A new version of the multiplayer browser Battle.Net will debut with Starcraft II. How will it be superior to the previous version? Well, it'll be able to hit you up for money.
During a BlizzCon '08 panel discussion, Diablo 3 director Jay Wilson said, "We are looking to monetize Battle.Net so that we get to keep making these games and updating features. We kind of have to.” Blizzard wants to avoid putting in a subscription but yes, some as-yet-unknown features will cost money.
Apparently Activision really likes the word "monetize". They've been using it a lot lately, first with Guitar Hero: World Tour, then with Call of Duty: World At War, and now Battle.Net. Guess they've settled on a strategy for their top franchises from here on out.
Quite possible the paid content for Battle.Net is something superfluous, like custom avatars for the browser. If they tried to sell special items or some such, an angry mob with pitchforks would gather. ... More »
The PixelJunk team wants fans to try Eden, their latest game. As a bonus, they are currently offering a free download of the Monsters Encore expansion.
The add-on pack adds 15 new levels (and a random level generator). This should be a deal for those that love PJM and are looking for something new, but note the deal ends on October 16, 2008.
Key PixelJunk Eden Features:
• Stunning Visuals: Stylish graphics and dynamic animations brought to life in gorgeous 1080p HD.
• Multi-player Co-op: Local co-op play for up to three players.
• Trophy and Online Support: Unlock Trophies and track high scores via online leaderboards.
• Video Recording: Record gameplay videos to the hard drive or upload directly to YouTube.
• Remote Play – Supports Remote Play for PSP® (PlayStation Portable) system.
The New York Rangers has had its best start to a season since the 1989-90 season, and it appears practicing with the team via NHL ‘09 is partly to thank.
Players Brandon Dubinsky, Nikolai Zherdev, and Aaron Voros found that putting each other in the same line worked well in the NHL video game and in real life too. They have dubbed the tactic the "PlayStation Line".
To quote: With a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, the Rangers have started 3-0 for the first time since the 1989-90 season.
But more then the team's record that is creating a buzz among Rangers fans.
Three players—Brandon Dubinsky, 22, Nikolai Zherdev, 23, and Aaron Voros, 27—played a game for the ages. Dubinsky had a goal and two assists, Zherdev had a goal and an assist, and Voros had a goal and as assist.
Not only were they playing great offensively, but all were getting involved physically, and used solid defensive play t... More »
Xbox Group product manager Aaron Greenberg has refuted reports that Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology Corp will develop a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360, claiming owners of the console would not be interested in such an add-on.
"We have no plans to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience," he told Major Nelson. "We believe that we shouldn't force people to pay for things they don't want."
Following the commercial failure of the HD-DVD format Microsoft decided to invest in, Greenberg also stated that Microsoft's position on high-definition movie and TV content is currently centred around digital distribution.
"We've invested in a massive library of entertainment content. That's why we're bringing things like Netflix to members in the US, that's why we're growing our library in Europe, that's why we're adding all types of entertainment experiences around the world.
"And Blu-ray: who knows? I'll tell you one thing: if you look... More »
For years, the Tokyo Game Show has been the one show on the calendar you can bet Sony is going to put on a performance.
Okay, they may have had a few issues in the past (overheating PS3s) but in general, TGS is their best show of the year. They nearly always headline the keynote and usually announce something or other.
This year, however, I can't help but feel that Sony isn't trying. Firstly, conceding the keynote to Microsoft is bad news, especially on home soil. With no major announcements from Sony, it was up to the publishers to deliver. At Square Enix, they had a closed cinema screening showing a trailer of their upcoming titles.
Problem was, the queue took forever and the film was too long (around 20 minutes). They showed all their development projects, of which half I'm sure most were uninterested in. There were no playable next-gen titles outside of the 360 area and the Square Enix booth was right next to Microsoft's.
The Xbox 360 has once again beaten out the PlayStation 3 in Japan. This has been a continuing trend in the Japanese markets, ever since the 360’s price cut a few weeks ago.
Though the Wii and Nintendo DS have more than double Microsoft’s sales, the fact that the 360 is moving forward looks promising. But what does it mean for Microsoft and gamers?
Let’s consider the facts:
1. The Xbox 360 price cut has already bolstered sales in Japan, and rumors have it that Microsoft may cut the price of the 360 Elites even further, as well. We saw what two weeks of sales did for Microsoft. Of course, those sales were not only helped by the price cut, but also by the release of Tales of Vesperia and Infinite Undiscovery, two exclusives for the 360.
Now that the immediate surge is over, the 360 has once again fallen to fourth place in Japanese sales (behind the DS, Wii and PSP). Yet hopefully, this next round of price cuts should once again r... More »
Bet you never thought you'd hear the day that Sony said they'd like the XBox 360 to succeed in Japan, but they recently have said so.
Shuhei Yoshida, Sony's President of Worldwide Studios, expressed the respective thought as if the XBox 360 sells well, then this will further push the concepts of High Definition gaming to local consumers which can only be a good thing for all companies involved in the gaming market.
To quote: Sony's president of Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, has said that he wants Microsoft's XBox 360 to succeed in Japan in order to help push the concepts of high-definition gaming to local consumers.
With Nintendo's Wii the most popular console in the Japanese market, Yoshida would like both the PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 to sell well in order to convince punters of a more sophisticated take on next-generation gaming.
"I like to see people here in Japan showing interest in high-definition gaming and more ... More »
SCEE has confirmed that LocoRoco 2 will be shipping across Europe this November.
The sequel to 2006's PSP hit "uses both music and colour as part of the gameplay" reads the press release.
The story begins when the happy and harmonious LocoRoco are attacked by the evil Moja army – who want to destroy their beautiful planet with their evil music.
Easy to pick up, players use the simple buttons of the PSP to tilt the LocoRoco's planet back and forth, manoeuvring the jelly-like bubbles of fun to collect musical notes and other colourful items.
As LocoRoco collect more musical notes, various bonus features will unlock, such as viewing maps. SCEE hasn’t given a firm date in November, but rest assured it’ll be here next month.
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