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Microsoft Exec: Online Consoles Are The Future

Tom Hillman — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:03:10 +0000

Consoles of the future will blow your mind.

Shane Kim, the chap who recently took the job of being the Corporate Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Microsoft, offered a tasty nugget of information about the next Xbox console in an interview.

When replying to the question of how Microsoft will approach the next Xbox console, Kim replied:

“How [do] you think about next generation? What is that next generation going to encompass? How are you even going to define that? All of that is part of the equation. What kind of geographic expansion do we need to see? Is the world more of an online world than a hardware-oriented world? I think there are some really fascinating opportunities in front of us.”

Even though the next Xbox is still a decent way away, it’s interesting to note that Microsoft is considering the possibility that instead of the current hardware console they may be looking at an online digital distribution network similar to Valve’s steam network.

This run’s in line with former Vice President of Xbox Europe Sandy Duncan’s doubts over the long term future of the console market made in comments earlier this year.

“There is a definite convergence of other devices, such as set top boxes. There’s hardly any technology difference between some hard disc video recorders and an Xbox 360, for example.”

“In fact in 5 to 10 years I don’t think you’ll have any box at all under your TV, most of this stuff will be virtualized as web services by your content provider.”

This could mean streaming data from a server or PC directly into your TV. However it’s important to acknowledge that even though take up on broadband connections has risen, most people still don’t have a sufficiently strong connections in order to host large multiplayer matches through the P2P system, let alone be constantly streaming content from web servers.

If this is to be the future of console gaming then ISPs will certainly need to upgrade their infrastructure in order to meet the far heavier demand.

Another important question to ask is, are we ready for fully digital distribution?

I, like many others, still actually enjoy having a physical copy of a game and having something tangible in front of me which feels like it does a complex job rather than just streaming content. On the flip side, younger generations may actually embrace the new format of distribution, and physical game media could go down the pan, the same way cassette tapes and CDs have since MP3s arrived on the scene.

The console of tomorrow could even be cheaper to produce, but as always the cynic in me doubts whether these savings would be passed onto the consumer with having to build such a vast, complex online network which would far surpass Xbox Live.

One things for sure: This rabbit hole goes very, very deep.

Source: IGN

New Xbox 360 Cake Comes Standard With Game and Controller

Dan Landis — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:59:18 +0000

In another round of totally geeked-out food products, we’ve recently stumbled across this Xbox 360 cake. Of course, there’s not much you can do with just a 360, so this cake comes equipped with a cake controller and a Guitar Hero IV cake.

The cakes were made by Heather Spencer, a young woman who is currently working on a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. I say she’s already earned her certificate with these delicious-looking masterpieces. Well, I’m not sure how delicious they would actually taste, but she’s definitely got the “Pastry Arts” part down.

Which is the cake and which is the real thing? Amazing!

You can see more photos of these cakes and Heather’s other creations on her Myspace page (if you’re a member, and let’s face it, you probably are): The Four Bees

UT3 for 360 to Feature Split-Screen, Exclusive Content, and GoW2 Preview

Dan Landis — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:20:53 +0000

The 360 version isn’t as far behind the PS3 version as most people thought.

Apparently, to make up for the lack of user-generated content, Epic has thrown in a few exclusive bits to the Xbox 360 version of Unreal Tournament III. Oh, and the disc will also contain a sneak peek at Gears of War 2.

The 360 version will offer 5 new maps and 2 new characters not available in the PS3 release, as well as the aforementioned split-screen mode. But maybe you knew that already. What you probably didn’t know, however, is that Cliffy Blaznats will also offer some color commentary on an exclusive, as yet unseen video preview of the upcoming Gears of War 2.

Does this make up for the near infinite possibilities of user-generated content like that found on the PS3 version of UT3? Mark Rein, vice president of the world (and Epic Games), had this to say:

“This is a great title and, with two-player split screen support and some very cool new content, Xbox 360 players should be thrilled with this fantastic version of the game.”

I’ll be the judge of how thrilled I am about your game, thanks. UT3 is set to ship July 7th for the Xbox 360, with a review most likely to follow shortly thereafter.

Source

Square-Enix Announces Star Ocean 4 for Xbox 360, PS3 Version Unconfirmed

Rangebar Merani — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:30:03 +0000

While the Playstation was once home to all the greatest Japanese RPGs, the Xbox 360 has recently been stealing some of that star power.

Microsoft held an RPG conference in Japan today where Square-Enix announced Star Ocean 4 for the Xbox 360.

[youtube width="480" height="378"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL9-ymrwZdY[/youtube]

Subtitled “The Last Hope”, the game is a prequel, taking place hundreds of years before the first Star Ocean. The game will also contain more science fiction elements this time around, feature a brand new battle system, and the ability to travel across different planets.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope is scheduled to arrive in 2009 for the Xbox 360. A PS3 version has yet to be confirmed, but is expected to be announced for the console.

Sources: StarOceanLastHope.com, Gamersyde

Rumour: Metal Gear Solid Coming to XBLA

Patrick Steen — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:35:48 +0000

Yes, I’m British. I spell “rumour” with two u’s. What U going to do about it? Well hopefully you’ll have no time to do anything, because either you’ll be embedded in Snake’s final mission on the Playstation 3, or engrossed in one of Snake’s first on the Xbox 360.

Yes, with knowledge comes…well, snappy Ripten headings, and this time it could read; “Metal Gear Solid Coming to the Xbox 360.” At least, not in the form you might expect. As we all know MGS4 couldn’t possibly fit on a measley DVD, but Metal Gear Solid 1 might fit into 350mb (though even that’s questionable.)

Indeedy do, MGS may be following its tactical steps onto the Japan PSN Store by infiltrating Xbox Live Arcade. This is not too surprising, since the series has made its way onto non-Playstation consoles a number of times, and Microsoft even published MGS for the PC release.

I expect you’re asking how we know, or who our source is. Lets just say a reliable individual tapped into our codec frequency after spying the game on a certain pre-release network. We shall say no more – nudge nudge, wink wink – except this; there are problems in bringing Kojima’s masterpiece to this new playing field.

Naturally, rumours can turn out to be false, so we’ll bring you more information as it becomes available.

*Update* – Some have responded rather violently to this story, so I must mention a few words of solace. This was posted as rumour, not fact. Nor is the rumour itself any challenge to PlayStation fans. I am not talking of Metal Gear Solid 4 being ported to the Xbox 360, but a 10 year old classic that has found its way onto a number of platforms, with Microsoft themselves publishing the PC conversion.

Of course, it’s hard to understand how MGS1 could fit into 350mb due to the lengthy dialogue, but it wouldn’t be surprising for Microsoft to make an exception.

I originally withheld our evidence due to possible difficulties, but after the response I will spell it out. MGS was spied by our contact on PartnerNet, the developers-only Xbox Live network used to beta-test unreleased downloadable Xbox 360 games.

Moreover, we’ve reported on rumours in the past and have mostly been proved correct. One notable example was our article on MGS4 using a 50GB Blu-ray, which was subsequently sourced around the web and on the infamous Neogaf forums. The news was finally confirmed by Ryan Payton in the following week’s Kojima Productions Report.

Of course rumours may offend you, for which this story is not of interest, but if they do interest you, we’re pretty confident in our sources this time.

Ninja Gaiden Director Itagaki Leaving Team Ninja, Suing Tecmo

Rangebar Merani — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:15:41 +0000

On the eve of Ninja Gaiden 2’s release, director Tomonobu Itagaki has announced that he is leaving Team Ninja and suing Tecmo.

According to 1up.com, Itagaki’s aide Andrew Szymanski confirmed his resignation:

At approximately 2:30 PM Japan Standard Time today, June 3 2008, an official statement from Tomonobu Itagaki was sent by fax to major Japanese news outlets. In the interest of fair and expedient reporting of this story throughout the English-speaking world, I have been asked by Itagaki to convey this statement to you. Herein find attached Itagaki’s official statement, in English, for the benefit of your readers.

…You will likely have questions regarding the content of the statement, or about Itagaki’s future plans. I am afraid that I will be unable to answer such questions for the time being; however, rest assured that more information will be forthcoming as soon as it is deemed appropriate to do so.

Here’s an extract from Itagaki’s resignation letter, explaining why he has made such a drastic move:

Before the start of development on Dead or Alive 4, Tecmo Co., Ltd. had agreed to pay a completion bonus to me for this Xbox 360 title, which I produced. However, when the time came for the actual payment, Tecmo Co., Ltd. went against its previous agreement and refused payment. President Yoshimi Yasuda chose not only to violate this agreement, but also turned defiant, telling me ‘if you are dissatisfied with the decision not to pay the bonuses, either quit the company or sue it.’ In addition, he made demeaning remarks about me to my subordinates and colleagues, causing me significant emotional distress and worsening my personal relationships and work environment. Thus, I have no choice but to resign from Tecmo Co., Ltd.

The conduct of Tecmo Co., Ltd. and its president Yoshimi Yasuda towards me has been unbefitting of a publicly-listed company. I have filed this lawsuit with a strong intent to question the social responsibility of Tecmo Co., Ltd. and its President Yoshimi Yasuda, as well as condemning them for their unjust acts. Today, in addition to announcing the reasons for this lawsuit, I make clear my reasons for resigning.

To All Game Fans

I truly feel sorry to all the fans of the games I have made. Ninja Gaiden 2, which will launch on the 3rd of June will be the last Ninja Gaiden I will create. I will also never be able to make Dead or Alive 5. I regret the circumstances that have forced me to leave Tecmo, where I had worked for so many years, and I regret the disappointment this will cause my fans. However, I can no longer continue to work with President Yoshimi Yasuda, a man who chooses not to honor promises even when he is able to do so. I truly hope that nothing like this happens again in the future.

This is a complete shock to the gaming world, with one of the most iconic developers leaving the team and games that he made so famous. It’s unsure what Itagaki has planned next, but before his resignation he did state he was working on a brand new violent action game.

Ninja Gaiden 2 releases today, so fans better eat it up as this will be Itagaki’s last Ninja Gaiden title.

We’ll bring you more information on Itagaki’s resignation and lawsuit when it becomes available.

Source: 1up.com

American Gladiator Gina Carano in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3

Toni Dimayuga — Sat, 31 May 2008 08:46:44 +0000

EA just announced that undefeated EliteXC mixed martial arts fighter and American Gladiator Gina Carano will be playing Natasha, a deadly Soviet commando, in Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3, which comes out for the PC and Xbox 360 this holiday season.

Not only will Carano appear in the live-action movie cutscenes, but her character will be a playable unit in the game. Carano made these comments about her new role:

The last year has been such a whirlwind for me, from everything that’s happening with EliteXC this weekend to American Gladiators and now with EA and Red Alert 3.

Natasha is such a cool, powerful character; her actions definitely speak louder than her words which is something I definitely identify with. I can’t wait to see how everything turns out and I hope all of the gamers out there have a great time wreaking havoc as me.

Now is it just me, or is Command & Conquer turning into Dancing with the Stars? What’s up with using B celebrities in this franchise? Let’s see: so far we have James Earl Jones (Star Wars), Josh Holloway (Lost), Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars), Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens), Natasha Henstridge (Species), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Jennifer Morrison (House), and Michael Ironside (Top Gun).

Who’s next on their list? Michael Madsen? Lance Henriksen?

Xbox 360 Team Fortress 2 DLC in the Pipeline, PS3 DLC Dicey

Tom Hillman — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:21:24 +0000

The recent PC update for Team Fortress 2 was a welcome addition to the already excellent gameplay, and it looks like our friends on the Xbox 360 will be able to enjoy the same delights soon enough.

The PC downloadable content included the new game type ‘Payload’: this tasks the attacking team to move a mine cart containing a huge bomb through the level and into the defending teams base, where it goes boom.

According to Valve’s marketing director Doug Lombardi:

We’re looking at bringing the Goldrush and the new achievements and stuff out to the 360. How and when is still sort of being determined, on pricing and that kind of stuff. On the PC it’s sort of wide open, you can release stuff whenever you want. On the console there’s a little bit more of a pathway.

What we’ve been waiting for is until we had a critical mass of new content to put out, so we feel like we’re kind of there now. We’ll probably be making some announcements pretty soon on what will happen with the 360 stuff. I don’t know that–unfortunately I don’t know that any of that will make it to the PS3.

The PC pack also included new maps and the first slew of unlockable weapons, which is sure to change TF2’s gameplay dramatically. Hopefully more news will be rushing towards us for both the 360 and PS3 DLC plans.

Source: Shack News

Vehicles to Play a Big Role in New Banjo Kazooie

Geoff Haugan — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:35:32 +0000

It looks like Rare is interested in shaking up the Banjo formula with the next game in the franchise for the Xbox 360. Titled Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, vehicle creation and component collection will play big roles.

Rare may be aiming for a more open-world, sandbox style of play for the new Banjo Kazooie. A large part of gameplay will revolve around the creation of vehicles from 1,600 parts throughout the game’s six levels. These parts include weapons and can create various things from gliders to monster trucks and bikes that have multiple uses and abilities. Some possible creations can be seen in the following gallery:

Traditional platforming will still play a role, as will the collection of puzzle pieces and musical notes. Notes in particular will be used to buy blueprints for vehicles.

Levels themselves sound substantially larger than before, with the first area called Showdown Town being described as 16 times larger than anything Rare has done before.

Information on multiplayer is scarce, but Gamereactor experienced a few duels at Rare’s recent press day:

The first was a kind of ‘King of the Hill’ where we had to keep inside a circle that constantly moved. Two others were races, [the last being] some sumo-wrestling, where we had to push each other out of a ring. After we first had played the games only using the pre-made vehicles, we then were given the opportunity to create our machines, our own ultimate weapons, in an attempt to win the levels.

Seemingly headed for a release this year, it shouldn’t be long before we start hearing a lot more about a game that Microsoft will surely want attention for.

Source: Game Informer (June 2008) via Neogaf, Gamereactor via Videogaming247

SKATE 2 Confirmed

Tom Hillman — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:04:11 +0000

EA has confirmed that the follow-up to SKATE is currently in development for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. No release date has been set at this time.

In addition to being praised for its environments and soundtrack, SKATE featured an innovative control scheme; using the thumbsticks the player could not only move around, but could launch grabs, perform manuals, accomplish flip tricks, and every other move possible. Hopefully the sequel will bring even more new features to the table.

Nintendo will also be seeing a version of SKATE on their platform in the form of SKATE It, which will utilise Wii Fit’s balance board.

Source: MCV.UK

Battlefield Bad Company Demo Available June 5th

Tom Hillman — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:20:46 +0000

EA DICE has issued a press release announcing that enlistment for Bad Company will commence on June 5th for the Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3.

The demo will give new recruits the chance to meet their fellow mismatch comrades in the single player component, in addition to fighting for the precious bounty in Gold Rush on the Oasis multiplayer map.

For all of you thinking about enlisting in North America and Europe, you can join the fight early on May 29th by pre-ordering the game.

Gold Fever Hits an All Time High With the Upcoming Battlefield: Bad Company Single-Player and Multi-Player Demo

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—You’ve been drafted to ‘B’ Company! DICE, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that a demo for its highly anticipated summer release, Battlefield: Bad Company™ will be available on Xbox LIVE™ Marketplace and PLAYSTATION® Store on June 5. Players will land on the battlefield as part of the ‘B’ or Bad Company, a wayward band of soldiers more interested in the pursuit of gold and personal financial gain than following the rules. Gamers will get a sneak peek at how tactical destruction changes the way shooters are played, both offline and online in the single player and multiplayer demo.

Players can also gain early access to the demo by pre-ordering the game through participating retailers in North America and Europe. More details on this special pre-order campaign can be found at http://www.battlefield.com/badcompany.

Players who missed their opportunity to participate in the closed beta get a second chance to experience the intense multiplayer Gold Rush mode on the Oasis map while the single player portion starts gamers at the beginning of their ‘B’ company career. The single player portion of the demo sets the stage for players as they’re introduced to the humorous and sometimes irreverent set of characters that make up the ‘B’ company. As gamers embark on their quest for gold, they’ll experience the same classic Battlefield gameplay including access to numerous vehicles, weapons and open maps as well as the new tactical destruction that only Battlefield: Bad Company can deliver.

Source: Kotaku

EA Announces Fight Night Round 4

Rangebar Merani — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:17:05 +0000

After two long years since the last Fight Night, Electronic Arts recently announced that EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 is in development at EA Canada.

The game will feature a revamped gameplay engine, all-new physics-based animations and, surprisingly, the appearance of a young Mike Tyson.

“The EA SPORTS Fight Night franchise has always been synonymous with quality and innovation that raised the bar for the sports videogame genre”, said Kevin Wilkinson, Executive Producer, EA SPORTS. “EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 3 was a platform defining game as the industry transitioned to next generation consoles. EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will change how boxing games are played and measured in the future.”

Fight Night Round 4 will be available for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 sometime in 2009.

Source: EA Press Release

Valve: “We’re Not PS3 Developers”

Rangebar Merani — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:38:46 +0000

In a recent showing of their popular PC and Xbox 360 zombie shooter, Left 4 Dead, Valve’s Marketing VP Doug Lombardi let the world know that they weren’t developing a PS3 version of the game. However, he did leave hope that the game could be ported to the PS3.

When asked if EA would be porting the game over to the PS3, much like they did with The Orange Box, Lombardi replied,

Left 4 Dead doesn’t have that guaranteed appeal yet – it’s a new IP. If you mention a new Half-Life, people want to make as many versions of it as possible. If Left 4 Dead is big, then we may see a PS3 version later, or if and when we do a sequel, people may be more interested in that.

Lombardi went on to say,

We’re only 150 people, so there’s only so many things we can do. But it’s one of those things with partners, wanting to take on that investment and risk. I think until L4D is proven, you’ll probably just see what we make in that franchise.

It seems as though much of the concern with developing a PS3 version is the financial risk and Valve doesn’t want to have any part of it. Hopefully, Left 4 Dead does well on the PC and Xbox 360 to allow the possibility for a PS3 port.

Sources: CVG.com and PS3fanboy.com

Sony Brags Up Sales Figures: PS3 Outsells 360 in Europe

Wade Larson — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:38:35 +0000

For the number junkies out there in cyberspace, SCEE’s PlayStation Day is pumping out sales numbers like Mardi Gras beads, and you don’t even have to take off your shirt to get your hands on em. (I suppose you could, if that’s your thing.)

SCEE chief David Reeves said Sony Europe has sold 12 million PSPs, 5 million PS3s and a solid 48 million PS2s. Now, if that isn’t a pretty solid user base I don’t know what is.

Reeves also went on to point out that Sony has been outselling their closest competitor (the Xbox 360, the Wii is still in a solid first place) consistently since October. He even added that the PS3 has sold more units than the Xbox 360 in Europe to date, despite Microsoft’s 18 month advantage. Not bad for Sony’s big black beast.

Sony Computer Entertainment president Kaz Hirai has been kind enough to show off Sony’s world-wide sales figures. A respectable 10.5 million PS3s, 34 million PSPs and a whopping 127 million PS2s had been sold upto the end of 2007.

And look at this, even more numbers! This day just keeps getting… numberier. Reeves talks more European numbers, revealing that Gran Turismo 5: Prologue has sold 1.5 million copies, EyeToy has sold 6.7 million, SingStar is rocking 12 million copies, and Buzz has sold 6 million copies. Who bought 6 million copies of Buzz? I have no idea. But there you have it. Straight from the horse’s mouth. Well, SCEE chief’s mouth actually, but you get the idea.

Confirmed: GTA IV PS3 Is Not 630p…It’s 640p

Patrick Steen — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:19:40 +0000

It’s fun to compare consoles, especially when the comparison involves one of the biggest games of this generation. Grand Theft Auto IV has been littered with websites giving their opinions on which version looks best. Surprisingly, most had no inkling of each version’s native resolution.

Eurogamer are the first to speculate that GTA IV on the PS3 runs at 630p. When in fact, it doesn’t… It runs at 640p.

Yes, GTA IV on the PS3 is sub-HD. And if it couldn’t be any more ironic (the traditionally Playstation series runs at a lower resolution) it has the same resolution as Halo 3 on the Xbox 360 – perhaps the first game to receive the sub-HD back-lash.

The man who spilt the news? The now infamous Quaz51 of Beyond3d technical forums. PS3 GTA IV runs at 640p with 0xAA, in comparison to the Xbox 360 version at 720p with 2xAA.

Eurogamer, who base almost all their multi-platform comparisons on Quaz51′s findings, were using opinions from B3D’s technical wizard before he had received a reliable PS3 screenshot. In receipt of a high-res shot, Quaz51 had this to say:

Good news [...] it’s 1152x640p (and no AA) exactly like Halo 3, Perfect Dark [Zero] or Dark Sector PS3.

The resolution itself is unsurprising, but the side by side comparisons carried out by numerous websites tell a more complex story. For example, in IGN’s head to head, the PS3′s Anti-Aliasing is cited as being the better of the two versions, even though the Xbox 360 has 2xAA. This could be due to the upscaling and post-processing effects smoothing the edges on the PS3.

In their review, IGN continues to state that due to the PS3′s mandatory install there is less loading and less pop-in than on the Xbox 360:

For those wanting to know which version looks better, the edge goes to the PS3. The textures and framerate are comparable, but the PS3 has far less pop-in. The 360 has richer colors, but the PS3 has better anti-aliasing making it look a little cleaner. Because GTA IV can preload onto the PS3 hard drive, the in-game loads are faster. Don’t worry Xbox owners, the load times are rarely more than 30 seconds and don’t occur very often.

In another nod to differences between the two versions, EGM mentions that the “PS3 version looks slightly more vibrant and sharp.” You’d think the Xbox 360′s higher resolution would facilitate the sharper look.

Native resolution, thus, appears to have less of an impact than we might have first thought. At least, you are more likely to notice indirect differences, than the lower resolution itself. For example, upscaling on the PS3 appears to have some positive graphical results, which may explain why some websites say it looks better. Eurogamer’s Rich Leadbetter hypothesises:

It’s worth noting that due to the post-processing effects the game employs (there’s a serious amount of stuff being done to the raw frame), the PS3′s lower resolution serves to mask a lot of the nasty after effects.

For example, look at the dithering on the signs in the background on those shots. A bit ugly on Xbox 360, but smoothed and blurred away on PS3, presenting a generally nicer look.

In the end, what really matters is that both versions run extremely well and at an almost locked framerate. There are certainly differences on paper, but many will find it difficult to notice them in the game:

[gamevideo http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/18625]

Which version of GTA IV should you buy? Due to the game’s impressive multiplayer – buy the version where your friends reside, because you could potentially spend hundreds of hours duking it out online.

EA to Launch Monopoly Game on Multiple Platforms

Toni Dimayuga — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:34:20 +0000

In a press release on their website, game publisher and world domination contender Electronic Arts announced they will be releasing Monopoly on multiple platforms. That’s right, you can bankrupt your friends and loved ones on the Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Pogo.com, and even on mobile phones.

Monopoly is no stranger to the virtual world, having been available on the PC as early as 1995. However, EA promises to take the family favorite on a new level. The EA version of Monopoly will feature 4-player simultaneous play, unlockable game boards, and interactive minigames.

EA’s Monopoly (snort) is inspired by Hasbro’s upcoming Monopoly Here and Now: World Edition board game. The video games are slated to launch in the fall, simultaneously with the board game.

Source: EA.com

PS3/360 Cry Engine 2 to Look Near High Settings on PC

Patrick Steen — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:01:48 +0000

It almost sounds too good to be true. Almost? It is too good to be true. Could Cry Engine 2 on consoles really look any where near as good as Crysis on the PC? Crytek’s Engine Business Manager, Harald Seeley, states that they expect the console versions to “look like they’re running at high settings, or nearly high settings, on a PC.” *Shock.*

When asked what differences there would be between the PC and console versions of the Cry Engine 2, and whether the engine will be tailored to each platform, Seeley replies:

Yes, we definitely tailor the engine specifically to each platform. More than just the difference in CPU and video hardware capabilities of PCs and consoles is at play here. So are the much smaller memory budgets we must work with, the lack of a hard disk on some models, and the acceptance requirements of the hardware vendors themselves. All have an effect on how we approach each version of the engine.

The surprising thing has been how well the consoles can perform visually, once this tailoring is in place. We expect the final outcome will result in games that look like they’re running at high settings, or nearly high settings, on a PC. Actually, we found it as much or more challenging to address the memory limitations of the consoles when converting our current AI system, as we did while converting our rendering engine or physics system, which was not something you might have expected at the start.

As to the differences between Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 development, and the possibility of a Wii engine, Seeley states:

Well there is no doubt that porting our engine to the PlayStation 3 is the more challenging of our two ongoing conversion projects, but that works to our advantage in the end. We feel certain we have the ability to get the most that is possible out of that platform, and therefore PS3 games which run on our engine in the future will definitely stand significantly apart from other games that don’t.

We haven’t seen a great deal of demand for third party engines for the Wii, the limited complexity of games which can be developed for that console also limits the need for the kind of sophisticated tools and middleware which we are known for. So I doubt we will be providing any engine technology for that console in the near term.

Poor Wii, but bring out the parade for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3! For the rest of the interview, please visit IGN.

EA Sports Games Axed for PC, And It’s All Your Fault

Kev Lochun — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:06:45 +0000

Madden ’09 is the first casualty of the cull, which is apparently because we love our consoles too much.

We had wondered whether last week’s decision not to ship Madden for PC might be an isolated incident, but not so. Speaking on his blog, EA Sports head Peter Moore said:

The PC presents some very serious business challenges to us in the sports category, particularly because so many of you all are playing your favourite sports games on the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

He goes on to say a limited number of titles will be released on PC this year, but without an indication of which ones, and whether that means they’re slowly winding down or just keeping the few bestsellers.

Meanwhile, if you are at this moment spewing vitriol or letting the tears cascade down your face, at least there’s a caveat; PC appears to be getting a suspension rather than a lifelong ban.

Moore promises:

We do have ideas for how to revitalise the PC for sports games and the types of games that are best suited to the platform, and we’ll continue to explore those.

Of course he’s yet to respond to the outraged Madden community about whens and hows.

His comments are buried in this post over at EA

Japanese Hardware Sales (03/24 – 03/30): The Monster Hunter Cometh

Kat Bailey — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:09:38 +0000

Last week we said that Monster Hunter Portable G would probably skew this week’s hardware rankings in favor of the PSP. In retrospect, that might have been an understatement.

With the PSP pushing well over 100,000 units this week (more than all other consoles/handhelds combined), the low murmur that the DS might be past its peak has picked up a bit, to be silenced again when Dragon Quest IX hits Japan.

1. PSP – 129,986
2. Nintendo DS – 58,916
3. Wii – 48,785
4. PlayStation 3 – 11,206PlayStation 2 – 10,296
5. Xbox 360 – 1,547

Bonus: Japanese Software Rankings

As you probably imagined, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G has grabbed the top spot by a pretty substantial margin compared to its nearest rivals. Take a moment to meditate on these numbers, then ponder what exactly the Japanese see in this series that Westerners don’t.

1. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) – 880,000
2. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS) – 106,000 / 348,000
3. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (DS) – 49,000
4. Wii Fit (Wii) – 42,000 / 1,794,000
5. Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch – Lost Colors (PSP) – 34,000
6. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) – 34,000 / 1,524,000
7. Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch – Lost Colors (PS2) – 30,000
8. Deca Sports (Wii) – 29,000 / 94,000
9. SimCity DS 2: Kodaikara Mirai e Tsudzukumachi (DS) – 25,000 / 74,000
10. Crayon Shin-Chan: Arashi o Yobu Cinema Land (DS) – 19,000 / 54,00011.

Soucre: Media Create

Ninja Gaiden 2 and Bourne Conspiracy Given Euro Release Dates

Kev Lochun — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:37:43 +0000

As if June wasn’t going to be busy enough with Lego Indy on the 6th and Guns of the Patriots on the 12th, two more heavy hitters have been stamped with a June release.

Sierra have let out that the Bourne Conspiracy will be released on the 27th for both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. We sat down with three levels at Play.com Live a few weeks back – expect a preview shortly.

Meanwhile, Tecmo’s claret-heavy Ninja Gaiden 2 for 360 is mooted as the 6th following an update to retailer GAME’s website – an assertion that has allegedly been confirmed by ‘inside sources’.

True or not, better start raiding the piggy bank; July’s going to be tight.

Source: Bourne Conspiracy, Ninja Gaiden 2