Castle Crashers... HORRIFICALLY RACIST!

If there's an underlying message about race in that trailer, it's that non-whites have the ability to fully regenerate when cut in half.

by dan

Phil Harrison Is Stuffing Blu-Ray Disc Full of Pre-Renders

It is very hard to tell the difference between resolutions when stuff is in motion.

You can really notice it when things are stationary. Looking at text on a computer monitor, you'll be able to tell the difference between a 1280 by 1024 monitor, and a 1920 by 1080 monitor in about 2 seconds.

With games, I don't really see much need for over 720P right now. It's progressive, so you don't get scanlines. It's also low enough that the processor can put a good amount of anti aliasing in, which is what you really notice.

Next gen, when the processors are able to really do a lot with 1080P signals, then it might be worth it. Right now, a 720 game will just look a lot better.

Also, I hate prerendered scenes, they really take you out of the experience, because nothing looks the same. Maybe they were needed back in the day, but now the in game graphics look great. Why bother prerendering.

by Adam

Xbox 3 Already Being Planned

Yeah, I echo the sentiments of many other posters here when they say that this isn't exactly earthshaking. Other console makers have done the same practice of planning for the next console immediately after launching the new one, such as when the PlayStation 3 was supposedly in development since the launch of the PlayStation 2. One magazine article I read on the subject (I forget which one, I think it was EGM) mentioned that an early PlayStation 3 prototype was constructed as six PlayStation 2s connected together to pool their graphical processing power. Also, Shigeru Miyamoto, during E3, also dropped a tidbit of information that after the Wii's launch, Nintendo would be working on the next version of that, designed with high definition televisions in mind. So yeah, Msoft working on the next Xbox after the 360 isn't exactly a huge bombshell.

by Webimpulse

Miz Defends Crap Lumines Micro-Transactions

I think companies are going down the wrong track with this microtransaction thing - how many times have you gotten to a point in a game that was boring, buggy or too hard to bother to go on, only to push through just to get to better parts or for the sole purpose of finishing the game? For me, that happens pretty often. If I had to pay just to get to that next level, I probably wouldn't do it. Or if I did I'd probably expect 10/10 gaming experience. Every level, every addition has to be perfect to pay for it.

Theoretically, that means that microtransactions will actually improve gameplay. I think that's true to a limited extent, but it's pretty clear that most companies don't really put the energy in to actually improve the gameplay enough to justify the micropayments. And even if they tried, there's just no way to make a perfect game - every game is going to have some imperfections.

If game companies charge a lump payment, we'll suffer through some rough patches because it's already paid for. But if they charge for every new song, gameplay mode or level, my guess is that they'll get a lot less than full price out of us.

by weatherman

"I'm Spartacus!" "No... I'M Spartacus!"

Personally, I've never read Kotaku, and I never plan to. Now let me get back to my needlecraft.

by Ni Tsu Alien

SIXAXIS Is Human And Must Be Buried

The REAL issue is that rechargeable batteries start to lose their longevity as they get older, meaning that in about two years, you will be charging the battery for like an hour just to get about 1/2 hour worth of play in (that's exaggerated, of course). When this happens, you will either have to just buy a new controller, or will probably have to get it serviced just to get a new battery in.

This is the same way Apple deals with their Nano battery problem; the Nano requires a specially made screwdriver to open it. It's an unnecessary hassle to the consumer, and many of Apple's competitors (SanDisk's Sansa e200 series) eliminate this by allowing their owners to replace batteries themselves; this is a big enough issue that Nano competitors have used this as actual selling point.

by macdeth

Liveblogging the Gamers Day 06 Presentation

Would I be correct to assume that anyone who has the money to purchase a 1080p display would be the same fellow to have the money to purchase gaming equipment that displays at 1080p? And that anyone who doesn't have the money to purchase the 1080p display is also the same fellow who doesn't have the money to purchase the gaming equipment that displays at 1080p?

Because I get this strange... sickening feeling that a lot of people are complaining about things that, in the end, don't actually apply to their own personal experience anyway. If you've got the cash for the TV and PS3, you've got the cash for the cables. It's a game of relativity here and Sony is simply exploiting it to its full potential.

If the Wii displayed at 1080p but was the same budget system it is now and didn't come with enough free bells and whistles, I could understand the complaints. But when you're spending $2.5k to $5k for the TV and $700 for the PS3 (with taxes and 1 game), what's an HDMI cable... hell, from Monster no less... going to do to your already inflated budget? Not much.

by DaveKap

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