Archive for March, 2006
Nokia about the next generation of mobile(phone) gaming
Gamesutra reports on the Game Developers Conference today about: “Nokia’s keynote at GDC Mobile this year was rather low-key, with only a few new announcements during the rather short presentation. The address was given by Gregg Sauter, Nokia’s Director of Games Publishing
Nokia’s Smartphones are the most advanced of the bunch, and Nokia has currently shipped 2.5 million of these worldwide, and predict a 250 million userbase by 2008. Nokia has found that Smartphone owners are five times more likely to purchase game content than owners of other handsets.
Their plan is to beef up their N-Gage arena content to work with Smartphones, very much mimicking the Xbox Live Arcade experience. You can have a gamer profile and avatar (or take your own picture with your cameraphone), and win N-Gage points (NGPs).
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No comments »Battlefield 2142 confirmed for PC with trailer
The May 2006 issue of PC Gamer confirms the existence of EA/DICE’s Battlefield 2142 and thanks to the world wide wonder here’s the game’s trailer online already:
Future ice age? Global war? Mechs? Looks awesome!
The Great Nintendo Revolution name guess-a-ton
The annual Game Developers Conference is this week from the 20th to 24th and rumor has it the Revolution’s real name will finally be confirmed this week at the show, probably as part of Nintendo president Saturo Iwata’s keynote speech titled “Disrupting Development” on Thursday.
While the Revolution may be a code-name, I kind of think it’s catchy. Everyone knows it by that name now too. Recalling the GameCube’s code-name being Dolphin and the in-between tentative name being StarCube. I don’t think anyone would mind the name Nintendo Revolution staying. But if that wasn’t an option, and YOU had to rename its final name, what would YOU name it? My choice is N5.
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80 games for Xbox 360 by June 2006 + new downloads
Peter Moore “Microsoft corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division” says: “Today we have turned a major corner. With more consoles on their way to retail, 80 games available by June, and new content and experiences coming to Xbox Live all the time, there has never been a better time to own an Xbox 360.” So that’s what, on average 1 game released every 2 days? As for the hardware, Microsoft will begin to distribute 2 to 3 times as many Xbox 360s weekly.
C&VG reports: “Microsoft announced that new downloadable content is coming to the Xbox Live Marketplace, namely new cars and achievements for Project Gotham Racing 3, and multiplayer maps for Perfect Dark: Zero. And, the Seattle giant says, Kameo: elements of Power is about to acquire “new online cooperative gameplay options”…
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Will Wright on the future of games
Will Wright is a guest editor in the latest issue (14.04) of Wired, and writes a great essay on the future of games, called Dream Machines.
“In an era of structured education and standardized testing, this generational difference might not yet be evident. But the gamers’ mindset – the fact that they are learning in a totally new way – means they’ll treat the world as a place for creation, not consumption. This is the true impact videogames will have on our culture.
Society, however, notices only the negative. Most people on the far side of the generational divide – elders – look at games and see a list of ills (they’re violent, addictive, childish, worthless). Some of these labels may be deserved. But the positive aspects of gaming – creativity, community, self-esteem, problem-solving – are somehow less visible to nongamers.
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This weeks American game releases across all systems are:
Nintendo DS: Metroid Prime: Hunters (20th), Tetris DS (20th), Tao’s Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal (21st), Worms: Open Warfare (22nd).
Game Boy Advance: Dragon Ball: Buu and Transformation 2 Pack (21st), The (Sim) Tower SP (21st), Catz (22nd).
PSP Game Releases: Go! Sudoku (21st), Kao Challengers (21st), Me and My Katamari (21st), Splinter Cell Essentials (21st), Capcom Classics Collection Remixed (22nd), Viewtiful Joe: Red Hot Rumble (22nd), Worms: Open Warfare 22nd).
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New Super Mario Bros. out 1 week later…
Kotaku reports: “New Super Mario Bros. arrives on May 15th, instead of May 7th. Big Brain Academy ships on June 5, instead of late May. This second title in the brain-training series already has sold more than 1 million units in Japan. The first title in the series, Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, drops Stateside April 17.”
And while New Super Mario Bros. comes out in Europe in May as well, the Brain training games actually come out here a month before the U.S. releases.
X-Men: The Official Movie Game details
If you’re a comics fan that’s curious about Nightcrawler’s whereabouts in the upcoming movie sequel X3 set for May 24-26, then X-Men: The Official Movie Game (TOMG) may be just what you’re looking for on May 16. Developed by Z-Axis, X-Men TOMG serves as a bridge between the final moments of 2003’s movie X2 and this year’s highly anticipated follow-up X3.
Taking place a few weeks after the events at Alkalai Lake from the movie X2, the game X-Men TOMG introduces a number of new and familiar characters to the X-Men universe. In the game’s very first mission, for example, players will assume the role of Wolverine as he battles Hydra agents trying to gut technology from Stryker’s former installation.
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New New Super Mario Bros. DS details
Some new information and Famitsu screenshots for Nintendo’s New Super Mario Bros. on the DS have emerged. Nintendo Power magazine reported that the game will feature 80 levels of platforming joy, which is on par with such classics as Super Mario Bros. 3 & Super Mario World.
In the new game Mario seems to have the entire Mushroom Kingdom populace against him. Maybe Bowser found a sale on minions? From Bloopers to Buzzy Beetles, Cheep-Cheeps to Koopa Paratroopas, Bullet Bills to Bob-ombs, Lakitus to Whomps, almost every traditional Mario villain is back to exact revenge in New SMB.
And they’re joined by numerous new foes. Spiders that drop from their webs, boxing-gloved ghouls that have the ability to bust down walls, snowball-hurling bullies, dive-bombing ravens, explosive pumpkins that get meaner when jumped on, and snail-like enemies that are invincible to Mario’s attacks. And a whole lot of bosses!
EA announces The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff expansion pack for PC
After University, Nightlife, and Open for Business expansion packs for The Sims 2, here’s EA’s The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff for your PC. Due for release on April 13th it offers all-new collection of furniture, clothing, and décor.
“Decorate the home with an assortment of cool new furnishings, including upscale living room items and adventurous bedroom sets. Dress your Sims in matching attire for an amusing day out with the family. With 60 new items from castle beds to cruise ship replicas.” Official Family Fun site here.
