Monthly Archives: April 2009

How many people lost their jobs at THQ-owned Big Huge Games last week? This Kotaku piece is rumouring 45 got the axe.

The site’s arrived at the figure by comparing the developer’s current staff page with a cached version. There used to be 125 – 80 remain.

There’s no official confirmation as to how many people lost their jobs as yet.

Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux’s has said his previous claim that games will produce a story “equivalent” to Godfather’s quality by 2016 is “wrong”.

“I think I was wrong about that Godfather line… I think we can surpass where the Godfather is,” he told VG247, speaking at GDC.

The exec expanded, saying gaming’s interactivity is the key to its potential story-telling greatness.

“Here’s the thing about games: you’re involved in them. And part of the stories that we tell, if we tell them in the right way, and we give you access to the right tools as you’re playing, you will feel engaged and involved in them in a way that you cannot feel engaged and involved with any film, or even book.”

Molyneux’s GDC session failed to produce a look at Lionhead’s next game, but the developer’s promised more on future plans at E3 in June.

Wii Fit’s back on top of the UK chart, ending a three-week number one run for Resident Evil 5.

Nice placing there for Wheelman, up to fourth position. And it looks as though this is the last week in the top 40 for LittleBigPlanet.

Data below for the week ending April 4. Last week’s chart here. Get the full listing here.

SCEA marketing boss John Koller sent out a statement over the weekend essentially saying that DSi is for children, while PSP targets “diverse demographics”.

DSi launched in both the US and Europe last week. Here’s the missive in full:

If Nintendo is really committed to reaching a broader, more diverse audience of gamers beyond the “kids” market that they’ve always engaged, there isn’t much new with the DSi to support that. Significant gamer demographic groups are being ignored, and there continues to be limited opportunities for games from external publishers to do well on the DSi. Compare that with the PSP platform, where we have many blockbuster franchises from our publishing partners launching this year, representing a wide variety of genres and targeting diverse demographics. Games such as Rock Band Unplugged from MTV Games, Assassin’s Creed from Ubisoft, Dissidia Final Fantasy from Square Enix, and Hannah Montana from Disney demonstrate the commitment that publishers have to the PSP. From our own first-party studios, we’re launching unique versions of LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm, and we’re also planning a steady stream of downloadable games — both new titles and PSone classics — to add to the content that PSP owners can already purchase wirelessly through PlayStation Store.

Thanks, Engadget.

These were knocking about at rubbish resolution at the weekend, but Destructoid’s got a nice set of what are apparently the first MAG screens. There’s some art there as well.

They look a bit too good to be fake, to be fair. But that doesn’t mean they’re not.

The Zipper PS3 shooter’s out later this year.

SCEA marketing head John Koller has dropped a heavy hint that Gran Turismo’s future may not be limited to just PSP and PS3.

“[Polyphony Digital] report directly into our CEO, Kaz Hirai, so it’s a little bit of a ‘wait and see’,” the exec told VG247 when asked when we can expect to see GT5.

“But we look for that franchise to continue on as many platforms as possible.”

Koller said in the same interview, recorded at GDC, that Sony is currently looking at “GT5 across all platforms, just to see what makes the most sense.”

PC gamers may do well to get excited by the talk. Polyhony head Kazunori Yamauchi’s already said that “perhaps [GT5] comes to the PC,” talking specifically of a Chinese launch.

It doesn’t take the hugest leap of logic to guess Koller may be talking about a PC SKU here.

E3, kids.

Harmonix designer Dan Teasdale’s confirmed on his blog that Lego Rock Band was supposed to be announced at GDC. He’s provided the slides to prove it.

There’s a PDF there of an earlier version of the designer’s GDC session – obviously, it didn’t happen. Looks like Lego Rock Band was planned to be announced prior to this year’s show.

Teasdale’s slides show that the game will hit in 2009.

Told you.

Thanks, Kotaku.

Lusogamer’s put up some new Heavy Rain art, this time featuring black and white pieces.

The Quantic Dreams thriller’s PS3-bound towards the end of this year. Is that a picture of a couple having sex while the woman holds a knife? It looks like it. Hot.

Go see.

Update – All these are old. We’re flushing Pat’s head down the toilet right now.

There’s some early video of Pandemic’s Saboteur after the break, courtesy of supperannuation.

It’s not the best quality, but you get the idea. The game appears to be Indiana Jones in game form, with ledge-leaping, pulling Germans from moving trucks and TPS Nazi action. The jumping staff car may be a bridge too far, but who are we to judge?

Quick, before it gets yanked.

More »

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode One will get a price reduction on Xbox Live tomorrow.

Instead of 1,600 MS Points ($19.99), you’ll only have to hand over 800 ($9.99).

Pretty cheap, if you’ve been sitting on the fence.

Gas Powered Games has released a demonstration video for Demigod, featuring pointers and a bit of tutorial from the game’s lead designer, Matt Marr.

Shows a stone giant, called the Rook, swing his hammer and smash all in its path.

Watch it below.

Game’s out April 14 for PC.

More »

Blizzard has been nominated for six different awards at the MI6 Conference, mainly for World of Warcraft.

Here’s what the company’s up for:

• OUTSTANDING TV OR THEATRICAL AD:  Ozzy Osborne – “Prince of Darkness”

• OUTSTANDING TV OR THEATRICAL CAMPAIGN: World of Warcraft 2008 “What’s your Game?” TV Campaign

• BEST WRAPPING – PRODUCT PACKAGING: Wrath of the Lich King Standard Edition

• OUTSTANDING OVERALL MARKETING CAMPAIGN: World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Launch Campaign

• SHARPEST PEN AWARD – BEST COPYWRITING/TV OR THEATRICAL: Ozzy Osborne – “Prince of Darkness”

• BEST PRODUCT LOGO DESIGN: Diablo 3 Animated Logo

For the full list of nominees, visit the official MI6 site.

Thanks, Massively.

NoA’s Reggie Fils-Aime told MTV this week that despite assumptions to the contrary, Nintendo encourages indie-developers to submit ideas to it’s licensing organization.

What caused Nintendo to look like a snob, you ask?

Two months ago, Robert Pelloni submitted a 2D RPG game that he’d been developing over the past five years to Nintendo, seeking license to publish it on DS.

“Bob’s Game” as it’s known, was denied a DS development kit by the gaming giant, which has caused Pelloni to go on a verbal rampage on blogs, saying Nintendo was hard to work with.

Nintendo just didn’t think his game was all that hot. No offense, Bob.

“He did submit to be a licensed developer. We have an evaluation process. We evaluated the opportunity. We decided at this point in time that he did not meet the requirements to be a licensed developer,” said Reggie.

Reggie does not want Pelloni’s story to discourage anyone though.

“My hope is that any developer who has a compelling idea will reach out to our licensing organization and share their idea and go through the process of becoming a licensed developer for the Nintendo platform,” he said.

“We have a legacy of supporting that type of development.”

Nintendo Power’s got the goods on the Wii-exclusive Rabbids Go Home.

No more mini-games apparently: it’s a proper action-adventure title.

First details:

• Rabbids Go Home is described as an action-adventure game.
• The Rabbids have decided they want to go home, but they don’t know where home is. For whatever reason, they decide that the moon is their destination.
• The Rabbids’ goal is to collect enough junk to build a tower to reach the moon.
• Players control two Rabbids at once: one sits inside a shopping cart, another pushes the cart.
• You collect junk by pushing the cart into it.
• Players can use the “BWAH!” attack to scare clothing off of NPCs, then collect it to add the clothing items to their towers.
• Other items are used to give Rabbids new abilities and power-ups for carts.

No date. Thanks, GoNintendo.

This weekend only, Steam is taking 75 percent off of Tomb Raider: Anniversary.

Originally priced $19.99, get it now for $5.00, or £3.50 if you’re in the UK.

While you’re over, check out the Eidos Collector’s pack, which includes 20 different Eidos games for $99.99.

See for yourself.

Beginning April 9, Crysis Wars will be free-to-play for one week.

This is the game’s third such trial period.

If you played during the previous free weeks and still have your key, it’ll be reactivated, apparently.

More information is expected on Monday.

A study over at Iowa State University has found that “some non-violent videogames can teach kids to be more cooperative and helpful to others,” reports D’toid.

In other words, some games are good.

With probably the longest title ever given to the study of games, “The Effects of Prosocial Video Games on Prosocial Behaviors: International Evidence From Correlational, Longitudinal, and Experimental Studies” was conducted in three countries and included age groups starting at fifth grade and ending in college.

Pro-social games were played and, according to results, the players were more “pro-social” to others for four months afterwards.

The report did say, however, that violent games could lead people to behave more aggressively.

More through there.

Jason Della Rocca closed his stint as the executive director of the International Game Developers Association with a bang during GDC’s annual rant session last week.

Here is an excerpt from his speech, which he posted on his blog:

Serving the IGDA for the past 9 years has been extremely rewarding and challenging. I helped to get a lot done, but somehow feel that I failed the community.

Sorry for not having the leadership skills to beat the barriers of participation inequality. Less than 1% of the IGDA membership are truly active in driving the org forward… Sorry for not overcoming your general apathy and laziness.

Sorry for not doing a better job of roping in all the snipers from the sidelines. Turns out you are all pretty damn good at bitching and complaining and being critical. But then you don’t actually do anything about it and you don’t get involved…

Sorry for not getting you to be more serious about the profession of game development… This is a real art and science. We need to be way more deliberate and control the path the profession takes as it evolves into the future.

Most of all, sorry for not doing more to help you realize your power! … You are all having a massive impact on society. You are transforming the world day-by-day without even realizing it.

Oh well, fuck you, it’s not my job anymore!

Sorry.

Via, GamePolitics.

Activision and Vicarious Visions have released a list of 17 out of the 24 playable characters in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.

Some of you were excited yesterday over Iron Fist being included, while some were a bit “meh”.

Maybe a few of these will turn the tide.

1. Captain America
2. Daredevil
3. Electro (Villain)
4. Hulk
5. Human Torch
6. Iron Fist
7. Iron Man
8. Invisible Woman
9. Lucia von Bardas (Villain)
10. Luke Cage (Power Man)
11. Mr. Fantastic
12. Songbird
13. Spider-Man
14. Storm
15. The Thing
16. Thor
17. Wolverine

Other characters who may/may not be playable are:

1. Bishop
2. Black Widow
3. Cable
4. Green Goblin
5. Hercules
6. Maria Hill
7. Multiple Man
8. Nick Fury
9. She-Hulk
10. Venom
11. War Machine

Via VideogamesBlogger.

The Mortal Kombat team is looking to leave Midway, according to this Kotaku report.

With over 50 staff members, the development team allegedly wants to depart due to unpaid bonuses related to Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe sales.

Sources said the team has become “frustrated” with Midway’s bankruptcy filing and some of its projects being put on hold.

More through there.