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by Published on December 13th, 2007 21:43
via GameDaily
Last week, a newly updated Dreamcast trademark sparked rumors across the Internet that Sega might be looking at possibly creating a Dreamcast 2. At the time, Sega of America PR Director Charlie Scibetta immediately told GameDaily BIZ that Sega "has no plans to get back into the console business."
Today we received a new statement that explains in part why Sega actually updated the trademark. "SEGA has no plans to get back into the hardware business, but we also want to protect our past and current brands. The trademark application was filed to protect our current and potential future use of the word DREAMCAST and to prevent other parties from using it in a way that could be confused or linked with SEGA," Scibetta said.
While Sega has made no explicit comments regarding further digital distribution of Dreamcast titles, certain Dreamcast games have already appeared on GameTap, and from a business standpoint it would seem to make sense to make select Dreamcast classics available on services like Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. Protecting the trademark "for potential future use" leaves that door open as a possibility for the future.
That said, some of Sega's big properties saw previous releases on the Dreamcast, and when Sega releases a new game in the same franchise on the current consoles, the trademark simply protects their reference to an old Dreamcast version as well. We highly doubt Sega will ever launch another console, but digital distribution of Dreamcast games does seem like an attractive avenue. ...by Published on December 13th, 2007 21:42
via RPGamer
Yesterday, Atlus announced that Baroque, a dungeon crawler from developer Sting, will be coming to North America in February 2008. The game will be available in North America for both the Wii and PlayStation 2 gaming consoles.
Baroque is a dungeon crawler, action RPG with a unique story progression system whereby a character's death does not end the game, but only continues to further the story along--revealing more secrets in the game. Set in a phantasmal world of ruin, players must descend a mysterious tower in search of absolution. For more information on Baroque, visit the game's official website. ...by Published on December 13th, 2007 20:25
New XNA Game Studio 2.0 From Microsoft Enables Creation of Online Multiplayer Games Using LIVE
Microsoft Corp. today marked the next step in its initiative to democratize game development and unleash the creativity of the community with the release of the XNA Game Studio 2.0, the next generation of the popular game development platform for Xbox 360 and Windows. The new version builds upon XNA Game Studio Express, released one year ago, and includes the ability to create online, cross-platform multiplayer games for Xbox 360 and Windows using Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows -- LIVE, respectively. XNA Game Studio 2.0 adds more than 15 new features and is available for download from http://creators.xna.com.
"When building XNA Game Studio 2.0, we wanted to offer everyone the opportunity to utilize the rich gaming environment of LIVE used by AAA developers for titles such as 'Halo 3' and 'Gears of War,'" said Chris Satchell, general manager of the XNA organization at Microsoft. "We accomplished our goal with this new toolset, and, best of all, it remains highly accessible to students, hobbyists and pros alike."
Many of LIVE's best features are supported by XNA Game Studio 2.0 with minimal to no coding necessary to activate them -- features like matchmaking, which uses LIVE to find the best games for you to play based on your location and internet connection. Additionally, XNA Game Studio 2.0 fully supports game development with all versions of the Microsoft Visual Studio product line.
XNA Creators Club Academic Trial Memberships Now Free to Qualified Students and Faculty
Since its release last December, XNA Game Studio has been an incredible success, with 750,000 downloads, adoption by more than 300 universities worldwide and at least nine textbooks on the tools in development. In subjects from computer science to fine arts, introductory courses to graduate and research projects -- XNA Game Studio is helping faculty members and students explore the boundaries of applied gaming technology in education. Along with XNA Game Studio 2.0, Microsoft will also provide a free academic trial membership in the XNA Creators Club beginning in January, allowing faculty members and students to use XNA Game Studio 2.0 and Xbox 360 for instructional purposes.
Time to Dream-Build-Play Again
From more than 4,500 entrants from around the world, four community games were awarded Xbox LIVE Arcade publishing contracts in this year's Dream-Build-Play game development competition. Microsoft will once again challenge aspiring game developers to create their dream games for a chance to win more coveted publishing contracts. This week Microsoft kicks off registration for Dream-Build-Play 2008 with the Silicon Minds Warm-Up Challenge. Registration begins on Dec. 14 and winners will be announced at the Game Developers Conference where details of the main challenge will be announced. Run in partnership with Microsoft Research's Machine Learning Group in Cambridge, England; Rare Ltd.; and Lionhead Studios, prizes for the Warm-Up Challenge will include the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview for an internship with one of those organizations.
"Artificial intelligence is so important to the games we make at Lionhead Studios, and we are very excited to see what the community can come up with in this Warm-Up Challenge to Dream-Build-Play 2008," said Peter Molyneux, managing director at Lionhead Studios. "We are always on the lookout for the best talent and believe that XNA Game Studio 2.0 will be a great platform for contestants to showcase their skills on." More information about Dream-Build-Play 2008 is available at http://www.dreambuildplay.com. ...by Published on December 13th, 2007 20:24
Microsoft comes out on top in annual poll; Supermarkets and new release discounting cited as biggest problems
After a storming year of success, Microsoft took the lion's share of the praise in the 2007 MCV Retail Survey, with Nintendo also attracting a great deal of commendation from video game stores all across the country.
The star-studded release of Halo 3 - which saw high calibre celebrity endorsement from the likes of Pharrell Williams and Christian Slater - put Microsoft top of the list in the 'highlight of the year' poll, while also winning 'best attitude and quality to retail' and 'best overall company'. The survey also considered Xbox 360 most likely to win the next-gen console battle.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/29146/MCV-...utes-Microsoft ...by Published on December 13th, 2007 18:46
via Computer and Video Games
Japanese Xbox boss Takashi Sensui has said that the Xbox 360's 2008 game push "may" be spear-headed by a sequel to Mistwalker RPG Blue Dragon.
In an interview with Jiji Press, the Japan home and entertainment boss said that Microsoft is aiming to double its number of Xbox 360 games in Japan to 500 next year and hinted that a sequel to the Sakaguchi RPG might be the front runner.
Of course it's not the first time we've heard strong rumours of a follow up, Mistwalker boss Hironobu Sakaguchi reaffirmed in April that he has strong desire to kick off the second Blue Dragon.
"We're in talks with Microsoft about development of a sequel," the Final Fantasy said at a Korean press conference. "Specifics aren't finalized, but there's a possibility that it will be produced as an online title."
There are also reports of a Nintendo DS version in the works, which is a no-brainer considering the handheld's license to print money in Japan.
Good news for RPG fans, as the first game was a brilliant - if overlooked - genre entry in the Xbox's sparse catalogue of role-playing games. Lets hope they get the follow up to Europe before 2009. ...by Published on December 13th, 2007 18:37
via Eurogamer
Konami has broken down in front of everyone and confessed to how the DS and PSP versions of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 work and when they're out.
According to the Japanese publisher, people like you will be able to buy both of them in Q1 2008, with PS3, 360, PS2 and PC versions already on the market.
The PSP version is said to have "a lot in common" with the PS2 version, including tournaments and leagues and a new World Tour mode "wherein users are set a series of challenges as they tour the globe".
A full Edit mode is in there, and the data-sharing element now allows you to swap Master League, League, World Tour and Cup Mode data between the PSP and PS2 versions so players can "continue building their team while away from their home system".
Meanwhile, the DS version has Exhibition, Penalty Shoot-Out and Konami Cup, a World Tour variant and a network mode for four-player multiplayer games.
You can also swap players with friends and collect coins to buy the world's best players perhaps like Fernando "Liverpool have their very own Thierry Henry" Torres.
So look out for those in Q1. ...by Published on December 13th, 2007 18:37
via Eurogamer
Konami has broken down in front of everyone and confessed to how the DS and PSP versions of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 work and when they're out.
According to the Japanese publisher, people like you will be able to buy both of them in Q1 2008, with PS3, 360, PS2 and PC versions already on the market.
The PSP version is said to have "a lot in common" with the PS2 version, including tournaments and leagues and a new World Tour mode "wherein users are set a series of challenges as they tour the globe".
A full Edit mode is in there, and the data-sharing element now allows you to swap Master League, League, World Tour and Cup Mode data between the PSP and PS2 versions so players can "continue building their team while away from their home system".
Meanwhile, the DS version has Exhibition, Penalty Shoot-Out and Konami Cup, a World Tour variant and a network mode for four-player multiplayer games.
You can also swap players with friends and collect coins to buy the world's best players perhaps like Fernando "Liverpool have their very own Thierry Henry" Torres.
So look out for those in Q1. ...by Published on December 13th, 2007 18:33
via Computer and Video Games
In its only worthwhile update in weeks (Nintendo must be running out of options menus to screenshot) the official Smash Bros Brawl website has updated with a really cool Mario Kart stage seen briefly in previous trailers.
It looks a similar to the F-Zero stage from Smash Bros. Melee (and while we're at it, where the pish is Captain Falcon?!), placing combatants in the middle of a busy race track where the occasional Shy Guy racer will come tearing down the middle of.
There's a bit of confusion at the moment surrounding when exactly we're going to see the character brawler in Europe (Its omission from the Q1 release schedule doesn't mean its been delayed, Nintendo told us) but we can at least assume we'll have it before the snow falls in 2008. Hopefully.
Screenshots here ...by Published on December 13th, 2007 18:30
via Games Industry
Having established Xbox Live Arcade as the leader in downloadable content for consoles, Microsoft is looking to be the first to successfully deliver episodic and user created content as the next evolution of the service.
With retro, brand new IP and advergames already part of the offering, David Edery, worldwide games portfolio planner for XBLA, has told GamesIndustry.biz about a number of options that the company is actively pursuing to keep ahead of competition from Sony's PlayStation Network and Nintendo's Wii Ware.
"We have some really big initiatives going on right now and I can say that everyone internally is really excited about user created content," said Edery.
"Multiple internal groups are trying to think about the best way of supporting it on the console and I can tell you for sure that things are happening, I just don't know if we'll see any of them in the next 12 months," he said.
While Microsoft is working on internal architecture to deliver user generated content – whether to support its XNA Studio creations or something more playful like Sony's LittleBigPlanet – it's also encouraging potential Arcade developers to look at the true potential of episodic gaming.
"We're really excited about trying to bring episodic content to XBLA," enthused Edery. "We haven't really done it yet and we're trying to think of the best ways to do so.
"The Penny Arcade guys are going to be bringing their episodic game to Xbox Live Arcade but I think of that as only the beginning – it's just one model for episodic and there are lots of different models."
Conceding that the market hasn't yet seen episodic content in the same context as episodic TV – half an hour to an hour long shows delivered weekly – Edery says that as soon as the right quality titles come along, Microsoft wants to continue to push the boundaries of digital delivery.
"It's an obvious statement but we don't want to put out bad content. We need to see a really, really good episodic franchise before we go ahead and throw a bunch of half an hour or hourly gameplay episodes on our service.
"The day a developer comes to us with that is the day we'll sign it. We're making it clear that we're very open to this sort of thing," he said.
Edery also accepts that new delivery methods are going to be met with a little bit of trepidation, at least until they can be proven to be a reliable and convincing route to market.
"Game developers are not used to thinking and designing in this way, it's a fundamentally different process and I think it's just a learning thing where developers and ourselves need to experiment and figure out what works and what doesn't....
"There's also a certain amount of fear, frankly. If you're an independent developer betting your company on this, something that has never been done successfully before, it's scary when there are literally no good examples of successful episodic gaming," he concluded.by Published on December 13th, 2007 18:28
via Games Industry
The MD of Rising Star Games, Martin Defries, has responded to criticism levelled at the company following the announcement that forthcoming title No More Heroes would differ in content to the US edition.
According to earlier reports the version of the game released in the US will include a higher level of blood and gore effects in the combat – something which some took to mean that the game was being censored in Europe.
But Defries has told GamesIndustry.biz that those claims are wide of the mark, because the European edition will be identical to the one just released in Japan, localisation notwithstanding.
"There are two versions of No More Heroes that are going to be published in the West," he said.
"Ours, which will be drawn down from our parent company, Marvelous Interactive, which is directly from the Japanese iteration of the game, and there will be a version in the US that is a full-on gore, beheadings, dismemberment…and it seems some confusion has come to the fore in the past few days as to which version Rising Star Games will publish.
"Why the decision [to add in additional gory detail to the US release] has been made is a difficult one for me to comment on - that's a Ubisoft decision for the North American market.
"We've always drawn down our games from Japan, we tailor them in language, in text and audio, and nothing else."
A joint statement issued by the game's designer Goichi Suda (better known as Suda 51) and Marvelous Digital president Yahsiro Wada reads as follows:
"First, let me say how honoured I am that everyone in Europe is expecting No More Heroes. The sales point of this game is action. Both I and Wada san have concentrated on making the best possible action game for Nintendo Wii.
"We have chosen to release in Europe the same version as has shipped in Japan considering the broadly growing Wii market. We are certain you will definitely enjoy playing it."
Rising Star Games will publish the European edition of No More Heroes in February 2008, while the different US edition will be published by Ubisoft. ...- Search DCEmu
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