via Games Industry


Sega's Scott Steinberg has reaffirmed the publisher's ongoing support for Nintendo after suggesting the Wii may look "dated" in the next few years.

As reported last week, Steinberg told Reuters he was "concerned" about the "creative depth of the Wii pool", and about how the machine would match up once developers start exploiting the full power of PS3 and Xbox 360.

He has since released an additional statement to Reuters confirming that Sega is committed to Wii - and calling on the entire industry to produce new innovations.

"Sega has fully supported the Wii since day one and we continue to do so - it’s no secret that we are close partners. Nintendo has done a masterful job of selling its vision and expanding the market," Steinberg said.

"That said, it’s a shared responsibility and opportunity for the whole industry to take advantage of the possibilities of the Wii. If we don’t realise its true potential, we will have missed a great opportunity to expand creatively and that is what I was cautioning against in the Reuters interview."

According to Steinberg, producing new innovations is not a duty which only rests on Nintendo's shoulders. "It’s on Sega and all the publishers and developers as well to carry that flag," he concluded. ...

via Games Industry


Microsoft says it takes customer concerns about Xbox 360 hardware quality "very seriously" but denies there are any "systematic issues" and won't specifically address concerns relating to defect or return rates.

"We continue to look into these things very deeply," Todd Holmdahl, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Gaming and Xbox Products Group, told Mercury News reporter Dean Takahashi.

Takahashi pressed Holmdahl on the return rate and what constitutes a normal return rate; how the figures on Xbox 360 compare to Xbox 1; how Microsoft would explain the anecdotal evidence of a high failure rate relative to PlayStation 3 and Wii; defect rates relating to yield; whether yields were good; how poor yields and high defect rates might affect the business model; whether a change of manufacturing partner (Wistron to Celestica) might have been related to product quality; whether a change to 65 nanometer chips will impact quality; whether changes to warranty policy were due to specific problems, like a problem with graphics memory; what the number one reason for a return is; whether, in fact, he could say anything about anything.

In response, Holmdahl stressed Microsoft's pride "in the box" and that people were buying lots of games, accessories and Xbox Live accounts.

He then declined to comment on the majority of Takahashi's concerns, with exceptions largely superficial ("Yield is one we focus on very closely." "We continue to redesign the box, continue to drive costs out."). He ultimately denied there were any "systematic issues", with the overriding message quite simple: "The vast majority of the people just love the product, have a great experience with it. When there is an issue, we get on it and address it as quickly as possible."

Microsoft has previously responded to concerns about Xbox 360 failure rates by waiving the cost for repairs on all Xbox 360 consoles made before 1st January 2006. This policy is reportedly no longer in place.

You can read the full exchange between Holmdahl and Takahashi on The Mercury News blog. ...

via Games Industry


Microsoft has begun promoting Halo 3 with a viral marketing campaign that promises to reveal more about the game's universe and backstory.

Speaking to our sister site, Eurogamer.net, a spokesperson said that the campaign is titled 'Iris' and will run for several weeks.

"'Iris' is a spiral campaign designed to take gamers on an incredible journey through the Halo universe," he stated.

"Led by an 'unknown' hand, users will discover bits of previously unknown information about the Halos, the Flood, the Forerunners, and the true origins behind the Halo trilogy."

Bungie content specialist Frank O'Connor has written most of the material, with help from community manager Brian Jarrard and artist Aaron LeMay.

The campaign kicked off this weekend when groups from an organisation called The Society of the Ancients took to the streets of cities such as New York and London to hand out flyers with the message, "We are not alone."

The logo on their flyers and t-shirts matched the one used by a mysterious poster on the Halo forums. It also appeared on a cryptic email sent out by Microsoft.

A Society of the Ancients website has been set up, complete with countdown clock.

Microsoft also used a viral campaign, ilovebees, to promote the second Halo game, and launched a similar initiative - origen - in the run-up to the debut of Xbox 360.

Halo 3 will launch on September 26. ...

via Nintendo DS Fanboy


An analyst group called Screen Digest is predicting continued success for the DS in the future. We do the same thing, but when they do it, they use specific numbers, and people believe them. Their craziest number? They are saying that in the distant future of 2011, 89% of Japanese households will own a DS.

They predict that by 2011, the DS will have an install base of 112 million systems worldwide, versus the PSP's 67 million. To put that in perspective, the Plays tation sold 102 million units, the GBA has sold 79 million, and the NES sold 61 million. We personally hope the DS continues to dominate, because we love our jobs the system. ...

via Computer and Video Games


FIFA 08 cover star Ronaldinho will appear in the Wii version of FIFA 08 as a customised character who will host game modes created exclusively for Wii called Footii Party with Ronaldinho.

The new mode will introduce Table Football and Shoot Off, where you can play as your Mii characters. "My character looks like he enjoys playing football and shares my passion for the game. This is important to me. Whether you are playing football on the pitch or my party games in FIFA 08 on the Wii, it should be a fun and enjoyable experience," said Ronaldinho.

"When Ronaldinho steps on to the football pitch, he plays with passion and energy. We've brought that same spirit to FIFA 08 on Wii - it is fun, high-energy entertainment the entire family can enjoy," added senior producer Tim Tschirner.

FIFA 08 is all about FreeMotion controls that, EA says, will help level the playing field for all players and turn FIFA 08 on Wii into a physical, social activity. There'll be all the usual options and standard types of gameplay and competitions to hammer your mates with too. But you'll also be able to pass, shoot, and perform trick moves with a flick of the wrist. Sounds interesting, more soon.


Screenshots in source link or here. ...

via Xbox 360 Fanboy


Xboxygen got their hands on 4 more screenshots of Infinity Ward's Call of Duty 4. Unfortunately, none of the shots are 360° flybys of a given scene, but it'll do. Still, the game seems to be coming along graphically and these screens have some great examples of the engine's explosion, lighting, rain and realistic smoke capabilities. Are you digging the art direction, as well as the move to modern day combat scenarios in this next installment of the Call of Duty series?

Screenshots in source link above or here. ...

via Xbox 360 Fanboy




The technophiles at Xbox-Scene have uncovered a tasty bit of Xbox 360 news that should serve as some relief to sufferers of the Red Ring of Death. It looks like Microsoft is employing new heat-combating measures when refurbishing broken units. Specifically, a new heatsink is being installed. The heatsink resides directly under the DVD drive, connected to one of the other heatsinks with copper tubing. Blessedly untouched by the Red Ring of Death thus far, we don't know how effective this new heatsink is, but we're hopeful that it will solve perpetually publicized 360 failures. Whether or not Microsoft is also installing the heatsink in new Xbox 360s is unknown.

...

via Eurogamer


Sony has used its new US blog to label rumour and speculation about a new PSP hardware revision and a possible PSP phone as, er, rumour and speculation.

"I just wanted to take the time to clear the air. We haven't announced anything about a new PSP, much less one that would have any phone capabilities," said John Koller, the PSP's senior marketing manager.

"As SCEA's resident PSP guru, I'm thrilled to hear that there's so much interest in the platform, but sorry folks, these reports floating around fall into the rumours/speculation category."

In case you missed it, PSP spotters had unearthed a Sony Ericsson patent that outlined a device that mixed mobile phone functions and videogame features.

Elsewhere, rumours continue to float around about a rejigged PSP that includes 8GB of onboard flash memory and a better screen, with an improved d-pad that's closer to the PS3's in terms of design.

None of which, obviously, has been confirmed. But then, despite the Sony blog's cooling comments, none of it's been denied either. Perhaps we'll learn more about Sony's handheld hardware ambition at E3 in mid-July. ...

via Eurogamer


Tony Blair has given his response to the complaints expressed by the Church over Resistance: Fall of Man, telling parliament that companies must take responsibility for the impact their products have.

During today's Prime Minister's Questions Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central, began his question by observing, "When large organisations like Sony find their copyright has been breached, they're very quick to use the law."

He continued, "Would the Prime Minister agree with me then that when Sony used images of Manchester Cathedral as part a game which extols gun violence, this was not only in bad taste but also very, very insulting to not simply the Church of England, but people across the land who think it's inappropriate that big corporations behave in this way?"

Blair replied, "I agree with my honourable friend. I think it's important that any of the companies engaged in promoting these types of goods have some sense of responsibility and also some sensitivity to the feelings of others.

"I think this is an immensely difficult area, the relationship between what happens with these games and its impact on young people," the prime minister went on.

"I've no doubt this debate will go on for a significant period of time, but I do agree. I think it is important that people understand there is a wider social responsibility as well as an interior responsibility for profits."

News emerged at the weekend that the Church of England is demanding an apology from Sony for the depiction of Manchester Cathedral in Resistance.

Developer Insomniac has so far declined to comment, while SCEE has confirmed plans to contact Church authorities in a bid to resolve the issue. ...