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by Published on November 20th, 2011 20:56- Categories:
- Retro Consoles/Translation News
Jason Brockert is traditionally a landscape painter, but one day he noticed a Star Wars Stormtrooper figurine sitting on his shelf, and decided to try painting it. "The first one came out terrible," he says. "A week later, I was like I'll try again. The second one, I was like oh, that's kind of cool. And it was a lot of fun, too. I had more fun doing that then I'd had in six months."
He finished the Stormtrooper painting a little while after that, and then decided to do more figures, and then old game consoles and cartridges, collecting them on eBay and then painting them in his elaborate, almost idealistic way. "Those were the two things I loved as a kid," says Brockert, "and the things I wanted to recollect, that my mother had thrown away I don't know how long ago."
Brockert's work is currently on display in a show called "American Icons" at the iam8bit gallery in Los Angeles' Echo Park. All of his works and prints are available for purchase, and the Exhibition (most of which you can see below) runs through December 18.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/19/ia...s-of-toys-and/ ...by Published on November 20th, 2011 20:52- Categories:
- DCEmu
Got your grain of salt ready? Good! Survey and statistical analysis firm Cowen and Company has published the results of a survey that suggests "casual" gamer interest in dedicated handheld gaming systems has declined by 29 percent over the last 5 years. 37 percent of people polled play games on a dedicated device, while 52 percent primarily use their phones. The study goes on to say that companies like EA, who have invested heavily in iOS and Android gaming, are better positioned for the future of the market as compared to other companies such as Nintendo.
Now, these are "self-identified" casual gamers, mind you, and knowing what that means in practical terms or how it affects the results of this survey is an impossibility. It's also no big shocker that the Great Smartphone Boom of the early 21st century has had an impact on dedicated devices of all kinds, from gaming systems to navigation units to carrier pigeons.
Seriously, our carrier pigeon side-business is really, really tanking. This may not have been the smartest investment we could have made.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/20/re...s-down-29-per/ ...by Published on November 20th, 2011 20:50- Categories:
- Android News
[Shazin] had some free time on his hands, so he settled in to do something he had been meaning to for a while – learn Android programming. He went an indirect route, and ended up using the Scripting Layer for Android (SL4A), which gave him a head start on the process. Sitting in between the Android API and scripting languages such as Python, SL4A allowed him the ability to apply something he was already familiar with to the Android environment.
He thought it would be cool to try building a door entry system which relied on voice commands to lock and unlock. Using the Google Voice API for Android and an Arduino, he built a small Python application that allows him to toggle a servo simply by talking into his phone.
The application on his phone communicates with an Arduino over WiFi, once Google Voice has decoded the command [Shazin] is giving. The Arduino controls a servo, which in theory could control the locking mechanism on a door.
After a bit of tweaking and some added security, his proof of concept could definitely come in handy.
Check out the short video below to see [Shazin’s] voice-controlled servo in action.
http://hackaday.com/2011/11/20/an-ex...-with-android/ ...by Published on November 20th, 2011 20:47- Categories:
- PS3 News
Infinity Ward has been on a mass-banning spree as numerous glitches are being found and exploited by cheaters in Modern Warfare 3.
Upwards of 1,600 players have been banned so far and we expect many more to come.Posting on Twitter, IW's community man Robert Bowling said: "Any attempt to cheat, hack, or glitch in #MW3 will not be tolerated. 1600+ bans issued. Updates in works. Please cont. to report offenders."
He later added: "We are doing mass bans on PC as well while we work on updates," and has repeatedly promised a "Hot fix already in the works" for multiple glitches reported by agitated Twitter users.
Despite its issues, Modern Warfare 3 has broken movie box office, book and game sales records for five day worldwide sell-through in dollars.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ed-fix-coming/ ...by Published on November 20th, 2011 20:44- Categories:
- Xbox 360 News
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be receiving an update patch within a couple of weeks.
Bethesda's PR and marketing boss Pete Hines has confirmed as much via a recent Twitter post.Some of the game's glitches are actually rather funny, others are not much fun at all. But bugs are bugs and they need squishing.
"PS3 & 360 updates have been submitted for certification," confirmed Hines, adding "PC coming too."
There's no firm date on the patch release but Hines estimates it'll arrive on the week after America's Thanksgiving day, which places its release at some point in the week beginning Sunday November 27.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...says-bethesda/ ...by Published on November 20th, 2011 20:43- Categories:
- Nintendo 3DS News
One thing the DS did really well was cater to a massive range of gamers from the hardcore teen to the curious grandma.
3DS has so far focused on the core crowd this year, but Nintendo America boss Reggie Fils-Aime says the new handheld will broaden its horizons in 2012.Well, our two big holiday titles for this year will certainly broaden the audience. Everyone loves Mario, [and] everyone loves to play Mario Kart," he said.
"As we look to next year, Mario & Sonic at the London Olympic Games is coming out on 3DS early next year--that's gonna' continue to broaden. But my expectation is that, come E3, I think we'll be showcasing a range of different titles that, for a more casual consumer, they'll see reasons to jump on board with the Nintendo 3DS."
He later hinted: "In terms of other genres, absolutely we will continue to push the envelope with new, unique, differentiated experiences that you can only get on the Nintendo 3DS and that widen the consumer demographic."
"So, will there be content to appeal to consumers 50 plus the way Brain Age did? Absolutely. Will there be content that's going to appeal to women the way we are able to do with the DS? Absolutely. I can't go into the details of what exactly those titles will be, but stay tuned. There is information that we'll be sharing prior to E3, plus a lot of information at E3 as well."
Fils-Aime has also confirmed that the upcoming 3DS update due this month will add the ability for developers to sell DLC on the handheld.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...-coming-at-e3/ ...by Published on November 20th, 2011 20:41- Categories:
- Nintendo 3DS News
The Pokémon Company may be gearing up to make yet another teased announcement at a Manga/anime expo in Japan next month.
The latest issue of Japan's Jump magazine has confirmed that next month's Jump Fest will be the first to feature the Pokémon series, and that there will be surprises in store.According to Andriasang, the mag teases: "Pokémon makes first appearance at JF!! Surprising information on the show floor?" before going on to say that a "big surprise" awaits at the Pokémon booth.
A Pokémon announcement has been rumoured/teased on numerous occasions in recent months, with the latest rumour sparked by a newly-registered web domain suggesting Nintendo could be preparing to announce a new 'Pokémon Grey' title - thought to be the 'Pokémon Yellow'-style third version of the Pokémon Black/White Version games.
Jump Festa takes place on December 17 and 18 in Japan.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...po-next-month/ ...by Published on November 20th, 2011 20:40- Categories:
- PC News
Yoshida has been working on FFXIX since the MMO's troubled launch last year, when it was so widely criticised that Square decided to let players play for free while it works on improvements.Subscription fees are set to be reintroduced with a month or two, and Square hasannounced a massive '2.0' update for release in 2013 with a whole new engine built from scratch and other major changes.
But you won't be getting a new game, says Yoshida. "Players, community websites, and the gaming media may see the roadmap we have provided and take it as, 'Oh, they're creating a completely different game,' but this is not the case," he told Gamasutra.
"FFXIV will always be FFXIV and nothing else," he asserted.
Clarifying the point of version 2.0, he stated: "The first thing I did when I became the producer and director of Final Fantasy XIV last December was to ask myself, 'What kind of service system, game content, and community content would be necessary if we were to continue to offer this service 10 years into the future?'
"In doing so, I went back and restudied the systems used by other MMOs offered worldwide, such as World of Warcraft and Rift."
2.0 will encompass many of the updates developed in the past year, but most importantly, he explained, it's all about the new engine.
"Why build something from the ground up when it already exists? Well, the current engine we are using is good for showing 'passive graphics' in offline games, but the most important thing an MMO needs is an 'active graphics' capable of showing many, many different characters on the screen simultaneously. This is simply too difficult to accomplish with the current engine," he said.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...g-else-square/ ...by Published on November 20th, 2011 20:38- Categories:
- Wii U News
Games for THQ's uDraw tablet will take advantage of the enhanced features of Nintendo's upcoming Wii U console, THQ has revealed to Eurogamer.Andy Hodgson, THQ's global VP for uDraw, played down suggestions that the Wii U's tablet would usurp uDraw. Instead, he says, the two can "co-exist together". The Wii U is back compatible with Wii software, and presumably this is how uDraw games would be played on Nintendo's new machine."We have some amazing brands and software built for uDraw," Hodgson said. "Some of those we'll be able to continue to support on uDraw and in addition add to Wii U that will add extra functionality, tailor-made for Wii U. So it's possible for them to co-exist together."There are "lots of possibilities" for what this extra functionality could include, Hodgson said, confirming the uDraw team had already "spent some time with the Wii U and seen everything it has to offer"."The screen in there, the camera, the ability for co-op play with extra players using Wii Remotes, there's lots of possibilities."..."We feel we've really got a good start on Wii U."Andy Hodgson, global VP, uDraw
"We feel we've really got a good start on Wii U," Hodgson added, explaining that THQ had a "natural headstart" on utilising the Wii U tablet's tech having already developed for the similar uDraw platform.Was Hodgson worried the Wii U would make uDraw redundant? "No, because Wii will remain our focus... We see Wii U as yet another audience we're able to look at. I guess it'll come down to product life-cycles as to how long we support Wii for.""We're committed to [Wii] but we also have PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 tablets which offer us two new audiences there again."After 1.7 million units sold of the Wii uDraw, THQ announced versions for PS3 and Xbox 360 earlier this year that arrive on shop shelves today."Next year we will be expanding with titles that could be considered more 'core'."
Rebuilt "from the ground up", the PS3 and 360 versions don't require a controller to be placed in them to work, as the Wii version does. Wireless and motion control functions are instead built in, with an improved touch control pad and HD display.New software is on the way too, with tie-ins for kid-friendly franchises such as Marvel Super Heroes Squad, Kung Fu Panda, Penguins of Madagascar. "Many" more titles are on the way 2012, including an as-yet unannounced Disney game.Hodgson said that 2012 will also see the uDraw games roster expanding into a slighter older age-group. "Next year we will be expanding with titles that could be considered more 'core' or more interesting for the teen market." Dawn of War 3? "Ha, maybe not that core..."Earlier this month Ubisoft announced Drawsome, a Wii tablet peripheral with similar functionality to uDraw that will launch in the US on 6th December. But THQ aren't worried about the competition. "I haven't seen much marketing from them," Hodgson said, adding that with 1.7 sold and a worldwide availability on multiple platforms, it would be a "pretty easy decision for consumers to see who's behind this technology".Does he believe Ubisoft copied the uDraw? "I can't really comment on that," Hodgson replied.With Drawsome and Wii U on the market, 2012 will be a far more crowded market for uDraw. But Wii U could open up new possibilities for THQ's tablet too.THQ's Darksiders 2 is a Wii U launch title, but with uDraw available Xbox 360 and PS3, would it be possible for the THQ to recreate the same tablet functions for the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game? "That's a really interesting idea and I can't comment on that," Hodgson concluded. "I might actually have a chat with my colleagues on the Darksiders team to have a look at that..."
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ce-udraw-gamesby Published on November 20th, 2011 20:33- Categories:
- DCEmu
The Call of Duty franchise might have made more money than the likes of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings at the box office, but it still has a long way to go before it overtakes them as a brand.That's the verdict of one of the UK's leading brand experts, who said most people struggle to tell military shooters apart.Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 last week enjoyed the biggest entertainment launch of all time.Backed by an unprecedented advertising campaign it generated an incredible $750 million in sales in just five days. After 24 hours on sale it had sold 6.5 million copies in the US and UK alone.Life-to-date sales for the Call of Duty franchise exceed worldwide theatrical box office for Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, and in the UK, the money made by Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops in their opening weeks was greater than the combined opening weekends of all eight Harry Potter films.But according to Stephen Cheliotis, chief executive of The Centre for Brand Analysis and chairman of the UK Superbrands and CoolBrands Councils, Call of Duty cannot compete with the biggest brands in film because most people think games in the same genre all look the same."If you look at awareness they're not quite up there with the likes of Star Wars or Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings," he told Eurogamer. "Outside of the real keen gamers there's a bit of confusion between different types of game franchises."For those that are part-time gamers or loosely interested but not necessarily real keen players, they mould a little bit into one. With the latest release, they say, is that part of that franchise or is it that one? I can't really remember."There aren't many people who struggle to tell the difference between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter and Twilight. They're all clearly defined, different propositions. They might be in the same genre, fantasy adventure, but they're clearly distinguished and differentiated."With games, unless you're a real follower, you say, I can't remember really. It's just one of those big franchises and it's a military shooter, and they're all kind of the same. I don't think people say, Call of Duty is this, and this other one is that. That's the difference. They blur. That's where you've got a brand issue. There's not much to distinguish them for the average player that's just jumping in and out."Cheliotis said if he were commissioned by Activision to analyse the Call of Duty brand, he would work on cultivating the personality of the series and focus on one or two areas of the brand proposition."Maybe one series is continuously about MI5, or one's consistently about the Royal Navy. Something that says, this is what it is. You can't go, well, I'll be the US today and I'll be Russia tomorrow. Is there a thread that holds that series together that says, this is who we are? Whether that's a person, a unit, a country or a fight, maybe set in different times or scenarios, you're always the same side having the same fight. That could be the glue...."I still think [games] all blur into one. For your casual gamer walking into Tesco, and just buying their game alongside their milk and veg, there's a bit of, oh, I don't know if that's for me."Stephen Cheliotis, CEO, The Centre for Brand Analysis
"How do people say, that's clearly that game? If you've got a still of one of those films, straight away you say, that's that. If you have a still from Call of Duty versus another military franchise, unless you are a real discerning follower, you'll probably say, oh, I don't know. It could be Call of Duty or Battlefield."Call of Duty is, by a huge margin, the most successful franchise the industry has to offer. It is the fastest-selling, best-selling and highest grossing video game. But there is still plenty of room for growth, Cheliotis said, if Activision works on the brand and expands its social aspects.However, he warned Activision against trying to make Call of Duty a catch-em-all brand, appealing to all types of people. This, he said, could have a negative impact."There is a danger that it becomes so generic it's a bit of everything for everyone," Cheliotis said. "When you're doing brand analysis, it's good that some people don't like you. It means you have a point. It creates longevity and doesn't mean you're a jack of all trades. If you've got something that's so generic and bland and dull that everyone might like it, then you're in the longer term in danger of being so catch-em-all that you're not creating long-term followers."They might be better off focusing on what they're really good at and hone that down and be known for that."The game industry faces a difficult job improving its brand awareness, Cheliotis said. Only Nintendo with Mario and Sega with Sonic have achieved anything approaching success in this regard."It's a real struggle with games. You've got Sonic. You've got Mario. You haven't got a lot of other brands that are truly distinctive and stand out. You might have a few point in- Search DCEmu
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