via Eurogamer


Rare has vigorously denied suggestions that its Avatars for Xbox 360 are a deliberate attempt to copy Nintendo's popular Mii template, claiming that it began work on the project before Wii had launched.

Speaking to Eurogamer TV for today's show, head of art Lee Musgrave revealed that it was only after Microsoft had seen the original concepts for customisable in-game characters that it decided to put Avatars at the centre of the New Xbox Experience, the forthcoming dashboard overhaul due to launch this autumn.

Musgrave said: "It was an idea we had, even before Miis were part of the gaming scene, of putting these characters that you have an affinity with, not necessarily as part of the Xbox dash, but somewhere in the Xbox that you would play multiple games with, that you would have multiple experiences with that same character."

Seeking to hammer home the point that any similarity between Avatars and Miis was purely coincidental, producer Chris Sutherland added: "We had a project up and running that had Avatars in them and the aim was always to have this component where you were able to customise your character and apply clothing to them."

And just in case there was any remaining confusion, Musgrave assured us that "Microsoft did not turn up one day in a speeding car and say, 'They've got Miis - do something!' It wasn't like that at all; it was something that fell into place over a period of time." More likely a private jet anyway.

The lovely chaps at Rare also told us there was some confusion early on as to what form the Avatars should take. "Should these things be little animals, should they be quirky characters, should they be Spore-like creatures, should they be ultra-real humans? We landed in the place that we have from the overriding theme that is approachability," said Musgrave. ...

New for Pocket PC:

NEW VERSION 1.1.2 available here: http://www.thumbapps.com/pages/home/thumbcal.php

For the actual version and a history about the changes please visit thumbapps.com . ...

Android News:

I've posted three new open source samples to the apps-for-android project: Triangle, SpriteText and Downloader.

The first two samples, Triangle and SpriteText, show techniques that would be useful to anyone using the OpenGL ES 3D graphics APIs to write Android applications. The samples contain several reusable classes that may eventually be incorporated (in some form) into the SDK. Chief among these is the GLView class, which abstracts the OpenGL ES book-keeping code from the rest of the application. GLView helps handle the extra work OpenGL ES applications have to do when the activity is paused and resumed, and when the display goes to sleep and wakes up. In the Pause/Resume case the OpenGL surface has to be recreated. In the display sleep / wake-up case the entire OpenGL context has to be recreated.

Triangle
The first sample, Triangle, shows how to use the GLView class and the OpenGL ES 3D library to display a spinning textured triangle. Think of it as the "hello, world" of OpenGL ES apps. Because it's relatively simple, it's a good place to start when experimenting with the OpenGL ES API.

SpriteText
The second sample, SpriteText, shows how to efficiently display screen-aligned text using the GL11Ext.glDrawTexiOES method. SpriteText contains a reusable LabelMaker class for drawing static text and screen-aligned images, as well as a Projector class for finding the 2D screen coordinates corresponding to a 3D point, and a MatrixTrackingGL class for keeping track of the current transformation matrix. Finally, it shows how to use these classes to display a milliseconds per frame counter. A ms/f counter can be helpful for tuning graphics performance.

Downloader
The third sample, Downloader, shows how to add a downloader activity to your application. The downloader activity runs at the beginning of your application and makes sure that a set of files have been downloaded from a web server to the phone's SD card. Downloader is useful for applications that need more local data than can fit into an .apk file. For example a game could use Downloader to download the game's artwork, sound effects, and level data. The Downloader activity is designed to be a drop-in addition to your application. You customize it by supplying the URL of an XML configuration file which lists the data files that need to be downloaded.

http://android-developers.blogspot.c...pritetext.html ...

via Computer and Video Games


Not content with consistently topping Xbox Live's most played list, Infinity Wards seems to want to snap Live in half this weekend, confirming half price DLC and double XP for Call of Duty 4.

It's slicing 400 points off the price of the Variety Map Pack, so you can grab it for just 400 points on September 12-14 only - it goes back up to 800 points next week. Get it if you haven't already...

And double XP, as previously confirmed, means rapid ranking-up in half the time.

This is all going down on Xbox Live only, but it'll be PS3 gamers' turn next. "Don't worry PS3 players, because we'll be doing the same for you guys; but due to schedule conflicts we couldn't do them back to back so the PS3 weekend will be closer to Sept the 18th (I'll have a dedicated post for our PS3 users on that event), but you can expect some of the same benefits and festivities," says IW on its official site.

Anyway, have some spare controller batteries ready for the weekend...


Screenshots ...

Hermes has released a new version of the PC Engine emulator for the Nintendo Wii

Heres whats new:


Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has decided not to release a Blu-ray version of Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty in the UK after all.

The rest of Europe will still get the disc, but according to a spokesperson, Sony decided - when the time came - that the existing PSN download would be enough for us.

Bad news for those living in caves or trees or underwater, then. Or, simply, those not keen on sitting through a 3.2GB download for a slightly unremarkable add-on.

Quest for Booty, in case you didn't know, has Ratchet (but not Clank, who is missing) chasing treasure, drinking rum, exploring caves and bopping robot pirate baddies. ...

Welcome to this week's Games Update, our weekly summary featuring all new product arrivals from the last seven days.

The highlight of this week is doubtlessly the release of Square Enix's much anticipated RPG Infinite Undiscovery. Cut off the chains that bind the moon to this world and remove the corrupted source of power that is governing everyone's life.

Besides sheer force, strategy is just as important in battles and Warhammer emphasized this point. The brutality of war and the enemies are remarkable in this series, so think twice before you employ your forces. The complete Dawn of War Collection is released on the PC while the newer installment, Battle March, has made its debut on the Xbox360.

Firearms and equipment are also vital to obtaining a victory in violent struggles. In the action shooter Commando: Steel Disaster, you have a wide range of fire arms selection. Tap into your leadership talents and unlock missions, take down your arch-nemesis and soil his dream of world domination.

Since we are talking about shooters, Fantasy Zone, one of the most representative of Sega shooters has come out as a complete collection [ebten DX Pack and Standard versions]. The package contain a total of 10+ games, from home console versions, arcade versions to the spin off products. All in all, the package has revived the full glory of the game for your PlayStation2 console.

Aside from projectile weapons, bio weapons are just as destructive. The Earl of the Millenium in D.Gray-man is using such weapons in an attempt to take over the world. Get into Allen Walker's pair of shoes to stop his plans from coming to fruition, but beware of the mysterious clan Noah.

Another game which is spawned from best selling manga/anime series is One Piece Unlimited Cruise: Episode 1. Whenever the Makuwara pirates gets involved in something, there is always one single outcome: An action packed, fun filled comical adventure. Come on board with the crew and sail toward an unknown future.

Go to fresh water areas after you have got off board the pirate ship as the fishing competition is now in full swing. Activision's Rapala Fishing frenzy is providing you with professional fishing gear and a new perspective on fishing. Find the most sought after fish and participate in all 14 games as you tour around the American continent.

There are numerous ways to save the galaxy, besides taking up arms, you can blend into the Spore [US and JPN versions] environment as one of its creatures and discover the troubles the galaxy is experiencing.

As usually, here's a summary of all new releases from this week, followed by a quick preview of what is expected to be hot next week.

Xbox360™
Assassin's Creed (Platinum Hits) ASIA US$ 29.90
Atsumare! Viva Pinata 2: Garden wa Dai-Punch [First Print Limited Edition] JPN US$ 59.90
Double Clutch JPN US$ 64.90
FaceBreaker US US$ 59.90
Infinite Undiscovery US US$ 64.90
Infinite Undiscovery JPN US$ 74.90
NFL Head Coach 2009 US US$ 64.90
Rapala's Fishing Frenzy US US$ 44.90
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise US US$ 44.90
Warhammer: Battle March US US$ 64.90
Warhammer: Battle March ASIA US$ 49.90
Xbox 360 Console (60GB) JPN US$ 349.90

PlayStation3™
Double Clutch JPN US$ 64.90
FaceBreaker US US$ 59.90
Logicool Driving Force Wireless JPN US$ 129.90
NFL Head Coach 2009 US US$ 64.90
Rapala's Fishing Frenzy US US$ 44.90
Stranglehold JPN US$ 64.90

Nintendo Wii™
One Piece Unlimited Cruise: Episode 1 - Nami ni Yureru Hihou JPN US$ 59.90
Puzzler Collection US US$ 24.90
Rapala's Fishing Frenzy US US$ 54.90
Rapala's Fishing Frenzy (w/ Fishing Pole) US US$ 59.90

PlayStation2™
D.Gray-man: Sousha no Shikaku JPN US$ 68.90
Saishu Shiken Kujira: Alive (Sweet so Sweet) JPN US$ 34.90
Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 33: Fantasy Zone Complete Collection JPN US$ 28.90
Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 33: Fantasy Zone Complete Collection [ebten DX Pack] JPN N/A

Nintendo DS™
DSVision Adapter Package JPN US$ 19.90
Gakken Mu Henshuubu Kanshuu: Choujou Genshou Research File JPN US$ 39.90
Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness US US$ 34.90
Hoshizora no Comic Garden JPN US$ 54.90
Hoshizora no Comic Garden [Limited Edition] JPN N/A
Kesshoutou no teiou entei (DSVision) JPN US$ 29.90
Maboroshi no Pokemon Rugia Bakutan (DSVision) JPN US$ 29.90
Myuu to hadou no yuusha rukario Special Pack (DSVision) JPN US$ 42.90
Nintendo DS Lite (Pokemon Limited Edition) - 110V US US$ 169.90
Quiz Magic Academy DS JPN US$ 48.90
Serebi toki wo koeta souguu (DSVision) JPN US$ 29.90
Spore Creatures JPN US$ 48.90
Spore Creatures US US$ 34.90
Theresia: Dear Emile JPN US$ 48.90

Sony PSP™
10,000 B.C. JPN US$ 14.90
Cake Mania: Baker's Challenge US US$ 24.90

PC Games
Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm (DVD-ROM) US US$ 44.90
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky ASIA US$ 37.90
The Lost Crown: A Ghost-Hunting Adventure ASIA US$ 34.90
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War The Complete Collection (DVD-ROM) ASIA US$ 44.90

Guide Books and Magazines
Blue Dragon Plus Guide JPN US$ 16.90
Code Geass: Hangyaku no ...

New from Divineo China



Made of ABS material, this plug and play lighting stand keeps your Xbox 360 console safe in place and at the same time customize it with the controllable light when connect to the USB port. ...

New from Divineo China



Brand new original replacement lens for Gamecube.

If your Gamecube has problems loading disks, it probably comes from a defective lens. Replacing your old lens with this one will solve your problem. ...