DCEmu Homebrew Emulation & Theme Park News
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by Published on May 20th, 2012 22:36- Categories:
- Apple News,
- Apple iPad,
- Apple iPhone
After banning the word 'jailbreak' from its app store and music library, Apple [Friday] reversed course and again permits the term — slang for hacking into a device to download unauthorized content — to appear on iTunes and its App Store. On Thursday bloggers noticed Apple had censored the word, using the Thin Lizzy album 'Jailbreak' as an example. For awhile, the title was listed as 'J******k' in Apple's music library, at least its U.S. version. In other instances, digital content continued to bear the full name Jailbreak
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/0...word-jailbreak
...by Published on May 19th, 2012 00:08- Categories:
- Joypad News
Let's face it: right now, the head nods and other rudimentary controls of Google's Project Glass are mostly useful for looking good, sharing photos and not much else. A US patent application submitted last September and just now published, however, raises the possibility of more sophisticated control coming from your hands. A ring, a bracelet or a even a fake fingernail with an infrared-reflective layer would serve as a gesture control marker for a receiver on heads-up display glasses. Having this extra control would give the glasses-mounted computing room to grow by learning gestures, and it could even depend on multiple ornaments for more sophisticated commands -- at least, if you don't mind looking like a very nerdy Liberace. We can imagine the headaches a hand-based method might cause for very enthusiastic talkers, among other possible hiccups, so don't be surprised if Project Glass goes without any kind of ring input. That said, we suspect that Sauron would approve.
http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/g...ng-controller/ ...by Published on May 19th, 2012 00:07- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Students. PCs. Free Xbox 360. The Redmond team's at it yet again. Similar to last year's deal, Microsoft's hooking students up with a 4GB Xbox 360 if they drop some cash on one of its Windows machines. It's simple: shell out over $699 on a PC, or $599 if you're in Canada, and you'll be walking out with a shiny new console free of charge -- naturally, you'll have to do so at participating shops such as Best Buy, Fry's, Newegg, Staples, The Source and, of course, Microsoft's own stores. The promo is set to kick off here in the States on May 20th, while those living in the True North can take advantage of it starting today. And before you ask -- yes, you will need to show your scholar credentials to get in on the bargain.
http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/m...360-promotion/ ...by Published on May 19th, 2012 00:06- Categories:
- Android News
Unless you're lucky enough to live in Scandinavia, you'll have to wait till the end of summer to get yourCotton Candy fix. Aching to nab yourself a computer-on-a-stick before then? If you're willing to step down in specs, the Chinese-made MK802 could be the PC in your pocket. For $74 (versus $199 for the Cotton Candy), this 7-ounce device gives you a 1.5-GHz Allwinner A10 CPU, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage and, like the Cotton Candy, Android 4.0. FXI's version, on the other hand, packs a dual-core 1.2-GHz Samsung Exynos processor, and while the MK802 offers an HDMI port, the Cotton Candy includes an HDMI connector. The MK802 is slightly bulkier than its sweetly named competitor (3.5 inches vs. 3.1), but that Android logo on the front does wonders for its design cred. AliExpress.com is currently selling the MK802 with free shipping to the US -- click the source link for a gander.
http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/18/m...ndy-to-market/ ...by Published on May 19th, 2012 00:02- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Microsoft's Kinect guru believes the future of the peripheral will come from developers learning new tricks
Microsoft
www.microsoft.com
Microsoft creative director of Kinect Kudo Tsunoda says the "next big thing" from the peripheral will come from Microsoft and developers learning the current unit, not from a possible Kinect 2. In an interview with VentureBeat, Tsunoda played up the idea that there was so much more that could be done with the current Kinect.
"I think that waiting for the next big thing isn't about waiting for the Kinect 2. It's more about all the great invention that can be done in software without having to go out and spend money on a new device," Tsunoda said to VentureBeat.
"I do think that the next evolution of the experience will come as developers get better and better at working with Kinect. I think right now we're in an area where you're going to start seeing some amazing Kinect experiences based on things like using voice or using full body or using identity. And then I think going forward you're going to see a lot more people really blending all of the different features of Kinect together to build some really rich and immersive new types of experiences," he added.
Tsunoda explained that the focus is on understanding how to combine the Kinect's different capabilities to augment existing game genres.
"One of the things that we're super excited about is how you can use a combination of facial detection, motion detection, voice recognition, and tone of voice recognition to allow somebody to participate in a narrative like an actual character inside the scene. So much of how you communicate is through body language and tone of voice, and being able to incorporate those things into an interaction with a digital character is stuff that only Kinect can do," he said.
"I think that's why you see Kinect branching off into all different genres of games now. It's because developers are able to do more with the technology as they've become more experienced in working with it."
"It's not where you have to wait for Kinect 2 for something to be different as much as the more that we're able to play with Kinect and update Kinect over time, all of the capabilities in all different types of scenarios, we're going to keep pushing. I think that, again, it means both the evolution of existing features as well as the invention of new ones," he said.
VentureBeat's full interview with Tsunoda covers more about the Kinect and how developers are reaching out to other genres with the device.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...s-kudo-tsunoda
...by Published on May 18th, 2012 23:55- Categories:
- Sega Dreamcast News,
- Sega Game Gear News,
- Genesis News
Yuji Naka may not have the same name recognition these days as Shigeru Miyamoto or Hideo Kojima, but he's absolutely one of the pillars of Japanese video game development. If it weren't for Naka-san's efforts in creating Sonic the Hedgehog and leading Sonic Team, our generation would never have witnessed the glorious Nintendo vs. Sega rivalry, which ultimately produced many brilliant games on both sides.
In March of 2006, Naka-san eventually decided to test the development waters with his own studio, Prope. He was actually the last member of the core creative team that created Sonic to leave Sega, which may explain the decline of the franchise (but we'll get to that later).
In this exclusive, GamesIndustry International had a rare opportunity to speak with the legend about a variety of topics.
We started by asking him about his legacy, which he actually found to be a somewhat strange query.
"Being asked about 'Yuji Naka's legacy' is a little odd since I'm still actively creating games. When I finally retire from making games, I assume people will decide what my lasting 'legacy' will be at that point… though I think it will probably be Sonic," he said.
He then reflected on some of the critically acclaimed games he designed: "It's been 28 years since I started developing games, and during that span I've brought a lot of products into this world. Out of those titles Sonic is the one that is the most remembered, but Phantasy Star Online, an online game put out on a family-oriented game console, had a lot of hardships during development but I think we were able to release a really good and advanced product at the time. Perhaps just barely being able to release it within the end of the 20th century has something to do with why I feel so strongly about that game."
"I think even moderately raising the difficulty level [of Sonic games] in the future could work well"
Yuji Naka
"The arcade game Samba de Amigo also stands out because the player uses their entire body to move and have fun. Using the newest cutting-edge technology to create a simple and just plain stupid innocent fun game was rewarding."
Given that the last several years of Sonic gaming have been mostly sub-par (by Sega's own admission), we couldn't resist the opportunity to pick Naka-san's brain about what's gone wrong with the cherished franchise he started. Ironically, the explosion of the games industry in the last couple decades could have something to do with it, as more and more companies are trying to appeal to the mainstream - and that may not have been the best approach for Sonic.
The original Sonic creators on Sonic's 20th anniversary: Yuji Naka, Naoto Ōshima (center), and Hirokazu Yasuhara
"I also think that recent iterations have not been as fun when compared to those of the past," Naka-san agreed, proceeding to explain what Sega has done wrong: "I think the number one reason for this is that the games have become much easier, so the gamer doesn't feel that extreme joy that comes with the satisfaction of accomplishing something that was very difficult to achieve."
He continued, "Today's games are created to appeal to as wide of an audience as possible, so that's why the difficulty levels are so low in order to have both experienced and non-experienced gamers be able to play them. Sonic has a very simple control scheme that is capable of doing a lot of advanced things while sprinting at a high speed, that's what makes it a good game in my opinion. I think even moderately raising the difficulty level in the future could work well."
It's been years since we've seen a rivalry as fierce as Nintendo vs. Sega in the 16-bit days. It's an era that brings a huge grin to the faces of most people in this editor's generation. Naka-san admitted to us that he'd sort of like to see Mario and Sonic continue to be adversaries: "Thinking back to the rivalry between Sonic and Mario back in those days brings back some fond memories. It was based on each of them running on different hardware and which one was better, which made for a great rivalry. I would like for Sonic and Mario to keep up that rivalry relationship long into the foreseeable future."
Of course, we all know that's not happening now that Sega's no longer a hardware manufacturer and Sonic's already appeared with Mario in a few games. Naka-san did express his wish to possibly one day breathe new life into Sonic again, or into one of his other fan favorites like Nights. "Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to do so but perhaps at some point in the future if I could come back and contribute, that could be fun and gratifying," he remarked. Are you listening, Sega?
So what's Naka-san's focus in 2012? Not surprisingly, like many veterans of this business he's moved to social and mobile experiences. He sees "the recent surge in smartphones [as] having a huge impact on console games. It's something that should be monitored carefully moving [into the] future."
That said, there's still very much a place in his heart for huge triple-A games.
"Actually, when Prope was originally ...by Published on May 18th, 2012 23:42- Categories:
- DCEmu
Price promotions are an industry staple, but few have got the trade talking like Microsoft’s latest offer.
The platform holder’s US stores are selling a 4GB Xbox 360 and Kinect for just $99. The catch? It comes with a two-year subscription to Xbox Live, priced at $15 per month, and an early termination fee.
This model is commonplace in other sectors: smartphone handsets are discounted or free with contracts, and media packages like Sky+ come with a free set-top box.
But it’s rarely been tried in gaming before.
As sales fall, format holders need new ways to make consoles more appealing. And the benefits of subscription packages make it difficult to fathom why this hasn’t been tried earlier.
“Lower upfront costs could make the console appear more affordable, despite the fact that it’s actually more expensive when you add the two-year subscription,” said Jia Wu, connected home devices director at research firm Strategy Analytics.
“In essence, it is a financing deal just like a car loan.”
Tesco entertainment director Rob Salter added: “A fixed term contract guarantees an ongoing direct relationship with the customer, which will hopefully secure greater retention and the ability to market directly to the customer. This alone has significant value to the platform owner.”
THE SMALL PRINT
However, the games industry can’t just assume that the subscription model can be lifted wholesale from the mobile and media markets.
One mobile operator exec told MCV that such offers would introduce credit risk: “You only want to let someone walk out with an Xbox if you are confident they will pay their bills. I’d add that given the failure rate of some consoles there might need to be a service element, like a premium repair service in the life of the contract.”
It’s also important to remember that a network contract is mandatory when using a mobile phone but Xbox Live is not entirely essential for 360 owners. Time will tell if the significant two-year commitment to an optional service proves to be a selling point or a deterrent.
The subscription itself may put off consumers already snowed under by monthly fees: rent, bills, insurance, phone contracts.
And let’s not forget phones and TV are viewed as must-have utilities. Video games are still very much a luxury.
A NEW ERA?
But if Microsoft – or whoever else tries this practice – irons out the kinks, it could have huge implications for the way consoles are sold.
The next generation is on its way. And while we won’t know anything about the new consoles until E3 at the earliest, you can guarantee they won’t be cheap.
360 launched at £280, PS3 at £425. Both 3DS and Vita have suffered slow sales after launch – thanks in part to £200+ price tags branded “expensive”. So imagine how a £500 NextBox or PS4 would struggle in today’s market. Subscriptions could be the answer.
Even the current consoles could benefit. Streaming services are becoming more prominent in today’s market, and enable this generation to run more powerful content.
Analyst Nick Parker says: “Streamed content does not require high-end hardware – just a connected device so that cheaper dumber local clients can be deployed and sold through subscriptions.
“If streaming and browser games take off, as I expect them to, then any connected device will be competition to consoles: smart TVs, set-top boxes, mobiles and tablets.
“Microsoft is testing the water, both in terms of consumer acceptance of the financials and prioritisation of a service-led platform. It may also indicate a future direction for the next gen – with less emphasis on the box’s specifications and more on services.”
That was OnLive’s vision – selling a console through retail and games packages via subscription. Now that a big brand like Xbox is trying its hand, perhaps consumers and the trade will take notice of what could become more commonplace in future.
“It will be interesting to see what level of interest exists for this model,” said Salter. “In the end, it is about the value it represents and the trade-off between a lower entry point and a two-year commitment. Customers will decide whether it is a good deal overall to them.
“We will be watching this with interest.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/analy...-future/096280 ...by Published on May 18th, 2012 23:33- Categories:
- Playstation Vita News
Sanzaru Games president Glen Egan has confirmed that Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will be released on PS3 and Vita simultaneously this autumn.
The games will be identical and also allow for the transfer of save data between the two versions, much like Konami’s upcoming Metal Gear Solid HD Collection.
“The portable version will contain all the same awesome Sly Cooper action you will find on the PS3 along with cool Vita-specific features that incorporate the front and rear touchscreens and motion controls,” Egan said.
“The game will also feature cross-save capability, so you’ll be able to save the game from either machine and then pick up right where you left off — whether you’re at home or on the go.”
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time was announced in March and followed the release of The Sly Cooper Collection on PS3 last November.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/sly-c...to-vita/096282 ...by Published on May 18th, 2012 23:30- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Publisher EA has announced that it will air the world TV premiere ad for Medal of Honor: Warfighter during tomorrow’s Champions League final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
And those of you who read MCVuk.com will know that a certain other war shooter will also get a TV ad tomorrow night – Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II.
EA’s spot will air at 8:30pm on Sky Sports 1, suggesting it will be the first ad to appear during the first half-time break.
The video will also go live at 8:30pm on the official Warfighter website.
We don’t yet know when the Black Ops II ad will appear.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/moh-a...howdown/096285 ...by Published on May 18th, 2012 23:28- Categories:
- PC News
The PC version of Max Payne 3, which raised a few eyebrows with its 35 GB minimum storage requirement, will ship on four DVDs, the game’s Indian distributor E-Xpress Interactive has confirmed.
E-Xpress has also revealed that the PC version will retail for Rs 999 in India. The PC release is scheduled for June 1, while the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions hit stores today.
Specialist retailer Games The Shop held a midnight launch for the game at its Oberoi Mall store in Goregaon East, Mumbai. All visitors were given free Max Payne 3 merchandise, while buyers received bonus in-game content.
To celebrate the launch, every shelf at the store has been packed with Max Payne 3 and other Rockstar titles.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/max-p...nfirmed/096294 ...- Search DCEmu
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