Dynasty Warriors and Romance of the Three Kingdoms series developer Koei is bringing their popular MMORPG, Uncharted Waters Online, to the PlayStation 3 in Japan during 2009.
According to Siliconera, the game is based off the Uncharted Waters series of games, the first of which was released on the Super NES in 1992.
This MMO sends players into the ocean, but not as pirates. Taking cues from history, Uncharted Waters is set in the Age of Discovery when Europe explored the seas- picking one of six nationalities, and one of the three basic classes in order to engage in trading, exploration and sea battles.
No information regarding pricing or subscription fees have been released at this time. Sadly, Uncharted Waters Online and its expansion (Cruz del Sur) are currently available only in Asia, so it seems unlikely this PS3 version would make it into the Western market.
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 »
Nintendo has announced that the new Wii Speak accessory (pictured below) and Wii Speak Channel will launch for Wii across Europe on December 5, 2008. Wii Speak enables people to connect to and communicate with friends using the free-to-use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in a way that is very socially inclusive.
Press Release: Wii Speak Channel and Wii Speak accessory will connect friends and family and herald the next evolution of social gaming
Socialising and communicating with friends and family has just got easier – and more fun – as the new Wii Speak accessory and Wii Speak Channel are launched for Wii across Europe on 5 December 2008.
Wii Speak enables people to connect to and communicate with friends using the free-to-use Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection in a way that is very socially inclusive. Wii Speak can be connected directly to the console and pick up the conversations from an entire room of people, meaning friends and families can all get inv... More »
Recently Microsoft detailed the Themes 2.0 and Friends Channel from their new XBox Experience. Today, Microsoft has launched their New XBox Experience Web site (linked above), despite not offering a specific release date for it yet.
The Web site has been modelled in the style of navigation which will be present in the update that is due out later this year.
To quote: Welcome to the New Xbox Experience!
Get a glimpse of what the New Xbox Experience is all about–the destination for social gaming and entertainment.
What is it?
Enter the ultimate social entertainment experience. Connect with your favorite people and enjoy more games and entertainment online than with any other device connected to your TV. Welcome to the New Xbox Experience. Jump in.
How do I get it?
You don’t have to do anything, really. The ... More »
Is it finally game over for Florida lawyer and violent video game opponent Jack Thompson?
Judgment has been entered in the case that started last year and came to a head when Judge Dava Tunis recommended permanent disbarment for the bombastic, showboating law man. The court has approved the report and has ordered that Jack Thompson is officially disbarred as of 30 days from today.
To quote: The Court approves the corrected referee's report and John Bruce Thompson is permanently disbarred, effective thirty days from the date of this order so that respondent can close out his practice and protect the interests of existing clients.
If respondent notifies the Court in writing that he is no longer practicing and does not need the thirty days to protect existing clients, this Court will enter an order making the permanent disbarment effective immediately. Respondent shall accept no new business from the date this order is filed.
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Looks like trouble never sleeps in Liberty City, indeed. This time around, it's a music copyright lawsuit that's filed against Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV, particularly on the songs played on the in-game radio station.
Jamaican Linton White alleged in his complaint that the reggae song "Last Night" making its rounds on the GTA IV (Xbox 360, PS3) airwaves care of the reggae station, Massive B Sound System 96.9, was actually co-written by him with one David Brooks (aka "Mavado"). Apart from that song, there's also "Bullet Proof Skin", which he says he co-wrote with Brooks and Rodney Basil price.
Although Linton was recognized and credited as a producer on Mavado's Gangsta for Life album (2007), his beef is that he was not credited for co-authorship on the said tracks in the Liberty City Guidebook that comes along with a copy of the sandbox title.
Linton's complaint states that:
In the... Liberty City Guidebook... [Take-... More »
With the PlayStation 3 40GB model slowly being phased out, it’s time to make room for a brand-new addition to the PS3 hardware lineup - an Uncharted Drake’s Fortune PS3 bundle.
In North America specifically, it’s slated to hit in November at an MSRP of $499.99 and includes the aforementioned game, a voucher for PSN title PAIN, a DualShock 3 wireless controller, and a 160GB hard drive.
Over in Europe, the bundle is due out October 31. Configuration-wise there will be no difference, aside from the fact that it’ll include an “additional PSN title,” according to SCEE, which may or may not be PAIN.
Sony was quick to mention that this bundle will retain “all the same functionality” as the new 80GB that’s popping up on retail shelves here in the U.S. That means no backwards compatibility, but you should be used to that now.
Press Release: Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Limited-Edition Uncharted: Drake's Fort... More »
Today you will hear about what Final Fantasy 13 will and won't do for the Xbox 360. So sit back, grab a beer or your respective drink, and get ready to read!
4. Final Fantasy WON'T be the saving grace in Japan for the Xbox 360
Final Fantasy does not need to be released in Japan for the sole reason that Xbox 360 in Japan is pretty much the equivalent of finding a VII gaming system in America. In Japan, they don’t want much to do with the Xbox 360. They support their countries products and have no need for a American console with more shoot’em ups that you can shake a stick at. Just take a look at July’s numbers of in Japan.
1. PSP- 56,998
2. Nintendo DS- 48,540
3. Wii- 41,798
4. PS3- 12,458
5. PS2- 10,405
6. Xbox 360- 3,807
If I were in charge of Microsoft, I would have stopped trying to beat that dead horse many days ago.
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