Monthly Archives: October 2009

Splash Damage boss Paul Wedgwood has said that PC-only projects simply cannot attract enough money from publishers to create triple-A results.

“About two or three years ago we realised that we really wouldn’t survive if we only made PC games, since purely making PC games was incompatible with our goal of making triple-A games,” said the developer, demoing current project Brink yesterday at the EG Expo in Leeds.

“You just can’t get the publisher budget to ever [use] an orchestra in London, and then go and record at Abbey Road and get the best voice actors if you’re only going to release on the PC, where there isn’t the sales to justify that kind of work.”

Wedgwood added: “Because we needed to make that transition, I started playing console games,” and that he now plays “a lot more time playing console stuff” than PC games.

Wedgwood’s background is from the PC mod scene. He told the Expo audience that he originally resisted console gaming because he considered himself to be “hardcore PC guy,” but “loved it” and got “more and more into it”.

For the record, Brink looks properly, properly awesome. Hopefully we’ll be able to show it to you soon. It’s out for PC, 360 and PS3 next spring.

What’s going on here, then? THQ’s just announced that the WWE’s extended a deadline for renewing its license to make wrestling games based on the IP until December 31.

THQ’s “noted that WWE’s action provides the company with increased flexibility with respect to the renewal of the videogame license.”

Assuming the renewal goes ahead, THQ would get another five year’s worth of WWE games, with the license running out on December 31, 2014.

Doesn’t sound like the most solid thing in the world though, does it? We’re asking for THQ for comment.

2K strategy title Shattered Union is to get a Hollywood movie adaptation, Variety reports.

Mike Stenson and Chad Oman will exec produce the project at Jerry Bruckheimer Films. That means very little to us, but what the hey.

There’s no date. Full details through the link.

Alpha Protocol lead designer Chris Avellone told VG247 that, to say the least, he’s not a big fan of including sex in game for cheap thrills.

“I think the focus on sex solely as sex – or more specifically, the taboo it has – is pretty ridiculous,” said the developer, speaking in an extensive Obsidian interview published today.

Spy RPG Alpha Protocol does include sex, but Avellone said the game’s carnal aspects are all in there for a reason.

“I don’t see sex in games as an achievement to be earned, but as an experience, and I think Alpha Protocol delivers it as an experience first,” he said.

“There’s a lot of emotional depth in Alpha Protocol from bonding over mutual respect, friendship, questioning traditional loyalty (at points, quite extreme), and even what I would call ‘no-mances,’ which are devoid of romantic feeling entirely but provide a nice character arc for the player and the target, regardless.

“All of these aspects also change the flow of the game, the story, character’s attitudes, and can cause changes in your companions, missions, objectives, and even expose more of the backstory of you and your love interest.”

Hit the link for the full thing. Alpha Protocol releases for PC, 360 and PS3 next year.

Despite the fact Obsidian spy RPG Alpha Protocol’s been pushed back into next year, the game remains one of the most anticipated in the market. Many of you were born to be Bond, clearly.

Good news for you all today, then. We’ve been lucky enough to get a huge chat with senior producer Ryan Rucinski, PR producer Matthew Rorie and lead designer Chris Avellone on the game, the state of play in RPGs in general and so much more your brain’ll ache.

Hit the link. There really is a ton of stuff in there, so don’t miss it.

Interview by Nathan Grayson.

More »

Digital download sales will be included with retail sales in the UK PC chart from the start of next year, Chart-Track boss Dorian Bloch said yesterday.

Speaking at Tuesday’s London Games Conference, Bloch said that from the start of 2010, publishers and digital distributors will be able to submit sales data for the official chart.

Good news, yo. More on GI.

Microsoft’s developed a system of muscle computer sensors that can be used for the greater good of human kind. And to play Guitar Hero without a controller.

Check out the video after the break. The guy “presses” the coloured buttons by pushing his fingers together. A cyborg bicep sensor array does all the work.

The future. Made real. Right now. On this website.

Thanks, Engadget and Procrastineering.

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IGN’s posted an Excitebike: World Rally playtest, as well as some proper shots.

According to author Craig Harris: “I’ve been playing the game for nearly two weeks now — Excitebike is one of my top NES games and I’m totally jazzed to see the game make a return in an updated design. Monster Games’s recreation doesn’t go overboard as it retains much of the NES version’s gameplay, but updates it in a 3D environment running at 60 frames per second.”

We’re jazzed too, Craig. It’s out on US WiiWare on November 9. We’re still waiting for a Euro date.

Good news if you have a credit card and a PS3 – the Japanese version of Bayonetta’s in English, according to Siliconera.

If you’re missing one of those two critical components, you’re going to either need a Japanese 360 or you’re going to have to wait for its western release next year.

It’s out now in Japan. Go for it. Get some sexy Japanese witch Blu-ray in your life.

Jay-Z’s in DJ Hero for the good of hip hop. That’s right. Not because he would have been paid a metric fuckload of money to do almost no work.

“Immediately, of course, with the success of Guitar Hero, it piqued my interest,” the US legend told MTV.

“Then, you know, on top of that, it was something from the hip hop culture, so any time, you know, I can expand the genre and introduce it to new audiences and widen it. You know, the reach of what hip hop can do, you know, I’m interested in that. And then, you know, after playing the game, you really get the feeling, like you know, you can be Grand Master Flash.”

Sure. DJ Hero’s out in the US now. You’ll be able to buy it this side of the water on Friday.

Thanks, Kotaku.

UK supermarket chain ASDA’s admitted to selling games below cost price in order to offer “value”.

The news comes after indie retailer Chips accused the larger UK chains of “bully boy pricing” tactics.

“It might surprise [Chips] and others, but we aren’t making any money on FIFA 10 because the price we have had to pay to the supplier is more than we are charging our customers,” an ASDA rep told GI.

“I am sure the other supermarkets are in a similar boat, so to criticise them as ‘bully boys’ doesn’t make sense to me – how can you be a bully if you are selling something for less than you buy it at?”

More through the link.

Valve popped over word this morning that the 360 version of the Left 4 Dead 2 demo is now available for those that pre-ordered.

The PC version’s planned for release later today.

The full game hits on November 17.

European Xbox Live boss Jerry Johnson has seen what streaming videogame services like OnLive and Gaikai have to offer, but – despite their potential ability to send his main moneymaker packing – he’s not too worried.

“Streaming technology is something that the industry is betting on longer term… right now I don’t believe that technology can scale out against the experience we can offer on a local machine,” he said during the London Games Conference.

“The technology will continue to improve. As an industry we’ll have to accept that and move with it – but I don’t think it’s on an accelerated timeline for the foreseeable future,” he added.

Thanks, TechRadar.

More through the link.

UFC: Undisputed may have beaten it to the punch, but EA’s MMA game is far from down for the count – at least, if this first screenshot is any evidence.

Honest to God, we thought it was a real image of Fedor Emelianenko putting the hurt on some poor, soon-to-be cast-wearing chump. But no, it’s an actual in-game image. It says so right on the game’s Facebook page.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to stop staring at the screen. Our arms are starting to hurt.

TIGA has said that the UK development industry could face a 5 percent year-on-year decline should the government decline to issue tax breaks – where as on the flips side, it could grow annually by 4 percent should incentives go into effect.

“The UK games industry is still successful and world leading. However, because most of our key competitors benefit from a tax break for games production, our industry is at a competitive disadvantage,” said Gareth Edmondson, TIGA vice chairman.

“Unless the UK government introduces TIGA’s proposed games tax relief, our research suggests that employment in the development sector will fall by 5 percent in each of the next five years, from 9025 in 2009 to 7351 in 2014. There would also be a fall of £1.9 million ($3.1 million) in development expenditure over the same period.

“With games tax relief enacted, the industry would stop shrinking in 2010, grow by 2 percent in 2011 and by 4 percent in each of the next three years. 3550 graduate level jobs and £457 million ($750 million) of investments in the development sector would be created or protected with the advent of the tax break.”

Edmondson went on to state that within five years the measure would cost £192 million $315 million) but would deliver £415 million ($682 million) in tax receipts.

More through GI.biz.

Shigeru Miyamoto has said that he is disappointed with Japanese reaction to the Star Fox games.

“I’m a big fan of the Star Fox games,” he told MTV. “Every time we make a Star Fox game I’m hoping people will enjoy it as much as I do. Of course the goal every time is to try and make it more and more fun but, at least in Japan, the people that purchase the Star Fox games has decreased over the years.

“But we still try to make them more fun and hopefully people will see the appeal in those games.”

Fans should feel good knowing that as long as Miyamoto likes it, there’s always the possibility for more.

More through the link.

Steam has S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl on sale through November 2 for $5, so if you have yet to play it now’s your chance to for cheap.

Should that not be your cup of tea, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director’s Cut is 50 percent off at $19.99 until October 29.

Both are great deals, there.

Microsoft has pulled Sky Player from Xbox 360 after an “unforeseen technical issue,” and hopes to relaunch the service tomorrow.

“The Sky Player on Xbox 360 service did successfully launch early this morning, it has subsequently been suspended due to an unforeseen technical issue,” read a statement from the publisher. “With so much excitement and interest in the service, we’d much prefer to ensure that our customers enjoy the highest possible quality of service.

“We would like to take this opportunity to apologize to our customers who have attempted to access the service today. Sky Player engineers are hard at work to resolve the problem – we expect to have the full service available tomorrow.”

There ya go.

Via GI.biz.

A few folks playing Borderlands are noticing that when logging in or out of a multiplayer match that their data is reset to zero.

Gearbox is currently working on fixing the bug, and while scant few are having the issue, it’s one that is being taken seriously.

“Unfortunately there isn’t a fix just yet, but when one is available we hope to be able to repair as much of your character data as possible,” read a post in the forums.

This glitch is happening with all three versions of the game.

Via BigDownload.

Looks like folks who have saved games for previous Ratchet & Clank titles will be rewarded with bonus material when playing A Crack in Time.

Saved games for Tools of Destruction will net you discounts with weapons merchants and Quest for Booty saves will reward you with a pirate hat (for use in community mode only).

Nice to know those saves were worth hogging your hard drive space, eh?

It’s out November 6.

More through Joystiq, ThatVideoGameBlog.