Working Title

Gone 2 Europe 4 two months!

2008-04-29T10:21:00.005-04:00

"Gone gone, forever on-
wards toward the flashing lights and sounds
of another realm"

See you in a few months!

Dear Reader, (there is only 1 of you right?)

I have finished Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, much to my chagrin it was cute and mildly humorous till the very end, but the story was complete and almost all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. I'm not too sure what I was supposed to do with the girl pirate, and I never found the mermaid. So even without those tidbits or add-ons I still give this game a 5 out of 5, particularly because it was on the DS. I've never enjoyed an RPG / Action game so much on a handheld.

Now I've moved on to Final Fantasy III, which has filled that emptyness inside that appears when you finish a good game. Having never played FF III before it is a real treat. I believe this is the first FF game where they introduced job classes, which are annoying when you switch back and forth, but add enough interesting aspects to the game that they become enjoyable. I'll have to wait until I return to give a full review.

However, dear reader, I do want to leave you with something to tide you over. Here are a list of my favorite webcomics, the majority of which are gaming related, and most of which are excellent wastes of time. Read them all from the beginning of the archives, you will enjoy them much more that way.

Hookie Dookie Panic
CTRL-ALT-Delete
Goblins
8bit Theatre
Penny Arcade
PVP Online
The Adventures of Dr McNinja
The n00b
Three Panel Soul - (from the creators of Machall)
Girl Genius
Looking For Group

Enjoy! and feel free to leave your comments :)

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass DS ... Plus More!

2008-04-03T11:16:00.005-04:00

So many things to say, so little time. This post will be a brief overview of some of the key features of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass DS. I won't go into too much detail because so many others have covered the bases. What I will say is that as far as DS games go, the hype was well deserved for this little title. It's taken me about 20+ hours to poke through about 85% of the game, and everything that keeps the game cute and interesting is still prevalent.

Issues - the saving "anywhere" feature is deceptive, and though I'm sure it was an engineering limitation that prevents players from saving in the middle of a castle / dungeon, it would have been really nice to see. Instead, whenever you save, if you were in a castle, you keep any doors or switches that you've hit open, but you start back at the beginning of the castle again.

As for the gameplay and the cuteness (plus most of the original reliable weapons / tools) everything works well. As many other reviews have pointed out it's the stylus that makes this nugget of triforce goodness fall into the "legendary" category. Taking the ability to draw paths and making it integral to the game really expanded the puzzles and style of play that a portable Zelda game can offer.

Anyway, no more babbling. Go buy it, it's good, you won't be dissappointed, I'm not going to use any more commas ... I swear ...

As for the other stuff! Well, I've finished a few additional games and decided I'm going to start tracking them over there---------------------------------------------->
Each has a relative rating, but if you want details or to form your own opinion (which I highly recommend), take a look at any posts on said game, or click the title to get to the official site (that's what's usually linked there).

That's all for now, and may the triforce be with you ... (nerd thought .. I wonder if the triforce is like a focus for "The Force", Link woulda kicked Luke's ass anyway ...)

-JW

The Witcher ... now loading

2008-02-12T14:07:00.000-05:00

Now is the time to take up your sword, to recall the holy grail of clickdom and to renew your vows as a knight of the RPG realm, now is not the time to be sitting and waiting for a load screen, which is exactly what I've spent a good 25% of my time doing while trying to enjoy the glorious world of The Witcher. It could be the install / setup I'm running, but my skepticism leans toward a common culprit; lazy programming. No pre-loading zones in the background, no free roaming cities, no flow.

What's really amazing though, is that despite this issue which could frustrate many players into seeking an alternate source of on demand entertainment, I am still playing.

I am just breaking out of the novice ranks, with my sword in hand I have successfully overcome the Beast of Vizima's outskirts and have defeated the evil leaders of the village. I met a charming girl named Vesna Hood (if you don't get the hilarity here, go back and try and find her at night in the village). I rescued a young boy with the powers of a seer. I helped a witch avoid being torn apart by a mob. Generally, amidst some drinking and monster slaying I had a pretty good time. Now I'm off to save the city from corruption and degradation.

I just hope I don't have to fight this guy any time soon... yikes!

Wish me luck!, oh and I'd still love some hints if you have any.

Which Witcher is Which?

2008-02-05T13:49:00.000-05:00

Ahhh yes, it's like getting into a warm bath that soothes every aching gaming thought I've had while weathering through the last few months of gaming. This game has been given RPG of the year for 2007 with good reason.

The Witcher (Click here to visit the official website and possibly download a demo). Is a sweet return the days of Baldur's Gate and Diablo. I won't get into iteration wars here, suffice to say if you enjoyed one of those games your probably played all the sequels. That's the way it should be for the The Witcher.

To give you a taste of the story, which comes from a number of tales written by polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, the game gives you a well narrated action packed CG intro movie, in which you will probably come to appreciate the character Geralt, whom you play. You are then thrust into a future where you have no memory of who you are and get to avenge your past and carve out a new name for yourself in a dark and hostile land.

I'm only a few levels into the game so far, but there is more than enough depth to keep me interested, the plot so far has given me a taste of good things to come, and the adult aspects of this RPG lead me to believe we can only expect true to life characters throughout this tale's twists and turns.

I will keep this blog posted with updates on my progress, and all you veterans out there feel free to throw me a bone with helpful suggestions.

Here's to a beautiful dawn in the RPG gaming era.

What the Hellgate?

2008-01-17T10:53:00.001-05:00

What the hell just happened?

I think I just finished Hellgate: London last night. I put emphasis on the "think" part because I'm really not sure. You see, like most people I was intrigued and drawn in by this gorgeous intro movie, but I think it was a sham, they sold me snake oil and took DAYS of my life away.

***Warning: Spoilers Below***
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So as you can see in the video above, there is a well laid path for an intricate and deep plot. A young daughter gets saved because she has a destiny. But in reality, that destiny doesn't turn out to be all that interesting. You get a small hint late in the game that the little girl's father (who you will see in a full intro movie from the game) sacrificed himself so that humanity's survivors could go into hiding, but this is where things start to unravel.

You see, to make the plot a little more unnatural and epic they included these "Truths". They give all these speeches about the virtues that will save humanity, that will allow you to fight the demons, to attack the Hellgate itself. But they are incredibly overdone and the "glamour" fades long before the end of the game. Even the final speech about "hope" seems more of a cop-out on the game's part than anything else, like saying "oops, well we can't build up to a really terrific ending (especially since that might stop us from making tons of sequels), so .. we'll just have to send you to battle in Hell ..."

Then on top of that .. well .. here watch this movie of the end of the game.

Now, have you seen everything? That's you, battling in hell, ouu scary! :p See I know this falls into myth and religion, and that Hell is supposed to be the ultimate "bad place", but really can't you get a little more creative? I mean your dealing with "the dark" which has supposedly destroyed thousands of worlds, why can't you be taken through what you've called a "Hellgate" (accept the fact that it's just some religious archetype that your culture or history provided) and end up on a more interesting wasteland of a world were the demons .. or "the dark" began, or are at least based out of.

On TOP of the poorly pieced together ending, the game isn't really over .. AT ALL .. in any sense of the world "over". They want you to keep playing on and on, until the expansion comes out .. then you can play some more. All the buildup leads you to a battle that you obviously cannot win, and Earth is still stricken with the plague of demons. I mean, there's really nothing good about this ending at all. You kill one big baddy, you lose your sorcerer, if you hang out in the hellgate entrance long enough you'll see that all the templars DIE, and the Hellgate is still there, just hanging out .. letting demons pour through it. They even put effort into developing the pseudo-science/magic of this universe and they don't even apply it to the hellgate (something which must be maintained, or powered, and can be taken down or turned off).

Anyway, I think the moral of the story is that my original fear is partly well founded. Gaming companies are being run as successful businesses, but the business has been inbred into the games. It's all about only putting in enough effort to sell the game, not develop something awesome. Even games like Gears of War ended this way. They only include enough cutscenes and content to keep you playing until the next add-on comes out for sale. I'd love to see how much they spend on advertising and how much is actually spent on the game. On top of this the online was very buggy on its initial release, which was supposed to be a huge part of the game.

For those interested, here's a movie of what looks to be the expansion. Here's hoping it's a little more content oriented.

Mmmmm PORTALicious

2008-01-09T10:17:00.000-05:00

I recently read an interview on WIRED.com with one of the original bloggers. This guy looks like he's seen a lot, and done a lot, and missed his barber appointments for the last 10 years, but he made some vital points.

1. Blogging isn't about re-hashing some topic you're interested in, it's about searching for articles that already exist online about said topic, and linking to them.

2. Original BLOGS were just logs were people tracked URLs.

Now these points aren't an attempt at shooting myself and many other bloggers in the feet. I believe part of blogging is sharing an opinion or perspective, that someone else might not have seen before, and hoping that someone finds it funny, or interesting, or enlightening.

The problem with blogging about video games is that there are A LOT of people that do it already, and for the most part you can do a random google search and find out whether or not a video game is worth buying or playing etc. So why read? Well I guess here, and in many other blogs (but not all of them) I will try to stick to the habit of actually posting worthwhile links. That old somewhat scary looking guy had a point, or 10 ...

Useful Portal Links:

Fileplanet Free Maps - These are a fun, but hard, way to fill that empty hole Portal leaves in a wall somewhere (and in your heart) when you finish the game.

Portal Maps Fansite - There are a lot of maps here, and though they seem poorly organized, I'm sure there are some winners.

VG Cats Flash Portal Video - This one is only for when you've finished the game, it will make you laugh and reminisce and want to play it all over again ... maybe for some cake?

So, in case you haven't seen any other sites about Portal, played the game, or heard that the hype is reality, turn off your computer and go to the nearest shrine of video game provisions. Go buy this game, you'll get 4 other games with it in the Orange Box and you too can have cake .. maybe.

New Year, New Fear

2008-01-03T12:47:00.000-05:00

To all the ladies out there who used to think of Heath Ledger as a heart-throb I have nothing to say except,

"...what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger." - Joker (Dark Knight 2008)

To all the guys. If you haven't seen this yet, please indulge yourself. It's decadent like a velvet chocolate cake with scary little leprechaun hallucinogens baked in.

Now if they can keep this new birth of the Batman series alive with as much grit and Gothic texture I'd love to see what they continue to do with Lazarus, The Riddler ... and all the other worthwhile villains of Gotham.

And now for something Completely Different!

Actually I lied. I justed wanted to quote Monty Python. This is another fear, relating back to a previous post about the BEASTLY nature of Hellgate: London. I'm sure given the thorough discipline of any high school computer geek you could zip through this game in a few all nighters, but it's taking a hell of a lot longer to get through it casually. I'm lvl 21, and I've beaten a number of big baddies, got some neat gear, and enjoyed it all so far, but I've yet to see another cut scene!

I fear that my most favorite form of video game reward has gone the way of genital piercing, companies only do it once and then lose the balls to do it again. Is it really that painful? (making cut scenes .. not piercing your nibbly bits) Sure it takes time, but you can often use it to market the game, and then the full version of these videos live on inside and out of the game as a vivid memory of awesome moments, forever immortalized in online music videos. I mean, if you've played Diablo do you think it would have been the same without the great story and well placed CG movies to drag you into hell? I really hope this fear is unfounded and I get rewarded with more videos as I finish the games I've enjoyed so far this year.

Back to the grindstone, lvl 25 hear I come!

Hellgate London is predictably a BEAST

2007-11-15T15:46:00.000-05:00

Ok this is just a short post to warn any of you addicts out there craving a fix. Hellgate London is a ride that only the experienced gamer should be taking. Do not take this warning lightly. It will test the limits of your system, especially if you don't have a brand spankin new graphics card that supports Active X 10. On top of that they have really gone for a recreation of the Diablo and Diablo 2 realms so that they can keep you collecting, upgrading and crafting for ALL ETERNITY!

On the plus side I have a really cool rocket launcher and I'm only level 10 :)

But seriously folks, don't plug in unless your ready to face the time stealing, hot poker eyes from your girlfriend, parents wondering what happened to you for the last few months, unshakable "I need a fix" feeling that emanates from the Hellgate.

I am the incarnation of Aunt Flow

2007-11-07T10:12:00.000-05:00

Once a month isn't that bad for a blog, .. or is it? I guess if it's something you dread, that changes your life irrevocably (like dear old Aunt Flow) then once a month might be considered too often.

Regardless we're here with a couple little tidbits for you dear reader.

BIOSHOCK

Recently I had the pleasure of playing this years premier first person shooter. I hesitate to call it just a first person shooter because it contained so much more than that. A lot of players and writers agree that the simple dedication illustrated in the art, style and story of Bioshock have made it a next_gen game.

From the moment the curtains open on a mysterious flight and a convoluted main character you are teased and coaxed into a world that is definitely not your own, or is it? Memories, or ghost sightings, friends or enemies, little children or horrible monsters? You are left to decide what is real and what is malleable. You can choose some of the outcome of the game, and even though it's a small choice the moral weight it carries lifts this game into a realm of great interactive storytelling.

Now as difficult as it is to put aside the fantastic plot, with its twists and seeming dead ends, to do justice we must look at the mechanics of the game as well. I don't want this to turn into some formal process, but the choice of weapons (which go back to the surreal 40's 50's style armaments) are key. Having the ability to upgrade these weapons for different effects, and also use different kinds of ammunition, adds so much to the game mechanics. On top of that, you have your Plasmids, which are tied very closely to the storyline. They may appear to be just another form of magic, but the science fiction that draws you into the story proves that ADAM is more than myth and magic. If that doesn't make sense to you, then take my explanation as just another attempt to make you go out and buy BIOSHOCK. You won't be disappointed.

2kGames Bioshock Website

We're BAAACK!

2007-10-15T15:14:00.000-04:00

The future is an uncertain thing. It's like a liquid soup of destiny that can slip through your grasp as you reach for your goals, desires and dreams. However if you learn to cup your hands together you can dip into your future and drink deeply.

Here at Working Title, or www.3dgamer.blogspot.com we cup our hands together and bow our heads as a sign of respect and apology.

We had a small community of enthusiastic writers that wanted to create something fun, something worthwhile, something all about video games. But we reached out too far, we dug too deep and our attempt at a new and interesting source of gamer news failed.

So now I am probably the soul surviving writer that will continue on here.

I'd like to establish this as a PC gaming blog, but I know I will touch on more than that .. like awesome webcomics, other systems and all the delicious paraphernalia that feeds the typical geek's addictions.

Like Nintendo's "Blue Ocean" strategy that won them so much acclaim for the Wii, we'll cover a lot that's out there and maybe some stuff that's not, appealing to a market that's huge, because it doesn't exist ... yet.

For now I'll thank anyone that takes the time to, come and glance at old posts, and comment on new things that peak their interest. Hopefully you'll see some content that will make you want to return.

We have moved to B4NG.com

2006-12-25T19:12:00.000-05:00

Dear visitors,

This blog has now been transfered to its own domain at B4NG.com, please go to http://www.b4ng.com for future updates and fresh content.

Thank You,

Working Title Staff

Gran Turismo HD Concept - Launch date and details

2006-12-22T15:14:00.001-05:00

GT HD will be available as a free download for the PS3 system and will be made available on December 24th. It's essentially just GT4 with totally revamped graphics for the PS3 console, aka, 1080p visuals. Interestingly enough, it will be available for the North American market, unlike the original GT Concept titles from years back which were only available in Europe and Japan.

According to Sony and Kazunori Yamauchi, this title is intended to be a glimpse into the future of the Gran Turismo series.

Players will have access to the Eiger Nordwand course in forward and reverse which will be playable as a time trial. Meeting certain goals will unlock the first 10 cars of the game and players will get to unlock them again with some performance tuning. The game will also include the drift mode that was initially planned for Gran Turismo 4 but nixed on the final release. Drift Trial mode will score players based on drift angles, racing lines, and speed for each of the evaluation zones on the course. The point total for all the zones will go towards the player's rankings.

Players will be able to use the Playstation Network to upload lap times and view rankings based on car and mode as well as share replays. Sadly, online play will not be available on this title.

Sony has also provided a list of the available cars in game. These will be available stock and tuned.

1995 Suzuki Cappucino
1989 Mazda Eunos Roadster
2004 Honda Integra TYPE R
1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR
2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe
2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
2005 Lotus Elise 111R
1994 Nissan SKYLINE GT-R Vspec II
1995 Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car
2006 Ferrari 599

Sadly, it seems that GT HD Concept is going to be nothing more than a tech demo showing off the visual prowess of the PS3 console. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot on the plate here, and this is probably just meant to hold off the crowds until GT5 is officially released. No word yet on the release of GT5, but considering the delays to GT4, I'd expect it to launch no sooner than the end of 2007 - if even that soon. Kaz is a perfectionist when it comes to the GT titles, and if GT4 is any indication, he will delay it as much as possible in order to release the best racing sim he can.

Besides that, I'm not particularly looking forward to GT HD Concept as it just doesn't have much to offer in terms of gameplay and replay value. I'm sure the lucky few hardcore GT fans that actually have a PS3 will be excited, but for everyone else... you probably won't be missing a whole lot. I'd say stick with your PS2, some component cables, and play GT4 in 1080i.

Since I am sitting here talking about Gran Turismo, I may as well forward you on to GTPlanet.net - the largest online community dedicated to the Gran Turismo franchise.

Microsoft Extends 360 Warranty

2006-12-22T09:24:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, Xbox 360 gamers.

Effective immediately, Microsoft has extended the Xbox 360's inadequate 90-day warranty to a full-year for units purchased in the US and Canada. If you experience hardware issues (it happens) within the first year of ownership, you can have it repaired at no cost.

This warranty will also apply to those who have already purchased a 360 and are within the first year of the warranty period; good to know because I bought my 360 two weeks ago. What's more, this policy is retroactive--if you've paid Microsoft for repairs within the warranty period, you will be eligible for reimbursement of the repair charges. Customers who have paid for repairs within the first year can expect reimbursement cheques for the amount of their console repair in approximately 10 weeks.

Contest: Xbox Live Multiplayer Mayhem Month

2006-12-21T13:20:00.000-05:00

Want to win free stuff? Maybe some Microsoft points or some Xbox 360 accessories? How about an HD TV and an Xbox 360 HD-DVD player or even a trip to Ubisoft Montreal to see how its all done? Most likely in an effort to take over the gaming world or destroy sales for the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3, Xbox Canada is launching Multiplayer Mayhem Month starting Dec 26th. Every day for a month 10 Xbox Live Gold members will win prizes just for playing multiplayer games online. Since every Xbox 360 Premium package sold in Canada around this time is a holiday bundle, it comes with Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged which offers 1 free month on Xbox Live with a gold membership. Microsoft might be hoping that the contest will encourage gamers to sign-on with that free membership and give their Xbox Live service a try, as if the sale increases from Gears of War hasn't already been enough. But who can blame them for trying, we Canadians love free stuff!

There is a catch it, based on the contest website only Canadian gamers are being targeted. Also, it seems that specific games have been selected that you SHOULD be playing if you want to win, and Gears of War is not one of them. This is a smart move by Microsoft as it will encourage players to play some of the other titles online however people who bought the holiday bundle in Canada won't be able to participate heavily as most of the games listed are not sold with the bundle. So either rent them or buy them if you want to increase your chances of winning.

Good Luck!

Additional Kingdom Hearts titles on the way!

2006-12-20T20:30:00.000-05:00

Why stop a good thing? Especially when it's making you lots of money? Tetsuya Nomura has announced that there are multiple titles in the works related to the Kingdom Hearts franchise for 2007. The game which is a combination of Square Enix and Disney characters has been a huge success for both companies. A sequel to Kingdom Hearts 2 hasn't been explicitly announced yet, leaving the opportunity for other types of media. Portable game? Comic? Movie? Card Game? Collectible Plates? The possibilities are endless.

Wii Opera Browser (Beta), available Dec 22

2006-12-20T17:02:00.000-05:00

Nintendo announced that on Dec 22, the Opera Web Browser (beta version) will be available for download for free from the Wii Shop channel. Once downloaded, it will activate the Internet channel and allow users to surf the web from the Wii.

The final version of the Opera browser will be available at the end of March 2007, and will be free for all Wii owners to download through the end of June 2007. After June, users who haven’t already downloaded the Opera browser can go to the Wii Shop Channel to download it for 500 Wii Points.

The beta version is a flash-enabled browser that will allow users to use the Wii-mote to click links for navigation. An on-screen keyboard will be provided to help users fetch web pages. Users will also be able to zoom-in/zoom-out of content.

Also today, the Forecast channel goes live delivering current and future weather information.

Halo 3 ViDoc on Brutes now on Live Marketplace

2006-12-20T14:13:00.000-05:00

The Halo 3 video documentary Bungie promised us this week arrived on Xbox Live Marketplace at 2am PST running approximately 7 minutes in length. The video showcased work-in-progress and the basic production process behind the Brutes in Halo 3. From this video it is obvious that the Brutes will play a strong, aggressive, and more realistic role in the third installment. The video basically goes over the concept artist discovering an appropriate look for the Brutes and the animators working towards movements that portray appropriate Brute behavior. At the moment the video is only available on the Xbox Live Marketplace but Bungie claims that a non-marketplace version will be coming shortly so hold onto you pants.

Update: The documentary can be viewed online here.

Linerider is sliding from your browser to your Wii and DS!

2006-12-20T00:06:00.000-05:00

If you don't know what Line Rider is by now, you need to stay in more. Here's what you need to do to catch up on the Line Rider phenomenon. The uninitiated can head over to DeviantArt and play the original. You can also check out the brand spanking new update if you want. Then go to YouTube and watch a few of the thousands of Line Rider tracks that people have created. Then cry yourself to sleep know that your track will never involve Gandalf screaming "YOU SHALL NOT PASS".

Anyways, on to the current news. inXile has announced that they have acquired the rights to Line Rider, and that it will be appearing on the Nintendo DS and Wii in the future. The titles will retain the core features of the game, and add more to it. Making tracks on the DS using the touch screen seems very interesting, and more intuitive than the mouse. Waving the Wiimote around to make tracks just comes off as odd though.

One puzzling thing is that the game will be coming out in September of 2007. If one guy can code it in Flash by himself for a project, how hard can it be for a team of programmers?

Halo 3 Campaign footage this week

2006-12-19T13:08:00.000-05:00

The recent weekly update on Bungie.net indicates that there is yet another treat for Halo 3 fans coming this season. Sometime this week, no actual date mentioned, there will be documentary footage on Halo 3's campaign mode released on Xbox Live on 720p resolution. The video will also be released online so non-Xbox users will not be singled out. Frankie, who made the update also confirmed a rumor surfacing around that Brutes will be playable in Halo 3, this rumor has been confirmed as false. Sigh...

[Source: Bungie via Joystiq]

NSFW: Zelda TV series + South Park = Madness

2006-12-17T12:30:00.000-05:00

I'm sure most of you have at least heard of the old Zelda animated series. Well, it was chock full of amusing sexual innuendo. So much so that RobotBling over at GameTrailers.com did a little mashup of the cartoons with some unique South-Park-esque animations.

The video is NOT work safe. You have been warned.

Gears of War, 2 Million copies sold and still going

2006-12-15T15:37:00.000-05:00

Who would have thought that in 6 weeks there would be 2 million or so players around the world fragging the daylights out of the Locust horde. Microsoft and Epic games today confirmed that since release 2 million copies of Gears of War have been sold, 1 million in North America alone. And no Gears of War is not another Halo game if that's what you think after living under a rock for a year. It's a third person shooter that takes you into an epic futuristic battle against an ugly, horrendous, and nightmarish race, the Locust, that you have to beat-the-daylights out of to save mankind. Sounds fun doesn't it? Hell yeeeah, it is!

How fun could it be? Very! Microsoft claims that it increased subscriptions to their Xbox Live service by over 50% since emergence day. Approximately a million users are online battling in 10 million online gameplay sessions. Can you spell FUN in any other way? I'm sure that the game itself is going to drive up sales of the Xbox 360 console this holiday season. What do you think, is Gears of War the next Halo killer?

Wii Came, Wii Saw And Wii Conquered!

2006-12-13T12:49:00.000-05:00

The Nintendo Wii hit the European streets on Friday December the 8th and sold out 50,000 units in 12 hours. But it kept going. In just two days, the console had sold out across Europe with a total figure of 325,000 units. According to a press release this has been the fastest selling home console in history. It seems the world has embraced the Wii with open arms. In North America and Japan, 3 weeks post launch a total of 1 million consoles have been sold. 600,000 units were sold out in 8 days after the North American launch. 400,000 units were sold out after the Japanese launch. So if you haven't already got one, what are you waiting for? Lets all Wii together.

MMOs are for the birds

2006-12-12T15:10:00.000-05:00

There is no point in dancing around the topic here, we’re not going to avoid taking that critical blow that forces us to wander as a ghost, hunt down our body or lose a level. The zero dollar question is;

Have MMO games gone stale?

Everything has a beginning and an end. In the beginning there were BBS text based dungeons, MUDs, and RPG games, but the most widely renowned beginnings for the MMO genre are found in the seeds of Everquest.

With its humble beginnings in 1999, it’s hard to believe that almost a decade has passed and the Everquest players still continue to shell out cash on a monthly basis to immerse themselves in this interactive virtual universe. Since then dozens of whelps have been spawned, Final Fantasy XI, Guild Wars and Lineage to name a few, and some of them have grown into full fledged corporate entities, such as the WoW division of Blizzard Entertainment. However, as the years progress and the addictions continue to be exploited, players are beginning to notice the trends and the repetitiveness of the genre.

To be clear, there is no point in saying that online games are good or bad, fun or not, or worthwhile to a gamer or not. What needs to be explored from an unbiased vantage point is whether or not these MMOs are continuing to evolve and offer the player an entertaining unique experience.

The continuing trend in online games is to design tasks specifically to lengthen the number of hours of play. More innovative designers like NCSoft have recognized the need for compartmentalized tasks, which allow you to complete portions of an overall goal in 15-30 minutes; however they still want to keep gamers playing persistently. After all, that’s what the genre requires. They need you to buy the next expansion or pay the monthly fee, or else they have to close shop.

This should be a warning light for gamers everywhere, they expect you to keep paying AND keep playing the same game almost indefinitely. Where are the gorgeous new graphics? Why is it always the same problems that arise; like transportation, aggro, and not enough characters playing the “healer”. Maybe new games coming from popular TV shows like Firefly will produce new and innovative ideas.

Are the corporations that back these massive online games afraid to try something new? Why change the format when you have a cash cow like this. There is no question mark in that statement because it’s rhetorical. When you are earning that much money there is little reason to introduce change and risk. The only driving factor for change in the MMO genre at the moment is when companies (new or old) are looking to expand their market. Guild Wars, published by NCsoft, is an example of a company that wanted to attract a new market of gamer. They changed the MMO so that it did not rely on player groups alone, could be played without severe time constraints, and did not have a monthly fee.

Unfortunately, due to the sheer volume of people interested in playing the stale MMOs that are already available, it doesn’t look like the massively multiplayer genre is going to make any massive leaps into a new generation of gaming, but thanks to companies like NCsoft there is hope. What will the next era of gaming bring us? Things like countries having virtual wars, or laws being developed to govern virtual realms? Or will it all devolve back into a safer more single player oriented gaming style. Who knows; it is certainly an interesting era for games to grow and develop.

Assassin's Creed - 360 Gameplay Footage HD Trailer!

2006-12-11T03:01:00.000-05:00

Watch Me.

Ubisoft, I love you. That right there is a link to the HD 360 gameplay footage of Assassin's Creed. I'm going to probably catch a lot of flak for this, but I'm willing to bet this game will out-do Halo 3. Don't get me wrong here Halo 3 is going to be an amazing game, but it will always just be an FPS.

360 has been waiting for a title like this for quite some time. There just hasn't been a good RPG for the 360 to date really. Some may argue that, but can you honestly name a blockbuster RPG that graced the 360? I can think of a couple wannabe titles that fell flat in the first week of sales.

Let's be honest. Assassin's Creed looks hot. You know it, I know it, they know it. It's going to bring aspects to gaming that are, for the most part, currently overlooked. Crowd collision? Are you serious. Of course there will be cry babies who don't like the idea. Personally I think it's going to be amazing. (Take note of the "social stealth". FINALLY! A game that doesn't directly link stealth to shadows!) The game is going to take talent to play, and I like the thought of that.

Also note around half way through the video they explore the town itself. Seemingly you are not limited to 1 dimension of the game. There are tons of varying paths to the same location. From climbing the sides of buildings to jumping off walls and swinging from poles, the game lets you interact with environment in ways most games avoid all together.

WARNING: This trailer will make you want the game. If you do not have a 360 you will be forced to purchase one. Please avoid watching if you can't afford said console. Thank you.

Can you say pre-ordered, because I sure can. TBA 2007 release. Please hurry. (:

Jason out.

Mass Effect X06 footage released, all in-game!

2006-12-10T13:00:00.000-05:00

BioWare recently released some amazing gameplay footage of their upcoming sci-fi role-playing game Mass Effect for the Xbox 360. If you thought that Gears of War looked great, this will blow you away. This game has won Best RPG and Best Xbox 360 game at E3. The story pulls us into a very different futuristic universe. The legend is that every 50,000 years an ancient machine race invades the galaxy and they are at it again. You must above all odds defend this galaxy for the sake of humanity without remorse, without hesitation, and outside the limits of the law. Yes, great heartwarming story. But just look at those in-game graphics, they claim to be all generated in real-time. If that is true then this game will be momentous achievement for the Xbox 360. Still want a PS3?

Source: [ Digg ]

Why not get an Xbox 360, seriously?

2006-12-09T14:40:00.000-05:00

I have been to all the launch events; Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3. I’ve seen what each has offered from day 1. I even gave the Xbox 360 a year to see what Microsoft would come up with. So I waited and now I’ve decided.

When I first saw the Xbox 360 I was definitely wowed by the graphics but I had faith Sony would show something better after their demonstrations at E3. I was not even considering Nintendo until the Wii-mote was unveiled. Going to the Nintendo Wii event, I discovered how much fun the Wii was, the graphics were shitty but the remote won my heart. Sadly I walked into the Playstation 3 launch expecting something really great and walked out very bored and disappointed. All I saw was an Xbox 360 wrapped in black with a label saying Playstation 3. It was the same damn thing, nothing superior in graphics. I’m sorry fan boys, you love Sony, but the launch titles sucked and the graphics were just okay after seeing what the Xbox 360 had at launch. If Sony really wanted to wow people they would have tried just a little harder at making a game with graphics showing the true potential of the PS3, instead they coupled the same GUI found on the PSP and threw out crappy first titles with boring gameplay. I think Sony has forgotten that great graphics only take you so far, it’s the games that matter most. If it feels like shit playing it, why bother with graphics. Oh and since you can already get the third party games for the PS3 on the Xbox 360, why cough out your money for the PS3 if it looks the same anyway. For the Blu-ray player, enforcing the Blu-ray format? Seriously HD-DVD and Blu-ray look the exact same, it doesn’t even matter! I’ve tested them both.

As for the Nintendo Wii, it’s great! But the selection of choices on it are still limited and I would like to see what more innovative and original games Nintendo throws out in the next year. Wii Sports isn’t enough for me to buy the console yet.

Now we come back to the Xbox 360; 1 year out with a strong established online community. A lot of great titles, more specifically Gears of War and the upcoming Too Human and Halo 3 games. If anything it’s the continuous blockbuster games Microsoft is dishing out each year that have won me over to the Xbox 360. These games look fantastic in graphics, but tend to be even greater in gameplay. They are just so damn fun to play, and they are only on the Xbox 360! And they make great use of cinematic elements. Yes I’m sure Sony will throw out some cool looking games with decent gameplay later, but it’s too late. I want to play great games now; I don’t want to wait anymore. If you're tired of waiting, get an Xbox 360, I know I am.

Update:
Here is a performance comparison of the Xbox 360 vs. PS3 - guess which one is better (source: IGN)

Thanks Kevin.

50,000 Wiis sold in UK over 12 hours

2006-12-08T13:15:00.000-05:00

Although us North Americans have been blessed with launch of the Nintendo Wii already, folks in the UK have just embraced the Wii-mote and nunchuck, and man have they embraced it well! In 12 hours 50,000 Nintendo Wii's have already been sold according to a UK press release. That's roughly one Wii console sold every second! Nintendo of UK plans to keep the supply coming as they do for North America so that we all have a Wii to play with this Christmas. We have a feeling that Christmas shopping will be more chaotic than the norm this year. The Nintendo Wii to some parents may become what "Turbo Man" was to Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle all the way.

Overcomplicated home network?

2006-12-07T21:35:00.000-05:00

We all know that home networking is generally pretty simple. Buy a router, connect it to the modem, connect the PC's to the router. Wireless is also pretty simple since there's only 1 extra step for security. In my home though, things are never straightforward. In fact, they're so messed up that I'm currently running three, yes, count that - THREE, routers to connect 2 desktops, 4 laptops, a PS2, and a PDA to the internet.

What does any of this have to do with gaming? Well, I want to play Eve Online on my laptop while watching TV, damnit!

The story begins just a few years ago, in my old home. Over there, we had a single Microsoft 802.11b router (now out of production) to do the job. The router was positioned in the basement and the signal would maintain a strength of over 80% all the way up on the second floor. Then, we moved to this place.

This is a fairly old home and for whatever reason, wireless signals don't travel very far. I believe it has something to do with the fact that my laptop can see something along the lines of like 8 wifi routers not including my own. Combine this with some rooms just naturally 'blocking' wireless signals, and I found myself in a shitty situation in that it would only cover fractions of the 2nd and basement floors. I compromised by placing the router on the second floor since 4 of the computers connect from up there 99% of the time.

However, this didn't solve the problem for anyone wanting to connect from the living room. My first response was to upgrade to a better router - something I was considering for months before the move, but couldn't be arsed to do. I went with a Linksys WRT54G because of their ability to take 3rd party firmwares and the fact that getting bigger antennas isn't difficult.

With the WR5T54G (Base station from now on) in place, I found that it helped cover a slightly larger area of the first floor of the home, but not effectively. Going through the hallway into the family room resulted in a signal drop from 50% to 0 instantly. Even in the 50% zones, it was difficult to maintain a solid connection for an extended period of time. Because of this, I went ahead to install HyperWRT onto it. The theory being that Linksys defaults the router to use only 50% of the transmitter's total power. Third party firmwares unlock the ability to use 100% of the transmitter's capacity and ideally, extend the range and improve signal quality. Signal quality improved a bit, but I still had that family room problem. I attribute this to the fact that the fridge and microwave sit partially within the line the signal would follow from the router to family room and the fact that the area does have a few major ducts running through the wall.

Still with an unresolved and messed up network, I was down to 4 options.

a wireless repeater which would essentially be guaranteed to work at a cost of about $140 Canadian
a high gain antenna but no guarantee on the range it would provide at $80
buy a wifi bridge and connect it to the old MS router at a cost of just over $100 and a lot of hunting to actually find one
buy another WRT, install a 3rd party firmware and convert it to operate as #3. This cost about $80 as well

I went with #4 in the end since I couldn't find any place in the area wth reasonably priced bridges in stock. A network diagram has been provided to explain how all of this comes together

So, as the diagram shows, that the PCs on Floor 2 connect to the primary base station as they get the best signal. Computers on Floor 1 are running between either the bridged, secondary router or through the 2nd floor base station depending on which gives the stronger signal. Basement connections are facilitated by the Floor 1 setup.

Click for Full

I jumped the gun there for a bit though. The bridging router was configured with DD-WRT as the firmware and is running in bridged mode in order to connect to the base station. The old Microsoft router is effectively running as a switch and is connected to the bridge via the WAN port (on both ends). Unfortunately, computers running under the Microsoft router have to connect to a different SSID and also operate on a different subnet, making it impossible to effectively run Windows file sharing. A minor inconvenience, but one I can live with. My PS2 isn't online either since I have no way of reaching it wirelessly yet.

At the end of all of this, I learned that 1) I really don't like network configuration despite being an IT student. 2) I also learned that wireless network setups are a pain in the ass if you get even 1 setting wrong. 3) I learned that I could have saved some time and used only the two WRT routers if I was running in WDS mode, and 4) as a result, my PS2 and future consoles/HTPC could have been connected to the MS router running in bridge mode.

I seriously would have started over and reconfigured for WDS mode, but with my sister and me both having exams, I couldn't risk downtime. Add onto that the fact that my first WRT router is borked and refuses to take any new firmwares. HyperWRT is nice, but I find DD-WRT to be far, far easier to work with and more powerful.

For anyone wondering, this place is just about average for a 'large' home in this area @ about 2500 square feet.

Gaming Makes You Smarter

2006-12-06T23:30:00.000-05:00

Ever felt like you were wasting your time playing video games? Like you weren't accomplishing anything by wasting hours on end sitting on your couch? Me neither. But for those of you who have family and friends who feel that way, its time you set them straight.

For those of you who aren't familiar with IQ, chances are yours is low. But to help you catch up, IQ is a method used to measure a person's intelligence (many believe it is an inaccurate representation, but this has been debated for quite some time). According to Wired.com gaming provides people with a great opportunity to work through visual puzzles and solve riddles, very similar to the kinds of questions asked in IQ tests. Wired also mentions the Raven's test, which consists of puzzles in which several shapes are displayed, one of which is missing. The missing shape needs to be selected from a set of available choices.

So to get down to business, I want to test this hypothesis. I found a link to the Raven's test online. The average score is 100. Take the test (it takes less time than they recommend, trust me) and post your score.

Lets put this myth to rest once and for all. The next time someone tells you to put down that controller and pick up a book, take them to this site, show them these scores, and silence them forever.

A first, Unreal 3 Engine used for Xbox Live Arcade game

2006-12-06T12:07:00.000-05:00

The Unreal 3 Engine developed by Epic Games is a game development framework used in next-gen consoles as well as PC's running DirectX9. According to Unreal Technology, this powerful game engine is being used for Unreal Tournament 2007 and was used on the recently released and very popular Gears of War. Of course the engine can be licensed out. Which brings us back to Xbox Live Arcade. RoboBlitz (released today for 1200 MS points) is the first game on Xbox Live Arcade developed with the Unreal 3 engine. In it you are Blitz "a multi-talented robot who must activate an aging Space Cannon to save his world from a band of maladjusted space pirates." Now we all know how great Gears of War turned out, and UT3 is going to be no disappointment either, so this may be one arcade title worth checking out, simply to see how well such a successful game engine was put to use. If that's not enough to jump start your imagination, check-out the game details below:

19 levels of puzzle-solving and high intensity action set in seven distinct environments
Free trial version consists of three engaging levels
A new breed of game blending fast paced action, puzzle solving, and a playground of interactive physics
Advanced physics simulation gives the player real freedom to solve problems in creative and unexpected ways
Unique weapons including Fire-Cracker Rocket and Point-to-Point Tractor Beam
Gamers may choose their difficulty level for ease of use and high reparability

Two different levels of difficulty (Normal and Master Technician)

Master Technician mode allows players to unlock new achievements and bonus content

Expect premium downloadable content for this title in the future – providing new game play elements and unique challenges for RoboBlitz fans

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes PRE-ORDER

2006-12-05T18:49:00.000-05:00

Thats right, the highly anticipated Vanguard: Saga of Heroes MMORPG is now taking pre-orders. You can stop by your local GameStop, BestBuy, Fry's, or other generic store that has games and see if they have the pre-order box so you can lay down some cash to secure your copy.

The pre-order box includes the following:

-Early access to the game. Log on and get a jump start up to three days prior to the official launch!
-A special account key that grant you a unique exclusive in-game scroll, allowing your character to sprint for longer periods of time due to an endurance buff. (one per account)
-An invitation to the Vanguard: Saga of Heroes beta (for eligible participants).
-Guild Mail. A fun recruitment tool to help you build your guild before launch.
-A king's ransom of assets, including videos, wallpapers, and screenshots.

Time out. Did you read that closely? I'll point it out for you. AN INVITATION TO THE VANGUARD: SAGA OF HEROES BETA (FOR ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS). Thats right, for merely a down payment on a game thats coming out next year, you can buy your way into Vanguard: Saga of Heroes beta. Now, they tried this before via an issue of Computer Gaming Magazine, believe it was this years June issue. If you purchased that you got a key, of course then Microsoft sold the rights for the game back to Sony, and they kicked all those beta key's out. This, however, will be a more legitimate attempt I believe. The same company dev'ing the game currently is the one pushing the promotion.

Personally I think the game is going to be great. It looks good and if they hold true to most of their promises it's sure to be a hit. For a closer look at Vanguard: Saga of Heroes click here. That link will take you to the official site where you can browse the forums or check out the FAQ. And while you do that I'll be cleverly pre-ordering my copy while you are distracted. Rogues do it from behind.

Jason out.

Top 5 Gamer Gifts

2006-12-05T16:11:00.000-05:00

With the final days before Christmas quickly counting down there are a fair number of us thinking, “OMG What am I going to buy him/her?” Well never fear, a team of expert geeks and gamers has gotten together to compile a top five list of gamer gifts.

#1 - The newest console: Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox 360

Now here’s the catch, you have to know what preference your gamer has. If they’ve already managed to lay their hands on a PS3 or a Wii, then perhaps adding a 360 to their library wouldn’t hurt. Either way, you’re going to impress them, and by impress we mean they will love and worship the ground you walk on … and all their bases are belong to you. If you’re not sure which one’s for them check out this article for a little help deciding.

#2 - The newest portable gaming device – Playstation PSP, Nintendo DS lite

There are fewer options in this category, but that just might make your decision easier. A strange general rule applies to all Playstation vs. Nintendo battles, if your gamer enjoys RPGs (Role-playing games, and no we don’t mean the Roleplaying they want you to do in the bedroom) then Playstation is probably a better purchase. However, if your gamer loves Mario, Pokemon, Kirby or any of the many other animated generators of pure childish giggles then the Nintendo DS lite is the way to go. Make sure you pick up the DS lite, and not the DS original or you may be banished from the presence of the Christmas tree.

#3 - Games

Once you have your console of choice, you do need something to play on it. Here’s our minilist of 10 awesome console or portable games to get for your gamer this Christmas.

1)Gears of War 2)The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

3)Final Fantasy XII 4)Call of Duty 3 5)Resistance: Fall of Man

6)Wii Sports 7)Dead Rising 8)Guitar Hero II

9)Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories 10)Pokemon Diamond

#4 - Magazine Subscription

Once your gamer has played for hours on their new console (hopefully sharing the controller once in a while), he may need to get out and buy more provisions, or possibly see the glowing object in the sky. Point being, if he’s not playing games, he’ll probably enjoy reading about gaming, technology and his favourite console. Check out your local magazine rack and just steal some of the inserts for good deals on magazine subscriptions. If you don’t know your gamer’s preference then you haven’t done your homework!

#5 - Comfortable Furniture

Trying to stay within a budget here, because we can’t all afford to go out and buy that LCD or plasma TV that our gamers want, we can consider getting them some comfortable seating for those long sessions and late nights. We recommend home theatre seating in the form of some comfy chairs, however, if these are too posh there are some excellent alternatives.

If you find this list doesn’t help, you can always go back to the traditional gifts … you know, “4 calling birds, 3 french hens, 2 turtle doves, ..” But please, we implore you to consider the sanity of your geek this holiday season.

Merry Christmas!

Games for the International Day of the Ninja

2006-12-05T11:00:00.000-05:00

It's December 5, and that means it's International Day of the Ninja again. That means all you Nonjas out there have an opportunity to go out and dress like a ninja for the day.

Just be warned, the real Ninjas WILL be watching, so don't let your free day as a Ninja get to your head. They know the difference between a real Ninja and a Nonja.

I know what you all must be thinking right now. "But eMadman - what if we can't dress like a ninja today?"

For you guys, I must say "sux2bu", but you could always go Ninja it up in video games.

Here's a quickie list that the site's staff has come up with:

Shinobi

For the amateur Nonja Gamers out there, there were many Shinobi games, dating back to the Sega Genesis - all worth playing if you want to be a real ninja

Tenchu

I remember playing this way back when I first got my PS1. It was a great game then, taking some of the finer stealth portions of Metal Gear and mixing them with all sorts of Ninja related bad-assery.

Ninja Gaiden Black

A highly rated hack and slash ninja action game on the Xbox. Considering the rave reviews, you must all get it. I'll be on hold while I attempt to use my 1337 nonja skillz to get my hands on a 360.

Mortal Kombat

What could be more fun than a game that stirred up so much controversy that ignorant parenting groups tried to have the game banned from sale. Oh, right - the part about the badass ninja/assassin characters going head to head and fighting to a bloody and gruesome death.

I-Ninja

This is one for all of you caffeine overloaded ninjas out there.

Kung Fu

Ok, so it isn't exactly Ninja related. But any game that I grew up on where I ran from side to side kicking the butts of a rival dojo is a great game in my book.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time

One of my fondest childhood memories was TiT. I had great times beating up the evil nitwit Krang in multiplayer co-op action. While the Turtles aren't the swiftest or the quietest, or even the deadliest Ninjas around, they are certainly among the most memorable.

That's our list of awesome ninja related games that are worth checking out for the Day of the Ninja. Put up a comment with your faves. If you think you're Ninja enough, put up a pic of your best ninja outfit too!

Market Analyst: Amazon's Xbox 360 Deal Topped Next-Gen Launch Interest

2006-12-05T08:18:00.000-05:00

Just a little while ago, Amazon asked their customers to vote on which deal they would offer on Thanksgiving Day. The people spoke, and it was 1,000 Xbox 360 Core units for the low, low price of $100. Not only did Amazon sell out of the 1,000 Core units, they sold out, apparently, in 60 seconds.

Market analyst Complete tells us in their blog that Amazon may have helped spike interest in Microsoft's year-old console:

On a pure traffic volume basis, the 360 generated more online interest on the 23rd, than either the Playstation 3 or Wii commanded on their respective launch days, making one thing clear — the Amazon promotion was the Xbox 360’s Launch 2.0.

It turns out Microsoft has still got a few tricks up its sleeve despite all the hoopla about PlayStation 3 and Wii. Might we see some more of this before the end of the year?

Full charts from Complete can be seen here.

Halo 3 HD Trailer Now Online, Chief Looks Amazing

2006-12-05T00:50:00.000-05:00

You want Master Chief, you want Halo 3? You got it! The 2nd trailer for Halo 3 just went online moments ago, above is a YouTube version, but you can view the HD version at GameTrailers.com. I had to watch the beginning a few times to realize the two kids were not made in CG, no biggie. I loved every millisecond of it from when Master Chief grabs his helmet and snaps it on. Of course we still don't see his face. What I really loved was how he smacked that shield gernade or what ever it is officially called, into the ground and then ran over the cliff into Covenant forces.

Give it a look and be awed beyond belief, and you thought the Wii had some awesome moves.

By the way, the animation and effects are beyond amazing!

Update:
The CG was done by Digital Domain, a hollywood FX house. Microsoft's Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends' CG work was also partially outsourced to Blur Studios.

Halo 3 Beta <-- SIGN UP NOW! -->

2006-12-04T20:08:00.000-05:00

The sign-ups are officially up at www.halo3.com, have fun getting through though. I'd imagine the site is being bombarded with millions of page requests by avid Halo fans all over the interweb. Make sure you have your gamertag linked to your microsoft.net account, as you will need it to continue signing up. Of course I took the time to register for it well before I made this post, otherwise I wouldn't be informing the public about it :P

Here is a heads-up on the post itself:

"Please note that in order to register* for the beta, you must be 17 years or older and a resident of the 50 United States (includes District of Columbia) or Canada. If selected to participate, you must have access to the following:

- An Xbox 360 Pro console (includes hard-drive)
- A valid Xbox Live Gold subscription
- A valid Microsoft. NET Passport account with a Xbox Live gamertag linked"

Sorry to all you young-guns out there hoping at a shot, get mommy and daddy to sign up for you for your birthday. Another big sorry to all you people who decided the hard drive wasn't worth the extra cash, guess you guys are out too. I expect a huge influx in 360 hard drive sales in the next 24 hours, wait and see. (:

Halo has always been a great shoot-em-up way to vent some rage online. I'm a fan of standard tcp/ip domination. Take a look for me in game on release, I'll be the one stickying you while you think you're safe.

Frag out!

Chinese MMO gamers given access to real land?

2006-12-04T12:34:00.000-05:00

First order of business:

wtf?

Now that I have that out of my system...

Tianchant Networks - the guys who run Datang, have purchased a 100 acre plot of land in the Zhejiang region. The company is giving a 49% share of it to their 10,000 players (about 435 square feet per player). No details on the source, but apparently the players get the right to make use of the land? The company is apparently digitizing this area for gamers to fool around it. I don't know how the whole land use thing will work, but it's interesting.

From Pacific Epoch [via Kotaku]

edit:
Unfortunately, screenshots or detailed information could not be found after a quick Go og ling. In fact, I'm not particularly sure if this is even real. Maybe someone who can read chinese and use Google China could come up with something?

edit 2:
There is some speculation, but this *may or may not* be the game's official site. I also *may* have found a trailer here.

Source

Halo 3 Beta -UPDATE-

2006-12-04T00:02:00.000-05:00

So with the Halo 3 beta sign-ups mere hours away, I thought it would be a good time to post some beneficial news for everyone to read.

Taken from Xbox.com:

"Beta Testers Wanted In conjunction with the ad, Microsoft today unveiled further details and an official call to entry for the Halo 3 beta program. Beginning Monday, December 4, visit http://www.halo3.com and register for the opportunity to be one of the select members to join the unprecedented Halo 3 public beta program, scheduled to kick off in spring 2007. Be among the first to experience the most anticipated game of 2007! The Xbox Live multiplayer public beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of Halo 3, is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on Xbox 360. This beta also represents an opportunity for you to participate in the development of Halo 3. Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further refine and hone the end result of Halo 3. Unveiled earlier this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, Halo 3 represents the third chapter in the Halo trilogy, an international award-winning action series that grew into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, which equals nearly $700 million in sales, and logging in excess of 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox Live."

Now for those of you less inclined to know the more technical terms of Beta's I'm going to give you a few definitions. Public beta means they are allowing people other than the developers and staff to play the beta. This in no way means that everyone who signs up will be allowed to play. In fact, by signing up all you are really doing is letting them know you are interested.

I have a feeling most people are confusing this with an Open beta. Open beta allows anyone and everyone who wishes too play the game access. Unfortunately this is not the case with the Halo 3 pre-beta they are running.

------

In any case I just wanted to wish everyone who is signing up good luck. I'll be secretly wishing none of you get in so that I myself will have a chance :P I don't expect the halo3.com site to stay up very long once the ability to sign up is added. A couple million hits in a few minutes is probably pretty hard on server stress.

On a side note, you know Bungie always delivers. Halo 3 is going to be game of the year, or close to it. If you don't think so, you've never played Halo. I'm looking forward to this game with high expectations, and I'm sure it will fulfill my every plasmatagging, warthog ramming, pistol whipping needs.

Jason out.

Forget MySpace, it's time for WoWSpace

2006-12-03T12:34:00.000-05:00

Here's an interesting idea, make a Social Networking site for anti-social people. Business Week reports in an interview with Shawn Fanning, that he plans on making a MySpace like site for people who play WoW called Rupture. The site will pull data and stats straight from World of Warcraft, and post them on your personalized page. You will also be able to instant message friends while playing, keep track of guild matters, and organize raids. There are plans to eventually incorporate other popular MMORPG's into the site as well.

If the name Shawn Fanning sounds familiar, it should. He's the guy who created Napster (hey! it's actually still running!), a program that pretty much revolutionized file sharing. Will his new start up fare better than World of Datecraft? Unlike World of Datecraft, I think that this site appeals to more of the WoW community than World of Datecraft because almost every player would find it useful. With 7.5 Million WoW players out there, he may be on to something.

Let the PS3 ripping begin!

2006-12-03T00:34:00.000-05:00

Ok, the PS3 wasn't 'hacked' per se, but it has been instrumental in the ripping and playback of blu-ray movies through Linux.

There aren't any security measures on blu-ray playback on the PS3 Linux. As a result, it's naturally possible to rip the blu-ray media straight to iso and play it back using linux media player software.

Follow the jump for deets
Link

More interestingly, piracy groups seem to have found a way to rip the blu-ray games to ISO.

From the nfo file that's floating around:

| cOMPANY : Activision | rELEASE DATE : 02 Dec 2006 |
| sYSTEM : PlayStation 3 ! | sIZE : 68 x 100mb |
| tYPE : Action/Role Play | vIDEO MODE : NTSC/USA |
| sUPPLIER : Huey Lewis | cRACKER : G0d |
| mEDIA : BLU-RAY | pLAYABLE : Soon ;)

The disks were more than likely ripped using the PS3 + one of the linux distros available. Playback is as yet impossible since there isn't a way to 1) burn them, and 2) convince the console that they're the real deal.

We here at 3dgamer don't condone piracy in any way, shape, or form, but I see this as the potential beginning for a future homebrew gaming scene. The PSP has one that is/was booming (I sold my PSP several months ago), and it will be interesting to see homebrew stuff making its way to the PS3 as well. I know that it is more than possible to create homebrew games for Linux on the PS3, but frankly, that lacks the '1337 factor' of having a h4x0r3d PS3 that plays homebrew games.

Instead of buying a PS3...

2006-12-02T13:20:00.000-05:00

If you're thinking of getting one of your kids a PS3 for the holiday season maybe you should think of presenting them with a few other options that will run about the same price.

Things you could do instead of buying a PS3:
- Fly to London (and get a cheap hotel room)
- Pay your rent for a month
- Buy 300 big macs
- Buy 4 Nintendo DS lite's
- Buy 3000 bandages
- Order 60 Large cheese pizza's
- Buy 250 gallons of gas
- Get a laptop
- Get some books from the library and return them really, REALLY late
- Buy 4 Ipod Nanos
- Buy a 1988 Mazda 323
- Pick up 3 flat panel monitors
- Buy 15 shares of Sony Corp (judging from PS3 sales I would NOT recommend this)
- Take a skydiving course and do 4 jumps
- Hire a personal trainer and have 17 sessions at the gym
- Pay for two months worth of groceries
- Buy 30 years worth of toothpaste
- Buy 210.8 gallons of soda
- Pick up 225 pounds of tuna (canned)
- Buy a 360 AND a Wii (and a couple of games)

Or...you could do the right thing:

Provide food, shelter, and clothing for two children for AN ENTIRE YEAR and still have $150 left over for something nice for yourself.

In North America alone, about 200 000 PS3's have been sold. That's 400 000 children fed, clothed and sheltered for an entire year. Maybe we should all take a break from video games and put our money to some real use this holiday season.

360 to benefit from console shortages?

2006-12-01T22:55:00.000-05:00

You can't help but wonder how long before people become totally fed up with waiting to get their hands on PS3's and Wii's and opt for picking up a 360. Sometimes companies ship fewer systems in order to increase hype around the release, however, I'd question the intelligence behind the decision (especially by Sony) to ship so few. It seems Microsoft may have been prepared for this and are quite happy with the console shortage in North America. Recently Microsoft executives let it be known that they intend to try and have 10 million Xbox 360s sold wordwide by the end of the holiday season.

As if losing potential sales isn't bad enough, if quantities remain low, it is most likely that potential PS3'ers will pick up a 360 this holiday season (simply because they target the same audience). This is even worse news for Sony, as Microsoft's Xbox HD-DVD add on for $200 is definitely a much easier alternative to purchasing a bluray player- especially for those who have already picked up an Xbox for the holidays.

Though this sounds like bad news for Sony, Nintendo caters to a different audience, and from the looks of their sales, they seem to have everything under control (outselling the PS3 2-1). It remains to be seen however how both Sony and Nintendo put up with the upcoming holiday demand. If you want to make sure you get your hands on a console this holiday season, the 360 will definitely be your best bet - which may have been Microsoft's strategy all along.

iPod meet Zune

2006-12-01T16:07:00.000-05:00

There comes a time in every person’s life when your barricades are broken down, your personal armour is torn to shreds, and your guardian sidekick/hallucination has been kidnapped … and you give in. Apple has been pounding on my doors, through TV and magazines and ads all over the Net, and I can finally feel myself giving in to the urge to buy an iPod. However, this gruesome duel between Steve Jobs with his massive, sleek army of cute little icons and myself is not over, thanks to Zune.

Now you may be thinking, what does Zune have to do with video games? Well, nothing, unless you take into account the constant boundary pushing technology that comes from such inventions, leading us into bright new frontiers for gamers and gaming fans everywhere! Other than that, no, it has nothing to do with video games.

Zune is a Microsoft brand product that supports audio and video playback from a variety of different formats. It took to the markets just this past month (Nov 2006), and was the number two overall seller on the portable audio market; care to take a guess which product was number one?

Now being sceptical about the fact that Zune seems to compete with the iPod, even though Microsoft and Apple are in bed together, I am happy to see an alternative system with similar quality. Zune will be fed to you, just as the iPod was, but before you dismiss it as imitation, take a look at the wide variety of features and improvements it has over the competition.

So if your looking at replacing your expensive iPod battery for the 3^rd or 4^th time, take a look around, maybe you’ll find the Zune fits your late night gaming lifestyle a little bit more.

*Editor's Note*: The Zune is a great example of Microsoft's commitment to broadending its investments, like the Xbox which has become a successful wing of the Microsoft company and forced improvements in the realm of console gaming. Sometimes a little competition isn't a bad thing.

Entertainment Software Association 2, State of Michigan 0

2006-12-01T13:29:00.000-05:00

In another blow to the anti-videogame movement everywhere, US District Court Judge George Caram Steeh has awarded the Entertainment Software Association $182,349 to be payable by the State of Michigan to compensate the ESA for legal fees associated with the state's unsuccessful attempt to regulate video games sales earlier this year.

ESA president Doug Lowenstein had this to say about the decision: "States that pass laws regulating video game sales might as well just tell voters they have a new way to throw away their tax dollars on wasteful and pointless political exercises that do nothing to improve the quality of life in the state.

"In nine out of nine cases in the past six years, judges have struck down these clearly unconstitutional laws, and in each instance ESA has or will recover its legal fees from the states.”

Other states or municipalities that have been ordered to pay the ESA's legal fees include Illinois ($510,000), Washington state ($344,000), Indianopolis ($318,000), and St. Louis ($180,000).

In spite of all of this, I don't expect this recent decision to hamper the efforts of America's most notable anti-violent videogame attorney or even similar efforts by state governments in the future.

Aside from trying to win a big pay-off from the videogame industry, I can't understand why individuals or governing bodies would even try to argue that videogames are responsible for the ills of society. If that were the case, could I blame Blizzard's World of Warcraft for my own lack of sleep?

Gran Turismo HD Cancelled

2006-12-01T10:10:00.000-05:00

This just in; Gran Turismo HD has been cancelled. What certainly would have been a killer-app for the new PlayStation 3 has been scrapped, and the good ship Polyphony has turned all hands on deck towards developing Gran Turismo 5.

Now the slightly better news: Japanese PS3 gamers can get a taste of "The Drive of your Life" by downloading a stripped-down version of GTHD, for a limited time starting December 24. Unfortunately, there is no mention as to whether this crosses the Pacific, but we can hope! This sample features 10 cars and 1 track, with no mention of any of those microtransactions.

In case you hadn't heard, GTHD was set to release with few cars and tracks on the Blu-ray disc you buy in store. Instead, you were to buy more cars and tracks for a nominal fee online. Does that sound like a cash-grab to you? This could mean that GT5 will be developed with that same premise.

As if there wasn't enough uncertainty in the GT series for you to handle, there's also no word as to when Gran Turismo 4 Mobile for the PSP will be launched.

Want to play some Halo 3?

2006-11-30T13:19:00.000-05:00

In Microsoft's latest press release, they included some exciting information about Halo 3. Starting December 4th, you can go here and register for an opportunity to play the game. The public beta is only scheduled to start some time in the Spring of 2007, but now is the time to get in on it.

Here's the important part of their press release:

Beginning Monday, Dec. 4, by visiting http://www.halo3.com, gamers in North America will be able to register for the opportunity to be one of the select members to join the unprecedented “Halo 3” public beta program, scheduled to kick off in spring 2007. Today’s announcement confirms the first path of entry for gamers to participate in the beta program and be among the first to experience the most anticipated game of 2007.

One of the major gripes over at the Halo Forums is that the beta is only available to north american gamers. But the everyone from around the world can catch the next bit of Halo 3 media, but Americans with ESPN can still see it first. Tune in to ESPN between 5:50 and 6:20 PST on on December 4th, to catch a 60 second Halo 3 trailer. Then starting at 8pm the trailer will be available at Xbox.com

This is a lot of hype for a game that isn't coming out for at least 6 months.

Desh

Buy a Wii, be a loser.

2006-11-30T00:30:00.000-05:00

The greatest thing about the Wii isn't that its fun. It isn't that it's cheap (compared to its competitors anyways). It's the simple fact that it gets people up and off the couch doing something. And the timing couldn't be better. Granted gameplay can be as simple as hitting a virtual ball, or beating the virtual lights out of your friend, but it can really be a lot of work! Approximately 30% of American children are overweight [obesity.org] and with the technology age upon us, perhaps virtual gaming is the solution to this problem, which seems to be reaching epidemic proportions.

If you get into them, the games can actually get so intense that some people have complained of soreness obtained during these "Wii Workouts" [WSJ]. Nintendo has even introduced reminders that appear every 15 minutes in some games to warn users to take frequent breaks, to ensure fatigue doesn't set in.

Whether or not you're a fan of video games, if you're someone who wants to get a family member into shape and off the couch, this holiday season you may want to consider investing in a Wii. It might be an easier way of introducing someone special into an exercise 'routine'.

Street Fighter: The Later Years

2006-11-29T23:01:00.000-05:00

A buddy of mine linked me to this video on College Humor. They take an amusing look at the characters of Street Fighter as they would be 10 years later.

Part 1
Part 2

Part 3 pending

Eve Online and the Revelations Expansion

2006-11-29T22:02:00.000-05:00

I've been playing Eve Online for almost a year now and it has never ceased to amaze me. The game can be as simple as you want it to be or as complex as you like. For me and my two paid for accounts, I've experienced everything from pvp combat to manufacturing my own weapons/ships and selling them, to going around trying to find new trade routes. I joined when Red Moon Rising was approaching its second major update, and here I am to experience the dawning of the Revelations expansion.

Over the past summer, PVP has gone from intense to insane. Motherships and Titans have been available since RMR, but they were never viable until just recently due to the costs and time involved. These are ships that take weeks of mineral and materials gathering by alliances containing over a thousand people. Going into combat, you can potentially see everything from the lowly frigate, to ships the size of the death star. Unfortunately, the RMR setup of the game was lacking in its ability to handle the massive gang sizes the game is seeing now. It didn't quite live up to everybody's PVP expectations as people in smaller ships were generally 'instapopped' by the guys in the big ones who would ultimately be the primary targets of everyone in the other gang.

The player run markets are huge, but there is a cartel of people manufacturing the top of the line weapons and ships thanks to the mere handful of blueprints that get seeded. Some of these items were seeing price inflation of over 1500% and there we were, spending every last penny on them because they gave that edge in pvp combat.

Now however, the game is on to it's next (and as usual, free) expansion which went live this very morning. Revelations. This expansion seeks to remedy much of this. Players are now given the opportunity to create their own blueprint copies based on items they already have in hopes of creating those elusive and pricey tech 2 items. Combat is seeing a big bump up with a much more military style structure being implemented in game. Players already follow a strict military hierarchy on Teamspeak, but now, fleet commanders are given more power. Combatants have the opportunity to take 'boosters', which are a smart drug which improve your combat abilities for a short period of time. Of course, manufacturers of these will be going to war in the PVP areas trying to get dominance over the resources.

All of this in a minor expansion. There are two more big patches to go till the Revelations expansion is considered complete. Each of them focuses on a different key aspect of the game. Part 1 focuses on creating new functionality, the future ones will focus on bugfixes and major PVP revamps. These will be launched sometime within the year and to be honest, I can't freaking wait.

As far as the new expansion goes, I haven't given it enough time. My industrial account is still not prepared for the new Invention feature and my combat account is currently focussed on different things. Market prices on the new items are astronomical thanks to people who want to capitalize on the current market shortage. Surprisingly, while lag around the major trade centers is downright ridiculous, the current population around there is equally high. I have never seen 600+ people in Jita all at once. The max I've seen anytime has been 300. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come in the lag department since alliance warfare has been notorious for crashing various nodes on the cluster.

Anyone wanting to give the game a shot can grab a 14 day trial from the Eve website

Console Odyssey 3006

2006-11-29T12:38:00.000-05:00

No, it's not a typo. With the flood of press articles sensationalizing the line-ups for PS3s and Wiis, the dribble of actual quality reviews on the systems themselves, and the reservoir of news yet to be released to drown us all again, some humourous and informative pieces have snuck through the clogged e-media culvert.

Wired magazine (long time producer of highly acclaimed tech content and news) has teamed up with Penny Arcade to release a direct, informative and highly comical review of the big three new consoles. But did you expect that it comes from the future!

Click Here to view the comic/article

Target your primitive bio-sights to this time-travelling message, and take a break from the online swarm of half-baked opinions. Instead of laughing at your neighbour’s new nunchucks or empty wallet, you can enjoy a good chuckle at no one else’s expense.

Want a PlayStation 3, why not HACK one?

2006-11-29T10:44:00.000-05:00

So you want a PS3? You went for the line-ups, dodged flying bullets and stampeding geeks but still managed to come back empty handed. Fret not, if you are a talented programmer you can score yourself a free PS3 with an upgraded 160GB hard drive and Linux pre-installed. How? Hack it!

You heard me right! As if the console itself hasn't gotten enough of a bad rep the folks at Shimpinomori.net want someone to hack their PS3 running Linux at this url. If you manage to change the picture on that page with another on one located on the PS3, the system is yours and shipping is free.

Oh there is a catch, "You must do a 'clean' hacking job : no DOS, no 'dirty' attack which saturate the internet tubes. Moreover, do not attack other machines located in the same subnetwork."

This contest is only open till the beginning of January 2007. So roll out those 4 Dummies books and get cracking at it.

Upcoming games on the PS3 will KICK ASS!...right?

2006-11-28T19:40:00.000-05:00

A lot of people have been complaining about the titles that were released with the launch of the PS3. A few died hard Sony fans however have stood firm, arguing that in a few months, the company will release much better content. I began wondering if these predictions held any merit, and what possible difficulties game companies may be having with releasing content designed for the PS3. After doing a bit of digging, I ran into a great article on hardcoreware.net that talked about game development from a developers perspective. To put it plainly, development for the PS3 is a pain. For starters, developers can use Visual Studio and other popular tools (that have an enormous amount of existing documentation) to create content for the 360. The PS3 however requires the use of a proprietary compiler that is buggy and has little documentation. Needless to say, this slows the process to a crawl. Furthermore, the 360 architecture is much easier to understand (general purpose CPUs) as opposed to the
specialized processors used in the PS3.

So for all you die hard Sony fans, before you shell out $500 for a PS3, there's a few things you should consider. Many of the games for the PS3 will be ports of the xbox versions, and since there is already a large customer base of 360 users, their primary focus may be on xbox customers in the near future (especially since the adoption rate of the console is yet to be determined). It's also important to understand that developers are currently having a hard time creating games using the existing tools, and should they see a lull in sales, they may not see the PS3 as a product that is worth shifting their primary focus towards.

A Wiik in Review.

2006-11-28T19:19:00.000-05:00

6:20pm, November 28th, 9 days after Wii release.

My name is Jason, and I am a gamer. I could go into further detail about what gaming history I have experienced, but I feel you will relate regardless of background. Whether your left hand fingers fall on w-s-a-d without thought, or your hands fall limp to the shape of a controller; you are a gamer.

Now that we are past the training level of my article, lets take a look at my initial thoughts of the Nintendo Wii after 9 days of ownership. I will admit now that I was hyped for the Wii, it's something new in the face of gaming. No two-sticked, ergonomic controllers; no relying on hot release titles; no cross-platform bashing; just Nintendo; how it has been for years, and how it always will be.

In an industry where technology is constantly changing, how do you trump the competitor. In the end the answer, I feel, is quite simple. Don't rely so heavily on being technically better, and bring to the table something nobody has tried before. The Nintendo Wii has taken this approach with its controller setup, and overall focus of the system. It was never built to bring you the utmost in technological breakthroughs, it was meant to bring you pleasure. Is that not what gaming is really all about. I won't lie to you, I've been playing Wii Sports more than any other title I own. It's not graphically euphoric nor is it incredibly intense, it's just fun. Don't get me wrong here, I have logged over 30 hours on Zelda and probably equally as much on Red Steel. Thats not even counting virtual console games that we have all come to love. Fun is perhaps an adolescent term for it, but it's quite possibly the best way to describe it.

The gaming industry for the last few years has been a battle of hardware. Who outperforms who? Which system can handle the most realistic looking games on the market at a reasonable cost? What is a reasonable cost? My question to you is who cares? Games have always been about fun. I can play my Wii for hours on end, without even glancing at a clock. It's enthralling. The way the game play itself has changed with motion sensing to the point of no return. Do I still love playing my 360? Of course. Would I choose to play it over my Wii? At times. Would I recommend anything over the Wii when used in a group atmosphere? Nope.

One might say that PS3 too has motion sensing capabilities. You'd be correct. Recently a buddy of mine took his Wii to a reunion of friends, a PS3 showed up as well. Take a wild guess what never got shut off. The Wii. You simply can't beat a party setting with a bunch of friends and interactive gaming. Nintendo has found, copied, and mass produced the 'trump card' of the next generation of gaming. Of course I have no doubt in my mind PS3 will be just as successful, but personally I believe them to be different kinds of gaming. If I want to sit down and play an RPG and get immersed in a story and lose myself in a fantasy world, I'd probably sprawl onto the couch in front of my PS3. However, if I wanted to kick off a party or small gathering of people with a little action, the Wii would dominate the dance floor.

If you haven't already noticed, I'm trying to stay as far away from technical as I can. The PS3 blows Wii hardware away, hands down. Everybody knows that though, so why do we need to talk about it? The simple answer is, we don't. Although it is an exceptional way of comparing systems pre-launch, I personally feel its a poor way of comparing post-launch. I also think if you are looking to compare by sales, you need to wait a year before taking your sample data.

Currently, perhaps you agree and perhaps you do not, I feel that the best way to judge a system is by playing it. Nintendo revolutionized this gaming era with the creativity they possess that we have all come to know and love. It's hard to imagine a company more willing to take a leap off a cliff for gamers than Nintendo, and for that I thank them. The Wii has been one of the more worthwhile investments I have purchased, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. It has brought friends closer (even if they are just here for the games :P ) and a lightened mood to my household. Perhaps you yourself, being a gamer and reading this article, will be disappointed at the lack of gaming content. Or perhaps you will understand what I'm saying, and realize that perhaps a better way to judge the system is how much pleasure you get from it.

For those of you seeking more game content, give me another 5 days to finish Zelda: Twilight Princess and post a lengthy review with my impressions of the game. For the rest of you, whether you own a Wii or not, remember that at one time a gamer was someone who simply played games. They did it for the sheer joy of participating in what they felt to be a really good waste of a lot of their time. I feel this way about the Wii. It is most definitely one of the most time consuming monstrosities in my life, and I love it to bits for it. (:

Jason out.

IGN's Matt Casamassina Talks About Secret Wii Title

2006-11-28T18:40:00.000-05:00

Thats right, a Wii title from a major publisher is currently in the making and Matt will have the chance to play it next month. According to Matt nobody even knows this game is in the making. I'm sure there is tons of speculation around the interweb as to what it may be. I know lots of folks are hoping for a Wii Star Wars game, however at comic-con a LucasArts rep confirmed that such a game is already in the making. Personally I'm waiting for a bit more dirt on the story to surface before I hazard a guess as to what it is. Perhaps a revamped version of Chef from the Atari where I actually have to flip burgers and cut onions. Oh the possibilities -_-

Jason out.

PS3 Vs. Wii Vs. 360

2006-11-28T17:00:00.000-05:00

They are the big three, the holy trinity of gaming consoles if you will, and over the last year we have seen each of their newest incarnations. They have taken a chance, leaving their former shells to gather dust in closets around the globe, to be reborn as the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and Sony PS3.

The Xbox really had a head start on the Wii and the Playstation, coming out almost exactly 1 year prior to the other consoles, though the public wasn’t quite sure what to think. Was it just a super-charged Xbox? Did the games have powerful new visuals? At first gamers might have been sceptical, but the overall performance of the launch titles (courtesy of 1up.com) proved that the Xbox was a hit. However, many people may have forgotten the shortages that were experienced during the holiday season of 2005. Stores all across North America disappointed avid fans when they were unable to fulfill pre-order promises.

Now we fast-forward to the holiday season in 2006, where gamers are reeling from the massive shortages for the Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii. The PS3’s launch titles have been described as weak and unimpressive, though surprisingly the PS3 did not have the worst launch title scores on record. Looking back at the original Playstation’s launch titles, we can see the difference between then and now. Without a doubt it was the original Playstation that had the least impressive launch titles in 1995, but that console was a revolution in the gaming industry. That kind of lasting impression may be exactly what Sony is looking to reproduce.

Last, but not least, we have our black sheep of the console war, the Nintendo Wii. With its strange controls and distinct lack of high-definition graphical support, the Wii has come into play with a fair amount of scepticism. However, Nintendo has taken a new approach to this international competition, searching for a market using the “Blue Ocean Strategy”. Where the Xbox360 and Playstation 3 both have advances in the processing power and visual performance of the console, the Wii has taken the couch potato gamer, and tried to influence some change. With this healthy approach to gaming, and a motion sensitive controller, the Wii offers a lot of change that may come out of nowhere and win the hearts of gamers everywhere.

One thing is for certain though, Microsoft may be benefiting right now from its ample stock of Xboxes, but after the dust settles for this holiday battle there will still be a war to win and the victor is yet undetermined. So place your bets, and may the best console win.

-JRW

Sony sales figures; More PS3s coming by airfreight

2006-11-28T16:16:00.000-05:00

Buoyed by the sales of their, now officially, last-gen console, the PS2, and the PSP handheld, Sony PR man Dave Karraker reports that week-over-week sales of PS2 hardware rose by 116.5%, and PSP hardware rose a whopping 280.5% at the top 5 North American retailers for the period ending November 26th.

For those of us who already have a PSP, or no longer give a hoot about the last-gen, Sony adds, "[We've] been airlifting additional shipments of PlayStation 3 systems into the North American market since the launch on November 17. We were able to get a fresh supply of PS3s in the hands of retailers prior to Black Friday, along with games and peripherals.

"We will continue to utilize airfreight delivery for the PlayStation 3 to assure a steady stream of systems for North American consumers through the end of the year. Our goal remains to have one million units in the pipeline by December 31, 2006."

As if you didn't know already, Sony also stated that they sold every PS3 shipped to America in the past week.

It should be comforting to know that, for now, SCEA can still make a buck somewhere because we know they're really hurtin' with every PlayStation 3 they make and sell.

[Gamasutra]

In depth, Freudian Analysis of the Halo 3 Screenshots

2006-11-28T14:34:00.000-05:00

Are you guys tired of talking about Halo 3? I know I'm not tired of talking about Halo 3, and Bungie isn't tired of talking about Halo 3 either! Halo 3.

Up on the official website, they posted a Screenshot Dissection which has more detail than some coroner reports. The article goes very in depth, and discusses some interesting additions to the game. Things like degrees of vehicle damage, new weapons, new vehicles, and flags that wave " with tiny little ripples."

One of the most interesting things about the article for me was an insight into how the Bungie team designs map. They discuss placing weapons, turrets, and vehicles, and the thought process ensured to make the map balanced for both teams. So far the game looks fantastic, and I can't wait to be running back to my base, with the flags tiny little ripples flowing behind me.

HMV giving away chance to buy a Wii or PS3

2006-11-28T12:44:00.000-05:00

It's as if god himself opened the stairway to heaven for us gamers. After the launch of the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii many poor souls were left unsatisfied and miserable, it was as if part of their soul was missing, something was definitely wrong. Well my sappy friends, cheer up because HMV is determined to rescue you from yourself and possibly satisfy all your gaming needs.

How you may ask? HMV is giving away a chance to purchase the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii at their Canadian stores. Avoid the line-ups and disappointments and call your aunt or uncle up north, be extra nice this time. There are 20 PS3s and 20 Wiis that the good folks at HMV are willing to let you buy off them, one per person.

One of twenty (20) Sony Playstation® 3 console (UPC # 0 00 71171 98001 0 / 20GB Hard Drive version console) or one of twenty (20) Nintendo® Wii console (UPC # 0 00 45496 88001 9 / Include Wii console, Wii Sports, a sensor bar, an AV cable, a Wii stand, a Wii Remote, and a Nunchuk controller)

Why are they doing this, because they want to ease your pain and also because they want you to know that they now carry games and consoles. Good Move!

My only hope is to win a Wii and that not many people read this post.

Emulation now legal in the US! Sorta.

2006-11-27T13:56:00.000-05:00

For years now, fans of older consoles have created emulators that let them play old favorites without trying to buy a console that's been obsolete for 10 years, and then trying to get it to work. If you look hard enough, you can find emulators for every major, minor, and obscure console out there. If you want, you can even get emulators that run in your iPod. As large as this community has been, it has always been illegal - until now.

The US Copyright Office has issued a few Copyright Exemptions which are effective today. There's a lot of junk involving unlocking cellphones, and copying DVD's for educational uses, but there's one important section that will concern us gamers. In an attempt to deal with "Computer Obsolescence", and software that was built to run on a system that is now obsolete can have it's copy protection circumvented. That's right, you can hack it. Legally.

Well, maybe not. The current batch of console contain built in emulators that let you run games originally designed for another console. That darn Wii covers 5 consoles by itself. So how will these built in emulators effect this new law? I guess we'll find out the next time someone tries to shut down an emulator site.

$1000+ PS3s; $4000+ PS3 shoes

2006-11-27T13:21:00.000-05:00

As a self-professed sneakerhead, I just had to blog about this one pair of ultra expensive, PS3-themed shoes.

This (in case you're interested) size 10 pair of hybrid Nike Air Max 360/90 kicks has hologram swooshes (apparently a Nike first), interchangeable red and black laces, and the PS3 launch day (For the record, it's "11.17.06" in case sleep deprivation and BB-gun pellets made you forget the fateful date you were in line until) embossed on the back of the shoe. The kicker (ahem...) is the inside of the shoe, which has mechanical drawings of the console (cool!); the insole even says "Play B3yond".

If you've got $4000 or so burning a hole in your wallet, why not have a go at bidding on them? They'd make an excellent Christmas gift for the PlayStation 3/sneaker-afficiando on your list, and all proceeds go to charity.

One more thing; since the PS3 is in such short supply this holiday season, I thought I might add that there are only 24 of these shoes in the entire world. That's nearly as scarce a resource as the consoles themselves.

Happy bidding!

[Thanks Joystiq.]

100" Home Video Arcade Center for $4499!

2006-11-27T11:38:00.000-05:00

Forget the Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360 for a moment. This holiday season why not go back in time, way back in time, and grab yourself a 100" projected home video arcade center? Imagine the pixel choppy classic games you could play on there all night long. Arcade titles from Atari, Midway, Namco, and Capcom are available (see list).

How much is it? Not very cheap, $4499. And you thought the PlayStation 3 was too much. But for emptying out your wallet you get a DLP projector with a 2000:1 contrast ratio and a decent 1024x768 native resolution. A removable control panel, programmable Ultimarc card and AMD Athlon 64 3200+ PC is also included.

If you really think you can cough over that much cash to go back a generation, click here for more info. What would I do? Get a few Nintendo Wii's instead.

Halo 3 is HERE, with 1600 Xbox Live Points

2006-11-27T01:20:00.000-05:00

This is the holiest of all that is holy, the holy grail for the Xbox 360 gamer. This is Halo 3, the most anticipated, most long-awaited, most "OMG I'm gonna dump my girlfriend to play this" game ever brought into existence. Well at least for a plenty some.

Don't get your pants wet and soggy just yet, the game isn't out and the wait is still going to be long and extremely painful. Until then just sink yourself into the recently released Gears of War.

If you really REALLY want this game, so bad that you would skip your high school prom or your own wedding to get it then consider pre-ordering it at Best Buy. Yes Best Buy the nicer and friendlier version of Future Shop. They are holding a special offer to pre-order Halo 3 simply because they know how bad you want it. Even though you won't get to touch the game for a year you can feel at ease knowing your copy is secure.

Yes I know it sounds stupid and beyond all reason, insane! But the real incentive is that you get to buy a card loaded with 1600 Xbox Live points for only $4.99 if you pre-order right now. It's a great deal and it may even pay off later if you hold onto those points. I'm sure there will be Halo 3 goodies that those points could be used towards.

Go pre-order now! Have 60 bucks ready...

Found via Xbox 360 Fanboy

Watch Out Parents, LeetSpeak is DANGEROUS!

2006-11-26T23:16:00.000-05:00

I just have to laugh at this. I was cruising www.digg.com earlier today and caught this article while it was hot. (Direct link to the video can be found here) Its amazing what people believe is dangerous in our time. The world has become a very unstable place when parents and 'internet safety experts' are concerned about me using 3's for E's, better watch out.

For starters, it's not meant to be covert conversation. Its just people typing things and it's really not that difficult to translate. You just look at the entire word, and low and behold, it's right there in front of you. Kind of like, uh, reading! The clip goes on to talk about online translators and dictionaries. My god people, this isn't the plague or some terrorist organization. It's your kids, and they are just talking.

I remember when I was a young buck, I'd replace E's with 3's when I wanted to pretend I was being nerdy. It's not like I'm trying to secretly converse with my fellow trouble makers in a devious plot to take over the world or anything. I could see it being interesting to some psychologists or maybe even sociologists, but as far as danger goes, leetspeak ranks up there with living in your parents basement for eternity. I wouldn't worry too much.

Jason out.

Is Sony mired by their own inventiveness?

2006-11-26T21:23:00.000-05:00

Do you remember the Betamax format? It's okay if you're not familiar with it; I wasn't even born when Sony released this videocassette format back in 1975. Technically superior to the VHS, Beta just never caught on, and that's why VHS became the choice medium for videotaping your most embarrassing childhood memories, and subsequently, playing them back in front of your present-day boy/girlfriend.

How about the MiniDisc? Another Sony-pioneered format launched in 1992 with ambitions to take over the portable music player market. That didn't happen either. Portable CD players won that game, and the introduction of the MP3 player made the MD a thing of the past--now only used by reporters trying to catch the next big soundbite.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell that Sony has trouble with winning format wars.

An article in the UK's Independent caught my attention. Heading into the holiday season, Sony is really pushing to get their new PlayStation 3 under as many trees as possible. But once again, Sony is being held back by the technology they've developed. The Independent reports that the Blu-ray is in part, responsible for the PS3 shortages, citing problems with the Blu-ray laser diodes as restricting production of the scarce black boxes.

Microsoft has recently released an HD DVD player add-on for their Xbox 360 console. The bigwigs at MS are also insisting that HD DVD-games are not in the works--a good thing for Xbox 360 owners who don't see the need to tack on a superfluous HD DVD player to their console. What this also means is that Microsoft isn't throwing the 360 headfirst into this format war--this may be a good decision.

This brings up another question. Are we ready for Blu-ray, or even HD DVD for that matter? Blu-ray boasts its higher data capacity, but HD DVD players are ostensibly cheaper than Blu-ray players. But we might be getting ahead of ourselves--I know I still haven't chucked my DVD player out yet.

The High-Definition medium format war has yet to play out, but will HD DVD's victory mark the downfall of the Blu-ray format, and subsequently, the Blu-ray-equipped PS3? Conversely, will Blu-ray, championed by the PlayStation 3, lead Sony out of the format war-doghouse and into millions, or perhaps billions of homes worldwide? Only time will tell.

What we do know now is that Blu-ray technology is holding Sony back from bursting out of the gates in this generation of the Console Wars. And that can't be good news.

North American PS3 Auctions?

2006-11-26T19:26:00.000-05:00

The initial launch of the PS3 saw scalpers rush out and get as many machines as they could get their hands on - and sell them online for ridiculous prices. I can't help but wonder why Sony didn't take this opportunity, and auction off systems themselves (like they did in Japan). It's quite obvious that those who had the money were willing to dish out ridiculous amounts of cash to get their hands on a system. Sony could have easily cut out the middle man and cashed in on this. Better yet, they could easily continue selling systems online even after the initial demand dies down. When the demand decreases, so can the price, and with a bit of planning, they can rake in roughly the same profits, while at the same time pushing bluray to more users worldwide.

Many reports (USAtoday) claim that in Japan, most large amounts posted on auction sites are fakes, and the systems auctioned off in Japan are actually going for bargain prices. Because of the high demand and low supply of systems in North America, Sony can be sure there will be a large market willing to pay whatever they need to in order to get their hands on a system. Even when prices begin to fall, at the very least, the systems will be selling for the maximum amount people are willing to pay for them, and Sony will also be putting a bluray player in every home that purchases a PS3.

Rockstar Ads Removed from Portland Public Transit

2006-11-26T17:30:00.000-05:00

The Portland Transit Authority has removed ads for Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. Portland cited rider complaints as the main reason for the removal of the ads, they also said that they do not accept ads which “promote or encourage illegal activity". While the shooting, killing, carjacking, and drug dealing present in the GTA titles is definitely illegal, this once again raises the argument whether or not playing lots of video games will turn you into a killer. This of course leads to a much bigger argument, which won't really be covered here. A similar situation occurred in Boston, but the ads were kept up because the contract was already set. Now the Portland Transit Authority may have to pay as much as $71 000 for breaking it's contract, and Rockstar gets lots of FREE advertising all over the interweb through of blog posts like these.

Battlefield 2142 Patch V1.05 Released

2006-11-24T10:10:00.000-05:00

For any of you FPS fans out there you probably already know about the addictive war simulator that is Battlefield 2142. If you have the game you may also know that a new patch came out, but you may not be aware of the important fixes, and minor tweaks that have changed the gameplay.

The bugs and exploits have been a major focus for this update, and EA is assuring the competitive players out there that accounts are being banned for abusing exploits and showing false scores.

Aside from an ego boost, these hackers really haven't done anything to change the game. The gameplay is still fantastic, and any squad working like a well oiled machine will easily gun down the fools that need to cheat to unlock all the little trinkets.

Check out the full list of fixes and updates here (Click Here)

...and a little Ctrl-Alt-Delete humour for those soldiers on the run is available here (Click Here)

-Happy Hunting.

Twilight Princess -UPDATE-

2006-11-23T22:39:00.000-05:00

So I'm playing furiously through the game in attempts to write a review for all you kind readers out there, but I find myself at a roadblock and you must aid me through this troubled time.

I REQUIRE THE SINKING LURE

Now I know they wouldnt have left this beauty out of the game but alas, I can not find it. If anyone has any idea where it is, or even a hint, please dear god email it to me at jason@bytesector.com and I will reward you with some of the goodies I have found to date on my Wii.

Jason Out.

"Gears of War" sold 1 million copies in two weeks

2006-11-22T19:05:00.000-05:00

When I first layed eyes on Gears of War at X'06 Canada I nearly pissed my pants. The game looked so incredible in detail on the Xbox 360 and the gameplay was very impressive. I tend to play very few first-person shooters, Halo 2 being the last one I was very hooked on. Gears of War is one title in a long while that I think has a lot to offer to the player in a very fresh way that would bring back the "Halo" experience and ease the wait time for Halo 3.

This game is doing so well that Microsoft has reported 1 million units being sold in it's first 2 weeks since release. According to a press release, this game is "the fastest-selling title of 2006 and fastest-selling original Xbox game of all time. " That's incredible! But that's not it,

On top of being the #1 title on Xbox Live, "Gears of War" has also driven new members to the network, as paid registrations per day have skyrocketed more than 50 per cent since the game's launch.

All this has happened as the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii came out which shows that support for the Xbox 360 is holding strong.

Gears of War has received an overall score of 95% from various publications, damn I have to buy am Xbox 360 and get me this game.

"Bomberman 93" and "Bonk's Adventure" now on Wii Virtual Console

2006-11-21T23:46:00.000-05:00

This just dropped in my e-mail a second ago from Hudson Entertaiment. They have announced that two of their classic games originally developed for the TurboGrafx-16 have now been released on Virtual Console for the Nintendo Wii; Bomberman 93 and Bonk’s Adventure. These two releases were apparently delayed and were originally scheduled to be released for launch day.

Other titles that were previously announced will roll out over the next few weeks, including "Super Star Soldier," "Victory Run," and "Dungeon Explorer."

Gotta love the classics...

An in-depth review of the PlayStation 3

2006-11-21T12:35:00.000-05:00

Only days after release and there has been more coverage on this console than the war in Iraq in almost every medium...I'm sure. Ars Technica has a fantastic in-depth review of the PlayStation 3 from unpacking it to playing the initial games. The overall opinion of the writer is very balanced and unbiased. The bad is clearly pointed out and it must be obvious to many by now and the good is well highlighted. This is a great review to look at if you have an open mind on the system and won't cough over and die if something bad is said about it.

The PS3 doesn't have any grand ideas; Sony wanted something high-tech, so they started from scratch with the processor and GPU, but what does it get them? Very little so far.

Read the full review

"Small Arms" Hits Xbox Live for 800 points

2006-11-21T11:36:00.000-05:00

This Wednesday Nov 22nd at 1 am PST you can download Small Arms developed by Gastronaut Studios from the Xbox Live Arcade. From the screen shot above (courtesy of Gamespot) this game looks like a free-for-all smashing battle that can be played with up to 4 players. Here's a press release tid-but,

"In Small Arms, up to four players can join in the battles across many dynamic and richly detailed levels. Gamers can choose from a cast of outrageous fighters like the cyborg tabby cat, assassin truffle pig and mutant chimney sweep. While jumping from platform to platform shooting with 360° aim, gamers of all skill levels will be able to pick up and play this innovative side-scrolling action title."

A list of game features:

12 characters, each with their own weapon
8 unique levels
12 Achievements, including the innovative “Six Degrees of Small Arms” viral achievement
Up to 4-player multiplayer offline and on Xbox Live
Local Multiplayer / Xbox Live Swap – allows players to swap out a local friend with a friend over Live without leaving the game!
Three single player game modes (Story, Challenge, and Shooting Range)
Colorful 3D graphics with classic side-scrolling run and gun action
Expect premium downloadable content for this title in the future – providing new game play elements and unique challenges for Small Arms fans

Download Small Arms beginning Wednesday, November 22, at 1 a.m. PST on Xbox Live Arcade

Read Gamespot preview | More Screen-shots here

Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Trailer for PS3

2006-11-20T19:15:00.000-05:00

Here is a new Marvel: Ultimate Alliance trailer released today specifically for the PlayStation 3 version. The trailer is a sort of documentary with some cool cut-scenes and information from the developers. From the video, what I could gather was that the PS3 version had two exclusive characters and 5 bonus villains. The names ran by so fast I couldn't make out anything but the name "Colossus". hopefully you will have better luck.

They also brag about how great it looks on the PS3 over other platforms.

New Vanguard: Saga of Heroes trailer

2006-11-20T18:19:00.000-05:00

New footage for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes has surfaced today. Our friends at Kohnke Communication were kind enough to send us the latest trailer of this upcoming online role-playing game set to be released Q1 of 2007. A tid-bit from the press release,

"The footage features just a few of the low level creatures in the vast world of Telon that beginning players must battle using an arsenal of weaponry and magical spells. Slicing through massive armies of fearsome denizens, players will explore three enormous continents and advance their characters along the path of their choosing. Lush environments reminiscent of oil paintings will immerse players in a highly-detailed seamless world filled with mystery and intrigue."

View High-def trailer at GameTrailers | View YouTube version

Mid-Sumthin' Elections

2006-11-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

Alright, we'd like you to help decide on the title of this Blog. So please take a second and tell us what you think.

Take the poll

Free Poll by Blog Flux

Goodbye Social Life, You'll Be Missed.

2006-11-20T02:27:00.000-05:00

So last night a friend and I camped Walmart to ensure acquisition of a Nintendo Wii. The night began travelling after work via the #1 Highway to Swift Current; roughly 100km from my residence, it is in fact the nearest place that will have the Wii available. Equipped with the 360, a power inverter, and a T.V. we are officially set for the night. A few energy drinks and countless hours of Splinter Cell: Double Agent later and its time for us to actually 'camp' it. My co-worker and I wander up to the Walmart front doors armed with sleeping bags, lawn chairs, Maxim's and Nintendo Power mags; and so we wait. After a few hours of waiting around bored out of my mind, the night shift manager opens the doors to come out to talk to us. Apparently this guy is like a god amongst men, and offers to leave the front door open so that we can SLEEP IN THE WALMART. Can you say first in line? Because I sure can. Wake up to some noise and the room is filled with a throng of nintendo fan-boys; however, my sleeping bag dominates the front door. An hour or two later and I'm #1 in line, and the doors are opening.

I'll give you an update in a while, but currently I've already played Twilight Princess for roughly 8 hours, and it is definitely not going to disappoint. Not that I ever thought it would. Also picked up a few controllers and Red Steel. Keep your eye out for some reviews in the near future.

I also want to give props to Wii Sports, which is fighting the obesity epidemic one gamer at a time, and is an amazingly fun party type environment.

Jason Out.

A Collection of Inter-Wii Coverage

2006-11-19T14:04:00.000-05:00

I have been sifting through the crazy amount of Wii related coverage this afternoon. Some of it is really funny. I have gathered the interesting stuff and listed it here for your viewing pleasure.

Video - First Wii Owner gets his Wii
Photos - The Wii taken apart and looked at piece by piece.
Photos - Coverage of Wii Launch in New York
Article - Zelda gets a horrible review
Video - A Wii Prank
Video - Wii guy pissing off PS3 line
Video - One guy plays his Wii games for a week LIVE! Nov: 19th-26th
Video - CNN compares PS3 to Wii side by side
Photos/Video - Nintendo Wii Smashed to bits in front of fans
Article - Engadget's FAQ on the Nintendo Wii, many questions answered

If you find more interesting stuff please add it in the comments below.

(Cover Photo: Engadget)

Canadian PlayStation 3 Launch Event

2006-11-17T14:59:00.000-05:00

Higher uptown in Toronto yesterday, Sony held a press launch event for their PlayStation 3 console which was packed with media personnel. The event took place at the very classy looking Six Degrees night club. Security was tight and bouncers were guarding the gates heightening our anticipation of what awaited inside. Of course you had to be recognizable enough as media to receive this classy invite, the presence of bouncers proved just how serious Sony was. Luckily, we got in and saw the goods.

Sony’s Ian Jackson addressed the press with some good news regarding the PlayStation 3, Sony is promising a backup supply of units to arrive next week “in-case” gamers don't get their hands on a PS3 on launch day. Exact numbers were not provided and a date was not mentioned.

I have been to Xbox 360 events, the Wii Launch, and finally Sony's PlayStation 3. It was disappointing to see there were the same third party titles everywhere and very few exclusive titles dedicated to the PlayStation 3 alone. One reporter I bumped into had this to say, “These games are already out on the Xbox 360 why would I buy a PlayStation for them?” I'm sure the dedicated Sony fan-boy would immediately say, “Duh! Coz they're like 100x better looking...” Umm, yes they might look a bit better but nothing the Xbox 360 was not already close to displaying, at least the first set of titles didn’t seem graphically superior to the Xbox 360 versions, some were slightly sharper but that was essentially the only difference noted.

The only first party titles being released on launch day are Resistance: Fall of Man, NBA 07, and Genji: Days of the Blade. All three were on the event floor. For initial impressions: NBA 07 showed intense realism and texture detail through realistic reflections and refractions. Genji was a major disappointment in gameplay. Sure it looked beautiful as all games did but I found myself just running around in the game continuously hacking and slashing away, nothing next-gen about that. The characters also appeared as if they were sliding across the floor as they ran, it totally threw off any experience of realism. Resistance: Fall of Man was a well looking FPS game although some explosions sort of looked like poorly generated volume clouds. Once again, it looked great but nothing felt different about it from any other FPS game. Xbox 360’s Gears of War definitely takes precedence over Resistance: Fall of Man in challenging and enjoyable gameplay. Of course these were Sony’s first attempts for launch, I’m sure they will use more potential of the PS3 on upcoming titles.

Some of the third party titles that I saw at X’06 were here as well. Such as Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Call of Duty 3. Overall I felt they looked sharper on the PS3 compared to their Xbox 360 versions but aside from that I saw no other difference. Some reporters on the event floor saw no difference between the titles on either console.

Sadly there was no demonstration of movie playback using the Blu-ray technology or any of the other features on the PS3. None of the games seemed to have been set-up using the wireless controller's motion sensitivity feature so it was impossible to experience the SIXAXIS controller completely.

Nonetheless, Sony has released a promising console but it has definitely been over hyped. It will stand in great competition with the Xbox 360 as long as Sony brings out some exclusive innovative games that make great use of the technology onboard the PS3.

Canadian Nintendo Wii Launch Event

2006-11-15T21:45:00.000-05:00

As promised I did attend the Canadian launch event for the Nintendo Wii console yesterday with my fellow blogger eMadman. It was held at Ontario Place, in downtown Toronto secretly tucked away at the end of a long tunnel. We managed to arrive thirty minutes before the official launch time and were forced to stand outside with a massive statue of Link. We even took a few photos with our buddy Link; he didn’t seem to mind.

As we entered the event floor at 10:00 am we saw around twenty-eight Nintendo Wii consoles just sitting there crying out to be played, “Play Wiiiiii…” is all I could hear. Of course we were held back till a speech was given about how great the Wii was and will be blah blah blah…as if the hype wasn’t killing us already. The best news for fans we could gather was Nintendo's dedication to release ten Wii titles each month starting in 2007.

I ran across the event floor as soon as the TVs were turned on, stumbling and bumping into other media personnel, I was venturing towards the crowd lining up to play Call of Duty 3, and yes Zelda was there too. First off, don't expect mind blowing graphics the Wii isn't a super hyper-realism graphics machine like its competitors; it’s a “fun” machine for a larger audience. I stood at a bit over a meter's distance from the Sharp LCD TV and grabbed the Wii nunchuck in my left hand and the Wii remote in my right. I was immediately thrown into a battle against the Germans. The Wii remote was configured to such great sensitivity that whenever I moved it I did a 360 degree dance in the game. I quickly got the hang of it as the Wii representative there told me to only twitch the remote a little to look to the left or right. All forward and backward movements were controlled from the Wii nunchuck, moving the Wii nunchuck to the left let me swap through my weapon inventory and that was a very cool experience.

Although I only got 4 minutes of playing time with the game since other media hogs wanted to get in on it, I discovered that it was going to take great skill and practice to use the Wii remote for an fps game. When I first started playing I assumed an extended arm position as if I was holding a gun, after a while that started to hurt my shoulder and I had to experiment to find a comfortable position.

I searched for eMadman and found him boxing with the Wii, literally! eMadman and I decided to go for a round in the virtual ring in Wii Sports’ Boxing game. I was really impressed at how easy it was to discover the basic moves; my mom could have easily done this! I grabbed the Wii nunchuck and Wii remote and brought it up to my face, to assume a defensive position against my opponent. I even tried shifting my feet to the left and right and my character moved along with me, it was incredible even with a lacking photorealistic character on screen. I swung my left then my right then my left again, and let eMadman have a piece of my Wii powered fury. Once again I only had 4 minutes and discovered that the character could not swing past a certain speed, if I tried to punch really fast or hard he would still move slower, so I was forced to match his average speed.

Next I decided to move onto Marvel: Ultimate Alliance for the Wii. Playing MAU wasn't as rewarding of an experience with the Wii remote. I almost felt as if the use of the remote technology was forced onto the game. I still wanted to see what the wireless gestures would make me do in-game. Unfortunately I was not so impressed: tilting the Wii remote up, down, left and right made me produce different moves, I came to a point where just twirling the remote clockwise easily cycled through the 4 basic moves, it felt sort of cheap.

As the crowd died down we jumped over to the Wii Sports’ Tennis game. This game, even though simple in function still proved to be fun, more enjoyable than MAU. I was forced to actually serve a ball and do a backhand on a return shot. I’ve played “real tennis” regularly, playing it on the Wii made me forget it was virtual as I tried to dive to the right to return a serve. Suddenly it dawned on me that my character automatically moved regardless of where I positioned myself and I had made a fool of myself. This was a great disappointment as the experience could have been taken so much farther if the character on screen moved relatively to my real-world position.

I moved onto Rayman Raving Rabbids, a game that made great use of the Wii remote. I had the chance to sample two short mini games within this game. One forced me to rapidly move my arms and shoulders holding the Wii nunchuck and Wii remote to simulate running action. My objective was to deliver a present from point A to B as fast as I could, and how fast I “pretended” to run reflected my speed in the game. The second mini game I tried involved throwing a cow. The cow was lassoed and I had to use the Wii remote and twirl it as if I was going to twirl a real cow around my body. Believe me this was difficult; I couldn't twirl it fast enough to gain enough virtual momentum. My timing was also off; I now know I suck at throwing cows.

My concluding thoughts…
I couldn’t sample everything and 4 minutes per game is hardly enough time to enjoy a game fully especially with so many people walking the event floor. From the games I tested, I did not like using the Wii remote for cross platform games that were not designed specifically for the Wii such as CoD3 and MUA. I felt that those games would stay best played with a controller. The Wii really showed its full potential with the Rayman and Wii Sports games, I can see where Nintendo is headed with the remote technology in those titles and I hope to see even more innovative titles designed specifically for the Wii. Cross-platform games I don’t see doing so well from what I sampled.

Stay tuned for my Canadian PlayStation 3 launch event coverage this Friday. Until then I leave you with our buddy Link.

Halo 3 public beta, a first for Xbox!

2006-11-15T11:40:00.000-05:00

According to a Bungie press release today, the insanely anticipated Halo 3 sequel to the best selling Halo 2 game on Xbox will be made available to the public in beta form on Xbox Live spring of 2007. This holiday season "Starting on December 15th, the special high-definition, 60-second "Halo 3" advertising spot will start running on 765 cinema screens across Canada." This ad spot may show us another side of Master Chief "Huraaa!" and the beautifully crafted Halo universe.

What to expect, "Next-generation high-definition visuals; enhanced artificial intelligence; an advanced real-time lighting engine; and new weapons, characters and challenges are just a few examples of the evolution of design and technology in "Halo 3." These improvements are designed to give gamers an unparalleled experience and tell an even more compelling and engrossing story. Working in concert with Xbox Live on Xbox 360, "Halo 3" builds on the unique social multiplayer experience of "Halo 2" and promises to expand the innovative and evolving online gameplay and community of "Halo 2" on Xbox Live. In this third chapter of the "Halo" trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax."

An additional treat from Bungie, next spring we can also expect new Halo 2 multiplayer maps for download via the Xbox Live Marketplace.

The wait is so painfully long...

Wii and PS3 launch this week in Canada...well for press!

2006-11-13T00:52:00.000-05:00

Yeah damn straight you should be jealous. After all, you want that Wii weally weally badly or the bigger bad boy, PlayStation 3. But you still can't have either unless you are in Japan. So you sit there and cry in agony hoping that time doesn't come to a stand still, as if it isn't slow enough to begin with. We'll I'm going to shatter your dreams and piss you off because unlike you I have been invited to the Canadian preview/launch events for the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 both held in Toronto this week. I don't know what exactly will be at the events but they are a few hours long and from experience that means the press will have the chance to sample some initial launch titles and ask questions. So to make your wait even more painful and impatient I am going to post some initial coverage of each event this week right after I attend it, and if you are a true die hard fan you will come back here to see the outcome.

A New Startup!

2006-11-12T19:05:00.000-05:00

Hey,

This is an experimental start-up gaming blog where I hope a few talented writers in the field of gaming will contribute to its growth by experimenting with gaming content. This is non-profit (for now) and a free for all on posting anything gaming related. Only invited bloggers can post here. Let's get the gaming engines rolling...