General gaming news

[6souls]

Activision has pointed to direct-to-TV gaming as a major area of future growth for the company - whilst maintaining that retail-based boxed console games still has good potential.

Speaking in a pre-E3 earnings call this evening, Activision boss Bobby Kotick pointed to PC manufacturer Dell as a leader in the field.

Activision CFO Thomas Tippl later added:

"There are a number of opportunitites that come with a PC directly connected ot the TV. Retail will always play an important role... and we are still some time away from seeing this product in the marketplace.

"But we like all the features it offers - from the ability to own the relationship with your consumer directly to the cost of goods.. we see margin-enhancing opportuntities here by taking items off the P&L [profit and loss] line."

It's not the first time Activision has expressed an interest in the idea. Kotick said last year that he looked forward to Activision games being "independent of a console".

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=251400

[6souls]

http://www.gamasutra.com/db_area/ima.../28931/des.jpg
Ubisoft Montreal's Patrice Desilets, who played a pivotal role in the Assassin's Creed and Prince of Persia franchises, has left the company, according to an official statement.

The creative director's departure comes as Ubisoft Montreal prepares the release of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the third main entry for the popular third-person action series Desilets helped build, for later this year.

Ubisoft claims the director already completed most of the work it required from him, according to a report from Game Informer: "With his role on project essentially done, Patrice Desilets has decided to take a creative break from the industry and is no longer working on Assassin's Creed Brotherhood."

Although Desilets himself has not commented, it appears that he has permanently left the Ubisoft studio -- but no announcement about any new positions have been made.

His list of shipped titles, which include all of the primary Assassin's Creed titles and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, would make him an attractive hire for rival developers.

Ubisoft Montreal has suffered a couple other top talent losses recently, such as creative director Clint Hocking, who left last month to pursue new opportunities after working nine years at the studio on big games like Splinter Cell, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, and Far Cry 2.

And last August, Jade Raymond, who, as producer of the series, was also instrumental in the Assassin's Creed games' development, left the Montreal studio to head up Ubisoft's new Toronto location.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/2...t_Montreal.php
http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archi...n-s-creed.aspx

Today Jacques of GamersGuidetoLife.com has uncovered the new PlayStation Move Motion Controller chargers by Nyko for the PS3 entertainment system.

While these are not the official Sony charging stations for the PlayStation Move Controller, they come available in two versions: One holds just one PS Move controller set, while the other version simply holds two of the PS3 peripherals.

Finally, a price for the Nyko charging stations has yet to be revealed, nor has the official Sony Motion Controller Chargers.

To quote:

"I bring you charging stations for Move! Specifically, two charging stations. One which holds one ball and rod remote (technical names, don't you know) and one which holds two of each.

In terms of design they're really as you'd expect. Smooth black finish with inserts for controllers, and lights to tell you they are charging.

Of course, these aren't official Sony chargers, as they are branded with Nyko, but they still look pretty sweet. No word on price yet, I'm guessing we'll find out after we know Move's official price."

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_0yArjUjTsn4/TB...rt__lowres.jpg

http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation-3...eiled-by-nyko/
http://e3.gamersguidetolife.com/2010...s-already.html

[Charismatic]

http://video.destructoid.com/#165121
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CYuyJ4L7aE

[Kurp]

It's baffling to me why they didn't opt for a better disk system that protects against that with their redesign.

The comments on that Destructoid video are rich. People will defend piss poor design to the death.

http://www.destructoid.com/e3-10-do-...0-176508.phtml

[BRP]

I remember when I first got my 360(with dat Duty 4) I knocked it over 15 seconds after turning it on for the first time and destroyed my only game.

[OzzofAsura]

If these people can't think of a valid reason why you'd move a console while in use, they have problems.

I was thinking about getting one of the new 360's, but still very near the fence. This is not helping.

[BRP]

Man, I can't fucking find the Hokuto no Ken Musou / Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage thread.

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/18/fist_dlc/

[BRP]

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/201...ma_taboo_zoe3/

Kojima says his "taboo" game is for consoles. (Not Wii though. "high spec")

ZoE3 on backburner. (LOL)

Doesn't want to comment on MGS Rising because he wants people to realize he isn't the director or w/e.

He said all this from his hotel's bathroom, while getting a massage and playing with toilet paper and a toy doll.

[Shojin]

watched that 2 nights ago, seems like he didn't want to be outdone by the bizarreness of Konami's press conference. lol

[BRP]

Concerning Move and gun-shooters

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/16/flying_get/

Namco Bandai Bundles its Shooters

That's shooters as in gun shooting games. Time Crisis 4, Time Crisis Razing Storm and the extremely new Dead Storm Pirates are being bundled together on one PS3 disc for release this Fall. Sony announced separately today that the game will be Move compatible.

Maybe worth an import if you end up buying the Move.

[BRP]

Speaking of controllers...

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/201...ticks_reissue/

Worth it?

WORTH IT.

[Kaisha]

Maybe worth an import if you end up buying the Move.

Bundle makes me glad I never jumped the gun on Time Crisis 4 when I found it for $40.
(they never released the packed-in Guncom separately no?)

Will definitely be picking that up, three shortish' light gun games for the price of one.

Anyways.......

PEW PEW PEW!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...MES/pewpew.jpg

[6souls]

http://www.gamasutra.com/db_area/ima...gbumpinbox.jpg

Fast food restaurant chain Burger King revealed that it is currently working with Microsoft in a joint launch promotion for the Kinect motion-sensing accessory debuting in November.

Microsoft and Burger King previously partnered for a series of Burger King-branded video games for the Xbox and Xbox 360. The 2006 promotion saw the release of three titles -- Sneak King, PocketBike Racer, and Big Bumpin' -- all of which were available to Burger King customers as an additional purchase with any of the restaurant's value meals.

"Our first endeavor with Xbox 360 took the gaming world by storm, so we couldn't pass up the chance to come together on another cutting-edge program," said Mike Kappitt, chief marketing officer of Burger King Corporation.

"During this year's promotion, our guests can look forward to an even greater adventure that will stimulate the imaginations of gamers and entertainment-lovers of all shapes and sizes."

No specific details have been revealed regarding the upcoming promotion. It's currently unknown whether Microsoft plans to release Kinect-compatible games starring Burger King's mascot characters or if the Kinect peripheral will be installed as an entertainment device at Burger King locations.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/2..._Promotion.php

Major retailers Best Buy, Amazon, GameStop, and Walmart have pegged the retail cost of Microsoft's motion-sensing Xbox 360 gaming peripheral Kinect at $149.99 in advance of its upcoming November release.

Microsoft has yet to issue a statement confirming Kinect's retail pricing, either as a standalone product or as a bundle with Xbox 360 hardware or software.

"No Kinect price announced yet, retail price estimates are purely speculative, final price & pack-in details are not yet determined," said Xbox 360 project management director Aaron Greenberg yesterday in a Twitter status update.

Since opening Kinect preorders yesterday, online retailer Amazon reports that the device currently ranks as today's top-selling item in its Video Games category, outselling all individual software titles, peripherals, and consoles.

Kinect will launch in North America on November 4th.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/2...ect_At_150.php

The Move is currently rated #36. The Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board is #25.

[Shojin]

Since opening Kinect preorders yesterday, online retailer Amazon reports that the device currently ranks as today's top-selling item in its Video Games category, outselling all individual software titles, peripherals, and consoles.

lost a little more faith in the gaming industry, and humanity

[Kaisha]

lol, I guess Microsoft's estimates on initial adoption rates being shitty were way off.


I feel bad that I want the PS Move though. I just saw some footage of Echochrome 2, and god damnit I need to play that. >.<

[Shojin]

Echochrome 2 has one of the better implementations of motion control, I like the idea of using move as a flashlight and using the shadows to solve puzzles. Most games its just tacked on though, or would be a lot better with analog sticks.

[Kaisha]

Even so, all the shit I've seen with Move trump the stuff I've seen developers *try* to do with the Wii. Granted I've yet to play any of the Motion Plus games (trying to get my paws on Red Steel 2), but there's fucking next to none of them even though it's been out for quite some time.

I'm honestly up for day 1'ing the thing if Echochrome 2 is out the same day as Move, I can swallow $50 (already own PS Eye) for some possibly gimmicky fun.

For all they've ripped off on Nintendo though, I wish they'd have added in a speaker also for light-gun games, as it 'feels' right on the Wii games I've played, even if the controller remote butchers the sound quality in the process.

[BRP]

Kinect apparently only works with two people at a time. That sorts out some price arguments concerning Kinect and Move lol.

[Shojin]

Kinect apparently only works with two people at a time. That sorts out some price arguments concerning Kinect and Move lol.

just read that on gaf... they had the fake families playing with 4 ppl in the promotional vids too... lol.

not sure if i believe it yet until MS releases a statement, would be a huge oversight and a potential deal breaker. I mean even the eye toy could support 4 players, kind of weird if Kinect can't (I know it's different tech, but still).

[BRP]

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/201...downplays_3ds/

Kaz strikes back.

In an interview conducted at E3 on the 16th, Hirai told the site, "Based off internally conducted research, naked-eye 3D for portables does not have high precision, and at present there are limitations."