RipTen Videogame Blog » next_generation http://www.ripten.com Real Independent Press To Every Nerd Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:00:51 +0000 en-us hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Real Independent Press To Every Nerd RipTen Videogame Blog no Real Independent Press To Every Nerd RipTen Videogame Blog » next_generation http://www.ripten.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://www.ripten.com Capcom Europe’s Reeves Expects New Consoles to Arrive in 2-3 Years http://www.ripten.com/2010/06/30/capcom-europes-reeves-expects-new-consoles-to-arrive-in-2-3-years-lbd416/ http://www.ripten.com/2010/06/30/capcom-europes-reeves-expects-new-consoles-to-arrive-in-2-3-years-lbd416/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:32:57 +0000 David Oxford http://www.ripten.com/?p=26741

Gamers and companies alike seem to have settled into a nice, rather satisfying little niche of sorts when it comes to hardware. Other than Nintendo’s 3DS, which is slated to be released before the end of the fiscal year on March 31st, there is no new hardware in sight.

Normally, hardware cycles tend to run for about five years before a newer, more powerful platform is released to usurp it. And the notice usually comes well in advance. But not this time; Microsoft is nearing the five-year anniversary of the Xbox 360′s release, while the slightly-younger PlayStation 3 and Wii are approaching their fourth.

And yet, no sign of a Wii 2, a PlayStation 4, or an Xbox… er, whatever. Instead, those who developed those consoles are happy to let this cycle last a little longer, with the latter two even rolling out new peripherals to extend the cycle.

However, it appears that Capcom Europe’s Chief Operating Officer, David Reeves, believes that while these “stop-gap” measures will indeed help to prolong this generation, it won’t do so for very long.

Microsoft has said that they see Kinect allowing the Xbox 360 to prosper for another five years, but Reeves believes it will only last for two years before another “clash of the titans.” Three years, tops.

“All the first-parties have got to be working on something,” he said. “The tricky thing is when do you put a stake in the ground on technology? That’s the problem. You can be waiting a few extra months to implement something, but you’ve got to set a date to go with a certain chip at a certain point otherwise you’re going to miss the key milestones.”

Despite seeing a closer horizon than the others, Reeves says that they will support the new add-ons and explore the possibilities:

“Capcom is embracing it, we’re working with Microsoft and with Sony on both sides and trying to match up the IPs we have with what the first-parties want,” said Reeves of motion controllers Kinect and Move. “It’s not a forced fit. In some ways it’s quite a natural way of progressing.”

It is a unique situation for the industry. Thanks to the recent state of the economy, it seems a lot of people are happy to remain content with what they have, and stick to smaller purchases. But at the same time, whoever decides to pull the trigger first could get a big lead on the others, though Nintendo has more than sufficiently proven that you don’t have to be first (or even second) out of the gate to be a front-runner in sales.

Where do you sit on the issue? Do you think we’re due for some new hardware, or is there still plenty of fun left to be hand with what is currently available?

GamesIndustry.biz (login required) (via Destructoid

]]> http://www.ripten.com/2010/06/30/capcom-europes-reeves-expects-new-consoles-to-arrive-in-2-3-years-lbd416/feed/ 0 Microsoft Owns Patent for In-Game Custom Soundtracks http://www.ripten.com/2008/03/31/microsoft-owns-patent-for-in-game-custom-soundtracks/ http://www.ripten.com/2008/03/31/microsoft-owns-patent-for-in-game-custom-soundtracks/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:21:39 +0000 Patrick Steen http://www.ripten.com/2008/03/31/microsoft-owns-patent-for-in-game-custom-soundtracks/ ps3-am-cry.jpg
Playstation 3 Am Cry?

One of the most wanted features missing from the Playstation 3 is the ability to use a custom soundtrack during gameplay. Movement has been made in this area with some games beginning to offer support, notably Super Stardust HD and High Velocity Bowling, but it’s yet to be offered for all games.

Though many expect the inclusion to come when Sony supports an in-game version of Playstation 3′s cross media bar, the implementation of this feature might just stay with the developers, since Microsoft owns a patent for this very functionality.

Microsoft implemented the ability to play your own music during gameplay in their first gaming system, the Xbox. The functionality naturally moved over to the Xbox 360, where Microsoft was patiently waiting for a patent to go through.

The custom soundtrack patent was submitted well before the release of the 360, presumably with the intention to lock down the feature for the next generation. It wasn’t issued until mid-2006, luckily just before the US/Japan release of the Playstation 3.

The US patent named “Method and Apparatus for Creating and Playing Soundtracks in a Gaming System” appears to cover any application that allows users to create soundtracks using their own audio tracks, such that they can be played during the execution of the game instead of the game’s default soundtrack.

Comprising of a thorough list of points and diagrams, the patents stand out claim is outlined thus:

1. A method comprising:

- receiving a request to launch a game in a gaming system;
determining whether the game has a user-associated soundtrack;
- if the game has a user-associated soundtrack:
launching the game; and
playing the user-associated soundtrack;

- if the game does not have a user-associated soundtrack:
allowing a user of the gaming system to select a soundtrack to play while the game is executed; and
playing a default soundtrack if the user of the gaming system does not select a soundtrack.

What does this mean for Microsoft’s competitors? Will this patent stop Sony from implementing the console-wide custom soundtrack functionality? This is possible, and could be the reason why it has been missing from the Playstaiton 3 for so long.

Sony may have already found a loophole in the patent to allow them to provide custom soundtracks for particular games, as long as the functionality is not system-wide. In this way they could avoid the patent. Microsoft could charge Sony for the privilege, but it would be a lot of wasted effort to patent this particular feature and then allow competitors to implement it.

Therefore, when Sony’s in-game XMB eventually comes around, custom soundtracks might be left on the cutting room floor. It will all depend on how constricting the patent actually is, and how kind Microsoft are feeling. Reasons for the in-game XMB delay may be found here – Sony are trying their best to get custom soundtracks installed legally.

Source: US Patent Office

]]> http://www.ripten.com/2008/03/31/microsoft-owns-patent-for-in-game-custom-soundtracks/feed/ 32 New Bionic Commando Screens and Artwork http://www.ripten.com/2008/01/02/new-bionic-commando-screens-and-artwork/ http://www.ripten.com/2008/01/02/new-bionic-commando-screens-and-artwork/#comments Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:12:24 +0000 Patrick Steen http://www.ripten.com/2008/01/02/new-bionic-commando-screens-and-artwork/ 12_original-titlecopy.jpg Originally released back in 1988, Bionic Commando is back. Here at Ripten we can present you with a selection of new screenshots and artwork of the game that will grapple the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC in 2008.

Bionic Commando has been dormant, apart from two Gameboy sequels in 1992 and 1999, but Capcom reintroduce the series for the next-generation. In this outing, players will be able to use the main character’s bionic grappling arm to traverse and kill enemies.

Enjoy the new screenshots and artwork.

12_original-titlecopy.jpg

Source.

]]> http://www.ripten.com/2008/01/02/new-bionic-commando-screens-and-artwork/feed/ 0 New Characters Confirmed for Street Fighter IV http://www.ripten.com/2008/01/01/new-characters-confirmed-for-street-fighter-iv/ http://www.ripten.com/2008/01/01/new-characters-confirmed-for-street-fighter-iv/#comments Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:52:06 +0000 Roly Reyes http://www.ripten.com/2008/01/01/new-characters-confirmed-for-street-fighter-iv/ street_fighter_iv-copy.jpg

In an interview with several 1UP editors, producer Yoshinori Ono confirmed that Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li (and her thighs), are all going to be in Street Fighter IV along with a batch of new (mostly female) faces.

Ono also stated that Street Fighter II is the benchmark that will be strived for in the next-generation sequel’s gameplay, balance, speed and characters.

He used the word “preserve” throughout the interview, but we hope that there are plenty of surprises when Street Fighter IV is finally released and not before it’s ready.

[gamevideo http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/16819]

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