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by Published on December 3rd, 2011 23:11- Categories:
- Playstation Vita News
Sony has defended the Vita's pricey, mandatory memory cards, insisting they are used for much more than just storing save files.Members of the device's development team told Japanese site Impress Watch, as translated by Andriasang, that Sony had decided to go with its own proprietary tech rather than standard SD cards partly because it wanted to "make sure they could have something with an equal condition for everyone."They also stressed that the cards are an integral part of the system and not just additional memory, explaining that "they're 'storage' for the Vita and are used for patches, game data, download content and more."On top of all that, "security" concerns were cited as another factor in the decision to insist Vita owners use Sony's own cards.Elsewhere in the interview, the team offered a few more morsels of info on Sony's forthcoming handheld.Although Adobe has announced that its winding development on its Mobile Flash Player, Sony is still in negotiations to ensure Vita Flash support.Product Division Chief Hiromi Wakai promised that a PC utility that enables your computer to recognise the Vita as a mass storage device will be ready prior to launch, with a Mac version following in the "not-so-distant future"....
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...y-memory-cardsby Published on December 3rd, 2011 23:07- Categories:
- Nintendo 3DS News
Nintendo fans can get 3D Classics: Kid Icarus for free when it launches on 5th January by registering two eligible 3DS titles online this Christmas.Gamers will also be entered in a competition to win one of 3000 limited edition Mario-themed 3DS systems. There are 1000 Mario, 1000 Peach and 1000 Toad designs to be won - the same irresistible looking versions that popped up on the Japanese Club Nintendo site last month.Around a dozen popular 3DS titles are included in the scheme, including Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.The promotion covers games already registered from 1st November and closes on 31st January next year.After filling in two Club Nintendo codes from the list of eligible games below, you'll be prompted to confirm an email address on the Club Nintendo website. You'll also be asked which 3DS design you'd prefer, should you win.You'll then get a free download code for the remastered 3D Classics: Kid Icarus when it launches next year.Angelic platform series Kid Icarus originally launched on the NES in 1986. After a 1991 Game Boy sequel the franchise slipped down the back of Nintendo's sofa until game's hero Pit was featured in Wii fighter Super Smash Bros. Brawl.3D Classics: Kid Icarus updates the NES original with sharper 3D graphics, just in time for all-new 3DS adventure Kid Icarus: Uprising, due early next year.The eligible Nintendo 3DS games are:- Resident Evil: Revelations
- Mario Kart 7
- Super Pokémon Rumble
- Super Mario 3D Land
- Tetris
- Star Fox 64 3D
- Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
- Dead or Alive Dimensions
- Steel Diver
- nintendogs + cats
- Pilotwings Resort
- Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...id-icarus-free ...by Published on December 3rd, 2011 23:01- Categories:
- DCEmu
The International Committee of the Red Cross is investigating whether developers should be asked to better respect and reflect international humanitarian law in their video games.As reported by Kotaku, a "sub-event" was held at the 31st International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva this week to discuss how games influence the public perception of war crimes."While the Movement works vigorously to promote international humanitarian law worldwide, there is also an audience of approximately 600 million gamers who may be virtually violating IHL," read the event's description."Exactly how video games influence individuals is a hotly debated topic, but for the first time, Movement partners discussed our role and responsibility to take action against violations of IHL in video games. In a side event, participants were asked: 'What should we do, and what is the most effective method?'"While National Societies shared their experiences and opinions, there is clearly no simple answer. There is, however, an overall consensus and motivation to take action."A video montage, reproduced below, was released to publicise the event, highlighting offending scenes from the Medal of Honor, Call of Duty and ArmA franchises.The committee is yet to announce its findings, with an update expected on the ICRC's website at some point in the next few weeks "with a view to stating and explaining our interest in the topic."Of course, the Red Cross has no authority to impose laws or official restrictions but it is a respected group with the power to influence policy makers. What could the possible outcome of its discussions be?"In line with the Conference's aim of strengthening IHL, the event aims at achieving a common understanding of the problem and outlining a course of action whereby the Movement could help reduce these 'virtual' - yet very realistic - violations of IHL," it explained."One possible course of action could be to encourage game designers/producers to incorporate IHL in the development and design of video games, while another could be to encourage governments to adopt laws and regulations to regulate this ever-growing industry."The Entertainment Software Association offered the following response to news of the debate:"We cannot comment on the merits or specifics of the International Committee of the Red Cross proposal because we have not discussed this with them directly or seen any specifics of their meeting. However, we are immovably committed to developers' rights for creative freedom and in achieving their artistic vision."...
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...war-crimes-lawby Published on December 3rd, 2011 22:59- Categories:
- Nintendo 3DS News
Nintendo has offered up a few new details about the forthcoming 3DS entry in its Animal Crossing franchise.A new developer roundtable discussion, posted to the US Nintendo Channel and reproduced below courtesy of YouTuber NintenDaan, sees series producer Katsuya Eguchi discuss the game's new features with its director Aya Kyogoku, design lead Koji Takahashi and veteran Nintendo sound director Kazumi Totaka.Among the revelations was news that this time out you'll play as the mayor, allowing greater control over how your town looks. Want to add some benches or streetlamps? Go nuts.You clearly can't handle all that hard work on your own though, so Nintendo has granted you a secretary called Shizu to help out."She's a little clumsy so I'm not sure how good of a job she can do," warned Kyogoku.The dimensions of the game's character models have been made a little more lifelike to better convey physical differences between the animals. It also means you'll have a greater array of character customisation options available to you."The big thing is that now there are separate tops and bottoms," explained Takahashi. "So girls can wear pants and boys... well..."Yes chaps, you can don a skirt should you so desire.There's more item customisation this time too, including a furniture shop where you can apparently design your own cushions. You can also tweak your home's exterior, with everything from fence posts to your mailbox now tweakable.The town has increased in size since the last game with new additions including a shopping mall on the opposite side of the train tracks. The beach is bigger too, and you can even go for a swim in the ocean.Nintendo have also included StreetPass features that let you exchange house designs with other players. These will be displayed in a 'model home' area at one end of the town.Surely the biggest bombshell of all though is news that reviled capitalist whip-cracker Tom Nook has left his store behind and got himself a new job. He's now the town's estate agent.Watch the whole clip below for new footage and a few more tidbits, including Totaka-san grabbing an acoustic guitar and playing things out with the game's new theme.Nintendo still hasn't put a release date on the follow up to Wii entry Animal Crossing: Let's Go To The City, but it's expected on shelves some time next year...
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...tails-revealedby Published on December 3rd, 2011 22:24- Categories:
- DCEmu
We reveal what TV viewers liked most about some of this season’s biggest games advertisements, including those for Skyrim, FIFA 12 and Modern Warfare 3.
Ensuring a TV?campaign is seen by a large number of people doesn’t always guarantee strong sales. The creative content of a TV commercial needs to encompass a number of factors to engage the audience and enhance memorability.
Generation Media asked its Generation Gaming Panel which games commercials were the best for the following: graphics, soundtrack, content, length, appropriateness, game footage and overall impact.
Spending big on a cast and crew of hundreds (and 30 ravens, of course) paid off for Skyrim as 24 per cent of the panel voted it their favourite commercial. Special mention was also made of Modern Warfare 3’s ‘The Vet & the Noob’ commercial, helping it achieve 22 per cent of the votes for overall impact.
FIFA 12 scored the highest percentage for a particular category in appropriateness of commercial placement, helped greatly by the large number of football matches on our screens at the moment. Despite recording the highest percentage for graphics (26 per cent), Forza 4 was the least liked advert with just two per cent of votes.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/which...-tv-ads/088039 ...by Published on December 3rd, 2011 22:22- Categories:
- DCEmu
Who says you can’t wrap up a download? GAME has come up with a solution to the biggest digital dilemma – how to make a download look good under a Christmas tree.
From tomorrow (Saturday, December 3rd) all of GAME’s UK stores (and GAME.co.uk) will stock Xmas gift packs for PSN and Xbox Live. They can be used for a wide range of titles and customers can write a personalised greeting.
“We’re thrilled to be the world’s first retailer to offer a gift solution for downloads,” GAME Group’s commercial strategy director Tricia Brennan told MCV.
“For the last 10 years people have been telling me ‘you can’t put a download under the Christmas tree.’ Well, now they’re wrong. The gift packs look great, and are designed with one purpose – to make sure every gamer gets the perfect present.
“Our digital offering has evolved enormously over the last 10 months, and we’re very excited to have a unique gifting range in place for our first truly digital Christmas.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/downl...as-tree/088026 ...by Published on December 3rd, 2011 22:20- Categories:
- DCEmu
Much like the big Hollywood movies, triple-A games have become all about the opening weekend.
Sales and marketing experts are focusing their efforts on those first few days. Midnight launches – our version of a film premiere – are becoming increasingly extravagant. We’ve had tanks driving down Oxford Street and absailers delivering stock of Call of Duty.
As a result, many of this year’s sequels – Saints Row 3, Uncharted 3, Gears of War 3, Forza 4, Battlefield 3 – have smashed the week one performances of their predecessors.
Yet these figures mask the truth that, by the time week two arrives, sales drop off. Severely.
Just look at two of those aforementioned sequels. Sales of Uncharted 3 dropped 72 per cent in its second week, while Foza 4’s dip was 52 per cent.
By comparison, in 2009 Uncharted 2’s week two drop off was 53 per cent, while Forza 3 lost just 23 per cent in sales.
“Week two volumes on new releases are dropping off more quickly,” admits GAME CEO Ian Shepherd.
“There’s a core consumer who is coming out very early to buy. But then the wave of customers that might be coming in week two or three are more cautious, maybe they’re waiting for Christmas.”
WHY THE DROP?
So is the week two drop all down to consumer caution? THQ’s European marketing director Jon Rooke says that the propensity to focus on day one sales and pre-orders is having an impact.
“More than ever, retailers base their initial orders on pre-orders, which forces us to engage customers earlier and offer pre-order incentives,” says Rooke.
“As a result we are marketing earlier. It’s been all about creating that blockbuster event weekend.
“And more than ever we now know how to really pin-point our audience. Whereas before it would take a five week media campaign, today smart marketers can be hitting 80 to 90 per cent of a target audience before launch and certainly within the first 10 days.”
Another reason cited for week two sales falls is the sheer quantity of games. It only takes a week before the latest hit becomes old news.
“Gamers are coming out but their wallet is concentrated on fewer titles and they’re spoilt for choice,” explains Codemasters chief Rod Cousens.
“The volumes on FIFA, Battlefield, Skyrim and CoD illustrate that. With the intensity of releases in a narrow time frame, users move on very quickly.”
This rapid release of blockbuster games is aided by the pre-owned sector. Retailers are letting consumers buy the latest titles for just £5 if they trade-in last week’s big release. It means new games are appearing on the second-hand shelves faster.
“Two years ago I remember seeing data that showed it would take until week four or five before sales of used games overtook the sales of its mint counterpart,” adds Rooke. “Now with pre-owned a much larger component of the retail mix, I would argue that happens much quicker, maybe after three weeks, even two for some titles.
“Walk into HMV or GAME today and you will find games that release only a week ago already on the pre-owned shelves.“If you were to add mint and pre-owned together, you probably wouldn’t see such a sharp sales drop-off after the first week.”
THE?BIGGER?PICTURE
Of course, Chart-Track’s data only goes so far. By week five, your typical triple-A may not be performing well at retail, but what about the DLC that was released just a few weeks after launch? Just because a retailer isn’t making any more money off a four-week-old game, doesn’t mean a publisher isn’t.
“Buying patterns for consumers have migrated towards digital offerings and there is no widespread tracking as yet,” adds Cousens. “The bigger picture needs to be measured.”
Rooke agrees: “People are buying into franchises in different ways. Through DLC, micro-transactions, consumables and companion titles. The data we have doesn’t show the full picture of a transitioning industry.”
Not all games are suffering from an ever-shortening retail lifespan. The casual and kids games are still growing week-on-week. Take Activision’s Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. It didn’t enjoy a spectacular launch but sales have grown each and every week since it came out in October.
WEEK?ONE?OR?BUST?
So it is triple-A that’s suffering. But if the big blockbusters are posting huge week one numbers, does it matter that week two is declining so fiercely?
“Matter? If you’re hitting massive day one figures, then no, I guess not,” says a senior UK publishing boss. “But if you limp out of the gate, then you’re ****ed. It becomes almost impossible to recover.”
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/week-...eleases/088044 ...by Published on December 3rd, 2011 22:17- Categories:
- PC News
A trio of Minecraft players have painstakingly recreated the first level of Game Boy platformer Super Mario Land.
Engadget reports that James Wright, Joe Ciappa and a third player known only as Tempusmori spent six to seven hours a day for four straight weeks recreating Super Mario Land's opening level, using more than 18 million Minecraft blocks in the process.
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/super-m...made-minecraft ...by Published on December 3rd, 2011 22:15- Categories:
- Nintendo Wii News
Monolith Soft's Xenoblade Chronicles will be released in the US on April 3, 2012.
A Neogaf forum member has posted what they claim to be a shot (see below) from GameStop's database which lists the Wii RPG release date and also states that it will be a GameStop exclusive.
We contacted GameStop which confirmed the rumour but stressed that Nintendo will be issuing details on the exact nature ofChronicle's US release shortly.
We gave the game a 9 back in August, you can read the full review here.
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/us-xeno...stop-exclusive ...by Published on December 3rd, 2011 22:14- Categories:
- DCEmu
Microsoft sold nearly one million Xbox 360s last week alone, but we're nearing the end of the road for video game consoles according to one industry visionary. Richard Garriott, known for having created the fantasy role-playing franchise Ultima, says converged devices such as computers, smartphones and tablets will soon render dedicated game consoles obsolete: '... the power that you can carry with you in a portable is really swamping what we've thought of as a console.
http://games.slashdot.org/story/11/1...s-lord-british ...- Search DCEmu
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