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Jumpgate Evolution: When Darkness Falls
The latest trailer and screens for Net Devil‘s massively mutiplayer online space combat extravaganza Jumpgate Evolution wants to know which side you’ll be on when darkness falls. Is that some special, dramatic way of asking who I am going to shoot? I only ask because both the trailer and the accompanying screen shots only serve…
By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009 -
The Conduit Control Customization
There are plenty of things to talk about when it comes to Wii shooter The Conduit, but none are more important then the controls and the absurd number of ways you can customize them. Matt Corso, art and creative director at High Voltage, walked me through the options, which not only rival, but may surpass…
By Brian Crecente Published April 2, 2009 -
Crytek: The Internet Isn’t Ready For Streaming Game Services
Crysis developer Crytek reveals that they have done research into providing streaming game services like the ones Onlive is promising, only to conclude that the internet wouldn’t be ready for them until at least 2013. According to Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli, the company began research the potential of a service that allowed games played on…
By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009 -
The Top-Selling PS1 Games In The PlayStation Store
Since the launch of the PlayStation 3, Sony has published nearly 30 original PlayStation Classics on the North American PlayStation Store. Which have sold the best? Gamasutra procured a list of the top ten most popular PSone Classics in the PlayStation Store for North America, and the results really aren’t that surprising, especially the top…
By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009 -
SCEA: PS2 Price Drop Will Cut Into Wii, Eventually Help PS3 Sales
With a price drop to $99, the Playstation 2 is being repositioned as a family friendly video game console for the casual gamer. Something that could put the Playstation 2 directly in the Nintendo Wii’s big blue ocean, says John Koller, SCEA’s director of hardware marketing. “I think you can look at the PS2 as…
By Brian Crecente Published April 2, 2009 -
Around The World In 80 Sackboys
Sony Computer Entertainment has launched the official LittleBigPlanet YouTube page, and are celebrating with a contest that could send one lucky UK resident around the world. The official UK LittleBigPlanet YouTube page is a celebration of user created content, with a section for favorites and featured users, where particularly inventive folks will have their creations…
By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009 -
Live Arcade Galactrix Next Week, PlayStation Network This Spring
The Xbox Live Arcade version of Puzzle Quest: Galactrix sees the light of day next week, with the PlayStation Network version coming later this spring. D3 Publisher has officially announced an April 8th release date for the Xbox Live Arcade version of Puzzle Quest Galactrix, their space-age sequel to the original Puzzle Quest. The Xbox…
By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2009 -
IT’S SNOWING?!
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Snow Lighting Wait. It’s snowing in Denver. Isn’t it APRIL?! Doesn’t long winters like that mess with you? I can’t imagine looking out the window in April and see snow. That’s kurazy. What you missed last night A Game Magazine Outsells Time, Playboy & Sports Illustrated New PS3 Firmware Adds…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 2, 2009 -
Which Would You Prefer: New Games Or Sex?
Silly science alert! British online store PS3PriceCompare (so, no, not exactly Nielsen) has polled 1,130 “men in relationships”, asking about games and sex. Their answers? As depressing as they are expected. Question 1: “Which would you prefer; sex with your partner or an evening playing video games?” Results: 32% of men (and these are men…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2009 -
Nintendo Announces DSiWare Titles
On April 5, the Nintendo DSi launches in North America. It is the third iteration of Nintendo’s DS platform. The handheld will offer players DSiWare games when the DSi Shop launches: • WarioWare: Snapped! — Using the built-in Nintendo DSi camera, this outrageous title puts players right at the center of fast-paced mini-games, challenging them…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 2, 2009 -
Japanese Game Industry Sales Dropped Last Year
Comparing 2007 to 2008, the Japanese game market is shrinking. Enterbrain, publisher of game magazine Famitsu, has released the hard data for last year’s domestic sales. The total market place (hardware and software sales) was worth ¥552.42 billion in 2008, compared to ¥676.95 billion the year before. Hardware sales were ¥231.52 billion in 2008 and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 2, 2009 -
The Anatomy Of A Sackboy
What’s inside a Sackboy? Fluff, cotton and love? No. Try bones, organs and other squishy, icky things. Least, that’s what’s inside them according to these brilliant illustrations from NY artist and toy designer Jason Freeney, which in a continuation of his series of similar pics for Lego minifigs and Gummi Bears show terribly scientific cut-outs…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2009 -
GameStop: “Keep Reserving DSi!”
Whenever Nintendo hardware product launches, there’s usually chatter about shortages — because, well, usually it’s true. We’ve been hearing talk about DSi shortages, but this GameStop memo seems to indicate otherwise. While it does read that “many of you noticed that your initial allocation was low”, the employee memo adds, “the remainder of your product,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 2, 2009 -
Getting Those Achievements *Just* Right
Forget HD graphics. The one really new thing the 360 (and now the PS3) have brought to this generation of gaming is achievements. But how do you design them? What makes ’em tick? Gamasutra asked a number of prominent developers, from Infinity Ward (Call of Duty) to EA (Skate) through Naughty Dog (Uncharted), just that…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2009 -
Sony Expects 10-15 Percent Rise In PS3/PSP Sale Worldwide
Sony has yet to announced its final results for PS3 and PSP sales during 2008. But that doesn’t mean the company won’t take educated guesses. According to Sony’s John Koller, “We’ve been very bullish on PSP,” said Koller. “We had our largest sales year ever last year, and we’d look to go about 10-15 percent…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 2, 2009 -
And The Top-Selling Games In Australia For 2008 Were…
Yeah, it’s April 2009. So what, things move slowly down here. Which is why we’re only just getting our hands on the list of the ten best-selling games in Australia for 2008. And, surprise surprise, it’s dominated by Nintendo titles. Five of the ten are published by Nintendo, and two more involve Nintendo characters and…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2009 -
Xbox 360 Update Offers “No New Features”
A mandatory update has just hit the Xbox 360. According to Microsoft’s Larry Hryb, “This update addresses interruption issues that some Xbox LIVE users may have experienced when playing a limited number of Xbox 360 games.” Meaning? “There are no other changes or enhancements in this update…in other words no new features.” Xbox 360 System…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 2, 2009 -
GameTap Launches Redesigned Service
GameTap has an all-new service! Completely redesigned, from the ground up. And while it stuttered, fell over and died for a little bit at launch, it’s now all good. Courtesy of a “technical outage”, users heading over to the site to check out the new digs last night were not greeted by a new GameTap.…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2009 -
Katamari Makes Thrift Store Paintings Better
Artist loudxmouse is sprucing up junk thrift store paintings with his own hand-painted katamari from Namco Bandai’s Katamari Damacy. “I have a repurposed painting (not a print, original painting) waiting for the addition of the prince of the cosmos in the colors and placement of your choosing,” writes loudxmouse. Brilliant, simply brilliant. custom katamari painting…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 2, 2009 -
King Of Kong Rematch Going Down At E3
If you haven’t seen King of Kong, I won’t spoil it for you. Let’s just say that Steve Wiebe has a Donkey Kong record he’d like to claim. And at E3, he’s taking a crack. All the relevant authorities will be on-hand – including arcade score-keepers Twin Galaxies – as well as TV types G4,…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2009