264.50 [EcoGamer, thanks Anthony]

playstation 3

2.40 Q&A Gives Us That Morning-After Feeling

Posted by Luke Plunkett at 12:20 PM on July 1, 2008

Sony's Eric Lempel has posted a somewhat exhaustive Q&A session on the PlayStation Blog, which details everything you may or may not have wanted to know about the console's major, upcoming firmware update. While I'm sure it was meant to be helpful, a read down his list of responses does little but drive home the point that, as neat the implementation of the trophy system is, the addition of the in-game XMB is nowhere near as useful as most of you thought/hoped it would be.

Read More »

xbox 360

Too Human Hands-On: Six Hours In And Half-Way Home

Posted by Michael McWhertor at 12:00 PM on July 1, 2008

It's puzzling to think that Silicon Knights has been plugging away at Too Human for well over a decade now. Sure, it's been planned as epic stuff from the get go, back when it was a PlayStation title and boasted of a scope that would require four game discs over 80 hours of gameplay. It later became a GameCube title, a transition that obviously required much of its previous iteration to be scrapped.

But as I hacked my way through the Xbox 360 game's first six hours of the single player campaign -- putting me at about half-way through, according to the game's own Stats ticker -- I began to mostly puzzled by what it was the team was doing with its time. Too Human seems surprisingly unpolished for a game that's been in some form of development for a decade, delayed multiple times, one due to be released in less than two months. Granted, the letter that accompanied our preview copy of Too Human did warn that our pre-release build was not "final retail code" and may have gameplay bugs that "will be addressed in the final retail game".

Read More »

pc

Diablo III Art, Inspired By Titan Quest

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 12:00 PM on July 1, 2008

portals_tq_d3.jpgI was going through a bunch of Diablo III screenshots, mourning the possible demise of the Necromancer, when I spotted this shot of a Barbarian character pounding the unlife out of a few skeletons. You'll notice he stands defiant on a circular stone ruin with ancient script imprinted around its circumference.

Upon seeing this image (on the left) I thought I recognised the ruin. So, I loaded up Titan Quest (*ick*), ran into the first town and took the screen cap on the right. Notice anything?

Okay, so they're not identical, but the similarities are hard to ignore. I'm not sure if the ruins in Diablo III serve as a town portal, but if they do, I have to wonder: Is someone from the now-defunct Iron Lore working at Blizzard, or has an artist on the Diablo III team been playing too much Titan Quest?

In all seriousness, it's just a coincidence. This is not another Limbo of the Lost, and it would be silly to suggest otherwise. Just have a smirk and move along!

Larger pictures after the jump.

Note: I'd be first in line to describe Titan Quest as the most shameless Diablo clone ever made, so don't think I'm trying to show Diablo III is doing it here!

Read More »

announcements

Gizmodo AU Has 10 Playstation 3s Up For Grabs

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 11:30 AM on July 1, 2008

ps3_small_left.jpgHave a QR-enabled phone and a burning desire to win a PS3? Then head over to our sister site, Gizmodo AU, and check out its exclusive PS3 competition! Things wrap up on July 4 (this Friday), so there's really no time to dilly-dally!

If you're wondering if your phone is QR-enabled, here's the info you need (taken from the Giz AU post):

... Either a NextG handset from Telstra (you'll probably have to download the software to make it work), or certain Nokia phones (with additional software).
If this sounds like you, hit the link below.

Sony's First QR Code Is A Giz AU Competition To Win 10 PlayStation 3s! [Gizmodo AU]

first person shooter

Crysis Warhead Sure Looks A Lot Like Crysis

Posted by Michael McWhertor at 11:00 AM on July 1, 2008

Not that we were expecting the Crysis series to be turned on its head, but Crysis Warhead looks perhaps a bit too familiar. Maybe we're reading a bit too much into this action packed teaser trailer for the EA published shooter and, no, it's not a proper sequel and maybe Crytek has already spoiled us with the gorgeous original, but I can't shake the feeling of deja vu.

Crysis Warhead HD [GameTrailers]

playstation 3

 ·  SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Deployed To October? The release of Slant Six Games' PlayStation 3 shooter SOCOM Confrontation may have been bumped back a bit — at least at retail — as retailer GameStop pegs its North American release for mid-October. The PS3 game was planned for a September release of this year, but we're checking with Sony to see if this delay only affects retail. Thanks to David from TheRealSOCOM.com for the heads up.

mobile

BioWare Intrigued By iPhone Possibilities

Posted by Leigh Alexander at 10:20 AM on July 1, 2008

Former EALA studio head Neil Young is not the only one interested in iPhone games - looks like the BioWare team is "looking at" the possibility, too, as CEOs Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk recently spoke to MTV Multiplayer about it:

"We look at every platform that comes along. Obviously, something that's as big a cultural and technical success as the iPhone is something you really got to take a close look at. Certainly, there's nothing written in stone yet but we've got a lot of folks looking at it. It's intriguing. I think one of the things that we'll have to see how it shakes out is what type of consumer buys games on it and what type of experience they're looking for. You want to always mash the consumer experience with what you're building. We want to understand what people are going to do with it. Who knows. We're definitely looking at every platform."

They were speaking, by the way, as part of an interview in which they reiterated their fealty to the PC platform, calling the market "vibrant". So are iPhone games about to become "the hot new thing", or are they already?

BioWare Confirms PC Support, 'Looking At' iPhone Development
[MTV Multiplayer]

toys

Ivy's Soul Calibur III Outfit Surprisingly Less Whorish Than We Recall

Posted by Michael McWhertor at 9:40 AM on July 1, 2008

If the Soulcalibur IV media flood has you pining for a simpler, more demure Ivy, perhaps this Soulcalibur III era Ivy from Enterbrain will fit the bill. Oh, sure, the breasts are still obscene and the outfit isn't exactly appropriate for Sunday mass, but at least there's some amount of coverage here. Plus, it's perfect for displaying on your work desk. What co-worker wouldn't impressed by $US 120 worth of PVC, moulded perfectly into Ivy form?

If the cost and shame hasn't scared you off yet, inquire with your immobile action figure importer of choice, because there's not a ton of time between now and September.

Soul Calibur III 1/6 Ivy [HobbyStock]

real world

Grand Theft Argument

Posted by Leigh Alexander at 9:20 AM on July 1, 2008

Doubtless you've by now heard of the book entitled Grand Theft Childhood: The Surprising Truth About Video Games, yes? It surely sounds like the kind of novel you all would want to get up in arms about, but relax, the authors, Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson, found that violent games don't make kids psychopaths, but merely allow them to experiment with dangerous behaviour in a context that can be healthful (a position I myself tend to take in my editorials).

Of course, any position either overtly against or in defence of gaming is likely to be controversial right now, and GamePolitics has been documenting the argument between University of Michigan professor Brad Bushman and the book's authors. Bushman published an article in the Detroit Free Press essentially disputing Kutner and Olson's findings:

Read More »

announcements

Wrap-o-matic: Monday Night

Australian Post Posted by Logan Booker at 8:55 AM on July 1, 2008

Does Solid Snake Have... A Solid Snake?
Do you really want to know?

The Soul Calibur IV Ladies In Action
Out of proportion? Yes. Computer generated? That too. Do these facts bother you? Not in the slightest.

Age Of Conan - A Million Shipped, 700K Registered
Some numbers on Funcom's MMO, Age of Conan.

The Man Behind Diablo III Talks Plot, Lore and Battle.Net
With Diablo III announced, Starcraft II well on its way and Wrath of the Lich King drawing closer, it's nice to take a look at the bigger picture.

Metal Gear Solid 4's Nude Actor Motion Capture
It's all about the butts, apparently.

industry news

Treyarch Takes A Crack Gearbox's Hell's Highway, A 'Crappy War Game'

Posted by Michael McWhertor at 8:40 AM on July 1, 2008

Fightin' words. That's what Call of Duty: World At War senior producer Noah Heller was speaking to Eurogamer when asked about Treyarch's World War II competition, Brothers In Arms. Asked about Gearbox Software's take on the genre, the newest iteration of which will be Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway, Heller said "I watched the trailer and I'm was like 'These guys aren't even in the same league.'" Heller has even more gentlemanly things to say about the Brothers In Arms series.

Read More »

pc

Blizzard: Microsoft Could Do More To Support PC Gaming

Posted by Leigh Alexander at 8:20 AM on July 1, 2008

Speaking to Gamasutra recently, Blizzard COO Paul Sams said that he'd like to see Microsoft focus their gaming business a bit more on Windows, though he said he understood the depth of the company's investment in the Xbox 360.

"And I kind of look at it and say to myself, and I think similarly to Rob, is that it would be great if they put more emphasis on the Windows operating system, certainly probably the most prominent operating system in the world. Even more so than console boxes.

And they own and operate that system, so having them put more energy and effort against it - and they would say that they are, but I think that there's more that can be done.

Sams told Gamasutra it makes sense to him that Microsoft is currently putting so much energy on the console, as it's their "gaming bread and butter".
Blizzard's Sams: Microsoft Should Put More Emphasis On PC Gaming [Gamasutra]

role-playing

Bling Gnome Pays Visit with Golden Offering

Posted by Brian Crecente at 8:00 AM on July 1, 2008

The Bling Gnome, which sounds like such a great idea in virtual practice, leaves a lot to be desired when discovered squatting on your kitchen counter late Sunday night. There's nothing that could get me to pluck that reticent gold coin free from its housing, even if it were real. Borderline unsafe for work pics on the jump.

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xbox 360

Rumour: New 60GB Xbox 360 To Replace 20GB Model

Posted by Michael McWhertor at 7:40 AM on July 1, 2008

Microsoft may be dropping the price of the mid-range model of the Xbox 360, if a