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People Try Harder When Gaming Against Humans
A recent study on brain patterns shows that people who think they are playing against real people try harder, then when they believe they are playing against computers. Granted the study used gambling games to monitor brain activity, but I think it could also offer some interesting insight into what motivates video gamers as well.…
By Brian Crecente Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Ghostbusters: Don’t Look Directly Into the Trap
Atari hopped up from their New York Comic Con attendance, just dropped this fresh look at their upcoming Ghostbusters game. Ghostbusters : The Video Game will be hitting six platforms come June 16.
By Brian Crecente Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Wii-Sporting, Foot-Pedaless Foot Pedal Hits The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe has a short but sweet piece in their paper today about the man behind the Nintendo Wii hack that turns a remote into a wireless foot pedal of sorts. Rob Morris’ Wii hack for his guitar gets quite a bit of play in Marros’ Boston band Vivian Darkbloom, the Globe reports. Morris…
By Brian Crecente Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Battlefield 1943: Pacific Preview: A Much Needed Upgrade
I got early press access to the New York Comic Con to check out some games before lines start forming.First stop: The EA boot to get some time with Battlefield 1943: Pacific. What It Is Battlefield 1943: Pacific is a download only, multiplayer game for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. The game, while…
By Jim Reilly Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Funniest MoCap Features Stinger, Unfortunate Crickets
I have to admit, when the words motion and capture cross in front of my eyes, I sort of pass out a little on the inside. But this one woke me right up. OK, so it’s animated, but it’s also pretty damn funny.
By Brian Crecente Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Booth Babes Get Their Own Calendar
Earlier this month Yvonna Lynn contacted me about her modeling company Charisma +2 Models. Charisma is a company that specializes in providing models for gaming events who know their way around video games. It’s a smart idea that seems to be doing quite well at shows like the Tokyo Game Show. She said she sent…
By Brian Crecente Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Big Changes In Store For World Of Warcraft Classes
World of Warcraft is about to be patched to version 3.1.0. And as part of that patch, big changes are on the way for each of the game’s character classes. Over the coming days, Blizzard will be updating fans on just what, exactly, is to be changed. Today, for example, they’ve outlined what’s to be…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
U.S. Army Now In on Zombie Invasion of Best Buy
Best Buy’s zombie-packed Resident Evil 5 launch event will be getting some help from the U.S. Army which will be on hand with M16’s for a “staged event”, we’re told. Earlier this week we reported that the Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Best Buy would be holding a special Resident Evil 5 premiere event for the launch of…
By Brian Crecente Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Colbert Jams with Congressman on Rock Band
What’s creepier than a stalker song as song by Stephen Colbert? Colbert singing his epic Charlene (I’m Right Behind You), with freshman congressman Jason Chaffetz playing back up, that’s what. And all that plunking you hear pocking Colbert’s velvet voice? That would be Chaffetz bombing in Rock Band. He landed a 24 percent. Booooo! Watch…
By Brian Crecente Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
X-Men Origins: Wolverine Preview: A Bloody Good Time
Has as good stand-alone Wolverine game finally been made? I tried out an early hands-on demo tonight of X-Men Origins: Wolverine at Activision’s pre-New York Comic Con press event to find out. What It Is X-Men Origins: Wolverine is an action game based off the upcoming movie developed by Raven Software, which brought you Quake…
By Jim Reilly Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
New Wolfenstein Features Otherworld
What’s this? A new Wolfenstein game? Yeah, apparently I didn’t get the memo. Activision brought the game, simply titled Wolfenstein, along to their press event in NYC last night and showed off the latest build. I was a bit disappointed to find out this was not a hands-on preview. An Activision rep played through the…
By Jim Reilly Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Good Night Baby Milk Barf And Snoring 5 Year-Old
To: Crecente From: Ashcraft RE: New York Comic Con and Previews Last night was rough. Micro had difficulty sleeping then suddenly barfed milk all over our bed covers. Us being worried about him, we couldn’t sleep and stayed up to make sure he was okay. Then Mini said he couldn’t sleep and wanted to sleep…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Nintendo Boss Says Japanese Market “Least Robust” In The World
In Japan, the DS and PSP are wildly popular. But what about home consoles? Despite being the home ground for two of this generation’s three machines, things aren’t looking as rosy. That’s according to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, anyway, who says: Perhaps, the Japanese market is the least robust market in the world today with…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
2008 Australian Console Sales Figures
Let’s take a moment to visit a peripheral theatre in the great global tussle for console supremacy, and see how each of the three machines is faring in the Australian market. Sony Computer Entertainment sent us their 2008 sales numbers earlier in the week, to go along with those from Microsoft and Nintendo, who it…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Star Ocean… Escalator
When you think of ways to promote Star Ocean 4, escalators probably don’t jump to mind. For shame, because escalators are great. Even better than escalators? Wallpaper and LCD monitors looping Star Ocean 4. This escalator-LCD-screen-game advertising must be a first — we don’t recall seeing anything like this. This is fantastic. In case you…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Home Updated To 1.10
Remember, everyone, Home is not finished. It’s still in “beta”. So there’s plenty of room for improvements! Some of which have just been made, with the updating of the service to version 1.10. A number of tweaks, fixes and alterations have been made, which cover everything from prioritising what loads on-screen first (smart move) to…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Just How Big Is The Hori Real Arcade Pro Stick?
You’ve read our review of the Mad Catz SFIV stick. That stick isn’t sold in Japan, though. Japan gets a different arcade fighting stick entirely. Let’s have a look. Readers Witzbold and Ritchie sent along images of the Hori Real Arcade Pro EX-SE. Previously, we posted about the stick, but these pics give a bigger…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
PAL PlayStation Store Update: Killzone 2
Yup, that’s about all you need to know. Unlike the US store, the PAL PlayStation shopfront has a free demo (no preorder required) for Guerilla’s Killzone 2. I’m enjoying it right now. You can try and feign interest in the rest of the stuff on offer – Lumines Supernova, some Far Cry 2 DLC –…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
PS3 Exclusive Demon Souls Is Selling Out
From Software’s exclusive PS3 role-playing-game Demon’s Souls isn’t exactly getting stellar reviews. It doesn’t matter. The game is flying off selected Japanese store shelves. According to these photos, the game has sold out at both Yodobashi Cameras in Shinjuku, Bic Camera in Shinjuku, a Sofmap (dunno where!) and a TSUTAYA (ditto!). The game went on…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Hi, Inevitable Winter Olympics Game
Yes, as a major sporting competition, there was always going to be an accompanying video game, but there are formalities with these things we have to go through. Like finding out who’s behind it! Turns out Sega will be on publishing duties, just like they were for the Summer games in Beijing last year. And…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 6, 2009