Microsoft is rolling out a new update to the Xbox 360 which adds a few new features. Gamers in some countries can now link their PayPal accounts to their 360s and buy stuff that way, and standby mode has been tweaked.
Coincident with this update (coming over the next two weeks) comes the news that a recent firmware update adding support for the new expanded disc capacity feature may not be playing nicely with some 360s. But don’t worry, Microsoft is on the case. In fact, you might wish yours was getting bricked. → Read More
Howard Stringer, Sony’s CEO and the most visible target for criticism regarding the recent PSN data breach, has gone on an interview rampage, speaking with major news outlets to get word out that no network is fully secure and Sony went above and beyond the call of duty in its response. I don’t think users will agree, and though it may not be fair… well, tough. → Read More
According to Sony, the Playstation Network is back online in North America and the US. You will need to upgrade your firmware to 3.6.1 and change your password to play. Our long national nightmare is over. → Read More
If anyone was on the fence about whether or not to trade in their PS3, the last few weeks seem to have caused them to make up their minds. The continuing PSN outage and security breaches are causing trade-ins of Sony’s console to blow up, say a number of retailers interviewed by Edge. PS3 trade-ins have doubled, and more people are going straight to a 360 instead of getting cash. → Read More
Oh no! Nintendooo! It’s a good thing you’re announcing a new console next month, or else we’d all be worried. Only 172,000 units sold in April? That is a crying shame. I sold more units of my autobiography, Bearmaster: The First 28 Years. Maybe that price drop will help, but it’ll take more than a $50 discount to take you safely through 2011. [via Eurogamer] → Read More
I still have memories of playing Alien Vs Predator 2 back in college. That game was just plain great. Being a Predator was awesome, being a Xenomorph felt insane, and being a human was scary as hell. But in the many years since then, we haven’t seen much in the way of quality Alien game fare. But it looks like that’s about to change. → Read More
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan announced [JP] a set of 6 earphones for PSP users today. The earphones are nothing special technically (100dB/mW sensitivity, 16Ω impedance, 1.2m cable length), but their colors match the PSP’s color variations, plus they feature the PSP logo. → Read More
While gamers around the world are pining for their online play and PSN store access, the companies that rely on the service to sell games are really feeling it. Capcom is one of many PSN-reliant companies that’s losing a ton of money in lost sales. VP Christian Svensson posts on their forums: “as an executive responsible for running a business, the resulting outage obviously costing us hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars in revenue that were planned for within our budget. These are funds we rely on to bring new games to market for our fans.” With the end of the outage in sight but several weeks out (by the latest estimates), it looks like they’re going to lose a lot more. → Read More
One of my favorite things to do on long flights is play through old games on an emulator. Got five or six spare hours? You can beat Mega Man 2, Super Mario Bros. 3, and tackle a few dungeons in Chrono Trigger between naps and salisbury steaks. But the best gamepads (Xbox 360, Logitech) are often bulky. Here’s a foldable one for your consideration. → Read More
The cool cats at A Dangerous Business recently visited a seemingly forgotten Russian arcade museum in Moscow featuring some of the greatest old video games you could ever imagine coming out of a totalitarian worker’s state circa 1983. For example we’re introduced to a game…
called “Репка Силомер” (Repka Silomer) or “Turnip Strength Tester.” Later that night, we showed the photos to our homestay host, hoping for some sort of explanation. She had never played the game but told us that the concept was based on an old Russian children’s story.
Here’s a nice little talking point for your dinner parties and bar chatter tonight: the National Endowment for the Arts has changed its “Arts On Radio And Television” category to a broader “Arts In Media,” adding web-based video (as opposed to broadcast) and “interactive games” as potential platforms for grants. That means that the feds officially consider games as art worthy of potential funding. Huzzah! While there are still precious few games that qualify as “high” art, and the debate over violence, ratings, etc will continue, this is an important symbolic step in gaming history. [via Icrontic and The Escapist] → Read More
With Nintendo officially announcing their next console in June, there’s a little pressure being put on Microsoft and Sony. Sony, of course, has other things to worry about, but some think that Microsoft will use this lead time to put together something relating to its next console. In fact, one source claims that the next Xbox is already out there, just in disguise. They know because they saw one at the EA offices. → Read More
Remember Crush the Castle? Although the upstart Angry Birds has overshadowed their glory, Crush the Castle was one of the best “throwing stuff at stuff” games on the iPhone and iPad. To that end, the company has decided to create Siege Hero, a more cartoonish sequel to the more realistically violent CTC. I haven’t played it yet but I hear it’s fabu! → Read More
LA Noire, one of the biggest games on the table this year, will be shipping for Microsoft’s system on three separate discs, and while they assure us it’s “hassle-free,” it’s still three discs. The PS3 version will fit on one 25GB Blu-ray disc. Now, I’m not saying one version is going to be better than the other (or all I know, the PS3 version has higher load times or more compressed textures), but this is definitely a score for the PS3′s larger format. Maybe I’ll wait for the PC version, which will come on no discs at all. → Read More
Now here’s an exhibit I would be tempted to spend some time on. The Smithsonian has been working on putting together a collection of games for an “Art of Video Games” exhibition, exploring “the 40-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium” — and believe it or not, it’s actually respectful and comprehensive. What, video games being treated seriously as a cultural and artistic force? I won’t believe it! I can’t!
But it’s true. Check out the list of winning games inside. → Read More
Can a $35 piece of plastic offer a compelling and immersive 3D experience? Well, yes and no. The Hasbro My3D is a fun idea – it’s basically a stereoscopic viewer that splits images on the iPhone or iPod Touch into two discrete sides. It really works and is quite cool when you initially try it.
When you look through the lenses you see a half-resolution 3D image that reacts to the motion of the iPhone in three dimensions, allowing you to move around and rotate in the 3D world. Little cut-outs on the bottom let you tap onscreen buttons and there are multiple games including 360 Sharks, a swimming simulator, and Bubble Bolt, a Monkey Ball clone. Games are free but will eventually cost $5. → Read More
http://cdn2.themis-media.com/media/global/movies/player/flowplayer.commercial-3.2.5.swf If you’re like Devin and haven’t finished Portal 2, don’t watch this review. There are no spoilers but I know you’ll scream at me if he ruins anything for you. → Read More
What would you do if you were Nintendo, sat on a 5-year old console and were about to announce its successor? You would probably lower the price to boost sales, and that’s exactly what Nintendo in the US today did with the Wii. → Read More
Variety reports that French developer Ubisoft (Prince of Persia, Assassin’s Creed, Vin Diesel – Wheelman) has established a sub-company, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, that will be in charge of adapting its games into movies. I’m guessing Ubi isn’t investing hundreds of millions in sets, property, cameras, and such, and this is really more of an administrative thing. Its major franchises are almost certain to be adapted, and if Ubi wants to bring them to the same standards as their games, a serious licensing and oversight body should be formed. That said, as much as I enjoy Assassin’s Creed, I can’t say I’m looking forward to the movie. → Read More
The Wii successor/Project Café rumors have died down since Nintendo’s official announcement a week ago, but there’s still a little info leaking out (allegedly) here and here. Today has brought a few more nuggets to the web, so let’s take a look. → Read More
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