Zaphod has released a new Version of the Multi- Emulator for the iPod.

The emulator supports all these systems: Master System, Game Gear, SG-1000 and SC-3000, NES, ColecoVision, PC-Engine, Apple II and MSX.

More details Here ...

Victor Viegas (right), CEO of haptic technology specialist Immersion Corporation, has told GameDaily BIZ that rumble could be included with motion sensing in the PS3 controller without cost rising significantly, which is contrary to comments made by Kaz Hirai.


In response to SCEA president Kaz Hirai's recent comments regarding Sony's decision to include motion sensing but not force feedback in its PlayStation 3 controllers because it would not be affordable for the consumer, Immersion Corporation CEO Vic Viegas got in touch with GameDaily BIZ to give us his opinion on these technologies and if cost would really be a problem.


"I was really surprised when they initially said it wasn't technically possible and I'm probably even more surprised now... [Kaz Hirai's] really saying two things. One is that it's technically possible but that the cost is prohibitive—which again I find astounding—and the second thing he's saying is that they're making a decision to go with this tilt control in place of rumble because they think that's what consumers will appreciate in their gameplay. So, on those two issues again I'm very surprised and shocked because I don't believe either to be the case," Viegas said.


[ "[Sony's] making a decision on behalf of their customer... and to blame the cost of vibration does not seem to be a genuine statement." ]



He continued, "If you remember, the day after they announced they were going to take vibration out of their controller I said that we'd be happy to work with them to solve the technical problem, and our engineers in less than a day had come up with three solutions; one is filtering and the other is processing and neither one is incrementally an increase in the cost. Both are using software to filter out the different commands—tilt vs. vibration—so that both can work side by side, and neither solution will add an increase to the cost of the system... We knew how to technically solve their problems and now we know how to do it without adding any incremental cost."


Viegas then pointed out that a third-party peripheral maker called eDimensional has already created a PS2 controller, the G-Pad Pro, that incorporates both motion sensing and vibration and goes for the retail price of just $29.95, so he doesn't understand Sony's cost argument.


Viegas also cited the results of an Immersion-sponsored survey from Ipsos that indicated most gamers seem to prefer rumble over motion sensing. Sony doesn't believe rumble is as important as motion, however. "It runs completely contradictory to the Ipsos studies and every other study we've conducted... In reality, holding the controller and using the tilt technology to control the game, I have a hard time believing it's going to enhance any game; at a minimum it probably could be used in a driving or flying game, but I just don't see how it plays in any of these other games," Viegas said. "[Sony's] making a decision on behalf of their customer that they're going to decide which features they're going to include and to blame the cost of vibration does not seem to be a genuine statement and I don't think it's in favor of the gamers who obviously like this technology."


While many gamers would love to see Immersion and Sony just settle their differences and work to include vibration into the PS3 pad, it doesn't appear as if the two parties are even talking with one another currently. "The litigation is not our primary focus but if Sony wanted to talk about how to implement rumble technology, paying a license, figure out ways to reduce cost or even enhance the capability with our next-generation technology I would for the most part be available at a day's notice. I'm ready to meet with them and try to work out this issue because at the end of the day it's the gamer that really seems to be suffering," Viegas said. "So I'm happy to try to resolve it but it's hard to have a one-way discussion if the other party is not willing acknowledge the rights that we have under our patent portfolio and all of the brilliance that our engineers have developed over the years."


Some have brought up the idea of a third-party company, like the aforementioned eDimensional, possibly offering a PS3 controller that does actually include both motion and rumble features, but the problem, Viegas explained, is that the PS3 may not support it. "It appears that Sony has not yet ruled out a third-party solution... but if [developers] don't support vibration in the game, that's going to cause a problem," he said. "The controller would have no commands to receive from the gameplay. Sony's in some control there and Sony's also in control of the console, so they can filter out vibration commands; essentially if they don't want vibration they can shut it down and it appears that's what they're doing and as a result companies like eDimensional who are licensed to provide vibration controllers and could otherwise do this, if they don't obtain the support from Sony it just isn't going ...

A confession from a Gamestop manager:

"I asked the regional manager about PS3 preorders," one told me "and he paused and then said he can't answer the question. He said there is a plan, but they can't talk about it; we should know in a week to two weeks." He started to sound tired, "Sony just didn't seem like they had a plan with the show. No plan at all. Barely a mention of the PS3, and almost nothing playable. On the other hand, I waited two hours for Gears of War. There is a feeling that Nintendo and Microsoft really set out to wow us, and Sony didn't have much to show. There was a PS3 under glass you could look at, and that's about it."

The difference between HD-DVD and Blu Ray was striking as well. "Blu-ray had a tiny presence in the very back of the show floor, while Microsoft had large displays and surround sound systems in their hospitality suite so you can take a look at what their HD-DVD drives would look like. It was impressive, and gave the feeling that HD-DVD was real and Blu-ray wasn't ready for the show."

I asked him his feelings going into the PS3 launch with no word on allocations or preorders, and no news on what will happen towards the holidays. "It's going to be ugly, there is no way this launch is going to go well." ...

Via BBC

The debate about how to get women more involved in gaming is a perennial one and one on which there is pretty wide agreement that not enough is being done.

There is, the argument goes, a failing at the heart of the gaming industry to engage women. But, as women increasingly make up the numbers in gaming statistics, there is also a growing realisation that there is a lot of money to be made from this burgeoning market.

Women now account for around a third of UK gamers, so it is time to stop talking about women in gaming as if they lived in a separate universe?

"I wish it no longer had to be talked about as a separate entity but unfortunately it is the case that games still aren't designed or marketed towards women and that has to be dealt with," said Kirsten Kearney.

Ms Kearney knows what she is talking about. As well as being a games industry journalist she is also a Frag Doll - a small group of women selected by video games firm Ubisoft specifically to promote women gamers.

There is still a perception, she said, that women who play male-dominated games are going to be ignored, shouted down or chatted up by men they will be playing against.

"There is a preconceived notion that you will feel out of place but that isn't borne out by women who are actually playing games," she said.

Pink PlayStation

As well as appearing at events such as this weekend's World Series of Video Games at London's Trocadero, The Frag Dolls run a website aimed at being a friendly first-stop for women wanting to get more involved in games.

Women can play games, chat in the forums or take part in Frag Doll Friday, a increasingly popular event where women are invited to play a certain game together.

Thirty-something women are the first generation of women to have grown up with video games.

"I started off playing Pong 25 years ago, then I had a GamesBoy and played SuperMario. There are plenty of girls who did this but when you ask if they are gamers they say no," said Ms Kearney.

If that generation was somehow lost along the way, there is plenty of evidence that young girls today are keen gamers.

Princess Fashion Boutique, a game designed by Buena Vista Games and aimed at girls aged six to 11, has held the number one position in the Children's PC chart from May 2004 until July 2006.

Sony has cottoned on to this new market and is due to bring out pink PlayStations to appeal specifically to young girls.

"Some adult women gamers are offended by that but I would say it is just one attempt to bring girls into gaming," said Ms Kearney.

"But pink is not enough. There needs to be changes across the board. So, for example, if I go to choose a character to play as and they are all male then I am going to think this isn't aimed at me," she said.

Role-playing


Playing a desperate housewife could entice women gamers

There is evidence to suggest that, despite the obstacles, young girls carry on playing games.

Research done by gaming firm Electronic Arts' found that 40% of teenage girls played video games but, crucially, they seem to lose interest within a year.

For teenage girls, at a complex stage of development, it may simply be that real life takes over.

Games such as The Sims and Second Life are increasingly offering a bridge between the virtual and real worlds which could be enough to hold girls' interest.

The emphasis on community and building things rather than traditional shoot-em-ups is appealing to females, as is the sense of creating a character who can live out real-life fantasies.

"My sister loves Second Life. She bought herself the biggest wedding dress and wears it all the time she is playing," said Ms Kearney.

Women are beginning to carve out their own niche in the gaming industry. Nintendo's Nintendogs and Brain Training games for the Nintendo DS have been hugely popular with women.

Social aspect

Buena Vista Games is trying to find ways of uniting the gaming world and the daily life of women by turning to TV shows for inspiration.

Its Desperate Housewives game is aimed, if not exactly at desperate housewives, then certainly at women of a particular age who were fans of the US TV drama.

It will hit the stores next month, just in time to make it into women's Christmas stockings.

"Players will be able to move into Wisteria Lane and uncover secrets about other housewives as well as solving mysteries about themselves," explained Shan Savage, Buena Vista Games senior marketing manager.

"There has been a lot of stigma attached to gaming. It has been the preserve of geeky types sitting in their bedrooms but now there is more of a social aspect to gaming and women respond to that," she said.

EA's chief executive, David Gartner admitted at a recent gaming conference that his company could increase sales by a billion dollars if it cracked the problem of how to get women more involved in games.

That should ...

DETECTIVES are hunting a gang of youths suspected of robbing an office worker on a train and leaving him unconscious on the platform.

The teenagers were captured on camera entering Finsbury Park railway station at around 11am on Sunday, September 10.

Police believe that soon afterwards they got on an overland train heading north towards Hornsey, and beat up a man who was sitting alone having boarded at King's Cross.

The 22-year administrative assistant, who is originally from Hong Kong, was playing his PlayStation Portable when he was surrounded by a group of four or five youths.

One of them snatched the games machine from his hand, but when he tried to get it back the whole gang jumped in and began punching him in the face and body.

The train pulled into Hornsey station and the youths got off, but the victim bravely followed and grabbed hold of one of them.

He was then set upon again, punched repeatedly in the head and knocked unconscious. The gang fled leaving the man laid out on the platform, before other passengers came to his aid.

He was taken to hospital for treatment but released later that day.

Detective Sergeant Alan Bardsley, of the British Transport Police, said: "This was a vicious gang attack on a lone traveller.

"The intention was to steal his property and they were quite prepared to use violence to obtain it.

"The victim was quite badly beaten up and we're very keen to catch the people responsible to prevent them doing this to anyone else."

Lets hope someone gives the youths a kicking or more one day ...

Hardware sales in Japan were up 30 percent in September over last year, fueled by continuing high sales of DS – 660K for the month.
However, the hardware business fell by 2.3 percent (14.5 billion yen) compared to August. On the software side, a total of 730K copies were sold during September, with 500K copies of DS games, 108K for PSP and 106K for PS2. The software business was up by 25.7 percent (17.1 billion yen) compared to last month and by 17.4 percent compared to last year.

With 230K copies sold in September, New Super Mario Brothers on DS was the dominant product and has now reached the three million mark - the third DS title to do so. ...

Just released in German-language territories, adventure game Undercover: Operation Wintersun, an exciting hunt for a Nazi nuclear bomb in the Second World War, will get a prequel on the Nintendo DS: publisher ANACONDA is announcing Undercover: Dual Motives, where players take control of physicist and reluctant spy Dr. John Russell in his early days, investigating at a British research facility.

Austrian developer Sproing is already hard at work on the handheld adventure game. Undercover: Dual Motives features both classic adventure gaming elements for on-the-go, as well as using the unique capabilities of the DS to implement novel ideas.

In addition to John Russell, players have access to a second playable character in Audrey, the secretary of the facility’s director. Both screens of the DS are used, when Russell and Audrey investigate. Working separately, the player is in control of one of them at a time, directing them via the touchscreen and stylus. The other screen displays the currently inactive character, which he can switch over to at any time. The challenge: cleverly using the individual abilities of the two different characters in order to solve the game’s logical puzzles – even if they are in different rooms.

“This opens up a lot of new possibilities for puzzle design in adventure games, which will make Undercover: Dual Motives a very special gaming experience not only for genre fans”, explains Harald Riegler, Creative Director at developer Sproing. “Of course, we are aware that Undercover: Dual Motives is one of very few adventure games on the Nintendo DS. We want to use this platform to apply the unique capabilities of the DS to the game and the genre, but we also want to win new types of players for the Undercover franchise and the adventure gaming genre”, adds ANACONDA PR Manager Claas Wolter.

Undercover: Dual Motives will be released worldwide by ANACONDA, starting with German-language territories at the end of March 2007.

Screenshots Via Comments ...

New from SuccessHK



Product Features of Digital Electronics SonyEricsson Z610i (Unlocked)

Supports GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900 and UMTS 2100
Build-in 2 megapixel camera
MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ support
Reflective exterior surface
Memory Stick Micro?(M2? support

More Description of Digital Electronics SonyEricsson Z610i (Unlocked)

Mirror imaging
Z610i is a seductive clamshell phone with design in mind.
The impressive external screen is discrete and not apparent until a call, message or calendar event is displayed.
Capture and share quality pictures. Picture blogging lets you have your pictures online in seconds.
Enjoy the Internet wherever you are. With 3G, you have the speed you need. RSS feeds bring live news updates straight to your inbox.
Z610i is reflective, effective and imaginative ...

Newly added retro games from Play Asia:

Sega Saturn™

3X3 Eyes [pre-owned] JPN N/A
4MB Ram Card [pre-owned] US$ 29.90
All-Japan Pro Wrestling featuring Virtua [pre-owned] JPN US$ 14.90
Assault Suit Leynos 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Batsugun [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Blast Wind [pre-owned] JPN US$ 74.90
Blue Seed [pre-owned] JPN US$ 19.90
Bokan to Ippatsu! Doronbo Kanpekihen [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Bubble Symphony [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Burning Rangers [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Capcom Generation 1 JPN US$ 49.90
Capcom Generation 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Capcom Generation 3 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Capcom Generation 4 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Capcom Generation 5 [pre-owned] JPN N/A
Choaniki: Kyuukyoku Muteki Ginga Saikyou Otoko [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Cotton 2: Magical Night Dreams [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Courier Crisis [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
D-Xhird [pre-owned] JPN US$ 14.90
Daytona USA [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
Detana Twinbee Yahho! Deluxe Pack [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Digital Dance Mix: Namie Amuro [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators Ver. 9.7 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
DoDonPachi [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
DonPachi [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Dragon Ball Z: Legends [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Dragon Ball Z: Shin Butouden [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
Dungeons & Dragons Collection [pre-owned] JPN US$ 124.90
Dungeons & Dragons Collection (w/4MB RAM Cart) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 169.90
Falcom Classics II (Limited Edition) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Fantastic Pinball Kyutenkai [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Farland Saga: Toki no Michi [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Fighter's History Dynamite [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Game Tengoku: The Game Paradise! [Special Package] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Grandia [pre-owned] JPN US$ 19.90
Groove On Fight (w/ 1MB RAM) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Guardian Heroes JPN US$ 59.90
Gun Frontier (Arcade Guys) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Haunted Casino [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Hokuto no Ken [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Keio Yugekitai [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Kingdom Grandprix [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Last Bronx [pre-owned] JPN US$ 14.90
Layer Section [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Layer Section (Saturn Collection) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Layer Section II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Lunar: Silver Star Story [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Magic Knight Rayearth [pre-owned] JPN US$ 19.90
Magical Drop III [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Magical Hoppers [pre-owned] JPN US$ 19.90
Magic Knight Rayearth [Special Edition] [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Martian Successor Nadesico: Yappari Ai ga Katsu? [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Neon Genesis Evangelion 2nd Impression [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
NiGHTS into dreams... [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
NiGHTS into dreams... JPN US$ 14.90
Policenauts [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Pretty Fighter X [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Prikura Daisakusen [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Princess Crown [pre-owned] JPN US$ 109.90
Rabbit [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Radiant Silvergun [pre-owned] JPN US$ 219.90
Real Bout Fatal Fury (w/ 1MB RAM Cart) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Riglord Saga [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Riglord Saga 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
RockMan 8 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Roommate Inoue Ryouko: Complete Box [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Samurai Spirits III: Zankuro Musouken (w/1MB RAM) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Samurai Spirits IV: Amakusa Kourin [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Saturn Bomberman Fight!! [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Sega Ages: After Burner II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Sega Ages: Galaxy Force II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Sega Ages: Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Sega Ages: OutRun [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90

Sega Ages: Power Drift [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Shienryu [pre-owned] JPN US$ 54.90
Shining Force III Premium Disc [pre-owned] JPN US$ 79.90
Shining Force III Scenario 1 JPN US$ 19.90
Shining Force III Scenario 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 59.90
Shining Force III Scenario 3 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Shining Wisdom [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
Silhouette Mirage [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
Skullfang ~Ku-u-Ga Gaiden~ [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Slayers Royal 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
Snatcher [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Soldnerschild S [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Sonic R [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Soukyugurentai [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Space Harrier [pre-owned] JPN US$ 29.90
Stellar Assault SS [pre-owned] JPN US$ 149.90
Street Fighter Zero [pre-owned] JPN US$ 14.90
Street Fighter Zero 2 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Super Tempo [pre-owned] JPN US$ 44.90
Tactics Ogre [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
Teigeki Graph in Sakura Wars [pre-owned] JPN US$ 14.90
Tenchi O Kurau II [pre-owned] JPN US$ 69.90
Terra Phantastica [pre-owned] JPN US$ 14.90
The House of the Dead [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
The King of Fighters '95 (w/ 1MB RAM Cart) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 34.90
The King of Fighters '96 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 19.90
The King of Fighters '96 (w/ 1MB RAM Cart) [pre-owned] JPN US$ 39.90
Thunder Force Gold Pack 1 [pre-owned] JPN US$ 49.90
Tiger II Plus [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
Time Gal & Ninja Hayate [pre-owned] JPN US$ 64.90
Virtua Fighter [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
Virtua Fighter Kids [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
Virtua Racing [pre-owned] JPN US$ 9.90
Wachenröder [pre-owned] JPN US$ 24.90
Waku Waku 7 [pre-owned] ...