Archive for July 7th, 2007
E307: Spielberg’s Games Revealed
In a July 16-dated Newsweek story N’Gai Croal reveals that Steven Spielberg’s much rumored Wii-flavored video game will be an “action-puzzle simulator” code-named PQRS. Croal describes it as a game that blends the creativity of Jenga with the charm of a Saturday-morning cartoon. Not very helpful for those searching out specifics, but Croal says the game will let you manipulate blocks with the remote.
The second game (Spielberg is said to be working on three with Electronic Arts) is a PS3 and Xbox 360 game code-named LMNO which is described as “North by Northwest meets ET… if ET were female, grown up and hot.
You don’t play as the girl, however. You’re an ex-secret agent, and the bond that you forge while on the run with the computer-controlled woman–good, bad, indifferent–determines the nature of her special abilities and the ways in which she’ll assist you. Says Spielberg: “The challenge is, can the game have an emotional impact on players while they are actively manipulating the world?” Based on the clever ways in which he and EA are extracting a genuine performance from their digital Eve–complete with eyes that widen, lips that curl and translucent skin that lights up in different colors to express her quicksilver moods–we think Spielberg’s got yet another hit on his hands.
The real question I think is whether the third game will be code-named HIJK or TUVW and if he plans on going beyond those initial three games and completing the entire alphabet in secret code names.
Wii Can’t Wait to Play [Newsweek, via Destrutoid]
Indie Games: On Kongregate and Indie Development
GameSetWatch has some interesting thoughts up on Kongregate and a link to a doubly interesting article on The Hollywood Reporter entitled “A place for indie developers”, also dealing with Kongregate and the free-to-play, easy-to-develop-for model. The question is - can anyone make enough money to live on courtesy of revenue from free-to-play sites? Simon Carless thinks the answer is ‘probably not,’ but …
For game makers who just want to have fun, get noticed in the biz, and make personal art - and those who want to make free Flash games that might turn people on to other paid games - Kongregate (alongside Newgrounds) have a great, swift, easy YouTube-ish angle that encourages a massive variety of games.
He points out that Kongregate is also looking at some alternate plans to increase revenue that could very well make it a viable proposition, but time will tell if those ideas will pan out. In the meantime, the platform does allow for indie developers to get their names (and websites) out there, which can certainly add to a developer’s coffers, just not across the board.
On Kongregate And The Future Of Indie Gaming [GameSetWatch]
“A place for indie developers” [The Hollywood Reporter]
Speculation Is Fun: In-Game Ads To Grow Exponentially
At least according to a new analysis published by the Yankee Group. According to them, “in-game advertising could climb considerably to $971.3 million by the year 2011, up from just $77 million globally in 2006 and $56 million in 2005, as companies begin to target the video game market for static and dynamic commercials.”
Companies are apparently slowing with their traditional media ad budgets and investing more heavily in newer media forms, and the report says that “connected game devices ‘are becoming the foundation on which providers build dynamic in-game insertion.’” Of course, they also warn that ads should not be used in a way that distracts from game play. Irritating product placement is bad enough in television and movies, but I’d be royally pissed if it became a common feature of the games I play.
In-Game Ads Grow To $971 Million By 2011 [Gamasutra]
Academia: Trinity College Dublin Offering New Video Game MA
Irish gamers and anyone else who has a yen for a graduate degree in a video game-related field will now be able to head to Dublin: Trinity College just announced that they will begin offering a one-year MA in “interactive entertainment technology.” Partnering with some heavy hitters like Microsoft, “the course provides students with a state-of-the-art learning environment including the Microsoft sponsored XNA Gamelab - the first in Ireland.” It’s interesting to see the growth of game development, theory and design on an academic level, especially at some of the top universities around the globe.
The course is open to only 25 students annually, each of whom will have achieved a minimum of a 2.1 in Computer Science or a related degree. Students meeting these requirements will be required to sit an interview as part of the selection process. The course features modules delivered by world class researchers taken from TCD research groups including the graphics vision and visualisation group. The second half of the year-long course will focus on individual research on a chosen dissertation topic and contribution to a significant group project developing a complete application (e.g. a game). Students will be encouraged to build a portfolio of work and enter international competitions such as Microsoft’s Imagine Cup.
Applications for Fall ‘07 enrollment close at the end of July, and the program will begin in October.
Trinity College partners with industry to launch new video game masters degree
You Don’t Say: Kids Like M-Rated Games
In what comes as a surprise to no one, a study has established that kids really like M-rated games. The Journal of Adolescent Health has just published a study conducted by a team from the Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Michigan State University that “surveyed a total of 1254 students, aged 12-14, from Pennsylvania and South Carolina in 2004.” And the surveyed teens responded in convincing numbers that they quite rather like M-rated games, and they also play games because ‘there’s nothing else to do.’
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the results showed that most boys, and many girls, played games that the ESRB had rated M, signifying that they were for mature audiences only. Of the games played by the boys, Grand Theft Auto and Halo were both in the top three, and GTA was also the 2nd most played game by girls, according to the data. Over half of all boys agreed with the statement “I play electronic games because I like guns and weapons.” On the other hand, over 60 percent of boys and girls agreed with the statement “I play electronic games because there’s nothing else to do.”
I would hope that the actual article has some slightly more useful and/or startling conclusions than these, but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.
New survey shows that kids like games rated M for mature [Ars Technica via GamePolitics]
South Korea: South Korean Navy Starting Pro Gaming Team
The South Korean Navy is following in the footsteps of the Korean Air Force and is starting their very own pro gaming team to “develop the talents of pro-gamers in the service.” South Korea has compulsory military service, so this is a win-win (I guess …) move of giving those pro gamers who also have to serve in the military something to do while providing the Navy or Air Force with ‘low-cost publicity.’ What will they be playing? Starcraft, of course.
When the Air Force uploaded a feature on its website of the military life of gamer Im Yo-han, known as the king of the Terran tribe in Starcraft, it was temporarily overloaded with a crush of video game fans trying to access the page. Visitors to the Air Force’s website have doubled since it founded its gamers team.
The pro game industry has welcomed the establishment of the military teams. Many pro gamers who have postponed their military service start dates will have to don their uniforms by the end of this year.
The Army is also considering starting their own team. The Navy team will be going by the moniker “Aegis” while the Air Force has dubbed their team with the slightly cooler name of ACE (Airforce Challenge E-sports).
Korean Navy to Launch Online Game Team [Digital Chosun Ilbo - English Edition]
History Is Cool!: This Day in Gaming, July 7th
1987: Konami releases Metal Gear for MSX2 in Japan. This is the first release in the famous/revolutionary/uberawesome Metal Gear series—so let’s commemorate it right. What is your favorite Metal Gear moment in any of the titles? Then let’s dream about how great the PS4 PS3 version will be when it finally comes out.
2000: Square Co. releases Final Fantasy 9 for PS in Japan. The game sells less than the previous two FF titles, even though it receives rave reviews and overall positive reception. I think it’s an issue with cover art that alters the mass appeal of FF titles, because the die hards buy the game no matter what, and obviously the reviews have little to do with the success.
We’ll Take Zombies: China Censors WoW Skeletons
In a classic example of ‘missing the forest for the trees,’ the Chinese government has banned undead skeletons from World of Warcraft, insisting they be covered up with flesh. The9, the Chinese company that holds the license to operate WoW in China, complied with the order, as well as the demand to change player corpses into graves. The reason? Promoting ‘harmonious society,’ of course.
Hu Jintao, Chinese president, has called for action to ‘purify’ the internet of anything that might affect ‘national cultural information security’ or undermine his attempt to promote a ‘harmonious society’.
I’m not sure what in the hell bare-boned skeletons have to do with ‘national cultural information security’ and/or promoting a ‘harmonious society,’ but what Beijing wants, Beijing gets. Chinese WoW players are angry about the change, and no one’s really sure why skeletons in WoW have gotten facelifts while nothing has been done in any other game operating in China.
Censorship reaches internet skeletons [Gulfnews via QJ.net]
Fighter!: Bleach Invades DS, Wii
SEGA has confirmed that games based on the anime series Bleach will be heading to the Nintendo Wii and DS. Bleach: Shattered Blade will be coming to the Wii and Bleach: The Blade of Fate will be heading to the DS. Both are expected to hit this fall in time for the beginning of the second season of the show on the Cartoon Network.
The Wii version sports 32 character and will let you use the Wii remote and nunchuck to slash, jab and lunge in 3D battles. Each of the characters have their own special attacks. The DS version will be a 2D fighter with 28 characters and battles that can move between the upper and lower screens of the DS. The DS version also supports four-player combat via a WiFi and the use of something called Spirit Card Decks.
Hit the jump for the full press release.
Hit TV Series Delivers Intense Swordfights in Video Game Debut in North America
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (July 6, 2007) - SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced that Bleach(tm): Shattered Blade will be available on the Wii(tm) home video game system from Nintendo and Bleach(tm): The Blade of Fate on the Nintendo DS(tm) portable handheld system. Based on the hit animated series, Bleach(tm) offers relentless action and dazzling swordplay with crisp, highly-stylized graphics that deliver an authentic anime experience. The games feature a robust cast of characters voiced by the actors from VIZ Media’s award-winning BLEACH anime. The TV show is currently featured in the U.S. on the Cartoon Network’s, Adult Swim. With a dynamic cast of over two dozen characters in the games including Rukia, Kon and hero Ichigo, gamers can spend hours furiously fighting while unlocking individual character stories, all based on the animated series’ story arc.
The Bleach storyline follows fifteen-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki who is able to see spirits, including warriors from the afterlife known as “Soul Reapers”. The Soul Reapers are tasked with defending humans from otherworldly beings called “Hollows”. One fateful day, Ichigo meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who lends him her powers after she is injured by a Hollow. In the game, players progress through an exciting storyline facing increasingly difficult opponents in their quest to uncover the truth.
“Bleach offers both fans and newcomers alike an action-packed arcade experience that delivers fast-paced swordplay in the tradition of the animated series’ intense action sequences,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. “Bleach is an exciting and highly anticipated property that translates extremely well to the versatility of the Wii Remote and the DS’ portable gameplay, and SEGA is proud to be the first to bring the video game series to the North American audience.”
“We are thrilled to be partnering with SEGA for the Bleach Wii and DS games,” states Linda Espinosa, Vice President, Content Management, VIZ Media. “The SEGA games have enjoyed immense success in Japan, the manga is a top seller in both the Japan and US, and we are expecting great fan response when these games release.”
Bleach: Shattered Blade for the Wii enables gamers to wield the Wii Remote(tm) and Nunchuk(tm) as their weapons - slashing, jabbing, and lunging in furious battles like a real Soul Reaper. Bleach: Shattered Blade offers an exclusive storyline created specifically for the Wii with 32 characters to choose from. Once a new character is unlocked, players can replay the story episodes utilizing the characters’ special moves and weapons which brings a whole new perspective to the storyline.
On the Wii, each character can perform special attacks that inflict massive damage on opponents with powerful weapons and super power attacks taken straight from the TV series. Characters can summon supernatural allies for battle support such as a giant serpent, a samurai titan, or a tidal wave. Gamers can also square-off against friends in high-speed multiplayer combat in 3D arenas and environments based on settings from the series.
On the Nintendo DS, Bleach: The Blade of Fate offers more of the impressive 2D action and brilliant visuals that have become the hallmark of Treasure, the game’s legendary development team. Players will face a variety of opponents as one of 28 highly-stylized characters in intense action-packed battles based on the animated series. Bleach: The Blade of Fate on the Nintendo DS brings a twist to the traditional 2D fighting game with a new kind of battle system that enables players to move between upper and lower split-plane battle arenas to chase after or escape from opponents.
Bleach: The Blade of Fate for the Nintendo DS also allows gamers to build Spirit Card Decks to strategically access power-ups and power-downs to perform special attacks, cast healing spells on themselves, displace opponents, or prohibit them from using their own Spirit Cards. Additionally, gamers can take to the streets battling against enemies with up to four players in fast-paced combat via the Nintendo DS’ Wi-Fi capabilities.
Bleach: Shattered Blade on the Wii and Bleach: The Blade of Fate on the Nintendo DS is slated for release in fall 2007, just in time for the beginning of the highly-anticipated second season on Cartoon Network.
Clips: Army of Two
This fun little montage shows off some of Army of Two’s co-op play, including the use of vehicles, ziplines and guns, lots and lots of guns.
The Complete Saga: LEGO Star Wars Wii Controls
GameSpy got some hands-on time with Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga for the Wii and talk a bit about how the developers are going to be using the console’s motion controls. The controls will let you do everything from speed up build-time by pumping the remote up and down to swinging around a LEGO lightsaber with the remote.
To use the Wii’s functionality, the Complete Saga team essentially added a layer of motion-sensing controls over the primary set. You can press the Z button to build, but if you piston your arms up and down to pantomime the character’s animation, you’ll build much faster. Similarly, you can just press the Z button to use your Force powers, but if you direct them with the Wii’s controls you’ll get a much faster or more powerful response. Although it might not make it into the final build, blaster characters will probably be able to fire their grapples by flicking the remote from down to up. And, finally, you can use the Wii Remote to swing your lightsaber.
If you waggle the Wii Remote, a character armed with a lightsaber will swing it with the same abandon you swing. If you jump or double jump first, you’ll perform a slam or super slam attack. In addition, if you swing when a bolt is incoming, you’ll be able to swat away blaster fire (rather than just having to hold your lightsaber still). Swinging the lightsaber with the Wii Remote is a bit faster than just pressing the trigger, and the effects you generate more powerful, but the real payoff is simply swinging your “lightsaber” in real life.
That could be fun, but it also sounds like it might not really add much. I think this will be one of those things you can’t make up your mind on until you try it for yourself.
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga [Gamespy, via Go Nintendo]
Free: Happy Bungie Day!
Its 7, 7 of 07 and that means, apparently Bungie Day! Luke Smith (yes, our former Luke Smith) writes that the day’s Bungie-themed freebies include new Gamer Pics and a Dashboard theme on the Xbox 360 (free today only, and they’ll be gone forever as of Sunday morning), this lively new Wallpaper image and spanky new 3D movie/screenshots for the Brute Chopper, CQB Spartan Variant and EVA Spartan Variant. What, no cake?
Love, Bungie [Bungie]
