GameTime News Network

Bungie Releases More Halo 3 Info

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 22:28:00 +0000

Halo 3 developer Bungie has released more details about Halo 3, possibly the most hotly anticipated game of 2007, in their latest Weekly Update. The start of the public Halo 3 beta draws ever closer, so expect even more Halo 3 information to be released as fans count the days to Halo 3's launch date.

First up are some details on the recently released Blastacular Map pack. Apparently, there was a glitch that allowed certain players to circumvent the billing system and download the maps for free. This glitch was quickly fixed, and now, those who try to use this glitch to their advantage will just end up locking themselves out of the system, preventing them from downloading the maps at all, even legitimately. The Xbox Live Team is currently working on a way to allow those who have been locked out the chance to download the new maps again.

Second, new details have been released about the upcoming Public Beta. The “Saved Films” feature, elaborated upon in the recently released Video Documentary is slated to be included, albeit in a very limited form, in the public Beta. The final version of the saved films feature set to be included is said to be “pretty amazing”. The Beta build itself is said to be very close to finished, in preparations for its May 16th launch. Another tidbit of information revealed is that split screen multiplayer is said to be included in the beta, but will be limited to just two players simultaneously.

Third, Bungie debunked a few rumors that had been swirling recently, with the biggest of these being that Microsoft was forcing them to make the game run in native 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second. Bungie says that it is unrealistic to expect that the game can run at these specifications with all the action that will appear onscreen at any given time. The game will support 1080p resolution on the Xbox 360 Elite, utilizing the console’s internal scaler.

Finally, Bungie elaborates on Halo 3’s new revamped control scheme. Providing us with a picture of the new control scheme for players to grow accustomed to before the Halo 3 Beta. Of course, Bungie is quick to point out that this control scheme is subject to change before the final release.

Pokémon Pearl First Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:10:00 +0000

Pokémon Pearl begins as many other Pokémon games have in the past. The Professor gives a short speech, giving you a glimpse into the world of Pokémon that you will soon be entering. You are given the opportunity to name your character and your character’s close friend. After finishing this and the Professor’s brief speech, the game begins.

You begin the game in your room watching a television show. The layout of the room itself is very similar to past games in the series, as it includes a television, a bed, a PC, and a famous Nintendo videogame console, this time being the Nintendo Wii. From here, you venture downstairs and after bidding farewell to your mother, you head over to your friend’s place to begin an adventure.

Together you head off towards a nearby lake and bump into the Professor and his assistant, whose gender will be the opposite of yours. There’s no time to get acquainted with either of the two as they are quickly on their way, so quickly in fact that the Professor leaves behind his briefcase in the tall grass. Of course, being the good Samaritans that you are, you and your friend venture into the tall grass to retrieve it. Immediately upon reaching the briefcase, the two of you are attacked, and forced to each choose from three Pokéballs from inside the professor’s briefcase to defend yourselves, choose wisely.

The battle itself shows off many of the new touch screen centric battle interface. Familiar actions such as ordering your Pokemon to attack to using a Pokéball from your bag are mapped to the touch screen and easily accessible. The interface is familiar, but intuitive, and easy to get into. The battle animations are immediately much more dynamic and exciting to look at than those of previous games, adding much visual flair to the battles.

Upon returning the briefcase to the Professor, he commends your battling skills and allows you to keep the Pokémon you chose. In addition, he gives you your Pokédex, only asking that you record data on as many Pokémon as you can during the course of your journey.

After you return home, your mother has a pair of running shoes for you which allow you to traverse the world more quickly. In addition, she has a parcel that she would like you to deliver to your friend who has, unsurprisingly, rushed off on his own and forgotten. When you reach him in a nearby town, it turns out that he has received two town maps and gives you the extra. Your new town map is very helpful for getting to know the vast region of Sinnoh you will soon be exploring.

After your friend departs in his usual abrupt manner, you run into the Professor’s assistant again, who decides to be your mentor. They help you find your way around town, showing you key locations and how to catch a Pokémon. This tutorial is mandatory, so it may come off as a bit of a bore to series vets. After the tutorial is completed, you’ll be gifted with five Pokéballs.

Within the first hour of play, it’s clear that this is a very worthy addition to the Pokemon series. The DS specific elements are already very intriguing and there’s certainly much more to discover upon delving deeper into the game. While nothing so far is drastically different from previous games in the series, the easily accessible gameplay has been proven to be a winner so not much needs to be changed or enhanced. At the end of the first hour of play I was left with the feeling that this would be a deeper and more engaging experience than ever before and I’ll have much more to say about that in my official review.

Playstation 3 Updated to Firmware 1.70

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 03:55:00 +0000

As of April 18th, Playstation 3 owners can now update their Playstation 3’s firmware to 1.70, which adds a few additional functions to the Playstation 3’s already rich feature set. The most notable of additions is the ability to play downloaded Playstation 1 titles on the Playstation 3.

Previously, PS1 titles downloaded from the Playstation Network had only been playable on the Playstation Portable system. As of now, previously downloaded titles are still only playable on the PSP, but beginning on April 26, 2007, Sony will begin releasing Playstation titles that are compatible with both the PSP and PS3.

It has also been explained that save data will be compatible between the PS3 and PSP as well but will require your PSP to be updated to firmware 3.40, which was also released recently.

In addition, the Playstation 2’s backwards compatibility received an upgrade, which increases the PS3’s peripheral support. You will now be able to use force feedback in Logitech's GT-Force Pro steering wheel, which is something PS3 fans, particularly fans of the GT HD download have been eagerly anticipating. Also added to the compatibility list are the, the Densha de Go! Shinkansen Controller, Densha de Go! Controller Type 2 and Hori's Flight Stick 2.

Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility List Updated

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 02:48:00 +0000

The Xbox 360’s backwards compatibility list has been updated today, with dozens of games added to the list of Xbox games playable on the Xbox 360. Many on the list are fan favorites that many have been eagerly awaiting for months such as Panzer Dragoon Orta and Jet Set Radio Future. The list of new games added via a free update is as follows.

Tenku (Japan only)
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Legend of Aang (EMEA/ANZ)
Breakdown
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One
Call of Duty 3
Cars
Crash Bandicoot 5: Wrath of Cortex
Daisenryaku VII
FIFA Soccer 2007
Full Spectrum Warrior
Guilty Gear Isuka
Innocent Tears (Japan only)
Jet Set Radio Future
King of Fighters 2002
King of Fighters: Neowave
Mad Dash Racing (Japan only)
Mech Assault 2
Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction
Nascar 2006: Total Team Control
NFL Fever 2004
Oddworld Munch's Oddysee
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Petit Copter (Japan only)
Phantom Dust
Reservoir Dogs
Return To Castle Wolfenstein
Rugby League 2
Sengoku Warriors (Japan only)
Sonic Riders
Soul Calibur 2 UPDATED
Spider-Man 2
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Street Fighter Anniversary Collection
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
Tony Hawk's Underground
Ultra Bust a Move /ULTRA Pazzle Bobble
Unreal Championship 2

This list can also be viewed at Major Nelson’s website and a complete list of all games backwards compatible with the Xbox 360 is available at Xbox.com.

PRESS RELEASE: Microsoft Announces Xbox 360 Elite

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 04:31:00 +0000

REDMOND, Wash. — March 27, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the upcoming availability of Xbox 360™ Elite, a new model of the video game and entertainment system that will include a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox LIVE® headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater choice and flexibility in their games and entertainment experience. Additional Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be available separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.

“Today’s games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Xbox 360 Elite’s larger hard drive and premium accessories will allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer.”

Distinguished by its black finish and signature metallic detailing, Xbox 360 Elite will have an estimated retail price1 of $479.99 (U.S.) and will come packed with components and accessories for the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience:2

• Xbox 360 Elite console. The console is equipped with a premium black finish and three powerful core processors capable of producing the best in HD entertainment (up to 1080p), 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI output and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.

• Xbox 360 120GB hard drive. The 120GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.3 The hard drive is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $179.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black). This award-winning, high-performance wireless controller, now in black, features the Xbox® Guide Button for quick, in-game access to friends and music. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 headset (black). Now available in black, the headset lets gamers strategize or trade taunts while playing games and send voice messages to friends on Xbox LIVE.

• Xbox 360 HDMI cable. New to Xbox 360, HDMI allows consumers to get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.

• Xbox LIVE Silver Membership. With this, gamers can chat with friends online, collect achievements and gamerscores, send and receive voice and text messages, and access Xbox LIVE Marketplace content such as game demos, HD movies and TV, as well as the best in downloadable games from Xbox LIVE Arcade.

• One-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold. An Xbox LIVE Gold Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience. Those who subscribe to this premium service can engage in competitive online multiplayer matches, tailor their matchmaking via feedback and accomplishments, chat with more than one person at a time, and take advantage of unique privileges in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

The following accessories for the Xbox 360 Elite console will only be sold separately:

• Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit. Complete with a charging cable and a black rechargeable battery pack, the Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit allows gamers to recharge their Xbox 360 Wireless Controller without interrupting their gameplay. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $19.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 rechargeable battery (black). The rechargeable battery pack provides more than 25 hours of gameplay per charge. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $11.99 (U.S.).

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox LIVE online gaming network and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a catalog of more than 160 high-definition games and is available in 37 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

1 Prices stated are estimated retail prices; actual retail prices may vary.

2 Total retail value: more than $600 (U.S.)

3 TV and movie downloads available only in the U.S.

Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and Xbox are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft® Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.

Press Release: Three Editions of Halo 3 due this fall

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:46:00 +0000

Microsoft Game Studios and Bungie Studios today confirmed the first exciting details of the three editions of this year's most anticipated video game release, "Halo 3." Gamers will have their choice of Standard Edition, Limited Edition and the ultimate collector's item, the Legendary Edition.

The Legendary Edition ($129.99 U.S. ERP) will be released in limited quantities and arrive in a highly collectible Spartan helmet case that no hardcore "Halo" fan should be without, along with two bonus disks full of supplemental content. The first disk will provide exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage and videos, including a high-definition "Making of 'Halo 3'" documentary showcasing the Bungie team and its effort to create the most anticipated title in the industry's history; numerous high-definition featurettes documenting the creative design processes involved in developing the game; and even a look at some early game concepts and their evolution through the game's development. The disk will also include an audio-visual calibration tool, never before seen on a video game and custom designed by the "Halo 3" graphics and audio team to make the most of fans' high-definition home theaters, for the ultimate "Halo 3" and Xbox 360 audio and video performance.

The second bonus disk, an exclusive to the Legendary Edition, will include completely remastered cinematic material from "Halo: Combat Evolved" and "Halo 2," supplemented with developer commentaries, to provide a refresher course on the thrilling "Halo" story so far, and a featurette documenting a day in the life at Bungie. Exclusive content from the creative minds behind Machinima artists "Red vs. Blue" and "This Spartan Life" will also be included.
Finally, fans who purchase the Legendary Edition will receive an illuminating collection of original "Halo 3" storyboard art from artist Lee Wilson, depicting key moments and pivotal scenes from the epic cinematic production of "Halo."

The Limited Edition ($69.99 U.S. ERP) will also include a bounty of extras. Within a sleek metal collector's case, gamers will also receive the first bonus disk found in the Legendary Edition, as well as a special "Halo" fiction and art book. A must-have for "Halo" collectors and a source of invaluable and exclusive information, the piece is an elaborate and compelling guide to the species and factions that inhabit the worlds of the "Halo" universe, with never-before-seen art and story elements that expand and illustrate the depth and breadth of the "Halo" fiction.
And for those who crave nothing more than the highly anticipated third chapter to one of the greatest gaming trilogies, the Standard Edition ($59.99 U.S. ERP) will consist of the "Halo 3" game.

"Halo 3" represents the third chapter in the "Halo" trilogy, a Marvel Entertainment Inc. graphic novel series, apparel and more.

About Bungie Studios

Bungie Studios was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and then sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination. Over the past 10 years it has produced games such as the "Marathon Trilogy" and the first two "Myth" games, hailed as classics by critics and gamers around the world. Bungie's "Halo" franchise is an international award-winning action title that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, logging over 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox Live and spawning action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel, an upcoming film adaptation and more. Bungie is currently at work on "Halo 3," which represents the third chapter in this "Halo" trilogy and is slated for release in 2007. More information on Bungie can be found at http://www.bungie.net.

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Microsoft Windows operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as "Age of Empires," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon"; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as "Gears of War" and franchises such as "Halo," "Fable," "Project Gotham Racing" and "Forza Motorsport"; and MSN Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Hexic."

Rumors from GDC 2007

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:23:00 +0000

The Game Developers Conference has come and gone but not before some juicy rumors were unveiled. My sources from within the conference had some rather interesting tidbits of information to share with me upon their return.

Publishing giant EA, publisher of the highly successful “The Sims” franchise has already started work on the third game in the series, with major improvements to the grid system for item placement planned.

The Sims related rumors don’t end there. A new version of The Sims based on The Sims 2 is being developed for, but not exclusive to, the "console with the weird controller", presumably meaning the ever popular Wii. This is in addition to the already revealed My Sims game aimed at Japan which will see release later this year on the Wii.

It’s already common knowledge that the upcoming Mass Effect is the first in a planned trilogy and apparently, even though the first game hasn’t hit stores, the development of Mass Effect 2 has already started.

That’s all for now. As always, GameTime News Network always will always keep its ear to the street for new rumors and information. Of course, we cannot confirm any of these rumors and advise you to take them with a grain of salt.

PRESS RELEASE: Microsoft Unites Xbox and PC Gamers With Debut of Games for Windows — LIVE

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:53:00 +0000

Xbox LIVE extends to Windows Vista to create single online gaming service starting with “Halo 2” on May 8.

REDMOND, Wash. — March 14, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the extension of the Xbox LIVE® games and entertainment network to the Windows® platform, bringing together the most popular online console game service with the most popular games platform in the world. Debuting on May 8, 2007, with the launch of the Windows Vista™ version of the Xbox® blockbuster “Halo® 2,” Games for Windows — LIVE will connect Windows gamers to over six million gamers already in the Xbox LIVE community. Then, launching in June, “Shadowrun™” will for the first time connect Windows gamers with Xbox 360™ players in cross-platform matches using a single service. “UNO®,” releasing later in 2007, will also support cross-platform play between Windows and Xbox 360.

The launch of Games for Windows — LIVE marks a major expansion of the Xbox LIVE service across multiple platforms, uniting gamers with a single identity, a single gamertag, a single friends list and a single list of achievements attainable on the Xbox 360 and a Windows-based PC. Games for Windows — LIVE gamers will be able to easily find and play supported titles online with their friends across a Windows computer or an Xbox 360. As a unified service with Xbox LIVE, Games for Windows — LIVE will be available in every country and region supported today by Xbox LIVE.

“Five years ago, we began building a service that now defines the bar for online gameplay,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “The benefits of expanding Xbox LIVE to Games for Windows titles is twofold: We’re bringing together two communities that share a passion for playing online games, and we’re enhancing the online experience for PC gamers who have long desired seamless game and voice connectivity — it’s a win for everyone.”

Members of Xbox LIVE automatically receive the functionality of Games for Windows — LIVE, using the same gamertag and friends list at no additional cost. For a single, unified service, the pricing of the LIVE services across both Xbox and Games for Windows is identical. In addition, Games for Windows — LIVE introduces the best of Xbox LIVE functionality to please PC gamers, such as in-game voice chat, integrated achievements and dedicated servers. The offering of both Silver and Gold memberships will remain in place for gamers on the Xbox 360 and Windows PC. There is no cost associated with signing up for a Silver membership. Gold memberships will deliver the premium online network experience for $49.95 (U.S.) per year. Current Xbox LIVE Gold members will automatically have access to Gold features on Games for Windows — LIVE titles.

Silver Membership Features

• Single gamertag

• Common gamer profile

• Common gamerscore

• Single player achievements

• Private chat via text and voice

• Common friends list and online presence

• PC only multiplayer including browsing a list of active PC games

Gold Membership Features

• All Silver membership features

• Multiplayer matchmaking with friends

• TrueSkill™ matchmaking

• Multiplayer achievements

• Cross-platform gameplay

These features of the LIVE services will enable gamers to communicate online and play supported games across both of Microsoft’s gaming platforms, bringing more players and their friends together to connect in new and exciting ways. The following games make up the first wave of titles to support the Games for Windows — LIVE service:

• “Halo 2” for Windows Vista (Microsoft® Game Studios). Release date: May 8, 2007. The highly anticipated title brings Master Chief to Windows Vista and is the first title to incorporate the new Games for Windows — LIVE service. Windows Vista gamers will be able to challenge each other in PC-to-PC multiplayer matches and earn achievements for the first time in the “Halo” franchise, as well as communicate via voice or text with other Xbox LIVE or Games for Windows — LIVE members. The visually enhanced classic includes an all-new Map Editor, which will allow for new content and greater game customization. “Halo 2” will be playable with mouse and keyboard or the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows.

• “Shadowrun” (Microsoft Game Studios). Release date: June 2007. The intense first-person shooter will let gamers rewrite the rules of engagement as they vie for supremacy in an experience that rewards cleverness, cunning and split-second improvisation through a unique combination of modern weapons, ancient magic and advanced technology. The first title to connect both Windows Vista and Xbox 360 gamers in cross-platform competition will let up to 16 players battle online. Cross-platform play will require Gold level membership. More information can be found at http://www.shadowrun.com.

• “UNO®” (Carbonated Games/Mattel Inc.). Release date: 2007. The classic party card game that’s a No. 1 hit on Xbox LIVE Arcade is also coming to Windows Vista and Games for Windows — LIVE. Gamers will be able to compete against three other players on the Xbox 360 or Windows Vista platforms to match colors and symbols and be the first to play every single card in this award-winning game. For gameplay today, “UNO®” is currently available on MSN® Games, Messenger Games and Xbox LIVE Arcade.

About Games for Windows

Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system in the world for games, delivering the widest range of titles, the most gaming hardware choices, and advanced gaming technology for players of all types. With Windows as the cornerstone, the Games for Windows platform offers publishers and gamers the most enjoyable and innovative gaming experiences available on a PC. More information can be found online at http://www.gamesforwindows.com.

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as “Age of Empires®,” “Flight Simulator” and “Zoo Tycoon®”; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com/), including such games as “Gears of War” and franchises such as “Halo,” “Fable®,” “Project Gotham Racing®” and “Forza Motorsport™”; and MSN Games (http://www.games.msn.com/), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as “Bejeweled” and “Hexic®.”

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox LIVE online gaming network and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a catalog of more than 160 high-definition games and is available in 37 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows — LIVE

These LIVE services for gaming provide the first and a fully comprehensive cross-platform gaming experience, uniting players on Xbox 360 and select Games for Windows titles. These LIVE services make it easy for members to find friends, games and entertainment regardless of their preferred platform. LIVE connects millions of members across 25 countries, allowing them to easily communicate with each other and to enjoy the convenience of a single gamer profile, Gamerscore and Friends List while playing hundreds of multiplayer games. When accessing Xbox Live from an Xbox 360, members can download a wide variety of content that includes games via Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV shows, and movies as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live and http://www.gamesforwindows.com/en-US/live/aboutLive.aspx.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.

PRESS RELEASE: Nintendo’s Wii to Leverage Multiplayer Technology from IGN Entertainment’s GameSpy

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:51:00 +0000

Leader in Multiplayer Technology Enables Exclusive Community Functionality for Nintendo’s Hit Console

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GameSpy, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, announced today that it will provide multiplayer technology to game publishers developing titles for Nintendo’s Wii™ video game system. As part of an ongoing partnership with Nintendo, GameSpy has developed middleware technology to enable Wii titles to offer community features, such as friend rosters, advanced matchmaking capabilities and comprehensive rankings data.

“This partnership will expand our wireless community of players on Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “Millions of Nintendo DS users have already logged on using GameSpy’s technology, and now Wii owners will be able to do the same in a fun and easy-to-use environment.”

“Nintendo has been an invaluable partner and we look forward to expanding our relationship with them in the future,” said Jamie Berger, Senior Vice President of Consumer Products and Technology for IGN Entertainment. “Our goal is to extend our ground-breaking work on the Nintendo DS to provide Wii users with the social, community and multiplayer tools that we believe will expand the online gaming experience to the mass market.”
Pokémon® Battle Revolution, the first Wii game to utilize the technology, launches on June 25, with multiplayer features similar to those leveraging GameSpy technology in several Nintendo DS titles.

Prior to this development agreement for Wii, GameSpy and Nintendo brought gamers wireless community options for Nintendo DS™. The service provided an innovative network for portable video games, allowing people around the world to link easily and wirelessly to play games. The partnership represented GameSpy’s first foray into portable games.

About GameSpy

GameSpy, a division of IGN Entertainment, is the leader in multiplayer gaming technology. Utilized by each of world's top ten publishers, GameSpy's technology is accessible on eight different platforms and featured in more than 400 current titles.

About Fox Interactive Media:

A division of News Corporation (NYSE:NWS), Fox Interactive Media (FIM) offers a global, border-free online network that caters to consumers by giving them the platform and tools to express themselves, communicate with each other, and engage with the best music, TV, film, sports, information and more. The company's worldwide network includes such category leaders as MySpace, IGN Entertainment, FOXSports.com, RottenTomatoes, AskMen, AmericanIdol.com and more that together comprise one of the largest and most engaged audiences on the Web.

About Nintendo

The worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Game Boy® Advance and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. Since 1983, Nintendo has sold nearly 2.2 billion video games and more than 387 million hardware units globally, and has created industry icons like Mario™, Donkey Kong®, Metroid®, Zelda™ and Pokémon®. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.nintendo.com/.

GDC 2007: New Mii Channel In Development

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 22:59:00 +0000

At Nintendo’s keynote address earlier today in which creative genius Shigeru Miyamoto spoke to game developers about the creative process, he mentioned how Nintendo tossed around the idea of creating virtual avatars for 20 years without producing anything worthwhile and how pleased he was that his work finally came to fruition in the form of the Mii avatars on the Wii. Due to the increasing success of the Mii system, Nintendo will be creating a new Wii channel centered on Miis.

Very few details were divulged by the creator of the iconic Mario, but apparently, users from around the world will be able to compare their customized Miis with Miis from around the world in a sort of “popularity contest” over the internet. Other details such as a release date or even a name were not released.

GDC 2007: Wii to Go Online June 25

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 15:51:00 +0000

In a recent interview concerning the future games lineup for the Wii, release dates for the Q2 lineup have been revealed and thus, we now have a set date for the Wii’s first online enabled game. Wii owners looking for a little friendly competition in the online arena will soon be able to do so.

Pokemon Battle Revolution, the game already expected to be the first in what is hopefully a long line of online enabled games is the continuation of one of Nintendo’s largest and most powerful franchises. Gamers in Japan have already been taking their battles online since the console’s launch last November and US gamers will finally have their chance to do the same on June 25.

DS owners will be able to pair their DS and Wii together and utilize the DS as a touch sensitive controller and use their captured Pokemon in the soon to be released Pokemon Diamond and Pearl on the big screen. In addition to the DS versions planned friend versus friend online play, Pokemon Battle Revolution will allow players to take on other players from around the world through the game’s in game leaderboards.

Other online enabled games set to come are Super Mario Strikers and Battalion Wars. The first third party online enabled games are due to come out later this year, adding to the Wii’s catalog of online enabled games. More details to come as we hear them.

GDC 2007: Playstation Home Confirmed and First Details Released

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 05:42:00 +0000

Playstation fans have found a new Home. The Playstation Home was demoed early yesterday at the Game Developer’s conference and has since sparked much enthusiasm in both developers, and Playstation 3 fans across the globe. Sony’s answer to Xbox Live is finally taking form, and based on what was shown here, it’s going to be one heck of a step up from the current Playstation Network offerings.

The Playstation Home is a three dimensional world in which players can create fully customizable virtual avatars, similar to Nintendo’s Mii system, and walk around the virtual landscape, socializing with other Playstation 3 users and playing casual games. Each player is given their own virtual apartment space they can decorate as they see fit with furniture they acquire within the “game” and virtual trophies earned through your accomplishments in Playstation 3 games, sort of like the Xbox 360’s achievements.

The service itself is free to use and enjoy, but certain things such as special items of clothing for your avatar and special pieces furniture are made available for a small fee. In another effort to subsidize the costs of running the service and making it free for all Playstation 3 users, there will be dynamic advertisements posted at certain points within the world. Exact specifics of what sort of advertisements expected to be displayed are unknown, but we imagine there will be small things such as posters advertising upcoming games or short commercials playing on a virtual screen.

Sony’s worst kept secret as of late (and one worth fighting to keep secret) has turned out to be one of the most promising and potentially huge announcements for the Playstation 3 to date. Keep checking back to GameTime News Network for more updates as we go more in depth with the service later on this week.

Alien Hominid Invading Xbox Live Arcade This Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:22:00 +0000

Alien Hominid, originally developed as a flash based game on the PC in 2002, has seen US releases on the Playstation 2 and GameCube in 2004 and now makes its way to the Xbox 360 in the form of Alien Hominid HD. In line with previous Xbox Live Arcade releases, the game is set to release this Wednesday at 1 A.M. PST.

For its release on the Xbox Live Arcade, the game will feature high-definition graphics, online and offline multiplayer support for up to four players in the minigames and up to two can play co operatively through the main game.

Alien Hominid HD will be priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10) and is rated T for teen by the ESRB.

PRESS RELEASE: European Playstation 3 First Party Software Pricing Announced

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:02:00 +0000

London, 26 February 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced pricing details for its first party title launch line-up, to accompany the 23rd March 2007 launch of PLAYSTATION®3.

Providing details of the prices to be charged for first party software available on both disc and through the PLAYSTATION®Network1, SCEE confirmed that its five disc based launch titles, including the highly acclaimed Motorstorm™ and Resistance: Fall of Man™ will be priced at an RRP of €59.99 (£39.99, AUD 99.95, NZ 109.95).

In addition to the disc based games SCEE also announced that exclusive and innovative experiences developed especially for download from the PLAYSTATION®Network such as BlastFactor, flOw and Super Rub a Dub, together with iconic gaming brands such as Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection will be made available for an introductory period at prices which range from €2.99 to €9.99 depending on the specific title.

Other first party content available on the PLAYSTATION®Network such as game items and premium video content will be priced on an easy to understand sliding scale of charges starting as low as €0.99 and increasing depending on the scope of the product. This could range from a new SingStar track to a premium pack for MotorStorm, which would include a new track, additional vehicles, liveries and multiplayer modes.

In announcing these prices, David Reeves, President and CEO of SCEE said, “Not only will it be completely free to register on the PLAYSTATION®Network with no subscription fees and access to many free demos, but with these competitive prices for additional content we are able to offer the consumer both top quality games on Blu-ray discs and a whole range of downloadable content from the PLAYSTATION®Network. With over 30 first and third party disc and network games available at launch, we are confident that this will be one of the most successful launches of all time.”

New Downloadable Content and a Patch on the Way for Gears of War

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:07:00 +0000

Since its release on November 7th 2006, Gears of War has become the most played game on Xbox Live, dethroning the mighty Halo 2 for the first time since its release. Players have been chainsawing each other to bits and stomping each other’s heads in all over the ten maps included with Gears of War. Later this week, they’ll have two new places to shoot at each other and blow each other apart. Microsoft has just announced that there will be two new multiplayer maps available on Xbox Live.

Epic games recently mentioned that free downloadable content was on the way for Gears of War and this week, they will deliver on their promise. This Wednesday, two new multiplayer maps will be available on the Xbox Live Marketplace. No specific time was mentioned for the release of the downloads, but we speculate that it will be released at 1 AM Pacific Time, concurrent with the times recent Wednesday releases have been posted.

Brief descriptions, as well as a few screenshots of the two maps have been released by Microsoft. Raven Down takes place at the crash site of a Raven helicopter and Old Bones sees players battling for supremacy across several Museums.

The two maps are sponsored by the Discovery Channel, which will soon be launching a contest, giving away 2 million Microsoft Points in 400 point increments for use in the Xbox Live Marketplace. Full details regarding the promotion have not yet been released but will soon be posted on the website www.readyaim.com.

Full details regarding problems the patch will address will be available at the Gears of War forums. For more information regarding the game read our official review.

January Rumor Mill

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 23:05:00 +0000

The new year has just begun and already a number of juicy rumors have been swirling around. The rumor about the Xbox 360 Version 2 (Zephyr) was just the tip of the iceberg. As always, I am required to state that this list of rumors should be taken with a grain of salt.

Playstation 3:

Lair will have online play.
Metal Gear Solid 4 will be released by the end of 2007.
White Knight Story demo due out in March.
A Final Fantasy VII remake is planned for the Playstation 3.
An old Playstation One franchise will be resurrected for the Playstation 3.
Coded Arms has been cancelled for the Playstation 3.

Xbox 360:

Banjo-Threeie release will see the release of Banjo and Kazooie for the Xbox Live Arcade.
New Conker game in the works.
Halo 3 will be out by 2007.
Lost Odyssey will be simultaneously released worldwide on its release date.
Perfect Dark is in the works for the Xbox Live Arcade
Devil May Cry 4 will see an Xbox 360 release.
Tekken 6 might come to 360.

Wii:

Some games will be updated with online play and new features, including: Excite Truck, Call of Duty 3, and Wario Ware Smooth Moves.
Metroid Prime 3 will be the first game to feature online play for the Wii.
The next Wii system update will include a section for game demos and the activation of the News Channel.
Star Fox is in development by Nintendo for the Wii.
A new Kid Icarus game is in development.
Virtual Console games might be updated.
NIGHTS Sequel is in the works for the Wii.
Kingdom Hearts 3 will be released on the Wii.
Fire Emblem Wii will have 2 parts: One being the original Fire Emblem.
From Software is developing a first person action game for Wii.
Swords of Legendia is a spin off of Tales series.

Nintendo DS:

Phoenix Wright 3 is in the works for DS.
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl will be released alongside Pokemon Battle Revolution.
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass will be released in March.

Playstation Portable:

Sly Cooper: Portable Theft is in the works for the PSP.
Capcom is working on a new IP for the PSP.
A sequel for Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops in the works.

Second Version of the Xbox 360 revealed? (Codename: Zephyr)

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 21:21:00 +0000

There is a rumor floating around the internet today that there is an updated version of the Xbox 360 in development, codenamed “Zephyr” that includes an HDMI port and a much bigger 120 gigabyte Hard Drive. The Xbox 360 was recently updated to provide 1080p output through VGA and component cables but the question lingering on everyone’s mind was whether the Xbox 360 could output a digital signal (and more importantly support HDMI output) for use on televisions that do not support 1080p via analog signals. For a while, there was much speculation that Microsoft would release an HDMI cable for the Xbox 360, but based on the rumor, they have just decided to throw in an HDMI port instead. This is not the first time this has been rumored, according to another rumor that surfaced a few months ago, the HDMI equipped Xbox 360 was already in development.

The rumored 120 gigabyte hard drive is a much needed add on, as Xbox 360 users are finding themselves short on space after downloading the many demos and high definition movies and television shows available on the Xbox Live Marketplace. It is unknown whether or not the larger hard drive will come bundled with the new console or will be sold separately. The price of this new console (if this rumor is in fact, true) is still up in the air but I guess it will come in at $399 and the current Xbox 360 console will receive a price drop. When will this console be available for purchase? That is also unknown, but from what I hear, “soon”.

As for my personal take, this does not sit too well. I get the feeling that Microsoft is milking the extra buck out of current Xbox 360 owners who have 1080p televisions that only accept 1080p signals through HDMI. These people have only two options if they want to enjoy their Xbox 360 in the full 1080p resolution, they can buy a new television that can support 1080p through VGA or Component inputs, or buying the updated Xbox 360. Although this is not the first time a hardware manufacturer has revised their hardware (see Sony’s slim line Playstation 2 and Nintendo’s DS Lite), I would rather not have to buy a new version of something I already have to get the best experience. But, I do understand that this is only a rumor and should be taken with a grain of salt until an official announcement is made.

Wii Internet Browser Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:16:00 +0000

After promises of browsing the Web from the comforts of your living room for months now, Nintendo has finally delivered on that promise. The trial version of the Opera browser has been released for the Wii today for users across the world to download and evaluate until the final version is released next March.

The browser itself is pretty easy to use, you point the Wii remote directly at the screen and use the pointer as a virtual mouse. When you load the browser, you are taken to the start page, where you can then enter a website URL. Text entry is a bit time consuming, and there is no support for a USB keyboard at this time. The navigation buttons are large and easily accessed at the bottom of the screen. There is an option to bookmark your favorite sites so you can return to them later, eliminating the need to type them into the browser over and over again.

The interface is clean and accessible by even the gaming illiterate and it couldn’t get much simpler. Unfortunately, in many ways, it’s too simple. Power users won’t get much use out of it in the long run. You can only view one web page at a time, a far cry from browsers of today which allow you to simultaneously view many web pages at once. Even the Wii’s competitor the Playstation 3 allows for the viewing of multiple websites at once and provides methods of switching between them quickly and efficiently.

The Wii browser has no problems handling graphics heavy sites and loads them pretty quickly. The Wii browser even supports the Macromedia Flash player and has no problems viewing and interacting with the majority of flash content such as games and videos. Not all flash content will work with the Wii browser. Many sites that utilize Flash content coded in more recent Macromedia flash players will not work and will prompt you to upgrade your software, which at this point is impossible.

There are a few bugs in the browser which cause you to arbitrarily jump back to the start page. This is not entirely the fault of the Wii’s browser, much of the time this is due to poor coding. Some sites are unable to be loaded in the Wii browser and constantly refresh themselves before the page has completed loading and then send you back to the start page. Occasionally I have hit the back button to return to a page I was just looking at and found myself back at the starting page. At the end of the day, the glitches, while annoying, won’t significantly impact your enjoyment of the browser.

In the end, the browser does what it promised, allow quick and easy access to the internet from the comforts of your couch. It isn’t exactly the deepest or full featured browser you can get, and won’t replace your PC as your main internet browsing device but for those who just need a way to check their email, news or the latest sports scores, its great. I look forward to the final release next March in which the glitches will (hopefully) be fixed. Until then, if you've got a Wii and you'd like to surf the net on your television screen this is perhaps the easiest way to do it.

Gears of War Review

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 05:47:00 +0000

Gears of War is probably the most hyped game this year. Since it was announced, and the first screenshots were debuted, the graphics were what took center stage every time it was shown. It was touted as one of the best looking games of all time. Its gameplay also received much praise due to its “stop and pop” play mechanics. Its multiplayer received massive amounts of hype due to its fast tactics and emphasis on teamwork. Hype is a funny thing. Excellent games benefit greatly from the hype, going down in history as one of the best games ever made. On the contrary, it can also instill expectations in people that it can never live up to, leaving the player disenfranchised and disappointed. Gears of War is one of the few games nowadays that merits every bit of the hype it accumulated.

The game takes place on the war torn planet of Sera fourteen years after the events of “Emergence Day” the day when the Locust horde arose from the depths of the planet, laying siege to its inhabitants. The main protagonist, Coalition of Ordered Governments soldier and general badass Marcus Fenix fought against the horde during that time but received a distress call from none other than is own father. Marcus promptly left his post, disobeying orders and going AWOL. After unsuccessfully trying to save his father, Marcus was arrested and sentenced to forty years in prison for his crimes. After four years of serving his time, Dominic Santiago, one of Fenix’s friends in the military broke him out of prison, telling him that he had received a conditional pardon to help fight the Locust horde.

The game begins in the prison, and the player has the option to go through a brief tutorial section, or jump right into the fight. The tutorial gives you the basics of the rather complicated control scheme. You quickly learn that the A button on the Xbox 360 controller is going to be your new best friend throughout the game as there are many important actions mapped to this one button. Hit the A button near a wall or anything that can be used as cover and your character will slam his back onto it. Once you’re in cover, pressing the A button again will cause you to leave cover. It’s pretty impressive to see how well the cover mechanic is worked into the gameplay. It transcends the level of a simple gimmick (a la the recent Perfect Dark Zero) and becomes an essential part of the game.

This tutorial also introduces you to the “active reload” system. Once you hit the reload button, a meter appears with two small bars and one sliding along the meter. The key is to hit the reload button once more on the smallest zone, or the “sweet spot”. This causes you to reload your weapon much quicker and the bullets added to your clip begin to glow in the ammo counter, signifying that they cause much more damage than standard bullets. If you hit the reload button in the larger zone, you will get a much faster reload, but no damage boost. If you hit the button anywhere else on the meter, your weapon will jam, and will take much longer to reload. Of course, you can hit the reload button once and get a standard reload, but where’s the fun in that? The active reload system manages to add strategic depth to an otherwise mundane task in other shooters.

Holding the A button down causes you to begin the “roadie run” maneuver, which causes you to lower your head and begin running. The camera pulls back and a bit to the right as you begin running as if it were being held by someone running behind you. You cannot fire while roadie running and it obscures the view of things in front of you, so it’s mainly useful as a way to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible.

The Roadie Run Maneuver

As soon as you exit your prison cell and take control of Marcus Fenix for the first time, you’ll immediately see why this game has received a good portion of the massive hype it’s gained throughout its development…the incredible, eye melting, bleeding edge and whatever other adjective or phrase you can think of that’s synonymous with amazing. Gears of War is the best looking game on shelves this year and will remain that way for some time. It’s just that good. The attention to detail is simply phenomenal. Everything in the environment is detailed to an insane degree. The visually diverse environments all share the “destroyed beauty” theme. You’ll traverse the now bombed out remains of buildings and homes, a stunning underground mine alight with the glow of the “imulsion” rivers that flow there, to a dark, rain-soaked forest, alight with the eerie glow of the moonlight. There is also some great use of subtle motion blur as you’re roadie running or make sharp turns in any direction. The explosion and smoke effect are also worthy of praise, as you’ll find yourself using smoke grenades very often to throw off your enemies.

There is a substantial amount of blood and gore in this game, whether you’re blasting an opponent to bits with a close up shotgun blast, shooting them with a sniper rifle, causing their head to explode in a fountain of thick red blood and bits of skull, or sawing them in half with the chainsaw, you’ll quickly realize that this was intended for mature audiences only. Blood often splatters on the screen, during one of the chainsaw kills and after taking a buckshot round in singleplayer. This is one game that has to be seen in motion to be truly appreciated and there is no game on the Xbox 360 that flexes its graphical muscle better.

The devastating and gory chainsaw attack

The single player campaign chronicles the battles of Fenix and his squadmates as they attempt to bring the fight to the Locust horde directly. Gears of War ramps up the intensity to high levels from the outset of the campaign and it doesn’t let up until the final credits roll. Despite its incredible intensity, Gears of War not your average run and gun shooter that rewards running around, guns-a-blazing. The action is not constant, but on higher difficulty levels, you’ll be very happy with the breaks. Enemy confrontations are exciting and challenging, assuming you’re playing this on the “Hardcore” difficulty.

As a side note on the difficulty, there are two difficulty settings to choose from at the outset. The Casual difficulty is incredibly easy in comparison to the Hardcore difficulty. There isn’t much of a balance between the two. The jump from Casual to Hardcore is similar to the difference between easy and hard in most shooters. After you’ve gone through the game once, you unlock the “Insane” difficulty, which truly deserves its name. The challenge ramps up significantly, as enemies do even more damage and are even smarter than before, resulting in even quicker deaths if you don’t take cover quickly and effectively. The AI is pretty good, but really unbalanced. The enemies are reasonably smart executing flanking maneuvers, taking cover when they need to and most of the time, don’t charge idiotically into a hailstorm of bullets. You teammates on the other hand, not so much. You’ll often see them go down in heated battles, dependent on you to save them. Thankfully, the majority of the time, they cannot be killed and instantly revive once the battle is over.

The single player campaign is a bit on the short side, spanning about eight to twelve hours, depending on difficulty. In an effort to add replay value, there are a few instances when you encounter a proverbial fork in the road and you’ll have the choice between two paths. The paths are diverse enough most of the time to warrant multiple playthoughs so it makes for a nice touch.

The story itself is one of the game’s low points. Without a good understanding of the game’s back story, much of the story will be lost on you and what there is, is pretty confusing. The story is told well through the excellent movie quality cutscenes (particularly one scene near the end of Act 1) and although the dialogue is rather dry and campy, the voice actors work well with what they were given. The characters mesh with each other pretty well, and you’ll notice the genuine bond they develop throughout the game but like the story itself, they don’t have much depth. The ending is a bit lackluster, as it leaves the player wanting much more. It sets up well for a sequel, but doesn’t stand too well on its own.

One of the strengths of Gears of War is its rather varied weapon selection. The standard array of weapons is present, ranging from the Lancer assault rifle, the shotgun, the pistol, frag and smoke grenades, a sniper rifle, and a rocket launcher (named the Boom Shot here). Unconventional weapons such as the Torque Bow and Hammer of Dawn are fun to use. The Torque Bow fires explosive tipped arrows that you must first charge by holding down the trigger. If you don’t hold the trigger down long prior to firing, the arrow will not penetrate your target and will likely bounce off. The Hammer of Dawn is unique among the other weapons, in the fact that it doesn’t actually fire a projectile of any kind but instead “paints” its target. Seconds later, the orbital laser rains down from the heavens in the form of a concentrated beam of energy, obliterating anything in its path.

The Lancer assault rifle is one of the most unconventional weapons in any game and will definitely go down in history as one of the best weapons in a videogame. Not because it functions uniquely as an assault rifle, but because of the so called “chainsaw bayonet” mounted on the end. Holding down the B button revs up the chainsaw, which creates one of the most intimidating sound effects in the game in a multiplayer situation. Revving the chainsaw and running up to an enemy starts a very gory, un-interactive cutscene in which you lower the chainsaw onto and through your opponent, causing blood to spray everywhere (even covering the camera) and instantly killing your unlucky victim in a most glorious fashion. It’s quite possibly the best use of a chainsaw in any game.

There is a decent variety of enemies, featuring the standard automatic rifle equipped grunts, your slightly more hardy shotgun carrying tough guys, the easy to kill and be killed by snipers, the ruthless and deadly Theron Guard, who wield the powerful and very deadly Torque Bow, the imposing and nearly bulletproof (seriously, it will take multiple clips to take these guys down on harder difficulties) “BoomShot” carrying Boomers, the incredibly powerful and nearly indestructible berserkers and what’s sure to become the bane of players everywhere, the Wretches. As soon as you hear their trademark piercing shriek for the first time, you’ll wish you’ll never have to hear it again. They charge toward you incredibly fast, unbecoming of the type of shooter this is, and not fitting with the game's relatively slow pace. Their rather frequent appearance really upsets the balance and are a constant annoyance, especially in the later levels when you encounter the "imulsified" variants, which explode once killed. On the Hardcore and Insane difficulties, these explosions can instantly kill you adding to the annoyance if you find yourself dead at the hands of a close range wretch explosion.

The Multiplayer experience in Gears of War is the reason you’ll continue playing this game long after you’ve finished the main campaign. As exciting as it is, the Single player experience simply doesn’t compare to the intensity and fast tactics of the multiplayer modes. Epic, experienced in creating entertaining and exciting multiplayer shooters, demonstrates once more that they know how to create a well balanced and thoroughly entertaining suite of multiplayer modes.

Even the campaign mode benefits from the multiplayer touch. At any time while you’re playing the solo campaign mode you can either plug in a second controller for splitscreen play or invite a friend to join your game via Xbox Live. When the second player joins the game, they take control of Dominic. This makes the battles even faster and more intense. You’ll probably notice early on that you now have the option to revive your partner once they go down as you would the computer in the solo game. That is unless the character is instantly killed by an explosion, point blank shotgun blast to the face, chainsaw, etc. or you’ve been separated from your partner during one of the few sections in which you have the choice between two paths. Going through the campaign with a friend is great fun, as you set up flanking maneuvers, point out enemy hotspots and watch each other’s back.

The biggest draw however is the several versus modes. While splitscreen play is awfully limited in design (only offering play for two people), the system link and online modes are much more robust. There are three versus gametypes to choose from, but they share a few things in common. There is an eight player limit, are all team based and you only have one life per round. Once you die, it’s off to the dead channel for the remainder of the round, where you can watch the duration of the round and chat with the other players who have died (regardless of which team they’re on).

When you begin searching for or hosting a match, you have the three gametypes to choose from. Warzone is your straightforward team deathmatch. Execution differs from Warzone in the fact that you have to perform an instant kill (chainsaw, grenade tag, etc.) or close up execution to your foe once they’re in the bleeding out stage in the form of a point blank pistol bullet to the head, curb stomp or otherwise and long range shots will do no damage. If you don’t perform an execution, they will recover from the bleeding out stage and rejoin the fight. Assassination requires your team to kill the other team’s “leader” to win the match. Once the leader is killed, the round is over.

The play balance, while good overall, could use a few tweaks to make it truly shine. First off, the Lancer assault rifle which is automatically equipped at the beginning of each round, is a favorite among many players for its instant kill potential via the chainsaw bayonet. Some players rely on it entirely to rack up kills. Thus, if you see someone running towards you with the chainsaw revved and you’re not quick on the draw, or extremely lucky, you might find yourself on the wrong end of a chainsaw attack. Most of the time if you shoot them before they get within slicing range, they will stagger backwards and stop their attack, allowing you to get a quick kill. Occasionally, I’ve shot my opponent point blank with a shotgun or another weapon and they’ve still managed to get the attack.

Second, the “grenade tagging” mentioned earlier is far too easy to pull off. From long distance, the other player won’t have the opportunity to get close and tag you, but some are crafty in their pursuit and can manage to get close before you can squeeze off enough shots to drop them. There are also a few problems with collision detection when tagging someone. I’ve observed players being tagged when the attacker was several feet away.

Overall, the multiplayer is an incredible experience and really demonstrates Epic’s knowledge and experience creating great multiplayer games. It demands teamwork, is visceral and fun, and highly competitive. There are a few issues with play balance, the rather low player limit, and longevity in the form of the game’s lack of traditional multiplayer modes, but these issues aren’t at all game breaking and likely won’t hamper your enjoyment of this excellent multiplayer experience.

In the end, Gears of War lives up to the enormous hype it accumulated over the course of its development. The graphics are everything they were promised to be and stand out as a showpiece for the Xbox 360. The single player campaign is a bit short, but satisfying all the same. The story is a bit convoluted and could’ve been fleshed out a lot more than it was. The multiplayer experience is simply awesome and shows that Epic truly knows how to make a multiplayer game work. Gears of War is overall an excellent and well polished game. Its few flaws are easily overlooked and in the end, it’s a great addition to the Xbox 360’s library.

Pros

Excellent graphics and consistent framerate
"Stop and pop" gameplay is intense and fun
Addictive Multiplayer

Cons

Lacking story and character depth
Multiplayer is limited to three similar modes

Gameplay - 9
Graphics - 10
Sound - 9
Value - 9
Tilt - 10

Overall - 9.5

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:13:00 +0000

X06 Rumor Control

The X06 event in Barcelona Spain is only one day away and already rumors are swirling as to what will be shown. According to gaming website Kotaku, a few very juicy rumors about what will be shown during the pre show press conference have surfaced on TeamXbox and NeoGaf forums.

Here are the most interesting rumors to surface (left unedited from its original state)

Tommorow is the X06 conference in Barcelona. Some info has been leaked
including some big surprises. Here is a list of what is going to be anounced
tommorow. Tune in for the confernce at Xbox.com from 6pm GMT.

Gears of War single player and multiplayer videos shown. Playable on
show floor.

HD-DVD anouncement. Release date and price for Europe and United
States. £119.99/E149.99 and December 1st release in Europe.$199.99 USD and
November 24th release in US.All will be bundled with Universal Media
Remote.

A new Halo 3 trailer is shown. Some multiplayer info revealed. Aiming
for 50-64 player online. Announce that Halo 3 will be the first game to run
natively on 1080p. They will make full use of this update. Available in 2007.
Playable behind closed doors.

More info about 1080p and how it will be done. New dashboard
announcement. Release date revealed for late November. Will allow users to try
out homebrew content made with XNA game express.

More news on Live Anywhere and how it will function. Talk about
function with Zune and XBLA titles.

Rare show off new version of Killer Instinct for the 360. Will
support 4 player tag matches. Playable on show floor.

Alan Wake shown and fully playable. Will also be availble on Windows
Vista. Coming this Spring.

Fable 2 trailer shown. Multiplayer confirmed.

Black Xbox 360 anounced. Available this Christmas around the world.
New Xbox 360 core and premium bundles shown. Xbox 360 Classics game list. Kameo,
PDZ included. More this spring including Oblivion.

Many more videos and games are playable. I have just listed some of
the major ones

The validity of the information has come into question, as the writers of said information have not listed their sources, if there were any to begin with. X06 officially begins tomorrow, September 27, 2006, so gamers will not have long to wait until the truth is revealed.

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 02:10:00 +0000

The Nintendo Fusion Tour is heading to a town near you!

Nintendo’s mantra concerning their upcoming Wii console is that “playing is believing”. Now, gamers across the US will get their chance to do just that nearly two months before the console launches at the Nintendo Fusion Tour. Though Nintendo planned on showcasing the console on the tour, only recently did they announce that the console would be made playable to the public.

The list of playable games (which is subject to change) includes Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam, Excite Truck, Wii Sports and WarioWare: Smooth moves. The portable Nintendo DS Lite will also be playable, including games such as Elite Beat Agents and the mega popular New Super Mario Bros. More DS games will be made available to attendees that have not yet been announced.

Beginning on September 27th in Columbus, Ohio, the Nintendo Fusion Tour will make 35 stops in cities across the US, ending on October 31st with a special Halloween concert in Seattle, Washington. The Hawthorne Heights will headline the event, and will feature the likes of Relient K, Emery, and Plain White T’s. Tour dates can be found on the official web site.

Nintendo has stated that the Wii is something that gamers have to experience the Wii to truly appreciate the innovative features of the Wii remote. Before this year’s E3, many gamers had been skeptical, but after having experienced it firsthand, attendees walked away convinced. Nintendo is hoping this tour will turn skeptics into believers.

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 02:02:00 +0000

News: Microsoft announces Xbox 360 Platinum Hits collection

Microsoft recently announced that they would be bringing back the Platinum Hits collection for the Xbox 360 console. Beginning on October 15th, gamers will be able to purchase Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3, Need for Speed Most Wanted and Kameo: Elements of Power for $29.99 USD. This will soon be followed by a second wave of games in the spring of 2007

“The Platinum Hits program allows existing gamers and new gamers alike to have access to great games at a great price,” said Mitch Koch, corporate vice president of Worldwide Retail Sales for the Interactive Entertainment Business. “Not only does the Platinum Hits program offer games at a great value,” Koch added, “it ensures that the platform's best games are available to new customers at an amazing price. And if you missed playing a game the first time around, now is a great reason to pick it up.”

Europe, Japan, Latin America, Asia and Australia will soon receive their own Platinum Hits lineup, with titles tuned to gamer’s tastes in those regions.

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 02:07:00 +0000

Nintendo Wii launch detailed in New York press event.

At this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, Nintendo’s pre-show press conference answered a lot of questions about the Wii’s upcoming games, the Wii Remote and left the majority of the gaming public very satisfied, but a few crucial bits of information were left out. These being the launch date, and price. Well after months of speculation about both, Nintendo has finally revealed the information they have kept such a tight lid on in a recent press event.

The price was among the first details to be released. On the November 19th release date, the Wii will retail for $249.95 in the US. The box will contain the Nintendo Wii console, one Wii remote controller, one nunchuck attachment and the sensor bar, which you place in front of the television screen and detects the movements of the Wii remote and the nunchuck. In addition, Nintendo, for the first time in over a decade, has announced that they are bringing back the pack in game. Every Wii console will come with the game Wii Sports, which was demoed on stage at this year’s E3 to show off the motion sensing functions of the Wii remote.

With game prices jumping ten dollars, to round out at $59.99 for third party titles on the Xbox 360 and possibly more on the upcoming Playstation 3 (although rumors have been swirling that Sony will adopt a similar pricing strategy to Microsoft’s), the gaming community has been wondering whether or not Nintendo will also make the jump in pricing. These rumors were shot down as Nintendo announced game pricing for both Wii games, and the legacy Virtual console titles. The price for Wii games will remain consistent with Gamecube game pricing last generation of $49.99. Virtual console game pricing is as follows, $5 for NES titles, $8 for SNES titles, and $10 for Nintendo 64 titles and will be purchased using Wii points, which can be obtained through pre-paid cards.

The Virtual console has been a point of interest for a long while since it was announced, but until now, nothing much had been said about it. Nintendo blew the doors off the virtual console, announcing both pricing, as mentioned above and titles available at launch. Nintendo announced that beginning on launch day and through the end of the calendar year, over 30 legacy titles will be available for download, including classics such as The Legend of Zelda, and Super Mario World. Beginning in January, the Virtual console library will grow by approximately 10 titles per month.

During the press conference, Nintendo spoke at length about the Wii’s interface, now known as “Wii Channels”. This interface is designed to make the Wii simple to use and very user friendly, another nod to their vision of expanding the market to include non gamers. The Wii shop channel will be the home of the virtual console games and will allow users to purchase and download other software, including the Opera web browser using Wii points, which can be purchased through pre paid cards. One channel they demonstrated at length for the audience was the “Mii” channel. This channel allows you to create custom avatars for use in upcoming games, including the aforementioned Wii Sports. You can create as many Mii’s as you wish and can even transfer them to the Wii remote itself and take them to a friend’s house. Two more channels of interest were the Weather channel and the News channel. When the console is connected to the internet, the user can browse recent news stories. The weather channel allows players to check the weather forecast for not only the region in which they live, but around the globe.

Rounding out the new push towards the internet Nintendo expects to revolutionize online play with what they calls WiiConnect24. This service is always on, and allows your console to receive updates such as new game news and content, even when the console is turned off.

This conference did what it promised. It answered the majority of the big questions surrounding the Wii, and left gamers with a lot to look forward to come launch day.

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:12:00 +0000

Pretty in Pink?

Sony has announced a new color for the Slimline PS2 models. Pink.

According to Sony, the recolor was designed to symbolize the growing and diverse demographic the Playstation 2 has developed since its European launch in November of 2000.

“PlayStation 2 is the accessible, affordable way to enjoy new social, communal and interactive entertainment experiences, through software titles like SingStar, Buzz and EyeToy”, said Dan Hill, PlayStation 2 European Brand Manager. “The Pink PlayStation 2 is funky, fresh, and fashionable, and will further broaden the console’s continuing popularity and relevance with a fun new twist”.

As of now, The new Playstation 2 has only been announced for European customers looking to add a bit more "diversity" to their enterainment centers. The limited edition PS2 will come packed with two pink DualShock 2 controllers, a pink 8MB Memory card and will retail for €159.99. In the UK it will come bundled with Singstar Pop for £129.99 The new PS2 bundles are expected to go on sale on November 6, 2006, shortly before the release of the highly anticipated Playstation 3.

The new Pink PlayStation 2 will make its debut European appearance on the Sony Computer Entertainment Stand at the games convention, Leipzig, August 23 - 27th.

noreply@blogger.com (The_Game21) — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:06:00 +0000

Rumor: Lumines Live! to charge players to advance in the game?

Keep in mind that this is only a rumor, nothing has yet been confirmed.

According to gaming website Gaming Bits, upcoming Xbox Live Arcade game Lumines Live! will be charging gamers who advance far enough in the game.

From a review in OXM (rating Lumines Live 8.5):"You'll be prompted to buy the Puzzle/Mission Pack (400 MS Points extra)" once you start "getting on a roll with Mission Mode".Also, in the VS CPU mode, when you are "knee-deep" in the VS CPU mode, "you'll be blocked by signage declaring: 'You need the VS CPU Pack (300 Points)."

This is of course in addition to the 1200 Microsoft Points the full game costs. So wait, to get the full version of the game, I need to pay an additional 700 Microsoft points (around eight or nine dollars)? That's ridiculous. This is the first time I've ever seen a developer penalize a gamer for doing well in a game.

I haven't seen the official OXM review to confirm this for myself, so I'm going to reserve judgment on this until it's been confirmed one way or another.