Swedish non-profit technology organisation MuchDifferent has set a new world record for simultaneous online players, hosting 999 combatants in its browser based FPS Man Vs Machine.
Planetside previously held the record, with 600 players. The Man Vs Machine session lasted two hours and saw players divided into the two titular teams. Watch the video below for a taste of what it's like to face a 500-strong opposition.
In a blog post on MuchDifferent's site, CEO Christian Lönnholm admits that initial balancing was off, leading to the human team decimating their mechanical adversaries at first.
"After the first half hour, the score was overwhelmingly in favor for Team Man," he writes. "We did some adjustments to the gameplay balancing but it was not until the end of the two hour session that Team Machine had turned the tides and now the roles were reversed and Team Man was not even able to leave the spawning area.
"Getting a game balanced is hard and our guesswork proved to be quite off the mark. In the end, I think most people had an enjoyable experience of the sheer massiveness of it all and having the game run smoothly helped with that."
Guiness World Records subsequently validated the attempt, and MuchDifferent is now in the process of refining the underlying tech for use in other online games.

http://www.edge-online.com/news/onli...aneous-players ...

From Software's Armored Core V is the new Japanese all-formats number one after selling almost 188,000 copies in its first week on shelves.
Resident Evil Revelations is another new entry, Capcom's 3DS game selling 146,000 and making its debut in second spot. Just behind is Namco Bandai's DS remake Tales Of Innocence R, which with 54,800 units sold becomes the first Vita game to trouble the upper echelons of the chart in some time.
Tales' debut also appears to have boosted Vita sales, which totalled 18,942 units in the week ending January 29, a modest increase on last week's 15,219 and the first time since launch that sales of Sony's new handheld have increased week on week.
01. Armored Core V (From Software, PS3/360)
02. Resident Evil Revelations (Capcom, 3DS)
03. Tales Of Innocence R (Namco Bandai, Vita)
04. Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo, 3DS)
05. Monster Hunter Tri G (Nintendo, 3DS)
06. Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo, 3DS)
07. Idolmaster Anime & G4U Pack Vol 4 (Namco Bandai, PS3)
08. Rhythm Thief (Nintendo, 3DS)
09. Inazuma Eleven Go (Level-5, 3DS)
10. Gundam Mokuba No Kiseki (Namco Bandai, PSP)

http://www.edge-online.com/news/armo...japanese-chart ...

A post at the Raspberry Pi blog shows an image containing the device's SoC and memory chip to help explain why the tiny PC won't ship in kit form. Clearly, the chips are so small, and the solder blobs required so tiny, that most people would mess up doing it by hand. Add to that the fact one chip has to sit on top of the other, and if you're a millimeter out, your chips are fried."The post also addresses the use of closed source libraries for graphics acceleration.

http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/1...ip-in-kit-form ...

Rovio CEO Mikael Hed told attendees of the Midem Conference in Cannes that the "problem" of piracy is all a matter of perspective, The Guardian reports.
Hed explained that Rovio's apps and consumer products suffer from piracy, particularly in Asian markets. However, he believes it is "futile" to pursue the perpetrators through the courts unless their merchandise is damaging the brand.
"Piracy may not be a bad thing," he said. "It can get us more business at the end of the day."
This, Hed claimed, is the lesson that the global entertainment industry can learn from "the rather terrible ways" the music business attempted to combat piracy.
"We took something from the music industry, which was to stop treating the customers as users, and start treating them as fans. We do that today: we talk about how many fans we have."
"If we lose that fanbase, our business is done, but if we can grow that fanbase, our business will grow."
The discussion surrounding piracy in the games industry intensified around the now-shelved SOPA and PIPA legislation, yet while the scale of the problem is clear the best way to address the situation is still open to debate.
Rovio is not alone in identifying an opportunistic silver-lining in piracy. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz at the Unite 2011 conference, Unity Technologies' John Goodale described how piracy of the company's engine helped seed its business in China - now one of its key territories.
Elsewhere in his presentation, Rovio's Hed also explained that the phenomenal popularity of Angry Birds has allowed the company to start regarding it as a "channel," with many users spending as much time in the app as they do watching popular TV shows.
"We have some discussions with [music] labels about what we could do together to give access," he said. "It is possible to promote music content through our apps as well... We are positively looking for new partnerships, and we have a rather big team working on partnerships, so it's just a case of getting in touch with us and we'll take it from there."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...erate-business ...

Upcoming action title Prototype 2 will be the first Activision title to include an Online Pass type system.
The publisher has taken a different approach to the traditional Online Pass method by only offering free codes in a limited number of copies.
It all takes the guise of Radnet – a content portal that gives fans 55 free pieces of additional content spread across the seven weeks following the game’s release in April. Content will include events, challenges, avatar items, themes, videos and extra campaign abilities.
But once the Radnet Edition supplies run out, even those who buy a brand new copy will face an additional outlay to access the same content.
"Radical Entertainment has always focused on bringing long lasting fun to its fans, and Prototype 2's Radnet content is our way of rewarding the game's most loyal supporters — the early adopters, the one's who will replay it over and over again," Radical Entertainment studio head Ken Rosman stated.
"We think this is great because we're giving our fans hours of additional gameplay outside Prototype 2's main narrative, and cool rewards — all delivered weekly following the game's launch."

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/activ...ne-pass/090504 ...

3D technology in the home has yet to achieve mass penetration in any sector. Sales of compatible TVs may be increasing, but they have yet to claim a majority of households.
Similarly, the number of 3D films in cinemas is on the rise, but has yet to become the standard. And for all the investment the industry has made, 3D gaming has yet to establish itself as the rule rather than the exception.
Nintendo made perhaps the greatest advance in 2011 with the launch of the 3DS, while Sony will up the ante this year with the release of a 3D games monitor. Microsoft remains steadfastly neutral about the whole affair, but has made the Xbox 360 3D ready and added stereoscopic modes to Gears of War 3 and Halo Anniversary.
Even third-party publishers offer a 3D mode in titles such as Batman: Arkham City, Sonic Generations and Battlefield 3 – but other compatible releases are few and far between.
Previously, MCV has discussed what it will take for the masses to embrace 3D, but perhaps the more pressing question is whether or not demand for the technology even exists.
YES
Simon Benson – Senior Development Manager, 3D Team
If you are a soldier, professional sportsperson or surgeon, it is likely that you need 3D vision to do your job. To simulate their real-world activities, 3D visuals are typically essential and so professional simulators have utilised stereoscopic 3D for many years.
3D can greatly increase visual immersion – possibly more so than the transition from SD to HD gaming.
The significant benefits that 3D adds to gaming also makes it a key driver for 3DTV uptake. Currently 3DTVs are widely available and apparently selling faster than HDTVs were at the same point in their lifecycle – which is even more significant given economic issues.
Let’s not forget though, that 3D gaming is still in its infancy. As a result there are plenty of opportunities to innovate and deliver groundbreaking experiences that naturally attract lots of interest and publicity.

Alex Wiltshire – Online Editor, Edge
This isn’t about the industry needing it. Arguments about the technology driving TV and hardware sales in a saturated marketplace are for suited execs. No, this is about the games themselves needing 3D.
Since 3DS’ release I’ve begun to feel a deep affection for stereoscopic 3D. It started with experiencing Ghost Recon: Shadow War’s playfield as if it’s a little model with toy soldiers. It continued by enjoying the sense of space in Star Fox 64 3D. It grew by better appreciating Link’s relationship with his world in Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D. And by Super Mario 3D Land and Pullblox, the effect had become an indelible part of the game.
So much so, in fact, that I genuinely missed it in Skyward Sword.
Few companies get 3D like Nintendo does. And I’m still not prepared to both invest in the new TV and wear the glasses – it’s up to manufacturers to make all that worthwhile. But the titles specifically crafted for 3DS prove that gaming is peculiarly appropriate for the sense of form, relation and volume that the effect at its best can yield.

Lee Kirton – Marketing Director, Namco Bandai Partners
3D has been around for a very long time and in some cases I really do like it. I enjoy the 3D experience in some gaming genres but not in others. I think it depends on the experience itself and what you want from it.
I treat 3D as an event. I do enjoy playing the 3DS and the feeling that it delivers and I’ve also enjoyed many current gen games in 3D. I’ve yet to get immersed in the home entertainment 3D and Sky 3D but I really do put that down to individual tastes.
Overall, it’s good to have it available in gaming and it’s down to personal choice in the end as to what each gamer or movie fan wants. For me, it depends on what the product is.
NO
David Houghton – Content Editor, GamesRadar
Every so often, a new technology turns up and instantaneously opens up a raft of new possibilities in the creation and consumption of games. Online connectivity has transformed how we share gaming. Even the much-maligned motion control has, at times, provided genuinely immersive experiences in naturalistic game-world interaction.
But so far I have found 3D to be nothing more than an opportunistic chancer, trying to blag its way into that exclusive club of game-changers using a dog-eared, photocopied fake ID and hastily assembled bum-fluff.
For me, 3D adds nothing but slight and short-lived garnish at the high-cost of clarity and immersion. The effect itself brings with it the potential for no meaningful new design additions bar the same cheap jump-scare gimmicks it has peddled since the ‘50s.
As for those claims of a tangible connection to the game world? Pah. I’ve never found 3D technology to be anything other than a heaving great wrecking ball for the fourth wall. Even when done well, the effect is never natural enough to be fully immersive, creating a wibbly depth-perception uncanny valley.
All that, and I need to recalibrate my much-prized, none-more-anally honed TV picture settings to counteract the lens tint? Seriously people, why are we ...

In case you haven't been keeping score that's the sixth week in a row at number one for FIFA 12 in the UK software chart, and its eighth appearance there overall. The rest of the top five saw the usual suspects shift slightly, with Modern Warfare 3 sneaking up to second place and Skyrim dropping to third.

The only real sign of life was Nintendo 3DS title Resident Evil: Revelations, which smashed its way in at number 6. It's the seventh largest launch yet for the handheld device.

Much further down the chart Sims expansion pack new entry The Sims 3: Master Suite Stuff made it in at 23.

Last Week This Week Title
1 1 FIFA 12
4 2 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
2 3 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
3 4 Just Dance 3
5 5 Battlefield 3
New entry 6 Resident Evil: Revelations
6 7 Zumba Fitness
7 8 Saints Row: The Third
12 9 Assassin's Creed: Revelations
8 10 Zumba Fitness 2
10 11 Rage
9 12 Rayman Origins
11 13 Mario Kart 7
16 14 Football Manager 2012
Re-entry 15 Sonic Generations
13 16 Super Mario 3D Land
Re-entry 17 Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2012
Re-entry 18 Kinect Sports: Season Two
20 19 Cars 2
18 20 WWE' 12

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...t-resi-in-at-6 ...

UK supermarket chain Morrisons has cut the price on a number of console SKUs, according to reports.
The 160GB version of the PlayStation 3 is now available for £150 with the 250GB cut to £200 – the latter price has been verified by MCV from a North London store rep.
The Xbox 360 250GB has also been dropped to £150 while the 4GB SKU including Kinect is now £185.
Wii has been cut as well, with a bundle including Mario Kart priced at £85. Kinect is also available as a solo SKU for £85.
MCV has not yet been able to officially confirm all of the deals, though some consumers have seemingly confirmed the promotional prices. We have contacted Morrisons for confirmation.
UPDATE: Here is the official list of promotions direct from Morrisons:
4GB XBOX KINECT BUNDLE – Was £240 – Now £185
250GB XBOX CONSOLE – Was £175 – Now £150
KINECT SENSOR – Was £100 – Now £85
320GB PS3 + Karate Kid BD – Was £235 – Now £200
160GB PS3 – Was £175 – Now £150
White WII + Mario Kart – Was £99 – Now £85
WII Family Edition – Was £99 – Now £85
Blue WII + Mario & Sonic Olympics – Was £99 – Now £85

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/morri...-prices/090457 ...

It has emerged that UK newspaper The Daily Mail “completely fabricated” quotes used in a story linking gaming to a new generation of “zombie children”.
Today’s story leads with the headline “Stoned with tiredness: Generation of children are becoming zombies because of late-night gaming sessions, claims charity”.
It then goes on to quote charity worker Robert Hart-Fletcher of Kids and Media as saying: “Gaming is a phenomenon that’s been around quite a while. Now we are starting to see the effects in behaviour of young people.
“In the past people had genuine relationships with empathy and compassion which has been replaced by this virtual relationship where they are not necessarily having to show empathy or compassion. That’s starting perhaps to change the way they interact on a day to day basis.”
However, Hart-Fletcher has confirmed to Beefjack that he never said the quotes attributed to him in the story, and even provided an MP3 of the interview as proof.
“Our stance is that gaming, being in constant contact with friends and playing with other gamers around the world, is good for most kids most of the time,” Hart-Fletcher stated.
“While people can over-use games or smartphones, they can over-use anything – and that’s no reflection of the value of the activity.”
UPDATE: It appears that the BBC not only used the exact same quotes, but was surprisingly the originator of the story.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/daily...r-story/090465 ...