Sunday, January 30, 2011

Awesome list of developers and publishers working on NGP projects





Hey guys! I finally got a list, an enormous list of developers and publishers currently working on games for this holiday's "next generation portable" device. Feast your eyes below!


Japan
  • Acquire Corp.
  • Alvion Inc.
  • AQ Interactive Inc.
  • Arc System Works Co. Ltd.
  • Arika Co. Ltd.
  • Artdink Corporation
  • Ascii Media Works Inc.
  • Capcom Co. Ltd.
  • Chun Soft Co. Letd.
  • Codemasters Software Company Limited
  • Crafts & Meister Co. Ltd.
  • CyberConnect2 Co. Ltd
  • D3 Publisher Inc.
  • Dimps Corporation
  • Edia Co. Ltd.
  • Enterbrain Inc.
  • From Software Inc.
  • Gameloft K.K.
  • Genki Co. Ltd.
  • Grasshopper Manufacture Inc.
  • GungHo Online Entertainment Inc.
  • Gust Co. Ltd.
  • Hamster Corporation
  • Hudson Soft Co. Ltd.
  • Idea Factory Co. Ltd.
  • Index Corporation (Atlus)
  • Irem Software Engineering Inc.
  • Kadokawa Games Ltd.
  • Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co. Ltd.
  • Konami Digital Entertainment Co. Ltd.
  • Level-5 Inc.
  • Marvelous Entertainment Inc.
  • Media5 Corporation
  • Namco Bandai Games Inc.
  • Nihon Falcom Corporation
  • Nippon Ichi Software Inc.
  • Nowproduction Co. Ltd.
  • Q Entertainment Inc.
  • Sega Corporation
  • SNK Playmore Corporation
  • Spike Co. Ltd.
  • Square Enix Co. Ltd.
  • SystemSoft Alpha Corp.
  • Tecmo Koei Games Co. Ltd.
  • TOMY Company Ltd.
  • TOSE Co. Ltd.
  • Ubisoft K.K.
  • Yuke's Co. Ltd.

North America
  • Activision Inc.
  • Capybara Games
  • Demiurge Studios
  • Epic Games Inc.
  • Far Sight Studios
  • Frima
  • High Voltage Software
  • Kung Fu Factory
  • Paramount Digital Entertainment
  • PopCap Games
  • Powerhead Games
  • Trendy Entertainment
  • Ubisoft
  • Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
  • 2K Games
  • 2K Sports

Europe/PAL
  • Avalanche Studios
  • Climax Studios Ltd.
  • Codemasters Software Company Ltd.
  • Eurocom Developments Ltd.
  • Eutechnyx Ltd.
  • Exient Ltd.
  • Firemint PTY Ltd.
  • Gameloft SA
  • Gusto Games Ltd.
  • Home Entertainment Suppliers PTY Ltd.
  • Impromptu Software Ltd.
  • Rebellion
  • Rockstar Games
  • Sidhe Interactive
  • Sumo Digital Ltd.
  • Team 17 Software Ltd.
  • Ubisoft Entertainment SA
  • Zen Studios Ltd.
We've only just begun...

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Sony Announces the Playstation NGP Release Date and New Titles!





 The very first details about the release of the PSP follow-up, the PlayStation NGP, have traveled half-way around the world from Tokyo, straight into your brain. After weeks and months of speculation, Sony announced to a group of eager gamers that the PSPs successor, the NGP (short for "Next Generation Portable") will appear on store shelves during the holiday season of 2011.

Key NGP features:

  • Multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED) as the front display
  • Multi-touch pad on the rear of the device
  • Dual analog sticks
  • Two cameras (front and rear)
  • Software titles on small, dedicated flash memory-based cards
  • Three motion sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer and electronic compass
  • Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity
  • PlayStation Network access, including ““LiveArea™”, “Near” and “Activity” log features Trophy Support
  • NGP will be able to play PSP titles, minis, PS one classics, video and comics from the PlayStation Store.
Low level APIs will allow the Sony NGP to perform about a generation beyond smart phones with comparable specs.
Sony is referring to the new user-interface for the NGP as LiveArea which will support the PlayStation Store, Trophies, friends, web browers, messaging and serve as a launching pad for other applications. The "Near" program will use the internal GPS to track your location and movement to provide information on what gamers are playing in your area. Recognizable franchises heading for the new platform include LittleBigPlanet, Uncharted, Killzone, Resistance, Hot Shots Golf and WipEout. New titles include Little Deviants, Broken, Reality Fighters and Gravity Daze.
Now, the technical specs:
CPU ARM® Cortex™-A9 core (4 core)
GPU SGX543MP4+
External Dimensions Approx. 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5mm (width x height x depth) (tentative, excludes largest projection)
Screen
(Touch screen)
5 inches (16:9), 960 x 544, Approx. 16 million colors, OLED
Multi touch screen (capacitive type)
Rear touch pad Multi touch pad (capacitive type)
Cameras Front camera, Rear camera
Sound Built-in stereo speakers
Built-in microphone
Sensors Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), Three-axis electronic compass
Location Built-in GPS
Wi-Fi location service support
Keys / Switches PS button
Power button
Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)
Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
Shoulder buttons (Right/Left)
Right stick, Left stick
START button, SELECT button
Volume buttons (+/-)
Wireless communications Mobile network connectivity (3G)
IEEE 802.11b/g/n (n = 1×1) (Wi-Fi) (Infrastructure mode/Ad-hoc mode)
Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR (A2DP/AVRCP/HSP)
  

It is still early in the game; I understand if you have inquiries that are not addressed here.
Details such as release date, price, and more will be announced in due course. I will keep you updated to the best of my ability.

Full hardware gallery:

Friday, January 14, 2011

Sony Wants Hacker to Hand Over Jailbreak Tools!

Sony files lawsuit opposite GeoHot, the same user who helped to moment a iPhone, and several others, perfectionist that he spin over all a “computers, tough drives, CD-roms, DVDs, USB stick, and any other storage inclination on that any Circumvention Devices are stored in Defendant Hotz’s possession, control or control,” even yet a base pivotal has already been widely published around a Internet.
You might remember when it was reported how a user by a name of GeoHot, a same user who helped to moment a iPhone, had posted a base pivotal of a PlayStation 3 (PS3), thereby permitting users to play downloaded games directly on a gaming console.
The base pivotal is arrange of a holy grail of jailbreaking given it’s a signature that tells a equipment, in this box a PS3, that a program about to run is legitimate. With this in palm users could run tradition program or pirated games.
GeoHot, aka George Hotz, already published a keys and even done a video of his exploits, though Sony seems to consider it can put a self-evident genie behind in a bottle. It’s filed a lawsuit opposite him and several others it thinks might be concerned perfectionist he palm over all a “computers, tough drives, CD-roms, DVDs, USB stick, and any other storage inclination on that any Circumvention Devices are stored in Defendant Hotz’s possession, control or control.”
Sony believes that Hotz and his cohorts disregarded a Digital Millennium Copyright given they bypassed Sony’s technological insurance measures for a PS3, and afterwards distributed “illegal Circumvention Devices” – i.e. a base key.
“Working away and in unison with one another, Defendants recently bypassed effective technological insurance measures (‘TPMs’) employed by plaintiff Sony Computer Entertainment America LLP (‘SCEA’) in a exclusive PlayStation®3 mechanism party complement (‘PS3 System’),” reads a lawsuit. “Through a Internet, Defendants are distributing software, collection and instructions (collectively, ‘Circumvention Devices’) that by-pass a TPMs in a PS3 System and promote a counterfeiting of video games.”
The DMCA forbids a chairman who is not a certified copyright owners from circumventing calm insurance methods put in place by a copyright owner.
It is bootleg to “circumvent a technological magnitude means to descramble a scrambled work, to decrypt an encrypted work, or differently to avoid, bypass, remove, deactivate, or deteriorate a technological measure, but the
authority of a copyright owner.” It’s also bootleg to discharge a collection that promote a ability do any of a above.
It’s humorous given GeoHot was a one who managed to jailbreak a iPhone, and a Librarian of Congress during a US Copyright Office even personal it as a non-infringing activity during a many new examination of amendments to a DMCA
But, there’s no such fitness this time around, and it’ll be a while before a US Copyright Office can extend an grant for jailbreaking gaming consoles if it decides to do so. The law usually requires that a Librarian of Congress considers if consumers are “adversely affected” by a breach of “their ability to make noninfringing uses…of a sold category of copyrighted works’’ once each 3 years. The many new was final July.
Congress chose to emanate a examination as a “fail-safe mechanism” to guard a outcome that anti-circumvention supplies were carrying on consumers.
Either way, it’s extraordinary as to what Sony expects a outcome of a box to be. Lawsuits are dictated to possibly offer as warnings to others or a liberation of damages, and given it’s doubtful to see most in a approach of indemnification from a immature defendants in a case, it has to be a former.
In possibly box a base keys have already been published and there’s no approach to remove that. All it unequivocally does is infer that Sony is as away from existence as ever. It is, after all, a same outfit behind a barbarous rootkit DRM fiasco.
Stay tuned.

Killzone 3 is Gold!

You’ve waited patiently for 2 years, but now the time has come to return to Helghan along with Sev, Rico, Narville and the rest of the surviving ISA. Killzone 3 has officially gone gold, and will be coming to stores on February 22nd, 2011.
Killzone3packfront
Picking up right where Killzone 2 left off, you return to the role of ISA Sgt. “Sev” Sevchenko. Beaten, bloody but not broken you and your fellow ISA veterans find yourself outnumbered and isolated following the events of Killzone 2. New enemies, new environments and new threats wait for you as the story for survival unfolds.
Add in 3D support including online, split-screen co-op campaign, and full PlayStation Move support including the new sharp shooter peripheral and it’s more to do than you can shake a stick at.
I've got two flavors of Killzone 3 for you on Feb 22nd. The standard edition and the hardcore Helghast Edition. The Helghast Edition includes the uber-cool Cloaking Helghast Marksman figure and the Helghast Helmet replica. It’s also replete with a super voucher including access to the Killzone 3 Soundtrack, dynamic theme, Retro Map Pack, and the whole slew of pre-order unlocks.
Killzone 3 Helghast Edition
Speaking of pre-order unlocks, check them out in detail below, and find me online on February 22nd!
Looking forward to the mayhem and slaughter online, see you on 02.22.11 and while you wait, make sure to check out the awesomeness of the Killzone 3 Justice trailer again!

Pre-order Killzone 3 at one of the following participating retailers for an added bonus!
GameStop – Guerrilla Pack
Pre-order Killzone 3 and receive a GameStop Exclusive PSN code unlocking all multiplayer weapons and abilities for the first 24 hours of multiplayer gameplay. Also includes the Killzone 3 Retro Map Pack, featuring two of the most popular maps from Killzone 2.
Best Buy – Fast Starter Pack
Pre-order Killzone 3 and receive a BestBuy Exclusive PSN code allowing you to rank up faster, as you earn experience points at double the normal rate for the first 24 hours of multiplayer gameplay. Also includes the Killzone 3 Retro Map Pack, featuring two of the most popular maps from Killzone 2.
Amazon.com – Unlock and Load Pack
Pre-order Killzone 3 and receive an Amazon.com Exclusive PSN code and get instant access to 3 Unlock Points to use on the weapon or ability of your choice and get the early edge in Killzone 3 Multiplayer. Also includes the Killzone 3 Retro Map Pack, featuring two of the most popular maps from Killzone 2.
All other participating retailers – Retro Pack
Pre-order Killzone 3 and receive an exclusive PSN code giving you the Killzone 3 Retro Map Pack, featuring two of the most popular maps from Killzone 2. Also receive an exclusive PlayStation 3 Dynamic Theme.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Mass Effect 2 on the PS3 to be Digital Download at launch!






Bad news for GameStop!


When Microsoft announced that they would be selling certain Xbox 360 games digitally through Xbox Live, it hinted at the writing on the wall for game retailers like GameStop. At a certain point, publishers would get closer and closer to releasing new games digitally right at launch, cutting out the retailer middleman. More evidence of the impending doom of video game retailers came today as BioWare announced that they would be releasing "Mass Effect 2" for PS3 both in stores and as a digital download over PSN. Both versions would be released right on launch day.

Granted, there's still a reason for people to buy video games in stores, and GameStop's successful holiday season sales attest to that. A digital download is limited in that it as no after-market value since it's locked to your account, whereas disc-based games can be sold back to stores or traded to friends.
But from a game-publisher's perspective, an all-digital future is great news. Think of the costs saved by not having to pay for shipping and packaging. Not to mention the fact that it curtails used game sales entirely, which has been a point of concern for major publishers like EA and THQ. The only groups in this equation that don't want things to go digital are the game retailers, whose business relies on people walking into their stores or ordering physical games online.
If you think it's insane to think that GameStop and its ilk might be gone in five years, think back to a little company called Blockbuster. With the popularity of on-demand video and Netflix, suddenly a brick-and-mortar rental place became obsolete. Video games appear to be on the same path.

Fallout New Vegas, God of War 3 Make Writers Guild Game Award Nominations



 From Stephen Johnson of G4


The Writer's Guild of America West, that union of entertainment writers, has revealed its nominees for outstanding achievement in videogame writing in 2010.
The Guild's goal is to "promote storytelling excellence in videogames, improve the status of gaming writers, and encourage uniform standards within the gaming industry." Laudable goals. Sadly, the only wirters eligible for the title are those who "have applied to become members of the WGA’s Videogame Writers Caucus at the time scripts were submitted. Work that was not produced under WGA jurisdiction was also eligible for submission." That means, not everyone. But still, the nominees are under the "Read More" tag.

  • Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Story by Patrice Desilets, Jeffrey Yohalem, Corey May; Lead Script Writer: Jeffrey Yohalem; Script Writers: Ethan Petty, Nicholas Grimwood, Matt Turner; Ubisoft
  • Fallout: New Vegas, Creative Design Lead/Lead Writer: John Gonzalez; Writers: Chris Avellone, Eric Fenstermaker, Travis Stout; Additional Writing: Tess Treadwell, George Ziets, Jason Bergman, Nick Breckon, Matt Grandstaff, Will Noble, Andrew Scharf; Bethesda Softworks
  • God of War III, Written by Marianne Krawcyzk; Additional Writing by Stig Asmussen, Ariel Lawrence, William Weissbaum; Sony Computer Entertainment
  • Singularity, Written by Marc Guggenheim, Lindsey Allen, Emily Silver; Additional Story and Writing: Jason Henderson, Adam Foshko, Michael Cassutt; Story and Script Consultant: Adam Foshko; Activision
  • Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, Executive Producer-Writer: Haden Blackman; In-Game Script: David Collins, John Stafford, Cameron Suey; Additional Writing: Tid Cooney, Ian Dominguez, Tony Rowe; LucasArts
What do you think of this list? Anything missing that should have been included? Is any nominees unworthy?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Five Things You Need to Know About the Verizon iPhone

 Yesterday, Verizon formally announced that the iPhone 4 would be available on their nationwide network starting on February 10, with pre-orders beginning on February 3. Naturally, the nation's downtrodden AT&T subscribers and Verizon iPhone holdouts wept collectively. Despite the excitement for the new network availability of the iPhone, there are a few things you should know before you set up a tent outside of your local Verizon store.

 
1. You Can't Talk and Surf

Beyond competitive claims over which is speedier or more reliable, what really separates AT&T and Verizon is the technology used by their networks. AT&T utilizes a format known as GSM, whereas Verizon's network runs on CDMA. The difference results in a few remarkable differences in user experience, one of which is that you can't transfer service by simply popping out your SIM card -- CDMA devices don't use SIM cards -- and the other is that CDMA networks cannot access data while making voice calls.


If you're familiar with AT&T's versions of the iPhone, the ability to surf the web, check email, or even download music while on a phone call has been a standard feature since day one. This is not the case for the Verizon iPhone 4.

It seems the loss of this ability is simply a tradeoff AT&T or other GSM network converts will simply have to deal with.

2. It Can Serve as a Mobile Hotspot

While this morning's press conference was light on details outside of the release date for the new Verizon-enabled iPhone 4, it was revealed that the device will also support mobile hotspot technology, a first for iPhone devices.

If you're unfamiliar, mobile hotspots allow users to turn incoming wireless connections into usable Wi-Fi for up to five different devices, such as laptops, game consoles, and more.

Specific information regarding the iPhone 4's mobile hotspot function was not released, though reports from Engadget and others suggest that the feature is implemented via iOS 4.2.5 and could be released via a software update for AT&T devices as well.

3. It Isn't Verizon-Exclusive

While Verizon has certainly been the most frequently demanded carrier for iPhone support, it isn't taking on any exclusivity arrangements over other providers. During today's press conference, Apple COO Tim Cook stated that Verizon's deal with Apple is a multi-year, non-exclusive contract.

In other words, it could be open season for new iPhone carriers. While we expect Verizon and AT&T to remain the primary carriers of the iPhone for the better part of 2011, or perhaps the rest of the year, it is possible that T-Mobile and Sprint could get in on the action at some point. Despite Sprint's heavy Android focus, multi-carrier support means big money for all parties concerned.

4. It Isn't 4G

In the weeks preceding today's event, rumors began to circulate that the Verizon iPhone 4 would be compatible with the company's 4G LTE network. This is not the case. While it is entirely possible that the iPhone 5 will support next generation wireless connectivity, the current iteration being offered by Verizon will not.

5. It'll Be Outdated in Six Months

Every year for the last four years, Apple has introduced a new iPhone in June or July, and this year will be no exception, so prospective Verizon subscribers beware. If you're going to jump ship from your current provider for the Verizon iPhone 4, know that you'll be the proud owner of a new 2-year contract and an outdated smartphone in six months or less. While that may not be a problem for some, if you want to buy the latest iPhone when it comes out later this year, it is going to cost you.

Picking up the iPhone 4 on Verizon will require a new or extended 2-year contract, or subscribers to pay the full hardware price of $399 and $499 for the 16GB and 32GB variations. In most cases, consumers will opt for the 2-year contract instead of paying top dollar for the hardware. Under the terms of Verizon's upgrade policies, most customers can upgrade to a new device after a year and reap the benefits of reduced hardware costs, but as a result will enroll in another 2-year service agreement. But if you are not eligible for an upgrade or a new subscriber when the new device is introduced, you're going to have to pay top-dollar for it.

Long story short: if you're going to pick up a Verizon iPhone 4 on February 10 with a 2-year contract, be prepared to pay the full retail price for the new iPhone in June or July.