The guys at DVICE got one of the first fondles of the bizarre Microsoft Arc keyboard that raised some eyebrows at CES. Initial impressions were positive for both design and functionality

http://gizmodo.com/5453829/microsoft...ets-a-hands-on ...

jonasvdc tips an announcement by Square Enix that Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II are being developed for the iPhone and the iPod touch. The graphics and UI have been modified to look and run better on the touchscreen devices, but everything from Cecil to the classic Black Mage is clearly recognizable. The announcement did not include any information on a price or release date.

http://games.slashdot.org/story/10/0...and-iPod-Touch ...

Still want to argue that video games shrink your brain? While video games have been previously shown to stimulate brain activity and improve coordination skills, a recently published study has directly linked structures in the human brain with video game aptitude. And yes, apparently size does matter in this case. Quoting: '... each subject received 20 hours of training to play a video game specifically created for research purposes, called Space Fortress. It's basically an Asteroids-type arcade game, in which the object is to knock down and destroy an enemy fortress while dodging space mines. However, the game has lots of extra twists that require close attention. Some of the players were told to focus exclusively on running up a high score, while others were told to shift their priorities between several goals. The result? The subjects who had more volume in an area called the nucleus accumbens did significantly better in the early stages of training. Meanwhile, those who were well-endowed in different areas of the striatum, known as the caudate nucleus and putamen, handled the shifting strategies better.

http://games.slashdot.org/story/10/0...o-Game-Success ...

Multiformat release on the scorecard for this summer; Tiger Woods Online also detailed
Tiger Woods himself may be in a period of hibernation following his widely reported festive frolics, but the EA gold steam train carries on nonetheless with confirmation that Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 will be released this summer.
The game is in development for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and iPhone – with Apple’s device seemingly chosen in favour of either Nintendo’s DS or Sony’s PSP.
In addition, the summer console game will be accompanied by the release of Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. Developed by EA Tiburon, which has been at the helm of the publisher’s golf series since 2007, is a browser-based outing.
It will not, however, be free-to-play, with EA opting for what it describes as ‘a multi-tiered subscription’.
“During beta testing we’ve already seen tremendous participation and enthusiasm from golf fans around the world for Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online,” executive producer Mike Taramykin said.

“We’re looking forward to offering all players the opportunity to preview the game for free in the coming weeks. Also, during open beta gamers can invite others to play via Facebook and we continue to encourage the community to help to drive the game’s evolution and development.”
At the beginning of the year EA Sports boss Peter Moore was forced to publicly pledge support for the troubled golfer, stating:
“By his own admission, he’s made some mistakes off the course. But regardless of what’s happening in his personal life, and regardless of his decision to take a personal leave from the sport, Tiger Woods is still one of the greatest athletes in history.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/37255/Tige...ur-11-tees-off ...

Who said 2D was dead?
Almost two decades on from when Sony’s first PlayStation ushered in a bright new 3D era and many predicted the slow demise of 2D gaming, Nintendo has proved once again that it’s capable of disproving everything we thought we knew about gaming.
NPD data, as spotted by IGN, has shown that sales of 2009’s New Super Mario Bros Wii have now hit 4.2m in North America – surpassing the 4.1m sales of 2007’s Super Mario Galaxy.
And this comes despite Super Mario galaxy being widely regarded as the one of the finest 3D platformers ever made.
Even more astonishing is the fact that NSMB Wii has hit the milestone in just 45 days on the market. It even managed to outsell the mighty Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in the US through December.
Whether Super Mario Galaxy 2, which is currently due for release later this year, can regain Mario’s 3D crown remains to be seen.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/37253/US-N...utsells-Galaxy ...

Rising Star Games has announced that it will be publishing Samurai Shodown Sen in Europe.

The latest instalment in the long-running series will be brought to our shores in Spring this year, having already been released in Japan late last year.

"The kudos the SNK series carries sits comfortably within our portfolio and fans of the sword-fighting series won't be disappointed; the 3D graphics simply must be seen," says Martin Defries, managing director, Rising Star Games.

And you can see them, in the attached screenshots. So have a look at them because remember, they simply must be seen! We're not sure what happens if you refuse...

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

NoE tells MCV that there are no plans for a similar offer in the UK
From February 25th Japanese consumers will be able to get their hands on a brand new range of budget Wii software, Nintendo of Japan has confirmed.
Kotaku reports that the Minna no Osusume Collection – or the Everyone’s Recommendation Collection – will retail for YEN 2,800 (£19). Each title will be branded up with either bronze, silver, gold or platinum badges that are designed to represent that game’s ‘rating’.
Eight titles will be included in the initial offer, including Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, Dragon Ball Z Sparking and Family Ski.
Hopes for a similar range in the UK have been scuppered by Nintendo, however, with a spokesperson telling MCV that it currently has no plans for a Wii budget range on this side of the globe.
The same goes for DS and DSi, the platform holder added – to date no Nintendo handheld has ever had a budget range.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/37248/JAPA...ange-announced ...

EA is currently working on games for Apple's upcoming tablet device, according to reports.

The publisher is said to have been enlisted by Apple to create games in order to show off the tablet's gaming capabilities.

Apple has also embarked on discussions with book, newspaper and magazine publishers, according to the Wall Street Journal, talking to Conde Nast Publications and News Corp, among others, on how they can work together.

The iPhone creator's next device is expected to be showcased to the media on January 27. An invitation 'to see our latest creation' was sent out on Monday, according to the WSJ.

Insiders have stated the device will have a 10-11 inch touch screen, and that its primary functions will be as an e-reader, internet browsing device and TV and games player.

Analysts say its success will depend on a number of factors, such as price - which some believe will be around the $1000 mark.

Consumers will need to be convinced the device is necessary alongside a laptop, they point out, while there will also be stiff competition from e-book readers such as the Kindle.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-tablet-device ...

Indie developers have praised Nintendo's DSiWare channel for offering them an avenue which with to get their games directly to consumers, but have highlighted a number of ways in which the service could improve.

Echoing comments made by studios of WiiWare earlier this week, developers called for an increased advertising push by Nintendo focusing on the DSi's internet capabilities in order to increase the number of owners using it to go online, as well as a more user-friendly DSi Shop.

Developers also cited problems with marketing their titles, due to a convoluted system in place for gifting points to the press for them to download games, and questioned the lack of a ranking system in the store in order to properly rank titles.

"We're extremely happy that DSiWare even exists," said Jason Schreiber, CEO of Powerhead Games, the studio behind acclaimed DSiWare title Glow Artisan. "A year ago we had no way to put out Glow Artisan. From our perspective, how cool is it we self-published our own original DS game?"

But the service could improve further as Nintendo continues to grow it, said Schreiber, suggesting that a 'spotlight' section of the shop would make it easier for users to pick out good games.

It's essential the ergonomics of the whole shop are improved, added Mateusz Makowiec, VP of business developer at Teyon, creators of Robot Rescue and Ball Fighter.

"Browsing games in the DSi Shop becomes more and more difficult as the number of titles grows and there's a lack of trailers or demos," he said.

The lack of rankings within the store make it tricky to navigate games, agreed Thierry Platon, creative director at BiP Media, the studio behind DSiWare Viking Invasion. "Your game stays one week with the label 'new' on the DSi front page - if you are lucky Nintendo will only release three games on the same week - and after it's in alphabetic order.

"For now, there are few games on DSiWare - but at the end of 2010 this will be a real problem."

"As Nintendo grows its service I'd love it if great games were easier to find," added Schreiber. "There should be a one-click solution to buy DSiWare games online. Marketplace.xbox.com is an example of one way to do this, but any system that can turn a website link into a sale would be a win-win-win for all involved."

In terms of marketing titles, developers shared many of the same problems those developing WiiWare had encountered - little notice of when a game will go live on the DSiWare channel makes it difficult to plan promotions or get code to press in a timely fashion.

"When it comes to release dates [Nintendo] could work more closely with developers on this issue. It would make release dates more predictable for us and allow us to plan PR activities," said Makowiec.

It should also introduce some sort of promotional points for the press - "We'd like to be able to gift points for reviewing purposes - right now it's complicated," he added.

Schreiber however argues that while an Apple-like beta program to distribute pre-release games to the press would be welcome (if a lot to ask), the onus of marketing still falls primarily at the feet of the developer. Although he says it would be helpful if the press paid more attention to digital titles.

"May I politely suggest the press could be less concerned with games that aren't out yet in favour of finding great games players can actually buy? Indie games live and die based on the reaction in the press and word of mouth," he said.

Despite that, Powerhead released Glow Artisan "in the dead zone between Christmas and New Year with almost no hype," he says.

"We spent our marketing budget on the ESRB rating and crossed our fingers that the game was good enough to generate its own buzz. The nature of independent games - DIY everything, including marketing - requires patience at times. We expect Glow's popularity to grow as more people find it, play it, love it and spread the word."

Marketing for the service itself is a different matter, with most developers agreeing Nintendo could do more to push the DSi's internet capabilities and its digital store.

"I think Nintendo doesn't promote their digital services with the energy we expect from such a successful company," said Makowiec. "It looks like it's not their priority at the moment. Everything else is a consequence.

"I agree with Nintendo that digital download publishers should take care of PR activities for their games. However a promotion of the whole service would help everyone, including Nintendo.

"Due to limited resources, we can't build DSiWare or WiiWare awareness among DSi/Wii consumers. Nintendo could also improve their consoles' connectivity rate - I expect it still doesn't look very well."

Overall though, developers agreed the potential for the service was good, with all of them planning further DSiWare releases based on the performances of their released titles.

"We consider Nintendo digital platforms a tremendous opportunity to expand our publishing," said Makowiec. ...