Monthly Archives: February 2009

Grief. It’s the mobile dream. According to comScore, 2.9 million game were downloaded for smartphones in the US in November 2008, up from 734,000 in November 2007. That’s a rise of 291 percent.

Why? iPhone, obviously, and its App Store. According to this Cellular News story, iPhone owners accounted for 14 percent of mobile game downloaders in November, with 32.4 percent of all iPhone users reporting they downloaded a game in the month, compared with a market average of 3.8 percent.

Those in the mobile games industry are probably running around naked in the snow, screaming for joy. Thanks, Engadget.

Square Enix will publish Acti Blizz’s Quantum of Solace in Japan, according to Watch Impress.

The game will be released simultaneously on March 26 for PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, and Wii. Pricing is set at 8,190 yen for the PS3 and 360 versions, and 7,140 yen for the PS2 and Wii.

Thanks, Andriasang.

Dissidia: Final Fantasy was the bestselling game in Japan last month, according to Enterbrain, moving over 185,000 units to reach 850,000 in its lifetime, making its million almost inevitable.

Rhythm Heaven Gold and Wagamama Fashion Girls’ Mode came second and third respectively.

Thanks, Kotaku.

1. DISSIDIA: Final Fantasy 186,352 units/846,614 units
2. Rhythm Heaven Gold 169,567 units/152,238 units
3. Wagamama Fashion Girls’ Mode 158,103 units/707,451 units
4. Animal Crossing: City Folk 148,702 units/1,044,004 units
5. Kirby Super Star Ultra 146,700 units/1,002,127 units
6. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP the Best) 143,782 units/342,899 units
7. Wii Fit 141,902 units/3,109,199 units
8. Pocket Monster Platinum 119,482 units/2,306,819 units
9. Mario Kart Wii 119,440 units/2,122,755 units
10. White Knight Chronicles 112,904 units/315,937 units

In a world where vicious vilifications of people’s mothers fly fast and hard, yet find themselves easily shaken off, while a single jab at a someone’s game console can erupt into a riot, this only seems fitting.

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo were recently seen making the business equivalent of “Your mom” jokes about brands like Mac, Pepsi, and Taco Bell in advertising consultant Virtue’s first ever Top Social Brands list – and rightfully so.

First up, in fifth place, was the Xbox brand, followed quickly by Sony (the whole company – not just the games division) at ninth, Microsoft (whole shebang) at 11th, Nintendo at 13th, and PlayStation at 15th.

Nintendo’s Wii — even though it need only waggle to have us asking “How high?” – mysteriously didn’t make the list. Clearly, someone’s a Microsoft fanboy over at Virtue.

Check out the full list, as well as Virtue’s list-assembling methods, through the link.

By Nathan Grayson

Czech site Hratelne.cz‘s previewed Deus Ex 3, throwing up what appears to be a bunch of new details about the Eidos Montreal prequel. There’s a translation on the Eidos forumsJoystiq reports.

The game will feature five major locations, including Shanghai, Detroit and Montreal, all moving towards the formation of UNATCO, the organization served by the original Deus Ex’s protagonist, JC Denton.

The third game’s lead character is called Adam Jensen.

Interestingly, the article also notes that the dialogue system depends on a player’s ability to read facial expressions and body language, the proper judgement of which will help to reveal the best response.

There’s no date on the game as yet.

According to a job listing posted on Gamasutra, 2K Boston’s next game will be a huge departure from its single player-focused descent into madness, BioShock. Pulling a complete 180, the game will instead be an “action-packed AAA multiplayer title.”

“The BioShock team is betting big on multiplayer and plans to stay at the top of the charts– we’re careful about the problems we tackle, innovative in our approach, solid in our implementation, and we polish the heck out of everything we do,” reads the listing.

“Right now we’re looking for an exceptional individual to direct the development of this multiplayer experience through a combination of leadership, design, coding, and daily problem solving on the gameplay networking and backend server components.”

As of now, three platforms can barely be seen amongst a forest of question marks: PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. Not surprising, since the title runs on a version of Epic’s Unreal Engine 3.

Somehow, we doubt 2K will have much trouble filling this position.

By Nathan Grayson

Microsoft is apparently holding Tupperware-style parties in the US to attract women to Xbox 360.

If you’re not familiar with Tupperware parties, they involve a woman getting a stock of plastic boxes, inviting all her friends round and selling them. A bit like Ann Summers parties. But with kiddy sandwich packs instead of dildos.

From Ft Myers, FL-based news-press.com:

On a recent Saturday, about 1,000 women across the country moonlighted as marketers for Microsoft’s newest Xbox services.

House cleaners, hairdressers, guidance counselors and IT technicians got a $150 pack of Xbox freebies for opening their homes to at least 10 friends or relatives…

Microsoft signed up Maldonado and the others to drum up interest among women like them in the services and the newest Xbox console, whose price was cut in the fall to $199.

“We’ve sold 20 million consoles to date globally since we launched three years ago,” says Heather Snavely, Microsoft’s director of interactive entertainment business global platforms. “In order to get to the next 20 million, we need to get a new audience of women and teens. We’re going after them in ways that are different than ways we’ve done before.”

Thanks, SAI.

Rockstar’s put out another The Lost and Damned video, as confirmed by the Major, this time focussing on character Billy Grey.

Billy’s the president of the Lost bike club. He’s well hard. The Lost and Damned releases, exclusively for 360, on February 17.

Penny Arcade’s surveyed 38,350 readers on their gaming preferences, which has to be the largest sample of its type. Like, ever.

It’s well worth a nose. The average age of those questioned is 26, and 94 percent of them are male.

They’re not too keen on PS3 either, apparently.

Console Ownership:

• PC: 86.3%
• Xbox 360: 54.1%
• Wii: 53.5%
• PS2: 52.7%
• Nintendo DS: 51.5%
• iPhone/iPod: 29.9%
• XBOX: 26.2%
• PS3: 24.5%
• Sony PSP: 20.5%

Take a look.

Valve boss Gabe Newell will deliver DICE’s keynote address, the show’s announced.

No details of the talk have been given, unfortunately, so it remains title-less.

“Gabe Newell and Valve have become a force for innovation in gaming over the past a decade, creating some of the best-selling games of all time and a ground-breaking platform for PC entertainment,” said Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences president Joseph Olin.

“His perspective and vision of the games industry are a welcome addition to this year’s D.I.C.E. Summit, and will greatly contribute to the high-profile line-up.”

DICE takes place in Las Vegas from February 17-20. For a list of confirmed speakers so far, hit the break. Thanks, GameDaily.

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If this NextGamer article’s to be believed, the PS3 version of Resident Evil 5 requires a 5Gb install.

There’s a US packshot through there with the detail included. We’ve mailed Capcom.

The US OPM’s given Resident Evil 5 top marks in its review, as you can see in these scans.

The text’s a little small on those images, but not so much that you can’t see the glow. There are negatives, however.

“If there’s any quibbling to be done about Resident Evil 5, it’s that much of the game content and scenarios are derivative. You’ll recognise ‘influence’ from Matrix, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Metal Gear, Tomb Raider and probably every monster-related vehicle ever made, but it’s the way that RE5 reinterprets, reconstitutes, and just plain reuses them that distinguishes the game.”

It’s out on March 13.

Square Final Fantasy chap Tetsuya Nomura has confirmed in the Japanese “Ultimania” strategy guide that a Dissidia sequel isn’t in the works, despite plans to originally make one.

The developer said that making a second game to the FF PSP action original would be “very difficult,” although didn’t provide any details.

“There are no current plans for a sequel. To be honest, I wanted to do one up until a few months ago,” he said.

“I even called [Mitsunori] Takahashi, the planning director, and [Ryuji] Ikeda, the lead programmer, to talk about sequel concepts — I told them to think about what they were going to do and prepare themselves [to make a sequel].”

What the hell happened, Tetsuya? Someone should bring in Columbo. From 1UP, via Joystiq.

Mythic’s confirmed Warhammer Online’s to get its own forum, to be run by the developer.

There’s a large post from Mark Jacobs on the matter on the official site. Apparently this is the first Mythic game to get a properly hosted forum.

LucasArts has put out a new trailer on BioWare MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic, showing the making of the planet Tython, the home of the Jedi. If light sabers are your thang, it’s pretty much essential stuff.

Blurb:

Journey through Tython, the planet where the first Force users assembled and the Jedi Order was established. Discover how writers, artists, designers, and other developers came together to create one of the most essential planets in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Watch it on Gamershell. No date on the game as yet.

BioWare’s confirmed on the Mass Effect forum that a patch is on the way for the sci-fi opus’s PC version.

“BioWare is pleased to announce there will be a new patch for Mass Effect for the PC coming soon,” said community chap Chris Priestly.

“This patch will be jointly developed by BioWare and Demiurge and will be available for all versions of Mass Effect PC (retail, Steam and other digital distribution sources).”

Details on the what the update will contain, or when it’ll be released, are non-existent as yet.

Due to our shameful lack of update yesterday, you now only have a half a weekend to take advantage of the fact all Rockstar games have been reduced by 30 percent on Steam until tomorrow.

A string of classics – such as GTA IV, Bully: Scholarship Edition, Max Payne 2 and Vice City – are all for grabs for peanuts. Do yourself a favour, innit.

Despite dropping around 50 US staff this week, Disney is apparently talking to developers about stating work on a new Tron game.

The title is to tie in with TR2N, the 2011 movie sequel to everyone’s favourite all-blue CG film about a videogame, Variety reports.

There’s no confirmation on this as yet, but it’s likely the game will arrive alongside the movie release, rather obviously.

Thanks, Joystiq.

World of Goo publisher Brighter Minds Media has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The firm made the move on January 28. Unlike Chapter 7, which means the company’s to be liquidated, Chapter 11 is a step to allow the firm involved to remain in control of its assets while it reorganizes.

Brighter Minds publishes a range of family-friendly software as well as the gooey indie darling.

Thanks, GameDaily.

Animals need clothes. This is an undeniable fact. And yet, Oblivion is the one of the few games in existence that allows players to keep their furry friends’ filthy unmentionables out of the public eye. It’s a shame too, because just look at what humanity’s bizarre innate desire has done for Bethesda.

“You guys LOVE Oblivion,” exclaimed Bethesda scribe “aching.” “To this day, 2 years later. Looking at our Xbox Live reports, every day, tens of thousands of people STILL play Oblivion and they purchase thousands and thousands of downloadable content — again, every day.”

“Yes, even Horse Armor continues to sell daily.”

Wicked.

Check out the list of rankings after the break.

By Nathan Grayson

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