E-sports

Razer Edge gaming tablet starts at $1,000

2013-01-09T12:53:00.002+05:30

Today at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show, peripheral maker Razer renamed its Windows 8 "Project Fiona" gaming tablet simply "Edge." In addition to giving the device a new name, Razer revealed specifications, pricing, and timing information for a base model and a Pro version.

The base version, which will retail for $1000, runs on Windows 8 and includes a 10.1 inch touchscreen, an Intel Core i5 chip, a NVIDIA GT 640M GPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 64GB solid state drive. The $1,300 Pro model features a faster Core i7 chip, 8GB of RAM, and either 128GB or 256GB SSD.
Both versions include a front-facing 2MP high-definition camera and will be available sometime during Q1 (January-March 2013).
Various peripherals for the Razer Edge will also be available upon launch later this year. Most relevant to gamers is the Gamepad controller, which is now an optional feature for the device. This add-on (pictured above) features two controllers with backlit action buttons and analog sticks. This peripheral will retail for $250.
Other peripherals available for the Razer Edge are a keyboard dock ($200), docking station ($100) , extended battery pack ($50), and a 65 watt power adapter ($50).

Warner Bros. among interested THQ bidders

2013-01-07T13:36:00.000+05:30

Warner Bros. is one of five strategic buyers investigating a potential purchase of bankrupt publisher THQ, according to a report fromDistressed Debt Investing.

Reporting from inside a United States Bankruptcy Court hearing yesterday, DDI wrote in a series of tweets that THQ banker Sam Greene (of Centerview) testified five buyers are in "active due diligence" to pursue a purchase of THQ. The other parties were not named.

Greene also reportedly stated those potential buyers are interested in purchasing individual THQ properties, not the company's entire portfolio. This has been a sticking point in the sale process, as THQ is reportedly not interested in selling off individual properties.

Earlier this week, United States Trustee Roberta DeAngelis along with THQ creditors objected to the short timetable for the sale, saying the window of 30 days would put a cap on the number of potential bids. The creditors also took issue with THQ's intent to sell its franchises as a total package, instead of on a game-by-game basis.

An unnamed bondholder reportedly said during the hearing that THQ "didn't give enough information for [strategic buyers] to value individual titles." Warner Bros. legal representation said the company has a team in place "ready to complete due diligence if more time is allowed."

Judge Mary Walrath did not approve the bidding procedures, according to DDI, and instructed all parties to "work out their issues" over the weekend. A new hearing is set for Monday, January 7.

Tomb Raider

2013-01-02T17:35:00.002+05:30

Next year's Tomb Raider reboot will not be a single-player-only affair. Crystal Dynamics global brand director Karl Stewart recently revealed viaTwitter that the game will in fact ship with a multiplayer mode.

This was first speculated when United Kingdom retailer GAME listed multiplayer as a major feature for Tomb Raider. The details have since been removed, but it wassuggested that players would be able to control Lara's shipmates or Yamatai scavengers in a variety of modes.

First details on Tomb Raider's multiplayer mode will be revealed in Official Xbox Magazine's January issue, due to subscribers this week.

StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm beta expanded

2013-01-02T17:34:00.001+05:30

Blizzard Entertainment has expanded the beta for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Those who preordered a digital copy of the real-time strategy game on or before December 18 are now able to try out the game ahead of its scheduled release next year.

Gamers who digitally preordered StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm after December 18 will be added into the beta on a weekly basis. All can download the game's beta client, but only those whose accounts have been flagged for access will be able to log in.

Blizzard also noted that certain retailers, including Amazon, are offering preorder beta key codes for Heart of the Swarm. The company suggested players should check with these retailers for more information.

Heart of the Swarm is due March 12, 2013 at $40. A Collector's Edition that will include a behind-the-scenes DVD and Blu-ray disc, a soundtrack CD, a 144-page art book, and a Zerg Rush mousepad will also be available.

Assassin's Creed

2013-01-02T17:33:00.002+05:30

Assassin's Creed publisher Ubisoft is reportedly one of the top candidates interested in purchasing THQ's assets, following the company's bankruptcy filing this week. Sources have told MCV that the French publisher has shown interest in buying THQ's wholly-owned studios and franchises.

THQ's internal studios include Relic Entertainment, Volition, THQ Montreal, and Vigil Games. Some of the companies biggest properties are Saints Row, Red Faction, Homefront, Metro, and Company of Heroes.

This is not the first time Ubisoft has publicly acknowledged interest in THQ's properties. Last month, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said, "They have good things. We are always interested in good brands. For sure, it's something we can consider, but I can't tell you more."

MCV's sources say Ubisoft has held "lengthy discussions" with THQ to get a deal done. One of the main sticking points in the negotiations, according to the sources, is that of price. Ubisoft is reportedly interested in a "bargain buy," and will hold out until THQ decides to sell specific properties instead of a total package.

War Z creator apologizes for controversy

2013-01-02T17:32:00.000+05:30

Outspoken The War Z creator Sergey Titov has apologized for the game's controversial launch (and subsequent de-listing from Steam) earlier this month. In an open letter to the community, Titov said developer Hammerpoint Interactive "failed to effectively communicate" its plans for the new zombie survival game, which led to some "very negative feedback" from members of the community.

"I became arrogant and blinded by the early success and quick growth of The War Z, our increasing number of players, numbers we were getting from surveys, etc., and I chose not to notice the concerns and questions raised by these members of the game community as well as others," Titov said. "This failure is entirely on my shoulders and if anything I owe thanks to that vocal minority and admit that I should have paid attention sooner. I chose instead to concentrate on the bigger picture: my dream of turning The War Z from being a game developed by a small indie team into a large online venture, instead of addressing small things first and staying focused on the game issues."

Titov further noted that the events of the past week were "especially humbling." He said the past cannot be changed, but promised the same mistakes will not be made in the future.

"I was too focused on how great we are and how a small independent team got their first game to over 700,000 users in a two-month period," Titov said. "Though that is something to be very proud of, allowing that to overshadow the existing community and their satisfaction was poor judgment."

Titov explained that community management and moderation for The War Z fell short. He said Hammerpoint relied too heavily on forum moderators, whose primary directive was to punish those who broke rules, he said, instead of engaging the community and guiding conversations toward constructive discussion. Additionally, Titov said there was not enough attention paid to talking about upcoming War Z features or appropriate dialogue through social networks.

"There wasn’t enough presence of the development team on forums; there wasn’t enough updates on development of upcoming features. We failed to communicate our position and messaging on the outside platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and various online websites, and when we did this we chose to rely more on arrogance rather than being humble and trying to understand why people were saying negative things," he said.

The solution to the community management and moderation problems, Titov said, is an overhaul of Hammerpoint's community management procedures and rules. "We’re going to reevaluate publishing and marketing team performance, and I will make sure that Hammerpoint Interactive developers will have a much stronger voice when it comes to community management."

Titov also shared that one of his proposed ideas to engage the community further is to invite 10 players from around to the world to visit the Hammerpoint offices in Los Angeles, California. There, these gamers would meet the development team, get a look at in-development features, and addresses concerns, wishes, and other thoughts.

Lastly, Titov clarified that the current version of The War Z is titled "Foundation Release," which is a "first-stage" release used as a foundation to build on top of.

"I do believe that we aren’t even close to uncovering the true potential for The War Z, and I hope that in the coming year, we’ll be able to regain trust from people who were alienated by our actions and we’ll be able to move forward and grow the game together," Titov said.

Wii sells 3M in Dec and more news on game of wii

2010-01-06T15:21:00.001+05:30

Nintendo's Wii got off to a stumbling start during the heavily hyped Black Friday shopping window this year. Whereas the publisher sold 800,000 units during the week of Thanksgiving in 2008, that number fell to 550,000 in 2009, a slip that seemed to be in line with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata's statement that Wii sales have "stalled." As it would turn out, though, Wii sales rebounded in a big way during December.

The Wii: Still popular.

Citing internal sales figures, Nintendo announced today that Wii sales for the final month of 2009 surpassed 3 million units in the US alone. That figure compares more than favorably to the Wii's December 2008 performance, during which it sold 2.15 million units domestically, according to the NPD Group. Notably, Nintendo's console was also cheaper during the 2009 shopping window, as the Wii's price dropped $50 to $199 in September.
One game that helped propel those strong console sales is New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Nintendo also said today that its latest platformer featuring its iconic portly plumber has sold nearly 4 million units in the US to date, according to its internal estimates. In December, Nintendo said that New Super Mario Bros. Wii had shifted some 2 million units in the US in less than a month on the market.
Though Nintendo did not provide internal figures for the DS, the platform holder did indicate that its handheld had a monumental year. According to the publisher, the DS and camera-equipped DSi combined to set an "all-time calendar-year US sales record for any console or handheld system."
Official NPD numbers for December and all of 2008 are expected to be announced on Thursday, January 14.

Japan game sales slip 6.9% in 2009

2010-01-06T15:20:00.000+05:30

Much like the US market, the Japanese gaming industry has been unable to keep up with last year's pace. In July, Japanese stat-tracking firm and Famitsu publisher Enterbrain said that the island nation generated $2.3 billion from December 29, 2008 to June 28, off 24 percent from the same period a year ago. And while full-year sales were still down, the good news is that Japanese gaming industry made up a good bit of ground during the back half of the year.

Dragon Quest IX sold gangbusters in Japan last year.

As reported by Famitsu and translated by GameSpot, Enterbrain said today that Japanese game industry sales amounted to ¥542.6 billion ($5.91 billion) during the December 29, 2008-December 27, 2009 calendar year. That figure represents a 6.9 percent slip from 2008's tally of ¥582.6 billion ($6.35 billion).
Hardware sales contributed most heavily to Japan's sales decline, thanks in part to price cuts to the Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Total Japanese hardware sales came in at ¥216.5 billion ($2.36 billion), down 13.6 percent year-over-year. Handhelds led the charts, as the DS (including the DS Lite, DSi, and DSi LL) sold 4,025,313 units during the year, bringing lifetime sales in the region to 29,160,589. The PSP followed with 2,307,971 on the year in Japan and 13,386,455 lifetime sales to date.
The Wii led consoles sales in Japan with 1,975,178 units on the year and 9,501,999 since its release in December 2006. Sony's PS3 came in just behind that with 1,727,041 units sold, though it continues to trail Nintendo's popular console with 4,391,407 total systems sold. The Xbox 360 brought up the rear with just 331,706 systems sold during the year, giving it a lifetime tally in Japan of 1,197,873 units. Enterbrain did not offer sales figures for the PlayStation 2.
Software sales largely held steady during the year, slipping just 1.8 percent to ¥326.2 billion ($3.55 billion). Square Enix's Dragon Quest IX for the DS topped Enterbrain's sales chart, selling 4,100,968 units since its July 2009 release in Japan. A trio of Nintendo titles followed, as Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver sold 3,382,597 units, New Super Mario Bros. Wii shifted 2,485,150 copies, and Tomodachi Collection moved 2,311,948 games. Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII, which launched exclusively for the PS3 in Japan in late December, rounded out the chart with 1,698,256 units sold.
JAPANESE VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY - 2009
Hardware: ¥216,490,000,000 ($2.36 billion) / -13.6%
Software: ¥326,160,000,000 ($3.55 billion) / -1.8%
Total Games: ¥542,640,000,000 ($5.91 billion) / -6.9%
TOP-SELLING HARDWARE
Platform / 2009 Sales / LTD Sales
DS / 4,025,313 / 29,160,589
PSP / 2,307,971 / 13,386,455
Wii / 1,975,178 / 9,501,999
PlayStation 3 / 1,727,041 / 4,391,407
Xbox 360 / 331,706 / 1,197,873
TOP-SELLING SOTWARE
Rank / Title / Publisher / Platform / 2009 Unit Sales
1) Dragon Quest IX / Square Enix / DS / 4,100,968
2) Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver / Nintendo / DS / 3,382,597
3) New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Nintendo / Wii / 2,485,150
4) Tomodachi Collection / Nintendo / DS / 2,311,948
5) Final Fantasy XIII / Square Enix / PS3 / 1,698,256

NBA Jam rebounding at EA - ESPN

2010-01-05T13:29:00.000+05:30

EA Sports community manager Alain Quinto set gamers atwitter last month following a cryptic Twitter update that teased the reveal of a new game in January. That revelation now appears to have come, though it isn't EA Sports behind the announcement. Instead, EA Sports partner ESPN reports today that the publisher's newest title will actually be an old-time revival in the form of NBA Jam.

2003's NBA Jam was the last entry in the arcade-style basketball series.

Citing unnamed sources, ESPN states that NBA Jam will return exclusively for the Wii as a full retail product. Further, ESPN notes that EA Sports has hired on franchise creator Mark Turmell, along with a number of other contributors to the original, to work on the project and other sports titles at EA Vancouver. According to the noted developer's LinkedIn profile, Turmell has carried the senior creative director title at EA since October 2009.
Now-defunct publisher Midway released the original NBA Jam to arcades in 1993, where it became an overnight classic thanks to its two-on-two competitive mode, official roster, and memorable catchphrases. Acclaim released the most recent installment in the franchise, titled simply NBA Jam, for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 in 2003, garnering positive reviews.
EA Sports is expected to officially announce the title later this month. The publisher had not returned requests for comment as of press time.

WOW's Chinese regulatory dispute nears resolution

2010-01-05T13:15:00.000+05:30

Blizzard Entertainment's massively popular, massively multiplayer online role-playing franchise World of Warcraft boasts some 11.5 million users worldwide, and a significant chunk of that tally hails from China. However, since November, the online game's operation has been in jeopardy, after Blizzard's new distribution partner in the region, NetEase, became mired in a dispute between two regulatory agencies within China.

It looks like Chinese players won't be left waiting at the gates.

Today, Reuters reports that NetEase's travails may come to a conclusion this month. China's General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) told Reuters that a resolution and announcement concerning World of Warcraft would be revealed "very soon." Citing local media, Reuters reports that NetEase will be able to resume operating the game after paying an undisclosed fine.
GAPP had initially revoked NetEase's permit to operate the MMORPG due to "gross violations" of Chinese law. However, the Chinese Ministry of Culture quickly denounced the move, saying that GAPP "overstepped its authority" as it did not have the authority to penalize online gaming.
Despite the legal tussle, Blizzard confirmed for GameSpot that at no point did the game go offline in China. However, the dispute did impact the release of WOW's first expansion, The Burning Crusade. GAPP reportedly denied NetEase's application to localize the expansion pack as part of the interagency conflict. Citing analyst reports, Reuters notes that NetEase will now have an opportunity to bring the fast-selling add-on to China.

NetEase shares rebounded in a big way today. Having slipped more than 20 percent since September, shares in the online game operations company rose more than 10 percent to $41.66.

EA launching Tiger Woods Online this month

2010-01-05T13:12:00.000+05:30

With it being Tuesday in his native UK, EA Sports president Peter Moore has posted hishis statement on his blog. As predicted, it reveals that Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online will launch this month, having already been played by 75,000 people in a closed beta over the past eight months. EA reps said the company is aiming to launch the title within the next two weeks, when it will also announce its pricing model. Tiger Woods' PGA Tour will continue…online, at least. Perhaps more newsworthy is the tone of Moore's post, which offers strong support for the scandal-plagued Woods and draws a distinct line between his personal and professional life. "Our relationship with Tiger has always been rooted in golf," said Moore. "We didn't form a relationship with him so that he could act as an arm's length endorser. Far from it. We chose to partner with Tiger in 1997 because we saw him as the world's best, most talented and exciting golfer. We struck that partnership with the assumption that he would remain near or at the top of his sport for years to come." Moore continued, "By his own admission, [Woods has] made some mistakes off the course. But regardless of what’s happening in his personal life, and regardless of his decision to take a personal leave from the sport, Tiger Woods is still one of the greatest athletes in history." (The original story is below.) The end of 2009 saw Tiger Woods lose a string of high-profile endorsement deals from AT&T, Gillette, and consulting firm Accenture following his admission of marital infidelity. Now, it seems 2010 will begin with an announcement about the future of the near-billionaire golfer's 11-year-old golf game franchise, Tiger Woods PGA Tour.

Tiger Woods' PGA Tour will continue…online, at least.

Electronic Arts has confirmed to GameSpot that EA Sports president Peter Moore's blog will "have a statement regarding Tiger" sometime on Tuesday, January 5. EA reps declined to comment on what the outspoken executive might say about his company's relationship with the disgraced athlete or when Moore would publish his statement. However, USA Today believes that the announcement will be EA's confirmation that it is moving ahead with Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. Currently in closed beta, the recently previewed browser-based game will charge players a subscription fee in exchange for the regular addition of courses and features. USA Today reports that the game, currently available in demo form, will launch later this month, although EA reps had not confirmed that as of press time. Ever since Woods first admitted to committing personal "transgressions" last November, EA has stood by its longtime cover athlete. (He later admitted to infidelity outright.) "Our strong relationship with Tiger for more than a decade remains unchanged," company reps said at the time. EA Sports has not clarified whether or not the next entry in its console PGA Tour series will feature Woods on the cover or in the title. Its last Tiger Woods game, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, was released in June for the Wii, PSP, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. According to NPD Group figures, the game had sold over 1 million units on all platforms in the US as of November 30, with nearly half of those being the MotionPlus-enhanced Wii version.

play game

2010-01-04T10:16:00.000+05:30

Darksiders Updated Hands-On

2010-01-03T15:25:00.000+05:30

There are plenty of fantasy adventure games set in an age before time, but how many feature angels, demons, and the destruction of mankind set against the backdrop of a modern metropolis? Darksiders combines all this with an interesting storyline, crisp visuals, and challenging gameplay. We recently got a chance to play through the first few hours and talk to the game's creative director Joe "Mad" Madureira.

We thought of a cool way to trick people into letting us still do our fantasy game but putting it in the trappings of a modern day world…there's something really cool about seeing a demon pick up a bus and throw it into a building, and there's people screaming everywhere," explained Madureira on the idea behind the game. If you're new to Darksiders, then here's what you need to know: You play the role of War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. War serves the Charred Council, a mysterious force that holds the balance of power between the kingdoms of Heaven and Hell. For reasons unknown, War inadvertently starts Armageddon when he is summoned to Earth, and after mankind is annihilated, he needs to answer for his apparent crimes. It turns out that War was tricked into starting the Apocalypse by The Destroyer, a powerful demon who has taken over the planet after mankind's destruction. Throughout the game, you wage war against The Destroyer's demonic forces--angels that have been left behind on Earth--and any other supernatural entities that would stop you from your ultimate goal of reaching The Destroyer.
You're accompanied on this mission by The Watcher. Superbly voiced by Batman: Arkham Asylum's Mark Hamill, he has been instructed by the council to make sure that you stay on track. The Watcher is a useful companion because he's quick to point out your next objective, as well as intel, such as the weak points on boss enemies. You also meet an enterprising demon early on called Vulgrim who has struck a deal with the council so you can purchase a variety of useful items. These include weapons and abilities, new combos for your weapons, and an item that resurrects you when you receive a fatal blow. Killing enemies, destroying objects, and finding chests scattered around the world will earn you souls, which give you a currency, health, or wrath boost. Once you've earned enough wrath, you can activate special abilities, such as the blade geyser, which surrounds War with a ring of giant blades that damages nearby enemies. You will also discover hidden artefacts that can be used to redeem items from Vulgrim.
War has some epic weapons at his disposal, including his trusty sword, Chaoseater; a scythe; gun; shuriken; and grappling hook. Like other adventure games, you can acquire upgrades for these, such as one that increases weapon damage and binds it to specific items. The first weapon you get in the game is Chaoseater, and this oversized sword makes mincemeat of most enemies. As you use the sword, it levels up, increasing its damage along the way. Chaoseater is adorned with grotesque, screaming faces, and if you've equipped it with an upgrade, it will feature an ethereal glow, which makes it look even more badass. It also feels immensely enjoyable to use, with physics that are really satisfying, and some brilliant sound effects that can be heard when tearing apart demon flesh or clanging against armour.

Darksiders' decayed beauty is a sight to behold.

After a while spent harvesting souls, we were able to buy our first weapon: the scythe. This works differently from the sword because it has a longer reach and can be thrown at enemies, slicing through them in a vertical motion before returning to you. You can also purchase additional weapons, with others collected while exploring. One such weapon is the crossblade, a giant shuriken-like blade that works like a boomerang. You can use it for ranged attacks while dealing damage to nearby enemies. It can also be used to activate switches and transfer elements, such as fire, to certain items. We encountered temporary weapons as well, such as sticky bombs that can be picked up and thrown at surfaces to which they will then stick. We discovered a flaming variety that exploded after a few moments and dormant ones that needed to be ignited with fire using the crossblade. While mainly used to destroy barriers in our way, these bombs also proved useful when fighting certain boss characters by lobbing them at a boss and then igniting them with the crossblade.
Darksiders' prologue lets you play through a short section of Armageddon, which is followed by War's hearing before the council. After convincing the council to allow you to seek out The Destroyer, you're returned to Earth roughly 100 years later; a scene that is full of utter destruction, chaos, and lots of demons roaming the landscape. Our first major task was to seek out Samael, a powerful demonic force that also has a beef with The Destroyer and might be able to help us bring him to justice. Getting to Samael wasn't easy, though, because we had to battle our way through plenty of minions before we reached him to help us in our quest. Samael revealed that getting to The Destroyer's stronghold would required us to slay four "guardians," which are the game's formidable boss characters, and deliver their still-beating hearts to him. He then pointed us in the direction of the Twilight Cathedral where the first guardian, Tiamat the bat queen, was holed up. Early on in the game, we acquired the ability to glide by holding down the jump button for a few seconds. The result of this gliding was that a pair of black, feathered wings sprouted out of War's back, which allowed us to jump from platform to platform. Darksiders also includes flying sections, with one such area having us jump on the back of a huge eagle that we used to fight through skies filled with flying angels and demons. Our airborne adventure came to an abrupt end when Tiamat attacked our mount, which caused us to crash directly outside her lair: the Twilight Cathedral.
While the trailers for Darksiders have featured plenty of action, there's more to the game than that according to Madureira. "What can you show someone in a three-minute clip that is going to really impress them? Is it pulling a bunch of levers in a dungeon to open some locked doors and getting stuck for an hour and having to look at the strategy guide?" he said. One of the game's first dungeons, the Twilight Cathedral, featured plenty of puzzles, enemies, and areas to keep us occupied. If you're familiar with the adventure genre, then you'll certainly have a good idea of what to expect. Our time was divided among solving puzzles; tracking down new items, such as a map, the crossblade, and keys that unlocked new areas; fighting minions and minibosses; and eventually, making our way to the top of the cathedral where we finally came face to face with Tiamat, a huge bat. Tiamat was a challenging foe, and it took us several attempts before we worked out the proper strategy to take advantage of her weak points. Without giving too much away, it involved throwing sticky bombs at her and using our trusty new crossblade. Eventually, we were able to perform a satisfying killing blow and tear her still-beating heart from her corpse.

War speaks softly, but he carries a very big sword.

Darksiders looks stunning and is chock-full of gorgeously gruesome undead creatures. The decayed beauty of Darksiders' environments doesn't tire either, ranging from crumbling office blocks and gothic cathedrals to underworlds filled with lava and human remains. We're looking forward to getting our hands on a copy of the final game and won't have to wait long because it's due out in early January. Be sure to check back then for the full review and check out our previous coverage while you wait.

Xbox Avatars to 'encourage exercise'?

2010-01-03T15:11:00.000+05:30

Microsoft has shown a keen interest in boosting the Xbox 360's status as a community hub. Leading this initiative has been Xbox Live Avatars, which offer a 3D representation of their owners on the online service. Now, Microsoft is contemplating tying real-world health and psychological data to said avatars in an effort to discourage many-a-gamer's sedentary lifestyle.

Here's the gist of what Microsoft has in mind.

Last week, Microsoft's patent application titled "Avatar Individualized by Physical Characteristic" popped up in the US Patent and Trademark Offices' online database. The filing details a way in which Microsoft can introduce a heightened degree of reality into the appearance of gamers' avatars by utilizing a third-party health-care data repository (Microsoft gives Health Vault as an example) or a Wii Vitality Sensor-like device.
To incentivize people to improve their physical well-being, Microsoft's filing notes that gamers will be locked out of certain components of a game or a chat room until the proper health parameters are met.
"Physical data that reflects a degree of health of the real person can be linked to rewards of capabilities of a gaming avatar, an amount of time budgeted to play, or a visible indication," the filing reads. "Thereby, people are encouraged to exercise."
"For example, a locally executed video game on a game console or other device capable of interactive play rewards players that have achieved a degree of health or athletic skill in real life, even if played in a solitary fashion," the filing reads. "Alternatively or in addition, the degree of health can unlock additional playing time or can unlock certain aspects of a game, such as additional levels."
Microsoft's patent application might tie in with Project Natal, the Xbox 360's forthcoming camera-based motion-sensing add-on. As part of its 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference, Microsoft showed off how the device will scan a person's body and represent it onscreen via physically proportionate silhouette. It also showed off several activity-oriented titles in development for Project Natal, including the physically demanding Ricochet, a 3D, full-body version of Breakout.
Microsoft's filing goes on to note that it wouldn't just be physical characteristics that could be refined. "The physical characteristics can be further extended to psychological traits associated with the physical person, including intelligence, religious beliefs, political affiliations, and hobbies that affect the rendering of an avatar," the application reads.
The filing also indicates ways in which Microsoft can facilitate determining an individual's mental health or mood. "For example, as a person utilizes Voice over IP to chat with a viewing person in the virtual environment, stress could be detected to gauge honesty," the application notes. "As another example, skin resistance, pulse, and breathing could be detected to gauge mood."
According to the filing, the data will be beneficial to individuals looking to "meet and become acquainted with particular types of people." Microsoft's application notes that while self-defined avatars allow people to "overcome shortcomings that would otherwise inhibit them, such as pertaining to self-consciousness," there are those who would prefer to have "the cues that are available in meeting someone in person."

Commercial ads

2009-12-28T12:47:00.000+05:30

Magic World Online Celebrates Christmas

2009-12-28T12:43:00.000+05:30

Magic World Online Celebrates Christmas

Christmas is drawing near. It is the holiday for people to receive gifts and embrace the future. How would MWO miss the opportunity to send out the surprise for the players? So MWO is goanna share the happiness of the holiday with all the MWO players in the game!

MWO will open two new awesome maps named Execrative Sanctuary and Wailing Stronghold around Christmas. Players can get valuable and groovy Deva items and lvl 80 Skill Books from killing the bosses there.

Besides, another event called Naughty Christmas Pig sending you the Christmas Present will be hold from 2009-12-17 to 2010-1-7. Those little pigs possess Santa Claus Blessing and his stockings which contain many shiny and tempting materials that players can get by killing the Naughty Christmas Pigs.

What’s more, MWO will open Double EXP from 2009-12-24 to 2009-12-27 and from 2010-1-1 to 2010-1-3. It will be a great thruster for junior players to level up and senior players to go for the top level in game!

DiRT 2 Review

2009-12-28T12:37:00.001+05:30

On the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360, Dirt 2 is an off-road racing game that's difficult to fault, but sadly, that's not the case on the Wii. There are some great course designs, and there's definitely fun to be had racing on them. That fun is short-lived, though, and the lack of longevity combined with subpar visuals, choppy frame rates, and inconsistent opponent AI make the Wii version of Dirt 2 difficult to recommend.

Close, competitive racing like this doesn't last for long against the AI.

In addition to split-screen support for up to four players, Dirt 2 offers three different modes for solo play. World Tour is a career mode in which you start out as a clubman driver and progress up through the amateur, pro-am, and professional racing ranks. Arcade mode lets you race individual events and championships without the constraints of the World Tour structure. Challenges are where Dirt 2 gets some much-needed variety in the form of Last Man Standing, Powerslide, Airtime, and Gatecrasher events. The problem is that none of these event types, including the regular races, are very good.

Races in Dirt 2 involve only four drivers, and on the default difficulty setting, you can generally expect to be leading the field by the time you exit the second or third corner and then not give your opposition a second thought until the next race. That's because AI drivers, while occasionally very quick and aggressive, have a habit of slowing down for corners far more than necessary. They also seem oblivious to your existence at times, so if you make a mistake that affords them an opportunity to catch up, there's a good chance they'll crash straight into the back of you rather than make an intelligent attempt to overtake. Raising the difficulty level makes things a little more challenging, but switching up to the pro setting doesn't make your opposition significantly more formidable. Rather, the clubman, amateur, and pro settings merely determine how many driving aids are behind the scenes making your car easier to handle.

London has rarely looked more depressing than it does during this race festival.

The best thing that can be said about the racing is that the course designs offer some interesting and varied challenges. The UK track is recognizable as a caricature of the twisting rallycross that graced other versions of Dirt 2, but other locales, such as Japan and China, feature very different layouts. There's also a hilly Iceland circuit where you spend some time racing on snow and ice, which isn't radically different from racing on sand but at least provides a change of scenery. Unfortunately, no matter where you're racing, Dirt 2 is never easy on the eyes. Cars and trucks all look good, and it's neat that they get dirty as races progress. The same can't be said for the environments that you're racing through, though, which can all be described as either "ugly" or "uglier."
Getting through the World Tour mode should only take you three or four hours, and it's made easier by the fact that once you unlock the somewhat overpowered Mk II Ford Escort, you have the option to use it in every subsequent race--even those between buggies and trophy trucks. None of the World Tour races are so good that you're likely to revisit them in Arcade mode, so that just leaves Challenge mode. There are five different types of challenges, but only four of each in which to earn bronze, silver, or gold trophies. The weakest of these challenges are Trailblazer events, which are just time trials with target times to beat; and Last Man Standing races, which eliminate the last-place driver at the end of each lap until only one remains. Better than those are the Gatecrasher races, which force you to drive well so that you can pass through gates at required speeds; and Powerslide events, in which your score is based solely on how long you spend drifting. Airtime challenges that score you according to how much time you spend in the air after hitting ramps that are scattered all over the courses sound like fun on paper, but it's far too easy to attain gold scores for them in solo play.

It only takes a few hours to reach the pro stages of the World Tour mode.

Split-screen multiplayer support doesn't add much to Dirt 2. Your opposition is more believable and some of the challenges are more fun, but the visuals get even worse. And the sound effects--which are at least inoffensive during solo play--crescendo into a confusing mess when they're playing for three or four drivers simultaneously. The dozen or so licensed songs on the soundtrack are a good fit at least. When you add an infrequent but irritating bug that causes your car to stop and respawn when you clearly haven't strayed out of bounds to this already undesirable mix, you're left with a racing game that's definitely best avoided.

Shippin' Out December 20-26: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

2009-12-28T12:33:00.000+05:30

Square Enix's Crystal Bearers for the Wii leads a light release slate including the retail launch of Guitar Hero: Van Halen.

'Twas the week before (and including) Christmas, and all through the lands, not a game was releasing, except for a pair of big brands. Tortured poetry aside, this week sees just two big retail releases: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers for the Wii and Guitar Hero: Van Halen on a handful of platforms.

Square Enix is intentionally releasing a game in the last week of the year. Is the publisher crazy or brilliant?

Activision is first out of the gates with an edition of Guitar Hero dedicated to the David Lee Roth-led incarnation of the hard rock band. Although the game is appearing in stores for the first time this week, it was originally given away in October to early purchasers of Guitar Hero 5.
The release plans of this week's other title are almost as unconventional. Months ago, Square Enix chose the day after Christmas to launch its latest Wii installment in the Final Fantasy franchise. While other major games have launched in the last week of the year before (Dead or Alive 4 for the Xbox 360 released December 29, 2005), it's more common for that to happen by delay rather than by design.
Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 21
No new releases announced.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22
Guitar Hero: Van Halen--PS3, X360, Wii, PS2--Activision

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23
No new releases announced.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24
No new releases announced.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25
No new releases announced.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers--WII--Square Enix

Revenge of the Wounded Dragons Review

2009-12-28T12:25:00.001+05:30

Revenge of the Wounded Dragons? More like Revenge of Double Dragon. Artificial Mind & Movement's new side-scrolling beat-'em-up is a love letter to the original kung-fu fighter from 1987, right down to the Karate Kid-style brother protagonists in cheesy red and blue fighting togs. And like all good mash notes, this one includes a little bit of creativity: the developers have added some platform jumping, minigames, and basic puzzles to all of the punching-people-out stuff. So even though this downloadable game may be aimed straight at your nostalgia gene, it mixes in enough innovation to hold your interest through the moments that your brain tells you that you've done all this before. And for just $10, that's a good deal.

Pipes, baseball bats, sacks of rice, fish--just about anything can be used as a weapon in Revenge of the Wounded Dragons.

The fundamentals haven't budged an inch, though. This is a straight reworking of Double Dragon and its dozens of imitators. You take on the role of one of two kung-fu-fighting brothers who are off on a quest in the breezy, six-chapter Story mode, which is playable alone or cooperatively with a buddy on the same system (there is no online support for multiplayer). The goal of your wandering-around beatdowns--drumroll please--is to rescue a pretty girl and avenge the murder of your sensei. It's hard to tell who's who at the start--whether the girl is your sister or some sort of love interest, or whether the old guy is your grandpa or some kind of martial arts master--because there is no narration, and the cheesy comic-book cutscenes fly by too fast to figure everything out. But you don't really need to know any of the finer details beyond the time-honored beat-'em-up cliches. There are bad guys. They have your girl. You need to beat the hell out of them while grooving to awesome '70s-style kung-fu funk to get her back.

The action is fast and furious, although brawling is on the simple side. You can kill most enemy goons with basic button-mashing punches, messing around only occasionally with kicking or ducking to wallop the heck out of the groins of guys who know how to protect their faces but not the more tender portions of their anatomy. While you can pull off combos, most are simple punch and kick variations that come up routinely in the course of button mashing. Scraps are just long enough to get your blood pumping without stretching into boring, please-die-soon territory. Controls are good and fluid for the most part, only feeling a touch stiff in spots when climbing ladders or leaping to grab ledges. The only minor irritation when punching it out is the lengthy pause when you get knocked down. This delay is long enough to allow baddies to get in close and then hammer you again as soon as you stagger to your feet, unless you immediately leap out of harm's way.
A few frills spice up the fisticuffs. Levels are littered with all sorts of cool ways to create mayhem, from the genre-standard baseball bats, knives, and shotguns, to more esoteric options like kendo sticks and sacks of rice. Basic attacks and power-ups also charge your chi bar, which can be used to activate a Dragon Rage freak-out that ups your speed and damage for a limited time. Stunned enemies can be finished off with special attacks, like the Iron Fist head-butt you can deliver to foes on the ground. Enemies don't vary much, aside from cosmetic changes to outfits, so you don't have to alter your tactics. Bad guys include fat slobs with cleavers and leaping karate masters in satin jumpsuits, but you can cut them down to size with some fast punching and kicking. Even the level bosses don't mix things up. Most are just bigger and tougher variations on the standard thugs, equipped with a goofy name and some sort of special weapon, like a chain or throwing knives. If you ever do get into a tough spot against a gang of thugs or a boss, you can usually grab a nearby weapon to help even the odds.

Gorgeous scenery can be found in every level.

The dreary, straight-on level design of side-scrolling brawlers back in the day has been amped up with detailed 3D backdrops. This provides for some great-looking scenery in Story mode's six chapters, which are set in completely different locales, including small towns, cherry-blossom-strewn forests, and a sinister underground lair. A lot seems to be going on around you all the time. Majestic mountains towering in the distance and leafy bushes dotting the foreground place you in realistic, wraparound locations, so it seems like you're actually venturing into areas, not just running around in front of flat stage scenery like you were part of an exceptionally violent reworking of Hamlet. You can easily get caught gawking at the sights like a tourist and wind up taking a few punches to the face before you clue back in to what you're really supposed to be doing.
Even better, the backdrop does more than just sit there like a painting. Much of it is interactive. Instead of just walking straight left to right across levels, you go up and down via ladders and various jumping challenges and puzzles, explore hidden areas, collect special items like golden statues, and even occasionally deal with 3D threats like a spiked log that swings out of the background at you. Minigames are also unlocked as you proceed through the story, allowing you to take on various challenges, like avoiding fire traps while jumping around to grab hanging green lanterns. With that said, there isn't anything revolutionary here. It's tough to finish some of the minigames once, even when going up against a friend, let alone contemplate going back for seconds. But the little platform concepts add up and do a great job of livening up the standard side-scrolling action.
If you are at a "been there, done that" stage with side-scrolling fighters, you don't want to bother with Revenge of the Wounded Dragons. But if you have even the tiniest bit of room in your life for a new game that seems a lot like an old friend all snazzied up for a night on the town, this is a good way to get reacquainted with the many fine points of the old-fashioned button-mash beatdown.

PSN gets MAG beta, Savage Moon PSP

2009-12-28T12:23:00.000+05:30

PlayStation Store Update: Client arrives for online shooter and portable tower defense title debuts as Sony slashes prices on an array of downloadable titles.

This week's retail release list for Sony systems is embarrassingly light, consisting entirely of Guitar Hero: Van Halen for the PlayStation 3. However, the PlayStation maker is compensating with an assortment of new releases and seasonal deals on its downloadable storefront.

MAG is almost here.

Leading off the weekly PlayStation Store update is an offering gamers actually won't be able to play for a little while yet. Sony is letting users download the client program for the MAG open beta right now, although the actual testing period won't begin until January 4. Sony has the beta period slated to end the night of January 10, with the final retail release of MAG set for January 26.
PS3 owners looking for more immediate gratification have a number of new options at their disposal, starting with the fighting game Battle Fantasia from Arc System Works ($19.99). Although this marks the game's domestic debut for the PS3, Battle Fantasia was originally released on the Xbox 360 last year and on both platforms internationally.
The PlayStation Store is also adding the new PS3 block-based puzzler Polar Panic ($9.99) to its catalog, as well as a $19.99 PixelJunk bundle that includes the developer's first three games: PixelJunk Racers, PixelJunk Monsters, and PixelJunk Eden.
Sony is also padding out its selection of original PlayStation games with the 1997 port of the space combat game Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom. It turns out The Price of Freedom is $5.99, which buys a version of the game playable on the PS3, as well as the PSP, and features a cutscene-intensive storyline with live-action footage featuring the likes of Mark Hamill and Malcolm McDowell. The game's emphasis on video can be seen in its 2.25GB file size (nearly twice the size of Battle Fantasia).
Gamers on the go for the holidays can also check the PlayStation Store for new PSP releases, led by a portable edition of the tower defense game Savage Moon. The $9.99 download lets players protect a mining colony from vicious buglike creatures with the strategic placement of defenses. The PSP catalog is also bolstered by the arrival of Me & My Katamari ($19.99), Football Manager Handheld 2010 ($23.99), and Aedis Eclipse ($9.99).
Sony is also getting into the holiday spirit with price breaks throughout the PlayStation Store until January 7. Sega and Electronic Arts in particular have cut prices on many of their offerings, from add-on packs to full game downloads for both PS3 and PSP. A full list of the week's deals, new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, and add-on content is available on the official PlayStation Blog.

Today On the Spot - No More Heroes 2, Mass Effect 2, Super Street Fighter IV

2009-12-27T12:42:00.000+05:30

Green Day: Rock Band coming next year

2009-12-13T12:26:00.000+05:30

For decades, music fans have asked who the next Beatles would be. When it comes to the Rock Band franchise, the answer is Green Day. In a taped appearance on tonight's VGAs ceremony, the members of Green Day announced that there will be an entire Rock Band game dedicated to their music a la The Beatles: Rock Band.

Want to be an American Idiot?

Ironically, tonight's announcement was the second time the San Francisco Bay Area band had revealed Green Day: Rock Band. Although Harmonix and MTV Games wouldn't confirm the news at the time, Green Day lead singer Billy Joe Armstrong told a radio station in June that a Rock Band dedicated to the group's music was due later in 2009. Armstrong was mistaken, but only about one thing; it is actually set for 2010.
When it arrives, Green Day: Rock Band will feature the band's music, "favorite venues," and on-stage imagery. A handful of gameplay clips accompanied the address, featuring virtual representations of the band performing "American Idiot" amid the familiar trapping of Rock Band's four-player interface.
Unlike The Beatles, Green Day's dedicated game won't mark its debut in rhythm games. Three of the band's songs from 21st Century Breakdown have already been added to the Rock Band downloadable catalog, and another three from the album are set to debut December 15.
[UPDATE] In a subsequent press release, MTV Games said Green Day: Rock Band was in development for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. The game's song list will be fully exportable, allowing its songs to be played in Rock Band and Rock Band 2.

New esport site

2009-12-10T15:08:00.002+05:30

Got high net connection click here

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker due May 25

2009-12-06T14:54:00.000+05:30

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker due May 25

PSP installment in Konami and Hideo Kojima's stealth action series gets a North American release date, UK launch set for May 28.

Another piece of the puzzling Metal Gear Solid series plotline is about to fall into place. Konami today announced that Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is set to launch in North America on May 25, 2010. It will ship three days later in the UK.

No matter where you go, there you are. And there, and there, and there.

A sequel to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and previous PSP entry Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Peace Walker puts players in the role of Naked Snake/Big Boss once more and gives them a look at the earliest stages of his Outer Heaven mercenary group. Series creator Hideo Kojima and Konami are emphasizing Peace Walker as a "full-scale sequel" in the Metal Gear series and not a spin-off or side project.
One of the big new additions to Peace Walker is cooperative multiplayer action for up to four players. Gamers can pick from one of four Snakes, each with its own equipment and focus on stealth, combat, or a mix of the two.
Peace Walker also plays with the standard structure of past Metal Gear games. Players will be able to revisit previously completed missions, and Konami is borrowing a page from its recent Metroid-inspired Castlevania games to give them a reason to. Snake will earn new abilities as he progresses through the game, enabling him to reach secret areas from earlier levels on a repeat visit.

Take-Two shares lose 30%, analysts react

2009-12-06T14:44:00.002+05:30

After the close of trading Thursday, Take-Two Interactive delayed Max Payne 3 by a few months and gave investors a grim outlook on its current fiscal year. The effect in after-hours trading was immediate, as shares in the publisher lost 21 percent of their value in a matter of minutes. That was just the beginning, as shares of Take-Two have continued sliding, down $3.34 (31 percent) at press time from yesterday's closing price of $10.92.

"Perhaps next year, things will be different."

One difference between last night's trading and this morning's is that a handful of industry analysts have now weighed in with their reactions to Take-Two's negative announcements. While the response was mixed, some industry watchers didn't bother mincing words.
Saying his confidence in Take-Two management "can not get any lower," Pacific Crest Securities Evan Wilson blasted the publisher's leadership for the 14th and 15th game delays since it took over in mid-2007 and for failing to make the company profitable without relying on Grand Theft Auto.
"We believe there are better ways to invest in video games via names that are not inextricably tied to a single franchise with a management team that has not established an investable track record," Wilson wrote.
Wilson acknowledged that delaying a game to make it better can be a preferable alternative to releasing an unfinished game on time but said if delays happen "to nearly every game released, structural problems likely exist at the company. Take-Two seems to remind investors every quarter that it falls into this category."
Janco Partners' Mike Hickey was similarly disappointed in Take-Two's announcement, retracting his previous "Buy" rating on the stock and placing it under review. He also expressed frustration at the publisher's reluctance to detail development expenses or reveal how many copies games would need to sell to achieve profitability.
"We are astonished at the level of disconnect between street expectations and management's guidance," Hickey said, "suggesting a profound misunderstanding of the company's profitability potential. Management credibility has been meaningfully compromised, in our view; although ultimate performance is product-centric, we remain alarmed provided the lack of clarity."
Not all analysts were so down on the company. Wedbush Morgan Securities' Michael Pachter maintained his "Neutral" rating on the stock but saw a variety of factors the publisher could have working in its favor.
"With no profitability in sight, investors may again conclude that Take-Two is a 'one-hit wonder' with GTA and little else," Pachter said. "We disagree and think that the company has at least eight bona fide franchises, with the potential for 10 or 12. We perceive the problem to be an overly ambitious development schedule, with high expectations and high quality standards leading to inevitable delays."
He also expressed frustration with Take-Two's reluctance to detail its future plans for Grand Theft Auto but said the company could still succeed even with one new installment every three years. If Take-Two generated $3 earnings per share in years when proper Grand Theft Auto installments came out, Pachter said the publisher could easily weather off-years with $0.50 losses per share and still grow the business. (Take-Two's expectations for fiscal 2010 are between $0.40 and $0.60 losses per share.)