UK gamers have yet another option for second-hand software on the High Street - with Argos setting up its own pre-owned service.

The news follows Asda and Tesco's decision to do the same - bringing new competition to the likes of GAME, Gamestation and HMV.

Trade site MCV reported this morning that The retailer is inviting customers to trade-in Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and DS games in 27 of its 735 stores.

However, the firm is only accepting select games. Full details are available on the Argos website.

Trade-in customers receive an Argos gift voucher, redeemable against anything in-store.

"Argos can confirm it is trialling a trade-in service for video games in a few stores in the North East region commencing in March 2010," an Argos spokesperson told MCV.

"Customers participating in the trial will receive the trade-in value in Argos gift vouchers giving the customers the choice to purchase any of the 18,000-plus products we sell.

"We have no firm plans regarding the length of the trial and no future roll out decision will be taken until the trial is concluded."

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

via Computer and Video Games


Jaakko Haapasalo, producer at PC Shattered Horizon developer Futuremark, says consoles are now suffering the same "hardware obsolescence and upgrade cost issues" that were previously only known to plague PC gaming.
He went on to discuss cloud gaming (in which games are processed on a remote computer and the video streamed to gamers omitting the need to own high-end hardware themselves). "With streaming, there's an undeniable convenience advantage for the player if it's done right, but the loss of control or ownership over parts of the platform and content may prove too much for some," he said.
Look out for the full interview on CVG soon. ...

via MCV


The Liberal Democrats have proposed an amendment to the Digital Economy Bill that will grant government the power to block websites that offer users the chance to illegally download copyrighted material.

More specifically, the party wants to grant the High Court “the power to grant an injunction against a service provider, requiring it to prevent access to online locations specified in the order of the Court”.

This would be done when “a substantial proportion of the content accessible at or via each specified online location infringes copyright”.

The Government first expressed its intention to launch a file-sharing offensive last October when Labour’s Peter Madelson stated his admiration for France’s three-strikes policy.

Plans to cut off the ‘net connections of repeat file-sharers were later laid bare in the Digital Economy Bill, though No.10 has since cooled suggestions that it will be wantonly wielding the ban hammer. ...

via Computer and Video Games


Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway isn't concerned about competition from Apple.

With games being released for the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple could be seen a threat to Nintendo's handheld dominance but, in an interview with GamesBeat, Dunaway reiterated that DS is still number one.Nintendo will be hoping that the release of DSi XL this Friday will provide a catalyst for further growth and for Dunaway (and us), the increased screen size is the main appeal.
...

via Computer and Video Games


Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway isn't concerned about competition from Apple.

With games being released for the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple could be seen a threat to Nintendo's handheld dominance but, in an interview with GamesBeat, Dunaway reiterated that DS is still number one.Nintendo will be hoping that the release of DSi XL this Friday will provide a catalyst for further growth and for Dunaway (and us), the increased screen size is the main appeal.
...

via Computer and Video Games


A new PS3 Platinum edition of Race Driver: GRID will launch in Europe on Friday, March 12 - and include codes that provide players with over £10 worth of DLC.

The title, entitled Race Driver: GRID Reloaded will be priced at £24.99, according to trade site MCV.

The two DLC codes will enable players to download the 'Prestige' and '8-ball' packs, adding 18 cars, new multiplayer modes and a new circuit to the game.

A Reloaded edition of Race Driver: GRID for the Xbox 360 will also be available and include a DLC code for the 8 Ball Pack.

In addition, the Prestige Pack will be available as separate DLC for existing Race Driver: GRID players in Europe and North America, and will launch on PSN on March 11 for £7.99 / $9.99.

The 8 Ball Pack is currently available. ...

via MCV


Gamers spend more time playing the Xbox 360 online than any other console, with an average 7.3 hours spent per week, a new NPD report claims.

The PC and PS3 follow with 6.6 hours and 5.8 hours respectively. However the PC remains the most owned online format, with 85 per cent of players venturing online preferring the format.

The news is part of the NPD Group’s findings that the average number of hours spent each week on online games has increased 10 per cent since 2009.

It grew from 7.3 hours per week in 2009 to eight hours per week this year.

Research also found that 20 per cent of games bought by online gamers were downloads – up one per cent from last year.

Over half of all gamers aged two and above said they play games online, down at 54 per cent from last year’s 56 per cent.

NPD Group industry analyst Anita Frazier said: “The installed base of video game systems continues to grow, the platforms available to play games continue to expand and the options for content acquisition have never been greater, especially online.

“And yet, effective monetisation of many forms of online gaming continues to be a topic of much debate and discussion within the industry.”

Data was collected in January from 18,872 players who own at least one online gaming device. ...

via IGN


Sega was shy with the details when it shared first footage of Platinum Games' new "Vanquish" in late January. It didn't even provide the game's platform.

Thanks to Japan's always reliable Weekly Famitsu, we can now confirm that the title actually has two platforms: PS3 and Xbox 360. Japan will get the game this Winter.

A new Platinum Games title would draw attention anyway, but this game is particularly special because it's the first game from Shinji Mikami, director of the original Resident Evil and countless other Capcom hits, in four years. Mikami is serving as director on Vanquish, with Platinum's Atsushi Inaba serving as producer.

Mikami shared a few high level details in an interview with the magazine.

Vanquish takes place in the near future and puts you up against robots rather than other humans. The story appears to be centered on a conflict between Russia and America.

You take control of a main character who wears a slim armor suit. Your gun transforms in real time to new forms.

Mikami describes the game's genre as "shooter." Based off the screens in the magazine, he seems to mean third person shooter.

But this isn't just a generic shooter. The game will have the speed and rhythm you get from playing an action game, he said. This will be particularly true of the boss battles.

Gameplay systems mentioned in the magazine include a boost system which lets you close the gap between enemies quickly, and some sort of bullet time system that lets you slow the action down.

Development on Vanquish is currently at 80%, Mikami told the magazine. The development staff is assembling the basic areas of the game right now, but still have to tackle the more precise, detailed areas like enemy and ally AI. ...

via IGN


Sega was shy with the details when it shared first footage of Platinum Games' new "Vanquish" in late January. It didn't even provide the game's platform.

Thanks to Japan's always reliable Weekly Famitsu, we can now confirm that the title actually has two platforms: PS3 and Xbox 360. Japan will get the game this Winter.

A new Platinum Games title would draw attention anyway, but this game is particularly special because it's the first game from Shinji Mikami, director of the original Resident Evil and countless other Capcom hits, in four years. Mikami is serving as director on Vanquish, with Platinum's Atsushi Inaba serving as producer.

Mikami shared a few high level details in an interview with the magazine.

Vanquish takes place in the near future and puts you up against robots rather than other humans. The story appears to be centered on a conflict between Russia and America.

You take control of a main character who wears a slim armor suit. Your gun transforms in real time to new forms.

Mikami describes the game's genre as "shooter." Based off the screens in the magazine, he seems to mean third person shooter.

But this isn't just a generic shooter. The game will have the speed and rhythm you get from playing an action game, he said. This will be particularly true of the boss battles.

Gameplay systems mentioned in the magazine include a boost system which lets you close the gap between enemies quickly, and some sort of bullet time system that lets you slow the action down.

Development on Vanquish is currently at 80%, Mikami told the magazine. The development staff is assembling the basic areas of the game right now, but still have to tackle the more precise, detailed areas like enemy and ally AI. ...