• May 2013 - The Announcement of the Xbox One

    Its Now May 2013 and the Next Gen Console race is hotting up. Today May21st we have the announcement of the New Xbox One and details coming in all the time of the PS4. If your a fan of mobile phones then im sure you have already brought a Samsung Galaxy S4. If your after a WiiU then Target are selling the console at a decent £240.

  • May 4th, 2012

    Nintendo patent application tech tracks your DS from above, serves as tour guide 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:40
    1. Categories:
    2. Nintendo DS News
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    Nintendo is already guiding you through the Louvre with a 3DS, but a newly published US patent application takes that kind of tourism to a very literal new level. Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto's concept describes a way to direct lost tourists by beaming position information through an overhead grid of infrared transmitters to a mobile device (portrayed as a DS Lite) held by the confused visitor below. The handheld then talks wirelessly to a server that lights up floor displays with maps and directions, and a helpful app on the device lets visitors pick their route while they read up on sightseeing tips. Like with any patent, there's no certainty that Nintendo will act on the idea and start wiring up museums with IR blasters, but the January 2012 patent may still be fresh in a frequently inventive mind like Miyamoto's.

    http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/n...t-application/     ...
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    Xamarin's XobotOS opens prospect of Android port to C#, can of worms 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:39
    1. Categories:
    2. Android News
    Article Preview

    Would it be ironic if Android developers did an end-run around Microsoft patents by using Microsoft's own C#? Or if Google kiboshed its Oracle brouhaha with the aid of none other than Redmond? We're asking because Xamarin, the wacky open source implementer of .NET, has ported Android to Microsoft's C# with its XobotOS project. Although just an experiment and unlikely to solve Google'sissues, the team showed that running the robot on C# instead of Java gave fewer coding limitations, better battery life and direct graphics access. Additionally, Xamarin reports "massive" speed gains on its HTC Flyer and Acer Iconia when running the side-project port -- no surprise given C#'s machine heritage. Sure, it's pure speculation that Mountain View and its developers would ever change their Java MO, but a little patent relief and faster Android devices in one kill shot? That's a sweet idea.

    http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/X...id-to-C-Sharp/     ...
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    AT&T CEO voices regret over iPhone unlimited data model 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:35
    1. Categories:
    2. Apple iPhone
    Article Preview

    It's always refreshing to hear the head of a major corporation cop to past mistakes -- particularly in front of a large crowd of on-lookers. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson admitted some misgivings about the way the carrier handled iPhone data, telling a crowd at the Milken Institute's Global Conference in Los Angeles, "My only regret was how we introduced pricing in the beginning, because how did we introduce pricing? Thirty dollars and you get all you can eat." Stephenson drove the point home by adding, "Every additional megabyte you use in this network, I have to invest capital."
    And, for the record, that certainly wasn't the only thing about the iPhone that kept the exec up at night. Stephenson again,
    You lie awake at night worrying about what is that which will disrupt your business model," he said. "Apple iMessage is a classic example. If you're using iMessage, you're not using one of our messaging services, right?
    No one ahead said it was easy being the chief.

    http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/04/a...ed-data-model/     ...
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    RIM unveils new gaming social hub for BlackBerry devices 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:33
    1. Categories:
    2. DCEmu

    RIM to offer new social app to work as 'Game Center' for BlackBerry 10 OS devices
    Research in Motion has announced that they will pursue a social gaming hub for their market, with a new app to be launched on BlackBerry 10 mobile operating system devices. The new hub will serve as a gaming social platform for users to connect, interact and talk with one another. At the present time, the new app is simply known as "Games."
    The new platform compares closely to Apple's Game Center, in that those people using BlackBerrys will now have a central meeting place for gaming activities. RIM has announced that the Games app will integrate with BlackBerry Messenger as well as Scoreloop's social gaming network. Further plans for multiplayer gaming capabilities are being looked into, with consideration for both turn-based and real-time gaming.
    Things look to be going up for game developers on the BlackBerry platform - a platform that has long been regarded as miniscule. A wave of new mobile titles are coming to BlackBerry, and RIM is making moves to incentivize developers into working on the platform.

    http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...kberry-devices

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    Diablo III to sell 3.5 million copies this year, says analyst 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:32
    1. Categories:
    2. PC News

    Blizzard is gearing up for launch and demand should be high, says Arvind Bhatia

    Blizzard fans, after a long. long wait, will finally be able to pick up Diablo III in about a week and a half. The game is expected to put up solid numbers for Activision Blizzard, selling through several million copies, Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia said.
    Bhatia estimates that the game will sell 3.5 million units this year alone and should sell around 4 million copies or more for the lifetime of the title.
    "We think Diablo III, which is releasing after a gap of 12 years since the launch of Diablo II, has the potential to sell more than 4 million units life-time... We note that Diablo II had sold 4M units by August 2001 or 14 months following its initial release in June 2010," he said.
    Bhatia does see Diablo III as a potential catalyst in the near-term for Activision's stock. He's currently maintaining a "Buy" rating with a $17 price target.
    Blizzard recently detailed how its auction house will operate in-game and what kind of cut the company will take from each transaction.

    http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...r-says-analyst

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    Gamers are "exiting" the console market 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:29
    1. Categories:
    2. DCEmu

    US analyst PiperJaffray has boldly claimed that "gamers are exiting the [console] market for alternative forms of entertainment and leisure activities".
    The prediction comes ahead of NPD’s April numbers for the US video games market which the analyst belives will once again be down year-on-year.
    "Consumers are increasingly demanding interactive media experiences that are social, mobile and free to play,” the firm stated.
    "These activities include photo/video sharing and social gaming, all of which are activities that the current consoles and new handhelds do not support effectively."
    Looking ahead to May, it thinks Rockstar’s Max Payne 3 will emerge as the monthly champ, outselling Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon: Future, Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma and Sniper Elite V2 combined.

    http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/gamer...-market/095545     ...
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    39% of Pokémon players are female 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:27
    1. Categories:
    2. Nintendo Wii News

    Over a third of Pokémon players are female, according to a new GameVision Brand Map report.
    39 per cent of all players of Nintendo's huge franchise are female, which is higher than the average game (31 per cent). Males aged 15 to 19 comprise a further 13 per cent of the market.
    This week we take a look at the GameVision Brand Map for Pokémon. We asked 6,789 gamers about this franchise. 1,275 had played a Pokémon game within the last six months and we asked 500 of these to tell us about the brand in detail.
    The Pokémon IP is most enjoyed because of the ‘tricks and skills’ required, with 35 per cent of gamers saying this was their most preferred game aspect. The level of ‘involvement in the story’ was enjoyed by 29 per cent of those who have experienced the brand, while ‘short play periods’ and ‘explore and discover’ were each enjoyed by 26 and 25 per cent of gamers respectively.
    Currently play rates are highest amongst Italian gamers, with 22 per cent playing. 60 per cent of players in Europe are under the age of 20, compared to 46 per cent for the average game. 10 to 14 year-old males make up the largest market and 23 per cent of Pokémon players.
    Pokémon fans also enjoy other Nintendo titles. The most played games amongst Pokémon consumers are Wii Sports (69 per cent), Mario Kart (64 per cent) and Super Mario Bros (59 per cent).
    Although the Pokémon franchise is perhaps best known for its competitive gameplay, the enjoyment derived from the non-violent aspects of the game may help explain why it has a higher-than-average volume of female players compared to male players.

    http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/brand...-female/095555     ...
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    E-Xpress expands low-price PC games catalogue 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:26
    1. Categories:
    2. PC News

    Indian games distributor E-Xpress Interactive has expanded its E-play range of low priced PC games to over 120 titles. The E-play catalogue contains games priced between Rs 199 ($4) and Rs 299 ($6) from publishers such as Ubisoft, Square Enix, THQ, Sega and Take-Two.
    While console gaming remains the highest revenue earner in India, the PC has traditionally been the dominant platform. The E-play range, with its low prices, aims to make legitimate purchases more attractive on a platform that has been plagued by piracy.
    The E-play catalogue includes classics like Max Payne and Deus Ex as well as more recent releases like Driver: San Francisco. Here’s the complete list:
    Anno 1404 Gold Edition
    Assassin's Creed
    Assassin's Creed II
    Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
    Beyond Good & Evil
    Blazing Angels
    Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions of WWII
    Blood Omen 2: Legacy of Kain
    Borderlands
    Brian Lara International Cricket 2005
    Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood
    Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30
    Caesar III
    Call of Juarez
    Chessmaster 10th Edition
    Colin McRae: Dirt
    Condemned: Criminal Origins
    Conflict: Denied Ops
    Conflict: Desert Storm
    Conflict: Desert Storm II
    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Deadly Intent
    CSI: NY - The Game
    Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
    Deus Ex
    Devil May Cry
    Devil May Cry 3 + Resident Evil 4
    Devil May Cry 3
    Driv3r
    Driver: San Francisco
    Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom
    Empire Earth: Gold Edition
    F.E.A.R.
    Far Cry 2
    Ground Control II: Operation Exodus
    H.A.W.X
    H.A.W.X 2
    Heroes of Might and Magic V
    Heroes of the Pacific
    Heroes Over Europe
    Hidden & Dangerous 2
    Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
    Hitman: Blood Money
    Hitman: Contracts
    Homeworld 2
    Hospital Tycoon
    I.G.I.-2: Covert Strike
    Ice Age 2
    IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946
    IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 + Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific
    Imagine Fashion Designer
    James Cameron's Avatar
    Juiced
    Just Cause
    Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
    King Kong
    Legacy of Kain: Defiance
    Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
    Max Payne
    Medieval II: Total War Gold Edition
    Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 3
    Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002
    Microsoft Train Simulator
    Midnight Club 2
    Moto GP 2
    Moto GP 3
    MX vs ATV: Unleashed
    Myst V: End of Ages
    Onimusha 3
    Operation Flashpoint
    OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast
    Pharaoh: Cleopatra
    Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
    Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
    Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
    Project Snowblind
    Race Driver: Grid
    Rayman Raving Rabbids
    Red Faction: Guerrilla
    Reservoir Dogs
    Resident Evil 4
    Richard Burns Rally
    Rome: Total War
    RS3: Racing Simulation 3
    S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
    Saints Row 2
    Scarface: The World Is Yours
    Sega Classics Collection
    Sega Collection Pack
    Sega Rally
    Sensible Soccer
    Serious Sam Gold Edition
    Shellshock: Nam '67
    Shogun Total War Gold Edition
    Sid Meier's Pirates!
    Sonic Adventure DX
    Sonic Heroes
    Sonic Mega Collection Plus
    Sonic Riders
    Stronghold Deluxe
    Supreme Commander
    Surf's Up
    The House of the Dead III
    The Italian Job
    The Settlers II 10th Anniversary
    The Settlers: Rise of an Empire Gold Edition
    Thief: Deadly Shadows
    TMNT
    Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
    Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Complete (Ghost Recon, Ghost Recon Desert Siege and Ghost Recon Island Thunder)
    Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2
    Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas
    Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
    Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
    Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness
    Tomb Raider: Aniversary
    Tomb Raider: Legend
    Tomb Raider: Underworld
    Universe at War: Earth Assault
    Warhammer 40.000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising
    Zeus: Master of Olympus Gold
    Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection

    http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/e-xpr...talogue/095557     ...
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    HMV and Asda "best-placed" to grab GAME market share 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:25
    1. Categories:
    2. DCEmu

    Consumer research firm Kantar Worldpanel has said that HMV and Asda are “best-placed” to gain from this year’s spate of GAME and Gamestation closures.
    “[GAME’s] customer requires a more specialist, in-depth range,” analyst Craig Armer told Retail Week.
    “HMV had said it would trim its range of games but I suspect that will not happen now.”
    Indeed, HMV this morning admitted that it anticipates growth in 2012 in part thanks to the increased business coming its way following GAME’s spell of trouble.
    Asda were also highlighted due to what Armer describes as “a strong offer and heavy discounts”. For the 12 weeks ending March 18th Asda was the strongest supermarket in the entertainment sector, increasing its market share to 9.3 per cent.
    Of course, both Tesco and Sainsbury’s have already made moves on former GAME customers.

    http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/hmv-a...t-share/095565     ...
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    Miyamoto: Vita needs games 

    by
    wraggster
    Published on May 4th, 2012 23:23
    1. Categories:
    2. Playstation Vita News

    Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto has praised the technical capabilities of Sony's PS Vita handheld, but says the machine's software lineup leaves something to be desired.
    Speaking to us in Paris, where he was promoting the 3DS-powered visitor's guide at the Louvre museum, Miyamoto did his best to maintain professional courtesy, but couldn't resist having a sly dig at Sony's new handheld.
    "It's obviously a very hi-spec machine, and you can do lots of things with it," he said of Vita, which launched in Japan last December andin the west in late February. "But I don't really see the combination of software and hardware that really makes a very strong product."
    Since a strong launch - it sold 325,000 units at launch in Japan, and 600,000 in its first few days on western shelves - Vita sales have slumped, particularly in Japan, where it has frequently been outsold by the ageing Wii and even its own predecessor, PSP.
    3DS, however, has been Japan's best-selling hardware every single week since last August's price cut - and Miyamoto admits it was a lack of software that held back Nintendo's glasses-free 3D handheld.
    "When we launched the 3DS hardware we didn't have Super Mario 3D Land, we didn't have Mario Kart 7, we didn't have Kid Icarus: Uprising," he said. "We were striving to have all of these ready for the launch, but we weren't able to deliver them at that time.
    "We were kind of hoping that people would, nevertheless, buy into the product, find 3DS hardware promising, but looking back we have to say we realise the key software was missing when we launched the hardware."
    In other words, Vita, like 3DS, needs games, and there are few owners of Sony's new handheld who would disagree with that sentiment. Despite a wide range of launch software, Vita releases since have been thin on the ground; the next big release for the system is Gravity Rush, due in the west in June.
    Miyamoto's comments are extracts from an extensive interview in our new issue, E241, which should be with subscribers any day now and will be on sale on May 9. Other topics discussed include hissurprising admiration for Angry Birds, and his desire to make a spiritual sequel to SNES classic The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past.

    http://www.edge-online.com/news/miya...ta-needs-games     ...
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