DCEmu Featured News Articles

CHIPS joint MD Don McCabe has claimed consumers are "underwhelmed" by Kinect.

The independent retailer boss told GamesIndustry.biz this morning that he thinks "the pricing is immature to a certain degree. Consumers see it as a just a catch-up with the Wii, but they don't see it as much of an improvement.

"When you see a new hardware product or a new peripheral, you normally see quite a response from the public. We're not seeing that, they're completely underwhelmed by it really."

However, Martyn Gibbs, managing director of GAME Group UK, was more optimistic. "Kinect is a fantastic piece of technology and we believe that once people actually try it for themselves, they will understand the full scope and value of what it offers them – both as a gaming experience and an entertainment interface," he said in a statement released to GamesIndustry.biz.

McCabe, though, seemed to think Microsoft is braced for the motion controller to struggle. "This is more about things that can be integrated into the next hardware. I think it's 'stick it out there, see if it sells, if it doesn't sell we'll still integrate it in the next machine.'

"I think Microsoft are doing quite well at the moment, they're quite profitable, they're quite chilled. If they can get the Xbox Live figures a little bit higher, get more people connected, that's where they're income's going to come from. Hardware is just a means of getting people onto Live and paying through that sort of scenario."

Pointing out that he expected some sales from curious existing Xbox owners, he felt that "It's not all negative, but I think in some ways Microsoft have missed the boat. Over the last two years the casual market has been declining rapidly.

"I don't think it's going to add any new hardware sales. I spotted in their last response to a survey, they said it would lift hardware sales by 5 to 15 percent. I think that's bollocks. You lift it by 1 or 2 per cent and you've had a result."

Where he was more positive about Kinect was in the importance the struggling retail sector could play in exposing people to it. "Shops effectively will become demonstration units, there should be some sort of price discrepancy to reflect that, whether it'll be in some funding or what have you."

Both retailers, however, claimed that Kinect may be useful for the ever-contentious trade-in market. While he was not willing to reveal its own pricing for Kinect, Gibbs did state that GAME and Gamestation would "be offering a great range of trade-in offers to deliver great value options for our customers."

McCabe came to it from the other direction, arguing that "From our point of view, the more Microsoft things that are out there the better because I think it's one of those things that people will buy, play it for a short time then trade it back in. So I think we'll make a good trade-in market on it."

GamesIndustry.biz has also contacted Amazon.co.uk and ShopTo.Net for comment, who have declined to respond as yet.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...cts-GBP130-rrp ...

Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, the PSP remake of the classic 1995 Super NES strategy game, will be released in Europe.

It's "coming soon", publisher Square Enix promised.

The original game was only published in Japan, so, technically, this release marks Tactics Ogre's European debut.

While the gameplay will remain largely unchanged, the on-screen troop count is increased to 30 from 20, and there are new classes and new features for the skill system.

Some of the original team have got together to work on the game, including director Hiroshi Minagawa, designer Yasumi Matsuno, character designers Akihiro Yoshida and Tsubasa Masao, and Hitoshi Sakimoto and Iwata Masaji on music.

Matsuno is working on additions to the game's story and character elements, including new side stories.

"Long ago, Power was everything. It was a time called Xytegenia, where metal and evil, enshrouded in darkness, was in control," says the ever-dramatic European PlayStation Blog.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ta...ming-to-europe ...

If you're one of the many who imported the North American release of the From's modern classic Demon's Souls, you'll be happy to know that Atlus is guaranteeing that servers will stay switched on until at least March 2011.

The PS3 exclusive is essentially a single-player action-RPG, but it has many unusual online features and does allow players to invade each others' games to co-operate with - or attack - each other.

The servers also have a World Tendency that varies between black and white, making the game more or less difficult and unlocking secrets.

To celebrate its announcement, Atlus is setting the servers to Pure White for two weeks, which will make the game easier for newcomers and allow veterans to reach new areas and items.

Demon's Souls is now available in Europe too, following a release by Namco Bandai last month. It's a must-play - and Keza's rare interview with director Hidetaka Miyazaki, covering the making of the game, is a must-read.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/us...ers-guaranteed ...

Evolution's enlightened us all with new details for its third racer, Motorstorm Apocalypse.

Speaking as part of a live web chat, the Motorstorm team fielded questions on the next post-apocalyptic racer, which boasts urban off-road racing.

Here are the main points of interest:

3D was always going to feature in Apocalypse ever since it was implemented in Pacific Rift.

The team thinks that playing the game in 3D could well improve your lap time.

Vehicle customisation allows you to create and share "your hard work and cool ideas" with other members of the community and there'll be more on that soon.

Motorstorm Apocalypse goes all LittleBigPlanet with mode creator; a simple icon based interface allowing players to string together various actions and reactions. "We're using the very tool that the users will have on the disc to create the multitude of game modes that are initially available," said lead designer Paul Rustchynsky.

Vehicles included in the game are; an agile Superbike, a powerful, low riding chopper a FWD Hot Hatch, a fast and grippy Supercar and a Muscle Car, which is the most technical to drive of the bunch.

Perks are divided into three categories; boost, handling and combat.

There are more than 40 tracks, over 30 surfaces and 13 vehicle types.

Custom soundtracks and destruction feature both online and off.

Destruction won't always occur in the same way every time.

Loading screens will be replaced with cutscenes.

If you want to see the game in action, have a look at the Motorstorm Apocalypse trailer released last month.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...

New Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions details have emerged, outlining the final universe in the Spidey adventure.

The 'Ultimate' universe is bright and cell-shaded and sees the web-head don the black Symbiote suit. Followers of Spidey lore will know that this gives our hero much more of an aggressive, offensive approach.

Players will be able to lash at enemies with their black Spidey whips, shoot web-spikes out of their chest, or summon black spikes from the ground for that God-like touch.

That's all of the universes in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions revealed then, the last one was Spider-Man 2099.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...

Newly released



Enjoy high quality graphics even without a TV. The HD Liquid Crystal Monitor 3 is 11.6 inches big, and you can fold it up and stow it on your shelf when you have finished your gaming session. The screen also works well with the Torne gadget, so plug in and watch TV.

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-3w3m.html ...

Newly released



features
Hi-end next generation arcade style controller
description
The Hori Premium VLX fighting sticks don't just simulate your arcade gaming experience; they are the real deals. They perform all the functions of their arcade counterparts. They also provide the connect shot function for shooter maniacs, with these sticks, you can shoot from 5 bullets per second to 10 and then to 20.

Created through the joint effort between Taito and Hori, these sticks use the exact buttons and joysticks of the VELIX controllers in the arcades. Everything is assembled, not only to the same dimensions (50cm x 20cm), but to the same angle.

During maintenance, you only have to lift the face board up and do your cleaning or replace buttons. If you want to replace the joysticks, the Premium VLX sticks are compatible with Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT-SK and Seimitsu LS-32-01.

The special ergonomic design gives you space to place your wrists and is absolutely steady, even as you mash your buttons. The option board that comes in the package will provide you with more support and will keep it firmly on your desk.

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-3py3.html ...

Newly released



features
Hi-end next generation arcade style controller.
description
The Hori Premium VLX fighting sticks don't just simulate your arcade gaming experience; they are the real deals. They perform all the functions of their arcade counterparts. They also provide the connect shot function for shooter maniacs, with these sticks, you can shoot from 5 bullets per second to 10 and then to 20.

Created through the joint effort between Taito and Hori, these sticks use the exact buttons and joysticks of the VELIX controllers in the arcades. Everything is assembled, not only to the same dimensions (50cm x 20cm), but to the same angle.

During maintenance, you only have to lift the face board up and do your cleaning or replace buttons. If you want to replace the joysticks, the Premium VLX sticks are compatible with Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT-SK and Seimitsu LS-32-01.

The special ergonomic design gives you space to place your wrists and is absolutely steady, even as you mash your buttons. The option board that comes in the package will provide you with more support and will keep it firmly on your desk.

http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...j-70-3py1.html ...

News via http://www.nintendomax.com/viewtopic...a1144e6bdc9fbd

thatotherdev offers version 1.1 of its RPGPineapple Apocalypse RPG" for the Wii .

Pineapple RPG Apocalypse Was The first homebrew program I ever Publicly released for Wii and year long overdue update has-beens for it. So here it is.

The frame rate fewer spectators IS What It Was ( it now runs at a smooth 60 frames per second) . You can now play the game OPTIONALLY using a classic controller . I fixed the bug That Caused the game to freak out has not mutated pineapple Whenever Attacked you . Two tiles I fixed it That map That WHERE Being not unreasonably high . The text boxes Have Been Slightly repositioned away from the top and bottom of the screen to Ensure That They Are Fully visible. I added a text box to remind you Which Was button to save and to load WHICH IS (I Always Got 'em confused ). I added background music ( Aeroplanes by Nanodrone ) . The game now Also Has A home menu just like all my more recent games.

The home menu is Actually Slightly Improved from How It Was in my last few " games . You can now bring it up using a classic controller and the cursor Move event and click "any of the buttons using a classic controller and I got it working without it interfering When you want to use the cursor with the Wiimote IR sensor . The background blur has-beens Slightly tweaked and now the picture gets a bit Even brightened and dulled . With the PC version of the filtering effect Smoothly transitions purpose I'm still not happy with how it works Smoothly Wii it (the frame rate dips a bit) so on the Wii effect IS Still Simply Either gold is off . I Doubt ITS Noticeable the goal has been " Improved frame rate for the Home menu, as well . IT WAS in the 50s and Its now at The Intended 60 frames per second .

http://thatotherdev.wordpress.com/20...3-wii-windows/ ...