DCEmu Homebrew Emulation & Theme Park News
DCEmu Featured News Articles
by Published on November 22nd, 2007 19:48
via IGN
Were you aware that Japan's Dengeki magazine group recently gave out awards for the PlayStation brand's all time best of the best?
Neither were we.
Apparently, Final Fantasy VII placed quite highly in these so-called "Den-Play Awards." The game took the award for best story, best RPG, and best overall game. Cloud Strife took the award for best character, followed by the other vertices of his love triangle, Aeris at fifth and Tifa at eighth. Six characters in all placed in the top 50, with Sephiroth at 14th, Reno at 15th and Yuffie at 42nd.
Awards awarded, Dengeki PlayStation took the opportunity to get FFXII director Yoshinori Kitase and character designer Tetsuya Nomura to sit down for a lengthy interview recapping the past ten years with the FFVII offshoot. The two offered a few short insights into upcoming projects.
The magazine asked Nomura if Cloud's role will expand from here on out. To this, Nomura responded with, "I have my hands full with Final Fantasy Versus XIII now, so I can't say anything about the future, but the scenario writer, Nojima (Kazushige), says he doesn't want to part from Cloud yet, so there will surely be something."
Next, the PS3 Final Fantasy games. The two were first asked to comment on the changes the move from the PS2 to the PS3 brings to the series.
"On the hardware side," said Kitase, "thanks to the storage space of Blu-Ray and the inclusion of a hard drive, we're able to deal with load times. Regarding the production side of things, because it's a next generation machine, any and all sections require multiple times more work, so it's difficult. With FFVII, we advanced over previous games in all areas, but aiming for the same thing with the PS3 is difficult. For FFXIII, we're looking at what specific areas we should focus on improving."
As for Nomura, the Versus XIII director said, "Compared to the move to the PS2, the move to the PS3 is more difficult. Planning and so-forth haven't changed much as far as work is concerned, but overall, the amount of graphics work has gone up considerably. You can show tiny details, so you have to make put tiny details in your illustrations."
Getting a bit specific on the Versus project, Nomura continued, "It seems that the Versus team was, from the start, trying to get the full specifications out of the PS3, and that takes time. Just the other day, during a Versus meeting, a programmer asked, 'Is it okay to program with PS3 exclusivity in mind?'." I asked why, and he said, 'If we port it to other hardware, we have to program with that in mind.' I responded, 'Of course, Versus is PS3 exclusive.'"
While Nomura admitted that Versus will still take a bit more time, he let slip a big hint on the final shape of the game: Versus may have airships and a world map.
"The other day," said Nomura, "I saw a test of an airship flying over the world map. I felt that I was seeing a Final Fantasy-like screen for the first time in a long time. However, the fact that things have become realistic made us concerned about what to do about the scale. It's the same scale as past FF games, but even then, it's so wide that you can't make out the first town."
Nomura seems to be confident in his team's ability to deliver with Versus, though. "We still haven't announced the Versus team, but there are some well-known members in there, so it will become a good product. Also, we're getting advice from the team working on FFXIII, which is being developed first, so we're progressing well."
Square Enix usually shows new footage from its major titles at the annual Jump Festa event in Tokyo in late December. We'll be sure and let you know if anything related to FFXIII (or even FFVII) shows up. ...by Published on November 22nd, 2007 19:47
via IGN
The Xbox 360 has become the unlikely system of choice for 2D shooting fans this generation. Joining Taito's Castle Shikigami 3, the latest issue of Famitsu reveals that Success is bringing Raiden Fighters Aces to the platform.
Raiden Fighters Aces is a compilation of arcade shooters from the Raiden Fighters series. Included, you'll find Raiden Fighters (1996), Raiden Fighters 2 (1997) and Raiden Fighters Jet (1998), all playable in their original vertical dimensions.
On top of the full recreations of the classic titles, Success is including a few Xbox 360 original features. The game will include online support, with online rankings and the ability to upload and download replay data. To make sure you have the best strategies for making good replays, Success is also throwing in a DVD strategy guide with high score play for all three titles from Japan's top players.
And, of course, a new mode of play that all purists require. The game will let you turn your TV on its side to play full screen while maintaining the arcade version's proportions.
Raiden Fighters Aces will hit Japan in 2008. There's no word yet on an international release. ...by Published on November 22nd, 2007 19:33
via Joystiq
The pixel counters strike again! Having already conquered Halo 3 by proving the flagship shooter was 80 pixels below HD (defined here as at least 1280x720), the Beyond 3D forum members are now claiming Call of Duty 4 is only 600p (1024x600 resolution = 614,400 pixels) for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions - that's 120 pixels that have gone AWOL.
The Beyond 3D posters have proven their dedication to pixel counting before with Halo 3, but since we haven't counted ourselves or seen the visual proof prevalent during Halo-gate, we're welcome to be proven wrong.
Update: The tryptophan is starting to affect our ability to calculate. The difference between 600p and 720p (1280x720 = 921,600) is 307,200 pixels [not 120] - which happens to be the exact number of pixels contained within 640x480 resolution. ...by Published on November 22nd, 2007 19:19
via Computer and Video Games
Rock band The Romantics have filed a lawsuit against Activision, Harmonix and RedOctane over a cover version of one of the band's songs featured in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80's.
According to the band, the re-recording of the 1980's hit What I Like About You is "virtually indistinguishable from the authentic version" and confuses consumers into believing that the band actually recorded the music and endorsed the product, reports Billboard.
The suit, filed November 20 in a federal District Court in Detroit, lists California-based Activision, Harmonix Music Systems and RedOctane as defendants. It also names Wavegroup Sound as performers of the music. Plaintiffs The Romantics are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, and are asking that the court enjoin further distribution of the game.
The right of publicity gives an individual protection against others from using his or her identity for commercial purposes without permission, but in most cases this right is only brought into play when well-known voices have been imitated. ...by Published on November 22nd, 2007 19:17
via Computer and Video Games
Right-oh, here we have three new screenshots (well, one looks a bit 'arty' actually) from Ubisoft's console RTS Tom Clancy's EndWar, which is being directed by ex-Total War man Michael de Plater.
The game's being built from the ground up for PS3 and Xbox 360 and one of its main features is the ability to play it with your voice.
"It's really easy," creative director Michael de Plater has told CVG about the voice control mechanic....
"You hit the right trigger and you say the order. You can read all the currently available orders on the screen while the trigger is held down just like if you were using a two way radio.
"So all you need to know how to do is to press one button and read. And once you know the commands you don't even have to read them any more."
He continued, "The challenging part of the voice command isn't the interface or the voice recognition. It's having AI units who are smart enough to follow your orders like real soldiers.
"When you say 'Red Team attack Alpha' it's not a bunch of mindless drones marching to Alpha. These guys will use cover, combined arms tactics and terrain. You are the general, you don't need to micromanage every footstep of the most elite soldiers on the planet."by Published on November 22nd, 2007 19:07
via Games Industry
A survey has found that almost 50 per cent of minors in the US have been able to buy games rated M for Mature from retailers.
The study found that of over 60 stores nationwide, 46 per cent sold M rated games to consumers under the age of 18, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The survey was carried out by the East County Youth Coalition and the National Institute on Media and Family.
The findings back-up a report from the NIMF last year, which also found that half of retailers willingly sold adult games to a young audience.
This week, US senators began to put pressure on ESRB ratings, calling for a review of the system. ...by Published on November 22nd, 2007 19:02
via Games Industry
Mario Party DS continued to sell well in Japan last week, with 116,000 units of the Nintendo title flying off shelves to keep it top of the software chart.
Sales information from Media Create for the week ending November 18 put the latest Resident Evil title for the Wii - Umbrella Chronicles - at number two, shifting 83,000 copies in its first week.
Shin Sangoku Musou 5 for the PlayStation 3 was third, while new entries Pro Baseball Family Stadium DS and Game Center CX: Arino's Challenge were fourth and fifth respectively.
One surprise in the chart was that the much-hyped Heavenly Sword, only released in Japan on November 15, sold just 15,000 copies - over 100,000 less that Mario Party DS, and only 2000 more than old-timer Wii Sports.
The full software top ten for Japan is as follows:
1. Mario Party DS (DS)
2. Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (Wii)
3. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (PS3)
4. Pro Baseball Family Stadium DS (DS)
5. Game Center CX: Arino's Challenge (DS)
6. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
7. Heavenly Sword (PS3)
8. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS)
9. Wii Sports (Wii)
10. Armored Soldiers: Votoms (PS2) ...by Published on November 22nd, 2007 18:59
via Engadget
Not that it took a lot of convincing for us or anything, but it turns out the audio input pins on the iPod touch are apparently active and able to record audio after all.
Unfortunately the site detailing the relatively simple hack has already been demolished by info-hungry touch owners, but this certainly opens an interesting door or two. Next stop: figuring out how to get the headphone jack to do the same. ...by Published on November 22nd, 2007 18:51
via Computer and Video Games
There's been mixed opinion surrounding Mass Effect's Ghost Recon-meets-Gears of War combat gameplay, and while we think it's actually quite good we've mashed together a video montage so you can make up your own mind.
The final game is in shops tomorrow (finally), whereupon you'll be able to lock yourself behind the curtains and have the most unsociable sci-fi weekend since Stu Bishop discovered Battlestar Galactica all those years ago.
For the verdict you'll want to click here, and don't forget to check out the rest of our videos before running to the shops.
Video here ...by Published on November 22nd, 2007 18:49
via Computer and Video Games
Tempest 2000 creator Jeff Minter has gone a bit mental on his blog, after the disappointing sales of Space Giraffe on Xbox Live Arcade.
The psychedelic shooter was released on the service in August, and apparently, much to Mr. Minter's frustration, it's even being outsold by Frogger.
"Not seeing a lot of reason to continue even trying to make games, at this point, when a remake of Frogger, one of the worst games in the history of old arcade games, can outsell Space Giraffe that we put so much love and effort into, by more than ten to one, in one week," writes Minter on his blog.
To be fair though, in Frogger you can work out what's going on fairly quickly and you can't win by taping the 'A' and analogue stick into the down position.
"OK, we get the message. All you want on that channel is remakes of old, shite arcade games and crap you vaguely remember playing on your Amiga. We'll shut up trying to do anything new then. Sorry for even trying", Minter added.
No one can argue that Space Giraffe is creative, sure, but when you go out to deliberately shape an off-the-wall underground shooter and then moan when the mainstream don't pick it up, you're not going to get much sympathy. ...- Search DCEmu
- Advert 3
News Categories
- Links of Interest
Sony Consoles News
- Nintendo Consoles News
- Sega Consoles News
- Apple & Android News
- Xbox Consoles News
- Open Source Consoles News
DCEmu News Archive
- Advert
- Retro Consoles News
- PC News
- Latest DCEmu News
- DCEmu Network Sites
-
Menu 
Forum Stats
- What is the DCEmu Homebrew & Gaming Network
Catherine: Full Body’s English translation for the Vita