Monthly Archives: November 2009

PS3′s motion control wands are being see as a “platform” by Sony, PS3 studio boss Michael Denny’s told GI.

“The motion control system we’re putting in place going forward is we’re treating as more of a platform,” he said.

“You’re right that here in Europe we have a lot of experience helping develop the peripherals for our social games but we see the motion control solution and experience as being broader than that.”

The exec continued that is won’t just be social games that benefit from the peripherals, which launch next spring.

“We do believe it can come into a core experience as well,” Denny added. “The development of motion control software and games is a worldwide venture for us.”

There’s an interview through there.

Polyphony boss Kazunori Yamauchi’s told IGN that GT5 could have motorbikes. Seriously.

“If that’s what users really want in the game, I think that’s a possibility,” he said when asked if bi-wheely things will end up in the game.

“Or we could consider making a Tourist Trophy 2 as well,” he said.

PS2′s Tourist Trophy was the “Real Riding Simulator” to GT’s “Real Driving Simulator”.

GT5′s out in March in Japan.

Via Eurogamer and Kotaku.

Infinity Ward’s Rob Bowling’s told MTV that its next game’s a mystery.

“We don’t know what our next game is,” he said, talking in the video interview after the break.

“Once we’ve finished [Modern Warfare 2], we’re going to do a lot of DLC support for it, and then we’re going to sit down and talk about what our next project’s going to be. It doesn’t mean this is the end, but right now, you know, we’re continuing the story and we’re concluding some storylines, but anything’s possible.”

Right. So it’s Modern Warfare 3, then?

“We always like to leave some opening, some air to breathe,” Bowling added. “So, you’re going to have to play it and see.”

Modern Warfare 3, then. Thanks, GoNintendo.

Pacific Crest Securities analyst Evan Wilson has estimated that DJ Hero moved around 175,000 units in the US last month.

The title released with just five days to run in the latest NPD period, which counts from October 4 to October 31.

Wilson estimated overall sales would be down 20 percent compared to last year’s October.

The NPD releases tonight. Thanks, Gamespot.

Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter has told VG247 that – in his opinion – Modern Warfare 2′s seven million day one estimated sales figure is a bit off the mark. And while he believes Broadpoint AmTech analyst Ben Schachter’s reasoning to be sound, Pachter’s not too keen on Chart Track’s 1.23 million UK figure – which factored heavily into Schachter’s analysis. Pachter explained:

“7 million is therefore a very reasonable estimate, if we accept that the UK figure is accurate. My guess is that it’s not.  I don’t know how anyone could aggregate UK sales that fast.  I’d say it’s far more likely that the game sold no more than 5 million on day 1 (my bias is 4 million), and that it won’t hit 7 million until the end of the weekend,” he told us.

“However, you can’t argue with ‘facts’ such as Chart Track reports of first day sales. I have a feeling that the figure includes all preorders, but not necessarily those units actually picked up on day 1,” he added.

So there you have it.

The PSPgo didn’t exactly send rabid technophiles into a frenzy. It needs… something. But what? Of course! New colors! That’ll definitely put an end to the PSPgo’s only problem.

Or at least, that’s how things are looking from where Sony’s standing. According to Destructoid, Hall & Partners Europe – a firm that’s worked with Sony before – is running a survey that asks consumers for their thoughts on a number of PSPgo palette swaps.

They’re all very pretty, but we’re not biting until Sony stops asking us to fork over so much money. It’s not you, PSPgo, it’s us. Honest.

Well, ok, no – not really. Not at all.

EA’s been getting a little too friendly with its axe lately, and word is, Mythic was one of the many developers that got in the way of said budding romance. In response, Mythic Executive Producer Jeff Hickman posted a letter to the community, wherein he restated his company’s commitment – first and foremost – to its games.

“With all that is going on within Mythic Entertainment and EA, I would like to take a moment to reinforce the studio’s dedication to both our games and our players. At Mythic, we remain committed to our games and the passionate people who play them – we’re going to continue to deliver the content and service that keeps you playing,” he wrote.

“We want to assure our community that we will maintain the same high level of customer support you’ve come to expect and continue to improve our games with an exciting schedule of patches, live events and new content.”

Keep on fighting the good fight, Mythic. Stormy weather’s ahead, but the ship’s certainly not underwater just yet.

The dust has hardly even settled on Modern Warfare 2′s launch, but some people have already begun counting their chickens. Broadpoint AmTech analyst Ben Schachter is one such person, but he’s an analyst, so it’s kind of his job to do this sort of thing. Speaking with IndustryGamers, Schachter set the current tally at seven million copies. After only one day.

Among other things, Schachter’s numbers were pulled from an earlier report that the UK’s rabid crowd of Modern warmongers snapped up 1.23 million units on day one.

“With GTA IV selling-through 6mm units worldwide in its first week, that suggests week one of Modern Warfare 2 worldwide sell-through could approximate ~11.7mm. While 2x the week one tally for GTA IV may seem aggressive, the bottom line is that we believe current consensus estimates of around 12mm for the December quarter may end up being conservative,” Schachter said.

More through the link.

God’s coming to your Xbox 360, and he is pissed.

Okay maybe he’s not pissed off per se, but he is still coming via Bible Navigator X on the Indie Channel.

It will run you 400 MS Points and includes the Old and New Testament, a search tool, bookmarking system and adjustable settings.

“The Xbox isn’t just secular entertainment anymore,” said B&H’s Aaron Linne. “We can use technology that other people developed to study Scriptures through a new medium.

“Some people are just more comfortable with a controller in their hands than a book.”

Christ.

Via D’toid.

Looks like the Prince of Persia flick won’t be your typical videogame adaption, according to the Prince himself, Jake Gyllenhaal.

Which is why the actor wanted to be in it to begin with.

“It wasn’t like your normal video game adaptation,” he told Moviefone. “It was this massive epic that they had in the works; this real classic story that was emotional and real and filled with just ridiculous turns and twists.

“And that’s what makes it intriguing to me.”

Good for you Jake.

Read the full thing through the link.

Those of you wondering how the Xbox 360 and PS3 version of Modern Warfare 2 compare to one another can look no further.

GamesWire has tons of comparison shots through here.

Looking over the shots, if you look at ‘em split, the PS3 version is on the left.

Go nuts.

Kalypso has announced that Tropico 3 will feature user-generated content on Xbox 360 through DLC.

Pricing and content has yet to be confirmed, but this will be a first of sorts for XBL.

Game’s out this Friday, the 13th. Ooooo, scary!

Via ElectronicTheatre.

While the gaming world’s aware that Microsoft has put the hammer down and started banning folks with modded Xbox 360′s, a new report states that the number of players tossed could be higher than originally thought.

When the news first broke this week, it was estimated that around 600,000 were toast, but now it seems that up to 1 million could have been affected.

“All consumers should know that piracy is illegal and that modifying their Xbox 360 console to play pirated discs violates the Xbox Live terms of use, will void their warranty and result in a ban from Xbox Live,” Microsoft said in a statement.

With over XBL 20 million users worldwide, expect that number to get even higher.

Via Guardian UK.

Looks like campaign code for FFXIV that is to be included with FFXIII is not a Beta code after all.

According to Square Enix, the code is for “a service where a selected character can receive a limited in-game item using a code included with other merchandise the player buys.”

Confirmed by Andriasang, via Famitsu, the campaign code’s for a secret in-game item, although there are no details on what this item is, as of yet.

Still, game director Hiromichi Tanaka has promised a Windows Beta, so there’s always hope.

Via D’toid.

Funcom has announced plans to get lure players back to Age of Conan with not only multi-month subscription rates and the new expansion, but Beta access to The Secret World when it goes live.

Here’s the deal:

• 3-month sub: Beta access to The Secret World
• 6-month sub: Beta access + in-game helmet that boosts experience gain by 10 percent
• 12-month sub: Beta access + helmet + a free copy of Conan expansion Rise of the Godslayer

“We know that coming back to a massively multiplayer online game demands effort, so for us it’s all about making it worthwhile for former players to come back,” Erling Ellingsen told Eurogamer. “With all the improvements having been introduced to the game, we’re eager to have as many former players as possible be exposed to all the updates.

“So for returning players we’re offering two weeks free game time, and the ability to level up twice as fast as normal. It is natural for any subscription business to incentivize longer-term subscriptions in order to ensure a long-term relationship with the player.”

The new expansion, Rise of the Godslayer, will include a new Asian-themed area of Khitai along with its playable race, the Khitan and the chance to raise tigers and wolves from cubs into mounts when it goes live in 2010.

Via Massively.

ASEFOSAM, the largest organization of plumbers in Spain, has honored Mario by inducting him as an honorary member of the group.

Yes, we’re serious.

The group says that the image of plumbers worldwide has benefited from Mario, thus making their esteem higher in the public’s eyes.

Good for them, and Mario.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

Press Release in Spanish and English is below.

More »

EastEnders’ Adam Croasdell has revealed to BBC Asia that he is playing James Bond in Bizarre Creations’ new game in the franchise.

“Oddly enough I have just played James Bond in the new James Bond video game – how weird is that? I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m always into varying up what comes my way, trying new things,” he said.

“I think video games and the making of that type of technology, being in a funny one-piece suit and being shot with 60 cameras, I think that’s sort of the future. Andy Serkis did it in The Hobbit, and there’s a new film Avatar which is James Cameron – it’s all that sort of motion capture.

“I think it’s the future, so I was fascinated to see how that would happen.”

The “racing and driving focused” game is due in 2010, while the new movie, Bond 23 starring Daniel Craig is in pre-production and not expected to be released until 2011.

Guess Activision can’t wait long enough for the real Bond.

Via Digital Spy

SEGA has decided to not release Aliens vs Predator in Germany once the game is ready for stores.

This decision is due to the violence included in the game, and the ratings board in Germany more than likely banning it or asking that it be heavily edited.

Apparently, SEGA has decided that it’s just not worth the trouble, and doesn’t want to water down the gameplay to suit one country’s standards.

However, it is still planned for release in Australia, and even if it is deemed to violent there, SEGA will not have lost money because a translated version won’t be necessary in the English-speaking country.

We’ll ask SEGA Europe for more on this, just to be sure.

More through PC Gaming Hardware.

Update: Robert Bowling has just tweeted an explanation of sorts for the mishap on PS3. Apparently, “The amount of players on MW2 PSN overwhelmed the PSN presence server which updates “what you’re doing” and is essential to parties.”

He also stated: “PS3 Status: Patch successful. Trophy Unlocks on PS3 now available in Single Player & Spec Ops. Adding more servers to meet MP demand.”

Original: Infinity Ward ‘s Robert Bowling has stated via Twitter that the “Trophy update” has been released on PS3, and should fix any issues. However, the update has rendered multiplayer impossible, according to gamers.

“It killed all multiplayer activity on MW2,” player True_Darknight told Joystiq, which basically had rendered the matchmaking useless.

The devs are currently working on a fix for that now, and Bowling has tweeted that PS3 owners can expect a “party invite update by Friday”.

Hopefully, that will resolve the issue, but until then single-player is the only option until the fix.

Thanks, Joystiq.

Cyrptic has announced the recommended and required system specs your PC must adhere to should you wish to play Star Trek Online.

Read ‘em and weep, or jump for joy – whichever:

System Requirements

• OS: Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista / Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)
• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 Ghz or AMD Athlon X2 3800+
• Memory: 1GB RAM
• Video: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 / ATI Radeon X1800 / Intel HD Graphics
• Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Soundcard
• DirectX: Version 9.0c or Higher
• HDD: 8GB Free Disk Space
• Network: Internet Broadband Connection Required
• Disc: 6X DVD-ROM

Recommended System Configuration

• OS: Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista / Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)
• CPU: Intel E8400 Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon X2 5600+
• Memory: 2GB RAM+
• Video: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 3850+
• Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Soundcard
• DirectX: Version 9.0c or Higher
• HDD: 8GB Free Disk Space
• Network: Internet Broadband Connection Required
• Disc: 6X DVD-ROM