Shocking news, people: Apple might hold WWDC at Moscone West in June, as it has for the past several years. That's at least the word according to AppleInsider, which just noticed that Moscone West is mysteriously booked from June 28 to July 2 by "Corporate Event," which has signified upcoming Apple events in the past. If you'll recall, the original iPhone was released in June of 2007, followed by the iPhone 3G at WWDC 2008 and the iPhone 3GS at WWDC 2009, so the smart money is on another refresh this year -- and you can't have whispers of an iPhone refresh without rumors about it coming to Verizon, so there's tons of chatter in the air. We're staying out of that for now, since we haven't heard anything new or particularly interesting, but we'd like to point out that we're also due an iPhone SDK event in March on Apple's campus if Steve holds to pattern -- anyone care speculate on what iPhone OS 4.0 might bring to the table?

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/a...ement-at-wwdc/ ...

When Matt and I demoed Project Natal at E3, we were both pretty impressed. But there was one tiny quirk that we both noticed: lag.

I say "quirk" because it wasn't some sort of painful, game-ending problem. But when steering with a virtual wheel during the Burnout demo, both of us noted that the controls weren't quite laser-responsive. Yes, the system was accurate, but an ever-so-slight delay to the movement caused us to question whether it could be used for hardcore gaming apps.

Now, Jon Burton, director of Traveller's Tales (makers of all those LEGO titles), has confirmed that "Lag on the input and lack of physical buttons is really going to restrict the kind of games that can be done [for Project Natal]."

Burton believes that Sony's very different motion controller (which blew us away in terms of response and sub-millimeter accuracy) holds more promise.

From what I can tell at this stage, not having used Sony's controller yet, I do think that Sony will succeed where Microsoft fails—aiming in an FPS will probably work better on the motion-controlled PS3 than it will a 360 with Natal. But I still think Natal has a lot of promise beyond motion control alone, namely that you could use a standard 360 controller AND Natal to have a camera track your head while an analog stick aims the gun.

Burton's comment is just more confirmation that Sony is making the ultimate Wiimote and Microsoft, for better or worse, is banking on the ultimate EyeToy. Meanwhile, I can only expect Nintendo to complete this ouroboros by licensing the current 360 controller along with Halo franchise rights.

http://gizmodo.com/5431245/project-n...al-flaw-is-lag ...

If this PS3 ad were a bit more honest, it might read, "Destroy 7000 enemies along with your relationship with your wife."

By Mexican ad agency Diagonal, this new series of posters are part of Sony's latest, slightly less esoteric branding initiative for the PS3 in which the console actually does things rather than, I dunno, whatever we call this (NSFW) or even this.

I'm not sure the ads are completely clear to those who don't know the PS3's function set to begin with, and frankly, I prefer watching 30 seconds of art to a spokesperson listing a product's merits. But then again, I'm not a Sony shareholder.

http://gizmodo.com/5431142/new-ps3-a...ading-an-inlaw ...

Features that could be offered to PlayStation 3 users willing to pay a premium PSN subscription have been detailed in a survey.

According to an IPSOS Online Research questionnaire, published in full by Kotaku, Sony is considering a range of premium features including the ability to save game data online, access to beta games, cross-game voice chat and a full title trial which will let subscribers play one hour of a game for free.

Other services listed are free access to PSOne Classics and PSP Minis, discounts on Store content and a music video service.

The questionnaire proposes four different plans - three of which would cost the user USD 69.99 per year (or USD 9.99 per month) and one for USD 29.99 per year (or USD 4.99 per month).

It adds that Sony is considering offering a premium Network subscription in the future which would be in addition to the features that are currently available for free and would remain so.

Last month Sony boss Kaz Hirai admitted the company was looking into the possibility of a subscription model for online services.

"SCE will further increase sales by offering users new entertainment through the combination of hardware, software, peripheral and PlayStation Network," he said in a presentation to investors. "Especially in the online area, we are studying the possibility of introducing a subscription model, offering premium content and services, in addition to the current free services."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...sn-could-offer ...

Microsoft is considering the introduction of avatars that actually look like their users, judging by a patent application for "Avatar Individualised by Physical Characteristics".

The aim is to eliminate the "artificiality" of Avatars in order to encourage users to do some exercise, and also to make it easier for people to tell whether other players look the same as they portray themselves.

The patent application (reported by Eurogamer) says: "An Avatar generator for a virtual environment reflects a physiological characteristic of the user, injecting a degree of reality into the capabilities or appearance.

"Thereby, many of the incentives of the real world are replicated in a virtual environment.

"Physiological data that reflect a degree of health of the real person can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming Avatar, an amount of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication.

Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise. Physiological data that reflect the health and perhaps also mood also improve social interaction in virtual environments.

"People seeking to meet and become acquainted with particular types of people are not thwarted by the artificiality of Avatars," the patent adds.

This data can apparently be "gleaned" from a third-party health repository, a healthcare smart-card or a physiological sensor such as those for blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar levels and so on.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...e-their-owners ...

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has held on at the top of the chart to become the UK's Christmas number one.

The game has spent six weeks in the top spot, following its record-breaking first week sales, and this week saw its numbers increase three per cent.

Its position comes as no surprise to most - as reported last week, bookmaker Paddy Power stopped taking bets and paid out on Modern Warfare 2 being festive number one ahead of the official announcement after the game built up a massive lead on its competitors.

FIFA 10 made it to second position, climbing three places on last week with a sales increase of 24 per cent. Wii Fit Plus came in at number three with a sales increase of nine per cent, and Wii Sports Resort dropped from second position to fourth.

Ubisoft dropped two places to number five with Assassin's Creed II, and Sega rose one place to number six with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games.

Nintendo also claimed the number seven and nine positions with New Super Mario Bros Wii and Mario Kart Wii respectively, while Ubisoft's Just Dance remained in the top ten despite a sales drop of 18 per cent on last week, at number ten.

Another Ubisoft title, James Cameron's Avatar: The Game, saw massive benefits from its current advertising push and became the week's highest climber - from number 29 to 12 with a sales increase of 129 per cent.

The Chart Track all formats top 20 for the week ending December 19 is as follows:

01 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
02 FIFA 10
03 Wii Fit Plus
04 Wii Sports Resort
05 Assassin's Creed II
06 Mario & Sonic at Olympic Winter Games
07 New Super Mario Bros Wii
08 Forza Motorsport 3
09 Mario Kart Wii
10 Just Dance
11 Left 4 Dead 2
12 James Cameron's Avatar: The Game
13 Lego Batman: The Videogame
14 Professor Layton and Pandora's Box
15 Need for Speed: Shift
16 Pure
17 Dr Kawashima's Brain Training
18 The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
19 Rabbids Go Home
20 F1 2009

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...stmas-number-1 ...

If all the talk of tinsel and snowmen is getting you down, PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service and Sony Computer Entertainment (SCEE) is offering the perfect antidote to festive madness. From today until the 23rd December a selection of classic Horror films will be available for only 99p.

Customers will be able to download the following movies straight to their PlayStation®3 (PS3™) and PlayStation®Portable (PSP™) games console for viewing at home or on the go:
• Candyman II: Farewell to the Flesh
• Evil Behind You
• Poltergeist III

Visit http://videostore.uk.playstation.com/ for more information about the PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service.

Poltergeist 3 the pick of the bunch for me ...

cdv Software Entertainment USA is pleased to announce that the Divinity II – Ego Draconis demo is now available in North America on Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC! The sequel to the critically acclaimed action-RPG Divine Divinity, Divinity II - Ego Draconis transports players back to the wide-open, war-torn world of Rivellon and the demo allows gamers to get into the action before the game comes out January 5, 2010.

The Divinity II – Ego Draconis demo give players an early peek at groundbreaking features rarely seen in an action RPG, like Mindreading, a robust classless Skill Tree and upgrade system, and even a harrowing encounter with a dragon! This several-hour demo offers plenty of combat, exploration and questing for players to get a glimpse of the adventure and intrigue that awaits them in Divinity II – Ego Draconis. ...

Deck the halls with downloadable fun this week as Nintendo offers 11 new games to engage and entertain everyone in the household. Among this week's highlights is the Virtual Console™ debut of the original Super Smash Bros.™ game, bringing the total of downloadable games for the WiiWare™ and Virtual Console services to a fabulous 500 and featuring a host of beloved characters from across the Nintendo universe. New WiiWare offerings include the Earth-conscious action game Eco Shooter: Plant 530™ and a sequel to the quiz-lovers' favorite TV Show King. For Nintendo DSiWare™ fans, fresh arrivals include hand-held versions of the card-table classic UNO™ and the pioneering arcade game Dragon's Lair®. For rollicking multiplayer fun, mellow single-player diversions and everything in-between, Nintendo's got you covered for the holidays and beyond.

UNO
Publisher: Gameloft
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Get ready to call out "UNO!" on your Nintendo DSi™ system. The world-famous card game has been faithfully reproduced for the Nintendo DSi system and features exciting new rules. With a multiplayer mode that can be accessed by local wireless play or with broadband Internet access and Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, playing UNO has never been so fun and easy, so be the first to get rid of all your cards.

Dragon's Lair
Publisher: Digital Leisure Inc.
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older) - Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You play the heroic Dirk the Daring, a valiant knight on a quest to rescue the fair princess from the clutches of an evil dragon. Control the actions of the daring adventurer and find your way through the castle of a dark wizard who has enchanted it with treacherous monsters and obstacles. In the mysterious caverns below the castle, your odyssey continues against the awesome forces that oppose your journey to the dragon's lair. Dragon's Lair is a fully animated classic arcade game from legendary animator Don Bluth.

Hot and Cold: A 3D Hidden Object Adventure
Publisher: Majesco Entertainment
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 800 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: You're getting warm...warmer...hot! You've found Hot and Cold: A 3D Hidden Object Adventure, the new game that puts you on the job of finding people's missing stuff. A voice in your head tells you whether you're Hot or Cold when searching for things. Investigate cases all over town using your unique ability, and discover the secret behind the mysterious voice in your head. Throw objects out of your way, maneuver your way through a 3-D world, follow your Hot and Cold meter and more in this unparalleled hidden-object adventure.

High Stakes: Texas Hold'Em
Publisher: Hudson Entertainment
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Simulated Gambling
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Hudson proudly presents the definitive Texas Hold'Em game for Nintendo DSiWare with High Stakes Texas Hold'Em. High Stakes allows players of any level to enjoy Texas Hold'Em game play. The popular No-Limit rule set used in many tournaments is included, so anyone can play with the big boys. With the added functionality of DS Wireless Communications, players can compete with others and test their skills. It's the core Texas Hold'Em experience on your Nintendo DSi system - anytime, anywhere.

myNotebook: Green™
Publisher: Nnooo
Players: 1
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: myNotebook allows you to take notes wherever you are. Just pop open your Nintendo DSi system and jot down your thoughts. Make a list and cross it off, or even play your favorite pen-and-paper games (games not included). You can even personalize your notebook by drawing on the cover and changing the paper type with 18 unlockable squared and lined paper styles. Use the pen or pencil to make your notes or doodles, then erase the bits you don't like. With five ink colors, you'll always be able to make your notes and doodles look stylish. ...