182w ago - Update: The Tekken 6 patch update is now live!

Namco Bandai Games today released further details about the forthcoming free downloadable update designed to improve the online game experience for players of Tekken 6 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The update is scheduled for release on November 26th, 2009.

The update is separate from the online co-op Scenario Campaign mode download which is scheduled for release separately this winter.

Press Release: TEKKEN 6 ONLINE UPDATE - MORE DETAILS AND RELEASE DATE CONFIRMED

Online gameplay enhancements in the update include the following:

• Improved input response: improvement of the game's responsiveness to button / command inputs;
• Selectable search priorities for ranked matches: players will be able to set search priorities for opponents in ranked matches based on comparable rank or connection quality as well as location;
• Optimized data transmission between fighters and spectators: fight data will be optimized in order to reduce the bandwidth load on the host's console;
• Signal strength bars: the signal strength bar will reflect connection quality more accurately;
• Chance to cancel match: players will be able to cancel the match before it begins once the opponent's signal strength...

225w ago - Capcom producer Ben Judd shared his opinion on Bionic Commando: Rearmed with Gamasutra recently, stating that excluding online play from Rearmed was "the right choice."

To quote: "After seeing the large amount of headaches, additional production time and cost that comes with adding online, I'm glad we made the choice not to include it."

He noted that many digitally distributed games are plagued with online problems and that "additional sales would not have been equivalent to the additional pains" needed to add online play to the game.

While we certainly have to agree that digitally distributed games have their share of online problems - something any XBLA user can tell you - we can't help but imagine the glories online play could have brought to Bionic Commando: Rearmed.

227w ago - According to China Daily, China is to start requiring gamers to register for online games with their real names!

It isn't confirmed when this new policy will go live, but it sounds pretty drastic if it is indeed true.

To quote: The government will start real-name registration for online game players this year, said Zhang Yijun, director of the General Administration of Press and Publication's technology and digital publication department.

Four online game companies' operations have been suspended after it was found that their software did not have the mandatory anti-addiction system, he said in Qingdao on Wednesday.

237w ago - MotorStorm: Pacific Rift's Game Director Nigel Kershaw has shared some online play tips today over at the PS Blog as follows:

There's a few different ways of experiencing Pacific Rift online, here's the low down and some tips -

Matchmaking
We wanted to ensure that players could find another game quickly, but also that once they got into a game they didn't have to rely on the host to get the race started. There are two options when matchmaking: Ranked or Casual. Ranked pitches you against players of a similar skill level whilst Casual will put you up against anyone and everyone.

Matchmaking will, quite simply, group players together who are looking for a game, pick a Ticket for them (a race setup) and get them into a race as quickly as possible. And don't worry, if you don't like the Ticket that is randomly chosen for you - it's possible to veto it (if you get a majority vote).

If you can't find a matchmaking game (Ranked or Casual) when you search the reason simply is that no-one else is currently searching for another ranked game. The system relies upon there being other people looking to play, so as the servers get busier it'll get easier to find games, so don't be disheartened if you can't find a game first time around, the more people...

240w ago - Per Mike Skinner (Team RamRod) via PS Blog today:

Hello everyone! Team RamRod here, the developers of High Velocity Bowling. Today we break our long silence with an equally long blog post.

To give you some background on the HVB development team, we are a small team who works on several projects. As some of you know, Big Ern has left our neck of the woods (we still miss him). But, the team has since picked up the reins and is now leading a new charge for HVB.

A lot of you have been asking about HVB, and we are here to deliver great news. We are pleased to announce that we putting the finishing touches on a new update for HVB, which will hit the PlayStation Network TOMORROW! Excited? Well, the best part of this is that the new update - all new features included - is FREE! For our brothers and sisters in the north, that means FREE for you, too.

HEAD-TO-HEAD ONLINE PLAY! VOICE CHAT COMMUNICATION! WEEKLY ONLINE LEADERBOARDS!

We can hear you now ... "Wait, what? Really? I get online play in the update? Will it support my Playstation Friends List?" YES to all of the above. You will now be able to play with your friends online AND be able to chat with them using a PS3 headset or microphone. Feel free to chat and talk smack after comparing your stats and rankings...