Archive for July, 2007
Raid On Anaheim: Final BlizzCon Schedule Spawns
This weekend, thousands of World of Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo enthusiasts, passionate about all things Blizzard will touch down in Anaheim, California for BlizzCon 2007. How will they occupy themselves while *gasp* away from their computers? With the developer panels, concerts and artist keynotes outlined in the newly finalized BlizzCon schedule.
In addition to getting hands-on time with StarCraft II and possibly getting eyes-on with the new World of Warcraft expansion, there’s not much in the way of new announcements on the calendar—no “Diablo III Demo In Room 204″ for example.
If you were one of the lucky gamers to score a ticket to the sold out extravaganza, direct thy browser to the official BlizzCon site for further details.
BlizzCon Schedule [Blizzard]
Rumor: George Harrison Reportedly Retires From Nintendo
GameDaily Biz is reporting that Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications George Harrison—rumored to be departing the company alongside NoA employees Perrin Kaplan and Beth Llewelyn—has announced his “early retirement” to employees today. Nintendo has yet to officially confirm the departure.
Harrison, a 15-year vet at Nintendo, was reportedly one of the employees who would opt out of relocating to the company’s new California digs in an effort to be closer to Silicon Valley partners and Bay Area third-party publishers.
Source: George Harrison Has Announced His Retirement [GameDaily Biz]
Today I Am A Man: Testosterone Stirring Madden 08 Screens
Every year I buy Madden twice. Normally I am not a fan of football whatsoever, but there are two times of the year where the testosterone starts to stir. Madden launch day, which inevitably finds me waiting in line with a bunch of people I have nothing in common talking in a tongue almost completely foreign to me, and then around Super bowl time, when I find myself rebuying the game after having handed it off to a friend days after the initial purchase. As soon as it comes, it goes again, like catching a light sneeze. The fact that I just vaguely referenced a Tori Amos song is testament to both my lack of interest in the sport as well as the sheer primal power of football. Looking at these new Xbox 360 screens I am starting to feel it all over again.
Announcement: We’re Looking for a Few Good Interns
For those of you Kotaku-lifers out there, you might remember that back in the day, the Brian(singular)-only day, yes even before McWhertor, Ash and Luke Smith, I went through a few interns. Heck, I even had my brother writing for me for a few months.
Well, after much finger-pointing by the other Gawker site leads and a general make-funnery at my expense for not having interns, I’ve decided it’s time to get some back on board. I’m looking to hire one or two. And by hire, I don’t really mean pay.
To make the cut you’ll need to have aspirations as a game journalist (that’s with a capital J) and an overwhelming needing to write about stuff. The work is tons of fun and will include a mix of grunt work, some research and maybe even a bit of writing. You will report directly to me or perhaps Ash and while hours are a bit flexible, you’ll be expected to be around during a typical work day…virtually. Pay is next to nothing, but this is a calling right and you’ll be getting some very worthwhile experience and perhaps, just perhaps, a toe in the door here at Kotaku Towers.
While it’s been awhile since I was an intern, decades in fact, I was a pretty steady mentor at the Rocky Mountain News up until I left, training up and coming reporters and interns to be disgruntled and jaded cop reporters. The work was tough, and the pay little, for those that interned with the Rocky, but the experience was worth it, or so they said. Hopefully, you’ll feel the same way.
If you’re interested, are at least 21 and have the time for the commitment, email tips@kotaku.com with “intern” in the subject line. While I’ll look at people from all locations, extra attention will be given to those in the Denver area with transportation and a willingness to meet up at Kotaku HQ every once in awhile. Include in the email your location, a letter explaining why we should hire you, along with a list of your five favorite games and why, and a sample post. Please no attachments. Ignore the rules, and I’ll ignore your email.
GC 07: Games Convention To Showcase Art & History
The Games Convention i Leipzig isn’t just a media event like many conventions you’d be likely to find stateside. It’s a celebration of all things gaming, and no where will that be more evident this year than the GC ART exhibition area, where full exciting exhibitions await those eager to delve into the art and history behind our favorite hobby. The “public_play” exhibition will feature 500 square meters of space dedicated to the theme of “digital play and public spaces”. Telespiele 1972-2007 is a massive exhibit showcasing gaming systems and computers from the first Pong machines to the PS3. Machinima will of course focus on creating art from video games and will include both films to watch as well as a chance to create their own Machinima with expert guidance on hand to answer questions. Finally Digital Beauty - 3D Character Design will challenge visitors to determine if a series of 20 images are real or virtual, as well as providing workshops on 3D character creation. Hit the jump for more information on one of the top ten reasons I will regret missing Leipzig.
GC ART Draws in Visitors With Four Exhibitions on Digital Games
Following the successful launch of the GC ART exhibition area last year, GC 2007 (Games Convention) repeats its display of computer and console art once again. The exhibitions “public_play”, “Telespiele 1972-2007″, “Machinima” and “Digital Beauty - 3D Character Design” will be on view in Hall 5 from 23 to 26 August, providing visitors with a look at different aspects of digital games. Numerous workshops offer interested visitors the opportunity to try their own hands at creating minor artwork.
public_play
In conjunction with the Computerspiele Museum Berlin, GC ART presents the exhibition “public_play”. Spread over 500 square metres, exhibits from international artists are displayed on the theme of “digital play and public spaces”. The backdrop to this is various sights from around Leipzig, recreated with the aid of large-format projections and sound stages.
This 21st century playground will include works by the Leipzig artists Matthias Henning and André Greif. In their work “Gamblers” four computers play ludo against one another - a sociable gathering in which computers take the roles of the players. A further highlight of the exhibition is skipping over digitally-stretched ropes. The digital and the real combine in Pong, the first computer game from 1972. The Atari classic is set up in a manner that enables it to be played directly on a dress.
Telespiele 1972-2007
In the exhibition “Telespiele 1972-2007″ the GC takes its visitors on a tour of the past. The 35-year history of digital games is attractively presented on a space of 200 square metres. Content ranges from the first “Pong machine” to the mass phenomenon that was the Commodore 64 and on to the current next generation consoles. However, it is not only hardware that is on show. Games, games magazines, manuals and numerous rarities never before seen in Europe are also on display here.
One section of the exhibition is dedicated to the computer history of the GDR. Items on display include the curious Z1013 computer construction kit, the popular KC series, the PC 1715 office computer, the educational computer A5105 personally promoted by Margot Honecker, Minister for National Education in the German Democratic Republic from 1963 until 1989, and the BBS 01, East Germany’s sole games console.
The collection was established by journalist and author René Meyer, who is presenting the exhibits to a wider audience for the first time with the support of the Leipziger Messe.
Machinima
The influence exerted by computer games on film production can be viewed by GC visitors on the Machinima stand. Together with the project group “Animation in new media” (www.animationsprojekt.de) the Leipziger Messe demonstrates that computer games are not solely dedicated to entertainment. As a tool for creative work, they offer the opportunity to develop new forms of expression in art.
Daily film shows at the Machinima Gallery offer an ideal opportunity to pass the time. Entertaining, artistically-sophisticated and critical Machinima films are shown, under the motto “New Trends in Machinima”. They offer an insight into the wide range of themes, genres and production approaches of the Machinima scene, as well as clarifying the current trends.
Those wishing to learn more about Machinima or that possibly have the urge to make films of their own can obtain useful information from the Public Forum. Well-known Machinima producers and experts offer their opinions on themes such as “What is Machinima?”, “Creative Gaming” and “Machinima production with MovieSandbox”. In addition to practical help for beginners and those more advanced in the world of digital film making, they also provide a cultural classification for the Machinima phenomenon.
The third component of the exhibition this year is provided by the Machinima Laboratory. Here GC visitors can try the different types of Machinima film making out for themselves, as well as garnering tips from the experts.
The artificial word Machinima is composed from “machine”, “cinema” and “animation” and refers to films created with the aid of games engines. The first Machinima were enabled with the aid of the programme LMPC (Little Movie Processing Centre) by the Leipzig physicist and programmer Uwe Girlich, who analysed the structure of the game engine Quake in 1996. LMPC allows users to create or alter film-like scenarios.
Digital Beauty - 3D Character Design
What creative minds can create with computers and specialised software is scarcely different to reality. The exhibition “Digital Beauty - 3D Character Design” displays 20 images created on the PC and poses the question to visitors: “virtual or real”?
Workshops are held each day of the GC for all those curious as to how it works, or who wish to try their hand at 3D character design. At the workshops Ronny Jesse, winner of the award “Animago 2006″ in the category “Digital Beauties”, explains how an own “character” is created in small stages. Participants are accompanied through the various stages on the PC.
Feel The Love: Sega Not Playing Console Favorites
Back in June, Sega’s American marketing VP Scott Steinberg had some pretty strong things to say about the state of this generation’s consoles - in particular casting doubts on the Wii’s longevity - which were retracted almost as soon as the words left his mouth. Next Generation recently sat down with Steinberg to gain further insight into the statements, coming away with a much kinder, gentler, and pussified view of the current console crop.
“Are we placing bets [on one particular platform]? No one can tell right now who’ll ‘win.’ It’s still too early. All three consoles have got the right materials for success. That alchemy is there across all three different platforms. I guess that’s being defined a bit differently with Nintendo, but they definitely have their own consumer-oriented track, which we think is great. So I think from a third-party publisher’s standpoint it’s not wise to make bets right now that don’t include all three consoles.”
Thank goodness. I’m glad to see Sega sticking to their policy of not supporting any one console that was established way back when the Dreamcast was released.
The interview also explores the reasons behind PS3 owners getting the shaft in regards to Virtua Fighter 5, saying that the Xbox 360 versions online multiplayer was the result of…tinkering?
“[AM2] felt that with the 360 they could make online happen, and with a lot of trials and tests and experiments figured out a way to do it where there’s no lag–well extremely minimal lag, almost unnoticeable–so we were quite shocked when they told us it would be online, actually. It was a surprise.
So basically, “I wonder if we can make this work? Hot damn, we can!” sort of deal. Japanese developers say hot damn all the time, I assure you.
Hit up the link for the full interview, which includes insight into the company’s plans for world domination.
Sega Talks VF5 Online, Wii, Imperialism [Next Generation]
Mr. Robot: Game Club Reminder
Don’t forget: This is the first week of Game Club. If you’re interested in playing through a game along side a group of friends and then discussing the deeper meaning of the game and its plot, don’t forget to hop in.
It’s definitely not too late to catch up. Just read through the rules and the first assignment for Mr. Robot and then use our 40 percent discount code (found in the Rules entry) to pick up the game and do your assignment by this Thursday. See you then.
Game Club [Kotaku]
UK Charts: Pokemon Overrun The UK
Last week saw the latest batch of Pokemon taking Europe by storm, their impact being felt well beyond the hearts and minds of children across the continent, with the combined sales of Diamond and Pearl have made it one of the fastest selling Pokemon games in UK history, second only to Yellow for the GBC, as well as the fastest selling UK DS game ever. Pokemon Diamond took the number one slot on the charts, with the less popular Pearl coming in at three. Sandwiched in-between? Transformers the Game, which trailed the pocket monsters by only 217 units. As a Transformers fan I am very pleased with the UK, though as a champion of quality gaming I have to wonder… what the hell is wrong with you people?
The rest of the list is filled out with Harry Potter, three different Nintendo Brain training games, Wii Play, Shrek the Third, and Tiger Woods. So much Nintendo you’ll swear they’re turning Japanese.
Pokemania Transforms UK Chart In Nintendo’s Favor [Gamasutra]
A Fightin’ Hand: Dr. Who Video Game For Christmas
Ah yes, it is high time we’ve received a right and proper Doctor Who video game. Unfortunately this one might not be much to dial home from the future via a temporally modified cell phone about. According to the official website of tenth Doctor actor David Tennant (the best since Tom Baker), UK card game company Top Trumps will be creating a game featuring the Doctor’.
Top Trumps have revealed their plans for a Doctor Who video game to be released in time for Christmas 2007.
It is thought it will be available on PC, PS2, DS and Mobile.
An advert for the game appears in the new Doctor Who Top Trumps card pack. We will have more details as we get them.
I’m guessing this is going to be a video game version of the card game, and it won’t see the light of day outside of Europe. Still could be worth importing for us Yanks for the sheer novelty alone.
Doctor Who Video Game Out For Christmas [David-Tennant.com via WorthPlaying]
Event: SOE Revealing New Game at Fan Faire
Next week will be a doozy for fests and such, what with BlizzCon, QuakeCon and Sony Online Entertainment’s Fan Faire all happening at the same time.
SOE says they will be unveiling a new game at this year’s Faire. In fact their own president John “Smed, not smeg” Smedley will do the honors during his first ever community address next Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Could be interesting. Gamers at the Faire will even be able to check out the game, which I saw a month or so back and which will go live later in August. (I’m under embargo until after the announcement, sorry.)
Other games at the event will include Pirates of the Burning Sea, Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising, Secrets of Faydwer, the next expansion for EverQuest, and Rise of Kunark, the upcoming expansion for EverQuest II. What, no Agency?
We won’t be sending anyone to the event, but if you’re planning on attending take plenty of pictures for us.
Night Note: Car Navi Blows Chunks
To: Crecente
From: Ashcraft
RE: Migraine
Fuck dude. Bummer about the massive headaches and your spleen getting all sliced up as a kid. Hope you feel better today.
*moves on to petty rant*
Today, I had to run over to the in-laws’ house to pick up an external hard drive. They’ve bought a new apartment and now living forty minutes away from us. (Previously, they lived about ten minutes away — which I actually enjoyed!) Their new apartment is way up in the mountains. I had the windows down the entire way up. As I get older, I really want to move out of the city. Too crowded, the air is dirty, no space.
Driving there, my car’s navigational system totally bugged out and sent me *way* out. You know, I don’t remember that kinda stuff ever happening with maps. The worst it got was pulling over on the side of the road and taking a look. That, or getting totally lost.
What you missed last night
MGS release info, more multi-plat rumblings
No new Nintendo characters until 2008
Star Power: Guitar Hero Arcade Cabinets?
Kotakuite Tom and his missus just got back from Thailand. And they sent us some happy snaps! Awfully thoughtful. Not many of the beach or countryside, though, just this shot of a Bangkok arcade. Which for some reason has a Guitar Hero arcade cabinet. Sans guitars. You just hit buttons! Kinda defeats the point, but then, said point would be built upon the presumption that the game is licensed by Activision. Which it’s probably not.
Gallery: Up and Close with the Nintendo Fan Network
Kotakuite Cosair sent along pics galore for all’s approval of the Nintendo Fan Network. He writes:
I did some documentation at tonight’s Mariner game against the Los Angeles Angels where I brought my DS phatty and my Girlfriend Lite along. With both in tow, I decided to try out the Mariner/Seattle exclusive Nintendo Fan Network… NFN allows you to pay in cash at one of the two kiosks and they’ll issue you a ticket with a Passcode which is a lot shorter than having to enter in all your credit card and personal information but is totally useless if you want food delivered to your seat… I’d like it noted that they had the option for a Kobe Beef burger for $15 USD. I don’t go to enough Mariner games to know whether the Kobe Beef is a normal option or if it was for this game in particular as it was Japan Night and Seattle and Kobe are “sister cities.”
Kobe and Seattle are sister cities? Had no clue! Wonder what Osaka’s sister city is… Many thanks to Cosair for the pics!
State You: The State of Russian Gaming
Think the Japanese market is hard to crack? Try breaking into the American one. Game site Cosmos Gaming has a nice piece up on the state of Russian game development. It contains an interview with four different companies: 1C Company, IT Territory, Step Creative Group and Lesta Studio. They discuss tops like titles they are working on and offer criticism on Russian games localized into English. So why do Russian games go largely unnoticed abroad? Says company rep Anatoly Subbotin:
First of all some of the games developed and produced in Russia by our developers are based on local franchises which are not that popular to say the least outside of the ex-USSR counties. Some of them are still published outside the CIS market, but this is rather rare.
Russian games do not always find their way to American or European markets due to publishers’ policy and I guess it is better to ask them why they decide to sign or not to sign a particular game.
Because in ex-Soviet Russia the games sign you! (Apologies. I couldn’t resist.)
State of Russian Gaming [Cosmos Gaming]
Baby Got Back: SingStar 90s Impressions
Got a copy of SingStar 90s sent to me last week by Sony. I was a little…unsure. Yeah, it’s sold over 8 million units, but personally speaking, I’ve always found the series a little lacking. It tends to cater to certain demographics. Being a twenty-something straight male, I have not yet been catered for. SingStar 90s is no different, but to its credit it does a better job than its predecessors.
Rather than a bevy of shrieking pop stars, the 90s edition sports some, ah, funnier tracks. More inclusive. Like “Baby Got Back“. Oh, and NKOTB’s “Step by Step”. And Poison’s “Unskinny Bop”. All a bit naff when sober, but shit, what are the chances you’ll ever play this thing sober?
To test it out, I took the game along to a party on Saturday night. About 3 hours in, once I was convinced everyone was suitably maggoted on cheap booze, I threw it on. Normally, SingStar going on at a party does two things. It excites the ladies, and it exiles the men. Not this time, the room was captivated. “Step by Step”, Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose”, “U Can’t Touch This”…all went on, all got a bunch of drunk people singing along.
Problem is, the whole thing quickly ran out of steam. After singing a few tracks they’d loved, people scanned through the list, found little else of interest and walked off. Just like every other SingStar session I’ve ever seen. The tracklist for 90s is an improvement, definitely, but it’s still too scattergun an approach to make this game more than a 30-minute party distraction.
But hey, chin-up SCEE. The 30 minutes I spent playing this one was 28 minutes more than I, or a lot of other people at the party, had spent with the game previously. So you’re getting there.
Rumor: Konami Dates MGS4, Still Considering Multi-Plat
Will it or won’t it? The question has been asked to death. Honestly, I don’t care whether or not Metal Gear Solid 4 goes multi-platform, because I am playing it on the PLAYSTATION 3 (the system it was designed for). Regardless, an insider in Japan who attended Konami’s analyst meeting today passed along this info:
• Metal Gear Solid 4’s exact release date will be announced at the Tokyo Game Show.
• President Fumiaki Tanaka of Konami Digital Entertainment stated that release is likely Q4 March 2008
• President Tanaka also stated, “As we are aware of the popularity and hardware-driving power of this software franchise, going forwards we are open to taking this franchise across to other platforms.”
The meeting only ended a few hours ago, and we are trying to verify this information. The PDF on the Konami site shows only what looks like slides and doesn’t say squat, really. President Tanaka most likely did not say this for gamers, but investors. And it’s not clear whether he meant MGS4 or just Metal Gear Solid games, however.
Sans Mutants: Far Cry 2 Details
I miss Far Cry. Loved the lazy sunsets, loved the leisurely gaits across the countryside. Didn’t love the crazy indoors mutant stuff near the end. PC Gamer UK have the first info on Far Cry 2, and say the whole tropical island thing has been cut. Producer Louis-Pierre Pharand:
Many people seemed to feel the game suffered a bit with the introduction of the Trigens, and the fantastical story that they brought with them. We agreed.
Good news! What we get for the sequel, then, are two huge, sandboxy levels set in Africa (think S.T.A.L.K.E.R.) and no more weird mutants. Good, good, very good, carry on, Louis-Pierre. CVG are hosting the rest of the preview.
Far Cry 2 - first look! [PC Gamer UK]
Pachter Watch: Four Company’s Financial Results Foretold
You know, Pachter emailed me over the weekend, and denied that he channels any kind of deity when encountering his visions. Says it’s just him and his associates at Wedbush Morgan. Disappointing! Still, let’s not hold the predictions against him just because they come from the mouths and minds of mortal men. Sounding off on a whole bunch of financial reports due to be released this week, Pachter thinks Activision will be up on estimates, EA and THQ will be shooting par while Midway will fall under their estimates. Actual results should be in later this week, let’s see if, stripped of his godly persona, Pachter and co. can still come up with the goods.
Analyst anticipates earnings [Gamesindustry]
Can’t Quit You: Microsoft Still Claims Core System
Recent chatter points to Microsoft dropping the HDD-less Xbox 360 Core system in the States. A blurry pic from an apparent Best Buy insider surfaced over at Joystiq with the word “Deleted” under the Core system and an out-of-stock date that reads 7-29-07. Meaning? Current stock will not be replenished, it seems. When contacted, Microsoft said:
No. Xbox 360 Core remains an important member of the Xbox 360 family.
But for how long? Even if this fake, what I want to know is who the hizzy heck buys the Core system anyway?
Core Model [Joystiq via Game|Life]
Van Peebles Is Optional: Hunt Sharks. No, Really, Hunt REAL Sharks
Sharkrunners is a web game hosted by the Discovery Channel. In it you get a boat, a crew, and the aim is to locate and track sharks. Looks like Harpoon, and sounds fairly ho-hum, until you learn how the game actually works: the sharks you’re tracking are real sharks. Pretty cool! Because a ton of real-world sharks have been tagged with transponders, the game uses these readings and replicates them. In other words, a shark’s position in the game is exactly the same as their position in the real world. Find one in-game and you’ll be alerted via SMS or email, from which you’ll then have three hours to decide which data you’re going to get from the shark, how you’re going to get it and whether you’re gonna need a bigger boat.
Sharkrunners [via Boing-Boing & O'Reilly Radar]
