It might lack the satin sexiness of Ada Wong or the strike-a-pose foppishness of Leon Kennedy, but this inspirational Licker costume has a special charm all of its own. It is quite simply the best Resident Evil cosplay I have ever seen. ...
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GamesRadar - Wii News
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This is easily the greatest Resident Evil cosplay the world has ever seen (Resident Evil 4)
Posted: August 26th, 2010, 12:00am MDT
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Darker, grittier Mega Man Online trailer brings murder, street riots and the deaths of millions (Mega Man 10)
Posted: August 26th, 2010, 12:00am MDT
Ever since the late '80s, the phrase "darker, grittier" has been synonymous with two things. Firstly, stimulating adult reinterpretations of existing media. Thankyou, The Dark Knight Returns. Secondly, misguided reboots that grind all the joy out of their predecessors in the name of an adolescent sales boost. Damn you, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within and Final Fight: Streetwise
The Mega Man franchise has greatly fluctuated between light and dark over the years, the original games making up the former tone and the X and Zero sagas taking care of the latter. Being a mash-up of all Mega Man eras, we expected the tone of the upcoming Korean MMO Mega Man Online (MMO MMO?) to be pretty eclectic, but yikes, does this anime trailer imply very serious business indeed. It's epic, it's bleak, and it implies that the finished game is going to take in an apocalypse roughly every 15 minutes.
Though surprisingly, I might actually love it a bit. In fact I'm pretty sure it's incredibly badass. In fact I'm pretty sure I want it turned into a full-length movie instead of a game. Immediately. Take a look and tell me what you think. ...
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Big publishers with big budgets scramble while indie guys shoot for the stars (Wii)
Posted: August 26th, 2010, 12:00am MDT
Platforms like Facebook and the iPhone have made video games more accessible than ever before, while the PS3 and Xbox 360 promise to keep offering the biggest and best ‘AAA’ games money can buy. But what happens when these two clashing sides of the industry continue to pull at the same tug-of-war? Well, there were two headlines in the news this week that might seem unrelated, but they're the perfect comparative example to what's happening in the world of games... ...
GameSpot's Wii News
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Deca Sports 3 kicks off Oct. 26
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 1:31pm MDT
Hudson's minigame collection has gone gold, coming exclusively to the Wii in two months; game packs in 10 new sports, Wii MotionPlus support.
Nintendo recently dated numerous first- and third-party Wii games for its important holiday season, but Hudson's Deca Sports 3 was left off that initial list. Today the publisher announced that the latest Deca Sports minigame collection is scheduled to arrive at the end of October.
More minigames come to the Wii this October.
Hudson today sent word that Deca Sports 3 has gone gold and will come exclusively to the Nintendo Wii on October 26 priced at $39.99. As for the game, Deca Sports 3 packs in 10 new sports, Wii MotionPlus support, and online multiplayer.
The new sports are lacrosse, racquetball, indoor volleyball, fencing, air racing, giant slalom, half pipe, freestyle kayaking, logging, and springboard diving. Additionally, lacrosse, racquetball, indoor volleyball, and fencing can be played online.
For more on Deca Sports 3, check out GameSpot's hands-on preview.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Deca Sports 3 kicks off Oct. 26" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:31:31 -0700 -
Rock Band 3 DS setlist jams out 25 songs
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 12:37pm MDT
Harmonix announces every song for upcoming portable version of rhythm rock game; artists include Queen, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, INXS, Phoenix, Paramore, others.
Last week the entire 83-song soundtrack for Rock Band 3 leaked, leading series developer Harmonix to fire back a tongue-in-cheek rebuttal that confirmed the prior leak. The same runaround won't be the case for the game's DS edition, as Harmonix today formally announced every song inside Rock Band DS.
Rock Band 3 for the DS rocks 26 songs deep.
The DS iteration of Rock Band 3 includes 25 songs from artists like The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Paramore, Phoenix, Whitesnake, and others.
The full list of artists and songs for the DS version of Rock Band 3 is below.
The B-52's--"Rock Lobster"
The Cure--"Just Like Heaven"
Doobie Brothers--"China Grove"
The Doors--"Break on Through (To the Other Side)"
Faith No More--"Midlife Crisis"
Foreigner--"Cold As Ice"
Ida Maria--"Oh My God"
INXS--"Need You Tonight"
Jane's Addiction--"Been Caught Stealing"
The Jimi Hendrix Experience--"Crosstown Traffic"
Joan Jett--"I Love Rock N' Roll"
Metric--"Combat Baby"
Night Ranger--"Sister Christian"
Ozzy Osbourne--"Crazy Train"
Paramore--"Misery Business"
Phoenix--"Lasso"
Queen--"Bohemian Rhapsody"
Rilo Kiley--"Portions for Foxes"
Roxette--"The Look"
Smash Mouth--"Walkin' on the Sun"
Tokio Hotel--"Humanoid"
The Vines--"Get Free"
Whitesnake--"Here I Go Again"
The White Stripes--"The Hardest Button to Button"
Yes--"Roundabout"
Rock Band 3 is due out on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo's Wii and DS on October 26. The title is the first in the series to include a keyboard peripheral and a 102-button functional guitar, though the DS version is not compatible with those add-ons. For more on Rock Band 3, check out GameSpot's hands-on preview.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Rock Band 3 DS setlist jams out 25 songs" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:37:01 -0700 -
Nintendo brings Wii Party dev in-house
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 12:27pm MDT
Publisher picks up 96 percent stake in ND Cube following release of top-selling minigame compilation in Japan.
Nintendo has a knack for churning out evergreen titles for its platforms, and the publisher appears to have scored yet one more success with ND Cube's Wii Party. Since launching in Japan during the first week of July, Wii Party has consistently placed near the top of Media Create's weekly sales chart, having sold close to 125,000 units during the stat-tracking firm's most recent accounting.
Wii Party has given Nintendo cause to celebrate.
Nintendo has apparently taken note of ND Cube's success with Wii Party. As part of a recent Iwata Asks feature, the publisher revealed that it had acquired a 96 percent stake in ND Cube as of August 2010. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
ND Cube was founded in 2000 and is perhaps best known for its work on the well-regarded Game Boy Advance title F-Zero: Maximum Velocity. The studio also crafted 2003's GameCube title Tube Slider, as well as a handful of other Japanese-only releases.
Wii Party is Nintendo's first stab at the genre for the Wii since 2007's Mario Party 8, which has sold more than 7.6 million units worldwide. The game, which is set for North American launch on October 3, will feature 13 different game modes and more than 70 individual minigames.
For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Wii Party.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Nintendo brings Wii Party dev in-house" was posted by Tom Magrino on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:27:03 -0700 -
Sid Meier's Pirates terrorizing Wii Oct. 5
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 11:15am MDT
Take-Two and Firaxis' acclaimed strategy game on the Spanish main setting sail for Nintendo's console in two months.
The big holiday release from Take-Two and its recently downsized Firaxis studio is set to be Civilization V, which Sid Meier's studio is expected to release for the PC on September 21. However, that won't be the only product from the studio this fall, as Take-Two confirmed today that Sid Meier's Pirates will arrive for the Wii on October 5.
Yo ho, yo ho a Wii Pirates life for me’
Pirates on the Wii is in development at 2K China, and just like Firaxis' original, it sees gamers taking the helm of a 17th-century vessel to conquer the Caribbean. Gamers can take the wheel of 27 customizable ships as part of their mission to rid the Spanish main of the nefarious Marquis de la Montalban. All the while, gamers will collect treasure, explore the open seas, and engage in wanton acts of piracy.
In addition to letting you battle pirates and colonial powers using the Wii Remote, the game incorporates a variety of minigames, ranging from swashbuckling sword fights to wooing the governor's daughter through dance. 2K China has included two Wii-specific minigames--bombardment and lock-picking--as well as other exclusive character and ship-customization options.
For an idea of what to expect from Sid Meier's Pirates, check out GameSpot's review of the Xbox edition from 2005.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Sid Meier's Pirates terrorizing Wii Oct. 5" was posted by Tom Magrino on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:15:21 -0700
WiiNintendo
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New 2.5D Sonic Project Showcases Mushroom Hill Zone
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 10:50am MDT by hey_suburbia
Click here to view the embedded video.
UPDATE 2: This is a video and not a fangame. Still cool as all get out, though. The original blog post is below.
UPDATE: Damizean, creator of the “Egg Engine,” has nothing to do with this video. We are still waiting for comment from BlobVanDam.
On the heels of the “Egg Engine” unveiling comes this video that popped up under the radar yesterday, spotted by TSS reader FoxBoy (thank you for sharing this video with us). It’s a fully functional 2.5D version of Mushroom Hill Zone, complete with the original stage gimmicks, badniks, S3&K shields and fantastic physics. Oh, and the graphics and lighting? Gorgeous. Every single nuance of the original level is captured here. I’ve watched it so many times and keep finding new things to appreciate.
This video was upload by “BlobVanDam.” I cannot confirm the Egg Engine’s (or any engine’s) use at this time (the models and physics look similar), but we will find out soon. I have reached out to him for comment. His portfolio website showcases his talents in 3D rendering and design, so it is more than likely not in an engine, but rather a rendered out video. Regardless, enjoy more of this fanmade greatness. I just wish the video quality was better than 360p. I’d love to see this video in HD.
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Digital Chocolate suing Zynga over Mafia Wars
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 10:44am MDT
Casual and mobile game developer Digital Chocolate is attempting to sue social gaming giant Zynga over its continued use of Mafia Wars, claiming that the trademark is wholly owned by Digital Chocolate in regard to a mobile game released in 2004, well before Zynga's Mafia Wars was unleashed.
In the court documents, filed at Courthousenews.com, pertaining to the case, Digital Chocolate's lawyers claim that the company repeatedly made Zynga aware of its claim to the trademark.
In May 2009, Digital Chocolate claims that it was assured in writing that Zynga did not intend to pursue the trademark, shortly afterwards, Zynga filed a patent application with the US patent office (USPTO).
WiiNintendo
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Skyward Sacred Realm
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 10:20am MDT by hey_suburbia
Older than Hyrule itself is the mythical Sacred Realm, the resting place of the Triforce spoken of only in legend. For ages, Hyrulian folk tales spoke of this realm as though it were another world altogether, far removed from the reach of mortal men.
The three great goddesses, their labors completed, departed for the heavens. And golden sacred triangles remained at the point where the goddesses left the world. Since then, the sacred triangles have become the basis for our world’s providence. And, the resting place of the triangles has become the Sacred Realm.
– The Creation, Ocarina of TimeBecause of the many stories surrounding its connection to the Triforce, the Sacred Realm has been at the center of many of the conflicts throughout the series’ history so far, but we have never actually seen the holy land directly. Now Skyward Sword promises to depict another world in the heavens, a realm apart from Hyrule: Skyloft. Could it be that this land above the clouds is itself the ancient Sacred Realm?
Some of our more dedicated readers might be thinking, “Why bother to think about whether the Sacred Realm might be connected to Skyloft?” It’s a fair question; the Sacred Realm has done fine as a mysterious Eden-like paradise far removed from Hyrule in the other games, and isn’t exactly begging to make a direct appearance in any newer game. From what we know about the game’s story, however, there may be some potential there for a relationship.
The most obvious cue is one you’re probably all used to by now: Skyward Sword is set before Ocarina of Time. All we know about this period in Hyrule’s history is that there was a lot of controversy and bloody scandals involving the Sacred Realm and that the Sages found it necessary to seal off the gateway to that land by building the Temple of Time. Thus, it would only be fitting for the Sacred Realm to play some role in the plot of a pre-Ocarina game.
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Jesse Schell to keynote Unite 2010
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 10:00am MDT
Unity Technologies, creator of the Unity development platform and host of the annual Unite development conference, has announced that CEO of Schell Games, Jesse Schell, will give the keynote at this year's event.
The conference, which takes place 10-12 November in Old Montreal, and follows the Montreal International Game Summit. 2010 is the fourth year in which Unite has taken place.
Schell is an author and regular speaker on game design, and a strong advocate of the Unity platform. Schell Games is currently using Unity to develop The Mummy Online, an MMOG in partnership with Universal and Bigpoint.
WiiNintendo
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Metroid: Other M Chameleon Battle Gameplay
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 9:38am MDT by hey_suburbia
Samus squares off with a room full of vicious lizards in this gameplay from Other M!
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Ubisoft doubts Move or Kinect can extend console cycle
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 9:27am MDT
Ubisoft, Europe's number two publishing company, has said that it doesn't expect either Move or Kinect will be able to extend the life-cycle of the current generation of home consoles.
European MD Alain Corre told GamesIndustry.biz that he expects the peripherals from Sony and Microsoft will help lift the market in the short-term, but next year's big hardware success story is likely to be Nintendo's 3DS.
"I don't think so, no," said Corre when asked if either peripheral can stretch the current cycle beyond another 24 months.
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News: Free workshop for indie startups in Dundee
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 8:35am MDT
Revolver PR will be hosting a free workshop for developers looking to establish their own independent studios in Dundee, taking place from 12pm, August 31, in the city's Scottish Enterprise office.
Aimed primarily at members of the local companies who have lost their jobs in recent cuts and closures, the workshop is also open to existing indie studios and will offer advice on getting a studio up and running, finding funding, marketing a product, protecting IP and getting a finished game to market.
"The most exciting and innovative areas in the games market are those in the independent areas, where smaller companies are targeting new platforms and digital distribution channels," said head of interactive entertainment at Revolver, Brian Baglow.
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News: Take-Two loses legal battle over BioShock domain
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 6:08am MDT
BioShock publisher Take-Two has lost a legal battle to try and wrest control of the URL www.bioshock.com from a company specialising in domain squatting, Name Administration Inc. (NA Media)
Gamer/Law reports that the publisher failed to win over a legal panel on a number of points, resulting in the site remaining under the control of NA Media, who first acquired it in 2004 - after BioShock had been unofficially announced but before Take-Two had registered it as a trademark.
The fact that Take-Two hadn't registered the trademarks at the time of the URL's registration weakened the publisher's case, but Name Administration also argued that Bioshock had other connotations separate from Take-Two's business, citing that cosmetics company Johnson and Johnson had expressed interest in the URL whilst it was mooting an unrelated Bioshock skincare range.
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News: Hollenshead cautious over 3D impact
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 5:13am MDT
id Software executive Todd Hollenshead has revealed that the Doom and Rage developer is less optimistic than some about the potential impact of 3D technology in the near future.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Hollenshead intimated that id wouldn't be investing in 3D until the price of 3D-capable TV sets had fallen enough to encourage decent market penetration.
"At the very uber end of the videophiles, those guys are going to adopt that," he said of 3D TV. "But that's not going to be wide enough adoption to create substantial change within the gaming market.
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News: Channel 4 investing £1 million in Dundee
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 4:53am MDT
UK terrestrial programmer Channel 4 has commissioned three of Dundee's studios to create games based on some of its most successful programs, spending £1 million in the city in total.
The investment, reported by Herald Scotland, means that the channel has spent a total of 10 per cent of its creative budget in Dundee this year. Tag Games and Dynamo Games will be creating titles based on Channel 4 shows, while Headlight Scotland, a TV production unit, has been commissioned to create a three-part series on the games industry in Dundee.
Channel 4's media project manager for Creative Diversity, Ian Mackenzie, was keen to cast a positive light on the future of Dundee: "It is a timely investment," he said. This is a very positive counter point to the bad news of Realtime Worlds. This investment is one example of people recognising the talent that is in Dundee."
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News: Ex-Codemasters director joins Zattikka
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 3:38am MDT
Zattikka, which curates the Gimme5Games.com flash portal, has appointed ex-Codemasters executive Peter Jones in a role which entails the development of external partners and products.
Jones has spent many years in the industry, including positions at SEGA, Acclaim, EA and Lionhead. His most recent role, at Codemasters, was as director of product development.
"I believe that social and casual gaming is going to be a big part of the future of software entertainment," said Jones.
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News: Google Web Store: new business model or gamble?
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 3:26am MDT
Leading industry figures have been speaking out about Google's Chrome Web Store, the browser-based App Store equivalent for PCs and Macs slated for launch this October but in an increasingly crowded online marketplace, what can it offer and how much room for manoeuvre does it have?
Speaking at GDC, Google's developer advocate for games Mark DeLoura described the service's primary use as a quality filter for less informed gamers: "If you search for chess games, you may stumble across a chess-based flash game but you don't know if it's good, if it's bad, even if it works." With Web Store, a chess game is recommended to you, and has user ratings attached.
The necessary wrinkle is that it's tied to Google's Chrome browser a relative new kid on the block, but one that enjoyed a massive advertising blitz earlier this year. "Chrome as a browser is up to 70 million users," said DeLoura, describing its growth to around 9 per cent of the market as a "steep, steep upward [graph] slope."
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News: Warner Bros cans This is Vegas - report
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 3:12am MDT
Warner Bros has apparently pulled the plug on open-world title This is Vegas, after a total of $50 million (£32.38m) was spent on its development. Developer Surreal Studios had already been closed earlier this year.
The game, which Warner Bros inherited as part of its $33 million (£21.3m) acquisition of Midway's assets last year, had already cost Midway $43 million (£27.85m) by the time the company folded, and was running at a cost of a quarter of a million dollars a month.
The report, from Computer and Videogames quotes a 'cast iron' source as saying: "It was moving along to a point where the title was on the schedule for release late last year - but still needed another eight months to a year to finish.
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News: Capcom aiming to avoid future controversy
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 2:29am MDT
Capcom has revealed that it has taken on board the criticism leveled at it over the content of action horror game Resident Evil 5, released last year.
The title was rapped by some critics for what they considered to be a racist slant, based on the African village setting - meaning that the zombies were all black-skinned.
At the time the publisher denied the accusations and seemingly took no action to change its approach, but in an interview with Gamasutra it transpires that certain steps have been taken to try to prevent such situations from repeating themselves.
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Interview: Prime Numbers
Posted: August 25th, 2010, 2:00am MDT
Mike Cox has worked in the games business for sometime, founding Audiomotion, working as a producer for Electronic Arts, establishing Czech studio Vatra for Kuju and selling middleware at Emergent. Its the last role that has set him in good stead for a business development role at UK studio Monumental Games, as he begins to sell new MMO engine Prime. Here, in an exclusive interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Cox talks us through the transition from development studio to service provider, the growth and challenges of online markets for independent developers, his thoughts on mergers and acquisitions in the social space, and opportunities in web games.
GameSpot's Wii News
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Atlus bringing next Naruto games to Wii, DS
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 3:53pm MDT
Dragon Blade Chronicles and Naruto vs. Sasuke confirmed for November 16 launches; publisher promises more from the blond ninja on DS early next year.
While the anime and manga series Naruto has seen a consistent stream of gaming adaptations in recent years, the list of companies bringing those games to Western audiences has been growing almost as steadily. One more company has been added to that list, as Atlus today announced that it will be distributing Takara Tomy's Naruto games for Nintendo platforms in the US, Canada, and Latin and South America.
Like dogs and sharks, dragons are particularly susceptible to being hit on the nose.
The first two games in the agreement will be Naruto Shippuden: Dragon Blade Chronicles for the Wii and Naruto Shippuden: Naruto vs. Sasuke for the DS, both set for launch on November 16. Atlus has promised a number of preorder bonuses and bundle incentives for customers at stores like Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Toys R Us, and EB Games Canada.
Dragon Blade Chronicles is an adventure game that has players take control of both Naruto and Sasuke as they attempt to discover the secret of elemental dragons. Though it will feature the same stars, Naruto vs. Sasuke follows the pair's adversarial storyline, asking players to recruit teams of fighters to control in cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes.
This generation of systems has seen publishers like Namco Bandai, Atari, and Ubisoft play a role in bringing Naruto to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the West. For Nintendo's systems, Takara Tomy originally partnered with D3Publisher of America to release DS and Wii versions of the blond ninja's adventures, but briefly took over publishing and distribution duties itself before allying itself with Atlus.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Atlus bringing next Naruto games to Wii, DS" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:53:40 -0700
WiiNintendo
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Pong Toss Pro (WiiWare) – Live Video Review
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 3:03pm MDT by hattrick
A WiiNintendo game review by hattrick.
Game: Pong Toss Pro
Version: WiiWare
Time Played: Approx. 2 Hours
Obtained: Reverb Communications (Review Copy)This time around, I decided to try something new. Instead of writing out my thoughts, I spoke my mind as I played the game. While this might be longer than reading a review, hopefully it gives you a better idea of what I am talking about. Not only do you hear my thoughts, you can actually see what I am reviewing. Also, this is done live, so there was no editing or script. I will also include a quick written review at the end of this post.
UPDATE: For some reason, YouTube did not process my original video review. Due to attempting the live webcam record feature, I did not have a backup. So, instead of re-recording everything, I have posted the only other video I have, which is my live gameplay video via UStream. It is quite long, but hopefully it gives you a descent idea of the gameplay and my thoughts.
Introduction
The basic idea of Pong Toss Pro is to throw a pingpong ball into a set of cups at the end of a table. If you do it faster than your opponent, you win. Each cup is worth points, and your multiplier goes up each consecutive shot that goes in. If you miss, the multiplier goes down. There are two modes included: Pong Toss and Speed Pong. Pong Toss has you taking turns, while Speed Pong allows you to throw at the same time.Visuals, Audio, & Controls
There is not much to this WiiWare title. The visuals are lackluster. The music has only three choices that all sound the same. The controls are simple but spotty. It is very little fun playing alone, so it demands multiplayer. However, they decided to leave online out of it.Pong Toss vs. Speed Pong
The best mode is Speed Pong. It is fast paced, and it allows you to mess with your opponent (a la Tetris Party or Mario Kart). If you get a cup with an item, it either helps you or hinders your opponent. With this mode being quicker, more people can play and enjoy the game. Pong Toss, instead, is slower paced, and there is no way to interact with your opponent.Final Score: IGNORE IT
While this is a popular game for many in real life, JV Games was not able to capture that same spirit and fun in their WiiWare title. The visuals, sound, and controls are not all that impressive. Unless you are a hardcore fan of this game, my recommendation is to pass on Pong Toss Pro.
GameSpot's Wii News
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Call of Duty: Black Ops gets mod support
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 2:51pm MDT
PC version of Treyarch's upcoming war shooter to have infrastructure for custom maps, game types.
Last year, Infinity Ward drew a measure of flak for not including dedicated server support or mod tools with the PC version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. With Treyarch assuming command of Call of Duty: Black Ops, the studio will be calling in a more inclusive strategy for the game's PC edition.
Treyarch today announced that the PC version of the forthcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops will support both dedicated servers and mod tools. That functionality comes with a small caveat, though, as the studio noted that the features will be implemented sometime after the game's launch on November 9.
Mod tools confirmed for Black Ops.
"We plan to open the game up for modding sometime post-launch," a Treyarch PC representative wrote on the Call of Duty: Black Ops community forums. Mod tools allow gamers to create new maps and game types and share them with fellow players.
"We do not know yet to what extent you will be able to mod the game. There are some purely technical issues related to engine and internal tool enhancements that do not easily fit the modtools paradigm," the statement explained.
Currently, Treyarch is "completely focused on finishing the game" and has promised a full multiplayer reveal for September 1.
Call of Duty: Black Ops--a game analysts believe will sell 12 million units by year's end--is due out on November 9 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii, and DS. It will come in three distinct retail options and will also include the fan favorite Zombie mode. For more on Call of Duty: Black Ops, check out GameSpot's most recent preview.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Call of Duty: Black Ops gets mod support" was posted by Eddie Makuch, Tom Magrino on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:51:33 -0700
WiiNintendo
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Shaun White Skateboarding – Transformation Diary
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 2:06pm MDT by hey_suburbia
Shaun White discusses the transition to skateboarding from snowboarding and individual player styles in this exclusive transformation diary from Ubisoft. -
Ivy the Kiwi? Releases Today
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 12:13pm MDT by hattrick
Ivy the Kiwi? Begins Her Journey on Wii and Nintendo DS
XSEED Games’ New Project from Legendary Video Game Creator of Sonic, Yuji Naka, Takes Players of All Ages through an Engaging Storybook Adventure
TORRANCE, CA (August 24, 2010) – XSEED Games, an independent-minded publisher, has announced today that Ivy the Kiwi? has begun to ship to retailers across North America. Developed by PROPE, the development studio led by the legendary creator of Sonic Yuji Naka, Ivy the Kiwi? is rated “E” for Everyone and is available on Wii™ for the suggested retail price of $29.99 and on Nintendo DS™ for the suggested retail price of $19.99.
“I am especially excited that the Western edition of Ivy the Kiwi? is now available for gamers of all ages,” said Yuji Naka, founder of PROPE. “This game is extremely special to me as it has the potential to resonate with consumers of all ages with its touching storyline and innovative gameplay controls, so I look forward to seeing Ivy’s storybook journey transcend so American players can engage with this special creature and her friends to experience her magical world.”
Ivy the Kiwi? follows the storybook adventures of lonely baby bird, Ivy, as she traverses beautiful 2-D landscapes and challenging obstacles in search of her mother and identity. From the forest floor amidst a bed of leaves, her journey begins as she hatches from her egg and finds herself completely alone. Frightened and unable to fly, she sets off through a dreamy forest on foot. As she wanders, Ivy stumbles upon a single red feather, the first clue to her mother’s whereabouts and the catalyst of the little heroine’s quest. As Ivy runs back and forth, players of all ages utilize the Wii Remote or Nintendo DS stylus to create the game’s signature stretchy and flexible vines that propel Ivy forward, over, and through obstacles before her.
Naka’s brilliant legacy is once again showcased as the game delivers an innovative approach to the action platform genre through simple, yet addictive gameplay that caters to fans of different ages and skill levels. The game features over 100 hundred stages for both the DS and Wii versions. In addition to the single-player storyline, up to four players can compete using a single-card via local wireless connection on DS or in split-screen mode on Wii.
For more information, visit the official game website at www.ivythekiwi.com and/or XSEED Games at www.xseedgames.com.
About XSEED Games
XSEED Games was formed in November 2004 by a small group of industry veterans led by president Jun Iwasaki with a common vision: to cross-pollinate the avid gaming cultures of Japan and North America. Delivering unique, innovative titles across multiple platforms and genres, XSEED Games is dedicated to publishing products that appeal to and enrich the North American market. More information on XSEED Games can be found at www.xseedgames.com.
About PROPE
Formed in May 2006 from Sega’s Game Creator Independence Program, the title of the game development studio PROPE is derived from the Latin word meaning, “to be close to/in the near future.” The brainchild of legendary Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Yuji Naka, PROPE was founded on the principle of creating games that instantly feel familiar and connect with players on a personal level while delivering a fresh entertainment experience slightly ahead of our time. PROPE’s latest game, Ivy the Kiwi? for Wii and Nintendo DS brings players a fresh and interesting way to control a videogame character on both Nintendo DS and Wii as they guide Ivy through her challenging journey. For more information, visit www.ivythekiwi.com.
[ONE PR]
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Metroid: Other M – First Review Posted
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 11:20am MDT by hey_suburbia
- Going into first-person mode is finicky; one of the complaints revolves around a tendency to suddenly be looking upwards when you intend to be pointing straight at the enemy.
- The third-person combat is very smooth and effortless.
- Bosses and mini-bosses tend to involve a lot of trial-and-error, as weak points are not immediately obvious.
- Lots of exploration in the game (yay!).
- Nate Bihldorff (of Treehouse fame) recorded a placeholder voiceover for the tutorial, but they ended up being so impressed with his performance as a nasally scientist that they decided to keep it in the final game.
- Final sentences of the review: “It may not be the pinnacle of the series, but longtime fans shouldn’t let that deter them from checking out an overall enjoyable experience. Again, it’s all about managing your expectations.”
GameSpot's Wii News
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Doctor Who landing on Wii, DS
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 11:04am MDT
Long-rumoured family-focused console outing for Matt Smith's Time Lord confirmed, Asylum Entertainment developing.
While Doctor Who has a long history with books, merchandising tie-ins, and licensed products, the Time Lord has rarely ventured into the world of games. David Tennant's 10th Doctor did make a game appearance via the Doctor Who Top Trumps titles, but the iconic character's previous appearance in a full-fledged adventure game was 1997's Destiny of the Doctors.
Matt Smith seems to be faring better in terms of digital adventures, however, as the show's production teams are starting to embrace gaming. The BBC has recently begun releasing Doctor Who: The Adventure games online and has now confirmed that two retail games featuring the bow-tied incarnation of the storied time traveller are on the way.
The Running Man was as popular on Gallifrey as on Earth.
Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth and Doctor Who: Return to Earth are coming to the Nintendo DS and Wii respectively and are due out in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and select European territories later this year. The games, which are aimed at the younger end of the Doctor Who fan base, may be released in other territories at a later date, but the BBC would not confirm any specific plans for other regions when contacted by GameSpot.
Matt Smith, who stars in the current run of the series as the 11th incarnation of the Gallifreyan time-traveller, will star in the game alongside his companion, Amy Pond, voiced by actress Karen Gillan. Judging by the box shots for the two titles, Return to Earth will feature longtime Time Lord antagonists the Cybermen, while Evacuation Earth will feature the menacing Daleks. Writing for the games will be done by Asylum in conjunction with the show's production team.
Both titles are being developed by Asylum Entertainment, which specialises in "the major brand name children's market." Asylum's most recent console title was Horrid Henry: Mission of Mischief, which was released on the Wii and DS earlier this year.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Doctor Who landing on Wii, DS" was posted by Alex Sassoon Coby on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:04:22 -0700
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Senior management blamed for RTW collapse
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 11:00am MDT
While the precise events that led to Dundee studio Realtime Worlds going into administration last week remain unclear, various former staff have been telling their side of the story.
Former employee Luke Halliwell, who worked on procedural generation technology for Crackdown, APB and Project: MyWorld, has revealed that many staffers were not paid for their last month's work.
"It felt like we were being let go decently," he wrote on his personal blog, "and then BOOM not getting paid anything, owed last months wages, our notice periods, redundancy pay and unused holidays. A substantial amount of money, all told."
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News: Monumental enters middleware market with cheap MMO engine
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 9:07am MDT
Monumental Games has entered the middleware business and begun selling its own MMO engine, Prime, designed for lite MMO games to be published on Facebook and other web platforms.
GamesIndustry.biz can reveal that the engine, already showcased through in-house title Little Monsters, will sell for as little as £20,000 ($31,000) for a prototype licence, rising to £100,000 ($154,000) for a full-year deal allowing for multiple titles and including tech support.
Mike Cox, business development manager for Monumental, said that the engine is designed for a smaller number of players than the giants in the MMO space, but it's a growing sector as more companies look to improve the quality of online and browser-based gaming.
WiiNintendo
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Zelda: The Eiji Aonuma Interview
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 8:48am MDT by hey_suburbia
Click here to view the embedded video.
Eiji spoke to Official Nintendo Magazine and had some new insights into The Legend of Zelda: Skyword Sword
ONM: What’s the significance of the game’s title and how does it relate to the piece of artwork that was released at E3 in 2009?
Eiji Aonuma: Did you happen to watch the trailer? That last scene where Link dives off the big cliff and goes flying through the clouds is a key hint as to the connection between the game and the Skyward Sword title.
Link lives on Skyloft, a series of floating islands that are above the clouds. He’s a normal kid living up on these islands above the clouds, but then an incident occurs and Link is forced to travel to the land beneath the clouds. This other world below the clouds has been captured and is being ruled by evil forces. So he has to go down there and start his adventure. The juxtapositon between the two worlds is very important.
What leads Link on this adventure is the Skyward Sword and when that Sword is actively guiding Link, it actually transforms into a feminine figure. I wouldn’t say that it’s female per se but it’s a feminine figure.
ONM: So that’s Zelda, right?
EA: It would be nice to keep this a mystery but I can tell you right now that it is not Zelda.
ONM: Why have you changed the art style?
EA: The graphical style is the result of a collaboration between myself and Mr Miyamoto. We are both interested in art and it is a style that we like – we are very pleased with what we’ve done this time. One of the reasons we’ve chosen the art style we have is that we wanted to showcase the exaggerated characteristics of some of the characters, not only of the enemies, but the representation of the sword spirit itself.
Swordfighting is an important part of the gameplay, and Link is carrying the weapon and the shield. Because of the way we have put everything together you have to focus on how the enemy is carrying the weapons and there are a couple of different ways you can go about that – you can be super-realistic or not so realistic. We thought that because we wanted to highlight the swordfighting, we had to exaggerate the features and the art style we chose was suited to doing that. You have to match the art style to how the game plays, and we thought this worked better.
ONM: Is this a major reboot for the series then?
EA: It’s hard to introduce major changes to the Zelda gameplay, and one of the reasons for this is that we have some traditional elements that we have protected and continued throughout the series. You have a field, you have dungeons and there is a distinction between which area you are in and which style of gameplay you are participating in. So what we’ve tried to do is to introduce some new elements – this time we have larger fields and there are dungeons that don’t really feel like dungeons but will incorporate some of those elements. So we are reimagining some of the traditional gameplay elements.
ONM: Where does Skyward Sword stand within the Zelda timeline?
EA: There is a master timeline but it is a confidential document! The only people to have access to that document are myself, Mr. Miyamoto and the director of the title. We can’t share it with anyone else!
However, I have already talked to Mr Miyamoto about this so I am comfortable in releasing this information – this title takes place before Ocarina Of Time. If I said that a certain title was ‘the first Zelda’, then that means that we can’t make a title that takes place before that! So for us to be able to add titles to the series, we have to have a way of putting the titles before or after each other.
ONM: Will there be any famous Zelda characters in the game?
EA: I believe there might be! We really haven’t decided whether certain characters will re-appear or not appear. One of the things we talked about with our staff is how a character could be used in this game or would it be fun to tie in a connection that the fans would be appreciative of? I am pretty much letting the team decide how and when we implement that sort of thing.
ONM: Has MotionPlus made it possible to create the Zelda game you’ve always wanted to make?
EA: Yes, when I first saw the Wii Remote that was one of the first things we thought about too. When Wii MotionPlus came along, and we saw how it was implemented in Wii Sports Resort’s swordplay game, we saw what we could now do in Zelda. Mr Miyamoto had thought the same thing – we then decided that we could do this in a Zelda game.
ONM: Is it a lot of fun coming up with new and different uses for M?
EA: Once we found that we could move the sword around as freely as we wanted, then we were like, ‘wow’! Through working with the sword we saw what MotionPlus could add to the game. Through that experience, ideas were born to implement the technology in other ways. So we were able to think of new ideas and items, and this time we really do have really new and unique ideas using the MotionPlus technology. I really hope you look forward to seeing how we have used it.
ONM: Is the range of weapons more diverse?
EA: Of course some of the old items are back – things like the slingshot – but I really think that people will play this with MotionPlus and the items will almost feel new because of the technology. But of course if you look on the weapons menu you will see a couple of question marks – those are new items that aren’t available [in old Zelda games].
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Online publishers cautious of Google's social game plan
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 8:42am MDT
Senior industry figures have commented on Google's still-mysterious plans for a gaming-centric social network, and whether it can compete with Facebook or not.
In Cologne last week, Google confirmed that the upcoming Chrome Web Store (a browser-based analogue to Apple's App store) was a "separate thing" to the search giant's much-rumoured social gaming service.
While the company has yet to release details, the titles 'Google Games' and 'Google Me' have been flung about, a 2010 launch has been rumoured, industry deep-throats have suggested a round of high-profile acquisitions and partnerships may be looming, and $100 million was reportedly poured into FarmVille creator Zynga.
WiiNintendo
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The Force Unleashed II’s Wii Version Adds More Jedi Powers
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 8:40am MDT by hey_suburbia
As with the original, the sequel to Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will be getting different versions of the game for the DS and Wii.
When the original game came out I was deeply disappointed in how those DS and Wii versions played. This time around it sounds like the Wii version, by developers Red Fly, is getting a significant overhaul.
I didn’t have a chance to play the Wii version of the game, but in theory the changes sound like they should be moving the game in the right direction.
“The [creators of] Wii version took the same story and design philosophy, but built their own game,” said LucasArts assistant producer Cameron Suey. “There is unique content throughout the levels.
“It is more of a companion game.”
The Wii version will have its own story and even some unique Force Powers, like Force Sight which will allow you to see invisible enemies and enemies through walls.
The multiplayer aspect of the game also sounds like it is getting a significant overhaul. Multiplayer in the Wii version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed has you fighting a single opponent in a 3D fighter.
This time around multiplayer will support up to four players on a single screen and the game will play like a 2D brawler, Suey said.
Here’s hoping that the game lives up the PS3 and Xbox 360 version of the title.
[Kotaku]
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Mario symbols appear in bike lanes
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 7:45am MDT by hey_suburbia
Click here to view the embedded video.
From bananas to mushrooms to stars – one of Portland’s bike lanes is looking more like a race track on Nintendo’s Mario Kart game.
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: OnLive portfolio grows with day-one release of Mafia II
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 6:34am MDT
Cloud gaming service OnLive has increased its portfolio of day-and-date releases by confirming that 2K's Mafia II will be available from the service as soon as it's released in the US, the same time as retail and other digital channels.
The announcement sees Mafia II join a significant list of other titles available from the service, which launched in the US two months ago.
OnLive users paying full price for the game will be able to choose another game from the service for free.
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News: APB draws just 130,000 registered players
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 4:59am MDT
Dundee developer Realtime Worlds has revealed a raft of player statistics for online title APB, as administrators seek a buyer for the embattled studio.
The urban combat MMO apparently enjoys 130,000 "registered" users, while the average player plays for four hours a day.
The number of active users is undisclosed at present, but the 130,000 registrations are likely to be representative of the game's sales to date.
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News: Complete digital transition 'some way off'
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 4:39am MDT
In the latest video feature from Scott Steinberg - The Future of Digital Distribution - industry executives have addressed the topic of digital distribution, with solid consensus that while a complete transition away from boxed product is some way off, the total transformation is inevitable in time.
"I think the [videogame] business was always moving towards a services business, and so I think that getting rid of the physical media was just a natural step," said Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, as the rate of change in the games environment gathers pace.
And Chris Petrovic, GM of digital ventures at US-based retail chain GameStop admitted: "What you're doing is avoiding the necessity of going to the store to buy something, but still having to experience the pain point of waiting however many hours or minutes or days that it takes to download that piece of content.
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News: Modding returns to Call of Duty
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 4:31am MDT
Owners of Call of Duty: Black Ops on PC will be able to contribute their own content to the game, thanks to a post-launch update.
Call of Duty creator Infinity Ward had controversially locked modding out of last year's Modern Warfare 2, as well as removing dedicated server support for multiplayer. While it was cited as an anti-cheating mechanism, this had provoked significant internet ire towards both Infinity Ward and owner Activision.
Current franchise handler Treyarch has now reversed both decisions, having confirmed dedicated server support for the title back in May.
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Article: The Future of Digital Distribution
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 4:30am MDT
The latest video feature from Scott Steinberg looks at topics which range from the dawn of digital distribution and publishing to the rise of downloadable add-ons, growth of online purchases and what tomorrow holds for fans of streaming high-definition and 3D home entertainment.
Also explored are the potential uses for and impact of cloud computing, how direct distribution channels fundamentally change the relationship between consumers and content creators, and the role social networks and iPhone/Android apps will play in tomorrow's entertainment business.
The documentary features commentary by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, Electronic Arts creator Trip Hawkins, THQ CEO Brian Farrell, Gaikai head David Perry and Disney Interactive Studios GM Graham Hopper, the video also includes input from leading reporters and analysts from The Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, VentureBeat and more.
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News: Halo: Reach is Microsoft's biggest-ever marketing spend
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 3:49am MDT
Microsoft intends to spend more on marketing for upcoming shooter Halo: Reach than for any previous effort. While figures are undisclosed, its media spend alone will top the $6.5 million laid out for Halo 3.
Xbox global product manager Michael Stout told Advertising Age that the campaign would be Microsoft's biggest ever, and followed a beta trial for the game which attracted 2.7 million players.
Media spend includes 300 million bottles of Mountain Dew, 30 million bags of Doritos, an Ultimate Fighting Championship sponsorship, a series of live-action TV spots and a laser-wielding robot in San Francisco.
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News: Sony to grow Crackle service via PSN - report
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 3:33am MDT
Sony's online video channel Crackle is to gain a greater presence on the PlayStation Network, and could become the main entertainment channel on the service.
That's according to a report by the New York Times, which states Crackle - a portal airing original content alongside movies and TV shows - could grow considerably from its current 4 million unique users with the help of the PlayStation 3.
Original programming for Crackle costs around $1 million per episode, with Sony increasing the big-name talent acting in and directing the content. It also features over 200 Sony Pictures movies and shows such as Starsky & Hutch, Astro Boy and Breaking Bad - aiming for an audience of 18-34 year-olds.
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News: NPD: 10% of US social gamers have made virtual purchases
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 3:06am MDT
56.8 million Americans have played a social network game over the last three months, according to survey group The NPD.
This constitutes 20 per cent of the US population aged 6 and upwards. However, survey methodology was primarily focused on individuals already known to be social gamers.
The survey also found that 10 per cent of social gamers had spent money in a social game, and 11 per cent planned to in the future. These social gamers were purported to be laying down around 20 per cent less on gaming overall.
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News: THQ: No sympathy for used game consumers
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 2:34am MDT
WWE publisher THQ has said that it feels cheated by second hand sales, and doesn't care that consumers who buy used games may feel short-changed by having to pay an extra fee to then access additional features.
The company has begun introducing one-time codes to its games, giving access to downloadable content and full online features when a game is bought new - those that buy the game pre-owned need to purchase that code directly from THQ for the complete experience.
"I don't think we really care whether used game buyers are upset because new game buyers get everything," said the publisher's creative director for WWE games Cory Ledesma to CVG. "So if used game buyers are upset they don't get the online feature set I don't really have much sympathy for them."
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News: Windows Phone tools beta piques dev interest
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 2:32am MDT
Microsoft has revealed that its Windows Phone developer kit - currently running in beta until the final toolset launches on September 16 - has now been downloaded "north of 300,000" times.
The news, in the official blog written by Windows Phone 7 director Brandon Watson, comes six months after the software giant's plans for the platform were unveiled - with the community "busy stretching the capabilities of the application platform and developer tools" in that time.
The Windows Phone 7 platform is Microsoft's answer to the current dominance in the app market for Apple's iPhone, and the company is hoping that its ability to link in to existing products such as Silverlight and Bing will persuade consumers.
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News: World of Warcraft: Lich King finally launches in China
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 2:28am MDT
The second World of WarCraft expansion, Wrath of the Lich king, is to be released in mainland China at last - some two years after its worldwide launch.
The undead-themed add-on had previously struggled to make it past Chinese government censors, who had demanded that overly-morbid imagery be modified. For instance, flesh must be placed over exposed bone on zombie characters.
Having suffered two previous refusals, Chinese licensee Netease has now secured a release date of August 31 this year just as the West gears up for the release of the third expansion, Catacylsm.
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News: EA: Game budgets have peaked
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 2:00am MDT
EA Partners head David DeMartini has claimed the trend for ever-larger game budgets may be coming to an end.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz at GamesCom last week, DeMartini felt that vast production kitties were not the only route to success.
"I think budgets for games have actually peaked and are starting to move in the reverse direction again," he said. "I dont think theres any one right budget for any game. It kind of depends on how big the idea is and what the team needs to be able to make a 90 percent-rated game with the idea that theyre working on."
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Interview: EA Partners' David DeMartini
Posted: August 24th, 2010, 2:00am MDT
EA Partners has played a huge part in whats been a quietly dramatic turnaround for Electronic Arts of late both in its intentions, and in the public and critical perception of the enormous publisher. Offering distribution and production support to third-party studios without demanding IP ownership or assimilation into the EA mass in return, its resulted in projects from the likes of Valve and Crytek. Not to mention upcoming titles from Respawn and Insomniac... At this year's GamesCom gathering in Cologne, GamesIndustry.biz sat down with EAPs affable boss David DeMartini to talk how game budget are changing, big versus small projects, the importance of review scores, Respawn and the ongoing troubles at one-time partner studio Realtime Worlds.
WiiNintendo
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GamesCom 2010 – Exclusive 3DS Footage
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 3:13pm MDT by hey_suburbia
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(DS) Ivy the Kiwi? Review Round-Up
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 3:12pm MDT by hey_suburbia
Nintendo Life – 90
Ivy the Kiwi is the perfect example of the type of enjoyable and refreshing gaming experience that can be created when a developer isn’t afraid to try something a little different. Not only does the game absolutely ooze storybook charm, but its simple touchscreen controls are easy enough for gamers of all ages to pick up and play, yet challenging enough to give even seasoned platformer fans a serious run for their money. In all honesty, it’s one of the most unique and captivating titles to hit Nintendo’s DS system in quite some time, and given its $20 price tag and slightly more precise control method, it’s probably the better of the two versions if you’re only picking up one.Games ™ – 60
As a simple platformer, however, its interesting control scheme makes Ivy The Kiwi? a rather fun and unique game, just not a great one. [Issue#99, p.127] -
Rock Band 3 Keyboard Trailer (Official) [HD]
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 3:05pm MDT by hey_suburbia
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(DS) Okamiden – A Minute of Footage
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 3:04pm MDT by hey_suburbia
Click here to view the embedded video.
1 minute of new footage from the official Japanese site.
GameSpot's Wii News
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And Yet It Moves hits WiiWare
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 11:37am MDT
Nintendo Store Update: phsyics-based platformer hits download hub alongside NES title Uforia: The Saga for Virtual Console; four new DSiWare titles added to portable download store.
Get the full article at GameSpot
"And Yet It Moves hits WiiWare" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:37:26 -0700
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Capcom promotes Abe to CEO of US and Europe
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 11:00am MDT
Capcom has promoted Kazuhiko Abe to CEO and president of the company's US and European operations.
Abe joined the Resident Evil publisher in 2003 as general manager and was promoted to chief financial for Capcom Japan in 2006. He will now facilitate more efficient working relations between the US and Europe.
"Abe-san has proven to be an invaluable asset to Capcom," said Kenzo Tsujimoto, chairman and chief executive officer of Capcom.
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News: Wood takes CEO role at Future
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 10:41am MDT
Former ITN and Reuters exec Mark Wood has taken the CEO role at Future Publishing in the UK.
The company publishes multiple specialist magazine and internet sites, including games-focused Edge, CVG, Games Radar and PC Format. Wood resigns as non-exec director of the board ahead of his new duties on August 31.
"Mark's outstanding track record in the media bridges both the commercial and the editorial and he has a wealth of experience: in broadcast, print and online," offered Stevie Spring, Future Group chief exec.
WiiNintendo
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I Still Blow on My Nintendo Games (Grown-ups Play Nintendo, Too!)
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 10:27am MDT by Rebecca
I’ve confirmed it with friends my own age – I’m not the only adult female who still gets excited when a new Nintendo console comes out. Fortunately, I’m not even the only adult in my circuit who still owns her original front-loading NES. Yes, that’s the one with the cartridges covered in spit from the many times we “cleaned” them growing up in order to get them to play. If you’re smiling fondly at the memories, you’re my peer. If you’re confused and slightly sickened, you’re more likely my son’s peer. It’s a generational thing.
Nintendo: Family FareI am a very firm believer that Nintendo manages to create true family games – ones that I could play when I was eight and ones that my son can play when he turns eight, too. Many of the games have simply grown up with us over time. But then, as we all know, a classic is a classic. Growing up we played Duck Hunt and the installments of Mario Brothers. We knew about warp pipes and we were then when Mario the Raccoon guy started to fly.
We’ve slapped the top of the player and fired our special gun at the television more times that I can recall now, and I’m pleased that game systems have grown smaller, more realistic, but have retained their best value – entertainment you can share. Back then it was my sisters and I in pajamas all day playing and now it’s my sons and I carrying on the tradition. More games are available, but the classics remain. Someday I might even drag the NES out of storage and see if I can get the original version of Super Mario Bros. to play – just for nostalgia’s sake.
Nintendo: Looking ForwardI’m excited that my boys are old enough (finally) to start enjoying gaming with mom on the weekends. I am even more excited to think that the Nintendo 3DS might actually make it out by my oldest son’s May birthday. It’s a shame we can’t expect the 3DS before Christmas, but then hopefully we’ll hear something promising on September 29th when they make the big announcement about release dates and the like. What better way to finish the school year than for my little man to be the first in his class to sport the 3DS? Of course, he might just have to wrestle it away from Mom first.
GameSpot's Wii News
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Shippin' Out August 22-28: Mafia II, NHL 2K11
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 10:08am MDT
2K Games' period mobster game hits retail this week alongside 2K Sports' Wii-exclusive hockey sim; Elemental: War of Magic, Shank, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World also due out.
Though the high-profile games Halo: Reach and Call of Duty: Black Ops are still a ways off, the dog days of summer feel like they're coming to an end this week. Gamers looking for something new to play this week have a number of purchase options ranging from 2K Games' gritty crime sequel to a Wii-exclusive hockey simulator.
Leading the pack is 2K Czech's Mafia II for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. A sequel to the adored original, the game casts players as Vito, an up-and-coming made man in the '40s and '50s. Players will follow the violent adventures of the dapper henchman on varied crime endeavors in the living and breathing open world of Empire City.
2K Games' Mafia II gets ratted out this week.
For the Nintendo Wii sports gamer, 2K Sports releases NHL 2K11 this week. Coming exclusively to the Wii, the Visual Concepts-developed title features the Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler on its cover. The game will feature improved lighting in arenas, touched-up player models, and improved jerseys and sticks. Additionally, the game will allow players to shatter their sticks, a gameplay mechanic not included in previous installments.
Also dropping this week is Klei Entertainment's Shank, an action adventure beat-'em-up. Hitting the PlayStation Network on Tuesday and Xbox Live Arcade on Wednesday, the game thrusts players into a violently stylized 2D world. The title also features a cooperative level, which acts as a prequel to main campaign events, where players can fight as both Shank and his partner, Falcone.
The "epic of epic epicness," Scott Pilgrim vs. The World starring Michael Cera hit theaters August 13, but the game of the same name hits Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday. Available for $9.99, the four-player offline brawler takes the premise of the original comics and combines it with side-scrolling action. It also features 8-bit art by renowned pixel artist Paul Robertson.
For the PC gamer, Stardock's Elemental: War of Magic hits Tuesday. The fantasy strategy title is set in a world brimming with magic and ancient lore. In the game, players start with a single wizard character and must recruit heroes to fight for them and thwart the game's nefarious forces.
For further details on the week's games, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.
MONDAY, AUGUST 23
And Yet It Moves--Wii--Broken Rules
G.G. Series: Ninja Karakuri Den--DS--Genterprise
Martian Panic--Wii--Zoo Games
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24
Crazy Pig--DS--Dreamcatcher
Elemental: War of Magic--PC--Stardock
Grease: The Game--DS, Wii--505 Games
Gunblade NY and LA Machineguns Arcade Hits Pack--Wii--Sega
Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar--DS--Natsume
Ivy the Kiwi?--DS, Wii--XSeed Games
Mafia II--X360, PS3, PC--2K Games
NHL 2K11--Wii--2K Sports
Shank--PS3--Klei Entertainment
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25
The Bachelor--DS, Wii--Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Jade Dynasty: Vengeance--PC--Perfect World Entertainment
Shank--X360--Klei Entertainment
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World--X360--Ubisoft
THURSDAY, AUGUST 26
Disney Guilty Party--Wii--Disney Interactive
Fish Tank--PSP-iFun4all
Worms Reloaded--PC--Team 17
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27
Ship Simulator Extremes--PC--Paradox Interactive
SATURDAY, AUGUST 28
The Treasure of Montezuma--DS--O-Games
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Shippin' Out August 22-28: Mafia II, NHL 2K11" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:08:36 -0700
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Amazon stops selling XBLA titles
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 5:51am MDT
Online retailer Amazon has decided to stop selling Xbox Live Arcade games via its website, ending a partnership which began only 16 months ago in April, 2009.
Previously, the site had offered redeemable codes for purchase, allowing customers to pay for XBLA titles in national currency rather than with the publisher's proprietary Microsoft Points.
The companies had both trumpeted the announcement of the partnership, with Amazon's vice president of Video Games and Software, Greg Hart, claiming that: "PC gamers have enjoyed the convenience of digital downloads on Amazon.com for some time. Now Amazon.com and Microsoft are bringing that same level of convenience to platform gamers by expanding the reach of the Xbox Live digital platform to millions of Amazon customers"
Games2c.Com
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NBA 2K11 - New Trailer - NBA 2K11 - Premier Trailer
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 5:39am MDT
NBA 2K11,the latest game in the top rated and top selling basketball simulation franchise.OAS_url ='http://mediauk.247realmedia.com/RealMedia/ads/'; OAS_listpos = 'Top1'; OAS_query = '?'; OAS_sitepage = 'games2c.com/home'; OAS_version = 10; OAS_rn = '001234567890'; OAS_rns = '1234567890'; OAS_rn = new String (Math.random()); OAS_rns = OAS_rn.substring (2, 11); function OAS_NORMAL(pos) { document.write(''); document.write(' '); } OAS_version = 11; if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/3') != -1) OAS_version = 10; if (OAS_version >= 11) document.write(''); document.write(''); function OAS_AD(pos) { if (OAS_version >= 11 && typeof(OAS_RICH)!='undefined') OAS_RICH(pos); else OAS_NORMAL(pos); } OAS_AD('Top1');
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Modern Warfare 2 becomes UK's all time best-selling game
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 5:26am MDT
Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has become the UK's biggest-selling game of all time, exceeding the sales of Dr Kawashima's Brain training, 41 weeks after release.
Only three weeks of those 41 have seen Modern Warfare 2 take a chart place outside the top ten, including this week, which saw the game take 18th, down ten places from last month's eight.
Sales of the first person shooter will no doubt go some way to support Activision's claim that it will become the world's most profitable entertainment company in the next five or ten years.
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News: DCMS backs ratings system in Medal of Honor row
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 5:13am MDT
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport this morning distanced itself from the Defence Secretary's call to "ban" Medal of Honor in the UK describing his comments as "a personal view" while backing the game's existing BBFC 18-rating.
A statement issued to GamesIndustry.biz, attributed to a DCMS spokesperson, said: "Dr Fox was expressing a personal view and we understand why some people might find the subject matter of the game offensive.
"There is a ratings system in place which exists to categorise games appropriately, in this case the game in question is rated 18 so should only be sold to, and played by, adults.
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News: Kane & Lynch 2 tops UK all-formats chart
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 4:51am MDT
Square Enix's shooter sequel Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days has taken the top spot on the UK's all-format charts, becoming the publisher's third number one title of 2010 after Just Cause 2 and Final Fantasy XIII.
The original Kane & Lynch experienced nothing like as much success, managing only 14th during its highest-charting week, week 48 of 2007. The sequel received vastly mixed reviews, ranging from a 1/10 from Destructoid to a 9/10 from Official Xbox Magazine.
The title pushes Toy Story 3 down to second place, with Red Dead Redemption slipping to third. LEGO: Harry Potter: Years 1-4 takes the fourth spot, with Ubisoft's Just Dance sitting just below it in fifth.
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News: Eutechnyx planning Dundee studio
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 3:52am MDT
Gateshead-based independent racing studio Eutechnyx is considering opening a new office in Dundee, a city hit hard by the recent collapse of APB developer Realtime Worlds.
Eutechnyx already has bases in Gateshead, the US, Hong Kong and China, but is looking to continue its expansion following significant external investment in forthcoming racing MMO Auto Club Revolution.
Chief executive of Eutechnyx, Brian Jobling said: "We have been considering a studio in Scotland for some time, having worked with developers based there for a number of years. By forming a studio in Dundee developers who wish to remain in the area can do so, and have the opportunity to become part of a new chapter in Eutechnyx' future."
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News: Three wins for Sony at Gamescom awards
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 3:27am MDT
The winners of the Gamescom 2010 awards have been announced, with Sony taking away three of the prizes for best console game, best peripheral and the best game overall.
Flagship PlayStation 3 driving game Gran Turismo 5 picked up both game of show and best console title, while Sony's Move controller was voted as the best hardware accessory.
Warner's Super Scribblenauts was named best handheld title, NCsoft's Guild Wars 2 took best MMO, Nintendo grabbed best family title for Kirby's Epic Yarn and Crytek won best PC title for Crysis 2.
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News: Latest Halo reaches filesharing sites a month early
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 3:11am MDT
Upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive Halo: Reach has been leaked, arriving on public filesharing sites almost a month ahead of its official release date.
Microsoft admitted that a "security exploit" had enabled hackers to obtain all 7 GB of the game's code from Xbox Live Marketplace, where it was hosted for reviewers.
The download had carried a mock pricetag of 99999 Microsoft points (approximately £860), but also required a specially-provided code issued to select reviewers. However, an anonymous party was able to bypass these security checks.
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News: Zynga under fire for guerilla Mafia Wars marketing
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 2:56am MDT
Social network gaming giant Zynga has attracted the attention of the authorities, following an unconventional marketing strategy for the latest extension of its hugely successful Mafia Wars game.
Fake $25,000 bills were stuck to pavements in major cities across the US to promote the Las Vegas expansion, whilst decals of broken glass were left attached to car windscreens both featured advertisements for the Mafia Wars website. The San Francisco City Attorney's office is looking into the possibility of prosecution.
Deputy San Francisco City Attorney Alex Tse published a letter condemning the company's actions, calling the campaign "illegal and actionable", and "documented acts of sidewalk vandalism".
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News: Defence secretary calls for ban on "tasteless" Medal of Honor
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 2:34am MDT
British Defence Secretary Liam Fox has asked retailers not to stock EA's "tasteless" upcoming reboot of the Medal of Honor franchise.
The Conservative MP joins a number of voices who have expressed concern that players may take the role of Taliban troops and earn points for slaying Coalition soldiers in the modern combat title's multiplayer mode.
"It's shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban," said Fox. "At the hands of the Taliban, children have lost fathers and wives have lost husbands.
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News: Videogames businesses must "work differently" - ELSPA
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 2:22am MDT
ELSPA director general Michael Rawlinson believes that companies in the videogames business need to "work differently" as a result of the tax breaks "being pulled from under our feet", and has cast doubt on the stability of economic recovery without support for the creative industries.
Speaking in the build-up to next month's Digital Spark conference, held at the University of Abertay in Dundee on September 1-2, Rawlinson will outline his thinking on the challenges he sees ahead for the industry and how companies need to adapt.
"We all need to regroup after the tax breaks decision, and exciting initiatives like the new Digital Spark conference at Abertay University will really help," he said. "Bringing together developers, producers and legal experts under one roof is essential for small businesses to protect their position.
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News: Sony looking at Online Pass equivalent for first-party titles
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 2:17am MDT
Sony has told GamesIndustry.biz that it supports publisher initiatives to monetise second hand games consumers through online play, and that it is currently investing in a solution for its own first-party titles.
The move has been pioneered by Electronics with Project $10 and refined through the Online Pass, which charges those that buy games second hand to access online multiplayer services, helping publishers recoup some money in the controversial pre-owned market.
"On the principle of making online portions of the game available or unlocked from the disc-based release for a fee, we're broadly supportive of that," said Sony's European president Andrew House in an interview published today.
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Interview: Sony's Andrew House
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 2:00am MDT
Although the majority of the big announcements had been made at E3 earlier in the year, Sony still put in a significant investment for Gamescom last week, hosting a more relaxed press conference, hands-on time with new product and a handful of new announcements, most notably from Insomniac with Heroes on the Move and Resistance 3. After the event GamesIndustry.biz spent some time with European boss Andrew House to catch up with the Sony business, to discuss how PSN Plus is beginning to take off, the build up of momentum ahead of the Move launch in September, and how online content is changing first and third-party attitudes to the business of multiplayer gaming.
GamesRadar - Wii News
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New GoldenEye 007 multiplayer trailer is all old school and stuff (GoldenEye 007)
Posted: August 23rd, 2010, 12:00am MDT
A new trailer for the Wiimake of the classic N64 shooter, GoldenEye 007, shows off the game's myriad multiplayer modes and options. The trailer focuses on four-player split-screen games (Wii online? Psh...), and emphasizes the return of classic characters, weapons, modes, and maps, which are all good things... ...
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GR’s Weekend Giveaway: Seriously soft SmackDown vs Raw 2011 sweatshirts and a Rey Mysterio mask! (WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2011)
Posted: August 21st, 2010, 12:00am MDT
Above: Lizzie Cuevas (left). A mysterious man, possibly our new arch rival (right)
Hard men will grapple for glory in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011. But what do these professional wrestlers wear when they’re not half-naked and wiggling with each other in the ring? We’d like to think that they like to kick back and relax in one of these seriously soft SmackDown vs Raw 2011 sweatshirts, which we received from THQ.Are you getting the chills? Why don’t you warm yourself up with one of these hot hoodies? Come on in for your chance to win one of these WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 sweatshirts and this fantastico Rey Mysterio mask. ...
WiiNintendo
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Nintendo Fan Art (8/20/10)
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 3:59pm MDT by hey_suburbia
GameSpot's Wii News
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Gran Turismo 5 speeds off with Gamescom's top prize
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 2:10pm MDT
Convention's jury crowns Sony's long-awaited, 3D-enabled racing game as best of show, best console title; PlayStation Move, Guild Wars 2, Crysis 2 also take prizes.
Every year after the Electronic Entertainment Expo, a panel of game journalists from top press outlets convene to bestow the Game Critics Awards on the convention's top games. Nintendo's 3DS handheld took top honors this year, along with Bethesda and id's postapocalyptic shooter-driving game Rage.
Gran Turismo 5 took two top honors at Gamescom 2010.
Today, Gamescom announced the winners of its own equivalent of the Game Critics Awards. A jury of press and industry figures selected by the organizers of the Cologne, Germany-based convention handed out awards in seven categories. Gran Turismo 5, the long-awaited racing game from Polyphony Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment, won in two of those categories: Best of Gamescom and Best Console Game.
Sony also earned another trophy for Best Hardware Accessories with its PlayStation Move motion-sensing system, due out in North America on September 19. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and 5th Cell snagged the Best Handheld/Mobile Game prize with Super Scribblenauts, and NCsoft got the Best Online Game award for Guild Wars 2.
The Best PC Game honor went to the recently delayed Crysis 2, which will also be out on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Curiously, the jury also handed out an award in a Best Family Entertainment category, which Nintendo nabbed with Kirby's Epic Yarn for the Wii.
Best of Gamescom: Gran Turismo 5 (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Best Hardware Accessories: PlayStation Move (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Best Console Game: Gran Turismo 5 (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Best Handheld/Mobile Game: Super Scribblenauts (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)
Best Online Game: Guild Wars 2 (NCsoft)
Best PC Game: Crysis 2 (EA/Crytek)
Best Family Entertainment: Kirby…s Epic Yarn (Nintendo)
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Gran Turismo 5 speeds off with Gamescom's top prize" was posted by Tor Thorsen on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:10:39 -0700 -
Big in Japan August 9-15: Wii Party, Sengoku Basara
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 12:20pm MDT
Nintendo minigame collection and Capcom historical action game hold sway as no new releases crack the Japanese top 10.
The week of August 9-15 was a quiet one for Japanese game retailers, with no new releases managing to crack the Media Create top 10 sales chart. Even a new release might have been hard-pressed to top the list, as Nintendo's minigame collection Wii Party continued to post gaudy numbers, selling nearly 125,000 copies in its sixth week of release.
Whoa whoa whoa. Since when do Miis have thumbs?!?!?
The PlayStation 3 version of Capcom's historical action game Sengoku Basara 3 was a distant second, topping 35,000 copies sold and giving Sony's console its only representative on the charts. The PSP held its own, with Namco Bandai's latest Tales of Phantasia and Sega's Hatsune Miku: Project Diva 2 taking fourth and fifth place, respectively.
Games for Nintendo's Wii and DS claimed seven of the top 10 chart spots, but only two of the top five. Level Five's Inazuma Eleven 3 for the DS finished third with sales over 28,000, and Nintendo's handheld was also represented by Eigokoro Kyoushitsu, Tomodachi Collection, and the latest Taiko no Tatsujin title. Besides putting a game at the top of the charts, the Wii also saw Super Mario Galaxy 2 hit sixth place, with Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory landing in ninth.
While Nintendo was all over the software charts, Sony fared best in the hardware wars. The PSP and PS3 were the best-selling systems of the week, moving 35,734 units and 33,057 units, respectively. However, that magic touch didn't extend to the PSP Go, which had a particularly uninspired week, selling just 608 new systems and bringing up the rear yet again. The DSi LL was Nintendo's best-selling effort, moving nearly 28,000 new systems into users' hands. The Wii was close behind, topping 25,000 systems sold.
JAPAN GAME SALES WEEK OF AUGUST 9-15, 2010
Software:
Rank / Title / Publisher / Platform / Unit sales
1. Wii Party / Nintendo / Wii / 124,489
2. Sengoku Basara 3 / Capcom / PS3 / 35,324
3. Inazuma Eleven 3: Sekai e no Chousen!! Spark and Bomber/ Level Five / DS / 28,215
4. Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon X / Namco Bandai / PSP / 27,822
5. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva 2 / Sega / PSP / 24,017
6. Super Mario Galaxy 2 / Nintendo / Wii / 20,873
7. Eigokoro Kyoushitsu DS / Nintendo / DS / 16,895
8. Tomodachi Collection / Nintendo / DS / 15,243
9. Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road Victory / Square Enix / Wii / 14,803
10. Taiko no Tatsujin DS: Dororon! Youkai Daikessen!! / Bandai Namco / DS / 14,299
Hardware:
PSP - 35,734
PS3 - 33,057
DSi LL - 27,923
Wii - 25,072
DSi - 24,850
Xbox 360 - 5,065
DS Lite - 4,809
PS2 - 1,675
PSP Go - 608Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"Big in Japan August 9-15: Wii Party, Sengoku Basara" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:20:58 -0700 -
DJ Hero 2 spinning October 19
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 11:26am MDT
Activision's turntable-based rhythm game returns for 360, PS3, Wii in two months with 90 on-disc tracks.
Activision's Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is due out on September 28, and heavyweight Call of Duty: Black Ops lights up retail November 9. However, the publisher is sliding another game in between those two, DJ Hero 2, Activision confirmed today.
An Activision representative told GameSpot that the music-mixing sequel will hit the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii on October 19 in North America and on October 22 in Europe. The title was previously announced as pegged to arrive with a less specific "fall."
Deadmau5 comes alive this October.
The game will come in a variety of bundles. This includes a "party in a box" set ($149.99) that includes a copy of the game, two turntables, and a microphone, as well as a single-turntable bundle ($99) and a version without accessories ($49.99 for the Wii, $59.99 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3).
As for the game's soundtrack, DJ Hero 2 will ship with 90 on-disc artists, ranging from pop diva Lady Gaga to headbangers Metallica. Additionally, the sequel features an all-new single-player mode, which casts players as a struggling DJ working his way up to media mogul stature.
DJ Hero 2 was first confirmed in January by Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. While the critical reception for DJ Hero was generally positive, sales were disappointing, though Activision claimed it was the most successful new intellectual property of 2009 in terms of revenue.
For more on the upcoming title, check out GameSpot's most recent preview.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"DJ Hero 2 spinning October 19 " was posted by Eddie Makuch on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 10:26:09 -0700
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Ed Balls urges rethink on industry tax breaks
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 8:39am MDT
Labour leadership candidate Ed Balls has visited Dundee following Realtime World's administration announcement, citing the cancelled tax breaks for the UK games industry as the cause of the company's failure and offering almost unequivocal support for their reintroduction.
In a post on his personal blog, the shadow education secretary was keen to point out that the previous Labour government had recommended the tax breaks before they were axed by the Tory and Liberal Democrat coalition. The minister also highlighted the competition which the UK industry faces from countries such as Canada, where games development receives considerable government support.
"The Tory-Lib Dem government is putting the future of the computer games industry in Scotland at risk. The terrible news this week about Realtime Worlds could be just the start unless the coalition government rethinks its decisions which are costing jobs and risking the recovery," wrote Balls.
WiiNintendo
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Guitar Hero Guitars Dropped Into Real Volcano
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 8:32am MDT by hey_suburbia
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: New studio set to rise from RTW ashes
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 7:56am MDT
Realtime Worlds' tumultuous month has taken another sharp turn, with claims that a new developer is being formed to take on the continued development of Project: MyWorld and key staff.
Administrator Begbies Traynor announced this morning that 23 members of the MyWorld team had been rehired after "considerable interest from potential buyers".
But GamesIndustry.biz understands that only one serious buyer has come forward for MyWorld, with plans to staff a new studio with the 23-strong team - set to remain in the current Dundee offices - which will focus initially on seeing MyWorld through to its projected spring 2011 launch.
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News: GameStop shares plummet on financial results
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 6:05am MDT
Shares in US-based specialist retail chain GameStop have fell by over 8 per cent following the release of its second quarter fiscal figures earlier this week.
Trading in the company opened down significantly, and stayed low throughout the day to close on $19.06, 8.2 per cent down from $20.76 the previous day.
GameStop's headline numbers pointed to a rise in total sales and net earnings, by 3.4 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively, but that wasn't enough to impress analysts or investors.
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News: Early bird discounts for GDC Online
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 6:00am MDT
Registrations for GDC Online are currently available at up to 40 per cent discount as of now, up until September 1, 2010, the event's organiser - UBM TechWeb - has announced.
The conference, which focuses on online game development, social network games, free-to-play, MMOs, and social games, takes place in Austin, Texas, from October 5-8, 2010.
Advance registration for the event closes on October 1, but attendees will be able to register onsite up until the last day of the conference.
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News: Games Fleadh 2011 dated
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 5:17am MDT
Dates for the finals of the next Games Fleadh student event have been released by the Tipperary Institute in Ireland as March 9-10, 2011.
The event will take place at the Institute and to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Frogger arcade game, students will be tasked with preparing their own interpretations of the title.
Games Fleadh will challenge students to come up with titles running on either of Microsoft's platforms, XNA or DirectX 11, making them playable on Xbox 360, Windows 7 or Windows Phone 7.
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News: Project MyWorld back on as staff re-hired
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 4:22am MDT
Begbies Traynor, the company handling the administration of Dundee-based developer Realtime Worlds, has confirmed that it has rehired a further 23 of the staff which were made redundant earlier this month, all from the team working on the MyWorld project.
Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz, Begbies Traynor representative Les Able told us that all of the jobs were based in Dundee, seemingly putting paid to rumours that the development of MyWorld would be moving to Realtime World's Colorado office.
Joint administrator Ken Pattullo issued a statement last night: "As a smaller entity MyWorld is attracting considerable interest from potential buyers and 23 members of the team who had been working on the project clearly add value to it as a standalone business, hence the fact we have been able to offer a limited number of those jobs back."
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News: Krome confirms layoffs in Melbourne and Brisbane
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 3:39am MDT
Australian developer Krome studios has confirmed significant job losses across its business, as well as the potential suspension of its Adelaide office, blaming the industry's challenging economic climate.
Speaking to GameSpot Australia, the company corroborated the reports of job losses, saying that an undisclosed number of staff have been put on notice pending the outcome of the studio's current development projects.
"As we have seen by other recent announcements, the games industry is still going through economic challenges which Krome is not immune from. These times are challenging and as a result, we have put some of our staff on notice pending the outcome of a number of upcoming projects," read Krome's statement.
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News: Bigpoint launches 2m browser game
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 3:17am MDT
Bigpoint has announced that its 2 million investment into its browser-based 3D online action game, Poisonville, is nearing fruition with the game now entering an open beta test phase.
The Hamburg-based company - currently swirling with rumours of a possible acquisition - has created the title using the Java-based jMonkeyEngine, modifying it to cope with the level of 3D capability required.
The game also features motion-capture action and an open-world environment, with players able to try out the title's tutorial without the need for installation or registration.
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News: $18m extra investment for Playspan
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 3:16am MDT
Virtual goods provider Playspan has attracted $18 million in Series C funding, bringing its total pot to some $42 million.
Contributing to the latest cash injection are Vodafone Ventures, Softbank Bodhi Fund, Menlo Ventures, STIC and Novel TMT Ventures. The latter three have invested in Playspan previously.
Playspan provides a clutch of monetisation technology for third-party games, such as Ultimate GameCard, the Playspan Marketplace and the UltimatePay microtransaction system.
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News: Over 90% of 8-11 year olds play online games
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 2:33am MDT
91 of boys and 93 per cent of girls aged 8 to 11 are now playing online games such as Club Penguin, according to a new report by analyst M2 Research.
Less surprisingly, Facebook was named the favourite website of that age group, as well as for girls aged 12-15.
The DS range came out kind of the handhelds for the so-called 'tween' demographic, but nonetheless some 17 per cent of girls gamed on the PSP. The same was true of 44 per cent of males.
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Editorial: Realtime Crisis
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 2:00am MDT
The demise of developer Realtime Worlds is something of a seismic shock for the UK games business, and especially for the town of Dundee - one of the locations where game development has particularly thrived in this country over the past decade.
In the immediate term, it means that hundreds of developers are out of work. The human cost of a company of this size collapsing is immense. Families will be uprooted and relocated, and some will struggle to keep their heads above water, especially since the firm apparently lacks the funds required to pay wages and redundancy packages.
In the longer term, however, I suspect that the impact of RTW's demise will be felt by the UK games business for many years to come. The company's failure is not entirely a shock - it launched an MMO-style game which was hugely expensive to develop, but which received poor reviews, a combination which would be a fatal blow to most game companies. The scale of the failure, and the context in which it has happened, however, will have a major impact on how the industry does business.
GamesRadar - Wii News
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Insane Super Mario World glitch video helps explain advanced exploits (Super Mario World - Virtual Console)
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 12:00am MDT
You may think you're pretty good at gaming, you can get headshots, you can make it through a level without getting hit, you can make the hardest jumps with ease. But the fact of the matter is that you're not as good as this guy, and you never will be. He's so good he has to make his own impossible glitch exploit Super Mario levels to beat. In fact, he's so good that this video of him playing made Chuck Norris blink. ...
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Metroid: Other M: Nintendo releases ‘Metroid and Me’ trailer (Metroid: Other M)
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 12:00am MDT
Nintendo has just released a new Metroid: Other M trailer. Titled ‘Metroid and Me,’ the short video walks you through the history of the series from its NES origins to the upcoming title for the Wii. It’s narrated by the voice actor who plays Samus Aran in the new game and is a must-watch for any Metroid fan. Check it out! ... -
Sonic Colors power-ups are looking a bit... familiar (Sonic Colors)
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 12:00am MDT
Sega has unveiled another 'wisp' for Sonic Colours. Wisps are little alien dudes who inhabit the planets that Robotnik has shackled together to create his devilish theme parks, and they act as power-ups when Sonic picks them up. The latest is the pink wisp (pictured) for the Wii version, which makes Sonic sticky. His spikes get harder (no, we're not making this up) and he gains the ability to stick to walls and even ceilings.
Seeing as Sonic can already run up walls and along ceilings in virtually all his other games, I'm not convinced this is a 'power-up' at all. In fact, now I think about it, all the other previously announced 'power-ups' sound familiar too...
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Live-action Metroid: Other M trailer is sexy and emotive in equal measure (Metroid: Other M)
Posted: August 20th, 2010, 12:00am MDT
As publishers increasingly attempt to snag the mainstream wallet with ever-more mass-market promotion, we're seeing more and more games promoted with live-action trailers rather than the traditional showreels of polygons and pixels. Sometimes they work, sometimes they make you want to tear your own eyes out in despair. But I'm pleased to say that this particular actual-actors-in-actual-costumes affair for Nintendo and Team Ninja's upcoming Metroid: Other M is very much the former.
However the game turns out, Nintendo is currently doing one hell of a job of selling Samus as a character. Potentially the deepest and most nuanced of all of Ninty's roster, she's really coming into her own with this campaign, with the spotlight tightly focused on her history, her tribulations, and what the cumulative effect of 24 years of lone bounty-hunting does to a person. And one or two lapses into slightly cheesy line delivery aside, this US TV spot does a great job of conveying all that. Any Nintendo gamer of a certain age who doesn't well up a little during the last flashback image frankly has no soul and is not to be trusted.
Also, Zero Suit. ...
WiiNintendo
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I am Going to the Wii Games 2010 Championship!
Posted: August 19th, 2010, 4:30pm MDT by hattrick
On August 7, 2010, my wife and I competed at our local Six Flags for the Wii Games Summer 2010 competition. Of course, as you all know, I am obviously a big Nintendo fan. I could not pass up an opportunity to compete. Before we signed up, we told ourselves that we were going to win. We had no idea we actually would do just that!
We competed in five grueling games of Wii Sports Resort Basketball (3-pt shoot), Mario Kart Wii, Wii Sports Resort Bowling, Wii Fit Plus Hulu Hoop, and a co-op New Super Mario Bros coin challenge. I say grueling, not because the games were tough, but because I am very competitive. In the end, we felt like we did our best, and we had fun. Then, after a look at the scoreboards, we were in the number one spot for the adult category!
So, in September, my wife and I are heading to Los Angeles (second time this year, with E3 being the first) for the national championships. We are not sure what to expect just yet. We are just excited to have the opportunity! So, cheer us on, and be sure to follow me on twitter (@hattrick_wii) for loads of photos, videos, and updates during our time in LA for the championships.
Below are some [crappy] photos of the Six Flags competition that I took with my cell phone.
GameSpot's Wii News
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THQ locks down WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 online mode
Posted: August 19th, 2010, 12:34pm MDT
Publisher bundles single-use online admission code and DLC with new copies of fighting game; used-game purchasers must pay $10 for access.
Earlier this summer THQ announced it would charge secondhand users $10 for access to online play in UFC 2010 Undisputed. However, the Red Faction publisher isn't stopping there and today announced that new purchases of WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 will come with online access and free day-one DLC.
THQ is hoping to lay the smack down on used-game sales.
Those who pick up a new copy of the game this October will find a onetime use code that can be redeemed for "online access and the game's first DLC package." Additionally, new purchasers will earn Chris Masters as a playable character and Halloween-style costumes for Rey Mysterio and Kelly Kelly.
However, those who buy used copies of the game without the onetime use code will need to purchase access for the DLC and online play. THQ says that these users should expect to pay $10 (800 Microsoft points) for the features.
THQ isn't the only publisher of late to incentivize new-game purchases. Electronic Arts has already encouraged new purchases of sports games Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 and Madden NFL 11 by bundling single-use online multiplayer access codes with new copies. Additionally, new purchases of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Mass Effect 2 came bundled with a code to download content that gamers with pre-owned games have to pay for.
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 is due out for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, and Nintendo Wii and is expected to ship on October 26. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's most recent preview.
Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
"THQ locks down WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 online mode" was posted by Eddie Makuch, Tom Magrino on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:34:57 -0700 -
GameStop rides Red Dead sales to 3.4% growth in Q2
Posted: August 19th, 2010, 12:19pm MDT
Mario Galaxy 2, UFC 2010, Starcraft II, and NCAA Football 11 round out top sellers; specialty retailer says it has "not seen any impact" from publishers' Online Pass schemes, increased competition in market.
The US game industry as a whole continues to limp along with shrinking sales, but it's a trend not reflected in GameStop's bottom line. The specialty retailer today released its financial figures for the quarter ended July 31, showing year-over-year jumps in sales and profits.
GameStop is brushing off EA's Online Pass like a halfhearted arm tackle.
GameStop revenues for the quarter totaled $1.8 billion, up 3.4 percent from the previous year's second-quarter haul of $1.74 billion. Although the company is most notable for its used gaming business, it saw a 5.3 percent spike in sales of new games. According to the company, the five best-sellers for the quarter were Red Dead Redemption, Super Mario Galaxy 2, UFC Undisputed 2010, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, and NCAA Football 11. GameStop's bottom line also improved, as the company posted net income of $40.3 million for the quarter, up 4.2 percent from the previous year's second-quarter take of $38.7 million.
In a postearnings conference call, GameStop executives played down concerns about recent trends like competing retailers getting into the used game business and publishers adopting "Online Pass" models for their games. GameStop CEO Paul Raines told analysts that the company has "seen no competitive impact" from new businesses in the used game space and has also not noticed any impact from onetime use codes packed into new releases.
As for how the company judges the effectiveness of the onetime use codes, Raines said, "We look at the title that had the first-use codes and we look at the trade volume and the used inventories on those and just haven't seen an impact yet." He said that only 25 percent of used game purchasers play those titles online, so locking out multiplayer features on used copies (as has been done with games like NCAA Football 11 and UFC Undisputed 2010) doesn't impact that audience.
GameStop expects things to continue growing. In the earnings call, chief financial officer Rob Lloyd said the company is increasing its forecast for new game sales worldwide from a range of 2 to 5 percent growth to 5 to 10 percent growth. Meanwhile, executive chairman Dan DeMatteo said the company believes the game lineup for the second half of 2010 is stronger than that of 2009, and the launches of Kinect and Move should return the gaming industry to growth.
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"GameStop rides Red Dead sales to 3.4% growth in Q2" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:19:52 -0700
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: Pitbull adds two key hires
Posted: August 19th, 2010, 11:25am MDT
Pitbull Studio has announced that it has appointed to former Pitbull Syndicate veterans in the form of James Parr and Jef Hardy.
Parr, who will take on the role of technical director, has worked in the industry for over 20 years, on titles including Destruction Derby 2, Test Drive, LA Rush and Ferrari Challenge.
Meanwhile Hardy has been assigned the job of design director - he too worked on a host of titles, most recently Wheelman at the now-defunct Midway Newcastle Studio.
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News: SCEE adds Dundee recruitment day
Posted: August 19th, 2010, 11:09am MDT
Another company has added its name to the list of businesses heading to Dundee to offer Realtime Worlds staff affected by the administration move possible alternative employment.
Sony Computer Entertainment will be flying a team of nine staff up to the town to discuss its current vacancies, following the lead of Activision, Creative Assembly and Blitz.
Interviews will be taking place all day tomorrow (Friday) at the Apex Hotel - the location for all of the announced recruitment events so far - with roles available at the publisher's London Studio, Cambridge Studio, Home group, Online Technology Group, Advanced Technology Group, SCEE R&D, Evolution, Media Molecule and Guerrilla Games.
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News: TIGA laments decline in computer studies at A-Level
Posted: August 19th, 2010, 10:59am MDT
UK trade organisation TIGA has pointed out that the number of students awarded a computing A-Level this year has dropped, claiming that the statistics represent a dwindling recruitment pool for the UK games industry.
The body was pleased by the increase in A-levels awarded for art and design, mathematics, further mathematics and physics, but indicated that the low numbers of computing applicants was a worry, additionally highlighting the fact that only ten per cent of the computing students were female.
TIGA chief executive Richard Wilson responded to the A-level figures released today, stating: "Computer games developers need gifted people with a mastery of subjects such as physics, art, mathematics and computing. It is encouraging to see increases in A-Level entries for some of these subjects, but the continuing decline in entries for computing is disappointing.
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Rock Band 3 complete track listing revealed?
Posted: August 19th, 2010, 10:43am MDT
[UPDATE] Video shows Harmonix staffer scrolling through entire song listing at Gamescom; artists range from Amy Winehouse to Yes.
Get the full article at GameSpot
"Rock Band 3 complete track listing revealed?" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:43:17 -0700
GamesIndustry.biz - News
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News: GameStop reports increased sales and earnings
Posted: August 19th, 2010, 9:06am MDT
GameStop has reported an increase in total sales for the quarter ending July 31, 2010 - rising 3.4 per cent to $1.80 billion (£1.15 billion), in comparison to $1.74 billion (£1.11 billion) in the same quarter for 2009. Net earnings saw an increase of 4.2 per cent to $40.3 million (£25.8 million) from $38.7 million (£24.8 million) in last year's second quarter.
An increase of 0.9 per cent in comparable store sales was largely attributed to sales of new hardware and games, while market share gains contributed to a 5.3 per cent increase in new videogame software sales.
The company's top five selling titles during the period were spread across formats, with Red Dead Redemption taking the top spot, followed by Super Mario Galaxy 2, UFC Undisputed 2010, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and NCAA Football 11.