Archive for June, 2006
Sony hints at Wipeout Pure PSP sequel and Wipeout for PS3
Via a public job listing, a senior/lead designer position at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe listing reveals plans for the Wipeout series to continue onto PlayStation 3 and PSP.
The listing mentions the prospective employee will “have a key role in realising future iterations of Wipeout on PSP and PS3” and would be “instrumental in defining & maintaining the creative direction of a major SCEE franchise.”
Nice to hear Wipeout Pure is getting a sequel and the series a new console iteration, although I doubt they’ll make it to the PS3 launch as they did with the PSone.
2 comments »Ubisoft developing Naruto 360
Ubisoft is taking the Xbox 360 release of their next-gen Naruto title very serious, apparently Ubisoft Montreal has been tasked with development instead of a third party.
A job listing on Creative Heads confirms the details. Ubisoft Montreal is seeking a creative director for the project, where the prospective employee would work “within the creative department to develop the overall vision of the game pertaining to interactivity, show, and marketing elements.”
If you want to know more about this anime series, visit the Naruto Wikipedia page.
Sony expects higher $59 to $99 price points for PS3 games
SCEA president Kaz Hirai isn’t promising a $59.99 price tag for PS3 games this fall. In an interview with PlayStation Magazine, the Sony leader explained: So, what I can say now is, I think it would be a bit of a stretch to think that we could suddenly turn around and say “PS3 games now $99.99″ I don’t think the consumers expect the software pricing to suddenly be double,” he told the magazine. “So, if it becomes a bit higher than fifty-nine bucks don’t ding me, but, again, as I said, I don’t expect it to be a hundred bucks.”
In other words, consumers should expect PS3 games to cost somewhere between $59.99 and $99.99. He doesn’t expect them to be a hundred dollars, but it’s only a “stretch” to expect it. And here we thought going from current generation to Xbox 360 was bad seeing prices respectively rise from $49.99 to $59.99. Looks like it’s back to the SNES/N64 prices.
Top 10 video game weapons
GT Countdown takes a look at the weapons that cause the most damage and are most fun to use.
Final Fantasy XII US release on October 31
Square Enix finally announced the release date for the U.S. version of PS2-exlusive Final Fantasy XII, it’s October 31st 2006 for $49.99, yes on Halloween!
Square Enix will also be releasing a Collector’s Edition for $59.99 in retail stores and online via EB Games & GameStop.
Collector’s Edition features are: special packaging and a bonus DVD with Japanese and American trailers, developer interviews, an art gallery and featurettes on the Final Fantasy series. Here’s the official FF12 trailer:
Just found newer footage with the English voices, watch it below: Article continues »
John Romero Doom and Gloom interview
Here’s a summary of John Romero’s interview with Games.net. When asked questions about:
- What he would have done differently about Doom he answered he would’ve hired a great level designer,
- What was wrong with Doom, he answered nothing, and talked about how the game was designed,
- How he would do it if he would make another Doom, he replied he’d make it pitch black, something new like stuff from Half-Life 2,
- When he knew he hit it big, his predictable answer was after seeing the sales numbers,
- What he thought of sequels, he mentioned he would only do one,
- What other projects he did and what he learned, he answered likes creation, and not so much the cleanup,
- What he is doing right now, he was quoted saying on his new company, and that he’s working on something new that so far hasn’t been done. Thanks to geerbox for the sum up.
SOCOM 3 Map Packs #1 available
Sony and Zipper are offering new downloadable content for SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs with SOCOM 3’s “Map Pack #1″, only with a twist.
The downloads will be previewable on a trial basis from June 27th until July 11th, after which point users will have to pay $6 for the three maps. The maps are updates of the popular SOCOM 2 maps After Hours, Liberation and Last Bastion.
Sony comments on why it took so long for this SOCOM map pack to arrive: Article continues »
English dubbing ruins Yakuza
Two weeks ago we were still excited about the upcoming PS2-exclusive action adventure game from Japan titled Yakuza (by Sega) getting a release outside Japan (in the US due September). At that time Sega announced which English voice actors they hired to cover the game’s Japanese atmosphere.
Now we’re saddened by a new trailer Sega put out as proof that English dubbing can really ruin a game:
I’m not hearing any of those Hollywood voice actors yet, so they might do a better job by the time it’s finished?
Namco Bandai sends 3 games to Wii (Time Crisis?)
Namco Bandai officially announced it will finish three Nintendo Wii games during the first phase of the new console’s life-cycle. First up is their horse-racing sim Final Furlong, and last are two unannounced games. Rumor has it one of the unannounced games might be Time Crisis, it’s kind of a given lightgun co-op games would fit the Wii’s controller perfectly. Let’s hope the titles get announced soon.
Article continues »
Nintendo DS to star in the movie Stormbreaker
The hot-selling Nintendo DS will make its motion picture debut in the upcoming teen spy thriller Stormbreaker. Nintendo has signed an agreement with the film’s producers that will turn the Nintendo DS into the ultimate spy gadget. Stormbreaker is based on the first in the popular Alex Rider series of books by Anthony Horowitz, which have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.
After the murder of his uncle and guardian, the MI6 British spy agency recruits the reluctant 14-year-old Alex Rider to take over his uncle’s mission. Like any good spy, during training he receives his key piece of gadgetry: a Hot Rod Red Nintendo DS. He also gets several game cards that transform his DS into an eavesdropping device, a wiretap detector or a smoke bomb.
Article continues »
