PS3 BBC iPlayer In The Works

The BBC recently launched their iPlayer television replay service for the Nintendo Wii, and that made PS3 owners a little miffed. Passing up the Xbox 360 with its lack of a web browser is one thing, but the PlayStation 3 is browser ready! Some went as far as to cobble together a solution on their own, a fact that impressed the hell out of BBC Head of Digital Media Technology, Future Media & Technology, Anthony Rose.

So, while I'm impressed that someone has done this, this doesn't mean that it's the best possible iPlayer proposition for that console. We're investigating the optimal video profile and browser proposition to enable us to officially make iPlayer available on PS3 in due course.

The BBC Explains Why The BBC Went With Wii

The BBC announced earlier today, along with Nintendo, that the British broadcaster's iPlayer service has been tailored for Wii Internet Channel users. BBC dot.life blogger Darren Waters poses the question, "Why didn't it come to the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3?" Well, Waters writes, it's due to the assertion that Sony and Microsoft were less flexible, with BBC's Erik Huggers saying the corporations "want control of the look, the feel and the experience; they want it done within their shop, and their shop only."

Since the whole replay service is web-based, it will take some extra effort for Microsoft to get on board, but Waters theorizes that Sony adding iPlayer support to its PS3 browser is "almost inevitable." It doesn't mean much to those outside of the UK, but we certainly hope that the competition for services like the BBC's makes the suits hop to.

Wii becomes home of online video [BBC News dot.life - thanks, Ricardo!]

Doctor Who is coming to the Wii...sort of! The BBC has announced that their iPlayer replay service will now be functional on the Nintendo Wii. The service, made available last month on the iPod Touch and iPhone, presents time-limited replays of BBC shows, such as Doctor Who, Torchwood, and whatever else they have worth watching. Wii owners in the UK will be able to browse to the page and grab their favorite shows.

"This exciting alliance with the BBC is yet another way in which Nintendo is looking to broaden the market for its products by offering compelling and relevant content to families," added David Yarnton, general manager of Nintendo UK.

Wii gets BBC iPlayer [GamesIndustry.biz]

The BBC News had a sit down with Bill Gates at CES recently and instead of asking him their own questions, they asked him their viewers. This gem, the first in the Q&A video, asked Gates about the hardware issues that have plagued the Xbox 360, almost since launch.

We've had a lot of questions from people who weren't really happy with the kind of service they've been getting from Xbox in the last few years... What are you going to do to ensure that new consoles are more reliable than previous versions

Well we certainly had to apologize to our uses about a number of box that had to be replaced. We did that for free for all of those people, we've gotten a lot of positive feedback about the way we handled it. We've got incredible reliability on the new work we've done. Our commitment is that it will be the most reliable video game box out there. People really love the Xbox because of the content, but we've got to make sure that the hardware never stands in the way of that.

Later in the interview he was asked about Vista and the possibility of releasing a version that would be no-frills, but still support game playing.

Let's Bust Those Gaming Myths

It's a common misconception that gaming is a solitary activity, as today an increasing number of titles are for gamers to get together and play in turn. In this respect, it's no different to golf — a game which can be a source of marital friction but is rarely accused of incitement to murder... Games like Halo are part of such a large sub-culture that people who don't play them are likely to be seen as oddballs and excluded from many conversations — in much the same way as people who aren't interested in football or who don't have a television.

Microsoft and the BBC are in talks about selling BBC television as downloadable content via the Xbox Live Marketplace when the Video service hits the UK, the Sunday Times reports. Last year the BBC signed an agreement with Microsoft to explore ways of developing its digital services.

"We are working diligently on multiple fronts to make it happen," said Ross Honey, senior director for media at Microsoft's content and partner strategy group. "The BBC is a great content provider."

The story goes on to say that they are also in talks with "several other European media companies," but doesn't name them.

BBC courted for Xbox link [Times Online, via Xboer.tv]

The BBC recently got a chance to play through a small chunk of Killzone 2. It appears the level they got their hands on was the one shown at E3, and they were thoroughly impressed:

Sat down in front of a playable level it is immediately clear that Killzone 2 will be one of the most cinematic and immersive games ever produced on a console.

The raw processing power of the PlayStation 3 has been harnessed to create a level of detail seen only in a handful of games on high-end PCs.

The dynamic lighting, animation, high-definition environments and details, such as plaster flying off walls and pillars caught in crossfire, create a sense of place and reality that takes games to a new level of realism.

The unnamed writer says that the game is leaps better than the original Killzone, and not just because of the improved graphics, AI, specifically, is called out as "first rate". The writer goes on to say that there are some rough bits still that need to be worked out, but seems to be genuinely impressed.

Hit the link for the full write up and make sure to check out their video.

State of Play: Killzone 2 hands on [BBC]

BBC To Reveal Gaming Strategy

The BBC is starting to look at gaming beyond the odd licensed children's titles and web-based flash games they currently offer. BBC new media boss Simon Nelson will be at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival on August 14th to deliver a keynote that addresses the company's gaming strategy, which 'industry sources' are speculating to be push towards making games that the gaming community would actually consider...games. The BBC is keeping its cards close to its chest right now, refusing to reveal anything further until next week's festival. Some suggest the move will be tied into the iPlayer On-Demand engine, which allows for digital content to be downloaded and saved for up to thirty days via certain PC's and set top boxes. Me? I predict that there had better be a decent Doctor Who game in the works or I shall write a harshly-worded letter most ill-befitting a gentleman of my stature.

BBC to make a play for computer games market after phone-ins scandal [Scotland on Sunday via Gamasutra]

Zelnick : Manhunt 2 A Work Of Art

"The Rockstar team has come up with a game that fits squarely within the horror genre and was intended to do so...It brings a unique, formerly unheard of cinematic quality to interactive entertainment, and is also a fine piece of art"

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Liberal Groups Call for Left Behind Boycott

BBC Kicks Off Shenmue III Campaign

...the ultimate campaign to force the games industry into finishing the glorious story that was started by Yu Suzuki all those years ago. With the influence of videoGaiden, the power of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the collective multimedia might of gamers everywhere, how can we possibly fail?