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So Why All The Microsoft Game Group Firings?
Microsoft said they were sacking 1,400 people across the entire company, yet a disproportionate number of those cuts fell upon the (relatively) small gaming group. What gives? Did somebody piss in Steve Ballmer’s coffee? In the literal sense, no, but somebody looking at Micosoft’s research & development budget may well have exclaimed “oh man, the…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
You Too Can Meet Ryu Ga Gotoku 3’s Designer
That’s commenter Bellamy and SEGA fashion plate and Ryu Ga Gotoku designer Toshihiro Nagoshi. Bellamy met him! You too can meet Nagoshi. Bellamy? Well… Nagoshi and his leather skin are doing a nationwide autographing event to promote Ryu Ga Gotoku 3. If you live in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka or Ibaraki Prefecture, click the link…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Listen To The JRPG Soundtrack Of The JRPG That Doesn’t Exist
JRPGs are a predictable bunch. Spiky-haired youths, big swords, doe-eyed ladies and comic relief that’s either an ethnic minority or a robot. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen ’em all. Their soundtracks are no different. Which is why this project by reader Michael Chadwick is so brilliant. He’s composed a 12-track accompaniment to the JRPG “Ebben…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Nintendo Introduces Wii Fit Body Check Channel
Forget boring old corporate calisthenics! Nintendo today announces that three of Japan’s biggest companies — NEC, Panasonic and Hitachi — are getting their Wii Fit on with the “Wii Fit Body Check Channel.” The “Wii Fit Body Channel” provides users advice based on their Wii Fit data as well as the data from walking DS…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
British Sales Charts
We’ve been doing British sales charts for a while now. Don’t think there’s ever been one this kooky, though. I mean, Skate 2, Professor Layton and my Fitness Coach? Very strange. The rest of the upper echelons of the charts, though, are not strange. They’re the musk of familiarity about them, old favourites Wii Fit,…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Wii Power Pad Game Sells A Million
Namco Bandai Wii title Active Life: Outdoor Challenge (aka Family Trainer: Athletic World in Japan and Family Trainer in Europe) has sold over a million copies worldwide. The game is bundled with a Power Pad style matt, which was also originally developed by Bandai for Famicom title Family Trainer. The updated pad and game first…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
MotorStorm 2 Patch On The Way
Like every online game these days, MotorStorm 2 has a few issues. A few glitches. Well, Sony have let us know that those glitches are to be addressed in a patch due for release soon. Among the issues to be fixed are: * Restrictions to the copying of Saved Data have been removed. This will…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Let’s Set Zombies On Fire, M’kay?
Yes, another zombie game — endless!! Though, upcoming PSN title Burn Zombie Burn! does look like it could be worth the price of admission. The game, developed by DoubleSix, is an over 18 title according to its PEGi rating. From the gameplay clips, the game does seem to have a good grasp of zombie games…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
The 50 Cent Game Has A Story. These Are The People Behind It.
We know. You’re sitting there, all smug, thinking the extent of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand’s story amounts to “WHEH MAH SKULL?”. Well, you’re wrong. There’s a rich tapestry at play here. One that weaves together strands of love, betrayal, politics, conflict and the questioning of self. OK, I lied. I’m sorry. Still, amazing…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Wii-Mote Jackets Double As Kiddy Shoes
Those Wii-mote jackets? They’re good for more than cushiony shield protecting your TV (and face!) from flying Wii-motes. They’re good for, ahem, uncomfortable plastic shoes for children that no doubt act as a shin kicking cushiony shield. wiiリモコンジャケットの使い方 by のはな [人生の調味料 via Danny Choo]
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
That Mag For Sale On eBay Actually Found A Buyer
Let’s recap: at the same time Ziff Davis were offloading the 1UP Network, lesser-known magazine Hardcore Gamer also went up for sale. On…eBay. And not a collection of mags. The magazine itself. Seemed a desperate gamble from an owner that, from his selling brief, sounded like he was in the business for the wrong reasons…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Video Game Sales Bigger Than DVDs and Blu-ray Sales Last Year
Last year, video games trumped the global combined sales of DVD and Blu-ray. Congrats, video games! The sales of video games grew 20 percent to US$32 billion while the sales of DVD and Blu-ray slumped 6 percent to US$29 billion. Does that mean more people bought video games? Nope! With video games carrying a higher…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Square Enix Junk Mail Pisses Off Man, Man Files Lawsuit, Man Wins
An individual in Japan with no connection to Square Enix or Final Fantasy XI (he’s never played it supposedly!) was being heavily spammed with FFXI re-registration emails. This individual got annoyed and took legal action. It’s believed that his email address was being used by item dealers to create Japanese PlayOnline accounts to access FFXI.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Guitar Hero Metallica: There Will Be No Cliff Burton
The upcoming Guitar Hero: Metallica will feature the band’s four current members. And just those four. Those hoping for a digital reincarnation of deceased former bassist Cliff Burton need to stop hoping. Speaking with MTV, the game’s lead designer Alan Flores responded to a question about Burton’s inclusion with: I think I can definitely say…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Star Ocean Producer “Really” Wants To Make Erotic Games
Yoshinori Yamagishi, Square Enix’s Star Ocean series producer, has confessed his desire to make erotic games. In an interview with game site Gpara, Yamagishi revealed: Personally, I want to make erotic games… Really. I quietly said to the previous company president “I’d like to make erotic games” to which he retorted loudly, ‘NO!’ Dreams crushed,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Inevitable Left 4 Dead/Team Fortress 2 Crossover
Two Valve games, two cult followings, we’re amazed it’s taken you lot this long to whip something like this up. Called “Gravelpit”, it takes…well, you can see what it’s doing. Well done, iFrau over on Deviantart. Funny, I’d always fancied Francis as more of a Heavy, myself, with Zoey a Spy, but who am I…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
Jerry Bruckheimer Describes Prince of Persia Movie
When Jerry Bruckheimer isn’t figuring out different ways to blow shit up, he’s figuring out different ways to blow shit up in movies. Sadly, in a recent interview, he doesn’t talk about just that. But the Hollywood producer does talk about the upcoming Prince of Persia movie — which is getting crossed promoted in another…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 27, 2009 - Uncategorized
PC Sales Charts
Good news story: World of Goo went on sale at retail during the week of January 11-17. Innocent, indie little World of Goo. And it charted! For seven days, Maxis surely quaked. NPD Sales Charts January 11-17 1. WoW: Wrath of the Lich King 2. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe 3. Fallout 3 4. World…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
Where Ever Do Japanese Engineers Want To Work
Last November, Japan’s Nikkei Human Resources Inc (Nikkei HR) asked the country’s engineers about which companies they’d most want to work for. Here are the results of the top six: 1. Toyota Motor Corp (Previous Rank 2) 2. Honda Motor Corp (Previous Rank 1) 3. Panasonic Corp (Previous Rank 5) 4. Nintendo Co Ltd (Previous…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009